01/03/2021
A bit of information on using herbs for health.
First things first.... herbs ARE medicine! I may not be able to say that in a consult as I'd then be practicing medicine, rather than educating and coaching. Here is what I mean though..... herbs often contain the EXACT chemical constituents as medications because the medications today usually came from herbs. Many medications are either an extraction or even more often a sythehetic form of the herbal compound. Case in point....Aspirin....aspirin's key active ingredient is a synthetic chemical constituent called acetylsalicylic acid. This is a synthetic constituent similar to salicylic acid. In face there will be low levels of actual salicylic acid in aspirin as well. Meadowsweet contains salicylic acid and Willow Bark contains Salicin which breaks down into salicylic acid in the body. Both of these herbs where studied intensity to bring us aspirin. They work the same way in your body, however some people prefer the slower, longer lasting more natural intake method of herbs to get it. Others say the "herbal aspirin" is too hard on their stomach and prefer the buffered effect of real aspirin. It's a matter of availability and personal choice. Look to the pros and cons for yourself, but take heed....they are very similar chemically and therefore the same precaution should be made. Children and teens with flu like symptoms should avoid aspirin and all salicylates like meadowsweet and willow bark because of the risk of Reyes Syndrome. Persons taking blood thinners or with bleeding disorders should also not take it. The same goes for certain stomach conditions. These should all be discussed with both your primary healthcare physician and a skilled Herbalist. It would be preferable that they are both aware of one another and good common between all parties takes place. Because of HIPPA and license issues, YOU as the patient/client will have to get access to all medical records. Also keep in mind not to overdose. You can't take similar drugs and similar herbs. Updating your medication and supplements list with your Physician and Holistic Health Practitioner is imperative. Also let your pharmacist know as they are sort of a failsafe in case something is missed sooner and they are trained to catch such lifesaving mishaps.
Not all herbs are equal! I absolute LOATH when a person simply asks...."Hey Doc, what herb can I take for Condition A, B or C?". Sometimes, they believe it is really that simple, but far too often they are being a cheapskate and are trying to dodge a $45 consult. Here is the deal. There are MANY herbs to address conditions A, B or C..... but without knowing your past medical conditions, medications, diet, lifestyle and allergies I'd be playing russian roulette with your health and possibly life. Also, sometimes what you are wanting to do is simply mask a symptom of a much more serious underlying condition whether you know it or not. It is much safer to go ahead and get that consult so the Herbalist knows you and your health. A Physician doesn't dole out prescriptions without a visit and neither should an Herbalist. Now, once you have had your consult with a skilled Herbalist and they have told you which herbs they would take or have told you which herbs have historically been taken for said conditions (notice the Herbalism didn't prescribe....that would be practicing medicine. Instead they teach/coach.) You will want to get your herbs. Look, don't chinch out here. Yes some herbs can be expensive, but you really do get what you pay for. Herbs and dietary supplements are not nearly as regulated as medications and proprietary blends can be absolutely frightening as you have no clue how much or even what you are getting. Heavy metals and toxins have been showing up in some dietary supplements. For this reason, I prefer raw herbs. I sell then wholl or I grind them up on the spot and package them for my client. No fillers or additives or toxins here. I sell mine as "teas" so they are considered a food product. I can show you how to encapsulate them on your own and can sell you vegan empty capsules. At this point I just can't fill the capsule as I'm not a manufacturer yet. I do plan to so I can offer some of my custom blends in an easier to take form. Unfortunately, I'll not be able to make any health claims on the bottles or in person, but I'm consult can let you know what historically various herbs that are in my blends have been used for. I truly hope that one day Missouri gets on board with licensing Complimentary and Alternative Medical Practitioners. 10 States now are doing Herbalist right. They are giving us the freedom to practice medicine in a limited scope. Basically they have a set scope of what they can do and it also outlines what they cannot do. I'm in favor of this newer licensure. What the Naturopathic physicians are asking for is too much in my opinion and goes way beyond the scope of Naturopathy. The Complimentary and Alternative medical freedom may not allow as much freedom as I'd like, but it is a healthy start and much better than giving too much leeway. Hopefully Missouri will join up soon too and I can do a little more. Each State is slightly different, but the laws being passed are called “Health Freedom Legislation”. In addition to a specific scope of practice defined and disclosure of no full medical license to client/patient, I’d suggest the ability to make referral, order labs and diagnostic tests should be given practitioners.
One last thing....find a competent Holistic Health Practitioner. It is not regulated, so quality is all over the place. I have health issues and my brain gets foggy at times, but when such things happen I reschedule clients as I want to give them my best. On my good days though, I'd like to think I'm good at my craft. I hold multiple related degrees. I have an AA in Wildlife Forestry Conservation, a BS in Biology (Human Anatomy and Premed) a Med (Education Curriculum and Instruction with science education emphasis) and my Naturopathy, Herbalist and Holistic Health Practitioner training was completed with the Centre of Excellence an accredited school in Wales. It consisted of 150 college credit hours of classroom instruction and 6 months of local clinicals. I'm actually still enrolled in classes with CoE including more on Aromatherapy and Reiki. I'm also looking into taking more in depth coursework in Ayurvedic Medicine. Unrelated, except in regards to spiritual wellness I have a Doctor of Divinity from St. Luke's. I imagine I will probably take no less than 300 professional development hours annually and I want to stay sharp and provide the best consultation. Now, a formal education in herbs is not always indicative of a superb Herbalist. Even though religiously I'm a Christian, some of the absolute BEST Herbalists I've met have been Pagans and Witches. They may not have a formal education, but have been passing down traditional herbal medicine for generations and have been in the study of it personally for decades. It is literally an intricate part of their faith, so yeah, they tend to be good Herbalists. Also a certificate, doesn't mean anything. I've seen some online programs that grant "Master Herbalist, Naturopath and Holistic Health Practitioner" that can be completed in an afternoon! It is shameful that such companies exist and even more shameful that folks will take such a mockery and then start seeing clients. Not only is it foolish, but could be dangerous as well. It may help to look for a practitioner with good references and who belongs to professional organizations. I'm a member of the Complimentary Medical Association and an granted license under them to dispense "restricted herbs" in parts of Europe. It means little here, except if I screw up you have a voice to complain to and get my membership revoked. Oh and make sure your Practitioner has insurance. That is all for now . .best of luck.
See you in the 1800s.
Doc
