Thanks for stopping by my Herblog! Since you are here, you probably have some interest in using herbs to promote health. And if you do not, I hope that you will be inspired to learn more about these amazingly useful plants. My passion is teaching others what I know about herbs. If there is an herbal or natural health topic you would like me to blog about, please leave a comment. In this post, I will address some common concerns.
People are often concerned about the safety of herbs. How do we know that herbs are safe? I like to answer that question with another question...how do we know that – for example, strawberries – are safe? It is because humans have been using them as food for many, many years and we know them to be safe. Of course, a few people may have an allergy or sensitivity to strawberries. This is true for almost any food, and herbs also. How do we know that certain plants are poisonous? At some point in history, humans probably tried to eat these plants and became ill, so we know to avoid these. Humans have been using herbs as medicine for thousands of years (Traditional Chinese Medicine is over 5,000 years old)! Their uses have been recorded all over the world for centuries. Herbs have been and are still the world's primary medicine (75% of the world's population still rely primarily upon traditional healing practices, most of which is herbal medicine). Yes, there are poisonous herbs that do have a place in herbal medicine, but most herbalists avoid using them unless they are very experienced in their use. Today's standardized herbal extracts are another issue. These herbs are more concentrated and drug-like and more likely to cause reactions. They have their place, but I prefer to stick with whole herbs usually in tea or tincture form. Another safety issue occurs when certain herbs are taken with pharmaceuticals. While many herbs are safe to take with pharmaceuticals, and some herbs actually enhance drug actions, there are some drug-herb combinations that are problematic such as those which may occur with blood-thinning and immunosuppressive drugs.
"Do herbs really work?" is a question I am often asked. I also like to answer this with a question...if herbs were ineffective, why would our world's herbal traditions have survived for thousands of years? One would think if something did not work, it would have been disregarded long ago. Modern science is now validating many traditional uses of herbs.
Many people may try an herb because they have "heard" that it is good for this or that, and do not get the results they expected. Many factors must be understood when using herbs to get optimal results, especially the energetics of the plant. Also important are the quality of plant, the preparation, part of the plant used, and proper dosage. If these important factors are ignored, you may be wasting your time and money, and may even exacerbate certain conditions. Single herbs are rarely used, rather they are combined with other herbs that enhance or balance their effects. People who have taken pharmaceuticals may expect a similar effect from herbs, but herbs often do not work the same way. Herbs are slower acting, and it may take several weeks to months to experience results in chronic conditions. Herbs do not merely cover up symptoms, they act at a deeper level. A good protocol will help to remediate the underlying cause of symptoms. Herbs can also be helpful in many acute situations like cold and flu, and gastrointestinal upsets. Don't take my word for it. I'd like you to experience herbs and decide for yourself! Meet with an herbalist, learn about some herbs that may benefit you, then give them a fair chance.
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