Herbal Remedies

The use of herbal remedies is probably as old as the history of mankind. There are records of Egyptian, Greek and Roman doctors using herbs to help their patients. There are even legends surrounding the use of herbs. For instance, Achillea, the wild yarrow, is named for the Greek hero Achilles, because supposedly he used its leaves to stem the bleeding of his soldiers’ wounds. Initially, modern medicine used herbs to make drugs from, such as aspirin from the bark of the white willow (Salix alba) which has been used for pain relief for centuries.

Herbs can be used in many different ways. Some herbs are best as first aid remedies, such as chamomile which was traditionally used for eye infections or steaming a cold or flu. Others are better as long term tonic, like hawthorn for the heart and circulatory system. Others still can up or down regulate a malfunctioning endocrine or organ system the way chaste tree can help regulate menses. Many humble culinary herbs also have medicinal properties, like caraway can help digest hard to digest foods such as cabbage. Fennel can help settle an upset stomach and dill can increase appetite or milk production in lactating women.

My knowledge of herbs comes partly from my mother who in my growing-up years in Hungary had treated my occasional ills with them; partly from attending lectures by one of the world’s foremost modern herbalist, Kerry Bone, B.Sc. (Hons.), Dyp. Phyto, and also Angela Hywood, ND, and lastly by reading many books, both ancient and modern. The Herb Book (Bantam Book) by John Lust is an excellent source to learn from. I have been using this book for two decades and the info in it has never been wrong.

In my practice I use herbs primarily either as tonics or as regulators for systems that need fine tuning. Knowing which herbs work well together, increases their synergistic effect. Herbs work like a food with healing powers by providing specific nutrients (minerals, vitamins and phytonutrients) to repair, strengthen and improve the functioning of our organs and body systems. The body chooses those components it wants to use and shifts toward better health as it is being given specific nourishment by the herb.

Drugs, on the other hand, occupy receptor sites on surfaces of cells so that the natural course of action which is dysfunctional in the patient, can’t proceed. When you stop the drugs, the processes resume and you have the same problem you had before. Not being able to experience the problem is a great relief sometimes, but I think it is more desirable not to have the problem at all.

Mainstream medicine cautions us against the indiscriminate use of herbs which they call natural drugs. It is true, in the U.S. there are about 4 deaths a year due to mistaken consumption of poisonous plants. However, if you take into consideration that approximately 109,000 deaths per year ensue from taking properly prescribed drugs—well, you can draw your own conclusions. However, caution is well taken because herbs are powerful and can interact with drugs. So before you use herbs, check with a reputable source or a good practitioner.

Biochemical cell salts • Deep Healing • Deep Healing stories
Flower, seed, leaf essences • Guided visualization
Herbal remedies • Homeopathic remedies
Meridian Response Technique

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