So a big thank you to my friend Walter who has been asking great questions in regards to using herbs and spices for healing. The Internet is full of a lot of good information and sometimes just a little too much.
Herbs are Medicine
He sent me a list of cautions for herbs. First of all remember herbs ARE medicine. They should be used with respect, if you ever have a question about using herbs I will be happy to answer those questions, not afraid to tell you if I don’t have the answers, and actually if I don’t – we will find out together. (drdeb2002@gmail.com)
So many of the precautions on this list are in fact good ones, but they are aimed at folks that have chronic health issues that may also be on traditional medicines. Many herbs may interfere with mediations. You can go to the website: www.drugdigest.org click on the interactions, there you can put in the names of your medications along with the names of the herbs – the herbs that are on that site have at some point interfered with medications and it will explain how they might possibly interact.
Less is Best
So on this list there were several herbs that cautioned use for those with Kidney stones, liver disorders and renal dysfunction. The most important thing to note again, is that chronic illness. Many of the “yellow” herbs stimulate “yellow” conditions like the kidneys and the liver. If your liver or kidneys are sluggish due to an illness and you OVER-STIMULATE them you can cause them to do work they are not able too and may make matters worse. I live by the motto “Less is Best”. You take a small amount of an herb and it can affect a cure you take too much and it may cause the same symptoms that you are trying to heal.
The list went on to speak of herbs not appropriate for stomach inflammation/ulcers, serious digestive problems and herbs not appropriate for long term use. No wonder why Walter was getting a bit confused on what was safe to take and what not to take. Muscle testing is a great way to determine if YOU’RE body needs the herb, you can also determine the dosage. I am at the Placerville health food store one day a month and happy for you to come by and learn muscle testing. I will be there this month Saturday March 30th, 10 – 4PM: 1252 Broadway, Placerville CA (Next to Snap Fitness)
Muscle testing is easy to learn over the phone also, give me a call and I will walk you through it. (530) 622-1124 – you may have to leave a message as I work all day but return calls in the evening. Have something good available (water is a good one) and something bad (junk food, Tylenol or even a household cleanser).
Not to Long
So my last comment was on the herbs that should not be taken for long periods of time. Most of these herbs were those with anti-biotic properties and made perfect sense. If you took them every day YES it would boost the immune system but just like a traditional antibiotic that you take for about 7 days the idea is to give the immune system a push so the body’s natural immunity helps to heal. If you took them every single day when you get an infection it may not be effective to fight that infection. Can’t say that I agreed with the list they gave with the exception of Goldenseal this is one of the strongest anti-biotic herbs available and I usually recommend using this just when you need it for illness rather than every day.