INTRODUCTION TO HERBAL MEDICINE

INTRODUCTION TO HERBAL MEDICINE

Debbie Markel, CH, CNHP

Because of the rising cost of prescription drugs, fears of drug-related side effects and a new appreciation for natural healing, herbal medicine has seen a resurgence in recent years. Many people, however, are using herbs incorrectly or are reluctant to try herbs for fear of having adverse reactions. Also, pieces of information about the safety of certain herbs is being released in “sound byte” form, so the public only hears partial data about their side effects. When the whole story is known, the herb usually turns out to be much less harmful than it’s reported to be.

Herbs are simply plants that heal. They contain vitamins, minerals and other trace elements just like any other foods we eat. According to the American Herbalists Guild, 75% of the world’s population still uses traditional healing practices, mainly herbs, as their primary medical care system. Herbs can be taken in large quantities without harmful side effects and rarely have interactions with other herbs or medicines. Like food, they may require regular consumption over a long period of time to show results. For example, spinach contains large quantities of iron. If someone has an iron deficiency, they would have to eat spinach every few days for several weeks to build back the iron levels in their blood. Herbs work the same way and take anywhere from a few minutes to several years to treat and support a deficiency or medical condition. It all depends on the type and severity of the problem and how long it has been present.

Herbal medicines are prepared from living or dried plants and are made up of interrelated compounds that work together. In contrast, pharmaceutical drugs are single chemicals that are often synthesized. Herbalists treat the whole person using herbs, foods and lifestyle changes to help the healing processes and attack the cause of an illness or condition. Conventional medicine usually treats a specific disease or symptom using strong chemicals. Rarely does a traditional treatment include finding the root cause of a problem and taking a holistic approach to healing it. An example is acid reflux disease or indigestion. Most people who see a doctor for this condition are given a pill to treat the symptoms. The cause of the problem could be food allergies, lifestyle, poor diet, emotional problems, alcohol consumption, stress or any number of things, none of which is identified or incorporated into the treatment protocol. According to a study in the New England Journal of Medicine (1/18/01), doctors spend an average of 21 minutes with each patient in a typical office visit. The usual consultation time with an herbalist or other holistic practitioner is anywhere from 1 to 1 ½ hours. There’s a reason for the following joke:

Question: What do you call a visit to a doctor for a flu shot? Answer: A drive-by shooting.

Medicine is an art as well as a science. Not all herbs and treatments are the same for each individual, even if conditions are similar. Five different people could have the same symptom, but different herbs and treatments could be recommended for each based on their unique characteristics and lifestyles. Only a trained herbalist or holistic practitioner would be able to identify the differences and make the appropriate suggestions. There are very few adverse drug-herb or herb-herb interactions. A professional herbal consultant will ask for a complete medical history, including medications taken, and avoid suggesting any herbs that might react with the drugs. According to Norman Farnsworth, PhD, Research Professor of Pharmacognosy at University of Illinois at Chicago, “Based on published reports, side effects or toxic reactions associated with herbal medicines in any form are rare. In fact, of all classes of substances reported to cause toxicities of sufficient magnitude to be reported in the United States, plants are the least problematic.”

Finally, it is important to consult with a qualified herbalist or trained holistic practitioner before starting on an herbal regimen. It isn’t often prudent to ask the teen-ager who works at the vitamin and supplement store for a recommendation about a health concern. Look for someone with experience and training through schools, self-studies or apprenticeships. Certifications from various natural healing and herbal associations or training programs show that the consultant or herbalist has completed many hours of study and passed qualifying exams. Also, there are websites on the World Wide Web designed to give information regarding the safety and efficacy of herbs and supplements. Two of these are the Supplement Quality site (www.supplementquality.com) and Medline, the government’s National Library of Medicine (http://nlm.nih.gov/). Consumers should be well informed about drugs, herbs and supplements so they’re able to ask the right questions when visiting their healthcare providers.

Nature has provided us with many wonderful gifts that are here to assist us in living healthy lives. Herbs do that job safely and effectively.

About the author:

Debbie Markel, Certified Herbalist and Powhatan resident, studied herbal medicine through the East West School of Herbology and Nutrition. She has taught herbal medicine at Powhatan High School, the American Spirit Institute of Massage and other venues and received her Certified Natural Health Professional (CNHP) designation through Trinity College of Natural Health. Debbie’s retail herb store and nutritional consulting business is Apothecarian Herbals (www.herbalconsultant.com), and she is available for classes and lectures. She can be reached at (804) 598-5352.

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