Herbal Medicine

Why use herbs?

Herbal medicines address many health issues from digestive to respiratory to immune. While single herbs can be very helpful for minor ailments, such as ginger for nausea and turmeric for inflammation, there is also the need for more sophisticated herbal blends and remedies for issues that are not easily resolved, or that have resisted standard treatment.

Michelle is an experienced herbalist and has studied both traditional Chinese medicine and western medical herbalism.

Asian herbal medicine is a sophisticated system that combines herbs to regulate body systems and to perform actions such as restoring normal peristalsis, reducing pain sensation, and improving blood flow to organs and tissues. Herbs that target specific tissues and systems can have multiple uses and benefits to the overall organism.

If you are interested in learning about herbal remedies, book a consult or use the Contact Form on the menu.

Some health issues – common colds, cough, allergies – can be addressed with herbal formulas of western or eastern herbs, and it may be possible to purchase these through one of the bigger online superstores such as Iherb, Vitacost or even Amazon. Some health issues – thyroid disorders and autoimmune health – require a more in-depth analysis. Consultations are helpful in either case to pinpoint the best solution for the individual as body type and health history play an important role in matching the correct remedy to the individual.

Herbs and plants are natural and medicinal substances that withstand sweeps in climate and environment, and continue to thrive. They exert these same powers in our bodies by boosting energy, dredging the blood circulation to remove toxins while at the same time preserving healthy tissue. In my mind, nothing can compare to the efficacy and value of herbal medicines.

Examples of Herbal Use

The Chinese materia medica by Dan Bensky lists over 400 medicinal herbs that includes botanical identifiers as well as uniquely traditional medicine identifiers such as taste, temperature, and channel. Pharmacological studies of each individual herb and also herbs in formulas provide clinical data for ways in which herbs act upon various body tissues and structures.

Using herbs for prevention of illness is a common traditional practice. For example, the formula Jade Windscreen, Yu Ping Feng San, is taken preceding the season when allergies are problematic, i.e., taken 3 weeks in the winter in preparation for spring allergy season, to reduce the severity and frequency of allergies.

For acute and chronic conditions, herbs can halt symptoms very quickly and lower risk of recurrence or escalating illness. There are numerous digestive formulas that can assist in managing bowel dysfunction, gastritis, and more. Respiratory formulas can ease congestion, facilitate breathing, and eliminate virus.

Herbal use is growing in popularity. A recent survey conducted by the Council for Responsible Nutrition shows that over 73 percent of Americans use dietary supplements. Of these, herbals and botanicals are used by approximately 39 percent of all adults, and is growing (CRN survey, 2019).

This growth undoubtedly has to do with the increasing endorsement of herbs by physicians, also a relatively recent phenomenon. Many European journals (especially German medical journals not widely read by Americans) have supported the use of herbs for decades, and at this time, Germany is ahead of the game.

In the U.S. progress has not been as rapid. As one author states, there has been a “small but steady stream of articles about the irresponsible use of herbs…” (Castleman & Hendler, 1995, p. 4) and that “most American doctors are unfamiliar with the vast scientific literature demonstrating herbs’ safety and effectiveness for an enormous number of ills” (p. 4).

Fortunately, this is changing as more studies are now making their way into American medical journals. The internet and journal databases such as Science Direct and Pubmed are some popular resources that allow the sharing of international clinical studies, as well as articles and publications, sourced from university and esteemed experts in their fields.

References

Castleman, M. & Hendler, S. (1995). The Healing Herbs: The ultimate guide to the curative power of nature’s medicines. New York: Bantam Books.

Dietary Supplement Use Reaches All-Time High [Council for Responsible Nutrition survey]. (2019). Retrieved from https://www.crnusa.org/newsroom/dietary-supplement-use- reaches-all-time-high-available-purchase-consumer-survey-reaffirms

sharing on herbal medicines

I enjoy writing about herbal medicine because I believe herbology is important to health, and that herbal remedies can repair, restore, and revitalize. Because I love researching herbs. I started writing on HubPages a few years ago to practice my “chops” as a writer. Once I got a few articles published, I was able to land an actual writing job (part time, I am more of a contributor than writer) with the Herbal Academy in Bedford, MA, a prestigious online herbal program that offers beginner and advanced herbal training.

Below are contributions I have written that I hope can shed some light about the value of herbal medicine, and its value to health. All of the snippets below provide a brief summary of the topic, with links to the full article at the bottom.

Thanks for reading!!

🌻 Michelle Thelen, L.Ac. MSTOM