Vaughn Lawrence. Naturopath & Herbalist. Herbalism 101. The Amazing Power of HERBS! What are Herbs?

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1 Vaughn Lawrence Naturopath & Herbalist Herbalism 101 The Amazing Power of HERBS! What are Herbs? By definition, according to Merriam-Webster, an herb is "a plant or plant part valued for its medicinal, savory, or aromatic qualities." To expand this definition, herbs are also widely utilized for their nutritive values as well, packed with vitamins and minerals in their natural state. An herb is also defined as a plant lacking a permanent or woody stem, differentiating them from trees or bushes. However, there are hundreds of examples of trees and barks from tree considered as herbs, such as Slippery Elm, Pau d'arco and White Oak to a name a few. All plants on earth contain medicinal or nutritive value. Yes, even the poisonous ones, when used properly or in homeopathic means, have helped thousands of people over the years. It was Ralph Waldo Emerson who eloquently reminded us that: "A weed is but a plant whose virtues have not yet been discovered." When trying to determine what herbs and are and if they are right for you, take these concepts into consideration. What we refer to as common spices such as parsley, oregano, thyme, basil, mint, marjoram, and turmeric, are extremely beneficial herbs that have been used medicinally for thousands of years. We need to look beyond their great taste in cooking, and rediscover their health-benefiting virtues. Also, please consider that although you have used ginger, garlic or oregano in your daily life and have never potentially heard of jiaogulan, reishi, cat's claw or astragalus does not mean that we should shy away from them. Instead, we need to educate ourselves as to why these herbs are so important to other cultures, yet new to us, and how we might be able to incorporate them to our daily lives. History of Herbology Herbal Medicine is the Art and Science of using herbs for promoting health and preventing and treating illness. It has persisted as the world s primary form of medicine since the beginning of time, with a written history over 5,000 years old. While the use of herbs in America has been overshadowed by dependence on modern medications, 75% of the entire world population relies on traditional healing practices, most of which is herbal medicine. Herbology dates back literally to the beginning of time. Herbs, plants and trees were all that mankind had available to him to overcome sickness and disease. It was because of the teachings of Hippocrates that doctors today take the Hippocatic Oath, which has unfortunately been somewhat lost over the course of time.

2 Hippocrates teaches us: "First, do no harm" "The natural healing force within each one of us is the greatest force in getting well Our food should be our medicine, and our medicine should be our food But to eat when you are sick is to feed your sickness" "A wise man should consider that health is the greatest of human blessings, and learn how by his own thought to derive benefit from his illnesses" "Everything in excess is opposed to nature." Hippocrates listed over 400 herbs for daily use. Dioscorides in the first century BC wrote a book including a compilation of over 600 herbs which would be used in teachings for hundreds of years and into the present day. Herbs have been used for nutrition, healing and strengthening the body in all cultures on every corner of the globe. Although the practice has been somewhat discouraged over the last century, at least in the United States, the practice will never disappear due to its overwhelming benefits, safety and efficacy. In fact, herbalism has grown tremendously in the last few years thanks to new scientific research validating what many herbalists and practitioners have known for literally 5,000 years! How Do Herbs Differ from Pharmaceuticals? Most pharmaceutical drugs are single chemical entities that are highly refined and purified, often synthesized (recreated in a laboratory). In 1987, approximately 85% of all modern drugs were derived from plants. Currently, only about 15% are derived from plants. In contrast, herbal medicine contains hundreds or even thousands of interrelated compounds. Science demonstrates that the safety and effectiveness of herbs is often related to the synergy of its many constituents. Benefits of Herbs The reason herbalism has such a long, rich and illustrious history is due to the overwhelming benefits derived from these plants when used properly. Many herbalists and natural healers firmly believe that any and all imbalances within the body can be overcome if the body is given the proper resources in which to do so. Depending on the severity of the issue, this can include a combination of healing throughout the mind, body and soul of each individual. Herbs play an incredibly powerful role in this equation. Herbs have been known to promote healing at all levels within the body, from the common cold, to a seemingly hopeless case. Herbs are specific to certain body systems and organs within the body. How does this occur? Herbs have an energy to them, and within that energy, intelligence. Sound strange? Although we may not be able to explain it with science, it is a known fact. How does Milk Thistle know to heal the liver when taken, or Juniper Berries to heal the kidneys? How come when we take Arnica our bruises and wounds heal more quickly? This is the advantage that herbs have compared to drugs or their synthetic counterparts. Not only are there little to no side effects with herbs, but they have an innate intelligence which swiftly moves through the body to where it is most needed.

3 What is the Difference Between Organic and Wild-crafted Herbs? Many of us are familiar with the standards of organic growing methods. Organic products are free of herbicides, pesticides, fungicides, insecticides, etc. This has become a generally recognized standard. Wild-crafted herbs are actually harvested in their natural environment. This might include a forest, meadow or hillside. Often, wild-crafted herbs are superior to organic for many reasons. Because they grow in their natural environment they can be stronger and more resilient, having to fight the elements and grow using what mother nature provides naturally. If intelligently harvested, they can be found deep within a forest or meadow, far from pollution and other environmental hazards Do Herbs Really Work? The quick answer is an unprecedented, absolute, without a doubt YES! The question is, "How come everyone doesn't use them and only a select few seem to be educated on the subject?" That is actually a long discussion, but simply put, modern medicine has worked hard to squeeze out natural therapies. Now I have nothing against modern medicine. Our advancement in technology can provide a timely diagnosis and often saves lives, no question about it, but we should have the choice to decide how to care for ourselves. It is the treatment options available after we discover an ailment where we need to think wisely. Many people choose natural herbal therapies because they are safe, there are rarely side effects, they are affordable, and as mentioned early, THEY WORK! Many people do not realize the third leading cause of death in the United States after Cancer and Heart Disease is doctors and properly prescribed medications. They kill well over 100,000 per year. People are looking for safe and effective alternatives. Are Herbs Safe? A new 200-page report from the American Association of Poison Control Centers concludes that nutritional supplements were the cause of zero deaths in the US in That probably explains the lack of bodies, says Jack Challem A professional colleague, Andrew Saul, PhD, makes an important point: If nutritional supplements are allegedly so dangerous, as the FDA and news media so often claim, then where are the bodies? You see, there aren t any bodies. You can take lots of vitamins, minerals, and herbs, and the worst that might happen is that you ll get an upset tummy. Of course, you re far more likely to feel better and lower your risk of health problems. According to Saul, not a single person died from dietary supplements in 2009, based on the latest information released by the US National Poison Data System. The new 200-page annual report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers, published in the journal Clinical Toxicology, shows zero deaths from multiple vitamins; zero deaths from any of the B vitamins; zero deaths from vitamins A, C, D, or E; and zero deaths from any other vitamin, says Saul. Additionally, there were no deaths whatsoever from any amino acid, herb, or dietary mineral supplement.

4 You can download the 200-page Poison Control report at The data discussed are found in Table 22B, pages Yes, but there are many reasons to consult with an experienced herbalist, naturopath or homeopath. It is possible to overdo anything and herbs are no exception. Let's first discuss the general safety of herbs and I will then give you a list of reasons why you should consult a professional. Herbs are generally safe, that is why they are so popular and so many people utilize them. It is best to educate yourself by reading some good books in the subject. "The Little Herb Encyclopedia" is a great beginner book and any book by Michael Tierra, who is an absolute expert herbalist for over twenty years. There are literally hundreds of great sources, including the internet. The easiest way for a beginner to safely use herbs is to learn about which herbs are considered NUTRITIVE or TONIC herbs. These contain high amounts of vitamins and minerals and are considered safe to take on a daily basis. As you may have read above, adaptogenic herbs are also safe to take on a daily basis. Nutritive herbs include nettle, barley grass, wheat grass, spirulina, chlorella, alfalfa and many others. If you do overdo an herb, you might make yourself sick, but rarely does an herb ever cause enough harm to send you to the hospital, which usually stems from abuse of the herb, or using an herb in a chronic degenerative state that the body could not handle. This is one reason it is good to seek a professional herbalist or naturopath when possible as to avoid any adverse side effects. Finally, there are many reasons not to take specific herbs and when it is absolutely critical to consult a professional. If you are pregnant or nursing, there are very few herbs that you can take safely, know which ones are safe and which to avoid. If you have a chronic health condition, compromised kidney function, on dialysis, an oxygen tank or other life-preserving device, it is not advised to use herbal therapy. If you are dealing with eating disorders, alcoholism or addicted to smoking, your immune system could be severely compromised. When dealing with auto-immune conditions you do not want to take herbs that over stimulate the immune system which could worsen your condition. So you can clearly see there are many instances in which you should consult a trained professional herbalist or naturopath. This is only a very partial list. We must take great care to protect the integrity of herbalism so that these methods are used only to benefit mankind and never to harm, as was told to us by Hippocrates. Click here for a list of some herbal safety recommendations. Are Powders or Liquids Better? The safe answer is both! We know herbs work, whether they are in powder or liquid forms. It is has a lot do with how the herbs are treated throughout the process of harvesting, manufacturing and packaging. What methods used for creating a tincture is important also. Although alcohol is the traditional method of choice, we feel it severely denatures many of the important plant ingredients. You will see plenty of arguments on both sides. We say, just take the herbs! We have amazing results with both powdered and liquid products.

5 What are the Benefits of Herbal Combinations/Formulas? There are numerous benefits to using herbal blends, formulas or combinations. What we have to keep in mind is that herbs do have a medicinal effect on the body. Unless you are well educated or under the care of a trained herbalist or naturopath, people can tend to overdo just about anything. Unless you are using exclusively nutritive or adaptogenic herbs, it is best to ask someone who knows. Overuse of a single herb can create other imbalances in the body. When using a blend, formula or combination the herbs have a synergistic effect on your health. We know from thousands of years of research in herbalism that many herb combinations work better when combined. When trying to target a specific organ or body system, herbs can work together to accomplish healing at a higher energetic level than a single herb can do alone. Also, this allows a trained formulist to strategically put stronger herbs in a formula that can stimulate healing without any negative effects because the other herbs in the formula offset the stronger herb. I almost always recommend the average consumer stick to formulas created by an experienced formulator. This will ensure the greatest effectiveness and safety! What is the Absorption Rate of Herbs? This is a tricky question and depends on a variety of different factors worth considering. First, because herbs are from plants in their natural state they absorb very well. This is not always the case as herbs are heated, treated, processed and generally denatured. That is why all the products found on this website are raw, unheated and unprocessed in any way for maximum absorption and efficacy. There are a number of factors that affect absorption rates of herbs. Most importantly are pharmaceutical medications. Just as pharmaceuticals can interact with other pharmaceuticals, they can also interact with herbs. As a precautionary measure, always take herbs a minimum of 90 minutes to 2 hours, before or after prescription medications. As we age and our stomach acid, enzyme production and bile production seem to drop, this can affect absorption rates as well. In these cases, it may be better to stick with herbal teas and liquid tinctures for maximum benefit. When is the Best Time to Take Herbs? In general, herbs are best taken on empty stomach, 30 minutes before a meal or about 2 hours after a meal. This is not the case with all herbs and it is best to follow the recommendations listed on the bottle or package for best results. If taking the herbs on empty stomach causes any stomach discomfort, try taking with food or discontinue use and consult a professional herbalist or naturopath.

6 Have Herbs Been Studied? Without a doubt, herbs are the most studied and safe form of natural healing in existence. It is unfortunate that so much of this information has been suppressed over the last century, but if you look through the history books you will discover a wealth of information and studies on the subject. Not only do we have the great natural healers and herbalists of the past, but we have current mind blowing scientific research as to the safety, effectiveness and benefits of thousands of herbs. In looking to the past, herbology has been an art form for over 5,000 years. We know every ancient culture and civilization had their own natural healers who utilized many of the same methods we use today. For people today to say that herbs are unproven, unstudied or lack scientific validation is well, complete nonsense. You can take any well known herbs such as ginger, cayenne pepper or garlic and find literally hundreds, if not thousands of studies by well known universities, research institutes and medical professionals. How about herbs that we may not have heard of such as Jiaogulan, Ginseng, Rhodiola or Reishi Mushroom? There are many studies that can be found on these herbs as well, including many others. Jiaogulan for example is known as the "immortality herb" in China and multiple books have been written on the amazing results achieved through the use of this herb on many, many different issues.