Good afternoon, everyone, and thank you for coming out to support the Art School and Yoga studio…I feel honored to be asked to share information with you, and hope it will be as exciting for you as preparing for this was for me. We are at a time when we have an abundance of alternative healing sources available to us, and a virtual information explosion as we start meshing together all the different cultural resources and healing wisdom from around the world.

I’m here to pull out some of the latest, greatest, or maybe out of the ordinary facts or uses of herbs and homeopathy… to start, let’s look at the first page and touch on what herbs are, and what they are not.

Herbs are sources of vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients, and phytochemicals, and enzymes..just as we haven’t discovered all the functions of everything in the body, or all the vitamins yet, we are still finding out and proving the effectiveness of single herbs and their synergistic combinations, many of which have been used for thousands of years by African, Indian, Asian, Middle Eastern, European, North American and South American Cultures..and more!

Many doctors will tell you that herbs havent been proven, but they are just not reading their professional journals..they are loaded with studies, many at our own U>S> colleges and Universities like Emory here in Decatur withdouble blind studies showing their effectiveness…Dr.s just are not trained or given any protocols on administering them.

Herbs are, however, the sources of and similar to many of our prescription medicines today.

They also statistically have extremely lower rates of side effects because of their whole or natural state. Prescriptions actually cause over 400,000 deaths per year, while herbals result in less than 25 deaths per year.

Herbs are overall less expensive than prescription medications, but there is a place for both in healing…Prescription drugs have saved many lives, prevented excruciating pain, and stabilized many conditions, but the body actually heals itself, and drugs unfortunately have too many side effects and don’t provide the raw materials to help with chronic or debilitating diseases like herbs do. There are over 5000 medicinal herbs available now, except where Codex is stamping out health freedoms, in the E.C. Australia, and Japan…Codex(a part ofU.N.’s WHO) is pushing legislation in this country as we speak..(ask me later)

Herbal formulas seem to have the greatest promise in helping immune problems, from Diabetes to Cancer, Nerve problems from anxiety, depression, to nerve damage, Herbs also seem to be the classic poison or toxin removers from our bodies in an environment that is filled with toxins today, including prescription drugs that we can’t seem to get out of our water supplies.

One of the greatest gifts herbs have given is the ability to reduce or balance inflammation or stress in the body, which result in depletion or destruction of organs glands and systems in the body…

However, ther are things which herbs are not…they are not major sources of our macronutients, protein, carbohydrate or fat, we still need to eat food, although herbs are considered food for certain organs systems, glands, etc. Herbs are not a substitute for regular check-ups or urgent and emergency medical care when available…And finally, herbs cannot be combined with just any thing, but neither can over the counter medications, prescriptions or foods for that matter.

Let’s dive in on the next page where I’ve halfway alphabetized and summarized the herbs we’ll cover as time permits, starting with Alfalfa, the father of herbs…did you know that Alfalfa can even help with hot flashes and cholesterol? Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory condition that Dr.s treat with hormones or surgery.

Herbs Are:

Plant sources of vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients and phytochemicals

Being proven scientifically for the last 80 years

Sources of and similar to many medicines

Much lower in side effects because of their whole or natural state..Prescriptions:over 400,000 deaths yr. While Herbs: less than 25 deaths yr.

Less expensive than prescriptions

There is a place for both in healing

Over 5,000 medicinal herbs available

Biggest need today: Immune, Nerves and stress, Detox, Inflammation

Herbs are not:

Sources of Protein, Carbs, or Fat

Substitutes for emergency medical care when available

Able to be combined with just anything (neither are foods or prescription or OTC meds)

Homeopathy

Traditional Homeopathy : single remedies and combination formulas

 

Flower Essences: Bach, American, Bush, etc. for emotional and personality states or situations

Sources: Herbs, food, minerals, animals, insects, glandular extracts, and bacterial, viral, fungal, or parasitic nosodes

 

Homeopathics are:

Non-toxic, approved by the FDA, and have an unlimited shelf life

Designed to treat symptoms and the root cause of the problem, and the type or "constitution" of individual by a detailed description of symptoms

Best prescribed by a homeopathic doctor when the general remedies do not adress the problem..but most of the time, the right remedy can be selected by reading the symptoms on the label, or referring to the Materia Medica or other reference guides

Every homeopathic has a specific name, usually in latin, and potency

Potency in the U.S. is described as 6x , 10x, 15x, 30x, etc the number indicates times of dilution and x means 10 fold

The more dilutions, the stronger the remedy, even though there is less substance, if any, in the remedy…less is more in homeopathy

They are thankfully, tasteless, odorless, and can even be absorbed through the skin

They can start working in less than a minute, and can usually be used repeatedly, until symptoms subside

Can be taken with most herbal formulas to speed up and enhance their affect

Popular now: Flu nosodes 2004 Hayfever, Pollen, Dust Mold Animal Dander Oscillococcinum

Teething –colic Amalgam Detox NSP’s Prevention Feveraid Kid Detox

The right remedy can be selected by stress testing or EDS screening

Alfalfa- Ulcers, hot flashes, endometriosis, cancer, cholesterol, detox

Aloe-fertility(don’t use with birth control) lowers potassium, don’t use continually

American Ginseng-stress, high blood pressure (nitrous oxide) bronchitis, carpal tunnel

Ashwaganda- Adrenal fatigue, alzheimers, autoimmune,

Astragalus-Weight loss, anxiety, colds, bladder infections, M.S. (works like an immunosuppressant), infertility, congestive heart failure, cholesterol plaque, deep immune tonic….not for use with high fever or severe infection

Black Cohosh- Most popular P.M.S. menopause and stress, HAS to have probiotics in digestive system, fever, blood pressure, aches and pains

Bitter orange- Safer ephedra substitute, contains synephrine-allergies and decongestant properties,diverts blood flow from legs(do you stand a lot?) to heart, lungs, kidney, and brain..used as alt. to ephedra in wt. Loss –seems to mobilize fat, good for bloating, is still being studied for weight loss…

Bitter Melon-Diabetes, viruses such as chronic fatigue and herpes, not for people with liver disorders or viruses momordica is in NSP’s Sugar Reg, as is Banaba leaf for blood sugar

Boswellin- Frankinscense, inflammation, arthritis, colitis

Bacopa- alzheimers, ADD, anxiety disorder, stress, can’t take with estrogen or birth control

Bupleurum-Chinese liver tonic, great for PMS related migraines, etc, bone cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, also needs good bacteria in digestive system

Butcher’s broom- bioflavanoids, swelling, varicose veins, cholesterol, can’t take with BP meds

Burdock- cancer, liver, gout, and eczema

Cardamom- Chai Tea- urinary, T.B., digestion

Cat’s Claw-Can detoxify intestines while increasing good bacteria, good with chemo- can improve outcomes in leukemia, melanoma, breast cancer, hodgkins lymphoma, andsquamous cell Ca…good for smokers..regulates white blood cells and macrophages, h. pylori fighter, sinusitis, colds, viruses, take with lemon or vinegar

Cordyceps- energy, endurance, cancer, high cholesterol, tinnitus(ringing in ears)

Coleus Forskoli-wt. Loss, skin, eczema, asthma, works like a cacium channel blocker for blood pressure

Hoodia- amazing new herb for appetite and anxiety

Devil’s Claw- anti-inflammatory, pain, gout, lower back pain

Dong Quai-Psoriasis and vitiligo (coumarins) not with blood thinners female ginseng

Guggul Lipid-cholesterol, triglycerides, weight loss(seems to benefit thyroid), nodulocystic acne

Hops-anxiety, insomnia, high plant estrogens. May cause gynomastia or fat deposit(beer belly)

Horse Chestnut- Cellulite, varicose veins, bruises, arthritis, wrinkles. Not with kidney or liver prob’s

Horsetail- Hair, skin, fractures, osteoporosis, kidney and bladder, bedwetting.high in silica and selenium , NOT for extended use or with High blood pressure

Green Tea-most popular weight loss, asthma(contains theophylline), cancer, works like an ACE inhibitor on blood pressure, detoxifier, diabetes(syndromeX) flu..green tea combined with several medications produces insomnia..ear infections, eczema, periodontal disease

Griffonia- herbal source of tryptophan..5-HTP..anxiety, appetite control, depression, sleep

 

Kudzu- hot flashes, liver, alcoholism, cancer, beginning of deafness…must have probiotic in G.I. tract

Licorice root- lupus, hot flashes, low blood pressure, low sodium, excess potassium, adrenal…can raise blood pressure…asthma, menieres disease, (dzziness), vitiligo, cancer, counteracts skin exposure to toxins, good for ulcers, celiac, crohn’s, also available in DGL (no glycyrrhizin)the substance which causes sodium retention..fewer recurrences of ulcers withDGL than tagamet..chonic fatigue syndrome, diabetes, hepatitis, B (kids) and C AIDS…not for people with low thyroid or corticosteroids

Milk Thistle- Lupus, liver damage, hep C, acne, constipation, irritable bowel, cirrhosis,gallstones, high cholesterol, cancer, parkinsons, ovarian cysts, diabetic ketoacidosis, no side effects, safe even for pregnant and nursing women, but may reduce effectiveness of birth control.

Mushrooms- Maitake: cancer (F.D.A.studied) chronic fatigue, lyme disease, stress adaptogen Shiitake-flu, virus, cancer Reishi-inflammation, pain , bronchitis, fibroids, cancer, candida, stress Turkey Tail- memory : caution with candida or yeast allergy

Mate-overweight, constipation, high in caffeine and minerals

Nettle-Testosterone booster, allergies, lupus, don’t take with flu

Olive leaf-high blood pressure, ldl reducer, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, viruses, antibiotic resistant bacteria, parasitic, intestinal muscle spasms, yeast or candida, may have detox reaction..drink lots of water

Oregano-immunization detox, antiviral, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory,

St. John’s Wort- Breast cancer, lupus, crohn’s, vitiligo(increase exposure to sunlight for effectiveness),sleep

Pomegranate-anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, hot flashes

Relora- Magnolia and Phellodendron-not for people with kidney problems

Quercetin-alternative to ephedra as an antihistamine, safe with children, asthma, emphysema, hives, stomach problems, cancer-stops several cancer spreading triggers in the body, and counteracts cancer cells resistance to chemo., canker sores, cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, gout, eczema, wrinkles,food related migraines, repair sun damage..studied extensively..similar in action to nasalcrom and sodium cromoglycate

Rooibos- not honey bush, but African red bush, stress, allergies (esp. children), anti-inflammatory, insomnia, restless leg syndrome, infant colic

Sarsaparilla- Psoriasis, eczema, gout, menopause, testosterone booster, body building, don’t take with any med’s or prostate problems

Schizandra-depression, liver cirrhosis and cancer, anti-inflammatory, mental function, stress, blood pressure, insomnia, excessive sweating, adrenal tonic, vision, restless leg syndrome