Its ridiculous to think such a thing. Each of us owes our existence to herbs, as they helped our ancestors survive the harsh realities of living in the pre-modern world. Our ancestors had to rely on what was available locally and what worked or else they’d perish. So, if a remedy didn’t work, it was eliminated. It was a life & death matter.
Through this process, over 1000s of years, systems of herbal medicine were developed the world over from North American to Europe and Africa to the Far East. At the beginning these systems were developed independent of each other, each with herbs being the foundation. They all came to the same conclusion, through their own experiences, that herbs were effective in maintaining health & wellness.
Herbs are one of the world’s oldest forms of medicine.
Disconnection from Nature
In modern societies, we’ve detached ourselves from nature and the localities from which our ancestors were from. The systems of herbal medicine developed by our ancestors were contextual, tied to particular geographies, languages, cultures & worldviews, which have all changed to varying degrees now. And so, our ability to use herbs as effectively as our ancestors, has been impaired. Knowing when it is indicated to use an herb, which part of the herb is used, how to prepare it, how much to use, how often, these are just a few of the pieces of knowledge that need to be known in order to employ herbs effectively.
Yet, in spite of this, according to a study by Gardiner (2007)…
“Nearly 1 in 5 people in the US population report using an herb for treatment of health conditions and/or health promotion.”
Furthermore, herbal supplement sales have increased year over year for the past 9 years (Lindstrom, 2013). This shows that people are once again learning how to use herbs and possibly doing so relatively effectively, yet not nearly as effective as our ancestors. However, working with an herbalist, attending one of the many classes & workshops on using herbs or learn herbs from the many authoritative herbal books out there, are some great way to improve your ability to use herbs effectively.
Herbs Work in a Wellness Paradigm
Factors such as diet, sleep, exercise, stress levels, life purpose and other wellness inputs each contribute to your state of health. Herbs can’t act as a substitute for adequate sleep, regular exercise or a high quality diet. Its not a silver bullet. But they can help…
- to get your sleep rhythms back into sync
- to help enhance your bodies ability to make the most of what you are consuming in your diet
- to restore the function of particular organs
- to enhance the livers detoxification capacity
- to calm the nervous system via modulating the HPA axis more efficiently
They help support the body so it can achieve normalcy & balance with respect to these various wellness inputs.
Herbs Support Body Functions
Think of herbs, as supporting the body’s physiological functions, so they can get back into balance and normalcy. So, during a cold or flu, you would use herbs…
- to modulate the immune system, so it isn’t as painful
- to assist the body in mounting a fever, if you are so depleted that you can’t mount a strong fever
- to support the lungs’ abilities to expectorate (remove congestion with ease)
- to stimulate mucus production
- to upregulate endogenous anti-viral interferon levels.
So, go out and rediscover our ancient herbal medicines once again and take back control of your health today!
References
Gardiner, P., Graham, R., Legedza, A., Ahn, A., Eisenberg, D., Phillips, R. (2007). Factors associated with herbal therapy use by adults in the United States. Altern Ther Health Med. 2007 Mar-Apr;13(2):22-9.
Lindstrom, A., Ooyen, C., Lynch, M.E., Blumenthal, M. (2013). Herb Supplement Sales Increase 5.5% in 2012: Herbal Supplement Sales Rise for 9th Consecutive Year; Turmeric Sales Jump 40% in Natural Channel. HerbalGram. 2013; Issue 99: 60-65
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this site is for educational & informational purposes only. By providing the information contained herein we are not diagnosing, treating, curing, healing or preventing any type of disease or medical condition. Before beginning any type of natural, integrative or conventional treatment regimen, it is advisable to seek the advice of a licensed healthcare professional.
