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 by Dr. Rita Louise
Congratulations on your choice to consider the use of herbs and nutritional supplements as a means to help you achieve a better state of health.
Therapeutically, the goal of herbal therapy is to help the body cleanse itself and heal naturally. In today’s society, we have become accustomed to magic bullets and instant fixes. Herbs don’t function that way.
Herbs work to feed the body the nutrients it needs so that our bodies can heal themselves. Herbs have three general functions in the body: 1) they can be used to help the body eliminate or detoxify; 2) they can help the body “maintain” by counteracting physical symptoms, thus allowing the body to heal or 3) they can be used to help the body build or tone an organ.
When working with herbal remedies, some people notice an improvement of symptoms within a few days of starting an herbal program. Chronic health problems, on the other hand, often take longer to resolve themselves.
As a general rule, you should allow the body a minimum of three months to correct itself. Individuals suffering from long term chronic conditions should stay on their herbal program for an additional month for every year they have experienced their health concern.
So for example, if you're working on a problem you've had for two years, give your body three months plus an additional two months to correct itself. This is obviously just a guideline, but it does tend to put a bit of perspective into the use of herbs.
Before you run down to the store and stock up on some herbs, it is important to realize that herbs have powerful ingredients and must be used appropriately. Although herbal remedies are less likely than conventional medicine to cause side effects, herbs nevertheless can be very potent. With that said, here are some guiding principles for the safe use of herbs.
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Do your homework. Investigate the herb or herbal remedy before using it. Whatever type of product you choose, the quality of an herb or herbal preparation is only as good as the quality of the raw herb from which it was made. Personally, I recommend using well-established brands of herbal remedies. This can save you the time and energy of investigating products and often increases your chances of getting reliable ones.
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It is best to initiate an herbal program slowly. Start with one product at a time and build to the desired amounts so you don’t overwhelm your body.
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It is also important to mention that when working with herbs, you may experience a “healing crisis” as your problem begins to work its way out of your body. A healing crisis is often experienced as a temporary aggravation of symptoms that can flair-up for a few days. If they symptoms last longer than that, discontinue your herbal regimen and visit your primary care provider.
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From a practical point of view, it is best to work on only one or two health problems at a time. Focus on the most important problem first. What you may find is that your other health issues go away by themselves as the original problem is eliminated.
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Check with your primary care provider before starting an herbal therapy program. As with all complementary therapies, individuals considering herbal therapy should consult with their doctor to avoid harmful interactions with their current medications.
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Do not take an herbal remedy instead of the medicine prescribed by your doctor without discussing it with him/her first.
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If you are pregnant or breast-feeding it is even more important to investigate the action of specific herb. There are a number of herbs that are contraindicated for pregnant or lactating women. If in doubt, it is best to just avoid them all together.
In addition to taking herbs to help restore your body, here are some additional tips to help you experience optimal health in your life. Drink lots of pure water. Get plenty of high quality sleep. Exercise daily - take a walk, stretch or do yoga. Try eating a diet rich in natural foods. Cut down on white and refined sugars, white flour, dairy products, alcohol, caffeine, fats and foods with additives. Increase the amount of raw fruits and vegetables, whole grains and raw nuts in your diet.
Keep in mind, taking supplements is only part of the answer. At times emotional issues may inhibit our body’s ability to heal itself. Try to have a positive outlook on life. Find ways to relieve stress and release pent-up anger or resentment whenever possible. In addition, become spiritually stronger! It has been scientifically proven that prayer or meditation have a positive effect on healing.
Most importantly, be patient. Don’t expect instant changes. Your body didn't get that way overnight, so give it some time to heal. Building new cells and restoring the body’s valuable supply of chemical elements takes time and a commitment on your part, a commitment to get better.
Although there IS a point of no return in tissue damage caused by severe long-term deficiencies, it is surprising to see how well the body responds to herbal therapies. It has been found that by combining herbal therapies with dietary and lifestyle improvements, you can work toward the remission of symptoms and the reversal of the disease process naturally.
This information is provided for educational purposes only.
The descriptions of nurtritional supplements are based on the historical usage of the various ingredients. They are not intended to promote any direct or implied health claims, and actual results of usage can vary.
The statements on this Web site have not been evaluated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
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