|
HERBAL THERAPY by Gayle Redfern I use two phrases, "Herbal Therapy" and "Herbal Remedy" interchangeably which is not so unusual for writers. In my mind, remedy is a one-time correction. To me, therapy is on-going. Is this accurate according to our dictionary? According to the dictionary, Therapy means "remedial treatment". According to the dictionary, Remedy means "correct" or "cure". Most people will agree with these definitions. However, both these imply imperfection or dis-ease. With therapy it is ongoing and with remedy, it is instant. Regardless, with both of these, we focus on imperfection or dis-ease, we create or enhance these bodily problems through our thoughts. From my perspective, we ARE perfect. Our busy lives push us out of balance easily and frequently, forcing the need to regularly re-align our bodies. Food and exercise both re-align us. Do we use it for this purpose? Not always. When used regularly, Herbal Therapy slips us back into alignment. When we need stronger action, an herbal remedy is there. An herbal remedy does not always correct imperfection or heal dis-ease but they certainly bring our bodies back into alignment, supplying missing nutrients. I encourage readers to look at these pages with this outlook in mind. The key point to remember is: -- We are all perfect, we just follow different paths. Relying upon the surrounding plants for healing has been part of earth life, long before the written word, before labels. Although our dictionary accredits the words “herb” and “herbal” to old French, Latin and Middle English periods, we know the herbal remedy practice came from times long before then. As hunter-gatherers, people reached for a specific plant. In communal living, specialists cared for and stored every herbal remedy. This allowed us to benefit from an herbal remedy outside our local region 5,000 years ago in India, through Ayurveda, defined as the "Science of Life" people discovered the unique energy flowing throughout the body, the Dosha energy. Using plants native to India, they harvested the berries from the Neem Tree and produced many products. Their herbal remedies include ones such as Guggul, a blood detoxifier, and Triphala, an anti-oxidant and digestive aid. While an Ayurvedic physician can identify your body type and prescribe an herbal remedy, it is not always necessary to seek out a physician. You may want to learn what your personal constitution is so you can adjust your diet or daily habits for example. One of the simplest methods is completing the Dosha Quiz. Many citizens in the Western World perceive Ayurveda and the dosha constitution as a complex subject, and certainly not for the layman. Yes, if you want a career as a practitioner or physician, the study is complex. However, there is much that individuals can learn and achieve for their families. If they take the initial time to read up on them and actually take the time to prepare the spices and staples for their cooking, then they will discover that Ayurveda Cooking is simple and need not take a long time. Homeopathic treatment existed for centuries but it is only in the 18th century that the popularity increased. The cornerstone of this method is – like heals like. The basic form of homeopathy fits into the average kitchen and garden since using regular garden plants to treat similar ailments is the cornerstone of this health system. You may remember your Grandmother using the principle frequently. Grandma and herbal remedies are synonymous. One example of an herbal remedy comes from Europe. Arnica Montana, an indigenous plant of Europe, qualifies as a salve or tincture for anti-inflammatory and pain-relief. Arnica produces the same symptoms and therefore must be used in homeopathic proportions. Two ailments benefiting from this method are Hypothyroid and Sciatic Pain Relief. As scientific study expanded, people accepted and acknowledged Herbology. It was decades, perhaps centuries, before the study or "science" became formalized. As the use and study expanded, some clients approved and preferred the science of herbs over medical science. It is also interesting that it took many thousands of years before humans acknowledged the benefits of Holistic Pet Care. There was a time gap between the Greek era and modern era when pets were not recognized as part of the household. In the green era, they had pets and the historical records from Greece refer to this care. We also need only go into nature to find that wild animals intuitively pick healing herbs. Today, there are numerous herbal companies in North America. Most people have their favourite source. I discovered, though, a company known as Nutronix International who benefits our environment and our body. They searched the world for global solutions that were environmentally friendly and top ranking for our bodies. Out of our oceans, they learned that Coral Calcium benefits the body more than traditional calcium. From Brazil, they found a product that has more omega fatty acids than blueberries – Acai Berry. It is fairly common knowledge that our body depends upon vitamins and minerals. They discovered that taking sublingual B12 (absorbed under the tongue) is the most efficient absorption method. We do require modern drugs for major ailments but to stay healthy and balance out our radical living, going back to our ancestors methods is the best option for all.
|
|