healingways
disease. You may feel better quickly, but
you must continue the medication to
maintain your apparent good health.”
Natural Therapies work gently with the
Healthful
body to correct nutritional imbalances
that cause the symptoms, therefore, the
process takes longer but the end result is
Herbs
a correction rather than a cover up.“The
length of time required to affect a change
is entirely dependent on the problem,”
says Harrell, “but patience and faith in
The People’s Medicine
what you are taking are important.”
Harrell makes a point to educate
her clients about the herbs they choose,
cautioning that education about herbs
is important, particularly for individuals
who are also taking prescription medi-
cations. Finding credible information
can be a daunting task and the inter-net
is rift with misinformation. “You need
to seek guidance from credible practi-
tioner, not the sales-clerk at the local
by Susan DeSantis
over-the-counter remedy, aspirin.
big-box store,” advises Harrell and you
must also recognize that natural prod-
H
erbs, whether prepared as extracts,
“Herbs have long been considered
ucts are not FDA-controlled.” From a
infusions, compresses, poultices or
the people’s first choice of medicine,
naturalist’s stand point, Harrell believes
tinctures, are ancient remedies garner-
and they generally work better in com-
that this is a good thing; however,
ing new public favor. A recent National
binations,” says world-renowned herb-
practically speaking, she notes that it
Health Interview Survey by University
alist and author, Rosemary Gladstar,
can allow a lot of “snake oil” and poor
of Iowa researchers indicates that some
co-founder of Sage Mountain Herbal
quality products into the market place.
38 million U.S. adults had used natural
Retreat Center and Botanical Sanctuary,
It is important to purchase products
herbs or supplements during the 12-
in Vermont. She explains that, unlike
from a practitioner who has researched
month period researched.
allopathic medicine’s release of drugs
their product lines and carry only high
Relied upon for thousands of years
into the human system as “single silver
quality products. “Remember the old
to restore and maintain health, herbs
bullets,” which can create havoc in the
saying,” she says with a smile, “you get
perform several functions that help the
body, herbal formulas contain a mixture
what you pay for.” Some herbs conflict
body heal itself. They cleanse, strengthen
of herbs, acknowledging that a single
with prescriptive medicines, so it is vital
and normalize the glands and bodily
herb may have an effect that is too
that people are aware of the dangers.
functions; provide nutrition; raise energy
strong or a set of effects is desired that
That’s why consulting a knowledgeable
levels; and stimulate the immune system.
no one herb can provide.
herbalist is a necessity.
High in vitamins and minerals, as well
“This makes sense,” says Gladstar,
“Herbs are inexpensive and readily
as many plant-derived chemical com-
“since humanity has co-evolved with
available,” observes Gladstar. “As the
pounds known as phytochemicals, herbs
plants. Plants and people are interre-
people’s medicine, the wisdom inher-
can be compared with food, because
lated, just like our body parts and the
ent in the plants continues to be passed
they nourish the body and help it thrive.
symptoms that we experience.” She
down in the community, from one
According to Michael Tierra, a
notes that this means several herbs are
generation to the next.”
doctor of Oriental medicine, clinical
usually needed to affect each aspect of
herbalist/acupuncturist, founder of the
a health challenge, although there are
Licensing laws for recommending herbs
American Herbalist Guild and author of
exceptions, where a single herb is used
vary from state to state; for additional
The Way of Herbs, “Most modern phar-
for a particular condition.
information, visit American Herbalist-
maceuticals are based on chemical con-
“It is important for the public to
Guild.com. For more information on
stituents that were at one time isolated
understand that natural therapies take
herbs see Herbs.org.
from the traditionally used herbs. Today,
much longer to affect change,” says
herbs serve as the basis for at least 25
Dottie Harrell, natural remedies consul-
To connect with Rosemary Gladstar,
percent of all pharmaceutical drugs.” As
tant, licensed pharmacist and owner of
visit SageMountain.com.
just one example, the anti-inflammatory,
Nature Specialist. “We are accustomed
Contact Michael Tierra at PlanetHerbs.com.
pain-relieving phytochemicals contained
to conventional medicines that appear
in the leaves of the white willow tree are
to offer “quick fixes”, when in reality Contact Dottie Harrell at
synthetically produced in the common,
they are treating only the symptoms of 540-674-0914 or natpharm@usit.net.
Southwestern Virginia
16
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40