Tanya Harter Pierce
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 One experienced herbalist told me that the quality of the herbs used is critical. There may be a big difference between the potency of herbs picked from good "wild" soil as opposed to chemically fertilized soil. And exactly how and when the herbs are picked and brewed is possibly even more important. Many factors seem to contribute to how potent or effective any herbal treatment will be. Also, Rene Caisse injected the sheep sorrel into her patients and none of the herbal remedies today use that approach. |
Dr. John Heinerman
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 Mange
An Australian Solution
Jackie Fitzgerald is a successful practicing herbalist in the land "down under." She believes in and regularly uses many homeopathic preparations as well in her practice—something I personally don't believe in. But I respect her for her skill and knowledge in the healing arts. (I don't believe in homeopathy because I feel it is an art inspired from dark sources. An herbalist is one who uses herbs in their entirety and not fractioned portions of them. |
C. P. Khare
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 One herbalist (Kitty Campion) recommends: "In case of heart attack, in an emergency situation while waiting for the ambulance/doctor, administer 3 teaspoonful of cayenne in warm water initially (to be drunk all at a time) and then half a teaspoon every 15 minutes."
In general, cayenne pepper reduces the likelihood of developing atherosclerosis by reducing blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels. It also reduces platelet aggregation and increases fibrinolytic activity. These properties indicate its use in cardiovascular affections.
For topical application, commercial ointments containing 0. |
| The legendary Chinese herbalist, Lee Ching-yuen, who, according to a folk-lore, died in 1933 at the age of 256, recommended Gotu Kola above all other herbs for prolonging life.
Active principles and pharmacology
Major constituents are: triterpenoid saponins viz. madecassoside and asiaticoside and their agly-cones viz. asiatic acid and madecassic acid. Madecassoside 0.7-5 %> asiaticoside 0.1-0.6 %, asiatic acid 0.1-0.5 %, madecassic acid 0.5-0.8 %. |
Maesimund B. Panos, M.D. and Jane Heimlich
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 In this system that depends on the herbalist's intuition and experience, it is standard practice to increase the effect of a formula by combining a number of herbs.
This "artistic" approach to preparing medicine has its dangers. A great many medicinal herbs are toxic, particularly when the person ingests a large amount. But the self-help herbalist has no way of knowing what constitutes a "safe" dose, since this information is seldom provided in herb books. |
C. P. Khare
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| Curious about the formula of a local herbalist, he explored the plant's potential medical use. His work led to the production of a life-saving medicine. Today, glycosides are extracted from Digitalis purpurea and Digitalis lanata by pharmaceutical industry to produce the heart drugs digitoxin and digoxin.
Use in Western herbal
Though the leaf has been shown to be less toxic and is required in smaller doses, only the extracted pharmaceutical drugs are used. |
| David Hoffmann, a contemporary herbalist, calls it "one of the most useful relaxing herbs". According to Tyler, Valerian is perhaps best characterized as a minor tranquillizer.
In a double-blind study, valerian (450 mg or 900 mg of an aqueous root extract) significantly decreased sleep latency compared with a placebo. The higher dose of valerian did not further decrease sleep latency (WHO).
The effect of an aqueous extract of Valeriana officinalis root on subjectively rated sleep measures was studied on 128 people. |
Phyllis A. Balch, CNC
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 The ancient Greek physician Hippocrates prescribed fennel tea to stimulate milk production in nursing mothers; the medieval English herbalist Nicholas Culpeper treated kidney stones, liver, and lung ailments, and gout with fennel. Chewing fennel seeds is an age-old remedy for hunger pangs. Nutritionists today agree that fennel aids digestion, and it may prevent certain cancers. Fennel has been a popular ingredient in French cuisine for many years. It is easy to grow and forms a tall, lovely plant. Fennel makes a pungent, licorice-flavored tea. |
Cynthia A. Foster, M.D.
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 But, for all of his kindheartedness, and for all of the miracles that happened because of him, the master herbalist was repeatedly rewarded with handcuffs and jail sentences for "practicing medicine without a license."
I had watched as my conscience tore me apart. I cried for the tortured souls whom I was too afraid to help with unconventional means, for that might have meant expulsion from school. The medicine I had learned was not helping but was harming us all in a very horrible way. It was poisoning and mutilating our children. |
Bill Gottlieb
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 San Francisco herbalist Jeanne Rose, author of several herb books, includingjFert««e Rose's Modem Herbal.
Foster suggests that gardeners start small. First, estimate how much time you'll want to spend gardening. (The bigger the garden, the more time it will need.) Consider the realities of the space you have to use: how much sun the garden will get, what the soil is like, which herbs will do best in your climate (the seed packet often tells you the type of soil and climate the herb will need).
For urban dwellers who lack plots to cultivate, Rose recommends a back porch or window box garden. |
| Aromatherapy
Try the following deodorizing foot wash, from Aromatherapy: Applications and Inhalations by San Francisco herbalist Jeanne Rose, chairperson of the National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy: Blend two ounces of water, ten drops of lemon essential oil and the juice of one lemon, then wipe your feet thoroughly.
For information on preparing and administering essential oils, including cautions about their use, see page 19. For information on purchasing essential oils, refer to the resource list on page 633.
Food Therapy
Soak your feet in tea, suggests Jerome Z. Litt, M.D. |
John Robbins
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 Does some vague sense of awful foreboding still cling to the midwife, the herbalist, and the female healer? The average schoolgirl today has no idea what a midwife is, but she "knows" what a witch is —an old, ugly, and evil woman. She may even have innocently played a part in perpetuating the myth, dressing in black on Halloween with a broomstick and pointed hat.
I've often wondered why so few famous historical figures are women. Given that women are half of our species, how is that their actions and ideas are hardly discussed in our history books? |
Michael Tierra
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 I often wondered how I would fare as an herbalist if I found myself in a foreign country where I could not identify a single plant. I almost found myself in such a place when I lived for a few weeks in a village in southern India. I barely recognized one herb, except gota kola, which grew everywhere as a common weed. Yet within two weeks, with a little personal effort (such as checking a few botanical books on the area but, most important, asking questions of the local folk), I learned the medicinal use of several plants, enough to prescribe them to the villagers for their various ills. |
Cynthia A. Foster, M.D.
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| Later on, I learned of a great American herbalist, who designed an herbal formula back in the 1950's or so. It was designed to be used as an eyewash several dmes a day. Using this eyewash, people had had their cataracts fall off, their glaucoma go away, and their nearsightedness and farsightedness improve or totally disappear. His herbal formulae were so effective that they gave a baby sight who was born without optic nerves. Using this herbal eyewash, that baby grew optic nerves with which to see. |
| I used to think this Rh incompatibility could only be treated by giving these injections until I heard about how an herbalist who had both the mother and the father do herbal detoxifying, and change to a natural diet. The mothers had come to him because the medical doctors told them they could no longer have any babies because it was too dangerous. After the detoxifying, they had babies without any complications at all. So many of these abnormal conditions and diseases are caused by an unnatural diet and lifestyle.
I saw was a premature baby born to a mother who had lupus. |
| Using this herbal eyewash, that baby grew optic nerves with which to see. The herbalist died in the 80's, leaving behind many students, many of whom still recommend the use of this formula.
CHAPTER 12
Urology
Surgery, Blood and Burning Prostates
J. he next four blocks were surgery rotations; these would be difficult, since the hours were atrocious. Surgeons have a reputation for being domineering, arrogant and insensitive. Not everyone was that way, but most were. |
Michael Tierra
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| In collaborating with Michael in producing this book, I have taken special care to include much practical information for one not only to get started using herbs, but even to proceed towards the point of becoming a herbalist. You will find information here that has not been collected into any other single reference source. On the strength of this knowledge, you can move to familiarity with other herbs and techniques as necessary.
I have long been interested in providing an accessible education in herbal knowledge. Working with the Herb Trade Association and Dr. |
Cynthia A. Foster, M.D.
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| They have never seen a medical doctor; and if they ever had a health problem, they took care of it either through their own knowledge of natural healing, or they went to a natural healer, faith healer, spiritual healer, shaman, chiropractor, massage therapist, nutritionist, herbalist, acupunturist, reflexologist, iridologist, etc. They didn't question whether or not it would work, they just took care of it and then they were fine. Just last month, someone told me they had healed their cervical cancer years ago with a raw vegetarian diet and an herbal formula. |
Susun S. Weed
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 Calendula: These easily grown orange blossoms are praised by medical herbalist Amanda McQuade-Crawford and by Jeanine Parvati Baker, director of Hygeia College of Healing, as a particularly effective ally for women dealing with numerous fibrocystic lumps. The usual dose is 5-20 drops of tincture three times a day. For even better results, use infused calendula oil/oint-ment or fresh blossom poultices twice a day, too.
Burdock: Safe enough to use daily for years, burdock root has a reputation for improving lymphatic flow and reversing abnormal cellular changes. |
Cynthia A. Foster, M.D.
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| She followed an herbalist's programs and healed herself instead. She's alive and well today with no cancer. It's all about choices.
Doctors will fight and claw to the very end not to lose their scientific edge. They will try to discredit alternatives as unscientific and unproven. They will try to make us believe that each disease is different and should have a very specific therapy based on what the research says works. They will talk their fancy talk, and we will respect them because they talk in such an intellectual way that we do not understand.
Human nature is very predictable. |
Susun S. Weed
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| Maurice Messegue, herbalist 16
GINGER {Zingiber officinale)
Ginger, used consistently, even in small doses, is remarkably effective at preventing the initiation of breast cancer. Ginger contains many anti-cancer phytochemicals, including antioxidants and carotenes. See Seasoning Herbs; see Materia Medica.
GRAPES/RAISINS {Vinisvinifera)
The grape cure has always fascinated me, as I crave grapes with an overwhelming passion whenever I'm ill. Consuming nothing but grapes for several weeks is said to put primary tumors into remission and prevent recurrences. |
Dr. Cass Ingram
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 Michael Tierra, master herbalist, notes that rosemary is of "great benefit in treating headaches," because it contains natural anti-pain compounds.
Rosemary is also an incredibly powerful anti-mutagenic substance. This means it combats virtually any toxic chemical which damages the genes. Thus, rosemary is of lifesaving importance in the event of toxic chemical exposure. Researchers in England found that rosemary extract thoroughly protected the genetic material from chemical induced damage, partly by stimulating the synthesis of anti-toxic enzymes such as glutathione. |
| Fortunately, an herbalist was in his presence. This brave soul grabbed his bottle of oil of oregano (North American Herb & Spice Co.), placed several drops in Mr. J.'s mouth and rubbed it on his neck. Within minutes Mr. J. was revived; his neck swelling was halted, in fact, it was reversed. By the time the ambulance arrived he was completely well and did not require further care. This immensely valuable herbal substance, that is the wild oil of oregano, saved his life. |
Valerie V. Hunt
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 I remember my great-great-grandmother, an Irish Romany Gypsy herbalist. Even as a child, I ran from her. Later, I learned that she professed black magic. At that stage I couldn't describe why, when all the other family members "bowed down" to her, I got sharp pains in her presence and evaded her.
Thoughts, of course, are not material; they do not occupy space with size and weight, but each has its own energy pattern. The gross energy may resemble a whirlpool, an octopus, an arrow, or a meandering stream. It has space-shape like words do. |
| I immediately flashed back to my "black" great-great-grandmother, a Romany Gypsy herbalist, who chased me as a small child to hold and crush me. My father had explained that she saw black witches and goblin-like creatures. When I understood my anxiety, I pursued the young woman and gave her an appointment, realizing that she was no threat to me, and perhaps I could help her. Unfortunately for both of us, she did not keep the appointment.
Later a local minister sent me a former parishioner who had joined a Satan worship group. |
Ronald L. Hoffman, M.D.
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 The issue of credentialing is confusing because it may be that a back-alley Chinatown herbalist possesses skills far superior to those of a board-certified American-trained M.D. with a certificate from a short training course in TCM. See the Resource section for more on certification.
Another issue is the way TCM is making its way into the self-care marketplace. Herbs like ginseng and ephedra, long mainstays of TCM formulas, are being marketed and popularized in over-the-counter pills, teas, and tinctures. |
Michael Tierra
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| The herbalist must cultivate an attitude to maintain his or her balanced connection with the vital roots of existence. Such ritual practices as talking or praying to a plant, making an offering before picking or harvesting it or bringing the first-picked herbs to the people who live in that area, will help to raise and maintain one's consciousness at a level necessary for the proper practice of herbal healing. |
Susun S. Weed
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| Tinctures include sundew, poke, and mistletoe.
• herbalist and Alchemist, PO Box 553, Broadway, NJ 08808; 908-689-9020.Tinctures include astragalus, orange, and schisandra.
• Mt Rose Herbs, PO Box 2000, Redway, CA 95560; 1-800-879-3337. Castor oil, clay, tinctures, dried herbs, infused oils.
Organizations That Offer Help
African American Breast Cancer Alliance
1 W. Lake St., Apt. 423, Minneapolis, MN 55408; 612-644-7119 Information, support groups, advocacy.
Arlin J. |
| This protection ceases with menopause.13
• herbalist Juliette de Bairacli Levy writes: "In my experience, it is very rare for the nbmadic Gypsy women to have breast cancer. I attribute this to the long periods of time they allow their children to suckle at the breast."
A University of Nottingham Medical School study found a decrease in breast cancer risk in women under 36 who breast fed as little as three months, but other studies found risk reduction only when nursing continued beyond three months. All agree that the longer you nurse, the less your risk of breast cancer. |
Michael Castleman
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 People tell their friends that their doctors couldn't relieve their menstrual cramps or shoulder tendinitis, but that an acupuncturist or homeopath or hypnotherapist or herbalist did."
The Tapestry of Healing t first glance, mainstream and alternative medicine appear quite different from one another. Yet surprisingly, their various therapies have a good deal in common.
Take mainstream cardiology and Chinese medicine. On the surface, the two seem like polar opposites. |
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