Herbalists

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Rockefeller Medicine Men: Medicine and Capitalism in America E. Richard Brown See book keywords and concepts

Still experiencing competition from the empirically grounded herbalists, regular physicians resorted to ever larger doses of their therapies through the first half of the nineteenth century. Believing that any desired change in a patient's gross symptoms was to the good and seeking to distinguish their art from lay practice, regular doctors bled their patients more profusely and doubled and tripled their doses of calomel and jalap. The profession's heroic therapy became the focus of increasingly bitter and widespread attacks.

Some of the herbalists were midwives, and others were men and women who had experimented with herbs and were known for their abilities to heal the sick. Lay healers were distributed throughout the countryside. They seldom relied on healing for their entire support and charged little for their services.3 Regular physicians were increasingly plying their art on a full-time basis and charging substantially higher fees, often supported by medical societies' publishing "fee bills" to place a floor under competing doctors' charges.

Manifesto for a New Medicine: Your Guide to Healing Partnerships and the Wise Use of Alternative Therapies James S. Gordon, M.D. See book keywords and concepts

I brewed these plants in various combinations—boiling them in water—added honey and lemon, and on occasion black pepper (also good for dispersing mucus) to make the mixture—the decoction, the herbalists called it—more palatable. I got better—not all better but enough so that I could endure my residual nighttime nasal stuffiness and wake without my eyes cemented together. This was progress, and it was fun too. In times of real trouble I had been grateful for the potency of pills, but they had never really pleased me. Whole plants were different.

Earl Mindell's Supplement Bible: A Comprehensive Guide to Hundreds of NEW Natural Products that Will Help You Live Longer, Look Better, Stay Heathier, ... and Much More! Earl Mindell, R.Ph., Ph.D. See book keywords and concepts

Lavender Oil For more than a thousand years, herbalists have recommended lavender to treat stress and related conditions such as insomnia. Recent studies suggest that it does indeed have a soothing effect on the body. Recently, researchers in England tested whether lavender oil could be used as a treatment for insomnia for nursing home residents. Four patients who had been receiving sleep medication for up to three years had their sleep measured for six weeks. For the first two weeks, the medication was tapered off. The second two weeks, the patients were given no medication.

Alternative Cures: The Most Effective Natural Home Remedies for 160 Health Problems Bill Gottlieb See book keywords and concepts

EUCALYPTUS: A Rinse to Tone the Scalp The leaves of the eucalyptus tree help fight infection and tone skin, and they have a long history of use by herbalists for treating dandruff, says Brigitte Mars, an herbalist and nutritional consultant in Boulder, Colorado. To make a rinse with eucalyptus, put 4 heaping teaspoons of dried leaves in a quart of boiling water and stir. Then cover, remove from the heat, and steep for an hour. Strain the liquid into a large plastic squeeze bottle and add 1 tablespoon of apple-cider vinegar. After you've taken a shower, pour the rinse slowly over your hair.

Hot water works better than cold because it stimulates peristalsis, the squeezing, muscular action that pushes stool through the digestive tract, says Andrew Gaeddert, a professional member of the American herbalists Guild and director of the Get Well Clinic in Oakland, California. CITRUS PEEL: Help Move Stagnant Chi When you drink hot water, put some citrus peel in the glass, says Gaeddert. Citrus peel stimulates chi, the life-energy of the body. Practitioners of Traditional Chinese Medicine believe that building up chi gives the body the strength to have a bowel movement, he says.

ASTRAGALUS: An Exceptional Expectorant Astragalus is what herbalists call an expectorant, which means that it helps you cough up mucus. Use six to eight drops of astragalus root tincture dissolved in water, or take one 500- to 600-milligram capsule of pure root three times a day, Dr. Downing says. GRAVITY: A Slanted Approach Spending time on a slant board, an inclined, cushioned board that you lie on with your feet at the top and your head at the bottom, can PROFESSIONAL CARE If your symptoms persist for more than 7 to 10 days, and you develop a fever, see a doctor immediately.

TEAS: Calming Cures Folk treatments for belching include clove tea and citrus peel tea, says Andrew Gaeddert, a professional member of the American herbalists Guild and director of the Get Well Clinic in Oakland, California. To make the tea, add 1 teaspoon of cloves or finely grated citrus peel to 8 ounces of water and boil for 10 minutes. Drink the tea hot. Be Kind to Yourself, and You Can Stop Binge-Eating Disorder Picture a woman alone in her kitchen, uncontrollably eating 2 pints of ice cream followed by six slices of cold pizza, a box of cookies, and a half-dozen doughnuts.

Herbalists, who use plants to heal. Doctors of Traditional Chinese Medicine and experts in acupressure, who enhance the chi, or life-energy of the body. Psychologists, who use imagery, visualization, relaxation, and other mind-body techniques to heal. And that's only a partial listing of the types of alternative practitioners included here. I asked them for their best home remedies for each of the 160 health conditions in this book, while always making sure that they told me when professional care is necessary and how to find the best professional care, be it alternative or conventional.

Attaining Medical Self Sufficiency Duncan Long See book keywords and concepts

Consequently you'll see everything from almost mainstream medicine like chiropractic doctors, massage therapists, and herbalists at one end of the spectrum with coffee enemas and depravation tank users at the other end of the extreme. Some areas such as acupuncture and Shiatsu massage date back for centuries while others like the New Age crystal healers have no tradition beyond recent Hollywood movies and science fiction books. The main differences between the alternative medicines and conventional medicine is one of goals and outlooks.

I Reishi Mushrooms Although little known in the West, Chinese herbalists have used the reishi mushroom for almost 2,000 years. This mushroom is unlike those which are normally found on the shelves of your local grocery store — though it can be found in many health food stores. The reishi is a polypore mushroom and, like others in this group, has a hard; woody, bracket-like body. Reishi is therefore not eaten whole but rather is pulverized into powder, granules, or extract, before being used as a tea, tonic, or supplement.

Conscious Eating Gabriel Cousens, M.D. See book keywords and concepts

Western herbalists share a similar awareness about the use of herbs. The Ayurvedic and Chinese also are cognizant that our foods help to balance the relationship of our body energies with the changing seasons of the environment. In the Ayurvedic system, the individual mind-body or psychophysiological constitution is called one's dosha. The tridosha system offers a simple yet relatively complete way to understand how the foods we eat directly affect our health and well-being. "Tridosha" means three doshas or constitutions, which are called vata, pitta, and kapha.

But for thousands of years Ayurvedic physicians, Chinese acupuncturists, ancient healer priests and priestesses, and Western herbalists have utilized this awareness in their work. According to The Spiritual Properties of Herbs, by Gurudas, "An herb as a natural substance provides healing, but it also provides a spiritual message." One of the most significant developments in the awareness that plants, herbs, trees, and bushes can have their effect on emotional, mental, and spiritual levels was the pioneering work done by the extraordinary English physician, Dr. Edward Bach.

Breast Cancer? Breath Health! The Wise Woman Way Susun S. Weed See book keywords and concepts

My observation is-and other herbalists working with women with breast cancer agree-hormones in plants have cancer-inhibiting effects. Research showing soybean hormones to be cancer-reversing substantiates this. • Rosemary [Rosmarinus officinalis) contains two phytochemicals-carnosol and ursolic acid—which can slow or stop tumor growth. In laboratory studies it inhibited mammary tumors in mice. The dose is 5-20 drops of the fresh plant tincture, 2-3 times daily. • Limonene, found in orange peels and lavender, can reduce and prevent human breast cancer according to Science News, May, 1993.

Earl Mindell's Supplement Bible: A Comprehensive Guide to Hundreds of NEW Natural Products that Will Help You Live Longer, Look Better, Stay Heathier, ... and Much More! Earl Mindell, R.Ph., Ph.D. See book keywords and concepts

In addition, Chinese herbalists prescribe this herb to relieve back pain. Look for Chinese knotweed (Polygonum cuspidatum) in formulas designed to boost cardiovascular health and in cold formulas. Fo-Ti Also known as he-shou-wu, this herb is reputed to be a great rejuvenator. According to Chinese folklore, it can restore youthful vitality and fertility and can even help prevent hair from turning gray! Fo-ti is also a traditional treatment for gastrointestinal problems and diabetes.

Stop the Medicine! A Medical Doctor's Miraculous Recovery with Natural Healing Cynthia A. Foster, M.D. See book keywords and concepts

The only reason we waited that long was because we were led to believe that the herbalists and other natural healers were quacks. So, the only reason I have stories to tell about reversing life-threatening diseases with natural healing is because people waited so long to try it. If they would have tried it sooner, I'd have more stories about how cured indigestion, sinus problems, constipation, headaches, and other minor complaints. These are easy complaints to heal with natural healing. I'm not going to blame anyone for my ill health during medical school except myself.

Earl Mindell's Supplement Bible: A Comprehensive Guide to Hundreds of NEW Natural Products that Will Help You Live Longer, Look Better, Stay Heathier, ... and Much More! Earl Mindell, R.Ph., Ph.D. See book keywords and concepts

The queen bee grows to be 50 percent larger than the other female bees in the hive, lives up to 40 times longer, and is highly fertile, compared with the sterile worker bees. herbalists have long believed that the royal jelly is what gives the queen bee her obvious advantage over other bees. Royal jelly is a complete protein, containing all essential amino acids and B vitamins. Studies have shown that royal jelly is a mild antibiotic and has a stimulating effect on the adrenal glands, which produce key hormones in the body that regulate metabolism, mood, appetite, and even sex drive.

For the past 2000 years, Asian herbalists have used a tea brewed from the kudzu root to treat alcoholism. Recently, researchers at Harvard Medical School have shown that kudzu extract can substantially reduce alcohol intake in a breed of hamsters that develop an alcohol addiction similar to that found in humans. In the study, hamsters were injected with either daidzein or daidzin and then given a choice between plain water and alcohol mixed with water. Those given either of the kudzu compounds reduced their alcohol intake by 50 percent.

Damiana's reputation as a sex-enhancing supplement may be due to the fact its mildly stimulant properties, which enhance feelings of alertness and energy. Some herbalists believe that damiana slightiy irritates the urethra in men, thus sensitizing the penis and making it more responsive to stimulation. Take one 60-mg. capsule up to three times daily. DHEA Men report that this natural hormone makes them feel stronger and sexier. This makes sense; DHEA is broken down into testosterone in the body, which will have a definite effect on libido.

Eat and Heal (Foods That Can Prevent or Cure Many Common Ailments) the Editors of FC&A Medical Publishing See book keywords and concepts

For thousands of years, herbalists have prescribed ginger for bloating and heartburn, and today's experts see little reason to go against this practice. The German government's Commission E, similar to America's FDA, even recommends ginger on a daily basis to improve digestion. They suggest eating 2 to 4 grams a day, which is equal to about a 1-inch chunk of fresh ginger or 500 to 1,000 mg of ginger supplements. I Provides pain relief. Many J pain medicines — even aspirin — hurt as much as they help. Even when you take them for just a short while, you have to be careful of their side effects.

Foods That Fight Disease: A Simple Guide to Using and Understanding Phytonutrients to Protect and Enhance Your Health Laurie Deutsch Mozian, M.S., R.D. See book keywords and concepts

Among herbalists, celery has a reputation for acting as a diuretic and has been used in East Asian folk medicine for centuries to treat high blood pressure. Researchers were able to decrease the blood pressure of lab animals by 12 to 14 percent by injecting them with phthalide, a phytochemical present in celery. Phthalide, which is responsible for the distinctive flavor of celery, decreased the amount of catecholamines in the blood of the test animals. Catecholamines are the stress hormones in the blood that cause blood vessels to constrict, increasing blood pressure.

Blended Medicine: The Best Choices in Healing Michael Castleman See book keywords and concepts

Aside from a few chiropractors, the only other full-time practitioners of natural and alternative medicine seemed to be representatives of a bygone era—such as homeopathic doctors, naturopaths, herbalists, and a few doctors of oriental or Chinese medicine. As a result, most of us have relied heavily on conventional Western medicine—what doctors call allopathic methods of healing. We are far less familiar with methods of alternative and natural healing. Yet, as we now realize, these other healing methods present an opportunity to try something that we haven't done before.

This book combines the expertise of a wide range of medical advisors, including medical doctors, herbalists, acupuncturists, doctors of oriental medicine, plus practitioners from a wide range of other specialties. Many times, these experts let you know exactly how to use the blended-medicine approach at home. But they also tell you when it's best to seek professional care, whether from a medical doctor, a doctor of oriental medicine, or another well-qualified practitioner. Should you need a professional, the information in this book will help you find one who is skilled and compassionate.

Breast Cancer? Breath Health! The Wise Woman Way Susun S. Weed See book keywords and concepts

Echinacea may be used for months with continuing benefit, although many herbalists, myself included, previously suggested a break after two weeks. Echinacea and poke root combine to counter breast infections quickly and dramatically. References: 1, 2, 3, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12, 21, 25 Other Names: Elf dock, Helen of the Fields Type: Tonifying + Found in: Europe, Asia, Tibet; naturalized in mountainous, cold, wet pastures ofjapan and eastern North America; easily cultivated. Part Used: Fall-dug roots, at least two years old.

Christopher, one of this century's most respected herbalists, also writes in his book, School of Natural Healing, about using poultices of freshly grated poke root against breast cancer. (Poultices are left on for three days, then replaced, for 4-6 weeks.) The tincture (taken orally) is also a renowned anti-cancer remedy. The Journal of Economic Medical Plant Research reports that pokeweed antiviral proteins nourish white blood cells, quickly increase lymphocyte replication, and inhibit a wide range of viruses (including polio, influenza, and herpes simplex).

Earl Mindell's Supplement Bible: A Comprehensive Guide to Hundreds of NEW Natural Products that Will Help You Live Longer, Look Better, Stay Heathier, ... and Much More! Earl Mindell, R.Ph., Ph.D. See book keywords and concepts

Studies have shown that royal jelly is a mild antibiotic and has a stimulating effect on the adrenal glands, which produce key hormones in the body that regulate metabolism, mood, appetite, and even sex drive. herbalists often recommend royal jelly for menopause problems in women, to improve sexual performance in men, and as an energizing tonic for both sexes. Anecdotal evidence suggests that royal jelly may help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. If royal jelly works as well on humans as it does on queen bees, it may help us live longer, healthier lives.

Miracle Cures: Dramatic New Scientific Discoveries Revealing the Healing Powers of Herbs, Vitamins, and Other Natural Remedies Jean Carper See book keywords and concepts

Even today kudzu is a common treatment for alcoholism in China, and many Chinese patients and traditional physicians, also called herbalists, rave about its effectiveness. But since such practitioners do not keep records on patients or publish their findings, it's tough to amass scientific evidence to validate its value, says Dr. Wing-Ming Keung, a biochemist at Harvard Medical School. He decided to search out the evidence himself. On a recent investigative trip to his native Hong Kong, Dr.

Herbs for Health and Healing Kathi Keville See book keywords and concepts

In China, herbalists use bupleurum, ginseng and licorice to reduce or relieve pain resulting from inflammation. All three of these herbs stimulate the pituitary and adrenal glands to increase natural production of adrenal hormones such as cortisone that reduce the inflammation and consequent pain caused by conditions such as arthritis. And while prescription drugs such as prednisone produce adverse side effects, these herbs have quite the opposite effect—the drugs eventually shrink the size of your adrenal glands, impairing their function, but bupleurum and ginseng reduce adrenal shrinkage.

While other scientific investigations into the effects of yucca on people show little action, herbalists have reported success in using it. This may be because the longest of these studies lasted only three weeks, and long-term use of the herb is generally necessary before any improvement is apparent. This proved true in a two-month study in France in which people with various types of arthritis took IV2 grams of yucca a day. About nine out of ten participants reported that the intensity of their pain decreased.

Most North American physicians are not very concerned about bile defi- European herbalists use the juice of the dandelion root to treat diabetes and liver diseases. ciency, but European doctors do worry about this problem. If a patient of a European doctor is diagnosed as being bile-deficient, chances are, the physician will prescribe an herbal formula to correct the problem. Several European drugs contain one of the most potent bile stimulants in the plant world—dandelion.

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