What Happened To The Herbs

Rediscovering Our Roots: The Journey Back to Holistic Living

Herbs have been used for thousands of years, since the beginning actually.  Genesis 1:11 states, "Then God said 'let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees in which is their seed, each according to it's kind on earth".  

Since those first sprouts appeared, mankind has leaned on herbs for everything--food, medicine, purification, perfume and even currency.  At one point, these plants were considered as precious as gold, often used to pay taxes and woven into every part of daily life.

So What's Changed?

In modern times, we've moved toward a c toulture of convenience.  After WWII, the rise of employer-provided healthcare, followed by Medicare and Medicaid, shifted how we view wellness.  While these systems may have brought many benefits, they also made it easy to hand over the responsibility for our health entirely to professionals.  I used to be that person that didn't want to figure out how to take care of myself.  It's actually quite embarrassing to say that but that's the truth.  I wanted my doctor to just tell me what's wrong and give me a pill to fix it.  After decades of misdiagnosing and pharmaceutical injuries that all changed.  My entire life I dealt with female issues and was just told that's how it is for women.  As I got older the problems increased in quantity and severity.  I was eventually diagnosed with PCOS which also had thrown me into a sort of psuedo-menopause.  I was in pain 3ish weeks of the month, had hot flashes, depression, anxiety, horrible headaches, weight gain, acne and the list just goes on.  I was given medications that would literally make me sick,, constant nausea, stabbing stomach pains, more headaches but never helped any of my issues.  Finally, I was recommended a functional medicine nurse practioner that changed everything.  I learned about nutrition, the importance of specific excercises, and supplements that could help with most of my issues, and they did.  I was still dealing with the pain but many of my other symptoms were gone. In my 20's and 30's I had more ultrasounds than I could count and nothing was ever found.  Until I ended up with an emergency hysterectomy at 42 due to several tumors on my female organs.  Thankfully they were all benign and the pain was gone!!!  After the excitement and elation of all of that was gone I became angry.  How did so many doctors and radiologists not know.  How could they not see 5 tumors (1 the size of a football). Recently I had a doctor tell me I didn't have a choice and would have to take statins for the rest of my life for genetic high cholesterol that she said wouldn't ever go away even with statins.  This was after I had naturally dropped my cholesterol by 40 points in 3 months.  Needless to say, I'm not seeing her anymore.   You can see why I take a holistic approach to my health.  Herbs have been a huge part of that.  

The Bright Side?

The tide is turning.  More and more people are looking backward to move forward, rediscovering the power of a holistic approach. 

What Does "Holistic" Actually Mean?

At it's heart, holistic health is about treating the whole person, not just a collection of symptoms.  Instead of reaching for a quick fix to mask a problem, we look for the root cause-checking in with the entire body to see what needs adjusting.

When I talk about holistic care, I'm looking at a beautiful toolkit that includes:

• Herbalism (my personal favorite)
• Chiropractic Care
• Acupuncture
• Nutrition, Naturopathy and so much more

Why Herbalism Has My Heart

While every branch of holistic health has played a role in my wellness journey (I still have a ways to go), herbalism is where i feel most at home.  There is something deeply empowering about being able to walk into my garden or a local apothecary (if you're lucky enough to have one) and find an herb that will work with my body rather than just masking the symptoms. 

Over the years I have found many herbs that have benefited me greatly.  For example, Lemon Balm is amazing for stress and anxiety.  It has many other benefits but this is why I use it for the most part.  Even the smell of it makes me calm and happy.  

Stinging Nettle is amazing for allergies.  Despite it's name it's soothing for the skin (in creams, salves, etc.  It WILL sting you but if you have a nettle salve it will sooth that sting.  I find this so funny about nettle).  It's great for inflammation which is one of the reasons it's great for your skin.  

Now What Do I Do?

You might be asking, how do I use herbs?  How do I know which herb to use? Before we get into that I need to tell you that I have learned what I know through practice and research.  I am not a doctor or certifited herbalist (yet) so please be sure to do your own research.  It is unlikely that you will see me use words like medicine or remedy as I cannot make those claims without getting myself in trouble.. LOL

There are many ways to use herbs.  I'd say the most common is through tea.  You can also make creams, salves, poultices, tinctures, oxymels, and decoctions.  I'm sure there are probably other ways as well.  I use teas for allergies, to relax, relieve nausea, etc.  I use salves for skin irritations, cuts, bruises, rashes, hives. Tinctures are great for getting the herb into you fast.  A poultice is perfect for a cuts, scrapes, infection, splinters and maybe even a broken bone. A clay face mask, Epsom  salt bath, or even an onion on your chest to help relieve congestion are all examples of a poultice.   Oxymel's are used for soothe a sore throat, immune boosting, loosening mucus and relieving coughs.  They also aid in digestion and are anti-inflammatory.  Some uses of an oxymel are also useful as a tea.  Oxymel's do have apple-cider vinegar so some may prefer a tea when it's appropriate but they definitely have their place.  The beauty of a decoction is that it helps draw out the water-soluble benefits of a specific plant.  They are made using sustained heat to break down hardier plant matter which will result in a stronger more concentrated application.  They are different from a tea as the heat is stronger and is sustained much longer.  It still amazes me when I think of all the benefits we can receive from herbs and other plant life.   

As far as knowing what herb or plant to use all comes from research.  The internet has a plethora of information but you always want to find multiple sources and not everything you find on the internet is correct.  SHOCKER I know.  There are endless amounts of books and Facebook groups.  But seriously, this is why it's so important to do your research.  If you have a naturopath or even a doctor that is knowledgeable with herbs can guide you in the right direction.  Not every herb or plant will benefit everyone in the same way.  What works for me may not work for you.  If you are pregnant or nursing or on any medication you always want to talk to a knowledgeable practitioner.

Next time on the Wildly Infused Soapbox Blog we will be discussing how we get our hands on these amazing herbs.  See You Soon & God Bless!