re: Why Herbal Therapies May Not Work For You

jimmcdonald — Mon, 18 May 2009 14:24:49 GMT

To state that "the first and primary problem is that using an herb is typically in no way shape or form treating the cause of the disease. It tends to be more of an allopathoc remedy. In other words, it's a band aid, it doesn't address the primary dysfunction at all." is simply ignorant. Certainly, this ~could~ be the case if you were approaching the use of herbs on a very base, "take this herb for that problem" paradigm, but that in no way represents the proper use of herbs, not does it fall within the scope of most herbal traditions, whether western vitalist, traditional chinese medicine, ayurvedic, unani tibb or myriad others.

Traditional herbal practices are acutely focused on addressing causes of conditions. As just one example, if someone were to develope stomach problems because of deficient acid production, an herbalist wouldn't recommend HCl supplements, but to increase bitters in the diet, and, if needed, to use a more medicinal formula of bitters before meals. This allows prompts the body to produce its ~own~ acid (as well as other digestive secretions), and not rely on supplements. Many traditional "medicinal plants" are really much more akin to food, and act as nourishing and restorative tonics, not by pushing or pulling the body in a medicinal manner. Two examples would be nettle leaves and burdock root.

Also, to suggest that herbalism doesn't account for differences in the people using it is also completely unfounded. Virtually all systems of traditional medicine recognize this, and it is built into many of them. In traditional western and unani tibb herbalism, the four constitutions of sanguine, choleric, phlegmatic, and melancholic have been in place for hundreds of years. In ayurveda, they have the three doshas, vata, pitta and kapha. In traditional chinese medicine they look for the yin and yang, the 5 elements, and other factors.

Perhaps Dr. Mercola could have suggested that it made sense to consult with an herbalist when using herbs.