The Many Benefits of Herbal Medicine!

Did God put Thorazine in the earth? Did God put Ritalin in the earth? Today I met a man who had a reaction to a prescribed medication. He lost both legs, all ten fingers, one kidney and part of his colon. I'm not making this up.

We do not have a health care system, we have a DISEASE care system. A system that uses toxic pharmaceuticals with side effects worse than the original problem, a system that suppresses symptoms, but never solves the problem, a system that gives you a dead man's liver because it can't fix the one you already have.

The healing herbs of the earth are the true medicine and the benefits of herbal medicine are countless. This is the medicine that addresses the underlying cause of the problem. This is the medicine that gives your body the raw materials it needs to heal. This is the medicine that I have been blessed to use in my natural healing practice for over thirty years.

Many of today's pharmaceutical drugs have synthesized the active ingredients of nature's healing herbs, but these active ingredients represent a small part of the healing power of plants. This is why pharmaceuticals cannot duplicate the myriad benefits of herbal medicine.

This is why the drug Valium, for example, becomes an addictive poison, while its plant source, Valerian Root will calm, heal and restore with no side effects whatsoever.

As noted herbalist Matthew Wood points out, plants are representations of the problems of human life. The shapes and qualities of plants correspond to the medicinal properties within them, because the plant is an expression of the conditions which formed it: heat, cold, sun, water, etc. The plant which has dealt with cold in the environment will also heal human coldness because it fulfills a corresponding function in nature. So the plants provide the same benefits of herbal medicine to humans as they provide to themselves.

The Indians knew this. The Africans knew this. The ancient Chinese knew this. For thousands of years, indigenous people the world over have known the benefits of herbal medicine and have worked the plant magic. Let us give thanks that their ancient knowledge lives on and that the earth continues to bestow the benefits of herbal medicine upon us.

WORKING WITH HERBS

When working with healing herbs, we do not address symptoms. We do not "attack" diseases. We strengthen weakened body systems, stimulating the body's own innate, built-in, self healing mechanisms.

Well, the body can heal much more than a simple cut. In fact, the body will heal virtually anything, but it must have the tools to do the job. Those tools are in the roots, bark, berries, leaves and flowers of the earth, and if you want to get well, you must take advantage of the many benefits of herbal medicine.

Herbs can be purchased in a number of forms, the most common being capsules. Unfortunately, most herbal capsules are not potent enough to do the job. In order to get the many benefits of herbal medicine, it is best to purchase herbs in the whole, tea form or in the potent, liquid form (tinctures, made from dried herbs, and extracts, made from fresh herbs).

Herbal teas are available in teabags and in loose bulk form. The herbal teabags that are commonly available today are useful, but in general, they are too weak to bring about the desired results.

The best way to obtain the benefits of herbal medicine is to combine herbs with each other. Although a single herb such as echinacea can be helpful, the really dramatic results are obtained through the synergistic reaction that occurs when herbs are combined together.

Also, the quality of your healing herbs is very important. Herbs should be consumed within the year that they were harvested. The methods of growing, wildcrafting (gathering herbs in the wild), harvesting, storing and distribution are important considerations as well and can determine how well you experience the benefits of herbal medicine.

Don't try to transpose the medical approach over to the holistic path. This approach will limit your ability to experience the benefits of herbal medicine. Herbal healing must be part of a multi-modal holistic program that embodies changes in diet and lifestyle as well as attitudinal changes related to how one heals. Now I'm not saying that you have to live like a monk or give up the things that you love to eat, but you do need to incorporate healthier ways of eating and living into your day to day existence. Visit our whole foods page for guidelines on healthier eating.

In my private practice and clinical work, having worked with thousands of clients for over thirty years, I have found that...

If you do not have the time or inclination to bother with the tea, then you can add the extracts to your health and energy drink.

Later, after you have healed the worst of the problem, you will take just two or three cups of the tea per week for maintenance and prevention (there are two ways to take herbs: therapeutically to heal a problem and preventively to prevent a recurrence).

Always prepare your teas from dried, cut bark, roots and leaves, whole seeds, flowers and berries all organic if possible. In general, you don’t want to use powdered herbs because when an herb is put into a machine and powdered, most of the active ingredients are released into the air (there are several important exceptions to this, Essiac and PowerUp being two). So to get the best benefits of herbal medicine, avoid capsules and pills.

HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE HERBAL TEAS

Herbal Teas

Place 6 (six) Tablespoons combined loose, dried healing herbs in glass jar (1 quart size). Fill with boiling spring water. Put a table knife or other metal utensil in the jar to prevent it from cracking when you add the boiling water. Stir. Cap. Let sit (steep) overnight. Strain and refrigerate.

If you don't have a glass jar, toss the herbs into the pot of water after you've turned it off. Cover and let steep up to 12 hours (overnight).

The longer it steeps, the stronger it gets. If you are using the extracts and tea together (see below), then add 1 oz. of extract when you combine the dried herbs with the quart of water.

If the problem is severe and you want the quickest results possible, it’s best to sip on these healing herbs, the tea and extract together, prepared as described above. You want to have them coming into your system as if you had an IV in your arm, little by little, but consistently over a period of time. This the most effective way to obtain the benefits of herbal medicine.

You should sip the entire first quart within 24 hours and the second quart within the next 24 hours. Have the second quart steep for 12 hours while you sip on the first quart. After the second quart, you should see improvement.

I always like to err on the side of caution. If you have digestive problems, are very old, take multiple medications, or are severely ill, start out slowly, taking small sips and leaving time in between. Always introduce anything new into your system slowly and carefully. also, it’s not wise to take several different herbal teas at one time. Consult your herbalist or health care practitioner

Herbal Extracts

Liquid herbal extracts are the most potent form of herbal medicine there is and they provide the greatest benefits of herbal medicine. For close to twenty years, I have used the healing herbs manufactured by Ric Scalzo, owner of GAIA Herbs, one of the most renowned herbalists in the world. Ric is currently involved with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) documenting the efficacy of herbal medicine.

My preferred method and the most cost effective method is to use them in conjunction with herbal teas as described above, but you can also add these liquid herbal extracts straight to water, juice or your daily health and energy drink.

Add 1 oz. of liquid herbal extracts (herbal potion) to 1 quart of herbal tea and take as described above or add 40-60 drops (as described on bottle) to warm water, juice or daily health and energy drink up to three times a day.

The healing herbs of the earth will purify and uplift you on every level, giving you a new lease on life! Even after thirty years, I am still amazed at the healing power of the plants and the countless benefits of herbal medicine.

Had to go to the ER because it was hanging on by a thread and needed to be surgically removed. Three days later, it was infected AND I had a staph infection on my finger. Of course, I was told that if I didn't take their antibiotics, I would end up in the hospital with an IV in my arm. Well, I took no antibiotics, it's now ten days later and both infections are gone. How did I do it? Click here and find out.

People, we've been bamboozled, we've been led astray (all praises to Malcolm). We must have the vision and courage to step onto the holistic path if we want to heal. We must take control of our healing. DON'T walk in there and let them have their way with you. Ask questions. Get second and third opinions. And when you finally face the fact that they don't have the answers, turn to God, turn to nature, turn to the earth, take advantage of the many benefits of herbal medicine and you will heal!

Please visit our Healing Forum for support, encouragement, inspiration and personalized assistance for your health challenges. Otherwise, contact me and I will assist you.

Click on the first link below for my healing herbal tea recipes.

Herbal Tea Recipes

Health and Energy Drink

Whole Foods

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