Vaughn Lawrence
Naturopath & Herbalist
Herbalism 101
The Amazing Power of HERBS!
What are Herbs?
By definition, according to Merriam-Webster, an herb is "a plant or plant part valued for its
medicinal, savory, or aromatic qualities." To expand this definition, herbs are also widely
utilized for their nutritive values as well, packed with vitamins and minerals in their natural state.
An herb is also defined as a plant lacking a permanent or woody stem, differentiating them from
trees or bushes. However, there are hundreds of examples of trees and barks from tree considered
as herbs, such as Slippery Elm, Pau d'Arco and White Oak to a name a few. All plants on earth
contain medicinal or nutritive value. Yes, even the poisonous ones, when used properly or in
homeopathic means, have helped thousands of people over the years. It was Ralph Waldo
Emerson who eloquently reminded us that:
"A weed is but a plant whose virtues have not yet been discovered."
When trying to determine what herbs and are and if they are right for you, take these concepts
into consideration. What we refer to as common spices such as parsley, oregano, thyme, basil,
mint, marjoram, and turmeric, are extremely beneficial herbs that have been used medicinally for
thousands of years. We need to look beyond their great taste in cooking, and rediscover their
health-benefiting virtues. Also, please consider that although you have used ginger, garlic or
oregano in your daily life and have never potentially heard of jiaogulan, reishi, cat's claw or
astragalus does not mean that we should shy away from them. Instead, we need to educate
ourselves as to why these herbs are so important to other cultures, yet new to us, and how we
might be able to incorporate them to our daily lives.
History of Herbology
Herbal Medicine is the Art and Science of using herbs for promoting health and preventing and
treating illness. It has persisted as the world’s primary form of medicine since the beginning of
time, with a written history over 5,000 years old. While the use of herbs in America has been
overshadowed by dependence on modern medications, 75% of the entire world population relies
on traditional healing practices, most of which is herbal medicine.
Herbology dates back literally to the beginning of time. Herbs, plants and trees were all that
mankind had available to him to overcome sickness and disease. It was because of the teachings
of Hippocrates that doctors today take the Hippocatic Oath, which has unfortunately been
somewhat lost over the course of time.
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Hippocrates teaches us:
"First, do no harm"
"The natural healing force within each one of us is the greatest force in getting well“
“Our food should be our medicine, and our medicine should be our food“
“But to eat when you are sick is to feed your sickness"
"A wise man should consider that health is the greatest of human blessings, and learn how by his
own thought to derive benefit from his illnesses"
"Everything in excess is opposed to nature."
Hippocrates listed over 400 herbs for daily use. Dioscorides in the first century BC wrote a book
including a compilation of over 600 herbs which would be used in teachings for hundreds of
years and into the present day. Herbs have been used for nutrition, healing and strengthening the
body in all cultures on every corner of the globe. Although the practice has been somewhat
discouraged over the last century, at least in the United States, the practice will never disappear
due to its overwhelming benefits, safety and efficacy. In fact, herbalism has grown tremendously
in the last few years thanks to new scientific research validating what many herbalists and
practitioners have known for literally 5,000 years!
How Do Herbs Differ from Pharmaceuticals?
Most pharmaceutical drugs are single chemical entities that are highly refined and purified, often
synthesized (recreated in a laboratory). In 1987, approximately 85% of all modern drugs were
derived from plants. Currently, only about 15% are derived from plants. In contrast, herbal
medicine contains hundreds or even thousands of interrelated compounds. Science demonstrates
that the safety and effectiveness of herbs is often related to the synergy of its many constituents.
Benefits of Herbs
The reason herbalism has such a long, rich and illustrious history is due to the overwhelming
benefits derived from these plants when used properly. Many herbalists and natural healers
firmly believe that any and all imbalances within the body can be overcome if the body is given
the proper resources in which to do so. Depending on the severity of the issue, this can include a
combination of healing throughout the mind, body and soul of each individual. Herbs play an
incredibly powerful role in this equation.
Herbs have been known to promote healing at all levels within the body, from the common cold,
to a seemingly hopeless case. Herbs are specific to certain body systems and organs within the
body. How does this occur? Herbs have an energy to them, and within that energy, intelligence.
Sound strange? Although we may not be able to explain it with science, it is a known fact. How
does Milk Thistle know to heal the liver when taken, or Juniper Berries to heal the kidneys? How
come when we take Arnica our bruises and wounds heal more quickly? This is the advantage that
herbs have compared to drugs or their synthetic counterparts. Not only are there little to no side
effects with herbs, but they have an innate intelligence which swiftly moves through the body to
where it is most needed.
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What is the Difference Between Organic and Wild-crafted Herbs?
Many of us are familiar with the standards of organic growing methods. Organic products are
free of herbicides, pesticides, fungicides, insecticides, etc. This has become a generally
recognized standard. Wild-crafted herbs are actually harvested in their natural environment. This
might include a forest, meadow or hillside.
Often, wild-crafted herbs are superior to organic for many reasons. Because they grow in their
natural environment they can be stronger and more resilient, having to fight the elements and
grow using what mother nature provides naturally. If intelligently harvested, they can be found
deep within a forest or meadow, far from pollution and other environmental hazards
Do Herbs Really Work?
The quick answer is an unprecedented, absolute, without a doubt YES! The question is, "How
come everyone doesn't use them and only a select few seem to be educated on the subject?" That
is actually a long discussion, but simply put, modern medicine has worked hard to squeeze out
natural therapies. Now I have nothing against modern medicine. Our advancement in technology
can provide a timely diagnosis and often saves lives, no question about it, but we should have the
choice to decide how to care for ourselves. It is the treatment options available after we discover
an ailment where we need to think wisely. Many people choose natural herbal therapies because
they are safe, there are rarely side effects, they are affordable, and as mentioned early, THEY
WORK! Many people do not realize the third leading cause of death in the United States after
Cancer and Heart Disease is doctors and properly prescribed medications. They kill well over
100,000 per year. People are looking for safe and effective alternatives.
Are Herbs Safe?
A new 200-page report from the American Association of Poison Control Centers concludes that
nutritional supplements were the cause of zero deaths in the US in 2009. That probably explains
the lack of bodies, says Jack Challem
A professional colleague, Andrew Saul, PhD, makes an important point: “If nutritional
supplements are allegedly so ‘dangerous,’ as the FDA and news media so often claim, then
where are the bodies?”
You see, there aren’t any bodies. You can take lots of vitamins, minerals, and herbs, and the
worst that might happen is that you’ll get an upset tummy.
Of course, you’re far more likely to feel better and lower your risk of health problems.
According to Saul, not a single person died from dietary supplements in 2009, based on the latest
information released by the US National Poison Data System.
“The new 200-page annual report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers,
published in the journal Clinical Toxicology, shows zero deaths from multiple vitamins; zero
deaths from any of the B vitamins; zero deaths from vitamins A, C, D, or E; and zero deaths
from any other vitamin,” says Saul. “Additionally, there were no deaths whatsoever from any
amino acid, herb, or dietary mineral supplement.”
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You can download the 200-page Poison Control report at
http://www.aapcc.org/dnn/Portals/0/2009%20AR.pdf. The data discussed are found in Table
22B, pages 1138-1148.
Yes, but there are many reasons to consult with an experienced herbalist, naturopath or
homeopath. It is possible to overdo anything and herbs are no exception. Let's first discuss the
general safety of herbs and I will then give you a list of reasons why you should consult a
professional.
Herbs are generally safe, that is why they are so popular and so many people utilize them. It is
best to educate yourself by reading some good books in the subject. "The Little Herb
Encyclopedia" is a great beginner book and any book by Michael Tierra, who is an absolute
expert herbalist for over twenty years. There are literally hundreds of great sources, including the
internet. The easiest way for a beginner to safely use herbs is to learn about which herbs are
considered NUTRITIVE or TONIC herbs. These contain high amounts of vitamins and minerals
and are considered safe to take on a daily basis. As you may have read above, adaptogenic herbs
are also safe to take on a daily basis. Nutritive herbs include nettle, barley grass, wheat grass,
spirulina, chlorella, alfalfa and many others.
If you do overdo an herb, you might make yourself sick, but rarely does an herb ever cause
enough harm to send you to the hospital, which usually stems from abuse of the herb, or using an
herb in a chronic degenerative state that the body could not handle. This is one reason it is good
to seek a professional herbalist or naturopath when possible as to avoid any adverse side effects.
Finally, there are many reasons not to take specific herbs and when it is absolutely critical to
consult a professional. If you are pregnant or nursing, there are very few herbs that you can take
safely, know which ones are safe and which to avoid. If you have a chronic health condition,
compromised kidney function, on dialysis, an oxygen tank or other life-preserving device, it is
not advised to use herbal therapy. If you are dealing with eating disorders, alcoholism or
addicted to smoking, your immune system could be severely compromised. When dealing with
auto-immune conditions you do not want to take herbs that over stimulate the immune system
which could worsen your condition.
So you can clearly see there are many instances in which you should consult a trained
professional herbalist or naturopath. This is only a very partial list. We must take great care to
protect the integrity of herbalism so that these methods are used only to benefit mankind and
never to harm, as was told to us by Hippocrates. Click here for a list of some herbal safety
recommendations.
Are Powders or Liquids Better?
The safe answer is both! We know herbs work, whether they are in powder or liquid forms. It is
has a lot do with how the herbs are treated throughout the process of harvesting, manufacturing
and packaging. What methods used for creating a tincture is important also. Although alcohol is
the traditional method of choice, we feel it severely denatures many of the important plant
ingredients. You will see plenty of arguments on both sides. We say, just take the herbs! We
have amazing results with both powdered and liquid products.
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What are the Benefits of Herbal Combinations/Formulas?
There are numerous benefits to using herbal blends, formulas or combinations. What we have to
keep in mind is that herbs do have a medicinal effect on the body. Unless you are well educated
or under the care of a trained herbalist or naturopath, people can tend to overdo just about
anything. Unless you are using exclusively nutritive or adaptogenic herbs, it is best to ask
someone who knows. Overuse of a single herb can create other imbalances in the body.
When using a blend, formula or combination the herbs have a synergistic effect on your health.
We know from thousands of years of research in herbalism that many herb combinations work
better when combined. When trying to target a specific organ or body system, herbs can work
together to accomplish healing at a higher energetic level than a single herb can do alone. Also,
this allows a trained formulist to strategically put stronger herbs in a formula that can stimulate
healing without any negative effects because the other herbs in the formula offset the stronger
herb. I almost always recommend the average consumer stick to formulas created by an
experienced formulator. This will ensure the greatest effectiveness and safety!
What is the Absorption Rate of Herbs?
This is a tricky question and depends on a variety of different factors worth considering. First,
because herbs are from plants in their natural state they absorb very well. This is not always the
case as herbs are heated, treated, processed and generally denatured. That is why all the products
found on this website are raw, unheated and unprocessed in any way for maximum absorption
and efficacy.
There are a number of factors that affect absorption rates of herbs. Most importantly are
pharmaceutical medications. Just as pharmaceuticals can interact with other pharmaceuticals,
they can also interact with herbs. As a precautionary measure, always take herbs a minimum of
90 minutes to 2 hours, before or after prescription medications.
As we age and our stomach acid, enzyme production and bile production seem to drop, this can
affect absorption rates as well. In these cases, it may be better to stick with herbal teas and liquid
tinctures for maximum benefit.
When is the Best Time to Take Herbs?
In general, herbs are best taken on empty stomach, 30 minutes before a meal or about 2 hours
after a meal. This is not the case with all herbs and it is best to follow the recommendations listed
on the bottle or package for best results. If taking the herbs on empty stomach causes any
stomach discomfort, try taking with food or discontinue use and consult a professional herbalist
or naturopath.
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Have Herbs Been Studied?
Without a doubt, herbs are the most studied and safe form of natural healing in existence. It is
unfortunate that so much of this information has been suppressed over the last century, but if you
look through the history books you will discover a wealth of information and studies on the
subject.
Not only do we have the great natural healers and herbalists of the past, but we have current
mind blowing scientific research as to the safety, effectiveness and benefits of thousands of
herbs. In looking to the past, herbology has been an art form for over 5,000 years. We know
every ancient culture and civilization had their own natural healers who utilized many of the
same methods we use today. For people today to say that herbs are unproven, unstudied or lack
scientific validation is well, complete nonsense.
You can take any well known herbs such as ginger, cayenne pepper or garlic and find literally
hundreds, if not thousands of studies by well known universities, research institutes and medical
professionals. How about herbs that we may not have heard of such as Jiaogulan, Ginseng,
Rhodiola or Reishi Mushroom? There are many studies that can be found on these herbs as well,
including many others. Jiaogulan for example is known as the "immortality herb" in China and
multiple books have been written on the amazing results achieved through the use of this herb on
many, many different issues.
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