What’s the Difference Between Herbal Supplements and Pharmaceuticals?
Pharmaceuticals originated from plant medicine. Ancient cultures did not possess the same kind of knowledge we do now. To them, Medicine was magic; and plants held the key. It is not a surprise that so many cultures embody a deep admiration and worship of Nature. Plants and the elements have been the core of physical, mental, and spiritual wellness for as long as humans have existed. Why do you think medicine men and women were so revered and witches so fearfully respected? All were societal roles of the time which held the key to wielding these powers; effectively filling the roles of spiritual leader, scientist, sorcerer, and doctor all rolled into one. So the concept of herbal wellness and incorporating herbs into our lives is not a stretch. This is not a foreign idea, certainly not a new one. But with the “advancements” of our knowledge the relationship our medicine once had with a natural source has gotten further and further from its origins. Pharmaceuticals operate with the intention of producing rapid, sometimes drastic, changes in the body. Sometimes, pills are prescribed to treat symptoms created by the side effects of other pills and the entire situation gets so out of hand that the person being treated can’t even identify anymore where the baseline of health is or once was. This is not true of everyone, and it is not to say that pharmaceuticals don’t have a very important place. But we cannot rely on pills alone to produce health. Health comes from self-awareness, nutrition, exercise, purpose, and a relationship to our environment. That’s where it starts; the foundation stones. And that is the gap in our lives that herbs can help us fill.
How Much Should I Take?
The most truthful, albeit vague answer to this question is that it will be different for every person depending on your personal needs. Unlike pharmaceuticals which utilize measured doses, herbals involve self-awareness. Start small, work your way up and feel out what works best for you. For a simple tea blend, a tablespoon of loose-leaf tea is a good start, for an infusion though you may need to use much more, between 0.5 and 1oz. For tinctures, these blends are concentrated so start with one dropper in a regular beverage (coffee, juice, etc) and add more as you see fit. Elixirs work much the same way. For capsules, usually one or two a day will be enough. The key to herbs is to incorporate their use into a daily or weekly routine - regularity will produce the effect you are seeking, not one singular "dose."
What is the Difference Between Tea and an Infusion?
Tea refers to what you find in the store. The contents of a teabag (about a tablespoon) do not measure out to a significant amount of herbs. While still healthier than many alternatives, you are not consuming a concentrated dose of nutrition from only a tablespoon-worth of herbs. There is some truth to the common criticism that tea is just "leaf water." While nice, and flavorful, if you are in need of the deep, concentrated nutritional benefits that herbs bring it may be necessary to make an infusion. An infustion is essentially a more concentrated tea brewed with a half to a full ounce of loose leaf herbs that is allowed to steep for longer than your average tea. Allow the infusion to steep for a longer period of time, usually overnight or at least for a few hours, before straining out the plant matter with cheesecloth and enjoying.
When Should I Use Teas or Infusions vs. Tinctures and Elixirs?
Infusions are more concentrated versions of tea and either tea or infusions can easily become part of your daily/weekly routine. Both are generally more mild in effect because they pull primarily the water-soluble properties of the herbs and only sit for a few hours compared to the several months that tincture/elixir extractions go through. Tinctures and elixirs on the other hand are better for consuming a more potent quantity of nutrients. Even in a few drops. Tinctures and elixirs can be used to halt sudden panic attacks, reverse a cold that is taking root, or suppress viral loads, among other things. I would recommend teas and infusions for managing more mild, long-term conditions (or building health in general) with intermittent tincture/elixir supplementation, and turn to tinctures and elixirs when needed for in-the-moment, more severe conditions. Regular usage of each will help you start to strengthen the foundations of your health.
What If I Don’t Want to Consume Alcohol in My Tinctures?
Most tinctures are herbs extracted into alcohol. If you do not want to consume alcohol but want all the benefits of tinctures there are a few options for you: first, it is important to understand that the amount of alcohol you would be consuming is very, very small. If you put one or two droppers (at MOST) into your morning coffee, tea, or even a cup of very hot water it is likely that the alcohol will evaporate off because alcohol has a lower point of evaporation than water. This does leave behind the alcohol-soluble properties, however, since the nutrients are heavier and not lifted off by the steam as the alcohol evaporates. Second, there are several alternatives you can use. Elixirs have half the amount of alcohol in their content because instead of being extracted in straight alcohol, an elixir is an extraction made with a mixture of honey and alcohol. If you want no alcohol at all you will likely have to turn to teas and infusions (see question about tea vs. infusion) to reap the benefits of these herbs. Chances are though you will need to incorporate tea and infusions into a regular part of your routine. Without being able to extract the alcohol-soluble parts of the plant matter it may take longer to gain the benefit of a given herb. Some herbs may not work as well for you if their helpful properties are alcohol-soluble.
Why Use Herbs?
Our society, especially in the Western world, has developed a reliance on pharmaceuticals. We have associated rapid change with "healing" but that is not always the best approach to health. Given the state of our GMO, pesticide, and preservative laden food on top of our use of synthetic-based "medicine" we are spending too much time wondering why we feel ill both physically and mentally; and not acknowledging that the problem originates deep within our current structures. The separation from our natural state and the natural world has us divided from our spirit - the core of our existence.
Reclaiming health physically, mentally, spiritually, and for the world around us starts with the knowledge that health is worth seeking and that we CAN make a difference. Not only for ourselves, but for those around us and the part we each individually play as an integral aspect of our ecosystem. We ARE nature. Second, we must be willing to enter into the process. The journey.
Health starts with supporting the building blocks of our nutrition and an active participation within our environment. Healing journeys do not usually happen overnight and working with herbs opens a deeply physical, mental and spiritual process. But it is a worthwhile one.
If I am being honest, herbs have no right to be sold. A journey like this, a deeply ancestral one (for us all), is not something you will receive packaged up in a box, shipped from a website. Not even here. The journey is within you, the respect for nature, reverence for these herbs, and the relationships built over time are in you. I am only here to suggest a direction, maybe answer some questions, and tell my own stories in the hopes that they may inspire you. But this is the start of your journey to healing, not only your body and mind, but your relationship to this still beautiful, giving Earth.
Our herbs are harvested across Washington and into Idaho. We never gather wild herbs close to roads and avoid polluted areas (meaning we go deep back country away from populations). Domestic herbs come from our own organic, pesticide-free gardens.
Should I Consult a Doctor First?
You absolutely can. I am not here to tell you otherwise. The only thing that I will say is to bear in mind that doctors and nurses go through rigorous schooling to learn the ways and practices of modern, pharmaceutical medicine. At no point in their studies (and I know this because my mother has been a nurse for over 30 years) are they ever required to learn anything about herbalism and plants. It is not in the repertoire. Also, most doctors and nurses, due to the requirements of their employers and the risks associated with their Professional Liability Insurance, will always choose to err on the side of caution and make the decision not to recommend the use of something they are unfamiliar with. I personally feel like much would change about our current medical system if herbal knowledge schooling was required... But until then it is up to you to do your own homework and be responsible enough to make decisions about your own health (and to be conscientious enough to make necessary adjustments as you go along). Be responsible. Be smart. But be confident too. No one knows the state of your own health better than you.