The Blessings and Dangers of Medicinal Herbs

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Isidor
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Location: Misawa Japan

The Blessings and Dangers of Medicinal Herbs

Post by Isidor »

Hey Everyone,

I'm sure a lot of people here prefer herbal medicine to prescription medication whenever possible. I have had plenty of remedies fall flat, but I have also had amazing success with things like eyebright for my (previously) chronic red and irritated eyes, or holy basil for overall well-being. It just feels better turning to known and trusted plants to solve what ails me instead of grabbing a bottle of pills that will probably make me drowsy.

Additionally, herbal concoctions have been used for ritual or spiritual use dating pretty far back into the 5000-year history of tea (https://yaleglobal.yale.edu/tea-still-h ... 5000-years.)

However, I have run into some pretty scary stuff in my years of getting informed about ritual and medicinal use of herbs. For example, I went to a public lecture given by a local author a while back and she told her audience that herbal remedies were the way to go since adaptogens (which is what the lecture was on) have no side-effects and only side-benefits so they are perfectly safe. While some herbs are safer than others, even adaptogens can have dangerous side-effects in high doses, for long-term use, or when mixed with other herbs/medications. The woman meant well and had some solid info, but suggesting such things can be dangerous.

I adore plants though!!! And I will continue to try to be as informed as possible when ingesting them. The following site is excellent and contains info on any herb I've thrown at it:

http://pennstatehershey.adam.com/conten ... oductId=46

For the automatic interaction checker, it does require the addition of prescription medication to check for interactions, however. An herb can be looked up on its own, though, and there is interaction info there.
These two sites are also decent and check for interactions between herbs alone, or with prescription medication.

https://reference.medscape.com/drug-interactionchecker
http://naturaldatabaseconsumer.therapeu ... EPDA&s=NDC

They are not as concise as the previous one, but still pretty great.

Does anyone else have any books, resources, or anything to suggest? I am curious about using dandelion or some other tea used for cleansing, but I have to admit the warning on those tea boxes ("consult a healthcare provider", "do not use if you have a medical condition") kind of weird me out. I tend to err on the side of caution....possibly to the point of paranoia ;)

I hope everyone has a great week!
-Isidor
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SpiritTalker
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Re: The Blessings and Dangers of Medicinal Herbs

Post by SpiritTalker »

Our local women's clinic gives visitors a pamphlet that mentions taking 1 daily turmeric capsule to help the body resist breast cancer. For years I've used 1-2 a day ceylon cinnamon caps to help control blood sugar with good results; & 1/day holy basil for overall well being; & 2-4-weeks on 1/day garlic tab to prevent catching the "office head cold"; & 6-weeks on colloidal silver solution to combat & finally eliminate a lifelong recurring bronchial pneumonia that prescribed antibiotics weren't helping.
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Isidor
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Joined: Tue Dec 19, 2017 12:32 am
Gender: Female
Location: Misawa Japan

Re: The Blessings and Dangers of Medicinal Herbs

Post by Isidor »

Thanks so much for the share SpiritTalker. I also use both turmeric and cinnamon daily and I feel that turmeric has helped significantly with the near-constant inflammation in my sinuses. I stopped taking it for a while and the stuffiness came right back!!! It certainly loves to stain my counter though...

Your results from the colloidal silver are nothing sort of amazing. Antibiotics have failed me before as well, and there is a lot of research going into the overuse of them (https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-life ... t-20045720).

I actually got my husband to try holy basil as well. He and I both noticed an improvement in his demeanor. How long have you been taking it/what differences did you notice? I cannot believe the length of that plant's history, it is pretty awesome!

Have a great day
-Isidor
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SpiritTalker
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Re: The Blessings and Dangers of Medicinal Herbs

Post by SpiritTalker »

Holy basil has helped with anxiety. Ive used it only about a year whereas I've used turmeric & cinnamon 7 or 8 years. I hadn't connected turmeric to sinus relief but now that you mention it I haven't had sinus headaches in a very long time.
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