Using Herbs Simply and
Safely
By
Susun
Weed, the
Wise Woman Way.
Are herbs “dilute forms of drugs” - and
therefore dangerous? Or are they “natural” - and therefore
safe? If you sell herbs, you probably hear these questions
often. What is the “right” answer? It depends on the herb!
These thoughts on herbs will help you explain to your customers
(and yourself) how safe - or dangerous - any herb might
be.
To prevent problems when selling or using
herbs:
1. Be certain you have the correct
plant.
2. Use simples.
3. Understand that different
preparations of the same herb can work differently.
4. Use nourishing, tonifying,
stimulating, and potentially poisonous herbs
wisely.
BE CERTAIN YOU HAVE THE CORRECT
PLANT
One of the easiest ways to get into trouble
with an herb is to use the “wrong” one. How could that happen?
Common names for herbs overlap, causing confusion as to the
proper identity. Herbs that are labeled correctly may contain
extraneous material from another, more dangerous, herb. Herbs
may be picked at the wrong stage of growth or handled
incorrectly after harvesting, causing them to develop
detrimental qualities.
Protect yourself and your customers with
these simple steps:
- Buy herbs only from reputable
suppliers.
- Only buy herbs that are
labeled with their botanical name. Botanical names are
specific, but the same common names can refer to several
different plants. “Marigold” can
be
Calendula officinalis, a medicinal herb,
or
Tagetes , an annual used as a bedding
plant.
- If you grow the herbs you
sell, be meticulous about keeping different plants separate
when you harvest and dry them, and obsessive about
labeling.
USE SIMPLES
A simple is one herb. For optimum safety, I
prepare, buy, sell, teach about and use herbal simples, that
is: preparations containing only one herb. (Occasionally I will
add some mint to flavor a remedy.)
The more herbs there are in a formula, the
more likelihood there is of unwanted side-effects.
Understandably, the public seeks combinations, hoping to get
more for less. And many mistakenly believe that herbs must be
used together to be effective (probably because potentially
poisonous herbs are often combined with protective herbs to
mitigate the damage they cause). But combining herbs with the
same properties, such as goldenseal and echinacea, is
counter-productive and more likely to cause trouble than a
simple. A simple tincture of echinacea is more effective than
any combination and much safer.
Different people have different reactions to
substances, whether drugs, foods, or herbs. When herbs are
mixed together in a formula and someone taking it has
distressing side effects, there is no way to determine which
herb is the cause. With simples, it's easy to tell which herb
is doing what. If there's an adverse reaction, other herbs with
similar properties can be tried. Limiting the number of herbs
used in any one day (to no more than four) offers added
protection.
Side effects from herbs are less common than
side effects from drugs and usually less severe. If an herb
disturbs the digestion, it may be that the body is learning to
process it. Give it a few more tries before giving up. Stop
taking any herb that causes nausea, dizziness, sharp stomach
pains, diarrhea, headache, or blurred vision. (These effects
will generally occur quite quickly.) Slippery elm is an
excellent antidote to any type of
poison.
If you are allergic to any foods or
medicines, it is especially important to consult resources that
list the side effects of herbs before you use
them.
UNDERSTAND THAT DIFFERENT PREPARATIONS OF THE
SAME HERB CAN WORK DIFFERENTLY
The safety of any herbal remedy is dependent
on the way it is prepared and used.
-
Tinctures
and extracts contain the alkaloids, or
poisonous, parts of plants and need to be used with
care and wisdom. Tinctures are as safe as the herb
involved (see cautions below for tonifying,
stimulating, sedating, or potentially poisonous herbs).
Best used/sold as simples, not combinations, especially
when strong herbs are being
used.
-
Dried
herbs made into teas or infusions
contain the nourishing aspects of the plants and are
usually quite safe, especially when nourishing or
tonifying herbs are used.
-
Dried herbs
in capsules are generally the least
effective way to use herbs. They are poorly digested,
poorly utilized, often stale or ineffective, and quite
expensive.
-
Infused herbal
oils are
available as is, or thickened into ointments. They are
much safer than essential oils, which are highly
concentrated and can be lethal if taken
internally.
-
Herbal
vinegars are not only decorative but
mineral-rich as well. A good medium for nourishing and
tonifying herbs; not as strong as tinctures for
stimulants/sedatives.
- Herbal
glycerins are
available for those who prefer to avoid alcohol but are
usually weaker in action than tinctures.
USE NOURISHING, TONIFYING, STIMULATING, &
POTENTIALLY POISONOUS HERBS WISELY
Herbs comprise a group of several thousand
plants with widely varying actions. Some are nourishers, some
tonifiers, some stimulants and sedatives, and some are
potential poisons. To use them wisely and well, we need to
understand each category, its uses, best manner of preparation,
and usual dosage range.
Nourishing
herbs are
the safest of all herbs; side effects are rare.
Nourishing herbs are taken in any quantity for any length
of time. They are used as foods, just like spinach and
kale. Nourishing herbs provide high levels of proteins,
vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, carotenes, and
essential fatty acids.
Examples of nourishing herbs are: alfalfa,
amaranth, astragalus, calendula flowers, chickweed, comfrey
leaves, dandelion, fenugreek, flax seeds, honeysuckle flowers,
lamb’s quarter, marshmallow, nettles, oatstraw, plantain
(leaves/seeds), purslane, red clover blossoms, seaweed,
Siberian ginseng, slippery elm, violet leaves, and wild
mushrooms.
Tonifying
herbs act
slowly in the body and have a cumulative, rather than
immediate, effect. They build the functional ability of
an organ (like the liver) or a system (like the immune
system). Tonifying herbs are most beneficial when they
are used in small quantities for extended periods of
time. The more bitter the tonic tastes, the less you need
to take. Bland tonics may be used in quantity, like
nourishing herbs.
Side effects occasionally occur with tonics,
but are usually quite short-term. Many older herbalists
mistakenly equated stimulating herbs with tonifying herbs,
leading to widespread misuse of many herbs, and severe side
effects.
Examples of tonifying herbs are: barberry bark,
burdock root/seeds, chaste tree, crone(mug)wort, dandelion
root, echinacea, elecampane, fennel, garlic, ginkgo, ginseng,
ground ivy, hawthorn berries, horsetail, lady’s mantle, lemon
balm, milk thistle seeds, motherwort, mullein, pau d’arco,
raspberry leaves, schisandra berries, St. Joan’s wort, turmeric
root, usnea, wild yam, and yellow
dock.
Sedating and stimulating
herbs cause a
variety of rapid reactions, some of which may be unwanted. Some
parts of the person may be stressed in order to help other
parts. Strong sedatives and stimulants, whether herbs or drugs,
push us outside our normal ranges of activity and may cause
strong side effects. If we rely on them and then try to
function without them, we wind up more agitated (or depressed)
than before we began. Habitual use of strong sedatives and
stimulants - whether opium, rhubarb root, cayenne, or coffee -
leads to loss of tone, impairment of functioning, and even
physical dependency. The stronger the herb, the more moderate
the dose needs to be, and the shorter the duration of its
use.
Herbs that tonify and nourish while
sedating/stimulating are some of my favorite herbs. I use them
freely, as they do not cause
dependency.
Sedating/stimulating herbs that also tonify
or nourish:
boneset, catnip, citrus peel, cleavers, ginger, hops, lavender,
marjoram, motherwort, oatstraw, passion flower, peppermint,
rosemary, sage, skullcap.
Strongly sedating/stimulating herbs include:
angelica, black pepper, blessed thistle root, cayenne,
cinnamon, cloves, coffee, licorice, opium poppy, osha root,
shepherd’s purse, sweet woodruff, turkey rhubarb root, uva ursu
leaves, valerian root, wild lettuce sap, willow bark, and
wintergreen leaves.
Potentially poisonous
herbs are
intense, potent medicines that are taken in tiny amounts and
only for as long as needed. Side effects are
common.
Examples of potentially poisonous herbs are:
belladonna, blood-root, celandine, chaparral, foxglove,
goldenseal, henbane, iris root, Jimson weed, lobelia, May apple
(American mandrake), mistletoe, poke root, poison hemlock,
stillingia root, turkey corn root, wild cucumber
root.
In addition, consider these thoughts on using
herbs safely:
- Respect
the power of plants to change the body and spirit in
dramatic ways.
- Increase trust in the
healing effectiveness of plants by trying remedies for
minor or external problems before, or while, working with
major and internal problems.
- Develop ongoing
relationships with knowledgeable healers - in person or in
books - who are interested in herbal
medicine.
- Honor the uniqueness of
every plant, every person, every situation.
- Remember that each person
becomes whole and healed in their own unique way, at their
own speed. People, plants, and animals can help in this
process. But it is the body/spirit that does the healing.
Don’t expect plants to be cure alls.
Susun Weed
PO Box 64
Woodstock, NY
12498
Visit Susun Weed at The
Wise Woman Center:
and
Ash Tree
Publishing
Vibrant, passionate, and involved, Susun Weed
has garnered an international reputation for her groundbreaking
lectures, teachings, and writings on health and nutrition. She
challenges conventional medical approaches with humor, insight,
and her vast encyclopedic knowledge of herbal medicine.
Unabashedly pro-woman, her animated and enthusiastic lectures
are engaging and often profoundly
provocative.
Susun is one of America's best-known
authorities on herbal medicine and natural approaches to
women's health. Her four best-selling books are recommended by
expert herbalists and well-known physicians and are used and
cherished by millions of women around the world. Learn more at
http://www.susunweed.com
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