Hey friends! we're back with another blog post high-lighting our beloved herbs. This week we are going to talk about herb safety and how to prevent any issues from arising once you begin incorporating them into your daily life.
Although mainstream media would like us to believe otherwise, herbal medicine is one of the safest forms of medicine in existence. Evidence shows that humans have relied on plant medicine since as early as the Stone Age, and formal written herbal healing practices date back to several millennia. Herbs remain to be the number one form of medicine world-wide. They are affordable, easily accessible, effective when utilized properly, and empowering.
So why the need for safety? because different herbs suit different people in specific ways, therefore you want to ensure you are using the best herbs that fit you and your individual situation. Herbs can have side effects, though they are usually mild and go away if you stop taking the herb. Many herbs just are not a good fit for certain individuals. For example, cinnamon works well to aid in stomach issues, however if you already tend toward constipation or something similar, it could make that worse. Another example is hot and spicy ginger gets stagnant digestion going, but it may aggravate acid reflux in certain people. If you're researching your herbs thoroughly and listening to your body, you will figure out pretty quickly what does and does not work for you.
With that being said, not every herb or natural remedy is safe. Some have high rates of toxicity and can actually be deadly, such as foxglove, datura, aconite, and the destroying angel (amanita) mushroom. Although they can have medicinal benefits when used properly at low doses, they are not appropriate for self-treatment and are not generally available for your purchase. When you are harvesting herbs from the wild, you will want to make sure you are aware of these plants to be sure to distinguish them from safer plants; you would not want your cup of mullein tea to turn into a deadly dose of foxglove.
Potency vs Safety
Everything exists along a safety continuum. When possible, start with the gentlest option. As you move across the continuum, the medicine becomes more potent, but the risk of negative side effects also increases. Keep in mind that some situations warrant a more heavy-hitting approach right from the start. For example, a kidney infection requires immediate medical attention and antibiotics. A nettle tea is not going to help the issue and will only expose you to potential kidney failure at that point. Part of taking a holistic approach to medicine is knowing which approach will be the most effective for the situation at hand, and when to turn to a trained professional for stronger medicines with a higher likelihood of side effects.
There are four main safety rules when beginning an herbal medicine regimen to ensure you have the best experience and results along the way. First, do your research. Information about herbs is constantly evolving and varies across cultures, time, and the herbalist you are learning from. Before you begin taking an herb, research it in at least three good sources, whether online or in print. Look for sources that come from the perspective of herbalists as well as those that are research driven- folk use and science.
Herbal practitioners generally offer a better understanding of the nuances of herbs and the ways that they can be used. Researchers (who may not actually use herbs themselves) are likely to list every potential side effect and drug interaction under the sun while discrediting folk uses that haven't been researched, however both perspective are useful. Relying on mix of quality sources fro your research gives you a broader understanding of a plants actions and potential pitfalls.
Second, listen to your body. While you should do your research, also listen to your body to see if the herbs agree with you. A tea that make some people feel absolutely vibrant may not resonate with others or may even subject them to a mild side-effect like an upset stomach. If an herbs side-effect is mild, you may want to try it a couple of times, possibly with a meal, to see if symptoms pass, or if they were unrelated to the herb. Regardless of how much science or filk use is out there fr a particular plant, ultimately only your body can tell you whether or not the herb is working properly.
Next, confirm the plants identity. If you're harvesting your herbs from the wild or garden to make medicine, be sure you're correctly identifying the plant. Even if you grew the plant from seed or someone identified it for you, mistakes happen. Keep comprehensive plant identification guides on hand. The most effective identification guides are organized with botanical keys such as flower color and shape as well as leaf structure and include a range of plants. Plants are best identified while they're in flower, and secondarily when in fruit or seeds you may need to watch a plant for a full cycle before going back to harvest the following year. Be sure to develop good identification skills before harvesting plants from the wild.
Lastly, ensure herb-drug safety. If you use pharmaceutical medications, be aware of the potential for herb-drug interactions. While we have used herbs for thousands of years, and pharmaceuticals for hundreds of years, we have only been combining the two for only a few decades and the potential for combinations are endless. It is difficult to be 100 percent sure that an herb and a drug won't interact, but the truth is that actual cases of herb-drug interactions are relatively few and far in between. We will get more into herb-drug interactions and the importance of their safety in next weeks blog.
As long as you stay informed and pro-active in your herbal journey, you will quickly find how beneficial and helpful adding herbs to your daily routine can greatly improve your quality of life; One herbal medicine discovery at a time.
Until next week friends.