Rovin' and Ravin'

HERBS TO YOUR HEALTH!

Copyright (c) by Michael Segers

-all rights reserved-

There are some barometers of American culture that I put a lot of

stock in. For one, if something gets mentioned in the daily comic strips,

take heed. Lately, the title character of "Cathy" and her office mates

have been turning heavily to herbs. They aren't alone. You can hardly

pick up a magazine or watch a news program without some references to

herbs. Herbs to ease depression, insomnia, migraines, herbs to help

with weight loss, Chinese herbs, Indian herbs... Where to begin?

I began using herbs about eight years ago, right about the time I

became involved in an organization that worked for a national health care

plan. To me, herbs were another way to take care of myself, take some

control of my life. In the past eight years, I have seen more and more

people use medicinal herbs. Now, herbal medicine has made it. Words

once as exotic to most Americans as kava kava and echinacea have become

punch lines in comic strips.

And herbs do pack a punch. It always bothers me when I hear some

well-meaning folks insist that herbs have no side effects. Think about

it. A side effect is just an effect that we don't want. So, if we say

that herbs have no side effects, then we are saying that they have no

effects. And they do. I also get uncomfortable when I hear people praise

herbs by saying that since they are natural products of plants, they must

be harmless. I wonder if they think we dig cigarettes out of tobacco

mines.

Before I go any further, I need to emphasize something. I am not a

medical professional, and I am not trying to advise you on medical matters

except to warn you to be careful with herbs. They are medicine, real

medicine, and they can be very potent medicine.

I'm going to give you my experience with medicinal herbs-not all

good-and point out some areas in which using herbs has helped me. I'll

also give you a few websites to get you started on the research that you

need to do to make an informed decision about this medical option. A

mere eight years ago, I went to the library. How times do change.

ST. JOHN'S WORT is probably the superstar of herbs, since it is the

herbal equivalent of the prescription anti-depressant Prozac, which, upon

its release some years ago, made more headlines than probably any drug had

before or since, at least until Viagra came along. In Germany, physicians

may legally prescribe St. John's wort (wort is just an old word for

plant), and they write more prescriptions for it than they do for

Prozac.

Don't expect to feel an improvement after the first dose. Like

prescription anti-depressants, it takes at least six weeks to affect the

body chemistry enough for a change of mood to be seen or felt. That is

the good news, the buzz on this plant which has been known for centuries

and used to treat infections as well as emotional problems.

During a particularly stressful period of my life (Stress? Who? Me?

I just taught high school for twenty years), I tried to take St. John's

wort, but as with so many substances, it drove up my blood pressure and

increased anxiety. As my students might have said, I was wired, and that

happened after just three weeks.

If you should decide to take St. John's wort-and I am not

recommending that you do-don't expect a quick fix. And, be prepared for

some unpleasant side effects. For a quicker herbal pick-me-up, ginseng

works well for me.

KAVA KAVA is my very favorite herb. I've been using it since 1991,

and way back then, I once said that if the government knew how good it

was, it would be outlawed. Instead, it has become almost as

faddishly popular as St. John's wort, although now it is called

simply kava.

Kava kava is the root of a plant in the pepper family that is used in

some Polynesian cultures as a ritual drink. Traditionally, the root is

chopped fine, soaked in water, and then squeezed in a cloth. The water

that is squeezed out is served in a special kava kava hall. Some of the

early missionaries actually encouraged the use of kava kava because it

seemed to them less destructive than alcohol.

It is a strange herb. It doesn't stimulate like ginseng or sedate

like valerian. It seems to stimulate and calm simultaneously, as

paradoxical as that may seem. For me, it seems to calm my perception of

distractions, allowing me to focus my energies (perhaps that's the

feeling of stimulation). Even this herb, which I have so much enjoyed,

comes with my warnings. If you have liver problems, you should not take

kava kava. Also, you should avoid mixing alcohol and kava kava.

VALERIAN is a foul smelling herb that works like a very powerful

catnip for some cats, while others hate it. Although its name comes from

a Latin root meaning "strong" (think of Prince Valiant), it is best known

as the basis for the word Valium, which is a sort of synthetic valerian.

It will sedate you, so do not try to drive after using valerian. There

are reports that you can become addicted to it. Other herbs with similar

effects include skullcap and hops.

Not all herbs have such an effect on the mind. ECHINACEA is a

fascinating natural antibiotic that is native to the United States.

It was known by the Native Americans, some of whom say that they learned

to use it by observing bears chew it. Echnicacea is also known as the

purple cone flower and makes a striking addition to a flower bed. All

parts of the plant have the reputation of having medicinal power, but it

is the root that is mainly used. It has become one of the best known aand

most frequently used herbs in other countries. While it is certainly not

a major product, the United States exports many tons of it every year.

Like any antibiotic, it should not be taken for the long term.

I usually will take it for two weeks at a time, beginning with the first

symptom of a cold, together with vitamin C. I have friends who say that

it is helpful for some forms of arthritis, but not having arthritis

myself, I cannot say. Again, they only take it for two weeks at a time.

I don't know of any side effects, except that echinacea will elevate your

temperature. You should not take aspirin while taking echniacea, not

because of any bad effects but simply because the two counteract each

other, since aspirin lowers the body's temperature.

There are many other herbs that I have experimented with and

even more that I have studied. I would like to emphasize that these are

medicines which must be used and treated with respect. I would especially

like to warn any reader about herbal compounds that are used as part of a

weight loss program. While there may be some that may work for some

people, many of these compounds contain herbs that have been known to

cause many people serious problems, particularly ma huang or ephedra.

And that leads to a further point about herbs, especially herbal

anti-depressants and tranquilizers, as well as herbal weight loss

compounds. The herbs may help you deal with a particular problem, but the

real solution to your problems is not going to come out of any bottle.

People who sell herbs cannot legally advise customers on their

use. Many health food stores will offer racks of literature on the herbs

that one can read for oneself. Health food stores have long been the

place to shop for herbs, but as herbs have become more mainstream, they

can now be purchased at drug stores, department stores, and even grocery

stores, which may be appropriate, since legally, herbs are classified as

food supplements not medicines. The labels on bottles of herbs refer to

recommended servings, not doses. Of course, if you are taking any

prescription medication, are pregnant or nursing, or have any chronic

medical condition, you should talk with a medical professional before

taking herbs.

If you've never taken herbs, you should know there are several

options. All of these can be bought as "crude" herbs to be brewed into

teas. Kava kava and echinacea both cause a slight buzzing numbness in

the mouth. Or, you can take them as tinctures in a glass of water, or,

most conveniently, as capsules. One consideration is to be sure that you

take enough, that you give yourself a large enough "serving." The

echinacea that I have in my cabinet is in 380 mg capsules. I take twelve

a day of them-four capsules, three times a day.

There are other over-the-counter substances that have gained

popularity, even notoriety, including hormones such as DHEA and melatonin,

which are not herbs. Of course, in Chinese medicine, such substances as

dragon (actually, dinosaur) bones, dried seahorses, and human placenta

(the sale of which is illegal in some states) are considered herbs..

Herbs seem to be sprouting all over the web. I am only going to give

you a couple of references, and I must emphasize that I cannot vouch for

every word in every one of these listings. Pardon my paranoia, but there

are serious ethical and legal issues in writing an article such as this.

But, these pages both have links which will enable you to begin your

search.

An extremely attractive and thorough site on herbs can be found at-

http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Venue/9123/HerbPage/herbs.html

As far as I can tell, this "Herbal Realm" is full of pretty good

information, and it is not simply advertising that appears to be giving

information. Watch out for those sites, because if they are selling a

particular herb, you can be sure that you can going to hear only the good

things.

Michael Tierra is one of the best known herbalists, and he maintains

a fascinating website-

http://www.planetherbs.com

Tierra integrates herbalism with other forms of complementary

medicine, such as acupuncture. His disclaimer so well reflects the

concern that I have expressed throughout this article that I am going to

quote it:

The information contained in these web pages is meant to be

for educational purposes and not as a recommendation as a cure

for any disease. It is not intended as a replacement for the

services of a qualified acupuncturist, medical doctor, or

other duly licensed health provider who understands your needs

and individual condition.

Tierra's site reflects the strength and weakness of the web.

He can regularly update his material, be open to online chats and bulletin

boards, and be available to anyone who has access to a computer. But,

still, you will be dealing with a computer.

Back when research involved those anachronisms called books, we

were sometimes warned not to believe something just because it was in

print. Even less can we believe something just because it is on a

website. There are many opportunities to have free websites with no

monitoring of content, and so, useful and exciting as the web is, there is

so much cyber-junk out there. Yes, you can buy prescription drugs without

prescriptions. Whether there really is a site that claims that the

dinosaurs were wiped out by AIDS, I'm not sure.

As I said, I began to use herbs as a way to take control of my

own life. The Internet gives us so many opportunities to do just that, to

gain information (or misinformation, always remember), to meet or at least

communicate with a range of people, to make informed decisions and to be

educated consumers. But, always remember, even though we speak of the

web, it is really a jungle out there in cyberspace.

I would like to hear from you about any experiences you may have

had with herbal medicine. I would particularly like to hear from anyone

whose family traditions have included using herbs. Also, don't forget to

let me know your idea of a great Valentine video.

By the way, does anyone know the name of the film that begins on

Valentine's Day 1900 at a girls' school in Australia? Let me hear from

you, take your herbs (if you think they are appropriate), and till next

time, keep your feet dry and your heart full of noble thoughts.