ROVIN' AND RAVIN' WITH MIKE
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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 to use 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. [2002
update: Check the search engines for the latest information on kava kava, which
has fallen into some disrepute.]
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.
The
Herbal
Realm is an attractive site, full of
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, one of the best-known herbalists, maintains a fascinating site in
which 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 Internet. 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. Take your herbs (if you think they are appropriate),
and till next time, keep your feet dry and your heart full of noble thoughts.
Rovin' Through Medical Alternatives