Herbalism

[InterfaceLeader]

Hey guys,

I was wondering how many of you would visit a herbalist as opposed to a conventional doctor? Having been misdiagnosed by a conventional doctor and charged over $1000 for the pleasure of it, I am now a bit wary - although my current GP has been stellar.

However, my friend Basil recently completed his degree in herbal medicine, and cured me (for free) of a bunch of random stuff, not to mention giving me free ginseng balls

Anyway, he's just started up a herbal medicine clinic in Cambridge, UK, and I REALLY want him to do well, since I've met few people so dedicated and so passionate about something.

So I'm trying to do a little bit of market research in a group that would be open to slightly left-of-field medical research... what sort of things would you look for in a herbalist? Would you visit one? If not, why not? If so, why? Is there anything you wouldn't want to visit a herbalist about?

[TooTicki]

Originally Posted by InterfaceLeader

Is there anything you wouldn't want to visit a herbalist about?

Skull fracture

[Ceros]

Skull fracture

It cures that too.

[{aspiring_to_clarity}]

Originally Posted by InterfaceLeader

what sort of things would you look for in a herbalist? Would you visit one? If not, why not? If so, why? Is there anything you wouldn't want to visit a herbalist about?

I would want to know if there is any sort of training that is recognized by a large body of practitioners and whether the herbalist is certified by such an organization.

I would visit one, yes, because I have seen the positive effects of holistic medicine first hand as well as the disaterous effects of traditional medicine (although I still do believe it has it's place).

I don't know the extent of what an herbalist proposes to treat, but I would agree that something like a gaping chest wound would best be treated in a hospital emergency room. Maybe you could post some more about what types of treatment herbalists generally provide?

[InterfaceLeader]

Well, I can't speak for all herbalists, but Basil Moss treats most non-fatal conditions - anything from IBS to PMS, hayfever, depression, colds, eczema.... he can also help with broken bones and such >P

Stuff like cancer I would probably go via conventional medicine, and use herbalism to try and manage side-effects of the treatment.

Things he couldn't do is emergency reaction treatment ... e.g. he can't give you triple bypass surgery, but he can help prevent you from ever getting to the stage where you need triple bypass surgery!

He's a member of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists, which is a governing body.

[PianoManGidley]

Originally Posted by InterfaceLeader

Is there anything you wouldn't want to visit a herbalist about?

Cosmetic surgery, if I ever so desired any.

[{aspiring_to_clarity}]

Thanks, IL, I think that I'd give it a shot definitely. It's kind of funny that you say you'd go conventional for cancer because that's one thing I've seen cured by non-medical intervention.

[stevedevane]

I wouldn't hesitate to go to a herbalist, but I also think traditional medicine has its place. Unfortunately, it seems like traditional doctors focus on disease instead of health. It also seems like traditional medicine tends to put some older folks in a medicinal cycle. They develop a condition for which they're given a prescription. With it, however, comes side effects, for which they are given other drugs. The process is repeated until, before you know it, they're taking numerous pills a day and they feel worse than when they started.

[sgregory]

test post

[ilovetoday]

I never would have in the past but since I have had both my sister and a close family friend go one for acne and one for a urinary tract infection both problems had been ongoing for years and had various doctors and medications with no real clearing effects. Anyway one went and had immediate results that lasted so my sister went and also had excellent results. Now I am booking in to go visit him.

I believe if your friend is good at what he does word of mouth will be his best asset.

[InterfaceLeader]

Originally Posted by {aspiring_to_clarity}

Thanks, IL, I think that I'd give it a shot definitely. It's kind of funny that you say you'd go conventional for cancer because that's one thing I've seen cured by non-medical intervention.

I think cancer, and general 'fatal' illnesses, if they reached that stage, I would use conventional therapy simply because, on the whole, chemotherapy etc. has so far had a fairly reasonable success rate. However, I definitely think things like cancer can be managed and maybe cured via implementing a very high-quality herbal medicine / holistic lifestyle approach.

Overall though, I think what herbalism is good at is identifying causes - like with acne, conventional medicine will say okay, here are antibiotics to kill the bacteria. Herbalists will say WHY are you producing so much sebus/bacteria/hormonal influctations? What's going on here? And then get down to the root cause (whether diet or environment or whatever) as well as help manage the symptoms.

I believe if your friend is good at what he does word of mouth will be his best asset.

He is very good, and very passionate. However, he is just starting out and I would like to get him the first few patients so they can spread the word

Having said that, he just got his first (paying) client so hurrah!

[TooTicki]

Originally Posted by InterfaceLeader

However, I definitely think things like cancer can be managed and maybe cured via implementing a very high-quality herbal medicine / holistic lifestyle approach.

Dude, nooooooo. Herbalism is a little bit of proven medication mixed with a lot of woo nonsense. And if you ever get cancer and choose to go to a naturopath instead of an MD, that will do you zero good. You might wanna read this: Death by alternative medicine

And if you wanna know why it seems that your friend is helping people when he is actually doing nothing that a big fat placebo wouldn´t do. Read this: The role of anecdotes

[InterfaceLeader]

Originally Posted by TooTicki

Dude, nooooooo. Herbalism is a little bit of proven medication mixed with a lot of woo nonsense. And if you ever get cancer and choose to go to a naturopath instead of an MD, that will do you zero good. You might wanna read this: Death by alternative medicine

And if you wanna know why it seems that your friend is helping people when he is actually doing nothing that a big fat placebo wouldn´t do. Read this: The role of anecdotes

Unfortunately, herbalism is often equated with less well-proven therapies such as homeopathy, acupunture, reiki etc, which have a more 'spiritual' aspect. However, I assure you there is no 'woo nonsense' about getting prescribed a mild herbal laxative and having a diet overhaul to cure constipation, or increasing iron intake to combat anemia - aspirin was derived from willow bark, tea tree oil is just as effective as antiseptic creams, and plenty of GP's will recommend herbal remedies when appropriate.

Basil did a three year course that covered plenty of the same modules that Biology and conventional medicine students took.

Please don't confuse herbalism with homeopathy - herbalism is a complex system of sometimes very powerful medical plants, homepathy is an unproven method of diluting medicine to 1/1000ths of their normal dosage. I am not going to discuss the pros and cons of the other alternative therapies, since they are largely backed by anecdotal eveidence rather than scientific - but trust me, the right dosage of vitamins and minerals are good for your health, plants can have profound impact your physical and mental state (just look at magic mushrooms! Are you going to tell me that's not an effect, albeit not one you'd really want ;P) and if mushrooms can do THAT to a persons head, on a small dose, I don't see why other plants can't help with depression or stress.

Similarly - Valerian root? Ginger? Arnica? These aren't 'old wives tales', they are proven remedies, and in the hands of someone who has studied them, very effective remedies.

[TooTicki]

Okay, I guess I just assumed it was the same as naturopathy. My fault. However I still wonder what the point of herbalism is. The effectiveness of a cure isn´t dependent on whether It comes from a herb or not. There is nothing inherently good about a cure just because it comes from nature. Much better then, to purify the active ingredients, like with aspirin. So why have a proffession in which you treat people with herbs instead of just giving them the best available medication regardless of origin?

[InterfaceLeader]

There is a school of thought that says that the human body evolved using plants as the main source of medicine, and - much like synthesized fats or refined sugars are worse for you than natural fats or raw sugars - synthesized medicines cause more side-effects and are not as effective at being processed by the body.

This is unproven - but some scientists believe that the stuff we strip out when we refine a herb into a medicine actually has uses in reducing the potential side-effects (not all, you should always be careful when taking ANY medicine) and helping the primary ingredient do its job.

The other reason herbalism can be better (in the hands of a good practioner) is that they will try and find/fix underlying causes. For example, acne is treated by conventional medicine with either hormones, antibiotics, or anti-septic creams. However it does not address the issue of WHY your body is producing excess sebum or excess hormones.

A herbalist, however, will explore possible causes of the imbalance (food intolerance, lactose, stress, environment, plastic....) and then work with you to eliminate the root of the issue. Meaning that, when you quit using the medicine, you'll still be cured! (Unlike with antibiotics or hormone pills which, as soon as you stop taking them, mean you break out again)

However, they aren't surgeons, nor should they pretend to be. If you need keyhole surgery then you're better off going to a hospital - and using the herbalist to help you get better afterwards.

[reflections]

Originally Posted by InterfaceLeader

Hey guys,

I was wondering how many of you would visit a herbalist as opposed to a conventional doctor? Having been misdiagnosed by a conventional doctor and charged over $1000 for the pleasure of it, I am now a bit wary - although my current GP has been stellar.

However, my friend Basil recently completed his degree in herbal medicine, and cured me (for free) of a bunch of random stuff, not to mention giving me free ginseng balls

Anyway, he's just started up a herbal medicine clinic in Cambridge, UK, and I REALLY want him to do well, since I've met few people so dedicated and so passionate about something.

So I'm trying to do a little bit of market research in a group that would be open to slightly left-of-field medical research... what sort of things would you look for in a herbalist? Would you visit one? If not, why not? If so, why? Is there anything you wouldn't want to visit a herbalist about?

Herbalism is cool. I started learning more about it in the last 5 years and have found my own local supplier of raw herbs. One of the best hobbies that turned into a real passion that I've experienced in this life.