Using Herbs in the Real World

Ellen Potthoff, DC, ND 

            Interest in the use of herbal medicines has increased immensely in the last few years.  The general trend has been away from Western medical treatment, and toward the use of herbs, especially for more minor problems.  One of the main reasons for the upsurge in interest in botanicals has been the release of information from Commission E in Germany.

In Germany, the equivalent of our FDA, regulates phytomedicines (plant medicines).  In the US, the FDA classifies herbs as food additives.   Were they to be classified as drugs, they would have to have years of costly study to prove not only their effectiveness, but their safety, as well.  That is why you can’t get medical information on the labels of herbal products in the health food store – it is against the law.  Recently, the FDA has begun to allow certain supplements to make very limited claims, only after years and volumes of scientific proof of their medical value and safety.  By labeling herbs as food additives, the FDA has allowed the herbal industry to sidestep the necessity of expensive research.  Of course, this also limits the proprietary sale of herbs by any one company because there are no patents on plant materials.  Proprietary sale occurs only with synthesis of the active ingredient into a patentable material (i.e. drugs).

In Germany, Commission E compiles research or historical use information about herbs.  300 monographs have been put out on the most common, safe, effective herbs popularly used in Germany.  Currently information about those monographs has made its way to the U.S. and has spawned interest in herbs like Hypericum (St. John’s Wort), Ginkgo biloba, and Echinacea angustifolia, which are starting to pop up in Costco, Trader Joes, Safeway, and the like.   A lot of the herbs involved in the Commission E monographs have been in use on the earth for hundreds to thousands of years versus the mere 100-year history of Western medical science.  There are currently more scientific studies of herbs, supplements and foods than ever before.  Check this out by getting into Yahoo, on the Internet.  Contact ‘pubmed’, by typing in the word, then search for any disease state you care to research, or any herb, supplement or food you would like information on.  You can also check www.herbalgram.org or http://www.ars-grin.gov/duke/.

Herbs are very complex materials with potentially thousands of chemical constituents.  The beauty of their use is that other components can mask toxic elements, as in strawberries.  That is why they seldom have side effects on consumption.  Tonic herbs are even more benign.  They can be taken for years with only positive effect.  Hawthorne (Cratagus oxycanths), for instance, is the pre-eminent heart tonic.   It is the basic herb for anyone with heart problems to take (unless you are currently taking digoxin).  Cratagus strengthens the heartbeat, is nutritive for the heart muscle itself, improves coronary blood flow, enhances the connective tissue structure of the lining of the heart, blood and lymphatic vessels and protects against disease, injury and the normal wear and tear of aging.

Most, if not all of the herbs you find in a health food store are perfectly safe to take.  There are definitely poisonous herbs in the world, even extremely deadly ones, but you will probably never come into contact with them.  I use toxic herbs only homeopathically, to tap their healing ability without the toxicity.  Just do your part and take the herb as recommended on the product label.  You can die from taking many times more than the stated dosage of a diet tea, like one woman did recently.   You can also die if you have a heart condition and you use Ephedra (Ma huang).  The multilevel marketing industry should be called to task for offering a potentially dangerous herb like Ephedra to the unsuspecting public.  Unfortunately, in the desperation of losing weight, some people are willing to take chances that their rational mind might at other times veto.

There are however, so many totally safe, beneficial herbs that I would recommend the use of some daily, by most every adult in the US.  Tops on the list would be Cratagus (1 dropperful of tincture 3 times daily between meals), since heart disease is still the number one killer in the US.  Also, bypass surgery is not only extremely expensive but also unpleasant.  Cooking with garlic, turmeric and onions can assist in the prevention of heart disease too.  Next, I would suggest the use of bitter herbs like Gentiana lutea (Gentian) or Artemesia vulgare (Wormwood) to improve digestion, therefore, energy production, strength and immune function.  Since they are very bitter, be sure to combine the bitters with some Foeniculum vulgare (Fennel) or Pimpinella anisaum (Anise) so that you can even get them down.  You only need a dropperful of the tincture, in ¼ cup of water, before each meal, to do the trick.  Immune support, for an extended period of time is imperative in maximizing immune function and preventing not only colds and flu’s, but also more serious illnesses like cancer.  Consider using Astragalus membranaceus, Lentinus edodes (Shittake), or Ligustrum lucidum; 1 teaspoon of each in 1 cup of water, taking ½ cup twice a day.  To boost your energy, try Panax ginseng (American ginseng) or Eleutherococcus senticosis (Siberian ginseng).   General dosage is 1 dropperful of tincture 3 times daily or 1 capsule of the powdered herb also 3 time daily.

You can be assured that these herbs are safe and will have a most healthful effect on you.  They will help you deal with the all too real world.