Herbalist in Question?

 This Article is taken from The Herbalist, newsletter of the Botanic

Medicine Society. COPYRIGHT Dec 1988.

Membership in the Society is $25.00 Canadian per year. You receive

four copies of the Journal each year and help to promote herbalism

and botanic medicine throughout Canada.

THE SOCIETY HAS NO PAID OFFICIALS and is run entirely by volunteers

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If you would like more info please write:

Botanic Medicine Society.

P.O. Box 82. Stn. A.

Willowdale, Ont. CANADA.

M2N 5S7.

Herbalist in Question? Peter Laker C.H.

Arthritis

Q. For the past 10 years I have been suffering with pain in the

knees and hips. Drugs have not given me relief and the pain is

getting worse. The cause so I am told is inflammation of the joints

for which there is no cure.

A. There are many different names given to arthritis and many

stages to this disease, but the cause is the same. The treatment

is similar for all types, with variations depending on the person

involved. For instance some people benefit from a hot compress or

poultice, while others need cold packs for relief of pain and

inflammation. A person with gout of the big toe cannot bear

anything hot touching that area, so I would suggest a cold clay

compress or poultice which will draw out the heat.

So you see, without more information on an individual's condition

it is difficult to give a more specific recommendation, but I will

make some assumptions and try anyway! A change of diet is the first

step. Acid forming foods such as milk, cheese and red meats are to

be avoided. Uric acid a waste from animal protein is the start of

many problems. This acid is very destructive if not eliminated

through the normal channels. The trouble is we produce much more

than we eliminate. This excess burns out sodium which keeps calcium

in solution. This crystallizes calcium deposits in various parts

of the body including joints, causing much irritation and pain.

Herbal teas containing Meadowsweet, Birch, Nettle, Comfrey, Willow

Bark, etc. will reduce inflammation and flush out uric acid.

Diaphoretic herbs are sometimes necessary to draw out uric acid

through the skin. The juice of one small raw potato drunk daily can

reduce pain.

Externally a hot cabbage poultice can reduce inflammation if

wrapped around joint and left overnight.

Acne

Q. My daughter is 18 years old and has a very pretty face but is

afraid to go out with her friends because of acne. This condition

has badly scarred her face. She has tried many types of creams

without success. Are there any natural creams or other treatments

that can help her.

A. It may seem to some people that I repeat myself often in these

matters and they would be correct. The cure is in the cause, proper

eating habits. I know this is hard for young people to accept but

it is the truth. Junk food (pizza, burgers, fries, chips, candy

etc) along with too much orange juice, milk, cheese, fried foods,

red meat, etc. are eaten almost exclusive of anything else.

Avoiding this kind of food goes a long way to a cure. A diet rich

in raw and steamed vegetables, salads, fruits, whole grains etc is

the answer. Along with this program Herbal remedies will assist in

elimination and function.

Many people assume acne is for teenagers only but it can carry on

into adult life if not treated properly. The usual treatment is

topical, such as antiseptic salves which kill bacteria. Some

conventional treatments go as far as using anti-biotic creams and

pills along with skin scraping etc. Of course creams can be helpful

if they are made with herbs in a natural base of beeswax and

vegetable oils. Internally, alterative herbs are used to cleanse

the blood. Burdock, Echinacea, Calendula, Nettle, Red Clover, along

with diuretics and laxatives such as Parsley and Buckthorne bark

help elimination. This combination is then tonic in action, aiding

the blood, lymph, bowels, liver and kidneys in elimination and

purification, carrying waste away from the skin and out through

the normal channels.

A tablespoon of olive oil and fresh lemon juice should be taken

every morning one hour before breakfast.

Colds and flu

Q. For the last 4 to 5 years I have been plagued with colds and flu

usually twice a year. The rest of the year I feel tired with low

energy and sluggish. Could you suggest diet changes and perhaps

some herbal remedy.

A. Your body is trying desperately to rid itself of excess mucus

and toxins. Instead of suppressing these symptoms with drugs, allow

the body to take its natural course. To do this you must go on a

strict eating regime, no milk (heavy mucus) cheese, meat, eggs or

bread. In fact I would suggest a vegetarian diet for 6 to 8 weeks

before including fish or chicken. Eat lots of dark green leafy

vegetables raw and steamed, fruits and juices, but stay away from

oranges and pineapples, (these tend to upset the digestive

processes). Some grains such as brown rice, millet and oatmeal. A

little whole rye bread can be included. Fasting one day a week (36

hours) with red grape juice will help in mucus elimination. Eat

lots of fresh garlic or take one garlic capsule 4 times a day along

with 1/2 teaspoon tincture of Echinacea in a little water 4 times

a day. 

If a cold or flu strikes, act quickly and drink an infusion of

Elderflower, Linden, Yarrow and Peppermint, add Licorice if the

throat is affected. Drink this infusion very hot, after taking hot

and cold foot baths, then stay in bed. This concoction will make

you perspire, burning out waste, probably ending the cold before

it starts without suppressing it.

When the cold or flu is over, a combination of herbs in an infusion

should be taken for detoxification especially in the spring and

fall. Nettle, Dandelion, Burdock, and Elderflower make a good

cleansing tonic, taken 3 times a day for 3 to 4 weeks.

Fibroids

Q. My doctor sent me to a specialist because of excessive menstrual

bleeding. He found fibroids and recommended an hysterectomy. I have

heard that herbs can help to dissolve them. Is this true?

A. Many women have used herbal treatments with success, depending

on the size and type of fibroid they have. Soft growths are easier

to deal with than the hard variety.

I have taken different approaches to this problem using various

herbs with success but I have found clay to be superior in many

cases. First make the appropriate dietary changes to improve

circulation and elimination along with blood cleansing herbs. Use

green clay as a poultice externally applied once daily and drink

clay every morning for internal cleansing. For the poultice put

enough clay for 3 to 4 days at a time in a glass or ceramic

container (never touch clay with metal or plastic). Pour in

distilled or spring water until soaked in, just covering the clay.

Put a cloth over the container and leave near a window, (not in

direct sunlight), for 24 hours.

When you are ready to apply the poultice use a wooden spoon and dig

out enough clay to cover the area of the fibroids. Place the clay

about one inch thick on to some gauze or cotton cloth and apply

clay directly onto the skin. Leave on one to two hours, or you can

leave it on overnight. The clay will dry out and crumble off. When

the treatment is finished, throw the used clay away, do not let

anyone else handle it. Continue this treatment for 3 months.

If there is any reaction to clay such as becoming very hot or

staying too cold, stop treatment and try again another day.

For internal use put one teaspoon of clay in a 1/2 glass of pure

water and stir. Leave by window for about one hour , stir and drink

one hour before breakfast.

As I mentioned earlier, blood cleansing herbs will help along with

herbs for liver congestion, such as Artichoke, St. Benedict,

Dandelion, etc. If the fibroid is not responding, a liver cleansing

treatment of olive oil and lemon juice may be needed.