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Botanical medicine provides a source of substances that
cause minimal side effects and often gently help the body to restore health. A doctor’s experience with plants,
education about plants and, most importantly, relationship with plants appears to be a key aspect of their versatility and
healing potential.
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Call to schedule:
206-878-2628
Perhaps you can prioritize
your choices when buying organic produce:
The percent of pesticides on fruits and vegetables (ranked from most to least).
. .
Most: Peaches, apples, celery, cherries, lettuce, imported grapes
Least:
Broccoli, blueberries, watermelons, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, grapefruit
Click here to see the related news article.
I am only one,
But still
I am one.
I cannot do everything,
But still I can do something;
And because I cannot do everything
I will
not refuse to do the something that I can do.
- Edward Everett Hale
Do not wait for leaders.
Do it alone, person to person.
- Mother Teresa
| Change
and Opportunity The Holidays are approaching as we are in the midst of huge economic challenges, bombarded on
all sides with predictions of doom and gloom. More and more, I tune out the bad news and focus instead on the reality
I am helping to create with my thoughts and energy. Are my choices, priorities, and consumer decisions adding value
to my life and the lives of others? By reigning in our consumption and using our resources more thoughtfully, we can
transform the economy and every aspect of our lives and the world. I feel so fortunate to work with so many like-minded
individuals and hope my services and products continue to bring you health and freedom in the coming New Year!
Herbal Medicine
Naturopathic treatments generally vary from allopathy in that we use lesser force to stimulate the body’s ability
to overcome disease and pathology. Treatments are directed toward the underlying cause of a condition instead of
just trying to get rid of the symptoms. One example is using pharmaceutical drugs to get rid of the symptoms of heartburn
instead of strengthening the digestive system or identifying and eliminating an offending food. Without addressing the
underlying cause, symptoms will continue to worsen and more drugs will be needed to counter the symptoms.
An article from the Seattle Times reported that, "the number of deaths and serious injuries associated with prescription drug use rose to record levels
in the first quarter of 2008 with 4,825 deaths and nearly 21,000 injuries." Herbal medicine is a gentle but
effective way to stimulate the body's natural healing ability. Using plants as a remedy goes
as far back as recorded history (if not farther) and today, as awareness and information about plant medicine grows,
there is a thriving industry producing and selling these products. Not all products are created equal, however,
and consumers must use caution when choosing which brands to buy. The beneficial properties of plants can be increased
by dose or volume but also by quality. For example, many plants only have a medicinal effect if they are harvested at
a certain time of the year so products that include those same plants harvested year round will be of inferior quality.
Also, many companies increase the potency of their product by only including the "active ingredient" while
excluding much of the rest of the plant. Herbalists know, though, that by using the whole plant there
is an added synergistic effect which may ally the side effects of one part taken in high doses such as providing
minerals that would otherwise be depleted by using the active ingredient alone.
Naturopaths are trained to
assess the value of products and I maintain a close relationship with my herbal product vendors to ensure the highest quality
and integrity of manufacturing.
Working with plants is not just about physical healing. Achieving balance
and peace is just as important a goal as physical health. Consider all the various ways in which we form relationships
with plants and how they contribute to peace of body, mind, and spirit: satisfying hours spent working in the garden,
a flowering cherry tree in Spring, the lavender fields in Squim, vegetables fresh from the garden to the
table, memories of flowers at your wedding or at the funeral of a loved one, the scent of stepping off the
plane in Hawaii.
One of my favorite books, Plant Spirit Medicine by Eliot Cowan
put such a relationship in this way: “Consciousness, therefore, is not merely thought, much less intellect
or reason. It is the feeling of being alive and being related to all life. Consciousness as pure feeling exists
already in the plant and is hidden in the rock, even within the atom itself. It is only when we come to look upon all
things as human that we are capable of truly humane existence. Such a lesson is taught to us by plants and herbs whose
existence is still grounded in the unity of nature, through which we may return to understand ourselves better. Therefore,
plants may communicate directly to that essence of feeling which makes a true human being. Plants bring us the love,
the nourishing power of the sun, which is the same energy of the stars, of all light. They exist for psychological,
as well as physical nourishment.”
Naturopathic Treatments for Cold and Flu Symptoms
The best treatment for colds
and flu is prevention! Here are some tips to help you stay healthy this winter: - Eat your vegetables and
fruits strengthen your immune system.
- Avoid sugar which weakens the immune system.
- Avoid dairy which causes
an overproduction of mucous and may aggravate the immune system.
- Don't over heat your home as dry air dries out
mucous membranes. (Mucous membranes are loaded with enzymes, immune cells, and lymph glands designed to catch viruses/bacteria
and are our first line of defense against infection!)
- Keep rooms a moderate temperature and consider using a humidifier
to keep air moist.
- A HEPA filter in bedrooms is a great way to minimize dust and toxins, thereby reducing the burden
to your immune system.
- Wash hands frequently and avoid putting fingers in mouth, eyes, nose, and ears.
- Drink
plenty of fluids, get enough rest, and exercise to balance stress.
If you do happen to catch a cold or come down
with the flu, consider the use of vitamins, herbs, and homeopathics. They are best used at the onset and can help lessen their
severity and prevent secondary infections. Unlike antibiotics, which are not effective against viruses and work by preventing
the replication of bacteria through one or two mechanisms, herbal products work by many mechanisms. For example, they
may directly kill bacteria, stimulate white blood cells, stimulate circulation, or prove vitamins and minerals that nourish
glands involved in the anti-inflammatory response. The more ways an herbal product works, the less likely resistance
can develop! Homeopathics work as an energetic catalyst to stimulate the body to overcome symptoms. They can be
extremely effective and have no side effects and are usually taken as small pellets under the tongue.
I
often recommend the herbal/vitamin combinations Bio Vegetarian and Super Bio Vegetarian from Priority One in big doses the
first day or two to beat a cold. A homeopathic remedy I recommended for the flu is Oscillococcinum which can be used
safely alone or with other medications. Homeopathics are very safe for children.
Call at the first sign of a cold or flu or for a recommendation specific to you about what products to
keep on hand.
Stay well and enjoy the season!
Local Food Banks Need Your Help During the Holiday Season!
Highline Area Food Bank
White Center Food Bank
Des Moines Food Bank
West Seattle Food Bank
Kent Food Bank & Emergency Services
Rotary First Harvest
Beacon Avenue Food Bank
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