Create An Herbal Medicine Chest

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Good Morning!

 

Create An Herbal Medicine Chest

 

1. The first step to building your natural medicine chest is to write

down exactly what you need on a regular basis and what you need on an

occasional basis. A multivitamin, calcium supplement (if you're a

woman over 35), extra folic acid (if you are hoping to get pregnant),

valerian root, if you have occasional trouble sleeping, white willow

bark if you need something for headaches on occasion arnica for those

times when you need a natural pain reliever. This is how you stock

your natural medicine chest.

 

2. Write down your needs based on conditions or symptoms, what has

worked for you, what you need to look into or ask your doctor about,

and anything else you can think of. Remember you can include

tinctures, capsules, pills both herbal and homeopathic.

 

3. You can also base your decisions on the seasonal calendar. Herbs

for seasonal healing are an important element in deciding just what

is necessary at the time. Each season has it's own particular

beneficial herbs for healing particular conditions during that time

period. Remember, this is also geared towards the region of the world

you live in. For a reference of current seasonal herbs to use, see

this page.

 

4. If you're trying to " go herbal " with your medicine, chest, discuss

any conditions you have with your acupuncturist, naturopath or

holistic practitioner. Be advised that asking your allopathic

(Western) doctor probably does not have the knowledge about herbs

that a holistic practitioner has. Some physicians dislike the idea of

herbal remedies, primarily because of patients who use them without

the proper information or precautions. A healer of any kind, be them

holistic or allopathic should be searching for the power in the

greater good. Many doctors now try to include those options for their

patients. And if a doctor who is open to natural remedies advises

against it, trust that judgment. Work with the practitioner on

contraindications for the herb when you are considering taking them

with allopathic medicine. There could very well be side effects. So

when you've decided what your needs are, see your doctor, then decide

which remedies you will need to take on a daily basis for an extended

period of time.

 

5. Doses are always a question and what herbal remedies are good for

which conditions, but another step in the natural health process is

to decide exactly how much of each item you need.

 

 

Andrew Pacholyk, MS, L.Ac

http://www.peacefulmind.com/herbs.htm

Therapies for healing

mind, body, spirit