Ban Mind-Altering Herbs?

[Guest guest]

Hi Phil,

 

Yes, you have my permission. May I ask which list, in case I wish to join

them? I'd also like to mention the serious " buzz " I had once, after drinking

some mulled cider that had quite a bit of cloves in it (no alcohol, either!)

 

 

< wrote:

Hi All, & Andrea Beth,

 

Andrea Beth, may I have your permission to post this to other

herbal/TCM lists?

 

wrote:

> Indeed, do not many of our herbal substances have the potential for

> mind-altering effects? Think of the whole category of medicinals used

> specifically for that purpose - herbs that calm the shen and types of

> mental derangement. I suppose part of the discussion here might be what

> is a " normal " shen state, and I believe any substance that has the

> power to change the state of consciousness (whether to bring it closer

> to, or further away from " normal " ) can properly be considered

> " mind-altering " . I once made a formula for myself that included a

> higher-end dose of shichangpu - let me tell you, how intensely bright

> the colors were and how deliciously fragrant the aromas were... it was a

> nearly psychedelic experience! Yes, I agree it is essential that we

> know the mind-altering potentials of our pharmacopoeia so we can

> responsibly consider this in our intentional and unintentional uses

> (possible side effects) of those substances.

 

ALL medicinals, even common household compounds like salt, are

potentially toxic/dangerous if misused.

 

I agree with Andrea Beth; herbal professionals must lobby to retain the

right to prescribe mind-altering herbs, like any other medicinals.

 

Herbalists must have the same access to their medicinals as medic and

vets have to their drugs.

 

All Calm Shen-, or Awaken Shen- herbs could be said to be mind-

altering. If the authorities ban them from the clinics and shops, will they

also alcohol and ban common nutmeg - potent psychoactives - from the

supermarket shelves?

 

Worst of all (because I am a pipe addict), will they ban tobacco from the

shops?

 

http://www.biopsychiatry.com/tobacco/ ends with the following

paragraph: " In recognition of its awesome properties, native Americans

traditionally restricted their use of tobacco by smoking only in the

context of sacred ceremonies. Our secular society, with no recourse to

such means, has sought to limit it via medical repudiation: a message

that seems slowly to be getting through. Yet the genie of tobacco shows

no signs of disappearing overnight in a puff of smoke. With more

deaths to its name than all the illicit narcotics put together, there can be

no doubt that tobacco is the most dangerous drug in the world. "

 

Best regards

 

(puffing my pipe contentedly!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Everyone is raving about the all-new Mail.

 

 

[Guest guest]

Hi All, & Andrea Beth,

 

I have 's permission to post this [Thanks Andrea

Beth].

 

In relation to comments by some colleagues on the CHA List, who

agreed that herbalists should agree to have psychoactive herbs like

Salvia divinorum, etc withdrawn from use, she wrote:

> Indeed, do not many of our herbal substances have the potential for

> mind-altering effects? Think of the whole category of medicinals used

> specifically for that purpose - herbs that calm the shen and types of

> mental derangement. I suppose part of the discussion here might be

> what is a " normal " shen state, and I believe any substance that has the

> power to change the state of consciousness (whether to bring it closer

> to, or further away from " normal " ) can properly be considered

> " mind-altering " . I once made a formula for myself that included a

> higher-end dose of Shichangpu - let me tell you, how intensely bright

> the colors were and how deliciously fragrant the aromas were... it was

> a nearly psychedelic experience! Yes, I agree it is essential that we

> know the mind-altering potentials of our pharmacopoeia so we can

> responsibly consider this in our intentional and unintentional uses

> (possible side effects) of those substances. ... I'd also like to

> mention the serious " buzz " I had once, after drinking some mulled

> cider that had quite a bit of cloves in it (no alcohol, either!)

 

ALL medicinals, even common household compounds like salt, are

potentially toxic/dangerous if misused.

 

I agree with Andrea Beth; herbal professionals must lobby to retain the

right to prescribe mind-altering herbs, like any other medicinals.

 

Herbalists must have the same access to their medicinals as medic and

vets have to their drugs.

 

All Calm Shen-, or Awaken Shen- herbs could be said to be mind-

altering. If the authorities ban them from the clinics and shops, will they

also alcohol and ban common nutmeg - potent psychoactives - from the

supermarket shelves?

 

Worst of all (because I am a pipe addict), will they ban tobacco from the

shops?

 

http://www.biopsychiatry.com/tobacco/ ends with the following

paragraph: " In recognition of its awesome properties, native Americans

traditionally restricted their use of tobacco by smoking only in the

context of sacred ceremonies. Our secular society, with no recourse to

such means, has sought to limit it via medical repudiation: a message

that seems slowly to be getting through. Yet the genie of tobacco shows

no signs of disappearing overnight in a puff of smoke. With more

deaths to its name than all the illicit narcotics put together, there can be

no doubt that tobacco is the most dangerous drug in the world. "

 

Best regards

 

(puffing my pipe contentedly!)

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

I agree,

Personally I do not use any of the obvious mind altering drugs...but we can

not discount the herbal traditions of other cultures that use them as part of

their healing process. Ayuhuasca (sp?) is used in the Amazon area by many

herbalist shamans and is part of their training in the art of herbalism. It is

also abused by some folks. Kava Kava (ok so I have used some altering herbs) is

of great benefit in many traditions and long history. I guess at the very least

herbalists should fight to hold on to the right to use these herbs....not sure

how I feel about recreational/non-medicinal use of altering herbs....perhaps

user beware or make access difficult (but not illegal). That said...I grow Kava

Kava and occasionally use it recreationally....I will be having a kava kava bar

here for national herb day celebration(www.herbday.org)

Bob

www.acuherbals.com

 

< wrote:

Hi All, & Andrea Beth,

 

I have 's permission to post this [Thanks Andrea

Beth].

 

In relation to comments by some colleagues on the CHA List, who

agreed that herbalists should agree to have psychoactive herbs like

Salvia divinorum, etc withdrawn from use, she wrote:

> Indeed, do not many of our herbal substances have the potential for

> mind-altering effects? Think of the whole category of medicinals used

> specifically for that purpose - herbs that calm the shen and types of

> mental derangement. I suppose part of the discussion here might be

> what is a " normal " shen state, and I believe any substance that has the

> power to change the state of consciousness (whether to bring it closer

> to, or further away from " normal " ) can properly be considered

> " mind-altering " . I once made a formula for myself that included a

> higher-end dose of Shichangpu - let me tell you, how intensely bright

> the colors were and how deliciously fragrant the aromas were... it was

> a nearly psychedelic experience! Yes, I agree it is essential that we

> know the mind-altering potentials of our pharmacopoeia so we can

> responsibly consider this in our intentional and unintentional uses

> (possible side effects) of those substances. ... I'd also like to

> mention the serious " buzz " I had once, after drinking some mulled

> cider that had quite a bit of cloves in it (no alcohol, either!)

 

ALL medicinals, even common household compounds like salt, are

potentially toxic/dangerous if misused.

 

I agree with Andrea Beth; herbal professionals must lobby to retain the

right to prescribe mind-altering herbs, like any other medicinals.

 

Herbalists must have the same access to their medicinals as medic and

vets have to their drugs.

 

All Calm Shen-, or Awaken Shen- herbs could be said to be mind-

altering. If the authorities ban them from the clinics and shops, will they

also alcohol and ban common nutmeg - potent psychoactives - from the

supermarket shelves?

 

Worst of all (because I am a pipe addict), will they ban tobacco from the

shops?

 

http://www.biopsychiatry.com/tobacco/ ends with the following

paragraph: " In recognition of its awesome properties, native Americans

traditionally restricted their use of tobacco by smoking only in the

context of sacred ceremonies. Our secular society, with no recourse to

such means, has sought to limit it via medical repudiation: a message

that seems slowly to be getting through. Yet the genie of tobacco shows

no signs of disappearing overnight in a puff of smoke. With more

deaths to its name than all the illicit narcotics put together, there can be

no doubt that tobacco is the most dangerous drug in the world. "

 

Best regards

 

(puffing my pipe contentedly!)