Years ago, when I was in herb school, I learned that Herbal Medicine is the “Medicine of the People” and that thrilled me. I loved the idea that the medicine was growing all around us. Moreover, plant medicine was accessible to all, and I was encouraged to share the knowledge I was gaining to empower others to incorporate herbs (safely) into their own lives for their own health and wellbeing. That’s why I love to do educational events – whether they’re herb lectures, tea blending seminars, or even blog posts like this one.
Still, as with any profession that includes a DIY component, there are instances when it’s time to see a professional. Remember when you tried to repair your water heater on your own, only to find your basement flooded? Or when you attempted to replace the intake manifold in your car and you had two unidentified parts left over when you thought you were done? If you can relate, then you know what I’m talking about (and I’m sorry about your water heater).
Herbal medicine is no different. As such, for the next few moments I’d like to share with you my thoughts on when to see an Herbalist.
When you have a complex medical picture
Herbs can be a great option for a number of health concerns (see my Home page for just a few). But when you are dealing with complex, or stubborn, issues, it’s time to call in the professional. An Herbalist is trained to consider the whole picture of what is going on with YOU, not simply treat a disease. I look for connections in what you are experiencing, which informs what herbs to employ.
For example, say you are having trouble sleeping. A good Herbalist will explore the reason you are having trouble sleeping before just giving you an herbal sedative. Is it stress or worry? Digestive distress? Pain keeping you up? This added information will guide the Herbalist in selecting the best herbs for YOUR particular situation, and address the root cause of your sleep issues for longer-term relief.
If you have multiple health challenges (for example, Metabolic Syndrome which is defined by having 3 of the following: high blood pressure, high blood sugar, too much fat around the waist, and high cholesterol or triglyceride levels), it may become confusing to figure out which herbs are best for all of those conditions. In fact, herbs are not a ‘one trick pony’. An Herbalist can recommend herbs that support more than one of those conditions, and combine herbs that have a synergistic effect to increase overall effectiveness. In the Metabolic Syndrome example, combining cardiovascular herbs such as hibiscus or hawthorn with liver herbs such as globe artichoke to facilitate processing of fats and cholesterol would be an effective formulation.
Complex health challenges often involve pharmaceuticals, which brings me to my next point about when to see an Herbalist.
When you are on (multiple?) medications
I have a saying that I like to use when I’m teaching about herbal safety: “Just because it’s natural, doesn’t mean it can’t kill you.” This is a reminder to all that the use of herbs needs to be done with safety in mind. This includes considering any herb-drug interactions. While it’s my clinical experience that I have not seen an overwhelming number potential herb-drug interactions in my practice, I always verify with my trusted references before recommending herbs to anyone on medication.
Here’s an example of a specific case to watch out for. Blood thinners (e.g., Warfarin, Coumadin) have a high potential for any herbs to interact with. While not all herbs are contraindicated, special care must be taken when selecting herbs in combination with blood thinners so as not to increase a person’s risk of bleeding.
On the botanical side, perhaps one of the most known herbs that interacts with some drugs is St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum). Due to the effect that this plant has on the body’s enzymes that break down substances, St. John’s wort can reduce therapeutic levels of certain drugs. This is why, years ago, women on both birth control and St. John’s wort were finding themselves getting pregnant. Now, not all drugs are affected by St. John’s wort (maybe a subject of a future blog?), and an Herbalist is trained to know which ones are to prevent any negative experiences.
These are just two, common examples of when an herb/drug interaction can be dangerous. An Herbalist is trained to deconflict herbs with your prescriptions. NOTE: an Herbalist is NOT able to provide guidance on what drugs you take as that is out of our scope of practice.
When you want to optimize the supplements you are taking
One really nice perk to working with a professional Herbalist is that we are trained to custom-formulate just for YOU. I create a multi-herb tea, powder, or tincture that is specific to YOUR need in a therapeutic dose, considering any potential allergies or herb-drug interactions.
I rarely use over-the-counter herbal supplements because they are formulated for the ‘average person’, which may not be entirely appropriate for YOU and YOUR situation. I enjoy having the freedom to provide exactly what I think the client needs, based on our work together.
Also, I find that many pre-packaged products also add extra Vitamins or minerals that I don’t want my clients to be taking. It’s not uncommon for me to review a new client’s supplement list to find that several of the products they are taking have added <insert your favorite Vitamin here>, after which you add up the total dosage find that it’s nearing dangerous limits.
If you are using single-herb supplements, the problem becomes having to take multiple pills to get the different herbs. Note that most Herbalists do not use single-herbs as we believe that the synergistic effects of combining plants is greater than the sum of the effects of individual herbs.
Also, to get an actual therapeutic dose of an herb, you often have to take several tablets a day, which can get inconvenient (and expensive).
Then there is the issue of quality. The supplement industry is not regulated very well in this country, and there is no law that guarantees that what the label says is in a given product is actually what’s in it at the dose stated. Now, there are some highly-reputable supplement companies that I trust and do use on occasion, but this is after extensive research and experience with these companies to feel comfortable recommending them.
Professional tip: be wary of any herbal supplement sold on large commercial websites like Amazon or Wal-Mart as quality cannot be guaranteed.
You’ve tried DIY but aren’t getting the results you were hoping for
While I do love to teach people how to incorporate herbs into their daily lives for health and you can get very good results on your own, sometimes a more nuanced approach is warranted. This is an excellent example of when to see an Herbalist. Maybe you need to adjust the dose or form of what you’re taking. Maybe adding a few more, complementary herbs would enhance the effect. Or selecting different herbs entirely may be most appropriate. Whatever it is that you need, an Herbalist is trained to navigate this process with you.
You’d rather just work with a professional
Don’t want to change your own oil? Replace that water heater? I get it. Sometimes I just want the convenience and ease of going right to the Pros. In these cases, I’m here to help navigate the herbal medicine terrain and help get you (safely) back on track.
Want more information on how I can help you achieve your wellness goals with herbs? Please refer to my Services page and/or contact me to schedule an appointment.