I learned a lot about herbal medicine when I went to school. I have always had a love for plant medicine and I especially love the depth and application of herbs. When I graduated and started practicing, I ordered a lot of different plant tinctures that I would combine and mix for patients depending on the particular condition I was treating. I got some good results with these tinctures (liquid prep of the herb) but my patients would always complain about their taste. I was naive when I got of school and started treating people. I thought they would take anything I recommended and get past the taste- not so! That is why my way of treating people with herbs has changed. I am using a lot more gemmotherapies as well as phytogens now because the patient compliance is better. These herbs taste good and work incredibly well- win win.

Gemmotherapy herbs are prepared from glycerine and alcohol in a homeopathic dilution hence the favorable taste. These herbs are popular in Europe. The French choose the most potent of species in various genus of plants or trees to make the medicine from. Gemmos employ glycerine macerates of fresh buds, young shoots, and rootlets in their growing phase to get the most vibrant growth factors and powerful healing agents for therapeutic application. Gemmos work to drain tissues of toxins by organ stimulation, tissue excitation or toxin elimination. They work beautifully with homeopathic medicines to bring the body into optimal homeostasis. Gemmos facilitate the drainage of toxins along the proper channels of elimination out of the body. Each gemmo has a particular affinity for an organ in the body.

One of my favorite gemmos is Ribes nigrum, common name black current, so I will start with it. Why do I love Ribes? Let me count thy ways. Ribes has many antiinflammatory phytonutrients so it has potent antioxidant activity; flavonoids including quercitin, pycnogenols, and phenols. These phytonutrients dampen inflammation substantiall. Ribes has an affinity for the adrenal glands; this plant has an effect similar to a corticosteroid without the side effects. I have relied on this herb many a time in my own life. It is a great herb to treat autoimmune disease because it can help raise cortisol (many patients that have an autoimmune disease when testing salivary cortisol, it is often found to be low or low normal). It thus supports adrenal gland function and boosts energy. Ribes nigrum can be used for many different suboptimal health conditions including autoimmune disease, arthritis, bronchitis, gastritis, allergies and urticaria.

This herb is well tolerated and easy to take in a little water. It has a pleasant taste so compliance is not an issue. Gemmos are really strong- one of my mentors refers to gemmos as herbs on steroids. I use a wide range of gemmos to treat people in my practice depending on what they come in with. I have great trust in these powerful plants and am so grateful to be able to use them with my patients. For more info on gemmotherapies check out Max Tetau, M.D.’s book Gemmotherapy: A Clinical Guide.

Reference source: Daniel P. Toule, DC. DNBHE

I have been drinking tea since I was ten years old. My mom would always put a kettle of tea on when I came home from school when I was growing up. It has been a daily habit of mine ever since.  I drink it daily, consistently and repeatedly. Sipping on tea comforts me much like a warm blanket. In the winter, tea nourishes me, warms me and gets me through every minute intellectual task that I must do whether it be reading, studying, or researching. It somehow makes the tasks more tolerable.

Tea has many medicinal benefits as well. Teas are not a strong form of medicine- encapsulated forms of herbs and liquid herbs like tinctures are stronger than teas however if you want to get a mild benefit from a specific herb and you like to get more water into your body teas can be a good choice. Teas can be made from the leaves, stems or flowers of herbs. In this case, to extract the medicinal benefit, the plant parts are steeped in water that has previously been bought to a boil and then has been turned off. It may be steeped for 10 minutes or longer depending on the strength that you desire of the particular herb.

The root is another component of the plant that can be used to extract medicinal benefits from. When a root is used, to extract the medicinal substance, it is necessary to bring the root that has been sliced up to a boil and then simmer for up to 20 minutes. Common roots that are used in this method of extraction include licorice root, dandelion root and echinacea root.

Teas are rich in vitamins, minerals, and nutritive substances which nourish the body. I used to drink nettle tea when I went to Bastyr university and got my degree in naturopathic medicine. I drank nettle tea because it is a great mineral rich tonic for the body. Stinging nettles are a common weed that grow worldwide. Nettles get their name from the fine hairs on their leaves and stems that can cause skin irritation on contact. Nettle tea is rich in minerals such as calcium, magnesium and iron and vitamins such as vitamin A, C, K, and sulfur.  I feel drinking nettle tea can bring a little color to your skin tone if you are pale. It is a good tea to drink if you have skin disorders such as eczema or acne. It is a blood purifier and thus conducive to detoxification.

Some of the medicinal benefits of nettle tea include it’s antihistamine effects due to its flavonoid content (quercitin) in the roots and leaves. Thus it is useful for people that suffer from allergies or inflammatory disorders like asthma. It is anti-styptic, thus reduces bleeding both internally and externally. It has some effect on reducing rheumatism through its minimal reduction of uric acid. It is thought to have some diuretic action supporting the action of the kidneys. It may provide benefit to men that suffer from BPH and help increase urine output. Because of its tannic acid content it can act as an astringent in the case of diarrhea. These are just a few reasons why I love to drink nettle tea. Steep one to two tsp in 2-4 cups of water for 10 minutes for basic preparation.

General recommendation-Herbal Teas should be avoided in pregnancy. If you are on medication, check in with your doctor to ensure there are no interactions with your meds and the tea you are drinking. Teas should not be consumed daily for long periods of times (> 2 months) without switching herbs. As with most substances, moderation is key for best results.

I went to a social gathering last week and one of the topics we discussed was New Year’s resolutions. One of my resolutions is one that I have on my list every year and do practice consistently. It is doing a daily meditation. I feel that meditation is so important for overall well being – the perfect tool to unite mind/body/spirit. In our crazy stressful demanding lives, we need a tool to help us stay in balance with everything. This tool is meditation. It does not cost anything, you can do it anywhere and it is a great way to start and/or end your day.

The benefits are numerous: meditation improves immune function which is paramount to reducing risk of not only acute colds/flu but also indirectly reducing risk of chronic diseases like cancer and auto-immune disease. Studies have shown that meditation can decrease emotional disturbance associated with neoplastic diseases. Meditation decreases inflammation which is at the root of chronic disease. It appears to do this by down-regulating pro-inflammatory gene expression. It has been shown to decrease c-reactive protein which is a lab marker of inflammation. Many people rely on meditation to live with chronic pain. It can help increase feelings of well being and can help you transcend your current level of pain whether it be physical or emotional.

Meditation decreases feelings of loneliness, decreases depression and anxiety and can improve your ability to regulate your emotions. I see clients regularly that are having a hard time keeping their emotions in a balanced state so I always recommend that they start meditating. It can increase feelings of social connectedness thereby reducing  feelings of isolation which are a known health risk. It can help you feel more compassionate and allow you to access your heart space more easily.

As I work with corporate clients on a regular basis, meditation serves their needs very well. It increases gray matter in the brain and increases attention and memory which can come in handy when you need to be productive and multitask at your office.  Meditation improves your overall focus. I start my day off with a 10-20 minute meditation in the am. I find it increases my clarity and connection to my intuition which serves me in my job. It allows me to remember important details and increases my retention of important facts. Meditation helps you function under higher stress levels while reducing those negative effects of stress on the body/mind/spirit.

Start with a simple ten minute exercise: focus your attention on your breath. Buy an egg timer and set it for 10 minutes. Sit in a position that is comfortable for you and breathe. Meditation is a discipline and your mind will show up to distract you with many random thoughts. Keep returning your attention to your breath. Over time it will get easier to focus your attention on your breath. There are many styles of meditation to choose from- explore your different options-mindfulness meditation, loving-kindness meditation, compassion, yoga nidra, vipassana, etc. I highly recommend that you stick with it because it will change your life. If you want further instruction, please book an appointment with me at parallel wellness. Until next time, be well…

References:Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Health-Care Professionals. Int. Journal of Stress Management, Volume 12(2), May 2005, pg. 164-176.; Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction training reduces loneliness and pro-inflammatory gene expression in older adults. Vol. 26, Issue 7, Oct. 2012, pg. 1095-1101.; J. Personality and Social Psychology, Vol. 95 (5), Nov. 2008, 1045-1062.