Herbs and Health

Plants have been used in various medicinal cultures for centuries with great results.  Ayurvedic and Chinese medical cultures have taken these medicinal plant abilities to another level, but still, the root lies in their ability to impact various medical conditions and improve health.  The topic is complex to say the least, but yet, it is basic and known to everyone at a certain level.  I discovered the potential of herbal therapy on overall health improvement during my cancer recovery, but after talking with our clients over the years, I realized that this information was being used on a rudimentary level to help improve certain problems.  For instance, one client had mentioned to me how she gave her mother Cinnamon to help reduce her blood sugar, which resulted in her ability to stop certain medications.  She had always heard that Cinnamon was beneficial, but never understood why.  She just did what family tradition dictated. 

You have to remember that upwards of 80% of all pharmaceutical medications are derived in some way or form from herbs or plant materials.  The reason for this is that scientists realize the potential of plants, but target that activity and try to concentrate it for a perceived higher effect.  There are good sides and bad sides to this approach and I, for one, tend to opt for herbs in more chronic cases to avoid the side effects of some medications.

Herbs can impact blood circulation, lower sugar levels, improve cellular energy production, improve digestion, improve cognition, reduce inflammation and mitigate pain.  Each herb has its noted abilities and generally, not a single one can improve every condition, but it is more a combination approach that works best.  The other beautiful thing about many herbs is that they are wonderful sources of vital nutrients such as protein, vitamins and minerals that help to improve cellular health and encourage repair of tissue.  Take for instance Spirulina blue green algae.  This herb or actually organism, is a great source of needed protein, vitamins, minerals and has been used in various cultures to improve health and vitality in undernourished individuals or those that are recovering from prolonged illness.  Spirulina also has touted anti-inflammatory abilities, detoxifies the blood and can improve cellular energy production.  Various mushrooms are also in this same category as being a vital source of nutrients as well as helping to promote a health immune response.  Certain mushroom species and their extracts have been used in Chinese medical cultures for centuries to improve recovery and even impact cancer progression.  Curcumin or it's parent herb, Turmeric, is yet another heavily researched herb that has shown the ability to impact cardiovascular disease, reduce inflammation and pain as well as impact the progression of various cancers.  On another level, we have a grouping of herbs referred to as 'adaptogens', which include Ashwaghanda, Bacopa, Schisandra, Hawthorne and Ginseng.  These herbs help the body to cope with stress by reducing cortisol levels and improving cellular health.  They have also been shown to improve cardiovascular health and are a vital source of antioxidants to quench free radical damage.

The list goes on and on in terms of the abilities that herbs can offer to improve health, not only for us but for our animal companions as well.  They are a part of my everyday life as well as that of our family.  I encourage you to explore all options when it comes to your health, as well as that of your animal companion.  There are options out there, you just have to find them!

Best Wishes,

Tom Schell, D.V.M.