I had the opportunity to participate in the documentary, Remedy: Ancient Medicine for Modern Illness. There are many herbalists interviewed in this documentary, offering diverse perspectives and insights on herbal medicine and its application. You can hear what I and others have to say about herbs, and how they may benefit you or your family.

The series can be purchased through the link below, and airs online September 5th. Register now to watch it for free (a limited time offer), and see how it may change your perception of how herbs can support health and treat illness.

https://remedy.thesacredscience.com/sago-a

So what is important to know about Herbal Medicine? How can you safely take action in caring for yourself and your family if you haven’t formally studied herbs? There are many great books on the topic. One of my favorites is Rosemary Gladstar’s Family Herbal. While many herbs are considered safe, any substance can be harmful taken at the wrong dosage or at the inappropriate time.

Some general suggestions about diet are provided here. Eating a clean, plant-based diet is the best bet for a healthy microbiome (gut flora), which in turns creates a healthier immune system and mind. Also, a plant-based diet will ensure you get more of the fiber necessary to remove harmful environmental toxicants.

Walter Crinnion and Joseph Pizzorno, in their new book, Clinical Environmental Medicine, share evidence-based research in treating environmental illness. The research shows the Mediterranean diet is the healthiest diet to be found so far. This diet is composed primarily of vegetables, fruits, legumes, grains, and a minimal amount of meat or dairy. The important features of this diet are that it is plant-based, the foods are locally grown, are grown organically, and the meat and dairy are free-range, with the animals eating a balanced diet. Arguments for and against olive oil aside, what seems noteworthy about the Mediterranean diet is the variety of plant-based foods included. Eating a variety of fruits and vegetables offers the most complex range of phytonutrients, and decreases reactivity from the immune system.

What about organic? Is that a gimmick? Yes, it is a gimmick, but not by the farmers. Everything used to be organic! It wasn’t until after WWII that pesticide use became the dominant form of farming. As Crinnion points out in his book, Clean, Green & Lean, the research shows that organic food is consistently much higher in nutritional value, and without the dangerous pesticides to boot. It can be more expensive to shop organic, but the health benefits make it a good investment. There is also a solution to help the budget: growing your own food and canning. Organic gardening is the original gardening, and, for the most part, simply requires composting to keep the soil healthy and full of nutrients, assuming it already is healthy. If the soil is depleted, it will need to have lots of organic compost added, as well as minerals. A good book on recovering the land is Sea Energy Agriculture by Maynard Murray. The general premise is that healthy land creates healthy plants, and healthy plants are naturally more resilient to infections or attacks by pests.

Herbal Medicine is Plant Medicine. As Hippocrates stated, let your food be your medicine. A clean plant-based diet goes a long way toward supporting health. And adding appropriate herbs can enhance it further.

Even more on herbal medicine to be shared sometime soon…