Marcos is a 23-year-old male who presents with indigestion. He cannot effectively digest food well and sometimes experiences nausea. I recommended to Marcos on the first visit some ginger root (Zingiber Officinalis radix) for his current condition. This is perfect because ginger is known for helping the stomach do its job and providing relief from nausea. However, when I learned Marcos was also taking aspirin for his heart issues, I had to modify my plan. Aspirin is an anticoagulant, which means his blood thins and takes longer to clot if he ever gets a cut or has a bleed.
The reason I changed his plan was that ginger root in high doses can also thin the blood, therefore, even though this herb would be good for Marcos's stomach issues, it was not the right one for him. I recommended gentian root to him instead, since it has no blood-thinning activity and can be of great help. Though this herb is beneficial for him, I also had to consider how he would take it because it is extremely bitter! Eventually, I came up with a plan to take gentian in tea form with a little honey or raw sugar, so it could be tolerable but also do its job and help him digest his food well and this recommendation was for seven days, so Marcos could heal from his ailments without any side effects.
From this narrative, you might now understand that herbs can be very effective and safe, as long as they follow the three main questions described below:
What is the name of this herb? (Scientific name is important)
What illness am I trying to alleviate with this herb? (What does it do for the patient?)
How much of the herb should be given to the patient? (And for how long should it be taken?)
The other issue is to be aware of where the herb comes from. It is important to know whether the herb is grown in a sustainable environment and that it is not endangered so you want to look for labels that say "organic" or "wild-crafted" which guarantees the best quality.
As a naturopathic doctor, I have been trained to recommend herbs for various illnesses, with the correct dosage and safety profile. For your information, you do not need to be "sick" in order to take an herb, you can always use them for extra energy, stress management, and sleep aid, and for either short or long-term.
One thing you should know is that taking herbs in tea form will help, but their true medicinal properties are due to the low dosage; there are some exceptions to the rule, but these are rare. This is why you need to consult with an herbalist or naturopathic doctor about your herbs and how much to take in order to achieve the right action in your body.
With the help of materia medica of over 200 herbs, we naturopathic doctors can help you achieve a better quality of life that would be specific to you and your specific body type.
Note: The information you see here, describes what usually happens with a medical condition, but doesn't apply to everyone. This information isn't a substitute for medical advice, so make sure to contact a healthcare provider if you have a medical problem.
Disclaimer: Any patient or person mentioned in this article, is a fictional character. Any similarity to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events, is purely coincidental.
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