More on Herbal Solutions to What Ails us

I just came back from my 50th High School reunion. It was fun, got a chance to visit with 3 of my oldest friends, and saw folks I hadn't even thought about in years.

But they had gotten old.

Okay, so have I. But the difference (it seems to me) between us, is that so many of them had stopped growing. Most have retired, which is great, but they seemed to lack any knowledge of what they were going to do next.

So many of them were in poor physical health. They have let themselves go, and are suffering for it with increased pain, sicknesses, and failing body parts.

I know this is a natural course of life, but I rebel against the idea of going to my end without fighting.

So i tried talking to some of them about chiropractic, and alternative healing methods, but I don't feel like many of them were really paying attention.

So, for those of you that DO pay attention, here are some thoughts about possible remedies for what may be ailing you. I am NOT a doctor, nor do I play one on T.V. But I have been the recipient of some knowledge that has worked for me, and here it is. And if you do the research, you will find amazing correlations between Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Central and South American Curanderismo, Native American Tribal medicine (such as the Cherokee Fern traditions), the Indian Ayurvedic traditions, and other cultural medicine.

I repeat, I am NOT a doctor, or a nurse, nor a master-herbalist or certified anything.

Most holistic healing treatments and remedies do one of three things:

1. they correct an elemental or energetic imbalance, such as cooling a hot condition;

2. nourish and strengthen the individual, such as with tonics;

3. remove the barriers to self-healing, by cleansing and/or detoxifying.

Herbal treatments can be directional. Maybe someone has a urinary tract infection (UTI) or other urinary problem. You can produce a treatment using dandelion Leaf (good for kidneys) and mix it with an anti-microbial herb, which will direct the anti-microbial to the kidneys.

Eucalyptus thrives in the same damp environments where we can develop lung and/or fungal infections. Eucalyptus has thus evolved in the very environment to produce the healing effects we need. Eucalyptus produces an abundant amount of essential oil that is anti-fungal, and great for opening up the lungs and easing congestion.

Marshmallow, Licorice, and Slippery Elm can be used to produce a demulcent tea mix that soothes irritated and/or inflamed internal mucosal tissue, such as in the throat.

And for heart-healthy cardio-tonic tea, you can mix Hawthorne berry, Linden flower, Motherwort, Rosemary, Blueberries, and Mulberries.

The key to these is to research each ingredient, and especially look at what the recommended dosage is, and what the maximum dosage per day is. Of course, you can consult an herbalist to have all this done for you, but I believe most martial artists are of a self-sufficient tendency, as Bruce Lee once said.

You can also avail yourself of simple "kitchen medicine". This would include taking a daily dose of Turmeric for inflammation. If you have nasal and/or chest congestion, take everyday, ordinary pineapple (sliced or crushed or chunked) and add a generous dose of cinnamon to a serving of it, and eat it twice a day. I was skeptical until in actually worked for me!

All of the above can and should be discussed with your regular doctor, as only he/she and you know what the actual state of your health is. But most of these herbal treatments are at least safe, and do not have the side effects of some medicines. Still, do your research and don't simply take my word for it. Rosemary, in the above list for a cardio-tonic tea should be avoided by pregnant women, as it is an emmenagogue. In that case, simply leave it out of the mix.

Happy Herbaling! (Herbalizing? Herb-blitzing?)