As the use of herbal remedies infiltrate mainstream health practices, so does the misunderstandings of their usage.  It’s still quite common for people to want to compare herbs to medication.  In the last decade, people in America have taken more medication than herbs, forgetting the old knowledge of our ancestors.  So most people really don’t understand how to take herbs or how they work.

Many people believe that herbs don’t work, when the reality is that most medications are made from medicinal plants.  People also tend to think of herbs as dangerous.  While this can be true if taken incorrectly, the reality is that herbs are less dangerous than medication.  Once people get past these false ideas, they may come to herbs under media hype of a particular herb or come to herbs as a last result for a particular illness.  Starting on the herbal path may then begin under a cloud of false ideas and expectations.

People switching from medication to herbs tend to think that herbs work in the same way as the medicine they are used to taking.  Most of the time, medication is used to treat the symptoms of an illness, whereas herbs if used correctly, can get to the source of the problem by creating a balance.  Because of this, herbs can take much longer to work and if a person has multiple problems and doesn’t know the root cause, sometimes the herbs won’t work at all.

The best thing to do when starting out on the herbal path is to consult an herbalist.  They can help sort out the root cause(s) and will know what types of herbs are needed and how much to take.  Otherwise, experimenting can be hit or miss and can even exasperate the problem. 

Because herbs are meant to balance the system, it is common for symptoms to get worse before they get better.  This is part of the balancing process.  With some illnesses the body will need to go through a detoxification, which is part of the healing process.  This can be mild to extreme, depending on many factors, such as lifestyle.

When using something so natural it is helpful to be in touch and listen to the body.  The body is the greatest healer of itself.  If we listen it can show us the way.  With enough patience we can learn to hear what our body is telling us.  In doing so we put the responsibility for our health back in our own hands.

*Please consult an herbalist if you have any questions. 

This is when the saying, “mind over matter,” comes into play.  When one is in balance, the mind, body and spirit are one but without a healthy body we become disconnected.  The body won’t listen to the mind and thus we have no control over the body.  The mind creates excuses to not exercise, i.e. “I don’t have time,” “Someone will see me” or “I’m not healthy enough to exercise.” 

Exercising is a mental process as well as a physical one, so the first step actually begins in the mind.  It doesn’t hurt to seek professional help, a doctor, a naturopath, a counselor, a nutritionist or a personal trainer.  Seek out a support group and enlist the support of friends and family.  It can be frightening to tell people your fitness goals but the more you say it, the more you start to believe it.  Be your number one supporter and believe in yourself. 

The first thing to do is create an intention, then write it down and say it out loud.  It can be something such as, “I will be healthy and fit” or “I will be thin” or “I will get stronger,” whatever your goal is.  Stay away from negative words such as, “I will lose weight,” “I won’t be fat,” or “I will try to be healthier.”  Say what you mean and mean what you say. 

Put your intention up on the wall in a place where you can see it every day.  Cut out inspirational pictures of what your goal looks like to you and put them up to remind you of what you’re working towards.  Put it on your desktop wallpaper, your bathroom mirror and your car dashboard.  Creating the intention is the first and most important step to creating and achieving any­­­­ goal.