Herbology – an Alternative to Allopathic Pharmaceutical Dependence

There were seemingly various other healthcare modalities in existence in the US in the late 1800’s, such as homeopathy, osteopathy, herbology and chiropractic, which the American Medical Association (AMA) later would attempt to either assimilate or eliminate.

Samuel Thomson (1769-1843) was a self-taught botanist and herbalist best known as the founder of Thomsonian Medicine. His method seems to center around the concept of regulating heat within the human body in order to manage instead of eliminate fever or more simply stated as “heat is life, disease and death are degrees of cold” (Bone & Mills, 2013). This is very similar to the concept balancing heat and cold within the body, by regulating the 5 phases or elements from Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Similar concepts are recognized with Ayurveda.

The documentary The Power of Herbs https://youtu.be/NmPi87lndzo is very informative, albeit somewhat dated from almost 6 years ago, as herbology studies and consumer awareness has increased in recent years. Professor Kathy Sykes offers some good examples of how herbs can help various conditions such as eczema, depression, HIV, and intermittent claudication. I am fairly confident that there have been many more studies in recent years proving the efficacy of herbs for many other conditions.

What will it take and when will the medical community more fully embrace the benefits of many of these herbs that have proven the test of time for many cultures, sometimes over thousands of years? I thoroughly understand that much of this issue comes down to funding of the research to have allopathic medicine’s endorsement, and consequently the FDA’s approval of the efficacy and safety of such herbs. However, I think most would agree that there is little profit for pharmaceutical companies to make only millions in profits, when compared to the billions of dollars that are generated through synthetic drugs sales. While more people today in the US may be more open-minded than ever before to trying herbs such as garlic, basil and others, to manage high blood pressure, the majority of people would rather take pharmaceuticals.  ACE inhibitors like lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril), is very popular for high blood pressure in spite of known side effects of cough, dizziness, drowsiness, headache, depression, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, upset stomach, and mild skin itching or rash.

References:

Bone, Kerry; Mills, Simon. Principles and Practice of Phytotherapy, 2013 (Kindle Locations 1066-1068). Elsevier Health Sciences. Kindle Edition.

Flannery M. A. (2002). The early botanical medical movement as a reflection of life, liberty, and literacy in Jacksonian America. Journal of the Medical Library Association: JMLA, 90(4), 442–454.

The Power Of Herbs – AWESOME BBC Herbal Medicine Documentary. (2016, August 27). YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmPi87lndzo

https://www.rxlist.com/zestril-side-effects-drug-center.htm

https://steemit.com/health/@flomingo/herbs-vs-pharmaceutical-drugs

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I am currently offering wellness lectures and tai chi/fitness classes for group, small group & private instruction in Wekiva, Longwood and Winter Park. I also have hundreds of FREE education video classes, lectures and seminars available onmy YouTube channel at:

https://www.youtube.com/c/MindandBodyExercises

Mind and Body Exercises on Google: https://posts.gle/aD47Qo

Jim Moltzan

407-234-0119

www.MindAndBodyExercises.com

www.Amazon.com/author/jimmoltzan

Herbal Extracts for Longevity & Healing

Traditional herbal extracts consisting of various liniments, tinctures, teas, etc. are known for their unique properties, which harmonize both the mind and body, allowing the body to find its natural balance in just a short amount of time. Each traditional herbal extract formula targets a specific area of the body, just as different foods and vitamins supply nutrients to specific areas of the body or different medicines are used to treat specific illnesses. During physical exercise or qigong practice, the application of these herbal extracts helps to relax the muscles and increase circulation, allowing you to challenge yourself further. This then allows you to maximize your full strength and speed while preventing injury caused by shocking different parts of the body, such as: joints, nerves, and muscles. Some herbs allow the body to naturally expel toxins from joints and tissues, enabling oxygen and vital nutrients to reach affected areas. Others stimulate the body’s natural energy to accelerate healing in the muscles, joints, nerves, and ligaments.


Blockages of the Qi, or chi (energy) flow usually result in poor blood circulation followed by illness. Acupressure or “pressure point” massage in conjunction with herbal extracts open the blood circulation and energy pathways increasing a flow of vitality that moves throughout the whole body. Response time to this opening of the energy pathways is usually less than 5 minutes.

Various Preparations of Herbal Extracts

Why Conventional Methods Don’t Fix Chronic Pain Issues

When in pain, receptors become oversensitive requiring ever increasing amounts of input to dull this signal. Over time, the natural pain-killing mechanism will exhaust itself trying to keep up with the oversensitive receptors. The result being that the pain and inflammatory responses become chronic, and the pain becomes increasingly resistant to conventional pain-relief methods (ice, heat, etc.) and pain medications. Chronic inflammation can destroy our joints completely over time. Pain relievers (NSAIDs, COX-2 inhibitors, etc.) are ineffective against this gradual degeneration. They may help somewhat with chronic pain symptoms but ultimately, they don’t repair the biological pain receptor nor joint damage. Many pain-relieving drugs are known to have serious side effects. COX-2 inhibitors (Vioxx and Celebrex) have previously been shown to cause an increased risk of heart ailments. NSAIDs (Ibuprofen, Naproxen, etc.) can cause bleeding ulcers and do damage to the digestive system and kidneys. Often these medicines are unable to keep the chronic inflammation from continuing to cause cartilage degradation and have little or no power to reverse the process.

Be well!

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I write often about topics that affect our health and well-being. Additionally, I teach and offer lectures about qigong, tai chi, baguazhang, and yoga.

For more info, contact Jim Moltzan at info@mindandbodyexercises.com, 407-234-0119 or through my site at http://www.mindandbodyexercises.com

Herbal Tinctures for Pain Management

Why Conventional Methods Don’t Fix Chronic Pain Issues

When in pain, receptors become oversensitive requiring ever increasing amounts of input to dull this signal. Over time, the natural pain-killing mechanism will exhaust itself trying to keep up with the oversensitive receptors. The result being that the pain and inflammatory responses become chronic, and the pain becomes increasingly resistant to conventional pain-relief methods (ice, heat, etc.) and pain medications.

Chronic inflammation can destroy our joints completely over time. Pain relievers (NSAIDs, COX-2 inhibitors, etc.) are ineffective against this gradual degeneration. They may help somewhat with chronic pain symptoms but ultimately, they don’t repair the biological pain receptor nor joint damage.

Many pain-relieving drugs are known to have serious side effects. COX-2 inhibitors (Vioxx and Celebrex) have previously been shown to cause an increased risk of heart
ailments. NSAIDs (Ibuprofen, Naproxen, etc.) can cause bleeding ulcers and do damage to the digestive system and kidneys. Often these medicines are unable to keep the chronic inflammation from continuing to cause cartilage degradation and have little or no power to reverse the process.

Treatment for Inflammation
Inflammation can often be treated with over-the-counter medication, natural remedies (like fruits, vegetables, or herbs), or sometimes a change in diet. These options can sometimes be effective in temporarily eliminating pain from inflammation, but often only manipulates certain natural body functions, without dealing with the root cause of the inflammation. Treatment repeats as often as needed, creating a vicious cycle of treatment and then temporary relief.

The medication method introduces chemicals into the body that can eventually harm the liver and digestive tract over time. For the better results in managing inflammation, Chinese herbs could be incorporated within a healthy lifestyle. Those suffering from inflammation could introduce Chinese herbal remedies (or others) into their daily healthy habits. Natural ingredients often enhance and support various natural body functions. Herbal remedies can help keep manage inflammation and therefore pain.

Dit Da Jow (Liniment)
‘’Dit Da Jow” or “Jiao”, in Chinese means “fall and strike.” This term refers to external recipes formulated in Chinese medicine to treat injuries and trauma. Dit Da Jow is an external liniment and not for ingestion. The recipes vary primarily in whether they clear heat or are warming. Authentic Dit Da Jow recipes move blood and consequently Qi to relieve the pain of many injuries due to trauma or impact. We can also use these herbal extracts to apply to our hands, arms and other parts of our bodies for what is referred to as Iron Body training. These Jows are somewhat unique in that they reduce inflammation while at the same time increase blood circulation and promote natural healing. I have learned to produce these Jows ” and have been using them for almost 40 years to externally treat injuries, aches and pains. If overly sore or injured, we can also use curcumin poultices or store-bought plaster patches with cayenne.

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Qigong, tai chi, baguazhang, and yoga are not the only methods that can be used within this formula but have proven the test of time as methods to cultivate harmony of the mind, body and spirit. These exercise practices offer a wide spectrum of physical wellness benefits, stress relief as well as means of self-awareness.  Not all teachers nor students practice these for the same goals.

I am currently offering wellness lectures and classes for group, small group & private instruction in Wekiva, Longwood and Winter Park.

For more info, contact Jim Moltzan at info@mindandbodyexercises.com, 407-234-0119 or through my site at http://www.mindandbodyexercises.com

Jim
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I started my martial arts training at the age of 16, starting with Korean martial arts and evolving into BaguaZhang, Tai Chi, and Qigong. I have been training, studying and teaching for almost 40 years effectively educating hundreds of students.

As a recognized master instructor, I have trained with a diverse group of masters and high-level martial arts teachers of many different disciplines. My specialty is teaching exercises to improve chronic conditions, working with people of all ages, especially senior adults. Offering guidance and instruction, I have also worked with Parkinson Disease patients through Florida Hospital. I offer regular lectures as requested by AdventHealth (Florida Hospital) regarding the benefits of Eastern practices.

I am the author and graphic artist of numerous journals, graphic charts and study guides relative to the mind and body connection and how it relates to martial arts, fitness and self-improvement.

I continue training and teaching in the Orlando, Florida area conducting classes, seminars and lectures as my schedule allows. I balance my teaching and businesses with my own personal cultivation and time spent with my wife and two college-age kids.

Chart of Various Herbal Preparations

Traditional herbal extracts consisting of various liniments, tinctures, teas, etc. are known for their unique properties, which harmonize both the mind and body, allowing the body to find its natural balance in just a short amount of time. Each traditional herbal extract formula targets a specific area of the body, just as different foods and vitamins supply nutrients to specific areas of the body or different medicines are used to treat specific illnesses.

Some herbs allow the body to naturally expel toxins from joints and tissues, enabling oxygen and vital nutrients to reach affected areas. Others stimulate the body’s natural energy to accelerate healing in the muscles, joints, nerves, and ligaments.

During physical exercise or qigong practice, the application of these herbal extracts helps to relax the muscles and increase circulation, allowing you to challenge yourself further. This then allows you to maximize your full strength and speed while preventing injury caused by shocking different parts of the body, such as: joints, nerves, and muscles.

Blockages of the Qi, or chi (energy) flow usually result in poor blood circulation followed by illness. Acupressure or “pressure point” massage in conjunction with herbal extracts open the blood circulation and energy pathways increasing a flow of vitality that moves throughout the whole body. Response time to this opening of the energy pathways is usually less than 5 minutes.

__________

I write often about topics that affect our health and well-being. Additionally, I teach and offer lectures about qigong, tai chi, baguazhang, and yoga.

For more info, contact Jim Moltzan at info@mindandbodyexercises.com, 407-234-0119 or through my site at http://www.mindandbodyexercises.com

Herbs as Botanical Medicine

Herbs have been used for thousands of years worldwide, as the main source of primary medicine. While it is easy to debate the usage and effectiveness of herbal medicine today, it is worth noting that 75-80% of the world population still relies upon herbs to stay healthy. Herbal remedies are still thought to have little or no side effects, while being relatively inexpensive and available throughout many developing nations.

25% of modern medicines are derived from medicinal plants. However, prescription drugs have caused many deaths in the US averaging about 1900 per week. Foods, herbs, and spices are often considered to be safe until proven otherwise, coming from many years of human consumption, and not necessarily having been scientifically proven to be safe.

An area of concern that can be reflected in today’s world culture is that science can be used to distort facts and sometime sway a viewpoint on a particular issue. Pharmaceutical companies as well as herbal medicine companies have pursued research that favors their product, while not necessarily getting a neutral or even factual report of the product in question. For me, this makes doing my own in-depth research on any food, pharmaceutical or herb even more important. I don’t feel that today, we can take benefits or side-effects of any consumable at mere face value and assume that it must be good for us because somebody says so.

Supplements should not and cannot take the place of eating a balanced high-quality diet. Supplements, whether vitamins, herbs or otherwise should not be used as a replacement for eating foods that have the nutritional requirement to maintain good health.

Be well, become healthy, be wise.

References:

Horne, S.2015, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bv9oXPZHBl4

http://stevenhorne.com/credential-program

http://schoolofmodernherbalmedicine.com/users/steven-horne-1.html?page=1

Qigong, tai chi, baguazhang, and yoga are not the only methods that can be used within this formula but have proven the test of time as methods to cultivate harmony of the mind, body and spirit. These exercise practices offer a wide spectrum of physical wellness benefits, stress relief as well as means of self-awareness.  Not all teachers nor students practice these for the same goals. For more info, contact Jim Moltzan at info@mindandbodyexercises.com, 407-234-0119 or through my site at http://www.mindandbodyexercises.com