Many people explore herbology because they believe it to be a cure-all. Maybe you also share that belief. And as we discussed in a previous post, when you start using herbology you'll see a phenomenal shift.
But that does not mean that you've discovered a cure-all for all health related problems.
In the foreword to her wonderful little book "Herbal Medicine" (ISBN 1-85230-591-6) herbalist Vicky Pitman relates the beautiful Cherokee tale of how the green people came to the aid of human beings. By the way, this book is a worthwhile addition to your reading list.
The tale goes like this:
"In the beginning of this world, all creatures could speak a common language, and respected and understood one another, taking only what they needed to live. Gradually however, humans began to abuse their place in the Great Life: they took more than they needed, lacked respect for fellow creatures, trampled on others carelessly.
The other animals held councils to try to decide how to solve the problem of man, but could think of no plan that would work. Finally the insects thought up the idea of giving diseases to humans to kill them off, and diseases began to appear among humans, but although many died, many survived. The insects then went to the Green People, the plants, for help in totally destroying arrogant humanity.
After four days of deliberation, Grandfather Ginseng, the chief of the Green People, replied, 'We have heard your words and there is much truth in them. People have hurt and abused us as much or more than they have you. But we also understand that man is still young and foolish and we are all part of the same Great Life.
So we have decided that if people come to us in a good way, a sacred way, we will help them by giving them the cure for every disease which you, the insects, have made."
Surely, this is just a tale?
It certainly is, but this tale hints at the fact that herbology is not a cure-all for all health problems. It suggests that what herbology might work for, is limited to those conditions that are sometimes termed 'organic' diseases - caused by "insects." Referring to bodily sickness, injury or disease.
Problems in the spiritual, emotional and mental realms is according to this tale not within the scope of plants.
Knowing the nature and cause of a health problem is fundamental to developing a treatment protocol. There is no point in trying to use a remedy for something which is way beyond its natural abilities. To this end herbologists spend considerable time studying the nature and cause of disease. Or why we get sick.
The Cherokee tale also hints at the fact that herbology must be used within a specific framework, or way, to be a cure.
This means that to be truly effective it must be used by knowledgeable people in a way (treatment protocol) that acknowledges that they and the plants they use are mere tools in the hands of the only True Healer - God Almighty.
Does that mean that I need to do a course before I can use herbs?
No, quite to the contrary, it just means that you have to know a tiny bit more than what popular herb books and the media in general share with you. For starters you have to know which health problems you can safely treat yourself at home.
And the rule of thumb here is that you can only use herbology to treat a self-limiting disorder that you normally treat yourself using other methods. These are those conditions that are generally not serious and are often self-correcting. Meaning that you normally won't go to your doctor when you get them. You'll go to the supermarket and buy a remedy off the shelf.
And normally if the symptoms persist longer than usual, or develop into others that are more severe, you immediately stop your self treatment and you consult your health practitioner. You do that, don't you?
Next you need to be aware of what is called the 'placebo effect'. Because as the above suggests, your condition would have improved irrespective of the treatment used.
So, was the remedy 'hocus pocus' or real? And that is the subject of a future post.
