NATURAL HERBAL REMEDIES
At Integrated Counseling and Wellness, we are committed to helping you achieve the healthy, happy life that you aspire to by helping you reach your mental, emotional and relational wellness goals. Herbal therapy is an empirically based, time-tested approach that has powerfully helped thousands of people increase their mental, emotional, and relational wellbeing.
I look forward to each appointment and know that I will be treated with the utmost care, respect, and professionalism. I highly recommend this facility to others.
WHAT IS HERBAL THERAPY?
At Integrated Counseling and Wellness, we are NOT anti-medication—we are simply pro-wellness. We appreciate the ways both modern medications and herbal therapies can help you reach your wellness goals. Research indicates that these approaches should not be mutually exclusive. Dr. Christopher Hobbs said, ‘Since herbalists are trained in health and the use of gentle natural remedies and the physician in pathology or disease, both practitioners working together give patients many more options.’
WHAT CONDITIONS ARE NATURAL REMEDIES USED FOR?
By increasing wellness and enhancing each client’s stress response, our herbalist can influence wellness issues including:
- Digestion problems such as Crohns’ disease and colitis
- Fertility, pregnancy, childbirth, lactation, menopause, hormone imbalances and PMS
- Persistent colds and flu
- Childhood sicknesses and allergies
- Lung problems including chronic bronchitis
- Stress, anxiety, fatigue, low energy, depression, and tension
- Skin problems
- Reducing the side effects of your medication
- Feelings of nervousness
- Being blue or feeling down
- Sexual dysfunction
- Helping with addictive behaviors
Sleeping difficulties and more!
TOP 10 NATURAL REMEDIES USED IN HERBAL TREATMENTS
Natural remedies have been used throughout human history for many purposes. Today herbalism is being noticed as a focus on wellness and prevention. Always see an herbalist for guidance when using natural remedies. Some of the most well-known and used herbs include the following:
-Ginseng – This is one of the most popular herbal medicines in the world. The root of ginseng can be used as a stimulant and headache remedy. It can also be an herbal treatment for infertility, fever, reducing stress, help with weight loss, sexual dysfunction, improving lung function, lower blood sugar levels, boost immune systems, reduce inflammation and indigestion. Ginseng is available in dried, powdered, tea, capsules and tablet forms.
-Raw Garlic – Consuming cooked or raw garlic can help treat diabetes, fight inflammation, boost the immune system, regulate blood pressure, fight cardiovascular disease, relieve allergies, fight fungal and viral infections, and improve hair loss.
-Ginger – Ginger is known to be one of the most widely used dietary condiments in the world today. The therapeutic benefits of ginger come from the root and act as a highly potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent. There are many ways to use ginger as a natural remedy. It can be eaten raw, taken in powder or supplement form, consumed in liquid like a tea, or in oil form.
-Turmeric – Benefits of turmeric include its ability to slow and prevent blood clotting, fight depression, reduce inflammation, relieve arthritis pain, manage diabetes, treat gastrointestinal issues, regulate cholesterol, and fight cancer.
-Milk Thistle – This herb comes from the seed of the plant which can increase immunity, act as an anti-inflammatory, help digestive function, increase bile production, boost skin health, fight the appearance of aging, lower cholesterol levels, help detoxify the body and slow oxidative stress.
– Feverfew – This pain easing herb can be used for fevers, headaches, migraines, stomachaches, toothaches, insect bites, preventing dizziness, relieving allergies, reducing arthritis pain, preventing blood clots, infertility, and problems with menstruation and labor during childbirth. Feverfew is available in capsule form, tablets and liquid extract.
–St. John’s Wort – This medicinal herb is known for its antidepressant and anti-inflammatory properties. It can relieve PMS symptoms, improve mood during menopause, inflammation, skin irritations and improve symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
–Ginkgo Biloba – Benefits include improving concentration, memory, reducing the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, fighting anxiety and depression, helping maintain vision and eye health, relieving ADHD symptoms, improving libido and fighting fibromyalgia. Available in capsule, tablet, liquid extract and dried leaf forms.
–Saw Palmetto – known to fight inflammation, boost immune function, treat respiratory conditions and promote relaxation.
-Aloe Vera – benefits include its ability to soothe rashes and skin irritations; treat burns and cold sores; moisturize the skin, hair, and scalp; provide antioxidants, and reduce inflammation.
WHAT IS PHYTOTHERAPY?
Phytotherapy is a form of herbal therapy and literally means ‘plant therapy.’ Our phytotherapists rely on modern research, but are informed by and respect the experiences of herbalists’ dating back thousands of years. We use this approach to increase the wellness of various systems of the body with the goal of increasing overall wellness.
OUR HEALING PHILOSOPHY ABOUT HERBAL THERAPY
Our basic healing philosophy is to offer you the support needed to restore your ability to experience balance and harmony in your personal and relational health. Our health assessment focuses on identifying patterns of strength and weakness.
Using this information and depending on your wishes, our clinical herbalist will make recommendations that may include nutrition, herbs, supplements, natural remedies, yoga, counseling, skill-building exercises, and lifestyle changes. Recommendations may also include suggestions for creating physical, emotional, mental and/or spiritual balance if these are related to your wellness goals.
IS HERBAL THERAPY RIGHT FOR ME?
We encourage you to consider our herbal therapy options if you are interested in:
- Increasing medication compliance for yourself or a loved one.
- Getting off your current medications completely (while being authorized and supervised by your doctor).
- Reducing your use of medications (while being authorized and supervised by your doctor).
- Supplementing your current medications with the goal of getting a better response than you are currently getting from medication alone (while being authorized and supervised by your doctor).
- Finding an option that reduces the side effects of your medication naturally (while being authorized and supervised by your doctor).
- Finding an effective wellness option that is all natural, kind to your body and mind, and approved by your doctor.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF NATURAL REMEDIES?
There are three main benefits to herbal treatment. You should see an herbalist before trying any of the methods on your own, so you can gain knowledge of the products and their uses. The three benefits include:
Affordable Treatment – Herbal remedies are more cost-efficient than pharmaceuticals. One reason why trying herbal treatments with an herbalist has become so popular is because people simply cannot afford to pay for their medication. Seeing an herbalist doesn’t necessarily mean that you will be able to stop your monthly medication. We will work closely with you to reduce your medication when it is safe to do so.
Easier to Obtain than Prescription Medication – Herbs are only classified as ‘dietary supplements’, so they are over the counter items like herbal extracts, essential oils, and herbal teas. These items can be purchased at most health food or grocery stores. Make sure to read the labels carefully before using any herbal supplements.
Have Healing Properties – Herbs can be used for both chronic and acute conditions. Some of these conditions include cardiovascular disease, prostate problems, depression, inflammation and a weakened immune system.
IS THERE AN EFFECTIVE HERBAL TREATMENT FOR ANXIETY & DEPRESSION?
There may be for you. Everyone is different but research indicates there are numerous herbs that can complement the treatment of anxiety and depression. A summary of the effectiveness of these herbs, their safety profile, and additional information can be found in our free mini reference guides.
By providing your information below you may download a copy of our Herbs for Anxiety & Depression Mini References Guide to use with your doctor:
NATURAL REMEDIES CAN WORK WITH MEDICATIONS
When combining all the available research on herbal therapy, the findings indicate that herbal therapies increase clients’ compliance with taking synthetic medications, help people get off or reduce medications, support and enhance the positive effects of medications, address some negative side effects of medications and provide an additional option to those who do not respond to medications or do not wish to take medications. When this approach is combined with proper supplementation and a balanced lifestyle, the results can be exciting!
ARE NATURAL REMEDIES RIGHT FOR ME?
Herbal therapy is not a cure-all, nor is it a ‘Band-Aid’ approach to wellness either. While herbal formulas can help you address many of your symptoms—often quite rapidly—the main focus of herbalism is addressing the underlying wellness issues that cause these symptoms to manifest. Examples of some ailments herbal therapies are well suited to address are:
- Stress
- Hormonal imbalances
- Mild to moderate anxiety not caused by a medical condition
- Mild to moderate depression not caused by a medical condition
- Some cases of sexual dysfunction not caused by a medical condition
- Mild to moderate insomnia not caused by a medical condition
- Excessive fatigue not caused by a medical condition
CONTACT A CERTIFIED HERBALIST NEAR YOU
If you have struggled with, or are currently struggling with any of these issues or ailments, we encourage you to schedule an appointment with a certified herbalist today.
