For millennia, plants have been used to heal mind, body and spirit. And today, with the prescription of common drugs including antibiotics, sleeping pills, painkillers and anti-depressant at an all-time high, even the medical world is concerned about the issues this is raising, from an increasing resistance to antibiotics to addiction to certain medications, particularly when taken long-term.
The good news is, there are so many ways we can use the plant power of good old mother nature to maintain positive health, prevent this growing resistance to and reliance on prescription pills and relieve the burden on our NHS.
From combatting infection to improving mental health, the likes of homeopathy, medicinal herbs, essential oils and flowers offer a great adjunct to pharma. Not only that – unlike many medications which simply treat the symptoms, this likes of herbal medicine and homeopathy as an example, adopt a more holistic approach to illness, identifying and then treating the underlying root cause of the issue rather than just the symptoms.
See below a list of different modalities that can help you step away from prescription pills and get to the root cause of the problem.
A qualified Medical Herbalist has studied orthodox as well as plant medicine and is trained in the same diagnostic skills as a GP. Unlike a GP, however, medical herbalists adopt a holistic approach to illness, identifying and then treating the underlying root cause of disease rather than the symptoms.
They are able to prescribe herbal remedies to be used alongside other medication and treatments. In fact, many patients are referred to their medical herbalist by their GP.
Medical herbalism involves the use of plant medicines backed up by modern scientific research and clinical trials to treat a wide variety of conditions of the mind, body and soul.
Many conditions respond well to herbal medicine, particularly hormonal disorders, problems of the digestive tract, mood-related conditions, skin aggravations, and recurrent infection.
Herbal medicine is suitable for people of all ages including children, who respond well to the gentle action of herbs. Each patient receives a treatment programme tailored specifically to their individual needs.
Homeopathy is a holistic medicine which uses homeopathic remedies to treat common ailments and can be used in tandem with conventional medicine.
This concept can be seen in conventional medicine. For instance, small doses of allergens, such as pollen, are sometimes used to de-sensitise allergic patients. However, with homeopathy, the medicinal remedies are so small, the toxic side-effects are avoided.
Homeopathy was discovered by German doctor, Samuel Hahnemann, who was seeking a way to reduce the damaging side effects of medical treatments of his time.
He also observed that symptoms caused by those toxic ‘medicines’, such as mercury which was used to treat syphilis, were similar to those of the diseases they were being used to treat. This observation led to the principle he described as ‘like cures like’. Hahnemann went on to document his work, and his texts formed the foundations of homeopathic medicine as it is practised today.
These amazing oils are the plant’s immunity and are therefore able to work with our body to help alleviate symptoms while enhancing its ability to heal itself. Research has shown that oils can aid a myriad of health complaints including digestive issues, cold and flu, headache, back pain, skin problems, allergies, insomnia, stress and anxiety and more.
Many medicines are a synthetic version of plant-based medicines so it’s no wonder essential oils bring such great health benefits. They are great for boosting immunity and supporting wellbeing.
Using a good quality oil is essential to ensuring best results so do your homework first regarding the brand you use. Here at Seed, we recommend doTerra due to the oils’ quality, potency and the extensive training provided by its representatives across the UK – something that is much needed to truly optimise their benefits. However, there are other brands that are great quality too.
Are plant vibrations or plant energy, held in water. Made with plants, pure water and sunshine, they are 100% natural preparations that work holistically to help bring all aspects of the being into alignment.
English doctor, bacteriologist, homeopath, and spiritual writer, Edward Bach created Bach Flower remedies in the 1930s – a system of 38 flower essences to help balance the emotional state. After a lifetime of treating sick patients he felt that the key to long term recovery was through an emotional route. Today they are most often used to help overcome anxiety, depression, trauma, shock, fatigue and emotional pain.
Says Amber Kelly, Bach Flower Practitioner, “As human beings we are emotional creatures and our emotions guide us, whether we like it or not. Subsequently our minds can easily sabotage our potential as we (often unconsciously) hold onto negative thoughts and feelings, which leave us ill at ease, debilitated, confused, unhappy or just unsure of ourselves. We can get caught up in our thinking and doing instead of being.
‘Sometimes this negative state of mind can develop to a place where not only our mental state is challenged but our physical state too as we feel tired and overwhelmed for example. So, using the Bach Flower system of remedies can be incredibly powerful in helping to calm the mind and balance the whole.
“When using the remedies, we consider an individual in two aspects; your general personality with your patterns and general imprints and also where you are at the present moment in time. We can then create a mix of remedies to address your current emotional state to bring in balance. They are powerful yet gentle and subtle and they work exceptionally well with children and pets too.”
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT OUR EXPERTS BELOW:
Herbal Medicine – Jesper Launder – jesperlaunder@seedwellness.co.uk
Homeopathy – Nikki Gilllet – nikkigillett@seedwellness.co.uk
DoTerra Essential Oils
Bach Flower Essences – amber@seedwellness.co.uk
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