HerbalismHerbalismA tradition of HealingA tradition of Healing

Linda Diane FeldtLinda Diane Feldt

Holistic health PractitionerHolistic health Practitioner

Outline of this presentationOutline of this presentation

Overview of CAM and alternative healingOverview of CAM and alternative healing What is herbalism?What is herbalism? Training and certificationTraining and certification My practice and trainingMy practice and training Herbal preparationsHerbal preparations Parts of plants usedParts of plants used Timing of harvestTiming of harvest Potency/effectivenessPotency/effectiveness Nourishing/medicinalNourishing/medicinal What consumers getWhat consumers get

Major Categories of Alternative Major Categories of Alternative HealingHealing

Integrated healing systemsIntegrated healing systems Hands on techniquesHands on techniques Biological substancesBiological substances Energy based healingEnergy based healing Mind/body spirit awarenessMind/body spirit awareness

Adapted from NIH categories

My PracticeMy Practice

Student of the healing arts since 1973Student of the healing arts since 1973 Full time private practice since 1981 (10-20 per week)Full time private practice since 1981 (10-20 per week) Primarily use Herbs, Cranialsacral therapy, Polarity Primarily use Herbs, Cranialsacral therapy, Polarity

therapy, and massage.therapy, and massage. Sliding scale Sliding scale Diverse population Diverse population Pain, injury, lifestyle, prevention, with or without Pain, injury, lifestyle, prevention, with or without

conventional medicineconventional medicine Age range prenatal to 104Age range prenatal to 104 Also teach, write, volunteerAlso teach, write, volunteer

What makes a professional What makes a professional practicepractice

Standards for practiceStandards for practice Scope of practiceScope of practice Continuing educationContinuing education Code of ethicsCode of ethics Association membershipAssociation membership Able to refer, available for referralsAble to refer, available for referrals

My trainingMy training

Example of difficulty in determining qualified Example of difficulty in determining qualified practitionerspractitioners

Apprenticeship modelApprenticeship model Is self study also legitimate?Is self study also legitimate? Inherited knowledgeInherited knowledge Formal recognitionFormal recognition

Herbalism Herbalism

Traditional HealersTraditional Healers Native American, Ayurvedic, Tibb, Unani, Native American, Ayurvedic, Tibb, Unani,

Tibetan, etcTibetan, etc Traditional ChineseTraditional Chinese Western FolkloricWestern Folkloric Western ScientificWestern Scientific Earth-centeredEarth-centered Ethno-botanicalEthno-botanical

example categories from the American Herbalist Guild

Herbalism Training and Herbalism Training and EducationEducation

College and University coursesCollege and University courses Electives within schools that teach wellness, Electives within schools that teach wellness,

holistic health, bodywork or somatic practicesholistic health, bodywork or somatic practices Apprenticeship programs both formal and Apprenticeship programs both formal and

informalinformal Correspondence coursesCorrespondence courses

Herbalism Training and Herbalism Training and Education Education (cont.)(cont.)

Traditional initiation and training often Traditional initiation and training often combined with religious/spiritual practicescombined with religious/spiritual practices

Self taughtSelf taught Promotional material and workshops provided Promotional material and workshops provided

by manufacturersby manufacturers Multi level marketing materialsMulti level marketing materials Certification provided by herb manufacturersCertification provided by herb manufacturers

Western Folkloric TraditionWestern Folkloric Tradition

promotes ethical harvesting of plantspromotes ethical harvesting of plants uses the whole parts of the plant, in seasonuses the whole parts of the plant, in season encourages consumer involvementencourages consumer involvement emphasis is on nutritive aspects of herbsemphasis is on nutritive aspects of herbs primarily uses plants that grow locally, and primarily uses plants that grow locally, and

encourages direct involvement with the plants encourages direct involvement with the plants by growing and wildcrafting by growing and wildcrafting

Western Folkloric Tradition Western Folkloric Tradition (cont.)(cont.)

uses a holistic approach to support body uses a holistic approach to support body systems & the individualsystems & the individual

encourages sharing of information, stories and encourages sharing of information, stories and experience with othersexperience with others

can work in a supportive role with can work in a supportive role with conventional Western Medicineconventional Western Medicine

Concerns and ChallengesConcerns and Challenges

Herbalism is a very broad term that describes a Herbalism is a very broad term that describes a profession many thousands of years old.profession many thousands of years old.

Herbalists and the scientific community have only Herbalists and the scientific community have only recently begun to forge mutual respect, goals, and to recently begun to forge mutual respect, goals, and to determine ways of working together.determine ways of working together.

Herbalists must proactively respond to unprecedented Herbalists must proactively respond to unprecedented consumer interest.consumer interest.

Concerns and ChallengesConcerns and Challenges

Protecting consumers, supporting scientific research, Protecting consumers, supporting scientific research, and preserving herbal traditions are intriguing and preserving herbal traditions are intriguing challenges for this profession.challenges for this profession.

Consumers and health care providers may have Consumers and health care providers may have difficulty determining who is qualified as an difficulty determining who is qualified as an herbalist.herbalist.

Herbal use is now being driven primarily by Herbal use is now being driven primarily by advertising and manufacturers, not by health care advertising and manufacturers, not by health care providers and traditional sources of information.providers and traditional sources of information.

Nourishing herbsNourishing herbs

Nutrient richNutrient rich Bio-availableBio-available Generally considered safe, side effects uncommonGenerally considered safe, side effects uncommon Dosage and strength less importantDosage and strength less important Tend to be local, whole, and commonTend to be local, whole, and common Large amounts used, in contrast to medicinal plantsLarge amounts used, in contrast to medicinal plants Includes tonicsIncludes tonics Supportive to body systemsSupportive to body systems Long term use is usually beneficialLong term use is usually beneficial

Nourishing Herbs con’t.Nourishing Herbs con’t. Internal useInternal use

InfusionsInfusions Water basedWater based Vinegar basedVinegar based

Whole plantWhole plant CookedCooked Raw (salad)Raw (salad)

External useExternal use CompressCompress PoulticePoultice SalveSalve

Medicinal HerbsMedicinal Herbs

Dosage and strength important or criticalDosage and strength important or critical Tend to utilize more toxic parts of plantTend to utilize more toxic parts of plant Stimulate or sedateStimulate or sedate More likely to have side effectsMore likely to have side effects Are often plants that are less common, or rareAre often plants that are less common, or rare Long term use is generally discouragedLong term use is generally discouraged More extensive knowledge is needed to use safely More extensive knowledge is needed to use safely

and effectivelyand effectively

Issues around herbal Issues around herbal preparationspreparations

Common PreparationsCommon Preparations Capsules and pillsCapsules and pills Tinctures and extractsTinctures and extracts Infusions (AKA teas)Infusions (AKA teas) Poultices and compressesPoultices and compresses SalvesSalves otherother

EffectivenessEffectiveness Herbs in combination and formulasHerbs in combination and formulas Locally grown and wild craftedLocally grown and wild crafted

The following slides describe general tendencies. There will always be exceptions. It is a good model to begin with, and then each herb must be evaluated individually. The knowledge of plant part, type of plant, and season is fundamental to the herbalist. It is also a basic understanding of plants that is rare, and becoming more so as plants are picked, powdered, processed and packaged for us.

Parts of the plant and their Parts of the plant and their different qualitiesdifferent qualities

Roots - storage, alkaloid rich, often toxic, Roots - storage, alkaloid rich, often toxic, often medicinaloften medicinal

Leaves - nutrient richLeaves - nutrient rich Flowers - some nutrients, energetically Flowers - some nutrients, energetically

powerfulpowerful Seeds - nutrient dense, often toxic, toxins often Seeds - nutrient dense, often toxic, toxins often

medicinalmedicinal

Type of plant and impact on Type of plant and impact on herbal useherbal use

AnnualsAnnuals Root less likely to be usedRoot less likely to be used Leaves and flowers more valuedLeaves and flowers more valued Seeds are abundant, less likely to be toxicSeeds are abundant, less likely to be toxic Harvested typically just before flowering, or just Harvested typically just before flowering, or just

afterafter

Type of plant and impact on Type of plant and impact on herbal useherbal use

BiennialsBiennials Roots often of value, rarely toxicRoots often of value, rarely toxic Root used only in fall of first year, spring of Root used only in fall of first year, spring of

second yearsecond year Flowers appear second year, often usedFlowers appear second year, often used Seeds appear second year, likely of valueSeeds appear second year, likely of value End of second year only the seeds are leftEnd of second year only the seeds are left

Type of plant and impact on Type of plant and impact on herbal useherbal use

PerennialsPerennials Roots used after a couple of years Roots used after a couple of years Seeds often of valueSeeds often of value Roots more likely to be toxic or contain helpful Roots more likely to be toxic or contain helpful

alkaloidsalkaloids Not as much emphasis on leavesNot as much emphasis on leaves

The importance of the seasonThe importance of the season

Energy moves through the plant with the seasonEnergy moves through the plant with the season The root stores important constituentsThe root stores important constituents The herbalist determines the part of the plant desired, The herbalist determines the part of the plant desired,

and harvests at the peak timeand harvests at the peak time Flowers and seeds are obvious (harvest when present)Flowers and seeds are obvious (harvest when present) Leaves before the plant makes flowers and seedsLeaves before the plant makes flowers and seeds Roots in spring and fall when plant is storing constituentsRoots in spring and fall when plant is storing constituents

Accessing what the plant has to Accessing what the plant has to offeroffer

What is within and outside of the plant cellWhat is within and outside of the plant cell Breaking the cell wallBreaking the cell wall Preserving unstable nutrientsPreserving unstable nutrients

affects of light, air, time, processing damageaffects of light, air, time, processing damage Ingestion and topical applicationIngestion and topical application AbsorptionAbsorption EliminationElimination

ExamplesExamples

Calendula - flowersCalendula - flowers Burdock - root or leavesBurdock - root or leaves Echinacea - rootEchinacea - root Garlic - rootGarlic - root St. John’s Wort - flowering topsSt. John’s Wort - flowering tops Poke - root or leavesPoke - root or leaves Milk Thistle - seedsMilk Thistle - seeds

Preparations to look forPreparations to look for

Capsules containing herb extractsCapsules containing herb extracts Ground herbs often less effectiveGround herbs often less effective

Labels provide lot number, experation datesLabels provide lot number, experation dates Herbal extracts Herbal extracts

Tinctures in alcoholTinctures in alcohol Glycerine esp. from alcohol based extractsGlycerine esp. from alcohol based extracts

Bulk herbs of good color, datedBulk herbs of good color, dated Don’t overlook harvesting by the consumerDon’t overlook harvesting by the consumer

Reputable companiesReputable companies

Harvest ethicallyHarvest ethically Employ herbalists and support professional Employ herbalists and support professional

associationsassociations Access to information on Access to information on

where plants are harvested - avoid non US unless using where plants are harvested - avoid non US unless using TCMTCM

company philosophy - focus on herbs or marketing?company philosophy - focus on herbs or marketing? control of product - don’t just repackage or rebottle from control of product - don’t just repackage or rebottle from

supplierssuppliers Multi-level marketing deserves special scrutinyMulti-level marketing deserves special scrutiny

Examples of companiesExamples of companies

HerbPharmHerbPharm FrontierFrontier Pacific BotanicalsPacific Botanicals Trout Lake BotanicalsTrout Lake Botanicals Scientific BotanicalsScientific Botanicals PhytopharmicaPhytopharmica Naturopathic FormularyNaturopathic Formulary

Thorne ResearchThorne Research Eclectic InstituteEclectic Institute MediHerbMediHerb BezwekenBezweken Women's TransitionWomen's Transition Wise Women HerbalsWise Women Herbals And ??And ??

Herbal certificationHerbal certification

The badThe bad Prone to consumer Prone to consumer

confusionconfusion Does not ensure potencyDoes not ensure potency Does not address processing Does not address processing

or preparationor preparation Does not address safety of Does not address safety of

the herbthe herb Expense may prohibit good Expense may prohibit good

companies from using companies from using certification certification

The goodThe good Helpful to ensure Helpful to ensure

WYSIWYGWYSIWYG Raising awareness of Raising awareness of

importance of herbal qualityimportance of herbal quality Important to ensure Good Important to ensure Good

Manufacturing Practices Manufacturing Practices (GMP)are used(GMP)are used

Can address the real Can address the real problem of contaminateproblem of contaminate

Next weekNext week

A four hour lab devoted to the hands-on experience of A four hour lab devoted to the hands-on experience of making herbal preparations including tinctures, making herbal preparations including tinctures, salves, poultices, infusions, and more.salves, poultices, infusions, and more.

Come prepared to be a bit messy and work with Come prepared to be a bit messy and work with materials new to you as well as familiar. It may recall materials new to you as well as familiar. It may recall the early practice of pharmacy, and we’ll have fun in the early practice of pharmacy, and we’ll have fun in the process.the process.

The results will include products you can take home and The results will include products you can take home and use.use.

Dogs harvesting herbs

Contact Information

Linda Diane Feldt P.O. Box 3218

Ann Arbor MI 48106-3218734-662-4902

lfeldt@umich.eduwww.holisticwisdom.org/hwpages/pharm.html

Free Herb Class usually 4th Thursday of each month, sponsored by the People’s Food Co-op, at Crazy Wisdom Bookstore, Ann Arbor