Alternative Medicine: Where to Start

When looking at alternatives to Western medicine, the choices can be overwhelming. You may be thinking to yourself, where do I even start? Teas, extracts, tinctures, tonics, essential oils... The list goes on for a while. Here I'll talk about what each one is so you can be better informed when making decisions about your health. 

Capsules

This preparation is arguably one of the weakest forms of an herb that one can take. Especially when they are bought from a mass producer, these capsules contain little to no health benefits. The herbs are ground with machinery which generates a lot of heat. The heat breaks down much of the herbs' medicinal properties. After herbs are picked and dried, they have a shelf life of about one year. Many herbal wearhouses store herbs for an unknown period of time before sending them out to sit on store shelves. By the time you take them home, any value the herb once had s most likely gone. 

For best results, pick and dry herbs yourself. Pack them into capsules, and use them within six months. You can buy capsule or pill fillers for fairly cheap at most health food stores. 

Teas

Here is where I see a lot of confusion. There is a vast difference between medicinal teas and teas drunk for pleasure or taste. Just about any tea you buy at the store will have no medicinal value. Though that doesn't mean drinking tea is useless. You can indeed drink a cup of chamomile to help soothe and calm you down. The benefits are small, but noticeable. When buying tea for it's medicinal value, be sure to look for ingredients aimed at what you want. And then be prepared to drink lots of it. Usually you'll need to drink two to three cups twice a day to get real health benefits. 

When making your own tea, loose leaf is definitely the best way to go. Pack two tablespoons of your chosen herb or herbal blend into a mesh steeping ball and place in 8 ounces of nearly boiling water for three to five minutes. Remember to drink two to three cups at a time.

Tonics

Tonics are just really concentrated tea. Instead of using two tablespoons per 8 ounces, you'll use a full cup of herbs to 4-6 cups of water and then boil it down to about half the original amount. Drain the excess herb out of the preparation and it's ready to use. You may make large batches of this and store in the fridge for up to two weeks. You'll only need to drink one cup per day to reap the health benefits of your chosen herb. 

Tinctures and Extracts

This preparation is the strongest form of an herb you can take internally. One thing to know here is that extract and tincture are the same thing. Many options are available from retailers, which can make it easy to find what you're looking for- if, that is, you know what you're looking for. Many extracts you'll find on shelves are single-herb preparations. These are great to use after a little bit of research. Many people already know that echinacea for instance is great for colds and the flu. The best thing you can do is ask questions or do some online reading. 

Making your own tinctures is fairly easy.

You'll need an ounce of the herb of your choice, alcohol to use for extraction, such as vodka or brandy, and a mason jar. 

Put the herb in the jar first and cover it completely with the alcohol. Make sure you label the jar, and then set it in a cool, dark place for about six weeks. Be sure to give it a shake every few days. After the time has passed, simply strain the mixture through cheesecloth to remove the excess herb and it's ready to use. 

You can take extracts straight from the jar, or mix it with water or juice. 

Essential oils

Essential oils have been rising in popularity for a few years now. It seems that everyone and their mom uses essential oils for everything from getting their baby to sleep, to curing colds. An essential oil is currently the strongest preparation of an herb you can buy. But beware here: because they are so concentrated, most oils are toxic if ingested. If you are ever in doubt, do not take oils internally. That being said, essential oils are great to add to lotions, baths, herbal pillows or sachets, or to use in aromatherapy. The list doesn't end there either, new uses are constantly being touted through the alternative medicine community. When buying essential oils, a little bit of research can ease the burden on your pocketbook. There are a lot of quality brands available, so don't just settle on the one that seems most popular. Make sure when you buy, that you're not paying double just for a popular name brand. Making essential oils requires a lot of time, effort, and equipment. If you're serious about getting invested, I would recommend, you guessed it, a lot of research. Buy some books and learn what you'll be getting into before buying anything else. The money you invest in a good book or two will be well worth it as it will save you from making a lot of errors along the way. 

One last thing I want to say here- 

When trying herbal medicine, keep in mind that something that works wonders for your friend, may not work very well or at all for you. Every body is different. We all work in different ways, so different things work for different people. The great thing about herbs is that they are generally safe to use for most people. If one herb doesn't work for you, try another one. There are many, many herbs that help with similar problems, so don't be afraid to experiment. 

Those who are pregnant or who have major diseases being treated by a doctor should consult their physician before trying herbs as they can interact with other drugs.