The goal here at TrulyMindful is to provide information and education to the public to assist in their healing. Our Mission is to Provide a TrulyMindful experience, to help educate and cultivate a natural and holistic lifestyle to benefit our bodies, communities, and environment, and a safe place to purchase and discuss holistic products made here in New Hampshire! We hope to cover most all ailments but want to put our focus on general health and preventatives rather than a sort of treatment. This can include people of all ages interested in a different form of therapy or just maintaining general health.
What is Herbalism (and Why Does it Matter)?
Herbalism, also referred to as phytotherapy, botanical medicine, or herbal medicine, is the study or practice of the medicinal and therapeutic use of plants, now especially as a form of alternative medicine. It is known as one of the earliest systems of medicine known. It is also the practice of making or prescribing plant-based herbal remedies for overall well-being or medical conditions.
Supporting Cluster Post to Include: What is herbalism?
Let us take a look into herbalism as it seeks to balance the body and assist in overall health. One major benefit that first comes to mind is it is the people's medicine, it's accessible to anyone truly pursuing these options and it doesn't have to be expensive! I hope to not just assist in healing people but also provide information and education with research to back it up. I want to put healing in the hands of the healed and not just in the hands of the healer. I'm overall hoping to assist people in navigating the world of herbs to benefit their overall health and enjoyment of life.
We would like to share our connection to the earth and how big of a roll nutrition and full-body health truly impacts us. This also shows us that plants and herbs are all around us, we can buy herbs to insure quality but with the right knowledge and teacher, you can also begin to harvest your own medicine right in your backyard. Herbal medicine could not only retain your overall health but it can be cheap, and it is truly natural and can be found just about anywhere.
Did You Know?
Approximately 1 in 5 U.S. adults report using an herbal product within the past year.
Here I will provide two resources that Express the evidence of efficacy in the use of herbs for overall General Health. Resource one Demystifying Traditional Herbal Medicine with Modern Approach states that, For centuries, indigenous cultures around the world have used traditional herbal medicines to treat an array of maladies. Here we provide an evolutionary and historical perspective on why plants are of particular significance as medicines for humans. The fact that the field is growing so tremendously shows great promise and the need for more of these Therapies. My second resource called Herbal Medicine in Healthcare goes on to state it is generally accepted by all concerned that modern Pharmaceuticals will remain out of reach for many people and "health for all" may only be realized by the use of adequately assessing herbal products. Both of these resources Express immense information supporting the idea that herbs help assist in the body to maintain a balance and create an opportunity for people to have a hand in their healing. They also speak of the ability to provide medicine to people who otherwise wouldn't receive treatment due to either location or money.
Potential risks of herbal and supplement use are not only in their direct adverse effects or toxicity but in their potential for interactions with a variety of agents commonly used by mainstream practitioners. Here are a few other things I have to consider as an herbalist. Herbal products are considered dietary supplements from a regulatory point of view. If we apply the basic principles of pharmacology to herbal medicines they can be classified into three groups: 1) products whose efficacy has been demonstrated: their active principles are known and the therapeutic doses are established; 2) herbal products whose efficacy is probable, but not clearly demonstrated: they contain pharmacologically active substances that are used to standardize the products. Their therapeutic dose is difficult to establish; 3) products with uncertain efficacy but with a long-lasting traditional use: they can be useful for treating minor disorders, but should be employed exactly as in traditional medicine. Most of the herbal products at present classified as herbal supplements fall into the second and third groups: it is apparent that they cannot be considered herbal supplements.
If Herbal tea is the way to go, give some of our TrulyMindful Teas a try! Not ready for a whole order? We now offer small single bagged teas as samples on our website or check out one of the many places you can find our products including our tea.
In the United States, there are no Federal Regulations on the education of herbalists or the practice of herbalism. So to answer this question I'm going to refer to the outline given by the American herbalist Guild, a group that supplies certification as a registered herbalist as well as provides extensive information on topics in this field free to the public. The outline provided on the American herbalist Guild website States a registered herbalist is required 800 hours of Botanical medicine education or independent study, 400 hours of Total clinical experience, 80 individual clients seen within 2 years, a hundred fifty medicinal herbs as part of your working Materia Medica, three case studies from clinical practice, two letters of recommendation from herbal colleagues, 3 Health Care practitioners in your local area referral Network and 10 textbook sources that you referred to in your practice. This is an extensive list and although it's required to become a registered herbalist you are not required to become a registered herbalist to practice herbalism. The biggest regulation of them all is based around the FDA and is the only real law based around herbalism is the fact we are not allowed to claim to cure, treat or prevent. These laws may seem to deter but with the right education and a wealth of experience, you can provide a truly amazing experience for your clients while still following all the guidelines. I am a clinical herbalist and on my way to finalizing my registered herbalism certification, I plan to be the sole administrator of the therapies but also intend to teach others the ways that I learned, by offering them my acquired skills and knowledge to grow.
Herbalism surprisingly has a low potential cost in ballpark estimates can below as you need essentially, herbs don't have to be expensive and the materials to create some of these therapies can be found right in your kitchen. The largest expense in practicing herbalism is the extent of Education I've decided to enroll in, and the presentation and advertisement to receive the right clients. The main equipment or supplies needed as an herbalist are the herbs and the client (yourself, family, friends), as well as the education/knowledge of course.
Terms to Know
Botanical: Relating to plants.
Herbalist: A practitioner of herbalism.
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In Conclusion
Remember herbs are for Everyone and you don't have to wait until you are sick or have symptoms to implement them in your life. Although some herbs have more evidence proving Efficacy than others, others may have a long history of use suggesting the potential benefits.
Resources
Clark A. Finding health in folklore, herbs, and supplements: the good, the bad & the ugly. Part I--The good. Mo Med. 2002 Sep-Oct;99(9):489-94. PMID: 12462940.
Li FS, Weng JK. Demystifying traditional herbal medicine with a modern approach. Nat Plants. 2017 Jul 31;3:17109. doi: 10.1038/nplants.2017.109. PMID: 28758992.
Mosihuzzaman M. Herbal medicine in healthcare--an overview. Nat Prod Commun. 2012 Jun;7(6):807-12. PMID: 22816312.
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