Herbal Blog

Every "body is different! Even your bodies needs and wants can change from daily, weekly, monthly, yearly sometimes even by minutes. For example the allies that can help with my husbands headaches rarely are the same ones that help with mine. So many things can be the roots of this from sleep, diet, stress and even types of stress and so much more. Another example- I have nickel allergies while my husband does not etc... 

You can spend months finding support for sleep with catnip and then catnip can just not seem to be a good ally and now ginger seems to be the good ally. This is not unusual. Maybe your sleep was being disturbed by stress, racing thoughts or even restlessness and now your sleep is more disturbed by sluggish digestion or even it is getting colder and ginger can be found by many to feel warming to the body. A cup of ginger and honey and/or lemon tea is very nice when I am feeling cold literally and figuratively. 

Change ... things are always changing... this is not necessarily a good or bad thing sometimes "IT JUST IS".  Some changes are more or less noticeable than others. It is good to keep this in mind when working to support your body with movement, diet or even sleep schedules. Herbal teas can be a good ally though not always the same tea.

What is medicine? 

Definition from quick google search

1. the science or practice of the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease (in technical use often taken to exclude surgery).

2. a compound or preparation used for the treatment or prevention of disease, especially a drug or drugs taken by mouth.

3. (especially among some North American Indian peoples) a spell, charm, or fetish believed to have healing, protective, or other power.

Definition from cancer.gov

4.  Refers to the practices and procedures used for the prevention, treatment, or relief of symptoms of diseases or abnormal conditions. This term may also refer to a legal drug used for the same purpose.

"Medicine" ,from those definitions above, seems to be something that can help you to get well if I were to simplify it. What medicine is really boils down to your perspective. Every culture has a different approach to what most would call "medicine".  Many other countries still implement herbal medicine first when possible before turning to what is called western medicine. Modern medicine or pharmaceuticals have their place though this should not be the first and last and only resort. I had a total knee replacement 3 days after my 29th birthday. The surgery, hospital stay, pills and physical therapy were all forms of medicine. So yes modern medicine has its' place and it can be good. But "medicine" should maybe be viewed with a different lens and seen as something that is apart of your daily life. Be proactive for your health as much as possible not just simply reactive.

 Here are some examples of what I now perceive what "medicine" CAN be-

• Rest, naps and/or adjusting sleep schedules

• Movement to include- sitting on an exercise ball while doing office work, going for a nice stroll in a place you find enjoyable, working out, physical therapy, cleaning the house, yard work, dancing (in the living room while sweeping the floors, cause why not) etc..etc.... Movement can even be as simple as doing some simple stretches

• Seeing your favorite color

• A hug 

• Sunsets, sunrises, seeing the ocean or mountains just some scenery that fills you with a sense of... content or joy

• Chatting with friends

• Having some time alone

• Taking time to enjoy that book or some music

• Taking a hot bath and even lighting candles

• The food you eat

The list goes on and on and on. I have come across a statement many times that the mind and body a very connected and can affect each other deeply. As every day passes and I gain new experiences I am noticing how true that statement is. When you get really bad sick do you ever notice how sometimes you can start feeling depressed? Or have you ever noticed when you are feeling mentally stressed and out of it that you sometimes become physically ill, like nausea or diarrhea etc? How about when you have a feeling of..... spirits are down and you feel mentally and physically not well?

Our mental, spiritual and physical selves are very much connected. As listed above there is "medicine" for the mental self (i.e. hugs), physical self (i.e. food) and the spiritual self (i.e. hanging out in nature). Though dare I say hugs can be "medicine" for all of these. 

Another example of "medicine" that has more documentation to it is therapy animals. There has been many stories of people who are ill and stuck in hospitals that get visits from these furry friends that state there is improvement in their vitals and mental outlook after these visits. 

"Medicine" can be the visit to the doctor, dentist, chiropractor, massage therapist or a psychiatrist. It can be the food you eat that helps provide nutrition to your body (food is fuel) which can help support your body with energy and cell repair and so much more. It can be drinking herbal tea everyday, or going for a stroll. 

I am slowly and steadily learning that maybe this term "medicine" should not be defined solely by what doctors or even main stream media says but by what you feel in your body. Since I have started working on changing my diet for example I have noticed I do feel better. When I am doing well at being more mindful of making sure I get some movement in my day like stretching, my muscles fell less tight. Or those days that I actually drink a soda, well afterwards my digestive system does get a bit cranky at times. It is not easy to change. Though as I have felt within myself some changes are worth the effort to make even if you fall off that "I am changing things" wagon a few times.

All in all instead of asking what is medicine, maybe we can start asking what can medicine be. Within reason of course because I don't know about you but when I found out that "Leeching" and "Bloodletting" was once upon a time considered modern medicine. I was absolutely relieved that was not a thing common in my life. Not that I have anything against leeches personally I just do not find the idea of one on me appealing.