Until fairly recently, western medicine and even certain types of traditional medicine have placed the health of the patient squarely in the hands of the doctor, with a "doctor knows best relationship". This trend is however thankfully changing. People are not only beginning to question the advice of their doctors, but are actively educating themselves as to how they can better manage their health. This is not surprising, since not only do these well trained and highly knowledgeable professionals often prescribe remedies that are often ineffectual, but they actively raise our stress levels by presenting us with an exorbitant bill at the end of the ordeal. It is interesting to note that in China, doctors are paid only if they make you well and not for their medical failures.  The net result is that consumers are moving towards taking their health into their own hands.

Assuming responsibility for one's own health is the first step in a remarkablechain of physiological events that contribute to the overall health of the body. Certain patterns of thought make an impact electrically and chemically on the body, and there is a direct correlation between thoughts and emotions and the state of our health. When we feel stressed, the flight & flight response is activated, releasing a chain of chemicals that prepare the body for stress. Unfortunately these chemicals that serve us admirably well in say, a fist fight, can pound the internal workings of the body with prolonged exposure. Stress chemicals such as cortisol suppress the immune system, cause heart disease, and even lead to a deterioration of our short term memory. On the other hand, by changing patterns of thought and behavior, we can not only minimize the effects of these harmful chemicals, but produce energizing and health giving chemicals like endorphins into our system. Fundamentally, what I am saying is that by harnessing the belief and understanding that we can make ourselves well, our body follows suit by assembling the chemicals that allow for this to happen. I guess the old adage is true " free your mind and your ass will follow".

The body is essentially a machine, and while it has its own innate intelligence, it must follow the decisions that the mind makes. Consequently when we abuse our body, it tends to abuse us back. By providing the body with the correct inputs, it is capable of far more that we are led to believe. Such resources would include air, adequate nutrition and water. Breathing exercises can be performed at any time of day, which not only oxygenate the body, but actually assists in alkalizing it too. Nutrition becomes a little more difficult as the quality of crops today do not have the same nutritive quality as that of yesteryear. For this reason supplementing with anti-oxidants, vitamins and minerals is essential to the body's well being. In fact, without minerals such as zinc we would be short of the enzymes we need to utilize the health providing chemicals gained from use of herbs -  herbal supplementation and nutrition work hand in hand. Lastly, increasing your water  consumption not only offers a string of benefits but also gives you more quiet time in the toilet to contemplate your healthy body.

Plants are amongst the only organisms that have the ability to convert the sun's energy into the food source that sustains the planet. In fact, it is well worth remembering that every time you cast your eye out the window and see a flash of green foliage, you are witnessing a miracle in progress. In addition to this transformative miracle, plants and especially herbs are incredible chemical producing factories. Plants produce a range of chemicals including alkaloids, amino acids, flavonoids and tannins to name a few[i]. These chemicals perform a range of functions in the plants such as protecting the plant from attacks from insects. These chemicals can have a marked effect on the human body, from stimulating the immune system to reducing inflammation, to killing an adult within hours (that's right, not all herbs are good for you). Within the estimated 30 000 plant species found in South Africa, there are hundreds of plants that contain such chemicals.

  In summary, it is imperative to use herbal supplements in a lifestyle changing combination including addressing health suppressing psychological factors and giving the body adequate resources to do its job. By making the choice to make herbal remedies an effective part of your life, is to cast the stone into the pond, whereby mind, body and herb interact in a very wonderful dance.

  References