I'm a reader, but I don't often have the energy or attention span anymore to devote to completing whole books in chronological order (sad but true), so I like something I can dive into at any point and whenever I please. The Green Pharmacy, by James A. Duke, Ph.D., has been my go-to piece of perusal literature for the past year; it is a compendium of maladies and ailments, herbs, tinctures, oils and roots. It is brief but informative, interjected with the author's compelling personal anecdotes. Something about it is soothing in a way that no medical journal or FDA recommendation has ever been. In fact, it is quite the opposite of western medicine; instead of inspiring dread, guilt or fear, The Green Pharmacy offers its reader self-empowerment, affirmation that one's health can and should be taken into one's own hands with what the earth readily offers. Very inspiring for those seeking to be self-reliant. And just in case you aren't quite sold, I will share a personal anecdote of my own (or Dan's, rather) to illustrate its helpfulness, at least in one or two scenarios. Last year Dan developed a really ugly swollen index finger, tinged green (ugh!) with some sort of fungal infection. Like, so dead the nail was going to fall off (again, ugh). I was fretting because, naturally, we had no health insurance and it looked so bad I was sure he needed some serious antibiotics, but steadfast as he is in his beliefs, he would not go to emergency care no matter how much I pleaded. It was shortly after we purchased the GP and I guess I hadn't gotten around to reading about garlic yet, but Dan had. He read about the restorative, antibacterial properties of the plant, and bought an enormous bottle of capsules that he took 3 times a day and within a matter of a few days, the swell had completely gone and his finger was 100% back to normal (the nail still fell off, but this was probably for the best). Since then, we've used garlic to fight other fungal infections (ahem, athlete's foot) to just as effective results. In these cases, we've found, per Dr. Duke's recommendation, that slicing a clove or two open and applying it directly to the effected area reduces swelling, itch, etc. etc. Do you have any natural remedies that you swear by? I am big fan of ginger tea for calming my stomach, and have had good success with acupuncture for other stomach-related issues. For migraines, I've had gua sha and cupping treatments, which absolutely work to break up tension in the back and neck, though I've tried both feverfew tincture and evening primrose oil for headaches to no avail. All a matter of trial and error, I suppose. And, just for fun, here is our garlic. In a garlic-shaped garlic roaster. Seriously though, garlic. (Garlic roaster courtesy of my dear friend, Leah Olson, who knows my heart all too well)
1 Comment
Michelle Geary
3/21/2015 06:25:20 am
I have definitely been leaning more towards natural remedies and I think I am going to have to invest in the book. It is so true that everything are bodies need can be found in nature
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