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By Root 895 0

of equal value; one primarily for heroic treatment of disease symptoms and crisis intervention, and the other perfectly suited for convalescent nourishment, nutritional toning/health sustenance, and disease prevention and treatment. Both are playing an important role in modern day health care and disease control. Both provide excellent service to humans and non-humans when used with a clear mind, compassionate heart, and a healer’s intent.

• Normally, individuals having delicate constitutions are more prone to adverse or unpredictable effects.

• Herbal products that have been standardized (refined) to an arbitrary percent of any specific constituent in an attempt to exaggerate this component and elicit a faster (drug-like) action frequently demonstrate more (drug-like) side effects. This refinement process alters the natural synergistic energy of the herb and modifies the herb’s natural ability to do many things and work on deeper fundamental levels.

• Alterative, adaptogen, and tonic actions are unique to herbal preparations. None of these actions are found in drugs.

• There are no drugs that can give the complex effects of an herbal bitter.

• The fast specific action of drugs dynamically support the surgical process in crises/disease management and cosmetic and corrective surgery.

• Relevant factors to include in the decision to use herbs or drugs:

• The individual’s preference upon having been clearly advised and/or self-educated as to the risks and benefits of both types of medication.

• Effectiveness for desired results

• Speed of action sought.

• Probability of dosage compliance, especially when prolonged treatment is necessary due to the use of a slower acting herbal preparation.

• Side effects (I regard this as more of a “wool over the eyes” or a “shmoozing” term. I don’t see that any agent renders some quasi-predictable side effect that somehow proceeds beyond some intended or predicted effect; there are “the effects” an agent causes in “an individual”—the classic “different effects in different people” experience.)

HERBS COMPARED TO PHARMACEUTICAL DRUGS

HERBS DRUGS

ACTIONS Often multiple Usually just one (often using a single specific receptor site)

Often enhances body’s own healing ability No drug does this

Addresses causal factors of an illness Mostly treats symptoms (can be life-saving in a crisis/emergency)

ACTIVE CONSTITUENTS Many (synergistic) Usually one

SIDE EFFECTS Few and mild Often many, can be severe

ONSET OF ACTION May be slow (working on nutritional level) Usually rapid and direct

COST Variable

(you can make your own) Variable

HYDROLYSIS

Hydrolysis is a chemical reaction where a substance (plant constituent) reacts with water and is changed into one or more other substances, such as starch into glucose or natural fats into glycerin (glycerol) and fatty acids.

LACTOSE POWDER INFUSION

This is an excellent method for ultimately obtaining a dry preparation from a fresh plant or dry plant tincture without having to use heat. The process is suitable for administering tinctures and fluid extracts whose menstruum consist of water and/or vinegar and alcohol. It is not as suitable for those whose menstruum contain any portion of glycerin. Obviously, it is not a good idea to administer these preparations to lactose-intolerant individuals.

1. Mix a single tincture or a compound tincture with an equal weight of lactose powder [i.e., 30 ml (1 fl. oz.) tincture with 30 Gm (1 oz.) lactose powder].

2. Expose this mixture to normal room temperature in a shallow container. The menstruum will slowly evaporate, leaving the lactose saturated with the herbal constituents.

3. Triturate the dry powder to an even consistency. (See “Trituration” below.)

4. Fill the capsules with the dry powder or incorporate the powder in the making of lozenges, etc.

LINIMENT

This is more of a preparation thinner than salve, to be rubbed on the skin. Liniments are compounded and prepared exactly like tinctures, using vinegar, ethyl alcohol, or denatured rubbing alcohol as a menstruum. Liniments are