The Triumvirate
Or, How Homeopathy, Aromatherapy and Herbalism Can Work Together to Facilitate Wellness in Your HomeThere are some who say that homeopathy, aromatherapy and herbalism cannot share the same house. While in some cases their reasons for reaching that conclusion are true, one of the unique features you'll find here at the Nourishing Herbalist is the use of all three on our quest for vitality.
As the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Thankfully for us, homeopathy, aromatherapy and herbalism all offer benefits with their preventative and curative properties. But not all are equal. So what should you use and when? Below is a quick overview of each of these forms of alternative medicine and the good, the bad, and the ugly in each. You'll also find a helpful guide to assist you in making the wisest and most effective choice in facilitating your own health. Herbs: Here at the Nourishing Herbalist we encourage the use of adaptogenic (tonic) herbs. Adaptogenic herbs are non-toxic, safe to use and produce no unwanted side-effects. These herbs are most effective at transferring their remarkable healing/strengthening power when used regularly over an extended period of time - typically 12-16 weeks. Consequently, adaptogenic herbs function as terrific tools to prevent disease and illness. Though they can offer some rejuvenating curative effects with chronic ailments, they aren't the best choice available. Breaking away from the use of adaptogenic herbs into the world of medicinal herbs has it's drawbacks. Nature has produced a wide-variety of excellent medicinal herbs to address all curative needs, however, medicinal herbs are very strong and can produce concerning side-effects (just like their second cousins, twice removed - synthetic drugs). In addition, they can interfere with prescription medication. That said, if you are struggling with a health concern that you desire to treat with herbs instead of other forms of alternative or conventional medicine, be sure to utilize the knowledge of a trained herbalist for best -- and safest -- results. Homeopathy: Homeopathy truly is a wonder when it comes to curative care. It also has a place in preventative care as well, though perhaps not as much as herbs or aromatherapy. It's overall safety is a key factor, however. Homeopathy's largest contribution to preventative medicine is that of the cell salts (also known as Schuessler cell salts and also tissue remedies). Cell salts include forms of calcium, iron, potassium, magnesium, sodium, and silica -- essential minerals for physical functions -- taken homeopathically, which work at the cellular level to build and strengthen the body. Moreover, when taken prior to a meal or vitamin supplement they have been shown to improve absorption and utilization of nutrients. It could also be argued that homeopathy, in seeking to heal the person wholly and completely through the eradication (not the suppression) of disease is priming the body to better withstand attacks in the future. You can't get more preventative than that. On a curative level, homeopathy rises above the rest both in acute issues and chronic ones. The only drawback is that for the best success one must have a working knowledge of more than 1400 available remedies in order to select the best match to the individual. It's on account of this individualism that homeopathy can have such a deep personal impact - indeed be capable of eradicating chronic ailments! However, the sheer volume of remedies to become familiar with can be a great inhibitor. That said, acute issues can often be addressed by one of a handful of primary remedies that are easy to own and understand for a novice user. For more chronic issues, consult a certified homeopath. As we transition to discussing aromatherapy, it's important to note here that homeopathic remedies may not work in conjunction with some essential oils. Click here for more information on this topic. Aromatherapy: Who doesn't love the rejuvenating smell of lemon or the stimulating aroma of cinnamon or cloves? Aromatherapy is certainly an attractive method of healing and does offer many benefits to the user. Perhaps our favorite preventative tool comes in the form of an immunity-boosting mixture of cinnamon, clove, lemon, eucalyptus and rosemary essential oils. The use of these oils, along with frankincense, oregano and others can give a fledgling disease a good kick-in-the-pants before it even takes root. These oils have the ability to fight off bacteria/viruses even before they reach your cells (and you begin to feel sick). These essential oils are mighty machines of health destroying any bacteria in their path… yes, even the good bacteria the body relies on. It's because of this that they should not be your first go-to substance for preventative health. Try herbs instead. Essential oils, even when working on a curative level, should be used sparingly. They also are not the safest choice for those with some chronic illnesses (lung or respiratory), allergies, or pregnancy. However, when used safely essential oils are incredibly efficient at facilitating relief. Where homeopathy may be an illogical choice (largely due to an inadequate knowledge of the remedies) aromatherapy shines. Here's an example of when we use aromatherapy vs. homeopathy with our children: My toddler son wakes up crying in the middle of the night with a stuffy nose. I'm not completely sure if it's because the air is dry, because he's coming down with a cold, or because he was sleeping on his tummy. Instead of losing sleep over which factor is responsible such that I could select the most successful homeopathic remedy, I dab a drop of eucalyptus oil diluted with a carrier oil on his nose and head back to bed. Morning is the best time for better evaluation anyway. As you experiment with your own use of the wonderful triumvirate -- homeopathy, aromatherapy and herbalism -- you, too, will begin to see patterns emerging as to the best place to use each option. And as your successes in managing you and your family's health increase you'll find you're one step further down the road towards vitality!
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