trying the herbal/supplement rout for help

[sunnybunny]

 
well, my current Rx meds seem to be adequate (barely)
but i thought about thinking the herbal/supplement rout again
to add to my regimen, with the thought that it can't hurt to try.

I did my reading and research, and took some advice from the
lady at the store
and came up with:

white willow bark-skullcap-and devil's claw.

keeping fingers crossed, and an open mind.
wonder how many weeks it will take to notice if they help.

wish me luck

[Cheryl]

Sunny,
Good luck with your new supplement regimen!  I'd like to encourage you to run this past your doctor before you begin, though.   It is possible that the lady at the store may not be aware of possible interactions or side effects from these herbal supplements.
Cheryl

[Joe S.]

I hope that you researched the herbs for drug interactions and side effects before taking them. I also hope that you do not have problems with Aspirin (white willow bark). Take care of your self.

[Nat]

Hi Sunny,

Good for you for being proactive. As always though, caution is in order. I was diagnosed with lupus, fibro, and chronic fatigue over 20 years ago. I have not taken any pharmaceuticals (not even aspirin) for my illnesses. I did not want to mask the symptoms or make the underlying disease process worse, because I was determined to find out why I was sick and somehow get better. I did nearly die in the process, but I believe I have been successful. I used herbs to keep me alive and mitigate the damage the disease was causing. Whole, organic ,unprocessed herbs are just medicinal foods, and your body will recognize them. Synthesized, fractured or isolated compounds from whole herbs are simply drugs. A good example of this would be one of the herbs you have chosen to use. Here is something I have written on white willow bark.


"White Willow Bark:  A Natural Pain Reliever

Long before we had aspirin, we had white willow bark. Ancient Egyptians used the bark of this tree for inflammation. The Greek physician and philosopher, Hippocrates, wrote about the use of white willow to ease aches and pains and reduce fevers. In China, white willow bark has been used as a treatment for pain and fever since 500 B.C. Native  Americans used white willow bark for headaches, fever, sore muscles, and rheumatism.

Aspirin is an artificial derivative of white willow. Aspirin consists of just one of the many compounds naturally found in the whole bark?salicylic acid. It must be covered in buffers, because it is acid. Every time you take an aspirin, you bleed a teaspoon of blood from the lining of your stomach. If you don?t think that is a big deal, rub a spoon against the back of your hand until it bleeds a teaspoon of blood.  That is what your stomach lining looks like. 

White willow bark, on the other hand, has none of the side effects of aspirin. It contains tannins, and the bark is actually good for your stomach. It has also been shown to be more effective in relieving pain than aspirin and for longer periods of time. I use the whole powdered bark in capsule form anytime I would use an aspirin."

I am an herbalist and if there is any way I could help, I would be happy to.