Herbs can be used to treat and support a multitude of conditions and body systems
Herbal medicine is a supportive way to create and maintain health. It aims to return the body to a state of natural balance by using the power of herbal extracts and flower essences, so that the body can start healing itself. Herbs have been used successfully for thousands for years, and there is now much research that supports the knowledge that has been passed on through the generations.
Most pharmaceutical drugs, prescribed or purchased over the counter, have an array of side effects, that at times can be debilitating and detrimental to your health and wellbeing, with the solution sometimes to take another drug to work on the side effects. Pharmaceutical drugs work on alleviating symptoms of a disease or condition, mostly they are not a cure.
Herbs tend to work in a more balanced way. Depending on the condition or illness, herbs work to tone and balance a particular part of the body to support it to work at its full potential. What is interesting is that many pharmaceutical drugs are based on the synthesised versions of naturally occurring compounds found in plants, but they have copied only one chemical found within the herb rather than utilising the properties of the whole plant, allowing for synergy — for the full healing properties to be used.
Herbs can also be used to fight infections, viral, fungal and bacterial. They have properties to do this while also supporting the body to heal. For example respiratory infections such as the common cold, influenza, throat infections, pneumonia, sinus infections and asthma respond beautifully to herbs, in a holistic manner, because the herbs fight the infection itself and at the same time work to improve the health of the system affected and other relevant systems.
Female reproductive problems need a holistic approach. Herbs can be used to balance hormones, tone the uterus, reduce PMS and period pain, while also supporting the liver and nervous system.
In cases of insomnia, anxiety and stress, the aim is to tone and support the nervous system and adrenal glands with herbs, also utilising the sedative or analgesic properties that some herbs offer.
These examples briefly touch on the holistic, supportive approach that herbal therapy offers, not targeting symptoms only, but treating each person individually and prescribing a mixture of herbs to work synergistically to help bring the person back into balance.
Often Australian bush flowers are used as well as the other modalities available at Just Balance — massage, yoga and pranayama (breath work).
