1st Post: Echinacea and Golden Seal

Thanks for stopping by! I wanted to start a blog about the stuff I love, the stuff I know, and the stuff I have a passion about that isn't necessarily related to my kids! They are great, but I wanted to put something else out there too! I plan on giving a tip and then some research about it so it's not just some information that someone said. I am not a doctor, but I do research my herbs very well and have a great library of herbal books that explain their chemistry, what they do, what they interact with, and any contraindications. This is just my own two cents of knowledge research and is in no way meant to treat or diagnose any disease. Please consult your family practitioner or other medical personage before starting any supplement or starting a new exercise program. 

So here goes:

My 1st Health/Herb tip

I am a firm believer that God has put plants on this earth to help us, and not just for food. But at the same time, you must be careful and use herbs and plants wisely and really do your research before you just start taking or using something that is a natural remedy. After all, arsenic is "all natural". 

Today, I want to touch on a couple herbs that are in my medicine cabinet: Echinacea and Golden Seal. 

Echinacea is pretty harmless, and in fact, can have some immune boosting benefits. According to The Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine by Andrew Chevallier, FNIMH, echinacea, while its effect is not fully understood, it can stimulate the immune system to help fight against viral and bacterial infections. It helps "inhibit the ability of viruses to enter and take over cells". There have been studies that both support and contradict these statements, however. The safety concern with echinacea is allergic reactions, since it is in the daisy family. Anyone who has an allergy to daisies should avoid taking echinacea. 

My family takes it, in conjunction with other herbs, to help shorten the duration of colds. We find that this works. 

One of the other herbs, Golden Seal, is another story. It is sold in a combination therapy for immune support with echinacea. It is a potent remedy, according to The Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine, "for disorders affecting mucous membranes." It is also antibacterial, used as a uterine stimulant, anti-inflammatory, and is astringent. However, it SHOULD NOT be taken during pregnancy, and is toxic if taken in excess. You shouldn't take it if you have high blood pressure, either. Also, according to The Essential Guide to Herbal Safety by Simon Mills and Kerry Bone, it is possible that chronic use of Golden Seal can block the absorption of Vitamin B. This could lead to other chronic health problems. 

I rarely take Golden Seal, but in case of a sinus infection or other bacterial infection, I keep it around. But just like everything else, excess=bad, moderation=ok. 

Keep that in mind when you are using herbs. AND DO YOUR RESEARCH!!!!!!! Don't just take something because you can get it at your local pharmacy in the supplement aisle. Read and gain knowledge and KNOW what you put into your body. 

Have a Happy Herbal Day!