Herbal Medicine and Western Medicine: complementary or alternative?

Recently, I saw a statement online that went something like:

‘Think: complementary rather than alternative.’

Then, on Tuesday of last week, I got to teach “An Introduction to Working with Herbs” class through Mankato Community Education.

Something I always explore in this class is the concept that herbs are not pharmaceuticals. I think it is such an important conversation to have.

Herbs are their own entity. They are not alternatives to drugs. They are simply another option which happens to work with the body differently than pharmaceutical or over the counter drugs would.

Herbs are dynamic, complex, multi-faceted medicines. The same herb could support me with my mental/emotional wellbeing while it supports you with your digestion. Another herb could be the herb that completely changes your health while the same herb may not do anything noticeable for me.

In contrast, pharmaceuticals or OTC drugs are strategically formulated with specific actions on the body. They are designed to be replicable and their effects are mostly streamlined. They more or less force a response in the body. When you take any particular OTC, you know the effect to expect.

This comparison is not a matter of good/bad, better/worse. Rather, it is an exploration of differences. Herbal medicine has radically changed lives for the better, even saved lives. The same is true for Western Medicine. Neither one is an alternative to the other, they are both options - one or the other or both at the same time. They can be complimentary to one another -and- just like in art class, the halves of the complementary pair are equally important. The same is true here.

Many individuals come to work with me and the plants already working with pharmaceuticals.

Many individuals come to work with me and the plants choosing not to work with pharmaceuticals and/or haven’t found the help they desire through Western Medicine.

Many individuals come to work with me and the plants to work in a preventative and/or proactive way with their health and wellbeing.

Each of these scenarios are perfect because they are true to each individual. 

Possibly, now more than ever, it feels important to share this in a wider way.

---

 Continued thoughts re: proactive / preventative...

In this season, when sicknesses have begun, I feel called to share another thought re: preventative and/or proactive care. Even though Western Medicine and herbal medicine can be complimentary, they each have their own uniqueness and their own strengths (pointing to, yet again, how they are not alternative to one another).

In my personal and professional experience so far, herbal medicine really shines in proactive and/or preventative care - for our immune systems and beyond. A couple of examples:

I’ve gotten to witness young families go from constant sicknesses - congestion, ear infections, coughs, fevers, etc - for months without end → to fully recovering after working together. No more constant snotty noses, fevers, coughs, or ear infections that seemed to ping-pong from one child to the other.

I’ve gotten to witness an individual who used to get pneumonia every spring but hasn’t since she’s started working alongside me and the plants. That’s 5 spring seasons she’s now had without pneumonia! 🙌

I got to share these stories with my grandma the other day after she asked me what I can do to help people through the “season of sickness” - the caring person she is, thinking about my little nephews and niece. She hoped I could share the magic combination that helped. Sometimes, I wish I had a magic combination as well. But the reality is that every person is unique and each person will benefit from different herbal supports or “nudges”. Even the young siblings who had ping-ponged ear infections for months tested for different herbal remedies for support.

A simple cold a few times per year is healthy.

It may slow you down (which is probably good), but it shouldn’t necessarily knock you out.

Never getting sick and getting sick all the time (or getting really intense sicknesses regularly) are signs that the body may be looking for some support in finding balance. Herbal medicine works beautifully for this purpose.

... I anticipate sharing some simple at home practices on this topic over the next few months. Let me know if you have specific questions or curiosities on this! 

As always,

Be Well 💜

P.S.

A wellness tip from Chinese Medicine for these Autumn days: keep your neck protected from the wind and your low back warm.