Old wives tales. No clinical tests to prove anything about herbs being effective. Right? Well, once upon a time, that was true. But no longer. Phytotherapy is a new movement originating in Europe but now practiced in America, in which herbs are scientifically studied. Chemical constituents have been identified. Tests are being conducted of constituents, the herbs themselves, singly and in combinations….in vitro (in test tubes), on consenting patients, in double blind clinical studies, on animals….you name it.
Increasingly, drug-herb interactions are being noted and catalogued. More than 1,000 clinical studies exist for the herb St Johnswort alone: Yet others exist in large numbers for herbs almost all the way across the board. And while much has been proven, uncovered, discovered, some things debunked, and all of them detailed, it remains that the large body of information is growing on an on-going basis. Phytotherapy is a young science, albeit a rapidly expanding one and quite sophisticated in its depth.
As the scientific studies of herbs continues, the very interesting thing is that many of these “old wives tales” are actually being proven by the science, says master phytotherapist Christopher Hobbs. While the greater percentages of cases prove the “old wive’s tales” to be true, Hobbs also doesn’t hesitate to say that a few cases also do disprove the matters as just that: Old wive’s tales. A consultant to the health industry world-wide, Christopher Hobbs is no slouch. In the intensive apprenticeship course I took with him, he rattled off the top of his head, without looking up a thing or even stopping to think, about Western, American Indian, Chinese and Ayurvedic herbs alike, matters such as:
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History
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Botany
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Pharmacology
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Chemistry, illustrating details of chemical components and molecular chains
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Double blind studies, including patients participating in individualized studies with medical vulnerabilities prior to participating; how much of any given herb they used, how that plus their vulnerabilities affected the outcome of the study, etc.
And so much more!Well if you want to talk about a walking encyclopedia where herbal wisdom is concerned, Hobbs is the man for you. In fact, world-wide authorities who rank as highly as he does in his reputation, also quote him more often than other authorities in their ilk. And biased as one would think Christopher Hobbs to be, indeed he is far from it. On the contrary, he never hesitates to give full disclosure. He is absolutely trustworthy and truly concerned about human well-being. I have rarely met a person of sweeter disposition who cares as much about people as Christopher Hobbs does. With his background as botanist, herbalist and acupuncturist, and more than 35 years of practicing experience, you’ve got a gem of a practitioner. As consultant the to health industry world-wide, he advises and formulates for numerous herbal and vitamin companies, and started up the Rainbow Light product.
In the list of books I am recommending below, I am including several which may be of use to your doctor, both those who are interested in herbs and those who are skeptical. These books may come in handy to answer questions such as which liver enzymes may be triggered by which herbs, and thus how they are bound to affect any drug-herb interaction. They also would be handy to show that herbal studies are being done in an intensive way, and what the details of those studies are. Chemical constituents and pharmacology would be important for your doctor to determine whether or not any herb is indicated or contra-indicated in your own unique case. Please note: Your doctor may also log on to the government medical database, www.pubmed.gov, and look up herbal studies/facts there. Drug-herb interactions may not be listed in completion though, since that is an area of ongoing study at this moment in time. A reference book is currently being authored about this subject, which comes highly recommended by Christopher Hobbs: I will let you know when this is published.
Please stay tuned for my column about herbal regimens for preventive (not curative: That’s up to your doctor) health measures. In the meantime, below are a list of highly recommended books for you to read, if you wish.
My background includes many years of private studies with lots of reading (I’m very interested in this subject), as healthfood store herb/vitamin consultant, and intensive apprenticeship studies leading to certification as Community Herbalist by Christopher Hobbs. Here is Christopher Hobbs’s website, and a few books authored or recommended by Christopher Hobbs: Christopher Hobbs’s website www.christopherhobbs.com contains a herbal directory. Here, you can look up herbs or ailments alike alphabetically, reading indications and contra-indications in short one-paragraph format which does not go into scientific depth as his books do. A lay-friendly reading source.You can read about indications, contra-indications, nutritional benefits, and more. The website lists a few of Christopher’s books, with links to Amazon’s website where they may be purchased.
“Healthy Healing” by Linda Rector-Page, ND, Ph.D. Naturopathic Doctor, herbalist and nutritionist Linda Rector-Page has written a book which has become the Bible of healthfood stores nation-wide. Her excellent one-page format for each ailment includes columns, each of which are devoted to herbal, nutritional, bodywork and food regimens for individual ailments. This is THE book for laypeople to own and to look up how to take care of oneself in a natural way. Although your healthfood store is sure provide this book as a reference reading source, I still recommend owning it because to be able to look things up, moment-by-moment, is important where health is concerned. And you will learn so much as you read this book. It’s wonderful. You could buy it new or used on Amazon.com’s website. Healthy Healing Publications, ISBN 1-883334-50-4 (this is the 9th edition but I recommend you look up the most current edition)
“Pocket Guide to Herbal Medicine” by Christopher Hobbs L.Ac and Karin Kraft, MD published by Thieme Medical Books. Karin Kraft is to Germany what the FDA is to America. She spearheads that organization in Germany. Together, she and Christopher Hobbs have written up a pocket-sized book in which the efficacy of herbs, compared to individual mainstream medicines, are detailed. As previously, full disclosure is always given. Thieme Medical Books, ISBN 1-58890-063-0
The Way of Herbs by Michael Tierra, C.A., ND Naturopathic Doctor and phytotherapist Michael Tierra comes well-recommended by Christopher Hobbs. This is a good book for the layperson which discusses a little bit of science while mostly serving as easy reference source. Pocket Books, ISBN 0-671-72403-7
Healing with Whole Foods by Paul Pitchford nutrition from a Chinese medical perspective, which is very different from Western practice. Yin-yang explained, heating/cooling and other principles explained, foods detailed according to their thermal natures and nutritional values, ailments and regimens outlined, etc. Excellent! North Atlantic Books, ISBN 1-55643-221-6 (cloth) ISBN 1-55643-220-8 (Paperback)
“Potters Herbal Cyclopedia” by Elizabeth Williamson, herbal pharmacist with numerous degrees to her name. This book refers to clinical and double blind studies, lists herbal chemical constituents and pharmacology, and is The Book I would recommend you bring to your doctor who wants to know more about herbs in a truly scientific way. It is formatted in a short presentation about each herb, each no longer than one page long, in alphabetical order. Half of this info lists the herbal constituents and studies, while the other half is a short presentation to benefit laypeople and professionals alike. Please note: There is another book by the same title written by someone else. Be sure to get Elizabeth Williamson’s version. The CW Daniel Company Ltd, ISBN 0-85207-361-5
“Natural Therapy for your Liver” by Christopher Hobbs, L.Ac. contains a wealth of information about the role of the liver itself in physiology, which herbs support or cleanse it, which have “cooling” and “warming” natures, and much more. Christopher always goes into great scientific depth, yet manages to write in a lay-friendly way at the same time. All of his books are short yet a real education. This book is no exception. This book, updated from the previously-titled “Natural Liver Therapy”, contains new information for Hepatitis C. Avery, a member of the Penguin Group, ISBN 1-58333-132-8
“Medical Herbalism” by David Hoffmann, FNIMH, AHG (American Herbalist Guild) David Hoffman is, like Hobbs, one of the world-top phytotherapists. The British herbalist has written an enormous book detailing the scientific break-down of herbs. This is not a book to look up individual herbs, although it does contain a herbal reference section: Instead, it is for the serious student interested in scientific details. A good book to steer your doctor to, although it’s a large book. Healing Arts Press, Rochester, VT ISBN 089281749-6
Christopher Hobbs’s books titled “Medicinal Mushrooms”, “The Ginsengs”, “Vitex: the Women’s Herb”, and so many more….are all short (the characteristic of most of Hobbs’s books) but in scientific depth which, at the same time, are meant for the layperson to read and enjoy. So while much scientific detail is included, the over-all presentation is simple and very educational. Available from Hobbs’s website, above.
Kathryn
