Some important things to remember about natural medicines as opposed to prescription drugs is that more time is typically required to see results. Healing, natural way, goes to core of problem where much of western medicine deals with cessation of symptoms. To Naturopath, symptoms are seen as clues to problem of origin, and not as something to be treated but to be monitored as treatment progresses. Of course, in some cases, temporary relief of symptoms is called for, if one has to work or cannot afford to take time off to let body do it's job of naturally dealing with imbalances. The problem in our society is that we've begun to depend on "quick fix" of antacid, headache remedy, sleeping pill, or nerve pill, instead of dealing with core imbalances.

One of more dangerous dependencies we've developed is a dependence on antibiotics. What has happened over time is that viruses and bacteria have developed ways to survive stronger and stronger antibiotics and some holistic healthcare providers (myself included) believe that it may not be long until even strongest available antibiotic will not be effective. We must learn to support our bodie's natural defense system, give it nutrition it needs to stay healthy, and deal with our emotional, mental and spiritual lives in a more healthy way.

In this article, I will focus on ways to use herbs effectively for health and wellness, but same guidelines could be used when choosing to work with other natural approaches, such as vitamins, minerals, etc.

Please remember that this information is given for educational purposes only. I do not diagnose or prescribe but only share holistic options for wellness that many are seeking in today's world. The tips I share below have come from my own personal experience in use of herbal remedies for my own healing and are not to be construed as replacing any current medication or regimen suggested by your doctor. It is my hope that you've chosen a physician who is open to natural supplementation.

Tips for working with herbs:

1. Self-monitoring - Starting with low dosage

Whenever I decide to take a new substance into my body system, for purpose of healing or correcting some condition, I understand that I have decided to self-medicate. This is my right, and it is also my responsibility. I have come to realize that any substance at all can cause an allergic reaction (many people are allergic to peanut butter, wheat, milk, and other common foods, for example), and that most important time for paying attention is first three days I add something new.

Some things I have learned to notice are my physical energy level, any changes in breathing, temperature, skin color, itching or rash-like symptoms, dizziness, and my mental/emotional state.

Determining whether or not to continue taking a formula has sometimes been a little tricky for me because when a person begins taking a detox formula, symptoms of necessary internal cleansing can be same as allergic reactions. The skin is our largest eliminatory organ and can respond to a big release of toxins by temporarily developing rash-like symptoms. Also, detoxing often does temporarily tax entire system (due to toxins being released and having to be flushed out through skin, liver, spleen, kidneys and colon and can create feelings of fatigue, depression, etc.

For me, way to know for sure that whatever reactions I have are not allergic in nature is to start with a very low dosage and work my way up to recommended dosage. By starting with a very low dosage -- too low for rapid detox to be a factor -- at least, for 2-3 days, I can eliminate allergic reaction and side effects as reasons for any symptoms. For example, if I were to take a tincture, and dosage was 15 drops three times a day, I might start with five drops, once a day. Then, after a day or two, I increase to two times daily, then three. I only increase dosage after I have reached three doses per day. I do this because efficiency of medicine is in great part dependent on medicine being in system continually. Until I get up to three doses a day, that doesn't happen. After I'm sure continual dose is not causing a problem, then I feel it is safe to increase. This method is one I choose to employ mainly when taking those formulas containing many herbs or those designed for heavy detox. Single herbs have rarely posed a problem for me.

2. Adding one new thing at a time: I learned this one hard way. I'm a little short on patience sometimes, and wanted to do a liver detox at same time I was trying to lose a little weight and work with my low blood pressure. I added four different formulas at once, and started at trial dosage, three times a day.

How would you like to take a one-minute vacation? Do you think it can help you cope with your challenges each day?

Are you worried about sales, taxes, competition and your work schedule?

Here is an excellent exercise to help you cope with your workday.

Try it every morning.

Let's see how self-hypnosis and relaxation can help.

The purpose of this section is for you to learn how to relax in just a few moments.

When you use several of these moments during a typical work or school day, you will find very wonderful results. Just as it takes many repetitions of angry moments or stressful periods of time during day to build up stress.

It will take many repetitions of calm and peaceful periods of time to build a perfect "mental vacation."

To begin this vacation you may want to print these directions out and then either read them aloud to yourself or read them into a recording device.

When you read them to yourself or into a device, picture yourself relaxing very deeply while you give yourself these suggestions. Whenever you see following symbol, ....., this will signal you to pause as you read or talk to yourself.

Pause from 20 to 30 seconds at first. After you are finding yourself relaxing very deeply, you may want to change your pause to just three or four seconds. Are you ready? Lets see how much we can really relax using this technique.

My Vacation Begins!

I will begin relaxation process by focusing in my mind on a place where I always have total peace..... It may be resting beside a stream or a lake....

it may be watching waves on ocean....

It may be a scene high up in mountains....

or it may be in comfort of my own bed.

Whatever I place in my mind I use for my vacation. The image I find will be correct one.