Herbs - some thoughts and questions for Hv

Hv, I agree with much of what you write.

You've talked in a few recent posts about old-school herbal formulas and why you think certain herbs such as barberry aren't so great.

So my thought is, to criticize an herb because of one of its chemical components may not be quite fair because it isn't in the plant in isolation, it acts in synergy with all the other components of the plant. And there is much in nature that we don't understand.

As you know, we can analyze an apple under a microscope and identify what we call cells and vitamin C etc., however ... no one knows how to put all these parts together and nothing else comes close to the the whole food.

Science has some answers and I've studied science, but it doesn't have all the answers. And of course studies can be flawed, so how can we really know the truth about herbs? There are also old methods and old doctors' books that have good information in them too, IMO.

I often think of the story of Harry Hoxsey and the horse that healed itself by eating certain herbs in the field. It didn't have book-education but just knew what would heal it.

Of course I can't come close to your level of scientific knowledge and the years of study you've put into health and herbs. I mainly use my intuition when deciding which herbs to use.

What do you recommend as the best way to learn more about herbs?

Thank you Tweet