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The Healing Power of Botanical Medicine

Dear Medical Advisor:
I am the mother of a 19-year-old female athlete who does not have a monthly cycle. Her diet has been poor (her choice). I am very concerned about this; can you advise?
DL

Your daughter’s situation is not uncommon. It is, of course, desirable to establish a regular monthly cycle because menstruation itself has a a cleansing benefit for the female body. Sometimes the mere absence from home and going away to school can be a factor (emotional), but I have also observed this problem among young women whose diet was poor and who could be considered anorexic. In these cases, it was worth restoring a balanced whole food diet.

One of my patients who was also at university found that she could make wiser choices in the cafeteria, avoid sugar, coffee and chocolate completely and supplement her school meals with a juicer (raw beets, carrots and lemon) as well as a breadmaker in the dorm. Her bread now contains wheat germ, whole wheat and spelt flour. She also keeps a good selection of fresh fruit and nuts on hand for snacks.

Stabilization of hormones is necessary to correct this condition. Here is a herbal formula that was successful in establishing regular monthly periods for a young woman who had not menstruated for a long time.

Twenty-five millilitres per week of tincture of skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora) was used to calm down the nervous anxiety element. Thirty mL of vervain (Verbena officinalis) was used to balance the hormones and for its positive action in decongesting the liver. (It is important to obtain Verbena officinalis, which has the hormone balancing properties, as opposed to Verbena hastata).

To this was added five mL of wormwood (Artemesia absinthium) per week, which in such a small amount is not toxic and has traditionally been used to bring on a regular menstrual flow. Fifteen mL of black cohosh was added to promote hormone balancing and 25 mL of stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) completed the tonic, providing a wealth of trace minerals as well as the internal cleansing necessitated by the poor diet. Within a short time, regular periods started again and the patient realized that by taking responsibility for her own nutrition she could be much healthier and happier.

Dear Medical Advisor:
My husband has been diagnosed as having diabetes. His blood sugar levels have been fluctuating from the nines to the 14 range. Is medication essential at this level? If so, is there any herbal medication that would be better?
VM

Judging from the wide range of fluctuations of blood sugar levels, it would appear that your husband’s diabetes certainly needs professional attention. Taking medication every day isn’t appealing; if you work with a qualified health care practitioner, natural methods can reduce or in some cases even eliminate the need for prescription drugs.

Although many herbs have been found to have hypoglycemic (blood sugar lowering) capabilities, they are not always reliable in clinical practice and it is important to stabilize the situation as soon as possible. There are a number of things that will help stabilize the swings and reduce the impact of deterioration on the cardiovascular system. A balanced whole food diet in which refined carbohydrates (white flour and sugar) are avoided and whole grains (whole wheat, brown rice, lentils, buckwheat) are emphasized will help along this line. Plenty of fresh vegetables and green salads are also appropriate and onions, cooked and raw, also seem to help. Unrefined carbohydrates are released more gradually on metabolism, placing less stress on the pancreas.

The bitter herbs which act on the liver have a reputation of helping in diabetes. Dandelion root (Taraxacum officinale radix), milk thistle (Carduus marianus), chicory (Cichorium intybus), burdock root (Arctium lappa) herb Robert (Geranium robertiana) (steep one teaspoon per cup of boiling water, three cups per day) and artichoke leaf juice (Cynara scolymus) (one tablespoon with six tablespoons of water three times a day) all have hypoglycemic properties. These herbs can all be taken as teas on a daily basis, perhaps alternating one with another from one week to the next. Always monitor the blood sugar levels.

In addition to these, rutin in the form of a tablet purchased at the health food store tends to maintain the integrity of the blood vessels. Also linden or lime blossom may be taken regularly as a tea. It helps maintain the smooth lining of blood vessel walls.

Keith Stelling has retired from active practice and resides in Southampton, ON. He and medical advisors Stephen C. Malthouse, MD; Jozef Krop, MD; and Michael R. Lyon, MD will address readers’ letters from their areas of expertise. If you don’t specify a medical advisor, we will decide which advisor is most appropriate. Please include a cheque or postal money order for $20 made out to: Canadian Health Reform Products Ltd, 7436 Fraser Park Drive, Burnaby BC, V5J 5B9

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