CUSTOMER INSTRUCTIONS
Congratulations on your choice to consider the use of herbs as a means to help
you achieve a better state of health. I believe God intended for us to use the
plants on this earth as a means of attaining healthier bodies.
In sharing my knowledge with you I am letting you know the things I would do if
I had a similar problem. The ultimate responsibility for your health rests on
your shoulders. So read and study about your problem as much as you can. Also,
if you have serious problems you should consult a licensed, professional health
care provider.
Here are some guidelines that I personally follow when using herbal supplements:
1. Always take herbs with plenty of pure water.
Some supplements must be taken with food or before meals. (Some people feel that
taking supplements before, rather than after meals, settles better. Also
remember that a good way to aid digestion at mealtime is to sip aromatic herbal
tea rather than drinking lots of ice water, etc.)
2. Herbs should be taken one and one half to two hours
from any medications. (Medicine can damage the herbs.)
3. Never discontinue taking important medications except on the advice of
a physician. (Over time, the body will often improve to the point that your
doctor will want you to decrease the medication, as the body begins to need it
less.)
4. Sometimes it is best to initiate an herbal program slowly by
staring with one product at a time, building up to the desired amounts so as not
to overwhelm the body with new things. (Some people are able to progress more
rapidly than others.) Once the desired amounts of a nutrient are reached, the
body has what it needs to work toward healing. Gradually, over time the needed
action will take place in the body and some supplements can be decreased or
deleted from the program. Occasionally, some people will need increased amounts
of some things over time and some may need some supplements for years (on a
maintenance type schedule.). But many times, once the body is brought back to a
better state of health (a state of balance) the need for supplements decreases.
5. Stick with your herbal program. Take
herbs faithfully. They won't work if left on the shelf. Expect some changes in
the body as it begins to heal. Herbs help the body to either cleanse or build
itself or both. As old toxins begin to move out of the body, they are eliminated
through four places or chimneys: the skin, the respiratory system, the bowels
and the urinary system. You can expect some minor changes in any or all of these
areas.
6. Natural healing may temporarily aggravate symptoms.
Some people may experience a "healing crisis" along the way as the problems are
worked out of the body. Many medications work to mask or stop symptoms and may
only add to the problem at hand -- or even create new problems. Certainly,
medications have their place when necessary, but if there is a more natural way,
I prefer to try the natural way first. A good example of how the body works in
this way is seen in the natural response of food poisoning. The body will
initiate vomiting and/or diarrhea to get rid of the poison that has been
ingested. Provided this doesn't progress to the point of dehydration, etc.,
these normal body actions of the body are good and helpful as they eliminate
harmful substances that have been ingested.
7. Remember that repressing symptoms with a drug (which
is actually another toxin) only hinders the body's natural healing process.
Certain herbs can be given to help draw the initial poison from the body,
at which point the symptoms will stop because they are no longer needed. Of
course, if the case is serious the care of a physician should be sought. (Since
I am of the belief that the best doctor for me is within me, this is where
divine guidance is essential). Maybe an herbal "Serenity Prayer" can help (found
at the end).
8. Replenishing fluids and strong, fast-acting
antibiotics can be life-saving in such situation. But again, the
symptoms (vomiting and diarrhea) are initiated by the body to expel harmful
substances so that more serious problems for the body don't occur. Whenever
taking into account the symptoms of a disease, remember the symptoms aren't the
bad guys. In the case of the common cold, for example, the body's way of dealing
with the disease is a runny nose, cough or low grade fever. The goal of herbal
therapy is to help your body cleanse and heal naturally by bringing a symptom of
fruition and getting the original irritating substances out of the body. The
"name" of a particular disease is not as important as understanding which system
of the body needs to be cleansed and/or build. Another example of this would be
pain. Nobody enjoys experiencing pain. But pain is our friend, telling us when
something is wrong or when to quit doing something. Taking a drug that deadens
nerves to the point that we no longer feel the pain does nothing to help the
original problem. The drug only masks the pain and begins a cycle of new
problems within the body.
9. Be patient. Don't expect instant change.
Building new cells takes time. The body doesn't get to a particular low point
overnight -- and it doesn't get well overnight. People have become accustomed to
instant fixes. We have to be committed to getting better at the pace our bodies
set. Some people feel changes (more energy, etc.) within a few days of beginning
an herbal program. Chronic problems may take much longer. In natural healing,
the time required for the human body to heal is a minimum of 3 months plus one
month for every year you have been sick. So don't get discouraged. Be aware of
each sign of progress that the body makes as it works toward healing.
10. Keep in mind the fact that herbs themselves don't
do the healing. They simply "feed" the body the nutrients it needs
and then the life force within us -- the body itself -- does the healing.
Remember that natural healing begins from the inside out and from the top down,
so that a typical disease process may appear reversed. Also, we don't expect to
see a straight upward progression in the way we feel. We usually continue in a
general upward direction -- dropping back occasionally, but usually not all the
way back. (If all the right things are being done to feed the body, etc. and no
progress is made, one might look for emotional causes behind the problems.) Keep
in mind, however, taking supplements is only part of the answer.
11. Taking herbs is usually more beneficial if you work
on only one or two health problems at a time. Focus on the most
grievous problem first -- some of the other problems may go away as the original
problem is eliminated. Also, avoid taking too many herbs at once. Care must be
taken to choose herbs whose actions do not cancel each other out.
12. Here are some additional things that may contribute to good health:
*Quantity of sleep
*Exercise
*Emotional well-being, including a positive attitude and outlook on life,
relieving
extreme stresses when possible and releasing anger and resentment
(factors that sometimes block the
efforts of the body to heal itself)
*Drinking pure water
*Eating a diet rich in natural foods: cutting down on white and refine sugars,
white flour, dairy
products (especially milk), alcohol, caffeine, fats, foods with
additives, etc. and increasing
the amount of raw fruits and vegetables, whole grains, raw nuts, etc. in
the diet.
*Becoming more aware of the subtle ways our bodies tell us when things are good
for us and when
they aren't
*Becoming spiritually stronger -- remember that it is scientifically proven that
prayer has a
positive effect on healing.
PRAYER: God grant me The knowledge to know what to do, When I can handle
a situation with herbs and natural therapies, The humility to realize when I
need help from a doctor and his medicine, And wisdom to know the difference.
Amen.
I hope this has given you a general idea of what the use of herbs entails. If
you have any questions that I can help you find the answers to, please contact
me. I will be happy to assist you in your quest for the knowledge you need to
attain better health.
Go to my personal NATURE'S SUNSHINE
site for your Personal "Health Analysis".
You may also check on product information, ordering and become a member for
FREE.
Contact: Karen Olerich, Herb Specialist and Natural Health Consultant
Phone: (719) 495-4930
E-mail: Karen
