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BACK TO ASK THE HERBALIST
INDEX
ANSWERS FROM AMANDA:
QUESTION:
I have been studying for years about herbal medicine. I have a few
questions that I would appreciate your help with.
How long can a person use Foti ( polygoni multiflori) I
use it for graying hair due to stress. It's great but
can I use it for months or should I stop and cycle it
maybe 1 month on 1 month off. Also I wanted to know the
same about milk thistle and yohimbe.
I am looking for a good herb to help with panic attacks
and depression and the yohimbe works fantastic.
Any advice you can offer will be appreciated.
ANSWER:
Thank you for your kind words and for studying herbal
medicine. I know of no time restriction for taking Fo ti,
or Ho Shou Wu (Polygonum multiflorum). Milk
Thistle has a similar safety profile for everyday, long
term use in normal dose ranges.
Yohimbe is another matter. I am happily surprised to
read that it helps you with panic attacks. This is not
one of its main indications. Normally, herbalists tend
to consider its use on a regular basis with caution.
Rich in alkaloids, Yohimbe is best used only 1-3 days a
a time as needed or desired, then allowing a break
of several (3-8) weeks. There is a wide variation
between individuals and their responses to natural
products. I'd recommend you find alternatives such as
breathwork, acupressure (points you can work by yourself
as needed), or herbs such as passion flower (Passiflora
incarnata) for your panic attacks. Then, you might
keep yohimbe for those occasional times it works when
other techniques do not.
QUESTION: Thank you so much for your timely
response. I do appreciate the info. I do have one more
question.
About 10 years ago I was put on certain medication for
panic attacks ( paxil, Prozac , etc) these drugs had
some side effects and I'm a little embarrassed to say
but I started "arriving quickly" if you know what I
mean. This by itself can CAUSE a panic attack lol but I
studied hard to figure our its cause and cure.
I figure out that an over active sympathetic nervous
system causes the premature climax and by relaxing it
and increasing the parasympathetic nervous system things
will work just fine.
Through trial and error I managed to come up with 4
herbs which I THINK do this ( I say think because I
bought then for a friend who had psoriasis and we found
another cure called Do Gro growth stimulating oil which
worked fast )
The herbs are Dandelion , burdock, milk thistle and
artichoke. This was last year and pardon the description
but I was like steel for more than an hour. I was also
using the yohimbe so do you think it was all the herbs
or one in particular that had that effect? I stopped
all the 4 listed herbs and the "minute made" symptoms
returned after 2 weeks. Recently ( January) I started a
cleanse by Nature's Way called Thysillin Daily cleanse
and I was back to "steel" ... It contained dandelion,
milk thistle and artichoke. If you know which herbs
causes this relaxed stated with confidence and POWERFUL
erections that last could you please let me know ? Even
if you know of another herb not listed that can help I'd
appreciate your expertise. I do know that the
supplement I use with yohimbe also has tribulus and
macca and epimedium. Also if you know of any herb that
is good for increasing testosterone for building muscle
I'd love to know your thoughts. Thank you so much for
you time and your help and I do look forward eagerly to
your reply.
ANSWER: I think you are doing fine with your
trial and error "find." The herbs you are taking will
help clear compounds from your system, and it may be,
though I cannot be sure, that the Milk Thistle blend is
reducing unwanted side effects of the Paxil or similar
anxiolytic prescription. None of these herbs is noted
for ED specifically.These cleansing herbs are also good
for clearing chronic skin conditions such as your
friend's psoriasis, usually in conjunction with diet
change and Dead Sea Salts or similar natural psoriasis
treatments. The Yohimbe blend with maca and other herbs
for "performance" is probably less of a problem than
pure yohimbe, as maca is also a food and not a major
safety concern. It is probably the combination of all
these rather than just one plant. I do not know the Do
Gro product.
I will research this further and reply again if I find
something specific or unusual about your program of
self-care, but if you are feeling well on this
combination of herbs and your physician is also happy
with your overall health, I do not know of any reason to
change what is working for you.
Herbs to increase testosterone is not well researched
though marketing claims for many products would have us
believe so. If you are interested, there is also a What
A Relief! episode on building muscle and men's fitness.
You might look into viewing that from Veria's archives
or getting a copy of the recipes
FROM LORYL
QUESTION:
I'm going to start taking Saw Palmetto and Pygeum in
powder form
for prostate health (mix it in morning drink) how much
powder should I take and how many times a day?
ANSWER: Traditional uses of these herbs could
be in a dosage of 1/2 tspn, of Saw Palmetto and 1/2
tspn of Pygeum, 2-3 times daily, suggested 6 days a
week, and in a month, see how you feel, and if any
desired results, then you could increase to 1 tspn
of each a couple of times daily.
You will know if your body likes it or not.
Every 2-3 months, stop completely for one or two
weeks. Doing 6 days a week, and stopping every so
often allows your body to gain the most benefit.
FROM KAREN
PROSTATE PROBLEMS
QUESTION: Please send information! I have had
chronic prostatitis for almost 10 years.
I am 59. Why do you say to avoid cinnamon if there are
prostate problems. Others
I have read recommend cinnamon to enhance blood
circulation, which should
aid the prostate.
ANSWER: Since you didn't give me the context of
the answer on prostate issues and cinnamon, I have to
assume that I was referring to prostate cancer and not
just prostate problems. Cinnamon, as well as the
ginsengs, cordyceps, ephedra, epimedium, sarsaparilla
and horsetail contain high amounts of a chemical called
betasitosterol, which has been shown to encourage
the growth of prostate cancer cells. Those suffering
from or recovering from prostate cancer should avoid
these herbs. Of course, if they encourage the growth of
those types of cells, I'd imagine you'd want to avoid
them anyway. That's why it's dangerous to self medicate.
Just because an herb has certain qualities, (Others I
have read recommend cinnamon to enhance blood
circulation, which should aid the prostate.)
doesn't mean that other considerations can be forgotten.
INCREASING PENIS SIZE
QUESTION: I am a 65 yrs old male and I see all
the ad's on TV about enlarging your penis size by 25%.
Is there a natural herb that can have the same effect. I
have a feeling what they are trying to selling you does
not work.
ANSWER:
Unfortunately, that, the "miracle wrinkle cream" and the
"lose weight while you eat anything you want with no
exercise" claims are all just that - CLAIMS! What you
have is what you have and although during an erection,
you will increase size, there's no way to increase the
length of your penis any more than there is to increase
the length of your leg.
QUESTION: My friend bought me some lovely organic
herbal tea at a health food store. Problem is: it is intended for pregnant women, and I am
a man. However the ingredients, which I researched, all
seem to be pretty beneficial, regardless of gender. I
have listed the ingredients for you, but the question
is: these can't *harm* me because I'm a man, right?
ingredients: red clover, red raspberry leaves, nettles,
skullcap, peppermint
ANSWER:
Actually,
the herbs you've listed are beneficial no matter what
your gender. So drink up and be well! (If you start
craving strawberries or experiencing morning sickness
let me know!)
QUESTION:
How can on treat prostatitis with herbs,
ANSWER: The herbs to help you that I can suggest
are saw palmetto berries, cornsilk, parsley, ginger
root, nettle root and burdock root. Avoid American
ginseng, ephedra, cinnamon, sarsaparilla and Siberian
ginseng. I do have a tea that I make to help with
prostate problems. If you're interested, please e-mail
me with the word ORDER in the subject line for more
information.
FROM DAVID
VARICOCELE
QUESTION: I have been diagnosed for having a varicocele, I want to know if there are some herb to cure that varicocele.
ANSWER: I am assuming you have been to a doctor for this condition and diagnosis if not, go see a urologist or your primary care physician for a referral.
Lumps in the testes can be caused by many things, eliminate the life threatening chronic possibilities with a accurate diagnosis. One friend had been told he had this condition but it was only a sign of a bigger problem in his heart and circulatory system. I am not trying to scare you simply asking you to be careful and mindful of your health, because only you are truly responsible for your health.
If it is a Varicocele, this is defined by modern medicine as a varicose vein in the testes, if you are asymptomatic your doctor may advise doing nothing, if it is a cause of discomfort or infertility he may suggest surgery.
There are herbs that are used traditionally for varicose veins. They include:
Nutritional herbs such as Blackberry, Cayenne pepper (add to foods), Calendula Flowers, Hawthorn berry, Elderberry,
Bilberry/Blueberry, Nettle Leaf, Lycium fruit
Astringing and toning herbs such as Collinsonia, Blackberry (as a bath), Witch Hazel (as a bath, external poultice), Butchers Broom and Horse Chestnut (both internally and externally)
Under the food and supplement category I would suggest choosing your foods by color, the purple, blue and reddish colors indicate health, and the bioflavonoids contained in these fresh foods help strengthen vascular integrity thus helping with varicosities.
Nutritionally I would look for bioflavanoid supplements along with Zinc and Vitamin C and E.
See my other answers online about varicose veins.
SAW
PALMETTO DOSAGE
QUESTION: I am currently taking Full Spectrum Saw Palmetto,
160 mg, 1 tablet twice a day
Total 320 mg per day.
It has been recommended that I take 900 mgs 4 times a day. Do
you have any information on this, such as Brand Name. effectiveness
for enlarged prostate, and could this be harmful?
ANSWER: Saw Palmetto, Nettle Root, White Sage and
Collinsonia is a great herbal combination for BPH
PROSTATE
CONCERNS
QUESTION: I'm a 45 years old, and I've been treated by my doctor for over a year for Chronic Prostatitus. Despite all the antibiotics, and the
exploratory surgery, nothing has helped me.
Generally, what herbs would you recommend that one can take to help alleviate the pain and disease itself?
ANSWER: I would use the following herbs for Prostatitis:
Saw Palmetto
Collinsonia
White Sage
Nettle Root
Goldenrod
Uva Ursi (short term)
Corn Silk, Marshmallow and/or Couch Grass for a soothing demulcent to UT (i.e prostate)
for pain and antiinflammation
Wintergreen
Gravel Root
Kava
Hydrangea (not the house plant or cultivated variety)
Chaste tree berry (maybe helpful for the pain also)
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