Collectively, our priorities have shifted to health and wellness, as we live in a world full of medical uncertainty. Natural healing and remedies are gaining popularity as we dedicate more time for self-care. Taking care of our health requires more time for research, shopping for the right services and products, and in some cases, we need more time for prep-work.
Health and wellness starts with nutrition, hydration, and exercise.
Anastacia Elizabeth Walden
Eating whole foods, drinking plenty of water, consuming less sugar, and getting exercise each day, will improve our overall health and increase our natural immune responses. Anything extra we provide for our bodies is a bonus. Let’s discuss the extras that we can do to incorporate more support for our health and wellness goals.
Master Herbalist
When you have an appointment with a wholistic practitioner who is trained in herbs, part of your treatment is sharing about your symptoms, being listened to, and emphasized with. Having someone care for you is healing on its own! They will then diagnose or suggest a few ailments you are likely to have before prescribing. They may sell their own potions that they make themselves. They may sell herbs from a distributer. They may recommend remedies that you can purchase yourself.
When I follow an herbal prescription from a trusted practitioner, I believe I am going to get well. I don’t care if it tastes bad or takes a long time to prepare. I want to be well and I follow their recommendations. I know they will check up on me and therefore I will be held accountable for my actions. The owner of You, Me, and Uni is a Master Herbalist, Jennifer Vollbrecht. She has two tea blends currently on the market (Meditative State of Mind & Know Your Gut, Trust Your Gut) and both of them taste delicious! Read more about Meditative State of Mind here.
Herbs come in many different forms:
- Powder
- Root
- Dried
- Tincture with vegetable glycerin or alcohol
- Capsules
- Tablets
- Teas
- Salves
Your herbalist may make her own remedies and teas or teach you how to make them yourself. Some teas are best made with the fresh or dried leaves and some with the root. Some are the most potent by steeping and others need to be boiled. I have made tinctures and herbal salves and I have mixed dried herbs for unique blends of tea. I find that when I take part in the creation of herbal remedies, they are more potent. I am inserting my intention into each batch and that matters.
Read about The Ritual of Tea. Read about Natural Remedies for the Cold and Flu season.
Acupuncturist
“An Acupuncturist focuses on whole health: food from the earth, movement of the body, acupuncture and massage healing techniques, whole food and herbal supplementation, and mastering our internal/external environment.”
An Acupuncturist has a degree in Chinese Medicine. This may be combined with other healthcare degrees and certifications in Herbalism. An Acupuncturist will take a thorough medical history, they may order bloodwork, and the exam may include an analysis of the tongue and pulses. They will advise on the recommended plan of care depending on diagnosis and health conditions.
Treatment from Acupuncture and Chinese Medical Practitioners may include:
- Acupuncture treatment
- Cupping massage technique
- Chinese medicine to be brewed as a tea
- Herbal remedies in pill or tincture form
- Personalized dietary and lifestyle recommendations
Homeopathic Practitioner
“Homeopathy, or Homeopathic Medicine, is the practice of medicine that embraces a holistic, natural approach to the treatment of the sick. Homeopathy is holistic because it treats the person as a whole, rather than focusing on a diseased part or a labeled sickness.”
Homeopathic principles are aligned with “like cures like”. The beginnings of homeopathic medicine dates back to Hippocrates (460-377 B.C.), the Greek Father of Medicine.
When seeing a Homeopathic Practitioner, they will take a thorough health history to determine overall health, symptoms, and health habits. Treatment plans are based on chronic and acute diagnosis. Homeopathic medicines have been diluted over and over again in a process that leaves only a miniscule amount of the medicine. These remedies are said to be relatively safe and without ill effects, when taken under advisement of a trained Homeopathic practitioner.
Naturopathic Physician
A Naturopathic Physician must complete a bachelor’s degree as well as a 4-year Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine (ND) program. A Naturopath focuses on using natural remedies by incorporating a variety of healing modalities. They recommend such practices as acupuncture, chiropractic care, nutrition, exercise habits, herbs, and massage. They take additional trainings in herbalism and are well qualified to treat you with a variety of herbal remedies, depending on your diagnosis and symptoms.
Under the guidance of a specialist in natural healing, you will gain the knowledge that you seek to take care of your body. While you can research any ailment and recipe with a quick Google search, use caution when trying to apply general advice to yourself and your family. Being under the care of an experienced practitioner will give you the opportunity to learn more about your health and which treatments and remedies are best for you.
From the CEO of You, Me, and Uni, Jennifer Vollbrecht, reflecting on her life as a Master Herbalist:
“I have made my two favorite blends Know Your Gut/Trust Your Gut and Meditative State of Mind, which I sell on my website. I continue to refine my recipes and make different blends of herbal teas. I like to pack the herbs in a mason jar and steep for hours, this makes a potent blend that can be enjoyed hot with honey, or cold over ice. My very favorite herb is growing all over my back and front yard: lavender. It smells incredible and has a wealth of healing benefits such as calming the mind and body. Lavender tastes so yummy when added to most tea blends. I also love to infuse my fresh lavender into grapeseed oil and use on dry winter skin. At home, I also diffuse lavender and use this delicious flower in herbal baths.”
Jennifer Vollbrecht, Master Herbalist
Anastacia Elizabeth Walden
Freelance writer and editor at Walden Writes For Women, in Gainesville, Florida
