You said:
>I am sure this will spark additional comments.  Hopefully, some of the
>dozens of people who privately sent comments of support will voice said
>support publically so this debate isn't seen as a solo act.
 
I ADD: I'm happy to defend the science and art of herbal medicine, be
it solo or in a group.  I will not, however, engage in a long defensive
debate.  I will give references so that herbal education can be furthered
by those who seek it.
 
You said:
>Not meaning to be condescending, but I doubt that you can present them
>any clearer than I already understand them.  Nonetheless, proceed and I
>will respond accordingly.
 
I ADD: I think from your information Bob, maybe you have not had a course
in herbal medicine?  Is there one at your college?  (not meant as a slam,
but I don't know the level of your herbal information).  Do you have a
degree or major?
 
You said:
>Because these side effects are the result of multiple causation, no one
>"buffering agent" can reduce or inactivate them.
 
I ADD: It's not "one" agent.  Not sure where you get this from?  Common
drugs and standardized herbal remedies that use only limited constituents
of a plant do not have the holistic effect within the body that whole
plant extracts do....Common drugs provide a chemical similar to an active
constituent...whole plant extracts, scientifically prepared, provide the
most complete range of a plant's chemistry and synergy and therefore
exercise the most holistic influence on physiology...a standardized
extract should always contain the "whole" plant constituents and not
just the active ingredient(s)...(1)
 
I choose to use herbs because human physiology takes place at the level
of the neuroreceptors and these receptors respond to complementary
biological substances found in nature...medicinal plants can target
specific receptors within the body.  In this way the health and balance
of the body is restored by chemistry and organizing power of the
plant...(2) Natural Medicine is based on balance or homeostasis.
 
You said:
>In other words, there are no buffering agents that can overcome my
>allergic reactions to soy or peanuts.
 
I ADD: You're talking about 2 different things.  An allergy is different
from a side-effect.  In talking about using St. Johns Wort for depression
in his book, Dr. John Zuess writes: "I learned that herbs are different
from the drugs we use.  A single herb can contain hundreds of different
compounds, each with different effects...(3)
 
In speaking of the pharmacy of drugs the Balch's write, ..."The
pharmaceutical industry was originally based upon the ability to isolate
certain ingredients, and try to make available in a purer form...seen
that nature provides other ingredients in the same herbs to balance the
more powerful ingredients.  These other components may be lesser in
strength, and may help to act as buffers, synergists, or counterbalances,
working in harmony with the more powerful ingredients.  Therefore by
using herbs in their complete form, the body's healing process utilizes a
balance of ingredients provided by nature.  (4a)
 
You said:
>If such a buffering agent existed, everyone on this list KNOWS some drug
>company or another would leap at the chance to sell this panacea of
>relief.  Just mixing this "plant panacea" with chemotherapy would save
>thousands of children undergoing leukemia treatments from needing wigs.
>Imagine, no more reactions to canine distemper shots, no more immune
>system reactions, no more secondary system reactions.
 
I ADD: It's not just one agent.  It's hundreds, and not cost effective
to even consider...plus again we're talking about a complete plant.
"Economics drives the pharmaceutical companies...the reason herbs are not
popular in the US is that drug companies can't patent them...these
companies make their money by pulling the medically active molecules out
of herbs and then tinkering with them until they're chemically unique.
The companies can patent their new molecules, give them brand names, and
sell them back to us for much more than the original herb cost..." (4b).
 
You said:
>Second, since you claim natural "buffering agents" are in the original
>plant, list them.  Tell me what the "buffering agents" are, how they
>work, and the PROOF (an independent, referred journal article is
>acceptable) that what you say is correct.  You made the claim, YOU have
>the burden of proof; put up or shut up.
 
I ADD: Well the text "Complementary and Alternative Medicine," by Charles
Fetrow, PharmD, has about 723 pages of them.  "Mosby's Handbook of Herbs
& Natural Supplements," by Linda Skidmore-Roth has about 932 of them.
They are the agents not in dark print.  This is the book I consulted on
last year.  "Herbs contain a variety of different nutritious and
therapeutic constituents - vitamins, minerals, trace elements, as well as
active ingredients with a variety of medicinal actions: volatile oils,
tannins, mucilage, alkaloids, bitters, and flavonoids..." (5).
 
I think I'll stop here because some of your questions may be too
technical for this list, and I do not believe in shouting online.  As for
the use of herbs in ferrets, there is not a definitive book on Herbs for
Exotics or Ferrets, that I know of.  They are coming out with them for
rabbits.  I feel to do so when herbal medicine is new to animals puts
them in the class of "guinea pigs," and I will not experiment on them.
I would like to refer you to a book I love by a friend of mine from the
Homeopathy list.  "Herbs for Pets," by Mary Wulff Tilford.  It's easy to
read and a must for anyone seeking more herbal knowledge who owns a pet.
It is the basic text for my "Pets & Herbs," course which I teach every
summer.
 
Lastly since your questions are so wonderfully in depth, I think you
would really like a few months on the Phytopharmcognosy list based in
England.  It's run by Dr. John [log in to unmask]
 
Footnotes:
(1) "Naturopathic Handbook of Herbal Formulas"  Mass:  Herbal Research
     Publications, 1995, p. 14.
(2)  Ibid. p. 13.
(3)  Zuess, Jonathan, M.D.  "The Natural Prozac Program." NY: Three
     Rivers Press, 1997, p.  49.
(4a) Balach, Phyllis and James F. Balach, M.D.  "Prescription for
     Nutritional Healing."  NY:  Avery, 1997, p. 63.
(4b) Duke, James, Ph.D.  "The Green Pharmacy."  Pa: Rodale, 1996, p. 2.
(5)  Avila, Juan R.  PharmD.  "Complementary and Alternative Medicines."
     Pa: Springhouse, 1999; Skidmore-Roth, Linda.  "Mosby's Handbook of
     Herbs & Natural Supplements." Missouri: Harcourt-Brace, 2001;
     McIntyre, Anne.  "The Complete Woman's Herbal." NY: Henry Holt,
     1995, p. 16.
 
Warmly ~
Mary L. Conley, N.D.
M.S. Natural Health, Herbalist
 
Herbalist
The Conley Farm - organic herbs
Online Classes ~ [log in to unmask]
[Posted in FML issue 3933]