11/19/2018
Each one of us is of course unique in terms of what we need to maintain and enhance our physical, mental, and emotional health. For this reason, it's wonderful and often very necessary to consult individually with a qualified herbalist - a practitioner of Chinese Medicine, Ayurveda, Tibetan Medicine, or western herbalism. This is especially true when we have a specific physical, mental or emotional imbalance that we're seeking to remedy. A healing professional is able to assess our condition, and then create an herbal formula designed specifically for us.
Therapeutic & Vitality-Enhancing Uses of Herbal Formulas
Herbal and alchemical formulas can be powerful allies for transforming an imbalanced, dis-eased bodymind into one that once again is functioning in a balanced and comfortable way. They also can be used to enhance our health: to increase our clarity and vitality, to take us to the next level of joyful and radiant wellbeing. Practitioners of Yoga, Qigong and Meditation often have an interest in using herbs in this way, to support the creation of an increasingly strong and clear bodily "temple," which can then initiate a deepening and expansion of our spiritual practice.
The herbs and alchemical substances used in this way - as physical, mental, emotional and spiritual tonics - frequently have an adaptogenic character. An adaptogenic substance is one that has a normalizing effect upon bodily processes. In other words, it possesses an intelligence that allows it to act in a way that is appropriate to the person consuming it. There are, for instance, herbs that are adaptogenic with respect to immune system function: they can boost a weak immune system, or suppress an overactive immune system - depending on what is needed.
Herbs and alchemical substances which, in this way, "know what to do" can be of great benefit to a wide variety of people. Though it's still preferable to consult individually with an herbalist - if this is an option for you - it's not absolutely necessary, with tonic formulas such as these, since the herbs themselves are able to adjust their actions according to the needs of the person taking them. (How cool is that!)