Once you understand the issues and unique challenges being presented to you by your client, you'll need to decide where to start in the change you hope to affect. But before you do that, you need to determine if you're dealing with a symptom, disease, condition or even diagnosis which is acute or chronic.
Acute conditions can be thought of as having a sudden onset and lasting for a relatively short duration. The common cold, stomach flu, and even a bee sting may be thought of in this way. (Though I do prefer to deal with stings and bites under the First Aid guise. More on that later.) Acute conditions can be reoccurring, and if left untreated can often develop into sub-acute or even chronic conditions. In some cases, these conditions (like asthma) are more successfully treated as a chronic case. As a general rule, if the condition is "new" or hasn't been around for a while, it's acute.
Keep in mind that most acute conditions will work themselves out overtime. Assuming the basic foundations of health are in order, interpretative medicine, herbal or otherwise, is not necessarily indicated in every acute conditions. It's OK to have chills and aches when you have the flu. Colds are supposed to make your nose runny. Suppressing symptoms can prolong the illness, making you feel somewhat better in the short term, but extending your downtime when looked at in hindsight. That being said, there is nothing written that says you can't have some relief and even give some support to your body while you go about the business of getting better.
I try and attack (really bad word to use as an herbalist, but this is my book) acute conditions on three different fronts and nearly at the same time.
1. Symptom relief. This is not the same as symptom suppression. Bringing down a mild fever is one of the worst things you can do to your body, as it is counter productive to your own defensive mechanisms. But soothing a raw throat from post nasal drip is often a godsend. Pick what is making the client the most miserable, evaluate that symptoms role in the healing pattern, and decide if you can alleviate it... or not.
2. Treat the condition. Slippery elm will ease the throat, but won't do anything for the viral infestation. If you and your client know you're dealing with a cold, add some antiviral herbs to the protocol to help the body in its fight. The key is to identify what is happening in the body (often times a medical diagnosis is required) and treat it with herbs specifically indicated for the condition in question.
3. Improve the terrain. Louis Pasteur's life work was to prove that microorganisms were the cause of all disease in living tissues. However, on his death bed, he finally admitted ".. the microbe is nothing, the terrain is everything." Almost every single one of our 6.2 billion strong species carries with us various pathogens in our daily lives, yet a number significantly less than that fall ill on any given day. Why is it that only some family members come down with the flu? It is estimated that over 87% (NPR radio journal) of all children in Mozambique test positive for the parasite responsible for malaria, yet only a fraction of those grow ill, and an even fewer number die from this serious disease each day. Just like a plant must have fertile ground in which to grow, so must a pathogen have the right conditions to thrive.
Colds, flu and other infectious diseases are the result of suppressed immune systems. Bolster the body's natural defenses and you'll decrease the chance of the client taking sick again. Work at the root cause of the illness to bring about maximum change.
Chronic cases, those which have been lingering for months or even years, require a different approach. In many cases, your client will have been suffering from the condition for a considerable amount of time. Asthma, eczema, IBS... chances are that the majority of your clients will be turning to you for assistance with chronic conditions, as conventional medicine doesn't always offer the most appealing courses of treatment. And while I mean no disrespect for heroic medicine, the choice between a sharp knife and a toxic cocktail doesn't sound like much of a choice to me.
Because chronic conditions often require a significant investment of time and drastic lifestyle changes for the client, a new approach is warranted.
1. Immediate impact. If a client comes to me with a hormonal imbalance and hasn't slept well without the use of pharmaceuticals in three months, she's sleeping well tonight! Have I addressed the underlying issue? Of course not. But I have shown her the powerful impact plants can make in her life. It's going to take me at least three cycles to shift her back to homeostasis, so if I can cause a dramatic improvement in one or more aspect of her life immediately, the chances of her sticking with a prolonged protocol have increased significantly! In even the most complex of client profiles, there is usually a "quick fix" you can hit right away. While the overall impact to the regiment may be negligible, the impact to the client's psyche is immeasurable.
2. System Support. Here's where we make a big divergence with the way conventional medicine approaches these cases. Don't confuse this with symptom suppression or relief as would be appropriate in acute conditions. Rather, we're getting deep inside the tissues or body systems most affected, or perhaps responsible, for the chronic illness. Keep in mind that the body has a great capacity to heal itself. This self-correcting nature is often severely compromised in clients with chronic illnesses, so any support or nourishment you can provide to the appropriate system or body part will be most helpful.
3. Bring Balance. We no longer live in harmony with our surroundings. The constant pressures from living the western lifestyle (which is most difficult to escape) are the underlying causalities for a variety of conditions and illnesses unheard of in other cultures. Ulcers, adult onset diabetes and even certain forms of cancer are indicators of "modernization"; a consequence of living the good life, if you will. And while it may not be possible (or at least practical) to remove all the pressures and imbalances in one's life, the plant kingdom has provided us many allies which can be most valuable. I'm speaking of "alteratives" and "amphoterics", of which there are a great many the knowledgeable herbalist has at his disposal.
"Subtle Shifts = Dramatic Differences." Keep that simple phrase in mind when working with clients who have chronic conditions. Most clients you will see with these conditions have had their conditions for some time, and modern medicine hasn't given them many options. With patience, on both your part and that of your client, you can make a difference over time.
Posted by Evo Terra at September 22, 2003 11:46 PM | TrackBack (0)