THE SPEAKING TREE The Yoga Of Healing Herbs

There is much that can be shared between ancient healing systems of Eastern and Western science. Ayurvedic medicine is certainly one of the oldest systems with a consistent theoretical basis and practical clinical application. Into its ancient well of profound healing wisdom, some of the greatest doctors and sages have poured their finest insights and discoveries. Yet, to fully appreciate the nectar of this Eastern healing wisdom, Westerners need to overcome their literal and linear process of thought to enter into a non-linear reasoning approach. Therefore, a perspective grounded in an intuitive vision of the whole rather than the microscopic view of contemporary science is necessary.      The strength of Ayurveda lies in its broad, all-encompassing view of the dynamic interrelationship between organic physiological processes, external factors including climate, life work and diet along with internal emotional stages. In contrast, Western science takes a more particular view based upon specific molecular structure and chemistry. It is paradoxical that both could be describing the same condition in such different ways and with such diametrically opposed viewpoints.      Today, many people are drawn to Oriental healing systems and herbology because these approaches offer the promise of a healing system that is at once powerfully effective and gentle with the least danger of side effects. They rightly feel that disease occurs not as an arbitrary phenomenon but for definite reasons which if correctly understood could help to cure and, more importantly, prevent recurrence.      Ayurveda, with its Tridosha or three humours system, is able to provide a complete understanding of the cause of health in terms of a metabolic balance. Disease is simply understood as an imbalance between the nerve energy (vata), catabolic fire energy (pitta) and anabolic nutritive energy (kapha). All foods and experiences have an effect on the overall balance of these respective humours. This is proven by the fact that through adjusting the balance of diet only, many health problems are alleviated. Herbs are used as "special foods", serving to eliminate excesses and strengthen deficiencies. While they may possess a powerful nutritive impact on a weakened body, their primary action is to stimulate particular organic functions. Besides the specific function of a medicine or food, there is a more general effect in that for some who are predisposed, it can, broadly speaking, either raise or lower overall metabolism and stimulate or sedate nerve, nutritive or fire energies which comprise the Tridosha humoural system. The fundamental error of western medicine is to treat the disease rather than the patient. If drugs were prescribed sensitively according to the individual nature of each person, asherbs are in oriental healing systems, many of the side effects that result could be avoided. The value of using herbs and foods lies particularly in their relative non-specific action or their 'mildness'. If one misuses a herb, the results are relatively minor and are generally completed in the short span within a day or so that it takes for the body to eliminate the residues of the herb from the system. It is more difficult with synthetic drugs or extracted concentrates. The liver may be unable to fully eliminate a drug from the tissues and cells of the body because it has not figured out how to neutralise it either for assimilation or elimination. Unable to fully process the substance, it is stored in the liver and tissues or circulates in the body, creating a toxic burden that impairs necessary organic physiological processes. Abridged, MLBD.      The writer is a herbalist in California.