Most of us have seen or taken aspirin. Did you know that the white, synthetic pill that is made in a lab, causes stomach bleeding, ulcers, and kidney damage with long-term use? Aspirin is acetylsalicylic acid which is isolated. Willow bark plant (not to be confused with the tree) contains salicin (aspirin’s natural precursor). When we use the whole plant, the tannins in it protect the stomach lining. You can actually make your own natural aspirin from it! Amazing! Recently I heard a story of a child that needed to take aspirin daily along with several other medications. As the family started switching to natural supplements  to meet these needs, instead of pharmaceuticals, they noticed that when they removed the aspirin (used for preventing clots), the child stopped throwing up several times a day. This supplement was protecting her stomach and taking care of the problem.

I have heard it said that if you can find a plant that works to treat a disease, you can isolate a chemical out of the plant and twist the molecules so you can patent it, because there’s no money in recommending treatments if you can’t patent them. Because the plant has been changed and the energy has been transformed, it becomes unrecognizable by our bodies (think side-effects). The best it can do is cover up symptoms. Most treatments are more problematic than the disease itself. Have you seen those drug commercials!!! Herbs are healing and protective.

God has given us every plant for medicine, and this is something that we as a people group should be taking back and learning more about. The more I learn and work with God’s plants, the more in awe I am of Him. In my research I have discovered that herbalists are improving organ function, (blood tests confirming this) reducing or eliminating pain, healing stomach issues, improving energy, focus, anxiety and depression, and so much more. Traditional cultures recognized that herbs work.

It’s also interesting to note that some plants have very strong antibacterial qualities. In the past, wars were fought over garlic and onion fields. People were not without anything before the advent of the antibiotic. Garlic is an amazing, natural antibiotic that does not seem to develop a resistance to bacteria or fungi like man-made antibiotics are doing. Onion juice is incredible at curing ear infections. This is just one example! God’s medicine is powerful.

While I believe there is a time and place for pharmaceuticals, I trust that we could really benefit in returning to our roots and educating ourselves more about these practices that sustained people groups for thousands of years. Getting a clean, highly digestible, nutrient dense diet is an important foundation, and adding God’s medicine can truly complement that foundation. One must exercise caution and have a good knowledge of what they are doing when working with plant medicine, because some plants are very powerful and what works for one can be very problematic to another.

How do you treat illness in your home? We love to hear from you!!