It is hard when you are sick or have a regular problem you need healed and the herb you choose doesn’t seem to be working. Last month we touched on this topic with a list of very common reasons a remedy isn’t working. Let’s dive a little deeper into a few of those possible reasons.

First is the possibility that the wrong herb was chosen. If you don’t know what an herb does, it is best to not use it. Remember, the labels on most bottles of herbs you see on the shelf are not complete. They do not contain all the possible uses for the herb or any of the possible reasons to not use it, like maybe a drug interaction. I have even found herbs that are labeled “do not use when pregnant” when they are exactly what you should be using during pregnancy.

The more you treat common problems yourself, the more comfortable you will become with it. It can be a little scary at first — especially when you don’t know very many remedies. However, keep in mind that it is so much more beneficial to know a whole lot about one herb than to know a little bit about a hundred different ones.

Learning a new herb every month by reading this newsletter will help will retain the knowledge of that herb and try to incorporate it into your life somehow. All back issues can be viewed on this website.

Another very common reason for an herb not working is a misdiagnosis. If you are trying to treat a bladder infection when really all you have is gas, the herb for bladder infections isn’t going to help with the gas. Thankfully most herbs treat many things, so we can get lucky despite not choosing the best herb for the job and have it work anyway.

Most of the time when we really just don’t know what is wrong with our body, we need to consult a physician. For example, if my doctor says I need an antibiotic, I know that in the world of herbs, grapefruit seed extract or garlic could heal me.

We need to be very aware of our bodies and what is normal for us. Everyone is different and you know your body best. Keep that in mind. With the help of a skilled doctor who is willing to listen to your concerns and answer all your questions, we can pinpoint problems and act accordingly.

I also would like to touch on a problem that seems to be the biggest reason a remedy doesn’t work for many: lack of consistency and failure to take the correct dose often enough.

I bring this up because I see it so much. Someone has some pills or a syrup and tries it a few times and, when it doesn’t do what they want, they stop taking it and make the bold claim that “natural remedies don’t work.”

Grant it, there are times when a natural remedy can cure you so fast that surely it must be a miracle, but that isn’t always the case. Do expect herbs to work quicker in children and for their immune system to respond better. I chalk it up to kids not having as many years as we have had to fill our bodies with bad food and they are very active, but that’s another newsletter.

Now, with something like plantain on a swollen wound or other pain you can expect very noticeable, instant effects. With an herb that is intended to nourish and feed certain systems in your body over a period of weeks or maybe months, though, this will not be the case. It is like a food.

Maybe this is easier to think of in terms of a negative effect that is easy to spot: eat one slice of cake, that amount of sugar won’t make you fat. However, eat a very large slice every day for three months and you will begin to see your belly grow or maybe get achy joints and other physical ailments over time.

This is where knowledge is power. Find out what you can about an herb so you know how to properly use it. If you are taking an herb like stinging nettles or burdock roots, you will not notice any change until you have consistently taken a large amount every day for many months. These are nourishing herbs that can be eaten like food, so if you are taking capsules, that is going to require a lot of capsules!

Often there is the case of illness. During illness, we should be using herbs as medicine which are a bit more potent than “food” herbs. With illness, the biggest hindrance is not acting immediately. If you wait until you are feeling awful, feverish, bedridden, or just totally out of it, chances are that it may take longer to heal no matter what you are taking. As soon as a person suspects illness in themselves, treatment should begin. Scratchy throat, glassy tired looking eyes, children not playing as usual. Are they warm? Maybe a little? Give them something right away.

Next, make sure the amount is correct. For example, Berry Well for an adult would be 3 teaspoons but, for a child only 1 teaspoon. Beyond that, take it often enough. Every 2-3 hours for adults and every 3-4 hours for children 12 and under.
Also, take your remedy of choice every day for the duration of the illness and beyond. Do not stop just because symptoms are gone, give it a good 3-5 days afterward to ensure you are fully healed. You can at this time cut back on the frequency to 2-3 times per day. Whatever you do, be consistent.

Sometimes there are unpleasant symptoms to be treated as well and knowing some other remedies to add in is very helpful. Remember how to make and apply garlic oil or do an herbal steam?

Keep all those kitchen herbs we learned so far in mind, feed your body properly. Nourish it, hydrate it. And this brings me to another reason a remedy may not work. The goal is to treat the whole body and fill all it’s needs as best we can. Eating the right foods, drinking water, using kitchen herbs, along with powerful Berry Well or other remedy will help ensure your body gets everything it needs to get well. There is so much going on in our bodies and it is working very hard for us, let’s feed it accordingly.

If you are treating a long term problem like knee pain or arthritis, you have to give it time. Healing can take time, but that doesn’t mean it won’t happen. Be consistent and patient. Your body is an amazing machine that can heal itself and the herbs God created for us will hasten and promote that healing.

If you have any questions on this month’s topic, please feel free to contact me. You may see your question answered in the next newsletter.