HI All,

  If you drink coffee or take aspirin you are using herbal RXs Coffee was used in the Afican region of  Caffa ( how we got  the name ) in prehistoric times as an rx for keeping folks alert when on  night watch with flocks or on a war party . The Arabs begin to use it as a drink about 1000 AD. You know the  rest. BTW.. tests show a lot of the effect of coffee comes from the intake of the fumes into the nose and then the brain ( like snorting coke , tho I have not  heard of anyone snorting lines of starbucks best ). Hence " wake up and smell the coffee ". Coffee is used to treat asthma; the FDA rates coffee as an herb " generaly safe " to use as intended; but the roasting  process does add certain harmful effects. Those with cancer are advised to limit the use of this herb.

 aspirin comes fromthe active rx from the white willow bark: salicin. About 1820  ,in Europe, they made salic acid and sold it as an RX, one of the first " modern RXs ", they changed the  name to aspirin. BTW: I do not use the bark or the aspirin, not good for those with UC or serious inflammation of the GI trac. ; Which I have. Just because an RX is an herb or made from an herb ( like aspirin ) does NOT mean it cannot harm you; you have to educate self.

 While many use herbal RXs  it is a sad fact that most of the pills in the local " health food shop " are not  very effective. This is mostly due to a  combo of low dose and " flash heating " ( to kill harmful bacteria ) that kills off the active RX in the herbs. Sad. There are notable exceptions to this  rule and most tincs. RX are more potent . tho some are still weak.

 Some herbs are NOT safe  for those with a weak , damaged, or incomplete immune system. A prime example is Echinacea. This is one of the  MOST used herbal RXs ; and is safe for most everyone but PIDD folks. Over use of it can cause an auto-immune responce, in some. THis herb is said to " make your immune  system stronger " That is not so . It stimulates the immune system by folling it into thinking a serious infection is underway. Like a vacine makes anti-bodies. This is very effective in getting the immune system up and going.  THis can get a head start to kill off a cold or flu . But over use in a PIDD person runs the risk of having the incomplete or damaged immune system turn on self. Some were taking this every day . Not a good idea. Again . you have to educate self about if and how much and how often to use ANY RX; herbs are no different. Awareness is the key .

 JAMA once reported that over 100,000 folks are killed each yr in the hospital by  wrongful RX use ( called iatrogentic deaths..ie medical folks doing harm ). They reported RX use in Hospitals  now  kill more folks than car wrecks. Like making a skydive, the drive to the hospital is the most  danagerous part of the experience, according to JAMA.

 What ever the risks of herbs we know they are FAR safer than modern RXs.

 But the effective use of herbs  takes self education, often  making the RX yourself, and knowing about dose and use. Few will educate self and hence many are not well suited to use  powerful herbal RXs, tho many are helped by the OTC herbal RXs. I often make my own herbal RX, even grow my own herbs ( not using POT;  { never have } jail time is not so good for PIDD folks ).

 I will post here , from time to time, about herbal RXs I made and used and helped  me. Each is different. Risk is different for each. But these have  been a wonderful, effective, safe and cheap RX for me.  I was amazed how effective these can be for killing off serious infections in a day or so. Saved me many a time. I only had about 5 infections in the last 7 years I had to go to the MD with and took anti-bios. Before that it was like 3 a mo. !!! 3 of the 7 RXs I was told I had to take for life were powerful anti-bios..  I refused them and used these herbal RXs and made self much more recluse.

 I had an " herb master ".. Jack ( now "  gone beyond sorrow " ) who educated me and gave me RXs he made and showed me  how to use the same. I do  buy chinese RXs OTC and go   to  my TCM MD for his herbal teas ( over 30  herbs in each RX ) at need, I have not  needed these RXs  in over 5 years; before it was 4 times each yr.

Others might post here about how they were helped ( or  NOT ) by herbal rxs.

 Keep that tea and coffee herbal RXs coming. But watch dosage and costs ( starbucks charges a lot for some of their RXs ! )

 Take Care,

 smallinn