I am prone to headaches, especially when a Chinook wind blows into town. Is there an herbal alternative to Advil?
A. Yes! Depending on the trigger for your headaches, herbal remedies may differ. The most common choices include Scutelaria lateriflora (Scullcap) which is perhaps the most widely relevant nervine availabe to us; Filipendula ulmaria (Meadowsweet) is high in salicylic acid which is the key anti-inflammatory component found in Aspirin; Passiflora incarnata (Passion Flower) is a Central Nervous System relaxant; and the list goes on. Herbal medicine is based on a “whole plant” philosophy, meaning that a whole plant is greater than the sum of its parts. Therefore, to isolate just one of the chemical components of a plant, such as salicylic acid (found in willow, meadowsweet, etc.) is, herbally speaking, not as effective either short term, but especially long term, as consuming the whole plant. As a rule the simplest way to consume herbs is as a tea. *Note: Always check with your healthcare practitioner prior to undertaking a new healthcare regime.
