A Guide to Herbal Healing

By Jamile Charkie

Despite conventional medicine and pharmaceuticals, there is a growing trend toward seeking more natural forms of healing and health maintenance. Pharmaceuticals can have harsh side-effects, and many times pharmaceuticals cannot be used to treat certain types of illness. For example, if someone has a viral infection, antibiotics cannot be used to treat that infection. I have worked with many patients with varying ailments and health concerns, treating them with natural or homeopathic remedies. From my experience working with these patients, it is evident that, when used properly and with insight, natural and homeopathic prescriptions can work as well or even better than conventional medicine and pharmaceuticals. This book is not meant to replace your family physician, but it is a guide to healthier living through wiser food consumption. I believe if people used naturopathic and homeopathic remedies, overall health would increase and the need to go to doctors, specialists, and surgeons would decline significantly. Here’s to a happy, healthy life; naturally.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers
• Release date: Oct 13, 2023
• ISBN: 9781638292586

Jamile Charkie

Jamile Charkie studied biology at the University of Alberta. During her studies, she worked at Sangsters Health Center where she sold naturopathic and homeopathic remedies, and advised people about what they should take for their various health concerns. She completed her degree and moved on from this position but decided to put her knowledge and expertise in this area into a book that would continue to benefit others.

Book preview

Introduction

Despite conventional medicine and pharmaceuticals, there is a growing trend toward seeking more natural forms of healing and health maintenance. Pharmaceuticals can have harsh side-effects, and many times pharmaceuticals cannot be used to treat the illness. For example, if someone has a viral infection, antibiotics cannot be used to treat that infection. I have worked with many patients with varying ailments and health concerns, treating them with natural remedies and supplements. From my experience working with these patients it is evident that, when used properly and with insight, herbal and naturopathic prescriptions can work as well or even better than conventional medicine and pharmaceuticals. This book is not meant to replace your family physician, but it is a guide to healthier living through wiser food consumption. I believe if people used naturopathic and homeopathic remedies, overall health would increase and the need to go to doctors, specialists, and surgeons would decline significantly. Here’s to a happy, healthy life—naturally.

– Jamile Charkie, BSc Biological Sciences,

CTRC, ICH-GCP

Immunity and the

Immune System

Your son or daughter is sick and is taken to the doctor. The doctor takes a swab and results show that your child does not have a bacterial infection, and there are no other treatments. Your child remains sick despite taking plenty of fluids and bed rest. What can you do besides the usual chicken soup, honey, teas, and bed rest?

Because it is a flu and antibacterial will not prove useful, we must target the immune system. There are certain herbs and natural remedies which are immune-boosters and help banish colds and flus. Vitamin C is a common and well known one. Vitamin C can be found in oranges, other citrus fruits, and in mangoes. It can also be found as capsules, dissolvable or chewable tablets, or liquid. A less commonly known supplement that supports immune health is the trace mineral zinc. Zinc, however, is harder to get through diet alone. If eating oysters to raise zinc levels and support the immune system is not a convenient option, there is always the option to get zinc capsules or lozenges. There are, however, cases where more potent treatment is needed.

Echinacea is a potent antiviral and anti-cold medication. There are liquid tinctures of echinacea available for sale as well as pill form. It is, however, crucial to consider dosage. In general, children younger than two probably should not be taking echinacea at all. Older kids may have echinacea at lesser amounts than the recommended dosages for adults. Although it is best to consult a naturopathic/homeopathic doctor about dosage, in general give the dosage by weight proportion i.e. if the child is one-quarter of the weight of an adult, give one-quarter of the dosage.

Another powerful product that can also be used for kids, as well as for adults, is oil of oregano. It is widely used for colds and flus. Oil of oregano shows many benefits; this oil is a potent antifungal, antibacterial, and antiviral. On top of that, it is an immune booster. Oil of oregano is available as a liquid and as capsules. There are many brands of oregano oil, the best ones have the highest percentage of carvacrol. Carvacrol is the medicinal component in oregano, and is a potent oil. Oregano oil can also be diluted in a carrier oil (such as almond oil or shea butter) and applied topically onto infected areas. If the oil is too stringent on skin, tea tree oil may be used in lieu of the oil of oregano. Tea tree oil is not as strong as oregano oil to combat infections, but is milder. Tea tree oil, however, must not be ingested. Oil of oregano has one reservation; like other antibiotics, if used regularly for a long time, the oil of oregano can cause bowel discomfort. This bowel discomfort after prolonged regular use of antibiotics (oil of oregano being a form of antibiotic) is because the antibiotic has killed off the good bacteria, called probiotics, that naturally reside in the intestinal tract. This causes indigestion and also leaves the intestines open to harbor harmful bacteria. A simple remedy is to take probiotics to replenish a healthy intestinal microflora once ingestion of antibiotics has stopped. This can be taken as pills or by consumption of yogurt, cheeses, and other dairy or fermented products (such as miso) which contain probiotics. Probiotics should be taken once the patient is no longer consuming antibiotics; taking both probiotics and antibiotics may upset the stomach, irritate the bowels, or even diminish the effect of the antibiotic (since it is also killing the probiotics).

A significant product for infections is colloidal silver. Silver is a heavy metal, which kills bacteria. Colloidal silver is a solution of water with dissolved silver ions. Some people are afraid to use colloidal silver, but as long as the product is being used as indicated, it is safe. Also, good quality colloidal silver should be very clear and colorless, without any visible particles. Although colloidal silver can be ingested when one is sick (or feeling a sickness coming on), it is particularly useful for topical use. Infections of the skin can be treated with colloidal silver, as well as sore throat and even eye infections.

For eyes, it is recommended to have one spray of no stronger than a 10-ppb colloidal silver