Dr. Jordan Ungerman ND
356 Laclie st. Orillia, ON, Canada

Carminatives The use of carminative herbs are most commonly utilized to treat digestive complaints. They are rich in a compound called volatile oils, which has been used interchangeably with essential oils. Essential in this case refers to the plants essence, which should not be confused with the term essential fatty acids like omega 3 & 6 fats, where essential means that they are required by diet because the body cannot synthesize them. Volatile oils as their name suggests a...re not stable compounds and when ingested can stimulate and gently irritate the stomach to contract and relax. Thus increasing motility, while helping to reduce cramping, bloating and gas in the stomach. Carminative herbs are great as teas, but can be even more potent in tinctures. I usually make sure to steep the herbs at least 15 minutes to extract more of the oils. Below are a list of herbs that may be chosen when looking to treat with the primary action of carminatives. Mentha Piperita - Peppermint Zingiber Officinalis - Ginger Foeniculum Vulgare - Fennel Matricaria Recutita - Chamomile Melissa Officinalis - Lemon Balm Pimpinella Anisum - Star Anise Angelica Archangelica - Archangelica To reiterate from a previous post, herbs can have many actions and formulas are put together with primary actions in mind first, then the secondary and tertiary actions of the herbs are considered. Thus insinuating that each herb has its own profile of compounds and actions. It is alway important to consult a licensed practitioner when using herbal medicine to be aware of all risks, benefits and interactions with other medications.

Botanical Actions You may be thinking how do naturopathic doctors and herbalists choose which botanicals to proscribe to their patients? Well before scientists had the ability to extract and observe how small plant constituents affect the human body we relied on an understanding of whats called botanical actions. Thus meaning the observed affect the botanicals have on our bodies. Many practitioners use the actions of botanicals as the main way in which they formulate their re...medies, as this wisdom had been past down and continually perfected since the earliest times of human culture. Single botanicals can have several actions. Usually a primary actions is decided for the patient based on their presentation, then botanicals are picked with that action in mind. However practitioners often consider secondary and tertiary actions that the chosen botanicals have in order to individualize the formula to be more specific to the patient’s needs. Some examples of actions are the following: Antimicrobial, Adaptogen, Alterative, Anti-inflammatory, Astringent, Carminative, Demulcent, Expectorant, Hepatic, Immunostimulant, Nervine, Sedative, Vascular tonic and Vulnerary to name a bunch of my favourites. There are many more and I will highlight some of these actions in future posts to continue to showcase the benefits of botanical medicine.

The dose makes the poison Paracelsus With the growing understanding that we need to do more to take our health into our own hands the reemergence of botanical/herbal medicine’s light has begun to shine again. In previous civilizations this wisdom was passed down culturally, but particularly in the western world in the age of technology and modern medicine this knowledge has been pushed to the wayside. Botanical medicine is known to be gentler on the body than most conventi...onal drugs, however botanicals can be very potent medicines, as well as dangerous poisons so heed the quote above. When we look at a drug (which many come from plants) we think about tiny extracted constituents isolated and accumulated into a pill. With botanical medicine we often use parts of the plant in their more whole forms, which being closer to nature and if you believe, as God intended. Although many drugs remove the unwanted parts of the plant to extract the desired medicine, there something to be said about the synergistic way the whole plant may affect our body, perhaps protecting our cells at times from too much of a concentrated isolate. Often with medication we find we are exchanging one set of symptoms for another. Please understand that I am not advocating for botanical medicine above conventional medical drugs in every situation because sometimes when we let our guard down for too long we need a stronger intervention. However according to the first principle of naturopathic medicine: First, do no harm, it is important that we begin treating with the least amount of necessary force in order to restore homeostasis (balance).

How can implementing small changes dramatically improve your health over time? We often get bombarded in the media about the new health gadget, superfood or fad diet. While these things can serve their purpose, the benefits claimed are often oversimplified and exaggerated. However in reality much of the way we feel depends on our daily routines. The foundations of a healthy lifestyle are appropriate sleep, nutrition, movement/exercise and stress management. By spending the time to review these foundational habits and optimizing them to nurture our energy, we can continue to grow, evolve and achieve our goals. Before you look for the next magic pill ask yourself how are my basic foundations of health?

Why is health psychology important for you? There is more and more scientific evidence being conducted every day about the power of perception and beliefs and how it relates to the neuroplasticity of the brain and overall health. Everyone’s story is different, which leads to different world views and experiences of reality. This can affect the way we communicate and develop relationships with others and the world around us.... When treating patients I work to cultivate a space of openness through non-judgement and patience to help individuals discover any negative or limiting beliefs they hold that may be creating a barrier to healing. Together we focus on releasing certain beliefs that no longer serve you and replace them with positive affirmations and self-talk, leading to greater health outcomes.