A botanical is a plant or an extract from a plant that has been chosen for its health giving properties, its flavor or its scent.   Lets take these three aspects of botanicals in turn and dig a little deeper.

1. Botanicals to improve health and well-being

Also referred to as herbal medicines, herbal remedies or phytomedicines – these botanicals are most commonly available as dietary supplements (although a few are classified as pharmaceutical drugs by the FDA in the US).  The field of botanical medicine, considered a complementary form of therapy, is growing rapidly.  Here are some examples of botanicals used to maintain and improve health:

• Echinacea is used to strengthen immune functions
• Green tea is thought to help improve cardiovascular health, protect against certain forms of cancer and slow down aging.  Other forms of herbal teas or tisane are often defined as being “botanical”
• St John’s word is recommended by alternative health practitioners as a treatment for depression, anxiety and insomnia.  See other herbal supplements for anxiety.
• Ginger has been linked to improvements in gastrointestinal problems.

2. Botanicals used in cosmetics and personal care

Botanicals are incredibly used as ingredients in personal care products instead of artificial smells and colorings as the trend towards pure and natural ingredients gains momentum.  Barefoot botanicals for example focus on 100% natural products that are light, gentle and aromatic.  Minasota based Purple Prairie Botanicals take organic ingredients and combine they with herbal infusions and essential oils ensuring that they are petroleum free and environmentally safe.

3. Botanicals in the home

Again the marketing catchphrase used for botanical products is that they are “natural” and “gentle.”  Brands such as Archipelago botanicals bring botanicals to the home in the form of natural soy candles and scented diffusers.  Banyan botanicals focuses on the kitchen supplying a range of certified organic herbs. (They are also sustainably sourced and fairly traded).

Evidence indicates that certain herbs can have powerful anti-anxiety effects.  Herbal supplements for anxiety are considered safer than prescription medications and are less lively to result in addiction or long term dependence.  However bear in mind that herbal supplements are not comprehensively evaluated by the FDA and some may not be effective.  It is always worth sticking to products that contain specific herbs whose effects  have been widely researched.  The following are generally considered to have potent properties:

The effects of Valeriana officialis (Valerian root) to reduce nervous tension has been backed up by clinical trials.  It is relatively quick acting and also appears to be effective for insomnia.

L-theanine is considered to have strong anti-anxiety properties and is not habit forming.  It is an amino acid derived from green tea.

There is growing evidence to support the claim that passion flower extract containing vitexin is effective for anxiety conditions.  It is often used in combination with valerian.

Kava, generally taken as a sedative beverage, has long been known for its calming properties but concerns have arisen over its potential for liver damage.

Although not backed up by clinical trials many anxiety sufferers have reported positive results after taking St John’s wort.

Although not strictly speaking a herbal supplement, vitamin C and vitamin B both help contribute to a healthy nervous system.

It is sensible to speak with your doctor before taking an anxiety supplements.  This is vital if you are taking medical anti-depression drugs. As mentioned at the outset, herbal supplements are not closely regulated by the FDA.  They should also only be taken as part of an holistic approach for stress management.  It’s no point taking an anxiety supplement if you also do not ensure that you are getting adequate rest, exercising regularly or eating well.  It also makes sense to consider emotional and spiritual factors that could be effecting your well-being.

Prononced tee gong, Qigong is a health practice long practiced in China and often classified as part of Chinese Traditional Medicine (along with herbal medicine and acupuncture).  The practice involves balancing and manipulating the body’s energy (chi or qi).

If you watch people practicing QiGong you’ll observe slow graceful movements and relazed breathing.  It requires significant mental concentration as well as physical skill.  Unlike conventional exercises it is a holistic practice that focuses on the whole body (not just the muscles ) including the lymphatic, digestive and nervous systems.

From a health care point of view, it has emerged as a practical method to help with disease prevention and wellness.  But many experts and practitioners take it one step further using it as a technique that defines a way of being and a deep spiritual awareness.

Relationship with Tai Chi and Kung Fu

Both Tai Chi and Kung Fy can be considered as martial arts form of Qigong.  In a sense Qigong provides the foundation for both as both require a manipulation of the body’s energy (thorugh focus and discipline).

Here’s a quote that explains the interrelationship between the disciplines in more detail from Roger Jahnke:

When you cultivate balance and harmony within yourself, or in
the world — that is Tai Chi. When you work and play with the essence
and energy of life, nature and the universe for healing, clarity and
inner peace — that is Qigong.

Although there are thousands of different types of Qigong it is useful to categroise them into three training categories:  (Note the below is an oversimplification of what is involved and many qigong systems are composed of one or more types of training).

1. Dynamic – involves movement (tai chi is a representation of dynamic qigong)
2. Stability – involves maintaining a particular posture (has some similarities with traditional forms of yoga)
3. Meditative – involves mantra, meditation, visualization and breath awareness

As with all forms of exercise consistency is vital in order to experience the health benefits.  Qigong also requires mindfulness while practicing and an intense focus.  In alternative health circles, qigong has been linked to improvements in chronic conditions success as allergies, back pain, depression, arthritis, cancer and diabetes.  It is also widely used for physical rehabilitation and anxiety management.

Resources:

The Qigong Institute

One of the broad categories of Contemporary Alternative Medicine (CAM) includes the use of natural products including herbal medicines (aka botanicals), dietary supplements (vitamins and minerals for example) and probiotics (live bacteria that boost the natural populations found in the digestive tract).  Lets explore these three in turn.

Herbal medicines

The use of plants and plant extracts for the treatment of ailments has a history that goes back many thousands of years.  Although many pharmaceuticals used in conventional medicines rely on herbal medicines, here the focus is often to identify a single active ingredient as these can be better quantified (and patented).  In alternative medicine, herbalists take the approach that the various chemicals present in many herbs and plants should be allowed to interact together synergistically in order to improve the therapeutic effect.  Common examples of plants used as medicine include aloe vera (to help skin healing), echinacea (to mange the severity of the common cold), garlic (for yeast infections and to lower cholesterol), ginger (to manage vomiting), green tea (the list of health benefits associated with green tea is a long one) and oregano (as an antimicrobial).  But there are many many others which we will cover in more detail.

Dietary supplements and probiotics

Modern diets do not always provide sufficient quantities of nutrients, vitamins, minerals, fiber, proteins or fatty acids that are necessary for our health.  Stress, travel and illness can also negatively impact our diet.  That’s where dietary supplements come into play and recent years have seen an explosive rise in their use – so much so that taking a multivitamin can not really be considered an “alternative medicine.”

Probiotics however are normally defined as a CAM product and come in the form of both foods (such as live yogurt) or as dietary supplements.  If you want to learn more about how to choose the best probiotic for your needs have a look at the guidance provided over at whatisthebestprobiotic.com Remember that not all probiotics are of a high quality and may not contain the large quantities of Colony Forming Units that are needed to confer a health benefit.  Note also that in the US dietary supplements do not undergo the same levels of regulations by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as pharmaceutical or some over the counter drugs are subject to.

Resources:

See tips for the supplements user published by the FDA
See more on contemporary and alternative healing practices over at CAM