Tag Archive for: Bev McLeish Chartered Herbalist

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Preventing Respiratory Illness

enviornment

Colds and flus have plagued mankind for millennia. We all end up getting sick at one point or another. In fact, nature, in its wisdom, has ensured it. Contracting viruses allows our immune system to develop and maintain strength as we age.

So, since we can’t avoid germs and illness altogether, the next best thing is to create an environment within the body and our surroundings where viruses and bacteria don’t readily survive.

Here are some of the ways we can create an inhospitable environment for germs.

The Body

Eating a lot of vegetables, leafy greens, citrus and fruit while getting regular exercise and having a solid sleep routine goes a long way. It provides your body with the nutrients, strength and restoration it needs to fight illness, disease and to rebuild itself while efficiently removing waste.

This is the best way to create an inhospitable environment for bad bacteria/viruses both inside and outside ourselves. We need to discourage unhealthy microbes, so they don’t set up shop.

The plant world can also help us out here. Certain herbs help the body fight viruses by creating an environment that stands strong against unhealthy microbes. Elderberry is phenomenal in this regard. This plant doesn’t fight the viruses that may be cruising the bloodstream. Instead, it “teaches” the cell membranes to refuse entry to viruses that want to penetrate them (this is the first stage in contracting a virus). You can take Elderberry long term but after a couple of weeks you may find you feel nauseous so take this herb for one week and then take a week off etc.

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The Self Care Movement

self care movement bev mcleish herbal north out of the woods wellness in Aurora, york region

As someone who is in the wellness industry and who has lost a decade of her life to depression, I deeply understand how important self-care is to our mental state.

In this world, with its panic-stricken days full of rush and bustle, where adrenaline and production at any cost are prized over serenity, our mental health would collapse without caring for ourselves in some way, shape or form.

But lately I’ve struggled with the overwhelming influx of self-care posts being shared, particularly on Facebook.

It may be due to the fact that I am in the wellness industry and I have multiple contacts that support and help people in various ways, but whenever I scroll through my newsfeed these sheer amount of these posts overwhelm me and I start to get upset.

It took me a while to figure out why but then it occurred to me that my newsfeed read like a list of commands:

  • Be kind.
  • Listen to your heart.
  • Read more books.
  • Join more groups.
  • Get active.
  • Change and the world changes with you.
  • Gratitude brings more of what you’re thankful for.
  • Be this.
  • Do that.

I could go on and on, but you get the idea. These phrases are great to a certain extent but they don’t really tell you anything you don’t already know.

We’re all adults here. We get it. Most of us have already read, seen or heard about the Law of Attraction. Although great in theory, the Law of Attraction hasn’t done much for folks. At least for the folks I know.

After all, the universe contains many different laws and these work simultaneously. One of which is that opposites attract! For example, males are attracted to females, and vice versa. Which is why we’re all here in the first place right?

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Bev McLeish - Chartered Herbalist Aurora - Out of the Woods Wellness, Herbal North

 

 

Bev McLeish

Chartered Herbalist

Herbal North

 

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How Herbs Work

how herbs works bev mcleish out of the woods wellness herbal north york region

As I continue my practice, I’ve noticed that it’s been difficult for some of my clients to understand the difference between plants and the conventional medication we’re so used to taking.

As a result, the mind shift I went through is something I try to my clients with as well, so they can understand how plants work and how they are fundamentally different from drugs.

Let’s Talk About Plants

Herbs contain a multitude of chemicals and unlike medication, they don’t consist of one concentrated substance. Plant substances can number in the thousands and they all enter the body and work together to offer some of the elements the body needs to bring itself back into balance.

This is why plants take time and work gently. It takes a while for the body to become unbalanced and so it may take a while for the body to recover on its own naturally.

When something takes time to heal it usually means that the healing is thorough. Think of the difference between sleeping for 8-10 hours to become fully rested or drinking a coffee in 10 minutes to get an immediate boost. The sleep will be more productive and enduring in the long run.

Herbalist Principles

Herbalists have strong beliefs about the human body and the ways in which herbs work. We’ve developed these beliefs from collective experience spanning hundreds of years.

1. The Body Responds to Illness as a Whole – this is the premise behind all Holistic medicine. When we get a headache it doesn’t necessarily mean that the cause for the headache resides in the head. There are many reasons for headaches; diet, the liver, the digestive tract, muscular tension or your sleeping routine to name a few. It’s important to find out the underlying cause and not simply suppress head pain by treating the only body part that hurts.

2. Symptoms are the Language of the Body – Herbalists see symptoms as a language the body uses to tell us when it’s out of balance. We will pay very close attention to how you experience your symptom(s) and to the other organ systems within your body to determine the source of the problem.

3. The Body Is Intelligent & Hard Wired to Heal – The body is our greatest ally and it wants to heal itself from any conditions with which it may be afflicted. The body is more intelligent than current science and any practitioner that attempts to help it. Herbalists believe the body knows what it needs and how to use it once it gets it.

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Bev McLeish

Chartered Herbalist

Herbal North

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When Can I Make It Myself & When Should I See an Herbalist?

what can an herbalist help with - when to see an herbalist bev mcleish herbal north york region aurora

I wish I got asked this question more often.

Most people think herbs are easy to understand and easy to take because they grew up immersed in a Western mindset when it comes to substances that affect the body. They think of natural remedies as safe because they’re gentle and not as strong as medicinal drugs. At the same time, they view plants as if they are single substances all to themselves, when nothing could be further from the truth. For instance, many believe when you take an herb labelled for a specific condition it will only work on that condition and a particular part of the body. In addition, many believe that if an herb doesn’t work for them then it doesn’t work for anyone with that condition. This couldn’t be further from the truth.

The reality is that herbs are multifaceted. They contain many chemicals and constituents which work on more than one condition simultaneously. Because there is more to them than one dimension, herbs can work for someone’s joint pain and not another’s. I’ll be touching more on this in next month’s blog.

The main point I am trying to make here is that just because an herb doesn’t work for you doesn’t mean plants are not going to be helpful to you and your situation. This is the very reason why there are herbalists out there. And why some herbs work for some people and not for others.

Small Stuff

When it isn’t serious and happens infrequently, go ahead and use plant remedies for:

  • Colds & Flus
  • Insomnia
  • Headache
  • Aches & Pains
  • Cramps

If there is an issue that has been bothering you for a while or the herb you used did not help or seemed to make things worse, reach out for an herbalist.

We are specially trained to determine which plant would make the best impact based on what you are experiencing – and there are thousands of plants out there.

A WIDE ARRAY OF HERBS IN JARS

When It’s Time to See an Herbalist

If you have any kind of longstanding, chronic or repetitive issue, you should see a medical practitioner. This is to ensure it does not progress into something dangerous; or points to something more problematic going on inside your body.

That being said, plant remedies can do a lot to alleviate discomfort. And can help with any condition the body cooks up.

Menstrual cramps, headaches, long-term insomnia, musculoskeletal pain, digestive issues and nervous system issues are all conditions where herbs can provide a lot of support.

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Bev McLeish

Chartered Herbalist

Herbal North

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The Age Old Practice of Herbal Energetics

Herbal Energetics, Bev McLeish Chartered Herbalist Herbal North Aurora York Region Out of the Woods Wellness in Aurora

The practice of energetics is almost as old as herbal medicine. It has been practiced for thousands of years around the globe, but what exactly is it?

The general idea behind energetics is body balance or homeostasis.  This idea is connected to the herbalist belief that the body can heal itself. That it will do whatever it can to even out its internal processes to come back to its original state of health/balance. Energetics is a method we use to view what’s going on inside the body to help it return to its normal state using herbs.

How the Ancients Viewed Disease

Long ago, disease was seen as a sign that the body was experiencing internal disharmony or imbalance. Symptoms weren’t seen as the problem, but pointed to how the body had to contort itself to continue to function. It was believed that disease, or dis-ease, occurs when one organ isn’t functioning properly. Another organ or function in the body starts to overwork or stops working altogether to compensate instead. Once this happens we start to see or experience symptoms that create pain or discomfort for us.

The symptoms themselves weren’t necessarily seen as the problem but as a sign post or a red flag that communicated what might be going on in the body so that the source of the symptoms could be addressed. The body and disease are seen holistically when using energetics.

The Six Tissue States

Traditional medicines use various ways to understand the body’s language and help the body make the internal adjustment back to health. In those days, we all trusted the plants and our bodies to be on our side. We believed that our body and plant remedies could be trusted and worked together to help us regain a healthy state. We saw these entities as sources of great intelligence.

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Bev McLeish

Chartered Herbalist

Herbal North

 

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An Herbalist’s Perspective on the Legalization of Marijuana

Legalizition of Marijuana, Bev McLeish, Herbal North, Out of the Woods Wellness Aurora

Just like everything else, the legalization of cannabis and its various product derivatives brings both positives and negatives. My perspective as an Herbalist is unique. I work with natural plants every day to help people with their physical concerns. So it probably goes without saying that my opinion will differ from the majority.

Here’s my take on this development and my advice to any who may wish to experiment with these new products.

On the Positive Side…

With this new change in legislation, society is starting to reflect a more open mindset. The idea that the natural world can’t be trusted is eroding away. Ten short years ago, cannabis was seen as an enemy to civilized society, something only the young or rebellious would use. Two decades ago, the idea that we would legalize marijuana was laughable.

Since then we’ve done a lot of changing and we are now starting to recognize that there are viable natural alternatives to address our health concerns. This shift is small but mighty and I believe it’s just a matter of time before other plants finally see their day in the sun.

Once the majority agrees that one plant can support our well-being and quality of life without the scary side effects of man-made drugs, it’s just a matter of time before other plants receive their much due recognition. This is the reason why we’ve used plants for health for thousands of years.

It’s Not All Rosy Though

Being an herbalist, you’d think I would praise CBD, cannabis and marijuana from the rooftops as the next best thing. I won’t. In fact, I have to admit I get a little angry when I see people who don’t know anything about plants selling CBD oil and saying everyone should be taking it.

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Bev McLeish

Chartered Herbalist

Herbal North

 

 

 

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