Choosing Botanicals Over Pharmaceuticals: Interview with an Herbalist

The following is an interview with Becki Garza, Herbalist and owner of La Yerberia, an online herb shop and herbal consultation practice in Tucson, AZ. www.LaYerberia.com

Where did you learn your craft?

If I had to pick one spot in the timeline of my herbal education, and call that the place I learned my craft, I would have to say Yuma, AZ. After a 10 year child-rearing break, I'd returned to college, enrolling in Northern Arizona University's Environmental Science program. This provided me with a hands on learning experience in two herbal realms: identification of plants and making herbal medicine. The degree program required an internship, a requirement which a classmate and I fulfilled by working as biological technicians at a wildlife refuge. One of our duties was to create a refuge herbarium (a collection of preserved plant specimens). On the job training, plus tutoring from botanists at the University and nearby Proving Ground, taught us to "key out" plants (identify their genus and species using a plant key), an important skill used in wildcrafting (collecting herbal species in the wild).

The opportunity to learn medicine making also stems back to my return to school. It gave me a place to meet new friends, one of whom opened what she called "a little hippy shop" the following year. I helped get the shop set up. At first we carried mainly culinary herbs. But as time went by, people began to request medicinal herbs. Researching their requests led to encapsulating some herbs and blending others for teas. Dabbling in tinctures led to making infused oils and salves. Together, my friend Laura and I, embarked on our herbal education, attending conferences and lectures. Today we both work as herbalists.

What are the benefits of choosing alternative herbal products over standard pharmaceuticals?

Let me start by saying that herbs are not drugs and are not intended as drug substitutes. People often ask, "What've you got for arthritis?" or, "Do you have an herbal substitute for my blood pressure medication?" The pharmaceuticals created for these ailments allow a person to maintain their existing lifestyle while managing their symptoms. These products do not correct the imbalances that led to the symptom, but rather allow them to continue, perhaps disrupting the body's equilibrium at deeper levels. Most pharmaceuticals also produce side effects and are a burden for the liver. Herbs on the other hand, are often accompanied by modifications of diet, exercise, and nutritional supplements. The idea is to allow the body's wisdom to find its own balance.

You state on your website that you're objective is to use the highest quality ingredients available in your products. Does that mean fresh herbs and botanicals as opposed to dried?

Sometimes it means exactly that, but not always. There are herbs that must be used fresh, St. John's Wort for example. Herb companies can and do sell dried St. John's Wort which has virtually no effect. I purchase my St. John's Wort from a farm where it is grown organically and shipped to me, packed with ice, immediately after harvest. I buy dried herbs from this farm as well. It costs more to purchase herbs that are handled responsibly, but there is value in developing a relationship with your suppliers and knowing you share a common goal.

Should an herbalist or alternative medical practitioner be consulted before purchasing herbal treatments online; i.e. is it dangerous to self-medicate with herbs?

There is a certain empowering quality in using herbs. I think it has to do with achieving a sense of control over your environment: it makes the world a safer place. Your stubbed toe may be bruised but an arnica salve restores its color to normal and chases away the pain almost over night. You just know you're coming down with a cold, but you reach for the Echinacea and get to bed early. There are many herbs that can and should be part of the family remedy chest, without counsel from an herbalist: ginger tea for nausea, marshmallow and licorice for heartburn, I could go on and on, But when health concerns move away from the everyday aches and pains and toward addressing essential imbalances in the body, then there is the need for the herbalist. Individuals who wish to go off pharmaceuticals would benefit from an herbal consult, as would immune-compromised individuals. Self-medicating comes with the added danger of self-diagnosing: guessing what may be wrong is only compounded by guessing which herbs to use. It's important to get a diagnosis. Often medical practitioners can provide follow up tests that help to monitor the impact of an herbal treatment. In this way an individual can reap the benefits of the conventional and alternative community.