Andrea Baldwin
Echinacea flower
Echinacea flower
When considering the use of antibiotics, and the obvious contribution they have made to our ability to recover from life threatening infections, you would be forgiven for thinking that after they were discovered and developed into medicine, we could all rest easy.
This is not the case, as we are now finding out. Antibiotic-resistant infections are commonplace, as we are seeing more of a return to the uncontrollable infection that was causing such concern before penicillin was discovered. Our bubble of security has been broken.
A CULTURAL PATHOLOGY
Alexander Fleming, Scottish biologist, pharmacologist and botanist, discovered the enzyme lysozyme in 1923 and the antibiotic substance penicillin in 1928. He shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1945 with Howard Florey and Ernst Boris Chain who developed Fleming’s findings and ultimately created the pills used to fight bacterial infections.
I find it interesting that what Fleming, Florey and Chain focused on was penicillin’s power to kill rather than the antibiotic effect of the enzyme "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lysozyme"sozyme, the natural substance in tears and mucus–the evidence of a balanced and healthy system.
Their approach assumes that we must isolate, fight, dominate and kill something in order to defend our self against the bigger infection that threatens to consume the organism that is being overwhelmed. This thinking sits comfortably with a culture that believes that the only way to achieve something is by force.
The idea of supporting an already established system to be even stronger seems logical now, but not back then. I feel that the reason for this was because the thinking at the time was a focus on war, invasion, power and money. The domination model of existence that we accept blindly as the human condition.
HISTORY OF HERBAL MEDICINE
Herbal medicine is steeped in history. Compare the organic development of herbal lore to the thinking behind the scientific model, which is based on the dominator cultural paradigm. Medical science is determined to try to find the absolute fixed answer to illness in an environment that is by nature evolving and changing every moment.
Because most people assume that we did not have technology to understand things in the past, herbal medicine was thought to be made up, magical or pure mythology. Originally herbal medicine was primarily a women’s art. The classic images of evil witches tricking folk is still widely promoted historically.
In fact, herbs are still being used because they work. And, the prescribing of herbs comes from an enduring philosophy that encompasses a true science of repeatedly observable and experienced outcomes.
WHAT HERBALISTS USE
There are plenty of herbs that herbalists use to support the healing of a diseased organism. Helping the organism shed an infection is no different than helping the organism manage any other illness or imbalance.
The only time that conflict arises is when there is a serious imbalance. This results in the system responding and it is the system’s capacity to respond appropriately that is the key.
Herbalists will often use the term blood cleanser. What we are referring to is a class of herbs called alteratives which are particularly high in iron and sulphur and work to support the blood in a number of ways.
The idea that the organism is a balanced ecosystem that can get overwhelmed with toxic material is not new, but what we now know is that this toxicity is happening even when we can’t see the obvious effects. The metabolism is generating waste all the time, and we know that the immune system is helping the body clean up. But, if no one is taking out the trash, pretty soon the system becomes overloaded, toxic and susceptible to invading pathogens.
Blood Cleansing Herbs
Alterative herbs are used to clean the system, encourage elimination of metabolic waste, and support metabolic functions. This stimulates the immune defenses, enabling the natural healing of the system to come back into balance. This list is by no means a recipe for an herbal antibiotic, it is a list of supportive herbs to promote elimination, as well as nourish the system.
Some common herbs I use for this purpose are:
Garlic Red Clover
Echinacea Rosehips
Nettle St Mary’s Thistle
Violet Leaves Golden Seal
Horseradish Horsetail
USING HERBS WITH PRESCRIBED ANTIBIOTICS
One of the benefits of being in full-time practice for people and animals is the fact that I am working with vets and medical physicians regularly. Prescribing herbs while patients are on medications is commonplace, and I have prescribed alterative herbs for all kinds of frustrating stubborn MRSA (Multi Resistant Staphylococcus aureus), as well as generalised infections, with repeated success.
My experience shows me the value of using the alterative herbs alongside antibiotics to achieve the quickest and best results. In many cases, if antibiotics have been repeatedly used with no result you start to overload the system with even more problems. This is where the herbs can help to turn things around.
The true use of herbs lies in the art of prescribing. A skillful practitioner will utilise herbs only after broadly discussing the individual issues. Modern science can actually enhance the use of herbs and give us confidence if we are just starting out and rediscovering the powerful effects of herbal medicine.
Cath McDowell - A Herbalists Vision
Our aim is to provide you with the highest quality service, providing you and your pets with Safe Natural Herbal Treatment programs that are easy to implement, work in harmony with your lifestyle and with Nature.
“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food” ~Hippocrates
I have always had an intense curiosity and relationship with nature. Growing up on a farm in Rural NSW meant that I experienced all that this could offer- Horses, Cattle, Sheep , drought and the harsh realities of a rural life.
But this upbringing also gives so much more- the ability to rest in nature, see her cycles at work and know that there is much more to this world than what we are taught in class or on the street in popular culture.
You learn that you are part of nature, and that we are all part of the same family of life. You learn that there is something very magical happening within us and all around us, and that this magic yearns to be fully expressed in our being.
In coming to understand this within myself, I started out on my journey of self discovery at Hawkesbury Agricultural College in the late 80’s. This experience was not what you would call Nurturing, so I left this experience with rather a great sense of confusion.
In searching for my niche in life, I started work at a local Veterinary Hospital. Angus Mckibbin (BVM) became a good friend and mentor to me from this period on, and to this day I work closely with this Clinic and the vets there.
My learning took on new and exciting turns, as I studied Reiki, Counselling, Health and Wellbeing, Biodynamic Farming, Cosmological influences on life, Anthropology,Theosophy and Transcendental Meditation.
I am an avid student of equiatation, and sought to find the balance between the Competitive world of dressage and true Art in Classical Equitation.
I worked for 10 years in the Disability field, training to educate and work with all disabilities, including psychiatric transition programs.The insight I gained into the Human condition was invaluable over this period in my life, and I am ever grateful to the wonderful people that I met and learned from in this time.
I became senior case manager and regional manger of this service before I left to pursue full time practice with Robert in 1999-2000.
In the last 12 years I have studied Herbal Medicine with Dorothy Hall, whilst being trained and working in development along side Robert on all the programs, Equine and Human.
Horses became a much larger part of my life as I developed Kellosheil Park as an adjunct to the main Herbal Treatments business. This enabled a broader application of the understanding the action of herbs and herbal medicine, and I conducted personal research in this area. This has led to the dvelopment of many herbal treatment programs that we offer today.
I also studied my Equestrian federation Level 1 certificate during this time, and coached many students over these years. I was also one of the listed assessors for Bert and Marion Hartogs Horse Riding Coach.com
In 2009 I was involved with bringing Philippe Karl to Australia, and hosted the 1st clinic in NSW at Kellosheil Park. In the following 12 months I hosted Nicole Weinague Clinic. I also hosted numerous events with other people like Mel Fleming, and local dressage competitions including CWDG club championships.
Today I spend my time assessing clients needs around the world, prescribing treatment programs and seeing many people in my Clinic in Bathurst , NSW.
I am presently a student of Dennis Stewart, Australia with the Southern Cross Herbal School, which is integrating my learning to another level.
Ad. Dip. Western Herbal Medicine (Dorothy Hall) Grad.Dip. Herbal Med.
BA (Cultural Studies- Part Completed) – Charles Sturt University
Ad.Dip. Counselling
Cert .III Breath work
Cert IV Adult Education and Training
EFA Level 1 Coach