October 4, 2010 LEARNING

"True learning comes - like true intimacy- when WE have an OPEN mind."

"Learning is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere." ~Chinese Proverb

"Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty." ~Henry Ford


I know I will be learning well past 80 years old. It is my nature. Whether it is from formal education, mentors, or from books I will continually challenge my mind. I will also try to broaden my scope of knowledge. I might move from plants to insects, or from needlepoint to bargello, or from biographies to fiction. All involve learning. With this open mind you can do anything. The best relationship you will ever have will be the one you enter with an open mind. I did not say open relationship. Only true intimacy will be achieved with an open mind.

As Winston Churchill said, "We all want to learn, but few of want to be taught."
In medicine, few conventional or allopathic doctors have an open mind regarding herbal medicine. The Reformed Practice and Eclectic Medicine were established by Dr. Wooster Beach. They continued with the work of Scudder, King and Lloyd. With Lloyd's death, the Eclectic Medical College of Cincinnati closed in 1939. Much of the Eclectic College journals were moved and stored by the Lloyd Library in Cincinati in 1942. If doctor's today would realize that if not for the eclectic movement we would not have medicine, then more of them would be open minded.
Those eclectics were open minded. Are you open-minded? The possibilities are endless if you are willing to be taught and willing to have an open mind.


So, you are finally diagnosed with some form of a low thyroid. However you have decided not to take synthetic or natural thyroid replacement. Are there herbs to boost your thyroid function? Yes. They are called thyroid stimulating adaptogenic herbs. Three herbs come to mind for supporting the thyroid.

The first one is Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera). Also called Indian ginseng and Winter cherry, it is a plant in the Solanaceae or nightshade family. It grows as a short shrub (35-75 cm) with a central stem from which branches extend radially in a star pattern (stellate) and covered with a dense matte of wooly hairs The flowers are small and green, while the ripe fruit is orange-red and has milk-coagulating properties. The plant also has long brown tuberous roots that are used for medicinal purposes. This herb to me stands for prolonging life, sexual energy and enhancing vigor. As an adaptogen it does not follow the rules. Usually most adaptogens are stimualting, yet ashwaganda is a calming adaptogen. I have seen it used in India for cancer support and immune deficiency. I use the herb for iron deficiency anemia as it is rich in iron. In regard to thyroid it modifies the symptoms of low thyroid function. I have seen it combined in a thyroid formula with bladderwrack and coleus. Some companies add holy basil to enhance metabolic function.

For those men who may want to read about the sex enhancing effects of Ashwagandha and other herbs, I suggest The Male Herbal by James Green.

Until tomorrow...