“There’s an herb for that!” my students and I used to joke. There is, quite literally, an herb for every single ailment known to man. (Hint: it’s not marijuana.) When men wanted profit, they mimicked constituents in plants in a lab, changing their genetic form so that they could be patented. Along with greed though, there were side effects. Listen closely to commercials and read the fine print; cancer is one of the leading side effects, amongst so many other serious chronic illnesses. All to treat things that can be reversed by lifestyle.

True, it is easier to pop a pill, but the medical model as we know it is not what it should be. Modern medicine was developed for trauma care on the battlefields. Never were we intended to go to urgent care for the sniffles. A typical trip to the veterinarian will set you back hundreds and may or may not help the situation. Once you step on that wheel of medicine, it is hard to get off.

I could go on about how big AG and big Pharma are mega-forces that have brainwashed us and keep us under their thumbs out of fear, but I don’t want to get too negative here, so let’s turn it around. You can completely change your life (and quite possibly the ones around you as well) by learning how to treat thyself. By having a growing knowledge of what herbs treat what, how, and how to blend and make them into medicine, you can be your own pharmacist, nurse, and doctor to yourself, your loved ones, and your animals. Not only will one save thousands of dollars, but one can also completely turn one’s health around. And being healthy is one of the keys to living your best life.

There are so many ailments that can successfully be reversed, or at worst, managed. Most of our common ailments are from diet, lifestyle, and more prevalent, medications. Now, forget genetics. You are your environment.

I have worked full time for over a decade as a Master Herbalist, so I have seen what really good herbal medicine can do and how it changes people’s lives. Find an amazing herbalist (try my daughter, http://whitewolfherbs.com) (you will need to find someone that does more than essential oils; those are for aromatherapy), or better yet, learn yourself. Empower yourself. Being in control of your health is imperative to living your best life.

Today, pick up a book at the library or bookstore and start reading about basic herbalism. (Do not look on the internet, as most sites about herbs are going to be big pharma run.) I like Rosemary Gladstar, Tammi Hartung, and of course, I am rather partial to my own books on the matter. You can find them at http://AuthorKatieSanders.com. I even have a full text book to teach yourself how to be a full working herbalist and two recipe books to turn your kitchen into a pharmacy. You will have a lot of fun in the process.