2. We combine the art of holistic treatment and
the science of plant healing properties to help
people achieve optimum health
We are specialists in the use of medicinal plants
and their ability to resolve disease
Our practice is based on internationally
accepted scientific evidence (including McGill and McMaster)
We have the ability to treat in combination with
orthodox drugs
3. 6 years of training in University, Hospital and
Clinic settings
Training includes the Western bio-chemical
physician model
Additional training in pharmacology,
biochemistry, phytochemistry and phytotherapy
to treat medical conditions with plant medicine
and to work alongside conventional medicine
4. Plant medicine has been shown to be safe and
unlikely to have unwanted side effects
Medicinal plants have been shown in tests and
trials to be highly effective and in some cases
better than pharmaceutical drugs
Herbal medicine is derived from the flowers,
fruits, leaves, stems, and roots of plants to
maintain a complex synergy of natural organic
chemical compounds
5. Depressed mood for most of the day, every day,
for 2 weeks, anhedonia, plus 3 or more of:
Change in appetite/weight
Agitation
Change in sleep patterns
Anxiety
Feelings of worthlessness
Decreased ability to concentrate
Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide
6. Phobic experiences e.g. Agoraphobia
Panic experiences e.g. Escape Attacks
General anxiety disorders which involve
abnormal levels of agitation and/or worry
& in association with other diseases
7. Abnormal Biochemistry
The causes of major depressive disorders have not been
clearly defined
It involves disturbance in neurotransmitters and hormones
in the central nervous system
Nutritional Deficiencies
Neurotransmitter problems
Hormonal imbalances
Reaction to lifestyle/events
Other somatic causes e.g. Multiple Sclerosis, Menopause
8. Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus
Women – 3 forms of Estrogens, Progesterone, and
other Endocrine hormones
Men – Testosterone, Pregnenolone (DHEA) (DHT)
Change in Age - for both men and women
9. A substance produced in the body from a gland
(brain/thyroid)
Carried to other parts of the body to elicit a
response from a tissue structure or chemical
receptor
Hormones are found all over the body
10. Progesterone has a Sedative effect (calms)
Estrogen has an Anxiolytic effect (anxiety)
High progesterone converts to high Androgens
which make people more aggressive
Low progesterone results in lack of drive
11. Thyroid
This organ/gland is a major player in depression
and anxiety
Ontario has endemic sub-clinical hypothyroidism
The conventional doctor has no drugs for this
problem
Ontario has sub-clinical levels of Vitamin D
12. The body has a close physiological relationship
between the endocrine and nervous systems
Our emotions in the brain create peptides
which affect hormones – peptides are chemical
messengers
Regulated by horizontal, vertical and diagonal
axes from the brain to the body
13. The Hypothalamus – Composer
The Pituitary – Conductor
The Endocrine Glands – Musician
The Cells of the Glands – Instruments
The Hormones – Musical Notes
The Receptors - Audience
When one aspect does not function normally, the body tries to adjust.
An unsuccessful adjustment leads to anxiety and/or depression.
14. Stress is the body’s response to any demand.
How we deal with it can be good or bad.
Hans Seyle (Canadian) defined GAS (General
Adaptation Syndrome)
3 stage process:
Alarm
Resistance
Exhaustion
Stress is cumulative and over time exhausts the
adrenal glands
Artists are a small business / huge stress burden
15. NO clear data but @30- 20% of the general
population.
Functional disorders @ 5% of the population
with a known high proportion of artists
“November 10, 2011 — Creative individuals have a disproportionately higher rate of
mental illness, including schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, and they and their
relatives are more likely to work in artistic and scientific occupations, according to
new research published in the November 2011 issue of the British Journal of
Psychiatry.” Medscape
Research focusses on sub-groups & the how but
not the why
16. Respiratory
GIT
Genito
urinary
General
Body
CVS
Tension
Insomnia
17. Paracelus
The nervous system has 2 complimentary
halves:
Parasympathetic – normally dominant
Associated with rest, digestion, we are naturally lazy!
Sympathetic – alarm state
Associated with adrenaline, raised heartbeat, digestion
stops
Continual activation leads to adrenal stress
18. Based on an internationally recognized scale
(DSM-1V-TR)
Resulting in a differentiation between a
functional disorder versus a general anxiety
disorder – schizophrenia vs. post natal
depression
Functional disorders involve the psyche (mind)
General anxiety disorders are somatic (body)
19. Usually involve drugs e.g. SSRIs, MAOIs,
tricyclic antidepressants, and nor adrenergic
selected re-uptake inhibitors
BUT…
They have about 5% efficacy
They do not address the causes
They have serious side effects – addiction et al
20. The body only ‘the mind and the body cannot be
separated’ (Socrates)
treat the CAUSE balancing the regulation of
parasympathetic/sympathetic nervous system
correct the balance of hormonal activity –
centrally and peripherally
ensure the body drains and eliminates properly
with good blood flow to the tissues
TREATMENTS are INDIVIDUAL.
21. Adaptogens – ginsengs, withania, schizandra
Provide an increase in the body’s non-specific resistance to damaging man made
factors and related illnesses
Nervines – valerian, St. john’s wort, skull cap,
rose and so on depending on the condition
Anti Spasmodic – snowball – relaxes smooth
muscle
Bitters – chamomile, century – anti anxiolytic
and stimulates elimination
22. High in Vitamin C
Effective in anxiety
associated – meno-
pause, diabetes,
bereavement
23. Arctic Rose - Adaptogen
Adaptogens normalise the body via the HPA
They support the body through periods of
extensive stress without any negative side effects
Long / short term use
Phytomedicine. 2010 Jun;17(7):481-93. Rosenroot (Rhodiola rosea): traditional use, chemical composition,
pharmacology and clinical efficacy. Panossian A, et al
The adaptogenic, cardiopulmonary protective, and central nervous system activities of Rhodiola rosea have been
attributed primarily to its ability to influence levels and activity of monoamines and opioid peptides such as beta-
endorphins. (Altern Med Rev 2001;6(3):293-302)
Ecdysteroids – ability to correct DNA – extensive Russian & Scandinavian research
24. Adaptogen
Has the ability to raise thyroid hormones to normal levels
in conjunction with other plants
It also works thru the HPA and balances estrogen
Increases white cells
Normalizes hemoglobin
Significant glucocorticoid effects
Anti mitotic effect in metaphase cells
Sedative, hypnotic
Bacteriostatic
25.
26. Nervine
Wonderful multi purpose plant.
Anti depressant, anti cancer, anti bacterial, anti
viral, balances serotonin/dopamine
Hormone balancer
Better than conventional SSRI’s
2009 confirmation for safe use in severe depression and moderate depression in 2005; 2009
confirmation of year long use safe and effective in mild to moderate depression.
2009 double blind trial confirming use in perimenopausal women in controlling hot flushes and
better sleep.( in Quebec!!)
2009 Meta analysis showed Hypericum to be as effective as SSRI's with less adverse effects
27. Nervines
Anti anxiolytic for the GABA pathways, helps with
insomnia
2008 in vivo confirmed mechanism of gaba pathways of anxiolytic effects, effect
similar to diazepam. Phytother Res. 2011 Jun;25(6):838-43.
Affects the HPA, relaxes the arteries, acts on Gaba and
serotonin pathways
Calms/balances hormones, helps with insomnia, anti
viral, anti bacterial, acts on the thyroid peripherally
Confirmation of vaso relaxant effect on heart endothelium 2008.
28. Plants work better
together !!
Fitoterapia. 2011 Apr;82(3):474-80.
Pharmacological studies in an
herbal drug combination of St.
John's Wort (Hypericum
perforatum) and Passion Flower
(Passiflora incarnata): in vitro and
in vivo evidence of synergy
between Hypericum and Passiflora
in antidepressant pharmacological
models. Fiebich BL et al .
Department of Psychiatry,
University of Freiburg Medical
School,
29. Bitters
The herbal family of bitters combine many
actions in one safe plant – anti anxiolytic, anti
bacterial, anti viral, cross the blood brain barrier,
hepatoprotective, sedative, HPA regulator, etc
A Medical Herbalist treats the whole body - the
issue of elimination is critical for normal function
Bitters support/stimulate/correct elimination
30.
31. B6, B12, Folic Acid – Homocysteine
Thiamin
Omega 3 fatty acids EPA deficiencies
Iron Deficiency
Zinc Deficiency
Magnesium Deficiency
Low vitamin D – You are my sunshine!
32. Chocolate!!
Low carb diet. Krikorian R, et al. Dietary ketosis enhances memory in mild
cognitive impairment. Neurobiol Aging 2 December 2010
Omega 3 fats
Food additives
Many symptoms masked the cause – dietary
imbalances
34. The compounds that I give do not come from
over the counter products
Only registered herbalists may compound and
use these products which are made under the
same regulations as drugs
If you self treat, you may cause further problems
Please do not confuse these plants/medicine with
supplements which by law cannot have medically
therapeutic effect.
35. For a complete copy of all references used in this
presentation (@15 pages), please email:
mrsmg@sympatico.ca
Please note that many peer reviewed articles are
based on supplements not whole plant extracts e.g.
Canmat 2009
All reference material is available on
Pubmed/Science Direct
36. THANK YOU
Morwenna Given
Registered Medical Herbalist
www.medicusherbis.com
