Dosages

Published: Wed, 04/15/20

 



Herbal Legacy
  



Sponsored by The School of Natural Healing & Christopher Publications
 
April 15, 2020

Dosages Jo Francks, M.H.

When using herbal supplements for treating physical ailments, it is important to understand how to use the herbs, how much to take and how often. Most times taking one dose of any herb won’t do much, but taking it over time will effect a change in one’s health. 

Acute ailments are illnesses that come on quickly with mild to severe symptoms and last a few days to a few weeks and can become chronic if not treated promptly and thoroughly. Symptoms of acute ailments often include a fever, cough, rash, runny nose, diarrhea or vomiting. Examples of acute illnesses are colds, flu, UTIs, and the current COVID-19 virus. When treating an acute illness with herbs it is important to know the action of the herb used and whether it is wise to use it in frequent doses. Herbs that strengthen the immune system are often used in frequent doses for colds, flu and virus or bacterial infections. These could include echinacea, elderberries, garlic, goldenseal, astragalus, etc. They can be used as a tea, extract, capsules or powder. Taking the herbs in adequate doses every hour has proven to be effective in acute situations rather than only taking the herbs 2 or 3 times a day. When symptoms ease up a bit then the dosage can be adjusted accordingly. Acute ailments are aggressive and need to be treated just as aggressively with herbal protocols. 

Chronic conditions are treated differently because these are conditions that have been in the body awhile and it takes longer to move them out. These are usually associated with a toxic condition of the body that will take patience and perseverance to overcome.  It requires dietary changes and using herbs and other treatments for longer periods of time. The dosage for herbs used in chronic conditions is up to 3 times a day depending on the action of the herbs taken. For example, you wouldn’t want to use Dr. Christopher’s Lower Bowel formula every hour. That formula needs to be adjusted to individual needs and is recommended to be taken three times a day, over time. Examples of chronic conditions could include heart disease, constipation, asthma, skin disorders, diabetes, etc. Herb categories used in chronic conditions include nutritive herbs, adaptogens, tonic herbs, blood purifiers, herbal laxatives, etc. 

The amount of herb to take depends on the size and age of the individual. Adult dosages are for a person weighing 150 pounds give or take 20-30 pounds. Children 12 years and up are usually given an adult dose. This depends on their weight. Recommended dosages on purchased products are intended for adults and examples are 1 teaspoon loose herbal tea or one teabag per cup of water, 2 or 3 capsules, 15 to 30 drops of a tincture, or ½ to 1 teaspoon of an herbal syrup. Children ages 8 to 12 get half the dose. Ages 4 to 8 get 1/4 dose. Under 4 years of age get even smaller doses. Start with 1 drop of extract and go from there. 

This newsletter is intended to help clarify how much and how often herbs are to be used in different situations. These recommendations may not fit every situation and adjustments need to be made according to each individual and each situation.

Jo Francks is a Master Herbalist working at The School of Natural Healing.


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Recipe for Immunity

1 cup fresh echinacea root chopped (or ½ cup dried)
1 Tbsp dried elderberries
3 small sprigs fresh chocolate mint leaves (or any mint) chopped
2 small sprigs fresh thyme leaves chopped
¼ cup distilled water (approximately)
Vegetable glycerin
Dropper bottle

In a pint jar add all the herbs. Add water so it comes up about an inch. Add vegetable glycerin to fill the jar to the top so all herbs are covered. Secure the lid tightly. Shake daily for 2 weeks. 
Strain and save the liquid and compost the herbs. Fill a dropper bottle with the glycerite and use 1 or 2 droppers 3 times a day for the prevention of illness. If you have symptoms of an illness, take more often. 

Recipe by Jo Francks

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