All my friends swear by herbs to stay healthy. What would you recommend everyone take to keep their body in peak condition?
While it’s hard to recommend specific herbs without evaluating someone first, I can run through my three favorites for general health. Siberian ginseng is an adaptogenic herb. This means it helps us adapt to stress. It can improve energy, memory and stamina. Next is nettle tea: this is a mineral-rich herb. The anti-inflammatory effects are great for calming joint pain and skin inflammation, and it contains silica, which is especially important in connective tissue formation, so it helps with the integrity of skin, bones, and blood vessels. Lastly, turmeric is a “wonder herb” with many potential benefits. It has been shown to increase mood and alleviate depression, and also has the capability to treat a wide variety of cancers. Keep in mind that certain aspects of turmeric are poorly absorbed but the good news is that you can combine it with plant chemicals to get around this issue. Piperine in black pepper, for example, increases the absorption by an impressive 2000 percent, and the quercetin found in nettle also helps. So make sure to take a turmeric extract with either of these herbs to reap the most benefits.
A leader in herbal medicine, Daniela Turley is a board member of The American School of Natural Health, a member of The American Herbalists Guild, and The College of Practitioners of Phytotherapy. Born and raised in England, Turley received her bachelor of science in herbal medicine, and held an honorary position at the Hale Clinic, the renowned complementary health center in London. In 2011, Turley moved to the New York City where she joined the practice of Shellie Goldstein Acupuncture.
