Interview With an Herbalist

Genevive Johnson is a practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine and uses herbs extensively in her practice. Here is the link to her website www.pdxfamilyacupuncture.com

1. How did you get interested in herbal medicine?
I first became interested in Herbal Medicine in high school from Penelope Ody in her book The Complete Medicinal Herbal. I went to my first apothecary when I was 18, in Boston. I bought a sampler of essential oils and learned some of the basics; like lavender treating headaches and peppermint oil treating stomach upset. I have always loved using herbs for cooking and perfuming agents so I really loved using aromatherapy because of the amazing smells and such potent medicine coming from plants. I also grew up having herbal teas, which was one way my interest in herbalism really peaked by consuming tasty beverages and then later in life by growing and loving the beauty of fresh herbs.

2. How long have you been using herbal medicine?
I have been using herbal medicine consistently since I was 18. That is when I became a vegan and an avid ingredient reader. I used to have a book called Cosmetic Ingredients A-Z that really prompted my interest in using natural remedies instead of synthetic ones. I didn't want to participate in using any products or medicines that had been tested on animals so the logical solution was using herbs and plant medicines. My interest was further sparked when I was finishing my undergraduate studies at Bastyr University,l the largest Naturopathic University in the US. I was exposed to many holistic ways of healing there, including treatments for my allergies and asthma. I had acupuncture, herbs and diet therapy and with those three things my allergies and asthma disappeared. My experience with acupuncture and Chinese Medicine is what inspired me to become a practitioner of Chinese Medicine.

3. How do your clients feel about using herbs? Do they find them helpful?
Most of my clients are very excited to try a natural herbal remedy and actually prefer them to having to take another prescription medication or pill. They find them extremely helpful and effective for many things ranging from allergies to hormone balance to pain relief and energy support.

4. Do you use herbs yourself? Give an example.
I use herbs all the time, from cooking to making tea to tropical essential oils and taking them internally for constitutional support. One of my favorite Traditional Chinese Formulas is Xiao Yao Wan or Free and Easy Wanderer. This is a great formula for helping with stress reduction, digestive support , and increasing energy.

5. What are some of your favorite herbs?
One of my favorite herbs is mint, spearmint or peppermint. There is nothing like the taste of fresh mint in a fruit salad or in a tea. I also love lemon balm because of its supportive properties of the nervous system and how it pops up everywhere in the garden and how delicious it makes a green smoothie.

6. Do you use Western Herbal Medicine or the Traditional Chinese Medicine herbs or both?  If both, how do you integrate them?
I use mostly Traditional Chinese Herbal Formulas, but also use Western Herbal Medicine. Since I am a practitioner of Chinese Medicine most of how I assess someones constitution is based on Traditional Chinese Medicine or TCM methodologies. I use pulse and tongue diagnosis and look for patterns of disharmony in the body and approach treating someone based on these principles. For example is someone has a yin xu constitution, meaning they are lacking some of the cooling or yin elements in the body I would prescribe herbs to help nourish the yin to create balance. Yin supporting herbs would build moisture and body fluids. These may be a TCM formula or these may be western herbs that are also supportive in this way. I also like to use Western  Herbalism to suggest single herbal teas or herbs to add to food that someone might be more familiar with, rather than a TCM formula. It is easy to integrate them because we can look at herbal properties from a TCM perspective and many TCM herbs are used in Western Herbalism as well.

7. Do you use herbal teas in your practice?
I love herbal teas so I do use them in my practice. My favorite way to take a plant medicine is in tincture form, which are herbs or formulas that are highly concentrated in alcohol. I always suggest to make a tea out of the tincture for two reasons 1) to evaporate the alcohol, 2) because many of the actions or properties of the herbs are governed by their taste, so it is important to taste the flavors of the herbs.

8. Do you use herbal teas in your practice?
I do use herbal teas consistently and love many blends of different herbs. One of my favorite blends is lavender and schisandra berry. They are both calming, adaptogenic herbs and I love their flavor together. Schisandra berry or wu wei zi translated as "five flavor seed" is great because of its complex taste that is said to have all five flavors: sweet, sour, salty, bitter and pungent. Another one of my favorites is roasted dandelion root tea. I love the detox and liver supportive actions of dandelion and the taste reminds me of an herbal coffee...very satisfying.

9.Do you grow your own herbs?
I love gardening and grow many of my own herbs, mostly for culinary purposes. I have lots of the regular garden favorites like lavender, chamomile, sage, thyme, oregano, mint, parsley, rosemary and then recently started growing some Traditional Chinese Herbs like astragalus, angelica dong qui, codonopsis, and goji berries.

10. What form of herbal preparation(s) do you prefer?
Tinctures are my favorite because they are so convenient, highly concentrated and extremely fast acting.

11. I notice a lot of acupuncturists use herbs. Is it part of your training in acupuncture?
I am a practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine, which has five main branches. These branches are acupuncture, herbs, nutrition therapy, qui exercise like meditation, and massage therapy. I was trained extensively in all these branches of Chinese Medicine. Since I love herbs I decided to take the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine board exam in Herbology, which is optional in the state of Oregon. I am licensed as a Diplomat of Oriental Medicine since I am certified in Herbology as well.

 For more information on herbal teas check out my book Ten Healthy Teas. It is available from Amazon. Here is the link http://www.amazon.com/Ten-Healthy-Teas-Valerie-Lull/dp/1432784935/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1431261798&sr=1-2&keywords=Ten+Healthy+Teas


Valerie Lull
Author
Ten Healthy Teas
valerielull923@gmail.com