#fuckin sweetgum???

[1moreoffkeyanthem]

I’m such a hoe for pine trees dude I’d probably explode if I didn’t live in the region I do

[ladyknightskye]

Hi, not to cast a Ward of DNI, but I do study herbalism, and I agree with pretty much all of what has been said here. Like, one, a lot of herbal actions have no scientific backing, so at most they might be a good source of antioxidants and minerals but most of the value might be in placebo (or in spiritual practice, as I generally use them), which is nothing to sneeze at.

AND NATURAL DOES NOT MEAN SAFER. For gods sake, alway check for interactions when you’re on a medication! Lots of herbs, supplements, and freaking grapefruit mess with medications!!! And lots of herbs are also toxic if prepared incorrectly or have adverse effects in large amounts.

I fully believe herbalism is a COMPLEMENT to traditional medicine, not a REPLACEMENT. Plants are far too variable to rely on even well studied herbal actions - say, ginger for nausea - to treat a severe presentation. Horehound might help your soothe your sore throat, but you still need antibiotics if it’s strep!

And yes!!! Not all herbalists are trained medical practitioners!!! Some are but the majority are basically self-taught and should be held accountable for peddling snake-oil!!! (Looking at everyone that actually attempts to treat flu by using sweetgum seeds. Go to a doctor and get actual Tamiflu!!!)

Like, yeah, God gave us all the plants in the world, but he gave us the scientists and researchers who developed our modern medications too!!!

And don’t get me fuckin started on people who think essential oils are the answer to everything! Like, I will cut a bitch who tells me that my ADHD will get better if I just use a focus oil blend and hawthorn tincture!

When you say you're anti-CAM what does that mean? Like what does CAM mean in that context? I genuinely haven't seen that acronym before and I'm assuming you aren't anti-camming as in like the form of sex work

Complimentary and Alternative Medicine.

I am capable of turning off my inner annoying atheist, I am incapable of turning off my inner annoying quackwatcher.

I have had real life fights with people I genuinely love about this and I do not regret it. I will absolutely not regret shitting all over someone's $500 herbalist certification.