Integrative Wellness and Herbs for Mental Health
As a Certified Mental Health Integrative Medicine Provider, Justine can work with you on a scope of wellness, lifestyle, and herbal resources to assist with self-care for depression, anxiety, PTSD, and other mental health concerns. The body-mind-spirit connection is essential for true healing.
The body knows how to heal. We trust this process with cuts and scapes but not as often with our emotional and psychological pains. The natural healing process can get stuck and herbs help remind the body to move forward. In my studies, low drop dosing tinctures, salves, gentle teas, or flower essences are an effective approach to guide the body back into healing.
In my practice I most often see people who experience symptoms from trauma or complex trauma. How this shows up is so different from person to person. Depressive symptoms or anxiety, low energy or more of high energy, racing thoughts or dissociation, muscle tension or fatigue, sleepiness or insomnia, digestion issues of all kinds… the list goes on! We are individuals that can not treated the same. While depression or anxiety pharmaceuticals can help, they don’t often leave the person feeling whole, restored, and vibrant. They are best used in short-term seasons of crisis or emergency. This is because many pharmaceutical medications chase and mask symptoms and have many unpleasant side effects. Herbs work to balance the body’s stress response and work to heal itself. Herbs are naturally packed with many compounds that interact with as many facets of the body and mind as there are symptoms. Inflammation, lymphatic stagnation, toxins, hormones, neurotransmitters, circulation, energetic concerns and more… herbs can address all of those possible contributors to mental heath. Herbs address the source of the problem in the nervous system and work to support the healing of anxiety, depression, and PTSD. Our bodies are meant to balance itself and sometimes only need a little nudge to get back to that natural process.
What kinds of herbal supports can I expect in a session at Wholehearted Herd Counseling, LLC?
For those seeking alternatives to mental health pharmaceuticals, herbal support can be quite beneficial. If you are prescribed mental health medication, work with your doctor to taper off medication before seeking herbal support. Certain physical concerns or diseases are out of the scope of practice as well. The herbalism services are intended for educational and wellness purposes only. The information provided is based on traditional herbal knowledge and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Justine is not a licensed medical professional. The information provided in my consultations is intended to support your overall health and wellness and is not intended to replace medical advice or treatment. It is important to work with your primary healthcare provider and to inform them of any herbs or supplements you are taking. Herbs may have side effects, cause individual sensitivities, or interact with medications, and it is important to discuss these risks with your healthcare provider.
The body knows how to heal. We trust this process with cuts and scapes but not as often with our emotional and psychological pains. The natural healing process can get stuck and herbs help remind the body to move forward. In my studies, low drop dosing tinctures, salves, gentle teas, or flower essences are an effective approach to guide the body back into healing.
In my practice I most often see people who experience symptoms from trauma or complex trauma. How this shows up is so different from person to person. Depressive symptoms or anxiety, low energy or more of high energy, racing thoughts or dissociation, muscle tension or fatigue, sleepiness or insomnia, digestion issues of all kinds… the list goes on! We are individuals that can not treated the same. While depression or anxiety pharmaceuticals can help, they don’t often leave the person feeling whole, restored, and vibrant. They are best used in short-term seasons of crisis or emergency. This is because many pharmaceutical medications chase and mask symptoms and have many unpleasant side effects. Herbs work to balance the body’s stress response and work to heal itself. Herbs are naturally packed with many compounds that interact with as many facets of the body and mind as there are symptoms. Inflammation, lymphatic stagnation, toxins, hormones, neurotransmitters, circulation, energetic concerns and more… herbs can address all of those possible contributors to mental heath. Herbs address the source of the problem in the nervous system and work to support the healing of anxiety, depression, and PTSD. Our bodies are meant to balance itself and sometimes only need a little nudge to get back to that natural process.
What kinds of herbal supports can I expect in a session at Wholehearted Herd Counseling, LLC?
- Flower essences: Vibrational remedies that work on the emotions and mind first and physical second. They work by creating a shift in energy over time and small exposures to the nervous system to reset and bring balance. I make them alcohol-free using vegetable glycerin as a preservative. Flower essences are safe for adults, children and animals and are not contraindicated with other medications.
- Herbal tinctures: Plant extracts work on the physical first, and emotional second. Having been used for centuries across cultures to support the body in times of stress or bodily concerns, they are a natural and effective way to address imbalance. Tinctures are made by steeping herbs in alcohol to create a concentrated liquid of the beneficial compounds of the plant. Alcohol makes the tincture shelf-stable indefinitely. The small doses needed to restore balance are less than the alcohol of a ripe banana.
- Tea: Teas of herbs are a way to include self-care into taking beneficial plant supports. Having a warm cup of tea or cold infusion is a way to dose the herb gradually and for a longer period of time if that is needed.
- Salve or topical application: topical applications of herbs can be helpful in supporting a gradual and gentle application of the benefits. Salves are plant materials steeped in olive oil to draw out the benefits and set with beeswax. Other preparations could be herbal baths.
For those seeking alternatives to mental health pharmaceuticals, herbal support can be quite beneficial. If you are prescribed mental health medication, work with your doctor to taper off medication before seeking herbal support. Certain physical concerns or diseases are out of the scope of practice as well. The herbalism services are intended for educational and wellness purposes only. The information provided is based on traditional herbal knowledge and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Justine is not a licensed medical professional. The information provided in my consultations is intended to support your overall health and wellness and is not intended to replace medical advice or treatment. It is important to work with your primary healthcare provider and to inform them of any herbs or supplements you are taking. Herbs may have side effects, cause individual sensitivities, or interact with medications, and it is important to discuss these risks with your healthcare provider.
Check what side effects specific herbs can have: https://johnshopkinshealthcare.staywellsolutionsonline.com/Library/NutritionalSupplements/Herbs/
https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/herb_All.html
Check how specific herbs can interact with your medication: https://reference.medscape.com/drug-interactionchecker
https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/herb_All.html
Check how specific herbs can interact with your medication: https://reference.medscape.com/drug-interactionchecker
