BACK TO ASK THE HERBALIST INDEX

ANSWERS FROM LORYHL:
QUESTION: Hi—I just bought some herbs from Mountain Rose Herbs and they gave me your name.  I bought a big bag of gota kola because I read if a person is sleeping too much, this herb is good.  I am unsure how to use-do I boil the herb and drink the tea remaining.  Or just steep it like tea.  I found one site that said to use 1 TBSP per cup.  Thanks so much.

ANSWER:  You can use one tablespoon, per cup, or one teaspoon, some may find the one tablespoon, too strong. You could have one to three cups per day of the tea.  Or you could take the capsules, 3 in the AM, and 3 at 2 Pm, for energy, and brightness. You could do a cleanse, and take a close look at your diet, and put more seaweed into your diet, for the iron and minerals, and eat better, period.

QUESTION: I need help with finding something to increase my energy level.  I am 59 years old I take Maxzide (diuretic) and Aceon (High blood pressure) and Ultram ER  for pain for arthritis.  I have fibromyalgia and arthritis, high cholesterol and high blood pressure.  We were recently blessed with the birth of our first grandchild.  At eight and 1/2 months she wears me out.  I seem to need at least 10 hours of sleep to get going and during the work week that is impossible as we usually get her from 4-8 and sometimes all weekend so her mom can work(she is a single mom).What can I take to get some energy I'm so tired of being tired.  I tried taking multiple vitamins and supplements but stopped because I wasn't getting better after two months.  I need help.

ANSWER:  A lot of the problem is like with  most North Americans, it is the wrong foods, for many years, and toxins, and drugs, stress, etc.
       Please read the downloads, I am sending you, if you can find out your blood type, that will help tremendously.
       You can have the blends of herbs made up by me to assist you in energy, arthritic pain etc. These are anti oxidant as well, and coupled with the right foods for your body, you will see a improvement, according to how far you want to go. Our formula, Thumper, is excellent for energy, as well as our Green Alkinalizing mix. I notice a real difference when I take the Green mix and Thumper two times daily.
        Take note of the nightshades, the group of foods most of us in North America eat which is causing hardening of the arteries, high cholesterol, arthritis etc. It has been researched and clinically proven, that certain chemicals in our foods, and the group of nightshades, are indeed culprits in the arthritic problems, that are epidemic.  Potatoes ( sweet potatoes are OK), tomatoes, eggplants, green pepper, red, yellow, tobacco, are all nightshades, and all are in the same plant family, as Solanacea, or as it was known anciently, deadly nightshades. Deadly because we consume them as food, instead of medicine, and they do cause arthritis, as above.

DOZING DRIVER
QUESTION:  my husband is a truck driver he needs to stay awake for long periods of time once in awhile i don't lie him to take the pills at the truck stops because i don't know what is in them can you tell me something that might help?

ANSWER: I am sorry I do not recommend herbs for this use, most of the no doze products out there will injure him whether herbal or natural.  My only advice is pull over and sleep to save his life and/or someone else's life.

ENERGY LOSS
QUESTION:  I am 22 years old and in relatively good physical shape.  I take multiple vitamins on an almost daily basis and eat relatively healthy.  However, over the past year or two, I have noticed a decrease in my energy level. I would like to find some supplement and/or tea that I can take on a regular basis to increase my energy level.  This supplement should be reasonably priced (less than a couple dollars per day) and should be safe to take long term.

ANSWER:  If you are in good shape and eat well, take care of stress in your life, aren't on any medication or supplements which could cause this, I would be looking for a reason for you decreased energy. If everything checks out, I would try Siberian Ginseng, it is a tonic herb that can be taken every day and will give you a little energy.  You can take it as a pill, tea or extract or simply ingest it with oatmeal or on salad if you get the powder. For convenience I would suggest the extract.

HERBS FOR ENERGY
QUESTION: Is there a better herb to take if you want to maintain or lose weight, gain energy; however, have been diagnosed with Lupus (about 10 years ago) currently in remission.

I am not currently taking any prescription medications, due mainly because I don't care for the side effects. I am looking for something that will help me gain energy so that I can exercise more frequently to lose weight; however, I don't want to take anything that will create difficulties for me in dealing with my Lupus.

Any assistance or suggestions you can give me are greatly appreciated.

ANSWER: Most of the Ginsengs are adaptogens and help the body deal with stress, including Siberian Ginseng which is not a true Panax Ginseng Species. These type of herbs can potentiate immune function, since Lupus is thought to be an autoimmune disease, these herbs could be contraindicated for you.

If you would like to try a herbal adaptogen which can be used with Lupus try Licorice, additionally the medicinal mushrooms, Ganoderma (Reishi), Maitake and Shitake are immune amphoterics, raising hypo immune systems and lowering hyper immune system responses such as in the case of the autoimmune disease, Lupus.

You may want to read my other answer on Lupus online.