The Danger of Herbal Fads

If you walk into a hip smoothie shop or health food store, you’ll undoubtedly be flooded with the newest “superfoods” and cure-all herbs. Like so many things in our modern culture, herbal medicine also has its own “fads,” as it seems as if there’s almost a new one in style each season.
Although it may seem harmless at first and they may be a good gateway into the realm of herbal medicine, herbal fads may not necessarily be a good thing. Most of the time, they’re promoted by big supplement companies looking to inflate their bottom line, even if the truth is a bit fudged to get there (or even flat-out lies!). By learning about the danger of herbal fads, you can become a more conscious consumer and herbalist and know how to navigate this sometimes confusing territory.

In today’s video you’ll learn:

-Who’s behind herbal fads and how they’re born in the market
-How herbal fads hurt the credibility of herbalism and pigeonhole herbs
-The ecological and cultural damage herbal fads can cause
-Ways companies lie about herbs and how they can hurt you
-Why herbal fads can change the way you think about herbs without even realizing it

𝐒𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞! 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐕𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐦 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐩 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟑𝐫𝐝, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒.

𝐁𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭:

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ABOUT EVOLUTIONARY HERBALISM
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Evolutionary Herbalism is built upon holistic philosophies of herbalism and nature from across the world. From Ayurveda and alchemy, to clinical herbalism, medical astrology and modern science, this approach seeks to unite traditional models of plant medicine into a cohesive clinical practice. This holistic model of herbalism honors the whole plant and the whole person, and seeks to utilize medicinal plants in a way that equally addresses the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual sides of healing.

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ABOUT SAJAH
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Sajah Popham is the author of Evolutionary Herbalism and the founder of the School of Evolutionary Herbalism, where he trains herbalists in a holistic system of plant medicine that encompasses clinical Western herbalism, medical astrology, Ayurveda, and spagyric alchemy.
His mission is to develop a comprehensive approach that balances the science and spirituality of plant medicine, focusing on using plants to heal and rejuvenate the body, clarify the mind, open the heart, and support the development of the soul. This is only achieved through understanding and working with the chemical, energetic, and spiritual properties of the plants. His teachings embody a heartfelt respect, honor and reverence for the vast intelligence of plants in a way that empowers us to look deeper into the nature of our medicines and ourselves.
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This video is for educational purposes only. The information provided is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any diseases. Please contact a qualified health care professional for medical advice.

[lindseydietrich]

This has been helpful! The wellness industry has caused so much confusion that keeping it all straight is hard. The points made in the video are great to use as a reference when hearing about a popular herb or new supplement. Before studying herbalism, I used turmeric as a personal anti-inflammatory and found it worsened things! I appreciate you bringing light to this subject of herbal fads. Please keep making these videos; they help combat misinformation! They are also very professional, with clean audio and clear pictures.

[bg]

I love the way your mind seems to work, and how clearly you communicate. Without fail, I always come away from your videos having learned something substantive. Thank you, and blessings to you.

[KarenSmith-yssk]

You are so right on herbs, I run across this along my journey on herbs thru people. I think it's that lack of knowledge. I've been into herbs, essential oils, and eating clean for the past 25 years. It's what keeps me healthy, and others that I come in contact with. Great video!

[HorseOpenSlay]

I've found that there's something about the relationship with the plant. I tried supplements years ago, and they didn't seem to work. It wasn't until I started gathering them myself to eat or make tea, that I really noticed a healing effect. I also give back to them by taking their seeds and spreading them around. Sometimes, while doing that, I come across other amazing plants.

[beebeetee]

Thank you Sajah! Such an important discussion. I too have worked in the herbal retail industry and as a herbalist I so often just cringed at what was being promoted.

[yasminabdelfattah]

Thank you for this video so informative! Ive been following you for awhile now & one thing that drew me to you & your content was your Integrity, authenticity and holistic approach to herbalism. Thank you for all your great content. I’m currently in the process of reading your fantastic book, I brought it as a birthday present to myself🤗

[janellemccoy]

Good morning, this one got me all up in my head about the trends the American people have endured online. Herbal, dietary, and consumerism style.

The transmission of knowledge of these topics might take years to withdraw from me now that they are locked away. I'm talking fairtrade and environmental sciences before FB was popular style issues. Although everyone could do that I also know children's lessons and toys, clothes and why's. Brands, labels and more are all over the store. Unidentifiable to me at this time...

[QuestforBeauty]

This is so amazing! I just started (9 mo ago) studying herbalism and podcasts like this really help to enlighten our knowledge 💫

[calleenbohl]

Thank you! I always enjoy listening and learning from you 🙂🌿

[KalinZlatkov]

Lets hope more people start to understand this. ❤

[mary-anncarleton]

" last I checked I think wasnt a mouse ". Thanks for the a.m. chuckle.
Yup. Right on Sajah

[Fran-dnzq]

I completely agree with all you say! :-) wonderful and important video. Thank you! 🙂

[jeffreyscanlan]

Very well stated Sajah. My concerns as well.

[wisdom.research]

So, a true Herbalist intellectual. I'd thought of the very subject, and wondered about different products; so
I am impressed !
/// Do you consult re the topics of this video ?

[laurenelizabeth]

Remember the Noni berry juice craze of the early 2000s??

[sandiemilthorpe]

That was so helpful thank you I’m not sure who we can trust what is the best research and where to get information about the traditional uses of herbs as a lay person it’s important to me

[consciousequus]

FYI: your link for the Sept. 3 workshop does NOT have a spot to "sign up" on the website

[Jack]

13:40 I'm intersted in your perspective in the difference in between cannabis strains from a herbalist's POV.

As someone who's recently met with a doctor to discuss using cannabis as a medicine, I can relay that (in that medicalised setting) there was a lot of emphasis places on terpine profile and the differing effects. When I think of cannabis, I perceive it as being more like a class of medicines than a medicine in itself as different strains (in my experience) really do have different actions. I'm interested to know if you have some kind of framework for understanding this, or how a plant energetics framework might coincide or clash with a terpine analysis of cannabis.

Is it possible that cannabis in the modern day doesn't work with a one-size-fits-all energetics analysis;
do plant energetics apply to the genotype or phenotype and how do we approach energetics when there is such variety in phenotypic expression?

[naughtyskyline]

thoughts on fire cider? it seems to be a very Americanised idea of cider (oxymel) and yet it can hurt digestion due to the amount of spice and pungency used, , , and the aciditiy etc, ,, it doesnt seem to be popular outside of the