The National Herbalists Association of Australia is the oldest Medical Association in Australia. As a member for many years, I recently attended their 7th International Conference on Herbal Medicine…It was an incredibly inspirational experience.  Not only were there naturopathic physicians contributing, but also an Aboriginal bush medicine woman speaking, a lady from the US who was an herbalist, a midwife, and psychologist, as well as an industrial chemist/medical herbalist, and several GP’s, who were all qualified medical herbalists.  This article is based on a small sample of the inspirational range of topics presented during this conference, which I hope highlights the growing importance and usefulness of the integration between the herbal and medical fields…

Cancer
Statistics show that 33-83% of people with cancer choose complementary medicine after they have been diagnosed, commonly alongside medical treatment.   Dr Bridgman stated that modern medicine is efficient at diagnosing and treating life threatening diseases such as cancer, however at an individual (patient-practitioner) level, its success in improving the person’s health is minimal.  Improving health and preventative care is where medical herbalists can assist.

St Mary’s Thistle and Chemotherapy
In the case of liver damage after chemotherapy drugs, the herb St Mary’s Thistle was brought into the lime light as a remedy to prevent these toxic side effects.  St Mary’s Thistle has a strong safety profile, used by herbalists all over the world, it has been show to enhance new cell growth when needed for repair and arrests cell division in tumours.

A huge problem for children with cancer is that their tiny livers can only take the onslaught of chemotherapy drugs to a certain extent.  A small trial on 50 children demonstrated a huge potential for St Mary’s Thistle to improve liver function, so as chemotherapy treatment could then recommence.

Skin Cancer
The clear message from Dr Glastonbury was if you have skin cancer it needs to go “into the pathologist’s pot!”  However, once clear of malignant skin pathology, a strong emphasis needs to be on the general prevention of recurrence and it is here that Medical Herbalism and Nutritional Medicine can step in…

Nutrients - Vitamins A, E and D, Selenium and Zinc Herbal Medicine – Cinnamon, Turmeric, Echinacea, Cat’s Claw and Astragalus.

Immunisation
Immunisation is always a controversial topic, no matter what your feelings are on the subject.  In 2006, the HPV vaccine was approved for public use.

The FDA considers the vaccine to be completely safe.  However there have been 17, 400 total adverse reports of the HPV vaccine since 2006 in the US alone.  These adverse reactions include respiratory problems, cardiac problems, neuromuscular and coordination problems, convulsion and central nervous system problems and reports of injuries from falls after unconsciousness.  Seven deaths have been reported after receipt of the vaccine.  This vaccine contains dead virus and 225mcg of aluminum.

Dr Bove outlined the importance of Pap Smear testing and “Thin Prep”, which includes a DNA test.  Most HPV infections are cleared rapidly by the immune system and do not progress to cervical cancer.  Transforming normal cervical cells into cancerous ones is slow.  Cancer occurs in people who have been infected with HPV for a long time, usually over a decade or more. Higher levels of vegetable consumption are associated with a 54% decrease risk of HPV persistence.  Beta-carotene, folic acid, selenium, zinc, vitamin C, and E, Co Q10, Omega 3 oils all help to increase clearance time of HPV.  Dr Bove also went onto list herbal medicines and topical treatments for HPV, many of which are anti-viral in action.

Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART)
Herbal and Nutritional Medicine have so much to offer women 40 years and over who want to have a baby, and whose ovarian reserve and specific hormones may be dropping.  Risk factors also increase around this age such as miscarriage, genetic abnormalities and increased chromosomal abnormalities.Herbal Medicine fascinates me most in this area and may be used in conjunction with ART. Specific herbs, too numerous to mention here, increase uterine tone, increase the quality of endometrial lining, regulate menstruation, relive pain, are anti-inflammatory, increase estrogen production, give positive effects on cervical fluid as well as herbs which have been used for thousands of years for the prevention of miscarriage.