Allergic Reactions to Nourishing Herbs?

Q: Good afternoon.

I recently attended Susun's seminar in Cincinnati at Shine yoga and I have a question for Susun.

I have added the nettle, oatstraw, comfrey and red clover infusions to my diet. About two weeks ago I started experiencing joint discomfort (all my joints - wrist, hands, hips, knees, feet, ankles).

My question is, could I be experiencing some type of an allergic reaction to one of the herbs?

Should I eliminate one at a time and see if there is any change?

Sometimes I make the infusions in the evening and don't get around to straining them until the next morning - are my infusions too strong?

Thank you.

A: Hello, I am a long-time student of Susun's and help with her correspondence since it is difficult for her to respond to email. 

It is rare that there are allergic reactions to the nourishing herbal infusions that you mention, which is why Susun recommends them so highly.  The one I have heard concern for is Nettles, simply because of harvesting practices.  It should be harvested before it flowers.  If the nettle you are getting has seeds in it, it was harvested too late.  I have not heard of this causing joint pain though, just headache. 

If you feel it might be one of the infusion herbs I would follow that.  As a student, one of our practices to help us know in our body the herbs, is to use one only for a whole month, then another for a whole month, etc.  I invite you to do that to help you feel more sure of what you are taking.

As far as leaving them overnight, this is what many of us do.  We put up the infusion in the evening and strain in the morning.  This is no problem. 

Please also be sure you have a good source of the herbs, no chemical sprays on them that could cause the problem.  Please let me know if I can help any further :)

Blessings,
Karen Joy
wisewoman@herbshealing.com
www.wisewomanweb.com

Q: Thank you.

I will just eliminate one at a time, starting with the nettle, and see if anything changes.

My source for herbs is Frontier and they are labeled organic, so I don't think that would be the problem.

If you are unsure of that vendor, please let me know. I can get another batch from someone you recommend.

A: I think they are a great vendor and whom Susun often buys from to supply the great number of visitors to the Wise Woman Center with infusions.  I do hope you find the answer!

Blessings,
Karen Joy

Comments

[helena]

Comfrey is very rich in chlorophyll. It contains a special substance called allantoin,it makes cells grow faster. This is one of the reasons why comfrey-treated bones knit so fast, wounds mend so quickly, and burns heal with such little scarring. Comfrey is often called knitbone and healing herb.Recently, reports of the toxic effects of pyrrolizidine alkaloids in comfrey have led some herbalists to be wary of using it internally. Because comfrey may contain PAs, which have caused cancer and liver damage in animal studies, and because the root contains it in higher concentration than the leaves, internal use is not suggested.

[KarenJoy]

Helena, thank you for sharing. Yes, this is the official current warning nearly word for word.

Tests have found the Comfrey most commonly used contains little to no PAs in the leaves, so only the leaves are used internally.

Of the 3 cases of possible liver damage to some likely related to Comfrey, none were from Comfrey leaf infusions.

In my nearly 8 years recommending them I have not heard any adverse effects, nor has Susun in her decades of recommending them, that i know of.

The actual scientific studies on animals proving liver damage by PAs, as far as I learned, PAs were isolated from another plant since not enough could be gotten from Comfrey, then injected directly, with out the rest of the plant. This is far different from humans drinking Comfrey leaf infusions.

I still though highly recommend people make their own choice. Do not force yourself to consume something you feel is unsafe, ever. Trust your inner wisdom too, as you consume it, to let you know if it is right for you, and in what amount.

Karen Joy

[Tee]

I have been having serve pre menopause problems, so I started takinf Natual changes ( natures sunshine product) along with digestive enzyme, and barleymax (hallelujah acres product) while many of the menopause symptoms are leaving, I have constnt runny eyes and nose and my throat itches alot. not sure what to do

[WiseWoman]

Might you have a cold? Sounds like allergies perhaps? I am unfamiliar with these products so do not know if they could be causing the running and itching. If allergies you can drink Nettle leaf infusion. Would this interest you?

Karen Joy