Story

Medicinal plants and herbs are among the oldest known remedies. Theophrastus of Eresos (c. 371-287 BC), a student of Aristotle, wrote one of the first works describing the healing properties of certain plants.

In all traditional healing systems of the world i.d.RPlants are central to Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Tibetan medicine, and other medicines. Phytotherapy is likely as old as humanity itself. People probably simply followed their instincts when they turned to certain plants under specific circumstances. Animals, for example, can be observed eating certain plants that are not normally part of their diet whenever they are sick. This "self-medication" in animals, known as "zoopharmacognosy," is now even a distinct branch of biology.

The Gauls, for example, used verbena as a sedative and mistletoe as a kind of panacea. Among the ancient Egyptians, caraway, coriander, tarragon, and saffron were widespread. In Mesopotamia, garlic, mustard, hemp, and fennel were used for medicinal purposes. Foxglove was used as a laxative and wound herb long before it was used in heart medicine. Indian cuisine and Ayurvedic applications are inconceivable without turmeric and its active ingredient, curcumin. The fact that many "Western" diseases are rare in India is attributed by many scientists, for example, to the widespread use of turmeric.

Traditional herbal medicine, based on centuries of experience, is also known as "monastic medicine" because it was formerly v.aThe monasteries were the ones that preserved and increased knowledge of herbal medicine.
Perhaps the most famous representative of monastic medicine is Hildegard von Bingen (1098-1179), who is widely considered to have founded European naturopathy. Two of her works on naturopathy, in particular, remain relevant today: "Physica" (The Healing Power of Nature) and "Causae et Curae" (Causes and Treatments of Diseases), which describe a multitude of medicinal plants and recipes. Von Bingen also addressed the crucial aspect of disease prevention within the framework of her dietary teachings. Furthermore, for Hildegard von Bingen, "healing and wholeness"—that is, physical and mental health—were inextricably linked, just as in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Ayurveda, where the individual and their health are always viewed holistically.

Areas of application today

In our West, medicinal plants are nowadays v.a. used for colds, e.g. thyme for coughs or sage for sore throats. Other typical applications of herbal medicine (see Prof. Dr. Andreas Michalsen, Healing with the Power of Nature, Insel-Verlag, p. 256) are:

• Anxiety disorders and stress: Lavender
• Depression: St. John's wort
• Sleep disorders: Valerian, lemon balm, passionflower, hops
• Liver diseases: Milk thistle
• Heart failure: Hawthorn
• Diabetes: Ginseng
• Cystitis: Nasturtium, horseradish, cranberries
• Irritable bowel syndrome: Fennel, anise, caraway
• Intestinal inflammation: psyllium husks, myrrh
• Osteoarthritis: Rosehip extracts, turmeric, tree bark extracts
• Early-stage dementia: Saffron, Ginkgo

Homeopathy and Bach flower therapy

Herbal active ingredients also play a role in homeopathy and Bach flower therapy. central role. Unlike in Ayurveda and TCM, where the principle is always to balance an "excess" with its corresponding opposite (e.g.In contrast to reducing elevated dosha or compensating for "heat" with cooling foods, homeopathy is about "curing like with like". D.hA preparation is administered that causes symptoms similar to the ailment it is intended to cure. To avoid overdoses, the active ingredient is gradually diluted. To still produce an effect, a process called "potentization" is carried out – a shaking process intended to dynamize the ingredients.

Bach flower therapy, on the other hand, understands illness as an expression of a lack of harmony between body and soul. Accordingly, it does not treat physical symptoms, but rather aims to address the illness through impulses on a mental/emotional level: based on the patient's emotional state, the appropriate herbal mixture is selected to stimulate specific emotional forces and release blockages. Thirty-eight plants have been described for this purpose, each intended to correspond to one of the 38 archetypal emotional states of human beings – such as fear, excessive worry, hypersensitivity to external influences, etc.

Micronutrients

Besides plant-based products, minerals have been an integral part of naturopathy from the very beginning. Even in ancient times, it was correctly suspected that muscle cramps resulted from a magnesium deficiency and that red blood cells absolutely require iron to bind oxygen.
In addition to minerals, trace elements and essential fatty acids, the following are also included: v.aVitamins are also among the so-called "micronutrients" that are essential for the body.

The term "vitamins" encompasses a wide variety of organic compounds essential for metabolism. Despite their diversity, vitamins share the characteristic that they do not serve energy production but rather fulfill very specific functions, such as acting as antioxidants to protect against free radicals. A vitamin deficiency can lead to illness even with an adequate intake of energy-providing fats, proteins, and carbohydrates. With the exception of vitamin D, which the body can produce itself with the help of sunlight, all other vitamins must be obtained through food.

There are both fat-soluble and water-soluble vitamins, but only fat-soluble vitamins (vitamins A, D, E and K) can be stored in the body (with the exception of the water-soluble vitamin B12).
Vitamin deficiency can occur v.aIn cases of malnutrition, for example, a vitamin B12 deficiency is often observed in vegans. A vitamin D deficiency is also common during the darker months in our latitudes. Athletes, smokers, pregnant women, and breastfeeding women also have an increased need for numerous vitamins. The same applies during periods of increased stress.

Combination preparations

Our combination products are of great importance to us because they perfectly embody what we at QIDOSHA have set as our goal: to combine the best of the three worlds of Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), and Western herbal medicine. To achieve this, we have worked closely with Indian Ayurvedic doctors, TCM herbal specialists, naturopaths, and pharmacists to combine ingredients in such a way that they provide you with the best possible support for various health challenges. Legally, we must point out that there are no scientific studies on our combination products, so we are not permitted to make any claims regarding their effectiveness. Therefore, we have provided you with an overview of the current state of research for each individual ingredient and have listed legally permissible health claims where they exist.

Understanding the combination drug approach requires considering the fact that both Ayurveda and TCM... i.d.R.Several plants and their extracts are combined to create a complete medicinal product. In Germany, however, analogous to synthetic drugs, v.aIndividual plant extracts are used for the targeted treatment of specific ailments. "However, this approach likely only achieves a fraction of the potential effects of herbal medicine." (cf. Prof. Dr. Andreas Michalsen, Healing with the Power of Nature, Insel-Verlag, p. 253)

The reason for the widespread disappearance of active ingredient mixtures in the 1980s, such as those that occur naturally in plants, is the regulatory requirement to name only the most important active ingredient and describe its mechanism of action in a so-called "plant monograph." However, since the mechanism of action in nature... i.d.RBecause modern medicines are not based on just a single substance, a large number of herbal remedies disappeared from the market at that time. Modern medications are therefore based on a single active ingredient. Accordingly, for example, an aspirin with 500 mg of concentrated acetylsalicylic acid works faster than a willow bark extract, which contains the active ingredient of aspirin along with other substances in their natural form. Proponents of naturopathy, however, argue that this may come at the cost of corresponding side effects and that there is a risk of losing the holistic effect of traditional medicinal plants. Multi-component mixtures, also called "multi-target" pharmacology, are much better adapted to the biology of the human body. The principle is: one identifies herbs and plants that together enhance the desired effect but have different side effects, so that these do not accumulate but remain below the threshold of perception.

Although the legislature somewhat eased the approval process across Europe in 2004, herbal medicines were largely excluded from reimbursement by health insurance companies, on the grounds that they should not be classified as prescription-only due to their very good tolerability (see Prof. Dr. Andreas Michalsen, Healing with the Power of Nature, Insel-Verlag).
We deliberately rely on "multi-component mixtures" in our combination preparations – specifically on the following: u.EThe best that the teachings of Ayurveda, TCM and Western phytology have to offer.

Our first four combination products focus on strengthening the immune system, antioxidants, detoxification, and fat burning. Each product incorporates medicinal mushrooms, Ayurvedic products, vitamins, and vital substances to optimally support its intended purpose.

Legal consumer information

German and European law aims to protect consumers from potentially misleading claims about product effects. The statements made here refer to original Ayurvedic and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) texts. This millennia-old, traditional knowledge is based on experiences passed down from generation to generation. It is not intended that the products described here have any effect in the sense of Western medicine. All products are dietary supplements; they are not medications and have no medicinal effect. If you are ill and require medical attention, please consult your doctor or pharmacist.