Story

Medicinal plants and herbs are the oldest known remedies. Aristotle's student Theophrastus of Eresus (~ 371-287 BC) wrote one of the first works describing the healing properties of certain plants.

In all traditional medicines of the world i.d.RPlants are at the center: in Ayurveda, TCM, Tibetan medicine, etc. "Phytotherapy" is probably as old as humanity itself. Humans probably simply followed their instincts when they turned to certain plants under certain circumstances. For example, one can observe that animals, whenever they are sick, eat certain plants that are not normally part of their diet. This "self-medication" by animals has now even become a separate branch of biological research known as "zoopharmacognosy."

The Gauls, for example, used verbena as a sedative and mistletoe as a kind of panacea. Caraway, coriander, tarragon, and saffron were widely used by the ancient Egyptians. In Mesopotamia, garlic, mustard, hemp, and fennel were used medicinally. Foxglove was used as a laxative and wound-relieving herb long before it was used in cardiac medicine. Indian cuisine and Ayurvedic treatments are unimaginable without turmeric and its active ingredient curcumin. Many scientists attribute the fact that many "Western" diseases are rare in India to the widespread use of turmeric.

Traditional herbal medicine, based on centuries of experience, is also called “monastic medicine” because it used to v.a. the monasteries were the ones that preserved and increased herbal medicinal knowledge.
The most well-known representative of monastic medicine is Hildegard von Bingen (1098-1179), who is generally considered to have founded European naturopathy. Two of her works on naturopathy in particular are still relevant today: "Physica" (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 issue of disease prevention in her nutritional teachings. Furthermore, "healing and healing," meaning physical and mental health, were inextricably linked for Hildegard von Bingen—as is also the case in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Ayurveda, where people and their health are always viewed holistically.

Areas of application today

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

• 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 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 the corresponding opposite (e.g.reducing an increased dohsa or compensating for “heat” with cooling foods), homeopathy is about “curing like with like”. D.hA preparation is administered that produces symptoms similar to the condition it is intended to treat. To avoid overdose, the active ingredient is gradually diluted. To still produce an effect, a process called "potentization" is performed – a shaking process intended to energize the ingredients.

Bach flower therapy, on the other hand, understands illness as an expression of a lack of harmony between body and soul. Accordingly, physical symptoms are not treated; instead, the illness is addressed through stimulation on a spiritual/mental level: based on the patient's emotional state, the appropriate plant blend is selected to stimulate specific spiritual forces and release blockages. Thirty-eight plants have been described for this purpose, which are said to correspond to the 38 archetypal human states of mind – such as fear, excessive worry, hypersensitivity to influences, etc.

Micronutrients

In addition to herbal products, minerals have been an integral part of naturopathy from the very beginning. Even in ancient times, it was correctly assumed that muscle cramps resulted from a magnesium deficiency and that red blood cells absolutely needed iron to bind oxygen.
In addition to minerals, trace elements and essential fatty acids, v.aVitamins are also among the so-called “micronutrients” that are vital for the body.

The term "vitamins" encompasses a wide variety of organic compounds necessary for metabolism. Despite their diversity, vitamins have one thing in common: they do not serve to produce energy, but rather serve very specific functions, such as acting as antioxidants to protect against free radicals. A vitamin deficiency can lead to illness even with a sufficient 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, although only fat-soluble vitamins (vitamins A, D, E and K) can be stored in the body (the exception being the water-soluble vitamin B12).
Vitamin deficiency occurs v.a. In cases of malnutrition, for example, a vitamin 12 deficiency is often found in vegans. Vitamin D deficiency is also common during the darker seasons in our latitudes. Athletes, smokers, pregnant women, and breastfeeding women also have an increased need for numerous vitamins. The same applies during times of increased stress.

Combination preparations

Our combination products are of great importance to us, as they perfectly embody our goal at QIDOSHA: to combine the best of the three worlds of Ayurveda, TCM, and Western herbal medicine. To this end, we have worked closely with Indian Ayurvedic physicians, TCM herbalists, alternative practitioners, and pharmacists to combine ingredients to provide you with the best possible support in addressing your various challenges. Legally, we must, of course, point out that there are no scientific studies on our combination products, so we are not permitted to make any statements about their effectiveness. We have therefore provided you with an overview of the current study status for each individual ingredient and, where legally permissible health claims exist, we have cited them accordingly.

For understanding the combination preparation approach, it is important to note that both in Ayurveda and in TCM i.d.R.several plants and their extracts are combined to form a complete medicinal product. In Germany, however, analogous to synthetic medicines, v.a. individual plant extracts for the targeted treatment of specific ailments. "However, this probably only achieves a fraction of the potential effect 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 mixtures of active ingredients in the 1980s, such as those found naturally in plants, is the regulatory requirement to name only the most important active ingredient and to describe its mode of action in a so-called "plant monograph." However, since the active principle in nature i.d.R. is not based on just a single substance, a large number of herbal medicines disappeared from the market at that time. Modern medicines are therefore based on a single active ingredient. Accordingly, an aspirin with 500 mg of concentrated acetylsalicylic acid, for example, works faster than a willow bark extract, which contains the active ingredient of aspirin along with other substances in its natural form. Proponents of naturopathy, however, object that this could come at the cost of corresponding side effects and that there is a risk that the holistic effect of traditional medicinal plants would be lost. Multi-substance mixtures, also called "multi-target" pharmacology, are much more tailored to the biology of the human body. The principle is: you identify herbs and plants that together enhance the desired effect but have different side effects so that these do not accumulate but remain below the perception threshold.

In 2004, the legislature made approval somewhat easier throughout Europe, but herbal medicinal products were largely excluded from reimbursement by health insurance companies, on the grounds that they were not to 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 use “multi-component mixtures” in our combination preparations – namely the u.E. The best that the teachings of Ayurveda, TCM, and Western phytology have to offer.

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

Legal consumer information

German and European law seeks to protect consumers from supposedly misleading claims of effectiveness. The statements made here refer to the original Ayurvedic and TCM texts. This ancient knowledge, handed down over thousands of years, is based on experience passed down from generation to generation. It is not intended to claim that the products described here have an effect in the sense of Western medicine. All products are dietary supplements; they are not medications and have no medical effect. If you are ill and require medical care, please consult your doctor or pharmacist.