LATIN: Chrysanthemum parthenium

GOOD FOR: For fever during colds and flu. Part of the flu combination.

DID YOU KNOW:

To say the least, you are a mental giant. You think a lot--maybe too much. Your mind is sharp, curious, quick to jump and make up your mind about something. You do very well in academic surroundings. And you're good at memorizing things. Able to learn in classroom situations, you are a "book learner" type. Verbal by nature, you can communicate well in speaking as well as writing. Your world consists of using logic and rationalization. A prove-it-to-me kind of person.

THE HEALTHY YOU:

You're a gut-hunch kind of person whether you realize it or not. A lot of your decisions are based upon primal instinct which may or may not even tweak you consciously. However, you're a wonderful amalgam of rational mind (left brain) and right brain (instincts and intuition) IF you want to be. If you are truly in balance, you become very "whole-brained", utilizing both hemispheres of your brain to a very high degree. Not only can you know the answer to an Algebra problem before doing the math on it, you can also do the math to prove how you know the answer! That's a pretty neat trick!

THE UNHEALTHY YOU:

Insomnia can dog your heels because you are the one that gets the "gerbil running on the wheel" at night, and you can't shut off your thoughts. They just keep rolling along even though you'd like some sleep! You can get dogged, stuck and very stiff-necked about your belief system. Worse, you will be arrogant about it and you're right and the rest of the world is wrong. It's "my way or no way...." kind of blinders-on attitude. The old saying: You are cut off from the neck down, implies that you allow your logic and rational to rule you and you suppress your emotions--not a good thing in the long run!

INFORMATION ON FEVERFEW AS AN HERB:

A quick question about feverfew. It is known to help people with migraines. How often should it be used and for what length of time? Is it an herb that needs to be taken forever?

MARY CONLEY RESPONDS

I've had people go on it for 6-7 months or so until the frequency of their migraines stopped. It also seemed to help the intensity if they did get one. Many reported just knowing there was an herbal alternative to the heavy drugs out there was such a relief that many of their migraines lessened.

Most clients of mine stay on an herbal treatment for up to 6-7 months. Then we give a "herb holiday" to see if the herbs have retrained the body to jump-start itself and take over. If not they stay off for 4-6 weeks, and go on for another 6 months or so.

In health -
Mary