Today we welcome back David Casteleijn for an episode of herbal myth busting. David clears up common misconceptions about antihypertensive herbs, Tribulus, Lemon Balm, Chaste Tree, Licorice, Korean Ginseng, Hemidesmus, and St. John’s Wort.  He stresses the importance of understanding our herbs as modulators and to not relate herbal actions to the actions of pharmaceutical medications. He also encourages all of us to advocate for our herbs and not allow those who are not trained in herbal medicine to speak for them.

1:49 – Introducing David Casteleijn

2:59 – Welcome David

3:54 – Understanding the actions of antihypertensive herbs and not filtering them through a pharmaceutical lens.

11:48 – Is Tribulus really a male herb? When is the right time to use it?

16:54 – Lemon Balm and thyroid function - should we be concerned about using it in Hypothyroidism?

21:23 – Timing the dose of Chaste Tree – is there really a wrong time?

29:26 – Licorice as an adrenal tonic and how to appropriately prescribe it.

36:58 – Korean Ginseng in hypertension – what is the evidence?

38:38 – Autoimmune conditions and how to use Hemidesmus.

42:54 – St John’s Wort and SSRI’s – what does the research say?

51:52 – Thank you David

David will be speaking at our upcoming Symposium in August: Systems Endocrinology: An Integrative Approach. For more information, please follow the link below:

practitioner.integria.com/events/systems-endocrinology-an-integrative-approach

Bio:

David studied Behavioural Sciences at USQ then trained and worked as a Registered Nurse for many years. He is also a naturopath having been in clinical practice for over 30 years besides which he teaches and has served on the board of the NHAA for 5 years and been the Vice President of the WNF. Having completed a Masters of Health Science (Herbal Medicine) at UNE in 2007 he is currently a Ph.D. Candidate with UTS where he is studying the outcome for people with Anxiety or Depression consulting a Naturopath for an individualised herbal medicine prescription.