HERBALISM: A NATURAL SOLUTION
To Improve Your Digestive Health
Herbalism, a plant-based medicine, can be used to heal and improve your body’s functions. This medical practice is thousands of years old and dates back to the ancient Egyptians, but qualified herbalists continue to use herbal medicine today. Through the use of a variety of plants (roots, flowers, and leaves), herbalism can help improve digestion and provide other benefits for your circulation, mood, energy, and stamina. Digestion is an important part of your body’s functions. Poor digestion can result in diarrhea, constipation, nausea, heartburn, gas, or bloating. Other well-known conditions, such as Crohn’s disease and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), involve problems with digestion. Each of these symptoms and conditions can significantly impact a person’s well-being and daily life, but the proper use of herbs can help people reduce or ease these symptoms and support digestive health. The National Institute of Medical Herbalists states, “Many herbs are known to act directly on the digestive tract — bitters, for example, may stimulate acid and enzyme production, fennel and other aromatic herbs prevent bloating, but this is only part of the story.” If left untreated, poor digestion results in the inflammation of the digestive tract. When it comes to decreasing the risk of inflammation and other symptoms, a medical herbalist will consider a person’s total health when putting together the herbs needed for treatment.
Many herbs can help your digestive system function well and stay healthy. Here are a few you can include in your daily meals or use when you have
an uncomfortable gut feeling, according to TraditionalMedicinals.com.
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To calm the nerves: chamomile, lemon balm, and lavender To relieve cramping: ginger and fennel To alleviate constipation: dandelion leaf and root tea
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For more information about herbalism and how it can benefit your health, visit the National Institute of Medical Herbalists at NIMH.org.uk.
EYE EXPERTISE AND BOTOX DELIVER CONFIDENCE Patient Story of the Month: RMC
Our patient spotlight this month is a wonderful woman who goes by RMC. Since college, RMC has been involved with the fashion industry. She went to the Fashion Institute of Technology, and when she moved to the D.C. area with her husband, she opened up her own clothing store. Throughout her adult life, she worked with fashion magazines, publications and even a few celebrities. This, as she says, put her in the public eye. “I was in the public eye enough to care a lot about how I looked,” RMC says. “Not just my fashion but my physical appearance, too. If you’re constantly around people and being scrutinized, you want to look your best even more.” This view of herself has not changed now that she has retired from the fashion industry. RMC believes that looking her best is an important part of her life, no matter what, which led her to find our clinic. RMC first came to Eye Plastic Associates through a referral from a friend. Her friend had a blepharoplasty, in which Dr. Scott had performed her upper eyelid surgery. “He did an absolutely beautiful job,” RMC stated. She added, “And my friend told me that he also does incredible Botox, so I decided to go. He is so professional in the eye area, he knows exactly what to do to give his patients a really nice, refreshed look, and that’s exactly what Dr. Scott did for me so I’ve been going to him ever since.”
RMC says that what she loves most about Dr. Scott, our team, and Eye Plastic Associates is the quality of work we do. “Dr. Scott is the kind of doctor who doesn’t like to make you look ‘done.’ He wants to give people a natural look, one in which you don’t look frozen. He’s kind, honest, and very thorough. Every time I leave the clinic, I feel very positive and happy with everything. I know Dr. Scott will take care of me. “What makes Dr. Scott so unique is his focus on the eye area,” RMC continues. “There are a few plastic surgeons in the area, but having a plastic surgeon who works on the eye area is so much more comforting because he knows everything there is about that area. He knows all the muscles in the eye and exactly where to inject so it doesn’t cause any damage or drooping eyes. I have a high level of trust in Dr. Scott because he absolutely knows what he’s doing and is a kind and gentle professional.” Our goal is to help our patients feel good about themselves, and hearing how we have helped RMC and our other clients is very special to everyone on our team. We’re glad to assist our patients by helping them achieve the natural, refreshed and rejuvenated look they desire.
2 www.eyeplasticmd.com
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