Barbara O‘Neill has been passionately studying, promoting and instructing on natural health and holistic healing modalities for over 30 years…
Key Medicinal Remedies from Nature‘s Pharmacy
Barbara often says "Let food by thy medicine and medicine be thy food", highlighting how everyday herbs, plants and nutrients can foster wellbeing. She notes that "The restorative power lies not in drugs but in nature" – working holistically by optimizing our lifestyles and leveraging natural solutions. Here are five of her oft-used remedies:
Onions
This humble vegetable is one of Barbara‘s go-to remedies, especially for respiratory issues…
Garlic
Hailed as "nature‘s antibiotic", garlic has potent antimicrobial and antiviral effects – especially when eaten raw…
Ginger
This aromatic root eases nausea and digestive complaints along with exhibiting anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and antioxidant properties…
Cayenne Pepper
A medicinal powerhouse, cayenne pepper assists cardiovascular health through nourishing blood vessels and facilitating better blood flow…
Castor Oil
An age-old remedy for treating skin conditions and soothing irritated tissue, castor oil packs can significantly ease bodily inflammation…
Some More Key Medicinal Remedies
Beyond her top five staples, Barbara draws on a vast naturopathic apothecary to customize treatments supporting wellness or targeting specific complaints:
Apple Cider Vinegar
Rich in probiotics and acetic acid, unfiltered ACV alkalizes pH crucial for health. Barbara suggests 2 tablespoons daily to detoxify lymph, combat candida, stabilize blood sugars and lower cholesterol naturally.
Peppermint
An herbal anaesthetic stomach soother, peppermint tackles gas, bloating, nausea and more by relaxing smooth muscle spasms in the gut. Barbara advises peppermint tea or capsules after heavy meals for easy digestion.
Oregano Oil
With mighty antimicrobial and antiviral activity, oregano oil wards off norovirus, candida albicans, E.coli and as a natural antibiotic alternative to treat SIBO, diverticulitis flare-ups when used strategically under a doctor‘s guidance.
Turmeric
The antioxidant anti-inflammatory superstar, turmeric, tackles pain, arthritis, autoimmunity, brain fog and so much more. Barbara mixes turmeric paste with black pepper and coconut oil for better absorption applying topically to achy joints while also taking daily oral curcumin supplements.
Activated Charcoal
Another of Barbara‘s wonder remedies, activated charcoal absorbs unwanted toxins, chemicals and poisons before they can be absorbed in the gut. She administers it for food poisoning, venomous spider or snake bites and to quickly recover from contaminated water when travelling abroad.
Barbara emphasizes combining these herbal remedies with immune-supporting lifestyle measures – sufficient sleep, exercise, hydration, nutrition and stress management. She notes "The laws of health must be diligently applied to experience their benefits." We‘ll outline some specific ways Barbara recommends implementing key remedies at home.
Using Nature‘s Pharmacy: Application Guidelines
Though gentler than OTC medications, natural remedies still warrant caution and sensible usage. Barbara offers instructions on using staples like onions, garlic and ginger safely based on the desired effect. Always source high-quality organic ingredients when possible…
Onion poultices
Garlic poultice
Ginger compress
Cayenne pepper tonic
Castor oil pack
Natural Remedies vs Conventional Medications
While home remedies serve us well for minor issues, are they viable alternatives for common conditions needing medical treatment? Barbara weighs in on scenarios she would endorse trying natural options first:
| Condition | Natural Remedy | OTC/Prescription Med | Barbara‘s Take |
|---|---|---|---|
| High Cholesterol | Garlic, Turmeric, Ginger | Statins like Lipitor | Equally effective for mildly elevated cholesterol without side effects |
| Arthritis (Osteo) Pain | Turmeric, Pine Bark, Cayenne | NSAIDs like Advil | Safer long-term option than drugs that can injure stomach |
| Colds/Flu | Elderberry, Garlic, Vitamin C/D | Tamiflu | Anti-virals can reduce illness duration by about 1 day if taken immediately |
| Blood Pressure | Garlic, Cayenne, Magnesium | Beta Blockers | Potent vasodilators that increase nitric oxide on par with prescriptions |
With expert guidance tailored to the individual, natural remedies offer therapeutic potential equaling and occasionally surpassing pharmaceuticals – without undermining bodily systems, antibiotic resistance or complication risks inherent to drug dependence. By contrast, home remedies powered by foods synergize with physiology to correct dysfunction gently. But what does the medical literature indicate about efficacy?
The Evidence Behind Nature‘s Medicinal Bounty
While many traditional remedies require more clinical trials, initial research on staples like garlic and ginger verifies common usage for an array of conditions. For managing high blood pressure for example, a meta-analysis of 10 trials found garlic supplementation significantly reduced both systolic and diastolic BP in those with existing hypertension.[1]
Likewise, multiple studies validate ginger‘s efficacy for nausea relief. A 2014 meta-analysis gathering prior data concluded just 1 gram of ginger is optimal for diminishing nausea and vomiting in early pregnancy.[2] Trials also demonstrate ginger minimizing osteoarthritis knee pain on par with the drug diclofenac.[3]
Onions contain quercetin, a plant pigment with formidable antihistamine effects that stabilize mast cells prompting allergy symptoms. One study gave participants quercetin 30 minutes before allergen exposure, which resulted in less severe respiratory, eye and skin reactions.[4] The key is consistent daily intake for lasting benefits…
Expert Insights Supporting Natural Medicine
Functional physicians well-versed in complementary modalities routinely confirm the power of food as medicine for rebalancing dysfunction. Dr. Tabatha Parker advises:
"Tapping into ‘food pharmacies‘ tailored to the person provides incredible healing potential without the risks accompanying long-term medication use. Nutrient deficiencies and lifestyle factors underlie most modern chronic diseases, so correcting foundations supports the innate healing capacity coded into our DNA."
Likewise, Dr. Josh Axe, author of Food Is Medicine Cookbook echoes:
"Hippocrates said thousands of years ago that food is medicine – and that still holds true today. Diet can be more powerful for preventing and reversing disease compared to any single drug."
Pharmacy costs in the U.S. have increased 164% over 16 years while chronic illnesses affect 60% driving demand higher every year. A natural wellness lifestyle mitigates the need for endless prescriptions that wreak havoc long-term.
A Prescription for Prevention From Nature‘s Abundance
Barbara‘s passion comes from witnessing the incredible healing capacity innate to the human body when properly supported. She advocates tapping into nature‘s pharmacopeia as our first line of defense to prevent minor illnesses from escalating into chronic disease downstream…
Immune Booster Elixir
"My daily immune booster tonic consists of lemon water with cayenne, turmeric, garlic, ginger and local raw honey. Taking medicinal mushrooms like reishi and chaga in tea or extracts also works wonders when pathogens are high. I rotate antiviral herbs like elderberry, olive leaf, oregano oil and zinc. Soaking your feet in hot water with mustard powder plus eating garlic faithfully helps ward off infection…"
Detoxifying Herbal Infusion
Digestive Aid Kimchi
Anti-Anxiety Nervine Tea
Pain Relief Salve
Easy enough for even novice DIY-ers in the kitchen, these tips utilize Barbara‘s trusted naturopathic remedies honed over decades. COMBINED with foundational healthy lifestyle strategies, they offer an arsenal for combatting and preventing all manner of acute and chronic illness.
Barbara‘s Journey From Sickness to Natural Health Expert
In her early 20s, Barbara was afflicted by a mysterious onset of chronic fatigue, neuropathy, vertigo and digestive dysfunction that numerous doctors couldn‘t diagnose, let alone resolve. Pharmaceuticals barely touched her laundry list of debilitating symptoms. Out of desperation, she connected with an alternative naturopath trained in nutrition and detoxification methods customized to the person. Through this experience, she discovered functional medicine and the foundational precept "Let Food Be Thy Medicine".
Barbara gradually turned her health around over 18 grueling months via strategic cleansing protocols, identifying and removing allergenic foods, targeted nutrient support and adopting daily wellness rituals to reduce stress and nourish body, mind and spirit simultaneously. She slowly weaned off dozens of medications as her body rediscovered equilibrium. This transformation sparked Barbara‘s passion for preventative natural health using food, herbs and holistic modalities customized to the individual.
"I felt called to take my education into my own hands and pass on what I‘ve learned about true healing with my clients versus just palliative care via pharmaceuticals alone. Using natural remedies Clinical herbalist Julieta Rodriguez further ignites Barbara‘s plant-based passion: regularily supports the person such that vibrant wellbeing is the default."
Today, Barbara O‘Neill stands as a trusted teacher and advisor specializing in naturopathy for clients battling complex chronic illness often unsuccessfully managed pharmaceutically to date. Her offerings empower through education and self-care rituals mitigating the need for endless pill-popping by addressing root causes of disease.
Nature‘s Capacity to Heal – Final Thoughts
Indigenous groups have perfected plant-based healing methods over centuries through knowledge passed down generationally. Yet even with modern pharmaceuticals now ubiquitous, doctors acknowledge the powerful disease-preventing and health-promoting properties of food and nature‘s bounty. Diet truly sets the stage for wellness to take root…