Ban Mind-Altering Herbs?

[Guest guest]

Hi All, & Andrea Beth,

 

Andrea Beth, may I have your permission to post this to other

herbal/TCM lists?

 

wrote:

> Indeed, do not many of our herbal substances have the potential for

> mind-altering effects? Think of the whole category of medicinals used

> specifically for that purpose - herbs that calm the shen and types of

> mental derangement. I suppose part of the discussion here might be what

> is a " normal " shen state, and I believe any substance that has the

> power to change the state of consciousness (whether to bring it closer

> to, or further away from " normal " ) can properly be considered

> " mind-altering " . I once made a formula for myself that included a

> higher-end dose of shichangpu - let me tell you, how intensely bright

> the colors were and how deliciously fragrant the aromas were... it was a

> nearly psychedelic experience! Yes, I agree it is essential that we

> know the mind-altering potentials of our pharmacopoeia so we can

> responsibly consider this in our intentional and unintentional uses

> (possible side effects) of those substances.

 

ALL medicinals, even common household compounds like salt, are

potentially toxic/dangerous if misused.

 

I agree with Andrea Beth; herbal professionals must lobby to retain the

right to prescribe mind-altering herbs, like any other medicinals.

 

Herbalists must have the same access to their medicinals as medic and

vets have to their drugs.

 

All Calm Shen-, or Awaken Shen- herbs could be said to be mind-

altering. If the authorities ban them from the clinics and shops, will they

also alcohol and ban common nutmeg - potent psychoactives - from the

supermarket shelves?

 

Worst of all (because I am a pipe addict), will they ban tobacco from the

shops?

 

http://www.biopsychiatry.com/tobacco/ ends with the following

paragraph: " In recognition of its awesome properties, native Americans

traditionally restricted their use of tobacco by smoking only in the

context of sacred ceremonies. Our secular society, with no recourse to

such means, has sought to limit it via medical repudiation: a message

that seems slowly to be getting through. Yet the genie of tobacco shows

no signs of disappearing overnight in a puff of smoke. With more

deaths to its name than all the illicit narcotics put together, there can be

no doubt that tobacco is the most dangerous drug in the world. "

 

Best regards

 

(puffing my pipe contentedly!)