The Herbal Path to Spiritual Awakening

Traditional Asian doctors accept the fundamental connection of body, mind, and spirit. They express that notion of wholeness every time they recommend an herbal combination that improves all three at once. Herbs act as catalysts to enhance vitality and longevity by helping to prevent illness, fatigue, mental apathy, and even spiritual alienation. Asian herbal remedies have also been traditionally used to promote mental calm and clarity. Because self-observation is necessary for choosing herbs, self-awareness can increase.

Two important ingredients in spiritual awakening are love and generosity. For them we need vitality, courage, and self-awareness. A person with chronic physical problems will often have corresponding mental and emotional problems that make spiritual work difficult. Which comes first--a physical or emotional problem--does not really matter; they can both be improved by using herbs.

In order to find the best health regime, you need to observe vitality the way an Asian doctor would. Energy imbalances--including physical symptoms--can point to five emotional impediments to spiritual growth--anxiety, depression, hopelessness or grief, fear, and anger.

Anxiety stops the heart's yearning for the divine with immobilizing panic. You may be building anxiety without knowing it. Do you often have a flushed complexion? Are you frequently agitated or overexcited? You may be overheating yourself with stimulants such as coffee, hot spices, cigarettes, overwork, or jet lag. You may have long-term imbalances such as menopausal hot flashes, high cholesterol, or an underlying feverish condition. A person who often has a flushed complexion, heart irregularities, or agitated emotions may also feel tightness in the chest. Anxiety also makes it harder for us to function under stress.

Foods and herbs that reduce cholesterol and provide antioxidants, such as green and black tea, are very helpful for reducing anxiety. Research done by Harvard heart specialist Dr. Michael Gaziano indicates that drinking at least one cup of black tea a day could cut the risk of heart attack by 44%; the benefits probably are due to the powerful amounts of natural substances in tea known as flavonoids, vitamin-like nutrients that make blood cells less prone to clotting. Herbs that strengthen the heart, such as hawthorn, can be taken in capsule form after meals. It is especially recommended for heart weakness and irregularity, high cholesterol, and fatigue after eating.

Depression may be able to open the door to our search for the divine, but it can also obscure our path. Depression is like a thick glue, holding us back and prolonging our suffering. When God calls, will you be behind the door crying? Depression makes it harder to think and to follow our best persuasion. Depression is often felt as a deep uneasiness, a tightness or weariness in the chest, and a feeling of being cut off from ourselves. A person with digestive difficulties will frequently experience blood-sugar ups and downs, spacey thinking, and depression.

Traditional Chinese digestive remedies always do more than settle the stomach. Herbal combinations such as

pills maintain the health of digestive organs while also helping to maintain healthy blood-sugar balance and better concentration, energy, blood production, and mood. Xiao yao wan contains ginger, mint, and bupleurumto strengthen stomach and liver function. Three blood-building ingredients--dong kuei, atractylodes, and paeonia--aim to increase vitality. Poria and raw licorice root help reduce spasm and bloating. All together, the combination of digestive and strengthening herbs found in xiao yao wan promote a feeling of centeredness that reduces depression and anxiety while preventing hypoglycemia.

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