Between worrying, cramming for tests, partying and unhealthy eating habits, we produce more stress in ourselves than outside pollutants do, said Dr. Judy Griffin, a nutritional consultant and medical herbalist in Fort Worth. "The body is like a child," Griffin said. "And we wouldn't put a child through the stress we put our bodies through." Griffin offers counseling to individuals, groups and hospitals using her knowledge of nutrition, herbs, tonics and aromatherapy to promote optimal health. "The main goal is to find a balanced program that's right for (patients) and to see which changes will help the person that they are willing to make," Griffin said. People do not have to be sick to take advantage of the benefits of natural medicine, she said. "Reduction of stress reduces the chances of getting any disease by at least 80 percent," Griffin said. "If you can change just one agent of stress, you can make a big difference in your life."
"People's reaction to stress tells a story," Griffin said. "For energy, the female cycle and stress the use of herbs, aromatherapy and changing the proportion of carbohydrates, protein and fat intake can make a difference in the way people feel." Griffin said it is important to use the right combination of herbs and aromatherapy to suit the individuality of each person's body. "Each flower or herb has a different message, and you just work with the individual," Griffin said. "What you smell goes to your brain the fastest, and your brain knows what it wants and likes." Griffin said aromas make an immediate change in brain chemicals to either reduce stress or give energy. Lavender can be used to calm people if they like the smell and peppermint is an energizer and pain reliever, she said. "With aromas, you don't drink them," Griffin said. "True essential oils are very concentrated and can be toxic to the liver, kidneys and stomach lining." Griffin said therapeutic oils are applied to the body similarly to perfume. Different remedies require that the oil be dabbed onto different places on the body. "We are really a scent-oriented society," Griffin said. "That's what perfumes are for - to sexually attract." Scented candles are synthetic and those that contain lead can be toxic, Griffin said. She said beeswax candles are the safest and suggests putting drops of aroma oils in regular candles to make your own, safe aromatherapy candle. A person's body reads taste, smell, color, shape and touch as the same language, Griffin said in her book, Mother Nature's Herbal. "Flower essences, essential oils and natural fragrances are messengers that touch our soul," she said. Griffin has an old-fashioned distillation unit in her home similar to the ones used thousands of years ago, which she uses to make essential oils and flower essences. Mass producers use stainless steel instead of glass because it is cheaper, but Griffin said some flavor is lost in this process. Griffin said she refers to her work as complementary care and not alternative medicine. "Alternative suggests you can't do conventional medicine," Griffin said. "Complementary care gets people to reduce the need for a lot of medicines but works with doctors and conventional medicine."
"I use a special blend on cancer patients to reduce pain, nausea symptoms and enhance immune responses," she said. Fewer side effects are associated with natural medicine than conventional medicine, Griffin said. Some herbs can cause headache, sleepiness, nausea and a pounding heart, but Griffin said that is why they must be taken in the right combinations. "Think of it like a food," Griffin said. "Some (herbs) are better for you, and your body needs certain things." Griffin said she is very disappointed when people abuse nutrition and herbs but said empowering people helps them help themselves. "We've got to get out of this quick fix generation," she said. Griffin turned to natural medicine because of a personal experience. "I got into all of this because I had twins with immune deficiencies who weren't expected to live," Griffin said. While medical doctors offered her little hope, Griffin traveled and researched in many cultures and learned the art of herbal healing. She became a certified horticulturist, master gardener and clinical herbalist and earned a doctorate in nutritional science. Today, in their 20s, the twins are healthy and have overcome their immune challenges. Aleta Cronce, a sophomore dance major, said she has an herb garden and uses herbs when she is sick or needs to relax. "If I'm sick, I have a peppermint plant, and I'll make tea with it or put the leaves in a bath," Cronce said. "For relaxation, I put sea salt and rosemary in the bath to relax muscles and open my mind." Cronce said she uses a holistic approach to medicine, which keeps the body's needs a priority. "The bad thing about trying to heal yourself with natural medicine is that you don't have a doctor's excuse to miss class or work," Cronce said. "The great thing about holistic medicine today is that we have such a good connection to cultures throughout the world with tons of information at our fingertips." "I just try to keep a balanced lifestyle between work and pleasure - which is hard to do when you're in school," she said. David Murden, a junior theater and radio-TV-film major, said he takes time from his busy schedule to reduce stress. "I work out and meditate with incense and an aromatherapy candle that burns oil," Murden said. "My schedule is pretty busy, and if I don't have time for myself, I don't feel like doing other things." Murden said he also has a water fountain in his studio to help him wind down. "It's important to take time out to reflect on things outside of your busy schedule," he said. Griffin said she urges people to reduce stress and negative emotional responses to try to balance - not cure or fix - the body. "The body is not magical," Griffin said. "It is a very knowledgeable orchestra that needs to be balanced and in tune."
Natascha Terc
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Griffin said people bloom out of stress because they can
take a negative situation and turn it into something good.
Griffin said she works with patients in area hospitals such
as Baylor Medical Center in Dallas, where 79 percent of patients want nutrition
and herbal counseling.| The TCU Daily Skiff © 1998, 1999 Credits |