but we have to bear in mind that once we start approaching anything that resembles medical recommendations it can get a bit iffy.

I don't appreciate the strawmanning of this idea.

A place for discussion of herbs = misinforming people leading averse health events? Hardly. Let's put things in perspective, people. If we want progress, we need to open up conversation, not avoid it.

If it's not happening here, where is it happening? Can anybody point me to an open-minded forum about herbs?

this is a great idea! herbalism is an ever-important, and largely neglected, topic that used to be a part of every human's life experience before the discovery and aggressive implementation of allopathic medicine.

after twelve years of working in pharmacies, I stepped out of that world and started out on a path to learn more about using herbs for better health. it would be helpful to have more in-depth discussions with others on the topic and share knowledge and experiences.

the touchy touchy attitude of 'medical advice, statements etc etc' around here is pretty goofy by the way-- here are some explicit instructions on how to extract a schedule I substance, but DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES post about how an easy identifiable plant that almost certainly grows in your own back yard can help with X or Y bodily ailment! mostly kidding here, but...

Dragonrider, I think you have a partially valid point. there are plenty of people who are just trying to make a buck pushing subpar products on mainstream media platforms; but strictly relying on the internet for knowledge that has mostly fallen to the wayside (and I would say intentionally pushed there) in the age of information is sort of a nonstarter unless you're looking up pdf scans of old publications on the subject matter. that's my opinion and experience at least. I agree that information that was the medicinal science of it's time should not be sourced from an influencer or an ancient wordpress blog.

Blue Vervain has been a goto for me lately-- truly a balm for the harried mind

Rhythm, would you happen to have any book recommendations? I'm always looking to learn more but it's difficult for me to find quality books on the subject.

Rosea sounds quite nice. I've never touched adaptogens much, but I know some people swear by them. Out of curiosity, do you ever feel something akin to withdrawals, or motivation loss, if you stop? Not speaking about rosea specifically but just adaptogens in general

Hi RhythmSpring.
That all sounds like an excellent idea to me. I've been wondering and doing a little searching myself on different herbs characteristics in changa blends. The changa forum has provided an excellent starting point, but I'd definitely like more detailed information.

I'm also a bit disappointed in some of the attitudes on show around the subject, and the argument about 'snake-oil' salesmen pushing substances for a fast buck.
Sure, this happens, but how far do we all need to go to protect some people from themseslves? Some people are always going to fuck things up, no matter how hard we try to help/stop them, and I am certainly very tired of having everything brought down to this level.

Some of the comments around what's been going on over the last few years are also veering very close to the politics I thought we were not supposed to be talking about in here (for reasons I fully support), stated as fact, which I am resisting the urge to comment on any further. It's interesting to me that these comments are also coming from those who seem to want us all to be paranoid about the possibility of anything bad happening to anyone because of some knowledge they have found on this site, or anywhere. Yes we need to be careful, but surely we also need to take personal responsibility at some point, even if the world seem to be under the impression that somebody somewhere can always be found responsible for our fuckups?

"But the reason for rants like mine and others is that they prevent people from posting really stupid advice, like: "don't go to a doctor if you got an STD, but just eat some pigeonshit because it worked for me mum", or something."
If you are stupid enough to take this kind of stupid advice, then I'm really not sure what I can do for you, or why those of us should curtail our sharing of knowledge because of these people.

But during the covid period, tensions round this topic ran high.

Studies and articles where being published everyday, that contradicted eachother. Often hastingly. Sometimes with good intentions, sometimes with questionable intentions.

And in the beginning, not much was known.
There where articles that seemed to suggest that hydroxychloroquine, ivermectin, andrographis, turmeric, or many other herbs or pharmaceuticals where effective against covid.

Then later on, these claims where being retracted.