The Power of Herbal Medicine with Jane Barlow-Christensen

Our guest today is Jane Barlow-Christensen, an expert in herbal medicine and the owner of Barlow Herbal. Jane’s father Dr. Max Barlow held a PhD in medicinal botany and began teaching her about the power of herbal medicine when she was a child. After taking over Barlow Herbal from her father 14 years ago, Jane has created her own unique herbal formulas to compliment her father’s original catalog of products.

In today’s podcast Jane shares with us:

• Common herbs you might find in your back yard
• Herbs for the cold and flu season
• Herbs that are great for your skin

Are herbal supplements from stores like Wal Mart and Target the same as ones sold at specialty stores? Find out at the 15 minute mark.

Introducing Herbs into Your Life

While modern medicine certainly has its place in healthcare, Jane believes that the body has the ability to heal itself when given the right tools, and that Herbs are powerful and natural tools for staying healthy and treating ailments. Jane is a proponent of foraging for herbs, though she urges people to use common sense and educate themselves before using any unfamiliar plants.

Common “Weeds” That are Good for You

• Dandelion – Dandelion leaves are very nutritious.
• Lamb’s Quarters – Possesses nutritious leaves that are great in salad.

“There’s a lot of fun herbs out there. Start learning. It’s amazing!”

Herbs for Cold and Flu Season

• Lomatium
• Echinacea
• Elderberry
• Garlic
• Oil of Oregano
• Tea Tree Oil
• Essential Oils

Purchasing Herbal Supplements and Medicine

Jane does not recommend purchasing herbal supplements at large stores like Wal Mart and Target. She favors specialty stores and suggests you purchase your supplements from a trusted source after doing your own research and trusting your intuition.

Herbs for Healthy Skin

• Chamomile
• Calendula flower
• Ginger Horsetail
• Gotu kola
• Lavender
• Lemongrass

Every single thing you put on your skin ends up in your body.

Jane recommends infusing these herbs into very high quality oils (e.g. extra virgin oil), mixing them in with coconut or organic lotion, then applying the mixture to your skin topically. .

Links to Check Out

Barlow Herbal

Jane Barlow-Christensen

Jane Barlow-Christensen is the co-founder of Barlow Herbal, where she is also the master herbalist. Jane began learning about the power of herbs as a child from her father, Dr. Max Barlow. Her passion is using her specialized knowledge and apply them to the beauty industry to create healthy, natural products.