Page 56 - Southern Oregon Magazine Summer 2019

the good life | herbal help

ATHLETIC SUCCESS

THROUGH TRADITIONAL HERBALISM

Herbal Allies for Muscle Recovery

BY BRIE MALARKEY, FOUNDER & CEO OF SUNGOD MEDICINALS

ummer is in full swing and that means outdoor fun in the sun is often used internally in herbal medicine to calm the mind and
for people who love hiking, biking, camping, fishing, kayaking, induce physical relaxation for aching muscles. Externally, passion-
Sand other strenuous flower helps support the
activities. Unfortunately, inflammatory response.
increased physical activity Decreased inflammation
can mean increased muscle Herbal Allies for Muscle Recovery and increased relaxation
tension, strains, and poten- can mean a shorter road
tial injuries. Allopathic med- to recovery for your over-
icine has brought us many Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata): worked muscles.
• Calm the mind.
incredible advancements in • Induce physical relaxation for aching muscles.
muscle recovery and pain • Support the inflammatory response. Hemp (Cannabis
management, but in recent sativa below 0.3% THC)
years we’ve seen a resur- - It’s no secret that varie-
gence of professional and ties of cannabis have been
casual athletes alike turning cultivated in Southern
to traditional plant medicine Oregon for many years.
that’s been used by herbalists Hemp was removed from
for thousands of years. the controlled substances
act with the passage of
Many incredible heal- Chamomile (Matricaria recutita): the 2018 Farm Bill and
ing plants thrive in our • Relaxation. now many athletes are
• Settle upset stomachs.
Southern Oregon bioregion, • Soothe the skin. including this power plant
and athletes can use these in their pre- and post-
herbal allies to their advan- Hemp (Cannabis sativa): workout plans. Cannabis
tage to aid in increased mus- • Improve recovery time. is often cultivated for the
• Reduce muscle tension.
cle recovery and decrease • Support inflammatory rich spectrum of can-
tension and discomfort. response. nabinoids, terpenes, fla-
Here are some of the amaz- vonoids, and other natural
ing plants in Southern elements present in this
Oregon that athletes can plant. The most sought-
leverage to help reach peak Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora): after chemical found in
performance. • Support exhausted nerves. the hemp plant is can-
• Relieve muscle tension.
• Calm both the body and mind. nabidiol—or CBD—but
Passionflo w e r there are many other con-
(Passiflora incarnata) - While These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. stituents of this plant that
These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
this climbing vine may be should not be ignored.
native to the Southeastern These constituents are
U.S. as well as Central and believed to work together
South America, it can be found in abundance all over our region. to increase the potential beneficial effects of the plant through a
Passionflower is often cultivated by local herbalists, gardeners and process known as the entourage effect, improving recovery time for
organic farmers for both its healing and calmative properties. This herb many by supporting the inflammatory response and other systems

54 www.southernoregonmagazine.com | summer 2019