In this episode, I discuss herbalism with Oscar Sierra, an herbalist practicing traditional Chinese medicine and functional medicine in Atlanta, Georgia.
I had a blast discussing herbs and herbal practices with Oscar who emphasizes the importance of using herbs in the bigger context of overall health and wellness.
Herbs are also individual.
Not every herb or mushroom works for every person in the same way.
In fact, these compounds are highly individual.
Check out the show notes for full references to everything we discussed and enjoy the episode!
Biohack Your Brainpower
About Oscar Sierra
Oscar hails from the martial arts where finding, feeling, and understanding Qi, Yin, Yang, and pressure points to humanely neutralize opponents easily transferred to TCM and helping restore balance as he pivoted to the medical arts.
Oscar earned a Nutrition Science BS & minored in Anthropology with a focus on Traditional Medicine at UGA.
After 3000+hrs of hands-on apprenticeship training and national board exams, Oscar earned Board Certification in both Herbal Medicine & Acupuncture in 2009.
In addition to the valuable seminar, conference, and workshop continuing Ed. in ancient TCM–an invaluable addition to Oscar’s toolbelt–Oscar also continued studies in the more biomedical & systems engineering fields of Functional Med. & wholistic oncology.
The amalgamative zenith of these is the ETMS where the ancient wisdom of Traditional Med. (Chinese, Ayurvedic, American Eclectic, Southern Folk) informs modern functional analytics to produce Patient-Centered care.
You can usually find him custom compounding formulas for his Pt’s at his full-time private practice in ATL, Sierra Botanica & Collaborative Medicine and he also recently joined the clinician team at the Mederi Center–Donnie Yance’s clinic in Ashland, OR.
Show Notes
Got into TCM through martial arts
Failure of mainstream medicine to address nutrition
Example of Herbs vs Drugs: Ephedra the drug vs Ephedra the whole plant
Common people using herbs pharmacologically is not ideal
Herbs are very individual
Plants have their own flavors
How to figure out what herb is right for you?
Ashwagandha and Rhodiola don’t typically go together
Licorice is in many formulas because it helps bond other herbs
Herbs compliment only when other parts of lifestyle are in check: Diet, mold, etc
Focus drug alternatives: Gotu Kola, Centella, Bacopa Monnieri .. combine w. Something moistening: Licorice, milky oats, linden
Bacopa as a tea good for someone with water retention, eye puffiness, overweight
Centella + Bacopa tea is really good for focus
Black Spruce essential oil good for adrenals
Liver detox herbs: Milk Thistle, Green Tea, turmeric
Herbal medicine is Pleiotropic
Passionflower good for brain and focus
Mushrooms: Get with whole fruiting body, mycelium,
Most people UNDER-DOSE mushrooms
Maitake Mushrooms great for blood sugar
Important Links
Sierra Collaborative – Oscar’s Practice in Ga
https://medericenter.org/our-care-team/oscar-sierra.html
