Flower Power

A CBS 2 News Special Assignment

CBS 2 News' Thelma Gutierrez takes a closer look at the blossoming market for all things herbal.

Special Assignment: Flower Power aired Tuesday, January 12, 1999 at 11 p.m.

Whether you want to ward off illness, brighten your mood, rev up your sex life or boost your memory, there are a profusion of pills and potions made from medicinal herbs that claim to help, said CBS 2 News' Thelma Gutierrez.

"Botanical health care is what nature provided in the system for taking care of animal life, so it's not a real stretch of anybody's imagination to think that herbs and herbal health care would invigorate, tonify and nourish the body to the point of a greater well being," Elixir store owner Jeff Stein told CBS News.

Every leaf, root or bark with even the slightest reputation for having healing properties are being boiled, brewed and pulverized into teas and tonics to help almost anything that ails you.

Doctors like Shangyou Zhong in Beverly Hills use the newest trend for one of the oldest forms of medicine, said Gutierrez. But this practice is also becoming more mainstream because of western doctors like Ronald Lawrence, who heads the Council on Natural Nutrition.

"The Council on Natural Nutrition, which was established last year, aims to primarily educate physicians," Lawrence told Gutierrez.

While herbal remedies are hip with the Hollywood set, statistics show that about one-third of all Americans have tried an herbal remedy in the past year.

"The Physicians Desk Reference, which is our bible for drugs, has come out with Physicians Desk Reference for herbals and herbal medicines. So it is an astonishing thing," Lawrence said.

CBS 2 News' I-Team visited Elixir, a store in West Hollywood, to get the juice on which herbs, tonics and teas are the most popular on store shelves.

While Echinacea, made from purple-petal daisies, is popular for its ability to help fight colds and flus, consumers are also swallowing up Kava to relieve anxiety and Ginko Balboa to increase mental alterness.

"The mood-elevating or calming drinks are very, very popular -- especially with the kind of stress people have in Los Angeles," acupuncturist and herbalist Therese Walsh told Gutierrez. "Stress is a big issue, fatigue is a big issue and depression is a big issue."

Herbalists said there are remedies like white willow for headaches, and tonics that include red Ginseng for sexual stamina in men.

"There are definitely herbal solutions to most problems that people might come in with. A lot of people also take herbs when they don't have any identifiable problem, but rather want to up their energy level, have their memory a little clearer or sleep a little more soundly at night," said Stein.

While studies show most herbal remedies are safe and non-addictive, your should consult your doctor before taking any dietary supplement.

More information:

• Vist the Elixir: Tonics & Teas Web site or call them at (310)657-9300.
• Check out Channel 2000's health page for the latest medical information.

Related stories:

• Special Assignment: St. John's Wort