Practitioner Profile

Samantha Orthlieb

(Master Herbalist, Certified Iridologist, Flower/Nature Essence Therapist, EAV Practitioner, Bioenergetic Medicine)

Samantha Orthlieb is a trained and certified alternative health practitioner and a gifted intuitive healer. With over a decade of experience as a practicing Herbalist/Iridologist, she is also a Nature/Flower Essence Therapist and EAV Practitioner.

Samantha received her Master Herbalist Diploma through the Wild Rose College and apprenticed at In Health Services under Annette Bossert, one of Calgary’s leading Herbalists. Since then, Samantha has trained with Sabina Pettit of Pacific Essences in the study of Energy Medicine and Pranic Healing, and studied EAV testing at the Academy of International BioEnergetic Sciences with renowned EAV Practitioner and Naturopath Dr. Robert Cass.

Samantha applies her impressive range of skills with her intuitive healing abilities to work with her clients on all levels of being. To facilitate the healing process, Samantha utilizes Iridology, Chinese Tongue and Nail diagnosis, Applied Kinesiology (muscle testing) and EAV testing to identify energy disturbances in the body. Customized health programs can consist of life style and diet changes, herbs, vitamins, minerals, homeopathy, and nature/flower essences to motivate, heal, and bring the body systems back to a balanced state.

Samantha can help you:

• Establish a protocol that your body needs for physical, mental and emotional well-being
• Identify and alleviate allergies, heavy metal toxicity and other hidden immune deficiencies
• Develop an intuitive and compassionate relationship with yourself
• Release physical and energetic blockages stored in the body that can lead to compromised health and wellbeing
• Understand and work with belief systems and emotions that contribute to your health issues

What is herbal medicine?

Herbal Medicine is the use of plant remedies in the treatment of disease. It is the oldest known form of medicine.
Our ancestors, by trial and error, found the most effective local plants to heal their illnesses. Now, with the advancement of science enabling us to identify the chemical constituents within these plants, we can better understand their healing powers.
Herbalism, in Canada is classed as an "alternative" or "complementary" discipline but it is still the most widely practiced form of medicine worldwide with over 80% of the world's population relying on herbs for health.


Why do people choose herbal medicine?

Herbal medicine uses plant medicines, in many forms, to promote good health and to treat ill health. People try herbal remedies for all sorts of reasons: because they hear from others that it has worked, because they feel it's natural and believe it's likely to have fewer side effects, or because they prefer its holistic approach. People also like the idea of having more control over their own treatment. Others turn to herbal remedies because conventional medicine has let them down, or because they want to relieve the side effects caused by the prescription medication they need to take. The popularity of herbal medicines is clear now, as herbs are much more widely available over the counter. Also on the increase is the number of qualified practitioners and those choosing plant medicines, in their many forms.
Herbal medicines can be used to treat health problems that are short-lived (acute) or firmly established (chronic), as part of a holistic approach to health. In other words, when looking at the person as a whole, and working out whether there are underlying medical, emotional or lifestyle factors that may be having some influence on the outbreak of symptoms.


How is it best to use herbs?

It's important to recognize, first of all, that herbs don't have a specific and limited purpose, in the way that conventional medicines do. Each person should have their individual needs identified, so that herbs suggested specifically for him or her, at that moment, can address these needs. For example, not only are there different types of depression, but they can also vary in intensity. A person may go through a depression that is altogether different from their experience of depression on a previous occasion. It may also involve a whole range of physical symptoms - lethargy, stomach problems (constipation and diarrhea) and headaches, to name just a few - that are individual to that person. An Herbalist will take into consideration the whole picture of someone’s symptoms, and use an individually tailored combination of plants to address those symptoms and to restore health. Combining two or more herbs can enhance the individual effects of each one. This is known as synergism.


Do herbs have side effects?

An herb, like any other chemical compound, may have side effects. Being 'natural' doesn't make something automatically safe. But, on the whole, the side effects seem to be much milder and more infrequent than for pharmaceutical drugs. Most of the herbs that may have side effects in high doses aren’t readily available to buy over the counter. Where problems have been reported, this seems to have been caused by very poor-quality products or by extreme misuse. Sometimes, people do take the wrong remedy for the wrong reason - mistakenly believing, perhaps, that taking a higher dose will make it work better. Not only might they do themselves harm, they also miss out on the real benefits of the remedy. That's why it's vital to know what you're taking and why you're taking it. Every herb has its own characteristics and effects, and combining different herbs helps to increase their potency and minimize any unwanted consequences. Rather like a team of people working together to reach a common goal, the herbs work together to achieve maximum benefit for clients. The basic formulae are often modified according to the person concerned and his or her health issues.


Is it safe for my family and myself to use herbs?

Most people can safely treat themselves for problems that are normally fairly short-lived, but for any long-standing condition, or one that doesn't go away, you should consult a qualified Herbalist, and make sure that another form of treatment isn't also necessary. With self-diagnosis, it's important to know if and when to consult a doctor. If your child is under five or has a tendency to allergies, seek help from a qualified practitioner. Otherwise, using herbs for children is relatively straightforward for common childhood health issues.

• Don't overuse products. Use the minimum dosage for all herbs, if you are self-prescribing.
• Be aware of any side effects you experience. If an herb doesn’t suit you, stop using it.
• The more severe the problem, the more cautious you should be about self-treatment, as a general rule.
• Don't use herbal remedies if you are trying to have a baby, or if you are already pregnant or breastfeeding, without first consulting a qualified herbalist or your GP.
• Never use herbs for babies or small children without seeking professional advice.
• Don't take herbs alongside other prescribed drugs without consulting a qualified Herbalist, because some herbs may strengthen the effects of drugs or make others less effective. With consultation, it may be possible to reduce your conventional medication.
• Don't make the mistake of switching from your existing pharmaceutical drug to an herbal remedy without consultation. Herbs are medicines that work in complex and subtle ways and won't always have exactly the same effect.
• If you have long-standing health problems, see an Herbalist who can work with you in a holistic and effective way to treat the underlying causes and achieve the best outcome.
• If you have a short-lived condition and the symptoms aren’t getting better within a few days, get professional advice.
  
  
  

The Herbalist's Health Approach

Herbalists in Canada are trained differently depending on schooling and where and with whom he/she does his/her apprenticeship. All Herbalists, however, are trained to find the underlying cause of the problem and, once identified, it is this, which is treated, rather than the symptoms alone. The reason for this is that treatment or suppression of symptoms will not rid the body of the disease itself. Herbalists use their remedies to restore the balance of the body thus enabling it to mobilize its own healing powers.


An Herbalist can help with:

• insomnia and other sleeping problems
• digestive and bowel health problems including IBS, Crohn’s Disease, diverticulitus, ulcers
• high blood pressure and heart/circulation problems
• male health issues
• infertility and support during and after pregnancy
• nervous system issues, such as anxiety, depression,Chronic Fatigue, fibromyalgia
• menopausal and menstrual issues
• high cholesterol
• vision problems and tinnitus
• yeast (candida) and bladder/kidney infections
• gallbladder and liver issues
• nutritional counseling
• arthritis and other joint pain
• weight loss/weight gain
• adrenal/thyroid issues
• sports supplement counseling
• eczema, psoriasis, other skin conditions
• asthma and other breathing issues
  
  
  

Disclaimer - These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA or any other government agency. They are not intended to diagnose, prevent, treat or cure any disease.

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