By Matt Walsh
Otter and Trout Trading Company helps Gainesville residents with botanical health care options
Eric Dreaming Trout through the window of Otter and Trout Trading Company with University Ave. in reflection. Photo by Matt Walsh
Disclaimer:This article does not purport to make any claims about the scientific validity of Western or traditional medicine. Always consult a physician before beginning any herbal or other alternative medicinal regimen.
Jennie Strickland needed help. She is uninsured and was searching for an alternative to the high-priced medications available at conventional drug stores.
Strickland, 23, had a 103-degree fever. She had been suffering from the flu for days when she decided to make a trip to Otter and Trout Trading Company, a small store on University Avenue that sells botanical medicine.
“I was stuck in bed for three days,” said Strickland, a Mother’s Pub employee and Santa Fe College student.
Kimberili White Otter, the owner of Otter and Trout Trading Company, recommended wormwood tea to Strickland. Wormwood tea is said to enhance the immune system and rid the body of worms.
“I was fine the very next day,” Strickland said. “Every time I go to her she has an answer.”
The Native American-based store provides a healing and helping hand to people of all ages. It also provides an alternative form of medicine for those who can’t afford health insurance or the pricey bills for prescription drugs.
Many doctors remain skeptical about the use of herbs for treating medical conditions. Patients become afraid to tell their practitioners that they are taking alternative forms of medicine because the herbs are unconventional.
“Most doctors are not open to new forms of medicine,” Otter said.
Herbal remedies are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration.
Herbs sold at shopping markets and drugstores usually have additives or are diluted with other products. The factories that mass-produce quantities of botanicals do not have to disclose the extent to which the products are diluted.
Otter and trout both insist that any botanical mixed with alcohol is dangerous, including both kava and wormwood, which is the key ingredient of the drink, Absinthe.
Kimberili White Otter. Photo by Matt Walsh.
Eric Dreaming Trout, co-owner of Otter and Trout, explained that there are not enough herbs to be able to mass-produce them like they do in supermarkets.
“It is important to look at the packages,” Trout said. “If there are additives, then it’s probably not concentrated enough to do anything for you.”
It is also important that patients tell doctors what they are taking because some herbal remedies can interact dangerously with certain prescription drugs.
“We are not doctors here, and we do not prescribe items,” Otter said.
Otter offers consultations to clients who want to take herbal remedies. She also reminds patients to inform their physicians of what they are taking.
Nowadays, people are encouraged to take expensive prescription drugs when they have an anxiety attack. They are prescribed medications when they have trouble concentrating. They are given prescriptions when they are depressed. They are sometimes carelessly prescribed medicines that have an endless list of dangerous side effects.
Herbs are an earthly alternative to those dangerous and expensive medications.
Some herbs also have side effects, but the effects of herbs are not comparable to those of most anxiety prescriptions, which can include mania and hallucinations.
In 2000, Canada banned kava, an herb used to treat stress and anxiety, because researchers found evidence of the herb being harmful to the liver. Later many European countries followed suit.
After the cases were thoroughly studied, researchers found that kava was not the cause of liver damage in the
cases reported. Most people who reported a liver condition while using kava had premature conditions or a history of alcoholism, according to Dr. Skip Bittenbender, who has been researching kava for 11 years at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.
“Kava remains to be a very safe product,” Bittenbender said. “It helps to moderate anxiety and to make you look at things with a more positive perspective.”
“It is an ancient beverage that humans have found to change the way they feel about things,” Bittenbender said. “It works like coffee or alcohol works; it just serves a different purpose.”
The Names of Healing and Helping
Although her name is symbolic to Native Americans as “woman medicine,” Otter is not a doctor. Her knowledge of botanical medicine came to her through trauma.
“I died and came back with knowledge that I can’t explain,” Otter said, after taking a sip of hot rooibos tea.
Otter had been in a near fatal car accident in January 1996. After swerving to avoid hitting a coyote, her high-standing Isuzu Trooper flipped and continued to roll off the road.
“I was ejected from the car before it turned into a tin can,” she said.
The accident inspired Otter and her husband, Eric Dreaming Trout, to begin Otter and Trout Trading Company.
“After I got out of the hospital, my healing really began,” Otter said.
The couple began selling herbal remedies that have helped people with severe medical conditions and have also helped bring the minds of anxious college students to rest. Helping people improve medically, emotionally and spiritually is the foundation of their business.
Bessie Andrews, 28, is a journalism student at UF. If she stays in the sun for more than 15 minutes, her skin turns red. She suffers from a rare skin condition called Dysplastic nevus syndrome. People with this condition are at a very high risk of developing cancer.
When she was 18, doctors found that Andrews had cancerous tissues.
“I had 38 skin biopsies since I was 18,” Andrews explained. “Otter told me more about healing my condition than any of the doctors I went to.”
Andrews was influenced by her roommate to take botanical medicine.
“If I didn’t go to her, I would not be able to do the things I love,” Andrews said.
Other doctors told Andrews that surfing, her favorite pastime, was out of the question. Otter brought her the tools she needed to be healthy enough to surf.
The store has helped many people cope with illness and pain.
The oddly named couple has had a substantial following of happy customers, and in a flailing economy, they have plans to expand their storefront 1,200 square feet.
“At first, I thought, ‘What kind of name is that?’” Trout said, laughing and standing in the doorway of the warmly lit healing room.
Native Americans are given their names at different rites of passage, according to Otter.
“I was at a powwow when I was given my name,” Trout said, “I was always running to help people with things; I was known for getting up and running to help. A trout is symbolic in Indian tribes for constantly moving and not always staying in one place; it is a symbol for helping others.”
“That’s what it’s all about,” Otter said with a smile, referring to helping those in need.
“My friend Linda Holt came to me and said, ‘It’s time to bring the art of earth-wisdom back to the people,’” Otter said.
Human beings have been using botanical medicine for thousands of years. Lately people seem to have forgotten about the powers of the earth.
“We want to bring people the tools they need to heal,” she said.
Tags: healthcare
It is irresponsible for you all to print this as if homeopathy has any sort of effectiveness. People die because they seek alternative medicine.
“Helping people improve medically, emotionally and spiritually is the foundation of their business.”
I have no problem with the healing people “emotionally and spiritually”. If people find a supportive community to help them recover, I’m all for that. I just have a huge issue with any and all medical claims. This is completely unbalanced. There is no proof that this can help people cure diseases.
Thanks for adding the disclaimer.
Just remember, there has been virtually no scientific testing done in regards to herbal treatments. Out of the few studies there are, all we know is that certain antioxidants can sometimes lead to better health (and sometimes worse health), showing that some herbal regimens are dangerous (and can have serious complications with prescriptions), and that there is no evidence showing any herbal regimens curing diseases.
Just remember, if these herbs had medical properties the “evil” pharmaceutical corporations would have turned them into a drug by now!
All that being said. A community that supports people as they recover from illness is important and can lead to quicker recovery times, as can the placebo effect.
Wow! I could not disagree more with Anti-Anti-Science’s anti-alternative health comments! For starters, he or she is misinformed at best and makes a number of completely untrue statements that reveal a nearly total lack of knowledge about herbs, dietary supplements, Big Pharma, and alternative health products in general.
For instance, “Anti-Anti” refers to “homeopathic” treatments, when in fact the company sells herbal remedies and the word “homeopathic” does not even appear in the article itself! How misleading is that! There is a big difference between homeopathic remedies, herbal remedies and dietary supplements.
Then, there are these two really false statements, that I find I must rebuke: 1. “there is no evidence showing any herbal regimens curing disease…” FALSE… and 2. “Just remember, if these herbs had medical properties the “evil” pharma-ceutical corporations would have turned them into a drug by now!” Also FALSE. Many pharmaceutical companies have been trying to do that very thing!! So, I recommend that Anti-Anti do some basic research before making such inaccurate statements.
I can disprove both statements with two examples: GRAVIOLA and RESVERATROL.
GRAVIOLA has been proven to actually CURE cancers, was explored and researched by Big Pharma, but when they found they could not synthesize and patent it, after several years research, they abandoned it. Yet, it remains a very effective HERBAL remedy to kill several kinds of cancer, including prostate, lung and pancreatic cancers. New research indicates it is far more effective than chemotherapy! Google “Graviola cancer” for yourself and see!
New research on Resveratrol, as recently documented on CBS’ 60 Minutes program, indicates that this dietary supplement, which one company is striving to synthesize (again so it can be patented), turns on the “survival gene” or “longevity gene” in humans. The company that did this new research found that out of thousands of different compounds, reseveratrol, an extract made from grape skins or other plants, was the most effective at turning on this gene for long life in humans!
So, Anti-Anti’s stance seems to be totally pro-orthodox and reflects the state of allopathic medicine today, where prescribed drugs are the only remedy recommended to the patient, and in most cases, these drugs only treat the SYMPTOMS, and do nothing to cure the patient or treat the underlying cause. In many cases, the drug, or treatment, is worse than the disease itself. Just read the warnings on the prescription drug Cymbalta to see for yourself.
I take a lot of herbal and dietary supplements and have gotten great benefit from all of them, otherwise I would not spend my funds on them. And, I find comments about the “placebo effect” to be downright laughable, albeit pathetic. It’s cliche at this point, as anyone who has read new research would know.
Fortunately, many in the medical profession are waking up to the fact that their patients want natural alternatives and would rather take a supplement or herb, than a prescription drug, if at all possible. After all, when you doc says you need to take fish oil capsules to control your lipid profile, he is recommending a dietary supplement to treat your problem.
So, I support these good people and their efforts to provide alternative and natural herbal remedies to those who want them. Everyone should have the freedom to choose which kind of treatment they want. This is the essence of Health Freedom.
I will visit the shop when I am up that way, would love to meet Otter and Trout as well as see their shop! I wish more people would get back to their ancient roots and the holistic approach to healing and health that their ancestors had. I have to say that “Anti Anti Science” needs to educate his/herself about the ancient ways. Modern science may not support it (due to the fact that pharmaceutical companies usually fund medicinal research and herbal/holistic medicine rarely makes said companies wealthy in the long run…though it may save many lives).
Thanks for the effort you took to expand upon this topic so thoroughly. I look forward to future post.
The Natural Health field is growing at a phenomenal rate throughout the world. And millions of Americans — aware of the detrimental effects of drug-based western medicine — are joining health oriented people around the globe in embracing an alternative natural approach. Encompassing the core building blocks of all living organisms, an holistic lifestyle promotes the building, repair, and maintenance of health. Kingdom college of natural health
I did google “Graviola cancer”, as suggested by Mr. pro health freedom and came across this: http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/QAA400299/graviola-a-worthwhile-botanical-against-cancer
I doubt it is what Mr. intended for me to find. Googling reservatrol led me to: http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/DSH/resveratrol.html. Other hits returning higher than these were all sites that were selling the items in question. Of course, this doesn’t mean they are not worth reading; I just like to find references without blatant economic incentives. Having said this, I do think there is much to be said for investigating alternatives. I just don’t like the “proven” adjective used indiscriminately.
To Anti Science,
Herbal “medicine” or healing has been around for centuries. And the Big Pharma do make drugs out of what Mother Earth has provided (check out Aspirin – Willow Bark – which the Native peoples here showed the white man/Hippocrates also knew of it and Digoxin – made from Foxglove) White Willow may be slower to bring pain relief; but it supposedly lasts longer.
Then what about Ipecac syrup? So before you say Big Pharma would have made drugs…realize they already have…and you pay many time over what you would pay for the herb or plant. We have become lazy and want others to ‘fix us” because we have been dumbed down to taking handouts and having others care for us. Are you sure you’re not a Pharma Rep? Namaste…