About Herbs:
Healing with Herbs and Herbal Remedies
Disclaimer: This information is not meant to replace any medical treatment. It is offered here as a service. Use
this information at your own risk. No guarantee is made towards validity. This is my personal belief on how high
quality herbs work for me. I've enjoyed using herbs for colds for several years. Friends of mine use them for
everything. Here are a few samples of ways that I use simple herbs. Lorraine V.
For more information on herbs take a look at our herbs section. You'll be able to get a better overview of the uses of herbs, magical herbs, garden herbs, and so on. There's also some more specific info on herbs such
as saw palmetto.
See below for the uses of common herbs and read the following section, which is a guest
article from Edith, of Age Old Herbs:
Herbalism As A Method Of Medicine
Quick note: Any particular herb or plant is safe only because it's been shown to be safe. It's
not safe just because it's natural. Some very deadly things are perfectly natural. See the blog post,
Safe Because It's Natural? Not.
Onward...
The use of plants for healing is by far the world’s oldest and most widely known therapy. Since the beginning of
time, the knowledge of herbal remedies has been handed down from generation to generation. With the growth of
synthetic drug manufacturing, however, the direct use of medicinal plants for a time, became a thing of the past.
It is only recently that there has been an increase in interest in herbalism as a method of medicine that is safe,
natural, and cheap.
The purpose of herbal remedies is to stimulate the body’s own natural healing abilities by cleansing and
rebalancing. Like the synthetic drugs, many herbs contain antibacterial and antiviral properties. The advantage of
herbal remedies is their ability to rapidly return the body to a state of health without the damaging side effects;
unlike synthetic drugs.
Herbs, correctly prescribed, can be combined to target, regulate, heal or tone any organ in the body, unless the
tissue has been completely destroyed.
The earliest known records of medicinal herbs date back to 3,000 BC, from northern China. The herbs identified in
those records; such as, myrrh and frankincense, are still being used today. At that time, however, herbalism was
often explained in terms of astrology and folklore.
From the 16th century on, the division between herbalism and allopathic medicine grew further and further apart. By
the 19th century, published knowledge of herbalism had increased through advances in scientific botany, and a
number of North American Indian herbal remedies had been added to the pharmacopoeia, the list of medicinal drugs.
However, herbal cures were out of fashion.
Pre-packaged medicines used in orthodox medical practice are in fact extracted from traditional medicinal herbs;
such as digitalis and aspirin. Research establishments have confirmed the value of the traditional uses of whole
herbs.
A qualified medical herbalist combines a sophisticated understanding of the human body with the knowledge
of herbal pharmacopoeia. They are trained to search out the root cause of ailments and symptoms. Diarrhea, for
example, may have many possible causes; among them, a viral infection, nervous stress, diet, or even contaminated
water.
Although many herbs will correct the symptoms, it takes an experienced practitioner to identify the cause. For
this reason it is wise to consult a professional, even if you have read about the effects of a remedy and matched
it to an ailment.
Edith, of Age-OldHerbs.com, says that herbal nutrition is all about managing, protecting,
perfecting, and preventing health concerns with natural healing herbs. Check out her site for a lot more info on
herbs, herbal nutrition, and more.
Uses for Common Herbs:
Herbs for the Cold or Flu:
- Echinacea: for congestion/flu; immune system builder
- Golden Seal: for viruses (use Echinacea too)
- Elderberry: for fever/flu - much h4er, use only when sick
- Oregano Oil: for infection
Herbs for Motion Sickness:
- Ginger: works for 30% of people - no side effects; astronauts use it
Herbs for Parasites:
- Clove: for parasite eggs
- Green Walnut Hull (tincture): parasites
- Wormwood: parasite larva
Stomach calming herbs:
- Peppermint: for stomach ailments
- Ginger: queasiness
Herbs to Prevent Gum Disease:
- Bloodroot: oral antiseptic helps reduce plaque deposits (do not ingest)
- Echinacea: oral anti-bacterial
- Chamomile: reduces inflammation and kills germs
Avoid These Herbs If You Are Pregnant:
Avoid the following herbs when pregnant (there may be more):
Ginger, Black Cohosh, Blue Cohosh, and Chasteberry, Pennyroyal, Clove, Green Walnut Hull, Wormwood
Herbal Bath:
Herbal baths can be used for relaxation, healing, and cleaning. Here is how one prepares an herbal bath:
Boil 3-4 quarts of water. Add a pouch of herbs to a large pan of water and simmer for 45 minutes. strain
the herbs from water and add the (now colored) water to your bath water.
Do not add bath bubbles or bath oil to your water. Soak for 15-30 minutes. Be careful with plastic tubs
as the oils may stain. Reduce the amount of herbs if making a bath for children.
Inform Your Doctor about herbs taken:
Always tell your doctors what herbs, supplements and other medications you are taking. This can prevent some
unpleasant drug interactions.
Here are some herb related sites:
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