Using Herbs As A Therapeutic Choice
by Kathi
(Pennsylvania)
When talking to many people, often they assume with the advent of conventional medicine and drugs, herbs and plants are just not needed anymore. Why worry about using a plant if there's a pill to pop which will get rid of all your ills, almost immediately?
The reality though, almost 80% of the world still prefers plants to pills. Even in an industrialized country like the United States, up to 25% of the pharmaceuticals used daily written by prescription are actually a plant-derived formula.
Many more people daily, usually because of word of mouth from family or friends, are finding that using an herbal preparation as their first line of defense is often cheaper, easier and they receive more satisfactory end results (a cure over just masking the symptoms)plus ultimately less risky in the end because of the lack of possible side effects.
So, obviously, herbs are a long way from being obsolete.
At Home Beginner's Health Kit
Each of the following are generally easy to obtain, easy to use and almost always successful for most people. Check at your local drug store or health food store to find a good quality product and follow the directions precisely.
- Aloe Vera: heals minor burns
- Chamomile: eases upset stomach and indigestion
- Citronella: has long been a summer time staple to repel insects
- Dill Seed: eases many strong stomach complaints
- Echinacea: used to fight infections
- Feverfew: can prevent the onset of migraine headaches
- Garlic: when used as an antibiotic (it often helps to prevent antibiotic resistance which is becoming a major concern in the field of medicine)
- Ginger: is excellent in preventing and reducing the symptoms of motion sickness whether in a car (by land), sea, plane or train
- Goldenseal: to fight infection
- Peppermint: to ease stomach complaints
- St. John's Wort: helps to ease the symptoms of depression
- Saw Palmetto: eases prostate health
- Valerian: common for use to ease insomnia
- Willow Bark: eases pain and inflammation (this is the major ingredient of the standard aspirin)
- Witch Hazel: eases the pain and inflammation of hemorrhoids
