Healing Through Nature

Herbal medicine has been used by mankind and by other members of the animal kingdom since time began. Take for example the cat that chews on grass in order to make itself sick to clear fur balls or other obstructions in its digestive system. Ancient tribes people who gathered certain herbs and fruits to dress wounds or to imbibe. The use of cloves to ease toothache, using the dandelion as a diuretic, mint leaves as a digestive. There are as many herbal remedies as there are ailments yet, even though most are perfectly safe when used under the direction of a trained herbalist or when the instructions on packaged herbal remedies are followed, there can be side effects. It is prudent then to use these alternatives to mainstream medicines with care to be on the safe side.
When you look at the growth in the number of herbal and fruit teas that are now marketed and at the diverse range of outlets that stock them it is clear that as a nation we are becoming increasingly interested in finding alternative, healthful remedies. The same can be said for the growth in the vitamin, mineral and supplements sector which is a multi million pound business offering remedies and supplements for individuals at all stages of life and for a huge range of ailments.
Few adults in the UK can claim never to have taken a vitamin tablet or a food supplement or to have selected certain foodstuffs because of their efficacy for certain ailments. Some argue that most supplements are unnecessary to those who eat a balanced and healthy diet. But on the other hand there are consumers who swear by the benefits they have gained through taking herbal remedies at certain times in their lives. Take, for example, the menopause – here there has been considerable proven research that combinations of herbal extracts such as sage, black cohosh, agnus castus go a long way to relieve symptoms like hot flushes. For irritable bowel syndrome aloe vera and peppermint are known to ease the symptoms. A topical application of arnica gel is widely used for bruising and sprains whilst comfrey has long been renowned for soothing bumps and bruises and healing scars. Chickweed, which can be eaten as a salad ingredient, makes an effective tincture for rheumatism and in a cream form can ease psoriasis.
Chamomile is crowned as the queen of calming herbs, as an aid for restful sleep, and also eases PMT and menstrual cramps. It is, for example, one of the most popular of all herbal teas. Valerian is also known as a soothing, tranquilising herb which helps to encourage restful sleep. Stomach upsets can be helped by cinnamon and root ginger as can devil’s claw which in turn is also a powerful ally for those suffering from rheumatoid and osteo-arthritis.
Echinacea is frequently used for throat, chest and viral infections as is garlic in its various forms. For headaches and migraine feverfew comes out leaps and bounds and it also helps with menstrual pain. Ginger is a wonderful digestive aid and when combined with chamomile can help control nausea. For memory improvement then gingko leaf improves circulation and blood flow to the brain and is often recommended for the elderly and those suffering from dementia. It is also widely believed that it can reduce the risks of stroke. Golden seal is good for all of the mucus membranes and is often used for cases of thrush, conjunctivitis and hay fever.
Those seeking a major energy boost or extra powers of concentration for exams for example or major projects, then Korean ginseng supports them mentally and physically. It also a known aphrodisiac for men and improves health and well being in old age. For high blood pressure many people turn to hawthorn berry which also, incidentally, is recommended for asthma and bronchial infections and if the latter is the problem then Iceland moss is very potent. Milk thistle comes into its own for its efficacy in protecting the liver and is often used to help deal with hangovers. Mint is excellent for controlling nausea and for clearing the head. Psyllium husk is a good the bowels as it helps regulate bowel movements and can also help sufferers of IBS, those with high cholesterol and those seeking to lose weight. Raspberry leaf helps prevent miscarriage and is often used during the final stages of pregnancy when it helps to improve the effectiveness of contractions.
Depression can be helped with St John’s Wort but must not be taken alongside certain prescription drugs – always check first with your GP to be on the safe side. Rosemary is also known to encourage recovery and act as a tonic for the nervous system. Slippery elm is primarily used to help with poor digestion, IBSD and colitis. Red clover and tea tree are excellent for acne, eczema and psoriasis, with tea tree also coming into its own as a natural antiseptic.
If you are considering trying herbal remedies then go to your local health food store and ask what its staff recommend for your particular needs. The higher priced products are not always the best by any means so compare different brands – looking carefully at the amount of active ingredients in the tablets or capsules. Sometimes you will fi nd a lesser known brand that costs half of some of the heavily advertised ones.
If you are pregnant then don’t take anything other than ginger root which can help with morning sickness and raspberry leaf and this is one time of life when it is always best to check with your GP to be 100 per cent sure.