Herbs

Herbs have been a part of civilization long before society evolved into today’s modern times. Herbs have been used by man for thousands of years for various uses. They were used for decorative purposes, in cooking, for religious ceremonies, to aid love and romance, because of superstitions attached to them, and also for their immense healing properties. In this article, the focus on herbs will be as regards to their medicinal value.

Herbs for Health

Before we come to specific herbs and how they can benefit your health, let’s take a look at what herbs are.

An herb is a plant that is much like a shrub but does not have a thick and woody trunk like a tree. But like trees, an herb plant will flower and produce fruits and seeds. Herbs are classified into three main categories, which are as under:

• Annual Herbs: These herb plants grow and flower only once a year. After the first season is over, annual herbs die and need to be planted again. 
  
  

• Biennial Herbs: These types of herb plants live for two seasons. But in the first season they are only growing; and in the second, they produce flowers and seeds. After the second season is over, these herb plants too die and need to be replanted. 
  
  

• Perennial Herbs: This type of herb plant is forever. Once you plant a perennial herb plant, it will bloom every season thereafter.

Before the era of allopathic or modern medicine, herbs and other plants were the only source for curing man’s health problems. The active ingredients that are found in various herbs are useful for treating a host of medical problems. People in the olden days did not quite understand why a particular herb was beneficial in treating a particular disease. They only knew that it was beneficial and thus called herbs ‘magical’.

With research and studies into herbs and their healing properties, it has become quite clear why herbs are so useful in ensuring optimum health. Many modern drugs and medicines are also made from medicinal herbs and plants. Even today, in many parts of the world, herbs are used for their therapeutic value as many people do not have access to modern drugs, or can’t afford them even if they could get them.

Herbs and their Specific Medicinal Uses

Here is a list of some popular herbs that are used in medicine, and their specific uses.

1) St. John’s Wort: This is an herb that is fast becoming very popular in the United States. It is known to be useful in the treatment of various problems such as reducing symptoms of fibromyalgia, easing hemorrhoids, relieving stress and anxiety, and helping to keep bacterial and viral infections at bay. But it’s most essential use by far is for treating depression.

St. John’s Wort has proven to be highly effective in treating depression, more so than the leading depression drugs on the market, Prozac and Zoloft. Herbal supplements are not readily prescribed in the US, but in Europe where they are, doctors prescribe St. John’s Wort as an effective remedy to the majority of depressed patients.

The herb does not have any harmful side effects as such and is a whole lot cheaper than allopathic drugs to boot. Hence it is increasing in popularity.

2) Gingko Biloba: This is another herb that has become all the rage in the US. Gingko Biloba is a very powerful antioxidant and is also an effective blood thinner. Because of these properties, this herb is very useful for heart patients (as it thins the blood and prevents clogging in the arteries) and will also keep you from becoming old before your time (as it controls the harmful effects of free radicals).

Although there are no major side effects of this herb (minor ones being diarrhea and nausea), people who are on aspirin or other blood thinners should be careful while taking this herb.

The list of herbs that have medicinal properties and are useful in treating different ailments, is very long. Some of these are: Ginseng, Ginger Root, Basil, Caraway, Dill, Garlic, Rosemary, Thyme, Yarrow, Mint, Mustard, Chives, Sweet Marjoram, Parsley, Celery, Sage, Borage etc.

A lot of these sound like what you use in your food, right? Well, yes. Herbs are commonly used for their culinary benefits, but they have excellent healing properties as well.

Using Herbs as Medical Remedies

When using herbs for healing, they are generally processed and used in different forms. Here are some of the common forms of herbal remedies:

• Herbal Tinctures: A tincture is made by adding alcohol to the herbs. The active ingredients of the herbs get dissolved in the alcohol, thus giving you a tincture that can be used as an herbal remedy. Pure ethyl alcohol is what should preferably be used to make an herbal tincture, but in its absence, you can use vodka that has 40-45% alcohol content. 
  
  

• Infusions: An herbal infusion is very easy to make. You just soak the herbs in hot boiling water and keep covered for few minutes, after which you can have the remedy like a tea, either hot or cold. 
  
  

• Decoctions: This form of an herbal remedy goes one step further than an infusion. Instead of just infusing the herbs in hot water, you need to boil the herbs with water to get a decoction. The tough parts of the herb, such as roots, stems etc are usually processed in this manner as their active ingredients do not get released by simple infusion. 
  
  

• Herbal Oils: You can use medicinal herbs in the oil form as well. One way of making herbal oils is to infuse the different parts of the herbs in oil instead of in water. Almond oil, sunflower oil, and olive oil are preferred for making herbal oils.

Most of the medicinal herbs can thus be used in the above forms.

Herbal Supplements

Herbal supplements are a great way to obtain the benefits of medicinal herbs without having to go to all the trouble of making your own herbal remedies. But you should be careful while choosing any herbal supplement.

As the herbal supplement industry is not regulated in the US, you should only buy those supplements that are made at a pharmaceutical GMP compliant facility and are made using standardized extracts of the herbs. This way, you can be sure that the product you are buying is safe for use.

In spite of there being no regulation of such supplements in the US, the fact that thousands of people choose herbal supplements over allopathic drugs, and that billions of dollars are spent on the purchase of herbal supplements each year, is evidence enough that herbs do have medicinal benefits and they do work.