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Herbs For Overall Health
By Rosa parks
Herbs are nutritional foundation nutrients and good alternative medicine to nourish the body's deepest and most basic elements. Medicinal herbs have been used safely and effectively since the time of recorded history for an endless list of reasons from health, healing, weight loss/gain/maintenance, to survival and more.
Natural herbs can offer the body nutrients it does not always receive, either from a poor diet, or environmental deficiencies in the soil and air. They are great body balancers that help regulate body functions.
Today, we, as herbalists, believe and seek to help people build good health with natural sources. They are all natural
and pure, just as nature intended. Natural herbs are wonderful to begin the cleansing process in the body, allowing the body to purify itself. Unlike chemically synthesized, highly concentrated pharmaceutical drugs that produce countless side effects, herbs can realign the body's natural
defenses, balance the body and help the body to heal itself without any side effects.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) more than 1 billion people rely on herbal medicines to some extent. The WHO has listed 21,000 plants have reported medicinal uses around the world. India has a rich medicinal plant flora of some 2500 species, of these, 2000 to 3000 at least 150 species are used commercially on a fairly large scale. Foreign researchers have always appreciated the traditional Indian healers.
History Of Herbs
Herbs have played an important part in man's life for countless years in his politics, romance, love, religion, health, and superstition. Early settlers brought herbs to America for use as remedies for illnesses, flavoring, storing with linens, strewing on floors, or burning for their pleasant fragrances. Some herbs were used to improve the taste of meats in the days before preservation techniques were developed. Other herbs were used to dye homespun fabrics.
Historically, the most important uses of herbs were medicinal. For most of his existence, man had various but limited resources for treating injuries and diseases. Separately and in combination he used any and all of the following: magic and sorcery, prayer, music, crude operations (amputation, bleeding, trepanning), psychotherapy, physical therapy (diet, rest, exercise, fresh aid, water), and internal and external remedies prepared from plants, animals, and minerals. Plant remedies represent the most continuous and universal form of treatment: whatever else men may have done to themselves and to each other in the name of medicine at various times, plants were the basic source of therapeutic products for professional and folk medicine from the earliest days until the twentieth century. In fact, folk medicine - the household use of simple herbal remedies is based on word-of-mouth tradition that probably stretches in an unbroken line to prehistoric times.
Kinds of Herbs
Chitosan: Chitosan is a fiber that comes from the skeletons of crabs and other crustaceans. Chitosan can help you lose weight. Chitosan is to be used in conjunction with a healthy calorie reduction and exercise program.
Aloe Vera: Aloe Vera is used to treat burns, abrasions, skin injuries, and in cosmetic products. A juice made from the gel is used as a drink by many consumers.
Bilberry: Bilberry extract is rich in purple/blue pigments having numerous benefits for the eyes and cardiovascular system. In Europe, bilberry extract is used as an antioxidant. Also used to help increase microcirculation by stimulating new capillary formation, strengthening capillary walls and increasing overall health of the circulatory system.
Alfalfa: Alfalfa herb is primarily used as a blood detoxifier and nutritional supplement. Good for acid stomach, alcoholism, allergies, anemia, appetite stimulant, arthritis, cancer, cholesterol, cramps, diabetes, fatigue, fever, glandular problems, gout, high blood pressure, jaundice, kidney cleanser, improving lactation, radiation damage, ulcers, urinary tract problems, vitamin and mineral deficiency.
Chamomile: Chamomile herb is to be used in conjunction with a healthy calorie reduction and exercise program.
Externally, chamomile extracts are useful for inflammation of skin and mucous membranes.
Psyllium: Psyllium used in inflammatory conditions of mucous membrane of gastro intestinal and genitourinary tracts. Pysllium can be a convenient way to increase the intake of dietary fiber. It has the ability to swell up to 50 times its initial volume when added to liquid. This bulking action can play an important role in maintaining regularity and gastrointestinal health.
Flax: Flax used internally in habitual constipation, functional disorders of the colon resulting from the misuse of laxatives and irritable colon, as a demulcent preparation in gastritis and enteritis.
Benefit of Herbs:
The benefits of herbs are many and varied. Medicinal herbs are taken as tonics to enhance physical and mental well being. Since the dawn of man, herbs have been used for healing purposes and to promote wellness. Today, herbs are still the alternative medicine and primary source of health care for 80% of the world.
Combinations of herbs work better than they do singly, because specific combinations allow inclusion of herbs that can work at different aspects and stages of need, like short term energy, long term endurance, or weight control. Grouping herbs with similar properties increases the latitude of the product's effectiveness and potency. Herbal combinations are not addictive or habit forming supplements, but are powerful nutritional agents that assist the body naturally.
Herbs can reduce risk of heart disease: Herbs do offer some of the best support for a healthy heart, especially when combined with exercise and a well-balanced diet.
Herbs and Pain Inflammation: Herbs known to reduce inflammation can also help stop your pain.
Medicinal herbs are also advantageous because they do not have the long list of dangerous side effects that result from long-term use of steroids and other anti-inflammatory drugs.
Herbs and Bowel Diseases: Diet plays a role in bowel disorders. Herbs such as calendula, marshmallow, licorice, Saint-John's-wort, chamomile, peppermint, hops and wild yam reduce the inflammation that causes the pain associated with these disorders. They also relax the nervous constriction of the digestive muscles and reduce the general tension that can promote bowel problems.
Herbs and The Digestive System: Herbs can help because they act directly on the digestive system simply by swallowing an herb, you put it in contact with your entire digestive tract. Be aware, however, that if your digestive problems involve pain or bleeding, you must see a physician to get checked for any serious disorders, such as appendicitis, intestinal blockage or cancer.
Herbs and Blood Pressure: Herbs reduce stress and muscle tension and may also helpful in lowering blood pressure.
More Detail About Herbs
About the Author
Author By Rosa parks
Article Source: http://www.simplysearch4it.com/author-articles/7673/1.html
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