About Herbal Medicine

Herbal medicine is the use of natural herbs such as leaves, flowers, roots, seeds, and berries for therapeutic purposes.

Ancient Egyptians and Chinese have been using herbal medicine long before history was recorded. Also, Native American and African cultures traditionally use natural herbs for their rituals and medications.

According to recent scientific studies, certain herbs are thought to actually have therapeutic effects due to their wide use among different cultures all over the world.

Once chemical analysis became available in the 19th century, scientists could now research, extract, and modify the natural ingredients inside of plants. Once this could be done, naturally, scientists began to create their own versions of these herbal ingredients.

Interest in herbal medicines began to decrease once scientists began to mass produce these herbal compounds in pharmaceuticals.

Even after this decline in interest, *0% of the world's population still relied on herbal medications for primary health care therapies, according to the World Health organization.

Side effects and cost have become a major criticism for these synthetic herbal compounds. So, once again, the interest increased in herbal medicines. And, in Germany, there are hundreds of plant-based medicines that are prescribed by 70% of German doctors.

There are many ingredients in the herbs used for medicinal purposes. But, the ingredients that cause the therapeutic effects are unknown. It is believed by many scientists that all of the ingredients all work together to for the ingredients to cause the therapeutic effects.

The habitat in which the plant grew can change the outcome of the success in herbal medicines. The soil, climate, and also bugs surrounding the herbal plants are all factors participating in the outcome for each user.

Herbal medicine has been used to treat a variety of different condition, such as asthma, eczema, PMS, headaches/migraines, fatigue, and plenty of others. And there are many popular herbs that are used worldwide for medicinal purposes.

Ginkgo is believed to improve judgment, and social function of people suffering from dementia and Alzheimer's disease.

Kava Kava is another common medicinal herb that is used as treatments for conditions like anxiety.

Another commonly used herb is Saw Palmetto. BPH (Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia) is a condition that over 2 million men in the United States use this herb to treat this condition. Flow measures and urinary symptoms are both believed to be improved due to the use of Saw Palmetto.

For an antidepressant effect, St. John's wort has been proven to improve depression symptoms in some controlled, clinical trials.

Valerian has been used by many people as a sleep-inducing agent and for the reduction of the "hangover feeling."

Even though these herbs have been used for medicinal purposes, they come with warning. Although it hasn't been proven, many commonly used herbs have been linked to serious conditions, such as liver damage, UV ray sensitivity, allergic reactions, bleeding time, metal poisoning, seizures, restlessness, and fatigue. So, you should consider these conditions before using herbal medicines.

If you are seeking relief from any type of condition from a natural source, you may want to research herbal medicine. Almost every drug store, and even some grocery stores, carries some type of herbal medicines. Before you start using these natural remedies, you should consult your doctor to make sure that it is safe for you to use.

Learn about herbal remedies as a way to improve memory at WaysToImproveMemory.com.

Natural Herbal Medicine


Have you ever tried a natural or herbal remedy to cure a condition or possibly for everyday usage? Some people think of herbal remedies are a ruse to lure people in and buy products. However now a days even medical doctors are realizing the benefits of natural herbal remedies. Herbs have been in use for over 5,000 years with several different cultures including Sumerian, Greek, Egyptian, Arabian, Roman, German, Swiss, and English.

The western culture has been using herbal medicine for thousands of years making herbalism one of the oldest forms of medicine. Additionally it is possibly one of the most widespread medicines with about 80% of the worlds population still using herbal medicine. Herbal medicine unlike conventional medicine is not only used for treatment of symptoms or conditions. Herbal medicine prevents diseases and illnesses, maintains proper daily body functioning and enhances mental attitude, appearance and performance. Herbal remedies can be used to help in areas such as digestion, respiratory, circulation, immune, endocrine, nervous system, detoxification, and externally for the skin, hair and nails. Herbal experimentation has been the basis for both Indian herbal medicine known as Ayurvedic and Chinese herbal medicine.

Chinese herbal medicine reflects Chinese belief that the universe is made up of energy called chi. Additionally human beings have an innate relationship with the world and environment surrounding them through chi; the human body is a small universe within itself made up of complex systems of energy and matter that works to maintain health of body and mind. Chinese herbal medicine is the primary therapeutic modality for internal medicine in China. This is used in conjunction with external modalities such as acupuncture, acupressure, massage, tai chi, meditation, dermabrasion and food therapy. With over 500 Chinese herbs, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) combines herbs to create specific formulas to fit the individual patient.

Indian herbal medicine also known as Ayurvedic medicine and is the oldest organized system of medicine. Today we classify it as a complementary and alternative medicine but to Indians is known as the divine medicine due to its long history. Ayurvedic is grounded in the understanding that the universe and the body are composed of five great elements: Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Ether. Additionally Ayurveda stresses the importance of balance through three elemental energies. Everyone possesses these energies or doshas as they are known. These doshas are important because when they are balanced within the body, then you are healthy, but when they become imbalanced the body possesses diseases. Ayurveda stresses the importance of a healthy metabolic system, proper digestion, and proper excretion to lead to vitality. In addition exercise, yoga, meditation and massage maintain the external body. Therefore, Ayurvedic medicine addresses the body, mind and spirit as a whole for perfect health.

Herbal medicine no matter where it is being used derives from the earth's plants. A natural remedy can use any part of that plant, the root, the stem, the flower, the seeds, even the liquid inside the plant. This is why there are so many herbs that exist because from each plant there can be several different herbs extracted and several different uses as well. Herbal remedies come in all types of forms such as a pill, capsule, gel, ointment, cream, liquid, oil, or tea. Many common herbal remedies can be found right under our noses in our very own kitchens. Such as garlic, cinnamon, ginger, peppermint, tumeric, and chamomile tea. Herbal supplements can be taken singularly or mixed together to achieve a specific result. Common conditions that have found relief through herbal remedies include angina, arthritis, skin care, thyroid, urinary tract infections and many more. New products are coming out that help for additional problems such as smoking cessation, removing unwanted hair, and eliminating wrinkles.

The switch to herbal and natural medicine has been a long and slow process, however the population as a whole has shown a shift from traditional medicine with prescriptions and nasty side effects to natural, organic products. With more and more healthcare practitioners promoting more natural ways to relieve symptoms, herbal medicine is making its official debut into modern medicine. Why wait to go see a doctor to get a prescription that costs outrageous amounts of money that could cause them additional symptoms? Natural herbal remedies can be bought at the local store or you may already have it in your kitchen cabinet. So why not try a natural herbal remedy to treat your problem? It may change the way you live your life.

http://www.universalhealthinfo.com

By Sarah_Labdar