Overview
of Medicinal Herbs
Using
herbs for healing and medicinal purposes has been a part
of many cultures throughout history. Many of these still
use them as their primary medicine.
Much of our western herbal knowledge was passed down through
the ages, though a lot of this knowledge was lost in the
Medieval times, and then again in the Industrial Revolution
when allopathic(or modern) medicine came into the forefront.
Dissatisfaction
with allopathic medicine has brought back interest in alternatives,
such as medicinal plants and their uses, for our health
care. There's been a resurgence in Herbalism in the last
20 years in the U.S. and many people as now looking at herbal
remedies as a choice for some of their medical problems
or as preventative medicine.
There
are many herbal products offered, mainly in health food
stores, that are already prepared for use, although some
people are showing interest in learning about plants, their
medicinal values, how to propagate them and prepare them
for use in healing. Popular preparations include herbal
extracts(which are alcohol, glycerin, or vinegar based),
teas, compresses, and salves.
Many
medicinal herbs offer a safe and gentle action on the body
systems. These tonic herbs strengthen and nourish, often
times helping several body systems at the same time. Lots
of these herbs are easy to grow and require a minimal amount
of care.
Bringing
our healing into our own hands can be rewarding . Many times
our medicine can be found right in our own little garden.
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