The Healing Properties of Herbs

The Earth provides us with everything to sustain life. Herbs are a Natural way of building our bodies up and even healing most ailments. In fact, most medicines we take today have herbs in them. Over the centuries, ‘wise’ men and women, known as healers, knew well the healing properties of these herbs, and the knowledge has been passed down from generation to generation.

The ancient Egyptians used herbs to heal illnesses, their hieroglyphics depicting beautifully this use of herbs. In ancient China and India, herbs were an important part of healing and are even still quite extensively today. Today, more and more people are turning to herbal remedies to use a more natural way of building up and healing the body and mind. There is an herbal cure for almost every illness today --- and we are still learning. People are also using herbs as a preventative agent to help to neutralize certain types of ailments ‘before they strike.’

The body can be looked at as a complete ecosystem, where each of the component parts endeavours to function in a state of balance and natural equilibrium with all the other parts. When a part becomes unbalanced, herbs can help to restore the natural balance. This is the foundation of a robust and a healthy life. The beauty of natural herbs is the fact that they have fewer side effects when compared to ‘manmade’ medication. For this reason, a whole new generation of doctors are learning about and recommending complementary or alternative treatments, such as herbal therapies. More than 80,000 types of plants are used globally for medicinal purposes and over 75% of the global population depends on herbal remedies for treatment of physical ailments/disorders. So, today, herbs from this Earth, are playing a big part in helping to heal our physical bodies and also our mental abilities.

Natural herbal remedies treat the cause of the problem, unlike conventional medicines which are used ‘after’ the disease has shown itself. Apparently, manmade medicines are not intended to prevent but are used ‘after’ because = “they have to make a profit.” Whether this is true or not, no-one can deny that many ‘manmade’ medicines do deal with certain diseases and do even cure certain ailments. Here, though, we are talking about the benefits of herbs.

Healing with herbs is called an ‘alternative medicine’ and the philosophy behind this is that natural health is a consequence of a variety of different influences operating in harmony. It is the lifestyle that is looked at so that herbs become a normal part of that lifestyle --- to focus on making the body and mind strong, to prevent becoming weak in both areas and to ‘sustain’ good health. It is an interesting fact that most of the core concepts (of alternative therapy) behind the natural health approach to wellness are of European origin, and not just from the Far East.

As mentioned before, the only medical care that could have been afforded in past years, was to literally “self-care” to look after yourself. Medical science was in its infant stages, and unrecognizable when compared to today. Superstition and religion ruled life and this included health. Doctors were called “folk healers” and they did not have the same kind of qualifications that we see today. “A tradition of tried and tested herbal remedies grew into a body of knowledge that was largely handed down orally from one generation to the next.”

Prevention is better than cure = for ‘natural’ health = the oldest rule of medicine. At the core of natural health therapy is the belief that all issues relating to health, sickness and healing can be overcome through the simple ‘rule’ of prevention and a change to a healthier, individual lifestyle. To a certain extent, it is our own responsibility to keep our own health as best we can.

What is an herb? It is any plant which is grown for culinary, medicinal or even a spiritual value. Medicinal herbs are usually shrubs or woody plants. “Herbalism” is a very old folk medicine tradition that is based on the use of plants and plant extracts. In recent years, herbalism has come back onto the world stage. Pharmacologists, micro-biologists, botanists and natural product chemists are literally going through the entire plant ‘species’ with a fine toothed comb looking for further cures for many of the diseases that are coming up today. Many drugs that we have today are derived from plants.

A survey conducted by the National Centre for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, in May 2004, indicated that herbal therapy (or the use of natural products besides vitamins and minerals) was the “highest used complementary and alternative medicine.” A variety of plants can help to reduce the total serum cholesterol levels. Black cohosh and similar plants have proven effective in treating the symptoms of menopause. The common cold can be reduced by using Echinacea extracts. Black cumin can help to cure coughs, asthma, and influenza and stomach ache. The list is endless, putting herb to ailment --- and we are still learning. St. John’s Wort can be highly effective in cases of mild to moderate depression.

Here is a warning! As herbs are natural, some feel they can take any herb, in any way with no side effects. This simply is not true! Herbs still have ‘chemicals’ in them and still need to be handled expertly. Some plants look beautiful but are poisonous to the touch. Without expert advice, we could end up damaging ourselves. An example of this is hemlock and night-shade, names we know well, but plants which can prove fatal ‘through carelessness.’ Another danger is mixing the wrong herb with the wrong pharmaceutical drug, which, again, can prove fatal!

It is a scientific fact that herbal extracts cure but can also help to prevent disease. With the greater understanding we have today of the body and the mind, we are in a better position to understand how herbs can be effective in helping us. “It is possible for people to become so influenced by the natural healing movement that they abandon conventional medicine altogether. Avoid falling into this trap. Herbal therapies have just begun to be studied scientifically and until proven safe and sound should only be used as complementary, alternative medicines and not the main medical treatment.” It is always best to choose a medical treatment that has been proven safe and effective!

So let’s get down to it. Which herb will help with which ailment? The answer is endless, so I have chosen what I think could be some of the main ‘ailments’ which many of us suffer from.

ACNE = tea tree oil / chamomile / rose / aloe

ANXIETY = oats / chamomile / vervain / lavender /St. John’s Wort / valerian

ARTHRITIS = evening primrose / green tea

ASTHMA = garlic / onion / turmeric

BLISTERS = lavender / St. John’s Wort

BRUISES = comfrey / St. John’s Wort

BURNS = aloe / comfrey

CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME (CFS) = Echinacea / Siberian ginseng

COLD SORES = lemon balm / St. John’s Wort

DANDRUFF = evening primrose / tea tree

DEPRESSION = St. John’s Wort / oats

DIARRHEA = apples / agrimony / blackberry and raspberry leaf

EZCEMA = liquorice / Echinacea / comfrey

FATIGUE = Chinese ginseng / liquorice

GAS = peppermint / aniseed / ginger

HANGOVERS = dandelion / honey / fruit

HAYFEVER = stinging nettle / peppermint / garlic

HEADACHES = ginger / peppermint / bay

HEARTBURN = aloe juice / liquorice root / cabbage juice

INDIGESTION = peppermint / marshmallow

INSECT BITES = aloe / witch hazel / comfrey

INSOMNIA = valerian / lemon balm / passion-flower / chamomile

MENOPAUSE = red raspberry / liquorice root

NAUSEA = ginger / peppermint / chamomile (ginger works well with this one, I know from experience)

PNEUMONIA = Echinacea / mullein

SHINGLES = cayenne / lemon balm

SMOKING = mullein / coltsfoot / lobelia

SORE THROAT = eucalyptus / Echinacea / liquorice / lemon balm

TOOTHACHE = clove / turmeric / chamomile

ULCERS = chamomile / meadowsweet / calendula / liquorice

WARTS = black birch bark / dandelion

I have just mentioned the herb and put it with the ailment it can help to cure. The advice is to “get expert advice” before taking any of the herbs here mentioned.

St. John’s Wort is mentioned many times, helping to heal many different ailments. It is a plant with yellow, star-shaped flowers. As we have seen, it is most commonly used for depression, mood disorders and the symptoms of menopause. You can buy this herb at a Health Food store in liquid extracts, pills and teas. The FDA classifies St. John’s Wort as a dietary supplement. This herb ‘creates’ many actions within the body, many of these are antiviral that promotes healing and can repair wounds. It is not a ‘fats acting’ cure and can take months before any benefit is felt. The ‘ingredients’ within St. John’s Wort appear to increase the levels of chemical messengers in the brain. These act to list and regulate the mood. However, because it is not classified as a drug, it has not been tested for safety or effectiveness --- so please, get expert advice “Before” taking it!

Chamomile is another well-known herb which can help to ease the effects of many ailments. Preparations of this herb is commonly used for hay fever, inflammation, menstrual disorders, insomnia, rheumatic pain (plus many more ailments). Taken in tea form, it has traditionally been used for many years. It is ‘safe’ to take as a supplement but should not replace prescribed medicine. Chamomile contains chemicals called flavonoids, which are a type of nutrient which play a significant role in the medicinal effects. Chamomile is a flowering plant in the daisy family. As with all herbs --- please get expert advice “Before” taking it!

Lavender --- most of us know the beautiful aroma that comes from this herb. It relaxes the mind, bringing peace into the atmosphere which surrounds us. It can be used as an antiseptic and anti-inflammatory, helping minor burns and bug bites. Lavender can be taken as a tea. The fragrance from the oils of this herb are believed to help promote calmness and reduce stress and anxiety. Lavender is used in fragrances and shampoo as it helps to purify the skin. Again, this herb is a supplement and should not replace prescribed medication. As with all herbs --- please get expert advice “Before” taking it!

So, herbal remedies are safe to take and are a good, natural alternative or supplement. It is important to understand them though, as even herbs have side-effects, and can be poisonous if taken the wrong way. The Natural way is always the best way --- but please get expert advice “Before” taking any herb!

(My research comes from = The Ultimate Herbal Health Bible and Medical News Today)