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HERBAL REMEDIES

In recent years the issue of Alternative Healing has skyrocketed to the forefront of the medical field. A 2004 government survey concluded that more than one third of adults use alternative medicine and healing.

One facet of this burgeoning interest is Herbal Medicine. While it may seem “trendy” to some, Herbal Medicine has been around for thousands of years. In fact, many of the familiar pharmaceutical medications we use today were originally created from “natural” ingredients. Drugs like opium (from poppies), aspirin (from willow bark), digitalis (from foxglove) and quinine (from the cinchona tree.)

Interestingly, the synthetic version of “aspirin” is credited with the beginning of the pharmaceutical industry. A chemist working for the Friedrich Bayer Company in Germany created the synthetic. The company registered the term “aspirin” as a trademark but Bayer lost the patent rights when the Allies seized and resold its foreign assets after World War I.

The right to use the term “aspirin” in the United States was purchased by Sterling Drug in 1918. But even before the patent expired in 1917, Bayer had been unable to prevent their formula from being copied. Hence, the term “aspirin” has been a generic term in the U.S. ever since.

It would be impossible to cover this topic adequately in one guide. What we will endeavor to do with this guide is provide you with an overview of herbal remedies and subsequently give you an in-depth look at 47 simple herbal remedies to common, everyday ailments.

Please remember that there is no substitute for advice from a medical practitioner. The contents provided here should not replace a health and fitness program and is provided for educational purposes only. You should consult your own medical practitioner before embarking on any program that affects your health and well being.

HISTORY OF HERBAL MEDICINE

Herbal Medicine is the use of botanicals (plants) either singularly or in combination to prevent and treat certain ailments and illnesses.

People native to different geographical locations have long used plants and plant extracts to cure specific maladies. Sometimes referred to as “folk” medicine, it is generally recognized that there are three schools of research one can follow with regard to the history of these treatments.

There is the study of medicines based on Greek, Roman and medieval sources which is largely used by Western schools of thought, Ayurvedic which comes from India and the Eastern tradition of Chinese Herbal Medicine. Rather than separation, these different schools of thought provide more commonality than division.

It stands to reason that most ancient peoples used plants that were native to their geographical location which provides sound reasoning as to why different schools of thought exist.

All three of these modalities at one time included both philosophical and spiritual aspects along with the scientific knowledge that existed within a specific time frame. While we are not here to render opinion, one fact does remain. The same study that determined one third of Americans used alternative therapies, the same number surveyed showed a dramatic increase in positive results to more than 60% when “prayer” was included in the mix.

Ayurvedic loosely translates to “knowledge of life.” Dating back to more than 6,000 years ago, Ayurvedic Medicine practiced not just Herbal Medicine, but some of the earliest surgical procedures as well as inoculation. Over the years Ayurvedic Medicine became increasingly more symptomatic as opposed to treating the root cause of disease which originally was steeped in strengthening the immune system.

With all our so-called advancements in the medical field, it’s interesting that physicians are still treating “effect” rather than “cause.” The old adage that, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” could not be more true. This is especially true when it comes to natural remedies.

Most natural remedies are botanical. Singularly or in combination, the numbers of herbs available is astounding. We will barely scratch the surface in this guide and we encourage further research and study.

While this is a presentation on “herbs,” we have included other natural, organic contents. Many of the combinations include both herbs and other sources such as tree bark, alfalfa and rhubarb.

Because there are so many botanicals and combinations, we are using the most common and should not be construed as the ONLY use for a specific herb.

Additionally, please note that we use the “common names” throughout, as opposed to the more confusing, latin words.

Let’s get right to it, shall we?

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