Medicinal Herbs


History

The history of the use of medicinal herbs dates back several thousand years, and it has continued to be a source of treatment for various diseases and bothersome health conditions up to the present time. In the 1500s, chemical medicines made from minerals and other substances were developed and improved over the following centuries. In the 20th century, mineral based drugs, and later synthetic drugs, replaced medicinal herbs in Western medicine, particularly in the United States. There is an old saying that for every human ailment, nature has provided a botanical antidote. The more scientists study plants and their medicinal properties, the more it appears that this may not be an understatement. A large percentage of modern drugs contain plant derived ingredients or synthetic copies of plant derivatives. There are thousands of entries in the pharmacopoeia of medicinal herbs as remedies for specific ailments.


Uses

In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration does not recognize medicinal herbs as having disease curing efficacy. Herbal remedies have been well established as part of alternative medicines. Alternatively, foreign medical journals are filled with reports of medicinal herbs found to be useful in treating various diseases and serious ailments. In general, medicinal herbs are primarily used to moderate symptoms caused by ailments and disease, rather than affect a cure. Medicinal herbs also work to maintain healthy conditions within the body in order to raise the body’s resistance to certain medical conditions

Our purpose here is not to promote the use of medicinal herbs for any purpose, since that is the province of herbalists and alternative medicine doctors, but merely to introduce visitors to our site to the vast array of medicinal herbs and the methods used to prepare them for use.

Preparations

In general, specific plant parts of individual plants are used medicinally, usually the leaves, seeds, flowers or roots. Sometimes more than one part is used. Either the leaves or inner bark of a tree is used. Some of the more popular methods of preparing medicinal herbs, or herbal remedies, for use includes the following:
    For Internal Use
    Tea – Brew loose, cut up plant parts or teabags in nearly boiling water for five to ten minutes.
    Tincture – Quick and easy way to take medicinal herbs, keeps for years, but contains alcohol.
    Vinegar Extract – Use for fungal infections and as a gargle, no alcohol, lasts for years, but strong vinegar taste and small selection.
    Tablets and Capsules – Convenient way to take medicinal herbs with no bad taste or alcohol, but short storage life.
   
    For External Use
    Poultice – Fresh, mashed herbs; very effective for infection but a little messy to prepare.
    Bath – Use fresh medicinal herbs, teas or purchased essential oils in the bath water.
    Compress – Cloth soaked in herbal water, held or tied to the skin.
    Salve – Herbal oil thickened with beeswax applied directly to skin ailments.

The above list is just an example of the many ways medicinal herbs can be prepared for use.