What is an herbalist? According Merriam-Webster online dictionary an herbalist is “a person who practices healing by the use of herbs” pretty simple. My nutrition group this month featured a very nice young woman who is an expert in herbal remedies. She gave a very informative talk on the properties of herbs as an aid in healing the human body. A very important point not to be over looked is, no outside substance or procedure can heal the body. The body heals itself. All we can do is provided material it can use in the process. And the material it uses comes from nature. Our body is made from the earth and uses the earth to repair itself when damaged. We were not made in a factory as most pharmaceuticals are, most pharmaceuticals don’t help the body in the healing process, they usually only relieves symptoms.
This young woman was from a South American country where she had learned how to use the earth to aid the body in the healing process. This wisdom was handed down to her from the older women in her life; mom, grandma and aunts. She also experienced the healing properties herself as a young child. Sadly, she told us about how these arts are being lost, even in remote villages due to adopting the of Western lifestyle of convenience around the world. But it was good to see the young woman have such passion about the earth, and the desire to educate and help people learn for themselves.
Herbal remedies come in many different shapes and sizes and can aid anywhere from a skinned knee to respiratory infections. And many of the things you need can be found in your refrigerator and your backyard garden.
Onions can be used for cough, eye infections, earaches and is one of the herbal remedies for arthritis. The juice of the white cabbage can be used to remove warts and the leaves can help relive chest congestion. Ginger can be used to soothe the stomach. And, garlic well there are too many uses to mention in this small article. Plants from the backyard such as comfrey can be used on wounds or rashes and plantain is very good at taking the sting out of a bee sting. And this is just a scrap of the surface.
The United States seems to have a problem with various herbal remedies and a lot of times homeopathic medicine in general. I would understand this if the pharmaceuticals and surgeries were always shown to be orders of magnitude more effective than these “folk” remedies, but that’s just it, they’re not. The Europeans have been doing an incredible amount of research and science into the effects of herbal remedies vs pharmaceuticals. In the case of treating BPH or an enlarged prostate, it seems that their herbal remedies came out on top.
Saw palmetto is a small palm bush found on the southeastern coastline of the United States. These berries have been shown in studies to be more effective in treating the symptoms of enlarged prostate than the pharmaceutical alternative Proscar. While Proscar has numerous side effects, like erectile dysfunction, saw palmetto has virtually none and even seems to have a positive effect on age related testosterone decline.
Pygeum is another herbal prostate remedy being studied. It seems that this bark found on an indigenous African tree has very similar effects to saw palmetto and works in a very similar way. By reducing estrogen production and reducing the production of dihydrotestosterone or DHT which is thought to be a main cause of BPH, both herbal remedies seem to show great promise.
beta sitosterol which is found in both saw palmetto and pygeum is thought to be one of the main ingredients in all effective prostate remedies. This phytosterol reduces blood cholesterol along with its other neat benefits mentioned above.
If you find yourself with prostate trouble, make sure to ask about what options you have beyond the pharmaceuticals offered and make sure to remember this article and see if your physician would recommend any other prostate remedy for you. Always seek medical attention from a qualified professional if you have symptoms of an enlarged prostate to rule out more serious issues like cancer.
For centuries, herbals have cured a myriad of ailments. Before the age of pharmaceuticals, people depended on herbal cures to heal them when they were sick or fighting common illness. Herbals were also used externally on cuts, bruises and scrapes. The healing powers of herbs are endless.
The following herbal remedies can be used to cure dozens of common problems.
1. Goldenseal has antibiotic properties that will fight infection. Prepare a tea as an effective antibiotic. Add 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of powdered goldenseal root into each cup of hot water. To benefit from the healing properties of this tea, consume up to 2 cups each day.
2. Chamomile for centuries has been used as a calming herb. It can speed the healing process, calm distress of the stomach and fight infection. Make a tea by adding 2-3 teaspoons per cup of hot water. Steep for 10-20 minutes and drink up to 3 cups per day.
3. Garlic is rich in powerful natural antibiotic and anti-viral properties, it can reduce cholesterol and prevent the forming of blood clots. It is important to make garlic a main staple in your kitchen. Use it daily in cooking and food preparation. To make a potent tea, steep 6 cloves of garlic for each cup of cool water for 6 hours. Strain and drink.
4. Slippery Elm Bark – helps with sore throats, cough and upset stomach. This herb is found in commercial throat lozenges and cough drops. It is available for bulk purchase in health food stores and herbal shops and can be made into a tea. Add 1-3 teaspoons per cup of boiling water. Simmer for 10 minutes and drink 3 cups per day.
5. Ginger may help reduce the risk of a heart attack by preventing blood clots. It is commonly used by pregnant woman for morning sickness and is also effective for motion sickness. Prepare a tea by adding 2 teaspoons of grated ginger for each cup of hot water. Steep the ginger for 10 minutes and drink up to 3 times per day.
Centuries old and proven effective. Herbal cures are inexpensive and safe. Try these common remedies for what ails you.
