Healing Herbs

Natural Herbs

2012-01-07T15:55:00.001-08:00

Toothache Remedies
Natural herbs have been used to relieve toothache pain since history was recorded and probably even earlier than that. Hundreds of years ago, herbs were the only way to stop the pain. Dentists were just starting to come around, although they didn’t have anything like the equipment and sophistication that they have these days. Teeth were pulled during these times, but it normally happened with alcohol to numb the pain then pliers to remove the tooth.
Natural herbs such as cloves, calendula, tarragon, and yarrow can be used to help relieve the pain until you can get to the dentist. For many years, different cultures have relied on herbs to help control the pain of a toothache and provide temporary relief.
The herb known as clove the flower bud of the tree native to tropical areas. Early American physicians were the first to extract the oil from the bud and use it to rub on the gums to relieve toothache. The pain stops almost instantly and even today, if oil of cloves is compared to other natural toothache remedies, cloves are the most effective.
Yarrow can be found in Asia, Europe, and North America. It normally grows wild in meadows, fields, and in open wood lands. The root of the yarrow contains the anaesthetic effect. If you apply the fresh root of yarrow to your tooth or gums, it will help to stop the pain at least until you can get an appointment with the dentist.
Different cultures around the world have relied on herbs to help control the pain of a toothache and provide temporary relief.For instance, Native Americans rubbed the inner bark from the butternut tree on their gums to get relief from toothaches.
The butternut tree is found in North America along rivers in well drained soil, rich woods and even back yards. It is from the same genus as the black walnut tree. Once the tree matures, it can reach heights of up to 60 feet, with the bark being light grey in color, and the leaves and the fruit resembling the black walnut tree.Throughout the course of time, the use of herbal remedies and preventatives has proven to be a very effective method of treating ailments.
If you are interested in herbs or have any questions about them, you’ll find an absolute wealth of information in Helen Andersons book, Herbs The Natural Alternative, which is illustrated so you can recognise each herb. Today doctors and dentists alike are becoming more knowledgeable about herbal alternatives and should be able to recommend natural remedies to you if you request them.The next time you experience the pain of a toothache - you should always remember that herbs are a great way to relieve the pain.

Sleep Like A Baby!
I always think this expression is something of a misnomer – babies tend to wake up every four hours or even less! Still, we all accept that babies are peaceful and stress free when they are asleep, so at least the saying holds true in that respect.As we grow up and our life takes on the responsibilities and stresses adulthood brings, getting a good night’s sleep is not as easy as it should be.
I personally think my brain springs into hyper activity the instant my head hits the pillow these days! So what can we do to ensure a good night’s sleep that will see us waking bright eyed and bushy tailed – to quote another age old saying?Prescription drugs are an option of course, but one I choose to avoid for several reasons.
Natural alternatives are always my choice as they are less habit forming and have few, if any, side effects. They also don’t have me waking up with a drug ‘hangover’ the next day.
The most effective natural herbs for a good night’s sleep are Passion flower, Lemon Balm, Hops, Skullcap and Camomile. These calmative herbs not only ensure a sound sleep, but also calm nerves and dispel any agitation or irritability you may be feeling.
Lemon Balm has been proven especially useful for hundreds of years as it serves to relieve pain and also aid the digestion, which is really useful as indigestion is frequently the cause of unsettled sleep.
Skullcap is a nerve tonic and still considered one of the best therapies around today. Using it at night helps to bring tranquillity and help you wake up feeling well rested, calm and ready to face whatever the day may bring.
Hops have the reputation for bringing a good night’s sleep and calming nerves – but not when they’re an ingredient in beer!
Passionflower is quite powerful and especially calming for a restful night’s sleep.
Camomile is well known for its calming properties and chamomile tea is sold in most stores.
Valerian is also very calming, but not everyone reacts well to it, so I don’t recommend it’s use for everyone and it should only be used on the recommendation of a qualified herbalist or naturopath.
Information about other safe and useful herbs to promote sleep and offer alternatives to conventional medicine for other problems can be found in Helen Anderson’s 100+ page, fully illustrated book, Herbs The Natural Alternative. I use it for reference regularly- the illustrations certainly help me recognise each herb.

Reference Guide

2011-12-12T21:55:00.000-08:00

A great resource that has been in demand are the reference guides, so here are the links:

My thanks to Mike Adams the Health Ranger for making this valuable resource available. Check out his Natural News site for the latest on Natural Health news. You can also subscribe to his newsletter which is always full of the latest health related news that you may otherwise not hear about. As well he has many publications available, some of which are free for you to download. His Natural News Store is also worth a visit.

About Ayurveda

2011-11-22T19:19:00.001-08:00

About Ayurveda

Comparison of Medical Systems

Overview

Ayurvedic Medicine is also called Ayurveda. It is a system of medicine that originated in India several thousand years ago. The term Ayurveda combines two Sanskrit words: ayur, which means life, and veda, which means science or knowledge. Ayurveda means "the science of life."

Ayurveda is a whole medical system which integrates and balances the body, mind, and spirit (thus, it is considered "holistic"). This balance is necessary for contentment and good health. Ayurveda also proposes treatments for specific health problems. A primary aim of Ayurvedic medicine is to cleanse the body of substances that can cause disease. This helps re-establish the harmony and balance necessary for optimal health.

Ayurveda has long been the main system of health care in India. About 70 percent of India's population lives in rural areas; about two-thirds of rural people use Ayurveda and medicinal plants to meet their primary health care needs. In addition, most major cities have an Ayurvedic college and hospital. There are 587,536 registered traditional medical practitioners, 2,860 hospitals providing Ayurvedic treatment, and 22,100 dispensaries for traditional medicine in India. This allows over 500 million people in India to rely solely on Ayurveda today.

Ayurveda and variations of it have also been practiced for centuries in Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Tibet. The professional practice of Ayurveda in the United States began to grow and became more visible in the late 20th century.

Professional Accreditation

Practitioners of Ayurveda have various types of training. Some are trained in the Western medical tradition (such as medical or nursing school) and then study Ayurveda. Others may have training in naturopathic medicine, a whole medical system, either before or after their Ayurvedic training. Many study in India, where there are more than 150 undergraduate and more than 30 postgraduate colleges for Ayurveda. This training can take up to 5 years.

Reliance on Herbs

According to World Health Organization report, over 80% of the world population relies on plant-based traditional medicine for their primary healthcare needs.

In Ayurveda, the distinction between food and medicine is not as clear as in Western medicine. Food and diet are important components of Ayurvedic practice, and so there is a heavy reliance on treatments based on herbs and plants, oils (such as sesame oil), common spices (such as turmeric), and other naturally occurring substances.

Currently, some 5,000 products are included in the "pharmacy" of Ayurvedic treatments. Historically, plant compounds have been grouped into categories according to their effects. For example, some compounds are thought to heal, promote vitality, or relieve pain. The compounds are described in many texts prepared through national medical agencies in India. The following are examples of commonly used herbs:

The spice turmeric has been used for various diseases and conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, Alzheimer's disease, and wound healing.
An extract from the resin from a tropical shrub (Commiphora mukul, or guggul) has been used for a variety of illnesses. In recent years, there has been research interest in its use to lower cholesterol.
The essential oil extracted from Holy Basil is used as counteract depression and mental stress.

India has 16 agro-climatic zones, 45,000 different plant species, and 15,000 medicinal plants. The Indian Systems of Medicine have identified 1,500 medicinal plants, of which 500 species are mostly used in the preparation of drugs. These medicinal plants contribute to 80% of the raw materials used in the preparation of Ayurvedic Medicine.

Regulatory Situation

Ayurveda and Yoga are recognized by the Government of India. The first step in granting this recognition was the creation of the Central Council of Indian Medicine Act of 1970. The main mandates of the Central Council are as follows:

to standardize training by prescribing minimum standards of education in traditional medicine, although not all traditional practitioners and homeopaths need to be institutionally trained to practice;
to advise the central Government in matters relating to recognition / withdrawal of medical qualifications in traditional medicine in India;
to maintain the central register of Indian medicine, revise the register from time to time, prescribe standards of professional conduct and etiquette, and develop a code of ethics to be observed by practitioners of traditional medicine in India. All traditional medicine practitioners and homeopaths must be registered to practice.

The Indian Government seeks the active and positive use of traditional medicine in national health programmes, family welfare programmes, and primary health care.

Asian Herbs

2011-11-22T18:36:00.001-08:00

Asian countries are famous for their use of medicinal healing herbs. Favorable warm climate is one explanation as well as the culture, where it is traditional to use herbs to fight diseases when even modern drugs don't work. But these days people in many countries other than Asia use healing herbs as safe and natural way to healthy life.

People use herbs in many different ways to improve their ways of life for example, diet herbal supplement, or as body creams and lotions with medicinal herbs.

Healing herbs vs. conventional drugs

Explanation of healing herbs popularity is simple, people use natural medicinal herbs instead of the drugs you can buy in chemist shops because herbs don't create you any additional health problems, there are no side effects.

How effective is herbal medicine? It usually gives the same result as most chemical drugs; however, it will not work as fast as strong conventional drugs. For the reason that natural healing herbs stimulate your immune system to fight the disease and that takes time. Healing herbs are only beneficial if taken regularly and exactly as prescribed. And to make sure the cure works, don't stop taking it when you feel better, finish the treatment for lasting result.

Using healing herbs for your benefit

People who have serious health problems, like high blood pressure, heart conditions and even cancer try natural herbal treatments in hope that it will work. As already mentioned, the side effects of herbal medicine are minimal, but you still need to administer the right ingredients. For herbal medicine to work best it should be taken at the right dosage and at the right time of day. Morning is usually a good time. To find the best herbs for your problem, you should not rely on advertisement, but talk to a doctor about any herbs you want to use.

Don't just assume that all medicinal herbs are good for you

Many people tend to self-medicate, but you really shouldn't, because natural herbs not always agree with other medication you take. Most doctors agree, you won't receive many benefits when you are not careful of what herbal medication you take and how.

Most commonly known healing herbs are:

Aloe Vera
Garlic
Chamomile
St John's wort
Tea tree

You need doctor's advice

Find a doctor who is knowledgeable about herbal medicine, not all modern physicians approve of using herbs for healing, so not all of them can give you an advice about healing herbs. He or she will get all the necessary information to find the right herbal treatment for you. Then the doctor will suggest what herbal medicine should be used to fight your condition.

There are so many different herbs that can be used for medicinal purposes. Herbs for arthritis, depression, high blood pressure, menopause and other conditions. Herbs for weight loss are also very popular. So all you really need to do collect info about what herbs can do for your health.