Herbs and Their Uses 

Why Herbs?
What Good are They?

Disclaimer: This information is not meant to replace any medical treatment. It is offered here as a service only. Use this information at your own risk and only with qualified supervision. No guarantee is made towards the validity of the information presented here.

Many people are interested in herbs these days, and there's a lot to learn about them. Books, magazine articles, blogs, health newsletters all routinely carry informative articles about herbs. They add flavor to food and they can also promote health.

You can find out almost anything you need to know about herbs, vitamins, minerals, and other dietary supplements by going to any number of sources. There are a number of books that have been published about herbs that are available from your local library, book stores like Barnes & Noble or Borders, or online from Amazon and other book retailers.

You can also go to various websites that have a great assortment of information about herbs, including growing tips, how to cook them, and how to use them to make skin care items, such as lotions and fragrances, or how to use them in aromatherapy.

While you do your research always keep one thing in mind. The fact that herbs are "natural" does not make them safe. There are a number of extremely allergenic and toxic substances that are plant based. Since herbs are generally labelled as fods they do not usually come under the same scrutiny as drugs.

Consumer Reports has published a list of a "dirty dozen" herbs and chemicals that you should take a look at if you're seriously considering herbs for medicinal use.

There is much to learn about herbs and how they have been used historically; there was a time, before pharmaceuticals became available, that natural herbal remedies were the only option. The passage of time and the introduction of modern medical treatment to the masses have led people away from natural herbal treatments and toward expensive prescription medications instead. 

There is, in fact, so much information to absorb on this topic that it's a good idea not to worry about learning everything there is to know all at once. In ancient cultures, the healers, or medicine people, spent their entire lives studying to be expert practitioners of herbal medicine.

Now people are getting more and more interested in herbal remedies. Overuse of antibiotics has caused antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria to develop, which frightens many. We've actually learned that many of our common medicines, even aspirin, are derived from traditional healing sources.

A good site to visit is Viable Herbal Solutions at viable-herbal.com, for an extensive overview about herbs, for what conditions individual herbs have been proven to be helpful, including possible side effects and interactions with other herbs, supplements, and prescription medications.

For example, St. John’s wart is a natural anti-depressant that should not be used in addition to prescription anti-depressants or anti-axiolytics (used to treat anxiety), and can cause photosensitivity in some users.

You should always tell your health care provider what you are taking, including all over the counter preparations, herbal supplements, and dietary aids, in addition to prescription medications. You may just find that you are able to reduce the amount of medication you are currently taking after you initiate naturopathic therapy, and it may be worth your while to consult a naturopathic physician about herbs and what would be right for you.

If you want to learn more about herbs and how to grow and preserve them, choosing which herbs to grow, creating indoor and outdoor gardens, herb garden designs, using herbs for decoration, and how to preserve herbs for various uses.

Western cultures are increasingly interested in eastern healing modalities, especially Chinese herbal medicine and Indian ayurveda medicine. These have been practiced for thousands of years. People who enter these healing professions need to learn a lot about herbs, their attributes and uses. They do it, of course, one herb at a time.

Traditional cultures also still use herbs as medicines. They don't have access to all-night pharmacies like industrialized nations do. But even industrialized nations depended on many herbs before the development of antibiotics in the 20th century. These proved to be so effective that many folk remedies fell by the wayside. People didn't think it was important anymore to learn about herbs and how effective they can be in helping us resist and treat disease.

If you're new to the study of herbs. Here's an interesting one to know. Astragalus is a herb in the Chinese medicinal pantheon. Your acupuncturist probably knows a lot about its properties and uses. It is said to be an immune booster and energy builder. It is often prescribed by practitioners of Chinese medicine alone or blended with other immune and energy enhancing herbs such as ginseng and echinacea.

Herbologists and other individuals knowledgeable about herbs and their uses are usually available for consults at your local health food store or organic grocer, and can answer most questions you may have about herbs. You can also find herbologists and Doctors of Chinese Medicine in your phone book.

Get back to basics and natural living by learning more about herbs and how you can use them to improve your health and well being. Become your very own herbal expert by learning everything you can about herbs and open yourself to a whole new way of life – one of better health!