How can our Health Benefit from Herbs?

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Herbs are a rich source of many health compounds that are active in curing illnesses and disease. There are many different herbs and many different uses. They can be used as a tonic, to soothe pain and inflammation; some have a relaxing effect whilst some are stimulating.

Some herbs can kill bacteria and others stimulate the immune system to kill invading organisms. Thousands of years ago when herbs were first used, people had no idea WHY they worked. Today there have been many clinical studies into how herbs work and more understanding into how powerful they can be.

Many of us have been using dried herbs in cooking for years. But fresh herbs are the best choice, as some of the antioxidant concentration is lost in processing. Fresh herbs may not be as familiar, but you can adapt to them in no time. If you prefer not to grow your own, most supermarkets now carry a wide variety of fresh herbs, and it’s easy to work them into familiar recipes.

As a general rule, if a recipe calls for one teaspoon of a dried herb, you can substitute one tablespoon of chopped fresh herb in its place for the same taste. Fresh herbs should stay good in your refrigerator for up to five days if stored properly; cooking experts recommend wrapping them in a damp paper towel and sealing in an airtight plastic bag. Fresh herbs can help add even more antioxidant power into our lives - while adding great taste, too.

There are many different herbs for many different uses and is a subject that fills many text books so I won’t go into them in any great depth here. What I can do though, is to list the ones that I recommend most often – and are the most useful and powerful in dealing with illness and to help your body attain better health.

Aloe Vera. The leaf of Aloe contains a special gel that is often used in cosmetics and face creams. The bitter juice, extracted from the whole leaf may be taken internally for digestive disorders. It has been used for thousands of years to heal anything from burns to kidney complaints.

A recent study has shown it to be very effective at healing skin after surgery. It is also good for healing sunburn, bites and stings. Another study in Sweden found that aloe vera cream improved symptoms of psoriasis when used three times a day for 16 weeks.

This is good news as psoriasis is very difficult to treat. Most sufferers have to use steriod creams which cause scarring and can only be used for a short time.

Taken internally Aloe Vera is a strong laxative, and should never be taken in pregnancy. You should always buy aloe vera in as pure a form as possible. It should contain at least 90% of the active ingredient.

Bilberry. A common problem associated with ageing is vision loss. In particular, a condition known as macular degeneration is a major cause of blindness in older people.

Research has shown that bilberry has beneficial effects on the healthy circulation of blood in the retina and can help to prevent degeneration. When combined with Ginkgo Biloba, which has been shown on its own to reduce macular degeneration in clinical trials, this is a particularly powerful.

Cats Claw has been used for hundreds of years to treat immune disorders and digestive problems. Recently, it has become more prominent for health as studies have shown it to be very effective at treating AIDS virus and slowing its progress. A recent study has shown that it increases the rate of T cells, one of our main immune system cells. It is early days yet but the study looks very promising.

Camomile is a popular remedy for nervous stomach, menstrual cramps and other problems related to stress. Since 1600 Europeans have used camomile as a cure for neuralgia, insomnia, back pain and rheumatoid arthritis.

Camomile also contains chemicals that are anti-bacterial and anti-fungal. It is very soothing to the skin so good for skin inflammation and sunburn. Used in tea, camomile can also relieve the pain of toothache.

Devils Claw The root of this herb has been popular for health in Africa and Europe for more than 250 years, but it is just being discovered in the United States. It is used mostly as an anti-inflammatory and as a painkiller in arthritis and rheumatism.

Recent studies done in France and Germany compare its properties as being as effective as the drugs Cortisone and Phenylbutazone. It makes joints more flexible and relieves pain safely. However it should not be taken during pregnancy.

Echinacea. The most potent part of the plant and most extensively studied is the root, which has been found to possess antibacterial and immune-boosting properties – helping to fight coughs, colds, viral infections, as well as upper respiratory tract and vaginal infections. Buy in tincture form and add a few drops to water to boost the health of the immune system whenever you feel a cold coming on.

Given that most diseases now have some link with how the immune functions, the importance of maintaining a healthy immune system is more important for healthy long life than ever before. Echinacea is taken three to four times a day, depending on the preparation – see individual product labels for dosage instructions.

Korean or Chinese Ginseng. Ginseng is well-known in Traditional Chinese Medicine to promote long life. Research has shown that it helps the body cope better with stress and also helps the functioning of many bodily systems.

Recent studies out of Korea have added another significant development to our understanding of this highly prized herb. Studies there have shown that people who consume ginseng on a regular basis have a lower incidence of cancer.

Milk Thistle contains compounds that specifically help the health of the liver. The liver plays a critical part in maintaining our health and is the body’s “chemical factory”. It detoxifies poisons that enters the bloodstream such as nicotine, alcohol and other pollutants.

Milk thistle enhances the overall function of the liver as well as stimulating the production of new healthy cells. It also boosts the levels of a compound in the liver known as glutathione which is a powerful antioxidant. It can also protect against mushroom poisoning by being taken directly after they have been eaten.

Garlic has a whole load of uses including: Reducing blood pressure, preventing heart disease, and preventing and reversing a stroke. It also fights infections and cancer, and protects against pollution.

Everyone should eat at least 1 clove of raw garlic a day to prevent many health problems. It can be crushed into dressings and used in salads, and used in many other dishes too. If you really can’t stand the taste, you should take the odourless capsules but the active compounds are weakened by taking the odour out of it.

Ginkgo biloba. The herb ginkgo biloba is well known for its ability to improve memory and concentration, especially in older people. Better still, recent research has found that Ginkgo can protect brain cells and enhance their survival too.

It has health benefits in existing cases of Alzheimer’s disease, which have already been established in a number of clinical trials, Ginkgo is also the No. 1 herbal candidate for preventing the disease.

Thanks to new research and recent findings, it looks like there’s not much health-wise that Ginkgo isn’t good for. One recent breakthrough reports that Ginkgo can help protect your eyes and in particular against glaucoma. It can even help with skin conditions such as vitiligo.

Ginkgo biloba is the world’s oldest living species of trees found in southern and eastern United States, Korea, China and southern France. Medicinal use of this amazing extract can be traced back almost 5,000 years in Chinese herbal medicine.

Not only is it thought to help maintain good eye function for people suffering with glaucoma, ginkgo can help protect your eyes against developing glaucoma by improving healthy circulation to your eyes and protecting the optic nerve.

If you are diabetic then there is a higher risk that your sight will be affected. Therefore it’s important that you go for regular eye examinations.

However there is good news. A group of scientists in Taiwan recently conducted an experiment to study Ginkgo’s effect on 25 affected diabetic patients to see what would happen to the retinal blood flow. After just three months the patients’ blood was much thinner and their red blood cells became more flexible. Therefore this makes it less likely that you will develop diabetic retinopathy.

Oregano is rich in antioxidant content – more so than some other herbs used in cooking. But there are other good sources; for example, dill, thyme, rosemary, and peppermint all rank high for health. Use plenty of these herbs in your cooking and eat raw whenever possible.

Common oregano is botanically known as Origanum vulgare, Greek for “joy of the mountains,” and it can be found growing wild on mountainsides of Greece and other Mediterranean countries where it is a herb of choice. Oregano is also known as wild marjoram.

Red Clover Combined with other herbs, red clover is very powerful to prevent and treat cancer. It can block oestrogen in the body so is especially good for oestrogen dominant cancer of the breast. It is also used to help menopausal symptoms like hot flushes.

Rosemary Rosemary contains powerful antioxidants. It was found in a recent study that it was useful for preventing cancer AND in treating it. Rosemary is also a powerful brain booster to aid memory problems. It is a good all rounder for the health of the immune system. You can use the fresh herb liberally in many dishes or as a supplement.

Schisandra. Recent research has focused on the schisandra berry’s value in improving liver function, especially its capacity to detoxify and remove foreign chemicals from the body.

Exposure to foreign chemicals is becoming increasingly important as the use of pesticides, herbicides and synthetic food additives becomes more and more widespread. Just a hundred years ago, the demands on the liver to detoxify these agents were much lower than they are now.

If these agents are not detoxified enough, they can damage our immunity and possibly even cause more harmful effects, such as increasing the likelihood of cancer. It is best to purchase a product that contains a standardised extract of Schisandra chinensis, to guarantee that you are receiving enough of the active ingredients. Because strengths can vary so much from product to product, please check individual product labels for details regarding dosage.

Saint Johns Wort This is THE herb of choice to lift depression. In fact it is also known as “nature’s prozac” because of its success in treating mild to moderate depression. In Germany Saint John’s wort is the number one prescription for depression and used widely throughout Europe. This herb can also be used as a mild tranquiliser and a treatment for insomnia.

There have been numerous clinical studies conducted in Europe into this herb. The British Medical Journal reviewed 23 clinical trials of Saint John’s Wort and came to the conclusion that it worked as well as prescription drugs, but with few of the unpleasant side effects associated with them.

It has been taken in Europe for several decades now. Since there has not been any ill effects on long term health taking this herb, it is reasonable to suppose that it’s a lot safer than drugs to treat depression.

Saint John’s wort is also a muscle relaxer and has been used to treat menstrual cramps. It is also a popular remedy for stomach and intestinal disorders, such as gastric ulcers. Ointments containing the herb have also been used to alieviate rheumatism and sciatica or back pain.

Saw Palmetto This herb is mostly used to treat an enlarged prostate. Although this condition is rarely serious, it can be very annoying. It can cause frequent urination as well as difficulty passing urine, especially at night. This condition tends to affect men over the age of 50.

Studies show that saw palmetto is very effective at relieving urination problems caused by this condition even though it has not been shown to reduce the size of the prosate.

Prescription drugs to relieve it can have unpleasant side effects on health including a drop in blood pressure, so this is good news for anyone with this condition. In Germany it has been used as an over-the counter remedy for a number of years.

Turmeric is commonly used as an ingredient in curries as a spice. Studies have shown that the compounds in turmeric are powerful antioxidants that can help prevent cancer. Researchers have also linked the reduced incidence of Alzheimer’s in Indian villages.

Here, just one per cent of those aged 65 and older contract this degenerative brain condition. This is thought to be linked with the healthy regular intake of turmeric in the Indian diet.

Valerian is wisely recognised for its relaxing effect on the body. In Europe, it is often prescribed to treat anxiety. Unlike many drugs like valium traditionally used for this condition, valerian has no unpleasant side effects and is not addictive.

For centuries valerian has been the treatment of choice by herbalists and naturopaths for nervous tension and panic attacks. It has also been used to relieve muscle cramps related to stress, menstrual cramps and PMS.

CAUTION- in extremely high doses valerian may cause paralysis and a weakening of the heartbeat. Therefore do not use with other sedatives and do not exceed the stated dose.

CAUTION
Just because herbs are natural substances doesn’t mean they can be used for ill-health indiscriminately. Herbs can be strong medicine. Before trying a herbal remedy, be sure you know what it does, how to use it, and any possible side effects. Never exceed the recommended dose. Generally, few medical problems come about by taking herbs, but the potential for an allergic reaction is always there.