A Guide to Common Herbs Used Over the Centuries
Herbs are nutritional foundation nutrients
and good alternative medicine to nourish the body’s most basic elements.
Medicinal herbs have been used safely and effectively since the beginning
of recorded history for a multitude of purposes including health, healing,
weight management, survival and much more. Herbs can help regulate body
functions, and provide the body with the nutrients it requires but does
not always receive, either due to a poor diet, or due to environmental
deficiencies in the soil and air.
The health benefits of herbs are many
and varied. Even the traditional medical community, as skeptical as
it has been about the use of herbs, is starting to embrace alternative
medicine practices utilizing herbal remedies and healing philosophies.
Chinese herbs have been used as healing agents for over 4,000 years
to promote health, and are often used as tonics to enhance physical
and mental well-being. Since the dawn of man, herbs have been used for
healing purposes, and to promote wellness. Today, herbs are still the
alternative medicine and primary source of health care for 80% of the
world.
Here are some of the more well-known
herbs and plant products, and their various uses:
Herbs and some of their uses
Bilberry Fruit
Extract - Vaccinium
myrtillus
Treats Various microcirculatory conditions, Night blindness and photosensitivity.
Cascara
Sagrada Aged Bark - Capsicum annuum
Treats Constipation
Cayenne
Pepper Fruit - Capsicum annuum
Treats Gastrointestinal problems, diaphoretic, counter-irritant.
Cranberry
Fruit - Vaccinium macrocarpon
Prevention
and treatment of urinary tract infections.
Dong
Quai Root - Angelica sinensis
Treats various menstrual
disorders.
Echinacea
Herb - Echinacea purpurea
As supportive
therapy for colds and chronic infections of the lungs.
Evening
Primrose Oil - Oenothera biennis
Conditions
related to deficiency of essential fatty acids (e.g., chronic fatigue
syndrome).
Feverfew
Leaf - Tanacetum parthenium
Treatment
of migraine headaches, fever, and menstrual disorders.
Garlic
Cloves - Allium sativum
High blood
cholesterol, and as a preventative measure for age-dependent vascular
changes.
Ginger
Root - Zingiber officinale
Prevention
of the nausea and vomiting of motion sickness, dyspepsia, stomachic.
Ginkgo
Biloba Leaf Extract - Ginkgo biloba
Memory deficits,
dementia syndromes. Improvement of distance and pain-free walking in
peripheral arterial occlusive disease. Vertigo and tinnitu
Asian
Ginseng Root - Panax ginseng
Fatigue and
debility, physical or mental exhaustion, stress, inadequate resistance
to infections.
Used as a natural male enhancement for hundreds of years.
Siberian
Ginseng Root - Eleutherococcus senticosus
Fatigue and
debility, also promotes healing. Used as a natural male enhancement for hundreds of years.
Goldenseal
Root - Hydrastis Canadensis
Catarrhal
conditions of the upper respiratory tract associated with colds and
the flu. Inflammations of mucous membranes.
Gotu
Kola Herb - Centella asiatica
Improved memory.
Venous insufficiency.
Grape
Seed Extract - Vitis vinifera
Treats microcirculatory
maldistribution of blood flow. Altered capillary fragility and permeability.
Anti-inflammatory. Chemopreventative.
Green
Tea Leaf Extract - Camellia sinensis
Helps with Prostate Health ad contains very strong anti-oxidents
Kava
Kava Root Extract - Piper methysticum
Treats conditions
of nervous anxiety, stress, and restlessness. Sedative and sleep enhancement.
Licorice
Root - Glycyrrhiza glabra
For catarrhal
conditions of the upper respiratory tract and gastric/duodenal ulcers.
Bronchitis. Adrenocorticoid insufficiency.
Milk
Thistle Seed Extract - Silybum marianum
Toxic liver
damage, and treatment of chronic inflammatory liver disease and hepatic
cirrhosis.
Saw
Palmetto Berry Extract - Serenoa repens
Treats urination
problems in benign prostate hyperplasia stages 1 and 2.
St.
John’s Wort Herb Extract - Hypericum perforatum
Helps with mild to moderate
depressive states.
Valerian
Root - Valeriana officinalis
Treats restlessness,
sleeping disorders due to nervous conditions.
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