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Monday, February 28, 2011

Medicinal Herbs - The History of Herbal Remedies

It is estimated that one in every five adults in the United States, amounting to more than 38 million people, are currently using some form of natural product for health purposes, such as medicinal herbs for example. Among the top ten natural herbal products that were being used, several have been commonly considered to be herbal remedies for a wide variety of different purposes for years including flaxseed, Echinacea, ginseng, garlic and ginkgo. People have been relying on the healing and restorative properties of herbs and botanicals since the ancient times, but current government regulations are changing the way we look at what herbal medicine can do for us.

Ancient times are really when the use of medicinal herbs became apparent. Aloe vera, for example, can be traced all the way back to use during early Egyptian times. The plant has been depicted in numerous stone carvings, and it was known as being the plant for immortality. As such, deceased pharaohs received it as a burial gift. Another ancient herbal remedy is lavender, which was native to Mediterranean areas and was also used in the ancient Egyptian civilizations as part of the mummification process for the deceased.

The fruit from the chaste tree, known as the chasteberry, has been used for a long time to ease a number of different menstrual issues as well as to stimulate breast milk production when breastfeeding. Another herbal supplement is cat's claw, growing wild in areas in South America and Central America, especially in areas like in the Amazon Rainforest, has already been in use for numerous centuries in order to both treat and outright prevent certain types of disease. Hoodia is another herb, derived from a cactus-like plant that you will find in the Kalahari Desert of Southern Africa, and it can reduce thirst and hunger during hunting trips and is now found in numerous weight loss supplements.

Although the face of medicine has changed significantly through the years, many people still utilize herbal medicine and herbal remedies. Ayurvedic medicine, for example, relies on plants, herbs, oils and spices along with a variety of other naturally occurring compounds and substances for medicinal purposes. Chinese medicine also relies on herbs and plants like ginkgo and bitter orange to treat a wide variety of health conditions. Many cultures still rely heavily on herbal medicine and herbal remedies to treat ailments including diseases and injuries because they have proven themselves to be effective over the course of centuries.

Check out herbal remedies for a wide range of ailments.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tina_C._Thompson

1 comment:

Unknown said...

It is definitely important to speak with your Doctor before starting any herb, your Doctor knows your medical issues, medications you are taking and will know if certain herbs will interfere with that. Overall though, herbal remedies and medicines can be very effective, great read!