Herbal remedies are made from the flowers, leaves, roots, berries,
seeds, gel, bark & aerial parts of various plants. Each herb
contains vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, trace elements &
numerous medicinal chemicals, such as tannins, phenolic compounds,
bitters, coumarins & alkaloids.
Herbs are used to restore & maintain health by keeping the
body in balance. Herbal medicines are often prescribed as tinctures,
teas or pills, which you take three times a day. Herbalists believe
that we all possess a self-healing mechanism, called the vital force,
to maintain our health. But this mechanism can become weakened by
stress, poor diet & pollution, so we become ill. The symptoms
of disease are a sign that the vital force is trying to maintain
harmony under the threat of illness & should not be suppressed.
Herbal remedies are not prescribed to relieve symptoms, but to help
the affected body system fight the disease, prevent it recurring,
clear the system of toxins, support the immune system & maintain
a healthy balance.
Using herbs
safely
Do not take unnecessarily in greater doses or for longer than
you need.
Avoid picking or using fresh herbs that you cannot identify.
Always consult a qualified medical herbalist if you don't feel
confident about home prescribing.
Never self-prescribe if you have chronic health problems or are
on medication.
If you want to take herbal medicines in conjunction with conventional
medicine, consult your GP & a herbalist.
See the Drug - Herb Interactions page.
Lupus patients
please note
As I said above, always consult your medical practitioner for
chemical interaction with current medications before taking herbal
supplements.
The herb Echinacea is widely used because of its ability to support
the immune system in fighting off colds & flu. But it enhances
the immune system by increasing white blood cell production, so
it is best avoided by lupus patients.
Some herbal preparations have been found to contain sulfa, steroids
or other pharmaceutical drugs, so always consult your doctor regarding
the safety of any over the counter products.
Ways
to use herbs
Fresh herbs
Incorporate fresh herbs into your diet. Many culinary herbs such
as sage, parsley & thyme are also valuable medicines.
Tinctures
Tinctures are made by soaking the herb in alcohol to extract its
properties. They are concentrated herbal medicines, taken internally
neat, or in water.
Tea
Herbal teas or infusions are less concentrated than tinctures. You
can make an infusion from commercially prepared tea bags, or from
fresh or dried flowers, leaves or green stems of the herbs.Use one
teaspoon(5ml) of dried herbs (two-three teaspoons of fresh herb)
to one cup of boiling water, leave to infuse for 10-15 minutes,
strain, sweeten with a little honey & drink hot. Heat destroys
the properties of some herbs such as valerian root so they should
be infused in cold water for 12 hours.
Decoction
The properties of roots, bark, nuts & seeds are not as soluble
as those in leaves & flowers, so it takes more heat to extract
their properties. Using the same proportions as before, place the
herb & water in a saucepan & bring to the boil, simmer for
ten minutes, strain & drink hot. Both decoctions & infusions
can be added to a bath or foot bath, used cold as a skin wash or
gargle.
Bath
Tie a handful of herbs in a muslin bag & hang from the bath
tap so that the water runs through it. The heat activates the properties
of the herbs so that they are absorbed through the skin's pores.
Tablets/capsules
Take in the same way as you would any other pill.
Cream
Use on irritated, inflamed or bruised skin. The active ingredients
of the herb pass through the pores of the skin into the blood stream
to encourage healing.
Compress
For aches, pains & swollen joints. Fold a clean piece of cotton
& soak in an infusion of the chosen herb, & apply to point
of pain. Apply cold compresses to hot or inflamed areas, & hot
compresses to pain that responds to heat.
Poultice
A poultice is made from bruised fresh or dried herbs, mixed into
a paste with hot water. It can be applied to painful joints, spots
& infected wounds. Place the herb on a clean piece of cotton
& bandage on to the affected area & leave for a couple of
hours, or until the pain eases.
Which herbs
to use
Arthritis
Cat's claw, Aloe juice, Heartsease, Sweet violet, Cowslip, Thyme,
Borage, Rosemary, Meadowsweet, Evening primrose, Willow, Yucca.
Muscle aches & pains
Black cohosh, Willow, Thyme, Meadowsweet, Cramp bark.
Headache
White willow, Passiflora, Valerian, Feverfew, Wild lettuce, Lavender,
Black cohosh, Peppermint, Vervain.
Circulation problems
Hawthorn, Garlic, Ginkgo Biloba, Cayenne, Yarrow, Angelica, Mustard,
Walnut.
Mouth ulcers
Myrrh, Liquorice.
Depression
Ginseng, Avena Sativa, Kava Kava, Cayenne, Cowslip, Rose, Thyme,
Vervain.
Consider also - Flower essences.
Insomnia
Valerian, Passiflora, Chamomile, Lemon Balm, Kava kava, Hops, Catnip,
Linden, Vervain, Cowslip. Lavender, Marjoram.
Consider also - Flower essences.
Migraine
Feverfew, Valerian, Vervain, Cayenne, Rosemary, Lavender.
Bruising
Yarrow, Arnica(ointment), Witch hazel, Calendula(ointment), Lavender(ointment).
Hypertension (High blood pressure)
Hawthorn berry, Garlic, Dandelion, Lime blossom.
Fatigue
Liquorice, Ginseng, Gotu Kola, Borage, Vervain.
Consider also - Flower essences.
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