Plants containing phytochemicals that have effects on the body are called Herbal Cures....The extract of St. John's wort or of Kava can be used for medical purposes to relieve depression and stress.. * *

Continued Below

Herbs

Alfalfa

Astragalus

Sheng Ma/Chinese Cohosh

An Herb is a plant that is valued for flavor, scent, medicinal or other qualities other than its food value. Herbs are used in cooking, as medicines, and for spiritual purposes. **

The word drug itself comes from the Dutch word "droog" (via the French word Drogue), which means 'dried plant'. ***

Herbal Cures Primrose for Carotenoids

Herbalism is a traditional medicinal or folk medicine practice based on the use of plants and plant extracts. Herbalism is also known as botanical medicine, medical herbalism, herbal medicine, herbology, herblore, and phytotherapy... Pharmacognosy is the study of medicines derived from natural sources. ***

Basil basil Herbs

People on all continents have used hundreds to thousands of indigenous plants for treatment of ailments since prehistoric times. Medicinal herbs were found in the personal effects of Ötzi the Iceman, whose body was frozen in the Ötztal Alps for more than 5,300 years. These herbs appear to have been used to treat the parasites found in his intestines. Anthropologists theorize that animals evolved a tendency to seek out bitter plant parts in response to illness. ***

Rosemary rosemary for herbal cures Herbal Cures

The use of plants as medicines predates written human history. A 60 000-year-old Neanderthal burial site, "Shanidar IV", in northern Iraq has yielded large amounts of pollen from 8 plant species, 7 of which are used now as herbal remedies.

In the written record, the study of herbs dates back over 5,000 years to the Sumerians, who described well-established medicinal uses for such plants as laurel, caraway, and thyme. Ancient Egyptian medicine of 1000 BC are known to have used garlic, opium, castor oil, coriander, mint, indigo, and other herbs for medicine and the Old Testament also mentions herb use and cultivation, including mandrake, vetch, caraway, wheat, barley, and rye.

In India, Ayurveda medicine has used many herbs such as turmeric possibly as early as 1900 BC.

The first Chinese herbal book, the Shennong Bencao Jing, compiled during the Han Dynasty but dating back to a much earlier date, possibly 2700 BC, lists 365 medicinal plants and their uses - including ma-Huang, the shrub that introduced the drug ephedrine to modern medicine. ***

Thai Chili Peppers for Capsaicin thai hot peppers for capsaicin Live Herbs

A survey released in May 2004 by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine focused on who used complementary and alternative medicines (CAM), what was used, and why it was used. The survey was limited to adults, aged 18 years and over during 2002, living in the United States.

According to this survey, herbal therapy, or use of natural products other than vitamins and minerals, was the most commonly used CAM therapy (18.9%) when all use of prayer was excluded.

Herbal remedies are very common in Europe. In Germany, herbal medications are dispensed by apothecaries (e.g., Apotheke). Prescription drugs are sold alongside essential oils, herbal extracts, or herbal teas. Herbal remedies are seen by some as a treatment to be preferred to pure medical compounds which have been industrially produced.

In the United Kingdom, the training of medical herbalists is done by state funded Universities. For example, Bachelor of Science degrees in herbal medicine are offered at Universities such as University of East London, Middlesex University, University of Central Lancashire, University of Westminster, University of Lincoln and Napier University in Edinburgh at the present. Avid public interest in herbalism in the UK has been recently confirmed by the popularity of the topic in mainstream media, such as the prime-time hit TV series BBC's Grow Your Own Drugs,which demonstrated how to grow and prepare herbal remedies at home.

In the United States, a Bachelor of Science degree in herbal sciences is offered at Bastyr University, and a Master of Science in herbal medicine is offered at Tai Sophia Institute. There are also many smaller organizations and teachers offering certifications. ***

Herbal Cures Sweet Violets for Anthocyanins

The exact composition of an herbal product is influenced by the method of extraction. A tisane will be rich in polar components because water is a polar solvent. Oil on the other hand is a non-polar solvent and it will absorb non-polar compounds. Alcohol lies somewhere in between. There are many forms in which herbs can be administered, these include:

Tinctures - Alcoholic extracts of herbs such as Echinacea extract. Usually obtained by combining 100% pure ethanol (or a mixture of 100% ethanol with water) with the herb. A completed tincture has a ethanol percentage of at least 25% (sometimes up to 90%). The term tincture is sometimes applied to preparations using other solvents than ethanol.

Herbal wine and elixirs - These are alcoholic extract of herbs; usually with an ethanol percentage of 12-38% Herbal wine is a maceration of herbs in wine, while an elixir is a maceration of herbs in spirits (e.g., vodka, grappa, etc.)

Tisanes - Hot water extracts of herb, such as chamomile.

Decoctions - Long-term boiled extract of usually roots or bark.

Macerates - Cold infusion of plants with high mucilage-content as sage, thyme, etc. Plants are chopped and added to cold water. They are then left to stand for 7 to 12 hours (depending on herb used). For most macerates 10 hours is used.

Vinegars - Prepared at the same way as tinctures, except using a solution of acetic acid as the solvent.

Topicals:

Essential oils - Application of essential oil extracts, usually diluted in a carrier oil (many essential oils can burn the skin or are simply too high dose used straight – diluting in olive oil or another food grade oil such as almond oil can allow these to be used safely as a topical).

Salves, oils, balms, creams and lotions - Most topical applications are oil extractions of herbs. Taking a food grade oil and soaking herbs in it for anywhere from weeks to months allows certain phytochemicals to be extracted into the oil. This oil can then be made into salves, creams, lotions, or simply used as an oil for topical application. Any massage oils, antibacterial salves and wound healing compounds are made this way.

Poultices and compresses - One can also make a poultice or compress using whole herb (or the appropriate part of the plant) usually crushed or dried and re-hydrated with a small amount of water and then applied directly in a bandage, cloth or just as is.

Whole herb consumption - This can occur in either dried form (herbal powder), or fresh juice, (fresh leaves and other plant parts).

Syrups - Extracts of herbs made with syrup or honey. Sixty five parts of sugar are mixed with 35 parts of water and herb. The whole is then boiled and macerated for three weeks.

Extracts - Include liquid extracts, dry extracts and nebulisates. Liquid extracts are liquids with a lower ethanol percentage than tinctures. They can (and are usually) made by vacuum distilling tinctures. Dry extracts are extracts of plant material which are evaporated into a dry mass. They can then be further refined to a capsule or tablet. A nebulisate is a dry extract created by freeze-drying.

Inhalation as in aromatherapy can be used as a mood changing treatment to fight a sinus infection or cough, or to cleanse the skin on a deeper level (steam rather than direct inhalation here). ***

Cumin and Dill arabic herbal guidebook Medicinal Properties

Plants contain phytochemicals that have effects on the body.

Throughout history, from the Bible, Koran, Siddhar poems of Tamils, Vedas and other old texts, the medicinal benefits of herbs are quoted.

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There may be some effects when consumed in the small levels that typify culinary "spicing", and some herbs are toxic in larger quantities. For instance, some types of herbal extract, such as the extract of St. John's-wort (Hypericum perforatum) or of kava (Piper methysticum) can be used for medical purposes to relieve depression and stress.

However, large amounts of these herbs may lead to toxic overload that may involve complications, some of a serious nature, and should be used with caution.

One herb-like substance, called Shilajit, may actually help lower blood glucose levels which is especially important for those suffering from diabetes.

Herbs have long been used as the basis of traditional Chinese herbal medicine, with usage dating as far back as the first century CE and far before.

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Medicinal use of herbs in Western cultures has its roots in the Hippocratic (Greek) elemental healing system, based on a 4-fold elements healing metaphor.

Famous herbalist of the Western tradition include Avicenna (Persian), Galen (Roman), Paracelsus (German Swiss), Culpepper (English) and the botanically inclined Eclectic physicians of 19th century/early 20th century America (John Milton Scudder, Harvey Wickes Felter, John Uri Lloyd).

Modern pharmaceuticals had their origins in crude herbal medicines, and to this day, many drugs are still extracted as fractionate/isolate compounds from raw herbs and then purified to meet pharmaceutical standards.

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Some herbs are used not only for culinary and medicinal purposes, but also for psychoactive and/or recreational purposes; one such herb is cannabis. **

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Herbal Cures

As you can see by the above information from sources like Wikipedia.org and governmental agencies, herbalism is and always has been with mankind.

Mother discovered it and has never been the same. Even the scientific information is intriguing to Mother. So much that she went and got degrees in science just to be able to understand it all.

Mother wants other people, especially those who do not want to become scientists, to understand this information to have the knowledge too(and be able to use it), because it is so helpful to be able to treat yourself with what actually grows in the woods(mostly).

If there is anything that you would like for Mother to include in her pages here, please email Mother and let her know and she will research it and find the information you want to learn for you.

Mother@shopmotherearth.com

So as you can see there is actual proof throughout history that mankind has always used herbalism as a cure to achieve good health.

Whether or not you use herbs for medicinal purposes, there are people all over the world in all cultures that do. Even our World Health Organization agency has extimated that 80% of all the medicines we use today came from Herbal Cures.

Sincerely, Mother

Recommended Reading:

Now's Prescription for Herbal healing Book

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Herbalism

Plants synthesize a bewildering variety of phytochemicals but most are derivatives of a few biochemical motifs.

Alkaloids contain a ring with nitrogen. Many alkaloids have dramatic effects on the central nervous system. Caffeine is an alkaloid that provides a mild lift but the alkaloids in daturacause severe intoxication and even death.

polyphenol, also known as phenolics, contain phenol rings. The anthocyanins that give grapes their purple color, the isoflavones, the phytoestrogens from soy and the tannins that give tea its astringency are phenolics.

Terpenoids are built up from terpene building blocks. Each terpene consists of two paired isoprenes. The names monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, diterpenes and triterpenes are based on the number of isoprene units. The fragrance of rose and lavender is due to monoterpenes. The carotenoids produce the reds, yellows and oranges of pumpkin, corn and tomatoes.

Glycosides consist of a glucose moiety attached to an aglycone. The aglycone is a molecule that is bioactive in its free form but inert until the glycoside bond is broken by water or enzymes. This mechanism allows the plant to defer the availability of the molecule to an appropriate time, similar to a safety lock on a gun. An example is the cyanoglycosides in cherry pits that release toxins only when bitten by a herbivore. ***

*** Read the Complete article in Wikipedia with references and links Sept 20, 2011

Read the More Current article in Wikipedia with references and links Sept 20, 2011

Herbalism. (2012, February 8). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia.

Retrieved 21:20, February 12, 2012, from

http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=

Herbalism&oldid=475801749

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** Read the Complete article in Wikipedia with references and links May 16, 2011

Read the More Current article in Wikipedia with references and links Feb 12, 2012

Herb. (2012, February 12). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia.

Retrieved 21:14, February 12, 2012, from

http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=

Herb&oldid=476505708

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See references for complete information including notes, comments, complete symptoms, sources, concerns and cautions.

Disclaimer :

In accordance with FDA regulation, we do not make any therapeutic claims for any Dietary Supplements in accordance with the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act.

Information on this website is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physicians, health care professional or other professional. You should not use the information on this website for diagnosing or treating any health problem, symptom or disease, prescribing any medication or other treatment, or in place of any other professional advice. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any diseases. You should consult with a healthcare professional before starting any diet, exercise or supplementation program, before taking any medication, or if you have or suspect you might have a health problem. Your discretion is advised.

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