Anne Kennedy - Herbal Medicine Natural Remedies: 150 Herbal Remedies to Heal Common Ailments

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ISBN: Print 978-1-62315-749-4 | eBook 978-1-62315-750-0

CHAPTER 1
Taking the Old and Making It New

CHAPTER 2
The Herbal Kitchen

CHAPTER 3
Remedies and Recipes

CHAPTER 4
Herbs to Know

H erbal medicine has been used for thousands of years; in fact, its history goes back much further than that of todays pharmaceuticals. It is a major component of alternative medicine, and is useful in preventing and treating a number of common ailments.

Natures pharmacy is extensive, filled with herbs that possess powerful medicinal properties. With guidance and knowledge, everyone has the ability to use herbs to ease discomfort and promote healing.

Growing up in the mountains of Montana, I would hear stories about how Native Americans healed all kinds of illnesses using remedies made with some of the wild plants that grew just outside our familys door. It wasnt until adulthood, though, that I began to experiment with anything beyond the simplest peppermint and chamomile teas. Today I delight in growing an abundance of fragrant herbs in my garden and in the hardwood forest behind my home. I take great pleasure in walking through the woods and along riverbanks, spotting plants with medicinal properties, and marveling at their beauty and efficacy while breathing in their fragrances. On those rare occasions when Im not feeling well, I am often able to take care of myself by using plants Ive harvested and prepared.

Some herbal remedies involve using plant parts in their fresh, natural state. Others call for store-bought extracts, and still others for compounds made in the comfort of your own kitchen. By conducting a bit of research, ensuring that a specific herb is right and safe for me, and following any applicable precautions, Ive been able to easily take charge of my own health and treat minor ailments before they worsen and require medical intervention. Now you can, too.

While it was once difficult to buy medicinal herbs, it is now very easy to find the most popular ones at well-stocked pharmacies and even on the shelves of big-box stores. Health food stores offer an extensive selection of whole herbs, along with tinctures, teas, ointments, and other products that make it easy to skip pharmaceuticals.

It may come as a surprise to learn that a number of conventional pharmaceuticals have their roots firmly planted in herbal medicine. Aspirin comes from willow bark, and morphine is carefully compounded from opium poppies. Quinine, a vital drug for the treatment of malaria, comes from the bark of the cinchona tree, and digoxin, a potent drug used in cardiac cases, comes from the beautiful but poisonous foxglove. Many other pharmaceuticals are plant based or are synthesized using compounds that are identical to those found in nature.

Still, mainstream medicine prefers synthetic drugs for their standardization, purity, and ease of use. Understandably, prescription pharmaceuticals have earned a coveted status. It is not the intent of this book to downplay their importance. However, its equally important to remember that in the United States, herbs are considered to be dietary supplements, and when sold commercially, theyre regulated as such. Therefore, when you make the decision to treat an ailment the natural way, you dont need to obtain a prescriptionas you would with a synthetic drugto use an herbal poultice, apply a simple cream or oil, or take a tincture or tea.

While herbs are powerful, most do not have the lingering side effects that often accompany drugs. They do not inhibit the bodys natural healing process; instead, they boost our ability to recover, particularly when paired with rest. Many herbs help boost the immune system, too, making it easier for the body to use its natural defenses against viruses and infections.

Cataloguing the worlds medicinal plants would take an immense effort, and, even then, it would be nearly impossible to cover all the properties offered by each and every plant. While there are many wonderful and extensive guides detailing hundreds of herbs, it can be difficult to decide what to useespecially when there are so many options available.

This book is different. Within these pages, youll find a guide to using some of the worlds most common and effective medicinal herbs. All of them are easy to find online or at your local health food store. Its also quite likely that you can find some of them growing within a short distance of your front door. A few may even be hiding inside your spice cabinet! Whether you are new to the world of herbal medicine or have already begun experiencing the healing power of plants, youll find this book useful. The main section of the book covers 75 common ailments, along with treatments for each. The final chapter features profiles of 40 herbs, including important precautions and notes for identifying and even growing them if you like.