Patricia Bratianu - How to Benefit from Everyday Herbs - A Beginners Guide to Homemade Natural Herbal Remedies for Common Ailments & Good Health

Copyright 2013 Simple Media Works, All rights reserved.
Remedies, formulas, recipes, and stories written by Dr. Donna Schwontkowski
remain the property of Dr. Donna Schwontkowski and are included here
after obtaining permission to print.

Disclaimer: This book is for informational purposes only. Both authors of this book are not practicing physicians and the information, recipes and remedies are not meant to be a substitute for medical advice. No claim is made to treat, cure, prevent or mitigate any disease.

8 Reasons Why You Should Read This Book

Herbs will change your life. This is a pretty big claim, I knowbut its true! This list is just a sample of the things youll gain from reading this book.

1. Youll become proficient in creating fabulous foods and remedies that improve your health and the health of your loved ones.
2. Youll save money on your healthcare and in food costs, and become knowledgeable about selecting top-quality ingredients.
3. Youll learn when to seek expert help for health concerns, and when you can treat them on your own.
4. Youll learn about herb safety and administration for the very young and for the elderly.
5. Youll come to know your body better, and become attuned to what improves your health and how these remedies work.
6. Youll be able to say, I made that, and it worked!
7. Youll develop a great admiration and respect for the herb world.
8. Youll have lots of fun!

Ready to get started? Read on!

Table of Contents

Foreword by Pat Bratianu, Author

Ive been a Registered Nurse for almost forty years. Many years ago I noticed that, while modern medicine worked wonders in the emergency room, people were sick with chronic illnesses that didnt respond well to conventional treatment. Have you noticed the same thing?

Gaps in Medical Healing Meant Something Was Missing

I saw many patients at the hospital with common illnesses that should have been treated at homethings like minor wounds, sore throats and the like. Seeing this, I concluded that something was lacking in our healthcare system; otherwise, we wouldnt be seeing these minor issues in our clinics and hospitals so often.

Its Time to Learn about Herbs

Around the same time, my mother-in-law presented me with a beautifully illustrated herbal. After reading the book, I stepped into a brand new world of alternative healing. This herbal contained information that helped bridge the gap that I had witnessed in the medical world.

I started learning about using herbs that were already in my kitchen: parsley, basil, cinnamon, garlic and other ordinary foods and condiments that were readily available. My family loved my new recipes, and slowly, I noticed that some of the ordinary complaints we suffered from, such as indigestion, headaches, and lack of energy, were fewer. The relief we experienced from simple home remedies was evidentand I had made a difference with something simple and easily prepared. Could improving our health really be this easy?

My History Was Already Full of Little Herbal Lessons

As a lifelong gardener, Ive always been happiest playing in the dirt. Even as a small child, I made plantain poultices to put on mosquito bites because they cooled the itching. At the time, I had no idea what I was doing. I just knew that if I chewed up a plantain leaf and put it on my itchy mosquito bite, I would feel better. Herbs became part of my garden soon, and this part of the garden quickly turned into my favorite place. I felt most comfortable when I was in my garden surrounded by herbs. I loved the textures, fragrances, and tastes they provided. They also seemed to attract all kinds of living things: birds, bees, butterflies, family pets, and even my children.

Illness as an Opportunity to Test Herbs

Shortly thereafter, I became ill and modern medicine didnt manage to completely heal me. I started to invest more time and effort in growing and learning about herbs. Before long I was using herbs daily, including in my cooking, and my good health returned. It was during this difficult time that I realized what was missing in modern health care. We need our roots, literally, to maintain good health. I began teaching everyone what I knew about the magic that lay within the herbs in their kitchen cupboards.

As time went on, I craved more knowledge about what ordinary people could do to live happy, healthy, connected lives without spending a fortune. I pursued and obtained a Ph.D. in Natural Health. I became a Registered Herbalist as well. Today, I have clients who use homemade natural remedies to reduce high blood pressure; grow healthy children; make natural, chemical-free cosmetics; and more.

After helping thousands of families to keep their family healthy naturally , I believe that herbalism is medicine by and for all people. Anyone can easily practice herbalism and do it anywhere.

With this book, I want to empower you to improve your health and the health of those you love. I want to put your food, your medicine and your health in your own capable hands. And I want you to reap the rewards as never before!

Patricia Bratianu, author

Foreword by Dr. Donna Schwontkowski (ret. D.C.), M.S., M.H., Author

The greatest influences that got me started on the road to natural healing were my grandmother and her herb garden. Whenever we grandkids had a stomachache or a headache, Grandma had a remedy from her garden. She managed her own health and taught me the importance of using what God had already provided for us.

Grandmas raspberry tea remedy for PMS worked wonders during those early years. She took raspberry leaves directly from her garden and dropped them into a coffee cup. Next came boiling water, and her remedy was complete; using herbs couldnt be much simpler. It was lessons like this that showed me the power and the simplicity of herbal medicine.

Creating Comprehensive Knowledge

Years later, on the path to becoming a dietitian, I could hardly wait to share all the new information I had learned about diet and nutrition with Grandma. Our discussions progressed to remedies and natural healing, and now, looking back on this time, I see that my grandmother was planting the seeds of what I was to become. Its because of my grandmother that I decided to become a doctor. However, there was a dilemma back thendoctors only administered prescription drugs. They ignored natural remedies and they ignored diet.

Years later, after I earned a bachelors and masters degree in nutrition, a bachelors degree in biology and a doctorate in chiropractic medicine, I still hadnt learned enough. Something was missing: formal education on herbs. I sought out this education, and it has made a great difference in the lives of my patients, my family and myself.

Experience Herbal Success and Your Life Will Change

Im sure youll experience great success with herbs by using this book. When you do, its a great idea to write your successes in a journal so youll remember them later. Youll most likely have so many successes that theyll be easy to forget when new ones continue to occur!

Ive run my own clinical research studies with patients in my practice and its been very successful. Herbs work fast, and everyone has been happy with their results. Stubborn ulcers were healed. Immune system disorders, including HIV, were significantly improved. Infections cleared up in record time. Hot flashes disappeared. Old injuries healed, and range of motion was restored in a matter of a few weeks. Teeth that appeared to need a root canal healed within a day or two. Kidney stones were dissolved. These seemingly miraculous recoveries were standard and happened far too often to count.

Its Time for Your Success

There are miracles waiting for you, too, when you use herbs. All you have to do is open the door inside your mind that says theres a cure to be found, and combine it with knowledge and faith.