garlic cloves: used in the West primarily for its cardiovascular effects, principally as a support to dietetic measures at elevated levels of lipids in blood and as a preventive measure for age-dependent vascular changes. Garlic is also used for atheroma, prophylaxis of atherosclerosis, hypertension, respiratory infections, and catarrhal conditions and as a natural antibiotic.

(See also: garlic cloves, Herbal Therapy, Alternative Medicine, Body Mind and Soul)

ginger rhizome: primary uses of ginger are prophylaxis of the nausea and vomiting of motion sickness, dyspepsia, stomachic. It is also used as a tonic digestant in sub-acid gastritis, for lack of appetite, as a postoperative antiemetic for minor surgical procedures, for colic, for morning sickness, anorexia, bronchitis, and rheumatic complaints.

(See also: ginger rhizome, Herbal Therapy, Alternative Medicine, Body Mind and Soul)

valerian root: used primarily for restlessness, sleeping disorders based on nervous conditions; also good for headaches, colic, gas, pain, stress, anxiety, muscle cramps, and spasms.

(See also: valerian root, Herbal Therapy, Alternative Medicine, Body Mind and Soul)

ginseng root: used for impotence, stress, cocaine withdrawal, energy, diabetes, colds, and chest problems. Promotes lung function, enhances immune function, stimulates appetite, and normalizes blood pressure. Varieties popularly used include American ginseng, Asian ginseng, and Siberian ginseng.

(See also: ginseng root, Herbal Therapy, Alternative Medicine, Body Mind and Soul)

St. John's wort: traditionally used as a muscle relaxant to relieve menstrual problems, as a mild tranquilizer and as a treatment for depression and insomnia.

(See also: St. John's wort, Herbal Therapy, Alternative Medicine, Body Mind and Soul)

grape seed extract: used as a dietary supplement for antioxidant and other cardiovascular benefits and for anti-inflammatory actions.

(See also: grape seed extract, Herbal Therapy, Alternative Medicine, Body Mind and Soul)

green tea leaf: believed to act as an antioxidant to prevent cancer and possibly other diseases; reduces the risk of stroke; lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease.

(See also: green tea leaf, Herbal Therapy, Alternative Medicine, Body Mind and Soul)

kava kava rhizome: used to treat nervous anxiety, stress, and restlessness.Contraindicated in pregnancy, nursing, or endogenous depression.

(See also: kava kava rhizome, Herbal Therapy, Alternative Medicine, Body Mind and Soul)

saw palmetto berry: used primarily for urination problems in benign prostate hyperplasia stages 1 and 2.

(See also: saw palmetto berry, Herbal Therapy, Alternative Medicine, Body Mind and Soul)

cat's claw bark: used to treat AIDS patients, arthritis, neurobronchitis, allergies, rheumatism, diverticulosis, Crohn's disease, peptic and gastric ulcers, gastritis, parasites, colitis, leaky bowel syndrome, dysentery, hemorrhoids, cancer, herpes, diabetes, and inflammation.

(See also: cat's claw bark, Herbal Therapy, Alternative Medicine, Body Mind and Soul)

dong quai root: used for hot flashes, menopause, premenstrual syndrome, vaginal dryness, anemia with dizziness and palpitation, amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, constipation, rheumatic arthralgia, menorrhalgia, rheumatalgia, functional bleeding, chest, and abdominal pain.

(See also: dong quai root, Herbal Therapy, Alternative Medicine, Body Mind and Soul)

evening primrose oil: aids in weight loss, reduces high blood pressure, and helps to treat all skin disorders, female disorders such as cramps and heavy bleeding, hot flashes, multiple sclerosis, arthritis, and alcoholism.

(See also: evening primrose oil, Herbal Therapy, Alternative Medicine, Body Mind and Soul)

capsicum/capsaicin/cayenne fruit: taken orally to improve circulation, digestion, and stop bleeding from ulcers, to relieve nausea, rheumatism, arthritis, and pleurisy. Used externally for painful muscle spasms of shoulder, arm, and spine and to treat arthritis, rheumatism, neuralgia, lumbago, chilblains, intractable pain associated with shingles (herpes zoster), postmastectomy, diabetic neuropathy, and cluster headaches.

(See also: capsicum, Herbal Therapy, Alternative Medicine, Body Mind and Soul)

echinacea herb, also called purple coneflower: bitter herb used for colds and chronic infections of the respiratory tract and lower urinary tract, treatment of Candida albicans infections, prostatitis, polyarthritis (rheumatoid arthritis). Externally, an ointment is used for poorly healing wounds and chronic ulcerations, burns, eczema, psoriasis, and herpes simplex.

(See also: echinacea herb, Herbal Therapy, Alternative Medicine, Body Mind and Soul)

HERBALISM: uses natural plants or plant-based substances to treat a range of illnesses and to enhance the functioning of the bodyÕs systems. Though herbalism is not a licensed professional modality in the U.S., herbs are prescribed by a range of practitioners, from holistic M.D.s to acupuncturists to naturopaths.

(See also: Herbalism, Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

ginkgo biloba leaf extract: improves memory loss, brain function, depression, cerebral and peripheral circulation, oxygenation, and blood flow. Good for tinnitus, asthma, Alzheimer's disease, heart and kidney disorders, and glucose utilization.

(See also: ginkgo biloba leaf extract, Herbal Therapy, Alternative Medicine, Body Mind and Soul)

HERBAL MEDICINE: Herbal medicine, sometimes referred to as Herbalism or Botanical medicine, is the use of herbs, in a wide variety of forms, for their therapeutic value.

An herb is a plant or plant part valued for its medicinal, savory, or aromatic qualities. Herb plants produce and contain a variety of chemical substances that act upon the body.

(See also: Herbal medicine, Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

Inhalation Therapy: Treatments involving the inhalation of steam vapor, which may have been treated with medicine or natural herbal / mineral substances; used for respiratory, pulmonary or sinus related ailments.

(See also: Inhalation Therapy, Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

History of Herbs

The traditional definition of an herb is a non-woody plant that dies down to the ground after flowering. However, "herb" is often used to describe any plant of which any part is used for medical treatment or nutritional value. In this sense of the word, herbs have been used and studied since prehistoric mankind. Five thousand years ago, the Sumerians kept the first written record of the use of herbs. In 2700 B.C., the Chinese wrote an herb book listing over 365 medicinal plants and their uses. Herbs are mentioned in the Old Testament, and the medicinal practices of ancient Greeks and Romans rose from herbalism.

The first European book on herbs dates from the first century A.D. It refers to more than 500 plants and remained an authoritative reference into the 1600s. During the Middle Ages, the Christian church discouraged the practice of medicine. Herbalism was preserved in monasteries, by monks hand-copying manuscripts of herbs, and planting their own herb gardens.

In the 17th century, the introduction of active chemical drugs and the development of chemistry led to the decline of herbalism, although folk medicine still existed in the home and small villages. By the end of the 19th and into the 20th centuries, orthodox medicine had pushed homeopathic medicine further from the mainstream.

Herbalists today seek to help people build their health with natural sources. The philosophy is that the body is capable of healing itself given the proper conditions. Herbalism, psychic healing, acupuncture, aromatherapy, touch therapy, and massage therapy can all work with orthodox treatments to create a healthy body.

(See also: Herbs, Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

Kneipp Baths: Developed by Father Sebastian Kneipp. Herbal/mineral baths used as part of a regimented therapy of healing; used in combination with nutritional and exercise disciplines. Hot and cold therapy is a key component of this form of therapy (water, stones, pebbles, etc.).

(See also: Kneipp Baths, Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

Chinese Herbalism: One element of Traditional Chinese medicine, which views the body as an integrated whole of body, mind and spirit. Medicinal herbs derived from plants and animals are used to rebalance the life energy within the body.

(See also: Chinese Herbalism, Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)