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Using Medical Grade Herbal Products

published on April 29th, 2008 . by admin

In this article we review some good sources for medical grade herbal products.

Herbal products can be incredibly helpful, not only for treating specific medical ailments and illnesses but also for increasing a person

Steeped in the History of Herbal Teas

published on April 28th, 2008 . by admin

hrough history, herbs have played an important part in all developing civilizations of the world. Ancient writings tell us of the use of herbs as food, medicine and even dye for fabrics, but one of the most enduring and well known uses for herbs is that of tea. No one really knows the beginnings of herbal teas. Their existence goes back before the time of written history.

Long before the Dutch arrived in Europe with the first black tea in 1610, herbal teas, known there as tisanes, were widely used, not only for their medicinal properties, but as a daily beverage as well. And today in Hong Kong teas are gaining in popularity, surpassing that of beer for spectators of the ever popular Worlds Cup soccer games. It is believed that herbal tea cools the body and leaves one feeling less tired during the day. The drink is so popular in fact that herbal tea was named part of China’s ‘National Intangible Cultural Heritage’ in May 2006.

When Tea is Not a Tea

But when it comes to defining herbal tea, it would seem that it is not actually tea as we know it but an infusion made from any plant other than the Camelia Sinensis or tea bush. Herbal teas are made from leaves, roots, seeds or flowers with boiling water poured over them and steeping for a given length of time just as you would when making any tea. The liquid is then strained and served often with natural sweeteners. Popular examples of herbs used in making an infusion or tea are mint and chamomile.

A number of these teas have medical or other health benefits associated with them. There are teas or herbal infusions for weight loss, digestion aids, the common cold, headaches, as well as a number of other symptoms and because the various herbs can be combined there are an endless number of herbal teas to meet every health and dietary issue.

The Benefits of Herbal Brews

Many of these teas have very familiar names, one of the most well known being chamomile. It is a plant with tiny daisy like flowers and these blossoms, along with the plant are used to make an herbal tea that has been used for centuries to relieve ailments such as rheumatism, back pain and insomnia.

Another very simple herbal tea is rosehip. Rosehips are the round seed pods that form at the base of the rose and once the rose is gone these will ripen into bright red orbs chock full of vitamin C. They are used alone or in blends with other herbs to make an herbal tea rich in antioxidants.

One of the nice benefits with teas is that if you are trying to cut down on caffeine, herbal teas are not actually made using the tea leaf so these brews are caffeine free. So next time you

Introduction to Chinese Herbal Medicine

published on April 26th, 2008 . by admin

This article focuses on one major component of traditional Chinese medicine–herbal medicine. You’ll find general information in this article, followed by recommendations on ways to take your knowledge to another level.

Chinese herbal medicine is really a major aspect of traditional Chinese medicine and focuses on restoring the balance of energy, body and spirit in one

If You Have to Smoke, Smoke Herbal Cigarettes

published on April 24th, 2008 . by admin

Herbal cigarettes are cigarettes that do not contain any tobacco or nicotine, and instead they contain all natural ingredients such as rose petals and marshmallow leaves. Herbal cigarettes are often used for a variety of reasons, one of the most common being to help people quit smoking real cigarettes.

This is often a very effective method because the smoker still gets to feel as though they are smoking real cigarettes but really the levels of nicotine in their body is decreasing as they are only smoking the herbal cigarettes which do not contain any nicotine. It is the habit of holding and puffing on the cigarette which is one of the hardest parts of the habit to quit, which is why these herbal cigarettes are often so successful in assisting in the cessation of regular cigarette smoking.

Also referred to as fake cigarettes, you can typically find these at any basic cigarette store, and you can choose from a variety of ingredients including red clover, jasmine, ginseng, Yerba Santa, and Damiana, to name a few.

Flavors

There are many different flavors of herbal cigarettes that you can choose from, everything from strawberry and chocolate to vanilla and mint. So not only are you making a healthier choice by choosing to smoke cigarettes that do not have tar or nicotine, but as well you get to choose from some delightful and tasty flavors.

Remember

It is important to remember that just because the cigarettes you are smoking may be herbal this does not mean that they are entirely safe and you should try to refrain from smoking any cigarettes, if possible.

These cigarettes can actually be just as addicting as regular cigarettes, with the only benefit then being that you are not receiving any nicotine or tar, which is the most harmful part of smoking. Many people mistakenly think that just because herbs are plants and are natural that it is okay to take as much of them as they want, whenever they want.

This is actually completely untrue and because herbs are still a form of medicine it is vital that you take them seriously and that you follow proper dosage instructions.

If you ever begin to experience any negative or adverse side effects as a result of smoking these herbal cigarettes, it is important that you cease immediately and talk to your doctor about it. Usually there is nothing to worry about but if you smoke too many of these cigarettes you can actually end up having some very negative side effects including trembling hands and headaches.

Guide to Proper Use of Herbs

published on April 22nd, 2008 . by admin

Herbs can be very beneficial to your health and general well-being, but it is important that you take the time to learn about the different herbs and what they are used for before taking any yourself. Many people mistakenly think that just because herbs are plants and are therefore natural that they can take as much of them as often as they want but this is not true at all.

Herbs are still a form of medicine and so you need to be cautious and follow proper dosage instructions. You also should speak to your doctor before you begin taking any sort of herb so that you know you are using the one best suited to your condition and so that you can learn how to take the herb properly.

Herbal Options

There are quite a few herbal options available, including alfalfa, barley grass, Echinacea, feverfew, ginseng, licorice, Aloe Vera, elderberry, goldenseal, kava kava, milk thistle, yucca root, arnica, bilberry, don quai, saw palmetto, gotu kola, and garlic.

Visiting an Herbalist

If you are interested in beginning to include herbal products in your life, then one of the first things you should do is visit an herbalist. They are specially trained with herbs and can help you to determine proper treatment goals. They aim to correct imbalances, resolve patterns of dysfunction and educate you more on herbal medicine and products in general.

A typical session with an herbalist will last about an hour, but you can also request the session to be longer if you want. You may be physically examined and you will definitely be questioned about your medical history and your general well-being so that the herbalist can get a better idea on the type of lifestyle that you are living and what sort of health problems you may be suffering from.

Herbalists can use herbal medicine to help you with a variety of health conditions, including arthritis, menopause, fatigue, irritable bowel syndrome, asthma, eczema, and more. There are a few herbs in particular that are most commonly offered by herbalists, and they can even customize a specific herbal regime to fit your needs.

Just remember that an herbalist is not a qualified doctor and so you should not rest your health entirely in their hands. You can listen to their advice absolutely, but you should also consult with your own doctor as well to learn more, especially if you are already on any type of prescription medication.

Do You Need Herbal Supplements?

published on April 21st, 2008 . by admin

An herbal supplement is something that some people take supposedly to enhance or supplement the needs of their bodies. There are some supplements which are totally composed of chemicals and made from laboratories without any regard for the effects of inorganic elements entering the body.

Herbal supplements are usually organic elements that are processed without the use of chemicals. Other supplements made from herbs are not organically grown or produced. You need to be vigilant regarding this because many people assume that the name herb or herbal means that they are organic. This is not the case and you must not confuse herbal with organic because many herbs are grown with the use of chemical based pesticides and fertilizers.

Do We Need An Herbal Supplement Of Any Kind?

The question if we really need to take an herbal supplement has often been asked by many people. Actually, the answer to this depends on how you react to the herbal supplement which you have chosen to take. If you see a marked improvement on your part after a few weeks or months of taking the herbal supplement, then by all means go ahead and continue. Some medical practitioners avoid recommending the use of any herbal supplement because these are usually not properly tested and researched by legitimate scientists.

Some herbs have been proven to improve the health and disposition of some individuals but not all have the same effect on everybody. The same goes to herbal supplements. Not all are considered effective for specific ailments and illnesses. Some just have a placebo effect on people while can be dangerous especially if the herbal supplement being taken has long term side effects.

The fact that many supplements, whether herbal or not, are not regulated by the FDA or that they are packaged with the warning that they do not claim to have any positive medical results is enough to warn you to be cautious. You might want to ask your doctor regarding any herbal supplement that you wish to take or you might want to do some research about it.

There are herbal supplements that can positively affect you overall health while others have no effect whatsoever. The one good thing about herbs is that they rarely have any fatal effects on people. You just might want to know more about the herb before you believe in anything that people claim it can do.

Culinary Herb Guide: The Secrets of Delicious Cooking With Herbs

published on April 19th, 2008 . by admin

If you are one of those people who have very discriminating taste when it comes to food, you better get a culinary herb guide. The good thing about having a culinary herb guide is that you can easily determine which types of herbs goes well with certain types of foods. Yes, you probably already know a lot about herbs, but take note, there are some types of herbs that are quite exotic and you may not find these types of herbs in our contemporary grocery stores. The fact that these herbs are rare makes them even more difficult to find.

Rare and exotic types of herbs can make your cooking taste really wonderful. Exotic herbs always has something really unique to offer and if you know how to use them, you will surely be able to come up with something that make people keeping coming back for your cooking. Just think about those wonderful foods served in exotic five star restaurants and you will know what I mean. Always remember that even the most common type of dishes can taste heavenly with the right type of herbs added to them.

Finding A Good Culinary Herb Guide

Although there are a lot of culinary herb guides being sold in the bookstores and online nowadays, not all of these culinary herb kinds can really give you all the information that you need. In fact, you may have to buy a couple or more culinary herb guides just to get enough information. To find some useful information, you need to go through the contents of the herb guide first before you buy it. Scan the pages of the book and find out what it has to offer. Take you time when shopping for culinary guide at the bookstore. On the other hand, if you are buying books online, make sure that you read the summary of the book. You should also read reviews about the book so that you will have some ideas as to what type of information it has to offer.

Once you have a good culinary herb guide, experiment with the herbs. Experimenting with your cooking is the best way to learn the art of seasoning your food with herbs. It may take sometime for you to master the art but learning it is part of the fun. Just thing about all the wonderful food that you can cook for your family and friends!

BeNatural Guide To Herbal Remedies: Introduction to Herbs

published on April 14th, 2008 . by admin

This is a general introduction to the use of herbal remedies. Please reference our specific articles such as Ginger for more in-depth information.

Many of us often turn to herbal medicine to relieve our bodily discomforts. A large percentage of Americans use herbal remedies every now and then. However, herbal remedies are something that we should never just take for granted. Most of us believe that herbs do not have any adverse effects on the body and that we can take these herbal remedies as much as we want without fear of side effects. Unfortunately, this is not really true. According to experts, too much of anything can harm the body. Moreover, plants and herbs contain natural chemicals that should be taken in excess by human beings. It is therefore very important that before you start taking any herbal remedies, you should read a reliable guide to herbal remedies and learn more about the effects of herbs in your body. With the use of a reliable guide to herbal remedies, you will be able to determine the right amount of herbs that you should take in a day to relieve your symptoms and cure your ailment.

Finding The Right Guide To Herbal Remedies

The best way to find the right guide to herbal remedies is to talk to your herbalist and ask for recommendations. Tell your herbalist about your concerns so that he or she can recommend the right book for you. If you do not have an herbalist, you can ask a friend or a family member who is practicing alternative medicine about guides to herbal remedies. People who are into alternative medicine know a lot about guides to herbal remedies so you are bound to lean something from them.

Another way to find the right guide to herbal remedies is to join in one of those online communities of alternative medicine enthusiasts. There are a number of online communities that feature lively discussions about herbal medicine. The good thing about these online communities is that their members are always happy to help each other. In most cases, you will get some informative replies on the questions that you post in the forum. What is more interesting about these online communities is that you can get some really good information and advice for free. However, you should be careful about joining just about any online communities. Join only in those forums that have some of well known herbalists as members. Don

All About Herb Grinders

published on April 12th, 2008 . by admin

Herbs serve as the basis for many medicines. You can capture the essence of herbs at their freshest by using an herb grinder. Find out more in this article.

Herbalism is becoming incredibly popular around the world and it is a really good thing, when you consider how beneficial and effective herbs can be for your health. Not only are they able to target specific health problems but they also can help to improve your general well-being and so if you have not heard of herbalism before it is definitely an issue that you are going to want to make yourself more familiar with.

Herbalism

The term herbalism is used to describe the sophisticated system of natural medicine using plant extracts and herbs to help treat physical and mental disorders. It involves the use of plants rather than more conventional methods of treatment, such as prescription or pharmaceutical medications.

Herbs have been used to treat health conditions since the dawn of time and most of the common drugs of today are actually made from herbal extracts. It is the natural chemical properties of the herbs which show medicinal value, and in herbalism it is believed that healing requires the natural combination of elements in a plant or herb and not just a single chemical, as is the belief in modern-day medicine.

Herb Grinders

If you are interested in purchasing herb grinders, there are a few really great companies that you should learn of. Sugar Piece is one great company that you will want to check out if you are ever looking for herb grinders. They offer one of the largest selections around including electric herb choppers, plastic grinders, and wood and acrylic grinders.

Their herb grinders are all very affordable as well so you do not have to worry about spending a fortune here, and they also offer a variety of sizes so whether you are going to be grinding larger or smaller herbs, more or less, you can find everything you need.

You can even make your own herb grinders, however this will take a bit of time and many people would rather not bother.

The medicinal benefits of herbs have been known for centuries but only recently have they really become popular and recognized around the world. Herbs may be used as teas or extracts or in the production of drugs, even in natural form. Most herbs contain incredibly powerful ingredients which, if used properly can help to heal the body, but remember that they are still forms of medicine and so you need to be cautious and responsible with the dosages that you take.