Herbs That Keep the Bugs Away – and Banish Bug Bites!

February 15, 2009

Take a look in your general store and you’ll find plenty of manufactured ways to keep bugs off of your skin and to heal bug bites. These commercial sprays and remedies are usually quite effective, but many of them contain chemicals that are harmful to your body or the environment, and you may find yourself having a worse reaction to them than you would have had to any bug! Well, what other option is there, then? Herbs that you can find in specialty store or oftentimes in your own backyard are a natural, non-toxic, and equally effective way to combat bugs and bug bites. (more…)

Herbal Treatments for Hemorrhoids

January 29, 2009

Hemorrhoids are a very distressing condition that involve the swelling of the veins of the anus and rectum. They are very similar to varicose veins whereby the veins lose their elasticity and swell and this results in the uncomfortable symptoms of hemorrhoids that may include itching, burning pain and bleeding. (more…)

What is a Botanical?

January 6, 2009

What is a botanical? The study of plants is called botany, so a botanical is a plant, or part thereof, that is valued for its medicinal or therapeutic properties. Some people groups have used these botanical – or herbal - supplements for thousands of years to alleviate some conditions. However, even though they are gaining in popularity, many professional health carers in the western world still doubt their usefulness. (more…)

Brief History of Herbal Medicine

January 3, 2009

Herbal Medicine is the use of botanicals (plants) either singularly or in
combination to prevent and treat certain ailments and illnesses.

People native to different geographical locations have long used plants and
plant extracts to cure specific maladies.  Sometimes referred to as “folk”
medicine, it is generally recognized that there are three schools of research one
can follow with regard to the history of these treatments. (more…)

Acne and Herbal Remedies

December 30, 2008

Acne is not caused by dirt, though careful attention to hygiene helps to keep inflammation at bay. A trial done in Singapore a few years ago points to acne being caused by the failure of the body to break down and metabolize oil in the body. Why does this happen?

According to an article published by Lit-Hung Leung, MD in the Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine Vol. 12, Number 2, 1997, when the particular vitamin that is responsible for the job of metabolizing the oil is needed by the body for a different function – such as the development of the sex organs, eg, – a deficiency is created and there is not enough of this vitamin to do both jobs. This is why acne often shows up at puberty. (more…)

Ayurvedic Medicine

November 11, 2008

Before the advent of modern medicine as we know it many cultures developed natural medicines called herbs. These cures usually came from plants and other natural substances which today can often be found in the kitchen.

Ayurvedic Medicine is a tradition of treating people holistically that has a history of treating disease and preventing illness through herbs and even some of your every day spices found in the kitchen. (more…)

Garlic

November 10, 2008

Garlic can rightly be called the king of the herbs. Although we think of it in terms of food and seasoning, garlic has long been prized for its numerous healing properties. For at least 5,000 years, garlic has stood as the king of healing herbs. It has been shown to reduce cholesterol levels, reduce the risk of further heart attacks in cardiac patients, and stimulate the immune system as a powerful antibiotic. The strong odor that garlic is famous for is due to its sulfur-containing compounds that are also responsible for most of its medicinal properties. So, when it comes to garlic, its strong smell and taste is also what gives it such healing properties. It has been shown that ‘deodorized’ varieties of garlic have less healing properties than the conventional, smelly varieties. (more…)

Feverfew

November 9, 2008

Feverfew has always been seen as a medicinal herb. Its very name implies that it is a cure for fevers, and folk healers employed it for this. Feverfew has been evaluated scientifically, and, though it does not reduce fevers, it was found to be an antispasmodic agent. It prevents the spasms in small blood vessels that are known to be an immediate cause of migraines. The chief active ingredient has been isolated, and might, someday, lead to a pure extract. Additional clinical studies have found that feverfew can stop vomiting and relieve nausea, while improving digestion. Other studies have reported: (more…)

Hello world!

November 8, 2008

Herbal Lessons was switched to a Word Press style on November 8, 2008.