Article Search Results for "herbal medicine"

Herbal medicine, also called botanical medicine or phytomedicine, refers to the use of any plant's seeds, berries, roots, leaves, bark, or flowers for medicinal purposes.

A major benefit of herbal medicine is its long history of safe use. Humans have been taking herbal medicine for thousands of years.

Here is an Herbal Medicine Resource directory. This list includes various businesses that supply everything an herbalist needs.

There are many herbs used by holistic veterinarians to successfully treat a variety of conditions that work gently and without harsh side effects. Also, as many pet owners can attest, herbal medicines can be much easier to give to dogs and cats than a pill.

Here is a list of suggested reading to augment your herbal knowledge. Many of these texts are available online or at discount prices at used bookstores.

Standardization need to be in place to ensure that the herbal medicines are consistent in their identity, purity, and levels of active constituents.

Remnants of medicinal plants have been found in ancient archaeological sites from about 7,000 years ago, and healing plants are even known to be used by animals in the wild. Today, many people still use herbal medicine as their primary form of health care.

The dose of an herbal preparation you take in a single dose, or throughout the day is a crucial part of getting good results. Taking too little can result in no effect at all, because some herb actions such as immune stimulation require a threshold amount to trigger the response.

When starting to learn about Herbal Medicine, there are many new terms for you add to your vocabulary. Here is a glossary of common Herbal Medicine terminology.

Chinese herbalists consider fo-ti to be an adaptogenic and longevity herb. They use it to replenish and strengthen the blood and tonify the liver and adrenals with such symptoms as dizziness, general weakness, prematurely graying hair, constipation, nocturnal emissions, and sterility. Fo-ti is also a good cardiovascular herb and has been shown to be effective for lowering serum cholesterol. Preparations of the herb are used for relieving chronic constipation, sores, swollen lymph nodes, chron

Herbal antioxidants may help prevent this condition, and bilberry extract has been recommended as a treatment, but there is no evidence that it can remove a cataract once it has formed. Prevention is still the best medicine.

This wild plant contains tannins and is used as an astringent for diarrhea and hemorrhage. It is mildly diuretic and is indicated for urinary gravel or stones, kidney or bladder infections, and painful urination. In Chinese medicine knotweed is employed as a diuretic, to regulate urination, and expel worms. Knotweed has a taste of BITTER, ASTRINGENT and a temperature of COLD.

As part of the overall field of complementary and alternative medicine, chiropractic is a well-established and well-studied member of a group of natural therapies. Chiropractic treatment has mixed well with other therapies to become part of Integrative Medicine.

ntegrative medicine is a multidisciplinary approach to medicine that combines mainstream medical treatments with complementary and alternative medicine therapies. Such treatments can be incorporated into pre-natal care to ease many pregnancy symptoms in a safe and natural way.

Lime blossoms make a very effective remedy for colds, fevers, cold-related coughs, and flu, particularly for children because the taste is mild. The herb is used in baths to calm fussy babies and small children. This herb is also a safe and effective nervine and is used for mild hypertension, nervous tension, and headache. Linden has a taste of SWEET, ASTRINGENT and a temperature of COOL.

Adding a few fresh or dried leaves to beans while cooking is said to help eliminate gas. The seed is used in traditional Mexican medicine to rid intestinal parasites. The oil extracted from the seed was formerly used to treat pinworms, but is highly toxic. A mild tea from the seeds or leaves is safe when used under the guidance of an experienced herbalist.

Because anger is an expression of fire, it is generally assumed that cooling liver herbs are most appropriate.

Perilla is useful during pregnancy to alleviate nausea and for calming a restless fetus. It is also used for general stomach disorders, such as lack of appetite, vomiting, or nausea. In Chinese medicine, perilla is used in decoctions to alleviate the symptoms of colds, such as chills, nasal congestion, and coughs, especially when the cold is due to exposure to damp and cold. Perilla has a taste of ACRID, AROMATIC and a temperature of WARM.

Well-known as an emmenagogue, sedative, and nervine, motherwort is extremely beneficial to the cardiac and female systems. Women use it for amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, PMS, and vaginal dryness. As a heart tonic, it is used to strengthen the heart, benefit palpitations and hypertension, and relieve pain of mild angina.. Motherwort has a taste of BITTER and a temperature of COOL.

Fumitory has antiseptic properties which make it beneficial as a wash for skin complaints. It is mildly diuretic and has been used for constipation. Other uses include as an antispasmodic for the gallbladder and bile ducts and the gastrointestinal tract. In traditional medicine it was mixed with wine to strengthen the stomach and improve the appetite.