All About Herbs and Natural Healing
Well, not ALL about herbs and natural healing -- that would take a lifetime or three of study and several encyclopedia-length volumes.
But I did want to include some information about the principles that are important for anyone who is interested in using herbs and other natural healing methods for themselves.One of the things that has fascinated and delighted me about herbs is that they are so multi-faceted.
Herbal Properties
There are no herbs which have only one or two properties and no ailment for which only one herb will work (though there are herbs which are considered "specifics" because they are considered the best herb for the job). For an example of this, read one herbalist's description of the properties and uses of the wonderful herb known as yellow dock (Rumex crispus) here. See: Herbal Properties for more information.
Methods of Herbal Preparation
Not only do medicinal herbs have different properties, they can be prepared for administration in a variety of ways -- depending on the needs, the plant part(s) used, and other factors including personal preference. This page discusses the more popular methods of herbal preparation.
Safety and Efficacy of Herbs
Medicinal herbs are absolutely wonderful, but they must be used with care. It's been my observation and experience that they are overwhelmingly safe, and certainly effective, if used responsibly and knowledgeably. Nevertheless, there are some safety considerations everyone contemplating the use of medicinal herbs must be aware of. In addition, anyone taking prescription medications should be aware that there can be herb-drug interactions which can cause adverse results.
Advantages of Herbs
The Natural Healing paradigm is very different from what I call the Western Medical Model. Some understanding of the many differences is imperative for anyone who is interested in using medicinal herbs and other home remedies. See the Advantages of Herbs for details.
My Favorite Herbal and Natural Healing References
Again and again on this site I talk about using medicinal herbs "responsibly and knowledgeably," and to be able to do that it's imperative to have two or three really good herbals. Even if you merely buy encapsulated herbs at your local healthfood store, it's a good idea to know more about the herbs you're taking. I've listed my favorite herbals for you, the ones I recommend to anyone and everyone, and also am including a number of additional highly recommended books and references on herbs, natural healing, nutrition and related topics as well. It doesn't matter to me which ones you buy, as long as you buy good ones, and more than one.
My Own Handcrafted Herbal Remedies
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