Herbs and other medical
plants have been very useful for human beings since the earliest times. Men
have always chosen plants that were both food and cure. Nowadays fashion for
herbs has returned. More and more people heal themselves with herbs, they use natural
cosmetics or even grow plants on their windowsills. I would like to present some interesting
facts about herbs.
Herbs in medicine
Phytotherapy is the study
of the use of extracts of natural origin as medicines or health-promoting
agents. On the Earth there are several hundred species of plants, which are
scientifically confirmed to be curative. The healing
properties of herbs have been known for centuries. They were the first
painkillers or bandage. People have studied different influence of herbs on the
human body and from generation to generation they passed the knowledge,
expanding it constantly. Almost every year we hear some new information about using herbs to restore
health. Specialists in the field of medicine and pharmacy are well aware of the healing power of nature. Almost
everywhere there are thousands of experiments in
which scientists use curative herbs and plants. According to the World Health
Organization,7000 chemicals used in medicine derive from plants. More
so, 80% of people declare they
have been treated with herbs or would like to be treated with
them in the future.
However, we have to remember that mistakenly selected
herbs can seriously harm or even poison. So you should choose ready herbal
mixtures or learn more about them.
Herbs in cosmetics
Herbs help cure various skin problems and at the same
time they revitalize beauty. They can smooth wrinkles, lighten our complexion, strengthen hair and nails. It is no suprising
that in good cosmetics there are herbs. Because
of the natural origin they are
better and easlier absorbed by skin, hair and nails.
Often when we choose cosmetics in a drugstore we
even do not realize that they are based on herbs. However, we can wisely use
nature to care for our body and well-being. For example, if you add infusion of chamomile to your bath it will sooth the skin or if you take a bath with
valerian it will relax you. Whereas lotion prepared from
hops strengthens the hair.
Almost everyone uses perfume, but not everyone is
aware of what they are made of. The pleasant smell, which is characteristic for
these cosmetics, often owes it to natural substances obtained from herbs. In
perfumeries a lot of different kinds of volatile herbal oils are used.
Herbs in the kitchen
Another interesting fact is that 16-20% world production of
herbs comes from Poland, of which approximetly 80% of these
herbs are derived from crops
(about 60 species),
and 20% from nature.
What
are your favorite herbs?
Do
you believe in the healing power of nature?
Images:
1. http://www.fatlossretreat.com/uploads/1/6/7/1/16714154/1188137_orig.jpg
2. http://lifestylewellnessnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Dispensary.jpg
Comments
Recently I've read two interesting things on natural/herbal diet: one of them is an article about a mother who stopped her children's allergies by eliminating chemicals from their diets (http://natemat.pl/73249,zamien-chemie-na-jedzenie-julita-bator-najpierw-wyleczyla-dzieci-teraz-napisala-ksiazke-o-tym-czym-sie-trujemy). She's even published a book on this subject advising others how to eat food, not chemistry.
The other interesting thing is a blog I found a couple of days ago: niekupiejedzenia.blogspot.com It is a story of a man who decided to stop buying food and tried to survive one year on eating hand grown plants and hand bred animals and their products. He had 400 sq meters of ground, some sheep and hens. He even eliminated all the medicine he was taking and changed it for herbal treatment. He treated the wounds with honey and some other health issues with acorn infusion. He is now healthy and really bonded with the nature. There was one blog entry where he writes that he had expected the plants to ripen sooner and he had to spend two weeks eating nothing but herbs + sheep cheese salad and he lost 12 kgs. This experience shows that herbs are not very nutrient, but they are very healthy as a supplement.
Herbs can be a great addition to our diet, however I don't think that total relying on them is a good idea. It is important to learn how to use things in moderation.
I actually don't really pay attention to creme or cosmetics ingredients (in my opinion all of this "herb" stuff is mostly marketing ;) ) I must like the way it works - how easily it's absorbs and things like that :) But I kinda believe in "home-made" cosmetics made out natural ingredients, when you know what exactly you put in. Actually I don't mean herbs, because I rather use food that we have in our fridges - eggs, milk, jogurt etc. :D I don't really have time to do this, but when I do :D I never have thought of putting herbs into it.
According to the eating, I use them mostly for a flavour :) Never thought, that they are some kind of healthy. Does it work for "dried" herbs as well? Or only those just-from-the-bush? :D
During being ill i like to drink hot water with ginger, honey and lemon. In my opition it has bigger positive impact on my body than pharmacy's medicines
I also do not have my own garden with herbs so I use dried herbs. And I believe they work ;)
Speaking of herbs I would also like to mention marijuana (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_%28drug%29). Drugs are very dangerous and should be used very carefully although I am against banning them.
I agree that the is such a trend. Is is really true fhat it heals our diseases, I do not know.
The only thing I can add is that I like to drink yerba as an alternative to coffee at work. it tastes awful but it puts on my legs.
Herbs play an important role in my life. I always depend on them and I treat myself with them. Both when I am sick and as a prevention. They are more natural that normal medicines and cheaper I think.
I agree that sometimes people don't treat them seriously and don't believ that they can cause problems if you don't use them properly.
I haven't heard that Poland plays such an important role in production of herbs. Nice to know:)
My favourites herbs are : horsteail, thyme, lime, briar...And yes I definately believe in the healing power of herbs. Do you?
I drink only herbs for 4 years now. I NEVER buy them(besides green tea), but harvest them by myself. I drink on regular basis: nettle, linden, mint, sow-thistle.
The linden is my favourite one it has sweet taste and great smell, sometimes I mix it with green tea.
When I cook I mostly use marjoram, I love to add it to the shrimps alongside with wine and garlic.
I do believe in healing power of raw/unprocessed nature and I love herbs. It is the best thing you can get.
these ones are propably the most popular as well.
Hmm if I could say something about tea... I drink it about two times per year;)
Do you believe in the healing power of nature?
Sure:) I believe that using, eating, smoking herbs give better psychics and physical comfort.
AS for my favorite herbs, I'd stick with tea :)
I like tea :)
Do you believe in the healing power of nature?
I believe that some herbs may be considered as a medicine, but I dont consider myself as a person competent enough to tell which of them are good for my health. I would rather stick with doctor's opinion than trust some information about healing herbs provided by websites.
Do I believe in the healing power of nature? Definitely yes. Someone once said that we are what we eat and for my this is true. Our diet have very big influence on our well-being it is important for us to provide appropriate amounts of vitamins, minerals and fiber for the proper functioning of our body.
And like some of you wonder if green tea is an herb. So green tea is made from the leaves from plant called Camellia sinensis, so I guess it is an herb.
Yes, I do believe in the healing power of nature. This year I decide I try to use natural cosmetics and I can see that my skin and hair look better. I also cannot imagine cooking without herbs. I buy read herbal mixtures and I add it to almost everything. Fresh basil added to some pasta just make the meal taste better :) I use herbs as a medicine, especially mint for stomach problems and chamomile for eyes.
When my grandmother was younger she was colecting and drying her own herbs. Then when was the cold winter we was drinking brew of linden with honey. Illnesses of wnter weren’t terrible for us.
I think that I believe in the healing power of nature, but I don’t believe in the old women from the forest, who was a herbalist. I believe in power of nature not power of people's prayers by herbs. I don’t believe that people can make special energy and give a breathe to plant, whitch will become the medicine.
Recently there was really big discussion about "healers": one of them forced family to feed boy with only water and herbs, as far as I remember. As someone already mentioned: herbs can't replace balanced nutrition and that boy died.
Also there are some species of herbs that can damage our organs, here for example are described herbs that can damage liver: http://www.today.com/health/five-surprising-herbs-can-damage-your-liver-1D79828098
One of my favourite herbs are basil, rosemary and mint. I can use them all the time.
Do you believe in the healing power of nature?
Generally yes, i believe in the healing power of nature. As Mateusz said natural products always would always be better than chemical. But nowadays disease are so complex and only natural products wouldn't be enough to fight with them. In cold you can treat yourself with natural products, but in more complex cases it would be hard.