Getting To Know Herbs
December 15th, 2007 by admin
Herbs are nature’s gift to mankind. They are either plants or their extracts and include the bark, the roots, the stem, the bark and the berries. Some are even made into oils, which can be used for many purposes. They have been in vogue ever since the inception of mankind and have been used to cure many diseases. Of course since no official records were maintained, a lot of information has been passed on through word of mouth.
In India, herbs have been used for health care for over three thousand years and other cultures have not been far behind. Indian Ayurvedic doctors have successfully used them to combat common ailments and diseases. The Egyptians went one step further and used herbs and their oils to embalm mummies, while the Greek and the Chinese have been practicing traditional medicine very successfully.
The advantage of herbs is that they provide very few calories per teaspoon. So even if you are on a low calorie diet, they may be freely used. They contain many nutrients and also are excellent sources of the vitamins required in our daily regimen. Paprika is a very good source of Vitamin A and the common parsley, which is so often used as dressing in salads contains vitamin C. Cumin seeds contain iron and some even contain calcium. Herbs like basil, coriander, cloves, mint, and fennel leaves are good antioxidants. It is claimed that they could prevent the buildup of plaque in the arteries.
For those who are suffering from the underproduction of insulin, cinnamon is said to hold the key. It is supposed to increase insulin activity in the body. Some contain compounds that have antiseptic or antibiotic properties while other herbs have compounds, which can relieve cramps, can de-stress and can cure common skin ailments. The good part is that they serve the dual purpose of spicing up ordinary food while supplying vitamins and nutrients essential for the development of the body.
The advent of science based medicine in the sixteenth century made herbal medicine take a back seat. It was in the 19th century that scientists actually began isolating chemicals from plants and modern medicine began to make great headway. Herbal remedies were regarded as obsolete forms of treatment, and mankind turned to the modern allopathic form of medicine. The renaissance of herbal medication can be attributed to the side effects of modern medicine.
Most herbs by themselves are safe and can be taken even in conjunction with allopathic medicine. It is found that people who are health conscious are veering towards herbal products. Herbal toothpastes, shampoos, oils and other alternatives to certain allopathic medicines are freely available. With little exception, almost all people in the world use them for various purposes. Depending upon the geographical location and the climate, each region produces its own indigenous type, which are unique by themselves. Grandma’s remedies will never really vanish from the face of the earth.
For more articles on ayurvedic herbs, visit Herbs.co.in
Learn about home remedies commonly used in Indian ayurveda
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