Grandma's Herbal Health Remedies

Millions of people use herbal health remedies regularly in the belief that they are a good source of important elements either missing or greatly diminished in modern diets. People usually take the herbs in encapsulated powders, concentrated liquids or teas.

Herbs are plants that connect us to the past, present, and future.

We associate herbs with:

• appetizing food
• natural scents
• gentle healing
• peaceful gardens
• beneficial crafts
• intriguing history
• sacred activities

In the past many herbs were used as foods. At one time dandelions, burdock, marshmallow, comfrey leaves and alfalfa were served at mealtime. Unfortunately, many of these wonderful plants have lost favor in the eyes of modern people whose tastes became accustomed to an unwholesome, highly refined regimen.

For example; alfalfa is a rich source of many trace minerals. The plant contains potassium, calcium and magnesium with smaller quantities of phosphorus, sulfur, copper, cobalt, molybdenum, iron, boron, sodium, fluorine, chlorine and strontium. Alfalfa is also a source of vitamin K, vitamin D, vitamin C, vitamin E, pro-vitamin A (beta carotene), folic acid, thiamine, riboflavin, pantothenic acid and niacin. Pyridoxine and choline are also present in varying amounts. That's' not all. Alfalfa contains flavonoids, lipids, chlorophyll, volatile oils, proteins, sugars, starches, organic aids, alkaloids, and saponins. It's a good source of fiber too. Every one of these elements is processed in the human body, even if the required amount is minute.

Alfalfa is just a small example of herbal health remedies. Imagine what health benefits people all over the world could accomplish by sharing, comparing, and offering their knowledge of the herbs used in their cultures. If only we could gather this knowledge in one place, one herb at a time.

Grandma's Herbal Remedies Guide

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America
Herbal Health Benefits Melting Pot

All across America renewed interest in herbs has created a tremendous need for a reassessment of their worth. A recognized necessity for closer contact with nature, a renewed approach to preventive health, an appreciation and interest in Native American uses of plants, in traditional Chinese medicine, and in the value of essential oils and aromas have all contributed to this new awareness.

America's ethnic diversity means that fresh herbs and spices are available in markets that may not be found in a typical herbal health benefits book of recipes or medicinal uses. Neighbors, coworkers, and even our daily newspapers and magazines often enlighten us with special recipes that call for our newly discovered food enhancers.

Herbal health remedies date back as far as 200,000 years ago. Euryale ferox seeds were eaten by early humans in China. Many centuries later, its medicinal uses were recognized, and it appears in early Chinese herbals.

Canterbury monks spread botanical medical knowledge across continents around AD 1100. Monastic herbal medicine was regarded as highly sophisticated.

Herbs gathered from the far corners of the world are being discussed in America in hopes of discovering the significance, meaning, and uses of a particular genus. Not coincidentally, this global sharing has shown that a herb's uses are often similar on different continents and, through the rest of time and experiences, these plants have proven their worth.

An example of the herbal health remedies of one of these genus herbs is Podophyllum. Both the indigenous American species (P. peltatum) and its Asian counterpart, the Himalayan species (P. hexandrum) have been used in their respective area for centuries, by the native peoples, in the treatment of cancer. The Asian species was used to develop the drug, Vepeside, a treatment for lung and testicular cancer. In 1990 the Asian species of Podophllum was listed in the Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species. In that same year, sales of Vepeside topped 100 million dollars here in the United States.

What is an Herb?

From the earliest times, humans have divided plants into two groups, the useful and the not useful, the former being the broadest definition of an herb. Those regarded as useful depend on the environment and society in which one lives - an Amazon healer might consider 500 plants to be useful, and therefore "herbs," whereas a city dweller might know only 5 plants useful. Thus, "herb" is a cultural rather than a botanical definition.

Most people assume herbs are annual or herbaceous plants, such as Basil, or perhaps Ginseng, but in fact herbs span the breadth of the entire plant kingdom, herbs are found among mosses, ferns, conifers, and even algae, as well as the more familiar higher flowering plants.

As you explore Grandma's Herbal Health Remedies you'll quickly discover exactly what kind of health benefits each herb provides and how, very much like the systems of the human body, herbal health benefits actually depend on the combination of other herbs to achieve maximum support. At times you may need to drink a simple cup of tea to bring balance to your stressful life, other times you may need to combine several herbs and remain consistant for a period of time before you notice results.