I'm a big fan of herbs. I think they're good for you (antioxidants, antibacterial, etc.) and they taste good. So I've always added generous amounts to meals. I've recently begun drinking various herbal teas during the afternoon instead of coffee. But I've used these in a more general sense, not targeted for specific medicinal uses.
About 4 years ago, I heard a report on NPR about using echinacea at the first sign of sickness (similar to how Tamiflu is used), and I decided to get some in pill form. With two young kids in the house, I've gotten sick numerous times. But each time I took echinacea, the sickness either 1) disappeared or 2) was less severe and of shorter duration than normal. The earlier I started the echinacea, the better my improvement. The couple of times I didn't take echinacea, I got full-blown sickness.
Last year, after watching a Dr. Oz show, I got some goldenseal capsules... supposedly good for curing sore throats. Break the capsule, dump the powder into hot water, and gargle. It is some horribly bitter stuff, but it's the bitter compound that does the work, so I gladly suffer. I've had pretty good success with this herb as well. Case in point: yesterday I came down with a sore throat. Last night and this morning I gargled the goldenseal tonic, and my sore throat is practically gone.
I've used mint and ginger for indigestion, with good success.
I guess I've also used capsaicin (in the form of hot peppers) for sinuses... nothing like an extra-spicy meal to clear a stuffy nose. But that's only provided temporary relief.
And I'm sure most of us have used eucalyptus at some point.
Does anyone else here use herbs for medicinal purposes? (Yes, even marijuana if you're using it medicinally.)
ETA: Although I'm "sold" on herbs being used for preventative measures, I don't think they should be used as a cure/treatment for serious ailments that require doctor visits. I gladly took doctor-prescribed antibiotics for the strep throat I had a couple years ago that the echinacea/goldenseal had zero effect.
-------------- When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be. - Lao Tzu
I have some herbal cold tea that my sister made. I don't know what is in it but supposedly it works. I tend to use a combination of homemade remedies and "the real deal".
-------------- If I'm going to be lost, in the woods is where I want to be...
I use tumeric or turmeric for inflamation in my arthritic knees. I seldom use anything else and it keeps the pain down to a manageble level. I use capsule and powder.
I use tumeric or turmeric for inflamation in my arthritic knees. I seldom use anything else and it keeps the pain down to a manageble level. I use capsule and powder.
I did cook with that recently to help with my wife's cough/cold.
-------------- If I'm going to be lost, in the woods is where I want to be...
I do drink Yogi tea. I drink the Super Antioxidant. The stuff is so good it doesn't need any sweetener. I just drink it for general purposes, nothing in particular.
But when I need to shake my groove thing, I take a little Peaches n Herb ...
Rumi
-------------- “This is my Indian summer ... I'm far more dangerous now, because I don't care at all.”
I used to read everything I could on medicinal wild plants. But other than for nutritional value (rosehips for vitamin C, etc.), I can't think of any I ever latched onto for their medicinal value.
I have used juniper berries in place of hand sanitizer. But, of course, there is no way to test its effectiveness. And squashing them sufficiently to cover my entire hands was difficult to do.
I do think many wild plants have medicinal value, but there is enough folklore surrounding the topic that it is tough to separate the legend from the real thing.
Two nights ago I went to bed with a scratchy throat and sniffles, and woke up yesterday with a sore throat and post-nasal drip. I'm happy to report that after 1 day of goldenseal gargles, all my symptoms are gone.
-------------- When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be. - Lao Tzu
Two nights ago I went to bed with a scratchy throat and sniffles, and woke up yesterday with a sore throat and post-nasal drip. I'm happy to report that after 1 day of goldenseal gargles, all my symptoms are gone.
Gargling with Hydrogen Peroxide is also something that helps.
-------------- If I'm going to be lost, in the woods is where I want to be...
I've used echinacea & goldenseal with great results also. Other than those two, weed is another that helps with some pain management issues. Of course I can only partake in the states where it's legal.
Pretty much what you do...also immune booster mushrooms. Waiting for the wisecracks here...laugh. But really, they rock! They come in capsule form, and I take one at the first sign of anything and it disappears fast. They are expensive tho. A little cheaper thru vitacost....
I'm trying to formulate how best to respond to this post so here goes: I've seen herbs used in many ways to treat symptoms, often with sucess, especially when compared to pharmacuticals that often have unwanted side effects. How they are used can be more technical and I am no expert! As far as marijuana goes, I've done extensive research and was actually able to help persuade an insurance company to cover the costs on at least a trial basis. It does have a positive effect on spasticy with no other real side effects. Stronger muscle relaxants are also effective but often affect all muscles causing loss of bowel control or urinary urgency which decreases quality of life. MJ also effectively increases appetite which once again helps maintain healthier weights in patients where nausea and swallowing are issues.
I use tumeric or turmeric for inflamation in my arthritic knees. I seldom use anything else and it keeps the pain down to a manageble level. I use capsule and powder.
I did cook with that recently to help with my wife's cough/cold.
I've heard it can help prevent/delay/slow Alzheimer's, demetia, etc., but don't know if it's true or not.
I can cite a number of plants for use on a variety of aliments, but in double blind studies, most don't perform nearly as well as many proponents claim. There is a chart out there in cyberspace that plots the popularity of different medicinal plants against their performance in pharmacological studies. I'll try to find it and post the link, but the information it conveys is a disappointment to many herbalists. That doesn't mean that the knowledge of herbal medicine isn't useful when you don't have access to modern medicine. I just find the subject interesting.
-------------- "Travel suggestions from strangers are like dancing lessons from God." -Kurt Vonnegut Jr.
I can cite a number of plants for use on a variety of aliments, but in double blind studies, most don't perform nearly as well as many proponents claim. There is a chart out there in cyberspace that plots the popularity of different medicinal plants against their performance in pharmacological studies. I'll try to find it and post the link, but the information it conveys is a disappointment to many herbalists. That doesn't mean that the knowledge of herbal medicine isn't useful when you don't have access to modern medicine. I just find the subject interesting.
A few thoughts:
1) Pharmacological studies are typically done on a general population. People who use herbs are typically healthier, eat a better diet, etc. Herbs aren't as powerful as pharmaceuticals, so I wonder if herbs just work better in healthy individuals?
2) What % of herb claims are placebo effect? {Personally, I wish there was more research on placebo as treatment. It amazes me that the mind alone can cure disease}
3) It's been my personal experience that herbs work best for prevention, and pharmaceuticals work best after the disease is established.
4) Since you find the subject interesting... did you know that Michael Savage studied/worked in nutritional ethnomedicine before he got into political radio? I was listening to his show one day on a trip to the Adks, and he went totally off-topic and spoke about his pre-radio life for about 2 hours. I was totally fascinated. Basically: He was a sickly kid, and cured himself with nutrition and herbs. Got several Master's and a PhD. He traveled all over the world determining how native tribes used medicinal herbs. He's written about 20 "ethnomedicine" books under his true name, Michael Weiner.
-------------- When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be. - Lao Tzu
Mike Savage, Savage Nation holy crap. Reminds me of my anti-islam days right after 9/11. That guy is extreme. I'll never forget going to his website and watching those real beheadings of american citizens. I blacked out and almost fainted.
-------------- "A map is the greatest of all epic poems. Its lines and colors show the realization of great dreams." Gilbert H. Grosvenor
I've heard alphalpha tablets are good for heartburn issues, as is a bit of vinegar in some warm water, and ginger is good for nausea.
-------------- “He who knows the most, he who knows what sweets and virtues are in the ground, the waters, the plants, the heavens and how to come at these enchantments, is the rich and royal man” -- from Nature, by Ralph Waldo Emerson
Green tea and 10 sun salutations are good for a lot of things ;)
-------------- ...SAUNTERING is derived "from idle people who roved about the country, under pretense of going a la Sainte Terre," to the Holy Land.... Some, however, would derive the word from sans terre without land or home, which will mean having no particular home, but equally at home everywhere. Thoreau
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