The Five Most Important Things You Need to Know About Healing Herbs
1. Parsley and basil are not herbs.
Just kidding.
Parsley and basil are herbs, but they're not the only herbs. Often people think an herb has to be a small bushy-like plant. Not so. In herbal medicine, any plant or part of a plant can be used as healing herbs.
This includes flowers, bushes, vines and trees, even huge rainforest canopy trees. Ginger root, aloe cactus leaves, bark of the huge rainforest tree pau d'arco, and elder berries all are used for therapeutic purposes and qualify as 'herbs.' More than 2,000 herbs are used medicinally today.
The biodiversity of the rainforest is so enormous that less than one percent of its millions of species have been studied by scientists for their healing potential. (The Nature Conservancy) As to an actual number, science hasn't figured that one out yet. Estimates range from two million to a hundred million.
Speaking of which, have I already mentioned that according to the Nature Conservancy scientists also estimate we lose over 137 species of plants and animals every day through rainforest deforestation? While I'm on sad factoids I'll add that we are talking about an ecosystem that is at least 55 million years old, (Wikipedia), covers a mere two percent of the earth's surface yet supports over half our planet's wild plants, trees and wildlife. (Mongabay.com) And we continue to destroy it. Go figure.
2. Herbs have been safely used for thousands of years.
They have been used to improve health, cure wounds of all kinds and heal disease. Cultures all over the world have gathered a vast body of knowledge regarding the power of healing herbs to create and support improved health. Much of this information has been passed down to us through Western herbalism, Ayurvedic herbalism, and Chinese Medicine.
As I mentioned earlier, 80% of the world's population still uses herbal remedies as their primary health care. Indigenous cultures continue to pass along invaluable herbal knowledge from one generation to the next. It includes which parts of plants are beneficial and how to prepare them; whether to boil, steep, or crush, how long to use and in what quantities to access the plant's medicinal properties.
Sadly, as tribes disappear and remaining inhabitants assimilate, much of this specialized knowledge is being lost. There are some wonderful programs to support the passing of the torch from one generation to the next. These are critically important for us all.
3. Herbs are used to improve almost any area of health.
This includes everything from mood swings to blood pressure, from exhaustion to lactation. Furthermore, one herb is frequently used for apparently unrelated health issues. This is quite different from the targeted pharmaceuticals of western medicine.
For example, aloe vera gel is used to heal sunburn and cleanse the digestive system; bitter melon treats malaria and snake bite. Cat's claw has been used to treat tumors and the flu. Chanca piedra, or 'stone breaker,' is a common remedy for kidney stones and diabetes.
4. Many of our prescription drugs are based on herbal substances.
For example, ephedra is a healing herb that has long been used in Chinese herbology to treat respiratory problems. Ephedrine is the active ingredient in ephedra, and ephedrine is the basis for many pharmaceutical products medicating asthma and other respiratory problems. In addition, approximately 25 percent of prescription drugs in use today have an herbal component. Many of our cancer, heart, and other wonder drugs are originally from herbs, mostly rainforest herbs. This clearly shows the power of herbs.
5. Healing herbs are safe. But don't confuse safe with harmless.
Bread, chicken, and mushrooms are also safe - if the bread is not moldy, the chicken is not spoiled, and the mushrooms are not gathered ignorantly off the forest floor. When we take herbal supplements, we need to know what we're doing. Some herbal remedies may interfere with prescription drugs or intensify their impact. This doesn't mean herbs are dangerous - it just means they do in fact, affect our bodies. Since we take herbs to help us heal, that's a good thing.
Just remember to do your research and proceed responsibly. Talk to your health care professional. Taken properly and used responsibly, herbs just may help you feel better than you ever imagined. They can become your most important support for natural healing.