Using herbal remedies for minor illnesses can be an affordable and effective way to treat common ailments without the use of medical intervention, and can treat a range of illnesses such as the common cold, stress, acne or headaches. Not only do some of these infusions smell and taste better than normal medicine, but the rejuvenation effects can last well into the day.
How to Make Herbal Remedies
The type of herbal remedy or infusion that is made will depend on what it will be used for. Herbal remedies are commonly used to cure ailments, create a feeling of well-being and peace, or to simply aid in health and help stimulate proper body and muscle growth. Some common medicinal plants and herbs that can be used in creating these remedies include:
- Cloves of garlic
- Cinnamon
- Ginseng roots
- Eucalyptus
- Lavender
- St John’s Wort
- Chamomile
- Tea Tree Oil
- Peppermint
- Ginger
- Echinacea
It is worth the effort to invest in growing medicinal herbs and plants, as most of them are not available at the local supermarket or the essential oils may have too high an alcohol content. Shop around for health food stores or farmers markets which are sure to have an abundance of dried, if not fresh herbs and essential oils.
Herbal Recipes
Penelope Ody, in her book titled Home Herbal, gives a thorough guide on how to create an entire herbal hospice with numerous recipes for illness ranging from back pain to combating pre-menstrual stress in women. In these three recipes on how to cure acne, the common cold, and cold sores, she emphasizes that dosage instructions should be followed to the letter. Even with natural medicine, overdosing can be not only be harmful but less effective.
Penelope Ody shares the following recipes:
Treatment of Acne: Lavender and Yarrow Facial
Tea tree oil 5 drops
25ml rosewater
25ml witch hazel, distilled
10g dried lavender flowers
10g dried yarrow flowers
10g dried elderflowers
Mix the tea tree oil, rosewater and witch hazel to make a lotion, then mix the yarrow, lavender and elderflowers in a separate bowl and pour hot boiling water over the combination. Cover your head with a towel and closing your eyes, sit bent over the bowl to steam the face. This herbal mixture will open up the pores and prepare the skin. Then apply the lotion to cleanse the skin, repeating the procedure once every day.
Treatment of Cold Sores: Tea tree and Lavender Oil Mixture
8 ml tea tree oil
5 ml lavender oil
12 ml sweet almond oil
Mix the oils thoroughly and apply 2 to 3 drops to the infected area once every 2 hours.
Treatment for the Common Cold
500 ml water
5g dried peppermint
5g dried yarrow
10g dried elderflower
10g dried boneset
Create a herbal infusion by mixing all the herbs in a teapot. Cover the herbs with boiled water, stew for seven to 10 minutes and store in a cool, dry place. A single cup dose should be taken every three to four hours until symptoms disappear.
(If symptoms persist despite continuous treatment, it is advisable to seek professional medical advice).
Naturally Herbal
As long as it is a minor ailment, herbal remedies can work wonders. Whether it is natural aloe vera to treat skin problems and wounds or covering a bee sting with moistened salt in order to neutralise its acidity, they can not only be used to cure but essential oils can also be used to manufacture personal cosmetics and beauty products such as perfumes, lip balms, body scrub or lotion.
Although the world of herbal remedies can be exciting and wonderful, it is always advisable to consult the family doctor or medical practitioner before leaving any prescribed course of treatment for a pre-existing medical condition. Some natural medicines and herbs can have the opposite effect and might trigger allergic reactions that would have normally lain dormant or interact in an adverse manner that would be detrimental to the body.
In the meanwhile, have some chamomile tea, relax, and enjoy the weird and wonderful world of herbal remedies.
Sources:
Penelope Ody. (1995), 'Home Herbal: A practical guide to making herbal remedies for common ailments.' Human and Rousseau, Cape Town.
http://www.gardenguides.com/1442-preparing-herbal-remedies.html
http://www.ayurvediccure.com/
Sharon Kasanda - Sharon Kasanda Suite 101.com Contributing Writer Sharon Kasanda is a contributing writer on Suite 101.com. She completed her ...
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