Summary: Uses of Herbs in Traditional Healing

          From earliest times, herbal remedies have been used to treat diseases. “The Ebers, Papyrus’, prepared in Egypt about the 16th Century B.C. contains hundreds of folk remedies for various afflictions. Usually, however, herbal remedies were explained orally from one generation to the next.

          Western medical herbalism appears to have begun with the work of first-century Greek physician Dioscorides, who wrote “De Materia Medica”. It became the leading pharmacological text for the next 1,600 years. In many parts of the world, traditional herbal remedies continue to be popular. In Germany, government health programmes may even reimburse the costs of herbal prescriptions.

          Although it is sometimes claimed that traditional and folk-remedy herbs are safer than modern pharmaceutical drugs, they are not without their risks. So the questions are now raised: what cautions and recommendations should one take into account when considering herbal remedies? And are there any circumstances under which one form of therapy may be more advantageous?

          Herbs have been credited with many therapeutic properties. Some are thought to help the body fight infections. Others are said to aid digestionDigestion is the breakdown of large insoluble food compounds into small water-soluble components so that they can be absorbed into the blood plasma. In certain organisms, these smaller substances are absorbed... More, settle nerves, serve as a laxative, or help regulate the glands.

          Herbs may have both nutritional and medicinal value. For example, some plants that serve as diuretics such as parsley, also contain significant amounts of potassium. The potassium in these plants compensates for the loss of this vital trace element through urination. Likewise, the valerian plant (Valeriana officinalis) long used as a sedative, is high in calcium. The calcium may enhance the herb’s sedative effect on the nervous system.

          Herbs can be taken in many ways, such as in tea decoction, tinctures and poultices – Teas are made by pouring boiling water over a herb. But authorities caution that herbs used as teas should generally not be boiled in water. Decoctions made from such things as herbal roots and bark are boiled in water to release their active ingredients.

          What about tinctures? One book says that these “are herb extractions made with the help of pure or diluted spirits of alcohol, or brandy, or vodka”. Then there are poultices, which can be prepared in various ways. Usually, they are applied to diseased or painful body parts.

          Unlike many vitamins and drugs, most herbs are considered foods and are often taken alone on an empty stomach. They can also be taken in a capsulated form, which can be more convenient and more palatable. If you decide to take herbal remedies, it is wise to do so under professional guidance.

          Traditionally, herbs have been suggested for such conditions as the common cold, indigestion, constipation, insomnia, and nausea. However, herbs are also sometimes used for more serious ailments not only as a cure but also as a preventive measure. For instance, in Germany and Austria, the herb saw palmetto (serenoa repens) is used as a first-line treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia (swelling of the prostate gland). In some countries, this disorder eventually affects 50 to 60 per cent of men. It is important, however, that the cause of the swelling be diagnosed by a physician to make sure that the condition does not require more aggressive intervention, as in the case of cancer. – Adapted from Awake! December 22, 2003, Pages 12 – 13.