Medicinal herbs to know and grow: Top 15 resources
Posted by lindseyshoe
Medicinal Plants, including herbs, have been used by humans since the beginning of time. But whether it’s plants or medicinal herbs, how can you know which medicinal plants and herbs to use? And for what symptoms?
Consider these resources to help you learn more about medicinal plants and herbs, their safety, growing them and using them.
According to the Organic Consumers Organization, “Contemporary herbal and naturopathic remedies are frequently based on a combination of traditional knowledge and scientific investigation. At present, there is considerable interest in the revival of traditional and ancient herbal remedies along with their associated philosophies of health and well-being. This can be attributed, in part, to increased awareness of the limitations of conventional medicine.”
Consider supplementing your diet and pursuit of good health with a few old fashioned remedies, from homemade teas and poultices, to simply adding fresh garden herbs to your cooking and salads. Remember, the use of medicinal herbs can, like any other “drug”, be dangerous. Just as you would consult your doctor or pharmacist for information on negative reactions and interaction to a prescription drug, it is important to know which medicinal herbs to use and how. Be sure to use good resources (like those we present here), as well as other research, to help you find doctors and other professionals that will safely guide you to using medicinal herbs and plants to good health.
Why use medicinal herbal plants and remedies? And why are they becoming more “acceptable” in terms of modern medicine?
Did you know…
• St. John’s Wort is a powerful anti-depressant?
• Green Tea boosts your immune system, helps regulate blood sugar, provides powerful antioxidants, and helps digestive discomfort?
• Echinacea helps to increase your immune system and reduce sore throat symptoms? As an ointment, it is used as treatment of insect bites, burns, measles, skin ulcers, herpes, cold sores, and yeast infections?
• Basil can relieve stomach cramps, vomiting, constipation, headaches, and anxiety?
• Eucalyptus relieves symptoms of colds, flu, chest congestion, sore throat, bronchitis, pneumonia, and respiratory infections, and it smells much more soothing than Vicks VapoRub®?
When it comes to medicinal herbs and plants, many of them–from Aloe to Yarrow–can help with many health issues–from upset stomach, to treating certain forms of cancer, to alleviating or soothing complications associated with cancer treatment like immune system loss, nausea, and vomiting. But how can you know which medicinal plants and herbs to use for what symptoms? Consider these resources to help you learn more about medicinal plants and herbs, their safety, growing them, and using them.
Emedicinal.com is an online database of over 500 herbal formulas, including natural folk remedies, and Native American and Chinese herbal formulas. One of the most helpful aspects of this medicinal herb resource is the disease database, which allows you to search according to your illness or ailment (from acne to varicose veins) and provides recommendations for herbal treatments.
West Virginia University provides many academic papers and resources on herbal plants, medicines, and remedies, from growing your own herbs to associations.
The University of Washington helps you with visually identifying medicinal herbs and plants as you take a tour using a search index by common or botanical names. Links to MEDLINE takes you to the premier online source used by doctors and pharmacists. Find out what they know about medicinal herbs and plants.
The Alternative Medicine Foundation provides information regarding: Professional/Scientific Resources; Material Medical/Safety; Folk/Traditional, Education and Training in Herbal Medicine; Health Professionals; Professional and Referral Organizations, and Web Resources.
For more surprising, effective uses of medicinal herbs and plants, visit Home Herb Garden and find out what marshmallow–yes marshmallow–and many other herbs can be used for!
Gardens Ablaze.com is a very comprehensive medicinal herb and plant resource, featuring everything from what herbs to use for what symptoms, to making your own teas, oils, and ointments. Search using their herb index to find out what medicinal herbs and plants have been used in healing and treatment of illness, how to grow those herbs, and what to do with them, from cooking, to treating illness, once you have your garden “ablaze” with natural medicinal herbs and plants.
The Herbal Supplements Guide offers a list of health benefits that are attributed to many medicinal herbs and plant supplements. Find out how to improve your health and treat illness with these suggested medicines made from natural ingredients.
One very helpful site is Detox.net, where you can look or print out an easy-to-read chart with medicinal herbs and plants listed in alphabetical order. This chart includes botanical names, properties, uses, and treatments.
If, like me, you like to have your resources on hand at home, these books and DVDs will be helpful as you consider and pursue natural herbal and plant remedies:
Tyler’s Herbs of Choice: the Therapeutic Use of Phytomedicinals by Robbers, JE and Tyler, VE: Offers practical information on the traditional uses of herbal medicines, bioactive ingredients, and clinical uses–partly anecdotal, primarily scientific.
Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine: The Definitive Home Reference Guide to 550 Key Herbs with all their uses.
Rosemary Gladstar’s Herbal Recipes for Vibrant Health: 175 Teas, Tonics, Oils, Salves, Tinctures, and Other.
The DVD Sastun – My Apprenticeship With A Maya Healer.
Herb & Medicinal Plants Growing Guide (Board book) – Stefan Mager (Author, Illustrator): Who would think I would recommend a “grown up” board book? This is laminated and illustrated, so you can take it into the garden with you, making it even more useful.
Take your book with you anywhere with the Kindle version of Herbs 101: How To Plant, Grow And Cook With Natural Herbs, by C. Kellogg.
Grow Your Own Herbs Kit. Comes with an assortment of 12 Medicinal Herb Seeds-Grow Healing Herbs Indoors or Outdoors-Seed: Echinacea, Milk Thistle, Burdock, Fever Few, Lemon Balm, Valerian, Cayenne & More.
…For all of you out there affected by haemorrhoids, piles, etc… let me recommend the use of peeled, sized, frozen slices of aloe flesh. Its frozen to facilitatae insertion (ala suppository ), and will, with three applications a day, give releif in one to two days.. I am speaking from experience here.. Try to get the non-ornamental type of aloe…with big, fat leaves.. try it …. P.S. At the tender age of 60, I contracted chickenpox… aloe rubbed on my skin eruptions made for a scar-free recovery..