Welcome to Herbal articles category.

You can find informaion on Herbal articles and news.

The process of herbal detoxification mainly consists of taking pills and liquids containing herbs like milk thistle, chlorophyll, red clover, and licorice roots.

Herbal detox is said to rid the kidney, colon, and liver of harmful toxins. Herbal detox products are also said to strengthen the muscles of the large intestine, improve digestion, cleanse the liver and the gall bladder, and help in the elimination of intestinal parasites.

Herbs can be taken in tea, powder, or extract form. Powders act best when taken with meals or digestive enzymes. Herbal teas are the simplest form of herbal detox and can be taken and made all through the day. Alcohol is sometimes used to make extracts, but these extracts should be avoided if possible.

Water plays a very important role in a general herbal detox diet. It comprises of a breakfast of water with lime, or apple cider vinegar. Blackstrap molasses can also be used as can Psyillum husk powder.

Digestive enzymes, liver herbs, dandelion, licorice, and ginger fennel herbal teas should be taken during meals.

Herbal detox pills are also on the market that are generally herbs in pill form. Some of the ingredients of the herbal detox pills are fennel, basil, celery, and parsley.

In addition to general herbal detox, there are also detox methodologies by which specific organs can be targeted and cleansed, such as the colon and the liver. Also, make sure you are consuming a balanced diet of vegetables, fruits, meats, and carbohydrates. That way, your herbal detox regimen will have its greatest effects on your system. General health is the key to proper and steady detox.

In today’s world, it is commonplace to see everything labeled as natural or herbal. Already on the shelves today are millions of “all herbal” and “all natural” products, including dietary supplements and herbal medicine supplements.

When did the sudden influx of these products start? It’s possible that the herbal supplement and herbal product trend began when the media began to focus on dietary health and maintaining a healthier lifestyle.

Recognizing the advantages of herbal medicines and natural remedies can also be traced back to our ancestors thousands of years ago. Dating back to 2800 B.C., humans have seen and recorded the benefits of herbal remedies. And now it is your turn!

Herbal medicine and herbal alternatives can be traced a long way through history. Starting within the last 5,000 years all the way up to today, herbal medicine and herbal alternatives are a necessity for those looking for a healthy, natural way to augment their health and treat all sorts of health problems.

Benefits to some of the herbal medicines and herbal alternatives currently on the market include but are not limited to:

Cost-effectiveness

Prescription drugs are more expensive than herbal medicines.

Lower Side Effects

Herbal medicines are not only more convenient, but a far healthier solution than prescription drugs. However, it’s important to remember that, just because the word “natural” is included in natural and herbal alternatives, it does not guarantee their safety.

It is crucial to consult your doctor before taking any type of herb, as some herbal medicines and herbal alternatives have proven to be harmful. It’s also important to remember that herbal supplements are not drugs and are not classified as such. However, herbal medicines appear to have many advantages over traditional drugs, including a lower occurrence of side effects.

Effectiveness and Potency

Unsatisfactory results with traditional healthcare often result in a search for alternative treatments. Keep in mind, however, the efficacy of herbal medicines is patient-subjective.

Genetic variations from patient to patient, as well as the ingredients’ different growing conditions, method and timing of harvest, and exposure to air and light may all affect the potency of a natural herbal medicine or herbal supplement.

Ultimately, herbal medicine and herbal alternatives have drawbacks and strong points. Keep in mind that herbal medicines are not a surefire way to heal anything, but are generally a very wallet-friendly, effective health solution.

Herbal Supplement – what is it?

So what is an herbal supplement? The herbal supplement is a supplement that provides you body with various nutrients necessary for your health and which is based of herbs and natural products. There are a wide variety of different types of herbal supplements available in the market nowadays. The benefits that each herbal supplement claims are also numerous and diverse.

Herbal Supplement – the risks.

Many of the benefits that some type of herbal supplement or supplements claims on its label are not supported by scientific evidence or scientific research. According to medical correspondent Dr. Emily Senay, preliminary research on St. John’s wort for depression and gingko biloba for improvement cognitive function has not shown much of a benefit beyond that of the placebo effect. That doesn’t mean though that all herbal supplements are fake. That only means that there is such a risk until more research is done.

Herbal Supplement – the variety.

You can find a great range of different brands, ingredients, and doses of herbal supplements in health food stores, grocery stores, pharmacies, discount stores, etc. According to medical correspondent Dr. Emily Senay, there are at least 880 different variations of the 10 best selling herbs. It can become very confusing to choose the best herbal supplement.

Numerous brands vary significantly in the ingredients used in production of some type of herbal supplement and in recommended dosages. The prices vary significantly too. You can definitely find the cheap or discounted herbal supplements, but with the price drop the quality usually drops. Also with cheap herbal supplements you have a greater chance of purchasing a fake product. Consult with your doctor or other health professionals before you start taking some type of herbal supplement.

In reading about herbal remedies, it should be noted that herbs and vitamins are closely connected. Most herbs contain certain types of vitamins, and vitamins are naturally from living things, including plants. From this close connection, the idea for herbal vitamins comes about.

When we talk about herbal vitamins, we are basically talking about those herbal based vitamins - vitamins that are from herbs. Just like the vitamins that are derived from animal sources, herbal vitamins must also be absorbed in the body by providing it in the diet or in nutritional supplements. The basis for that is the fact that the human body can’t produce or synthesize the herbal vitamins.

Herbal vitamins are vital to the proper functioning of the human body. In fact, they are very necessary for our growth, vitality, as well as for our general well being. One of the big misunderstandings in the world today is the idea that herbal vitamins can be substituted for food. This is not true. In fact, some experts think that herbal vitamins should not be ingested without consuming food. This is important to read up on a herbal remedy such as herbal vitamins.

Incidentally, herbal vitamins help in the regulation of metabolism. In addition, they also aid in converting fats and carbohydrates into energy. Plus, herbal vitamins help in the development of tissues and bones.

One example of herbal vitamins is the vitamin A or beta-carotene which is necessary for the body, particularly for growth and repair of body tissues. Many herbs contain this vitamin, especially those that are use especially for keeping a smooth, soft, and disease-free skin.

Today, herbal vitamins nutritional supplements are now offered in many health food stores, and one of those is the herbal vitamin called as Vitalerbs. It consist of alfalfa, dandelion, kelp, and some other combinations of useful herbs. This herbal vitamin is said to be easier to digest because it contains whole foods. This form of herbal vitamins is now massively circulated because it has been proven safe and effective.

Herbal Medicine Schools offer instruction and training in herbalism, the most ancient healthcare known to mankind. Sometimes referred to as botanical medicine, Herbal Medicine Schools educate in the use of herbs for therapy and medicinal healing. The curriculum covers preventive nutrition, options for treatment and cure, natural methods of healing, and more.

Herbs are derived from plants, and are used not only for their medicine properties, but also for aroma and spice. The medicinal value of Herbal Medicine has been documented throughout the centuries of use and study. Approximately 25% of all prescription drugs in the U.S. contain at least one active plant material ingredient.

Herbal Medicine Schools instruct future practitioners how to grow medicinal herbs for personal or market use, how to create herbal preparations, the chemical components of herbs, anatomy and botany, the legalities of private practice and many other subjects. Herbal Medicine Schools also teach herbal identification, herbal first aid, herbal pharmacognosy, and the history of natural medicine.

Herbal Medicine Schools require little more than a high school diploma or an entrance exam to enroll. Acupuncture schools, chiropractic colleges, and naturopathic colleges may offer special workshops on herbal medicine, summer classes, or continuing education classes. Some medical colleges even offer herbal classes as an elective.

All traditional medicine is holistic in nature, putting as much emphasis on maintaining health as on defeating illness. In the western herbal tradition, one of the cornerstones of maintaining health is the idea of removing toxicity by cleansing the blood, using good diet and a category of herbs known as “alteratives,” which alter the body’s environment for the better, gently cleansing the blood and therefore the body in subtle ways.

How do you know when someone’s toxic if they’re not sick right now? Toxins can first show up as fatigue, mental dullness, and even a hangover kind of feeling. There is less ability to adapt to environmental stresses, and improper foods or environmental irritants more easily aggravate a person. Eventually, this can manifest as migraine headaches, allergies, poor immune system functioning, and skin disease. With a lifetime of toxic blood, toxins can create, an environment for arthritis, heart disease, and cancer.

Some cleansing herbs work in obvious ways, for example, bitter herbs that stimulate liver function, or herbs that increase urine production in the kidneys, or diaphoretic herbs that cause sweating, kind of an herbal sauna. Alteratives work in subtle ways, perhaps including stimulation of the liver, kidneys, or sweat glands, but most directly they work on the lymph system. Although some herbalists separate out lymphatic herbs from alteratives, there’s enough overlap that we’ll consider them as one category here.

The lymph system is one area to which herbalists pay more attention to than mainstream medicine practioners; herbalists have a much greater appreciation of subtlety, since herbal diagnostics are more based on pre-clinical conditions, and the remedies are gentler with a broader effect.

The lymph vessels parallel the blood vessels and are the overflow storm drain of the body fluids. When blood reaches the smallest blood vessels, fluids get pushed out of the capillaries into the tissues where they exchange nutrition and oxygen for carbon dioxide and waste products. But only about ninety percent of that fluid actually returns to the veins. The lymph system sucks up the other ten percent or so, where it stops at lymph node way stations to get picked through on its way back to primary circulation.

The article “Herbal product use and perioperative patients” is the basis for this AORN Journal independent study. The behavioral objectives and examination for this program were prepared by Rebecca Holm, RN, MSN, CNOR, clinical editor, with consultation from Susan Bakewell, RN, MS, BC, education program professional, Center for Perioperative Education. Participants receive feedback on incorrect answers. Each applicant who successfully completes this study will receive a certificate of completion. The deadline for submitting this study is May 31, 2007.

BEHAVIORAL OBJECTIVES

After reading and studying the article on the effect of herbal product use on perioperative patients, the nurse will be able to

(1) explain how the historical use of herbal remedies affects herbal medicine practice today,

(2.) identify regulatory guidelines that affect marketing of herbal products,

(3.) discuss the process of herbal product preparation, and

(4.) describe the perioperative implications of herbs that are used preoperatively.

This program meets criteria for CNOR and CRNFA recertification, as well as other continuing education requirements.

A minimum score of 70% on the multiple-choice examination is necessary to earn 2.6 contact hours for this independent study.

Purpose/Goal: To educate perioperative nurses about the effects of herbal product use on perioperative patients.

AKA: Vitex agnus castus, chaste berry, vitex, monk’s pepper

PART USED: Ripe dried berries from the chaste tree

WHAT IT DOES BEST: May help to relieve premenstrual syndrome (PMS) symptoms such as water retention, breast swelling and tenderness, acne and irritability.

THE BACKGROUND: Vitex has been used as an herbal remedy for over 2,000 years for a wide range of conditions including menstrual cramps, irregular periods, fevers, constipation, flatulence and hangovers, according to Germany’s Commission E, the committee that evaluates the safety and efficacy of herbal preparations sold in that country.

RECENT FINDINGS:

* A vitex-based spray kept ticks, mosquitoes, biting flies and fleas away from humans and animals for at least 6 hours, according to a report in the March 2005 issue of Parasitological Research.

* Essential oil of vitex eased common menopausal symptoms in a clinical trial of 52 women, according to a report in the August 2003 issue of Complementary Therapies in Nursing and Midwifery.

WHAT’S THE ACTIVE INGREDIENT? Most published research uses standardized preparations, which are tested for potency based on their content of agnuside, the active component. But vitex has several beneficial constituents, so many practitioners recommend a good quality extract rather than one that’s standardized just for agnuside. Still, in reviewing the recent research, there’s much to be said about agnuside. For this reason, some companies provide a combo of standardized vitex with a non-standardized extract.

POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS: Side effects are mild and reversible, according to a 2005 report in the journal Drug Safety. These include nausea, headaches and skin rashes.

IS IT SAFE TO TAKE WHILE PREGNANT? Don’t take vitex when pregnant or lactating.

WHICH TYPE AND HOW MUCH? Vitex is available as a standardized extract in dry (capsules) and liquid (drops) form, in concentrations of 0.5% agnuside. It’s also available in blends combining standardized extract with powdered or liquid chaste tree berries. According to manufacturers, the blends are more likely to provide a full range of active constituents. Some vitex formulas are fortified with nutrients such as vitamin B6 or herbs that are thought to relieve PMS.

* As a liquid, take 40 drops once in the morning.

* As a dry extract, take one to two 225-400mg capsules daily, or as directed.

NATURE’S APOTHECARY CHASTE BERRY VITEX can be taken directly orally, or mixed with water, juice or tea.

Herbal Medicine Of The American Southwest: A Guide To The Identification, Collection, Preparation, And Use Of Medicinal And Edible Plants Of The Southwestern United States by practicing herbalist Charles W. Kane (Tucson Clinic of Botanical Medicine) and featuring elegant and accurate illustrations by Frank S. Rose is the “user-friendly” and easy to use guide perfect for exactly what is described in the title. Herbal Medicine Of The American Southwest informs the reader of how to find the plant, how to prepare it, what it can be used for, what side effects may occur, and what resources might be necessary to further define the plant, giving the overall book a very definitive and notable study of the plants it features. Herbal Medicine Of The American Southwest is highly recommended to all naturalists living in the southwest of America, as well as organic studies students, however especially recommended to all inhabitants of the featured area.

Herbal Medicine of the American Southwest: A Guide to the Identification, Collection, Preparation, and Use of Medicinal and Edible Plants of the Southwestern United States

Charles W. Kane Lincoln Town Press, P.O. Box 57304, Tucson, AZ 85732 ISBN: 0-9771333-0-3; soft cover; $29.95; 307 pgs

Herbal Medicine of the American Southwest by Charles W. Kane, published in January 2006, highlights the wealth of medicinal plants residing in just one corner of our vast national landscape.

This text covers over 210 western plants within 100 distinct plant profiles, from Acacia to Yucca. Each profile is identified by what the author calls its “main common name.” This is followed by the plant’s Latin family name, its current Latin binomial, and any other common names. The profile is further broken down into segments such as description, distribution, chemistry, medicinal uses, indications, collection, preparation and dosage, and cautions.

Kane’s writing style is simple and easy to follow. Drawing from over 15 years of experience in the field, he equips the reader with practical information that can be readily applied, while at the same time lending insights that can only come from someone with a true passion for, and intimate knowledge of, botanical medicines.

Herbal Medicine of the American Southwest serves as a decent field guide as well. In addition to the text, the book contains 80 detailed paintings by Frank S. Rose and over 250 photos of the plants covered in the book, allowing for easy recognition on site.

Although the name focuses on plants in the southwest, many may be found throughout North America. Such familiar names include dandelion, horsetail, juniper, and verbena. Thus, the medicinal plants in this book go well beyond the geographical borders of its title.

For anyone interested in botanical medicine, Herbal Medicine of the American Southwest is a valuable addition to your library.