I use fresh herbs every single day in our household. I use them to treat colds and headaches, for cooking, in homemade products, and for their beauty. While most herbs are gentle and work with the body, many can cause problems. Many people associate the word natural with the word ‘safe.’ That isn’t always the case and there are certain precautions that should be followed. These are herbal tips that I use in our home and they work.
Health
I use herbs for minor ailments such as a headache or cold, not for life threatening conditions. I even use herbs with the chemotherapy that I am currently undergoing but if you will notice; I am undergoing chemotherapy and not trying to cure the cancer myself?
I also use only the recommended amount of an herb for the recommended period of time. For instance, goldenseal and echinacea are not meant to be taken for extended periods of time. There is a reason for that. Do research on each herb before you begin taking it. Never give herbal remedies to children without checking with a health care practitioner and don’t take herbal remedies if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
The Right Herb
When I use an herb for the first time, I start with a very small amount to make sure I’m not allergic to it. One of the easiest ways to ingest only a small amount of the herb is to crush one leaf and place it directly on your tongue. If I have any side effects I don’t take the herb. If all goes well then I will make a cup of tea and start with that.
Mainly, I grow my own herbs and don’t have to purchase them. If you grow herbs you want to be sure you can identify each plant with 100 percent certainty to avoid mistakes. There are times that I’ll run out of a particular herb or a frost will nip one of my plants. When I have to buy herbs I only buy them from organic sources and reputable companies.
I also make sure to look at what part of the plant is called for in an herbal remedy. It does vary and can include the entire herb, the flowers, the stem, the roots, the leaves, or even the fruit. Using the correct part of the plant is the only way to get the results I want.
Quality Control
Growing your own herbs is the best quality control there is. I realize that not every person can do that. If you have to buy herbal supplements, then look for “certified organic” on the label. There are regulations that govern organic growers implemented by the USDA National Organic Program.
If I cannot grow the herb that I want or buy organically produced herbs then I always find out how long a company has been in business. I also find out if they follow FDA guidelines, where the herbs are produced, and how potency is determined. That may sound like over kill to some people but why would anyone put something in their body without knowing where it comes from and how it’s produced? It’s easy to find any information about virtually any company that produces supplements for human consumption. If information can’t be found then it’s a dead giveaway to use a different product.
Effectiveness
Many herbal remedies use more than one herb. They work better together than they do alone and a person cannot expect immediate dramatic results as with prescription drugs. I think of herbs as a balancer in my body. I use them to support and reinforce my health. They work in a gentle and subtle way that can be very effective when they are properly used.
