Herbal Healing

Herbal healing is the natural use of different parts of plants for natural healing. It has been practiced for thousands of years in many different parts of the world by many different cultures for many different healing purposes.

The growing popularity of herbal healing

The growing popularity of herbal remedies is due to the following reasons: 

The time-proven therapeutic values of healing herbs. As a matter of fact, some healing herbs are just as effective as most conventional Western medicines.

Many people have become increasingly aware of the importance of maintaining health. Herbs—not potentially dangerous pharmaceutical drugs—promote holistic health of the body and the mind.

Herbs are often safer to use. Of course, some herbs, too, are as toxic as conventional drugs, but they are relatively few and far in between.

Herbs are much cheaper than prescription drugs, which are often monopolized by few big pharmaceutical companies.

Herbs are natural. Although “natural” does not necessarily mean “harmless,” many people can easily relate themselves to the use of different parts of plants for healing and treatment purposes.

Herbs abound in nature. The options of herbal cures and remedies are plentiful.

The many different forms of herbal healing

Given that the use of plants for natural healing has been used by many different cultures for thousands of years, herbal healing comes in many different forms:

Healing herbal foods

The easiest and the most direct way of using herbs for healing is to put herbs,  such as cinnamon, garlic, and ginger, in everyday cooking. In the Chinese culture, herbal health is a way of life.  There is a Chinese saying: “You can never draw a line between foods and herbs.” To illustrate, the Chinese eat Asian dandelions and Chinese yams as foods.

Healing herbal tea

Drinking herbal tea is the most pleasant way of self-cure. Given that any holistic cure of the body and the mind takes time and that nature cannot be rushed, herbal tea remedy is no exception.  According to naturopathy, when you are sick, you must slow down, and ponder on the reasons why you have become sick. Slowly sipping tea slows you down, and tasting the herb in tea can activate your internal system, which is your immune system, to recuperate.

Healing herbal tinctures

A tincture is an alcohol-based liquid extract from an herb by soaking the herb in alcohol for several weeks. Alcohol acts as an extractor as well as a preservative to make herbal tinctures last longer. Herbal healing using tinctures is more potent than using herbal teas or herbal pills because herbal tinctures get directly into the body system.

Tinctures often come in bottles with droppers, allowing you to measure the exact amount of the tincture required.

Healing herbal powder

In modern technology, many herbs are now turned into their powder form in capsules and tablets for easier consumption. According to Dr. Andrew Weil, freeze-dried extracts are better than air-dried whole herbs.

The down side of taking herbal capsules and tablets is that some of the therapeutic value of an herb is compromised in the oxidation process as well as in the loss of sensory connection with the herb itself (taking an herb directly can stimulate the senses to initiate the self-healing process).

Healing herbal oils

Herbal oils are essential oils distilled from a healing herb. Sensual herbal remedies can be used in aromatherapy, hydrotherapy, or breathing in the healing herbs through steam inhalation.

Healing herbal compresses

An herbal compress is a simple herbal remedy in which the healing herb, soaked in a tea or a water-diluted tincture, is pressed against the surface of the skin for healing.

Healing herbal juices

Herbs, such as aloe, can be juiced and consumed as a healthy drink.

Healing herbal poultices

Healing herbs, ground with some liquid, can be applied directly over sores or wounds and held in place with a bandage or a piece of cloth.

Healing herbal solid extracts

Herbal solid extracts can be made directly from some herbs, such as hawthorn berries and licorice root.

Healing salves

Herbs mixed with olive oil can be turned into balms, creams, and ointments to be applied to the skin for healing purposes.

The Homemade Medicine

Herbal healing is effective only in an optimum internal environment. That is to say, the body itself must be free from body toxins as much as possible. 

Accordingly, it is important to refrain from the frequent use of Western pharmaceutical drugs, which are mostly toxic chemicals, whether they are prescribed or obtained over the counter. It must be noted that many ingredients of these dangerous drugs come from herbs; however, they have been artificially synthesized and standardized, and hence not only losing much of the healing potency of natural herbs but also intoxicating the body with more toxic chemicals.

For all your daily ailments, use herbal healing. Remember, all medications are toxic chemicals that are detrimental to your immune system.

 Stephen Lau

Copyright ©2017 by Stephen Lau