Herbalism

I am grateful for being well most of my life however, for the last six months my wellness has been challenged. I have been going through menapause. I am grateful for the tools and knowledge that I have and use in helping me become well again.

I will be writing about options available for anyone that is suffering with something physical, mental and even spiritual. Pain is subjective and how one person experiences pain will be different to how another person experiences pain.

I have been taking Chinese herbs with accupuncture amongst other complementary therapies which are helping me recover and return to wellness.

I want to share options out there that can be an alternative and complementary to medication prescribed by your doctor. Today I will share about herbs and how they can help.

Chinese herbalism

Good for Eczema and Psoriasis, arthritis and rheumatism, back pain, asthma, circulatory problems, menstrual problems, infertility problems, menstrual problems, headaches and migraines, anxiety, depression, aches and pains.

Chinese herbalism can produce impressive results and is probably the most complex system of herbalism in the world. It goes back at least 5000 years. In ancient China a doctor was paid when the patient was healthy, not when they were sick. 

In Chinese herbalism, the practitioner uses three or four base herbs which are known to be good for the condition and then adds a further five to nine herbs to meet the specific needs of the individual patient and their condition. You will need to brew your own ‘tea’  by boiling the herbs and straining the mixture. I have been taking Chinese herbs and mine are in powder form to mix in water. Be warned, it can taste  disgusting.

The philosophy behind Chinese herbalism is that good health revolves around the flow of the chi or energy around the body. Also there is disruption of the Yin and Yang resulting in disharmony, Yin is the passive female principle of the universe, characterized as female and sustaining and associated with earth, dark, and cold. Yang being the active male principle of the universe, characterized as male and creative and associated with heaven, heat, and light.

Each person is also believed to contain the elements of fire, earth, air (also known as metal), water and wood.

A Chinese herbalist aims to soothe or energise  unbalanced organs or body systems with food or herbs.

Western Herbalism

This dates back to second-century Greece, the physician Galen spoke of plant remedies and the popular until the introduction of modern medicine. (many of which were derived from traditional herbal cures). 

Western herbal medicines work by affecting the organs and systems directly to cleanse, heal and nourish.

To cleanse: Herbs Help to get rid of chemical and other imbalances.

To heal: Herbs Help to stimulate the body’s own self-healing powers and attack illness.

To nourish: Herbs can nourish all the different systems and organs of the body.

Western herbalist will look at your entire lifestyle, to find the reasons for the illness and ways to restore you to good health, which will include a diet sheet of sensible eating habits, exercise and thinking about how your lifestyle is affecting your life. The herbs – about six or more are combined in tincture and is taken three times a day or in tablet form or dried herbs to use in infusions (teas by boiling herbs with water for ten minutes).

Herbal teas are now being widely used as a healthy reaplacement to teas and coffees.

Chamomile tea is great for stress, insomnia, indigestion and poor appetite, irritable bowel syndrome. 

Mint tea is great for travel sickness, indegestion, flatuene, headaches.

Ginger tea is a spicy and flavourful drink that packs a punch of healthy, disease-fighting antioxidants. A personal favorite of mine – Fresh Ginger grated with honey and lemon in hot water. Great for when you feel under the weather.

Fennel tea may aid healthy digestion, and treat bloating, gas, or cramps, and may also act as a diuretic. According to herbalists, fennel seed is an effective aid to digestion. It can help the smooth muscles of the gastrointestinal system relax and reduce gas, bloating, and stomach cramps.  

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