Herbs - 'Plants that Heal' - have been with us for millennia and their properties have been turned into many pharmaceuticals. For this reason herbology does not gain much interest from a public eye - the meds are easier to use, they have much better marketing privileges, and they work quicker.
At the same time pharmacological medicines may have many side effects. The quick 'fix-me-up' measure of most of modern medicines sometimes takes its haul.
Learn the benefits of a proper use of herbal medicines:
Herbal Remedies - Why to Use Them?
The misconception is that herbs need a lot of time to start to work. Not quite true. They have so many good components that effects can often be felt straight away, just after drinking herbal tea. But yes, they will need a regularity, as the drugs do, and probably a longer one, if considered with a mild chronic illness.
The complete effect can take longer but there are hardly any side effects but vast benefits known to many of the herbal remedies. However, there are some exceptions. Everything used without proper knowledge can be harmful.
Herbs are certainly less potent as it goes to emergencies, such a strong sudden or sharp pain, and there is nothing to combat the pain like the chemical painkillers. Yet with headaches, migraines, neuralgia, mild arthritis, rheumatism, and a mild stomach ache - they can work wonders. They not only ease the pain but heal the inflammation that is often the cause of pain.
Most importantly they are wonderful for stress relief and digestive regulation. They put us away from a chronic flight-fight-fright response to a more restful and relaxed state, when the digestion can transport nutrients all over our body - in a restful peace.
Appropriate use of herbs promotes health, increases the overall sense of well-being, improves our mood, and prevents many infections and diseases.
It is often not worthwhile but even crucial to incorporate herbs into our daily schedule. But we need to know how, when and which of those herbs serves us best.
Herbal Remedies - Who Should Use Them?
Everybody, apart from people with major internal illnesses, kids up to 6 years old and pregnant women - they all can have specially selected herbal teas. Herbs can help with convalescence, but again, this has to be carefully approached.
They are a great ally during weight loss and any detoxification processes. If you feel you have too much 'badies' in your corporeality, use herbs to aid burning those unwanted fats, remove water detention and toxins, and speed up metabolism.
Drink herbal tea after a rich meal to help digestion or use a lot of herbal seasoning and spices. This will help enormously to the whole system, as those plants have unique components and micro-nutrients that support positive reactions. Herbal tea clears the guts from the meal laying there too long, to basically rot.
Green tea with a small addition of nettle, basil, calendula, fennel, ginger, marjoram, peppermint, oregano, rosemary, sage, st John's wort, thyme, verbena or yarrow for example, has a lot of goodness, and can be brewed after a meal when we have still some work to do and require focus and alertness.
The same goes with all the Red berries teas but do watch out for any chemical additives. They are sour in taste but quite pleasant after a while.
They are stimulating digestion, mood and preventing any infection and inflammation that might be going on somewhere in our body.
In the evening hours, drink more sedative herbal tea, such as chamomile, melissa, (lemon balm), geranium, hemp, hop, lavender, pansy, rose, valerian), that also help with digestive process and help your body to calm down.
Herbal teas prevent not only disease but also excessive aging, and have quite a substantial role in this.
Herbal Remedies - How to Choose Them?
Most herbs and their preparations are classified as natural dietary supplements, not drugs. Therefore, they are not subject to strict supervision and quality control.
The amount of active ingredients can significantly change, depending on many factors: weather, soil, collection process, packaging and transportation. There are many different producers and suppliers on the market, and despite their best intentions, a product that hits store shelves may have less beneficial properties compared to raw material collected by herbalists. For this, of course, you should have knowledge.
In any case, do not buy herbs from stores that have a weak turnover - it may mean that the herbs are out of date and have lost most of their properties. So we pay for worthless hay. It is therefore important to pay attention to the fact that the herbs and herbal products come from trusted sources with appropriate packaging.
In general, there are two kinds of herbs. They have either a more sedative or more stimulating effect, as mentioned above. The most common examples are camomile and peppermint tea, accordingly. Do not drink sedative herbal tea in the mornings and early afternoon hours, unless you suffer from anxiety. In this case do not drink coffee or black tea, also.
It is important to realize that mixing stimulating and sedative drinks in a short period of time makes your body system confused, and may even lead to more anxiety.
Let's not forget the diuretic effect most herbs have. If you need to go out or spend some time driving, do not drink herbal tea - it will force you to go to the loo. When you are in your home or office, then have a cuppa.
For this reason - don't drink herbal tea just before going to bed. You will need to get up even a few times during the night. So the best time is at least 2 hours before bedtime.
The exception from this is when you were drinking alcohol - it is best to go to sleep with at least half a cup of warm chamomile tea - this will help your liver detoxify, and you will have very little hangover symptoms.
In general, herbs can be used as:
Sedatives - those that help to calm us down
Stimulants - those that help to pick us up
Functional - those that help in specific ailments
Herbal Remedies - How to Infuse Them?
The Importance of Water
First, before we start to make a brew let's consider water. Water is the biggest ingredient in herbal tea, is it not? It cannot be less important than herbs. Some say, the water we use in large cities is usually 'dead'. It goes through a series of pipes and filters, with added chemicals, far from any natural spring.
It would be best using natural spring water. We don't have easy and direct access to such things, usually. Bottled spring water in plastic is not a sustainable choice (and contains microplastics, getting into your body as silicon). Bottled spring water in glass is of course - expensive.
Can we do anything else? Making it more 'alive', invigorating, moving its H2O atoms dancing around - by pouring vigorously yet gently - from one cup to another, two, three times at least - before using it to boil up in a kettle.
If you think it is a woo-woo rubbish, do a simple taste experiment - drink the one straight from the tap, and then drink the one that you have invigorated by pouring in and out. It tastes different. If you put a loving intention into it, it will change even more.
There are studies and experiments about the 'behaviour' of water, its 'memory' etc. and it is the basic staff in homeopathy. I have been for years a homeopathic sceptic but watching documentaries and reading articles on it got me some food for thought. At least I can understand how it might work.
By shaking and moving, or even praying or playing music to it - the molecules in water start to 'awaken'. The effect is - more taste and so called 'healing' energy. I never drink standing water, anymore, had to pour it a few times before it gets to my mouth. It just became a funny-healthy habit.
The general rule of making a proper herbal infusion is the same as regular black tea, only you put a saucer over it and keep it for at least 5 minutes, 10 is better. Also I strongly recommend buying them loose herbs or removing the herb from the paper bag if you want herbal taste, not paper taste. You can sieve the brew, and use the remaining herbs to do another tea, if you wish, short after.
After years of drinking herbal infusions I have made it into sort of an Art of Drinking a Herbal Brew. You may come up with the same idea after a while. drinking a herbal tea can be like entering into a meditative state, a 'calming-down ritual' or 'body-awareness' moment.
Notice how your body reacts to the warm liquid. Observe its effect. Take time to switch off from a daily rush. This is a time to reconnect with your body, and if you are inclined spiritually - with the spirit of the herb and Earth. Overtime you will love the taste of your favourite herbs, and you will notice how beneficent and supportive they are for your well-being.
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If you are interested in herbs and their well-being or cosmetic purposes, and need some non-medical advice - contact Rena Sance at:
renasanceconsultancy@gmail.com
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Disclaimer:
Always get professional medical advice first, before taking any herbs regularly. Do not use if you are unsure of the effects. Do not use in pregnancy and while taking regular medicines. Herbs are not a replacement for your medications.
