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Ten Medicinal Herbs You Should Know
(Debra Nuzzi holds Master Herbalist degrees from Dominion
Herbal College and the School of Natural Healing. She has been a
student of herbal medicine for 22 years and has taught herbology
since 1984. She is the author of the herbal video series, Herbal
Preparations and Natural Therapies-Creating and Using a Home
Herbal Medicine Chest She is president of Nature's Apothecary
Inc, a fresh plant herbal extract company, and Essential Aromath
erapy, which manufactures aromatherapy inhalers. Both are in
Boulder, Colorado - The editors.)
By Debra Nuzzi, MH
ONE hundred years ago, the kitchen garden was also the medicine
garden, and plants which produced medicinal benefit were part of
the working knowledge of the common people. Those plants which
were difficult to cultivate were sought in the surrounding fields
and meadows, then preserved and added to the harvest storehouse
to soothe and heal the illnesses of winter.
With the advent of the chemically synthesized drugs, the
home pharmacy has all but disappeared, and with it the knowledge
of simple herbal remedies for common ailments. This knowledge is
now resurfacing: researched and regenerated by people who want to
take an active and independent role in their own health care.
A very necessary part of this renaissance is self-education.
Starting is easy. Just familiarize yourself with a few key
herbs and begin to use them in your daily life. As you see how
effective they are it will spark your desire to learn more, and
you're on your way!
Following is a list of 10 commonly available herbs and simple
ways to use them in personal health maintenance. These herbs are
easily available and fulfill a wide range of benefits with a
minimum amount of effort.
ALOE LEAF (Aloe Vera) - This plant has hundreds of uses, the
most popular being its ability to alleviate the pain of burns and
to speed their healing. It is very easily cultivated as a house
plant, and should be in every kitchen. It is the best remedy for
sunburn, often preventing later peeling. Immediately immerse the
burn in cold water or apply ice until the heat subsides, then
generously apply the aloe. It is best to trim the prickly sides
off the succulent leaf, then split the leaf in half and gently
rub the exposed gel onto the affected area. Aloe may also be ap
plied to any cut or skin abrasion, and onto skin eruptions, re
markably speeding healing. To relieve the pain and itching of
hemorrhoids, carve out a suppository sized chunk of the inner
leaf gel and insert into the rectum.
BURDOCK ROOT (Arcticum lappa) - Well know as a blood detoxifica
tion agent and eaten as a vegetable known as Gobo in oriental
cuisine, Burdock root is available throughout the U.S. It is used
for skin eruptions and dry scaly skin conditions. Burdock is also
used as a digestive stimulant and to lower blood sugar. Its seed
is used as a diuretic and kidney tonic. The root is now found in
supermarkets and can be cooked as a vegetable or made into a
decoction. Fresh plant fluid extracts of the root and seed are
also available in health food stores.
COMFREY LEAF/ROOT (Symphytum officinalis) - Comfrey should be
grown as a house plant in every home. Like Aloe, it is a natural
herbal b
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