BellaOnline Forums Home and Garden Herbs herbal remedies

Hi. Would anyone have information regarding how to find the basics to learn herbal remedies. I have a great interest in this field.Thank-you.

Author Steven Foster is a good source of information. You can check out info online at www.stevenfoster.com
Also, remember--because it is natural does not mean it is safe for everyone and sometimes it is not safe for anyone. My credentials: President of the Ozark Regional Herb Growers Assoc. for two years and co-founder of the Thyme For Herbs Club in Missouri. Author of From Seed to Serve (herbal cook book) and co-author of Thyme for Kids. Also, freelance writer in realm of herbs and herbal use and Native American subjects
Ixbalam

I like the book Herbal Remedies for Dummies its a good starting point. There is so much information on this topic, just do a Google search and you will be busy for hours.

There's a magazine called Herbs for Health that I used to take. It was loaded with lots of good info. I've also purchased tons of books over the years.

one good way to start is to figure out what you want to do with the herbs. Do you have a sleep problem-try lavender sachet, upset stomach-try ginger tea.

Research your own health needs and see which herbs will help. Teas are always good. You can also make tinctures with brandy.

Check out the Ozark Folk Center herb gardener, Tina Wilcox. She has written herb books and is widely known. I have known Tina since about 1974 when she was just a little sprout. If you email her or talk to her, tell her Jan Goldfield sent you and says, "Hi."

I know it's a bit on the late side, but two of my favorite herbal remedy books are Prescription for Herbal Healing and The Green Pharmacy.

The Green Pharmacy is geared a little more towards the beginner, being in a more anecdotal style, whereas Percription for Herbal Healing reads more like a doctor's reference book, but both are highly useful and packed with good information. Look for my reviews of both in the upcoming weeks!

Wow! Looking through the boards and this thread was FLAMING hot with interest. I thought we could open it back up by nudging it to the top of the heap again.

What herbal remedies do you use the most? What ones do you have an interest in learning about? Share if you have them and ask if you need them!

Amelia

Every time we feel a cold coming on, I make some warm lemonade with cayenne pepper. According to Chinese Medicine, for colds you need to heat the body so cayenne is great. Honey is also an anti-viral.

Here is a recipe that is also posted on my website.

Warm lemonade knocks out colds and flu:

1 cup boiling water
Squeeze in the juice of 2 lemons
Honey to taste
2 dashes of cayenne pepper

Drink several times a day until your cold is gone or you have averted it.

Ginger tea can also be used to clear sinuses and treat any respiratory complaint.

I have been studying herbs and herbal remedies for years and find they are very beneficial for natural health aid and nutrition. I make and keep a supply of liniment on hand for aches, joint pain and sore muscles. (it also helps with arthritis pain) In a 16 oz bottle of isopropyl rubbing alchohol add: 1oz each of eucalyptus, bay and rosemary and 1/4 part lobelia. Let this sit for about two weeks, turning gently once a day to mix the herbs up. After two weeks, strain the mixture, discard the herbs and use the alchohol for aches and pains. Remember: When using heral remedies, don't ever think "if a little helps so much then more would be better" - Herbal remedies can be very powerful and you should treat them with great respect and never take herbal remedies if you are on prescription meds without consulting your doctor or practiioner.

I love the lemonade recipe above. I swear by lemons and I have a suggestion. When you put the lemon juice in the boiling water put the cut halves of the lemon in also, there's a lot of antimicrobial stuff in citrus skins and it also adds to the lemon flavor, as well.

When I make iced tea, I cut up a lemon and put it into the tea while it's still hot and let it sit for a couple hours before we drink it so the tea really absorbs the lemon properties.

I use a lot of essential oils too as I think they are great natural remedies for helping you sleep, tummy aches and lots of other things.

I'm so glad we can revive this thread! I use ginger for all stomach ailments. We keep candied ginger around to eat whenever indigestions strikes and I even carry it when we travel. Great for motion sickness too.

BTW, if anyone is interested in essential oils. Nature's Inventory is having a sale until Feb 18. Buy and 3 and get the 4th free. Just put discount code of BUY3GET1FREE in the discount code box and click apply. Free shipping on orders over $35.

For years I have kept on hand the book "The Way of Herbs" by Michael Tierra, C.A., N.D.
The pages are so worn and some even falling out because I refer to it so much.

I watched different types of herbal remedies websites from Google. Here I found lots of information about herbal remedies.