Herbal body care

Total body care is a necessary regimen. It isn’t enough to take care of the face; the rest of the skin deserves some pampering too. There are a number of herbs which you can use for herbal body care. The body is composed largely of the skin organ. In order to take care of the boy, you need to take care of the skin. The herbal body care applied will essentially provide protection for the skin too.

Herbal body care for dry skin includes using body lotions, scrubs and bath oils. Refrain from using soap since it could dry your skin even more. For dry skin itches, add quarter-cup vinegar to bath. The herbs that could promote oil production and herbal body care in dry skin are: chamomile, fennel, rose, geranium, lavender, palmarosa, sandalwood and small amounts peppermint and rosemary. Frankincense, jasmine, neroli and rose although expensive are also beneficial.

Herbal body care for oily skin involves using herb that normalize overactive oil glands which include herbs such as sage, lemongrass, basil, eucalyptus, cedarwood, cypress, lemon, yarrow and ylang-ylang. Bathing could also help oily skin if used with Aromatic Bath Salts or Aromatic Batch Vinegar. Avoid high heat in saunas since it encourages skin to become oilier. Bath salts make bath water feel silky, remove body oils, perspiration and soften the skin.

Herbal body care for sun-damaged skin involves PABA (part of the B-complex vitamins) and cinoxate (cinanamic acid from cinnamon). These two herbal body cares are commonly used ingredients in sunscreens. Sesame oil is also believed to decrease the impact of the sun’s burning rays by 30 per cent. Olive, coconut, peanut oils and aloe vera are herbal body cares that block out 20 per cent of the rays. Using three to six percent dilution of extract of helichrysum also called immortelle is also an effective herbal body care that serves as sunscreen. Carrot-seed essential oil is very helpful to sun-damaged skin and is used to treat pre-cancerous conditions. The beta-carotene found in this oil is also effective herbal body care used in protecting against skin cancer induced by ultraviolet rays. The South American herb pau d’arco is also an effective herbal body care that is an antioxidant that helps treat skin cancer.

Do not use bergamot if you go out into the sun. This herb contains phototoxic compound called bergaptene which skin’s sensitivity to light and can cause skin discoloration or rashes.

Herbal heat packs

Herbal heat packs are used for back pain, neck pain, eye strain and to give other forms of relaxation. Commercial herbal packs could cost some money anywhere between $18 and 35 per herbal pack. Herbal heat packs use all kinds of fillers where certain amounts of herbs are added. Fillers for herbal heat packs could be wheat or rice, husks of grains, buckwheat husks, cattails seeds, lavender and other herbs. The beauty of the commercial herbal heat packs is that they are reusable and can be reheated a number of times of times without losing their effectiveness. These herbal heat packs are safe to use. And the ingredients of these commercial herbal packs are entirely organic. On the other hand, making your own herbal heat packs especially if you have your own botanical can be another alternative. All you need to do is assemble different herbs freshly picked from your garden. You can discard them and change them once the effect has lessened.

Herbal heat packs are particularly effective when relaxing. To heat herbal pack, place the pack in the microwave oven for as little time as possible, usually less as a minute depending on the size of the pack. Herbs will lose their effectiveness if heated for a long time especially the mints. If the smell of mint has dissipated, you don’t need to make new herbal heat packs, just dab on essential oils in the pack. The same herbal heat pack can be put in the freezer and used as a cold herbal pack to treat inflammation. You can use the herb catnip as effective herbal heat packs or pillows for relaxation and to relieve congestion. Just hang the plants up to dry, put them into an old pillowslip and use them as a pillow to aid sleep. You can use other herbs for your herbal pillows. Lavender, hops or chamomile are good alternatives. You can use mints herbal pillows to relieve congestion.

Herbal heat packs usually contain the following ingredients:

For the base content: rice and lavender, buckwheat husks, popping corn, other grains, peas or beans and cherry pits.

For the herbal content: lavender which is for relaxation, catnip as sleep aid, peppermint, spearmint, eucalyptus for congestion, garlic for severe congestion, yucca to treat inflammation and other herbal ingredients.

Herbal heat packs are used to treat and are effective for the following symptoms:

- General muscle fatigue
- Sciatic nerve
- Back pain
- Arthritic and rheumatic pain
- Tight, still muscles
- Sinus headaches, backaches, joint discomfort or inflammation
- Warming muscle before exercising
- Muscle spasms in neck or upper back
- Ease pain of migraines and TMJ problems

Herbal Skin Care Products

Herbal skin care products is what most of the skin-conscious people often look for. With the rapid increase in the number of people who embrace the herbal skin care products as the latest and at the same time the oldest fever in skin care, the herbal skin care products as plant derivatives are now found everywhere.

Due to the great benefits of herbs, most of the highly acclaimed manufacturers of skin care products have currently added herbs to their skin care lines, which greatly vary from cleansers to moisturizers and the whole lot in between. And still those who have not yet tried them may definitely be conscious about the level of safety and effectiveness of the herbal skin care products.

Historically, the application of herbal skin care products dates back to time immemorial. It is noted that as far back as 3000 BC, most of the Egyptians were administering herbs such as roses and fenugreek for the purpose of preventing wrinkles. In the place of the Greeks, some cosmetics containing mint were then favored by them from the period of the first Olympic Games. And virtually every ancient culture in fact has recorded the application of natural herbs for a beautiful and healthy-looking complexion.

For much interest, the modern science has evaluated and verified the healing, cleansing, and protective properties of some known herbs. Some of the studies in fact found out some valuable constituents in numerous herbs which greatly give them the potential for becoming one of the best herbal skin care products. For example, the herb known as rose geranium contains chemicals which make it a tested and proven antimicrobial herbal skin care product, making the plant effective for treating acne and other skin infections.

Unluckily, most of the claims on many herbal skin care products are still studied by the scientific community. And until now, due to the limited funds and time consuming process of examining the complicated herb specimens, trial and error is still the result. However, the trial and error lend some help to herbal skin care products. For instance, chamomile has been acclaimed for its soothing qualities since the Middle Ages and roses have been cherished for centuries for their skin benefits and also for their enchanting fragrance.

Today, there are a growing number of consumers who buy and even make some herbal skin care products and along with that, there have been many cosmetics containing herbs that are bought off store shelves at affordable rates as well some helpful books or guides on how to create homemade herbal skin care goods.

ADHD Natural Herbal Medicine

ADHD or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is among one of the most common mental disorders in children. It affects 3 to 5 percent of all children. And the boys outnumbered the girls by two to three times. ADHD often continues into adolescence and adulthood. This disorder may cause frustration to the child.

Fortunately, there some herbal supplements that are known to help improve the symptoms associated with ADHD. These ADHD natural herbal medicines are the following:

Chamomile – matricaria chamomilla. This ADHD natural herbal medicine is a mild sedative used for mild sleep disorders in children. It is an excellent nervine that relaxes and tones the nervous system and treats digestive problems such as gas, colic and ulcers.

Evening Primrose oil. This ADHD natural herbal medicine contains gamma-linoleic acid (GLA) which is converted to prostaglandins that help regulate body functions and perform numerous other tasks.

Fresh lemon balm – Melissa officinals. This ADHD natural herbal medicine is an aromatic herb that is used in treating a number of conditions such as nervous problems, insomnia, female discomforts, headache, toothache, sores, cramps, tumors and insect bites.

Ginkgo biloba is an herb used as ADHD natural herbal medicine. This herb is believed to be effective in treating memory loss especially age-related.

Gotu kola or Centella asiatica is an oriental herb that has tranquilizing, anti-anxiety and anti-stress effects. It also improves mental functions including concentration.

Passionflower or Passiflora incarnate. This herb is used since Aztec civilization is one of the ADHD natural herbal medicines. It is used as sedative, diaphoretic and analgesic. It contains numerous chemicals that are beneficial to the brain, nervous system and circulation. It is also popularly used in childhood nervous conditions.

St. John’s wort – This ADHD natural herbal medicine is used to treat depression and seasonal affective disorder.

Skullcap or Skutellaria lateriflora. This ADHD natural herbal medicine has a calming effect to the nervous and muscular systems and contains tonic properties. Due to its ability to control nervous irritability and muscular incoordination, it consequently promotes rest and sleep. Skullcap influences the central and sympathetic nervous systems. Skullcap is also safe to use since it has no toxicity.

Valerian is an herb good for ADHD natural herbal medicine. It is reported to have helped ease up the symptoms of ADHD and ADD.

Wild Oat seed or Avena sativa. This ADHD natural herbal medicine is a sedative for nervous disorders which includes chronic and acute anxiety, stress and excitatory states. Wild oats seed is vital for strengthening the entire nervous system. Wild oat seed helps treat depression, stress, nervous debility even drug and alcohol addiction.

Zinc/sulphate. This ADHD natural herbal medicine is believed to have contributed to improvement in ADHD disorder especially on the ability to concentrate.

Herbal Cosmetics

Herbal cosmetics have been widely offered since the ancient times up to these days. This is perhaps for the reason that herbal cosmetics really work. With that major reason, herbal cosmetics now greatly range from skin care products, to hair care products, to herbal bath teas, and to lotions, creams, powders, and a lot more.

Historically, herbal cosmetics are used by women since the ancient times, in a natural form. Most of the ancient women then turned to the bounties of nature to help enhance their own beauty. In fact, it is noted that the ancient Romans have applied beauty packs of eggs and honey, and the Egyptians then have used oils and perfumes for increasing their beauty.

Nowadays, when many cosmetic counters provide cleansers that are full of artificial ingredients, many people turned to consider searching for natural alternatives, and that is in the form of herbal cosmetics.

Among the many herbs that are included as ingredients in some herbal cosmetics formulations are the chamomile, chervil, fennel, dandelion, lime flowers, and rosemary leaves. Greatly, all of these herbs are used as cleansing and mildly astringent. With the advent of the herbal cosmetics, many experts have recommended the infusion of such herbal cosmetics into a tea for a much lighter and refreshing rinse for the skin. And such recommendation really works, for the herbal cosmetics are designed to relieve irritated skin.

Aside from that, many herbal cosmetic specialists also suggest the infusion of lavender, mint, thyme, and witch hazel to the natural antiseptics. Accordingly, this formulation will greatly help especially those who suffer from skin frequent outbreaks.

And as herbal cosmetics continue to create a great impact to the lives of most people, many herbal cosmetics companies have designed some herbal baths which in turn can be made into a spa experience, of course with the production of simple bath bags. As it is commonly noted, herbal cosmetics have the potential for relieving depression and stress. This is perhaps one of the reasons that herbal bath teas become the most commonly purchased item in the market, that they are proven to soothe both the mind and body.

With the great appreciation on herbal cosmetics, it is no wonder that many companies have established their own herbal cosmetic portals on the web. So today, wherever you look at, either surf on the internet or you walk into a certain herbal cosmetics counter; you will definitely find several herbal cosmetics in several forms. That is how popular the herbal items are.

Medieval herbal medicines

During the medieval times, people relied on a number of herbal preparations to treat various ailments. In the twelfth century, people were not even aware of bacteria and viruses. As a result, illnesses were deemed as punishments from God. The underlying principle of medieval medicine revolved around four aspects: black bile, yellow bile, phlegm and blood. It was believed that the balance of these four contribute to the well-being of the person. Some of the medieval herbal medicines used during that period were the following:

Anise Seeds: They were used in medieval herbal medicine to treat gas and encourage seating and an added ingredient in sweets and candies.

Lemon Balm: This herb was used as medieval medicine to counter melancholy. It was also used as food, furniture polish and to attract bees.

Calamus: This was used in medieval medicine as body powders. To achieve this purpose, the roots were dried and ground.

Cloves: This herb was used in medieval medicine as an antiseptic and painkiller.

Coriander: The seeds of this herb were used in medieval medicine to prevent fever.

Chamomile: This herb was used in medieval medicine as treatment for headaches.

Cumin: This herb was used in medieval herbal medicine to treat gas.

Flax: Seeds of this herb was used as laxative and placed in the eye to remove foreign objects.

Frankincense: This was used for incense and as medicine.

Ginger: The warmth in this herb was used to treat stomach problems and as medicine for plague.

Horehound: This herb was used in medieval herbal medicine as cough syrups. The drinks were used for coughs and colds.

Lavender: The dried flowers were used as medieval herbal medicine for headaches.

Marjoram: This was used in medieval herbal medicine as comfort for stomach pains.

Mint: This medieval herbal medicine was used to treat stomach ailments, wounds and to counter venom.

Mugwort: This was used as foot ointments and in treating women’s ailments in medieval herbal medicine.

Myrrh: This was a tree gum used as antiseptic on wounds.

Nutmeg: This nut was used in medieval herbal medicine as aid in improving digestion.

Rosemary: The flowers of rosemary were used in medieval herbal medicine as an all-purpose medicine. It was burned as an incense to eliminate or prevent infection particularly plague.

Rue: It was used in medieval herbal medicine to treat venomous bites and poor eyesight.

Saffron: This herb is used as medieval herbal medicine for treat infections.

Sage: This is used as medieval herbal medicine for cleansing the system.

Thyme: This herb was burnt in medieval herbal medicine to fumigate against infection.

Yarrow or Achillea. This herb was used to treat wounds, headaches and bite of mad dogs in medieval herbal medicine.

Herbal Tea Remedy

Herbal tea remedy is one of the simplest ways to prepare herbs and use its curative value to heal ailments. A cup of tea costs just a few cents too. One teaspoon of herb per cup would suffice. This is to be ingested three or four times daily for it to be effective as an herbal tea remedy. A number of the herbal tea remedy such as fever-reducing teas and diuretics are best taken when hot because the heat induces perspiration.

There are several ways to prepare herbal tea remedy. These are:

- Infusions. This herbal tea remedy is made by pouring hot water over herbs and steep for five to ten minutes using saucepan, teapot and cup. To retain the essential oils in the herbs, cover the pot or pan. Flowers and leaves are used in infusion.

- Decoction. This herbal tea remedy is made by gently simmering the herbs in water for 15 to 30 minutes. Decoctions usually made use of roots and bark. The high heat can release more properties from roots and bark.

- Cold infusions. This herbal tea remedy is done by soaking herbs in cold water for eight hours. This method is usually done for delicate herbs that would lose essential oils if heated. There are currently two versions of tea in the market: flavor-enhanced tea and instant tea.

- Tinctures. This herbal tea remedy is herbal extracts that are concentrated liquid herbal medicine. This is good for years. You can dilute this into an instant herbal tea remedy by adding water or juice. Average does is 30 drops or a quarter teaspoon.

Herbs that can be used as an effective herbal tea remedy include the following:

Alfalfa
Fenugreek
Hyssop
Rose hips
Blackberry
Feverfew
Lemon Grass
Rosemary
Chamomile
Flaxseed
Orange
Sarsaparilla
Chickweed
Ginseng
Peppermint
Savory
Chicory
Gotu kola
Psyllium
Slippery Elm
Dandelion
Hibiscus
Raspberry
Spearmint
Echinacea
Hops
Red Raspberry
Valerian
Fennel
Horehound

Due to the astringent tannin found herbal tea remedy, it could alleviate indigestion, diarrhea and other forms of stomach upset. It also aids in burning of fat calories in people who are overweight according to a Swiss research study. Perhaps the side effect due to herbal tea remedy could be derived from its caffeine content. Excessive amounts of the brewed tea could lead to irritability, sleeplessness, irregular heartbeat, dizziness, vomiting, diarrhea, headache or loss of appetite. To avoid side effects, do not take herbal tea remedy in excessive dosage, read package labels carefully and do not exceed recommended intake. Exercise caution when it comes to toxicities of certain herbs that are used as herbal tea remedy.

Valerian

Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) is a tall pinkish herb with flowers. This herb has been used for centuries as herbal medicine for insomniacs. This mild sedative is currently popular as a sleeping aid and in countering anxiety especially in Germany, France, Belgium, and the United Kingdom. Recently, it has gained immense following in the United States also. This plant grows in North America, Europe and Asia. The underground stems and roots are gathered and dried to make the medicinal preparations.

Valerian has several health benefits:

- It improves sleep. It can bind receptors in the brain for a nerve chemical called GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid). It blocks some nerve impulses to reach the brain thereby shortening the amount of time it takes to sleep and improve the quality of sleep. Unlike prescription drugs, it is not addictive and does not cause grogginess.

- It reduces nervous tension, anxiety and restlessness. German authorities recommend valerian for sleeping disorders that stem from nervous conditions. It can do this by blocking brain receptors for the neurotransmitter GABA. It also stops nerve impulses and stress messages from reaching the brain.

- It lessens stomach cramps and enhances digestive system conditions due to its antispasmodic characteristics.

Valerian is sold in the following formulations: tincture, tablet, softgel, liquid, dried herb/tea and capsule. To get the most out of valerian products, refer to the following special tips:

- A free-dried extract is the most effective form of valerian herb.

- Valerian can be availed of as a single supplement or combined with other herbs and supplements.

To treat insomnia, take 1 teaspoon of liquid extract diluted in water. Alternatively, take 400-450 mg capsule of standardized extract or a free-dried whole herb 30 to 45 minutes before bed. You can safely increase the dose to 2 teaspoons of liquid extract or up to 1,350 mg of standardized extract/free-dried herb depending on need. Higher dosage does not mean higher benefits.

To treat anxiety, take 400-450 mg or 1 teaspoon liquid extract, twice daily. Take 800-1,350 mg before bedtime.

To treat muscle pains, take 400-450 mg or ½ teaspoon liquid extract and increase it to 800-1,350 mg or 1-2 teaspoons liquid extract before bed.

To treat digestive problems because of anxiety, take 400-450 mg or ½ teaspoon of liquid extract two or three times daily and increase it to 800-1,350 mg or 1-2 teaspoons of liquid extract before bed.
If the odor of the valerian herb bothers you, take the capsule form. Add water to the liquid extract and add honey or sugar to make it tastier. In choosing standardized product, make sure that it contains 0.8% of valeric acid. Valerian also works best if used alternatively with other sleep-inducing herbs such as chamomile, hops, passionflower or Melissa. If you use it at daytime, take low dose about 400 mg once a day then find out if it makes you feel drowsy. Increase the intake to two or three times a day of 400-450 mg once you feel used to the herb’s effect.

To avoid drowsiness and negative interactions, don’t take valerian with muscle relaxants, narcotic pain relievers, prescription sleep medications, tranquilizers or drugs that cause drowsiness. Taking large doses of valerian may cause dizziness, restlessness, blurry vision, nausea, excitability and grogginess upon waking. Do not take it nightly for two consecutive weeks to prevent dependency on valerian.

Chamomile

The term “chamomile” is commonly heard in different infocommercials today. But did you know that chamomile is a medicinal herb? Yes, it is. In fact, chamomile is one of the safest medicinal herbs, that it is a tender relaxant with comforting effect. It has been demonstrated from different studies that chamomile works for various complaints, and stress and menstrual pain are just among the many concerns.

Chamomile is essentially an herb that has a gratifying and apple-like aroma and taste. Its name “chamomile” derives from the Greek word kamai melon, which means ground apple. This herb is most often taken as a luscious and mild therapeutic tea. And today, the concentrated extracts of this herb are added to some healing lotions and creams or packaged as tinctures and pills.

There are two important species of chamomile that is often used for its healing powers and they interestingly work proportionally well. Those are the German chamomile and the Roman chamomile. In central Europe and North America, it is basically the German chamomile products, which are sometimes called “Hungarian”, that are the most widely available. And in Great Britain, the Roman chamomile is the one that is commonly sold.

While chamomile is widely known as antispasmodic and muscle relaxant, it is also interesting to know that this herb has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. The herb’s healing powers usually taken from its daisy-like flowers that greatly contain some volatile oils involving bisabolol oxides A and B, bisabolol, and matricin. The flowers also contain flavonoids, which are specifically compounds known as apinegin, and some other therapeutic substances. And as the safest medicinal herb, chamomile may be applied either internally or externally.

Chamomile, with its anti-anxiety property, specifically helps to promote general relaxation and it provides relief to stress. It is also useful for controlling insomnia for it has a mildly sedating and muscle-comforting effect for those who have insomnia to fall asleep more easily.

Chamomile is also beneficial for those who have diverticular disease, irritable bowel dilemmas, and several gastrointestinal problems since the herb has anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic qualities. As it is used in a form of lotion or cream, chamomile can soothe skin rashes, even eczema, minor burns, and sunburn. It is also applied to treat eye inflammation and infection.

The other uses of chamomile include healing the mouth sores and preventing the gum disease, and it greatly decreases menstrual cramps. With those multiple uses and capabilities of chamomile, it is no doubt then that most pharmaceutical companies and health food companies greatly accept and recommend chamomile for those who are affected by those mentioned complaints. As such, the herb’s products in the form of tincture, oil, lotion, dried herb or tea, cream, and capsule are widely manufactured and are made available in several outlets.

However, since chamomile is widely made available in so many forms, perhaps the most important thing to consider before taking it is to read the labels for the exact dosage. Many experts then recommend looking for pills and tinctures that are formulated with concentrated extracts of the herb that contain for at least 1 percent of apigenin, which is one of the herb’s most potent ingredients.

Herbal Cures

There are basically some ideas that are linked to the term “herbal cures”. On one hand, herbal cures may mean herbal remedies, and on the other hand it may connote herbal uses. So to make thing’s clear, I will greatly combine these two ideas to present herbal cures as a form of herbal remedy and also present its uses. Therefore, the term “herbal cures”, in this article’s sense, combine both the remedy itself and its application.

Generally, there is a lot to talk about herbal cures and medicines. For many centuries, herbs are widely used for treating various maladies. The concept for herbal cures basically existed since time immemorial. In fact, it is noted that the ancient Egyptians, Sumerians, Babylonians, Greeks, and Romans had used some forms of herbs for different purposes. And now, a great number of people and some even more are turning back to natural herbal cures for the purpose of applying them as a form of the conventional treatment.

For instance, many people used some forms of herbal cures such as garlic, chamomile, artemisia, deadly nightshade, and much more for their great healing properties. A particular herb known as myrrh, for example, has been demonstrated to delay the onset of pain in mice by means of its interaction with the brain receptors for narcotic drugs like the opium. And another notable example is the use of rose oil as one of the well-known herbal cures in the world today and which is basically intended for repeated unilateral and bilateral headaches. The once handful herbal cures then eventually became popular bringing some other herbal cures for both minor and serious health maladies.

Herbal cures are there for some purposes and it is no doubt that they can help a great number of people; however, some risks are there. In the first place, they are used by most people due to the reason that they are supposed to be natural and therefore effective and safe. It is then interesting to know that these herbal cures greatly came from plants; however, even if they are derived from plants, it does not mean that they are totally safe. Like those over-the-counter medications and prescriptions, herbal cures do have some side effects, and some of them are even deadly.

Aside from that, the herbal cures are not really tested much and they are not insured just like the traditional or pharmaceutical drugs. So just because they are labeled as “natural” or “herbal” does not make them safe. Of course, one must be cautious about taking any form of drugs that has not been tested, and this case goes the same for herbal cures. So one should be aware that herbal cures can make you healthy and at the same time they can hurt you.

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