Sunday, January 27, 2008

The Different Applications of Herbs

Herbs can be utilized in many ways and have many different applications. They can be used internally, externally, or both. Fortunately, you don’t have to pick your own herbs and know botany to begin using herbal remedies. In fact, that subject is so deep that it takes decades to really learn herbology from the ground up and to apply the knowledge fully. For now, we will simply cover some basics so you can incorporate herbs easily and effectively into your life.
Herbs can be used in many different ways. They can be smelled, swallowed, sipped, and rubbed into the skin. They are most versatile and can be taken in any form that suits you. I prefer to take pills, but others prefer tea because they like getting the aroma, taste, and feel of a warm drink with their “medicine.” However, a tea may not always be your best choice, depending on the type of herb you are using. For relief of constipation, for instance, you will probably need to take herbs that are very bitter tasting, to stimulate bile flow and movement of the bowel, but, sipping bitter herbs in a tea form can be rather distasteful! In this case, pills may be a better choice. If you have trouble swallowing pills and do not care for tea, liquid or chewable herbal preparations will probably suit you best.
For simplicity’s sake, I will be referring to herbs to be taken in capsule or tablet form throughout the blog. In certain cases where a topical application or other use is more appropriate, I will indicate that accordingly.
Now I know some of you will be eager to know how to make and prepare your own remedies, so I have provided the following handy table for your reference. In later chapters when a helpful poultice or fomentation is called for, you can refer back to this chart to see how to make one.

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