Herbs are medicinal plants that have been used for healing over centuries in civilizations around the world. Almost every culture has a distinct tradition of healing with medicinal plants. At one point, when science was relatively new, humans relied solely on herbs for curing illness. Herbs and medicinal plants continue to be lifesavers to millions of people who do not have access to good health care. Additionally, herbal poultices can be used on injuries of the bone, joints and muscles, while herbal teas can be used as sleep inducing tonics or invigorating drinks. Infusion is a straightforward way of extracting the active principle of herbs by boiling them in water. Infusions are prepared much the same way that we prepare tea. This technique is used to extract the unstable components of the dried green leaves. Infusions are made with a single herb or in combination of herbs. Once prepared, the herbal tea can be served hot or cold and sweetened with molasses, honey or brown sugar. Decoctions are parts of the plant such as roots or barks that are thick and impenetrable and cannot be maximized by simple boiling. These parts are made effective by cutting them into bits and boiling them in water for hours at a time. Aromatic plants are partly composed of essential oil complexes that can be extracted and used as oils in aromatherapy and massages. These oily substances are found in the glands that are located in the flowers, leaves, roots, bark and resins of the herb plant. Some examples of herbs that are used regularly as part of home remedies are rosemary, thyme, eucalyptus, hibiscus, tea tree, cinnamon, fennel, garlic, ginger, mint, ylang-ylang, ginko, chamomile, etc. The list is endless, as are the benefits. |
