Medicine Health

Herbs being used for supplementation for overall health issues have been on the up rise. For the last few years it is gaining popularity by the mainstream population everyday. Herbs are a natural way to heal the body and aid in the eradication of illness. People are looking to herbs as a treatment for illness for a number of reasons such as affordability and also gravitation back to a thought process of "natural healing." Plants have been used for medicinal purposes long before recorded history. Herbs were used in Ancient Chinese, African and Egyptian cultures. Native American cultures also used herbs in their healing rituals. It is now estimated by the World Health Organization that 80% of people worldwide use herbal medicine as some part of their primary health care.

Many natural remedies exist that are either unknown or have been forgotten. For example, the simplest thing as making fresh ginger root tea to aid with cold symptoms and using beetroot to aid in liver cleansing and function have been overlooked and underused for quite some time. Both are easy to obtain, simple to prepare, and cost-effective ways to lessen symptoms of certain disorders.

Herbal medicine and supplementation can be used for a myriad of conditions. Herbal medicine is an accepted and often used treatment for everything from the common cold to sexual health, infertility and weight loss.

As information becomes more freely available to the public through electronic media, people are becoming more empowered to use herbal supplementation as a means to naturally treat certain conditions and to improve overall physical health. Be sure however, that your information about herbal supplements comes from reputable sources. Ask your primary health care provider about the herb you are intending on using, especially if you are using other medications to treat a certain condition or disorder. Look for scientific research findings on the dietary supplement. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS), as well as other Federal agencies have free publications, clearing houses, and information on their Web sites. With good judgment, a healthier diet and active lifestyle herbal supplementation can lead to an improvement in the quality of health and life. This article is not intended to be used for diagnostic purposes.