The history of Chinese herbs used for medicinal purposes dates back to sometime between 800 and 200 BC with the publication of Huang Di Nei Jing – The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine. At this time, a combination of 28 separate Chinese herbs had been discovered to have great healing power and the combination of many of these are still in existence today.

By around 500 AD, Chinese herbs had been sorted into a classification system that helped guide their use depending on the particular situation. Superior herbs were used to help sustain health – much as we use herbal and vitamin supplements today; middle herbs were used to treat illness; and inferior herbs were used to cure disease. Chinese herbs have been credited with successfully treating everything from acne to infertility.

In today’s world, where traditional medicine tends to focus on the methods employed in Western medicine, much of the uses of Chinese herbs are largely passed over. But for those who look towards non-traditional medicine as a means of recovering health or even as a supplement to traditional medical care, they will find the benefits of Chinese herbs to be rooted in ancient knowledge and a history of success.

Chinese herbs can be found in a variety of places including medical offices following the Eastern practice of medicine, Asian markets, and even online. But the use of Chinese herbs, while most often safe, should be used under the guidance of a medical professional and after extensive research has been performed.

If there is an interest in using Chinese herbs to help supplement health or treat an existing condition, it is best to research those herbs that have shown success in these particular instances. Seek out a medical professional or someone well-versed in the use of Chinese herbs to determine the best way to proceed.

When Chinese herbs are used in conjunction with education, preparedness, and medical supervision, they can be a fantastic tool to achieving overall, natural health.

Michelle Bery
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/using-chinese-herbs-for-health-99578.html

Nothing has garnered more attention in today’s world than the success or failures of weight loss products. With a new product seemingly coming to market each day, it’s no wonder that as a society we’re confused and overwhelmed. And for those of us for whom weight loss is an ongoing battle, we watch each and every product awaiting its “grade.” However, among all the products that come and go, weight loss herbs continue to stay at the forefront in the battle of the bulge.

Combinations of natural herbs have been used for centuries to address all manner of health-related issues. From migraines and acne, to nausea and infertility, the properties found in specific herbs have been known to combat them all. And when it comes to dealing with unwanted pounds, weight loss herbs are used to a variety of products designed to speed metabolism and burn fat.

In weight loss herbs such as dandelion, green tea, cayenne, and even seaweed, the metabolism is stimulated in response to the specific properties of the herb. Most herbs associated with weight loss are considered mild stimulants that speed digestion, along with heart rate and respiration. In most cases these weight loss herbs are completely safe but it’s always best to consult with a doctor prior to introducing your body to anything new.

Other weight loss herbs act as diuretics and help the body shed excess water. However, these weight loss herbs can actually be quite dangerous if not used responsibly. Therefore, it is absolutely imperative that weight loss herbs of this type be used under the care of a medical professional.

More importantly, while weight loss herbs can aid in the body’s battle to lose weight, it is important to remember that a healthy diet and consistent exercise program is the best way to shed unwanted pounds – and keep them off. Therefore, a program that combines diet, exercise, and weight loss herbs under the supervision of a doctor can go along way to a long life at a healthy weight.

Michelle Bery
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/the-use-of-weight-loss-herbs-94818.html

I love growing herb plants, they are cheap and easy to grow, they grow well indoors through the winter and I get to eat them. Herb plants grown well in cheap plastic plant containers. I got a stack of them out of the trash dumpster behind my local plant store. A few packets of seeds, some salvaged containers, some dirt and it is amazing how much will grow.

Most herbs are tough wild plants which thrive when pampered by gardeners. Having a few of the basic cooking herbs growing in containers is convenient because they are all a few steps from my kitchen. If I decide I need an herb in the middle of cooking, I cut a little fresh without having to drive to the store. Herbs can be harvested by simply cutting off what you need, I keep a small pair of scissors just for that. Cooking with fresh herbs is much better than the dried stuff they call herbs that come in little plastic containers. The flavor of fresh herbs is better but the potency of dried herbs is about three times that of fresh, so if you are using fresh herbs in a recipe that called for dried herbs, keep this in mind.

Herbs and spices – Culinary herbs are different from spices. For the most part, culinary herbs are fresh or dried leaves. Spices are seeds, roots, fruits, flowers, and bark. Culinary herbs usually have a mild flavor while spices tend to have a stronger, pungent flavor.

Annuals, Biennials and Perennials – Annuals bloom one season, put out a lot of seeds and die, biennial herbs live two seasons, blooming the second season only, perennial herbs bloom each season once established and can be propagated by division or cuttings.

What to grow? – Grow what you like to eat. If you cook a lot, you probably already have some idea what herbs you’d like. I grow some herbs because they are used in cuisines I like to eat. Cilantro for Mexican food, basil and rosemary for Italian.

Lavender, rosemary, bay laurel, marjoram, dill, oregano, sage and thyme are all easy to grow cooking herbs. This will start you out with herbs you can eat. They are all from the mild, dry climate of the Mediterranean and grow well together. They need well draining soil, bright sun, and moderate temperatures. Many of the Mediterranean herbs are very sensitive to soil moisture conditions. Raised beds are sometimes needed to provide the necessary drainage. Oregano, and thyme have tried to take over my garden many times. Now I put them in pots, and sink them into the ground. They grow better this way also because I can use soils that drain better just for them. Some of the best easy-to-grow herbs will take over the garden if you do not watch them.

Every herb garden needs at least five kinds of basil. Basil, is not really a mediterranean herb and needs more water. Parsley, chervil, and mint grow best on soils which retain moisture. Chamomile and mints are always good to have growing for tea. Mints are another plant that are good to grow in pots because once they get going they will quickly overwhelm other plants. Peppermint does not produce seeds and can only be propagated by cuttings.

Mints, oregano, rosemary, thyme, and tarragon, should be purchased as plants or propagated by cuttings. If you are planting herb plants from the garden store, plant them in the same way you would plant any other plant, dig a hole, put the plant in and water it well. The woodier herb plants like rosemary, thyme and oregano are better grown from established plants.

Growing herbs outside – Pick a spot that gets at least 6 hours of direct sun each day. Do not plant where water stands or runs during heavy rains. If you don’t have good drainage raised beds will fix it. Add dead leaves and compost to the soil. If you are starting your plants from seeds, put some dirt in a bucket, add a few packets of seeds and scatter them over the soil and water well. The plants will begin to sprout in about a week.

Dry some of your harvest so you’ll have dried herbs through the winter. You’ll never go back to those sad little plastic containers from the grocery store. The shelf life of many herbs is one to two years as long as they are not exposed to light, heat and air. Leaves keep their flavor best when they are stored whole and crushed just before use. Seeds for cooking should be stored whole and ground up as needed.

Keep them well watered, make sure your soil has drainage, make sure to plant them in a place they will get sun, but not too much, feed them a little and they will pay you back many times over. Never use fertilizer, just good dirt with some mulch from the back yard and some alfalfa pellets or some cow manure. Continue to plant seeds every couple of weeks all season long so you will always have fresh herbs available. Most herbs reach their peak for flavor before flowering, that is the best time to harvest leaves or seeds for storage.

Growing herbs inside – Growing herbs inside requires good drainage, sunlight and water. Put an inch of gravel at the bottom of each pot for drainage. Herbs grow best inside in a location with bright, filtered light. A south or west windowsill provides a good spot for an herb garden. Keep plenty of space between your plants to allow for air circulation, Herbs in smaller containers tend to dry out faster, water more often if needed.

Fertilizing – Too much fertilizer produces poor tasting herbs. Heavy applications of fertilizer, will decrease the concentration of essential oils. Don’t fertilizing your herbs in winter. Most plants, especially the warm-climate ones, are asleep and not growing in winter.

Compost is the best fertilizer around. Just toss a handful or two of it around the base of the plant. Mix in lots of organic matter to the soil like mulched leaves to improve texture and drainage.
Plants do not eat fertilizer, they use photosynthesis to eat light. It is amazing but that is what they do. Giving them too much fertilizer is like taking too many vitamins.

Harvey Robinson
http://www.articlesbase.com/gardening-articles/i-love-growing-herbs-133091.html

Natural herbs can be used to cure many health problems. Here are a few ways in which you too can improve your health and increase your energy level using only natural herbal remedies.

Many uses of natural herbs

People use herbs differently to improve their ways of life. For instance, you may find diet herbal supplement, as well as body creams and lotions with medicinal herbs.

Most commonly natural herbs are used to combat:

- high blood pressure
- acne
- arthritis
- difficulties with menopause
- hair loss
- anxiety
- depression

Medicinal natural herbs are mostly found in Asia. One reason is climate – warm and humid it promotes plants growth. It is also traditional way of living, using healing herbs as natural remedies. Recently the Western world has also caught on the usage of medicinal herbs, as being better than the use of traditional medicines. Most commonly use natural herbs are Aloe Vera, Tee Tree, chamomile, Rosemary, Sage and St John’s wort.

Why people prefer alternative herbal treatments to conventional drugs?

Many of us trust healing plants in place of common medicine, because using herbal medicine is a safer alternative to ordinary drugs. Natural herbs almost always will give you the results desired however, it will not work as fast as strong conventional drugs. This happens because healing herbs work for your entire body, making it stronger, not just fight one problem. However, natural herb medicine is still medicine which means that a doctor should prescribe your herbal remedy. Also remember to finish the course even after you started to feel better, otherwise you will not gain the full benefit of herbal treatment.

Finding the right natural medicinal herbs for you

Many people with serious chronic diseases turn to natural remedies for cure, relief and a generally better life. Even though natural herbs are harmless, selecting the right herbal remedy is important, because there are no magical “cure all” herbs. For herbal medicine to work best it should be taken at the right dosage and at the right time of day, usually morning is recommended.

And how will you know what herbs you need? The only way is to check with a doctor if there is an herbal treatment for your condition and whether it will help you. Don’t just go to a Chinese herbs shop and buy whatever remedy they recommend, it might not work for you.

Taking any medicine including medicinal herbs without doctor’s advice is really not a good idea, because healing plants are still medication. Never forget that you will not gain any benefits if you administer the wrong herb, quantity or treatment.

Locating your natural herbal remedies

Visit a clinic that specializes on alternative medicine, they can give you qualified advice. They will fully check your health. Be prepared to go through a full examination, because for holistic medicine it is very important to cure all diseases as a complex. After that the doctor will tell you what natural herb or combination of herbs you need, to cure or relief to your suffering as well as help you live longer and healthier.

You can find very many herbs that have medicinal properties. So all you really need to do is to determine which herbs to use for which situation. Than discuss it with your doctor and you will be on the path to curing your diseases with natural herbs.

Tatyana Turner
http://www.articlesbase.com/non-fiction-articles/natural-herbs-medicine-improve-your-health-naturally-95698.html

For many people losing weight is not easy and will not occur overnight. Although weight loss herbs have proven to be effective especially when combined with a good diet and exercise you also need to be determined and self disciplined if you want to achieve your goal.

Rather than using weight loss herbs on their own plan to utilize them as an add on to your diet plan and you will see how effective they can be. Also remember that these herbs are not a substitute for regular exercise and the nutritious foods that you must include in your new diet and lifestyle. When used they only help to further speed up the process of losing weight.

The primary function of a weight loss herb is to bring about an effective metabolic process which makes your digestive system fast and safe.

Weight loss herbs can also provide the following:-
1. Aid the human body to burn off calories
2. Decrease a persons appetite
3. Allow a persons body to secrete enough water.
4. Help to control and deal with the emotional problems that are associated with eating.

Although weight loss herbs are generally believed to be effective it is important to note that not all of the weight loss herbs available will be good for you. You may find that some people do get great results from a particular weight loss herb but do not be confident that it will do the same for you.

So if you intend to start using weight loss herbs then first talk with your doctor so they can tell you whether or not the weight loss herb you are looking at is good for you. It is also a good idea to carry out some research regarding the functions and effects that weight loss herbs have on the human body. By consulting your doctor you are getting good advice as to which types of weight loss herbs are good for your body.

Now let’s look at some of the more commonly used weight loss herbs and the effects they can have on the human body.

Bitter Orange
This weight loss herb is aimed at lessening a person’s appetite and will help you a lot in losing weight. But there are some disadvantages to using this herb and they are the occurrence of stroke, heart attack, irregular hear beat, insomnia, high blood pressure and worst of all for some people death.

Cayenne
Also known as chili or hot pepper. Some of the side effects of this herb are adrenalin rush and sweating.

Ephedra
This also helps to reduce a person’s appetite. But this has been banned from being sold as it causes side affects such as sleeplessness, high blood pressure as well as heart problems and in some rare cases people have died when taking it.

Green Tea
This herb heightens a person’s metabolism as well as reducing their appetite. However some side effects associated with this herb are vomiting, indigestion and in rare cases diarrhea.

Hypernicum
This is an antidepressant which is known to cure sleep and mental disorders as well as nerve pain but is also able to maneuver a person’s appetite.

Citrus Aurantium
This Chinese herb is known to convert the fat in a person’s body to energy.

Cinnamon
This herb reduces sugar levels in the body so bad cholesterol is removed.

Although taking weight loss herbs can be dangerous it is vital that you use them under the supervision of a reliable health care provider or your doctor.

Lee Dobbins
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/the-secrets-of-7-popular-weight-loss-herbs-98194.html

Although today there has been a boom in herbs and especially using Ayurvedic Herbs in Ayurvedic Medicine for treating illnesses is not new you will probably know that the tradition of using holistic methods has been used for centuries.

Many of the herbs and spices that are used in Ayurvedic Medicine are ones that we normally have in our kitchen cabinets. Although these herbs do not originate here they have in fact traveled to us from India. Some of the more popular Ayurvedic Herbs which are used today include Cinnamon, ginger, Gotu Kola, Boswellia, Gymnema and East Indian Globe Thistle all of which can be easily found at your local grocery store or herbal medicine store today.

Although Ginger is a common ingredient in many dishes that we eat it also has many medicinal uses as well. It is great as a digestive aid as well being great at helping treat colic, gas and to ease heartburn. However in India where it is known as Sunthi or Adrak is has been used as a tonic to enhance a person’s vigor as well as an antidepressant.

Gotu Kola is one of the most common herbs found in India and is great for healing wounds and dealing with skin disorders. Plus it is great for dealing with insomnia as well as being an aid to helping lower blood pressure.

Gymnema Sylvestre (Gumar) is a herb which you will probably be hearing a lot more about as it can help to block sugar. Some people think that this may be able to help people to lose weight as it reduces their cravings for sweets and when used by diabetics it has shown that their blood sugar levels are decreased.

Many people use cinnamon in baking but are also used for a hundreds of years in Ayurvedic Herbs as a stimulant. It can also help to relieve the pain caused by toothache as well as being a great astringent and may help people who have rheumatism. The cinnamon essential oil who as great anti fungal and antibacterial properties.

Boswellia (Frankincense) can be used as an anti-inflammatory and is said to be a great expectorant which helps to boost the immune system.

Whilst East India Globe Thistle may not be a herb you have heard a lot about but have been used for centuries as an energizer and it is also said to help reduce blood sugar levels.

As you can see there are many Ayurvedic Herbs which have been used for medicinal purposes for many centuries and unfortunately in the society we live in today these herbs are only regarded simply as spices. It is sad that over the centuries we have lost our knowledge with regard to the effects that such herbs can have on our body and how they can be used to treat ailments.

Lee Dobbins
http://www.articlesbase.com/medicine-articles/discover-the-secret-healing-properties-of-ayurvedic-herbs-99316.html