In the realm of living healthier lives, what’s old is new again. Instead of a constant diet of artificially produced pharmaceuticals, people are turning to natural remedies to help them achieve the healthier lifestyles for which they strive.
Many studies have been done on how alternative medicines like acupuncture, homeopathy and massage can help people maintain their health. Meditation has been proven to help with everything from weight loss to improved brain function. Chiropractic and osteopathic medicine have proven their worth to medical doctors and patients alike. Partnering with all this is the increased availability of herb-based remedies. Herbal supplements come in many forms and help with all different types of health problems.
Tinctures and Oils
Oils are more concentrated forms of a herb in liquid form. Herbal remedy oils typically contain the liquid form of the herb you need along with a carrier oil like coconut or hemp oil that allows the body to absorb the herb’s beneficial ingredients.
Tinctures have more ingredients to make the taste better and shelf life longer. Some herb ingredients, like cannabidiol, are being used by both humans and animals as a source of better health. Companies like CBDfx offer access to this legal form of CBD in both tincture and oil form so that you can take your pick for what’s best for you or your pet.
Tea
Your grandmother probably advocated the use of herbal tea with honey for a sore throat. She wasn’t wrong. This is a long-used ingestible natural remedy that works. Chamomile tea helps you relax, green tea aids digestion and ginger tea helps soothe nausea, especially for pregnant women.
There are teas to ease PMS symptoms. Peppermint tea has antibacterial and antiviral properties, in addition to being a great digestive aid. High blood pressure sufferers can drink hibiscus tea to lower their numbers. Scientists have studied the benefits of sage tea and have determined that it improves cognitive function in both people and animals.
Edibles
When people think of edibles, most today immediately jump to marijuana.
However, CBD is a form of cannabis that doesn’t cause the “high” of marijuana, but does provide many of the same health benefits. If recreational pot isn’t legal where you live, you may still be able to benefit from edible treats like baked goods or gummy candies by searching for CBD products instead of marijuana edibles.
Skin Care
Sometimes herbal remedies are applied to your skin through lotions or creams. Lavender has long been included in such recipes not just because it smells good but because it has properties to aid your health. The smell has been known to help quiet a busy mind, while the moisturizing benefits of lavender nourish your skin and help it retain its natural healthy glow.
Mint is a frequent ingredient in creams and lotions because of its anti-inflammatory properties. This allows it to help soothe dry or irritated skin. Added to a foot soak or a lotion you use on your feet, soothing mint can relieve the aches and pains of a hard day on your feet. Chamomile can help relieve skin redness and inflammation when included in lotions and creams.
Bath Products
Lavender, mint and chamomile have the same health benefits for your skin when blended in soaps as they do in lotions or creams. If you speak to the mothers of many a cranky baby, they’ll swear by using lavender bubble bath and after-bath cream to soothe those crabby children and lull them gently into a good night’s sleep.
Dandelion flowers have skin renewal properties. Their bright yellow color is retained when the flowers are dried, so they can help with seasonal affectedness disorder by bringing a bright, summer-like feeling to a bath. When you have sore muscles, adding meadowsweet to your bathwater can help relax them. Stinging nettle extract can help heal your aching joints and promote your circulation.
You can add herbs directly to your bathwater or use a large flow-through bag to hold the herbs together for easy disposal. You can also steep the herbs in hot water like a tea and then add the tea directly to your bath.
More people every day are rediscovering how including herbs in their health regimens can be good for them.
