Herbal remedies have been used for centuries to treat a variety of ailments. Herbal remedies and supplements are often considered a precursor to modern medicine, as many pharmaceuticals on the market today were originally derived from plant sources.
The common pain reliever aspirin was once made from a substance found in the bark and leaves of the willow tree. While aspirin is synthetically produced today, willow bark containing aspirin was used as an herbal remedy long before chemical synthesis techniques were available.
Introduction to Herbal Remedies and Supplements
Today, the alternative medicine market is a multi-billion dollar industry, with more and more consumers frequently turning to herbal remedies and supplements as an alternative form of medicine to ease a multitude of health problems, including indigestion, sleeplessness, and the common cold.
Used correctly and in conjunction with a healthy lifestyle and diet, herbal supplements have many potential health benefits.
Health Benefits of Common Herbal Remedies and Supplements
The following is a list of the health benefits that can be derived from some of the most commonly used herbal remedies and supplements.
- Echinacea: A flowering herb that comes in many varieties and is commonly known as the purple coneflower. Most commonly used in treating the common cold, echinacea is also used as an immune system booster, treatment of upper respiratory tract infections, urinary tract infections, speeding wound healing, reducing sore throat pain, and fighting infections.
- Garlic: Garlic has been used in cooking and medicine since the ancient Egyptians. Garlic's health benefits include: lowering cholesterol, lowering blood pressure, common cold treatment, blood sugar regulation, infection treatment, and heart disease prevention.
- Turmeric: Turmeric contains a powerful active chemical compound called curcumin, which has many health benefits, including: infection fighting, cancer prevention, helping to maintain a healthy liver, lowering cholesterol, cold, flu and allergy prevention, prevention of gum disease, and help with weight management.
- Cinnamon: Used for centuries, the ancient Chinese used it in many of their remedies and medical treatments. Cinnamon's health benefits include: common cold treatment, nausea, diarrhea, energy improvement, and arthritis pain relief.
- Ginseng: Used for more than 5,000 years in the Chinese culture, ginseng strengthens the heart and nervous system, increases mental and physical vitality, and may be effective for treating colds, coughs, gout, diabetes, headache, and backache.
- Chamomile: A calming herb, chamomile can help provide relief from upset stomachs, colds, bronchitis, headaches, bladder troubles, and jaundice.
- Alfalfa: Known for its exceptional nutritional properties, alfalfa has many health benefits, including soothing arthritis pain, promoting better digestion and preventing stomach upset, reducing blood sugar levels, improving heart health, boosting the immune system, and helping to regulate blood pressure.
Overview of Herbal Remedies and Supplements
While there are many significant potential health benefits of herbal remedies, consumers should keep in mind that just as with synthetic drugs, herbal remedies may also have potential side effects, and used in combination with other natural and synthetic medications may have other or additional unintended effects.
It is thus advisable to consult with one's family physician prior to taking any herbal supplement to minimize health risks and ensure the supplement is appropriate to the individual.
Further Reading
For more information on nutritional health benefits, read the article Cancer-Preventing Foods
Learn more about vitamins and supplements in How to Choose a Vitamin Supplement
Alternative ways to treat pain in Natural Pain Remedies
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