Herbal Information

The term Herbal means botanical or plant-derived, a plant or plant part (leaves, flowers, roots, etc.) that is valued for it's medicinal, savory or aromatic qualities. A herbal can be a book, often illustrated, that describes the appearance, medicinal properties, and other characteristics of plants used in herbal medicine. Herbal is anything related to the of herbs such as herbal tea, herbal medicine, etc.

Natural Herbs, Herbal Medicine and Supplements

China is known for its Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), with its herbal medicines and acupuncture. Ayurveda is to India what TCM is to China. Ayurveda includes a comprehensive study of anatomy, physiology, pathology, diagnostic systems, and treatment strategies. Ayurvedic medicine utilizes practices such as yoga, exercise, meditation, massage, dietary changes, herbal tonics, and herbal sweat baths.

Ashwagandha is a plant which has long been used medicinally. It is used in traditional Indian and African medicine as an anti-inflammatory, for fever relief, and against infectious disease. Many believe ashwagandha to be effective in stimulating the immune system. It also appears to inhibit swelling and aid memory and can act as a general health tonic.

Herbal supplements: What to know before you buy

You can expect certain information to be included on the labels of all herbal supplements, which should help you understand what's inside the packaging. Manufacturers typically refer to herbal products by their common name and the part of the plant used to make the herbal supplement, such as root, stem or leaf.

Don't assume that all herbal products on the market are safe. Even the groups that test herbal supplements aren't obligated to report products that fail to live up to their standards.
choose products that clearly show how much of the herb each dose contains. Some products are mixtures of several herbs with unknown proportions of each.
Any herbs you take or are interested in taking may have potentially dangerous side effects.
Specific herbal medicines are appropriate for you given your overall health status. So check this with your doctor first.

Nutritional Herbal Supplements

A dietary supplement is a product that contains vitamins, minerals, herbs or other botanicals, amino acids, enzymes, and/or other ingredients intended to supplement the diet. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has special labeling requirements for dietary supplements and treats them as foods, not drugs. must meet all of the following conditions:

It is a product (other than tobacco) intended to supplement the diet, which contains one or more of the following: vitamins; minerals; herbs or other botanicals; amino acids; or any combination of the above ingredients.
It is intended to be taken in tablet, capsule, powder, softgel, gelcap, or liquid form.
It is not represented for use as a conventional food or as a sole item of a meal or the diet.
It is labeled as being a dietary supplement.

Herbal Remedies for Herbal Remedy needs

For many thousands of years gotu kola has been used to treat a variety of conditions including syphilis, hepatitis, stomach ulcers, mental fatigue, epilepsy, diarrhea, and fever. Today gotu kola is used to relieve symptoms of poor circulation in the veins of the legs and to speed the healing of wounds and burns.

In recent history, gotu kola has gained some popularity as a remedy for disorders that cause connective tissue swelling such as scleroderma, psoriatic arthritis, etc.

Herbal Remedies Information

It's important to know that just because an herbal supplement is labeled "natural" does not mean it is safe or without any harmful effects. For example, the herbs kava and comfrey have been linked to serious liver damage. It is important to consult your health care provider before using an herbal supplement, especially if you are taking any medications (whether prescription or over-the-counter). Some herbal supplements are known to interact with medications in ways that cause health problems.

Herbs Information