For thousands of years the human race has utilized herbs in a great many ways. These uses can be placed into three distinctive groups; religious, culinary and medicinal. In the following article we shall take a close look at each of these categories in order concentrating upon medical uses and essential oils.
Through the ions o time there have been numerous other uses of herbs which we will not be discussing here and these include them being used as money, as a disinfectant and as a perfume or powerful smell to mask sickening smells. Herbs originate from various parts of the world and each race commonly had unusual uses for them. It is interesting to note that the Ancient Egyptians, Ancient Greek and Sumerians, the Romans all wrote about them in detail and other writings exist from Ancient India and China. We shall be focusing on modern uses.
Herbs And Religion
Herbs are still used in numerous across the world. A large number of Christians will recall myrrh from the Nativity (myrrh is the dried sap of Commiphora myrrha). Hindus will be very familiar with the Tulsi plant, which is a type of Basil, as it is cultivated by many and worshipped as a Goddess. In Pagan and Wiccan religions herbs are utilized widely in spells, rituals as well as for healing.
Herbs In The Kitchen
The leaves of various plants are used in the kitchen however there is a distinction between leafy vegetables, such as lettuce, and a herb, such as basil, in that the latter are used in very small amounts due to their distinctive, and powerful flavor. Virtually every person on the planet has benefited from the these amazing plants which are capable of lifting the plainest meal into the realms of a culinary masterpiece.
The Medical Uses of Herbs
As well as being intense in flavor a herb can also have a profound effect upon the human body. Some types are used as recreational drugs, such as cannabis, which can cause legal problems as they can also have useful medical properties which are still being examined by scientists.
Essential Oils
An essential oil is the oil extracted from a variety of plants. Essential oils are commonly produced by the process known as distillation but some need a different method of extraction such as by using solvents or expression.
Essential oils have a number of uses, such as perfumes, bath oils, flavorings, burning (for scent) and in cleaning products. However most folk know of their use in medicine and especially in aromatherapy and other forms of alternative medicine. I use lavender oil in a number of ways, I add it to my mixture for my oil burner to make the room smell nice but I also use approximately three drops in a bath when I suffer from aching legs. When my legs are very painful I gently massage it into the muscles but only when it is mixed with a carrier oil. As well as helping to relax the muscles it also helps me sleep more soundly.
Herbs should be handled with with safety in mind as some can be extremely poisonous to the human body (in large quantities). Special care should be taken if you are planning on having a baby as something that you may consider safe could be terribly problematic, such as peppermint oil which should be avoided completely in its raw state. However spearmint and a few other mild oils can be used but to avoid any of miscarriage I advise that you avoid all herbs and essential oils unless you are 100% certain they are safe.
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