With Your Doctor's Approval, Medicinal Herbs May Be a Benefit

Walk into any pharmacy or grocery store, and you will see shelves full of what are known as medicinal herbs.  If used with a physician's approval, medicinal herbs may benefit your health in different ways.

A Word Of Caution

The Food and Drug Administration has not evaluated medicinal herbs for their medicinal qualities, and thus herbs cannot be sold as medicine used to prevent, diagnose, treat or cure any disease.  If you think you may have a medical problem or condition, you should discuss this with your health care provider right away.

Medicinal Herbs From China

Chinese herbs are used in traditional Chinese medicine for a variety of purposes.  In China, Chinese herbs are often combined together in customized ways to meet the needs of individuals.  In the Chinese tradition, Chinese herbs are classified by their nature from cold to hot; taste ranging from sweet to sour, bitter, pungent and salty; and the meridians, which are the organs of the body upon which the Chinese herbs are supposed to act.  Chinese herbs can be sold in standardized formulas.  This means that a set percentage of the herb is in every serving of the product.

One of the medicinal herbs used in Chinese traditional medicine is known as dong quai, with the Latin name of Angelica sinensis.  The root of the plant is the part typically used.  Dong quai may help with gynecological issues, high blood pressure, fatigue and early-stage anemia.  Dong quai also contains a fair amount of Vitamin B12, not often found outside of animal sources.  Dong quai may also help to reduce inflammation, spasms, and may provide pain relief and may have a sedative effect.  This herb should not be used by pregnant women, however.  Organic forms of this herb have been certified by the United States Department of Agriculture and Quality Assurance International; kosher versions are also available.

Other Herbs

Although more scientific testing in the form of double blind clinical trials has to be done on herbs to determine their efficacy in treating medical conditions and diseases, they may help certain physical issues.  Rubus fruticosus, or blackberry, may help to reduce wrinkles in the skin.  Cranberry may help with female urinary tract infections.  Echinacea may help to reduce the duration of a common cold.  Garlic may help to lower LDL and HDL cholesterol levels.  Honey may also help to lower cholesterol, and may also help wounds to heal faster.  Green tea may help to reduce the time needed for scars to heal.  Tea tree oil may help to treat acne.  

Hopefully, soon more testing will be done on medicinal herbsto verify their efficacy.