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Agrimony Seeds
Glossary |
Medicinal herbs |
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Medicinal herbs and aromatics have been used for thousands of years to maintain and promote health & well-being for entire civilisations. History documents that we have effectively used herbs for all types of human healing, citing many specific examples of their usage over time. If used properly, they work with our body, mind, and spirit to restore balance and create a healthy state. The
English word "herb" is from the Sanskrit word "bharb,"
which means to eat. It also originates from the Latin word "herba,"
meaning grass or fodder. According to the Merriam Webster dictionary, an
herb is " a seed producing annual, biennial, or perennial that does
not develop persistent woody tissue," in other words, a plant
without bark. This definition applies to all herbs because although some
have somewhat woody stems, none have actual bark. Another
definition given by the dictionary is "a plant or
plant part valued for its medicinal, savoury, or aromatic qualities." Herbs have been used as medicines for centuries. They were kept in dried form in many pharmacies so that they could be used all year. This is why the word "drug" is from the Anglo-Saxon word "drigan," which means to dry. For centuries, herbs have been the principal if not the only medicines used in many countries. Even herbs we use today for seasonings in cooking were originally used as medicines. Herbs have not been used as often with the recent advances in medical technology, but many people have begun to use herbs as medicines due to their medicinal properties. Mainstream modern technology is just now beginning to re-focus on the use of herbs and natural plant therapies as a primary means to deal with current-day health and fitness issues. This modern practice of natural healing is usually referred to as "Alternative Medicine." Society will probably never fully understand many of the world’s medicinal secrets regarding the way in which natural herbal extracts and herb concentrates work within the body, but that is no reason not to take advantage of their time-proven benefits. Current scientific techniques are continually deciphering the elemental herbal constituents which explain the numerous beneficial effects of herbal therapies which our ancestors have known empirically through their use over centuries. The Slovak Republic in Central Europe, a country in size of 49,015 sq. km., has traditionally been the home of producers of medicinal, aromatic and spice plants. Since time immemorial medicinal plants have played the most important part in the composition of therapeutic and various preparations used in popular doctoring. The experience of simple people was the base for the use of these medicinal plants. In past centuries, about 600 or 800 species were used for curative purposes. Herbalists, i.e. people who dispensed medicinal herbs in order to cure specific diseases, were highly respected in their activity and were known as 'popular doctors'. DISCLAIMER: These pages are presented solely as a source of information and entertainment and to provide stern warnings against use where appropriate. No claims are made for the efficacy of any herb nor for any historical herbal treatment. In no way can the information provided here take the place of the standard, legal, medical practice of any country. If you have a medical problem, consult your physician first and discuss any alternatives at that time. Never, never, self diagnose. Additionally, some of these plants are extremely toxic and should be used only by licensed professionals who have the means to process them properly into appropriate pharmaceuticals. |
