Ancient Prehistoric Herbal Medicines

When it comes to ancient herbal medicines, then the people of Asia definitely have an edge over other nations. To this day there are more natural remedies in these countries than nay other type of treatment from.

And the first of them is one that you have heard of but never really considered to have any medicinal properties. And that is “tea". Well tea leaves to be precise. In many south Asian countries Tea was used as a medicine until the English settled here. But before that time, the Tea lives either fresh or dried were boiled, sometimes with the addition of cumin seeds to cure colds and intestinal disorder. The chinesse are the ones who really brought tea and its medicinal properties o light. They believed that it would calm the nerves and correctly so for it contains a balanced and harmless form of nicotine which relaxes the mind and gives vigor.

And next up are the properties of honey and cinnamon. Honey is known to revitalize the arteries and give them strength. This is particularly useful for older people who's arteries have been clogged or have become rigged. Cinnamon is known to lower cholesterol levels and to help control sugar levels. Honey and cinnamon used in a combination are also known to help arthritis. Take two tablespoons of honey in luke warm water (1 cup) and add a teaspoon of cinnamon powder. This concoction helps reduce arthritis. And if you have a persistent cold then try an equal mixture of honey and lime water.

And now we have garlic which isn't just for warding off vampires. Many people in Asian countries add garlic as an integral part of food. The garlic clove and the bulb are rich in a wide variety of nutrients and vitamins A, B1 and B2. Garlic helps control blood pressure. Whether it is high or low, garlic will help bring it to normal. It also prevents the platelets from forming clots. In addition to this garlic has vasodilating effects, and is recommended for people suffering from hypertension, arteriosclerosis, and heart dysfunctions (angina pectoris or heart attacks). Garlic also helps control sugar levels.

Cumin seeds are also a very popular herb from the old days. It helps heal hookworm infections and also has antiseptic qualities. Additionally, cumin seeds help improve the bowel functions, digestion and insomnia. Cumin also helps cure amnesia when used with honey. A decoction of cumin, milk and honey taken once daily by a pregnant woman for the entire period of pregnancy helps ease child birth and the flow of breast milk.

If you have a sprain, rash, bruise or rheumatism then try bay leaf oil on the affected area. And then we have the ever popular clove. If your teeth are not as strong or white as you'd like them to be then try chewing a clove daily for a week or two. The effects are wondrous.

Herbal medicine was a closely guarded art but now with the science of chemical extraction, pharmaceutical companies are able to determine and extract the healing chemicals which is perhaps why the west is less inclined to use herbs as medicine but in Asian and many African countries, herbal medicine is an inheritance and is still practiced with great success.

• Juliana Breckinridge
• 31/01/2009, 8:59 PM
• 0 Comments