For millenia the human race has used herbs in diverse ways. These uses can be categorized into three distinctive groups; religious, culinary and medicinal. In the following article we shall discuss each of these categories in order focusing upon the medicinal uses and essential oils.
Throughout history there have been many other uses of herbs which we will not be looking at here and these include them being used as money, as a disinfectant and as a perfume or powerful smell to overpower sickening odors. Herbs originate from various parts of the planet 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.
The Use of Herbs In Religion
Herbs are still used in a multitude of across the world. A great many Christians will remember myrrh from the Nativity (myrrh is the dried sap of Commiphora myrrha). Hindus will be extremely familiar with the Tulsi plant, which is a species of Basil, as it is cultivated by many and praised as a Goddess. In Wiccan religions herbs are used widely in spells, rituals as well as for healing.
Kitchen Uses of Herbs
The leaves of different plants are used in cooking but there is a difference between leafy vegetables, such as cabbage, and a herb, such as parsley, in that the latter are used in minute 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 blandest meal into the realms of a culinary masterpiece.
The Medical Uses of Herbs
As well as being powerful in flavor herbs 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 investigated by scientists.
Essential Oils
An essential oil is the concentrate extracted from a variety of plants. Essential oils are usually created by the method called distillation but some need a different method of extraction such as such as solvent extraction or expression.
Essential oils have a variety of uses, such as perfumes, bath oils, flavorings, burning (for scent) and in cleaning products. However the majority of folk know of their use in medicine and especially in aromatherapy and other forms of alternative medicine. I use lavender oil in a variety of ways, I add it to my mixture for my oil burner to make the room smell nice but I also use roughly three drops in a bath when I suffer from aching legs. When my limbs are extremely painful I gently rub 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 immense care and attention as some can be extremely harmful to the human body (in large quantities). Special care should be taken if you are about to have a baby as something that you may consider safe can be alarmingly problematic, such as peppermint oil which should never be used in its raw state. However spearmint and a few other mild oils can be used however to avoid any of miscarriage I would avoid all herbs and essential oils unless you know for certain they are safe to use.
Rosemary Phillips
Author Bio
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