The Many Uses of Herbs And Essential Oils
For thousands of years the human race has utilized herbs in a variety of ways. These uses can be placed into three distinctive categories; religious, culinary and medicinal. In the article below we will discuss each of these categories in order focusing upon medical uses and essential oils.
Throughout history there have been numerous other uses of herbs which we will not be discussing here and these include them being used instead of cash, as a disinfectant and as a perfume or powerful smell to mask disgusting odors. Herbs originate from various parts of the world and each race often 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.
Religious Uses Of Herbs
Herbs are still used in many around the world. Most Christians will remember 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 Wiccan and Pagan faiths herbs are used extensively in spells, rituals as well as for healing.
Kitchen Uses of Herbs
The leaves of different plants are used in the kitchen however there is a difference between leafy vegetables, such as cabbage, and a herb, such as basil, in that the latter are used in minute amounts due to their distinctive, and powerful flavor. Virtually every person in the world has benefited from the these amazing plants which are capable of lifting the blandest meal into the realms of a culinary masterpiece.
The Medicinal 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 investigated by scientists.
Essential Oils
An essential oil is the substance extracted from a variety of plants. Essential oils are invariably manufactured by the process known as distillation but some require 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 people 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 about three drops in a bath when I suffer from aching limbs. When my legs are very painful I 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 used with immense care as some can be extremely toxic to the human body (in large quantities). Special care should be taken if you are planning on having a baby as something that sounds safe can be dangerously problematic, such as peppermint oil which should never be used in its raw form. However spearmint and a few other mild oils can be used however to avoid any of miscarriage you should avoid all herbs and essential oils unless you know for definite they are safe.
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