Using Herbs to Promote Health: Skin Care, Better Sleep and More

Опубликовал Admin
29-09-2020, 03:10
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Herbal medicine is a huge industry, so it’s only natural if you’re curious about whether or not some herbal treatments can help improve your health. Luckily, there are many herbal supplements that can help with lots of different problems, ranging from arthritis relief to wound-healing. If you’d like to try herbal medicine for yourself, just make sure you ask your doctor if it’s safe first. Then you can try some different treatments to see if they work for you.

Healing Your Skin

  1. Soothe cuts and burns with aloe vera. This is one of the most popular herbal treatments for wounds. Aloe comes in many different creams or gels. Apply the aloe to any wounds or burns on your skin to see if this helps them heal.
    • Aloe may also prevent scars from forming if you use it on cuts.
  2. Prevent inflammation and infections with tea tree oil. This essential oil can kill bacteria and reduce inflammation in wounds, helping the healing process. Try applying a tea tree oil or cream twice a day to see if this helps you.
    • Don’t use tea tree oil to fight burns.
    • 5% tea tree oil gel may also help fight acne.
  3. Fight acne with green tea lotion. Green tea is packed with vitamins and nutrients that are good for your skin. If you have mild or moderate acne, then try applying a 2% green tea lotion to your skin to see if this helps it clear.
  4. Try honey to promote wound-healing. This might sound strange, but honey could help promote healing and prevent infections in wounds and burns. Try washing any cuts you have and applying medical-grade honey each day until the wounds heal.
    • Manuka honey is the most common medical-grade type, and it shows success in many studies.

Promoting Sleep and Mental Health

  1. Relieve anxiety and insomnia with chamomile. Chamomile is a popular herb that has a calming effect on the body. This makes it a common remedy for anxiety and insomnia. If you have trouble relaxing, some chamomile every day could help you.
    • Tea is the most popular way to use chamomile, but you can also take it as a daily tablet.
    • Don’t take chamomile if you have a ragweed or pollen allergy because it could cause a reaction.
    • Daily doses for chamomile vary a lot and are between 1 and 15 g. Follow the instructions on any product you use so you don’t take too much.
  2. Try passionflower to calm yourself down. Passionflower is another herb that can calm you down to relieve anxiety and insomnia. It could be the right choice if you often have trouble sleeping because of anxiety.
    • Passionflower also comes in teas or tablets.
    • There isn’t enough evidence to suggest a dose for passionflower, so follow your doctor’s directions.
  3. Use valerian root for minor insomnia. Valerian is a gentle sedative and might help you get to sleep at night. It comes as tea, tablets, or a liquid extract, so try one of these to try and improve your sleep.
    • Recommended valerian doses range from 400 to 900 mg per day.
    • Some people also say that valerian helps relieve their anxiety, but there isn’t enough evidence to prove this.
  4. Treat minor depression with St. John’s Wort. This herb has a weird name, but there’s some evidence that it could help improve mild-moderate depression. If you need an occasional mood boost, then St. John’s Wort might be what you need.
    • St. John’s Wort has several drug interactions, including with antidepressants, so always ask your doctor before taking it.
    • The daily St. John’s Wort dose ranges from 200 to 1,800 mg, so always ask your doctor for the right dosage.
    • St. John’s Wort may also help you sleep better, but the results aren’t clear.

Fighting Discomfort and Pain

  1. Boost your immunity with echinacea. This herb could help your body fight off viruses, and might reduce the length of colds and the flu. Try taking a daily supplement as soon as you start feeling sick to see if this keeps your immunity high.
    • The recommended dose for echinacea varies a lot, so always follow the instructions on the type that you use.
    • If you’re allergic to plants in the daisy family, like ragweed, chrysanthemums, marigolds, and daisies, you might be sensitive to echinacea.
  2. Soothe an upset stomach with ginger. If you often suffer from heartburn or nausea, then ginger might be just what you need. Try adding some raw ginger to your food, brewing tea with it, or taking a daily ginger supplement to see if your stomach feels better.
    • The recommended ginger dose is 1,500 mg per day.
    • Ginger is also anti-inflammatory and could help with arthritis pain as well.
  3. Take curcumin to reduce inflammation and pain. Curcumin is the main compound in the spice turmeric, and is a natural anti-inflammatory. This means it could help reduce pain from arthritis or injuries. Try taking a daily curcumin supplement to see if this helps you.
    • A standard curcumin dose is 400-600 mg 3 times per day.
    • You could also start adding turmeric to your food. This gives you a curcumin dose and also adds a nice, earthy flavor to your meals.
  4. Try capsaicin cream to fight arthritis pain. You might not think of pepper when you’re looking for arthritis relief, but this compound from cayenne pepper dose have a numbing effect on body pains. Get a cream containing capsaicin and rub it onto your sore joints to see if this helps.

Deciding How to Take Herbs

  1. Take oral supplements for the strongest dosage. Most herbs come in tablet or pill form as dietary supplements. This could provide the strongest and most concentrated dose.
    • All herbal supplements have different dosing instructions, so make sure you follow the directions to avoid taking too much.
  2. Try liquid extracts for a quick dose. Most herbal supplements also come in liquid in tincture forms, so you can try these as well. You can also use these for a direct dose, so take them according to the product instructions.
  3. Sip tea for a relaxing effect. Most herbs also come in tea form. Sipping on herbal tea can be very relaxing, so this is a good choice if you're trying to relieve anxiety or insomnia.
    • The brewing instructions and steeping time for herbal tea varies, so follow the directions with the tea you use.
    • Most herbal teas are naturally caffeine-free. However, make sure you check to confirm that there's no caffeine or you'll have trouble sleeping.

Staying Safe

  1. Ask your doctor before taking any herbal supplements. Even if a product seems entirely safe, never take any herbal supplements without asking your doctor first. Different herbs can affect your in different ways, especially if you have any health conditions or take medications. Always ask your doctor first to make sure herbal medicine is safe for you.
    • Your doctor might tell you not to use herbs if you take prescription medicines, are pregnant or breastfeeding, are below 18 or older than 65, or scheduled to have surgery.
  2. Check the product label to make sure it provides the right information. Reputable herbal supplements should provide all the information you need on their labels, while more shady manufacturers might try to leave certain information off. Look for the following details on the product label:
    • The full name of the product and plant used.
    • The name and contact information of the manufacturer or distributer.
    • A full list of ingredients.
    • The amount of the product in the bottle and the dosing information.
  3. Follow the recommended dosage so you don’t take too much. Different herbal supplement brands have different dosages. Always check and follow the dosage on the product you use so you don’t take too much.
    • If you aren’t sure about the correct dose, make sure you ask your doctor.
  4. Stop taking the supplement if you feel any negative side effects. Even if you do everything right, there’s always a chance for side effects when you take herbal supplements. If you take any supplements and don’t feel right afterward, then stop taking them. Contact your doctor if the side effects seem severe.
    • Some common side effects include nausea, dizziness, headaches, or an upset stomach.
    • Signs of an allergic reaction include a rash and itching. If you have any trouble breathing, call emergency services right away.

Tips

  • The herbs on this list aren't the only herbal supplements available. Talk to your doctor for more options that might work for you.

Warnings

  • It's especially important to ask a doctor before using any herbal remedies if you regularly take medication. Some herbs could interact with medications.
  • Herbs aren't recommended to treat any specific medical issues, so don't treat them as a replacement for professional treatment.
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