SLC S21 Week 1 - A Comprehensive guide to Herbal Medicines

Hello, all dear Steemians, I am glad to be part of one of the great lessons dealing with Herbal Medicines therefore I would come straight to the point by inviting my friends @josepha, @simonnwigwe and @suboohi

  

  

Research Assignment: Research and write a history of herbal medicine in your culture or region

The fast-paced world we live in has led to us drifting away from nature. Although the lifestyle we live may have an adverse effect on us, it is important to know that by making small changes in our daily lives, we can stay healthy and energetic. Therefore, the importance of Ayurveda is the same in today's life, as it is based on the principle of bringing us closer to nature and relying on its natural powers to heal and keep us healthy without any side effects.

One way to understand the basic principles of herbal medicines in our part of the world, especially South Asia, is to spend more time with nature and observe plants and herbs. Each plant or herb has a specific property and can be used to treat many diseases and ailments.

Herbal medicines and products have become a symbol of safety today due to the use of natural ingredients and medicinal herbs, while synthetic medicines are considered unsafe and dangerous for overall health.

Source

Comparison Task: Create a table comparing the benefits and side effects of modern medicines vs. herbal medicines for common ailments (e.g., cold, headache).

Herb Identification: Choose 3 herbs from your kitchen like mint, ginger, or turmeric, and list their health benefits. Mention the recipes where you have used these herbs.

Turmeric

Turmeric is one of the most common spices in our kitchen and has an important place in Ayurveda. Its miraculous properties help in removing gastritis and cough. It contains curcumin, which is beneficial for arthritis, allergies, heart disease, Alzheimer's, and diabetes patients. Turmeric also has anti-cancer properties. It also has hot and anti-inflammatory properties, which provide relief from joint pain. It is used in many ways in Ayurveda for diseases; there are many methods for it. Turmeric is used in powder form.

Consuming it by mixing it in milk increases its benefits manifold. Put a pinch of turmeric in a glass of milk and boil it well, and then consume it when it becomes lukewarm. It is very beneficial in colds and coughs; along with this, its consumption is very beneficial in body pain or when feeling cold.

Black pepper, the Kali mirch

This is also a great immunity booster, as it has gastroprotective, antioxidant, and antibacterial properties. It provides instant relief from respiratory infections, cures colds and coughs, and also protects the throat. Including it in the daily diet gives internal strength to the body.

To get relief from asthma and cough, it is beneficial to drink 2 grams of black pepper powder cooked in 200 ml of cow's milk. To treat stomach worms, take 2-3 grams of black pepper powder with 1 cup of buttermilk on an empty stomach in the morning to get rid of stomach worms. Black Pepper is used both s whole and in powder form.

Ginger the healing spice

It is an easily available and beneficial herb that is often used to enhance the taste of food. Ginger tea is anyway very much liked by Indian people, but its use gives health along with taste. It boosts immunity and also detoxifies the body.

Influenza can be treated by taking out 5-6 ml of ginger juice mixing a similar amount of honey in it and consuming it 3-4 times a day. It is also beneficial for pneumonia. Mixing ghee and camphor in 5 ml of ginger juice, heating it, and massaging it on the chest is beneficial in pneumonia. Ginger is used in various forms, crushed, cut, dried powder, etc.

Forms of Herbs: Write about the different forms of the herbs

There is a long list of herbs that we use in our daily life even if most of us use them but don't know their benefits. For instance, medicinal plants like aloe vera, turmeric, basil, black pepper, cardamom, and ginger are commonly used in many home remedies and are considered to be the best aid in fighting throat and skin-related ailments.

Being a rich source of nutrients with anti-bacterial and antioxidant properties, Ayurvedic herbs are non-toxic in nature, and hence the products or remedies made using them are often known for their high therapeutic value, providing not only physical but also economic benefits to humans.

Treatment with herbal medicinal plants also holds a strong ground as these plants are considered safe and do not have any side effects. Since they are in harmony with nature, they hold more advantages than chemically treated products and synthetic medicines.

Allopathic medicines may give you instant relief, but their chemical components also have far-reaching side effects, especially for your digestive system.

So I understand that, unlike other medicines, Ayurvedic herbs are known to cure the disease from its root and thus help keep you healthy and fit for a long time. And I try them myself, so I know their importance very well.

Turmeric, ginger, fenugreek, cinnamon, cloves, black pepper, and cumin are the main herbal medicines in our kitchen. According to Ayurveda, the consumption of these spices helps us to protect us from many types of infections and also keeps the important organs of the body healthy. I am a great fan of Fig and aloe vera, so use these for various purposes.

I would like to mention cinnamon, or what we call it daalchinni, which has special healing qualities. This is a miraculous spice, which has many medicinal properties. It has bacterial, anti-viral, and anti-fungal properties, which help in dealing with many types of infections. It contains immune-boosting antioxidants like polyphenols and proanthocyanins. I understand consumption of cinnamon can treat toothaches and headaches, skin diseases, digestive system disorders, and period problems.

Cinnamon is also included as the main ingredient in herbal decoctions, which improve immunity. Cinnamon tea is beneficial, but its consumption can cause headaches, and pregnant women should not use it. It should be used only on the advice of a doctor.

Fenugreek

Fenugreek, which strengthens the immune system, acts as a natural antioxidant. It is used as a green and spice. According to research, fenugreek is beneficial for the liver as it has hepatoprotective properties. According to Ayurveda, consumption of 1-2 grams of fenugreek seeds (seeds) powder is beneficial in problems related to neuro (nervous system) and also gives relief in body pain.

Cloves

It also contains a lot of antioxidants, which build good immunity. It helps in relieving cough and also reduces throat discomfort. It can be consumed with hot water or by adding it to tea.

Roast 3-4 cloves on fire and grind them finely. Then mixing honey in it and licking it gives relief to cough. Make a decoction by mixing 1 gram of clove and 3 grams of myrobalan powder; after this, adding a little rock salt to it and drinking it cures the problem of indigestion.

Cumin

This is a popular spice and is always used in Indian cuisine. The elements called 'apigenin' and 'luteolin' found in cumin work as antioxidants. Its elements provide protection against free radicals inside the body, which can harm our health.

Acidity is a common problem in today's time, and cumin seeds work as a special medicine for its treatment. Cook 120 grams of paste of cumin and coriander in 750 grams of ghee and consume it in the amount of 10–15 grams daily. Along with acidity, it also cures chronic cough problems, bile disease, and lack of appetite.

Adopt these Ayurvedic herbs to increase immunity; they have also supported us during the Corona epidemic.

The contribution of the kitchen in the fight against Corona has also been no less. People have increased their immunity by using the spices present in the kitchen, according to Ayurveda. Not only this, many healthy decoctions have also been made using kitchen spices.

Green tea is known for its different healing benefits, but most of us use it for weight-loss program. We should know that it's one of the best antioxidants that helps keep us fit and slim.

Safety Report: Pick one herb and research any potential side effects and how to avoid them

I am a great fan of fig, which is considered a fruit and dry fruit, but it has great health benefits as a herbal medicine as well. But like all other foods and medicines, it also has its pros and cons.

Benefits and disadvantages of figs:

Iron-rich figs are a very tasty and juicy fruit. Eating it can cure the lack of blood in the body. Figs are eaten both as fruits and as dry fruits. I get figs naturally sown in my compound, and their fruits and leaves are large, while the ones I buy from the market are small.

But mind you, eating figs benefits, but there are a few disadvantages as well.

Advantages:

Beneficial for Digestion System: Figs contain a lot of nutrients; they also contain abundant fiber, due to which there are no problems like gas and constipation in the stomach, and food is digested well. Eating it also clears the stomach easily.

Good for Bones: Eating figs cures bone-related diseases because it contains plenty of calcium. If a person has bone-related problems, then he should consume figs.

Good for the Heart: Consumption of fig keeps cholesterol under control because it contains sufficient amounts of phenol and omega-3 properties. Eating figs keeps the heart healthy.

Beneficial in Anaemia: A person who is suffering from anemia should include figs in his diet because figs contain sufficient amounts of iron and calcium. Which can remove anemia from the body.

I have planted a fig tree in my Canberra house (I keep it covered with a net because birds damage the fruit), and I eat 3 to 4 figs in a day. But when I am in India, I buy figs and dates from the market and get them through Amazon, imported from Afghanistan. As far as dry figs, I soak 2 to 3 figs in half a glass of water at night and drink the water in the morning, and eat the soaked figs; this helps in reducing belly fat.

Disadvantages:

But there are disadvantages to eating figs, especially if you have any kind of allergy. In that case, you should avoid eating figs if you feel any symptoms after consuming this fruit.

Diabetic patients should avoid eating figs because figs contain a lot of sugar that can harm diabetic patients.

Eating too many fig fruits can damage your liver.

Eating too many figs can cause cavities in teeth, so one should consume figs in limited quantities.
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