Herbs were used as natural medicines in many cultures before modern time medicines we have come to know. Today, some of these same plants and herbs are in our kitchens and used in everyday cooking.
The tradition of using holistic practices is called Ayurvedic Medicine. This has been used throughout history to treat disease and prevent illness naturally.
While you may not realize it, a lot of these plants and spices have traveled across the ocean from India to the United States. Among these herbs are Ginger, Gotu Kola, Gymnema, Cinnamon, Boswellia or Frankincense and East Indian Globe Thistle, all of which can be found in the town herbalist store or perhaps even in the grocery store.
Ginger is often used to aid in digestion but has also been used to help with gas, colic and to decrease the symptoms of heart burn. But that’s not all. It has also been employed as a tonic to enhance vigor and also as an antidepressant. Ginger is also known as Sunthi or Adrak in India.
Gotu Kola, which should not be confused with the Kola Nut, is one of the most common herbs in India. The Gotu Kola has been used to heal wounds, with skin disorders, as a sleep aid due to its sedative nature. It has also been used to lower blood pressure.
One herb that has been in the press a lot is the Gymnema Sylvestre or Gumar. That is because it has the appearance of blocking sugar. The first thing that one will notice is that if you place a small amount on your tongue, you can no longer taste the sweets that you crave. The idea is that this herb may have the same effects internally as well. However, because you cannot taste sweets, you will not crave them and therefore, will not have a sweet tooth. The use of this herb in diabetics did show a decrease in blood sugar levels.
Cinnamon is another well known herb that has been used for hundreds of years by Ayurvedic Herbalists. It acts as a stimulant and also used frequently for tooth ache pain, for rheumatism and even and as astringent. It seems the essential oil contained in cinnamon has anti bacterial and anti fungal properties as well.
Boswellia is also known as frankincense. The residue of the herb is gummy and used as an anti inflammatory, also has been employed as an expectorant as well as a booster for the immune system.
East India Globe Thistle has been considered an energizer but also seems to have qualities that make it an anti diabetic herb as well. Medicines that have anti oxidant effects and reduce blood sugar will sometimes have East India Globe Thistle.
Of course, this is just a brief sampling of the Ayurvedic herbs that have been used for centuries. It is notable that some of the items that modern cultures regard as food or spices are also on this list such as apricot and licorice.
As with anything, if you have a medical condition or on medications, you must consult your doctor before adding herbal remedies to your routine. Just because an item is natural, doesn’t mean that it is without risk or side effects. For example, one of the properties of ginseng is that it thins the blood. If you are already on blood thinning medication, you blood may become too thin and cause problems.
