Herbal Remedies are a Perfect Partner for Home Spa Treatments

Herbal remedies are very popular because of the trend away from modern pharmaceuticals. Herbalism (often referred to as folk medicine) is a traditional medicinal practice using plants and plant extracts to treat illnesses or conditions. It's also an ideal combination with home spa.

Herbalism has many names and is also referred to as botanical medicine, medical herbalism, herbal medicine, herbology, and phytotherapy. While it’s a big industry for some people, many people use herbal remedies because it’s a treatment they’ve known all of their life, and probably passed down through their family, like that of Native American herbal medicine.

A Native American herbal remedy that is still practiced today is using the Impatiens flower to treat Poison ivy and Poison oak rashes. Poison ivy and Poison oak torment many sufferers every year, but the best herbal treatment for it can often be found growing close by.

Some of the Best Herbal Remedies are in your Kitchen Right Now

Herbal medicine can include the use of fungal and bee products, minerals, shells and animal parts. Many plants are very beneficial for the health of humans and other animals, and yet go unused. An example of this would be Aloe vera, which is found growing wild in many parts of the world. Other examples include aromatic substances, and many of the common herbs and spices that are used by humans to season their food have very useful medicinal compounds.

Humans have been using herbs for thousands of years. Plants like Laurel, Caraway, Thyme, Garlic, Castor oil, Coriander, Mint, Turmeric and Indigo were favourites amongst ancient civilizations.

Mint is so easy to grow at home and can be added to many herbal remedies, as well as many home recipes to be served up on the dinner table

Wild crafting is extremely popular around the world, and is the practice of harvesting products from their natural habitat for healing use. I also have a specific guide to making your own herbal medicine, please click here if you would like to read it.

Indian Ayurveda Traditional Medicine

Ayurveda is a form of traditional medicine practiced on the Indian Subcontinent and other parts of the world. In Sanskrit, the word Ayurveda is a combination of the words âyus, meaning 'life', and veda, meaning 'related to knowledge' or 'science'.

Ayurveda uses herbs, massage, and Yoga as exercise or alternative medicine. Hinduism and Buddhism have been major influences during the development of Ayurveda. Balance is a key component, and suppressing natural urges is seen to be unhealthy. Ayurveda places an emphasis on moderation in food intake, sleep, balanced sexual health, and the intake of medicine.

Both Ayurveda and Chinese Herbal Medicine use tea as part of a holistic health regime. Click here to read some great weight loss tips using green and white teas.

Yoga is great for fitness, but even more effective when used as a holistic form of wellbeing. Yoga has come a long way from the days when it was an exotic practice, and is now taught in gyms and health centers around the world.

The Origins of Chinese Herbal Medicine

The very first Chinese herbal book was called the Shennong Bencao Jing, and was compiled during the Han Dynasty of ancient China. It lists 365 medicinal plants and their various uses.

Traditional Chinese Medicine includes other treatments apart from Chinese herbal medicine, these include acupuncture, dietary therapy, and both Tui na and Shiatsu massage. Qigong and Taijiquan are also closely associated with Traditional Chinese Medicine.

One example of traditional Chinese medicine is the Burdock plant, which can be used to treat burns, hair loss, and even acne prone skin.

Chinese medicine looks at treating illnesses from a different angle to that of western medicine. Western medicine often symply treats the sympton and not the cause.

Herbal Medicine during the Middle Ages

The uses of plants for medicine continued in early medieval Europe. Many Greek and Roman monasteries were local centres of medical knowledge, and their herb gardens provided treatment for common disorders.

Folk medicine consisted of herbalists who prescribed herbal remedies often accompanied by spells and enchantments. Although, later a great deal of hysteria would see these herbalists labelled witches.

At the same time, medical schools that were known as Bimaristan appeared from the 9th century in the medieval Islamic world. Because they were a trading culture, the Arab travellers had access to plant material from places such as China and India.

So How do I Combine these things with Home Spa?

Whether you're planning a home spa, or a trip to a luxurious day spa, herbal treatments are a great way to assist with relaxation and the treatment of conditions or illnesses. I have another article on home made spa treatments and skin care products you may like to read by clicking here. There are also many other herbal remedies for you to view in my website if you care to browse.