The Various Uses of Essential Oils and Herbs

For thousands of years the human race has used herbs in various ways. These uses can be placed into three distinctive groups; religious, culinary and medicinal. In the article below we shall debate 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 examining here and these include them being used as cash, as a disinfectant and as a perfume or powerful smell to smother bad odors. Herbs come from various parts of the globe and each culture usually 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 concentrating on modern uses.

The Use of Herbs In Religion

Herbs are still used in many around the planet.  A large number of Christians will remember myrrh from the Nativity (myrrh is the dried sap of Commiphora myrrha). Hindus will be extremely familiar with the Tulsi plant, which is a type of Basil, as it is cultivated by many and revered as a Goddess. In Wiccan and Pagan religions herbs are used widely in spells, rituals as well as for healing.

Herbs In Cooking

The leaves of various plants are used in cooking but there is a distinction between leafy vegetables, such as lettuce, and a herb, such as basil, in that the latter are used in very small 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 studied by academics.

Essential Oils

An essential oil is the oil extracted from a variety of plants. Essential oils are invariably manufactured by the method known as distillation but some require a different method of extraction such as by using solvents or expression.

Essential oils have a number 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 legs. When my legs are terribly painful I gently rub 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 with safety in mind as some can be extremely toxic to the human body (in large quantities). Special care should be taken if you are pregnant as something that seems safe can be dangerously problematic, such as peppermint oil which should never be used in its raw state. However spearmint and a few other mild oils can be used however to avoid any of miscarriage I would avoid all herbs and essential oils unless you are one hundred percent certain they are safe.

The awesome thing about herbs is that growing your own is as hard as buying a herb kit and placing it near a window. To discover more visit http://store.landscapinginfo4u.com/

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Tagged with: alternative health • essential oils • Health • herbs

Filed under: Wellness

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