Free Pain Relief Newsletter  Click Here Pain Relief Articles - Healing With Herbs Exercise:  A Natural Reliever For Chronic Low Back Pain 4 Natural Home Remedies to Ease the Pain of Sunburn Getting A Grip on Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Exercise Your Way To Pain Relief Benefits of Alternative Medicine Neck Pain Management Migraines - Food and Diet Tendonitis Pain Relief Treating Arthritis - Naturally Getting Well With Smell Guided Imagery - The Healing Power of Imagination The Healing Power of Food Healing With Herbs Healing With Movement Healing With Water Self-Healing With Homeopathy Laughter Is Good Medicine Treat Your Own Back Pain Healing With Your Mind Healing With Herbs By Gerri Shapiro, MS Ed. "We can solve well over 90% of the all chronic diseases with simple, inexpensive natural therapies."                                                          -Dr. Joseph Mercola Herbs can help keep you healthy by supplementing dietary deficiencies, promoting the discharge of toxins, and providing support during stress. Unlike many modern drugs that aim a “bullet” at your symptoms, herbs work in quite a different way by helping your body to rally its defenses and regain its balance. Herbs can be made of any number of ingredients, including bark, berries, roots, gums, seeds, stems and flowers. Although the action of herbs may take time to restore balance to your body, they can be more effective than conventional drugs, and far more safe to take. Plant medicines, being naturally buffered, present few, if any, side effects. Using herbs to heal In recent years, the production and the use of herbs has more than tripled. It is estimated that more than eighty percent of the world’s population subscribes to some form of herbal therapy. Even traditional medical doctors are beginning to agree with what herbologists have been saying for years: herbal therapy does work. Herbs As Medicine Before there were drugs, there were herbs. Herbs have played a major role in the traditional medicine in most indigenous cultures. It is a common element in Ayurvedic, homeopathic, naturopathic, Oriental and Native American Indian medicine. In addition, many drugs commonly used today are of herbal origin. About 25 percent of prescription drugs contain at least one active ingredient derived from plant material. Some are made from plant extracts: others are synthesized to mimic a natural plant compound. Research Reveals Powerful Antioxidants in Herbs During a recent study conducted by the U.S Department of Agriculture's Research Center in Beltsville, MD, researchers measured the antioxidant activity of 27 culinary herbs and 12 medicinal herbs under laboratory conditions. Medicinal herbs such as periwinkle, gingko biloba, garden sage, St. John's Wort and valerian, all showed significant antioxidant content. Of the culinary herbs, oregano proved to be the most potent when a tablespoon of fresh oregano demonstrated the same free-radical fighting power as one medium-sized apple! According to the study's authors, fresh herbs are the best choice, as some of the antioxidant concentration is lost in processing. Most grocery stores now carry a wide variety of fresh herbs. Testing Herbs Against Cancer Preliminary results from a study of ancient Chinese herbs by University of California, San Francisco researchers indicate that a surprising number of them may have anti-cancer benefits. Led by Dr. Michael Campbell, researchers have so far looked at more than 70 traditional Chinese and Tibetan herbs and preparations, and found that almost a third may have at least some ability to inhibit cancer cells grown in test tubes. Herbs For Pain Relief Herbs can be used to help alleviate pain by reducing inflammation, stimulating hormones and providing immune system support. Hot, moist herbal packs can help relieve pain and increase blood circulation, while herbal teas, juices and extracts can soothe muscles and nerves. Chronic pain often creates other problems besides the pain itself. These may include tension, spasm, insomnia and depression. While conventional pain medications may remedy one or two of these side effects, some formulas of herbs can address them all. For example, one herbal combination might include willow bark (for pain), crampbark (for spasm), valerian (a sedative), and St. Johns Wort (an antidepressant). Common Herbs that Heal Alfafa - for allergies, arthritis, morning sickness, peptic ulcers and stomach ailments Aloe Vera - for skin rashes, eczema, psoriasis and gut cleansing Black Cohosh - for menopause and premenstrual symptoms Borage, St. John's Wort and Valerian - help soothe emotional stress. Bromelaine - (pineapple extract) is a powerful anti-inflammatory. Burdock - soothes pain and purifies the blood. Capsicum - (Red Peppers), used to reduce fevers, heal ulcers and calm digestive system Chamomile - tones the digestive tract and calms nervous stomachs Echinacia – antibiotic against infection, colds, flu and upper respiratory tract infection Evening Primrose Oil - for arthritis, PMS, fibrocystic breast disease and eczema Garlic - for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, fevers and ear infections Ginger - for morning sickness, motion sickness, digestive disorders, flu aches and pain Gingko Biloba - for memory and circulation problems Ginseng - for fatigue Glucosamine - for arthritis Hawthorne - helps to tone and strengthen heart and blood vessels Horsetail - helps build connective tissue and alleviate low back pain. Kava Kava - for anxiety and stress Licorice - to treat stomach ulcers, hypoglycemia, constipation and minor cold and flu Peppermint - for upset stomach and most digestive disorders. St. John's Wort - for mild to moderate depression Saw Palmetto - for benign prostate enlargement Valerian - for insomnia Using Herbs Safely Many herbs are mild in action and do not contain substances that would cause concern in almost any dose. These include the condiment herbs such as parsley, garlic and ginger. But there are also a great number of mild tonic herbs that can be used like food, such as nettle, oat straw and the seaweeds. The FDA maintains a list of herbs that are Generally Recognized As Safe (the GRAS list). Plant-based medicine, when used correctly, has few side effects. However, it is wise to consult with your doctor because some herbs can interact with medications, either enhancing or reducing their effectiveness. Why Take Herbs? People have begun turning to herbal therapies more and more because they produce very few (if any) side effects. Herbal therapy is also consistently less expensive than its medicinal counterpart.