| The Various Uses of Herbs and Essential Oils |
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| Written by Sally Mulhearn | |
| Wednesday, 17 September 2008 | |
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For millenia the mankind has used herbs in many different ways. These uses can be categorized into three distinctive groups; religious, culinary and medicinal. In the following article we will discuss each of these categories in order focusing upon medical uses and essential oils.
For thousands of years the mankind has utilized herbs in diverse ways. These uses can be categorized into three distinctive categories; religious, culinary and medicinal. In the article below we shall debate each of these categories in order concentrating upon the medicinal uses and essential oils. Throughout history there have been various other uses of herbs which we will not be examining here and these include them being used instead of cash, as a disinfectant and as a perfume or powerful smell to mask sickening odors. Herbs come from many parts of the world 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 focusing on modern uses. Religious Uses Of Herbs Herbs are still used in various religions across the globe. The majority of Christians will be familiar with myrrh from the Nativity (myrrh is the dried sap of Commiphora myrrha). Hindus will be extremely familiar with the Tulsi plant, which is a form of Basil, as it is cultivated by many and worshipped as a Goddess. In Pagan and Wiccan beliefs herbs are used widely in spells, rituals as well as for healing. Herbs In The Kitchen The leaves of different plants are used in cooking however there is a difference between leafy vegetables, such as spinach, and a herb, such as basil, in that the latter are used in minute amounts due to their distinctive, and powerful flavor. Virtually every person on the planet has benefited from the these amazing plants which are capable of lifting the plainest meal into the realms of a culinary masterpiece. Herbs And Medicine 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 scientifically researched. Essential Oils An essential oil is the concentrate extracted from a variety of plants. Essential oils are commonly created by the method known as distillation but some need a different method of extraction such as such as solvent extraction or expression. Essential oils have a number of uses, such as perfumes, bath oils, flavorings, burning (for scent) and in cleaning products. However most 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 achy limbs. When my legs are extremely 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 handled with with safety in mind as some can be extremely destructive to the human body (in large quantities). Special care should be taken if you are about to have a baby as something that is otherwise safe could be surprisingly problematic, such as peppermint oil which should be avoided completely in its dilute form. However spearmint and a few other mild oils can be used but to avoid the risk of miscarriage I would avoid all herbs and essential oils unless you know for certain they are safe to use. Authors Bio: 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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