By John L. Stump, DC, PhD, EdD
The 
dietary supplements mentioned in this document are not intended to “diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease,” because only a drug can legally make such a claim.
I use and recommend botanicals, a novel word for what my grandmother called herbs, for over 40 years. My grandmother was an herbalist and Indian Medicine practitioner in the Appalachian Mountains of West Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee in 1886 era. She was 96 when she past. She presented me with a thumbnail of her knowledge during my youth.
There are herbs to improve the overall health of the body. Herbs and spices have been playing a major role for decades. They help in faster wound healing and help make up for nutritional deficiencies and also deliver a host of benefits. Herbs strengthen the immune system, lower blood sugar and cholesterol levels, have anti-inflammatory properties, help to prevent Alzheimer’s diseases, and various types of cancer.
Herbs eliminate the nutritional deficiencies and thus restore the correct functioning of the body. Herbs rectify various problems rather than suppress them. It is also said that herbs nourish every part of the body with their vitamin and mineral content. In short, our body needs certain essential dietary nutrients to meet the everyday demands of life because herbs provide us with most of the necessary components for a healthy life.
Herbs are normally used as flavoring additives to culinary dishes. Along with that, herbs are now an integral part of various medicinal practices in most countries.
Many herbal extracts like those derived from mint, licorice, fenugreek, ginkgo, and aloe vera are used in medicines. The health benefits of herbs vary with their type. For example, ‘Artichoke’ cures different kinds of digestive problems, whereas ‘American Ginseng‘ works as a health tonic and ‘Rosemary’ promotes healthy brain function. Almost all herbs have some health benefits and you can consume them after the recommendation of a medical practitioner.
What Are Herbs?
Plants that are prized for their scent, flavor, medicinal benefits or other assets are known as ‘herbs’. Herbs are usually used in foods, for making medicines, for pest control, and also for spiritual purposes. Since ancient times, the culinary and medicinal values of different herbs have been appreciated by almost every part of the world and among different cultures. Herbs can be classified into innumerable categories depending on their scientific family and genus. But in this article, we will discuss two popular categories, namely Chinese herbs, and medicinal herbs.
Chinese Herbs: In China, the innumerable health benefits of herbs have been praised for centuries in their well respected medicinal systems. In fact, they were considered to be the most powerful treatment method in ancient times and many people from different countries relied on Chinese herbs alone to cure many diseases. In those days, herbs were often associated with miracles and magic. Chinese herbal medicine dates back to over thousands of years to approximately the rule of the Han dynasty. According to this system, Chinese herbs can be categorized into its five main tastes. Spicy herbs treat cold and respiratory problems effectively and also improve blood circulation; while sweet herbs improve the functioning of the spleen. Sweet herbs can also relieve pain and boost the immunity. Bitter herbs aid the cardiovascular system while treating constipation and asthma. Sour herbs treat liver disorders and help in the digestive process. Salty herbs promote the health of kidneys. Other than these common varieties, some bland herbs were also praised due to their effective healing properties.
Many Chiropractors, Acupuncturist and other natural health and wellness specialist recommend these and other herbs during a consult with their patients. I thought it would be good if you had a little information about the effectiveness of herbs before going into your consult with your practitioner.
Look for other information that will be provide for the benefit of our patient’s in the coming months at Healing Touch Chiropractic. Stop in or call either office for further information concerning our services in Mobile and Fairhope, Alabama.
Mobile Office: (251) 289-1482
Fairhope Office: (251) 990-8188
The dietary supplements mentioned in this document are not intended to “diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease,” because only a drug can legally make such a claim.