Medicinal Herb Gardening Tips And Favorite Plants

Written by Lee Dobbins

Friday, 05 September 2008

by LeeDobbins

If you want to learn about types of homeopathic herbs for medicinal purposes, you'll have to sift through a lot of hearsay and fluff to find real information. Unsubstantiated claims that are literally too good to be true are found all over the place. However, the use of herbs for treating medical conditions is a tradition going back thousands of years as does medicinal herb gardening. Leading scientific research firms have begun to examine a few major herbs, and here are the fruits of their research.

Chamomile

Chamomile, an herb named after a similarly named dried flower, is often used to make a tasty and safe tea. Drinking it can soothe you, and may even work as a mild sedative. Some claim that chamomile can lessen inflammation and fever, but this has not yet been verified. Other studies claim that chamomile contains certain compounds that can inhibit certain stomach ulcers caused by bacteria, but again this has not be fully proven.

Chamomile has sometimes been touted to be a miracle cure. While most people have no problems with it, a precaution to keep in mind is that some people could have an allergic reaction to the pollen.

Echinacea

An herb that has been the subject of many studies is Echinacea. It has been touted as an herb that aids the immune system. It has also been used to treat symptoms of colds such as respiratory problems. Despite its popularity, none of these claims have ever been fully proven to be true.

Studies have given evidence that it might lessen the time you are sick and relieve symptoms in the meantime. Others suggest that it makes you less susceptible to frequent illnesses in the first place. It's hard to say conclusively whether these claims are true, since a lot of complex factors decide whether you catch a cold. Whether it works or not, the herb is at least safe - it can't hurt as a placebo.

People who have diabetes should absolutely speak to their physician before taking Echinacea.

Feverfew

Feverfew is an herb to be think carefully of when it comes to your medicinal herb gardening efforts. There is some medical belief that the perennial feverfew, contains active ingredients that may help in treating inflammation and migraines. The usage of feverfew has shown a tendency to reduce clotting.

You should be aware of the possible side effects which may include: skin inflammation, mouth ulcers, reduced absorption of iron, increased heart rate, or negative reaction with migraine medication.

Ginseng

There is an ancient herb which is derived from the ginseng plant. This herb has been used for thousands of years in China and India. It is versatile for it is used in hundreds of forms. Most recently, studies have shown that the herb can increase good cholesterol levels (HDL levels) and even reduce blood sugar

Ginseng has some noted negative side-effects. It has compounds that mimic estrogen and could be harmful to pregnant or breastfeeding women. With large quantities taken of ginseng, asthma attacks have been reported. Ginseng has been known to dangerously reduce blood sugar levels.

Be careful when deciding to start taking medicinal herbs. Although some herbs have been known and used for centuries, with seemingly beneficial results, it's imporant not to jeopardize your health. Find out as much information as you can and consider all claims thoughtfully before proceeding.

You can get into medicinal herb gardening right at home. It requires no more work that growing any kind of perennial, and you can do it in pots or in your yard or garden. The rewards you can reap are a steady supply of fresh homeopathic medicinal herb plants on hand when you need them.

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Please visit http://basicherbgardeningtips.com/ to find out more about herbs used for medicinal purposes, culinary herbs, aromatic herbs and get basic herb gardening tips.

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