Read, read, read. Go to the library, and see what books they have on herbs and their uses. Read about what the herbs are good for, and try out a few remedies on a few minor ailments.
For example, people ask me how I know so much about what to do for various problems. I explain that I have an interest in my health. I have noticed that conventional medicine usually focuses on controlling the symptoms, not getting to the root cause of the problem. I'm much more interested in getting to the cause. So, for example, I used to suffer from severe asthma attacks quite frequently. I took all the medicines that I was given, without question. But I didn't get any better. It wasn't until I began reading about my condition that I began to understand that my diet (lots of junk food), and emotions (I was upset about some things going on in my homelife), had as much to do with my asthma symptoms as the pollutants and allergens in the air, water, and food around me.
I discovered that I was allergic to certain things. I also discovered that pushing my emotions down, unacknowledged, was a surefire way to create problems down the road. I also learned that I needed to eat better, more fruits and vegetables, no soda, more water and herbal teas. I needed to exercise, because a strong body can handle more with less discomfort. In short, there was no magic drug that would 'fix' the asthma. I had to start taking care of myself.
Once I realized that, the herbs were a help to restore balance while I took care to let my body heal. Herbs do not contain one or two active ingredients, like pharmaceuticals, but lots of different, interactive chemicals that work together in a synergistic way to support your system in repairing itself.
The reason that I say start at the library, is that there are a *lot* of books about herbal medicine, ranging in quality from junk to fantastic. However, even in the 'good' range, you need to find books that you are comfortable reading. Some books talk in 'medicalese', others are designed for the layperson. It's a matter of style, and what you are comfortable with. So, after you find and test-drive a few books at the library, go and buy the ones that you are most comfortable with (one at a time).
Whenever you have a minor ailment, look it up, before you reach for the over the counter stuff. Is there something else that I can do to alleviate or fix this problem? Have I been drinking enough water? What have I eaten today? What have I *not* eaten today? What else is going on around me? Am I angry or upset about something?
One more thing. A good book will also describe symptoms of serious ailments that you *should not* try to 'fix' yourself... these include heart attack, stroke, appendicitis... these are potential ailments that should cause you (or your loved one) to head for the nearest emergency room *IMMEDIATELY*, while calling 911 on your cell phone to alert the aformentioned hospital that you are on the way.
Beware of books that tell you that all medical problems can be fixed by positive thinking, or strictly by herbs/oils/etc. Pardon the expression, but that is just **stupid**. A smart person knows the limits of their knowledge. If a small problem doesn't respond to a home remedy, then perhaps it is not a small problem. If you feel like it may be more serious, it probably is. You know your body better than anyone else. Use common sense. If you don't have any, borrow a respected friends' common sense.
More to come, as it comes to mind.
©2007 LaVeda H. Mason All Rights Reserved.
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