For thousands of years the human race has used herbs in various ways. These uses can be placed into three distinctive groups; religious, culinary and medicinal. In the article below we will discuss each of these categories in order focusing upon medical uses and essential oils.

Throughout history there have been many 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 smells. Herbs come from various 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 concentrating on modern uses.

Herbs And Religion

Herbs are still used in a multitude of around the globe.  A large number of Christians will recognize myrrh from the Nativity (myrrh is the dried sap of Commiphora myrrha). Hindus will be extremely familiar with the Tulsi plant, which is a type of Basil, as it is cultivated by many and praised as a Goddess. In Wiccan and Pagan religions herbs are used widely in spells, rituals as well as for healing.

Kitchen Uses of Herbs

The leaves of various plants are used in cooking however there is a distinction between leafy vegetables, such as lettuce, and a herb, such as parsley, in that the latter are used in minute amounts due to their distinctive, and powerful flavor. Virtually every person in the world 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 powerful 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 oil extracted from a variety of plants. Essential oils are invariably produced by the method called distillation but some need a different process 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 number 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 aching legs. When my legs are very painful I gently massage 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 immense care and attention as some can be extremely toxic to the human body (in large quantities). Special care should be taken if you are about to have a baby as something that seems safe could be dangerously problematic, such as peppermint oil which should be totally avoided in its raw 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 are one hundred percent certain they are safe.

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While the baby oil beach days may have felt amazing and your neighbor states that it’s a good idea to visit the tanning booth before going on vacation in Maui, sun damage is no joke. Unprotected sun exposure leads to lines and wrinkles, age spots, dryness, skin discoloration and possibly even cancer. Over time, the UV rays from the sun destroy our skin’s elastin. When these fibers break down, the skin will begin to sag, stretch and lose elasticity. The next thing you know, you’re barely 40 and getting face lifts, collagen injections and wrinkle treatments to heal your damaged skin. The saying “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” is especially true when it comes to sensible skin solutions.

Sun damage isn’t just manifested in sunburns or blisters. There are other effects that are more subtle but just as dangerous in the long run. For instance, deep wrinkles, dryness, freckles, mottled pigmentation and skin transparency are a few symptoms of sun damage. A yellow discoloration, known as “sallowness”, Telagiectasias, known as the dilation of small blood vessels beneath the skin, or Elastosis, known as the damaging of the elastic tissue that causes lines and wrinkles are telltale signs that skin solutions should be sought. Worst case scenario, pre-cancerous lesions appear as a result of the skin’s diminished immune function, which may also lead to full-blown cancer.

Though breast cancer and lung cancer get all the media publicity, skin cancer caused by sun damage is the most predominant. There are three main types of skin cancer: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma. Ninety-five percent of all skin cancers are the basal cell and squamous cell types. Luckily, they are less serious and are very treatable if detected early. Seventy-five percent of all skin cancer deaths are a result of melanoma, which occurs when abnormal pigment cells (melanocytes) grow uncontrollably. What may start as skin cancer can spread to other organs and manifest itself as all sorts of cancerous mutations.

Skin cancer is usually detected via a biopsy, where the dermatologist takes a skin tissue sample and examines it beneath a microscope. Often times, the cancerous tissue can be removed and no other treatment is necessary. In some cases, basal cell or squamous cell cancer is treated by Mohs surgery, which cuts out chunks of the cancer. Electrodesiccation and curettage is a fancy name for the physical scraping away of the skin cancer cells, as well as electrosurgery to remove any trace of sun damage. Like any skin treatment, cryosurgery and laser therapy are both viable options. Drugs like Retinoids can also help restore a natural balance.

The human body ages and begins to show signs of this aging process as environmental factors contribute to wrinkles and sagging skin. Some people elect to go under the knife of a cosmetic surgeon but you do not have to be one of these people. Before you start thinking about cosmetic surgery you should consider some alternative methods for getting rid of those pesky wrinkles around your eyes and mouth. Creams and lotions can help stop the process and there are exercises you can do to tone up the face. Find out more by clicking here for more information:

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