Natural Healing Tips - Do Herbal Remedies Really Work?

Today many people are turning to alternative medicine rather than conventional medicine in a search for both a healthier option to prescription and over the counter drugs, and for an inexpensive means of health care. While some natural methods of health care can be as expensive as conventional ones, many of the options do promote a better way of healing the body.

There are many people who swear by herbal remedies, and there are even some doctors who incorporate herbs with modern medicine. If you go into any health food store, no doubt you will find at least one aisle stocked with all kinds of herbs in boxes, bottles and loose in bins or bags. Your first encounter is most likely because you have a cold or flu. Maybe someone in the office suggested you take some Echinacea. On the other hand, maybe you have been having difficulty sleeping, and you remember reading somewhere that chamomile tea was good for getting rid of insomnia? The very first thing you need to do before taking any herbal remedy is to do your homework. By themselves and in certain doses, some herbs are beneficial. There are, however, herbs that should not be mixed together and herbs that should not be taken in more than the recommended amounts.

One such herb is Ephedra, or Ma Huang. While this herb can be useful, far too many people abused it. More is not always better, especially with an herb like this. A few years ago, Ephedra was touted as the miracle herb, and quickly gained popularity in the gyms and with athletes. Ephedra boasted quick weight loss by increasing the metabolism and could help with respiratory problems. What people did not know was that Ephedra increases the body's core temperature and is a very powerful stimulant, and in some cases, people have died from taking too much of this potent herb.

The main thing to remember when dealing with herbs is that they take a longer time to work than your typical over the counter drugs or prescription drugs. An herb has to build up in the body before you can reap the benefits. This accumulation can occur over a period of days or weeks. With an herbal remedy, you will rarely get an overnight result - unless you are using a laxative such as Seneca, then it works within twenty-four hours.

While a majority of herbal remedies take a few weeks to take effect, there are a handful of herbs that work quickly. Remedies such as chamomile, Kava-kava and valerian have been used for ages to relieve sleeplessness. The Kava-kava and Valerian combination is the most interesting in that it has been known to give people very vivid, almost cinematic, epic dreams. Unlike over the counter sleep aides, you don't wake up feeling groggy or hazy headed. If Valerian sounds familiar, it should, this herb's derivative is Valium. It is still debated whether valerian is addictive, and in most cases, this has not been proven to be so. Still, it is best to treat all herbs with respect and learn as much as you can about the remedies you are taking.