feranaja
12-04-2006, 09:30 AM
This doesn't really fit into Diet and Nutrition although a lot of herbs are highly nutritious - still, a great many occultists incorporate herbs into various practises, as in seasonal correspondences, spellcrafting, and of course natural remedies. This thread is for using herbs for health and I know a few of us are into just that. I'll start up one for magical herbalism elsewhere as the two should, I think, be separated for clarity's sake.
So, what herbs do you use for yourself and how do you use them? I ma a bit on the senistive side so many things disagree with me - and I dont' tend to romanticize "natural is better", but just prefer to use simple remedies where appropriate.
And this for me means making sure there are no containdications or possible interactions that could create more problems than they solve...safety first. Herbs are not necessaruily safe for all people and can interact dangerously with certain medications - here is a list that contains some information on the safety aspect of drug interactions:
Black cohosh (often taken to treat menopausal symptoms) should not be taken with drugs that lower blood pressure.
Chamomile (taken for chicken pox, indigestion, insomnia, among other conditions) should not be taken with blood-thinning drugs such as Coumadin, and indeed chamomile may make any other drugs less effective.
Garlic (often taken to lower cholesterol levels and reduce risk for coronary artery disease) may increase bleeding time for people on blood-thinning drugs such as Coumadin and may increase the effects of antiplatelet agents such as Persantine.
Ginseng may interact with drugs that lower blood sugar, such as insulin and Diabinese, and with MAO inhibitors, drugs that relieve depression.
Nettles (taken for prostate problems) should not be taken with diuretics.
St. John's wort (taken for anxiety, insomnia and mild to moderate depression) may interact with alcohol and other drugs that slow the nervous system; amphetamines; and classes of antidepressants called MAO inhibitors, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (Prozac, being the most common) and tricyclic depressants.
I'd add that St. John's Wort can increase photosensitivity in susceptible people, it caused a nasty rash in my own case, and so it should be used with caution.
Echinacea is an immunostimulant and people with auto immune disease should stick to immuno-modulators such as astragalus.
All that said; I do use dandelion and milk thistle for liver cleansing and a mild diuretic, and I make a lot of topical preparations with chamomile, calendula, lavender and a little comfrey leaf in some cases (the root should be used with caution as it contains alkaloids that are known to cause liver damage). I drink raspberyy leaf tea, a great tonic for the womb so especially important for women, and I take cranberry which - knock wood - has helped avoid those painful UTIS all too common in people and dogs. I dont really take a lot of herbs but I love making massage oils, salves, lotions and soaps and I use herbs quite extensively with dogs... and in cooking!
What about you? Post your favourite herbs and recipes here. :)
fera
So, what herbs do you use for yourself and how do you use them? I ma a bit on the senistive side so many things disagree with me - and I dont' tend to romanticize "natural is better", but just prefer to use simple remedies where appropriate.
And this for me means making sure there are no containdications or possible interactions that could create more problems than they solve...safety first. Herbs are not necessaruily safe for all people and can interact dangerously with certain medications - here is a list that contains some information on the safety aspect of drug interactions:
Black cohosh (often taken to treat menopausal symptoms) should not be taken with drugs that lower blood pressure.
Chamomile (taken for chicken pox, indigestion, insomnia, among other conditions) should not be taken with blood-thinning drugs such as Coumadin, and indeed chamomile may make any other drugs less effective.
Garlic (often taken to lower cholesterol levels and reduce risk for coronary artery disease) may increase bleeding time for people on blood-thinning drugs such as Coumadin and may increase the effects of antiplatelet agents such as Persantine.
Ginseng may interact with drugs that lower blood sugar, such as insulin and Diabinese, and with MAO inhibitors, drugs that relieve depression.
Nettles (taken for prostate problems) should not be taken with diuretics.
St. John's wort (taken for anxiety, insomnia and mild to moderate depression) may interact with alcohol and other drugs that slow the nervous system; amphetamines; and classes of antidepressants called MAO inhibitors, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (Prozac, being the most common) and tricyclic depressants.
I'd add that St. John's Wort can increase photosensitivity in susceptible people, it caused a nasty rash in my own case, and so it should be used with caution.
Echinacea is an immunostimulant and people with auto immune disease should stick to immuno-modulators such as astragalus.
All that said; I do use dandelion and milk thistle for liver cleansing and a mild diuretic, and I make a lot of topical preparations with chamomile, calendula, lavender and a little comfrey leaf in some cases (the root should be used with caution as it contains alkaloids that are known to cause liver damage). I drink raspberyy leaf tea, a great tonic for the womb so especially important for women, and I take cranberry which - knock wood - has helped avoid those painful UTIS all too common in people and dogs. I dont really take a lot of herbs but I love making massage oils, salves, lotions and soaps and I use herbs quite extensively with dogs... and in cooking!
What about you? Post your favourite herbs and recipes here. :)
fera