Herbalism
Created | Updated Jan 28, 2002
Herbalism is the use of plants instead, or in conjunction with, modern medicine. This practice has been gaining ground in recent years partly because of worries over the side effects of modern medicine and partly because of the re-emergence of paganism and witchcraft. The practitioners of these religions (myself included) believe that herbs, plants and essential oils all contain, as well as recognised health boosters, spiritual essence which can help improve the state of the body and the mind and aid healing.
There are many excellent web sites dealing with the mystical and practical applications of herbs and oils. There are also numerous books on the subject. One I have found to be very good is called “The Herb Bible” written by Earl Mindell. In this he outlines his “hot 100” herbs for the treatment of common ailments.
Herbs, plants and trees have been in common use for thousands of years and some of our most powerful modern drugs have stemmed from herbal remedies. For example Penicillin. This is actually a mould produced by a fungus, which is a primitive plant. Another good example is Aspirin. This is one of the most common drugs in use today and it is a chemical imitation of salicin which is found in the bark of the white willow tree. Willow is also known as “Witches Aspirin.” Penicillin is not just a recent miraculous breakthrough either. The Ebers Papyrus, written about 1600BC recommends placing a piece of mouldy bread on an open wound. 3528 years later Sir Alexander Fleming noticed that bread mould was an extremely potent antibiotic. His “discovery” led to the development of the drug we now know as penicillin.
Herbs have been around for a very long time and we are only starting to re-realise their full potential.
There are many excellent web sites dealing with the mystical and practical applications of herbs and oils. There are also numerous books on the subject. One I have found to be very good is called “The Herb Bible” written by Earl Mindell. In this he outlines his “hot 100” herbs for the treatment of common ailments.
Herbs, plants and trees have been in common use for thousands of years and some of our most powerful modern drugs have stemmed from herbal remedies. For example Penicillin. This is actually a mould produced by a fungus, which is a primitive plant. Another good example is Aspirin. This is one of the most common drugs in use today and it is a chemical imitation of salicin which is found in the bark of the white willow tree. Willow is also known as “Witches Aspirin.” Penicillin is not just a recent miraculous breakthrough either. The Ebers Papyrus, written about 1600BC recommends placing a piece of mouldy bread on an open wound. 3528 years later Sir Alexander Fleming noticed that bread mould was an extremely potent antibiotic. His “discovery” led to the development of the drug we now know as penicillin.
Herbs have been around for a very long time and we are only starting to re-realise their full potential.
