The Various Uses of Essential Oils and Herbs
For thousands of years the human race has utilized herbs in various ways. These uses can be placed into three distinctive categories; religious, culinary and medicinal. In the article below we will debate each of these categories in order focusing upon medical uses and essential oils.
Throughout history there have been numerous other uses of herbs which we will not be examining here and these include them being used as cash, as a disinfectant and as a perfume or powerful smell to mask disgusting odors. Herbs come from many parts of the globe 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 focusing on modern uses.
Religious Uses Of Herbs
Herbs are still used in numerous around the planet. Most Christians will be familiar with myrrh from the Nativity (myrrh is the dried sap of Commiphora myrrha). Hindus will be very familiar with the Tulsi plant, which is a species of Basil, as it is cultivated by many and worshipped as a Goddess. In Pagan and Wiccan faiths herbs are utilized extensively in spells, rituals as well as for healing.
Using Herbs In Cooking
The leaves of various plants are used in the kitchen but there is a distinction between leafy vegetables, such as lettuce, and a herb, such as oregano, in that the latter are used in very small 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.
The Medicinal Uses of Herbs
As well as being intense 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 researched.
Essential Oils
An essential oil is the substance extracted from a variety of plants. Essential oils are commonly manufactured by the process known as distillation but some require a different method 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 the majority of 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 achy legs. When my legs are terribly painful I gently rub 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 better.
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 sounds safe can be surprisingly problematic, such as peppermint oil which should not be used in its dilute state. However spearmint and a few other mild oils can be used but to avoid any of miscarriage I advise that you avoid all herbs and essential oils unless you are 100% certain they are safe.
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