Mild herbs.

To: herb.franklin.oit.unc.edu
Subject: Re: health
From: Karen S Vaughan <creationsgarden.juno.com>
Date: Fri, 21 Jan 2000 22:26:05 -0500

>Herbs are not preventative -- they are restorative. Herbal remedies are, in general, about restoring balance. I can't think of any herb I would recommend a person take without a reason.

Well, I'd have to disagree. There are wonderful herbs which are largely nutritive and can be consumed freely by most people. Nettles, violet leaves and flowers, mints, burdock root, radishes, carrots, dandelion parts of all types, wild mustard greens, oatstraw and seeds, bilberries, garlic, etc. They tend to be high in minerals and vitamins and to generally contribute to health. Some of them in quantity can address disease (or be contraindicated) but generally they can be treated as foods.

Then there are relatively mild (albeit often powerful) herbs which should be taken only for appropriate disease. Echinacea, yarrow, ginseng, Oregon grape or kava, for instance.

Then there are potentially toxic but useful herbs for specific disease conditions. Poke, aconite, assayed digitalis, and other herbs which require skill and appropriate diagnosis should not be generally consumed.

Karen Vaughan
CreationsGarden.juno.com
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Email advice is not a substitute for medical treatment.