How to Make Natural Herbal Medicine at Home

If you have an herb garden, or simply enjoy working with herbs, there are numerous ways to use these herbs at home to make your own medicine. Herbal medicines can be as simple as an herbal tea, or as complex as herbal lozenges and tinctures. Some things to consider before deciding how to prepare an herb medicinally are:


*The ailment for which you plan to use the herb
*The shelf life of the herbal medicine
*The type of herb you are preparing
*The age and preferences of the people taking the herbal medicine

Instructions

        1.        Herbal Tea Medicine   

        Infusions and Decoctions as Herbal Medicine

        These are essentially medicinal teas that are taken orally. They are suitable for all ages. The infusion is prepared in a base of water. The difference between an infusion and a decoction is the part of the plant used in the herbal tea. Aerial parts of the plant (above ground) such as leaves stems and flower are considered an infusion. Woody parts of the plant, such as barks, stems, and roots are considered a decoction.

        As a general guideline herbal infusions or decoctions are made by steeping 1 teaspoon of dried and ground herb, or 2-3 teaspoons of fresh herb in boiling water for 15 minutes. Strain the herb and allow the medicinal tea to cool before drinking. Specific recipes for herbal infusions are in the resource section below. A recipe specific to the herb yields better results.

        You can also prepare a cold tea by allowing the herb to steep in cold water for a day in the refrigerator. Herbal infusions and decoctions will last up to a week when refrigerated.

        Topical application of herbs infused in water, can be made by preparing herbal baths, and compresses. These herbal infusions are basically teas, infusions or decoctions applied externally for the purpose of external medicine. They come in handy for rashes, bites, infections, cuts, and headaches.

        2.Tincture Herbal Medicine   

        Tinctures as Herbal Medicine

        Tinctures are a concentrated herbal medicine that extends the shelf life of the herb for several years. Tinctures are prepared using alcohol such as vodka or everclear for leaching out the medicinal components of the herb. Commercial medicines are prepared using alcohol as well. Vinegars can be used in place of alcohol when preparing herbal tinctures for those who do not wish to use alcohol, but these are not true tinctures. Vinegar tinctures work well for children.

        Specific recipes for herbal tinctures are in the resource section below. A recipe specific to the herb used, yields better medicinal results.

       
       
        3.Herbal Oil Medicine   

        Oil Infusions as Herbal Medicine

        Oil infusions are infusions of the herb into oil for the purpose of both external medicine or oil to be consumed as food. Whether you are preparing oil for food consumption or for topical medicinal application to the skin, olive oil, coconut oil and vegetable oils work well.

        Herbally infused oils for topical application are called liniments. Liniments also serve as the base for a variety of other topical herbal medicines such as lotions, creams, salves, ointments and balms. Most begin with a liniment base and add thickeners, preservatives or emulsifiers to create other types of topical herbal medicine.

          4 Herb Infused Honey Medicine   

        Infused Honey as Herbal Medicine

        Medicinal or herbally infused honey can be made using one tablespoon of fresh herbs, or half a teaspoon of dried herbs for every 2 cups of honey. Grind the herbs well prior to infusion using a spice mill or coffee grinder. Tie the herbs in cheesecloth and place them in a pot of warm honey. It is important not to heat the honey too much or the enzymes will be destroyed. Put the honey and the herbs into a large glass jar with a tight fitting lid. Let the honey sit in at room temperature in a dark place for at one week. Heat the honey one more time and strain out the herbs. Herbally infused honey serves as the base for lozenges and syrups. This form of herbal medicine is often used when giving medicinal herbs to children.

        5. Capsules Herbal Medicine   

        Powdered Herbs that have not been Infused as Herbal Medicine

        Powders and capsules are dried forms of an herb that are crushed using a grinder, or more traditionally a mortar and pestle. After being ground the herbs are simply used in powdered form as additions to food or beverages. You can also place the powder into empty gel capsules, available at most health food stores.

How to Become a Sports Medicine Physician

If you're thinking about going into the medical field and want to specialize in an area that puts you in contact with the sports world, you can achieve that by becoming a sports medicine physician. A sports physician specializes in physical injuries related to athletic activity and provides treatment and educates patients on preventive measures they can take to avoid further injury.

Instructions

       
       1. Get an undergraduate degree and maintain a high grade-point average (GPA). Study chemistry, biology, physics, social sciences, English and math.
       
       2. Take a medical school admission exam, compile letters of reference and apply to medical school.

    
      3.  Complete medical school.
       
       4..Decide if you want your specialty to be in primary care sports medicine or orthopedic surgery.
        5

      5.  Complete your residency at a hospital or medical facility that specializes in sports medicine.
       
       6. Pass examinations for licensing by either the AOA (American Osteopathic Association) or ABMS (American Board of Medical Specialists). Primary care physicians must pass an additional exam to earn a Certificate of Added Qualifications in sports medicine.
       
       7. Apply for a sports medicine fellowship if you want to be a primary care sports medicine physician, or a surgical sports medicine fellowship if you want to be an orthopedic surgeon.
       

       8. Get a job working for a professional sports team.

About Holistic Medicine

Holistic medicine is not only a type of medical treatment that encompasses many alternative medicinal applications, but is also a philosophy in which the body, mind and spirit are treated as a whole. Although, in the Western world, holistic medicine has held its place outside the circle of conventional medicine, recently some parts of it have begun to be integrated into the mainstream medical practice, such as acupuncture, massage and supplements.

History

• The concept of holistic medicine has been around for about 5,000 years. It originated in India and China, where it was a philosophy that a person should be treated medically as a whole and live in harmony with the earth. Even Socrates believed in this idea and stated that the body should not be dealt with part by part, but as a whole.
  In the Western world, holistic treatments have become more and more recognized since the 1970s, although previous generations used what was called folk medicine. Many alternative treatments are being tried by people more than ever before in North America. It is no longer unique to see professionals in acupuncture, homeopathy, yoga and others put out their shingle, especially in larger cities.

Types :

• There are many types of alternative medicines under the cover of holistic medicine. Here are short definitions of the more well-known.
  Acupuncture: This treatment involves placing very thin needles in strategic locations meant to alleviate a block in the bodily system that may be causing a negative condition.
  Therapeutic massage: Soft body tissue is manipulated, encouraging circulation and relaxation. It has been known to benefit conditions such as stress, muscle aches, sleep problems, immune system issues, depression and much more.
  Yoga: These days, in the Western world, many people use yoga strictly as a physical activity (exercise). However, the word yoga comes from a Sanskrit word meaning "union." The physical and mental activities are meant to treat the "whole" while connecting with the universal spirit and creating enlightenment.
  Homeopathy: A treatment system with the concept that if a diseased person is given a tiny amount of a substance that would cause the same disease effect in a healthy individual it would heal him. The substance is believed to stimulate an individual's own healing abilities.
  Herbal therapy encompasses the use of herbs and plants for the purpose of healing or preventing ailments, also known as medicinal botany, herbology and phytotherapy.
  Ayurvedic medicine: This form of holistic medicine stresses preventing and curing illness with exercise, yoga, hygiene, physiotherapy, herbs and diet. It analyzes the body in terms of earth, fire, water and air as well as wind, bile and phlegm.

The effectiveness of holistic medicine lies in the total healing and preventive qualities of its process. With the belief that the body, mind and spirit are connected, healing one part and not the other two heals only a portion and not the whole. By treating and being successful at eliminating the disease, in a holistic manner, lessons are learned, enlightenment is attained and the physical body is also healed.