Herbal Medicine

The essence of herbal medicine is the treatment of the whole individual and not simply looking at symptoms. For health problems of more than an obviously minor nature there is no substitute for the professional advice of a medical herbalist.

You will find some home remedies to try at home using herbs like chamomile, garlic, lavender and ginger.

Chamomile Tea

This is excellent for children and adults. Chamomile is a gentle relaxant and useful for insomnia, period pains (where a strong infusion is needed), and useful for indigestion. Try chamomile for sore throats as a gargle and also for sore eyes to bathe them with.

Chamomile in a bath is excellent for young babies who are restless.

The Uses of Garlic

Sore Throats
For Children: 2 - 10 years old, from 1 - 4 drops of garlic oil onto some honey.
Apply the oil onto their chest and around neck and cover up warmly. Also rub the oil onto their feet underneath the toes at night and cover with socks.
Apply three times a day, or more if symptoms are severe.

Coughs
Take the oil as for sore throats and apply to the soles of the feet at night.

Earache
Apply one drop of the oil into the ear canal and apply the oil underneath and behind the ear. Rub the oil under the feet especially underneath the last two small toes and cover with socks.

First Aid Treatments

Bites or Stings

After cleaning the area well, remove any stings with tweezers and cool the inflammation with ice if possible. Apply a cold compress soaked in a strong infusion of chamomile or with a few drops of essential oil of lavender.

Bruises

Apply a cold compress which has been soaked in a comfrey infusion or with oil of lavender. For small bruises and to speed up healing use comfrey ointment.

Burns

For minor burns cool the area in cold running water for at least two minutes. Afterwards apply a few drops of oil of lavender.

Sea Sickness & Travel Sickness

Frequent sipping of an infusion of peppermint, ginger or chamomile can give considerable relief. Alternatively chewing a little piece of fresh ginger root can help.

Sprains and Strains

For sprains which involve a joint, use a cold compress which has been soaked in some witch-hazel and/or marigold infusion and apply to the swelling, and then frequently apply comfrey ointment.

For strains which affect muscles through excessive or incorrect exercise, massage with essential oils of rosemary and lavender diluted into a vegetable oil such as sweet almond at five drops in to each tablespoon of oil.