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It is only since the Age of Technology that we have been able to buy mass-produced pills and potions at a shop or pharmacy. Traditionally, that is until about 150 years ago, ailments and wounds were treated with home-made (even if the home where it was made was that of a "healer") remedies using plants, herbs and some unmentionable other things found in the surrounding environment.

Herbal medicine has a history as long as that of humanity and in fact can be traced as far back as 2700 BC to the script called "Canon of herbs" by the Chinese emperor Shen Nung which deals with the preservation and administration of 252 plants! The Chinese were at the forefront of herbal medicine and some well-known later works include the revised Canon (around 650 AD) and the "Compendium of Materia Medica" (1578 AD).

Other civilisations where there is written evidence of use of medicinal herbs include Babylonia, Greek, Egyptian, and Indian. The famous Greek Hippocrates (from whence the Hippocratic oath that doctors swear at the end of their training) was adamant that disease is not caused by curses or the wrath of the gods, but due to factors in food, climate and occupation.

Herbal healing is therefore not a New Age invention nor a relic of the witchery of the Dark Ages but a documented endeavour that has been going on for literally thousands of years. Research into the medicinal properties of herbs has increased in the last 50 years or so, and as people are becoming more aware of the side-effects of synthetic drugs, the popularity of herbal remedies has grown.

To use herbs medicinally today one needs to be both sensible and responsible. To begin with, accurate identification of the plant is of paramount importance. If you are at all unsure (and it behoves you to be humble rather than proud in judging your abilities in the field of botanical identification) rather leave it and buy a herbal remedy. Some herbs differ only slightly from other members of the genus that are exceedingly toxic so rather be faint-hearted than dead.

Generally herbs collected in nature have more active ingredients than home-grown, and fresh herbs more than dry herbs. Herbs are used as infusions or teas, decoctions, powders, syrups, tinctures, essential oils, compresses, poultices, ointments, creams and finally, pills.

There are herbal remedies for every kind of ailment or condition you can think of but it is always advisable to double check with a medical doctor before you use anything more serious than a multi-vitamin supplement or a skin cream containing some chamomile. Just because it is a herb does not mean that you may not have an allergic reaction to some active ingredients.

Since it is not feasible to reproduce a compendium of medicinal herbs in the Helium context, here are just a few pointers for first aid use:

Minor burns - press the inside of an Aloe vera leaf to the burn. Once the pain has reduced apply calendula as a cold compress or ointment to enhance healing.

Cuts and bruises - clean with elder leaves infusion (Sambucus nigra) and apply a compress of lady's mantle infusion (Alchemilla vulgaris). Fresh yarrow leaves pressed to the cut will usually help to stop the bleeding.

Bee sting - apply bicarbonate of soda dissolved in cold water after removing the sting.

Wasp sting - apply a slice of onion or some vinegar to the sting.

Nettle sting - rub with crushed dock leaves (Rumex obtusifolius).

Cramps - brew a tea of fresh ginger or rosemary or peppermint.

Diarrhoea - brew a tea of ginger root, yarrow, periwinkle (Vinca major) or Amaranthus.

Read up on the preparation of herbal remedies and try a small dose before you embark on using herbs medicinally. Start with minor ailments and judge whether you really obtain relief.

Learn more about this author, Santi Meintjes.
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