Health Herb

Herbs have featured in the treatment protocols of many practitioners for thousands of years. With such a wide variety of herbs growing in different locations around the world, you may be closer than you think to natural remedies for headaches, digestion and a number of other common complaints. That's according to Michael Castleman, a master herbalist and the author of "The Healing Herbs," who sees many herbs as effective methods of treatment without the side effects often experienced with other approaches. Speak to your physician before taking herbs.

Immunity Boosting Herbs

Societies across the globe have long used herbal remedies to aid recovery from illness. A number of herbs demonstrate the ability to boost the immune system function and may prove useful in avoiding illnesses or in speeding recovery from a cold. Dr Richard Schulze, a master herbalist who has run New York's Natural Healing Clinic since the 1970s, highlights echinacea as one of the strongest immune stimulators known. Echinacea increases the number of T-cells and macrophages, special white blood cells that help fight infection, helping your body fight invading viruses and bacteria.

Sedative Herbs

Not all herbs stimulate the body. Some offer a sedative function, which can help individuals with excessive anxiety of insomnia. Chamomile stands out as a herb with centuries of use for such conditions, and researchers from the University of Maryland Medical Centre note that it offers a number of benefits beyond its calming properties, including inflammatory bowel disease and gingivitis. The Maryland academics also note that small doses improve anxiety and large doses promote sleep.

Anti-Fungal Herbs

A number of herbs demonstrate promise in counteracting pathogenic yeasts and fungi. Yeast or candida infections can cause a variety of undesirable effects in those affected, including fatigue, brain fog and sugar cravings. Leon Chaitow, an naturopathic practitioner and the author of the book "Candida Albicans," notes that oil of oregano and pau d'arco exert a potent antifungal effect and, combined with a low-carbohydrate diet, can help eradicate these troublesome organisms.

Herbal Teas

You can consume healthy herbs in a number of ways. A popular method involves brewing the herbs in hot water and consuming them as tea. Traditional Medicines, a website that specializes in the preparation and use of herbal remedies, states how the process of making tea releases active chemicals within the tea that then deliver the therapeutic effect. The website recommends steeping the tea for 10 to 15 minutes to ensure an appropriate concentration in the brew.

Standardized Extracts

Herbs are generally available in capsule form. Little evidence exists to suggest that capsules are any less effective that teas, although checking whether manufacturer has standardized the herb represents one way of distinguishing the quality of a supplement. Standardizing an herb involves guaranteeing a particular concentration of the active constituents and results in a more reliable therapeutic effect.