Medicinal Herbs Homepage!
What is a Medicinal Herb?
The English word "herb" is from the Sanskrit word "bharb," which means to eat. It also originates from the Latin word "herba," meaning grass or fodder. According to the Merriam Webster dictionary, an herb is " a seed producing annual, biennial, or perennial that does not develop persistent woody tissue," in other words, a plant without bark. This definition applies to all herbs because although some herbs have somewhat woody stems, none have actual bark. Another definition given by the Merriam-Webster dictionary is "a plant or plant part valued for its medicinal, savory, or aromatic qualities." This project will only deal with those herbs valued for their medicinal qualities.
Herbs have been used as medicines for centuries. They were kept in dried form in many pharmacies so that they could be used all year. This is why the word "drug" is from the Anglo-Saxon word "drigan," which means to dry. For centuries, herbs have been the principal if not the only medicines used in many countries. Even herbs we use today for seasonings in cooking were originally used as medicines. Herbs have not been used as often with the recent advances in medical technology, but many people have begun to use herbs as medicines due to their medicinal properties.
What is this Project?
This project provides information on medicinal herbs and how to use them. With this page you can learn to grow herbs, harvest and dry them. You can learn to make your own infusions, decoctions and oils and how to use them to cure many illnesses. You can also look at some common ailments and learn how to cure them with herbs.