Feel-Good Friday: More Herbal Cures in Your Cupboard

Reader Contribution by Jessica Kellner

Happy Friday, blog readers! It’s Feel-Good Friday, which means thinking about natural ways to feel healthy and happy.

I used to be an editor for Herbs for Health magazine (now folded into our other excellent herb-enthusiast magazine, Herb Companion), and one thing that always struck me as fascinating is the way that, for almost any ailment, nature provides relief. As most of us know, modern pharmaceuticals all have their basis in plant medicine — they’re amplified versions of healing compounds found in nature. But if we use herbal supplements wisely and regularly, we can often prevent or control chronic problems without relying on expensive — and often dangerous — pharmaceuticals. Of course, the best way to get most of our nutrients is through a rich and varied diet, but it’s wise to supplement with the herbs that you can’t or don’t get through your diet.

Herbal Cures for… 

General Wellness and Weight Management: After I wrote an article about supergreens for Herbs for Health, I decided to try supplementing with supergreens and started taking a spirulina supplement. I was so pleased with the results. Spirulina (and most seaweeds) provides key micronutrients not often found in an American diet, and they can increase energy, help control food cravings and aid in weight loss and overall wellness.

Anxiety: For generalized anxiety, try kava kava. In this article in The Herb Companion, Herbalist Robert Rountree recommends “an extract containing a minimum of 30 percent kavalactones in a dose of 100 to 200 mg every six to eight hours, and herbalist Kathy Keville recommends treating anxiety–which is classified as a type of depression–as you might regular depression, with St. John’s wort or wild oat.

Comments (0) Join others in the discussion!
    Online Store Logo
    Need Help? Call 1-800-234-3368