Herbs Are Wonders for Women

While many health issues affect both women and men, there are health issues that are specific to women. Yet even among women, patterns of health and illness vary. Herbal medicine is just the kind of health care to address these individual patterns of health.

Herbal medicine is the use of plants as drug. It makes use of the healing properties of plants. It is beneficial to women because it addresses health issues on a specific, personal level. The use and practice of herbal medicine dates back to prehistoric times. It is safe, and works most effectively if taken in the right amount. To reiterate, herbs have little or no side effects, they are still medicine. Therefore, use of herbs still requires utmost supervision.

Some common health issues among women include PMS, irregular cycles, depression, and menstrual migraines. If you suffer, for example, from PMS, your symptoms may vary from symptoms of another PMS sufferer. Some may experience bouts of depression, irritability, and cramps. Some may experience fatigue, migraine, and cramps.

The good news is, there are a wide variety of herbs to address a wide variety of women health issues. Just as you consult a general physician or a pharmacist for over-the-counter drugs; it is advised that women consult a practiced herbalist for the right combination and dosage of herbs. Herbalists understand that each body is different and illnesses stem from different causes. Therefore, their prescriptions are based on the overall body pattern of a patient, not only the physical symptoms.

In short, herbal medicine is a system of health care that addresses a woman’s total health issue with the right herbs, and the right amount and combination of herbs. The dosage a herbalist will prescribe will depend on physical manifestations and psychological affect of a health issue on each individual. A herbalist may recommend one herb or a combination of them depending on a woman’s specific health needs

That little plant called St. John’s wort, for example, may just make life for women who suffer from PMS easier each month. St. John’s wort has been studied to have positive effects on depressive women. If a woman suffers also from irritability, a herbalist may recommend orange peel, artichoke leaf, and licorice. If cramps, valerian, ginger, and blood-moving herbs like ginger and cayenne might relieve the sufferer from pain.

What shows here, though, is that herbal medicine does not only aim to relieve you of the physical pain, but roots out as well psychological troubles that hallmark PMS like depression and fatigue. The approach of herbal medicine, therefore, is more on the holistic side.

Again, health issues vary from woman to woman. If your synthetic, generic, over-the-counter drug does nothing to your body, natural medicine might just do the wonders that your body requires. And your body requires not only physical well-being, but also psychological well-being. Herbal medicine approaches all those health issues on a specific, and yet holistic level.