| p>The nineteenth century may not have been so | | | | (through use in oils, baths, or vaporizers), it can |
| kind to natural healers. Western medicine was | | | | relieve eczema, anxiety, muscular pain and insomnia, |
| witnessing the dawn of many fascinating | | | | and improve peripheral circulation. Oregano oil is |
| achievements, after all, and commandeering the | | | | believed to be not only antiviral, antibacterial, |
| spotlight: antibiotics, advancement in surgery | | | | antifungal, and antiparasitic, but also a strong |
| techniques, and better trauma care were seen | | | | antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. Parsley acts as an |
| throughout Texas and the United States. The love | | | | effective diuretic and a mild antihistamine. Everyday, |
| affair was in the lab, not in the garden. Somehow, | | | | you are probably consuming at least one tasty |
| much of the traditional knowledge has been | | | | medicinal herb. The fresh (versus the dried and |
| forgotten in the excitement, but even residents of | | | | stored) variety retain more of their therapeutic and |
| cities like Dallas and Austin can grow sage, rosemary, | | | | nutritional qualities, so go ahead—cook, eat, |
| and marjoram in their own backyards. | | | | enjoy! It's good for you! |
| As Western science becomes more mature, more | | | | (3) Tea. Tea is the most popular drink in the world, |
| well-rounded, and more self-aware, however, natural | | | | next to water. Technically, it's just a short-lived |
| remedies are gaining a renewed sense of | | | | infusion—or an extract prepared by steeping or |
| appreciation. Many individual health insurance plans | | | | soaking certain parts of (an) herb(s)—and since |
| now even cover treatments like chiropractic care, | | | | there are thousands upon thousands of edible herbs, |
| and Western doctors are more open to | | | | the possibilities are endless. Sweetened, black, iced |
| recommending natural remedies for at least part of | | | | tea, of course, is popular in Texas and the |
| their treatments. | | | | Southwest, but the United States is really just |
| Every day we hear about what wonderful things a | | | | getting in on the amazing variety this ancient tradition |
| single nutrient can do: lycopene (found in tomatoes | | | | offers. Cities like Houston and Austin house thriving |
| and other vegetables) can help prevent specific | | | | businesses based entirely on the supply, preparation, |
| cancers; antioxidants (particularly high in berries, acai | | | | and consumption of this endless assortment of |
| and pomegranate) counteract the damaging effects | | | | drinks—from black teas, to green, to red, to |
| of free radicals; zinc can single-handedly shorten a | | | | white, to herbal. Nearly everyone today has at least |
| cold by several days. In fact, with the constant | | | | heard of chamomile, mint, or green tea, and is |
| stream of facts from whatever the latest study may | | | | probably fairly familiar with others, as well. Chamomile |
| be, it can become difficult to know what, and how, | | | | is well-known for its soothing effects, as is rose and |
| to apply principles of natural health into everyday life. | | | | lavender, and can ease a mild case of insomnia, |
| Doing so can not only improve immunity, mood, and | | | | muscle cramps, or arthritic joint inflammation. Green |
| productivity level, but may also grant access to | | | | tea is fortified with antioxidants, is low in caffeine, |
| better individual health insurance premiums by | | | | and can aid in weight loss. Peppermint or spearmint |
| improving overall health. | | | | may calm an upset stomach, and a strong ginger |
| The truth is, it's really not so difficult. In fact, it's | | | | brew helps digestion. Echinacea and sage are |
| frighteningly easy to utilize at least one natural | | | | commonly steeped for colds; nettle, raspberry leaf, |
| remedy a day to maintain good health, and you're | | | | and red clover are traditional tonics for women. While |
| probably already doing it. Did you have a cup of | | | | one needs to be careful when choosing an herbal |
| chamomile, green, or mint tea today? Perhaps you | | | | tea—some may be harmful to those who are |
| sprinkled some oregano, garlic, or basil into your | | | | pregnant, nursing, or have certain health |
| pasta, ate a dish with hot peppers, or bought a | | | | conditions—in general, they are easily-prepared, |
| bouquet of aromatic flowers. At any given point, you | | | | therapeutic beverages for everyday good health. |
| may be unwittingly participating in very basic herbal, | | | | (4) Aromatherapy. While learning the extensive |
| nutritional, or aromatherapy. Here are some common | | | | details of it is a discipline, the basic premise of |
| examples. | | | | aromatherapy is simple: utilize scents for their |
| (1) Spicy food. Many traditional dishes use culinary | | | | therapeutic effect. Once passed off as folklore, |
| spices so hot our eyes water just thinking about | | | | aromatherapy's popularity is booming—ads for |
| them. Foods from South and Central America, and | | | | candles, incense, oil burners, detergents, and home |
| East Asia are perhaps the most well known for their | | | | products abound. Companies touting the |
| heat content, and Texas adapts many of its recipes | | | | “zesty" and uplifting sensation of their soaps |
| from the former. But there's a reason for this burning | | | | are actually applying the basic principles of |
| experience: many hot peppers, commonly found in | | | | aromatherapy. If you've ever felt comforted by the |
| dishes from Dallas, Houston, and across the | | | | fragrance of home-cooked food, inhaled the scent of |
| Southwest, are known for their antibacterial and/or | | | | your morning coffee to get you going, or lit a candle |
| antiparasitic properties, infections with which are | | | | just to "brighten your mood," you, too, are treating |
| more common in tropical climates. | | | | yourself to aromatherapy. Aromatherapy |
| In essence, the tradition of eating spicy foods (like | | | | encompasses a wide variety of applications, from |
| chili) could be seen as an adaptive response to | | | | massage oil treatments, to soak baths, and overlaps |
| disease; i.e., in this case, medicine created from the | | | | with many herbal remedies. The scent of chamomile, |
| local environment to treat a common illness. Many hot | | | | for instance, is part of the soothing experience of |
| peppers also aid in circulation, increase sweat | | | | drinking the tea. Be conscious of the aromas around |
| production, and temporarily heighten metabolism. So, | | | | you and how they may affect your mood or state |
| the next time you power through that | | | | of mind. Sleep with lavender under your pillow, don't |
| habanera-laced guacamole, just think how many | | | | be afraid to splurge on that soy-based, essential oil |
| unpleasant things you may be scalding out of your | | | | candle, and remember that just the smell of coffee |
| system | | | | can do wonders for you in the morning. |
| (2) Common Culinary Herbs. Many powerful medicinal | | | | So it would seem we're beginning to come full circle in |
| herbs can be found in the kitchen, passed off as | | | | appreciating the traditional plant knowledge that was |
| mere spices. Particularly in their freshest (and tastiest) | | | | humanity's first form of medicine. Much of it is still |
| form, they have proven to be dependable allies in the | | | | valid, and easy to integrate on an everyday basis to |
| fight against common complaints, such as muscle | | | | optimize health. Don't be afraid to smell something |
| soreness and insomnia, and common illnesses, such as | | | | pretty, boys, and sip that chamomile tea at night. |
| cold and flu. When taken internally, rosemary displays | | | | Sound sleep and increased immunity just may ward |
| antibacterial properties; when applied externally | | | | off the next round of office flu. |