Herbs & Spices - A Spiritual Paradigm

Herbs & Spices: Basics

Herbs and spices offer a wealth of healing remedies when used properly. Those same plants can be dangerous when not used with full knowledge.

Herbs and spices come in different preparations:

Leaf: fresh and dried, whole and powdered
Seed: fresh, dried, whole and powdered
Homeopathic preparations
Liquid:
- extracts made with alcohol and glycerin base
- tinctures
- hydrosols
- infusions
- essential oils

There are various ways to use each preparation. Safety considerations include:

Knowing contraindications, side effects, efficacy
Understanding interactions
Selecting the proper herb for the symptoms
Selecting the proper form of herb, each one depends on the need.
Other forms of use are topical as well as internal
Knowing the manufacture and preparation process
Organic, sustainable, non-gmo, unadulterated mixes, are safest.

Not all forms can be used the same way, in other words essential oils are not safe for ingestion, despite how many recommend them.

Best Practices

Be Safe: understand the herb, how it used. Know the symptoms, what do they indicate? Treat the whole person, not just one or two symptoms.

DO NOT mix herbs with traditional medications unless directed by a trained professional. Even then question. Many times practitioners will repeat the mantra: The benefits out weight the side effects and hazards. Not so.

Educate yourself, read, learn, research and ask questions. Experiment, use one herb remedy at a time, at least a day or two on the first one, if no reactions, extend a few more days.

My Experience with Aroma Foundry

I decided to give Aroma Foundry’s essential oils a try. Here is my short version of my experience.

I have been using a few drops of Ylang Ylang with my facial oils, and a few drops on the bottom of my feet in the morning. The Rosemary, Bergamot, and patchouli oils are a great addition to my daily routine. Both patchouli and rosemary are a benefit to hair that is aging and seen better days.

The scent is clean and clear, to date no ill effects or skin irritations. I use them with coconut oil, a tablespoon of coconut oil with one to two drops of essential oil massaged over the arms is a great refresher and a wake up in the morning. Always test a small spot first to ensure you are not allergic.

My Favorite Suppliers Include:

First source for essential oils: Aroma Foundry

Aroma Foundry promises their oils are pure, no synthetic ingredients, additives, and natural. Sources for their ingredients include the USA, Vietnam, Croatia, Indonesia, to name but a few countries. Each batch is numbered, small batches made and packaged immediately.

Homeopathic Remedy suppliers vary, my best source in an immediate need is Sprouts. Otherwise I utilize ABC Homeopathy’s remedy finder.

For herbs in the bulk I like Mountain Rose Herbs.

Rather than rewrite information, the following links will aid in your journey for education.

Remember: healing is essential for the mind, body and spirit. Healing includes changing those behaviors that are a detriment to your lifestyle. From relieving stress to healing the body, you cannot keep doing what has led to the ill symptoms and expect herbal or homeopathic remedies to do the job of healing.

Herbs & Spices: Basics

Best Practices

My Experience with Aroma Foundry

My Favorite Suppliers Include:

Further Reading

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