Looking to try some herbal medicines? Herbal medicines come in various different forms from pills to scents. Below are just some of the different ways to introduce herbal medicines into your body and their benefits.
Add raw herbs to cooking
Many medicinal herbs are great for adding to cooking including ginger, turmeric, garlic, sage, basil and rosemary. In these cases, you’re able to use the raw herbs without having to buy an extract. Such herbs will add flavor as well as providing health benefits.
Consume as a capsule/tablet
Another easy way to consume medicinal herbs is in capsule or tablet form. These can be swallowed whole with a glass of water. Such capsules and tablets are useful for when you want to ingest medicinal herbs that may not taste nice in their raw form.
Add oil or powder to drink
You can also add herbal medicines to drinks in the form of a powder or oil (including tinctures). This could allow you to easily disguise them in a cup or orange juice or coffee. Examples include CBD, turmeric, feverfew, ginseng and St John’s wort.
Brew as a tea
It may be possible to brew herbs in hot water and create a herbal tea. This includes using raw leaves or pre-packaged tea bags. Examples of medicinal herbs that are commonly consumed as a tea include chamomile, peppermint, lavender, lemon balm, ginger and willow bark.
Eat as a flavored gummy
Many medicinal herbs can be bought in the form of a gummy bear. This can be a fun way to consume such herbal medicines. CBD is a popular herbal extract that can be bought in gummy form.
Use a topical cream/gel on your skin
Certain herbal ingredients can have anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving qualities when applied directly to the skin as a cream or gel. The herb soaks through the skin and targets any pain or inflammation within the skin, tendon or muscle. Examples of such medications include aloe vera, capsaicin and cloves (typically used on the gums).
Apply as a patch
Some herbal medicines can be absorbed through the skin in the form of a patch (a bit like a nicotine patch). CBD patches are one example of this. These patches are great for providing localized pain relief.
Add to bathwater
You can also add herbal powders to your bath. These can be absorbed through the skin and inhaled as a scent. Stress-relieving and sleep-inducing herbs are commonly used in the bath such as lavender, eucalyptus and chamomile.
Breathe in as a herbal scent
Sometimes just breathing in herbs as a scent can be enough to have an effect. Using oil diffusers and incense sticks, it’s possible to introduce relaxing scents like lavender, sage and peppermint to a room. You can also buy sprays to add to bedding or night clothes.
Inhale as a vape liquid
Some herbal medicines are also possible to inhale as a vape liquid. While this is definitely not the healthiest way to consume these herbs (although marginally better than smoking them), it could be a way to enjoy herbal medication if you already vape regularly and want to try healthier flavors.
