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Nutritive Herbs
When I first began studying herbs, I was taught to look for the medicinal values of each plant. How could I use this one or that one to aid in healing various afflictions? What is its specific action or active ingredient? Herbal medicine is commonly taught as a natural alternative or substitute for modern drugs. I soon learned that many herbs are classed as ‘nutritives’ and are used as supportive or tonic remedies to build up overall health while fighting diseases with other more medicinally active herbs, but the potent medicinal herbs tended to get all the attention. For me, the big picture finally came into view when I realized the significance of NUTRITIVE HERBS. The most important way that herbs heal us is by nourishing us. We live in an age of abundance in food and food choices, yet most of these foods are anything but abundant in nutritional value, and in fact, contribute to and even cause disease rather that impart life and health. Most of the common ailments that afflict mankind have their roots in poor diets and malnourishment, even in first world nations. Modern medicine recognizes this to a certain degree and counsels us to correct this problem through expensive factory made vitamin supplements or simply treats symptoms with drugs, but never successfully addresses the whole problem. We see food fads and diet trends changing with the seasons as more and more folks seek out the ultimate in healthy diets and foods, but the nutritive herbs are largely ignored. I recommend that all students of herbal medicine take the time to explore the world of nutritive herbs. I believe this is foundational to herbal wisdom and the key to success in herbal healing. Nutritive herbs are nutritional powerhouses. They play a major role in supplying the nutrients the body needs in order to heal itself. A comparative analysis demonstrates this clearly:
Numbers indicate milligrams per 100 grams (about one cup)
*Chart based on USDA research “The Composition of Foods”
Nutritive herbs tend to be very common weeds such as dandelions, or nettles, plants that grow right in the midst of our lives—in our gardens, on our doorsteps, along the pathways, even right in our lawns! Not only do they supply nutrients for us in abundance, but the plants themselves are supplied for us in abundance! It wasn’t long before I realized that not only are these plants classed as nutritive herbs, but they are also known as edible wild foods! In other words, rather then taking them as pills or tinctures, we can cook them and eat them! Nutritive herbs are food. Hearken back to Genesis 1:13 “I give you every green herb for food”. Wow. I believe if we learn to recognize these healing plants as the ultimate health food, we are practicing preventive medicine at its finest.
Check out these organically grown, bio-chelated, phytonutrient, multi-vitamin and mineral supplements at a Nature’s Grocery Store nearest you…….
For some great articles on herbal nutrition you can visit the following webpages: 21st Century Nutrition: Nanoceuticals Some Weeds Can Be Tasty Treats
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