When we become aware of how much we are responsible for our own health, we soon realize that we are responsible for most of the illnesses that we contract. Health isvery definitely a positive force and disease is exactly what it says, dis- ease of the body.

In many cases, illness is caused by a faulty diet. We all need tonics to keep the body supplied with certain minerals and vitamins in order to keep our immune system strong and healthy. If the immune system is in good order, then it is able to fight off certain illnesses with which we all come into contact. Then, if we do pick up a bug, our bodies can respond to the invading organisms much faster and we are able to start the healing process much more quickly. We may not be able to avoid an illness, but we can influence the length and severity of it. And we can stop the secondary infections that are sometimes part of a specific disease.

However, we do inherit susceptibilities to certain diseases. As we become more aware of just what our individual weaknesses are, we can begin to treat the body in such a way as to preserve its health. If there is a weakness in the respiratory system, then we know we have to work in order to keep that part as strong as possible. Because none of the body systems work alone, we must keep all the systems strong, simply because they do work with each other. Just think of your body as being a finely-tuned machine. If one part breaks down, the whole machine either breaks down completely or does not work to peak capacity. Life is to be lived to

Herbal Beautycapacity, so the body has to be strong in order to fully enjoy all there is for us to be, do or have.

Herbs help strengthen the body so it can heal itself faster and in a more natural, healthy way. If you keep your body as free of chemicals as possible, the herbs have a better chance of getting right to the root of the problem. They can help the body to start working more efficiently in healing that specific disease.

Herbs are not a miraculously fast cure. Many times it does take a little longer for a specific herb to start working because herbs work at treating the underlying causes of the illness and because they do not work on just one specific symptom. It takes more time to balance several different systems. The herbs help the immune system to get a good balance so that the body is able to help in the healing process.

Tonics do take time to work on the system, so you want to continue the treatment for some time, to give the body time to adjust. We spend years neglecting the body and than are surprised when it fails to respond as fast as we think it should. It really does take more time for the body to heal than the length of an illness. You can begin to use tonics as a way to prevent illnesses instead of just treating a disease after the fact. Most of the tonics are stimulating, so if someone has been very ill, it is not a good idea to give tonics that are strong stimulants.

Using herbs to tone up your body is just one of the ways you can take responsibility for keeping the body in good working condition. I feel that it is one of the most important things you can do for yourself. The herbs tone up the organs that are affected by our digestive system. This helps your body to use all the natural vitamins and minerals that you get when you are careful to provide it with natural products and foods.

Just as the herbs can help us be balanced internally, we must look at ways we can be balanced externally, in our daily lives. All the money in the world cannot take the place of your health, and this is where balance in your lifestyle comes into play. I’m sure you have heard it said that all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. Well, all play and no work can do the same thing. There should be time in your life for everything: work, play, quiet time, pleasure, people, love and many other joys. Be not a slave to any one activity and you will have some measure of control over your life. Learn to stop and smell the roses. Even though that is old advice, it is still good advice.

No one else is as vitally interested in preserving our health and the health of our families as we are. We know how we want our foods, and what we want in our foods better than anyone. When we preserve or prepare our own foods, we can take precautions to insure that the foods and herbs are handled properly and in a hygienic manner. We can make sure that what we ingest is as natural as possible.

What could be more natural than adding tonics to our daily life? Tonics are good to take all year. They can become part of your health-protecting diet. And they can really pick you up when you are feeling sluggish.

DANDELION TONIC: This is a good tonic for early spring. Pour 1 pint of boiling water over 1 ounce of dandelion flowers. Let steep covered for 10 minutes. Strain and sweeten. Drink several glasses a day for several days, or for as many days as you can before the flowers are gone.

The flowers also make a delicious jelly. The jelly tastes like honey and makes a really nice treat during the winter months. Why go to the trouble of getting rid of the dandelions when they are so useful in treating your body? They provide you with more than one food. The greens can be eaten and are quite delicious. They are full of vitamins and minerals that you can get in this natural way, instead of in pill form. The roots are also used as a tonic and make a good substitute for coffee.

FEVERFEW TONIC: Pour 1 pint boiling water over 1 ounce dried feverfew. Let steep 15 minutes, covered. Strain and sweeten. Drink in 1/2 cup doses for 1 day. This is a stimulant for the nervous system.

TONIC MIX: Mix together 1 ounce each of horehound, hyssop, licorice root, and marsh mallow root. Add 2 pints of water. Simmer

until the liquid is reduced by 1/4. You should have about 1-1 /2 pints of the tonic. Strain and dose with 1/2 cup of the liquid every couple of hours for 1 day of every week for a month. This tones up the respiratory tract and also stimulates and nourishes the adrenal glands.

SPRING TONIC: Pour 4 cups boiling water over 2 tablespoons of marjoram. Let it sit, covered for 15 minutes. Strain and sweeten. Up to two cups per day may be taken. Caution: This is a strong stimulant and should not be taken over once a day.

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Tonics and Digestion part 1