Herbal Beauty

  1. Use caution if you have a chronic disease. Cleansing herbs can often be helpful as part of a treatment program for chronic disease, but check with your health practitioner before beginning an herbal or any other type of cleansing program.
  2. Women who are pregnant or nursing should not undergo a cleansing program. However, many herbs are safe to use during pregnancy and can ease uncomfortable symptoms such as nausea, constipation, and fatigue. Consult with your health care practitioner before using herbs in medicinal amounts, and avoid herbs which have uterine stimulating properties, such as goldenseal.
  3. If you develop an unpleasant reaction to any herb you are taking, stop using the herb. Such reactions include nausea, diarrhea, or headache, and will generally occur within a couple of hours of taking the herb.
  4. If you are over 65 or sensitive to foods or drugs, use lesser amounts of herbal preparations. Begin with half the recommended dosage and evaluate your response to the herb before increasing to the recommended amount.
  5. Do not give medicinal amounts of herbs to children under the age of 2 without the supervision of your health care practitioner. Herbs can be wonderful for children, but infants should be given very small amounts and only with the okay from your health practitioner.
  6. Everyone is different, but in general, use only the recommended amounts of herbs for the recommended length of time. More is not necessarily better. Some perfectly safe herbs can cause problems if taken in excess.
  7. Develop your intuition when using herbs. After all, you know your body better than anyone else. The more attuned you are to the inner workings of your body, the healthier you will be. Understanding your body begins with paying attention. Listen, and your body will tell you what feels good, and what doesn’t.
  8. Always buy good quality herbs from a reputable source. Herbs, especially expensive ones like goldenseal, are sometimes adulterated with less costly and sometimes harmful herbs. This does not happen often, but to be safe, know your herb source.
  9. Essential oils are highly concentrated and should never be used internally without the guidance of your health care practitioner.

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