The Modern Herb

Believing this article needs no introduction we present it without further comment.
Namaste,
Euroswydd, Reiki Clown and Mort

The Modern Herb
In a country absorbed with acquiring maximum results for minimal expense, provenance (assigning worth to an item based on its historical and/or sensational distinctions--the more available the higher the perceived value), and imbibing non-toxic, natural, organic, Human friendly nutrition and medicines its no wonder herbs have once again become the focus of National Attention.

Antiques and collectibles are big business these days and as anyone who has watched Antiques Roadshow or involved themselves collecting knows, two of the most important features considered when evaluating an item are condition and provenance. The same can be said of herbs and if not home grown the most reliable way to assure oneself of getting expected constituent content is to purchase loose herbs. Acquired for comparatively little monetary outlay they are sold by weight--generally ounce or pound.

Value increases when conditions are noticeably aromatic, display vibrant color and are free from bruising, crumbling or tearing. Within the realms of provenance lie tales of sea dragons, romance, wars, demons, sex, the battle of the sexes, medical marvels and more.

Centuries of co-habitation and use has ensured that humankind’s bodily systems are well adapted to assimilate herbal constituents. Unforeseen negative repercussions from continued use of the synthetic, toxic, molecular manipulations intended to make our lives pest free and preservative rich has prompted a resurgent interest in “natural” foods. While the use of the word “natural” is perhaps a misnomer since it is meant to solely evoke the idea of all that is good and wholesome and there are plenty of “natural” items that are poisonous, it does emphasis the time enhanced positive nutritional and medicinal relationship existing between ourselves and herbs.

Quoting from Herbal Rhythms: Deciphering Herbal Codes, by Jane Lytle, illustrated by Dawn Frost, March 2006, “an herbalist might say that we are what we absorb from what we eat! Therefore when we use herbs we get medicinal and nutritional—not to mention tantalizing our taste buds—value in one fell swoop”.

Happily we are not alone in benefiting from herbal inclusions in our lives as animals also enjoy the same benefits. What a deal!