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Buy Herbs: The where and how buying Guide

Herbs are still the best as far as health is concerned. But it is also essentially true to consider several factors before making any purchases of Herbs or Herbal products. It is recommended to purchase the fresh herbs straight from gardens.

Some herbs have created an indelible mark due to the number of benefits that they promise. Some of them are:
Chives
Chives are grown for their leaves used for culinary purposes as condiment and provides milder flavor. It is a versatile herb with many uses and is available fresh in most markets all over the year.. Choose fresh, uniform-sized, evenly green leaves with no signs of wilting, yellowing or drying. Pinched, chopped scallion greens can be used as a substitute, but the onion flavor is more pronounced. Chives are also available in frozen state and freeze-dried state for instant convenience. In case of lots of Chives at home you can freeze-dry it at home. It is better to store chives in the refrigerator in a plastic bag for up to a week. Don't wash until they can be used , as excessive moisture will promote decay.
Basil
Basil is one of the easiest of the herbs to grow. Long hours of hot sunlight and plenty of water, will produce fragrant leaves. There are more than twelve varieties of basil that are cultivated for culinary use. Sweet Basil, Ocimum bacilicum, and its Genoa Basil, Genova Profumatissima, are the most familiar varieties. Both produce fragrant, broad, deep green leaves in abundance.
Alfalfa
Alfalfa is used for problems with the bones, such as fractures, arthritis and osteoporosis and tea is a preferable mode to ingest this herb, but capsules are also available. Four cups of tea everyday, is the best way. An average of 12 capsules can be taken with meals everyday. Alfalfa is high in calcium, protein, iron, B-complex, fiber and enzymes for metabolizing ingested fats.
Aloe Vera
This can be used for burns, bedsores, colitis, and hemorrhoids. A little juice will do all the magic.
Cranberry
It is useful in helping the urinary tract to be free from bacteria. In this case, powered cranberry seems to be more potent than commercially manufactured juices. However, if you are prone to urinary tract infections which are more common in women and girls, drinking cranberry juice will definitely help.

Other herbs that are quite popular are Catnip, Feverfew, Cayenne pepper, Chamomile, and many others.

Is It Necessary To Consult Herbalist?

Most people wonder if herbs can be used without prescription or consultation. It can be true in some cases where you are using spices, roots, flowers or some herbs for culinary delights. However the fact always remains that if you use herb to get cured without prescriptions it is dangerous. One can be safely treated for small problems. However, a qualified herbalist should be consulted for major problems.

If a child is under five years of age or has allergies, then consultation from a qualified practitioner is necessary. Otherwise chamomile is used as first-aid cabinet when it comes to using herbs for children. For children you can mix herbs in yogurt with a little honey or dilute fruit juice.

Factors To Consider Before Choosing Herbs.

It's important to recognize, that herbs don't have a specific and limited purpose, like conventional medicines. Each person should identify their individual needs identified, so that herbs can be prescribed specially for him or her. For example, there different types of depression and they can also vary in intensity. A person may undergo a depression which is different from their experience on a previous occasion. It may also involve a whole range of physical symptoms - lethargy, stomach problems (constipation and diarrhoea) and headaches, which are individual to that person.

Herbalist will consider all symptoms, and use an individually tailored combination of plants to address those symptoms to restore health. Combining two or more herbs can enhance the individual effects of each one.

In case of dried herbs, it is good to buy in small quantity as they can lose their strength after six months. Herbs will be more effective if stored in a cool, dry, dark place in tins or dark-colored glass containers.

It is recommended to buy herbs from a place wherein you can smell the herbs to find the freshness. This is why it pays to go to an herb store or a natural foods market with bulk herbs and spices. You can smell things, ask questions and pick out just the best herbs and spices.

Best Source Of Herbs

When you have decided which herb to buy after checking from Herbalist, you should check out from where you are buying the Herbs. There are lots of places from where you can purchase Herbs. If you have a hard time finding the herbs you need or just prefer to shop from home use these ordering tips.

You can buy most herbs at herb outlets and at natural health stores. Herbs are available as capsules, extracts, liquids, powders, tablets and oils. You should watch out for
  • Red Flags
    Be alert as you search herb catalogs and websites. If a company boasts miracle cures or products that heal every disease you've ever heard of, ignore it. Likewise, be cautious of any company that sells only one kind of product, like anti-cancer formulas.
  • Know What To Look For
    Buy from a company that acknowledges Latin and common names of herbs, the strength of each herb (this appears as a ratio on liquids and as milligrams on capsules), and any warnings on its product labels. Contact the company for this information if the website or catalog doesn't show the label
To get high-quality liquid extracts, buy bulk herbs, and capsules from the website of the American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) and other online sites. This trade organization sets quality standards for its members that the FDA may soon require from all herb companies. The AHPA website offers links to companies that conform to its standards. You can order them from home or you can buy herbs online. Many of the online sites act as a guide to herbs describing all its properties, benefits, remedies and even its side effects. By keeping all these considerations in mind you should buy the herbs.

Buying For Your Garden

If you want to give your home a garden, then the best place to buy herbs plants is Green house. Some supermarkets even sell tender plants. There should be directions on the packages as to the quantity that one must use, or you can ask at the greenhouse where you buy the mixes. For growing it is preferred to buy herb pots, preferably Heavy clay or terra cotta pots because they allow air and water to circulate. Similarly any pot with good drainage will do. It's best to have small pots with a 6" diameter at the top, as these will be small enough for compact plants but still allow enough growth.

First use herbs to prevent yourselves from unwanted diseases and if any by chance your health is affected take precautions before purchasing herbs to get best results.
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