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Remedies|
Remedy article continued from previous page Appropriate dosage ranges are listed on the labels of herb capsule bottles. For an acute illness, choose the higher end of the dosage range. If you are taking them as a preventive or for wellness, choose a lower dosage. Capsules can also be opened up and the powder sprinkled into drinks or on food.
Teas (technically, herbal infusions) are
the oldest common form of herbal remedy and
a soothing way to take herbs. An herbal infusion
is made by placing a small amount of the herb
in a cup, filling the cup with boiling water
and letting it steep. Unlike black tea, which
gets unpleasantly bitter if allowed to steep
more than just a few minutes, herb teas increase
in potency with extended steeping time and are
best when steeped at least ten minutes. Covering
the cup keeps the steam in and the tea hot.
Many
herbal supplements can be safely given to children,
but often, children's dosages are not listed
on supplement labels. For safety, never give
a child any supplement labeled “not to
be given to children” under a certain age.
If you are uncertain, please consult a reliable
resource such as The Herb Book by John Lust.
If you are certain that a supplement is safe
for your child, and the label does not include
a children's dosage, use the following formula
to calculate an accurate dosage.
Always base dosages on weight, not age.
This applies not only to children, but also
to smaller- or larger-than-average adults. A
standard adult dosage is based on a 150-pound
person. To calculate dosages, simply take the
weight of the person and divide it by 150. This
is how much of a standard dosage the person
should take. For instance, a 50-pound child
weighs 1/3 of a “standard” 150-pound
adult weight, so this child would take 1/3 of
the standard dosage.
People who are very inactive should take
a lower dosage also. Due to their inactivity,
their bodies will take longer to utilize the
herbs and filter out waste. Starting with 2/3
the standard dosage (based on weight) will give
these people's bodies plenty of leeway to use
the healthy properties of the herbs without
overburdening their systems.
Herbal supplements are available in several
convenient forms and are safe and effective
when used according to package directions. They
are not mysterious at all - just a healthy,
natural aid to achieving optimum health.
Rev.
Laura Perry, MSNH, is a Holistic Health Consultant
residing in Woodstock, Georgia.
Contact her at mamalaura@earthlink.net or at 678.445.0357. |