Sunday, June 11, 2017

Herbal Medicine for Survival and Self-Reliance

Despite the progressive development of contemporary medicine, the majority of Russian citizens prefer "grandmother’s" tried and tested remedies to cure diseases, and there are many different recipes for non-traditional medicine in existence. Despite the fact that many Russian doctors actively encourage people to consult a specialist for their ailments, many Russians still prefer to heal themselves to this day. In Ancient Rus, wise men and healers were worth their weight in gold: They were the ones who knew the secrets of the wonderful influence that herbs can have on the human body. Later on, beginning around the 11th century, monasteries in Ancient Rus became healing centers, where medicinal plants would be harvested and medicinal recipes put together.

Herbalists exist in Russia to this day. Moreover, they enjoy great success in contemporary Russia - especially among the elderly. Healing with the use of herbs has steadily become a business industry in Russia and herbal centers have appeared in many Russian cities in recent years.

For those of us with an interest in survival and self-reliance, herbal medicine is an important part of the skills we seek to develop. Being able to care for ourselves and our families in remote areas, and treat illnesses and injuries makes us more self-sufficient and able to survive without the need to rely on government run hospitals and clinics.

Someone wishing to become a master herbalist or naturopathic healer can spend years in training and invest millions of rubles in their education. For most of us however, we are not becoming professional healers, rather we need to develop the knowledge and skill to treat the most common illnesses and injuries that may affect us and our families from time to time.

There are books that address this particular topic, such as:


These are just a few examples. There are many others good survival medicine and herbal healing books that you can find at your local book store or library. It is certainly worth reading a few of these books and making note of those things that we can apply in our own lives.

There are also on-line videos that introduce herbal medicine for survival and self-reliance. A couple of my favorites are:


To develop a greater depth of knowledge, completing courses in herbal medicine will certainly be beneficial. The courses listed below begin with two free self-study programs, and then include three more formal courses that cost around $500 (25,000 - 30,000 rubles) each. Following one of the formal courses can help build a strong foundation in herbal medicine that can then be further developed through self-study.
A few examples of herbal medicine, from products you can find in your local grocery store include:

1. Ginger - Ginger aids the digestion, quells nausea, and relieves stomach spasms.  It is an effective treatment for travel sickness and can also be used effectively for morning sickness during pregnancy. Ginger tea is effective in relieving sore throat, sinus congestion and coughing during the flu or a cold.  You can increase its effectiveness by combining ginger with lemon juice, flax jelly, and honey in the treatment of colds and flu. Ginger is effective in increasing circulation when used externally.  Make a massage oil by combining a ginger oil, bees wax, olive oil, and cocoa butter to a thick paste.  Keep it in a sealed jar and use for cold muscles, cramping, or combine with cayenne pepper, rosemary, and balm of gilead for arthritis relief.

2. Garlic - When raw garlic is crushed or minced, compounds within it are activated which have a very strong anti-biotic effect. It also has anti-fungal, anti-viral, and anti-inflammatory properties. Garlic can be used to treat ear infections (this works best by infusing it into an oil), and ward off a cold, flu or infection more quickly.

3. Chamomile - Chamomile is good for calming the nerves, inducing sleep, and relieving upset stomach. It is anti-spasmodic, carminative, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antiseptic, vulnerary, aromatic, diaphoretic, emmenagogue, nervine, sedative, and tonic.  When used externally it reduces inflammation, and swelling and speeds wound healing. Use the cold tea as a mouth wash in mouth inflammation, a gargle for sore throats, or an eye-bath for sore eyes.

4. Cayenne Pepper - Sold in the spice section of the grocery store, cayenne is the dried and ground fruit of the hot pepper. Cayenne helps to ward off coughs, helps in the treatment of cancer for its antioxidant properties, and helps in stomach complaints.  It promotes sweating and so helps in the treatment of fevers. One of cayenne’s active ingredients is "capsaicin". Capsaicin has very powerful pain-relieving properties when applied to the skin.

5. Cloves - A powerful antiseptic, mild anesthetic, and digestive stimulant, clove oil and clove spice have been used for centuries.  It is the spice that is used by your dentist to deaden the pain in your gums before he inserts the needle.  It is a useful antiseptic for tooth ache, both deadening the pain of toothache while dealing effectively with the bacterial infection.

We have no objection to modern medicine, and in some cases, it is the very best choice for treating illness and injury. In other cases, we may not have access to hospitals and physicians and thus need to be our own doctor. And in some cases, herbal medicine and home remedies are just as effective as anything you will be given at the doctor’s office. So take the time to learn to take care of yourself and your family and to treat minor illnesses and injuries at home.




Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)