We are living in times where people are more aware of what's going into their bodies. We're reading labels at the supermarket, choosing non GMO and organic products/produce and preparing home cooked meals more.
These are not the only changes being made though! People are also becoming less dependent on prescription drugs, realizing that there are tons of natural herbs that medications mimic. Why should we pollute our bodies with artificial ingredients and dangerous, possibly life threatening, side effects? Mother nature provides! And her healing provisions are herbs!
For centuries, herbs were used as medicine, then came the pharmaceutical industry! An industry which claims to be assisting our ailments, but in doing so, we often develop new ailments that require even more drugs! It's a repetitive cycle for financial gain, at the expense of us and our loved ones, who are simply seen as numbers and dollar signs!
It's quite refreshing to see that people are waking up and exploring alternate ways of healing; reverting back to the old ways. Medical doctors will always be needed to run tests and inform us on what our bodies need, but we can choose to find natural ways of combatting the results. That is what I prefer to do!
A few years ago, I was going along my normal day, when suddenly a sharp, crippling pain shot down my left leg. I literally hit the floor! My husband had to pick me up and carry me to the bed! After a moment, the pain subsided and I continued on. Hours later, I got a shooting pain across my lower back. At this point I'm nervous and begin to panic, thinking that something terrible, possibly life threatening, was going on!
Like a lot of people these days, I go to Google and noticed that the behavior of my pains was similar to sciatica. Over the next week I constantly experienced the crippling pain. I finally went to the doctor, who confirmed sciatica and gave me Flexeril(a prescription pain reliever and muscle relaxer).
I did some research and came across Valerian Root. Valerian is native to Europe and Asia, and naturalized in North America. It has a very distinctly strong smell and taste. The roots are used for teas, and tinctures and the plant material is used to make capsules and tablets. This plant has been used since the 16th century for nervousness, headaches, trembling, and heart palpitations. By the 19th century, it was also being used for depression symptoms.
In addition, it's used for sleep disorders, to regulate blood pressure, gastrointestinal spasms, muscle spasms, ADHD and seizures. Also used to improve focus and brain health.
According to what I learned, I felt like this herb would provide the same relief as Flexeril. I decided to give it a try and IT WAS AMAZING! After two cups, I felt the pain begin to melt away. My muscles stopped contracting and I went to sleep. Upon waking up, I still felt good, but needed more tea after a while. I continued drinking the tea for about a week, until the pain stopped returning. Valerian Root definitely has my stamp of approval for sciatic pain!
***WARNINGS***
PREGNANT AND NURSING WOMEN AND CHILDREN UNDER AGE 3 SHOULD NOT USE THIS HERB!
THIS HERB DOES HAVE SEDATIVE EFFECTS!
IF YOU ARE TAKING BARBITURATES, BENZODIAZEPINES OR DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS, SEEK ADVICE FROM YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER BEFORE USING THIS HERB!
DO NOT USE THIS HERB FOR MORE THAN SIX WEEKS STRAIGHT! USE ONLY AS NEEDED FOR SYMPTOMS!
