Powdered Healing Herbs

For centuries people have used healing herbs to cure a variety of ills. For example, in 18th century France gravediggers drank crushed garlic with wine to try to protect themselves from the ravages of the plague. Alternative medicine outlets now sell a variety of powdered healing herbs, which can usually be taken as a capsule or sprinkled over food. The validity of such healing herbs is often contested, but anecdotal evidence for their healing power continues to make them popular alternatives to traditional medicine.

Garlic Powder

• Garlic is an herb that has been used as both food and medicine for centuries. Mentions of garlic as a medicine can be found on Sumerian clay tablets, and the Egyptians and Greeks also praised garlic for its medicinal properties. Bankerjee and Maulik from the Department of Pharmacology at the All India Institute of Medical Science found that garlic may lower the risk of cardiovascular problems. Though raw garlic or aged garlic extract seems to carry the most benefits, garlic cloves can be ground up into a powder and either sprinkled over food or taken in a capsule as a supplement. Garlic powder is made from the garlic bulb, which consists of from four to 20 cloves.

Arrowroot Powder

• Arrowroot powder is created from the starchy tubers of perennial herbs such as Maranta arundinacea. The Native Americans used arrowroot powder to cure arrow wounds, hence its name. It's also used to thicken foods and is given to people with stomach problems or infants because it upsets the stomach less than other thickening agents. Some people take arrowroot powder to cure gastrointestinal problems such as diarrhea, or it can be applied directly to the skin to soothe irritated spots. However, the effricacy of arrowroot for these ailments has yet to be substantiated by scientific research.

Aloe Vera Powder

• Aloe vera powder is created from an extract of the aloe vera plant. Its active ingredients contain healing properties that soothe cuts, burns and blisters. Aloe vera has also been used to relieve symptoms of genital herpes. For this reason aloe vera is an ingredient in many skin products such as lotions, creams and sunscreen. It can be used as a laxative, but can cause cramping as a side effect, so oral use is no longer recommended. The powder is created from dehydrated aloe vera gel, which is typically mixed with water to create a soothing aloe vera cream. The cream is applied directly to affected areas on the skin, and can then be stored in a refrigerator for later use.