Heather is a plant whose leaf and flower are commonly used to make medicine. The herb contains saponins, tannins, flavonoids, arbutin, myricitrin, keratin, as well as quercitrin. Heather also possesses the alkaloid ericodin.
This amazing herb called heather is effective for treating arthritis, kidney and lower urinary tract problems, fluid retention, prostate enlargement, gout, insomnia, colds, coughs, and breathing problems. It is also believed to help in the treatment of certain health conditions, including digestive disorders such as stomach pain (colic), diarrhea, and spasms as well as diseases that affect the gallbladder and liver. The herb is sometimes used to induce sweats too.
In addition, when used in combination with other herbs, heather has the ability to treat nervous exhaustion, diabetes, menopause, and menstrual discomfort. Its other uses include aiding in digestion and regulating of the circulatory system. Interestingly too, there are people who add heather to their bathwater to treat wounds.
The Health Benefits of Heather
Evidently, the herb is highly medicinal and for so many years, its flower petals and leaves have been chopped and used to prepare teas.
Now, let’s take a closer look at the health benefits of heather.
Contains Inflammatory Properties
Heather performs a diverse range of functions in the body, including being highly potent for relieving inflammatory pains. In fact, heather tea has possibly been used for this purpose for so many years before now. The herb has shown to be effective for alleviating certain inflammatory disorders, such as arthritis, while also eliminating the symptoms of cystitis and gout. Studies have accurately indicated that the herb could possess therapeutic properties that make it effective as a natural health therapy.
Treats Arthritis and Rheumatism
According to some studies, heather has been used successfully in recent years to treat rheumatic pains. It is, in fact, one of the traditional remedies that help treat arthritis, gout, and rheumatism. You can make strong herbal tea from heather and incorporate it into your bath water to alleviate pain in the joints.
A Remedy for Urinary Tract Issues
Heather is an ancient remedy for treating urinary tract problems. It is believed to be excellent for treating inflammation of the urinary tract, prostate problems, such as bladder diseases, prostate enlargement, as well as kidney stones.
Detoxifies the Organs of the Body
The heather is most widely known for its effects as a bladder and gastrointestinal cleanser. Heather has a powerful cleansing effect on the body, including the treatment of bladder, kidney, and liver infections. It also has the potential to naturally remove parasites. At the initial stage of such an infection, it is recommended that you steep about 3 cups of heather tea daily until the infection completely goes away.
Heather is actually not just effective in slowing the progression of several infections, but also in supporting the overall health of the body by helping to eliminate the accumulation of toxins in the organs. Doing this, potentially inhibit the occurrence of other diseases that may come later on. In fact, heather contains a substance that eliminates excess uric acid from the body. It is, then, evident that heather functions well as both an antiseptic and detoxifier.
The detoxification properties present in heather makes its herbal tea very popular among natural health experts in the cleansing of the colon. You only need to visit food supplement stores or go online to get your favorite heather and enjoy all the benefits that it offers.
Alleviates Digestion Problems
Tea prepared from the flowers of heather is commonly used as an herbal remedy for colic, diarrhea, as well as stomach pain.
Side Effects and Precautions
We already know how effective heather to our overall health, however, it is advisable to be cautious about consuming excess amounts of the herb. In fact, as a tea, it is only recommended to drink heather tea during the course of treating an infection, as using too much of the herb is known to result in serious side effects, including a potential damage to the liver.
Therefore, if you are on other medications, particularly drugs that are connected to the urinary and gastrointestinal tract, it is very important that you check with your doctor first. It is best to talk to a medical practitioner who is familiar with herbal medicines to get expert guidance before considering the use of heather.
In addition, pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers should stay safe and avoid the use of heather. This is because there isn’t enough information on the safety of heather during pregnancy and lactation.
Dosing
The right dose of heather is largely dependent on certain factors, including the user’s health, age, and several other conditions. Although currently, there is not enough scientific evidence to ascertain the right range of doses for heather, do not forget that herbal products are not always necessarily safe and the range of doses can be vital. It is best to adhere to relevant directions on product labels and check with your healthcare professional before using heather.
The Bottom Line
Obviously, heather has an impressive history of medicinal use for so many years. In particular, it is an excellent antiseptic and diuretic for the urinary tract. It disinfects the urinary tract and increases urine production slightly. In fact, its flowers are diuretic, antiseptic, astringent, depurativ, cholagogue, diaphoretic, expectorant, vasoconstrictor, as well as mildly sedative.
The herb is commomly made into a liniment for the treatment of arthritis and rheumatism. Interestingly, an infusion of the flowers of heather is used in the treatment of colds, coughs cystitis, bladder and kidney disorders, and several other health conditions.
As a detoxifying and cleansing herb, heather is also very effective as a treatment for rheumatism, gout, and arthritis. Its flowering stems are also harvested in the autumn and dried fto be used at a later time. Homeopathic remedies are made from the fresh branches of heather and used in the treatment of arthritis, rheumatism, and insomnia.
Heather is generally considered safe for consumption. However, like with other herbs, it is advisable to consult your doctor before using the herb.
