药草有益身心的20种妙用 你知道吗？
For almost every prescription treatment for what ails us is a plant, herb, or other natural substance that has been used as a treatment for hundreds of years by naturalists and herbalists. But how effective are these folk remedies, really? Evidence on most of these treatments is still somewhat inconclusive, but you may be surprised to learn how many beneficial herbs you could be keeping in your spice rack.
治疗人类疾病的几乎每一个处方所用的植物，药草和其他天然物质都已被自然主义者和药草医生延用了数百年。然而，这些民间疗法的效果如何呢？关于大部分疗法仍然缺乏足够的证据，但是你可以在调味品架上储存许多有益药草，数目之大会令你叹为观止。
Important note: This is not professional medical advice. Always seek out your doctor’s advice on any kind of treatment, natural or otherwise, before taking it.
重要提示：本文并非专业医嘱。使用任何天然或其他的疗法之前，请咨询医生建议。
1. Ginger: Prevent nausea
1.生姜：预防反胃
Basics: Significant results have been found in ginger’s ability to ease nausea, even for motion sickness and chemotherapy patients.
基本知识：目前已发现生姜用于缓解反胃效果显著，甚至对于晕车和化疗病人都有效。
use it: Some specialists recommend taking ginger before the nausea sets in; for example, if you know you get airsick, you can chew ginger gum before takeoff. If taking ginger when nausea is already present, there are a variety of products including teas and candies that contain the root.
使用方法：一些专家建议在反胃的症状出现之前服用生姜；例如，如果你知道自己要晕机，可以在飞机起飞前嚼点生姜口香糖。如果已经开始反胃才服用生姜，也有许多产品供你选择，包括含有生姜根的茶饮和糖果。
2. Chamomile: Promote sleep
2.甘菊：改善睡眠
Basics: There have been very few scientific studies on chamomile’s ability to encourage sleep, but it remains a popular herb for this purpose.
基本知识：针对甘菊改善睡眠方面的科学研究少之又少，但是甘菊仍然是用于帮助睡眠的受欢迎的药草。
How to use it: Chamomile as a sleep aid is typically taken as a warm tea, with many brands specifically marketing it as a “nighttime” or “sleepytime” tea.
使用方法：甘菊通常被制成暖茶来辅助睡眠，许多品牌的市场推广就把自己标榜为“夜间时光”或“睡眠时光”茶饮。
3. Ginseng: Fortify energy levels
3.人参：提高能量水平
Basics: Ginseng root has been tested in a number of studies for its effectiveness at fighting fatigue, with significant (though few) results.
基本知识：一些研究发现人参在抗疲劳方面的效果非常显著（虽然较罕见）。
How to use it: Ginseng can be found in a number of products including “natural” energy drinks, though as with all energy drinks these should be used with caution. You can also get ginseng in capsule form, often grouped with other herb and vitamin capsules at regular grocery stores, as well as health food and supplement stores.
使用方法：许多产品中含有人参，包括“天然”能量饮品，然而，和所有能量饮料一样，含有人参的饮品也应该谨慎服用。还有胶囊形式的人参，在一般的杂货店，健康食品商店和补充剂商店里通常与其他药草和维他命胶囊放在一起。
4. Licorice: Soothe a sore throat
4.欧亚甘草：缓解喉咙疼痛
Basics: There has been some scientific examination of licorice root’s anti-inflammatory effects on sore throats, with promising results.
基本知识：目前对欧亚甘草在治疗喉咙疼痛方面的消炎作用进行了研究，结果非常喜人。
How to use it: You can find teas and lozenges with licorice root at a variety of grocery and health food stores, as well as online.
使用方法：在许多杂货店，健康食品商店和网络上都可以找到含有甘草根的茶和含片。
5. Nettle: Treat dandruff
5.荨麻：治疗头皮屑
Basics: Despite the name, stinging nettle has a number of recognized medicinal properties including as an anti-inflammatory. It has also been used as a natural treatment for dandruff.
基本知识：尽管名字很普通，刺荨麻却有几种被认可的药用价值，包括消炎。荨麻还被用作治疗头皮屑的天然方法。
How to use it: There are a few commercial shampoo products containing stinging nettle, though you may have better luck on sites like Etsy.
使用方法：有几种含有刺荨麻的洗发香波，如果更幸运的话，或许在Etsy等网站上可以找到。
6. Black tea leaves: Reduce risk of heart problems
6.红茶叶：降低心脏问题风险
Basics: Black tea as a way to reduce the risk of heart-related problems has been loosely studied with hopeful finds, though more thorough testing is needed.
基本知识：对于红茶降低心脏疾病风险进行了简单的研究，得出了一些有希望的结论，然而还需进行更彻底的试验。
How to use it: A couple cups of black tea a day is a good amount, and the caffeine will help you stay alert throughout your day.
使用方法：每天几杯红茶比较适量，其中的咖啡因还可以帮助你整天保持清醒。
7. Lavender: Ease stress and tension
7.薰衣草：缓解压力和紧张
Basics: Evidence from scientific trials suggests that lavender works well to relieve tension and stress.
基本知识：来自科学实验的证据表明，薰衣草用于缓解压力和紧张效果显著。
How to use it: Aromatherapy products such as oils, lotions, and herb pouches are all good ways of using the scent to relieve stress.
使用方法：一些香薰产品，例如精油，润肤露和香包都是用香味来缓解压力的好方法。
8. Cinnamon: Control blood sugar
8.肉桂：控制血糖
Basics: A wide range of research suggests cinnamon is an effective way to manage blood sugar levels, particularly useful for people with Type II diabetes.
基本知识：广泛的研究表明肉桂是控制血糖水平的有效方法，对于二型糖尿病患者特别有效。
How to use it: Cinnamon can be added to a variety of foods and beverages, and can be purchased in capsule form for a higher concentration.
使用方法：肉桂可以加入多种食物和饮料中，如果需要更高浓度，可以购买胶囊形式的肉桂。
9. Fennel seed: Ease bloating and indigestion
9.茴香：缓解腹胀和消化不良
Basics: Fennel seed has shown promising results as a relief agent for bloating and constipation.
基本知识：茴香用于缓解腹胀和便秘效果非常有希望。
How to use it: Fennel can be bought both in capsule form and as a tea.
使用方法：胶囊形式和茶叶形式的茴香都能买到。
10. St. John’s Wort: Treatment of mild depression
10.圣约翰麦汁：治疗轻度抑郁
For almost every prescription treatment for what ails us is a plant, herb, or other natural substance that has been used as a treatment for hundreds of years by naturalists and herbalists. But how effective are these folk remedies, really? Evidence on most of these treatments is still somewhat inconclusive, but you may be surprised to learn how many beneficial herbs you could be keeping in your spice rack.
治疗人类疾病的几乎每一个处方所用的植物，药草和其他天然物质都已被自然主义者和药草医生延用了数百年。然而，这些民间疗法的效果如何呢？关于大部分疗法仍然缺乏足够的证据，但是你可以在调味品架上储存许多有益药草，数目之大会令你叹为观止。
Important note: This is not professional medical advice. Always seek out your doctor’s advice on any kind of treatment, natural or otherwise, before taking it.
重要提示：本文并非专业医嘱。使用任何天然或其他的疗法之前，请咨询医生建议。
1. Ginger: Prevent nausea
1.生姜：预防反胃
Basics: Significant results have been found in ginger’s ability to ease nausea, even for motion sickness and chemotherapy patients.
基本知识：目前已发现生姜用于缓解反胃效果显著，甚至对于晕车和化疗病人都有效。
use it: Some specialists recommend taking ginger before the nausea sets in; for example, if you know you get airsick, you can chew ginger gum before takeoff. If taking ginger when nausea is already present, there are a variety of products including teas and candies that contain the root.
使用方法：一些专家建议在反胃的症状出现之前服用生姜；例如，如果你知道自己要晕机，可以在飞机起飞前嚼点生姜口香糖。如果已经开始反胃才服用生姜，也有许多产品供你选择，包括含有生姜根的茶饮和糖果。
2. Chamomile: Promote sleep
2.甘菊：改善睡眠
Basics: There have been very few scientific studies on chamomile’s ability to encourage sleep, but it remains a popular herb for this purpose.
基本知识：针对甘菊改善睡眠方面的科学研究少之又少，但是甘菊仍然是用于帮助睡眠的受欢迎的药草。
How to use it: Chamomile as a sleep aid is typically taken as a warm tea, with many brands specifically marketing it as a “nighttime” or “sleepytime” tea.
使用方法：甘菊通常被制成暖茶来辅助睡眠，许多品牌的市场推广就把自己标榜为“夜间时光”或“睡眠时光”茶饮。
3. Ginseng: Fortify energy levels
3.人参：提高能量水平
Basics: Ginseng root has been tested in a number of studies for its effectiveness at fighting fatigue, with significant (though few) results.
基本知识：一些研究发现人参在抗疲劳方面的效果非常显著（虽然较罕见）。
How to use it: Ginseng can be found in a number of products including “natural” energy drinks, though as with all energy drinks these should be used with caution. You can also get ginseng in capsule form, often grouped with other herb and vitamin capsules at regular grocery stores, as well as health food and supplement stores.
使用方法：许多产品中含有人参，包括“天然”能量饮品，然而，和所有能量饮料一样，含有人参的饮品也应该谨慎服用。还有胶囊形式的人参，在一般的杂货店，健康食品商店和补充剂商店里通常与其他药草和维他命胶囊放在一起。
4. Licorice: Soothe a sore throat
4.欧亚甘草：缓解喉咙疼痛
Basics: There has been some scientific examination of licorice root’s anti-inflammatory effects on sore throats, with promising results.
基本知识：目前对欧亚甘草在治疗喉咙疼痛方面的消炎作用进行了研究，结果非常喜人。
How to use it: You can find teas and lozenges with licorice root at a variety of grocery and health food stores, as well as online.
使用方法：在许多杂货店，健康食品商店和网络上都可以找到含有甘草根的茶和含片。
5. Nettle: Treat dandruff
5.荨麻：治疗头皮屑
Basics: Despite the name, stinging nettle has a number of recognized medicinal properties including as an anti-inflammatory. It has also been used as a natural treatment for dandruff.
基本知识：尽管名字很普通，刺荨麻却有几种被认可的药用价值，包括消炎。荨麻还被用作治疗头皮屑的天然方法。
How to use it: There are a few commercial shampoo products containing stinging nettle, though you may have better luck on sites like Etsy.
使用方法：有几种含有刺荨麻的洗发香波，如果更幸运的话，或许在Etsy等网站上可以找到。
6. Black tea leaves: Reduce risk of heart problems
6.红茶叶：降低心脏问题风险
Basics: Black tea as a way to reduce the risk of heart-related problems has been loosely studied with hopeful finds, though more thorough testing is needed.
基本知识：对于红茶降低心脏疾病风险进行了简单的研究，得出了一些有希望的结论，然而还需进行更彻底的试验。
How to use it: A couple cups of black tea a day is a good amount, and the caffeine will help you stay alert throughout your day.
使用方法：每天几杯红茶比较适量，其中的咖啡因还可以帮助你整天保持清醒。
7. Lavender: Ease stress and tension
7.薰衣草：缓解压力和紧张
Basics: Evidence from scientific trials suggests that lavender works well to relieve tension and stress.
基本知识：来自科学实验的证据表明，薰衣草用于缓解压力和紧张效果显著。
How to use it: Aromatherapy products such as oils, lotions, and herb pouches are all good ways of using the scent to relieve stress.
使用方法：一些香薰产品，例如精油，润肤露和香包都是用香味来缓解压力的好方法。
8. Cinnamon: Control blood sugar
8.肉桂：控制血糖
Basics: A wide range of research suggests cinnamon is an effective way to manage blood sugar levels, particularly useful for people with Type II diabetes.
基本知识：广泛的研究表明肉桂是控制血糖水平的有效方法，对于二型糖尿病患者特别有效。
How to use it: Cinnamon can be added to a variety of foods and beverages, and can be purchased in capsule form for a higher concentration.
使用方法：肉桂可以加入多种食物和饮料中，如果需要更高浓度，可以购买胶囊形式的肉桂。
9. Fennel seed: Ease bloating and indigestion
9.茴香：缓解腹胀和消化不良
Basics: Fennel seed has shown promising results as a relief agent for bloating and constipation.
基本知识：茴香用于缓解腹胀和便秘效果非常有希望。
How to use it: Fennel can be bought both in capsule form and as a tea.
使用方法：胶囊形式和茶叶形式的茴香都能买到。
10. St. John’s Wort: Treatment of mild depression
10.圣约翰麦汁：治疗轻度抑郁
