W
hen it comes to medicinal herbs, myths and mysticism abound.
Perhaps because our forebears typically passed along knowledge
orally and anecdotally, we still tend to rely on hearsay about
what works and what doesn’t, what’s safe and what isn’t.
With so many credible herbal sources at our disposal these
days, we shouldn’t let the ever-churning myth factory distort
the facts. Modern research has verified vast amounts of what
was once considered folk wisdom. Additionally, those on the
forefront of the myth-busting brigade—the professional herbalists—see
what works and what doesn’t every day in their practices.
Unfortunately, as herbal medicine continues its steady rise in popularity,
some mainstream media outlets remain committed to presenting
sensational and often irrational “herbal exposés.” This puts the onus on
the consumer to distinguish hype pieces from informative journalism—a
task that requires research and effort.
Some of the current herban myths have become so pervasive, you may just "know" they're true. But as it turns out, 12 out of
our most commonly held "facts" about popular herbs turn out to be fiction.
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