healing has taken a back seat to pharmaceutical drugs in the past century.

Many people scoff at the idea that herbs can be effective in curing and preventing illness -- despite the fact the majority of modern medicines are derived from herbal sources.

According to Hena's Herb Garden website, using herbs medicinally is a way to spiritually connect with the Earth -- and provides a less harmful alternative to modern pharmaceuticals with fewer side effects.

ways: they can purge the body of impurities or illness, it can build up the immune system, or it can strengthen the constitution of an organ so it will heal itself.

Camilla MacPherson, owner of Nature's Chi in the Washington Mall, said "a lot of people come into a health store when they're already sick and conventional medicine hasn't worked for them''.

"There are a lot of Bermudians who do use herbs, and I think that comes from their mothers and grandmothers who had a lot of knowledge about local herbs,'' she noted.

"And I think we have a lot of instinctual knowledge, but we hand over so much of our responsibility to others.

"A lot of us go to the doctor and take whatever medication is prescribed even though we don't know anything about it and without educating ourselves about it -- but we'll spend an hour with our mechanic to find out what's the best oil for our car.

"Of course, there are a lot of wonderful healers, alternative practitioners and doctors in Bermuda to assist you -- but you do need to take personal responsibility for your own health,'' she added.

Mrs. MacPherson suggested three books on herbal healing that may prove helpful for self-education -- Prescription for Nutritional Healing by James Balch, The Way of Herbs by Michael Tierra, and Alternative Medicine: The Definitive Guide by the Burton Goldberg Group.

She noted that although many people don't consider herbs as an effective alternative to modern medicine, the majority of medication is made from herbs.

"The most popular herb right now is St. John's Wort, which is used for depression,'' said Mrs. MacPherson.

"Doctors in Germany have to pass a section on herbalism before they can be licensed, and they have been prescribing St. John's Wort for years over Prozac -- it doesn't have the side effects but it's very effective.

"The number two sale is ginkgo biloba, which is one of the oldest trees in the world -- about 200 million years old -- and they do grow here in Bermuda.

The herb is used to improve memory and cognitive function and it's even being used to fight Alzheimer's.

"Number three is echinacea, which is the most popular herb overall, and it's used as an immune booster and for colds and `flu.'' Mrs. MacPherson said she personally prefers to use Chinese herbs, which are classified into three categories -- two are medicinal and one is food-grade herbs.

"The food-grade herbs can be thought of as very nutritious vegetables -- high in vitamins and fibre, they're taken for optimal health,'' she said.

"They also make teas that help attune you to the seasons, which is important for health.

"For example, in the spring you need to take care of your liver and gallbladder and the teas can assist you. If you haven't strengthened your liver and gallbladder, it's likely that you'll suffer from allergies and hay fever.'' Mrs. MacPherson cautioned that although herbal remedies are often gentler than the drugs that are derived from them, they still needed to be treated with caution.

"Just because they're natural doesn't mean they can't be toxic, so you do have to become knowledgeable,'' she said.

She also suggested that not all brands of herbals are of the same quality, especially since there's been such an influx into the market.

"The herb should be standardised, so you know how much of the active ingredient is in there. A good company will also use organic herbs,'' said Mrs. MacPherson.

"Also, different herbs need to be picked at different times for maximum potency and good quality.'' Toni Daniels, co-owner of Down To Earth on Reid Street, said most of the people coming into the store are already highly knowledgeable about the curative properties of many herbs.

"Bermuda has a real melting pot of cultures and many people, especially those from the Middle East, Asian countries, West Indies and the UK, are more familiar with naturopathic remedies,'' said Ms Daniels.

"Overall, the Western hemisphere is behind the Eastern hemisphere in terms of health issues -- North America is in its infancy -- and they're now just starting to catch up.

"I think Eastern cultures are more into prevention, and Western cultures are more into curative medicines.'' Ms Daniels said in addition to echinacea, both ginseng and saw palmetto were both strong sellers at Down to Earth.

She noted that saw palmetto is good for prostate health and ginseng helps boost energy.

Like Mrs. MacPherson, Ms Daniels emphasised the importance of becoming knowledgeable about the effects of herbal remedies.

"The onus is on the individual to fully understand their condition -- because they might be on medication that could conflict with naturopathic herbs,'' said Ms Daniels.

"The most important thing is not to discount their potency. They are medicines, and they can do you just as much harm.

"People need to consider (herbs) as serious medicine, and there are very few herbs that you can take every day on an ongoing basis for the rest of your life... for example, some herbs can interfere with the absorption of iron.

"Because it's not a regulated industry, the problem is that people get conflicting information and sometimes they really need to do their homework.'' Kim Tucker, assistant manager of Rock On on Queen Street, is currently taking a home-study course on herbs.

"Quite a few people are looking for herbs and vitamins to take for cancer prevention and heart disease, especially if there's a family history,'' said Miss Tucker.

"Right now, sales of goldenseal and echinacea are up. Now that we're getting into the warmer months, people are thinking about doing a cleansing of the system.'' Miss Tucker pointed out a popular cleansing system called "Quick Cleanse'' which contained the herb psyllium seed for fibre, cascara sagrada as a laxative, and milk thistle seed extract for cleansing.

But she said it's important for customers to take responsibility for themselves and come into a health store with a clear idea of what they're trying to accomplish through taking herbs.

Miss Tucker noted that Rock on had a computer programme called "health notes online'' which gives information about which herbs to avoid when taking certain types of prescription medication.

"For example, if someone is suffering from mild depression, they wouldn't take St. John's Wort if they're already taking a prescription,'' she noted.

"But you have to remember that they're not candy -- they're medicinal, and they need to be respected in the same way.'' For more information on herbs, see Hena's Herb Garden at www.geocities.com/greengarden.

Healing herbs are often used in combination when combating an illness. These combinations can be taken as teas, capsules, etc., but should not be used in the place of a doctor's advice.

For: Colds, Tonsillitis, Flu, or Bronchitis Try: Chamomile, Slippery Elm, Cayenne, Goldenseal, Garlic, Rose Hips, Sage, Lemongrass, Myrrh For: Allergies, Hay Fever Try: Blessed Thistle, Scullcap, Goldenseal, Cayenne, Marshmallow, Lobelia, Burdock For: Insomnia, Hyperactivity, Stress Try: Valerian, Scullcap, Hops For: Energy, Endurance Try: Cayenne, Ginseng, Gotu Kola For: Female problems or hormonal balance Try: Black Cohosh, Ginger, Raspberry Leaf, Blessed Thistle, Dong Qua For: Nerves, Stress, Headaches Try: Black Cohosh, Cayenne, Valerian, Ginger, St. John's Wort, Hops For: Skin, Hair, Nails Try: Horsetail, Sage, Rosemary For: Ulcers, Indigestion, Heartburn Try: Cayenne, Goldenseal, Myrrh, Marshmallow, Calendula Herbs can help you feel healthier both inside and out, and soaking in a hot herbal bath is a good way to cool out after a hectic day. Not only will the herbs add to the effectiveness of the bath, but the herbal aroma will be a calming tonic for the mind. To rejuvenate the skin, try a mixture of comfrey, alfalfa, parsley and orange peel. To relax aching muscles, a mixture of sage leaves and chamomile should do the trick.

1 Place a handful of fresh herbs in a nylon stocking or muslin cloth.

2 Put the herb `bag' in the bottom of the tub and run very hot water over it for a few minutes (or you can soak the bag in a bucket of boiling water, then add this water to your bath).

3 Add cold water until the bath reaches the required temperature ( remember extremely hot baths are not always good for you, so go for comfort -- not temperature.

For more see Tara's Herb Garden at www.users.fl.net.au/dilligaf