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According to the World Health Organization, roughly 4 billion people are using herbal medicine, worldwide. While many Western drug manufacturers and scientists try to discredit traditional Chinese medicine as "dated folklore," there's a lot to be said about the successfulness of alternative medicines in treating certain ailments. Whether it's a cold, menstrual cramps, high cholesterol or chicken pox, there's something in the Chinese medicine books for you!

Herbal supplements can help all sorts of common ailments with natural elements. For instance, angelica root helps ease menopause symptoms and premenstrual syndrome. Aloe vera has been used for centuries as a burn treatment, but did you know it also treats ulcers and diabetes? Ginger root has been known to treat a whole host of problems, from headaches and sore throats to arthritis and heartburn.

Herbal medicine can also assist people looking to lose weight. Naturally, there's no "super tonic" to make you shed 10 pounds overnight, but more and more people are adding things like cayenne pepper or natural ephedra herbal supplements to their diets to help improve circulation and boost metabolism. Through a combination of will power, exercise, a balanced diet and the addition of a few herbs, one's goals can be achieved much quicker. Another popular choice is St. John's Wort to boost mood and green tea to rid the body of toxins.

Skin rashes are a popular ailment treated with herbal medicine too. Unsightly, itchy, burning bumps can appear as a reaction to dyes, plants, animals, rubber, chemicals, detergents or some other toxin. For an allergic reaction, apis, ledum, aloe vera and utica can be used. To make an astringent to get the red out, you can pour a cup of boiling water over two teaspoons of powdered goldenseal. Let it cool and apply four times daily. It may sound far-fetched, but what have you got to lose?

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