Healing Herbs & Spices

Healing Herbs and Spices

Herbs for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

 

Herbs Quick Planting Guide

Healing Herbs and Spices

Benefits of Herbal Tea

LOTUS LEAF AND WEIGHT LOSS

 

Lotus leaf is a flowering aquatic perennial that grows widely throughout tropical regions of Asia and the Middle East. The pale green leaves are flat and broad, reaching up to 18 inches in diameter. The leaves are usually collected in the summer and autumn and dried before being cut into small pieces, powdered or processed into pills. Lotus leaves are touted to be useful in treating a variety of conditions, including heavy bleeding, diarrhea and muscle spasms.

 

 

 

HISTORY

The lotus has historically played an important role in both the religion and medicine of many cultures. According to Plant Cultures, the lotus "has been held sacred in Asia and the Middle East for over 5,000 years." Texts from India dated to the 11th and 12th centuries discuss meals that feature lotus leaves. The resilient plant was considered a symbol of immortality for the ancient Egyptians who also made use of it in their diet.

EXPERT INSIGHT

The long history and varied claims have led to extensive research on the potential use of lotus leaf. According to a study in "Nutrition & Metabolism," lotus leaf extract, when combined with L-carnitine, "might represent a treatment option for obesity-related diseases." The mixture was shown to prevent adipogenesis, the formation of fatty tissue. Research conducted by Japanese scientists had similar results. The study monitored the effects of lotus leaf extract on obese mice for five weeks. The results showed that lotus leaf slowed the absorption of fat and carbohydrates, increased energy expenditure and accelerated lipid metabolism. Lotus leaf also prevented the increase of body weight.

POTENTIAL

Lotus leaves contain high concentrations of phytochemicals, compounds produced by plants to defend themselves against bacterial and fungal infections. The substances found in lotus leaf extract include alkaloids, flavonoids and tannins. The isoquinoline alkaloids in lotus leaves have sedative and antispasmodic properties, which may aid in digestion. Both flavonoids and tannins are powerful antioxidants that have been connected with weight loss and cardiovascular health.

USES

Dried lotus leaf can be used in preparing a meal, though it has a bitter flavor. The leaves can also be brewed into a tea. Lotus leaf is also available in capsule and pill form, which can be taken as an alternative to the bitter leaves.

WARNING

There is a lack of research regarding the effects of lotus leaf in pregnant women and it should be avoided. Lotus leaf may cause gastrointestinal irritation. Lotus leaf may increase the risk of bleeding and should not be used in conjunction with blood thinners, including aspirin. Consult your doctor before beginning treatment.

WHAT ARE THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF HONEYSUCKLE?

Two types of honeysuckle commonly are used for medicinal purposes: European honeysuckle, Lonicera pericylmenum and Japanese honeysuckle, Lonicera japonica. Herbalists use honeysuckle primarily for its anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and calming properties. Consult a qualified health professional before using honeysuckle medicinally.

 

TRADITIONAL MEDICINAL BENEFITS

According to the Healthline website, Japanese honeysuckle has traditionally been used in Chinese medicine to treat a number of health conditions. Naturopathy Digest writes that different parts of honeysuckle are used to treat different health conditions. Honeysuckle flowers were traditionally used in Chinese medicine to treat fevers, inflammation, diarrhea and skin infections.

 SKINCARE BENEFITS

According to the Healthline website, honeysuckle can be used to treat skin rashes, such as poison oak, cuts and abrasions on the skin. Honeysuckle stems are the preferred part of the plant to use in the treatment of skin care. Apply an infusion of honeysuckle to treat skin care conditions that are subject to infection. Be aware that some individuals may experience skin irritation from the application of honeysuckle.

 ANTI-INFLAMMATORY BENEFITS

Honeysuckle has antibiotic properties, and Healthline advises that Japanese honeysuckle can be used to treat infections caused by streptococcal bacteria. You can treat other types of inflammations and infections with honeysuckle, as well.

 RESPIRATORY AND BACTERICIDAL BENEFITS

Honeysuckle is believed to be an expectorant. Julia Lawless, in "The Aromatherapy Garden," writes that an infusion of European honeysuckle flowers can be drunk as a tea to treat coughs and colds. Honeysuckle can also be used to treat upper respiratory tract infections and asthma. Health Line advises combining honeysuckle with chrysanthemum flowers to treat a cold.

 OTHER BENEFITS

Jeanne Rose, in "The Aromatherapy Book: Applications and Inhalations," writes that honeysuckle can be used as a massage oil, as it is relaxing and calming. Although there are no known side effects in the use of honeysuckle, consult a health professional before using honeysuckle as a herbal medicine, tincture, oil or remedy to treat any health conditions.

SENNA LEAF HEALTH BENEFITS

Senna, also known as Cassia angustifolia or Cassia senna, is a two foot high shrub native to North Africa and Arabia. Used for centuries as a laxative, cathartic and purgative, senna's leaves and seeds are medicinal, but should be used modestly and under supervision. Like cinnamon, senna comes from the cassia plant family. It can be taken in tea form, or in capsules or tablets. According to Herbs 2000, it is best to take senna with aromatic herbs such as cardamom, peppermint, fennel and ginger, which help to diminish flatulence that can ensue due to the herb's strong purgative actions.

 

STOOL-SOFTENING PROPERTIES

Senna leaf acts on the intestinal walls, causing contractions that lead to bowel movements. In this regard, it can be used to effectively relieve even the most severe cases of constipation. Because of its glycoside content, which helps transport electrolytes, it helps to cleanse the colon creating a bowel movement that usually occurs within six to 12 hours after it is taken. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, or TCM, senna leaf, also called Fan Xie Ye, helps to clear away heat accumulated in the large intestine, helping rid the body of stagnant food that has accumulated in the organs. Considered sweet, bitter, and cold in nature, it is not to be used during pregnancy or menstruation or by nursing mothers.

SOOTHING ANAL FISSURES AND HEMORRHOIDS

Anal fissures occur when the rectum has split close to the sphincter, causing pain during bowel movements. Because senna leaf helps to soften the stool, it makes defecation less painful when lacerations or other painful obstructions are involved, such as hemorrhoids. Because senna leaf is an anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory, it also helps to reduce swelling due to irritation, thus helping to soothe the area back to health.

 ALLEVIATING SKIN CONDITIONS

Senna leaf contains essential oils, resin and tannin. Its acetone and ethanol content help to fight against microorganisms that can cause skin irritations such as acne. In Ayruvedic medicine, an ancient and time-tested natural healing protocol, senna leaf is made into a paste and used as a compress to help heal ringworm, Pityriasis versicolo, and other similar types of skin conditions. Though senna leaf is a well-known laxative, cleansing agent and anti-inflammatory, it is essential that you consult your health-care provider before using it for any condition. Using senna leaf for more than two weeks consecutively can lead to lazy bowel syndrome, where elimination cannot be performed without outside stimulation. Senna can potentially create other complications as well, such as chronic diarrhea.

Spices that heal

12 Unusual Uses for Garlic

There’s so much more to garlic than cooking and vampire slaying. From treating cold sores and athlete’s foot to repelling mosquitoes and repairing glass, click through for some clever ways to use garlic.

Health & Beauty

1. Maintain Good Health. With properties that are thought to help your heart and liver, boost your metabolism of iron, prevent cancer, and fight against bacteria and viruses, garlic is a vital component of a healthy diet. Try to eat one or two cloves every day!

2. Cure a Cold. For thousands of years, garlic has been known as a treatment for coughs and colds. And, while the science isn’t all there yet, limited research has suggested that garlic will help treat these wintertime ailments. Mince a clove of garlic and steep it in hot water for about 5 minutes. Strain out the garlic and drink. It’s a natural cough syrup! You can also try to eat 3 raw cloves a day around cold and flu season to prevent catching a bug.

3. Get Rid of Acne. Cut a clove of garlic in half and rub it over the affected area. Done regularly, the antibacterial properties found in garlic cloves will help to clear up your complexion.

4. Treat Cold Sores. Like in treating acne, cut a clove of garlic in half and apply it directly to the sore. It might sting a little, but it’s been shown to work just as effectively as commercial treatments for getting rid of those unsightly sores.

5.  Treat Athlete’s Foot. If there’s anything garlic doesn’t like, it’s fungus, so treating your athlete’s foot with the stuff works wonders! Crush a couple of cloves and toss them in a foot bath filled with warm water. Soak for about half an hour.

Pest Control

5. Use as a Pesticide in your Garden. Skip those harmful commercial pesticides and use a natural, DIY method with garlic instead! Click here for instructions.

6. Repel Mosquitos & Other Insects. We all know the best way to kill a vampire — garlic. But do you know why? Well, one major theory is that, like vampires, blood-sucking mosquitoes are afraid of garlic. You can rub garlic on your skin to ward off mosquitoes, if you like, but you can also leave out cloves of garlic in areas where mosquitoes flock.

7. Warning: Don’t Feed Your Pets Garlic. There’s a school of thought out there that garlic will help protect your dogs and cats for fleas, ticks, and other pesky critters. While this is true, garlic can be very toxic for animals. As the ASPCA notes, “An occasional small amount, such as that in most commercial pet foods and treats, may not cause a problem, but because of the risk, we generally recommend that you avoid feeding your pets products that contain more concentrated amounts of garlic.”

Other Great Uses

9. Repair Glass. Think of this as a quick fix for mildly-damaged glass — rub the sticky juice of a crushed clove of garlic onto the hairline cracks, wiping away an excess liquid. Garlic is a natural adhesive, so it’ll help the glass to stay together and prevent any further damage.

10. Use as a Glue. On the same note, you can use garlic in place of glue for other things, such as paper crafts.

11. De-Ice Surfaces. In a pinch, garlic salt works wonders in de-icing roads, sidewalks, and other surfaces.

12. Make a DIY Surface Cleaner. Chop up a 3-4 cloves of garlic, and toss them in a spray bottle filled with white vinegar. Add a couple drops of lemon oil and voila — you have yourself a DIY disinfectant spray!

Lavender: It’s Not Just For the Sleepless Anymore

I have known people, with chronic sleep issues, who maintain a small bowl of lavender next to their bed. When sleeplessness sets in, they just take a few whiffs of this purple herb and they are immediately transported to a more restful place (I am talking sleep, not the afterlife). Some people spike their tea with a bit of lavender to sort of “smooth things out” before bed, and some people prefer to scent their pillow, or even nightclothes, with the perfume redolence of lavender. However, barring those who drink lavender tea, most people choose to keep lavender close, but not so close that the actually take it into their body.

This is a shame, as lavender can be overpowering when overused, it can also be exceptionally subtle and nuanced when used right and in the right amounts (remember, less is more). Lavender (the flowering plant, not the color) grows in many temperate climes around the globe, and is a relatively short-lived herbaceous perennial plant. While the oil from a lavender plant holds antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties when applied directly the skin, eating the actual flower provides a good boost of vitamin A, calcium, and even some iron. But as mentioned before, integrating lavender into your cooking can be a bit tricky, but worth it.

Lavender probably integrates the most seamlessly with baked goods and sweets, but also has other applications. Recently writer Genevieve Diesing wrote a piece for the Atlantic Online championing a handful of lavender recipes, including lavender syrup, blueberry lavender jam, and (many people’s favorite combo) lavender marshmallows. I personally dig the following recipe for lavender aioli, which goes beautifully over late summer vegetables, or pasta:

Lavender Aioli

• 1 cup olive oil
• 6 cloves garlic, unpeeled and crushed
• 3 fresh lavender sprigs (leaves and flowers) crushed
• 3 eggs
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

1. In a small saucepan, gently heat the oil on med-low with the garlic and lavender for about 15 minutes (do not allow the garlic to brown)

2. Remove from heat just before oil starts to bubble. Allow to cool to room temperature (about 30 minutes).

3. Then strain the lavender oil, pressing with the flat edge of a spoon to get everything from the garlic and lavender. You can throw away the herbs after this.

4. In a food processor or blender, process the eggs and lemon juice until well blended. With the motor running, slowly add the lavender oil a few drops at a time, then in a thin, steady stream until all the oil is absorbed and the mixture has emulsified.

5. Season to taste with salt and black pepper.

CLEAN YOUR KIDNEYS

Years pass by and our kidneys are filtering the blood by removing salt, poison and any unwanted entering our body. With time, the salt accumulates and this needs to undergo cleaning treatments.


How are we going to do this?

It is very easy, first take a bunch of parsley and wash it clean

Then cut it in small pieces and put it in a pot and pour clean water and boil it for ten minutes and let it cool down and then filter it and pour in a clean bottle and keep it inside refrigerator to cool.

Drink one glass daily and you will notice all salt and other accumulated poison coming out of your kidney by urination. Also you will be able to notice the difference which you never felt before.

Parsley is known as best cleaning treatment for kidneys and it is natural!

Research Shows Herb Protects DNA from Disease

Sage has a proven history at boosting memory and balancing menopausal and PMS symptoms, but perhaps the most exciting benefit of sage essential oil is that it may actually protect genetic material from damage.

According to a study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry scientists found that compounds in sage may protect cellular DNA from damage and may even stimulate DNA repair in already damaged cells. While the research is new and has not been tested on humans, this exciting advancement could help in the prevention and treatment of genetic diseases as well as diseases with a genetic component like cancer, heart disease and others.