Healing Herbs And Their Properties
July 23rd, 2008 Subscribe To Our Feed
The use of herbs in medicines is a long-standing tradition. Every culture in the world has, at one time or another, left documentation showing their use of herbs in the treatment of every known illness. Healing herbs are found in the wild, and as more and more people become interested in this form of holistic medicine, these herbs are now being grown in gardens.
Where To Get Herbs
Not only can you grow some of these herbs, most can be found either on the Internet or in local health food stores. These healing herbs are often powdered down to create teas, tinctures, capsules or as extracts. It is always important to make sure the integrity of the herb has been maintained. Verifying where the herbs were purchased and how they were grown can help a consumer determine if the herb has been properly processed. Stores that won’t divulge this information should be avoided.
What To Do With Herbs
There are many herbs that are very well known. Aloe vera is known for its healing properties when someone is burned. Companies have picked up on the fact that people are interested in healing herbs, and offer products with these herbs in them. Sunburn creams often contain aloe vera.
Garlic is a well-known herb that has a reputation for being one of the healing herbs. It is thought to help with high blood pressure, diabetes and is good for the digestive system.
Another of the healing herbs is sage. This is a very well known healing herb that is used for many different illnesses. Sage can be used in an aromatic fashion to assist with breathing. Companies are now manufacturing products that can be plugged into an outlet and the aroma of sage is released for help with opening the sinus passages due to colds. Sage is one of the healing herbs because it also can be used in a tea form and this will help reduce inflammation within the body.
Parsley is another of the healing herbs. This one is known for its help in the digestive system as well as keeping bladder infections from occurring. Parsley can also be used to apply to insect bites to prevent infection.
Chamomile is an herb that offers a calming effect. This is one of the healing herbs that are often found in teas to help relax people. It is also thought to assist in digestion.
Raspberry leaves are another of the healing herbs that is often found in teas. This herb is another that helps with relaxation and digestion. It is also thought to help prevent miscarriage and to help with symptoms of PMS.
Healing herbs are known all over the world. Discovering which ones can be useful to you is a fun past time that could assist in your future health.
Common, Effective Natural Herbs For Allergies
July 23rd, 2008 Subscribe To Our Feed
Allergies are an umbrella term for a wide variety of physical responses triggered by some item in the environment. Even if they are allergic to the same thing, one person may be merely annoyed while the other one may have life-threatening symptoms that require emergency treatment.
If you suspect you have allergies, see you doctor to confirm just what it is you are allergic to. He or she may also prescribe medicines. If you want to use natural herbs for allergies, talk to your doctor. He or she should know if the natural herbs for allergies might clash with any prescription medicine you are already on. He or she could probably refer you to a local qualified herbalist or homeopathic practitioner for you to see. If you know what you are allergic to and your reactions are mild, consider these common natural herbs for allergies.
Reishi Mushroom
Fungi are considered natural herbs, even though they are technically fungi and not plants. But why quibble? Reishi mushrooms are classified as natural herbs for allergies. Reishi mushrooms can be found through herbalists, health food stores and stores catering to Chinese traditional medicine. They’re quite tasty, like shiitake mushrooms, but to get the most benefit from them, you have to take capsules instead of eating a whole bowlful of Reishi Mushrooms. The mushroom acts as a natural antihistamine. It is also used to lower cholesterol and thin the blood.
Nettle
This all too common garden invader of European lands is good medicine and good food. It is one of the cheapest of the natural herbs for allergies. You might want to start off with a smaller dose than recommended to help your body get used to nettle’s powerful cleansing effects. If you prefer to take your nettle as nettle tea, drink no more than three cups a day or you might get dehydrating diarrhea. Nettle has been used for hundreds of years as an overall tonic, but does help the circulatory system.
You can also take it in capsules. If you have fresh nettles growing in a place not contaminated by fertilizers, pesticides or car exhaust, carefully harvest the tops of the plant and make your own tea. Use one handful of nettles per cup of water. Pour boiling water into the nettles and let it steep for at least ten minutes so the entire sting is taken out. The nettles themselves can be eaten as a source of greens. Avoid nettles if you have high blood pressure.
The Benefits Of Taking Herbs for Depression
January 15th, 2008 Subscribe To Our Feed
Depression is endemic in our society. It’s seen as a weakness in some and will lead to suicide in others.
It’s sufferers often don’t understand they have it. They just think that feeling miserable and having no hope for the future is normal. In many cases fixing the problem could be as simple as taking herbs for depression. The stigma that is attached to any mental health problem but especially depression is one of the first problems to be addressed. After that it is a question of counselling and if necessary using the right drugs for herbs for depression. Actually, if appropriate it would be much better to use herbs for depression than pharmaceutical preparations.
Herbs are the forerunners of many pharmaceutical preparations and since they are going to be used in the same way as other drugs, their purity is important. They should have no preservatives or artificial components. The herbs for depression that you use should
be as pure as possible to have the most effect. Check the label on the package.
Which Herbs For Depression Are Most Useful?
Principally the most useful herbs for depression are Gingko Biloba and Milk Thistle, although there are many others. Consult a herbalist for more.
Gingko Biloba has the effect of increasing oxygen to the brain. This will help in clarity of thought, improving the memory and 
promoting alertness. It’s a very useful herb in that it will promote a better blood flow to all areas of the body, improve adenosine-tri-phosphates and reduce the number of free radicals in the body. Better memory, a more alert and clear mind are all helpful factors in reducing depression levels.
Milk Thistle is a herb for depression that elevates your mood and creates a feeling of well being. It also protects the
liver.
You can see that by using herbs for depression the side effects are good. In fact, in general, there are no bad side effects in using herbs. That having been said it is always wise to check with your health professional to make sure that the herbs you want to use do not interfere with any other medications you are taking.
The allopathic drug solutions usually have some very undesirable side effects. Most practitioners will only use them in the most severe cases. Using herbs for depression instead have many advantages. For a start, when used correctly, they have no side effects except for some positive ones. As with all medications you should consult your health professional and get the correct advice before using herbs for depression.
Checkout this video for an explanation and description of depression:
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Basil: Easy To Grow - Great In The Kitchen
December 4th, 2007 Subscribe To Our Feed
Even if you haven’t got a ‘green’ thumb, growing basil will be easy. Let’s face it, if it weren’t for it’s culinary uses it would be considered a weed! It’s an perennial plant that grows well in a warm or trop[cal climates to a height of between 30 and 60cm. There are several varieties some of which have broad shiny green leaves and others that are almost purple in colour. Basil doesn’t like cold and grows best in hot dry conditions. If you succeed in growing it in a cold climate, it will die off in the winter and behave like an annual.
Growing The Plant
You can grow basil from seedlings, seeds or cuttings. It is very a very strong life force. As I said before it will thrive in hot dry conditions, but it will still grow outside in the summer months of cooler climates, in a greenhouse or if you are really determined, in a basement under a fluorescent light! I always think that it is easier, (but not cheaper!), to buy seedlings from the nursery and plant them in a sunny in well drained soil. Seedlings and cuttings are fine, they just take more work.
If basil has a sunny well drained position, then that’s it. Watch it grow and pick the leaves when you need them. Now there’s one thing more. If you notice flowers forming just remove the affected stem, because when the plant goes to flower it stops making leaves. Removing a stem won’t affect the rest of the plant. Of course, you could let it flower and go to seed and harvest the seeds for next year.
If you have a sunny kitchen window sill, then a basil plant in a pot will grow well and give you a ready made source of fresh basil for cooking. Delicious!
It’s important to have a fresh supply of basil because it does not preserve well. Dried basil tastes a bit like hay! If you really want to harvest it for later use, it’s best to blanch it quickly in boiling water and put it in bags in the freezer. But fresh is best.
Harvesting
Fresh is best! The very best time to pick leaves for the kitchen is first thing in the morning. The flavours will be at their peak before the sun dries the leaves out.
Uses
Basil is probably associated with Italian cooking and pasta dishes, but for about 5,000 years basil has formed an important part of cooking in India, Asia and China. So you can use it not only in Italian food, pesto for example, but in a whole variety of Oriental dishes as well. It’s a very versatile herb
It’s easy to grow and delicious in food so get cracking!
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Growing Herbs At Your Place
November 27th, 2007 Subscribe To Our Feed
To me, one of the great things about creating a garden is growing herbs. Not only do they produce wonderful aromas, they are great in cooking, they have health benefits and some herbs are very useful in the garden as pest controllers and soil conditioners. So really growing herbs is a win, win, win situation. I mean, you couldn’t really consider roast lamb without rosemary or peas without mint, could you. And is much more satisfying when you use herbs from the garden. It’s very easy.
Your own Herb Garden
A lot of the culinary herbs in use today are warm climate herbs so if you are growing herbs in a cold climate you will have to grow the warm climate ones in the summer months. Check to see what herbs like conditions where you live. Some, you will discover will grow just about anywhere but most don’t like wet soil. Be sure to choose or create a well drained garden bed. You could try putting a 75mm (3 inch) layer of crushed stone about 450mm (18 inches) below the surface and covering with a compost rich soil.
When you come to pick your herbs remember there are better times than others. The best time is early in the day, after dew has evaporated from the leaves, but before the sun really starts to hit the plants. This is because the sunlight can dry out essential oils, which are what give herbs their distinctive tastes and scents. Also, keep in mind that although some plants, such as basil, are encouraged after picking, don’t remove all the leaves if you want to keep growing your herbs, since they provide the food source for the plant.
Growing Herbs Indoors
Let’s face it, herbs are essentially weeds! Wonderful usefull weeds, but weeds and as such they will grow just about anywhere, including indoors. Annual herbs are more suited to this method but you can always move your perennials to the garden when the warm weather arrives. Make sure they have plenty of sun.
Again as for outdoor gardening, herbs like well drained soil so give them plenty of drainage and instead of watering the soil try misting the plants with a spray bottle. This will help prevent waterlogged soils and roots.
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Herbs For Cooking: Health & Flavour
November 27th, 2007 Subscribe To Our Feed
There is a well known saying that ‘you are what you eat’. It’s pretty obvious really - how could you not be? If you also use herbs for cooking in your meal preparation you have the additional benefit of taking in the healing and health properties of herbs. This can only be good. (Assuming of course you don’t prepare meals with toxic herbs!) For example if you are using herbs in cooking such as basil and thyme you will also be gaining the healing and health benefits of these herbs.
By the way, if you want more background on which herbs to use for what as well as detailed information on growing them, I thoroughly recommend “The Herb Handbook” It’s got everything you need. Just click on the highlighted words.
Much The Same As Using Dry Herbs
Using fresh herbs for cooking is very similar to using dried herbs except that you will need to use a greater volume of fresh herbs for cooking deliciously flavored meals. Dried ones are more concentrated. When using fresh herbs for cooking I first of all chop them into very small pieces and include them in the first process of whatever I am cooking. For example, if I am making a stew, I would heat the herbs along with the onion or garlic so as to release all the flavours and oils at the very beginning of the process. This will also help the flavours infuse through the rest of the ingredients.
As you start to use herbs for cooking and grow them yourself (see “The Herb Handbook“) then you will appreciate the pleasure and satisfaction of going to your herb garden, whether it be in the backyard or the balcony, and picking your own fresh herbs. Scrumptious! Use them in pasta dishes, stews, curries, soups, the list is endless.
If I am cooking roast lamb I will go into the garden and pick several sprigs of rosemary that I will stuff into cuts I have made in the surface of the meat. When cooking a chicken pick some thyme and sage and chop it up with the rosemary leaves. Simply stuff this mixture inside the chicken and roast. The delicious flavours will permeated the meat. And remember, when using herbs for cooking that you also benefit from the therapeutic value of the herbs. Some combinations to try are tomatoes with basil, mint with potatoes or peas and thyme is magnificent in a vegetable stew.
So please use herbs for cooking whenever you can. It is very simple to grow your own and oh! so rewarding. Not only will you add delicious flavours to your meals you also gain the medicinal benefits of the herbs. Bon apetit!
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