Herbs

[WVsnowflake]

The term herb refers to a plant used for medicinal purposes. The medicinal benefits of herbs have been known for centuries. Man has always been dependent on herbs. The healing properties of herbs have not changed through the centuries - what was a healing herb a few hundred years ago is still a healing herb today. Many of the benefits of herbs are not so much based on scientific study but rather on the consistent observations made by practitioners through the centuries.

In China, herbal therapy is the most important traditional treatment method today. We are now seeing an increased acceptance and popularity of herbal use in Western countries. The recognition of their worth is widely increasing as many people seek greater understanding of their body and mind and thereby assume more responsibility for their own health and well being. Herbal medicines have soared in popularity. People are looking for safe, effective and time-proven medicine.

While herbs are usually milder than synthetic drugs and have fewer side effects, they are neither completely safe nor poisonous. Some are even dangerous if taken improperly or for extended periods of time. Most problems stem from overuse and misuse. Herbs, when properly used, are safe, gentle and effective. Herbs should be treated like other medicines in that it is important to follow the recommended dosages.

www.dietsite.com/dt/alternativenutrition/alternativeintro.asp

[WVsnowflake]

HERBAL PREPARATIONS

There are many ways in which herbs can be used. The effectiveness of herbs is greatest when the plants are fresh, ideally they should be eaten raw. However, many medicinal herbs have an unpleasant taste.

Commercial herbal preparations are available in several different forms: teas, tinctures, capsules, tablets, bulk herbs, fluid extracts and freeze-dried herbs. Prepared medicines are more practical to take but usually are less effective than loose herbal teas. The following types of preparations are those most commonly used in herbal medicine.

www.dietsite.com/dt/alternativenutrition/HerbalPreparations.asp

[WVsnowflake]

Lets start with a biggy with me Migraines I haven't tried this recipe yet but I have used the pepermint in a cool cloth and do know that Chamomile is very good for calming headaches along with tummy aches and sleeplessness.


Migraine Blend

Fill bottle approximately 2/3 with Sweet Almond Oil
6 drops Lavender Oil (headache/Migraine)
6 drops Clary Sage Oil (anxiety/panic)
6 drops Chamomile Oil (sleep)
12 drops Peppermint Oil (headache/Migraine) Peppermint is also very helpful for nausea.
Cover top with finger and shake. Check the fragrance of the oil. If it is unpleasant to you, add a few drops of whichever oil you prefer to make it more pleasant.
Fill any remaining space in bottle with Sweet Almond Oil, insert the roller ball, and cap the bottle.
To use: Apply to temples and areas of pain. Massage lightly. You can also roll some onto the back of your hand

[auntbea]

I have used peppermint on my temples for headache and lavender to sleep, though that alone smells like Aunt Bea!! I like it better with a bit of eucalyptus.

Just the scents I am drawn to for those things. I have not studied it, just know it works.

Likely could do a lot more if I studied it. Thanks for starting this topic.

[auntbea]

Any thoughts on not feeling drained and ready for sleep by 6:00 in the eve? I think I have to figure out a lunch time thing. Not sure what yet.

Week one of a new situation and all I want to do is sleeeeeeeeeeeep. Still getting up at the butt crack of dawn to do my reading, but that is more because I like to watch the sun rise on the water.

[SpyderLady]

Waiting to see if you come up with something for joint pain.

[WVsnowflake]

Here are a few Things I found for you spydie. there is also studies being done on Dandelion and nettle.The sting of a nettle plant is supposed to help cronic pain. Dandelion is dried and drank in tea, You can also drink nettle tea. The best time to harvest nettle is in the spring when it is at its peak in potency. i'll keep looking.


Tea brewed from this root is a folk remedy for colds. Ginger ale and ginger beer have been recommended as "stomach settlers" for generations in countries where the beverages are made and ginger water was commonly used to avoid heat cramps in the US. Ginger has also been historically used to treat inflammation

Curcumin is thought to be a powerful antinociceptive (pain-relieving) agent. In the November 2006 issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism, , and recommended clinical trials as a possible treatment study was published that showed the effectiveness of turmeric in the reduction of joint inflammation for the alleviation of arthritis symptoms.[4] It is thought to work as a natural inhibitor of the cox-2 enzyme, and has been shown effective in animal models for neuropathic pain secondary to diabetes, among others

[WVsnowflake]

So far the only thing I have found for feeling drained is ginseng. there are several types out there . American, siberian, and Panex . I do know that my dad's cardiologist advised him to take Ginseng and also Grape Seed extract. ( red Grape ) For Fatigue, If He couldn't find the grape seed extract then he could drink 8 oz. of red wine . ( Personally I think I would try to find the grape seed extract I dont like red wine )

I will keep looking for you too!

[WVsnowflake]

Main article: Coffee and health

Many scientific studies have examined the relationship between coffee consumption and a wide array of medical conditions. Most studies are contradictory as to whether coffee has any specific health benefits, and results are similarly conflicting with respect to negative effects of coffee consumption.[36] Studies have suggested that the consumption of coffee is beneficial to health in some ways. Coffee appears to reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, heart disease, diabetes mellitus type 2, cirrhosis of the liver,[37], and gout. Some health effects are due to the caffeine content of coffee, as the benefits are only observed in those who drink caffeinated coffee, while others appear to be due to other components.Coffee contains antioxidants, which prevent free radicals from causing cell damage.
Coffee has negative health effects associated with it, most of them due to its caffeine content. Research suggests that drinking caffeinated coffee can cause a temporary increase in the stiffening of arterial walls. Excess coffee consumption may lead to a magnesium deficiency or hypomagnesemia.


As with everything else I think moderation is the key.

[auntbea]

I know I don't make much sense before coffee. Thanks for lookin in to the other for me, too. I think I need to look more into when I eat what I eat as well

[SpyderLady]

Thanks SF. Everything is burned up here...amazingly even the dandelion and it is real hard to kill off. I see the nettle around here in spring tho. Will look for it next yr. Heck all the yard is burned up, I couldn't even find any plantain for my poison oak I got a couple wks ago. And it grows everywhere around here, esp in rocky driveways.

I am a big coffee drinker. Yep, like aunt bea, gots to have my coffee first thing. Not a morning person anyway, but try to take my coffee away and I will hurt ya. lol

[WVsnowflake]

Almost Time to harvest The Rose Hips. I get mine from mountain rose herbs, www.mountainroseherbs.com/


The rose hip, also called the rose haw, is the pomaceous fruit of the rose plant. It is typically red to orange but may be dark purple to black in some species.

Rose hips of some species, especially Rosa canina (Dog Rose), have been used as a source of Vitamin C. Rose hips are commonly used as an herbal tea, often blended with hibiscus and as an oil. They can also be used to make jam, jelly and marmalade. Rose hip soup is especially popular in Sweden

Health benefits
Particularly high in Vitamin C, with about 1700–2000 mg per 100 g in the dried product, one of the richest plant sources.
Rose hips contain vitamins A, D and E, essential fatty acids and antioxidant flavonoids.
Rose hip powder is a remedy for rheumatoid arthritis.
As an herbal remedy, rose hips are attributed with the ability to prevent urinary bladder infections, and assist in treating dizziness and headaches. Rose hips are also commonly used externally in oil form to restore firmness to skin by nourishing and astringing tissue.
Brewed into a concoction, can also be used to treat constipation.
Rose hips contain a lot of iron, so some women brew rose hip tea during their periods to make up for the iron that they lose with the blood.

[edit] Usage
Rose hips are used for the creation of herbal tea, jam, jelly, syrup, beverages, pies, bread and marmalade, amongst others.

A few rose species are sometimes grown for the ornamental value of their hips; such as Rosa moyesii, which has prominent large red bottle-shaped fruits.

Rose hips have recently become popular as a healthy treat for pet chinchillas. Chinchillas are unable to manufacture their own Vitamin C, but lack the proper internal organs to process a variety of foods. Rose Hips provide a sugar free, safe way to increase the Vitamin C intake of chinchillas.

The fine hairs found inside rose hips can be used as itching powder.

Roses may be propagated from hips by removing the seeds from the aril (the outer coating) and sowing just beneath the surface of the soil. Placed in a cold frame or a greenhouse, the seeds take at least three months to germinate

[buzzard]

Radish is grown as a vegetable, but it also takes care of water retention, relieves cramping and increases bile flow throught the intestines. The juice of the root is used for ronchitis, headache, gas and sleeplessness. Don't use though if the stomach or intestines are inflamed.

Dosage: Use radishes that haven't developed flower stems. Mix equal parts radish juice and honey. Take one tablespoon three times daily.

[auntbea]

I like the simple ways plants help. Dug up some aloe from a friend's garden. It is nice to have a bit of my own with the sun.

[SpyderLady]

I love radishes. Never heard of liquidizing and mix with honey for health purposes. Wonder what in it helps sleeplessness.

[SpyderLady]

2000 B.C. - Here, eat this root.
1000 A.D. - That root is heathen. Here, say this prayer.
1850 A.D. - That prayer is superstition. Here, drink this potion.
1940 A.D. - That potion is snake oil. Here, swallow this pill.
1985 A.D. - That pill is ineffective. Here, take this antibiotic.
2000 A.D. - That antibiotic is artificial. Here, eat this root.

[SpyderLady]

November 20, 2007

5 Natural Remedies to Fight Cold and Flu
by Linda B. White, M.D.

Few of us make it through the winter without a scratchy throat, a runny nose or worse. You can’t very well hold your breath all winter, but you can put your immune system in top-notch form to fight colds and flu by employing these natural methods for easing symptoms and hastening recovery:

Vitamin C. While study results vary on using vitamin C to prevent colds, some vitamin C users do report a reduced duration and severity of cold symptoms, indicating that it may play some role in respiratory defense mechanisms. Eating vitamin C-rich foods, such as peppers, guava, citrus fruits, strawberries and leafy greens, is always a great idea.

Zinc. There have been about a dozen studies on zinc lozenges and nasal gels, with mixed results. In a recent European study, children received zinc sulphate (15 milligrams of zinc) as a syrup for seven months, with a doubling of the dose at the onset of cold symptoms. Compared to kids who took a placebo syrup, those taking zinc had significantly fewer colds, and the colds they got were shorter and milder. Side effects with the zinc lozenges include nausea and weird taste. And there have been reports of people permanently losing their sense of smell after using the nasal gels — a good reason to choose lozenges instead.

Echinacea. Two types of echinacea preparations have repeatedly been shown effective in fighting colds and flu: the juice of the aboveground parts of E. purpurea (marketed as Echinagard), and the alcoholic extracts (tinctures) of the roots of E. purpurea and E. pallida. Though study results are mixed, most experts say that when a good product is taken in adequate and frequent doses at the onset of symptoms, echinacea can shorten the duration and severity of a cold.

Elderberry. An extract of the black elderberries (Sambucus nigra) produces beneficial immune actions and helps fight influenza and other respiratory viruses. Two small studies have demonstrated rapid recovery from influenza with a proprietary elderberry extract called Sambucol, which is available in many natural food stores. You also can make your own elderberry syrup.

Licorice root. This tasty root has many properties that can relieve cold and flu symptoms. Licorice root is sweet and makes most herbal blends taste great. It’s an anti-inflammatory, demulcent (soothing to sore throats), antispasmodic (to relax tight coughs) and expectorant (expels respiratory mucus). However, don’t take licorice for more than four to six weeks — it causes your kidneys to retain water and sodium and lose potassium. Don’t take it at all if you’re pregnant, have high blood pressure or low blood potassium, or take a potassium depleting diuretic.

[lilithb]

I used to make a tea out of Licorice root. I drank it so many times a month.

[lilithb]

Also I used to make an ointment out of comfrey root. It really healed cuts and scratches fast.

PROPERTIES AND USES

Anodyne - a substance which relieves pain, usually with accompanied sedation.

Astringent - an agent which causes the constriction or contraction of tissue.

Demulcent - an agent which smooths the mucous membranes on contact.

Diuretic - Diuretics form a class of drugs which increase the volume of urine produced by the kidneys. It can be used effectively to treat mild cases of edema when kidney function is good and when the underlying abnormality of cardiac function, capillary pressure, or salt retention is being corrected simultaneously. Diuretics are not an appropriate treatment for edema caused by inflammation of the kidneys, and are useless in cardiac edema associated with advanced kidney insufficiency.

Emollient - a skin dressing or soothing ointment.

Expectorant - an agent which stimulates the outflow of mucus from the lungs an bronchials.

Hemostatic - any drug, medicine, or blood component that serves to stop bleeding.

Refrigerant - an agent which alleviates heat, fever, or thirst.

Vulnerary - any form of first aid for wounds and skin abrasions.

Comfrey is one of the most valuable herbs known to botanic medicine because it has beneficial effects on all parts of the body, and can be used as an overall tonic. It has been successfully used for centuries as a wound-healer and bone-knitter, strengthening the skeleton and the pituitary gland. Comfrey helps in the calcium-phosphorus balance by promoting strong bones and healthy skin. It helps promote the secretion of pepsin and is a general aid to digestion. It is one of the finest healers for the respiratory system, and can be used internally and externally. Comfrey has been used with great success to check hemorrhage from the stomach, lungs, bowels, kidneys, and piles.

[lilithb]

Comfrey is rich in vitamin B12, which is important to vegetarians, as very few plants have B12. It is also rich in vitamins B1, B2, C, E, A, and pantothenic acid plus calcium, iron, manganese, and phosphorus.

Dr. H.E. Kirschner, M.D., author of Nature's Healing Grasses (H.C. White Publications, 1975), describes one of his most interesting cases involving comfrey: "A middle-aged woman came to me with a large malignant ulcer below the eye and close to the nose. I prescribed a comfrey poultice and a "green drink" containing comfrey leaves. Soon after the application of the comfrey leaf poultice, the painful swelling subsided and rapid improvement was noted. Only a few months after the initial treatment there was complete healing over of the infected area and the malignant ulcer had disappeared."

Dr. Kirschner devoted four chapters in his book to comfrey. He says it's great for lung and bronchial problems, skin and stomach ulcers, arthritis, skin cancer, tuberculosis, asthma, and even works as a beauty aid.

Comfrey is very rich in chlorophyll ("green magic"), one reason why Dr. Kirschner used it in his green drink. After all, the only difference between chlorophyll and our blood is that our blood molecule is built around an iron atom and the chlorophyll molecule is built around a magnesium atom.

Personally, I think it is one of our greatest herbs. I've seen it work miracles. Too bad we don't use it more often. Why not grow some?

When I was studying with local physician Dr. Christopher, he told us a story everyone would like to hear, especially in this flu season.

He said while giving a lecture in Snowflake, Arizona, the conversation turned to various contagious illnesses. Someone asked if he had a plague remedy. Puzzled, he said no. No one had ever asked for a plague remedy before. Then someone asked what they could do in case there was a plague. Dr. Christopher said he stopped talking for a minute, thought of some good immune system-boosting ingredients, then dictated a formula to the class that could be used in case of a plague. They then went on to discuss the ingredients of the formula.

The most active ingredient in the formula is garlic. It will kill germs upon contact. When garlic was tested against three of the best antibiotic drugs on the market, garlic proved to kill all types of germs faster than the drugs. Garlic has many healing properties also. This is why garlic is the leading herb in my herbal antibiotic formula. A great many books have been written on garlic both as a food and as a medicine.

The next ingredient is apple cider vinegar. Vinegar is a catalyst and a carrying agent that also has antibiotic properties. According to D.C. Jarvis, M.D., in his book Folk Medicine (Fawcett Crest, 1958), vinegar is the most healing and stabilizing medicine you can use.

Glycerin is used because it is a demulcent and is so healing.

Honey is an emollient and a great infection fighter. It is healing and great for preventing scars.

Comfrey is one of the greatest healing herbs we know of. This is because of the allantoin in it (a cell proliferative that makes the cells grow faster so you can heal easier).

Wormwood relieves pain and kills parasites and pinworms. Parasites cause a lot of sickness and stress within the body.

Lobelia is one of the greatest catalytic herbs that there is. It has the power to draw all the herbs together to work as one.

Marshmallow root helps the kidneys to get rid of toxins and it fights against gangrene. It is also an emollient or a softener.

Oak bark is a tonic and helps to build the cells. It also helps to rebuild and feed the circulatory system.

Black walnut bark is a composition. It is almost equal to iodine, except it isn't poison. It is also a great fungus fighter.

Mullein heals and soothes the respiratory system.

Skullcap is a fine nerve rebuilder.

Hydrangea, uva ursi, and gravelroot are some of the best solvents there are in the herbal kingdom. They break up plaque and inorganic deposits and aid in cleaning out the body.

A year later, Dr. Christopher gave a lecture in a neighboring town in Arizona. Someone asked for the formula. He asked them how they knew about it, and they replied that a few months back, many in their town developed a terrible sickness, especially the young children. The doctors tried many medicines but nothing proved effective. A mother of a child asked if she could try a homemade remedy. The doctor gladly consented. In a few days, her child improved. Soon all were well. God bless and good health to you!

An Amazing Cold Remedy
I have seen many people who suffered with colds, flu, and other infectious ailments get a lot of relief from this combination.

It is also good for cuts, bruises, fevers, burns, and plagues. Many clubs and groups have made this formula and praise its worth.

It is easy to make and it keeps for a long time. Keep some on hand.

To make one gallon:

32 oz (8 parts) apple cider vinegar
20 oz (5 parts) glycerin
20 oz (5 parts) honey
8 oz (2 parts) garlic juice (press)
8 oz (2 parts) comfrey root concentrate
4 oz (1 part) worm wood concentrate
4 oz (1 part) lobelia seed or leaf concentrate
4 oz (1 part) marshmallow root concentrate
4 oz (1 part) mullein leaf concentrate
4 oz (1 part) oak bark concentrate
4 oz (1 part) black walnut bark concentrate
4 oz (1 part) skullcap leaf concentrate
4 oz. (1 part) uva ursi, or hydrangea or gravelroot concentrate

Make each concentrate individually. To make 1 part, soak 4 ounces of each herb in 16 ounces of water for 4 hours. Simmer 30 minutes and strain off herbs. To concentrate liq uid, simmer liquid on very low heat and reduce to 1/4 or to 4 ounces. Add all ingredients together to make one gallon of anti-cold remedy.

Dosage: Preventative, 1 teaspoon morning and night.

For colds, 1 tablespoon morning, noon, and night.

For flu, 1 tablespoon every other hour.

For plague, 1 tablespoon each hour.