Herb

Milk thistle (Silybum marianum) is a flowering plant in the Aster family. A native of Europe, it has been used since the time of the Roman emperors as a liver tonic. Milk thistle is one of very few traditionally used herbs that has been widely accepted by conventional science to have significant medicinal value.

Today we know the active ingredient of milk thistle seed extract as a flavonoid compound called “silymarin.” Most milk thistle extracts available today contain about 80 percent standardized extract of silymarin.

Silymarin, which is itself a combination of several other active compounds, has been extensively studied around the world, and has been shown to be safe and effective in treating a variety of liver diseases and other conditions. It specifically protects the liver against toxins (including some molds such as aflatoxin, drugs, and heavy metals), activates protein synthesis, and stimulates growth of new liver cells to replace those that are dead or damaged. Milk thistle also has strong antioxidant (destroys oxygen free radicals) and anti-inflammatory actions.

What It Does

Silymarin reaches high levels in the bile and liver (as well as the lungs, pancreas, and skin).Bile is produced in the liver and is necessary for fat digestion. Milk thistle can be used in the treatment of hepatic lipidosis, chronic hepatitis, cholangitis (inflammation of the bile ducts), and pericholangitis (inflammation of the tissue around the bile ducts). It may be useful in preventing or treating gallstones by thinning the bile.

Many cats and dogs with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) also have inflammation of the liver/bile system and the pancreas. This threesome of symptoms is called “triaditis.” Because milk thistle’s beneficial actions concentrate on the liver and bile systems, it may also be helpful in animals with IBD.

Milk thistle should be considered as an aid to healing after drug therapy, vaccinations, and infections such as feline distemper or canine parvovirus, as well as a potential supportive treatment for cancer. Researchers at Case Western University concluded from their work that “silymarin possesses exceptionally high protective effects against tumor promotion . . . .” One human study even suggests a role for milk thistle in diabetes mellitus through its normalizing effects on red blood cells. It may also help prevent diabetic neuropathy, a common complication of the disease that causes degeneration of the nerves controlling the hind limbs, which consequently produces weakness and an abnormal gait.

Milk thistle generally supports the immune system through its powerful antioxidant, free-radical scavenging action, its ability to preserve the supply of another important antioxidant, glutathione, as well as direct effects on immune cells. Glutathione, which is stored primarily in the liver, naturally declines over time, and depletion of this protein appears to accelerate the aging process.

While it’s not exactly the fountain of youth, milk thistle clearly has wide-ranging positive effects throughout the body. However, before you add this potent herb to your pet’s daily regimen “just in case” it might do some good, it’s important to consider that some herbalists believe milk thistle is best reserved as a treatment for existing disease, rather than being used by itself in a healthy animal.

While moderate use of milk thistle is very safe, there is some experimental evidence to suggest that long-term ingestion of very high dosages of milk thistle will eventually suppress liver function.

Dosage and administration

The standard dosage of milk thistle extract is based on a silymarin content of around 80 percent; most supplements contain anywhere from 50-500 milligrams (175 mg is typical). As with many supplements, it’s probably better to buy a milk thistle derivative rather than a silymarin-only or other fractional supplement, since there may be other compounds found in the whole herb that significantly enhance the effects of what science has decided is the main player.

Because of its excellent safety record and lack of adverse drug interactions, when I’m treating a very sick animal with advanced liver disease, I do not hesitate to use the full human dose–up to 200 mg per 10 pounds of body weight–of milk thistle extract daily. For most purposes, however, one-third to one-half of that dose is more than adequate. (Animals with liver disease typically will not eat, but it’s a simple matter to open up a capsule, mix the appropriate amount of powdered herb with a little blenderized food or baby food, and feed by syringe.) Too high a dose can cause an upset tummy, gas, or mild diarrhea; these are easily resolved by giving less.

Human research studies have shown that it is more effective to administer this herb in three or four small portions over the day than in one large daily dose. When it is not possible to split the daily dose and administer the fractional portions three or four times a day, give it at least twice a day.

The capsule form is easy to find – any health food store, and even most pharmacies and grocers, will have them in stock. The herb also comes in a liquid extract, but most human products contain a fair bit of alcohol. If you prefer a liquid preparation, get one specifically intended for use in animals.

I went out to the hazel wood,

Because a fire was in my head,

And cut and peeled a hazel wand,

And hooked a berry to a thread;

And when white moths were on the wing,

And moth-like stars were flickering out,

I dropped the berry in a stream

And caught a little silver trout.
-The Song of Wandering Aengus, William Butler Yeats

When Richard White decided to open the Hazelwood Herb Farm in 1987 he may not have had a fire in his head, but he certainly had a fire in his belly to pursue his passion for gardening and cooking with herbs. Today Richard, 57, and his partner Jacynthe Dugas, 55, grow one of the largest selection of herbs in Canada; over 400 species on 1.75 hectares (4.3 acres), half a hectare (one acre) of which is devoted exclusively to herbs.

Occasionally they have misgivings about the wisdom of giving up secure and lucrative careers – Jacynthe ran a department of the Canadian federal government in the nearby city of Nanaimo and Richard was a well-paid maintenance mechanic in a sawmill – for the hard work, long hours and economic uncertainties of herb farming. “But,” says Richard, “The thanks and appreciation of our loyal customers make it all worth while and gratifying. And we’re doing what we love.” When asked to explain the most satisfying aspect of running the Hazelwood Herb Farm, Richard replies unhesitatingly, “Customer response. Helping them with their needs; finding plants and offering gardening and cooking advice.” The most aggravating? “Never being able to get away from it,” says Richard.

Richard and Jacynthe divide the work according to aptitude. In a double role reversal (Richard is a native of England and Jacynthe is French Canadian), Richard does all the cooking, runs the cooking classes and creates the culinary herb products. He also looks after the three greenhouses and the actual herb farm and garden. Jacynthe operates the gift shop, does the bookwork and ordering and formulates and prepares the herbal bath & beauty, cosmetic and medicinal products such as salves and creams. The only exception is the Echinacea tincture, which is Richard’s responsibility.

When asked about his favorite or most popular culinary creation, Richard cites his Rosemary and Orange Chicken. Here’s the recipe:

ROSEMARY AND ORANGE CHICKEN

4 skinned and boned chicken breasts

1Tbsp. oil

Juice of 2 oranges

½ cup dry white wine or apple juice

2 Tbsp. rosemary and orange jelly

1 Tbsp. herbed vinegar

½ tsp. salt

Pepper to taste

1 clove garlic finely chopped

1 tsp. cornstarch mixed with ½ cup of whipping cream

1Tbsp. finely chopped fresh rosemary.

Heat oil in a skillet: sauté chicken breasts on one side for 2-3 minutes, turn over add the wine, garlic and orange juice. Bring to a boil then reduce heat, cover and simmer for 10-12 minutes.
Remove chicken and keep warm, bring the liquid back to a boil and add the jelly and vinegar. Reduce the liquid by half. Add the rosemary, and then swirl in the cornstarch mixture, stirring until it thickens. Add salt and pepper. Serve chicken sliced with the sauce and pasta. Serves four.

And Richard’s favorite herbs? Rosemary (Tuscan Blue), Greek oregano and basil. Jacynthe also lists basil among her favorites, but reflecting her penchant for healing she names comfrey and chickweed as the top two. In addition to Jacynthe’s healing herbal studies and creations, she has just completed her studies to become a medical intuitive.

One of Jacynthe’s most admired remedies is her Lemon Balm Cold Sore Salve:
She first makes a sun extraction by placing a half-cup of tightly packed, clean lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) leaves in a glass jar and covers them with 1 cup of extra virgin olive oil. The lid is then tightened on the jar, which is placed in a warm sunny spot such as a windowsill or greenhouse. The jar is shaken daily to ensure that the oil is always covering the herbs. After one month the infused oil is strained and used in this recipe:

½ cup infused lemon balm oil

¼ tsp. camphor crystals (available in most drug stores)

25 grams beeswax (slightly less than 1 ounce)

1 Tbsp. honey

1 tsp. lemon essential oil.

Over a low heat the oil is warmed and the camphor crystals are stirred in until dissolved. The beeswax is added and the mixture stirred until it is melted. It is then removed from the heat and the honey and lemon essential oil are added. It is then poured into containers and allowed to cool before being covered. Instructions are to apply several times daily at the first sign of a cold sore.

Richard and Jacynthe picked this particular property, four miles north of the town of Ladysmith, BC, for two reasons: one was the abundance of excellent water on the property. Says Richard, “I used to drill wells for a living so I know the headaches associated with poor quality or insufficient well water.” The other was its peaceful, quiet location while being sufficiently close to the main Vancouver Island highway to make it easy for tourists and visitors to find.
They bought the 30-year old house on 4.3 acres in 1985. It required extensive renovation, most of which they did themselves. Richard’s skill and expertise as a millwright was also put to use building the three greenhouses. They named it the Hazelwood Herb Farm after the two hazel nut trees on the property. Within the first year they were selling 30 varieties of herbs. Then came the nursery, gift shop, display and working gardens. Today their shop boasts a huge variety of their own products, including potted plants, fresh cut herbs, gift baskets and culinary, medicinal, cosmetic and bath & beauty herbal preparations. They also give classes on gardening and cooking with herbs and Jacynthe shares her herbal soap-making talents with enthusiastic students.

Complimentary garden tours are held – rain or shine – on the first and last Saturdays of the month from June to September. Guided tours for groups are available by appointment.

Special events at Hazelwood Herb Farm throughout the year include Mother’s day complimentary Tea and Cake in the Gardens (held in the kitchen if the weather is disagreeable); Father’s Day Barbeque; Sampling Saturdays (for Richard’s culinary creations); Tea Thyme every Sunday afternoon with fresh baked herbal treats and the annual pre-Christmas “Shopping by Candlelight” event every November. This popular affair involves lighting up the shop, kitchen and garden entrance with hundreds of candles to create an inviting, cozy ambience. Complimentary food and drinks are served and Richard and Jacynthe showcase their new products.

The Hazelwood Herb Farm and the town of Ladysmith are located at the northern edge of the Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. “Cowichan” means “The Warm Land” in the language of the native Coast Salish First Nations people. The rich, fertile valleys and mild climate here have spawned a burgeoning viniculture and the region is being hailed as the “New Provence.” To the west a rugged spine of mountains bisects the whole of Vancouver Island. A scenic drive through this heavily forested vista will bring you to the rugged west coast and pounding surf of the Pacific Ocean. The region is bordered to the east by the Strait of Georgia. These waters are rich in Pacific salmon, Dungeness crab, prawns and oysters and local restaurants pride themselves on their own unique ways of preparing these regional delicacies.

The picturesque hillside town of Ladysmith – with stunningly beautiful views over the strait – sits precisely on the 49th parallel, which marks the US-Canadian border across most of the continent. The town – nicknamed “Heritage by the Sea” – was bred from the coal mining industry, which dominated central Vancouver Island around the turn of the last century. By the 1930s coal mining had fallen victim to exhausted seams, crippling labor problems and the Great Depression. Slowly forestry and fishing become the economic linchpins of the region, but now even these once dominant industries are in decline. Today cultural and eco-tourism (e.g. kayaking, scuba-diving, sailing, fishing, hiking etc.) are increasingly important and the area has much to offer. Ladysmith itself has recently undergone a remarkable renaissance; the town has done an admirable job of restoring its quaint fin-de-siecle ambience, winning a national Mainstreet Canada Award for the revitalization of the downtown. Harrowsmith Country Life magazine recently named Ladysmith one of the “10 prettiest towns in Canada.”

Ladysmith is about a 90-minute drive north of Victoria, British Columbia’s capital and famous for its very English colonial tone. The drive will take you over the beautifully scenic Malahat Pass with stunning views of the Saanich Inlet and BC’s Gulf Islands. Three ferry terminals in greater Victoria bring visitors from mainland British Columbia and from Seattle, Anacortes and Port Angeles in Washington State. Victoria is also home to the world famous Butchart Gardens. A 20-minute drive north of Ladysmith brings you to the city of Nanaimo with two more ferry terminals servicing mainland BC.

HOW TO GET THERE:

The Hazelwood Herb Farm is open daily April-September from 11.00am to 5:00pm and from October-December, Fridays-Sundays, 11:00pm to 5:00pm. It is located at 13576 Adshead Road, Ladysmith, BC V0R 2E0 Canada. From Ladysmith drive north on the Island Highway three miles and take the Cedar Road exit to the right (east). After one mile turn left on Adshead Road. Hazelwood is 600 yards down this road on your left.

From Nanaimo drive south on the Island Highway to the hamlet of Cassidy, about seven miles. Immediately after crossing the bridge over a creek to the south of Cassidy turn left on Haslam Road. After one mile Haslam Road forks left. Take the right fork, which is Adshead Road. Hazelwood is another mile along this road on your right.

Bruce Burnett, has won four Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Gold awards for travel journalism. Read more of Bruce Burnett’s writing on his websites:

In this article you will discover:

* The facts about kava kava
* How kava kava helps anxiety
* How much kava kava to take to help with your anxiety

The Facts About The Anxiety Herb Kava Kava

Kava kava is native to the pacific islands.

In Fiji, kava kava is known as the ‘nourishment of the gods’.

Kava kava belongs to the pepper family.

It is the rhizome (underground stem) of kava kava which is used for medicinal purposes.

Kava-lactones are the health promoting compounds within kava kava extracts.

Kava kava has been traditionally used as a:

* Anti-anxiety
* Anti-depressant
* Improves memory
* Mild diuretic
* Mild sedative
* Relaxant
* Relieves mild pain

Apart from helping with the symptoms of anxiety kava kava can also help with the following health conditions:

* Stress
* Panic Attacks
* Insomnia
* Depression

How Does The Anxiety Herb Kava Kava Help With Your Anxiety?

The amygdale is the part of the brain which controls the feelings of fear and anxiety.

Kava kava works on the amygdale to help:

* Promote The Feeling Of Relaxation
* Relieve Mild Pain
* Relieve Muscle Tension
* Promote Calmness

Clinical trials showed that kava kava reduces anxiety and associated symptoms significantly over a six month period.

How Much Of The Anxiety Herb Kava Kava Do You Need To Take To Help With Your Anxiety?

To help with your anxiety try taking a dose of 2 to 4 grams of kava kava as decoction up to three times daily. A kava decoction is created by boiling the herb in water.

Warning: You should discuss taking kava kava with your doctor. Kava kava can cause liver damage in certain people. If you have problems with you liver, you should avoid taking kava kava.

Kava kava should not be taken:

* If you are breastfeeding
* If you are pregnant
* If your are suffering from Parkinson disease
* With alcohol
* With tranquillizers
* With recreational drugs

So, to sum up…

Kava kava is good at calming your anxiety.

Apart from helping to prevent with anxiety, kava kava can also help with stress, panic attacks, insomnia and depression.

If you want to reduce the symptoms of anxiety, taking kava kava can help.

But, before you start taking the anxiety herb kava kava, it would be wise to consult your doctor as kava kava has been reported to cause liver damage in some people.

Lobelia is more commonly known as the Indian Tobacco, Emetic Herb, Pike Weed, Gagroot, Vomitroot, etc. The parts we consume or apply through tincture and infusions are the leaves, tops and seeds. It is found throughout the United States.

Useful for

Lobelia has been known to control symptoms such as asthma, bronchitis, infantile convulsions, epilepsy, hemorrhagic diphtheria, acute heart attacks, heatstroke, hysteria, migraine, ovarian spasms, intestine spasms, spinal meningitis, tetanus, tonsillitis, whooping cough.

Internal Use

The action of Lobelia is upon the central nervous system. It is generally classed as a gastro-intestinal irritant because in sufficiently large doses it produces irritation. The action of small doses is upon the cardiac area, slowing heart action and is followed generally by a more or less accelerated pulse. The action of small, frequent doses is to stimulate; of large doses to first relax and is followed by stimulation to organic action. Small doses stimulate digestion, the secretions and poor circulation.

Loss of Appetite

In loss of appetite and slow digestion this agent is of great value. It is best given in small doses and may be combined with other indicated agents. It is decidedly valuable in the atonic types of indigestion and dyspepsia associated with sick headache due to gastric disturbances; in such cases it is best given in small, frequent doses.

Respiratory Disorders

In chronic respiratory disorders it increases or decreases the secretions according to the dosage. In dry, barking or hacking coughs where mucous rales are heard and there is difficulty in raising the sputum, Lobelia is most valuable, and is equally serviceable in chronic coughs if combined with other indicated agents. It is of great service in the coughs of measles where sluggish circulation is present and eruptions are slow to appear or fail to fully develop.

Measles & Influenza

In measles, Lobelia causes determination of the blood to the skin and promotes tardy eruptions and helps to reestablish when dangerous retrocession occurs for some reason. Lobelia is an invaluable agent in all stages of influenza; is a vital stimulant; regulates imperfect circulation and controls cough and expectoration.

External Use

Lobelia is a valuable ingredient in all forms of poultices where relaxation is desired. Infusions or alcoholic extracts may be used or powdered Lobelia substituted. It well combines with flax-seed or slippery elm in the relief of insect bites, bruises and sprains and of various pains.

Powdered Lobelia is well combined with lard and applied warm in acute thoracic diseases or any form of soreness of the chest. Lobelia in any form may be effectively combined with other agents and used in the pains and inflammation present in pneumonia, broncho-pneumonia, bronchitis, tonsillitis, arthritis, inflammatory rheumatism and for all localized pains in the joints’ and muscular structures.

Conclusion

Lobelia is one of Nature’s few dual agents in the relief of human ailments. It is both a relaxant and a stimulant; depending altogether on how it is prescribed. So many claims have been made for this agent, and so many more could be honestly made for it where its virtues fully understood, that it has been most unfortunately called a quack remedy.

Unfortunately and most unjustly, Lobelia has been, and continues to be, labeled a poison. If this is to indicate that an unlimited amount may not be prescribed without harmful reactions then such labelling is justified, otherwise not. To find more useful articles on herbs, please visit Herbal-Nutrition-Supplements-Guide.com.

Copyright & Disclaimer Statement

This article was written by Lilian Chia and may be reproduced on any herbs/health-related website provided this copyright statement is displayed unedited in its entirety at the foot of the article and you use the exact same HTML code to ensure a clickable link back to the author’s site. Further articles are also available. Contact the author for more information.

Ashwagandha or Indian winter cherry is considered one of the most important herbs in ayurvedic system of medicines. As because of its vast area of application, ayurvedic physicians have used it extensively in curing people from their ailments. Due to its properties it has gained lots of respect in the eyes of herbal healers.

Ashwagandha is biologically known as Withania somnifera. It is a shrub, normally found everywhere in India especially in northwestern part of the sub continent, but is now a days cultivated in fields because of its great commercial demand. Plant size varies from 1-5 ft. Plant part used is root. It derives its named “ashwagandha” because of two reasons. First reason is that its root smells like horse and the other reason is that it vitalizes body to provide strength just like a horse possess.

Ashwagandha is ushan virya in potency, has laghu (light) and tickt (penetrating) properties. Contains tickt, katu and madhur rasa. Due these combinations of superior properties, ashwagandha acts in numerous diseases with great results. As it is ushan virya in potency, it acts as vata suppressant. There fore relieves from all the illness caused by vata dominance. Also because of its hot potency, it opposes the rise of kapha therefore it also acts in suppressing increased and unbalanced kapha dosha. Root is found to contain biochemical like cuseohygrine, anahygrine, tropine, and anaferine etc. it also contains glycosides, withenolide with starches and amino acid.

Ashwagandha is an herb with many uses. Following are its indications: -

· It is considered as most important adaptogens in ayurvedic system of medicine.

· It works in suppressing pains of any sort. It possess this property due to its ushan virya potency, which helps in eradicating vata that is the reason of initiation of pain in body.

· Good results have been seen in diseases like Amavata (rheumatoid arthritis), sandhi gata vata (Osteoarthritis), vatarakt (gout), gridhasi (sciatica) and other vata dominant diseases.

· Works as anti-inflammatory substance therefore helps in reducing swellings and restoring blood supply.

· Its local application also has tremendous results in lymphadenopathy, goiter and on any body part which is supposed to have inflammation and pain.

· Possess great healing properties therefore has great effects in healing wounds and injuries.

· It relieves stress due to presence of vata suppressant properties which helps in nurturing nervous system.

· Helps in promoting calmness and mental satisfaction in mind due to its good penetrating powers, which helps to counter negative adaptogens.

· It helps in relieving from the feel of numbness and burning sensation in extremities.

· Helps in providing nourishment to the brain for its better function and greater ability to work.

· It is often given in a person who regularly suffers from vertigo, uncautiousness, and depression as it helps in curbing mental and physical weakness.

· Improves mental ability, helps in gaining retaining power and improves mental concentration

· Increases muscular endurance and helps in building up of stamina.

· Revitalizes body and decreases untimely fatigue caused due weak body strength accumulation of negative energies in the body.

· Works as a rasayan i.e. a substance that helps in preventing early aging and rejuvenates whole body to provide youth.

· It works as powerful immune booster that helps in fighting any foreign invasion in the body.

· Its antioxidant properties helps in avoiding symptoms of early aging.

· A powerful aphrodisiac thereby helps in enhancing the sexual powers and long lasting endurance.

· It also helps in increasing sperm count and also the quality of sperms.

· It gives good results in leucorrhoea, as it possesses the properties that suppress kapha.

· It is considered as one of the most commonly used herb in relieving hypertension with excellent results.

· It has also been found excellent supplement that helps in proving strength to heart muscles and keeps heart working normal.

· It also possess the properties which helps it to behave as an diuretic therefore is very helpful in treating urinary tract infections (UTI).

· Wonderful remedy in increasing physical endurance is used extensively in physically weak people or people who are recovering from long illness as in case tuberculosis or surgeries.

· Good results have also been seen in upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) and in asthmatic condition with wonderful results.

Having heard of Prickly Ash before, but really never knowing what is it was or what it did, it was about time to find out. It is also known by the names Toothache Tree, Yellow Wood, Tumburu, and Hua Jiao to name a few and is native to North America. The bark,and berries are used as medicine. There is a Chinese prickly ash that is related and this grows in Asia and is also used for herbal treatment to many ailments.

Generally the prickly ash is an effective herbal remedy for poor circulation, fevers, mouth sores, paralysis, ulcers and wounds. There are many other uses of this herb in the alternative medicine genre currently still being discovered.

The Native American tribes relied on prickly ash bark as an effective remedy for upset stomachs, sore throats, aching muscles and skin infections. Still in the USA toward the end of the 19th century, the Prickly Ash Bark was used as a digestive tonic that stimulated the nervous system; this was also used for the treatment of cholera. Rheumatic sufferers were also treated effectively.

Prickly Ash Bark possesses oils, fat, sugar, gum and tannin along with many alkaloids components. It gives stimulation to the entire body. It aids sluggish digestion whilst at the same time destroys toxins such as worms and yeast overgrowth.

The plant stems have even been used as a toothbrush, as well as being used as a poultice for toothaches, hip and back pain as well as a lotion for poor circulation as massage oil.

The prickly ash helps in providing additional oxygen and nourishments to the blood circulation and at the same time helps in removing the waste materials from the body.

In China the Chinese version of prickly ash has its use in helping get rid of parasites, this is in addition to many other cures mentioned earlier.

The prickly pear can easily be bought online at many herbal medicine sites and comes in many forms, it is a big business now, but still in the States and China, home made tonics are made and used and well practiced. Living out of these regions the only access is through commercial suppliers. However the commercial products can be found to be reasonably priced considering the benefits they give.

Herbs and spices that have been used for centuries for their powerful anti-aging properties, are safe to take on a long term basis. All of the ten herbs are easy to find in health shops in the form of capsules, tablets, teas, tinctures, or as food.

Bilberry is a powerful circulatory antioxidant tonic with a strong infinity with the eyes, protects against degenerative diseases, or at the very least slows down degeneration. Bilberry can be used to treat or prevent diabetes related glaucoma, to treat or prevent the formation of cataracts (along with Vitamin E). Bilberry contains phyto-chemical compounds that help improve blood flow to the heart and the extremities. It’s plant compounds limit blood clots, calcium deposits inside the arteries, help prevent and treat varicose veins and hemorrhoids. For people with arthritis, bilberry helps to relieve joint inflammation and prevents the deterioration of joint collagen.

Dong Quai is a Chinese herb best known as a reproductive tonic for women. This herb can be taken long term for menstrual problems, before during and after the menopause. This herb can lower blood pressure, improve digestion, and purify the blood. However, this herb should not be taken during pregnancy.

Garlic, we all know that garlic is good for us. The Ancient Egyptians gave garlic to their laborers to give them strength to build the pyramids. The Romans gave garlic to their soldiers for strength in battle. During the First World War before the widespread availability of antibiotics, garlic was used on the battlefield to disinfect wounds and prevent gangrene. Garlic is rich in sulfur, foods rich in sulfur help to maintain healthy joints and assist in their repair. You either love garlic or you hate it. If you hate it, then garlic capsules might be the answer for you or increase your onion intake as it has similar healing properties with a milder taste. Garlic has been found to support our natural bacterial bowel flora, ‘the friendly guys’. Garlic has anticoagulant properties that keeps the blood thin, lowers cholesterol, and blood pressure. It helps to strengthen the immune system in general and improves digestion. Garlic can also help expel worms and alleviate rheumatism. It is an invaluable tonic for all the cells and glands in the body, as well as being helpful for sinus problems and hay fever.

Ginger is my favorite spice and has been scientifically validated as an anti-inflammatory helping to ease joint stiffness and pain. It is use as a preventative measure against arteriosclerosis and heart disease, also excellent for lowering high cholesterol levels. Ginger improves digestion by increasing gastric juices, and strengthens the peristalsis of the intestines. Well known for its use in motion sickness, vomiting and nausea. Increases and strengthens a poor circulatory system, a general immune tonic that helps to relieve symptoms of colds and flu. Take a warm bath at the first sign of a cold and drink an infusion of ginger tea. This will encourage sweating allowing toxins to be released. Chew a piece of fresh ginger for a sore throat. Caution – Do not over use ginger in early pregnancy or with peptic ulceration.

Ginkgo comes from the ginkgo tree, which grows to a huge size, and remarkably can withstand a nuclear blast. Ginkgo is taken in the East as a long term anti-aging tonic, they have known about it’s protective properties for a very long time, centuries in fact. It is best known as a circulatory tonic in particular for strengthening the tiny little capillaries to all the organs, but especially to the brain. The capillaries become more flexible and as a result more oxygen is delivered to the brain and eyes (to protect against degenerative eye diseases), so important as we age. Ginkgo also protects the nervous system and fights oxidation. In some studies it was found to treat inner ear problems like tinnitus or vertigo and depression.

Gotu Kola is an excellent cell re-generator and nerve tonic. It has been used for centuries to slow down aging and speed up wound healing. This herb also has a calming effect and anti-anxiety affect. In some ways has a similar affect to ginkgo, in the sense that it too is a good brain tonic, another great herb to take long term for the prevention of age-related mental decline. This herb is also particularly good for the health of the skin.

Hawthorn Berry is a perfect heart tonic as it works on the heart muscle to strengthen it, normalizes the heart beat, and increases blood flow. This herb is also a really good antioxidant, neutralizing free-radical damage in cells and capillaries, excellent for angina or the prevention of high blood pressure. Using hawthorn in the case of angina helped patients reduce their medication and in some cases it helps some suffers to eventually give up medication altogether. This herb is a tonic so it works over time and can be taken for the long term.

Milk Thistle is an effective herb for encouraging detoxification as it helps the liver and works to help stabilize blood sugar levels. This herb works well in cases of liver related problems, diabetes, hepatitis, and cirrhosis. Milk thistle encourages the liver to make a powerful antioxidant and to regenerate new cells.

Saw Palmetto is a good herb for men to treat the prostate. Twenty years of studies have revealed that the pharmaceutical drug works in less people than than the herbal extract of saw palmetto. It takes about a month or two for people to notice many symptoms subside. This herb is well worth taking on a long term basis especially if you have any urinary symptoms. I word of warning this herb will not treat any urinary infection.

Turmeric is a spice extensively used in Indian cuisine. It has antibacterial properties and for more than three thousand years ago it was used to treat obesity. This spice turns everything yellow, has has a very slight bitter and a vaguely gingery taste. Turmeric has a beneficial effect on the liver, stimulating the flow of bile and the breakdown of fats. In Asia turmeric was used to treat stomach disorders, menstrual problems, blood clots and liver-related problems like jaundice.

Modern research shows that turmeric protects the liver and due to some potent anti-inflammatory properties enhances tissue healing and rejuvenates. Some people have found it to be useful for pain and swelling in such conditions as arthritis.

It is not suggested that you take all ten herbs and spices in capsules or tablet form. Decide which one most suites your set of symptoms and take the rest in a food from. For instance you might want to protect your heart and circulation, take hawthorn berry capsules and include more garlic and ginger in your diet.

All herbs can be successfully grown in pots, but as you may have suspected, there are some tweaks you may need to make if you plan to do this. All herbs require the three essentials of herb gardening, water, sun, and soil (of course they each have different requirements and variations of each). When growing herbs in pots, these three things are affected somewhat. When looking into the differences in growing requirements for herbs in pots, it’s good to look at what type of plant it is. One way is to categorize the herb as either an annual or perennial. By doing this, one thing you can figure out quickly is whether you will do better growing the herb in a smaller pot or a larger pot.

What’s the difference between an annual and perennial? Well annuals are very easy to grow but only live for one season. That’s why they are called annuals, they only live for one year before creating their seeds (which will grow the next generation of herbs for the next year). Some examples of annual herbs are basil, cilantro, and dill. The thing with growing annuals in pots is that they typically need more water than perennials. So you’ll want to put them in larger pots that will hold more soil so that there is more moisture and water available to nurture your herb.

Perennial plants last longer then annuals and will live for a few years. They have more lasting power than annuals due to the fact that they’re forced to survive through the winter months. A few examples of perennial herbs are rosemary, sage, chive, winter savory, oregano, and marjoram. These plants don’t need as much water as annuals and can be grown in smaller pots.

This is just one of the ways to adjust the way you grow herbs in pots to have a successful and flourishing herb garden. There are many other things that should be taken into consideration as well to make sure your herbs get the proper water, sun, and soil. This may take a few tweaks when growing herbs in pots but when these three basic ingredients are taken care of, you won’t be able to stop your herbs from growing.

The parsley herb is a familiar ingredient in an assortment of recipes and is quite frequently used as a finishing touch to a stylish dinner plate. Consuming the parsley herb will promote good health not only as a preventive measure but also for its natural antibiotic qualities. For its medicinal value, parsley covers a wide range from lowering blood pressure, as a bad breath remedy, to being a diuretic that flushes out the urinary system in order to detoxify and cleanse your body. It also has been proven to help you in weight loss aside from giving you better looking and healthier skin.

Parsley has been consumed since Roman times. The nutritional value of this common herb that has been quantified only recently is quite amazing. One cup of chopped parsley will give you the virtually the identical amount of vitamin A as uncooked spinach plus almost the equal amount of vitamin C that you can get from an orange.

The parsley herb can be considered as a dark green, leafy vegetable. As all vegetables, it adds fiber to your diet. Parsley gives you even minerals such as potassium and phosphorus, iron, copper, manganese and calcium. It also contains niacin, riboflavin and thiamin, all these superb B vitamins.

You may wonder to yourself though, how will you get to consume one cup? Parsley can be added fresh to a lot of dishes. You can mix it in mashed potatoes or in your own home made chicken nuggets and your kids will never even notice it! You can add it finely chopped to potato salads, mix it in with softened butter or cream cheese, and use it to top heavy soups.

You can even make herbal oils and vinegars. Parsley is added last during the process of making oils and vinegars as it prevents the other herbs and spices from floating to the top. Use the parsley bunch to push the other ingredients down by placing it leaves first into the bottle. The brilliant green color of parsley in addition to the other herbs and spice you place will make a dramatic difference to your presentation.

The main problem is that you can only use fresh parsley. Dried or wilted parley is not an option, people just don’t use it. How do you get to integrate the parsley herb into you meals more often? Of course, you can place parsley on your grocery list, but that also poses a problem as sometimes you only go to the store one a week or twice a month. Parsley wilts rather easily. Though inexpensive, it is not practical to stock up on parsley as it will go to waste.

The best solution to this is to grow you very own parsley in a pot or container. It doesn’t take a professional gardener to do this. You can even buy starter herb kits with other herbs like basil and oregano. Imagine how delightful your kitchen will look and how you will get to level up each and every meal that you cook at home with the addition of some herbs.

Enjoy the great benefits that having your own parsley herb growing in your home. Not only will you get healthier, it will give color and flavor to your meals, beverages, oil and vinegars. Give yourself an easy way towards better health, have a parsley plant in your home today.

Herb gardens are so useful, versatile and easy to grow that they make an excellent addition to any home. Unfortunately not everyone has access to a spacious garden to grow their herbs in. This is where container herb gardens come in. They are great because you just need enough space for a few containers, and you can grow the most wonderful herb garden! What’s more, if you ever decide to move house, you can simply take your container herb garden with you!

So where do you start? Well, the first thing you need to do is consider what sort of herbs you would like to plant. To help you decide this, you might want to think about what sort of dishes you like to cook or what you will be using your herbs for. To give you some ideas, the following is a list of commonly used herbs in the kitchen:

Rosemary – Very fragrant and flavoursome herb that goes well with meat dishes. Can also be used to flavour oils.

Basil – Great with tomatoes and often used in pasta dishes. Also commonly used in Thai dishes.

Mint – Very aromatic herb. The leaves of this plant can be dried and used to make refreshing mint tea.

Chives – Especially good sprinkled raw over salads and over roasted potatoes.

After deciding what herbs you would like to plant, you want to go and get the following supplies:

• Container/s

• Potting Mix / Soil

• Herb seeds and/or herb seedlings

• Spade

• Watering can

• Fertilizer

If you are just starting out, you might want to use herb seedlings as they require less work than growing your herbs from seeds.

Once you have gathered all your supplies together, it’s time to start creating your container herb garden!

Fill your container with soil and add a little fertilizer to prime the soil and enhance the growing environment. (Note: If you have purchased liquid fertilizer then you can just add it to the watering water later on.). The amount of soil you put in depends on whether you use herb seeds or seedling to plant your herb garden. In general, if you are using seeds, fill your container to about 1 inch from the rim so that you will have room to cover your seeds with a little additional soil.

Always check the instructions on the seed packet as they will usually give you more detail on how best to plant your seeds. If you are using seedlings on the other hand, you want to cover the base of your container with only a few inches of soil so that you can fit the seedlings in. When you have arranged all your seedlings in the container you can fill the spaces around them with more soil.

As with seeds, you also want to follow the instructions that accompany your seedlings. If your seedlings to do come supplies with instructions, you can try looking up the information on the internet. These instructions are important for telling you the best growing conditions for your herbs. You might need to move your containers around to give them access to sufficient sunlight to help them grow.

Finally when you are done, give your containers a good water! And of course do not forget to water your herb garden over the coming days.

Follow these steps and it shouldn’t be long before you have beautiful and bountiful container herb garden just brimming with delicious fresh herbs!