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GROWING PLANTS FOR
HEALTH
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Evening Primrose Oil for Healthier Skin
Herbs that
Help you Sleep
Parsley
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A herb garden is a garden
specifically designed and used for the cultivation
of cooking and/or medicinal herbs.
Herb gardens developed from the general gardens of
the ancient classical worlds, used for growing
vegetables, flowers, fruits and medicines. During
the medieval period monks and nuns acquired
specialist medical knowledge and grew the necessary
herbs in specialist gardens. Typical plants were
rosemary, parsley, sage, marjoram, thyme, mint, rue,
angelica, bay and basil. With the advance of medical
and botanical sciences in Renaissance Europe,
monastic herb gardens developed into botanical
gardens. The section in which herbs was grown became
known as a Garden of Simples.
Herb gardens experienced a revival with the work of
the British garden historian and horticultural,
writer Eleanour Sinclair Rohde (1882-1950). Modern
herb gardens may be purely functional or may be
ornamental, sometimes as part of a design and
containing boxes and raised beds. The development of
alternative medicine is also encouraging people to
grow and use fresh herbs (eg for the treatment of
acne).Many
herbalists, both professional and amateur, often
grow or wildcraft their own herbs. Many common weeds
have medicinal properties (e.g. dandelion).
Examples of
some commonly used herbal medicines:
-
Artichoke and several other
plants reduced total serum
cholesterol levels in
preliminary studies.
- Black
cohosh and other plants that
contain phytoestrogens (plant
molecules with estrogen
activity) have some benefits for
treatment of symptoms resulting
from menopause.
-
Echinacea extracts limit the
length of colds in some clinical
trials, although some studies
have found it to have no effect
at lower dosages than are
normally given by herbalists.
- Garlic
lowers total cholesterol levels,
mildly reduces blood pressure,
reduces platelet aggregation,
and has antibacterial
properties.
-
Grapefruit seed extract as a
natural antimicrobial has
minimal effectiveness as an
anti-bacterial, anti-parasitic,
and anti-fungal herb.
-
Nigella sativa (Black cumin) is
a general medicinal plant used
for diverse ailments such as
cough, pulmonary infections,
asthma, influenza, allergy,
hypertension and stomach ache.
The seeds are considered
carminative, stimulant, diuretic
and galactogogue. It is often
taken with honey. Seed powder or
oil is externally applied for
eruptions of skin.
-
Peppermint tea for problems with
the digestive tract, including
irritable bowel syndrome and
nausea.
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Rauvolfia Serpentina, used
extensively in India for
sleeplessness, anxiety, and high
blood pressure. The first proven
allopathic medicine for high
blood pressure was extracted
from this herb.
- St
John's wort, has yielded
positive results, proving more
effective than a placebo for the
treatment of mild to moderate
depression in some clinical
trials.
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Valerian root can be used to
treat insomnia.
- Lemon
juice or apple cider vinegar can
be used to treat acne.
- Green
tea can heal scars faster.
- Lemon
grass can lower cholesterol
- Honey
can be a solution for
cholesterol.
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Evening Primrose Oil for Healthier Skin
What is the first thing people see when they look at
you? Is it your hair, your face, your eyes? Well, it’s
probably your skin. While we may not realize it, the
skin is the most important part of your body when it
comes to looking young and healthy. If our skin looks
old, tired, or if we have skin problems, it can
seriously affect the way we look and feel. A great way
to get healthy, young looking skin is to use Evening
Primrose oil, or EPO. It can clear up problems and have
you looking beautiful in no time.
Before I tell you what it does, I should probably tell
you what it is. Evening primrose is an edible plant that
grows naturally in North America and has been used by
Native Americans for centuries. While they used various
parts of the plant, EPO is made from the seeds. It can
help improve skin and has also been suggested to help
with a variety of other ailments from PMS to breast
cancer.
So what’s so special about EPO? Well it is one of the
best sources of GLA, an essential fatty acid. GLA is
used to maintain normal cell structure. It is also used
to produce a hormone that has many uses in the body,
including reducing inflammation and helping with
digestion.
While there hasn’t been extensive research done on EPO,
there has been some scientific evidence to show its
effect on skin. It can improve your skin’s health by
improving problem skin and allowing your young fresh
skin to shine through. Here are some of the benefits of
EPO.
Picture is an Evening Primrose.
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* Reduces inflammation. Most of us have had the
problem of red puffy skin at one point or another.
EPO can help ease swelling, making your skin look
younger and healthier.
* Relieves skin allergies. Being an allergy sufferer
myself, I tell you there’s nothing like having to
hide my legs and neck because of rashes or hives.
EPO can help get rid of these symptoms and have you
back into the outfits you love.
* Relieves Eczema. Those who are afflicted with
eczema know that skin can not only look bad, but
feel bad too. EPO may ease eczema symptoms, sparing
you some of the pain and embarrassment.
* Increases blood flow to the skin. Even if you
don’t have skin problems, you can still be benefited
by taking EPO. It can increase blood flow to your
skin, leaving it healthy and nourished.
* Reduces bruising. While EPO is generally taken
orally, it can also be applied directly to the skin
to decrease the appearance of bruises.
Remember, as with any medication or supplement, you
should talk to your doctor before taking EPO. Once
you’ve gotten the okay, you can take this oil
regularly for healthy, beautiful skin. |
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Herbs That Help
You Sleep
It seems like every time I turn on the T.V., I see
an ad for another new prescription sleep aid. You
can find them from you pharmacist and over the
counter in every shape and size. It’s like they’ve
made the perfect sleep aid for every occasion, but
what if you don’t want to take dangerous and
possibly addictive chemicals to get yourself to
sleep every night?
If you’ve tried all the other sleep remedies and
nothings worked for you; before you make a trip to
your doctor, make a trip to your local health food
store. There you can find tons of natural
supplements. While most of these remedies haven’t
been clinically tested, they’ve been used for years
in various cultures to naturally relax and get a
good night’s rest. Check out these common herbal
sleep remedies; one of which is bound to help you
finally get some rest.
Picture is Valerian flower
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* German chamomile. This is
probably the most widely publicized herbal sleep aid
in recent years. Simply brew the tea and drink to
relax your self into a peaceful sleep. The best part
is that it’s safe to drink during the day when you
just need to unwind; something no medical sleep aid
can claim.
* Lemon balm. This is an herb often used in gardens
for its lemony scent (it smells a bit like lemon
wood cleaner); this is a great herb to calm your
nerves. You can find it as a tea, capsules, or a
liquid extract. This makes it extra convenient for
every situation.
* Valerian root. This is one of the oldest and most
widely used herbal sleep remedies. Unlike many other
herbs, valerian root has been the subject of several
clinical trials where it was found to help people
fall asleep faster and get a more restful night’s
sleep. It is also available in tea, pill, or liquid
form.
* Catnip. Sure it sounds crazy, but that herb that
makes your cats go wild can actually calm you down
and prepare you for sleep. It contains chemicals
similar to those in valerian root. In addition to
being a sedative, catnip can also help with
indigestion and heartburn. It can be enjoyed as a
tea or taken in liquid extract form.
* St John’s Wort. This herb not only helps you fall
asleep at night, it has also been indicated for
treatment of anxiety and depression. Just be sure to
take the prescribed dosage because too much can be
harmful.
* Lavender. This is a safe relaxing herb that is so
powerful, it has been shown to reduce and sometimes
completely counteract symptoms of caffeine use. This
herb is much more convenient because it comes in tea
or and as an essential oil that can be massaged on,
put into a bath, put on cotton balls to infuse into
the air, or simply put on your pillow. Lavender oil
is not only a great way to calm yourself; it’s also
safe for use on children and babies.
You should remember that herbs are generally slower
acting than modern medicine, so they may take days
or even a couple weeks for you to feel the full
effect. Also, just like with any other medication,
you should consult your doctor before taking any of
these remedies, especially if you’re on any
prescription medications.
Picture is Valerian
leaf.
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Medieval herbalists
believed that parsley helped heart conditions and
prescribed PARSLEY WINE to improve blood
circulation.
This wonderful herb, which
is grown world-wide, originated in the Eastern
Mediterranean. It has been used as a medicinal
herb for over 2,000 years. The seed and roots
were valued by ancient Greeks for their diuretic
effect, soothing those ailments of people with
kidney and bladder problems.
Today parsley is still used
as a diuretic and as a digestive aid helping to
alleviate stomach and liver problems. It is
also a great breath freshener, so don't let that
parsley garnish go to waste that adorns your dinner
plate. As a diuretic it may help women with
bloating problems experienced prior to their
periods.
Parsley leaves are a great
source of many vitamins and mineral - including
iron, potassium and vitamin C and A. This herb
actually ranks higher than many vegetables in an
amino acid, histidine, which inhibits tumors. |
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