Herbal and Natural Remedies.

[Delphyne]

Herb of the day:  Passionflower

Passionflower should never be prepared at home unless you know what you are doing.  For this reason, it is better to buy this as a tea or tincture which has already been prepared. 

Passionflower comes from South American, but is grown by many gardeners in the United States.  It has been used by Amazonian tribes for hundreds of years. 

Properties:  antispasmodic, calming, sedating, and pain relieving.  Medicinal and Scientific research has confirmed that this plant depresses or quiets the nervous system, helping to relieve heart palpitations, stress, and anxiety.  It is used for neuralgia, shingles, Parkinson's disease, and the hiccups!  Amazonian tribes used the plant to treat gonorrhea and kidney stones.

Cautions:  Only take small doses as this plant has very strong sedation properties.  Do NOT combine with other sedating medicines or plants.  Do NOT use if pregnant or trying to conceive.  It may also cause diarrhea. 


This is a plant I like to grow for its beauty and the butterflies it attracts -- the family Heliconidae.

[Delphyne]

Herb of the Day:  ELDER (Sambucus Nigra)

Elder has been for thousands of years, with evidence of use coming from Elder remains found at Stone Age dwellings.

Properties:  Scientific research has shown that Elder possesses compounds which are antiviral and antibacterial.  It is also rich in Vitamins B, C, and A.  Elder stimulates the immune system, reduces fevers, and is an antiseptic.  It is also used as a diuretic, an expectorant, an anti-inflammatory, and has wound healing properties.  It is applied externally for burns, wounds, and skin infections.

Due to its benefits on the immune system, many people find great flu and cold relief with this plant.

Caution:  This is another herb that is best purchased already "prepared".  The leaves are toxic, and unless you are skilled at preparing plants, then purchasing it is the best way to go.




 

Elder is available in tincture, liquid, and pills.

[Delphyne]

Herb of the Day: Shiitake Mushrooms

This is a fun one, because it is also a tasty food.

Properties:  Shiitake mushrooms contain a compound called lentinan.  Lentinan has been shown to fight cancer.  In fact, IV injections of Lentinan are given to cancer patients due its anti-tumor properties.  Since 1985, Lentinan has been used to fight cancer in Japan, and is given to US cancer patients, as well. 

Shiitakes also possess compounds which lower cholesterol, treat high blood pressure, help anemia.  The mushroom is great for diabetics, as well.

Shiitakes are available in most supermarkets.  If making a recipe that calls for mushrooms, use Shiitakes instead! 

Cautions:  None.  Shiitakes are safe for everyone and taste fabulous.

Over the Thanksgiving Holiday, we made our turkey gravy with Shiitake mushrooms, and it was positively delicious.






 

[Delphyne]

Herb of the day:  Peppermint

Peppermint is also a fun one, simply because it is used so often in foods, grown in gardens, and used for aromatherapy...and so many people do not know it is medicinal!

Properties:  The mint family contains menthol which has many medicinal properties.  Peppermint may be taken as a tea to help slow milk production in women who are not breastfeeding.  (Its cousin, Sage, does the same thing, but is a more potent anti-lactation herb.)  Mint is mostly used for stomach ailments, such as stomach cramps, bloating, stomach pain, and constipation.  It aids morning sickness and IBS.  Peppermint, made as a strong infusion, also helps tooth pain.

Peppermint oil is best used for respiratory ailments, as it clears the sinuses, helps make coughs more productive, and clears the breathing passages.

The oil should never be ingested, but used in a vaporizer or humidifier.


Peppermint tea, decoctions, or infusions, may be prepared at home, as it only entails boiling the leaves. 

Cautions:  Drinking too much peppermint tea may give an individual diarrhea.  It is a potent cure for constipation.





 

[lawson26]

my mother never takes medication over the counter she has always taken health products and shes in very good healthy, she gos to a healthy store when she needs something, i believe deeply in natural remedies

[Delphyne]

my mother never takes medication over the counter she has always taken health products and shes in very good healthy, she gos to a healthy store when she needs something, i believe deeply in natural remedies

I honestly wish I had never taken any OTC or Rxed medicine.  They messed me up bad.  We only use herbal remedies now, and my body is doing much better.


 

[Delphyne]

Herb of the day:  Sage (Salvia Officinalis)

Sage is a cousin of mint, and therefore has many of the same properties.  It is the herb that many Native American use as smudging sticks.  It is used quite often in cooking, as well.  Putting sage on a turkey, or in the stuffing, just prior to roasting adds wonderful flavor.

Sage has been used since ancient times and was once known as "Sage the Savior".  The Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans all used it for a wide variety of reasons, from dispelling nightmares to curing infertility.

Properties:  Sage is an anti-inflammatory, an anti-depressant, and an astringent.  It is a drying herb, so it inhibits perspiration and milk production.  It is calming.  Sage also keeps the liver healthy, helps support the blood and circulatory system, and lowers blood sugar levels.  It has been known to help fertility (which is probably due to its calming effects, as too much cortisol in the human body inhibits pregnancy), depression, PMS, menopause, and vertigo.

Applied topically, Sage reduces the pain and itchiness of insect bites, vaginitis, and skin infections.

This herb is available dried, powdered, in capsule form, and in tinctures.  It is a common plant that many grow ornamentally.  Making a tea from dried leaves is easy and may be done at home.


Cautions:  Do not take sage if you are pregnant or nursing.  It is a potent herb for drying up milk.  If a person is epileptic, then the herb should be taken in only small quantities, as too much of sage (which contains thujone) may cause convulsions.  (Although, this is hard to achieve, and the person must really be taking a lot of it.)  Do not ingest the oil.






 

[diala84]

wow my wife is on so many medications. we have seen her go downhill we think because of certain meds she has taken on all of a sudden she has to be put on more med and we have thought it was because of the previou med would natural med work for her?

Well without any specifics you will only get general answers. I do not recommend anyone stop taking their medication without advice from a medical professional. However that doesn't mean she couldn't try adding some supplements and seeing if they help as long as she is upfront with her doctor. Since you say nothing about her symptoms some general suggestions for supplements might be "milk thistle, probiotic supplement, fish oil, a green powder drink (such as greens from itworks), etc.." I have found milk thistle to be helpful with suppressing appetite, detoxifying the body and improving liver function. Probiotics are essential for digestion and I have had fewer stomach issues, bloatiness, constipation, etc.. Omega 3 or fish oil is often not a staple in the diet but it can help with brain function, heart disease, arthritis, depression, skin issues, etc... As for the green drink it is a powder added to a drink I have found it to increase my energy levels and I have not gotten sick since I have started to take it about 5 months ago. I am usually sick for weeks when I got a cold and I get several colds each winter but so far I have not been sick once even with working and living with others who got sick.

Again the supplements you chose will have a lot to do with her symptoms so if you do a search " supplements for (her symptom)" you can probably find something that will help. Just make sure you look at several sites because  it is easy to fall for a trap remedies that are not effective and sometimes do more harm than good. Hope this helps.

[Flackle]

They're okay to use if you need an excess of a certain vitamin, or if you're looking to alleviate the common cold. But please, leave the debilitating diseases to doctors. Saying that natural remedies can cure cancer leads to false hope, and that false hope could distract from any possible actual cure that might come about.

[Flackle]

I consider myself an herb junkie.  I'm also fanatical about nutritional supplements to make sure I don't deal with problems associated with deficiencies.

My favorite herbs are the one's that are anti-viral because often times medical professionals would lead us to believe that a viral infection must "run it's course."

I believe it's important to learn how to self prescribe so we aren't overly dependent on others to "fix" all our health issues for us.

Oh...and...I also believe in preventative medical care so I have my B12, Vitamin D, HDL and LDL tested once a year.

 

There is a very legitimate scientific reason they say to let the virus run its course. If you understood how medical science works at all, instead of just assuming they're wrong, then you would have realized this.

[alice44]

This could be very interesting.  I have a lot to learn about herbs and natural remedies.  I take zink whenever  feel a cold coming on and that helps tremendously.  But I would like more information on what is available.

[Delphyne]

They're okay to use if you need an excess of a certain vitamin, or if you're looking to alleviate the common cold. But please, leave the debilitating diseases to doctors. Saying that natural remedies can cure cancer leads to false hope, and that false hope could distract from any possible actual cure that might come about.

I understand your point of view, hon.  But, many of us have experience which says otherwise.  This is a topic for those of us to share herbal remedies.

If you disagree with these remedies or feel that only doctors are the answer, then you probably should not post on this topic. 

No one has said that natural remedies can cure cancer, but many cancer treatments are *derived* from natural remedies.  You probably do not realize that many of the medicines on the market are derived from plants, such as the heart medicine digitalin, or aspirin, or any other number of medicines.

Again, if you are going to be negative, then I must ask you not to post here.

[mstevenson2]

im careful about those things alot can make you sick

[Delphyne]

Herb of the day:  Ginger  (Zingiber Officinale)

Ginger is another plant that has been used for centuries.  It is also another fun food item.  (Gingerbread is made with ginger, afterall.)  Ginger is considered an adjuvant plant / herb, in that it heightens the effects of other herbals it is taken with.  It was used by the Chinese, the Egyptians, Romans, and Greeks.

Properties: Ginger is great for nausea and the clearing of sinus passages.  Other uses of the plant include appetite stimulant, anti-spasmodic, antibiotic.  Ginger also helps lower the cholesterol, relieves pain, and promotes sweat.  It helps circulation, metabolism, and energy levels.  Mashed or grated on a damp towel and applied to the skin also helps relieve pain associated with arthritis and neuralgia.

Cautions:  Should not be taken by anyone on blood-thinners, as it is an anti-coagulant.



 

[Taylor95]

Vinegar is good for about anything. It helps with bug bites (esp. jellyfish stings. Just trust me on that one) and I heard that taking a tablespoon a day helps loose weight.