Matricaria recutita and Anthemis nobilis/Chamomilum nobile are two species in the same genus from the Daisy plant family. Both are gentle enough to use with children, yet, highly effective tools in your herbal remedies kit. A few of the common therapeutic properties include: anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, carminative, analgesic, relaxing nervine, and sedative.
Perhaps best known for their effects on calming the stomach, the chamomiles can be used for colic, indigestion, nausea, vomiting, ulcers, IBS, morning sickness, PMS, and dyspepsia. All of the properties listed in the first paragraph work to alleviate these conditions. Both Chamomiles are skin-loving (in herbal and essential oil preparations). With their anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, they can be prepared as teas, poultices, compresses, and incorporated into salves to use on eczema, minor wounds, burns, sunburns, hemorrhoids, rashes, and other skin irritations. Finally, the relaxing nervine and sedative properties have been scientifically proven to have beneficial impacts on depression, headaches, restlessness, insomnia, stress, tension, anxiety, and migraines. A cup of Chamomile tea before bedtime can help you relax so you fall asleep naturally. Likewise, a Chamomile sachet inside your pillowcase creates a pleasant aroma that will also promote sleep. To learn more about this beautiful herb, become a member and read about it on the Herbal Datasheets.
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Sweet, soft, fluffy, delicious are all excellent descriptions of this useful herb. Therapeutic properties include: anti-inflammatory, antitussive, demulcent, diuretic, emollient, expectorant, galactogogue, hypoglycemic, immunomodulatory, laxative, nutritive, and vulnerary. Let's delve a little deeper into some of these properties.
Demulcent is, perhaps, Marshmallow's best known property. Demulcent means that it can soften the mucous membranes and skin and relieve swelling and irritation by leaving a protective, moistening film. This alone makes a cold infusion of Marshmallow beneficial for stomachache, heartburn, reflux, sore throat, dry mouth and throat, dry cough, dry skin conditions, minor wounds, and minor burns. Marshmallow is so good for the skin, it's even used in skin care products! As an expectorant, antitussive, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory herb, it can soothe pleurisy and dry, hot lung issues. (Cold, boggy lung conditions would call for some different herbs.) It has a phagocytosis property which means Marshmallow will stimulate the phagocyte immune cells to gobble up pathogens and dead cells. This is important when you're sick, since your immune cells are waging war against harmful pathogens, and both sides end up with lots of dead cells. Mothers can use a Marshmallow compress to reduce pain and swelling of the breast for breastfeeding and to relieve mastitis. This herb's galactogogue property may also help increase milk supply. UTIs and bladder infections don't stand a chance with Marshmallow. Hmmm, I just had an idea. I may have to try making (separately), cranberry tea and cold infusion of Marshmallow, then mix them together. It seems to me that this blend would be powerful against a UTI. Diuretic properties of the herb may then help get you going more easily. Marshmallow is generally safe, but does have a couple of precautions. Because it coats the mucous membranes, it can affect absorption of medications. The recommendation, if you take medications, is to leave at least 1 hour between taking your medicine and ingesting Marshmallow preparations. (My take on that is 1 hour before and 1 hour after.) Marshmallow may interact with Lithium. It may interact with diabetes medications because it can lower blood sugar. Always consult with your doctor before using any herb. To learn more about this sweet, fun herb, check out its Datasheet in the membership section of this website. We hear a lot of information about oats from ads on TV, the internet, and in magazines. We see adds for oatmeal, oats in soaps and lotions, and oats in products to relieve itching. There's a good reason for what we're hearing -- oats really can do a lot for us.
Oats are highly nutritious with properties that help strengthen our nails, teeth, bones, and hair. They can lower cholesterol, which is good for the heart. They are especially restorative for those who are experiencing physical and mental exhaustion due to illness, drug withdrawal, and/or long-term, high stress situations. They can relax the nerves and restore energy. Oats are demulcent, so they soothe dry, irritated skin and mucous membranes. Rashes and hot, dry skin conditions generally respond well to topical products containing oats because of their moistening and anti-inflammatory properties. Milky oats, oatstraw, and oatmeal are forms of oats we use. Milky oats are the oat seeds before they are ready to harvest. There is a short period of time when the 'milk' can be squeezed out of the seed. Herbalists often make milky oat tinctures to preserve the therapeutic properties of the 'milk'. The tincture is known to be fast-acting. Ripe oat grains are harvested to make oatmeal. This is likely to be the best known form of oats, and makes a great breakfast, nourishing meal during illness or after surgery, and delicious, healthy cookies (or other dessert). Oatstraw includes the aerial part of the plant -- stalk and seeds. These can be harvested at any time and then dried. Oatstraw is best used as a decoction (or tea). [Simmer 1 ounce of oatstraw in 4 cups of water for 20 (or more) minutes.] Some traditional herbal remedies: * Add milky oats tincture to oatstraw decoction to help strengthen/heal bones. * Use milky oats tincture for MS as it may reduce the symptoms and fatigue, nourish the muscles, and help with nerve function. |
DisclaimerThe information contained in this blog is for educational purposes only and has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Archives
March 2021
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