Summer is nearly here in the northern hemisphere, and it's time to support the bees, butterflies, birds, and ourselves. Bee Balm is the perfect way to do just that. It's a member of the mint family with a spiciness that is a cross between oregano and thyme - and it can be used in cooking as a replacement for either. Energetically, Bee Balm is stimulating and diffusive. It will take heat from your core and expel it through your extremities. Bee Balm is antimicrobial and can be used as a mouthwash, to freshen the breath, for digestive tract infections, to help reduce fever and congestion during a cold or flu, to help fight fungal infections like Candida, to cool burns, and to help keep infection away from both burns and wounds. As an anti-spasmodic and carminative herb, it stimulates digestion and relieves colic, bloating, gas, indigestion, sore muscles, and menstrual cramps. Its emmenagogue properties make it a good herb to stimulate menses when it's late - as such, it should not be used if you're pregnant. As a relaxing nervine, Bee Balm can cool hot emotions like anxiety, and calm the nerves while lifting the spirits. This herb is beautiful to see in the garden, and a wonderful herb to keep stocked in the kitchen as well!
0 Comments
When you think of cinnamon, what memories does it elicit? Perhaps it causes you to think of hot apple pie, or eggnog, or cinnamon toast on a cold winter's day. Cinnamon reminds me of sweetness, warmth, holidays, and happiness. What is it about this spice that makes it so popular worldwide and throughout the millennia?
Cinnamon is a warming and drying spice that improves circulation, relieves indigestion and cramping, reduces inflammation, and lowers blood sugar and cholesterol. Studies have shown it's effective for Type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance. It can be used to relieve toothaches and to brush your teeth! Cinnamon is antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic. Try adding it to herbal tea when you have a cold or the flu as it has antimicrobial properties. You can buy cinnamon in powder form, chips, or sticks. DH and I love dropping a cinnamon stick in the coffee pot for cinnamon coffee. It tastes delicious and helps keep us healthy. To read about cinnamon in more detail, become a member and check out its datasheet. Spring is here, and with it we start spending more time outside with insects that bite and sting, pollen, and plants like poison ivy. We get sunburns, scrapes, and scratches. One simple 'weed' can help heal all of these minor irritations -- Plantain.
Plantain cools "hot" conditions. If you scrape your knee or get stung by a bee, the injured area burns/stings, gets red, and swells -- these are all hot conditions. Plantain's cooling, anti-inflammatory, vulnerary, and antimicrobial properties are the perfect solution for these situations. A good example of this is a 3 week trip I took with my daughter and grandkids last fall. We spent a lot of time camping and hiking, visiting zoos and other fun places. There were plenty of mosquito bites, chigger bites, bumps, bruises, scrapes, and scratches. I took four tubes of my BBG butter - a salve with Plantain and Comfrey infused oils. It took the sting and itch out of all the bites. It soothed and cooled the scrapes, scratches, and bumps. Interestingly, one of my grandsons scratched his arm on something -- the scratch was about 6 inches long, bright red, and just deep enough to draw little drops of blood along the whole scratch. I put the BBG Butter on the full length of the scratch. It knocked out the pain in less than a minute. The next morning, the skin had already closed up without a scab. Plantain also has moistening properties, which, combined with its cooling and healing properties make it a good herb for GI and lung issues like ulcers, leaky gut, reflux, and dry coughs. Plantain seeds are full of fiber, so they're a great solution for constipation. These are just a few of the therapeutic properties of Plantain. To read more about this versatile herb, check out my datasheet in the membership section. It amazes me how many herbs/spices have a licorice flavor! Star Anise is one of those spices. It's a pungent and warming spice that adds a sweet-licorice flavor to food and drinks. This spice is a member of the Illiciaceae plant family as opposed to Anise Seed being a member of the Apiaceae (Parsley) plant family. Let's look at the benefits we get from Star Anise and the cautions for using it.
Benefits: * Antibacterial - it's effective against close to 70 bacterial strains that are resistant to antibiotics. * Antifungal, fights yeast infections, Athlete's Foot, and Ring Worm * Antiviral the constituent shikimic acid can help ward off the flu and is an ingredient in Tamiflu * It's good for respiratory infections, coughs, and sore throats * Anti-inflammatory * Sedative - it can help a person relax, fall asleep, and stay asleep naturally * Contains iron which can help increase red blood cell production which improves circulation which improves energy * Promotes digestion, carminative - relieves gas, cramping, indigestion, constipation, and bloating, * May help regulate hormones for both men and women, and reduce menopause symptoms, * Antioxidant constituents may reduce the risk of certain cancers and improve the skin * Freshens the breath and may help improve oral health * Calcium - may help with bone health * Repels mosquitoes Cautions: It's important to look for the Latin name and the country of origin. Star Anise -- Illicium verum from China! There is another Star Anise from Japan, but it has a toxin that we cannot ingest. I have read about reports of the Japanese Star Anise being mixed with the Chinese and making people sick. Because of this, it's highly recommended: 1. That you know and trust the source of your Star Anise; and 2. that you not use Star Anise with children ages 5 and under. Star Anise may interact with some medications. Because of it's ability to affect hormones, it's recommended that women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, or who have endometriosis, and anyone with estrogen-dependent cancer should avoid using Star Anise*. * Note: Some sources report that Star Anise can promote lactation while others caution against using it if you're breastfeeding. I recommend you consult with your doctor before using Star Anise if you are nursing your baby. Resources: 1. Staughton, John, 9 Surprising Benefits of Star Anise, Organic Facts, Last updated March 26, 2019, https://www.organicfacts.net/star-anise.html, Accessed May 8 - 10, 2019 2. Seward, Marc, 10 Science Backed Star Anise Benefits, Healthy Focus, May 6, 2016, https://healthyfocus.org/star-anise-benefits/, Accessed May 8 - 10, 2019 3. Jessimy, Michael, 11 Impressive Health Benefits of Star Anise, Natural Food Series, May 1, 2019, https://www.naturalfoodseries.com/11-benefits-star-anise/, Accessed May 8 - 10, 2019 4. Mercola, Star Anise: Add This Special Spice to Your Meals, December 13, 2018, https://articles.mercola.com/herbs-spices/star-anise.aspx, Accessed May 8 - 10, 2019 5. Hill, Ansley, Star Anise: Benefits, Uses and Potential Risks, healthline, October 12, 2018, https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/star-anise Accessed May 8 - 10, 2019 6. Acharya, Medicinal values of the popular herb Star Anise, Ayruvedic Talk, April 26, 2011, http://www.ayurvedictalk.com/medicinal-values-of-the-popular-herb-star-anise/1760/ Accessed May 8 - 10, 2019 Who would have thought that the common garden Marigold could be so beneficial? Easily grown in your garden, Calendula will attract and benefit the bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. You can harvest the flower heads in the morning when the dew has completely evaporated and the flowers are dry. (Or, if you're like me and are still trying to learn how to keep plants alive, you can buy dried Calendula.) Let's look at how we can use this cousin of Chamomile.
Skin. Wounds. Mucous membranes. Skin. Immune modulating. Skin. Antimicrobial. Vulnerary. Lymphatic. Anti-inflammatory. Skin. Antispasmodic. Astringent and slightly demulcent. Liver support. Skin. You get the idea -- Calendula is great for moisturizing and healing the skin. Used on small wounds, it can help them heal without getting infected. It can help take the sting and itch out of bites, stings, burns, rashes (including diaper rash and eczema), and other skin irritations. It's even showing positive results in protecting the skin post radiation treatment. Its ability to heal mucous membranes fits right in with its skin benefits. (Think of mucous membranes as slimy skin on the inside.) Taken as a tea, Calendula can help heal digestive tract issues like ulcers and leaky gut. One of my favorite ways to use Calendula is to infuse it into oil, then add it to topical products like Total Knot Out and Joint Candy for its antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory properties. With these properties, it may help with reducing varicose veins and hemorrhoids when used both internally and externally. I've discussed just a few of Calendula's many therapeutic properties here. Watch for my membership section to open to get in-depth information on this beautiful and beneficial herb! When I think of peppermint, I'm reminded of Candy Canes and the little candies I like to eat when I have an upset stomach, a cold, or a sore throat. Peppermint is a plant that grows and spreads easily. It's so common, that it's easy to forget about when looking for home remedies. Yet, it's one of a small handful of herbs that I prefer to keep in stock at all times.
Peppermint is a pungent herb that is drying and can be warming and/or cooling (think of an icy-hot sensation). It's good for freshening the breath and reducing fever. It's used to relieve nausea, pain, headaches, gas, hiccups, itchy skin, inflammation, and cramping/spasms. It can also be soothing for flu, colds, and congestion. Because the menthol in peppermint stimulates the hippocampus, it can boost concentration, alertness, memory, and cognitive function. If you're studying for a test, try drinking peppermint tea while you study. Try sucking on a peppermint candy while taking that test. Those are some seriously great therapeutic properties, but wait, there's more -- Peppermint can be part of a nutritious diet! It has Vitamins A, B 6, and C, Calcium, Copper, Folate, Iron, Magnesium, Manganese, Niacin, Phosphorus, Riboflavin, Thiamine, and Zinc in small quantities. Next time your stomach is upset, try drinking some peppermint tea. Liven up your salads with fresh peppermint leaves. Lift your spirits with this refreshing herb as often as you wish! Native to Southeast Asia, Ashwagandha is a member of the Nightshade family and a major herb in Ayurveda. The root is most commonly used, but the leaves and berries are sometimes used as well.
Energetically, Ashwagandha is warming and moist. It has a sweet, astringent, and bitter taste. (In Ayurveda, astringent taste means that it tightens tissues, dries up fats, and absorbs water.) Therapeutically, it's often used as an adaptogen, immunomodulator, and anxiolytic. As an adaptogen and anxiolytic, Ashwagandha can help calm and strengthen the central nervous system by boosting energy through supporting healthy sleep. It also lowers anxiety and promotes beneficial rest by lowering the level of cortisol. As an immunomodulator, it reduces inflammation and supports the immune system - especially for those with immune system disorders or who are easily susceptible to infections. This amazing herb is also used as an aphrodisiac, for fibromyalgia and arthritis, to help control blood glucose and lower cholesterol, and to aid learning and memory. To read more about Ashwagandha, check out the Herb Datasheet in the Membership Section. Resources: 1. de la Foret, Rosalee, Ashwagandha Monograph, Herbmentor, (c) 2019, https://herbmentor.learningherbs.com/herb/ashwagandha/#calming-adaptogen, Accessed April 18, 2019 2. Spritzler, Franziska, RD, CDE, 12 Proven Health Benefits of Ashwagandha, healthline, Last updated June 11, 2018, https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/12-proven-ashwagandha-benefits, Accessed April 18, 2019 3. Editors at Chopra.com, What is Ashwagandha, The Chopra Center, (c) 2019, https://chopra.com/articles/what-is-ashwagandha Accessed April 18, 2019 4. THyroid Basics, Ashwagandha, (c) 2019, https://thyroidbasics.com/ashwagandha/ Accessed April 18, 2019 My first introduction to Red Clover was a few years ago. I had the teacher's retirement insurance and discovered what my medications were going to cost me. One of my medications I had/have to take, so there was no question of me shelling out 80% of the cost. The other was one that I decided I could stop taking. I knew it would be uncomfortable to go off it, but not harmful - yes, ladies, it was my hormone patch. It was at a point in my herbal studies where I was still looking to 'treat my symptoms'. So I set out to find and research herbs that could help me stay calm and cool. Red Clover is one of several herbs that I found, researched, and tried.
Red Clover is a member of the Pea Family (Fabaceae Family). It tastes sweet and has a cooling effect on the body. Red Clover is antispasmodic, lymphatic, alterative, nutritive, and phytoestrogenic. As an antispasmodic, Red Clover may help calm the coughing spasms of Whooping Cough. As a lymphatic and alterative, it may help lymphatic fluid move and 'clean the blood'. Finally, as a phytoestrogen, Red Clover has eight compounds that are strongly able to dock with estrogen receptors in our bodies. This means that Red clover can help with many of the changes that go along with menopause -- especially hot flashes. When I tried making Red Clover tea, I discovered right away how sweet it is and how much it calmed my hot flashes. I continued to experiment with other phytoestrogenic herbs, and started blending some of those herbs together in an effort to make myself a "Menotea". In each of those blends, I would include Red Clover because of its sweetening effect on the tea and cooling effect on me. Eventually, I came up with my "Menotea" in which Red Clover was the starring herb. You can find out more about this sweet herb in the membership section. Elettaria cardamomum - also known as Cardamom, is a member of the Zingiberaceae, or Ginger, family. With a savory, slightly sweet, spicy taste, this herb has benefits for many of our body systems. No wonder it's the third most expensive spice in the world! Let's look at some of Cardamom's therapeutic properties.
Cardamom is best known for balancing the digestive system. It can help reduce indigestion, gas, cramping, bloating, colic, urinary incontinence, kidney stones, nausea, vomiting, constipation and diarrhea. It can also protect against H. pylori and UTIs, and even help treat UTIs. Lesser known benefits of Cardamom include improving circulation, balancing blood sugar, reducing blood pressure and cholesterol, protecting the heart and kidneys, supporting the immune system, freshening the breath, and lifting the spirits. It can also stimulate the metabolism and increase the production of glutathione and other cancer-preventing enzymatic processes in the body. This herb/spice is versatile in both its therapeutic properties and in its culinary uses. It adds a great flavor to meat and fish dishes, vegetables, several beverages, and even to desserts. I sometimes spice up my morning coffee with Cardamom. To get more in-depth information on Cardamom, check out my Herbal Datasheet section. Hops are perhaps best known as a major ingredient in beer, but they have a lot to more to offer in other ways as well. Let's look at a few of the ways hops can be of benefit in our daily lives.
Hops are bitter and pungent, cooling and astringent. In Western Herbalism, they're considered antibacterial, sedative, relaxant, and a digestive aid. Pungent herbs tend to be warming and drying as well as stimulating and dispersing while bitter herbs are cooling and drying and may aid digestion. Hops are cooling and drying. The organs that benefit from hops include the stomach, intestines, heart, lungs, and the central nervous system. Hops are sedative and relaxant -- they may help you relax and feel drowsy. They are also analgesic and anti-inflammatory which may help reduce pain. Have you ever felt sleepy, more relaxed, and in less pain after drinking beer? The hops in the beer are probably responsible. Hops are also phytoestrogenic and may help calm hot flashes in menopause. Beer is not the only way to get your hops. You can make an infusion (tea), a poultice or fomentation, a tincture, or an herb pillow. Hops are considered safe, but do have contraindications for those taking pentobarbital and those who have depression. You can check out the Hops Datasheet for more in-depth information. |
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
Categories |