Tag Archives: herbal remedies

Birch

Poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge called the birch tree the Lady of the Woods. This graceful tree isn’t just decorative — birch has been used in healing for hundreds of years. There are many different types of birch tree, including: White birch, also known as canoe birch or paper birch, is found in northern forests across North America — throughout Canada, in the Great Lakes region, in the Pacific Northwest, and in the northeast. Black birch, also known as sweet birch, is found as far north as Maine, as far south as Tennessee, and as far west as Iowa. River birch, … Continue reading →

Beebalm

Beebalm is a plant that is native to North America. You can find beebalm as far north as Maine, as far south as Georgia, and as far west as Michigan and Ontario. Beebalm grows in the moist soil found in woodlands and along stream banks. During the days of the Boston Tea Party, Americans often drank beebalm tea instead of black tea! This herb was discovered in the area of Otsego (also known as Oswego) New York, the same area where writer James Fenimore Cooper lived and wrote. Native Americans used the plant both for medicine and for tea! Shaker … Continue reading →

Making Your Herbal Remedies

There are different ways to use your dried or fresh herbs in healing. Tea is the most common way of turning herbs into medicine. Medicinal teas taste much stronger than normal herbal teas — commercial herbal teas contain about a seventh of the amount of herbs in a medicinal tea. Steep one ounce of dried leaves, flowers, and/or stems in one pint of boiling water. If you’ll be using fresh herbs to make tea, use twice as much — two ounces of fresh herbs in one pint of boiling water. Always use pure water in your tea! An infusion is … Continue reading →

Preparing Your Healing Herbs

If you’re going to use herbs for healing, PLEASE make sure that you have correctly identified the plant before using. Some plants that look like safe, medicinal herbs may actually be toxic. If you have any doubts, don’t use the plant. Ready to harvest your herb garden? Try to pick your herbs on a sunny morning, after the dew has dried but before the sun has started to bake the plants. Wet plants can mold or mildew — believe me, you don’t want to use a moldy or mildewed plant. Drying leaves, stems, and flowers is as easy as tying … Continue reading →

Herbal Remedies In Your Pantry

Some common herbs used for cooking can also be used to treat some common health issues. Caraway seeds are thought to ease digestive troubles and relieve flatulence. Cayenne pepper is thought to be good for fever, fighting infection, and whole body cleansing. Cinnamon is a digestive aid, and was traditionally used to treat fever, diarrhea, and bleeding. Clove aids in digestion. Cumin aids in digestion. Fennel can be used as a digestive aid or to relieve flatulence. Fenugreek can help soothe respiratory irritations and relieve coughs. It is also an anti-inflammatory. Garlic may help reduce blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood … Continue reading →

Tinospora

Folk legend in India says that a climbing plant with heart-shaped leaves was responsible for keeping the angels eternally young. They call it “giloya” — heavenly elixir. But the plant known as tinospora (tinospora cordifolia) has more mundane uses as well. Tinospora has long been used in ayurvedic medicine to enhance longevity, promote intelligence, and prevent disease. Research in more recent years has focused on that last element: preventing disease. A 2004 study at Miami Children’s Hospital showed that tinospora can help trigger activity in white blood cells — your body’s natural defenders. A special carbohydrate in tinospora seems to … Continue reading →

Herbal Supplements – Who Shouldn’t Use Them

One of the biggest challenges to dieting is understanding what diets you can or can’t do as well as what you can or can’t take. For example, when you are dieting you should not take herbal supplements if you fall into any of the following categories: You shouldn’t take herbal supplements when you are taking prescription medications without checking with the physician or pharmacist first. Some herbs can cause serious side effects when they are combined with other medications especially those that regulate blood pressure or act as a blood thinner. You shouldn’t take herbal supplements when there is a … Continue reading →