Author: vanessa

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5 Reasons Lemon Balm is the Herb for You!

One of the most perfect herbs for those new to herbalism is Lemon Balm. Lemon Balm, whose botanical name is Melissa officionalis, is remarkably versatile in its uses. Its pleasant taste makes it great as a beverage tea, while its medicinal properties make it valuable for healing a variety of issues.

Throughout history, Lemon Balm has been used medicinally. The writings of Dioscorides and Pliny the Elder mention the use of Lemon Balm on surgical dressing for wounds, and to treat venomous bites and stings. The 12th century herbalist, Saint Hildegarde von Bingen, said “Lemon balm contains within it the virtues of a dozen other plants.”

Here are a few of the areas in which Lemon Balm excels:

Melissa officinalis

Brain

Recent studies show that Lemon Balm is helpful in improving brain function. In one study, a significant increase in the speed of mathematical processing, with no reduction in accuracy was observed. In another study, after just one dose of Lemon Balm, subjects showed improved cognitive performance and lengthened attention span!

 

Stress

In those same studies, another benefit that was observed was improved mood and a sense of calmness. In fact, Lemon Balm has been used traditionally for reducing stress of all kinds. Stress-induced anxiety and/or depression is specifically indicated for the use of Lemon Balm. It has an uplifting nature that can dissolve tension and induce a balancing of the nervous system.

 

Sleep

The relaxing effect that Lemon Balm has on the nervous system can also be helpful for those with sleep issues. In Germany, lemon balm is actually licensed as a standard medicinal tea for sleep disorders. In The British Herbal Pharmacopoeia it is listed as a sedative. Western herbalists often use it in combination with other relaxing and sedative herbs to promote sleep.

 

Viruses

Lemon Balm is highly anti-viral. It has been studied for its effectiveness against herpes virus as well as HIV with positive results. In one study on 115 patients, a proprietary preparation of lemon balm extract in a lip balm showed efficacy in treating lip sores associated with the herpes simplex virus. Studies of various mint family plants, including Lemon Balm, showed efficacy against human immunodeficiency virus type 1.

 

Children

Even though Lemon Balm is a powerfully medicinal herb, it is gentle enough for children. It is indicated for use in ADHD and hyperactivity in kids. Because of its gentle nature, it is the herb for choice when a child has any of the various issues listed above – problems falling asleep, a viral infection, learning disorders or any sort of stress-induced condition. Because of its delightful flavor, it is a favorite among even the pickiest of children, making it even more valuable as a medicine.

Lemon Balm is a standby in our household and brings its uplifting nature and agreeable, lemony flavor to so many medicinal blends and remedies, it would be difficult to be without it!

While this, by no means, is a complete list of all the benefits Lemon Balm possesses, it is a nice place to start. Do you use Lemon Balm? What is your favorite way to use it?

Melissa officinalis
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5 Reasons Evening Primrose is the Herb for You!

5-reasonsMany of you may be familiar with the benefits of Evening Primrose Oil. For many years now, the seed oil of the Evening Primrose plant has been researched, studied and touted for it’s GLA (gamma-linolenic acid) content, which is a precursor of EFA’s (essential fatty acids). Most of the findings of the more than 100 studies published so far show positive results for a broad range of actions from arthritis, skin issues, and premenstrual syndrome, to a variety of inflammatory problems, cardiovascular disease, and immuno-depression.

However, what you may not know about Evening Primrose, is that the entire plant, not just the oil, is used medicinally. Native to North America, this plant has many traditional uses that go far beyond the seed oil.

 

Respiratory Issues

According to Kiva Rose, a Southwest Herbalist, Evening Primrose has been historically used in bronchitis, asthma, pneumonia, whooping cough and similar lung ailments. It is an expectorant and very soothing to the lungs and respiratory system.

 

Skin Conditions

Used by traditional peoples extensively for a variety of issues from snakebite, spider bites and insect bites, to swelling, bruising and other itchy skin disorders, Evening Primrose is an excellent vulnerary. The leaves used as a poultice have even been used successfully for burns and eczema.

 

Women’s Herb

Studies have confirmed the abilities of the Oil of Evening Primrose to reduce hot flash frequency, severity and duration in menopausal women. However, in addition to that, the Evening Primrose plant also excels in the ability to soothe uterine and ovarian cramping. Herbalist, Kiva Rose, notes, “It is wonderful for chronic reproductive inflammation and pelvic congestion, especially when used long term.” According to Herbalpedia, A 1981 clinical study at the St. Thomas Hospital in London gave evening primrose oil to 65 women with premenstrual syndrome and 61% of the participants found their symptoms completely disappeared and another 23% felt partial relief.

 

Digestive Aid

Many Herbalists use Evening Primrose for digestive complaints, especially when there is an anxiety or depression related component. Herbalist, David Winston says, “This is one of the best herbs for GI-related depression.” Similarly, Herbalist, Matthew Wood, notes, “Evening Primrose vitalizes the stomach, stimulates the digestion and strengthens the nerve reflexes pertaining to the liver and spleen.”? In addition, Kiva Rose suggests that Evening Primrose is great for food based anxiety in those recovering from eating disorders.

 

Anti-inflammatory Action

Various studies have proven the value of Evening Primrose in benefiting inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and joint disorders. Furthermore, in 1987, the Glasgow Royal Infirmary of Scotland saw improvement in 60% of its rheumatoid arthritis patients who took a combination of evening primrose and fish oil instead of their regular drugs.

As you can see, while the oil of Evening Primrose has a multitude of medicinal uses, the herb itself is an amazingly useful and beneficial remedy in its own right.

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23 Ways to Get Natural Allergy Relief

Now that the long, dark days of winter have passed and the first few indications of spring have sprung, it’s time for many people to start thinking about allergy season. There are a number of effective ways to prevent and ease allergy symptoms using natural therapies. Many have been in use for centuries and now we have the scientific validation of their efficacy as well.

Prevention

It’s always advantageous to prevent illness rather that try to treat it after it has taken hold. Here are a couple of ways to prevent allergies from starting in the first place.

Learn more in my guest post at HybridRastaMama today!

Head over to read the rest of this post on HybridRastaMama.

 

More posts you might enjoy:

5 Reasons Evening Primrose is the Herb for You!

 

5 Reasons Red Clover is the Herb for You!

 

5 Reasons Rose is the Herb for You!

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Why You Should Be Using Adaptogens – Part 2

Adaptogens are all the rage these days. In the first post in this series, we talked about what adaptogens are and what they are used for. In this post, I’m going to describe some of the most commonly used adaptogenic herbs and how to determine if they are right for you.

  • Eleuthero (Eleutherococcus senticosus) – Also known as Siberian Ginseng, Eleuthero is a mild, tonic adaptogen that can be used over long periods of time to help strenghten the immune system, increase endurance and stamina and improve the quality of sleep. Clinical studies have shown that it also can be of benefit in lowering cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

 

Learn more in my guest post at HybridRastaMama today!

Head over to read the rest of this post on HybridRastaMama.

 

More posts you might enjoy:

5 Reasons Evening Primrose is the Herb for You!

 

5 Reasons Red Clover is the Herb for You!

 

5 Reasons Rose is the Herb for You!

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Why you Should be Using Adaptogens

Adaptogens are all the rage these days, it seems. For the last couple of years, everybody and their dog has been talking about adding adaptogens to their smoothies, consuming them in teas, tinctures, powders, you name it. What is all the hype about? What are these adaptogens and why would I want to take them? These are great questions and here are some answers.

 

What are Adaptogens?

Adaptogens are substances that have the ability to help the body adapt to stress. In this case, we will be focusing on herb or plant adaptogens. In the past, this category of herbs has been called rejuvenating or restorative herbs, qi tonics or rasayanas. And, modern research has proven that these superior herbs, that have such a long tradition of use, are safe and effective.

 

Learn more in my guest post at HybridRastaMama today!

Head over to read the rest of this post on HybridRastaMama.

More posts you might enjoy:

5 Reasons Evening Primrose is the Herb for You!

 

5 Reasons Red Clover is the Herb for You!

 

5 Reasons Rose is the Herb for You!

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How to Craft a Natural Home Medicine Kit

Crafting a home medicine kit can be easy and inexpensive — and is something no home should go without!

It wasn’t that long ago when every home had an herbal or homeopathic medicine kit filled with natural remedies to treat injuries or illnesses that family members might encounter. These days it is not so common and many people feel at a loss when they are faced with a feverish child at 2 am, the beginnings of a respiratory infection, or a finger burned from a kitchen mishap. Not only is it common sense to have a natural medicine kit at home, but it is inexpensive to put together and quite empowering to realize that you have the ability to heal yourself and your family of just about any acute illness or injury that you may encounter. Following is a brief summary of some of the items you may want to include in your natural home medicine kit. They can be purchased ready made, but most of them you can make yourself very easily and inexpensively. A combination of any or all of the herbal items listed below would make a great addition to any home.

Learn more in my guest post at GreenMedInfo today!

Head over to read the rest of this post on GreenMedInfo.

More posts you might enjoy:

5 Reasons Evening Primrose is the Herb for You!

 

5 Reasons Red Clover is the Herb for You!

 

5 Reasons Rose is the Herb for You!

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Staying Healthy Through the Cold and Flu Season with Natural Remedies

The cold and flu season hits us every year, and every year the media plays on our fears and leaves us feeling helpless to keep ourselves healthy. This year the media circus has been quite intense and, unfortunately, the public is in a frenzy of panic, lining up to get flu shots and tamiflu. While I could go on and on about the dangers of these protocols, what I really want to do is empower people to be in charge of their own health and wellness.

We are far from helpless when it comes to preventing and treating winter colds and flus. Natural remedies abound for the prevention and treatment of these types of illnesses. I’d like to illustrate just a few of the ways we can accomplish the goal of staying well during the winter season using natural modalities.

Learn more in my guest post at Hybrid Rasta Mama today.

Head over to read the rest of this post on Hybrid Rasta Mama.

 

More posts you might enjoy:

5 Reasons Evening Primrose is the Herb for You!

 

5 Reasons Red Clover is the Herb for You!

 

5 Reasons Rose is the Herb for You!

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Parents’ Natural Home Medicine Kit ~Heal Your Family with Nature’s Remedies~ Part 3

In the first post in this series, we talked about herbal remedies that may be valuable to your family in times of acute health issues. In the second post, we covered homeopathic remedies that may be good additions to your home medicine kit. In this last post in our series on creating your own natural medicine kit, we are going to talk about several other categories of remedies that you might find helpful to include.

 

Learn more in my guest post at Hybrid Rasta Mama today.

Head over to read the rest of this post on Hybrid Rasta Mama.

 

More posts you might enjoy:

5 Reasons Evening Primrose is the Herb for You!

 

5 Reasons Red Clover is the Herb for You!

 

5 Reasons Rose is the Herb for You!

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Parents’ Natural Home Medicine Kit ~Heal Your Family with Nature’s Remedies~ Part 2

In the first post in this series, we discussed various herbal remedies to keep in your natural home medicine kit. In this post, we will talk about another category of natural remedies that are invaluable to the health of you and your family – homeopathic remedies.

For homeopathic remedies, choosing the 6c or 30c potency is usually the best option. Those potencies are readily available at health food stores. Dosage, in acute conditions, may be 1 or 2 pellets repeated every 1/2 to 1 hour if necessary, up to 3 doses. Dosage frequency can then be reduced to 3 times a day for a couple of days, if necessary. Here are some basics, for the beginner, on homeopathy.

 

Learn more in my guest post at Hybrid Rasta Mama today.

Head over to read the rest of this post on Hybrid Rasta Mama.

 

More posts you might enjoy:

5 Reasons Evening Primrose is the Herb for You!

 

5 Reasons Red Clover is the Herb for You!

 

5 Reasons Rose is the Herb for You!

 

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Parents’ Natural Home Medicine Kit ~Heal Your Family with Nature’s Remedies~ Part 1

It wasn’t that long ago when every home had a medicine kit filled with natural remedies to treat injuries or illnesses that family members might encounter. These days it is not so common and many people feel at a loss when they are faced with a feverish child at 2 am, the beginnings of a respiratory infection, or a finger burned from a kitchen mishap. Not only is it common sense to have a natural medicine kit at home, but it is inexpensive to put together and quite empowering to realize that you have the ability to heal yourself and your family of just about any acute illness or injury that you may encounter.

Following is a brief summary of some of the items you may want to include in your natural home medicine kit. They can be purchased ready made, but most of them you can make yourself very easily and inexpensively. A combination of any or all of the items listed below would make a great addition to any home.

 

Learn more in my guest post at Hybrid Rasta Mama today.

Head over to read the rest of this post on Hybrid Rasta Mama.

 

More posts you might enjoy:

5 Reasons Evening Primrose is the Herb for You!

 

5 Reasons Red Clover is the Herb for You!

 

5 Reasons Rose is the Herb for You!

 


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