A sedative and relaxant, lavender buds can be steeped in tea and baked in cookies.
Flourishing in the garden, the kitchen and the medicine cabinet, plant herbs have more uses than water. Growing herbs enhances the soil and has advanced modern medicine. With thousands of varieties of herbal decoctions, tinctures and teas, plant herbs may be the oldest branch of biology. Whether boosting the immune system or easing a headache, herbs are powerful enough to soothe the senses in something as simple as a cup of hot tea.
Alternative Healing
A master immunity builder, echinacea sells as a common cold remedy.
For irritated stomachs, sore throats, athlete's foot or toothaches, homeopathic remedies are here to stay. Sucking on crystallized ginger from the health food store will reduce gastrointestinal distress. Steeping chamomile tea leaves in water will soothe a sore throat. Add some honey and your cough will disappear. Soak your feet in tea tree oil to kill fungi, or dilute it and sprinkle it on your skin as a bug repellent. A powerful pain reliever, clove oil or eugenol can reduce toothache pain, but be careful because it can burn the skin. Ground feverfew can reduce headaches and migraine pain. Rubbing lavender oil on the temples while soaking in an Epsom salt bath reduces muscle pain and fatigue. Use a poultice of cinnamon and nutmeg to reduce the effects of swelling from a sprained ankle. The anti-inflammatory qualities are not as irritating to the skin as clove oil.
Immune System Boosters
A stimulant, peppermint eases pain and nurses a nervous stomach.
Echinacea is a potent purple flower that enhances the immune system and prevents illness. Echinacea is commonly sold in health food stores in capsule form. Also known as the purple cone flower, it is a powerful herb that can boost immune cell production in bone marrow. Used in a poultice or massage oil, thyme, rosemary, marjoram and basil can treat infection and inflammation, according to Jane Buckle, author of "Clinical Aromatherapy: Essential Oils in Practice." Resist the temptation to use traditional cooking herbs unless they are fresh or preserved in oil, to ensure their effectiveness. Using herbs in a bath soak, crushing leaves for tea or mixing fresh herbs in a salad all protect the body from disease. With the ability to attack cancer cells and stimulate healing, rosemary extract may be included in anti-cancer diets, notes the Herb Research Foundation.
Stress Relievers
Clove is a powerful antiseptic, when diluted, for toothache pain or dabbed on the lip for cold sores.
A sedative, valerian reduces pain and induces sleep. Stress can disrupt the nervous system, cause aches and pains and disrupt sleep. Look in the cupboard: Earl Grey tea carries oil of bergamot, so even if you don't drink tea, soak with 10 tea bags in the tub. Mix melissa and sandalwood in grape-seed oil for a relaxing massage. Getting regular massage calms the nerves and reduces nervous system sensitivity. Choose herbal teas such as green or white tea, Earl Grey, chamomile, vanilla and chai over coffees and colas. Herbal teas promote well-being while reducing stress.
Dietary Aids
As a soak, poultice or tincture, chamomile and nutmeg reduce inflammation.
Losing weight may not need to be a battle. Drinking green or white tea with acai leaves can stimulate the body's metabolism, helping you to shed pounds. Late-night hunger can kill a diet, but some herbs mix well in salad, such as dandelion root and nettle leaf. Crush these plant herbs in a late-night salad or mid-afternoon treat to reduce the appetite. Drinking 60 ounces of iced green tea throughout the day can increase weight loss. Amphetamines are addictive and potentially dangerous, but natural herbs can strengthen the immune system while helping you increase your metabolism. Grinding pine nuts and grape-seed leaves in cereals, vegetables or smoothie mixtures adds texture to foods. Add wheat germ or wheat grass to increase a feeling of fullness throughout the day.
Tags: plant herbs, Earl Grey, green white, health food, immune system