Showing posts with label Medicinal Benefits. Show all posts
Herbs for the Heart
Posted by Unknown in Herbs, Medicinal Benefits on Monday, 13 May 2013
- broom - strengthens and normalizes the heart and also rids the body of any build-up of water that is due to insufficient heart strength. Care has to be taken though with this herb as it can increase blood pressure.
- bugleweed - whilst this herb increases the strength of the heart beat it also decreases its rate and is valuable as a relaxant as well.
- figwort - is known for its treatment of skin problems but it also strengthens the heart's contractions.
- hawthorn berries - are one of the most valuable remedies for the circulatory system. They strengthen the force of the contraction of the heart muscle while also dilating the vessels of the coronary circulation. They can be used in most circulatory problems as they will relax or stimulate the heart according to its need and normalize heart function.
- lily of the valley - can be used where the strength of the heart is insufficient, as in angina, or in the treatment of an aging heart. This is particularly the case when there are fatty deposits in the blood vessels.
- motherwort - is a relaxing herb and for the circulatory system it will strengthen and normalize the heart function.
- night blooming cereus - can be use similarly to lily of the valley and is particularly useful where there is any change in the rhythm of the heart beat.
Food Cures You Can Grow at Home
organicgardening.com
Why burn a
quarter-tank of gas running out to the drugstore for Pepto when you can
pluck some relief from your windowsill herb garden?
Besides adding
another dimension to your cooking, freshly harvested herbs can soothe
dozens of common health problems, and it’s possible to grow a selection
of home remedies in a couple of pots placed in a sunny spot.
Look for
seedlings of these plants and herbs at any garden store, or if you’re
really ambitious, buy a packet of seeds and try sprouting your own.
Aloe Vera
Grow it: Plant in pots placed in full sunshine. Water well.
Use it: Break
open the thick leaves and apply the gel that seeps out to your skin to
soothe sunburn. “It’s 96 percent water and 4 percent active ingredients,
including amino
acids and enzymes that nourish damaged skin,” says pharmacist Margo
Marrone, founder of The Organic Pharmacy in the United Kingdom.
Basil
Grow it:
This sweet, fragrant annual is ideal for growing in pots. Pull off the
white flowers as soon as they appear to keep it from going to seed and
your herbs from tasting bitter.
Use it: Rub crushed leaves on your temples to relieve headaches. Pour boiling water over basil leaves for a pain-relieving footbath.
Lavender
Grow it: This sun-loving plant needs good drainage. Use a small pot filled with gravel and a light soil.
Use it: It
has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. Crush a handful of the
heads and add to a bowl of boiling water to use as a steam bath for
your face. You can also dab the oil from the flowers on blemishes, says Marrone.
Lemon Balm
Grow it: Pot it, or it will colonize your garden.
Use it:
Use for healing and preventing cold sores. Also, rub leaves directly
onto skin as a natural insect repellent or to soothe bites.
Mint
Grow it: Use a sunken pot, because it grows vigorously.
Use it:
Ideal for treating the collywobbles, which you might know as butterflies
in the stomach. Sip tea made with fresh peppermint leaves to soothe
stomach cramps, nausea,
and flatulence. For a natural decongestant, place a fistful of mint
leaves in a shallow bowl and cover with boiling water. Lean over it,
drape a towel over your head, and breathe the steam.
Parsley
Grow it: Thrives in a pot in the sun as long as the soil is kept moist. Feed with organic fertilizer.
Use it: Immune-system booster. Eat one tablespoon of chopped flatleaf or curly parsley daily. Chewing parsley neutralizes mouth odors.
Sage
Grow it: Needs full sun and a dry sandy soil. Sage means “to be in good health.”
Use it: Gargle with a broth made from a quarter-cup of leaves (and cooled) to relieve sore throat.
Thyme
Grow it: Plant in dry, light soil. Needs sun.
Use it: A
powerful antioxidant as well as an antiseptic. Drink a tea made from
lemon thyme to treat colds before bed. Warning: Don’t use thyme when
pregnant.
