Natural Herbal Beauty

Parsley is a diuretic herb traditionally used to treat all cases of fluid retention, including edema and obesity. It helps get rid of the bloat that sometimes accompanies the menses and relieves certain menstrual disorders as well.

Parsley is wonderfully cleansing. It benefits the lungs, stomach, liver, and thyroid, and has repeatedly proved itself valuable against bladder infections. It helps in the removal of all stones, including gallstones, if they are not too large. In old Greece, parsley was called the “stone breaker.”

DESCRIPTION AND PARTS USED

You probably know what parsley looks like—just about everyone is familiar with its curly leaves of intense green—but you may not know that this herb produces small yellow flowers. Parsley is indigenous to Turkey, Algeria, Sardinia, and Lebanon. All parts of the plant are useful, including the fruits, berries, stems, leaves, and roots. (more…)

Strictly speaking, propolis is not an herb, but it is a marvelous natural medicinal derived from the hives of honeybees. Propolis is traditionally used for coughs and colds. It fights the flu, can clear a sore throat overnight, and is valuable against prostate disease. With regular use, propolis is one of nature’s premiere preventives. It strengthens the entire body and gives the immune system a boost, thereby helping to build resistance against infection and disease.

DESCRIPTION AND PARTS USED

Honeybees collect the shiny golden-brown resin from pine trees and carry it home, where it is treated to the “magic” of the bee and then mixed into wax. The result is propolis, one of those stunning products Mother Nature devised to protect her creatures. The bees plaster propolis all over the interior of the hive and use it to line brood cells, it disinfects and protects against contamination, insuring that the hive remains disease-free. When harvested by the beekeeper, propolis comes from the hive in brown, waxy chunks. (more…)

This herb is a well-known aid for the gastrointestinal tract. It is full of the dietary fiber that both treats and prevents constipation because it retains water, thereby softening the stools. Psyllium is helpful in warding off diverticulitis, colitis, and hemorrhoids. Because of the mucilage in it, psyllium lubricates and heals without irritating the mucous membranes of the intestines. It is the most popular mucilaginous herb in use today. Manufacturers of bulk laxatives and stool softeners (Metamucil, for example) use various forms of psyllium. Check out the ingredient labels sometime. Most of these preparations—and there are many, many of them—contain this herb. (more…)