Natural Herbal Beauty

Rheumatism is a very imprecise term used to describe various chronic muscular aches and pains. It can include fibrositis and lumbago and may be referred to as “myalgia”, which just means pain in the muscles. Arthritis simply means an inflammation of a joint, although as there are various types of arthritis requiring rather different treatment it is important to be sure of the exact diagnosis.

Osteoarthritis is generally due to “wear and tear” — youthful injuries to joints that have never fully healed or obesity putting excessive strain on the weight-bearing joints.Typically in osteoarthritis the protective cartilage surrounding the bones of a joint becomes damaged and wears away, causing the bones to rub together and become deformed. Joints often creak, become stiff and painful, while movement is often limited. (more…)

Coughing is the body’s natural response to any blockage of the airway which may be due to dust and traffic fumes or mucous resulting from infection. Coughing can also be a symptom of a number of more serious illnesses, so professional medical attention is needed for any cough which persists for more than a few days or for which there is no obvious cause.

Coughs can be dry and irritating or “productive” with phlegm which can vary in shade from white to green — darker colours generally indicating an infection. Dry coughs can often linger for weeks following a cold and in some cases coughing can become a nervous habit. (more…)

Herbs have been used for centuries for all sorts of injuries and wounds. Their very names remind us of the fact: yarrow’s botanical name (Achillea) comes from Achilles, who reputedly used it before the gates of Troy to heal his fellow Greeks. In some cultures a warlike nature tended to dominate views of herbs: the Maori of New Zealand, for example, were always fighting each other and the vast majority of their traditional remedies involve poultices and compresses to heal the injured.

Herbs are still ideal for all sorts of minor cuts, grazes and burns: the choice is wide, so even when you are far from home there is generally a suitably styptic healer close at hand. (more…)

SWOLLEN GLANDS:Put 5 leaves of ivy in 1 cup of boiling water and simmer for 10 minutes. Strain and cool. Take 1 tablespoon 3 times a day.

INFLAMED OR INFECTED TONSILS: Place a large handful of sage in 1 pint of water. Simmer for 15 minutes or until sage is soft. Dip a flannel cloth in the liquid and place the sage leaves in the flannel before wrapping around the throat. Dip another cloth in the liquid, wrap this, too, around the throat. Keep replacing the outer cloth to keep the first poultice warm. Give a strong infusion of sage tea to drink during treatment. Swellings and inflammation should subside within hours.

SORE THROAT GARGLE: Place 2 tablespoons of chopped blackcurrant leaves in 1 cup of water. Simmer for 15 minutes. Strain and cool. Use as a gargle to relieve sore throat. (more…)

The things we hear, see, smell and taste make our lives interesting. So, whenever any of these senses is dulled or impaired by illness, it makes our world a little grayer. Luckily, Mother Nature provides us with different kinds of herbs to help remedy the situation. Over the years, we humans have managed to take nature’s gifts and make them into good remedies.

EARACHE REMEDIES: Heat seems to help stop earache pain. Place a warm damp washcloth over the ear and lay ear on a heating pad to keep warm. Pain that persists should be seen by your physician, as it could signal an ear infection or eardrum perforation. (more…)

What do blood disorders, wounds, and arthritis all have in common? They are all linked to the health of the blood and the circulatory system. And they are all conditions that have a history of good herbal remedies behind them.

All the body’s cells must be supplied with nutrients and oxygen constantly. The blood carries oxygen through the circulatory system. A good diet is important to keep the blood built up and to ensure that there is no deficiency of necessary minerals and vitamins.

These vitamins and minerals help keep the blood healthy, so it can do its job. One of its jobs is to clot when there’s a wound. Wounds depend on the clotting ability of the blood to stop bleeding. (more…)

As you have seen, herbs and other natural medicinals are the cornerstone of all the ancient healing traditions. They are still used worldwide today—by Chinese medical

doctors, Ayurvedic vaidyas, macrobiotic practitioners, Native American healers, the shamans of South America, and in millions of households from Alaska to Zanzibar—for just one reason. They work.

A growing number of people strongly believe that Mother (Nature) knows best. Without question, the natural medicinals have some very real advantages when compared with man made drugs. Nature’s medicinals can do just about anything man made pharmaceuticals can do, and, with very few exceptions, herbal brews and other natural medicinals are free of the adverse effects characteristic of man made drugs. The ingredients found in nature’s pharmacy are time-tested and body-friendly. (more…)