Natural Herbal Beauty

Stress and anxiety can also play a part in another common disorder, “irritable bowel syndrome” — a name that is often little more than a convenient label for a range of symptoms that can embrace just about any bowel irregularity which does not have a clear pathological cause. Sufferers can complain of numerous problems typical of poor digestive function or food intolerance — including constipation, diarrhoea, bloating, flatulence, stomach cramps, nausea, bowel tenderness, headaches, general tiredness, depression or anxiety. Food intolerance is a common cause: one study suggests that two-thirds of IBS sufferers actually display some sort of food allergy. The main culprits include dairy food, gluten (found in wheat, oats, barley and rye), caffeine-containing drinks, alcohol, cigarettes, eggs and red meat. If food intolerance is the cause, then it is important to identify and avoid the problem categories. (more…)

Stress and anxiety can also play a part in another common disorder, “irritable bowel syndrome” — a name that is often little more than a convenient label for a range of symptoms that can embrace just about any bowel irregularity which does not have a clear pathological cause. Sufferers can complain of numerous problems typical of poor digestive function or food intolerance — including constipation, diarrhoea, bloating, flatulence, stomach cramps, nausea, bowel tenderness, headaches, general tiredness, depression or anxiety. Food intolerance is a common cause: one study suggests that two-thirds of IBS sufferers actually display some sort of food allergy. The main culprits include dairy food, gluten (found in wheat, oats, barley and rye), caffeine-containing drinks, alcohol, cigarettes, eggs and red meat. If food intolerance is the cause, then it is important to identify and avoid the problem categories.

Soothing herbs such as marshmallow and meadowsweet can help to relieve IBS symptoms, as can digestive tonics and stimulants like peppermint and golden seal. Astringents, such as herb Robert and agrimony, can be added to these remedies to ease any symptoms of diarrhoea. (more…)

Minor stomach upsets with abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhoea and vomiting affect most of us at some time. They can often be associated with food poisoning, an excess of rich food or too much alcohol; in such cases soothing herbs like slippery elm and marshmallow can bring relief. Other stomach upsets are linked to chills, when warming herbs such as chili and ginger can be useful.

For some, the problem can be stress related, with any increase in nervous tension or anxiety levels usually accompanied by digestive problems; relaxing carminatives can be useful in these cases. The wide range of herbal relaxants offers plenty of choice depending on individual need and tastes, but a good mixture for nervous tummies is:

• 2 parts chamomile flowers
• 2 parts lemon balm herb
• I part lavender flowers
• Use 1-2 teaspoons of dried mixed herbs per cup of boiling water, infuse for 5 minutes, strain and drink. (more…)
   

Herbs have a long history of use in treating eye and ear problems: before the days of universally available hearing aids and spectacles, itinerant herb doctors would often specialise in eyes or ears and travel the countryside treating patients with brews designed to improve sight or hearing rather than simply alleviate the sort of minor ailments we would treat in this way today.

Old herbals are full of remedies — the vast majority unproven — for restoring sight to the blind and curing tinnitus or deafness. Some, such as the legend about greater celandine seeds restoring sight to blind swallows, go back to ancient times and were once very widely used. Other remedies we now know do have a relevance: eating carrots certainly has a role in improving night vision, since Vitamin A is needed to maintain the relevant components in the retina. (more…)

Today, thanks to modern science, we generally regard the heart simply as a powerful muscle to pump blood around the body. Traditional medicine has a rather different view: to the Chinese the heart controls the life process, co-ordinates the activities of all the other organs and manages mental activities and consciousness. It stores Shen — a sense of appropriateness and right behaviour — so that what we term mental illness is often seen in Chinese medicine as due to disharmonies in the heart upsetting Shen.

Ayurvedic medicine puts the heart in a similar central role: it is the dwelling place of the atman — the divine self or spirit of immortal life — controlling consciousness and affected by spiritual weakness. Western Ayurvedic experts like David Frawley argue that the high level of heart disease in Western society is due to our over-preoccupation with personal achievement and material wealth — we die of “spiritual starvation”, causing a broken heart. (more…)

CLEAVERS (Galium aparine): The entire herb is useful. A strong diuretic, it is used to dissolve deposits in the kidneys.

RED CLOVER(Trifolium pratense): The flowering tops are used. Great blood purifier and tonic. Most skin disorders are caused by impurities of the blood and this tea should be taken on a regular basis if you suffer from pimples, boils or other skin eruptions.

COLTSFOOT (Tussilago farfara): The leaves are the part used. This herb binds to toxins in the system and helps to eliminate them. Great expectorant.

COMFREY(Symphytum officinale): Roots and leaves are used. Great expectorant, demulcent, and emollient. Great tea for internal as well as external use. (more…)

AIDS URINATION: Pour 1 cup boiling water over 1 teaspoon tarragon and steep 15 minutes. Strain and sweeten. Drink several cups daily for 2 days.

TREATMENT FOR KIDNEY AILMENTS: Core and peel a pear, then puree it in the blender. Place the pear mixture in a pan and add 1 pint of boiled water. Stir in 1 /4 cup of honey. Drink often during the day for 2 days.

KIDNEY STONES: To help pass kidney stones, make a tea using 1 /4 teaspoon of dried parsley, 1 cup boiled water, 1 tablespoon lemon juice and 1 tablespoon olive oil. Drink every day for at least a week.

TREATMENT FOR URINARY TRACT PROBLEMS: Put 2 teaspoons of sweet basil in 1 cup of boiling water. Steep 10 minutes. Drink this 2 times daily for 2 days. (more…)