Herbs and Herbal Supplements

[Racoon]

More on Herbs!

LAVENDER ( Lavendula officinalis ): Lavender is an extremely popular herb.
It is mostly used for aromatherapy, soaps, and perfumes.
I have 3 lavender plants myself. It is quite hardy and indeed smells great.
My favorite variety is "French Lavender".
Romans used Lavender to scent their public baths.

LICORICE (Glycyrrhiza globra) : Licorice flavored candy has been enjoyed for hundreds of years, but Licorice root is a highly regarded. ( especially by the Chinese !
In their 'Shennong Herbal', more than two thousand years old, describes licorice as a "superior" drug!
Licorice has a saponin called 'glycyrrhizin' that has antiinflammatory, antiviral, and antiallergic properties.
Licorice stimulates production of two steroids cortisone and aldosterone.
A lot of research is being done on this guy!
It's main purported benefits are reducing pain from arthritis & breaking up congestion from colds. Its effects in Cancer treatment is being studied..

There we go! another review.
Stay posted: Let me/us know if this is helpful or at least interesting.??

[Racoon]

Todays Herb:

GINSENG (Panax ginseng): Ginseng is "len seng" in Mandarin, and literally means "root of man".
The Chinese have been using this herb for more than 5,000 years!!!
Athletes use it a lot to try and gain a competitive advantadge.
the 'Shennong Herbal' classifies Ginseng as a " Superior drug "

Siberian Ginseng isn't technically Ginseng.

Chinese healers have long been touting Ginseng! Among its Many possible benefits are:
Increasing Energy
Increasing Physical and Mental endurance
Reducing cholesterol, ( the LDL kind! )
Stress adjustment
Reducing Menopausal discomforts
Possible Aphrodisiac, increase sexual desire.

( there is also American Ginseng, and is very similar )

This is a very Good herb, for those wishing to improve health and performance!!

[otcartsid]

have you ever tried ginseng? I've heard of all it's benefits before but it's hard to believe

[otcartsid]

your posts are both helpful and interesting

[Racoon]

Thanks Otcart!
I like being helpful...

Yes I do use Ginseng... When I can afford it amongst other expenses.
I personaly use Liquid Chinese variety, espescially before my Basketball class at 8 in the morning!! I can feel a difference.

There is Chinese Ginseng farm on outskirts of my town that I am looking to investigate.
Everyones body chemistry is different. So, it might work great for some, maybe not for others.

If Chinese have been using/growing/studying For 5000 years!!,, then there should be some truth!

Best bet is to find high quality product and find out for yourself!
Sometimes Herbs aren't quite worth the expense...
They wont negate Bad Lifestyle habits.

If you can manage to grow them yourself, all the better.
Plus it could take weeks/months of use to notice results....

which is why research on your part can save Money and Time...
anyways. Happy Holidays to you, and thank you for your inquiry!

[Racoon]

Todays Herb!

FEVERFEW (Chrysanthemum parthenium) : Want fewer fevers? Than Use feverfew!!
I've been asked by Turtle about this herb, so I will expound.
I picked up a Feverfew plant a couple years ago at a nursery, and it has since had babies! I got little feverfews popping up in the yard!
It has a Distinct smell. I Like it. It smells like walking into a Country store in the Mall.
I haven't ever used it, I just enjoy it's smell. It is slow growing, and has small daisy like flowers when it blooms!

OK, Herbalists since Ancient Greece have been using Feverfew for a variety of ailments; As its name suggests, it was used to bring down fevers.
John Hill, a famous herbalist wrote " in the worst headache, this herb exceeds whatever else is known. "

Feverfew was forgotten about until a British woman said that it Cured her Migraines! Medical researchers then studied Feverfew.
They reported their findings in the well respected medical journal "The Lancet".
It seems Feverfew (extracts of) inhibited release of two inflammatory substances: Serotonin from platelets & Prostaglandin from white blood cells! Both being thought to bring onset of Migraines.

Take 1 - 3 capsules daily. It might take several months before it works, but it has been shown to be highly effective in about 80% of migraine cases.
If anything, its a pretty little Herb that has a unique smell!

[Racoon]

While I'm on a roll...and before I attend to chores...

BASIL (Ocimum basilicum) : Basil is derived from Greek, meaning King; suggesting this plant was highly regarded.
Today you think Basil in tomato sauce or pesto, but is an effective remedy for digestive disorders. It helps relieve gas, and reduces nausea.

There are many varieties of this herb; I grow several each year.
But unlike most of my other herbs, this guy is an Annual and I have to plant new or buy new each year.
One I recommend is Cinnamon Basil. The smell IS AWESOME!
Basil grows easily, and makes a good kitchen window herb!

[Racoon]

Todays Herb

PARSLEY (Petroselinum sativum): This is another herb I grow out on the deck.
It's pretty easy to grow , But I find it does best under some shade.

Do you wonder why Parsley sprigs are usually found on the side of dishes you order at a restraunt???

Its because PARSLEY is a natural antispasmotic and is very good for the digestion!

Eat the parsley sprig if/when accompanied with your meal.
You can also make a relaxing cup of tea with Parsley by steeping a few sprigs in hot water for several minutes.

[Turtle]

___Ahhh Racoon! I wanted to ask about Garlic & its benefits. I tried growing it one year, but planted it in Spring & later learned that I must plant in Fall if I want multi-clove bulbs. Is it too late now to plant?
___Also, does cooking garlic (& other herbs) reduce the active ingredients? Thanks.

[Racoon]

Re: Garlic
I was gonna get to Garlic, but it is a page worth of writing!
You must be mind-reading my next moves Turtle-san.

GARLIC (Allium sativum) : Garlic is natures Wonder Drug. It has been used since ancient times. ( The Egyptians fed it to their slaves to keep the buggers' Healthy and to keep em' slavin' away!!!)
Garlic research has proven it to be potent. Louis Pasteur experimented by putting Garlic cloves in a petri dish full of bacteria. The results, to his pleasant surprise, was thay Garlic could kill troublesome micro-orginisms!
Dr. Albert Schweizer used Garlic to treat cholera, typhus, and amebic dysentary while working in Africa.
During World War I and World War II, before available antibiotics, Garlic was used on the battlefield to disinfect wounds and prevent gangrene: by rubbing it on the wounds.

Garlic is probably the best natural medicine for improving your cholesterol level.
Garlic is also being studied in some cancer researches, because of its inhibiting properties.

I haven't really grown Garlic. I know its pretty hardy. Now that I think about it, I will dedicate a little space in next years garden by planting some.

Daily dosages are recommended between 1 - 3 capsules daily.
Stir frying cloves for a few minutes will help eliminate garlic breath. 2 -3 cooked cloves will reap you maximum benefits.