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Archive for the ‘Herbs & Herbals’ Category

Tonik for Health

April 9th, 2010
Tags: tonik
Categories: Herbs & Herbals

No, that’s not a typo.

There’s a new health plan called Tonik California that specializes in health plans for Generations X & Y.

The people in these generations are still relatively young and many of them choose to go without health insurance thinking it unaffordable.e Tonik decided to create a plan just for them. Tonik’s new plans are easy to understand, include medical, dental and vision, offer a flexible ppo and 3 simple deductions.

Plans are affordable, starting at under $80 per month.

Tonik is a Blue Cross product.

Chew on…

April 8th, 2010
Categories: A-D, Herbs & Herbals

Got your chew on?

Do you know what people did people there were commercial toothbrushes? What? You didn’t realize there ‘was’ a time before toothbrushes? Well, yes! Long before toothbrushes were invented people used twigs to brush their teeth with.

People would cut off a young branch of trees, strip away the outer bark and chew them down until they the fibers begin to seperate and then brush and use them. Dogwood branches were a great brush! Dogfood sticks reach around and between your teeth pretty darn good.

Course these days, most people opt to see their dentist regularly and that’s a good thing. Hopefully you’ll have a great checkup but when you don’t you’ll want to have good dental insurance.

So get your chew on and visit your dentist, but first be sure to visit United Dental Insurance for your own dental insurance policy.

Herb Fest

April 3rd, 2010
Tags: herb festival, st louis
Categories: Herbs & Herbals

It seems that herbal festivals are few and far between, so when you hear about one – be sure to add it to your calendar!

The 8th Annual Herb Days Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden is Apr. 29 Through May 1

The St Louis Herb Society is putting on it’s annual Herb Days at the Missouri Botanical Garden. It’s the 8th year for this grand event. Herbs will be offered for sale. Not just a few either, over 14,000 potted herbs including some hard to find varieties too.

Rumor has it that there will be 13 different basils, 8 mints, 13 different lavenders, 5 kinds of rosemary, a dozen thymes and 10 sages. Prices will range from $2.75 to $4.50.

Sounds like Herb Heaven!

St. Louis Herb Society volunteers will be on hand to answer questions and give personalized advice and guidance on selecting, planting, growing and using herbs.

Several healthy herbs will be available, including the 2010 Herb of the Year: dill. Three different varieties of dill will be offered at this year’s Herb Days including Hercules, Bouquet, and Fernleaf.

There also will be offered an herbal cooking class, instructions for growing herbs locally, as well as how to propagate, transplant, grow and use.

The St. Louis Herb Society is a not-for-profit organization founded in 1941,

Herb Days is included with Garden admission of $8; St. Louis City and County residents enjoy discounted admission of $4 and free admission on Wednesday and Saturday mornings until noon. Children ages 12 and under and Garden members are free.

The Missouri Botanical Garden is located at 4344 Shaw Blvd. in south St. Louis, accessible from Interstate 44 at the Vandeventer exit and from Interstate 64 at the Kingshighway North & South exit. Free parking is available on-site at the west lot and two blocks west at the corner of Shaw and Vandeventer.

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Lavender Fields

March 22nd, 2010
Tags: home plans, lavender fields
Categories: Herbs & Herbals

If you’re like me you have the idea of the perfect house somewhere in that head of yours. And if you’re like me that ‘image’ in your head changes from time to time.

I’ve discovered that I’m drawn to houses made from rough hewn lumber and natural rock.

Over the years I’ve accumulated a small stack of photos of ‘dream houses’ and within my own computer’s bookmarks, there’s a folder called ‘Houses I like”!

Going through the stack and the folder lets me see the recurring theme. Some of those houses I’ve bookmarked were craftsman house plans strong sturdy homes built to withstand the ages. Some of the home plans are more laid back, down home, almost farm type homes. Over the years the roof styles have changed, I’m now partial to the metal roof where in years past it was cedar shingles. Porches seem to play an important them too. Sometimes it’s a massive covered deck with a natural stone fireplace. Sometimes I’ll see a huge porch with a massive pergola and every now and then, it’s a wrap around porch (inspired by my childhood music teachers old Victorian).

I’ve even bookmarked some more modern house plans, futuristic concrete structures meant to withstand hurricanes and tornadoes.

The time comes when all of us must choose “one” out of the multitude of home plans and hopefully I’ll get to incorporate my favorites all into one house. Maybe a craftsman style bungalow with rock pillars and cedar planking with an enameled metal roof incorporated onto a hillside overlooking a field full of rows of lavender and basil…

That’s what dreams are for – to dream…

lavender fields

Incorporating Herbs Into Your Wedding

March 22nd, 2010
Tags: herbs, wedding invitations
Categories: Herbs & Herbals

Suppose you, an herbal enthusiast, were getting married. How would you incorporate your love of herbs into your wedding plans?

Did you know that historically different herbs have different meanings? Basil is the herb of love!

How sweet it would be to include a small packet of basil seeds incorporated into your save the date cards. Some card manufacturers have paper that has flower and herb seeds blended into the paper. After the wedding, you plant the card and your love grows!

In keeping with the theme you could include a packet of marjoram seeds in your wedding invitations. Marjoram signifies joy.
Look into the language of flowers and herbs. You might try Grandmother Used to Say: A Year of Recipes and Remembrance by Audrey Thibodeau or The Meaning of Herbs: Myth, Language & Lore by Anne Fields for further study.

Once you’ve decided on which herbs to include in your wedding invitations follow through on the design in your floral arrangements. You might include mugwort for happiness, telow roses for loving and myrtle for love and passion. Lavender is frequently used as a wedding toss instead of rice as it’s meaning is devotion.

Ladies long ago added thyme to their warriors person for strength and courage. Rue is used for grace, chamomile for patience and sage for a long life.

All these herbs incorporated into your wedding plans will show your passion of plant lore and their deeper meanings will be subtle reminders of your love.

basil

March 20th, 2010
Categories: Herbs & Herbals

The luck arches the closing ozone.

Dill – Herb of the Year

March 14th, 2010
Tags: dill
Categories: D-H, Herbs & Herbals

Dill was recently named “Herb of the Year” for 2010 by the International Herb Association.

Dill (Anethum graveolens) is a member of the carrot and parsley family. Graveolens means strong scented. The common name ‘dill’ comes from the Norse word dilla meaning to soothe or lull.

Dill is an annual and is a most useful herb!

Medically speaking, dill is used as a stimulant, an aromatic, and as a carminative for stomach issues such as wind, colic and indigestion. Dill and lavender are sometimes blended into dream pillows to aid in falling asleep.

In the kitchen, we use dill in pickling, and in sauces, salads and breads.

Dill – We’d be in a pickle without it!

White Willow Bark

February 21st, 2010
Tags: white willow bark
Categories: Herbs & Herbals

White Willow has been used for centuries to reduce fevers and reduce pain. It is closely related to the common aspirin. It is great for fever, chills, and rheumatism or arthritis. White willow is usually found next to water, rivers, streams and ponds. The long slender leaves contain salicylic acid, which has been synthesized into acetylsalicylic acid, known as aspirin, which has been used for centuries worldwide as a pain reliever.

Willow bark contains other compounds that the body metabolizes to salicylic acid. Because of this willow
bark acts more slowly and over a longer period of time than aspirin does. The compound salicin from willow
doesn’t cause the gastric or intestinal upset or bleeding as aspirin can. This is because willow suppresses the
action of prostaglandins (hormone-like substances) in the stomach or intestines, which are produced by the
body in response to injuries.

Willow bark is an excellent aspirin substitute -has effective pain relieving and fever lowering properties.
It’s been shown effective in the treatment of gout, minor muscle strains, menstrual cramps, headache, and toothache. It reduces inflammation and is used topically for sores and burns, pain and inflammation of arthritis

The part used is the mature bark, either fresh or dried.

As a tea: Steep 1 to 2 tsp. of powdered bark in 1 cup boiling water overnight then strain. Drink a cup a day. The bitter taste can be improved by mixing with honey and lemon or another herbal tea.

Side Effects include upset stomach, nausea, and even ringing in the ears may result. Lower the dosage or stop using white willow; call your doctor if symptoms persist. Children under the age of 16 should not use
white willow if they have a cold, influenza, or other viral illness because of the association of Reye’s
syndrome, a potentially fatal condition. People with ulcers or other stomach problems should not use white willow. Do not mix white willow with aspirin.

Antiperiodic: This herb prevents the regular recurrences of a disease or symptoms such as malaria

Astringent: This herb has a constricting or binding effect, for example: one that checks hemorrhages or secretions by coagulation of proteins on a soft surface

Antiseptic: This herb combats and neutralizes pathogenic bacteria and prevents infection

Anodyne: This herb reduces pain

Diaphoretic: This herb causes perspiration and increases elimination through the skin

Diuretic: This herb increases the secretion and flow of urine

Febrifuge: This herb reduces fever

Tonic: This herb restores, nourishes, and supports the entire body; it exerts a gently strengthening effect on the body

willow

Cat’s Claw

February 15th, 2010
Tags: Cat's Claw
Categories: Herbs & Herbals

Cat’s Claw
(Uncaria tomentosa)

Cat’s Claw is sometimes called the Sacred Herb of the Rain Forest and it seems more and more an apt name. It’s common name, cat’s Claw comes from a small thorn at the base of the leaves that resembles a cat’s claw.

The plant itself is a tropical vine that grows in the rainforests and jungles in South America and Asia. The plant uses its claws to attach itself to trees and climbs up to a 100 feet into the canopies of the rainforest.

Cat’s Claw is considered a valuable medicinal resource
and is a protected species in Peru. While mainstream science has only recently began to explore cat’s claw, many South American cultures have used the herbs for hundreds of years.

Some scientific studies show the plant may have positive effects on the body’s immune system and is being featured prominently in Aids research.

Cat’s Claw active ingredients are alkaloids, tannins and several other phytochemicals. While some of the
alkaloids have been proven to boost the immune system, the primary alkaloid rhynchophylline has shown anti-hypertensive effects and may reduce the risk of
stroke and heart attack by lowering blood pressure,
increasing circulation, reducing heart rate and
controlling cholesterol.

Other aspects of the plant contribute anti-inflammatory,
antioxidant and anticancer properties. Some treatments combine cat’s claw with other plants and natural
products to increase the absorption and bioavailability.

Cat’s Claw has long been used as a homeopathic
treatment for intestinal ailments. Some of those uses include Crohn’s disease, gastric ulcers and tumors, parasites, colitis, gastritis, diverticulitis and leaky bowel syndrome.infections.

The inner bark and root are used to create capsules, teas and extracts.

Red Clover – Trifolium pratense

February 13th, 2010
Tags: Red Clover, Trifolium pratense
Categories: A-D, Herbs & Herbals

Common name: red clover

Red Clover is found all across the US. You’ll find it in yards, roadsides, fields and in other disturbed habitats.

Originally was native to the Eastern Mediterranean and Asia and was naturalized to the United States.

Red clover grows up to 16 inches, with a hairy upright stem. The leaves are made up of three (and an occasional lucky four!) oval leaflets with a prominent white “V” mark in the center, commonly referred to as a chevron. The flowers are purple to pink and are egg-shaped.

Red clover is a member of the pea family, Leguminosae. Clover is part of a group of plants that are able to take nitrogen from the atmosphere and make it biologically available to other plants. Nitrogen fixation is of critical importance in protein production in plants and makes the plants a critical player in agricultural planning.

Historically, red clover flower tea has been used as an antispasmodic, expectorant, a mild sedative, and a blood purifier; as well as for asthma, bronchitis and respiratory spasms. Red clover was also used for athlete’s foot, sores, and other skin issues. You’ll even find red clover wine!

Active compounds are flavenoids, phenolic acids (including salicylic acid), volatile oils such as methyl salicylate and benzyl alcohol, sitosterol, fatty acids, tannin and starch

Research scientists are studying the herb for combating AIDS, diabetes and menopause.

Magically speaking, the red clover was believed to bring good luck!

It was believed that whoever carried a three-leaf clover with him would be able to detect witches, sorcerers and good fairies around him.

Christianity believed the three-leaf clover to be a symbol of the Trinity, so many churches and church windows are designed around a cloverleaf.

red clover