2009
You are browsing the archive for 2009.
Using Herbs to Beat Winter Blues
As the temperatures drop and the days get shorter, moods also fall as winter depression sets in. SAD, or seasonal affective disorder, is mostly experienced when autumn changes to winter, but can show up at other times of the year as well. The person affected becomes depressed, can have weight gain due to cravings for [...]
Spiced Mashed Turnips
A healthier twist on an old family favorite recipe. Rutabagas can also be used in place of turnips.
Turnips
5 or 6 good-sized turnips (or 1 large rutabaga), peeled and cut into chunks
½- to 1-inch piece of fresh ginger root, diced or shredded
Honey to taste
Soy milk (or regular milk or other alternative)
Cinnamon to taste
Boil the turnips and [...]
Herb Profile: Cinnamon
Cinnamomum zeylanicum
Laurel family
Cinnamon is one of the most popular spices used in cooking and is especially abundant during the holidays in baking, teas, and potpourri mixes. It is also helpful as a natural remedy in many ways.
Cinnamon comes from the inner bark of a tree found in tropical regions. There are many varieties seen [...]
Herb Profile: Sage
Salvia officinalis
Member of the Mint family
Sage is a very important herb used in cooking for the holidays, but it is also important for medicinal reasons. The leaves, which can have a greenish-gray pebbly look, are the most commonly used part, being used in poultices, teas, and gargles. The plant is an evergreen and is very [...]
Herb Profile: Cloves
Syzygium aromaticum
Member of the Myrtaceae family
Whole Dried Cloves
Cloves are the dried flower buds of the evergreen Syzgium aromaticum. A very popular spice for baking, cloves also have some medicinal properties.
The most well-known use for cloves is for relief of toothaches. The whole cloves can be chewed or clove oil can be applied directly to the [...]
Herb Profile: Rose Species
Rosa species
Rose Family
Rose hip syrup
Rose plants, both wild and domestically grown, are useful additions to herb gardens. The leaves, roots, bark, twigs, flower petals, and fruit hips can be used medicinally.
Dried and fresh rose leaves can be used to make tea and are helpful for diarrhea or as a rinse for dermatitis or other itchy [...]
Herbs for Heart Health
With high blood pressure, heart attacks, angina, and other heart-related ailments topping the list of medical problems plaguing patients at doctor offices these days, finding ways to keep our cardiovascular systems healthy is an important part of getting older. There are quite a few herbs which are useful at preventing problems and strengthening our heart, [...]
Herb Profile: Lemon Balm
Melisssa officinalis
Member of the Mint family
Lemon balm is a perennial plant which grows 1 to 2 feet tall, blooms spring through summer, and is an easy-to-grow addition to a home herb garden. The lemon-scented leaves are the part of the plant used medicinally and can be used externally and internally.
Lemon Balm
Lemon balm leaves can be [...]
Herb Profile: Catnip
Nepeta cataria
Member of the Mint family (also called Catmint)
Catnip is the popular filler for cat toys, well known for the way it drives our feline pets wild. Catnip is also a good herb for humans, although it works in a completely opposite way for us.
Catnip is a bushy perennial herb which grows to 2 – [...]
Colds & Flu – Herbal Prevention & Treatment
Cold and flu season is upon us, and several people I know have already been hit with the nasty flu bug circulating this year. Instead of masking the symptoms as the hundreds of products on the market will do, herbs work to help the body build up its immunity and to work with the body [...]
