Herbs: Dandelion, Yellow Dock, or Burdock Root in teas or as a tincture. Red Clover, Chicory, or Milk Thistle as teas. Plantain leaves in salad, or infused in vinegar.
Foods:
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Actions:
Aromatherapy:
Folk Remedies:
Things to Avoid:
Recipes:
Useful For: Bones, teeth, heart, muscles, nerve transmission
Herbal Sources: Alfalfa, Amaranth, Borage, Cayenne, Chickweed, Chicory, Dandelion, Eyebright, Fennel, Fenugreek, Flax, Hops, Horsetail, Kelp, Lemongrass, Mullein, Mustard Greens, Nettle, Oatstraw, Paprika, Parsley, Peppermint, Plantain, Raspberry Leaf, Red Clover, Rose Hips, Shepherd’s Purse, Violet Leaves, Watercress, Yarrow, Yellow Dock
Food Sources: Seaweed, yogurt and other cultured dairy, dark green leafy vegetables, almonds, sesame seeds
Along with being a lovely source of Vitamin C, tomatos have a number of other health benefits. Recent research indicates that they help protect against a number of cancers, and may reduce your risk of a number of diseases, including diabetes, heart disease, and osteoporosis.
The secret behind the extended health benefits is a nutrient called lycopene, a potent antioxidant. Antioxidants help prevent cancers by slowing down certain kinds of cellular damage caused by free radicals.
The heart protection is caused by lowering cholesterol. There are studies that have shown that drinking a couple of glasses of tomato juice a day lowers the LDL “bad” cholesterol by a sizable percentage. There is an additional nutrient in tomatos called 9-oxo-octadecadienoic acid. This frightening sounding nutrient has also been linked to lowered cholesterol and fat in the bloodstream
Lycopene has also been linked to a potential increase in bone mass, although this effect is still under study.
Useful For: Metabolism and hemoglobin
Herbal Sources: Alfalfa, Burdock root, Catnip, Cayenne, Chickweed, Chicory, Dandelion, Dong Quai, Eyebright, Fennel, Fenugreek, Horsetail, Kelp, Lemongrass, Licorice, Milk Thistle, Mullein, Nettle, Oatstraw, Paprika, Parsley, Peppermint, Platain, Raspberry Leaf, Rose Hips, Sarsaparilla, Shepherd’s Purse, Uva Ursi, Yellow Dock
Food Sources: Molasses, Chocolate, Seaweeds
Useful For: Teeth, bones, nerves, heart, kidneys
Herbal Sources: Burdock, Turkey Rhubarb, Slippery Elm
Food Sources:
Name: Rose
Latin: Rosa rugosa, Rosa canina, and others…
Other Common Names:
Family: Rosaceae
Parts Used: All
Vitamins/Minerals: Vitamin C, antioxidants
Used for: Heart disease, cancer, mental decline. Immune system booster/strengthener. Rose can also act as a hormonal balancer, and are useful for mood issues. Due to the nutritional content of roses, this is almost a must for sickness and toxicity.
Use in tandem with:
Directions & Warnings:
Name: Peppermint
Latin: Mentha piperita
Other Common Names:
Family: Mint
Parts Used:
Vitamins/Minerals: Calcium
Used for: Fights inflammation, is a bronchiodilator, has some effect against headaches, can be a coffee substitute, and is an effective element in cold and flu preparations. It is also good for most digestive issues. It can ease pain, and supports proper liver and nerve function. One of the reasons it makes a good coffee substitute is that the stimulation it gives comes from a healthier angle. Peppermint stimulates because of the nutritive value and by increasing circulation. It wakes the system up, rather than agitating it. Because it is kind of a catchall, I often use it to make medicinal teas more palatable, as it assists in mitigating unpleasant flavours.
Use in tandem with:
Uses for Pets:
Directions & Warnings:
Edibility: So many different ways. In water, in tea, in cocoa, in lemonade, in cookies, in cakes, in frosting, in….. I also saw a suggestion for mixing sprigs of it in with peas, which I will have to try.
Other Uses for: Bugs don’t like it when fresh and growing, so it can be used as a barrier along a house, or as an assist for more delicate plants.
Growing: Mint likes shade, so if you have a darker area that you aren’t sure what to plant, mint is a good fill-in. A bit literally, actually, because it really likes space, and will propagate itself in a number of ways all over the place.
Name: Hawthorn
Latin: Cratageus oxacantha
Other Common Names: Whitethorn, Ladies’ Meat, Quickthorn, Maytree, Mayblossom
Family: Rosaceae
Parts Used: Leaves, flowers, and fruit
Vitamins/Minerals: Antioxidants
Used for: Due to the antioxidants found in this herb, the medicinal uses for it are fairly expansive. It is anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, supports the immune system and the liver. However, hawthorn’s particular strength is in what it does for the heart. It has both a strengthening and a regulatory action, making it useful for a wide variety of heart conditions: aging, weakened, damaged, angina, hypertension, arrhythmia, heart valve disease, arterial spasms, etc… It can also be used to regulate blood pressure, aiding with both high and low. It can help to prevent miscarriage. It can also lessen the chance of strokes. If used as a poultice, it has good drawing out properties. The broad range of benefits and the fact that there is no overdose of it for practical use, when combined with the tasty flavour, makes this one of my favorite ingredients for teas. Historically, hawthorn is an herb thought to increase longevity, and that is quite understandable, given the conditions it fights and the systems it supports.
Use in tandem with: Oatstraw, Rose
Directions & Warnings:
Name: Apple
Latin: Malus communis
Other Common Names:
Family: Roaaceae
Parts Used:
Vitamins/Minerals: Quercetin
Used for: The old statement “an apple a day keeps the doctor away” was no joke. Apples contain special fruit acids that assist in keeping cancer at bay, both before and after western treatments. Apple juice is also a potent diuretic, and useful in assisting with cleansing (especially when combined with milk thistle), as long as you keep your water levels up as well. Apples are also a source of quercetin, which pairs with bromelain to assist in healthy histamine response.
Use in tandem with: Milk Thistle
Directions & Warnings:
Name: Almonds
Latin: Prunus dulcis
Other Common Names:
Family: Rosaceae
Parts Used:
Vitamins/Minerals:
Used for: Almonds contain phytochemicals that are known to assist in the prevention of cancer. They are also useful in skin scrubs, both assisting with cleansing the skin, and nourishing it.
Use in tandem with:
Directions & Warnings: