Multi-tasking with garden herbs

Posted on April 27, 2012 by bilrob

Multi-tasking with garden herbs

Click photo to enlarge mushroom

Did you know that 80 percent of the world’s population still uses herbs to make medicine?

An even more surprising fact is that some of the most important medicinal herbs are common culinary varieties, such as basil and thyme, and can be found in your kitchen cabinet.

Rosemary Loveall-Sale of Vacaville’s Morningsun Herb Farm has been growing herbs and using them medicinally for 18 years. She says the key to growing vibrant herbs is good drainage, which is achieved by adding organic compost to your soil.

Here are Loveall-Sale’s favorite herbs to grow, plus their medicinal benefits and tips for planting this spring. Always talk with your doctor before taking any herb and check multiple references, such as the Herb Society of America or the American Horticultural Society, for adverse effects.

How to plant

Well-drained, sunny sites work well for herbs when the soil is enriched with three to six inches of organic compost. Some herbs, such as mint and dill, thrive in partial shade.
To plant, develop a layout, keeping in mind the spreading habits of some herbs and the vertical growth of others. Make a hole in the garden soil large enough for the root ball plus a bit more in diameter.
Add slow-release organic fertilizer, then plant the herb with the stem no deeper in the soil than the existing depth. Plant it so water drains away from the main stem.
It’s best to water with a sprinkler or with soaker hoses, or use a thorough drip that penetrates deeply. Water should penetrate eight to 12 inches to reach roots.
Annual herbs such as basil and parsley should be harvested frequently to maintain their bushiness and prevent flowering. To dry, cut small bunches and place in rubber bands in the shade for three to seven days, or until dry.
What to plant
Italian oregano: There’s a reason you put it in pasta sauce. Oregano aids digestion. You can make a tea by steeping one tablespoon of lightly crushed oregano in boiled water.
Rosemary: Sure, you can sprinkle it on potatoes, but rosemary is also said to be great for increasing circulation. Submerge a handful in hot water for five minutes before soaking your feet in it.
St. John’s wort: It’s common to dry this weed and turn it into capsules for mild depression. But when infused into olive oil and massaged on the joints, the herb’s yellow flowers help ease arthritis pain.
Lavender: Among the most popular herbs for relaxation and headaches, lavender is also a hemostatic, meaning that it can stop bleeding on contact. Try a lavender essential oil on your next cut.
Stinging nettle: Like that other immunity-stimulating weed, echinacea, stinging nettle is said to aid in respiration and be good for nasal allergy relief.
Next week

Learn about irrigation for your garden with Master Gardener Steve Griffin, who designed the system used by Our Garden.

Our Garden classes are at 10 a.m. Wednesdays at the Contra Costa Times building, 2640 Shadelands Drive, Walnut Creek. Classes are free.

Master Gardeners also are on hand to answer questions, diagnose sick plants and identify pests.

free herbal education

Morningsun Herb Farm celebrates its 17th annual Open House from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 12 with free talks and demonstrations, samples of herbal teas and treats, and herbal vendors and educators. The farm is located at 6137 Pleasant Valley Road, Vacaville. 707-451-9406. www.morningsunherbfarm.com

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Man, wife die after drinking local herbs for rheumatism

Posted on August 13, 2011 by bilrob

Man, wife die after drinking local herbs for rheumatism

Akure—A couple, Mr. and Mrs. Adebayo Ogbolu in Ita Ogbolu area of Ondo State have died mysteriously after they reportedly drank local concoction (herbs) allegedly prepared by a herbalist for the treatment of rheumatism.

Ondo State Police Command have arrested the herbalist and begun investigation to unravel the mystery surrounding their death.

Public Relations Officer, PRO, of the Command, Mr. Adeniran Aremu, told Vanguard in Akure yesterday that Florence Ogbolu 55 and Adebayo Ogbolu 57 were said to have drank the herbs allegedly prepared by the herbalist, Mr. Tijani Yusuf.

Mr. Aremu said the deceased consulted Mr. Yusuf and were diagnosed of rheumatism.

He was said to have prepared the herbs for them and instructed them to drink some quantity and keep the rest for a later day.

However Vanguardgathered that it was actually Mr. Ogbolu who was suffering from rheumatism, but that the wife merely drank for prevention.

Sources at their Ifesowapo residence in Akure said that after drinking the concoction it was the wife who first complained of stomach ache and within a short period gave up the ghost after which the husband raised the alarm for help.

Vanguard gathered that while help came and sympathiser were preparing the wife to be taken to the mortuary, the husband too started complaining of stomach pain and also died before he could be rushed to the hospital.

Their corpses have been deposited at the general hospital at the Itaogbolu hospital for autopsy.

According to Aremu, the herbalist had been arrested and the case transferred to Criminal Investigation Department CID of the state police command for further investigation.

He noted that the result of the autopsy would be forwarded to the Directorate of Public Prosecution in the state for necessary legal advice.

Tips To Look For A Safe Alternative Herbal Medicine Online

Posted on July 9, 2011 by bilrob

Alternative herbal medicine is the latest trend in modern medical technology. Modern societies are known to make use of this method for addressing common health-related problems or to improve their body’s overall performance. They are free from side-effects commonly attributed to synthetic medicines distributed and used today.

If you are planning to take this method of healing for better results and savings then you might want to look for the best herbal medicine in the online market. There are quite a lot of them around but you have to be careful before buying one to ensure that you are not scammed by frauds active on the Web.

1. Consult An Expert Before Purchase

Consumer should always take extra care in what they drink or eat — especially in the case of medicines. Even if herbal medicines are reputed to be 100% free from side-effect, we can never be too sure how our body will react to the ingredients in it.

Such is the case; it is best to consult an expert first and have your body checked and your health problem diagnosed in order to determine what type of herbal medicine would be best to use, as well as making sure that you won’t have any allergic reactions to it. Have a doctor prescribed you details on the name of the herbal product, ingredients, and dosage for use.

2. Check The Company Who Made The Product

Since you will be buying your herbal medicines on the Web, you have to be sure that the product is 100% safe to use. Since identity is a common problem related to the Internet, it would be best to do your research first to ensure that you won’t be having troubles with its use later on.

You can use search engines to pull out some information about the pharmaceutical company that made the herbal product. You can use the name of the herbal medicine or the company that made it as keywords and try to check out reviews from different consumers who tried it out. While you’re at it, you might want to check if these companies are affiliated with known government health services and credible medical companies in the market.

3. Determine The Ingredients Used

If you don’t want to have any allergic reaction to a specific herbal medicine then you need to check out the details indicated on the label. Since the product is advertised online, there should be a specific page on the distributor’s homepage that details the natural ingredients and other chemicals used in it. If you have no idea what to look for then you better consult an expert to determine whether it is safe for you to use or not. Don’t buy herbal medicines on the Web without proper information of its ingredients, dosage, or usage to avoid compromising your health.

4. Look For Consumer Testimonies Online

It would be prudent if you look for testimonies of people who have used the herbal product before making the purchase. We can never be too sure how it would affect our health when used so you can base your research on those who have tried it out and to determine whether it worked for them or not — and whether it could be useful for your health concern. Don’t stick only with the positive comments but concentrate more on the negative postings from consumers to make sure that you get the advantages and disadvantages listed down to help you decide.

Safety First: Properly Using Alternative Herbal Medicine Effectively

Posted on July 9, 2011 by bilrob

Herbal products are the perfect choice for individuals who want to avoid using expensive synthetic medical products and their documented side-effects. It’s true that synthetic medicines are carefully formulated for maximum treatment, but we can never deny that there might be certain reactions on our bodies when take them in.

The Safe Alternative Solution To Health Problems

Being an affordable medical solution, herbal medicines can be seen in large quantities being sold in the market and quite a lot of consumers today are opting for this method than those normally prescribed by medical practitioners. Doctors and other medical specialist today are even prescribing the use of alternative herbal medicines for a speedy recovery and boosting a person’s immune system for a permanent health improvement.

These products make use of 100% natural ingredients and none of the components used in synthetic medications distributed today. But despite the safety that herbal medicines promises to everyone, it is quite possible to incur some problems with it if we’re not careful.

Safety First — Get The Right Product For Your Health Problem

Don’t just buy any herbal product in the market without properly consulting a professional whether it would work for you or not. Also, we can never be too sure how the herbal ingredients would react in our body’s composition so its best to let your doctor or any medical practitioner check you out first to avoid allergic reactions from happening in your system.

Keep in mind that pretending to your doctor about your illness so you can make use of this affordable health solution is not safe. You might leave some important details out that would prove to be a problem later on when you proceed to take the medicine in regular doses. Always be honest during the consultation with your doctor for them to arrive at an accurate diagnosis whether the herbal product is the one for you or not.

Check The Company That Made The Herbal Product

Even if you have a name of the herbal product to use, it would be best to take matters into your own hands and do your research well to avoid complications during use. You can look for information about the herbal medicine on the Web, specifically about the company that created it and consumers who used it to address their health problems.

While you’re at it, you might want to check out the ingredients used in the herbal product, as well as the proper formulation to ensure that you won’t suffer from overdose when you take it in. You can also search for consumer comments and suggestions about the herbal medicine to determine whether it’s safe for you to use or not.

Follow The Proper Dosage

Many would think that herbal products are 100% safe to use and would often take more than the prescribed dosage in order to speed up the effects. This is a misconception that often leads to more complications than getting rid of your health problem. Before using your herbal product, it is very important to read the label for the correct dosage. You can also ask your doctor for some advice if you don’t trust the indications on the herbal product.

As with the old medical adage, following the right process of healing will results to a speedy recovery; and making up your own prescription and instruction would only bring around disastrous results. Just follow the prescription and instructions in taking in your alternative herbal medicine to get the best treatment for your declining health.

Natural Healing Method Using Alternative Herbal Medicine

Posted on July 9, 2011 by bilrob

Medical practitioners of the Orient are known to incorporate natural healing methods with alternative herbal medicines. Instead of undergoing expensive medical treatment using synthetic and modern technologies, many find the natural method along with alternative herbal medicine a cost-effective solution to achieve the perfect health.

The belief of natural healing involves the use of 100% natural techniques and ingredients to promote better health. Synthetic medicines and modern medical technology are known to have side-effects that may prove to be fatal if not properly administered or performed.

The Benefits Of The Natural Healing Method

The natural healing method delves into the capability of the human body to adapt and recover without any outside help. Our bodies are equipped with its own defence mechanism towards illnesses and diseases. The method aims to strengthen this ability to boost the immune system to fight off health-related problems without any side-effects or complications.

Natural healing doesn’t only deal with physical health problems. In fact, it has been documented and proven that this method can also be used for mental and emotional ailments. Certain herbal compounds are known to induce relaxation to help a person deal with stress without having to take in synthetic products that can cause side-effects to crop up during use.

Certain plant extracts and aroma can directly affect the mind when inhaled and is most often used on patients suffering from behavioural problems. There are also some plants that can help the body relax when applied directly on the skin — like peppermint extract that can relax tight muscles that is usually attributed to stress. Natural healing method with herbal medicines can also help in weight loss programs for a slimmer and healthier body.

Acupuncture

The art of acupuncture originated from the Chinese. It delves into the energy pathways in the human body called meridians. The oriental health experts believe that ailments and diseases are caused by blocked meridians that disrupt the flow of positive healing energy from circulating throughout the body.

Needles charged with positive energy are inserted into these meridian points to clear up the blockage, as well as to stimulate the flow of healthy energy deep within the body. Certain herbal medicines and concoctions are administered to their patients to increase the volume of healing energy for a full-body recovery.

Reiki and Qi Gong

Reiki and Qi Gong involve the healing of an individual using the positive energies of both the practitioner and those that stem from the universe. The practitioner of the art inscribes symbols upon the afflicted area on the human body and directs their energies into it for healing. Herbal medicines are given to their patients to amplify these positive energies for the treatment to yield beneficial results.

Proper Use Of Herbal Medicines

Despite the safe and beneficial results of using natural healing methods with alternative herbal medicine, there is a possibility that some adverse reactions might take place that might become a problem when left unchecked.

Despite the natural ingredients used in herbal products, we can never deny the fact that our body’s chemistry might react to it. There are even some natural healing methods that might cause problems instead of getting rid of it.

Such is the case; it is very important to consult an expert first before undertaking this solution. Have a full body check-up with your doctor and subject yourself to a complete laboratory exam to determine whether your body can use the treatment method safely or not.

Alternative Herbal Medicine: 100% Natural Home-Made Remedies

Posted on June 19, 2011 by bilrob

Alternative Herbal Medicine: 100% Natural Home-Made Remedies

A fever, flu, or a sore throat doesn’t necessarily mean that you should be going to the hospital to have a doctor look at it. It would be safe to say that you will only be wasting your money for being diagnosed with a mild fever and prescribed with expensive medicines just to get it out of your system. A solution to common health-related problems can be easily found in your family kitchen — alternative herbal medicine that you can easily make in the comforts of your own home.

Alternative Herbal Medicine Facts

It is a proven fact that herbal medicine is very safe to use. Doctor approves them for their patients to assist in recovery. You can either purchase herbal diet supplements from health shops in your area or you can make some for yourself in your family kitchen.

Keep in mind, however, that not all herbal supplements sold in the market today are safe to use. Due to its popularity, there might be scammers out there that replicate a product with no health value in it whatsoever. Consumers need to check the labels carefully to ensure that it came from a credible pharmaceutical company or better make your own herbal concoction at home using 100% natural ingredients.

Preparation Is Important

Preparation is very important if you plan to make your own herbal medicine at home. Make sure that your ingredients are clean and fresh. Ladles and pans should not be made of metal or stainless steel materials to avoid chemicals being included in the mix. You might also want to check out some tips and tricks on how to properly prepare and process your herbal remedy for better results.

Anti-Oxidants – Garlic, Onion, And Pepper

Most of the spices found in our kitchen are anti-oxidants. You can practically see a lot of diet supplements that offers to get rid of nasty toxins out of your system — they are expensive yes, but they do work. You can get the same out of your kitchen ingredients without having to dish out your savings for it. The good part about it is that you don’t have to worry about side-effects — what you take in is 100% natural.

Kitchen spices like garlic, onions, and pepper seeds are great anti-oxidants. You can include them in your daily meals or you can concoct a health drink out of it. Clean them thoroughly and chop them up. Cook them up in boiling water and let it stew for a few minutes. Drain it with a strainer and you have an anti-oxidant drink ready for you use.

The Best Medicine – Ginseng

Ginseng is one of the widely celebrated herbal medicine used today. Asians and North Americans use it extensively for their healing arts — from ancient time to the present. This is mainly used to help a person relax and adapt to any forms of stress. The root is a known panacea that can help the body recover from any types of disease.

It has been known to be used for enhancing physical and mental performance — usually for added stamina without any side-effects. Ginseng can also lower cholesterol level of patients with high-blood pressure and can improve the body’s natural resistance to common health problems. You can use it as a tea or stuff it in a bottle with water to age for a more potent brew.

Bill & Sheila’s A-Z of herbs and herbal medicine

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Herbal Medicine And Natural Healing

Posted on June 12, 2011 by bilrob

Herbal Medicine And Natural Healing

What we do not understand we tend to reject. Herbal medicine, acupressure, acupuncture, natural medication, and healing are some of those. And we dance along because if things cannot be explained by scientific methods, it cannot be true.

Definition of health varies from person to person. To some it means that nothing is really serious, for some it means not getting any worse, for others it is the visit to the doctor every year to get a nod of “all clear”. Seldom did it mean zero health problems. And so we get by with taking aspirins and painkillers and live with aches and pains that we associate with certain infective bug, overwork, or ageing. Very few consider herbal medicine as an alternative.

The problem with chemically formulated drugs and medicines is that, one; it remedies a part of the body but destroys another, often the liver. Two, it has questionable benefits that simple observation will tell you that if the medication prescribed by the physician is not getting the desired result, an alternative prescription will be given (a physician that has a reputation for having a higher batting average will be called as “good” and so will the physicians fees be). Third, when a part of the body fails to normally function caused by the drug, it will be termed as side effects. Fourth, when the body acclimatizes to the drug prescribed, we are in effect sentencing our body to a lifetime of medication. Fifth, behind all the advances claimed, it does not really increase the average lifespan. Like the rest of the world, we still are satisfied if we hit the magic mark of seventy years. Sixth, it is so expensive to be a hit and miss thing which often it really is. Scientific claims will be otherwise but everybody can claim. Result though will tell you differently. It is time to consider herbal medicine as a viable alternative treatment.

For most of us, it has not been recognized that there is an alternative to a life sentence of medication – herbal medicine. That there are medications not only to cure whatever ails but to build the reserves and boost the system so that ailments are reversed naturally. When the system is made healthier and reserves are built, we could in part avoid the doctor whose typical remedy is give us drugs, when drugs will not work, chop parts of our body, and prescribe drugs more.

In the ancient world, our forebears have already recognized that there are only two kinds of plants, that which is good for food and that which is better for healing -herbal medicine. Even animals know this. Our house pets like dogs, cats, and chickens will forage for a particular grass or herb when they are not feeling well. Sooner this is vomited and the animal heals. In eastern cultures, these natural methods have been the basis of herbal medicine. Their life average expectancy is not longer than seventy years but ours is not longer either. The difference lies in the money, the trouble spent and for the most part, the absence of chronic pains and suffering.

Herbal medicine, natural medication and healing do just that. Relieve the suffering and health anxiety naturally so we have time to enjoy more of life without the drugs that gives temporary eight-hour solutions until the pain strikes again.

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Multi-tasking with garden herbs