Monday, February 15, 2010

HEALING PROPERTIES OF MINT

A member of mint family. It produces bushy plant. It has a height of 1-2 feet. Good to be used as ground cover. Multi-colors were different based on the kind of variety being planted. It has white, lavender and pink color. A hardy perennial plants easy to grow. It grows well in a moist, well drained soil. Planting materials is by propagation or root cuttings. It can be cross-breed with other variety.

Properties: mint oil has antiseptic and anti-pruritic, perillyl alcohol, phyto-chemicals

Mint has its own unique fragrance. It has the ability to pacify nervous stomach. Has soothing relief for severe stomachache. Good for proper functioning of the digestive system. Has the capacity to treat irritable bowel syndrome. It controls the growth of bacteria and fungi because of ts anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties. Good for respiratory ailments like asthma and lungs by easing hard breathing. Has properties to control many allergic reactions of the body. The presence of perillyl alcohol, a pyto-nutrient, has anti-oxidant compound to control the early formation of colon, skin and lung cancer.

Serve as good appetizer during meals and promotes better digestion. It has a soothing relief due to indigestion. Its aroma can activate the salivary glands to secrete digestive enzymes. Further, has the capacity to open congested nose, throat bronchi and lungs due to respiratory disorders due to colds and asthma. Good for sore throat and relieve cough.Its juice is excellent to act as skin cleanser. It soothes skin from itching. Good in treating bites of insects (mosquitoes, honeybees, wasp). Its insecticidal properties was due to its menthol compound. It inhibits bacterial growth in the mouth. Good for the cleaning of teeth and tongue due to harmful bacteria. Has the capacity to induce sweating because of its soothing effect in the treatment of fever. The juice of the mint has proven to heal and sooth pain in burns and other skin irritation. Good in rheumatism. Considered as brain enhancer.

Other uses: Used as ingredient in making toothpaste, chewing gum, mouth and breath freshener (mentha), in candies and inhalers. Used in culinary activities (as condiments and decorative purpose).Most commonly used in other industrial products like foodstuffs, ice cream, chocolate, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverage, cosmetics and in medicines.

Its tasty in making into a tea by pouring a hot water to mint leaves. Its preparation is to cover while steeping. The purpose is not to allow the valuable volatile oils to be wasted due to evaporation.

HEALING PROPERTIES OF CARDAMON



This native herbs came from ginger family called Zingiberaceae. Cardamon known as Elleturia cardamonium. It is a perennial plants. It has a tall stem or cane that grow out of rhizomes. Indians in the forest was the home of this plant. The flower spikes produce white or pale green flowers. It has a green pod capsules containing less than 20 seeds, a small black in color and sticky in form. A ripe, dark and hard seeds with brown in color is the best quality seeds.

It has a very pleasant, aromatic and sweet fragrance.

Properties: Essential oils containing a-terpineol, myrcene, limonene, menthone, b-phlellandrene, cineol, sabinene, heptane, a-terpenylacetate, sabinene, limonene and borneol.

It relieves flatulence and indigestion. A tea has a soothing tonic after a heavy meals. Good for nausea and vomiting. It has the power to lower cholesterol. If taken regularly, a good aid in reducing weight. It has a carminative properties. Has a digestive action. Found to treat colds, fever, bronchitis. It has anti-inflammatory properties for infection. Helpful for the treatment of liver complaints. The chewed seeds is good to control bad breath giving a good flavor, freshness and coolness. Considered a decongestant for cold. It de-congest stuffy nose. The pyto-chemical cineole was the reason to break chest congestion. It boosts the entire central nervous system.

They believed it has aphrodisiac properties. It is helpful to break up gallstones and kidney stones. It treats inflammation of the eyelids. It has the ability to treat pulmonary tuberculosis, or congestion of lung. It was found to be a good antidote for snake and scorpion bites. Good for the treatment of stomachache, constipation and dysentery.

Other Uses: Has a unique taste with intense aromatic fragrance. Common in Indian cooking as culinary herb. It is an expensive spice. Has floral flavor. Used in curries, sweets, desserts, rice pudding and milk.

HEALING BENEFITS OF CORIANDER

A hard, herbaceous plant in parsley family. It has a height of 2.5 feet. It has a slender stem, erect, branching thickly and has a bright green color. Its flowers has different colors of pink, white and pale blue in a compound umbels. The upper leaves are divided and wispy, the lower leaves are broad. Seeds is the planting material used. It prefers to be planted in a dry weather condition with small maintenance during its growing period.

This plant is native in Middle East used in household cooking and herbal medicine. Has spherical seed. Slightly pointed in one end and flattened in the other end. Has many longitudinal ridges. The maximum length of the seed found to be more or less 2-4 millimeters. When dried, it has brown color. But there are also color of green or off-white. Seeds can only be sold in the market if already dried in the sun. Inside the seed, it has an internal powdery matter under its hollow hemisphere. Seeds can be done grounded or whole in form. Cilantro is the name of the fresh leaves. This was being used as herbal remedy to treat diseases. It has an aromatic and sweet seed when ripe but if it is unripe it has an offensive smell. The leaves has distinctive and unique fragrance.

If grounded, it become a curry powder used in the kitchen for soups and stew menu. The fresh leaves can be eaten directly.

Properties: Ripe fruits has essential oils containing linalool, terpenes (pinenes, y-terpinene, myrcene, camphene, phellandrenes, a-terpinene, limonene, cymene. Pyrazines, the main flavor compound of the toasted seeds. The fresh herbs has essential oil made of aliphatic aldehydes.

Coriander has capacity to remedy flatulence, considered as aromatic stimulant of the stomach and intestines. Good for nervous system. It has the ability to mask foul smell in a purgative medicine or it can be used as purgative itself. Use in headache, swelling due infection and piles. Good in the treatment of colic in the stomach, even conjunctivitis. Proven to treat rheumatism and neuralgia. Mouth ulcer can be treated by using a paste. Poultice can be applied to other form of ulcers. It has the ability to soothe abdominal upset in adults and children especially babies.

It contains anti-oxidant properties by preventing animal fats to become rancid. Has substance to treat wounds and other skin infection (minor cuts, scrapes) due to its anti-bacterial capacity. Improves the condition of the stomach from the occurrence of indigestion, diarrhea and flatulence.

Other Uses: As flavoring in sausage. Used as stimulant for good appetite. As ingredient in the manufacture of confectionery. Its seeds is used in pickles, curry blend, in soups and in making a mulled wine. Grounded seeds as ingredient for bake goods. Best material in the production of perfumes. It has the capacity for preservation of meat.

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

HEALING PROPERTIES OF PARSLEY

It was cultivated 2,000 years had passed as folk medicine. It belongs to the family of Umbelliferae. It can easily adapt to any climate if raised throughout the year. It is a biennial plants (seeds) originated from Southern Europe. It has more than 25 varieties. The most popular varieties are flat-leaf parsley and curly-leaf parsley. Parsley is good for nutrition as garnish added in a menu (soups, vegetables, meat and other selected dishes). What they did is to wash thoroughly, chop it and sprinkle to favorite dishes.

Properties: myristicin, limanene, eugenol, alpha-thujene, flavonoids like apiin, apigenin, crisoeriol, luteolin.

It contains Vitamin C, iron, vitamin K, and A. Its volatile oils neutralizes carcinogen in the body and other harmful substances. It inhibits and prevent the formation of any tumor. Good for the prevention of lung disease. Its folic acid prevents the occurrence of colon and cervical cancer. It is good for the health of the heart. It converts dangerous homocysteine into a harmless molecules and protect strokes as well as heart attack.

It has anti-oxidant properties, the flavonoids that controls an oxygen-based damaged to the cells of the body. Build blood because of iron. Vitamin C is important in the absorption of iron. It increases the anti-oxidant in the blood. In addition, it has an anti-bacterial properties. It maintains the elasticity of the blood vessels in repairing bruises. It can prevent diarrhea and other abdominal complaints.

It has restorative remedy for good digestion. Its enzymes is good for digestive activity and elimination of waste. Found to be effective in the treatment of deafness and ear infection. Acts as diuretic by strengthening the blood vessel. It has properties to dissolve gallstones. Good for fatigue due to iron deficiency that repair components for good blood vessels.

It improves estrogen by restoring and nourishing the blood of the uterus and its delayed menstruation. Good for dry skin, hair loss and depression. Good for urinary and kidney complaints. It improves kidney activity and help eliminate waste from the blood and tissues of the kidney. It prevents salt from re-absorbing to the body tissues. It forces debris out of the kidney, bladder and liver. It helps improve edema and general water retention, scanty and painful urination.

It enriches the liver and nourishes the blood. It reduces liver congestion and clear toxin. It aid in the rejuvenation of the body. Make menstrual cycle of women to be regular because of apiol. Good for spleen strengthening by using its roots. It has the ability to treat scurvy due to vitamin C deficiency causing spongy gum and loose teeth.

Found to be good in loss of stamina, low resistance from infection and for sluggish liver. It has a healing properties in the inflammation of the bladder, kidney. Good for the removal of stones and urine formation. It controls high blood sugar. It regulates sebaceous glands to control skin to dry. Prevents facial lines and wrinkles. It controls bed wetting (enuresis). Vitamin K gives the blood the ability to clot.

It is a good herbal drink. Parsley juice can be taken 2 ounces 3 times a day. Its leaves can be deep frozen and stored. Good for bad breath. Chewing parsley keep the mouth smell fresh and clean. The roots and leaves are grounded to make an oil for the control of lice. It is good for insect stings or bites by pounding the leaves to form into a paste and apply to the bitten area.

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

HEALING PROPERTIES OF INDIAN PENNYWORT

It is a slender, creeping plant grows in swampy areas in India. It has fan shape leaves. It can be eaten straight from the plant or added to salad or to chop as garnish to meal. The leaves can be used as tea (fresh or dried) with ice and sweetened with honey.

Properties: Asiaticoside (tripene glycoside, brahmoside, brahminoside(saponin glycosides). Madecassoside, a glycoside. Vitamin K, magnesium, calcium and sodium.

It can improve blood circulation in the body. It was found to be good in treating nervous breakdown. It is an energy enhancer to the cells of the brain. It is used as herbal tonics. It acts as cleanser of the blood. It strengthen the heart. It balances the hormones. It helps menopausal problems in women.

Believed to be a life enhancer contributing to a long life in India and Sri-Lanka. It increases mental activity. Act as mild tranquilizer. It can combat fatigue and improve memory. It was used as blood cleanser for skin disease. It is good to increase energy.

Considered as brain food promoting memory and energy enhancer. It has herbal properties of treating high blood pressure. Rich source of chlorophyll, vitamin A,B,C,K, magnesium and minerals. It fortify the immune system, cleansing, feeding, strengthening the adrenals. It is a tonic for purification of blood and for promoting healthy skin. A thyroid stimulant, diuretic to remove excess fluid from the body. As stimulant to the kidney and the bladder as purifier.

In research, it has a significant result in connective tissues, lymph tissues, blood vessels and mucous membrane. It is an anti-inflammatory agents for infection.

It has shown to decrease healing time and reduces scar tissue formation. Has positive effect in circulatory system. It seemed to improve flow of blood throughout the body by strengthening the veins and capillaries. It can treat phlebitis (inflammation of the veins).