HEALING PROPERTIES OF GINGER

Ginger is a common plant produced in large scale for commercial purpose. It was a perennial plant that has rhizomes, the underground stem used in cuisine as spice. At the same time, it was used as herbal alternative for many diseases of our time.

It has volatile oils if the rhizome was dried and pounded. The oil has chemical properties medically proven to have active constituents responsible for treating specific illness. This is where the odor and taste of the ginger has been formed. The chemical constituents of the aroma were zingiberene and bisabolene. The constituents of its pungency were shogaol and gingerols.

The healing effects of ginger have anti-nausea property. It is best to control vomiting. The troubled stomach is the result of over-production of acids. The stale taste can cause anyone to vomit.

Long distance travel through land transportation vehicle or riding in vessel for trip to other places may cause seasickness due to constant motion. With ginger on the trip its control nausea and relaxes the ill-feeling inside the stomach.

Stomach ulcers cause abdominal bloating. The manufacture of gas is painful and uncomfortable but with ginger it minimizes gas production and control the abnormal bloating to get worse.

The inflammatory condition of muscles and limbs was the proof of rheumatism and arthritis in action. It causes the joints to get inflamed. There is redness all around the affected areas. Ginger can relieve the pain due to inflammation and minimize redness.

There were many causes of diarrhea. Diarrhea occurred due to the population of bacteria in the digestive system. When bacteria and other organisms control the intestines it cause change reaction by altering the normal digestion.

 Too much water inside the stomach with high concentration of the bacteria will result to diarrhea episode. It can only be controlled by taking modern anti-diarrhea medicines effective to kill the germs inside the intestines. Herbal medicine has the same effect to treat diarrhea and ginger can give the same comfort as modern medicines do.

Due to changes in weather condition anyone can catch with colds and flu. Ginger has anti-bacterial property best for the treatment of an illness related to bacterial infection. Respiratory disease was among them. If the situation is not as grave as it should be, to use ginger to ease coughing was found to be effective.

To use ginger has certain limitation for pregnant women. It should be avoided because ginger has compound that cause mutation in the chromosomes affecting the condition of the fetus.

For individual that has moving sickness repeatedly, drinking hot water diluted with 1 gram per day will serve its purpose.

Ginger serves as tonic of the digestive tract. It has the ability to stimulate good digestion. It tones the intestinal muscles. It protects the sensitive mucus lining against all kinds of chemical irritants preventing damage to the intestinal wall especially drinking alcoholic drink that has great effect to the condition of the intestines.

It also protect the effect of taking NSAID drugs (anti-inflammatory) that will irritate the mucus lining especially taking it with empty stomach. With ginger it helps for the prevention of all kinds of ulcers.

Ginger has anti-clotting effect to the blood.  It gives the blood platelets to be less sticky that may cause obstruction of the arteries. A healthy heart is healthy life. Ginger has the ability to support the condition of the cardiovascular system.

Drinking ginger preparation should not be taken with empty stomach especially if the person has established ulcer disease. It is also not advisable to drink ginger mixture if the person has gallstone. It will aggravate the condition and worsen the situation.

Allowable level of using dried ginger powder.

HEALING PROPERTIES OF CHERVIL

It belongs to parsley family. Native in Western Asia. Used as culinary and medicinal properties. Chervil can be mix with fish, chicken and egg dishes. It is mild in flavor. It existed around 2,000 years ago. Easy to grow indoors. If outdoor, it should have a shade as protection from the heat of the sun. It can be planted by seed. It has a long taproot. Cultivated due to culinary purposes.

Properties: ethereal oil, methyl-cavicol, fatty acids

It has Vitamin A and C. Rich in minerals and vitamins, zinc, potassium, manganese, iron, calcium, phosphorus, copper, selenium, magnesium and vitamin B. It is good in the treatment of acne. Has a healing effect for eczema. It has the capacity to reduce inflammation of the body due to allergies. It can treat digestive and stomach problem as well as relieving stomach pain.

Used as tea. It can improve the circulation of the blood. It reduces the occurrence of cellulite. Good for the treatment of varicose veins and hemorrhoid. It reduces fluid retention during menstruation. It has the capacity to lower blood pressure. It can assist to patient with cystitis, kidney stones and bladder disorders.

Good for those suffering from painful and irritated eyes. Has the capacity to cure liver problem. Good alternative treatment for cold and flu. Clear up skin problems. Used as freshener and tonic to skin. Reduces puffiness of the skin due to allergy. Most helpful in bladder disorders like cystitis and kidney stones.

Used as digestive aid for normal function. Considered as blood purifier. Can alleviate the pain from insect bites, cuts. Use as facial mask for cleansing the skin or face. It can deter wrinkles. A diuretic and expectorant. It can cure hiccups by eating the plant. Good in uterine hemorrhage.It has a healing action as anti-inflammatory resolvent. It is good for the eyes.

Uses: Fresh leaves and stem to flavor soups, salads, scent mixtures. Chervil juice can be applied topically or internally. As tea (tonic drink). The fresh leaves used as poultice. Good as salad and condiments. Used as cream.

HEALING PROPERTIES OF FENNEL

Fennel is a vegetable. It has a round white creamy bulb. It has short green stalks with leaves that is feathery green in color. It can be eaten raw. It is found in vegetable glass compartment in the supermarket. It is a specialty in other countries. It has a size of less than 2 pounds. A smaller fennel bulbs is best to use as it has a tender bulb and less fibrous. It is sold in the public market with the stalks still attached to the bulb.

Properties: phytonutrients, flavonoids (rutin, quercitin), kaempferol glycosides (anti-oxidant), anethole (volatile oil). Seeds contains petroselinic acid, oleic acid, tocopherols, trans-anethole, fenchone, limonene, camphor, alpha-pinene.

As stimulant to promote lactation and menstruation of women. Anethole can reduce inflammation and has an anti-cancer effect. It shut down the intercellular signaling system called tumor necrosis factor-mediated signaling, thus prevent the activation of a strong gene-altering and inflammation-triggering molecules.

Its volatile oil can protect the liver from toxic chemical injury. A source of vitamin C (anti-oxidant) neutralizes free radicals. If this free-radicals allowed to exist, it will cause cellular damage that results to osteo-arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

It is anti-microbial. A necessity for the proper function of the immune system. Has enormous source of fiber. It has the capacity to reduce elevated cholesterol level. It is good in preventing colon cancer. Has folate, vitamin-B and the ability to convert a dangerous homocysteine molecules into a benign molecules that has the capacity to damage the blood vessel walls.

Good source of potassium to reduce the presence of high blood pressure, a risk factor for heart attack and stroke. It has a carminative capacity as purgative. Its juice is good for cough. It eases the pain from stones by helping to break it. Used to wash an eyestrain and irritated eyes.

It stimulates lactation of mothers. It inhibit spasm in smooth muscles. It prevents intestinal colic. It relieves gas and cramping in the stomach. A diuretic, increasing urine production and bile production. It can reduce fever or pain with anti-microbial properties. Good for flatulence control.

Uses: Good to keep fleas away (insect-repellent). Used as tea and juice. Stalks is used in soups and stews. The feathery leaves is used as herbs. Its leaves is good to bake fish in parchment. Excellent for flavoring to favorite dish. Can be used as delightful salad.

Prohibition: High dose cause muscular spasms and hallucination.

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 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.