HEALING PROPERTIES OF LICORICE

Licorice is a plant of many uses. The plant has many chemical constituents, one ingredient to have healing power. The two major compound are glycyrrhizin and flavonoids. The first compound contains anti-inflammatory property to control the inside and outside inflammation in the body. It is best choice for the treatment of arthritic pain and rheumatism. It inhibits the breakdown of cortisol.

Its anti-viral compound has the ability to help control bacterial and viral infection. Damaging micro-organisms can be found everywhere inside the human body. It brings diseases and makes the body sickly. Skin, lung and digestive diseases were formed due to the proliferation of bacteria in the body. It can be prevented by the use of potent drugs and other known medicines. Its flavonoid and chalcones found to be effective to heal the damaged cells in the digestive tract.

It gives protection to the liver cells against damaging free radicals. The notorious Helicobacter pylori found to be the culprit in the development of ulcers and inflammation in the digestive tract and the rest of the stomach.

It has soothing and coating agents in the digestive system especially the many kinds of ulcers. It helps relieve the persistent cough and soothe sore throat due to germ habitation.

Licorice found to be an ideal herbal alternative for the treatment of diabetes. It is good for respiratory disease due to long infection especially tuberculosis. Liquiritin is licorice extract. It is helpful to treat melasma known as pigmentation disorder of the skin.

Licorice was now produced worldwide into capsule and tablets for convenience. It was available in many drugstores of the country. There was topical application of liquiritin cream to be applied 2 times a day for about 4 weeks.

The chewable de-glycyarhizinated licorice tablet (DGL) can give the same effect using raw materials of licorice. Another licorice formulation is called standard licorice tablet that contains glycyrrhizin. It was normally used in the treatment of respiratory infection.

The DGL tablet was used in the treatment of ulcer especially those coming from duodenum. As anti-bacterial agents, it is best for the healing of canker sores and other gum problems. It was an effective mouthwash for bad breath.

To use licorice root capsules (6 grams per day) can give relief to chronic fatigue syndrome. If concentrated extract was used, 500 mg 3 times a day is enough.

Licorice tea was also available. To make tea, boil 14 grams of roots in 500 ml of water in the duration of 15 minutes. Drink 2 cups a day.

Herbal medicine has good and bad points. It has benefits and the risk. Side are common if application is not carried properly above the recommended dosage or the person is sensitive to the treatment or may affect his existing health conditions instead of healing them. For other people, taking licorice containing glycyrrhizin may increase blood pressure and cause water retention in the body.

 Taking 500 mg of it per day for about 1 week has effect by decreasing the serum testosterone levels of healthy individuals like men. The reaction is by blocking the enzyme important in the synthesis of testosterone.

Taking licorice has limitation especially for people that can’t tolerate such interaction inside the body. It is important to consult first with a doctor to determine  tolerance before taking any types of preparation.

Shield your body against many triggers that will cause unhealthy life. Staying healthy will depend on your initiative to consistently protect them.

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 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.

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).