Is Recession Preparing a New Breed of Survivalist? [Survival Today

This is not fun at all, Free Republic has made me sign in 2 of the last 3 posts.....granny]

http://susancoggin.blogspot.com/search/label/Desserts

Simple Layer Cake
1 cup butter or margarine
2 cups sugar
3 cups sifted Swans Down Cake Flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 eggs
1 1/4 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
Cream butter. Gradually add sugar, beating until light and fluffy. Sift flour with baking powder and salt. Add eggs one at a time to creamed mixture, beating well after each addition. Add flour mixture alternately with milk and flavorings, beating after each addition until smooth. Baking: Pour batter into 3 greased and floured 9-inch layer pans, using about 2-1/3 cups batter in each pan. Bake at 350 degrees F for 25 to 30 minutes. Cool in pans 10 minutes. Remove from pans and finish cooling on racks before icing.
Posted by Susan

Granny’s Layer Cake with Chocolate Icing

When it comes to cake, there is nothing better than a Chocolate Layer Cake. I like the old fashioned kind with chocolate icing that is cooked. Mama Geiger, my mom and Granny, Kenny’s mom, were experts when it came to this cake. I remember being in the kitchen with Mama, baking the layers and frosting the cake with this delicious chocolate icing that becomes hard when cooled. This week as we were going through Granny’s house, Peggy found Granny’s recipe for Chocolate Icing. On top of the refrigerator was Granny’s cake plate and cover. This cake plate has been on the road many times, to Church dinners and reunions, often with the Chocolate Cake inside. I copied the recipe and headed home with the cake plate to see if I could bake this special cake.

I am no baker. I can count on my fingers the number of times I have baked a layer cake. My first attempt was pretty good. There is an art to the icing - it must be warm enough to spread, but it cools quickly so you must work fast. I realized that as the icing cooled! There is enough icing for 3 layers, but since I only had 2 pans, the chocolate was very thick on the top.

Granny’s Layer Cake with Chocolate Icing

Yellow Cake Layers
3 cups sifted cake flour
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 3/4 cups sugar
2/3 cups butter
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 1/4 cups milk

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease the bottom of 2 9-inch cake pans, line with waxed paper and flour. Sift together flour, baking powder and salt. Cream sugar and butter together. Add eggs and vanilla and beat until thoroughly mixed. Add flour mixture and milk, alternating and beating after each addition. Continuing beating one minute after all ingredients are added. Pour evenly into the prepared pans and bake 30 -35 minutes, or until a wooden toothpick comes out clean. Cool layers on wire racks for 10 minutes. Remove from pans and cool completely on wire racks before frosting.

Chocolate Icing
3/4 cup cocoa
3 cups sugar
3/4 cup butter
3/4 cups evaporated milk

Put all ingredients in a large saucepan. Stirring frequently bring to a boil and cook 1 minute. Remove from the heat and let cool until hand temp on the bottom of the pan. Beat to spreading consistency. Ice layers immediately.

So what will I do next time?

* Buy new cake pans, 3 of them, and a cake spreader.
* Make sure all ingredients are room temperature.
* Watch the icing closely for the right temperature for spreading.

Who knows, I may one day be a baker!
Posted by Susan

Panna Cotta

For Father’s Day, I was to make a dessert. I have been wanting to try Panna Cotta and this was the perfect time. It was a hit! It was served with your choice of blueberries or strawberries. I was surprised at how tasty the Strawberries in Balsamic Vinegar was.

Panna Cotta
1 envelope gelatin
1 1/2 cups half and half
1 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup sugar
1 vanilla bean
In a small bowl, mix together the gelatin and 1/2 cup of the half and half. In a saucepan, combine the remaining half and half, heavy cream and sugar. Slice the vanilla bean in half and scrape out the seeds. Add the seeds and the pad to the cream mixture and heat to a simmer (206 degrees F). Remove from the heat and remove the pod.

Whisk in the gelatin mixture until the mixture is smooth. Strain into a large measuring cup. Pour into ramekins and chill for 4 hours.

To unmold, set the ramekins in a pan of warm water for 5 to 10 seconds. Loosen the edges with a knife. Serve with fruit topping. Makes 6 servings, depending on the ramekin size.

Blueberry Sauce
1 cup water
1 cup sugar
2 1/2 cups blueberries
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
Mix sugar and water in a saucepan, bring to a boil and reduce by half, stirring frequently. Coarsely chop blueberries in a food processor. Add the blueberries and vinegar to the sugar mixture and chill. This makes a lot. Use the leftovers for pancakes or serve with hot biscuits.

Strawberries and Balsamic Vinegar
1 pint strawberries, chopped
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons sugar
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Mix together and let stand at room temperature for 1 hour.
Posted by Susan

http://susancoggin.blogspot.com/search/label/Bread

No Knead Bread, so simple a 4-year old can make it! Well, maybe so, if they have the correct ingredients. One of the recipes featured in the Cooking with Cast Iron class at Williams-Sonoma was Rosemary and Lemon No Knead Bread. My task was to make the bread ahead of time and serve during the class. After many failed attempts, I discovered the solution was simply in the selection of ingredients.

It all begins with the flour. All-purpose flour works, if you select a hard wheat all-purpose flour such as King Arthur or Pillsbury. I used Martha White, an excellent soft wheat flour commonly used for cakes, pastries and quick breads. Soft wheat flours don’t contain enough gluten, an essential protein needed for the bread to rise. Bread flour has a high gluten content and will give you the best results.

Next is the yeast. The recipe called for 1/4 teaspoon of active dry yeast. I bought Fleischmann’s Active Dry Yeast and it took an entire packet - 2 1/4 teaspoons - to create a decent loaf of bread. What you should buy is Fleischmann’s Rapid Rise yeast. Just 1/4 teaspoon of the yeast will give you a light, delicious bread.

Now comes the equipment. You will need a cast iron Dutch oven. I used a 2 3/4 quart Le Creuset Round Dutch Oven. You must heat the pot in a 450 degree F. oven for at least 30 minutes before baking the bread. The Dutch oven acts as a mini oven and creates the perfect environment for baking this light, crusty bread. Give this recipe a try and it will become a favorite!

No Knead Bread

3 cups bread flour
1/4 teaspoon Fleischmann’s Rapid Rise yeast
1 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1 1/2 cups warm water
Cornmeal

Mix together the dry ingredients in a large bowl. Add the water and stir until the mixture forms a sticky ball. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and place in a warm spot. Allow to rise for 12 - 18 hours.

Remove the ball from bowl to a floured surface. Fold the dough over 2 times (shape should be a rectangle) and allow to rest for 15 minutes. With floured hands, fold the long ends into the center. Then take the other ends and fold to the middle and place, seam side down on a tea towel dusted with cornmeal. Place in a bowl and allow to rise for 2 hours in a warm place.

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Place a cast iron Dutch oven into the hot oven at least 30 minutes before baking the bread, Remove the Dutch oven from the oven, being very careful not to burn yourself. Move the bread from the bowl and place seam side up in the Dutch oven. Don’t worry about extra flour or cornmeal on the bread, it will give the finished loaf rustic look.

Bake at 450 degrees F. for 30 minutes. Remove lid from the Dutch oven and cook for 15 - 25 minutes and the crust is browned. Cool on a wire rack.

Posted by Susan

Sweet Potato Bread

I found a great sale on sweet potatoes so I decided to buy some and try out a couple of recipes for Sweet Potato Bread. I tried two recipes and my stitching friends selected this one as the best. Thanks to Closet Cooking Kevin for the inspiration!

Sweet Potato Bread
1 3/4 cups self rising flour
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 cup butter
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup honey
2 eggs
1/4 cup buttermilk
1 cups sweet potato, cooked and mashed
1/2 cup pecans, chopped

Mix the dry ingredients in a bowl. Cream the butter and brown sugar. Add the honey, eggs, buttermilk and sweet potato into the butter and sugar. Stir the sweet potato mixture into the flour mixture. Stir in the pecans. Pour the batter into a 9x5 inch greased loaf pan. Bake in a preheated 350F oven until a tooth pick pushed into the center comes out clean, about 1 hour. Pour the praline sauce on and and let cool.

Praline ToppingIngredients:
1 tablespoon butter
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup pecans, roasted and chopped
1 cups powdered sugar
2 tablespoons water

Cook the butter and brown sugar in a small skillet until caramelized, about 5 minutes. Stir in the pecans. Pour the mixture onto a piece of parchment paper and let cool. When the praline mixture is cook, break with a rolling pin. Mix the powdered sugar into the water. Mix the praline and sugar water together.
Posted by Susan

Spicy Southern Cornbread

In the South, we love our cornbread! Traditionally, it is a very simple recipe, consisting of cornmeal mix, eggs, buttermilk and oil. For this recipe, I decided to break tradition and add some spice to the cornbread. Cornbread must be baked in cast iron bakeway! I am lucky to have cornstick pans from my grandmother and Kenny’s grandmother, a wedge pan that belonged to Granny and skillets that belonged to Mama. This recipe makes a lot of cornbread. You can use a couple of large skillets or do as I did and pull out all your vintage bakeway - 2 cornstick pans, 1 9-inch wedge pan and 3 6-inch skillets. This recipe makes a lot!

Spicy Southern Cornbread
3 cups cornmeal mix
2 cups buttermilk
3 eggs, beaten
1 - 14 oz. can cream-style corn
1 cup minced onion
1 1/2 cups grated Cheddar cheese
1 can green chilis
1/4 cup chopped jalopeno peppers
1/2 cup mayonaise
Oil
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Coat cast iron bakeware with oil. Put the pans in the oven while it is preheating. In a mixing bowl, mix together all the ingredients. Spoon mixture into the pans and bake for 35 - 45 minutes, depending on the size of the pans.
Posted by Susan

http://www.wildyeastblog.com/2009/03/06/yeastspotting-3609/

For the bread bakers

http://www.herbalremediesinfo.com/best-herbal-remedies.html

[A for sale pills site, but this will give you an idea what to grow and make your teas from at home.
Posted for historical information, you must consult your own doctor, if you are ill...... granny

The 55 Best Herbal Remedies

The 55 Best Herbal Remedies
by Michael Castleman, Natural Health

Not long ago, American herbalists had to rely on folklore and anecdote. There was little clinical data on herbs, and what did exist was mostly published in German. But researchers (and translators) have been busy of late, and we now have proof that herbs are viable treatments for many ailments.

“Herbs won’t replace pharmaceuticals, but the research shows that—for many conditions—herbs work well, are cheaper than drugs and cause fewer side effects,” says Mary Hardy, M.D., medical director of the integrative medicine program at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. “Herbs aren’t quite mainstream, but they’re moving in that direction. Patients are interested in them, and doctors are increasingly familiar with herb research.

“Twenty years ago, there was no integrative program at Cedars-Sinai” she adds. “Now there is. That says something”Here, then, are the proven, 55 best herbal treatments. Stick to the dose specified in the studies or on the product label. When making teas, use 1 to 2 teaspoons of herb per cup of boiling water, steeped for 10 minutes. Tell your physician about any herbs you plan on using, especially if you’re pregnant or nursing, have a chronic medical condition or take medication regularly.

Click Here for Fresh Organic Herbs, Spices & Essential Oils
(1) Aloe Vera for Burns

Sometimes studies tell us what we already know. Aloe vera is the herb for minor burns, a fact that was confirmed most recently in the Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand. Keep a potted aloe on your kitchen sill; it requires no care beyond weekly watering. For minor burns, snip off a thick leaf and slit it open; scoop out the gel from the inner leaf and apply to the burn.

(2) Black Cohosh for Menopause

The Algonquin Indians used black cohosh to treat gynecological ills, and it was a key part of Lydia E. Pinkham’s Vegetable Compound, sold in the 1870s to treat “female complaints and weaknesses.” In a recent German study on menopausal hot flashes, subjects were given estrogen, a Valium-like tranquilizer or black cohosh (Remifemin, two tablets twice a day). The herb, which is an option for women who can’t take estrogen, worked best. “The vast majority of studies show benefit,” says Mark Blumenthal, executive director of the American Botanical Council.

(3) Boswellia for Arthritis and Joint Injuries

Did the three wise men suffer aches and pains from their long camel ride? Luckily, they had frankincense, aka boswellia, a traditional Ayurvedic medicine for arthritis and joint injuries. In a study published in Alternative and Complementary Therapies, Egyptian researchers gave people with osteoarthritis of the knee boswellia and turmeric or a placebo. After three months, the herb group showed significantly greater relief from knee swelling.

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(4) Chamomile for Digestive Problems

“Chamomile tea, perhaps the best-known herbal tisane, is widely employed as a digestive remedy throughout Europe, and its therapeutic use is well documented,” says David Hoffman, author of Medical Herbalism. The herb relaxes spasms of the smooth muscles and counters inflammation in the gut lining; it also has antiseptic and vasodilatory effects. Allergic reactions are possible, especially if you’re sensitive to ragweed.(5) Chaste Tree for Premenstrual Syndrome

It won’t preserve virginity, but chaste tree has hormonal effects that minimize monthly symptoms. When 1,634 German PMS sufferers took chaste tree, 93 percent reported benefit. In tests against two other popular treatments, vitamin [B.sub.6] and Prozac, the herb worked as well as the drug and better than the vitamin. “Chaste tree is the best herb for PMS,” says James A. Duke, Ph.D., author of The Green Pharmacy. “It’s safe and the studies are convincing. “Just be patient: It can take three months to experience benefit. Some women report stomach distress, headache and increased menstrual flow.

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(6) Coffee for Athletic Stamina

The caffeine in coffee or tea stimulates not only alertness (and jitters and insomnia), but also athletic performance. Korean researchers at the Institute for Elderly Health in Seoul asked athletes to ride stationary cycles until they felt exhausted—before and after drinking the equivalent of one tall Starbucks coffee. After their java break, they were able to ride significantly longer.

(7) Coffee for Pain Relief

Anacin and Excedrin claim that their “extra ingredient” provides greater pain relief. What is it? Caffeine. Many reports, including one in the Archives of Internal Medicine, have shown that adding about 65 milligrams of caffeine to aspirin, ibuprofen or acetaminophen increases pain relief by around 40 percent. Caffeine blocks pain perception, has pain-relieving action, and elevates mood, which also helps minimize pain. Next time you have a headache, wash down your favorite pain pill with coffee or tea for more relief.

(8) Coffee as a Decongestant in Colds, Flu and Ssthma

Caffeine opens narrowed bronchial tubes, according to Joe and Teresa Graedon, authors of The People’s Pharmacy. According to a report in the Annals of Epidemiology, the odds of experiencing current asthma symptoms were reduced 29 percent for subjects who drank coffee on a regular basis when compared with non-coffee drinkers.

(9) Cranberry for Urinary-Tract Infection

Cranberry prevents bacteria from sticking to the bladder wall long enough to cause an infection. Finnish researchers divided 150 recurrent UTI sufferers into three groups. One drank cranberry juice (50 milliliters a day). Another took Lactobacillus. The third took nothing. After six months, 36 percent of the no-treatment group and 39 percent of the Lactobacillus group reported at least one recurrence. Of the juice drinkers, only 16 percent had recurrences. Other options are dried cranberries (Craisins) and cranberry-extract capsules. “I recommend cranberry for UTI,” Duke says. “But if you drink the juice, you have to drink a lot. It’s usually easier to munch on the dried berries or take capsules.”

(10) Echinacea for Colds and Flu

The root of this daisy-like flower revs up the immune system. According to an analysis by University of Wisconsin researchers, in eight of nine studies evaluating echinacea for upper-respiratory infections, the herb reduced symptoms and accelerated recovery compared with placebos. “As soon as I feel a cold coming on, I take it—and my cold is mild and brief,” says Duke. Echinacea is available in teas and capsules, though most herbalists prefer tinctures. Liquid echinacea products may cause temporary, harmless numbing or tingling of the tongue; minor stomach upset is possible with tinctures.

(11) Evening Primrose Oil for Lowering Cholesterol

Evening primrose seeds contain an oil with a high concentration of compounds rarely found in plants: essential fatty acids, specifically gamma-linolenic acid. In one study, reported in The Review of Natural Products, 79 people with high cholesterol took 4 grams of Efamol every day for three months (which provides about 320 mg of GLA), and their average cholesterol level fell 31.5 percent. The suggested dose for evening primrose oil starts at 1-gram gelcaps twice or three times a day. High cholesterol requires professional care, so consult your physician about GLA.

(12) Evening Primrose Oil for Rheumatoid Arthritis

The EFAs in EPO are also a powerful anti-inflammatory. University of Pennsylvania researchers gave 37 arthritis sufferers borage oil (which contains GLA) or a placebo, The placebo had no effect, but the herb group reported 45 percent less pain with no side effects. Other studies utilizing GLA obtained similar results. Rheumatoid arthritis requires professional care, so consult your physician about GLA.

(13) Feverfew for Migraine Prevention

British scientists at the University of Exeter analyzed six studies of feverfew, concluding that the herb significantly reduces the frequency of migraine occurrence. “In my experience,” Duke says, “feverfew prevents migraines in about two-thirds of those who use it consistently.” Dosage is generally 50 to 150 mg per day of powdered leaves.

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(14) Flaxseed for Menopausal Discomfort

Safety concerns have reduced the number of women on hormone replacement therapy, but flaxseed is rich in phytoestrogens (plant estrogens) that can take the heat out of hot flashes. At Laval University in Quebec, Canada, researchers gave 25 menopausal women HRT or flaxseed (1.4 ounces per day, mixed into food). After six months, flaxseed relieved hot flashes as effectively as HRT.

(15) Flaxseed for Osteoporosis

Because flaxseed is a natural hormone replacement therapy, it also mimics HRT’s bone-preserving ability. Oklahoma State researchers gave a placebo or flaxseed (1.3 ounces per day) to 38 postmenopausal women for 14 weeks, and measured blood and urine for markers of bone loss and regrowth. The flaxseed group showed decreased bone resorption and calcium excretion, indicating reduced bone loss.

(16) Garlic as an Antibiotic

From ancient times through World War I, garlic has been used to treat the wounded. During the 1920s, researchers at Sandoz Pharmaceuticals in Switzerland isolated garlic’s antibiotic compound, alliin, which has no medicinal value until the herb is chewed, chopped or crushed. Then an enzyme transforms alliin into a powerful antibiotic called allicin. Modern antibiotics are more potent and easier to take (just try chewing a dozen raw cloves), but if you’re concerned about ulcers, use more garlic in your diet. Researchers at the University of Washington have shown that garlic kills H. pylori, the bacteria that cause ulcers. Raw garlic has the most antibiotic potency, but garlic still has benefits when cooked. “I use lots of garlic in cooking,” Duke says, “for reasons of taste and health.”

(17) Garlic for Cholesterol Control

Researchers at New York Medical College in Valhalla analyzed five studies and found that one-half to one clove of garlic per day reduces cholesterol by 9 percent. If you’d rather not eat fresh garlic every day, garlic supplements, including “deodorized” brands. have a similar effect. (Supplements with proven benefit include Kwai and Kvolic.) “Garlic doesn’t work as well as the statin drugs,” says Blumenthal, “so if your numbers are really high, you may need medication. But if your cholesterol s just mildly elevated or if it’s normal and you want to keep it that way, garlic definitely helps.” Garlic can impair blood clotting; if you notice increased bruising, stop taking it. and consult your physician.

(18) Garlic for Cancer Prevention

Garlic reduces the risk of several cancers. In the long-term Iowa Women’s Health Study. researchers followed 41,837 middle-aged women. Subjects who ate the most garlic had the lowest risk of colon cancer. A few cloves a week cut risk by 32 percent and greater intake decreased risk even more While fruit and vegetable consumption in general helps prevent cancel in this study, garlic yielded the greatest preventive benefit of all the plant foods analyzed. Other studies have shown that garlic helps lower risk for prostate and bladder cancers.

(19) Ginger for Motion Sickness

In ancient China, sailors chewed ginger root to prevent motion sickness and modern studies have confirmed that ginger prevents nausea and vomiting. Danish scientists at Svendborg Hospital observed 80 naval cadets in heavy seas and found that those who took ginger experienced 72 percent less seasickness than a placebo group. Take a 1-gram capsule of powdered ginger root about an hour before you embark, and another every two hours or as needed (without exceeding 10 grams a day) during a journey, Ginger’s only side effect is occasional minor heartburn. “t use ginger myself.” Duke says, “It works for me.”

(20) Ginger for Morning Sickness

Speaking of nausea, ginger also assists in preventing morning sickness. In a stud’. published in Obstetrics and Gynecology, researchers at Thailand’s Chiang Mai University gave 70 nausea-plagued pregnant women ginger powder (1 gram a day) or a placebo. In the latter group, 28 percent reported relief But in the ginger group, the figure was 88 percent, use the dose given in the study, or brew a tea using 2 teaspoons of freshly grated root per cup of boiling water.

(21) Ginkgo for Alzheimer’s Disease

The big study was published in 1997 in the journal of the American Medical Association: Researchers n a multicenter study gave 202 people with Alzheimer’s either a placebo or ginkgo extract (120 mg a day). A year later, the ginkgo group retained more mental function, and subsequent studies have corroborated this finding. Ginkgo Improves blood flow around the body—including through the brain. It’s safe. but it has anticoagulant properties, so increased bruising is possible.

(22) Ginkgo for Mental Acuity

Beyond its benefits for Alzheimer’s, four recent studies show that ginkgo improves mental function in people who are cognitively normal, In a study published in Phytotherapy Research. 31 health, adults, ages 30 to 59, received ginkgo (120 to 300 mg a day) or a placebo, The herbs significantly improved several measures of memory. Buy a standardized extract and take 120 to 240 mg a day.

(23) Ginkgo for Erection and Libido Problems

Ginkgo improves blood flow into the genitals. In a study published in the Journal of Urology, 60 men with erection problems caused by narrowed arteries and impaired blood flow to the penis were given ginkgo (60 mg a day); after six months, half had regained erection ability. When researchers at the University of Hawaii and Stanford University tested ArginMax, a sexual-enhancement supplement that contains ginkgo, ginseng and L-arginine, 80 percent of the male subjects had improved erection function, while 74 percent of the female subjects reported more libido, less dryness and greater frequency of orgasm.

(24) Ginkgo for Anti-Depressant-Induced Sex Problems

An enormous number of Americans take antidepressants, The relief comes at a price: a substantial risk of libido loss erection impairment, vaginal dryness and inability to reach orgasm. Investigators at the University of California at San Francisco gave ginkgo (209 mg a day) to 63 people suffering from antidepressant-induced sex problems. The herb helped 91 percent of the women and 76 percent of the men to return to normal sexual function

(25) Ginkgo for Altitude Sickness

Traveling from a low elevation up to the mountains often produces symptoms of altitude sickness, such as headache, sluggishness and excessive thirst, due to the decrease in available oxygen. (Over a few days. the body makes more red blood cells, which boosts oxygenation of the blood.) Researchers at the Hopital de Chamonix in France gave 44 mountaineers ascending the Himalayas ginkgo (80 mg twice daily) or a placebo. In the latter group, 82 percent developed respiratory problems related to altitude sickness, but among the ginkgo users, the figure was only 14 percent.

(26) Ginseng for Athletic Stamina

Many athletes take ginseng as part of their training. In a study published in Clinical Therapy, Italian researchers gave 50 physical education teachers a placebo or ginseng (with some vitamins and minerals), and then had them run on a treadmill, Hearts and lungs in the ginseng group worked more efficiently, and those subjects’ stamina increased significantly, Ginseng is safe, but it does have anticoagulant action. so increased bruising is possible.

(27) Ginseng for Immune Enhancement

Many studies show that ginseng revs up the immune system. Scientists at the University of Milan. Italy, gave ginseng (100 mg a day) or a placebo to 227 people. A month later. everyone received a flu shot (which does not kill the flu virus. but rather stimulates the immune system to resist infection). In the placebo group, 42 people got the flu, but in the ginseng group, the figure was just 15, demonstrating that ginseng enhanced immune response to the shot.

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(28) Ginseng for Diabetes

Ginseng also reduces blood-sugar levels. In a study published in Diabetes Care, 30 subjects newly diagnosed with diabetes were given ginseng extract (100 or 200 mg a day) or a placebo, with the ginseng groups showing lower blood-sugar levels. Other studies concur. Diabetes requires professional treatment; consult your physician about ginseng.

(29) Ginseng for Erectile Dysfunction

According to a review of studies at Yale University, ginseng boosts the body’s synthesis of nitric oxide. As NO increases, so does the likelihood of erection. In a report in the Journal of Urology, Korean researchers gave 45 men with erection impairment a placebo or ginseng (900 mg three times a day). Those taking the herb experienced significant erection improvement.

(30) Ginseng for Low Sperm Count

At the University of Rome, Italy, researchers gave ginseng (4 grams a day) to 30 men suffering from low sperm counts. Three months later, the subjects’ counts almost doubled, from an average of 15 million/ml to 29 million/ml.

(31) Goldenseal for Digestive-Tract Infections

Goldenseal, an herbal antibiotic, is often marketed in combination with echinacea as a treatment for infections, but it is effective only in the digestive tract, not for colds or flu. At the University of Illinois in Chicago, researchers tested goldenseal against H. pylori, the bacteria that cause ulcers, and the herb inhibited bacterial growth. For GI infections (ulcer, food poisoning, infectious diarrhea, etc.), ask your doctor about using goldenseal in addition to medical therapies.

(32) Hawthorn for Congestive Heart Failure

In heart failure, the heart keeps beating, just not as forcefully as it should; people with the condition become exhausted from minor exertion. Many studies show that hawthorn stimulates fatigued hearts to beat more normally. In a study published in Phytomedicine, German researchers gave hawthorn (240 mg a day) or a placebo to 40 people with heart failure. Three months later, the hawthorn group was able to exercise significantly longer. “We reviewed much of the published research on hawthorn recently,” Blumenthal says, “and 13 of 14 studies showed benefit in heart failure.”

(33) Hibiscus for Hypertension

Hibiscus is the trumpet-shaped, tropical flower that puts the color in Red Zinger tea. A report in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology found that 12 days of drinking hibiscus tea (2 teaspoons per cup of boiling water several times a day) lowered systolic and diastolic blood pressure by 11 percent. High blood pressure requires professional care; ask your doctor about adding hibiscus to your treatment plan.

(34) Horse Chestnut for Varicose Veins

“Mainstream medicine offers only support hose and surgery,” says Blumenthal, “but standardized horse chestnut seed extract has shown efficacy in most clinical trials.” At the University of Heidelberg, Germany, 240 sufferers of newly visible varicose veins were treated with compression stockings or horse chestnut (50 mg aescin twice a day). After 12 weeks, both groups reported equal relief. Off the tree, horse chestnuts are poisonous, but commercial extracts are detoxified and safe.

(35) Horsetail for Skin Healing

Before steel wool and abrasive cleansers, this herb helped scour pots and pans. Today it’s used to heal the skin. A Spanish study published in Revista de Enfermeria showed that horsetail speeds the healing of wounds; it’s also used in skin-care products.

(36) Lavender for Anxiety

Lavender flowers are an age-old remedy for anxiety. British researchers at the University of Wolverhampton had women add lavender oil or a placebo to their bath water. Bathing by itself is calming, but in this study, a bath infused with lavender oil significantly reduced anger, frustration and negativity. Use a handful of lavender flowers, or buy lavender oil and add several drops to your bath. Ingesting lavender oil is toxic; keep it away from children.

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(37) Lemon Balm for Relaxation

The 17th-century English herbalist Nicholas Culpeper wrote that lemon balm drives away all melancholy. That’s an overstatement, but science has shown that lemon balm is tranquilizing. The herb and its oil have been used in Alzheimer’s care units to calm those who are agitated. To decompress after a tough day, try a cup of lemon-balm tea; for extra benefit, mix with chamomile.

(38) Lemon Balm for Herpes

Lemon balm has antiviral action. As reported in Phytomedicine, German researchers gave 66 people in the early stages of herpes simplex labialis outbreaks lemon-balm cream or a placebo. The herb group had milder outbreaks that healed faster. Lemon balm is the active ingredient in the herpes treatment Herpalieve. “If you have herpes,” Duke says, “drink lemon-balm tea. If you have an outbreak, apply lemon balm to the sore.”

(39) Licorice for Sore Throat

In a study in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, researchers gave either a placebo or Throat Coat, a licorice tea from Traditional Medicinals, to 60 sore-throat sufferers 4 to 6 times a day for seven days; the tea tipplers reported significantly less pain on swallowing. Add a teaspoon of chopped or powdered root to a beverage tea, and feel relief almost immediately.

(40) Milk Thistle for Liver Health

Silymarin in milk thistle seeds has a remarkable ability to protect the liver. This herb has been shown to help treat hepatitis and alcoholic cirrhosis, and it’s been found more effective than traditional medicine at treating “deathcap” mushroom poisoning. “In our analysis,” Blumenthal says,” 19 of 21 studies support milk thistle seed extract for liver conditions.” Because most drugs are metabolized through the liver, many herbalists recommend silymarin for anyone who takes liver-taxing medication.

(41) Papaya for Herniated Disks

Papaya has been used by Caribbean Indians to treat skin wounds and infections and by the Japanese to treat digestive disorders. In 1982, the Food and Drug Administration approved injections of the papaya enzyme chymopapain to dissolve cellular debris in herniated or slipped vertebral disks in the back. Allergic reactions are possible.

(42) Peppermint for Indigestion

In ancient Greece, people chewed a sprig of mint after feasts to settle the stomach, a tradition that evolved into our after-dinner mints. German researchers gave 118 adults with persistent indigestion a standard drug (cisapride) or twice-daily capsules of enteric-coated peppermint oil (90 mg) and caraway oil (50 mg), another traditional stomach soother. (The enteric coating allows the capsules to survive stomach acid and release their oil in the small intestine, where non-heartburn indigestion develops.) Four weeks later, the drug and the herb blend produced the same relief. If you use herbal oils, do not exceed the recommended dose, and keep them away from children. You also can brew a peppermint tea, and add a teaspoon of chopped caraway to meals. “When I get indigestion,” Duke says, “I go to the garden, pick some peppermint, chew some leaves, and make tea. It works for me.”

(43) Peppermint for Irritable Bowel Syndrome

IBS involves persistent abdominal cramps, bloating, flatulence, and diarrhea or constipation. British researchers at the University of Exeter analyzed five studies of peppermint oil as a treatment, and found that it provided benefit. (See the previous item for options and cautions.)

(44) Psyllium for Diarrhea and Constipation

Psyllium is a tiny seed that contains mucilage, a soluble fiber that swells on exposure to water. For diarrhea, psyllium can absorb excess fluid in the gut. For constipation, psyllium adds bulk to stool, which presses on the colon wall and triggers the nerves that produce the urge to go. You may find psyllium at health-food stores, but it’s easiest to take Metamucil, which is psyllium with flavoring. When using psyllium, drink plenty of water. Allergic reactions are possible.

(45) Red Pepper for Pain Relief

Capsaicin, the compound that gives red pepper (cayenne) its fiery flavor, is a potent topical pain reliever, according to the Handbook of Nonprescription Drugs. When rubbed on the skin, it causes mild superficial burning. But that sensation desensitizes nearby pain nerves, and soothes pain in deeper tissues. Capsaicin is the active ingredient in several over-the-counter pain-relieving creams, such as Capsin, Zostrix and Pain-X.

(46) St. John’s Wort for Depression

For mild depression, St. John’s wort often works as well as Prozac and Zoloft, but with fewer side effects. “We recently concluded a comprehensive review of the scientific literature on St. John’s wort, and 21 of 23 studies support it for mild-to-moderate depression,” says Blumenthal. Studies showing benefits have used 600 to 1,800 mg a day; most have used 900 mg a day. Stomach upset is possible, and St. John’s wort interacts with many drugs, including possibly reducing the effectiveness of birth-control pills. Depression requires professional care; ask your physician about St. John’s wort.

Get More Info on MindSoothe for for Depression and Anxiety

(47) Saw Palmetto for Benign Prostate Enlargement

In a study published in the journal The Prostate, saw palmetto extract (32-0 mg) was compared with finasteride in 1,098 men with prostate symptoms. After 24 weeks, both treatments were equally effective, but the herb caused fewer side effects. Researchers at the Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Medical Center analyzed 18 studies and found saw palmetto to be effective for prostate symptoms.

(48) Tea for Heart Health

Tea, particularly green tea, has rocketed to prominence as an herbal medicine. It’s high in antioxidants, which help prevent heart disease. In a study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, Dutch researchers followed 3,454 residents of Rotterdam. Compared with those who drank no tea, those who drank two cups a day had 46 percent less risk of heart attack, while those who drank four cups a day enjoyed 69 percent lower risk. Drinking tea also improves survival odds after heart attack.

(49) Tea for Cancer Prevention

Researchers at the University of Southern California surveyed 501 Asian women with breast cancer and 594 who were cancer-free. Those who were cancer-free drank the most green tea; as consumption rose, risk fell. Also, Japanese researchers reported in Cancer Letters that breast-cancer survivors who drank three or more cups a day reduced the risk of recurrence. Green tea also appears to protect against cancers of the colon, rectum, and pancreas. Most research has used green tea.

(50) Tea for Bad Breath and Gum Disease

Forget breath mints. Instead, researchers at the University of Illinois College of Dentistry in Chicago suggest a cup of tea (black or green), which contains compounds that stop the growth of bacteria that cause bad breath. An added benefit: Tea helps prevent gum disease, the main cause of adult tooth loss.

(51) Tea Tree Oil for Athlete’s Foot

Tea tree isn’t tea; it’s an Australian plant with an antifungal, antiseptic oil. In a study published in the Australasian Journal of Dermatology, researchers had people with athlete’s foot apply tea tree oil (50 percent concentration) or a placebo. After four weeks, 31 percent of the placebo group and 64 percent of the tea tree contingent were cured. Pharmaceutical ointments work faster, but tea tree oil is clearly effective. “Apply it with a Q-tip twice a day,” Duke says.

(52) Tea Tree Oil for Dandruff

As reported in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, Australian researchers studied 126 people with dandruff, which is caused by a skin fungus. Subjects were given either an ordinary shampoo or one containing 5 percent tea tree oil. After four weeks, flaking was reduced 11 percent in the plain-shampoo group, but 41 percent in those who used tea tree oil. It’s not a miracle cure, but if your dandruff shampoo isn’t working as well as you’d like, add a drop or two of tea tree oil each time you shampoo.

(53) Turmeric for Arthritis and Joint Injuries

Curcumin, the yellow pigment in this Indian spice, is an anti-inflammatory. In combination with boswellia, it treats osteoarthritis, according to investigators at India’s Central Drug Research Institute. Use turmeric or yellow curries in cooking. “I developed a recipe called ‘Arthritis Soup,’” Duke says, “containing lots of anti-inflammatory herbs. The recipe also calls for 2 tablespoons of turmeric.” When taking capsules, follow label directions.

Get More Information on JointEase Plus for Arthritis and Fibromyalgia

(54) Valerian for Insomnia

Studies have shown that valerian aids sleep, often as well as pharmaceutical sedatives and without being addictive. In a study published in the European Journal of Medical Research, investigators gave 202 insomniacs valerian or a Valium-like tranquilizer. After six weeks, both treatments were equally effective. “Research strongly supports that valerian works,” Blumenthal says. “It’s been used widely and safely for hundreds of years.” Note: It takes a week or more to begin noticing benefit. Also, raw valerian root smells and tastes terrible (”like funky socks,” Blumenthal says), so pills are more palatable.

Get More Info on SerenitePlus for Insomnia and Sleeping Disorders

(55) White Willow Bark for Back Pain

White willow bark contains salicin, a close chemical relative of aspirin. According to a German study of 451 people with low back pain, 240 mg a day of willow bark worked better than conventional therapeutic options. Like aspirin, willow bark can cause stomach distress, and it shouldn’t be given to children.

http://www.herbalremediesinfo.com/Sinusitis.html

Herbs For Sinusitis

Acute sinusitis usually sets in after having a cold for several days. Nasal discharge becomes yellow or dark green, thick, and perhaps foul-smelling.

Persistent pain is felt high in the cheeks, around and behind the eyes, and in the forehead over the eyes.

The face mat be tender to the touch and it may be painful to bend forward.

There may also be fever from infection.

Herbal Remedies For Sinusitis

ANISE, tea helps break up congestion.

CAT’S CLAW, relieves inflammation, and fights bacterial infection.

ELDERBERRY, helps loosen congestion.

HOREHOUND, tea helps break up congestion.

OSHA, antiviral, antibacterial.

THYME , tea breaks up congestion.

I like to put a bit of peppermint essential oil under the nose and breathe in the vapors. (I apply salve first to protect the sensitive tissues there.)

This really helps relieve congestion and the antiseptic properties are helpful for infection.

http://www.herbalremediesinfo.com/oregano-oil.html

Oregano Oil, Escape Colds and Flu

With two small children I am always looking for ways to dodge the nasty cold & flu bugs that seem to be lurking around every corner.

This year I have found a new ally in Oregano Oil.

My husband & I put 5-6 drops in water and gargle it before swallowing. I have stopped a sore throat FAST this way.

Unfortunately, the strong taste is too overpowering for children no matter how much I dilute it or try to disguise it in juice or tea. For the kids I put 4-5 drops in an empty gel cap and they swallow it that way. This has really worked for us during the flu season season.

Another herb that’s really helped stop the viral invasion for us is Yarrow tincture. I put a few drops of the tincture inside the nose (yes, inside!)to get rid of the lurking germs, especially before going out into crowded places. Yarrow is slightly sedative and 10 drops in a bit of water before bed is very relaxing.

Here’s an article By Roger Baird with more info on Oregano Oil.

Escape the Flu and Cold Season and Much More...

By Roger Baird

While others may be lolling on the beach in southern climes, most Canadians shiver the winter months away. Poor diet, lack of exercise and stress due to weather exposure, US elections and other such pleasantries of modern life can all contribute to diminished immune response. The next thing you know you’re plagued by the accursed flu or cold.

Nature’s herbal apothecary takes care of this nuisance with the most powerful cold buster ever, Oregano oil from wild grown Mediterranean Oregano. As an immune stimulant, Oregano is king of herbs as proven by Polish researchers who tested 70 varieties of plants and found Oregano to be the one with the most significant immune boosting powers. The efficacy of Oregano does not stop at boosting the immune system. It is possibly the most powerful antibiotic, antiviral and antifungal remedy available.

As most of us know, an antibiotic prescription given at the doctor’s office is useless against viral infection, which is what causes colds and the flu. The flu virus mutates constantly. Although labs cook up an antiviral cocktail containing several previous flu viruses, chances are slim that those same viruses will attack again and thus your body

will not have resistance to new ones lurking around the corner. In addition to that, the vaccine may be contaminated with toxic mercury or aluminum, which is added as a preservative. The stress caused by the actual shooting of this polluted concoction directly into the bloodstream can greatly hamper your immune system. (For more information from a well respected physician on this subject, please visit www.mercola.com and search “flu shot”).

Daily doses (three drops three times a day) will help keep your immune system strong enough to fight off most cold and flu viruses. Should one sneak in, conduct a full frontal attack by getting lots of sleep, drinking plenty of water and taking frequent dosages of oregano oil to stop it in its tracks. Hepatitis and Herpes are two other viral infections which have responded well to treatment with Oregano oil.

Oregano oil also works as an antibiotic, meaning it doesn’t just protect against viruses but also against bacteria. It has been shown in lab tests to be as effective as one of the strongest antibiotics (Vancomycin) in killing staph, E.coli and other bacteria. It does this without creating mutant strains of drug resistant bacteria and it has none of the debilitating side effects of pharmaceutical antibiotics. For AIDS and cancer patients, diabetics and those bedridden in hospital, oregano oil is a defensive weapon against potentially deadly bacteria. It is easy to take and effective against many known forms of pathogens.

North Americans suffer from a virtual epidemic of candida infection. Candida albicans is a form of fungus that occurs naturally in the gut. Antibiotics kill some of the good flora in the intestinal tract. This allows the candida to multiply unchecked. Candida feeds on sugar and refined grains. With the North American diet being high in both of these, candida quickly multiplies and ends up in the bloodstream. Nail fungus, thrush, skin disorders, vaginal yeast, allergies and chronic fatigue are only a few of the annoying symptoms caused by candida infection. Oregano oil is also effective to treat fungal infections.

Oregano oil is a powerful antiparasitic. In studies done in Mexico it was shown to be effective against giardia, a water borne parasite that our Ontario readers may be familiar with. Pinworms and other nasty creatures that often inhabit our intestines are subject to termination by oregano oil.

Travel in public carriers can be hazardous to your health even if no terrorists are aboard. The closed environment and recirculated air give a good guarantee that breathing the effluvia under such conditions will result in a vacation flu, just what you don’t want. So carry your oregano oil with you on the plane, train or bus. When you arrive in those warmer climates you can avoid food poisoning and Monteczuma’s revenge by taking a few drops before or after meals and by adding a drop or two to the water.

Teeth and gums benefit greatly from oral application of oregano oil since it destroys the bacteria that form plaque and cause gum disease. You may put a drop or two under the tongue and then swish it around in your mouth before swallowing or put a drop on your toothbrush when you clean your teeth.

Inflammation is a component of not only of many infections but also diseases, especially those involving joints and tendons. An article published in Phytotherapy Research describes how Oregano oil superseded anti-inflammatory drugs in reversing pain and inflammation and is nearly as powerful as morphine as a pain killer. It has the ability to penetrate the skin and reach as far as the sinovial fluid in joints. It may help to alleviate arthritis, carpal tunnel, sports injuries and even backache. Rub the oil on the skin to cover the affected area in addition to taking it internally.

Do not confuse the medicinal wild Mediterranean oregano for what is sometimes called oregano in the marketplace. What you find on the grocery store shelf is usually Spanish marjoram and does not share the true wild oregano’s therapeutic qualities. The best therapeutic oregano grows wild in the Mediterranean and has been known since Hippocrate’s time to be a powerful medicinal plant.

Olive oil is used to dilute pure oregano oil because, in its pure form, the oil is far too caustic. This is primarily due to the predominant phenol carvacrol, which accounts for a large percentage of the composition of oregano oil. Please beware of taking the pure essential oil as it could harm you. It must be properly diluted to be effective and safe. Tests show that most people respond best to one part oregano to four parts olive oil. Extra strength products are not more effective. They are difficult for the body to assimilate and are extremely unpalatable as well as being potentially hazardous.

Recently, the FDA has started to allow vendors of olive oil to make qualified statements concerning its health benefits. However, these benefits only occur when at least two tablespoons of oil are taken a day. Whether the edible oil is olive, flax seed, coconut, palm or hemp seed oil, the same intake level of two tablespoons daily is required to produce results. As an average dose of oregano oil is about nine drops (or one third of a milliliter) per a day, do not expect to derive any benefit from the edible oil that it is mixed with. Do ensure that the edible oil is fresh and certified organic to remove the possibility of rancidity or pesticide contamination. If you have a health challenge, you certainly don’t need further assault from chemical contamination.

Stave off winter and experience the multitude of uses for oregano oil to enjoy greatly improved health!

http://www.herbalremediesinfo.com/teatree-neem-oregano.html

Tea Tree, Neem, and Oregano Oil

Tea Tree Oil, Neem Oil, and Oregano Oil

These 3 oils are so powerful and comprehensive in their actions that they deserve a bit more treatment.

TEA TREE OIL (Melaleuca alternifolia)

Derived from the leaves of the Melaleuca tree and packed with the active ingredient terpinen-4-ol, tea tree oil is highly prized for its versatility.

Used by Australian aborigines for centuries, tea tree oil began attracting wider attention when the 18th-century explorer Capt. James Cook discovered the lush Melaleuca groves in New South Wales.

Australian medical journals have documented tea tree oil’s antiseptic and antibacterial properties since the late 1920s, and the pungent oil was standard issue for all Australian military first-aid kits until the 1930s, when synthetic antibiotics began to eclipse this natural healer. Today, with many “supergerms” resisting even the strongest antibiotics, tea tree oil’s popularity is again on the rise. (Plant oils are believed to suffocate bacteria, which is why they don’t become resistant.)

Tea Tree Oil is used for disinfecting minor cuts, abrasions and burns.

Gargling twice daily with a few drops in warm water relieves sore throats. Rubbed on the nose and forehead, it alleviates head congestion. A few drops on the chest and back helps to break up a phlegmy cough.

Tea Tree Oil is known as an effective acne fighter as well.It hasbeen shown to be as effective as benzoyl peroxide in treating acne, with less drying, stinging and redness.

Tea tree oil’s antifungual properties also are well-documented. It is used to treat Candida albicans, the common yeast infection.

Tea tree oil is popular in a wide variety of commercial first-aid and beauty products. The undiluted essential oil may also be used to make your own preparations. Before treating yourself, rub a small amount on your inner arm to be sure you’re not allergic.

NEEM OIL (Azadiracta indica)

Packed with the antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antihistamine, antiseptic, spermicidal and immune-system stimulating components nimbin and nimbidin, neem is said to do everything from repelling insects to preventing pregnancy. India’s neem tree is practically a first-aid kit in itself.

Neem oil is found primarily in topical health and beauty products. It’s strong scent is often masked by more pleasant oils. It is added to toothpaste and mouthwash, because it is thought to prevent cavities and gingivitis. In creams (containing at least 25 percent neem oil), neem oil is used to combat vaginal infections and sexually transmitted diseases.In soaps and shampoos, it kills lice, ringworm and scabies; mixed with equal parts vegetable oil and water, it makes a healing soak for athlete’s foot; undiluted, it repels fleas, ticks, mosquitoes and flies. The oil also contains fatty acids, which build collagen, promote wound healing and maintain skin’s elasticity.

Although other parts of the neem tree can be safely consumed (tea is regularly made from the leaves and bark), it’s best not to ingest the oil—long-term use has been linked with liver dysfunction.

OREGANO OIL (Origanum vulgare)

A highly aromatic member of the mint family found only in the Mediterranean, wild mountain oregano is regarded as a potent remedy for skin and fungal conditions, chronic pain, insect bites, even the harshest of colds. Its powerful antiseptic, antibacterial, antiparasitical, antiviral, analgesic and antifungal properties are attributed to the active ingredient carvacrol.

This oil is very potent! 1 drop of oil is usually applied to the affected area

Oregano oil also makes a good topical analgesic. According to a study done by the Anadolu University in Turkey and published in the journal Phytotherapy Research, topical applications of oregano oil worked better than ibuprofen and nearly as well as morphine for controlling chronic pain. Rubbed into the chest, oregano oil breaks up mucous during a cold.

Oregano oil is also used for treating yeast infections. When applying oregano oil to sensitive areas, like the vagina or face, dilute 1 to 2 drops in a teaspoon of olive oil first.

While many herbal companies tout oregano oil’s internal use, other herbalists say it’s best used topically. It contains harsh phenols, which are potentially damaging to the liver and kidneys when taken at high doses for long periods of time.

Used wisely, however, tea tree, neem and oregano oils can become indispensable to your first-aid kit.

http://www.herbalremediesinfo.com/stress.html

[You will be stressed, when you have to fight to defend your cup of Catnip tea, from all those cats...granny]

Herbs For Stress

Stress can be described as the response to taxing physical, emotional, or environmental demands.

The body is equipped to deal with brief episodes, but high stress on a regular basis can eventually take a heavy toll on physical and mental health.

Over time, chronically high levels of stress hormones deplete both nutrient and energy reserves, creating an overall state of exhaustion.

What’s more, blood pressure and cholesterol levels increase, the stomach secretes too much acid, sex hormones diminish, and the brain becomes starved for its main energy source, glucose, which can impair mental ability over the long term.

Chronic stress can also take a heavy toll on the immune system, decreasing one’s resistance to colds, flus, and other types of illness.

Herbal Remedies For Stress

GINSENG the tincture helps restore nervous system after a prolonged illness or injury.

ASHWAGANDA tinctures and capsules are used to fight fatigue during prolonged periods of tension.

CATNIP is used as a tea to relax and soothe the nerves.

CAT’S CLAW tincture or capsules used for soothing the nervous system during illness.

CHAMOMMILE drunk in tea has a calming effect.

LEMON BALM tea or infusion reduces tension and relieves aches & pains.

REISHI powders and extracts restore emotional balance.

SCHISANDRA used for headache, insomnia, dizziness & palpitations.

SIBERIAN GINSENG reduces effects of stress, increases stamina and concentration.

You can find more info on stress and how it affects weight and your over all health by clicking here.

http://www.herbalremediesinfo.com/growing-medicinal-herbs.html

Growing Medicinal Herbs

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Here are some growing tips and information about growing specific medicinal herbs.

Angelica Angelica archangelica

Medicinal gardens crave the presence of this, the official species. Bitter aromatic, antimicrobial and carminative. Cultivate in ordinary deep, moist loam, in a shady position, as the plant thrives best in a damp soil and loves to grow near running water.

Arnica Arnica montana

Herbaceous perennial for cold and hardy zones. Sow within a mix of loam, peat moss, and sand in the spring. Likes acid pH, full sun, moisture, and a high altitude. Used for sprains, bruises, soaks, compresses, and an ingredient for salves and oils. The flowers are collected entire and dried, but the receptacles are sometimes removed as they are liable to be attacked by insects.

The root is collected in autumn after the leaves have died down

Ashwagandha Withania somnifera

Herbaceous perennial in the tropics, annual in temperate zones. Start indoors and transplant as you would tomatoes. Does not tolerate cold conditions well. Ginseng-like Ayurvedic tonic mainly for physical and mental exhaustion.Easy to grow, unusual and useful, also increasingly popular herb for selling. Dried root is a Ginseng-like tonic of the Ayurvedics.

Astragalus Astragalus membranaceous

Herbaceous perennial. Direct seed in early spring, good cold soil germinator. Prefers full sun, average soil and good drainage. Chinese tonic herb, with immune enhancing qualities. Herb improves function of liver, lungs, and spleen.

Basil, Holy Ocimum sanctum

Sow directly or in greenhouse in Spring or Summer. Prefers full sun, rich soil, and plenty of water This variety is purple stemmed and highly aromatic.Adaptogenic, antifungal, antibacterial, immune enhancing, and of the Ayurvedic tradition.

Borage Borago officinalis

Annual, direct seed in mid-spring. Very easy to grow, and will self sow. Delightful blue/purple flowers for salads, teas and desserts. Put them in ice cube trays for winter surprises. Gladdens the heart.

Burdock Arctium lappa

Perennial or self seeding annuals. Direct seed in late spring, prefers slight shade with good drainage and sandy soil. Plant closely for best yield and proliferation. Harvest root during dormant period after the first year to make oil. Leaves make a lovely poultice for skin damage. It will grow in almost any soil, but the roots are formed best in a light well-drained soil. The seeds germinate readily and may be sown directly in the field, either in autumn or early spring, in drills 18 inches to 3 feet apart, sowing 1 inch deep in autumn, but less in spring. The young plants when well up are thinned out to 6 inches apart in the row.

Calendula Calendula officinalis

Annual and self seeding. Direct seed in warm soil and full sun. Will proliferate fast and easily. Harvest bright orange flowers throughout year. Premier healing agent in salves, tinctures or masticated and applied to external injuries. Seeds sown in April, in any soil, in sunny, or half-sunny places germinate freely. They require no other cultivation but to keep them clean from weeds and to thin out where too close, leaving them 9 to 10 inches apart, so that their branches may have room to spread. The plants will begin to flower in June, and continue flowering until the frost kills them. They will increase from year to year, if allowed to seed themselves. The seeds ripen in August and September, and if permitted to scatter will furnish a supply of young plants in the spring.

Catnip Nepeta cataria

Herbaceous perennial. Highly aromatic plant in the mint family. Direct seed or start in flats in mid-spring. Prefers warm soil and full/partial sun.Gentle sedative, aromatic and calming. Catmint is easily grown in any garden soil, and does not require moisture in the same way as the other Mints. It may be increased by dividing the plants in spring, or by sowing seeds at the same period. Sow in rows, about 20 inches apart, thinning out the seedlings to about the same distance apart as the plants attain a considerable size. Attracts bees....and of course cats!

Chamomile, German Certified Organic

Annual. Self seeding and extremely vigorous. Sow directly in Fall or mid-Winter. Prefers full sun, and most types of soil. This is the delightfully aromatic Chamomile of tea fame. Perfect for gentle bedtime sedation or for treating stomachache.

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See Also:

Growing Herb Gardens with Children

Lifeline Medicinal Seeds Kit from Horizon Herbs (Certified Organic)

This beautifully packaged set of seeds is a great foundation primer for those wishing to start a medicinal herb garden. (Each packet of seeds is certified organic through OTCO.)

Each kit contains 1 packet of each: Astragulus (50 seeds) Holy Basil (100 seeds) Burdock (100 seeds) Calendula (100 seeds) German Chamomile (500 seeds) Echinacea purpurea (200 seeds) Elecampane (100 seeds) Evening primrose (200 seeds) Flax (200 seeds)Lemon Balm (200 seeds) Marshmallow (100 seeds) Motherwort (200 seeds) Nettles (400 seeds) Cayenne pepper (100 seeds) Sage (100 seeds) Valerian (100 seeds) Wood Betony (100 seeds) Yarrow (200 seeds)

Lifeline Medicinal Seeds Kit is available from Mountain Rose Herbs seed section under “L”.

http://www.mountainroseherbs.com/seeds/seeds.php

My friend Liz has a website The Herb Guide which has information about growing and preserving herbs along with their culinary and medicinal uses. Good health starts from the inside and if you can use herbs to flavor your food instead of salts and preservatives, you’ll have a head start.

http://www.the-herb-guide.com/

More Medicinal Herbs...

Chickweed Stelleria media

Annual spreading ground cover. Direct seed in rich soil in early spring or late summer. Spreading ground cover, flowering no higher than 1 foot. Harvest fresh for a wholesome, succulent and tasty salad green. Used daily, the herb will assist in weight reduction programs. Dried, it makes a worthwhile addition to any healing salve.

Dandelion Taraxacum offinalis

Herbaceous perennial. Native to and distributed throughout all temperate zones. Sow seed in flats in the spring,and transplant to rows in the garden. Space plants 1 foot apart, and keep well watered. Dandelion is a gentle liver tonic and diuretic.

Echinacea Angustifolia Echinacea angustifolia

Herbaceous perennial. Sow seed outdoors in very early spring or fall. Prefers full sun, with well drained, limey soil and regular watering. Beloved medicinal that is used for its immune enhancing properties. Do not over-water during growth cycle (roots can rot). This threatened species is being over-harvested in the wild.

Elecampane Inula helenium

Herbaceous perennial. Sow seed in greenhouse in early spring or sow directly in garden in mid-spring. Light-dependent germinator. Grows in full sun or partial shade. It grows well in moist, shady positions, in ordinary garden soil, though it flourishes best in a good, loamy soil, the ground being damp, but fairly well-drained. Cough and lung remedy, bitter and antiseptic. Elecampane has a strong activity against bronchial infection, pneumonia and debilitating, chronic cough.

Evening Primrose Oenethera biennis

Self-seeding biennial. Scatter seed on surface of disturbed soil in fall or early spring, or start on surface of flat and transplant. Seed requires exposure to light in order to germinate. Drought tolerant. Some women report alleviation of PMS by eating the plant and the seeds. The flowers especially make a tasty addition to salads.

Feverfew Tanacetum parthenium

Herbacious perennial, native to temperate zones of the world. Self-seeding and vigorous. Prefers full sun or partial shade. Fresh leaves are tonic to prevent migraines. Planting may be done in autumn, but the best time is about the end of April. Any ordinary good soil is suitable, but better results are obtained when well-drained, and of a stiff, loamy character, enriched with good manure.

Hyssop Hyssopus officinalis

Woody perennial. Seed is easy to germinate. Prefers full sun. This mildly anti-viral and expectorant herb makes an excellent tea to treat the common cold. May be propagated by seeds, sown in early spring, or by dividing the plants in spring and autumn, or by cuttings, made in spring and planted in a shady spot. Plants raised from seeds or cuttings, should, when large enough, be planted out about 1 foot apart each way, and kept watered till established. The plants require cutting in, occasionally, but do not need much further attention.

Lavender Lavandula angustifolia

Woody perennial. Sow in flats and keep in partial shade, or sow dry seed in the fall or early spring in outdoor nursery beds. Transplant to pots or out to the garden after the slow-growing seedlings produce 4 or 5 leaves. Lavender prefers a moderate supply of nutrients, lime and a well-drained soil. Drought tolerant. Established plants make nice borders and hedges.

Lemon Balm Melissa officinalis

Herbaceous perennial, self seeding. Sow seed outdoors in Fall or very early Spring. Prefers full sun to partial shade.Thrives in normal garden soil and minimal water. Established plants can easily be divided and replanted. Plant 1.5 feet apart. Favorite tea herb for its aromatic & sedative uses. Mildly anti-viral.

Lobelia Lobelia inflata

Annual. Press tiny seed into surface of flat and water lightly. Water or mist, light dependent germinator. Prefers full sun to partial shade and lots of water. Useful anti-spasmotic & expectorant when combined with more soothing herbs. Use caution; one of its common names is puke weed.

Marshmallow Althaea officinalis

Herbaceous perennial. Sow seed in greenhouse in early spring, or direct seed to fertile garden bed. Transplant out to moist, sunny location when seedlings reach 2 inches. Prefers regular watering and makes a lot of biomass, both above the ground and below. The entire plant contains high-grade mucilage which stimulates phagocytosis, thereby enhancing immune function. The leaves and flowers, when dried, make a healing tea, very acceptable to those who are having difficulty swallowing liquids. It is soothing to throat and urinary tract.

Meadowsweet Spirea ulmaria

Herbaceous perennial. Press seed into surface of flat in spring. Bottom water or mist gently. Waist high bushes with sweet golden inflorescence’s (2nd year) that taste like nectar. Wonderful plant, and the leaves in particular are anti-inflammatory and pain relieving. Does best in rich, moist soil with partial shade.

Milk Thistle Silybum Marianum

Overwintering annual. Direct seed in late Summer or early Spring. This vigorous plant cultivates easily. It thrives in any ordinary soil. Allow 2 feet each way when thinning out the seedlings.Choose site carefully and keep it under control. Giant shiny leaves with white veins and purple thistles. Seed coat is rich in silymarin; unique hepato-protective agent useful for the liver.

Motherwort Leonurus cardiaca

Herbaceous perennial. Start in flats, transplant out in spring or late summer. Harvest in early flower, at leat twice a season. Very useful heart tonic, calming nervine, emmenagogue and aperient. Handsome flower spikes, leaves deeply toothed.

Mullein Verbascum thapsus

Biennial. Sow seed on surface of disturbed soil or on surface of flat. Compact down hard. Tolerates poor, gravelly soil and fierce sun. Used medicinally as tea or tincture for moistening mucous membranes and are therefore a great soothing agent for the throat, bronchi and lungs.

Nettle Urtica dioica

Herbaceous perennial. Sow seed indoors late Winter early Spring, transplant in Spring after the last frost. Prefers either sun or shade and moist soil.Harvest in evening or early morning for highest essential oil content. A popular tea for its nutritional value. Be aware entire plant covered in stinging hairs which inject formic acid causing painful welts. Sauteed or steamed fresh spring herb, dried leaf have nutritive & medicinal uses.

Passionflower Passiflora incarnata

Herbaceous or woody vine. Sow the seeds about 1/2 inch deep in good, moist potting soil in a wooden flat. Transplant in late Fall or early Spring. Plant 2 feet apart and trellis on the sunny side of a building or on a fence. Useful in treating insomnia and nervousness.

Peppermint Mentha piperita

Perennial. Seed is easy to germinate, and will grow prolifically. Prefers full sun to part shade. Thrives best in a fairly warm, preferably moist climate, and in deep soils rich in humus. Mature plants can be easily divided and transplanted to 1 1/2 ft. apart. Folklore has it that planting mint near your front door bring protection and prosperity. Mint is excellent for making a stimulating and digestive tea, and it tastes great!

Plantain Plantago major

Herbaceous perennial. Press into surface of soil and keep moist. Prefers cool soils for germ. Plants prefer sun or shade, a moist soil, are not particular about fertility, but given water and compost will attain very impressive size. Anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory. Particularly useful as a first-aid poultice and for dental infections

Sage, White Ceremonial Salvia apiana

Herbaceous perennial. Sow seeds in very sandy soil and water once daily. Bring indoors for winter, unless you live in a warm/mild climate. Loves a dry, sunny exposure. Burned ceremonially to cleanse the spirit and welcome positive thoughts.

Schisandra Schisandra chinensis

Perennial woody vine. Soak berries overnight and remove seed from fruit before planting. Plant outdoors in fall or early spring. Likes a shady situation. Cold hardy. Used in Chinese medicine as an immune-enhancing herb.

Self Heal Prunella vulgaris

Creeping herbaceous perennial. Sow seed in very early spring in a flat outdoors or give a short, cold and moist conditioning treatment before sowing in a warm place. The dried flowers make a pain-relieving, astringent tea to treat canker sores.

More Medicinal Herbs...

Skullcap Scutellaria baicalensis

This is a very striking bedding plant, bearing beautiful flowers. There is on-going demand for the root, which attains harvestable size after only 2 years. Sow seed in early spring. Germinates in about 24 days. Prefers well-drained soil in the full sun. Cold hardy. Space plants 12 inches apart. Grows to around 12 inches tall. Established plants get wider and bushier.

Sheep Sorrel Rumex acetosella

Perennial grassland herb with rust colored flowers. Easy to cultivate and vigorous. Sow seeds in Spring. Prefers full sun and good garden soil. This is the species called for in the formula “Essiac”.

St John’s Wort Hypericum perforatum

Perennial. Light-dependent germinator in Spring Transplant out in summer. Use very sandy soil mix Prefers full sun. Drought tolerant. Good choice for borders and banks. Traditionally used for very mild depression and helps restore damaged nerve tissue.

Valerian Valeriana officinalis

Herbaceous perennial, creeping and self-seeding. Sow lightly on surface and keep moist; light dependent germination. Prefers full sun to part shade and lots of moisture. Harvest dormant root after 2nd year for its strong sedative action.

Vervain Verbena hastata

Herbaceous perennial. Seed requires cold conditioning before it will sprout. Sow in very early spring, or refrigerate in moist medium for 2 weeks before planting in the greenhouse. Bitter remedy for indigestion, colds and fevers.

Vitex (Chaste Tree) Vitex agnus-castus

Perennial, deciduous shrub to small tree. Sow in pots for first year and transplant outdoors. Prefers full sun, and dry soil. The leaves and flowers exude exotic aromas. Seeds are used to regulate hormones and support breast health.

Wild Yam Dioscorea villosa

Perennial. Sow the seeds in the Fall, midwinter or early Spring, directly in prepared woodland beds or in the greenhouse. If started in the greenhouse, grow out for a year (keep moist/shaded) in gallon pots before transplanting to the garden or naturalizing in the forest. Likes good, humus soil and partial sun. It is an antispasmodic helping to smooth muscles, which includes the gastro-intestinal tract and uterus.

Wood Betony Stachys officianalis

Herbaceous perennial, very easy to start from seed. Takes 2 years to flower, but well worth the wait. This moisture loving plant prefers part sun or shade and normal garden soil. Has beautiful red/purple flowering spikes that attract bees. Tea is made from dried leaf and is useful for headaches and mild nervine.

Yarrow Achillea millefolium

Perennial. Sow seeds directly in early Spring. Grows vigorously in any kind of soil and requires little water. Prefers full sun. Yarrow flowers are famous for their antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties.

[A nice site to check out...granny]

http://www.the-herb-guide.com/rosemary.html

Rosemary

Rosemary is a very versatile herb.

It’s ornamental and is quite hardy. It’s evergreen and has blue flowers in late spring. It’s a very good value plant, as it grows to 3 to 5 feet high and makes a good backdrop to your herb garden.

It’s equally at home in a border with plants other than herbs.

As long as it has full sun and well drained soil, it’s happy and will flourish.

It does tend to get a bit ‘wild’ - what I mean is, it needs clipping back to keep it to a good shape, otherwise it just flops and can take over the border.

You plant it in late spring and if you can, protect it from the cold for its first year - just drape some bubble wrap or horticultural fleece or similar and peg it down to prevent it from blowing away in the winter.

It can die in very cold winters, so it’s a good idea to have a replacement ready.

It’s easy to take cuttings from - just take about 4 inch cuttings in mid to late summer (about July in the northern hemisphere).

Strip the cut end of its leaves for about 2 inches then dip in hormone rooting powder - put into some good compost, water gently and then leave the cuttings in a shady place.

They will need protecting from the cold, so put them in an unheated porch or similar. By the following spring, they should be ready to plant out or sell - growing herbs for profit is as easy as that!

It’s used in cooking with lamb, pork, veal and rabbit. It’s good with chicken, mushrooms, eggs and cheese, but use it sparingly as it can be overpowering.

Rosemary potatoes are a particular dish that goes well with many plain grilled meats.

Sprigs can be added to a jar of olive oil to make rosemary oil. You can use this to brush lamb, pork or veal steaks whilst they grill - either on the barbecue or your indoor grill or griddle.

Strip leaves off a couple of sprigs, pour some boiling water over and allow to brew to make a diruetic tea.

An infusion in boiling water can be used (once it’s cooled) as a final rinse for oily hair. The smell it leaves will be divine.

Rosemary was associated with prosperity and fertility and the Romans used to give it to the bride and groom at their wedding.

If you smell the crushed leaves, you can feel the aroma trickling through your sinuses - Greek students used to twine it in their hair at examination times to help them remember.

Shakespeare’s line Hamlet to Ophelia goes ‘There’s Rosemary, that’s for remembrance.’

It was thought to be a disinfectant and was used against the plague - didn’t work though - but some people do put it in the wardrobe to keep clothing free of moths - much nicer smell than mothballs!

http://www.the-herb-guide.com/herbal-remedies.html

Herbal Remedies

Herbal remedies have a long history. Our ancestors used herbs as medicine because they had no choice.

I have personally used St Johns Wort to relieve mild depression, I have used mint tea for an upset stomach and the majority of supplements I take these days are herbal in origin.

I have used lavender in the bath for a relaxing soak, and burned thyme oil to relieve sinuses when I have a cold.

I use my herbs and oils in preference to commercial products.

In this section, I intend to bring news of the latest developments and findings and also some ancient remedies.

Herbs are natural, but bear in mind, they’re not always safe - you need to do your research before trying a herbal cure.

Consult your doctor or chemist/pharmacist to see if the herbs you want to take will interfere with any medication you may already be on.

If you’re pregnant or suffer from a long term illness, such as diabetes, then also consult before you give the medicinal herbs a try.

This section was developed when I read about Echinacea halving the risk of colds - wow - a prevention for the common cold - just what the world’s been waiting for!

Read about it - it’s fascinating - and won’t cost you the earth

[These are all live urls at the link...granny]

Herbal Diuretic
Parsley, chervil, horsetail and angelica are all natural diuretics. Instructions here for parsley tea.

Echinacea - a Cure for the Common Cold?
This is the article about Echinacea and how it can help either ward off the flu or common cold or make it go quicker.

Herbal Cough Remedy
A very soothing herb amd honey mixture that will ease your chesty cough. So very easy to make.

Herbal Medicine
We’re coming full circle. Our ancestors developed herbal medicine which was the basis for modern medicine - many of us are now rebelling against bombarding our bodies with chemicals and looking for a way back.

Herbal Health Care
My friend Marc, from www.herbalremediesinfo.com has sent me this article listing the benefits of using fenugreek, black cohosh and walnut, comfrey and peppermint. Try these gentle herbs.

Natures Health Foods
This link takes you through to www.natures-health-foods.com where you can read about Natures super Foods, Super Recipes & Super Food Remedies. Living Longer & Living Younger.

Herb Tea
Making herbal tea is simple - here’s instructions using dried or fresh herbs.

Herb Tea for Diabetes
Dan and Denise Garcia have sent this list of herbs which constitute their essiac tea. Read the article and then have a look at their website, essiac-tea-for-diabetes.com

Herbal Remedy for Insomnia
Insomnia has many causes and herbal remedies can help considerably. A good sleep habit and herbal remedies will often provide a cure.

Indigestion
Peppermint, parsley, dill, nettle and chamomile are all useful herbs for treating stomach problems and sweetening the breath.

Lavender
Treat anxiety, sleep problems, burns, sunburn and make your clother smell good - lavender is very versatile. Instructions to make a lavender sachet.

Home Remedy for Coughs
10 different home cough remedies. One of them is bound to help you :-)

Sugar Addiction
Which herbs can you use for sugar addiction. A quick run down on the basics.

St Johns Wort
This is Nature’s Prozac - an effective treatment for mild to moderate depression with none of the side effects associated with conventional medication.

Weight Loss
Herbs can play an important role in aiding weight loss - they can curb hunger pangs, assist in losing weight, lessen the need for sugar and make your food tastier.

http://www.the-herb-guide.com/home-remedy-cough.html

Home Remedy Cough

Most coughs will subside on their own within 7 to 10 days but it always feels better if you can do something to relieve the tickle and make your cough more productive.

Here are 10 different home remedies you can try to stop a cough.

1) Crush together 3 peppercorns, a few black cumin seeds and a few grains of rock salt. Take a pinch of this mixture three times a day.

2) Hot milk with honey is a good bedtime drink and will help you sleep as well.

3) Boil a mug of water. Add 2 oz (50g) fresh grated ginger and 5 tablespoons sugar. Simmer for 30 minutes Drink it hot. Sip it twice a day. It is very effective to stop a cough.

4) Take a tablespoon of lemon juice. Mix a tablepoon of honey and a teaspoon of powdered cinnamon. Put the mixture in a jar and take a teaspoon 4 times a day.

5) Warm a cup of milk. In one cup of warm milk, add a pinch of turmeric powder and drink twice a day.

6) Mix half a teaspoon of tulsi juice with half a teaspoon of ginger juice. Add 1 teaspoon of honey. Take this 2-3 times a day.

7) A simple dry cough remedy is to mix half a teaspoon of honey with half a teaspoon of lemon juice. Take this 3 to 4 times a day.

8) Mix 8 - 10 tablespoons of coconut milk with 1 tablespoon poppy seed (powdered) and 1 tablespoon of pure honey. Take this every night before going to bed. This remedy is very good home remedy for coughs.

9) Garlic-onion-chicken soup is an effective remedy for cough. Take it steaming hot, to give relief to irritation in throat.

10) My own personal natural cough medicine is here
. It’s a simple mixture but very effective.

http://www.the-herb-guide.com/herbal-cough-remedy.html

Herbal Cough Remedy

This is a simple soothing herbal cough remedy.

It’s so easy to make.

It will store for several weeks in a jar. Just take a tablespoon in warm water and use three times a day for relief from your cough.

The herb you use will depend on your symptom.

To ease a tight chest, use thyme, for a chill, use sage - you can combine these with rosemary to combat lethargy.

Honey is a natural antiseptic. It coats the respiratory tract and keeps the herbs in contact.

The quantities here are for a ‘good bottle’ of medicine.

Take 2 pints or 1 litre of water and bring to the boil.

Add 1 oz or 25g of dried herbs.

Bring to the boil and then simmer for 20 minutes.

Strain the liquid to remove the flakes of herbs - use a muslin cloth or kitchen roll.

Return to the pan and add 1lb (450g) of honey.

Simmer for 20 minutes.

Allow this mixture to cool and then put in a jar.

Use 1 tbspn in warm water as and when required.

You might find that this natural cough remedy will only be needed three times a day, but you can use it more often if you need to.

It is most effective using thyme - this seems to ease the congestion caused by a cough.

http://www.kitchendoctor.com/articles/four_thieves.html

[I had forgotten this one, so here it is, granny]

Four Thieves: Historic Anti-Plague Remedy

by Ingrid Naiman

During the dreadful years of the Black Death, a few people found the way to survive the plague that was decimating the population. Among the more colorful of these were four thieves from Marseilles who while plundering for treasures protected themselves with garlic and a concoction of herbs extracted in vinegar. The tale is a fascinating exploration of herbal lore, but there are so many versions of the story that it is up to you to choose which to believe.

Nostradamus, 1503-1566, was a famous doctor and prophet who not only survived the plague but cured many others with what came to be known as the famous “rose petal pills.” In fact, we do not know very much about the lozenges. They might have included rose hips, a rich source of natural vitamin C, as well as sawdust from green cypress, iris of Florence, cloves, odorated calamus, and perhaps some lign-aloes. Nostradamus owned a perfume manufacturing enterprise, which in his time meant distillation of plants to make essential oils. People who worked in these facilities did not succumb to the plague . . . and we are just now emerging from our skepticism in such a way as to enable us to understand what is so effective about these highly concentrated aromatic oils.

This formula is so popular in herbal circles that some people have organized “Four Thieves” parties where groups of people produce big batches of the formula during times of epidemics. There are, as one might imagine, many versions of the formula, all, of course, claimed to be authentic.

The famous French aromatherapy doctor, Jean Valnet, has two recipes in his book. He claims the original recipe was revealed by corpse robbers who were caught red-handed in the area around Toulouse in 1628-1631. His story is the more credible of the many one can find. Given the virulence and deadliness of the plague, the judges were astonished by the indifference of the thieves to contagion. Valnet quotes the archives of the Parliament of Toulouse:

During the Great Plague, four robbers were convicted of going to the houses of plague victims, strangling them in their beds and then looting their dwellings. For this, they were condemned to be burned at the stake, and in order to have their sentence mitigated, they revealed their secret preservative, after which they were hanged.

Given the source, I choose to believe the Valnet account, but there have obviously been many spins of the tale. Here is the recipe stated to be the original:

Original Recipe for Four Thieves Formula
3 pints
white wine vinegar
handful
wormwood
handful
meadowsweet
handful
juniper berries
handful
wild marjoram
handful
sage
50
cloves
2 oz.
elecampane root
2 oz.
angelica
2 oz.
rosemary
2 oz.
horehound
3 g
camphor

Dr. Valnet has a variation of his own described as an antiseptic vinegar:

Marseilles Vinegar or Four Thieves Vinegar

40 g.
greater wormwood, Artemesia absinthum
40 g.
lesser wormwood, Artemesia pontica
40 g.
rosemary
40 g.
sage
40 g.
mint
40 g.
rue
40 g.
lavender
5 g.
calamus
5 g.
cinnamon
5 g.
clove
5 g.
nutmeg
5 g.
garlic
10 g.
camphor (do not use synthetic camphor)
40 g.
crystallized acetic acid
2500 g.
white vinegar

Instructions: steep the plants in the vinegar for 10 days. Force through a sieve. Add the camphor dissolved in the acetic acid, filter.

Valnet says this remedy, i.e., his formula is useful in the prevention of infectious diseases. He says to rub it on the face and hands and burn it in the room. It can also be kept in small bottles that are carried on the person so that the vapors can be inhaled.

Dr. John Christopher had a slightly different story and a variation of the formula that is clearly American, not French. His “Four Thieves” story is that there was a man named Richard Forthave who developed a remedy for the plague that was marketed under his name, a name which was corrupted to “Four Thieves.” There might indeed have been grave robbers who used this remedy to protect themselves while they divested corpses of treasures they would no longer need. The King of France had the thieves arrested and they bought their freedom with the remedy they had been using. Thus, the remedy did not fall into obscurity and has been used for centuries since to protect against contagion.

Dr. John Christopher Plague Formula

8 parts
apple cider vinegar
5 parts
glycerine U.S.P.
5 parts
honey
2 parts
garlic juice, fresh
2 parts
comfrey root concentrate*
1 part
wormwood concentrate
1 part
lobelia leaf and/or seed concentrate
1 part
marshmallow root concentrate
1 part
oak bark concentrate
1 part
black walnut bark concentrate
1 part
mullein leaf concentrate
1 part
skullcap leaf concentrate
1 part
uva ursi, hydrangea, or gravel root concentrate

Mix the ingredients well!

*Due to new restrictions on comfrey for internal use, it is suggested that slippery elm be substituted for this ingredient.

How to make the concentrates:

Each concentrate should be made individually. Start by soaking the herb for four hours or more in enough distilled water to cover it completely. After soaking, add more distilled water so that the total added equals 16 oz. (.5 liter) water per 4 oz. (113 grams) herb. Use a multiple of these amounts for a larger quantity of formula. Using these amounts approximately one gallon (3.75 liters) of the formula will be produced.

After adding the appropriate amount of distilled water to the soaked herb, simmer the herb on very low heat in a covered pan or double boiler for thirty minutes. Then strain the liquid into a clean pan. Put the liquid into a double boiler or on very low heat (uncovered) and simmer (steam) it down to one fourth of the original volume (4 oz. 1256 ml). Only after all ingredients have been prepared should the liquids be mixed.

Do not use aluminum, Teflon, or cracked porcelain. Glass, corning ware or stainless steel or whole porcelain are best.

Dosage: 1 tsp. 3 times a day; or 1 tablespoon every 1/2 hour if infected.

Here is another version, much simpler to make, offered by one of my colleagues, Karen Vaughn, Licensed Acupuncturist and Herbalist.

1 pint
unpasteurized apple cider vinegar
5 drops
rosemary oil
5 drops
oregano oil
5 drops
lavender oil
5 drops
sage oil
5 drops
peppermint oil
5 drops
clove oil
4 drops
lemon oil
3 drops
black pepper oil
1 drop
capsicum oil
1 head
garlic finely diced
3 oz
ginger finely sliced
4 oz
echinacea tincture

Warning: Be sure to use unadulterated, therapeutic grade essential oils. All essential oils sold on this site are this superior quality.

New Batch and Name Change to Potent Protection

Potent Protection

Potent Protection [formerly called Four Thieves]
Ingrid’s Formula

Contains: Alpinia officinarum (galangal), Allium sativum (garlic), Zingiber officinalis (ginger), Juglans nigra (black walnut), Artemisia annua (sweet Annie), Lomatium dissectum, Verbascum thaspus (mullein leaf), Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (bearberry), Ulmus rubra (slippery elm), Ligusticum porteri (osha), Capsicum minimum (cayenne), Black cumin, Nutmeg, Coriander, Cinnamon, Cloves, and Camphor in distilled water, organic alcohol, organic honey, vegetable glycerin, and organic cider vinegar with essential oils of wild oregano and rosemary.

4 oz., $37.50

http://theherbgardener.blogspot.com/2008/01/four-thieves-vinegar.html

[A gardening blog to check out...granny]

Monday
Four Thieves Vinegar

In my explorations of the history and uses of lavender, I came across some interesting information about Four Thieves Vinegar. I’d heard of it before, but didn’t know what it meant:

The Legend of Four Thieves Vinegar

One version goes that in the 1630’s, when the plague was raging in France, the town of Toulouse was beset with looters. Four looters were apprehended, but rather than punish them, the judge offered them a deal. Amazed at their continued health after wandering though homes and businesses abandoned by their terrified (or dead) owners, the judge offered to let the thieves go if they gave him the secret of their resistance to the plague.

What was their famous secret? It was a vinegar made from thyme, rosemary, sage, and lavender. This infusion was termed thieves vinegar. Although garlic was added to the mixture later, this basic infusion became famous, and was used for hundreds of years, both internally and externally, to provide protection from the dreaded plague.

How to make Four Thieves Vinegar

There are a number of recipes available for four thieves vinegar, but the original was probably something like this:

Use equal parts thyme, rosemary, sage, and lavender. Place herbs in a jar and cover with (apple cider) vinegar. Seal and place in a cool, dark place for six weeks. Strain into a spray bottle or clean jar and use as a disinfectant.

The original herbal ingredients are all strong antibacterial agents, as is the vinegar.

Variations on the recipe add sweet smelling herbs like mint and lemon balm to the mixture. Garlic was also added, and although it was probably an excellent addition from an antibacterial standpoint, it was not one of the original herbs used.

Labels: four thieves vinegar, vinegar of four thieves

2 comments:

R.K.Rao said...

Health is wealth and Herb is Health and Wealth
Herbs are natures remidies with marvellous curutive power.
Herbs are not drugs but they are full of divine energy. they cure diseases without any side effects in the body.
For more details visit my blog : http://wwwhealingherbs.blogspot.com
22 January, 2008 09:17

Anonymous said...

This stuff works great, but the four thieves originally used vinegared red wine, not apple cider vinegar.
29 December, 2008 09:59

http://www.advance-health.com/fourthievesvinegar.html

Vickie, What do you make of this site? granny

Four Thieves Vinegar: Antiviral, Germicide and Possible Alternative for Flu Shots

According to herbalist Elizabeth Kastner, “During the height of the plague in France in 1721, it was discovered that the homes of disease victims were being ransacked. At first, no effort was made to find the criminals, since all knew they were fools, soon to die of the plague.

“As time went on, it became apparent that the thieves were continuing in their raids... and quite inexplicably, avoiding falling victim to the disease. Soon, they became highly sought — not due to their crimes, but in an effort to learn their secret.

“When they were finally captured, they refused to speak until a bargain was offered: remain silent and hang. Divulge the secret to their resistance to the deadly plague and walk away.

“It seems that the mother of several of the boys was a midwife and had a recipe which used plants which were easily wildcrafted... yet, she knew that this would change immediately if anyone learned the formula, so she swore her children to secrecy. Her sons saved their necks and shared the recipe for the disinfectant, which is still used in France to this day.”

Given the simple ingredients of Four Thieves Vinegar and with all the yammering about smallpox, bioterrorism diseases, and flu vaccine shortages in the news these days, it seems prudent to me to prepare a home stock of this historical preventative for dread diseases. According to Kastner, the traditional recipe for Four Thieves Vinegar “makes a lot of sense, medicinally speaking.”

You can make your own “Four Thieves Vinegar” by following the simple recipe below.

Four Thieves Vinegar Recipe: Use equal parts of the following herbs:

* Lavender
* Sage
* Thyme
* Melissa (lemon balm)
* Hyssop
* Peppermint
* A handful of garlic cloves

Blend ingredients in a glass jar and cover completely with organic, unpasteurized apple cider vinegar, which is available in most health food stores. Cold infuse (let sit at room temperature in a cool place) for six weeks and then strain off herbs and garlic.

You can take Four Thieves Vinegar by the teaspoonful, use it as a salad dressing, or even add a spoonful to your bath water for personal protection. Four Thieves Vinegar and warmed organic coconut oil make an excellent salad dressing.

You can also use it as a topical spray to disinfect surfaces — including skin — and/or you can take it as a tincture. All of the ingredients in Four Thieves Vinegar are either potent antibacterials or antivirals!

[Many times, we are asked where to get this, according to this link, it is for sale here, granny]

http://www.advance-health.com/nuclear.html

Radiation & Radioactive Nuclear Fallout Protection

Protect your family, yourself & people you care about Download KIO3.pdf and ....

Order 200 count 85-milligram tablets scored for easy ¼ or ½ doses. $19.95

With the cold war over and nuclear power plants out of favor, we thought we were safe. Now we are faced with nuclear terrorism and a new threat of nuclear war. Radical political and religious groups and nations may potentially have acquired nuclear weapons or nuclear material for dirty bombs.

While the political prejudice, religious prejudice and greed of others may be beyond our influence as individuals, the ability to protect ourselves is within our reach. There are specific defensive measures that we can take to protect ourselves and minimize the harm from radiation exposure and radioactive fallout.

Radioactive fallout exposure can come from inhalation and intake from contaminated water and food. When radioactive materials are taken into the body, they can be deposited in bones, glands and other tissues where they cause ongoing damage.

One of the first concerns is protecting the thyroid gland from radioactive iodine, I-131, which is created in a nuclear explosion. Radioactive Iodine, I-131, is absorbed from the air, water and from food that is exposed to the fallout. The radioactive iodine, I-131, is deposited in the thyroid gland where the radiation that it emits damages the thyroid causing hypothyroidism and often cancer.

The defense against this problem is to take large doses of iodine orally to saturate the thyroid gland with healthy iodine so there is no room to store the radioactive iodine from the environment. The usual form of iodine supplementation used for this purpose is either potassium iodide, KI, or potassium iodate, KIO3. Potassium Iodate, KIO3, is the preferred form because it is less bitter and is better tolerated, especially by children.
TAKING POTASSIUM IODATE ANTI-RADIATION PILLS

If there were a nuclear event in our country, radioactive iodine would be released, which can damage your thyroid gland or even cause thyroid cancer. Taking potassium iodate- KIO3- a thyroid blocker, which is the only known protection for this problem, immediately after fallout, may prevent this.

Estimating How Much KIO3 you need is simple: You need one bottle for every adult in your family and one bottle for every two children, and any extra bottles to send or give to the people you love.

Should you want to purchase KIO3 for your pets, you should consider pet needs as same as a child.

Remember, the shelf life of KIO3 under normal conditions is over 10 years.

Dosage instructions are found on the bottle. For more detailed information download the file: KIO3.pdf
Where to Get Potassium Iodate

To order Potassium Iodate from Vitamin Research Products, CLICK HERE

http://www.the-herb-guide.com/herb-butters.html

Herb Butters

This method of making herb butters will work equally well for fresh or dried herbs.

I don’t use butter very much any more - all that talk about cholesterol has put me off - this method will work for any type of spread.

I’ll outline the method using parsley as an example and then give a list of other herbs and quantities that you might like to try.

Herb Butter
4 oz (100g) softened butter
handful fresh chopped parsley

Chop the parsley very finely and mix into the butter - there, that was easy, wasn’t it?

Where you go from here, rather depends on what you’re going to do with it.

You can get a bit of greaseproof paper or cling film and roll the herb butter into a sausage shape - chill for about an hour or so and then slice into little discs.

Or you can just put it in a dish and chill in the fridge - up to you.

Other Herb Butter
Basil - about a dozen fresh leaves or about 1 tspn dried
Chives - 6 leaves snipped into short pieces - 2 tspn dried
Dill - three or four ‘fronds’ chopped - 1 1/2 tspn dried
Garlic - one or two cloves finely chopped depending on taste - add some parsley as well. Dried 1/2 to 1 tspn - to taste
Mint - 6 leaves chopped finely - 1 tspn dried
Parsley - loose handful - 2 tspns dried
Rosemary - a sprig, leaves snipped into pieces - 1 tspn dried
Sage - 4 leaves - up to 1 tspn dried
Thyme - about a tablespoon fresh leaves, chopped - 1 tspn dried

These are just a few of the herbs that I would use for herb butter - the quantities are rough guides for you - don’t worry too much either way.

If it’s not strong enough, you can always add more herb, if it’s too strong - beat in some more butter.

Storing

You can keep the butter in a covered container in the fridge for about a week - I wouldn’t keep it any longer, but then I wouldn’t make a huge quantity to start with. It’s so simple to prepare that I like to make it fresh most times.

You can freeze the herb butter in ice cube trays or sliced into discs if you’re not going to use it within a week or so.

http://www.the-herb-guide.com/herb-butter.html

Herb Butter

Using Herb Butter
Well, obvious use is putting it onto plain grilled meat or fish to lift the flavour.

I also make a quick herb bread this way:-

Slice a french stick. Toast one side under the grill - then spread some herb butter on the untoasted side and pop under the grill until browned.

This saves switching on the oven and you can make as much or as little as you need at a time.

It’s also a brilliant way of using up older french bread that has gone soggy.

Where vegetables, meat or fish are softened by frying, I will sometimes use herb butter for - I make herb oils as well for that.

Basil Herb Butter
Basil is excellent with tomatoes. Put some on pasta before adding the sauce - or use it to soften some ripe tomatoes to pour over the pasta.

Make basil herb bread to accompany tomato based soups or pea soup.

Butter bread for cream cheese sandwiches or salad sandwiches.

Melt it on shellfish, sole or mackerel.

Melt some on grilled tomatoes or plain chicken.

Chive Herb Butter
Chives have a very delicate onion flavour and here are some of the ways I would use it.

Melted on hot asparagus.

Melt on new potatoes. Melt on an omelette or use it to make scrambled egg.

Make chive herb bread to accompany asparagus, potato, cauliflower based soups.

Butter bread for cheese sandwiches or egg sandwiches.

Melt on plain grilled meats or fish of any type.

Dill Herb Butter
Dill has a ‘sharp’ flavour and will make bland food much more interesting.

Excellent with advocado - so try and incorporate it somehow - maybe dill herb bread with a salad or over some hot new potatoes to serve with the salad.

Herb bread with fish soups and any chicken, tomato, or ‘pulse’ (beans, peas etc) based soups.

Melt on asparagus.

Melt on potatoes or vegetables accompanying fish dishes.

Melt on plain grilled halibut, trout, mackerel, snails - most fish will benefit from dill herb butter.

Use it to rub the chicken skin prior to roasting - forget about cholesterol - apply 80/20 - eat healthily for 80% of the time :-)

Garlic Herb Butter
Well - what isn’t garlic good for? It’s anti-social I suppose - that’s its downside - it smells!

It’s sometimes thought that adding parsley takes away the smell - but I’ve never had the ‘guts’ to ask anybody :-)

So - the obvious use is to make garlic bread with it - fantastic - and of course, that goes with just about anything.

Pasta dishes are excellent with garlic bread.

Melt it on plain grilled fish or meat.

Melt it on potatoes or plain vegetables.

It may be a bit too strong for the delicate flavour of asparagus - I wouldn’t bother personally.

Wonderful on hot shrimps or prawns.

Melt over grilled lobster.

Melt over a mixed shellfish dish - eg mussels, shrimp etc.

Oh my goodness - I could go on and on...

Herb Butter
Mint Herb Butter
Lovely melted on new potatoes or peas.

Carrots, courgettes, cabbage, cauliflower and green beans benefit from the mint flavour.

Try minty herb bread with pea soup.

On any plain grilled lamb cuts and the vegetables served with lamb.

Sausages - plain grilled sausages are lovely with mint butter on them.

Parsley Herb Butter
I can’t think of a savoury food that wouldn’t benefit from the addition of parsley butter.

You can take everything that’s listed here and add some...

So, use it to make herb bread and put it to melt on any plain cooked meat, fish or vegetable.

Rosemary Herb Butter
Very strong, distinctive flavour, so use with caution.

Butter bread for ham sandwiches.

Use to make plain, cheese or ham omelettes - melt the butter in the pan before adding your eggs.

Rosemary herb bread with strong soups - eg minestrone, ham and pea, turtle, meat or game.

Melted onto plain game, pork or strong flavoured fish like halibut, eel or salmon.

Garnish vegetables and potatoes served with game, duck, rabbit etc.

Good melted on mushrooms - or use to gently cook them - and baked potatoes.

Try using it in the pre-cooking stage of a risotto - to soften the onion and coat the rice.

Sage Herb Butter
Another strong flavoured herb and should be used with caution.

Use as a butter spread for cheese sandwiches.

Use as the butter to make a cheese omelette.

Sage herb bread with fish soups and beef or lamb stews.

Melt some on strong flavoured fish such as eel, halibut and all fatty fish.

Use on plain grilled pork and the vegetables that accompany your pork meal.

Thyme Herb Butter
Thyme is a herb that aids digestion of fats, so it is very useful.

Make a thyme herb bread to accompany shellfish salads - crab and mussels - try it with moules mariniere.

Use to butter bread for a strong cheese sandwich.

Herb bread for tomato, minestrone or pea soup.

On plainly cooked lamb, mutton, pork or sausages or on the vegetables that accompany those meats.

Good to rub a chicken prior to roasting.

Try frying liver in it - very tasty - the pan juices will be wonderful.

http://www.the-herb-guide.com/herb-bread-recipe.html

Herb Bread Recipe

This herb bread recipe is really simple. It uses soda as its raising agent, so you don’t have to prove it.

This makes it really quick - you just mix it together and shape it.

Then you bake it for 45 minutes - it means that you can have it baking in the oven while you get together a soup, pasta dish or salad.

It smells fantastic while it’s cooking.

Just break it up - if you want to slice it, you’ll have to let it cool - but it’s great for dunking in soup or eating with a salad.

In fact, it’s just great full stop :-)

Herb Bread Recipe
8 oz (225g, 2 cups) plain (all purpose) flour
8 oz (225g, 2 cups) wholemeal (wholewheat) flour
2 tspns salt
1 tspn bicarbonate soda (baking soda)
1 oz (25g, 2 tbspns) butter
1 tbspn chopped chives
1 tbspn chopped parsley
1/2 pint (300ml,1 1/4 cups) milk

Set the oven at Mark 6, 200C or 400F and grease a baking sheet.

Mix the dry ingredients together in a large bowl.

Rub in the butter until the mix looks like breadcrumbs.

Add the herbs and stir through, then add the milk and mix to a soft dough.

Knead this into a round about 8”, 20 cm and put on the baking sheet.

Slash a cross in the top - probably cut each quarter again in half, making 8 portions.

When you break the bread, it will separate cleanly where the knife marks are.

Bake in the oven for 45 minutes until firm.

Just like normal bread, the loaf should sound hollow when you tap the bottom.

If you want to use dried herbs, then substitute 2 tspns for the fresh.

You could try rosemary, sage, dill, thyme or garlic granules.

Try some grated parmesan cheese with garlic granules - wonderful.

Basil added to parmesan would be great with a pasta or tomato dish.

There’s a great ebook - just $7 - with 23 bread recipes - even if you’ve ‘failed’ with bread before, this one gives you foolproof recipes

Here’s the link Click Here!

There’s a money back guarantee, but I doubt you’ll use it because it’s so good.

http://www.mountainroseherbs.com/index2.html

I took a look at the herbs and spices, they have organic and the prices seem good to me.

I know a lot of the soapmakers shopped here and I always intended to do so, LOL, during my other life.

[This site has hidden urls in the articles, to more and more very good information, more links than one can check...granny]

http://www.skin-care-recipes-and-remedies.com/home-remedy-for-sunburn.html

Home remedy for sunburn - sunburn treatments that work and those that don’t

Excessive exposure to sun is nothing to take lightly. Home remedy for sunburn is your first option when sunburn occurs.

Sunburn usually occurs after 15 or more minutes of exposure to UV lights. There is a time frame, usually between 5-40 hours when the pain starts.

To prevent sunburn and sunburn itching and peeling, you can try this home remedy for sunburn:

* Peel and mash 3-4 apricots.

* Apply the mix on your face and leave on for 15 minutes.

* Wash off with lukewarm water.

Once the skin is red and irritated, you can be sure that the skin has suffered damage. There are no ways to cure sunburn, but you can apply some remedies as a sunburn relief or prevention of one.

Take a long shower adjusting the water to almost cool temperature. Once you are done taking a shower, gently tap it to absorb the water, do not rub it as this will increase the irritation.
Courtesy of Wikipedia Natural home remedies that provide instant sunburn pain relief.

What to use as a home sunburn treatment?

Yogurt

It contains enzymes and acids that can help the sunburn. It might be a bit unpleasant to begin with, but once you apply it, relief comes in minutes. You can either soak a cloth in yogurt, or simply apply it on the area affected by sunburn.

Leave it on until it is dry (which is likely to happen soon after you placed it as the skin exerts high temperature). Rinse it off with cool water and repeat.

Lavender/yogurt remedy

Mix a few drops of lavender oil with yogurt and apply on skin.

Lavender has a soothing effect and diminishes the irritation and redness. Yogurt will cool the skin down, and trust me, you need a relief at times like that.

Cucumber and baking soda

Place chilled cucumber slices on the spots affected by sunburn. Take a bath in warm water in which you have previously added 2 cups of regular baking soda. Baking soda will neutralize any possible infections and prevent further irritation.

Cucumber is an ingredient that can be used for preparation of a facial peel recipe that is recommended as a sunburn home remedy as it nourishes the skin, and stops the inflammation.

Tea tree oil as a home remedy for sunburn

Tea tree oil wonderfully soothes the skin and prevents sunburn itching and peeling. Simply dilute 1 part of tea tree oil with 10 parts of olive oil and dab freely on the skin.

4 natural sunburn home remedies

What not to use as a home remedy for sunburn?

I am sure you have heard of sunburn vinegar home remedy. People recommend it for skin after excessive exposure to sun. I would not recommend it!

It does cool your skin down, but its acidity also irritates the skin and causes sunburn peeling. You do not want to irritate the skin even more than it already is.

As you can see in this picture, sunburn can be so severe that blistering appears. When this happens, do not use any of the above mentioned remedies.

What you can do is to apply clean bandages to prevent any infection that might develop.

Lip sunburn

We often forget that when we expose ourselves to sun, our lips are exposed too and can be damaged. Apply a lip balm before you leave the house. In case they do get affected by sun and become dry and start peeling, apply some butter on them a few times a day.

Home remedy for Sunburn swelling (edema)

Sunburn swelling or edema, occurs as water accumulates under the skin, usually legs. Try positioning your legs so they are above a 45 degree angle and also applying a cool compress on them. Cool compress may be a cloth dipped in cold water. Basically, anything cold will act as a sunburn swelling remedy.

Someone once told me that it is good to soak your feet in water to which salt has been added. I haven’t tried this and would not, honestly. It might work as a foot soak for general feet swelling but exposing the sunburnt skin to salt is not recommended.

Home remedy for Sunburn peeling

Sunburn peeling usually starts after 3 to 5 days after sun exposure. Once the skin starts to peel, there is really not much you can do to stop it. A great sunburn remedy is aloe vera gel that helps moisturize the skin. It is soothing and gentle on burned skin.

Severe sunburn

I have had a few occasions when I got severely sunburned. One of those times was also accompanied by nose bleeding, severe headache, and nausea. What helped me was to take a cool shower, take an ibuprofen and apply cool towels on my head.

When sunburn happens, toxins are released and the fever increases as the body’s immune system kicks in. This is the time to schedule an appointment with a doctor.

I would recommend you use this Suncare calculator to calculate your safe sun tanning time.

Stay away from excessive exposure to sun and protect your skin. I hope you find some of these home remedies for sunburn useful.

More home remedies

http://www.skin-care-recipes-and-remedies.com/chapped-lips.html

Causes of chapped lips

When it comes to causes of chapped lips, dehydration might be a major one, as I mentioned on on the page about lip care, but is certainly not the only cause.

More on lip care and ways to nourish your lips:

Chapped lips remedy

Winter lip care

Lip balm recipe

Lip sunburn

Find out about 9 common causes of chapped lips in the following article:

Kiss Chapped Lips Goodbye - Top 9 Causes Of Chapped Lips Revealed

Is it possible to kiss goodbye to chapped lips forever? Yes, but like any chronic condition you must first identify the cause so you can smartly plan your remedy.

Here are the 9 most common causes of chronic lip chapping which will give you a “heads up” on identifying the culprit.

1) Cosmetics - Lipsticks contain a wide variety of chemicals that can wreak havoc on your lip’s natural oils. The one watch out for is “propyl gallate” which can cause a contact allergy.

2) Lip Care Products - Believe it or not, those lip balms and moisturizers you use to treat chapped lips may make matters worse. The petroleum base used in many of these products may cause an adverse reaction for some people. Due to reports of toxic side affects the EU has recently banned petroleum from future lip care products.

3) Flavoring Agents - Although commonly overlooked many people are allergic and/or sensitive to artificial and natural flavoring agents. The main culprits are red dye (candy, lozenges, gum and mouthwash), guaiazuline (toothpaste) and cinnamon flavoring.

4) Fruit Juice - Citric acids contained in orange juice (or any other kind of juice) can severely irritate your lips. This is due to photo-toxic residue left behind on the corners of your mouth.

5) Vitamins - Too much Vitamin A and B12 can cause crusty and swollen lips. It does not matter if your source of vitamins comes from whole foods or supplements. Stay under 25,000 IU of Vitamin A per day and minimize your intake of cobalt contained within Vitamin B12.

6) Dehydration - Are you getting enough water? Drinking 8 to 10 glasses of water a day is not only essential for good health but is also a good preventative measure against getting chapped lips.

7) Smoking - The natural oils on your lips (which prevent dehydration) tend to dry up every time you smoke a cigarette. Another great reason to trash those cancer sticks.

8) Drugs - Side affects from some medications may also dry out your lips. Harsh acne treatments are often the culprit. Check with a dermatologist if this is something you are concerned about.

9) Fungal Infection - If none of the above causes seem to apply to you it is possible that a fungal infection may be the underlying problem. See a dermatologist for an evaluation.

Take a moment now to think about which of the above is the most likely cause of your chapped lips. Once you have narrowed down your list of likely suspects to just one take action to eliminate this from your lifestyle for at least one week.

Monitor your progress, if after a few days your lips are restored to their former glory, you now know what habit to avoid in the future. If your chapped lips have not cleared up move on to the next likely suspect, and repeat.

Adam Waters exposes the hazardous toxins that lurk in mainstream and so-called “natural” skin care products with hard-hitting product reviews at http://www.natural-skincare-authority.com that cut through the corporate hype and spin. To find out how you can lead a 100% natural non-toxic lifestyle sign up for your free mini-course, Natural Skin Care Secrets.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Adam_Waters

http://www.skin-care-recipes-and-remedies.com/lip-balm-recipes.html

Lip balm recipes - they smell good, they taste good, and they nourish your lips at the same time

Lip balm recipes are very easy to make. Their main purpose is to protect the outer layer of the lips although some of them taste and smell good too :)

Applying lip balm regularly is a signifficant part of lip care, simply a must. Chapped lips can be prevented with regular use of lip balm.

You can choose between homemade lip balms or you can use store bought ones. When you opt in for the latter, keep this in mind: propylene glycol, a derivative of petroleum used in skin care, and is a key ingredient of lip balms, is also used in detergents and in hair conditioners.

Read more about potential health risks of petroleum used in cosmetics.

With homemade lip balm recipes you know the ingredients you are using and can be as creative as you want. You can use different oils to make it smell different. Want a refreshing feel? Use peppermint oil in it. Want a warm fragrance? Use vanilla oil. You get the point :)

Almost all lip balms recipes have one ingredient in common. It is beeswax. Beeswax is a natural ingredient, a perfect emulsifier. What it does it that it penetrates the epidermis while locking in the moisture. It also creates a protective shield that protects the skin from drying.

Equipment

* As I mentioned, you will be using beeswax. Since it is in solid state, you will need to melt it. You can either use a double boiler, a microwave safe container or a saucepan. A double boiler is probably the most efficient and is easy to use. When melting it in a microwave, place it in a microwave safe container no longer than 1-2 minutes. The saucepan can be used also. When the beeswax melts, remove it and constantly stir. Do not keep it on the stove.

* A lip balm container - a small, clean plastic container will do. Use the ones that have a lid so that it stays fresh longer. You could also use a small jar.
Keep the prepared lip balm in a cool, dry place.

This same equipment is used in preparation of lip gloss recipes so you don’t have to buy additional items to experiment with lip gloss.

On to lip balm recipes...

This recipes are helpful with both chapped lips and severely chapped lips. Apply a generous layer whenever you can, it can’t harm the lips, only help.

Apple lip balm

Ingredients

* 4 tablespoons of beeswax
* 5 teaspoons of olive oil
* 1 tablespoon of glycerin
* 3 tablespoons of apple juice

Directions

* Melt the beeswax and slowly add the rest of the ingredients.
* While still warm, pour the mass into a container and leave to solidify
* This particular lip balm will stay fresh for a few days. Use it often during the day

When I mention glycerin (glicerol or glycerine), I have to point something out.

Glycerin is a strong emolient, meaning it softens the skin. Its molecules capture or draw the moisture out of the air and keep it locked. This is perfect in lip balm recipes, as this is the purpose of any lip balm: to keep the lips moisturized and soft.

However, the same way it draws the moisture out of the air, it does the same to the lips if it is used undiluted. The ones you can buy online and in stores are usually already diluted. If not, make sure there is a minimum of 3 parts water added to 1 part glycerin. When placed on skin, pure, concentrated glycerin can create blisters.

Citrusy Lip Balm
Courtesy of www.spaindex.com

Ingredients

* 1 teaspoon of apricot kernel oil
* 1 teaspoon of calendula oil
* 1 teaspoon of beeswax
* Lemon, lime, or orange essential oil. Choose the one you like, you will need a few drops.

Preparation

* Melt the beeswax and add the apricot and calendula oils
* Stir the whole time so the mass is consistent
* Remove from heat, keep stirring and let it cool down a bit
* Add the oil of choice and stir a bit more
* Pour in a plastic container or jar and store properly

Minty cocoa lip balm

Ingredients

* 1 oz beeswax
* 1.5 oz cocoa butter
* 1 oz beeswax
* 1.5 oz shea butter
* 01 oz. pure Vitamin E
* 3-5 drops of peppermint oil

Preparation

* Melt the beeswax and remove from heat while constantly stirring.
* Melt the cocoa and shea butter
* Mix the melted beeswax, shea and cocoa butter
* When the mass is consistent, add Vitamin E and stir a bit longer
* Finally, add the peppermint oil, stir and pour into a container

I hope you try one of these lip balm recipes. If you have a recipe you would like to share, or comment on the ones on this site, feel free to let me know.