For centuries, peppermint has been used to provide relief for indigestion, headaches and colds.  Today, this powerful medicinal herb is used to soothe digestive complaints and ease indigestion and nausea.

Peppermint is cultivated world wide for use as a natural flavouring agent and also as an herbal medicine.  This hybrid of spearmint has oval, pointed leaves that are either dark green or purple and lilac-coloured flowers.  The leaves and stems are harvested for medicinal purposes just before the flowers bloom.  What gives this herb its healing qualities is its volatile oil, which are made up of several compounds namely menthol, menthone and menthyl acetate.  Peppermint oil is made into an herbal medicine by steam-distilling the parts of the plant that grow above the ground.

Some of the common uses of peppermint include relieving heartburn, nausea and indigestion, easing the symptoms of diverticular disorder and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), dissolving gallstones, soothing muscle aches, sweetening the breath and easing coughs.  Peppermint oil appears in more commercial products than any other herb.  It is included in antacids, mouthwashes and toothpastes.

The oil obtained from this herbal remedy relaxes the muscles of the digestive tract which helps to relieve intestinal cramping and also flatulence.  Peppermint has antispasmodic properties that are beneficial to people suffering from IBS, which is a disorder characterized by abdominal cramps, diarrhea alternating with constipation and indigestion.  In a study conducted at the Taichung Veterans General Hospital in Taiwan, patients who used peppermint oil capsules reported significant relief from the symptoms of IBS. Abdominal pain disappeared completely or was greatly reduced and patients reported less bloating and flatulence.  

The menthol contained in peppermint herbal medicines stimulates the flow of digestive juices and bile, thereby aiding digestion.  This has made peppermint a well loved ingredient in over-the-counter antacids.  Several studies have also indicated that menthol aids in dissolving gallstones.  It is vital though to find out how serious your condition is before using peppermint as an herbal alternative to gallstone surgery.

Drinking peppermint tea will relieve nausea and motion sickness.  Peppermint tea is a safe, natural herbal remedy for pregnant women suffering from morning sickness. Flatulence and bloating is also eased when drinking this herbal tea.

Rubbing peppermint oil on the skin relieves pain by stimulating the nerves that perceive cold and dulling the nerves that sense pain.  This makes it a valuable herbal medicine for aching muscles.  

Commission E, which is a German health board that is an authority on the research of herbs, found that peppermint was an effective decongestant that also reduced inflammation of the nasal passages.  Inhaling peppermint oil when you have a cold will ease your breathing and drinking peppermint tea is effective to relieve bronchial spasms.

Research conducted at the University of Kiel in Germany showed that when applying a mixture of peppermint oil and eucalyptus oil to the forehead and temples, the pain of headaches and migraines were significantly reduced.

Please consult your medical practitioner prior to using any herbal medications should you be under their care.

Used in the recommended doses, peppermint generally has no side effects, even if used for prolonged periods.  One of the rare side effects is a skin rash when applying peppermint oil directly to the skin, simply discontinue use if this occurs.
Take enteric-coated capsules between meals.  Enteric-coated capsules are capsules that are coated with a material that permits transit through the stomach to the small intestine without the medicine contained being absorbed by the stomach.

Drink peppermint tea after or between meals.  To take a peppermint tincture, place 10 to 20 drops in a glass of water.

To treat IBS, nausea and gallstones, try enteric-coated capsules containing at least 0,2 ml peppermint oil per capsule.  These capsules will release the oil where it is needed most – in the small and large intestine instead of in the stomach.  Take 1 or 2 capsules three times a day between meals.

To freshen your breath, place a few drops of peppermint oil on your tongue.

To soothe indigestion and relieve flatulence, make peppermint tea by using one or two teaspoons of dried peppermint leaves in a cup of boiled water.  Allow to steep for 5-10 minutes.  Take care to cover the cup to make sure that volatile oils that make peppermint a beneficial herbal medicine do not evaporate.  

To ease congestion and coughs, drink up to four cups of peppermint tea brewed as above.

To relieve muscles aches and pain, add a few drops of peppermint oil to 15 ml of a neutral oil and apply to the affected areas up to four times daily.  You can also add a few drops of oil to aqueous cream.

Tags: University of Kiel, digestive juices, coloured flowers, medicinal herb, herbal remedy

During the middle ages, thyme was grown in monasteries for use as a cough and cold medicine, a remedy for intestinal parasites and as a digestive aid.

The ancients recognized it for its medicinal powers and according to Culpeper, it is so harmless you need not dread the use. From root to leaves are used. You cannot separate one from the other.

It is a unique, high quality seasoning for innovative cooking. I use this herb in most of my cooking. I place it in my meat, in my soup and in my cooked vegetable because of the flavor it gives to many dishes. I also use it as a herbal tea, but sparingly.

The common names for this herb are garden thyme and mother of herb.

It is a perennial herb and it prefers dry, growing conditions in fact, it nearly grows itself. You can grow it in herb gardens or even on a rock. It is fantastic dried or fresh. It is widely sold in herb shops and in the markets.

This medicinal herb has many magical and therapeutic properties. It is said that the herb protected medieval people from witchcraft.

An infusion can arrest gastric fermentation and is useful in numerous ailments being an antioxidant, antiseptic, expectorant, and antibiotic.

This herb is valuable in whooping cough, asthma, any lung distress, and women’s disease. Taken hot for these conditions, but for weak stomach, dyspepsia, gas, griping, cramps in the stomach, and diarrhea, take it cold.

Use 2 teaspoonful of the dry herb to one pint of boiling water. Take two tablespoon two times per day.

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Tags: Herbal tea, cold medicine, women's disease, garden thyme, Medicinal plants

Termed the miracle plant, Aloe Vera herb grows in arid climates and is widely distributed in Africa, India and other arid areas.There are nearly five hundred species of aloe that have been originated in southern Africa.

It is from the cactus plant tribe. It was obtained from the Arabic word Alloeh which means bright bitter substance.

The common names are Bombay aloes, turkey aloes, mocha aloes, Zanzibar aloes, Barbados aloes, and Curacao aloes.

Aloe is a very small-stemmed or stem-less plant, with thick and fleshy grayish-green colored leaves and yellow flowers. It is a perennial plant in the lily family that is known for its healing and soothing properties.

Aloe Vera is useful in the treatment of sore, cut, wound or burn, diabetes and elevated blood lipids in humans, piles or hemorrhoids. This medicinal herb is used as laxatives, bitter tonics, expels intestinal worms, and to clean out the colon. It has been used historically as a soothing balm. It is one of the most respected medicinal plants found in many gels, creams, lotions, and massage oil. The gel is commonly used as a moisturizer for skin because it can help trap and lock-in moisture. This can be bought from many stores.

Millions of people, including men, women and even children suffer from hair loss, and Aloe Vera is excellent to promote hair growth.

Also, it is an immune system booster, tissue healer, and a natural digestive tonic. It is very strengthening, healing and cleansing to the entire body.

In the West Indies, the dried jel of the aloe vera leaves are mixed with unsweetened natural wine and used as a medicine for diabetes. Add three tablespoons dried aloes to a pint of unsweetened wine. Take two wineglass full, twice a day.

Aloe Vera And Honey

Fresh Aloe Vera herb jel can be mixed with honey, Irish moss and cinnamon and used as a tonic for impotency, arthritis, gout, rheumatism, varicose veins, lung problems, asthma, bronchitis and all internal bleeding. It is also used as a tonic for cancer, especially cancer of the stomach and colon. The dosage is two tablespoons, 3 times daily.

As an eyewash aloe vera herb is very soothing and healing. It clears up red eyes, improves vision and brings out the natural color of the eyes. A tea can be made by adding boiling water to a teaspoon of fresh aloe gel or dried aloe.

Aloe Vera herb is non-toxic, with no known side effects. Take one teaspoonful to one pint of water, strain and use. A teaspoonful of boric acid added to this mixture will prevent souring. It is best to take juice just before breakfast or at bedtime.

The juice is now well loved in stores worldwide. You can buy your own and follow the directions.

Do not take if you are pregnant or nursing.

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Tags: stores millions, massage oil, medicinal herb, irish moss, lily family

Gotu kola (centella asiatica) grows in India, Ceylon, the islands of the Indian Ocean, and in some parts of Southern Africa. It is nature’s most powerful healing agent. Also, it has been used as a medicinal herb for thousands of years not only in India but also in China, and Indonesia. It was used to heal wounds and improve improve mental clarity.

For hundred of years it is known in India as the longevity herb. Also in India, the leaves are used in religious rites to develop spiritual powers and to strengthen the brain cells, improve memory, physical stamina, and relieve fatigue. It is also used for senility, as a tonic and medicinal remedy.

Also known as Swamp pennywort, Asiatic Pennywort, Luei Gong Gen, Takip-kohol, Antanan, Pegagan,Arthritis Plant gotu kola is a creeping vine found growing in tropical and subtropical climates in Africa, Asia, and Australia. Gotu kola grows commonly in swampy areas of India.

It is used as a natural diuretic, and because of its rich vitamin and mineral content it gives instant vitality and strength. It is widely available as a herbal supplement and as a natural mineral supplement.

The powder can be sprinkled on sores and ulcers to promote healing. This herb is used for cellulite reduction. It is an vital ayervedic herb used historically with skin problems.

It is said that this herb or its tea will increase the vitality of an 80 year ancient person to that of a forty year ancient person. It has an energizing effect on the brain cells and can preserve it indefinitely.

This plant is eaten by elephants and that is why it is said that elephants never forgot.

It is also used to lower high blood pressure, neuritis, andrheumatism. A German scientist by the name of Baron Gogern says gotu kola will revitalize worn out bodies and brains to a remarkable degree, preventing brain fatigue and nervous breakdowns.

The people of Ceylon take this medicinal herb daily and say it keeps them young and increase their life span.

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Tags: life span, Dietary supplements, brain fatigue, physical stamina, Medicinal plants

Herbs for diseases are found worldwide and from extensive research if one herb cannot be gotten, then there is another with the same qualities to treat various conditions.

A remedy to improve and cure diseases is constantly researched by scientists. Some of these answers can be found in the medicinal herbs found right around us. Herbs are from God and are given to us for the prevention of disease and sickness.

The Romans and Greeks used as many as 150 herbs for respiration or inhalation therapy. Some of their favorite herbs for diseases were colts-foot, rosemary, chamomile and thyme.

Many drugs today are originally derived from herbal sources. The fresh leaves of hyssop were once the host of penicillin, which a lot of country folks used to prevent infections in wounds and also skin sores.

Herbs for diseases include yarrow which is used as a blood cleanser, ephedra is used for bronchitis and coughs, sassafras is used as a blood cleanser and tonic. Sassafras herb is also considered as a wonder medicine for venereal disease and was imported by Sir Walter Raleigh. Mandrake or mandragora officinaram is a member of the tomato family. It was analyzed in 1889 and found to contain painkilling alkaloids used to ease the pain of childbirth as well as induce abortion. American mandrake or May apple was found to be effective in the treatment of blood and lung cancer.

The following herbs for diseases are just a few among the many found to be safe and natural to use. Most of them can be found in my garden and I have been personally using them for my health benefits. I guess this is a hand me down inherited from my grandmother.

For more extensive information, click on the links.

Aloe Vera: This is one of the best healing herbs to clean the colon and to ease constipation.

Basil: This medicinal herb is excellent for stomach aches and to stop vomiting. I have basil plants right in my backyard.

Burdock: Use the root to purify the blood. The tea is brilliant for skin diseases. This herb is very powerful.

Camomile: A tonic of this herb is excellent for a weak stomach and is also useful to women who experience irregular monthly period.

Cayenne: This is One of my favorites. I used it often in my cooking. This is a very stimulating herb and is used for many conditions including new and ancient ulcers and colds.

Cinnamon: Do you want to serve a fantastic tasting porridge? Place 2 cinnamon leaves in any porridge, especially cornmeal and I guarantee that you will delight in your porridge better than before. The result will be a fantastic tasting flavor. This herb is used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Comfrey: If you are suffering from asthma and any lungs condition then this is the herb to use. A poultice of the fresh leaves is beneficial for wounds.

Dandelion: Both the leaves and the roots are used for various ailments. This herb is a blood purifier and brilliant for skin diseases. It has a fantastic effect on female organs.

Echinacea: This herb is brilliant for infections and is also a blood cleanser.

Fennel: This herb is effective for digestive disorders and aid women with menstrual disorders.

Garlic: Brilliant for high blood pressure, heart disease and cancer. My cooking is never without garlic.

Ginseng: This is widely used in China for many years to treat all kinds of diseases.

Goldenseal: The benefits of golden seal is numerous. This herb is above all other herbs because of the many diseases that can be treated by it.

Henna: The bark is used as a dye. It is also useful for headache and sore throat.

Lemon grass: Contains anti-cancer properties.

Marjoram: This herb is brilliant for pain, bruises and arthritis.

Motherwort: Midwives use it for a variety of purposes, including uterine tonic and prevention of uterine infection in women.

Parsely: Chinese and German herbologists recommend parsley tea to help control high blood pressure.

peppermint: peppermint oil has the ability to reduce colicky abdominal pain due to irritable bowel syndrome.

Red Clover: Red clover restores and balances hormonal function and nourishes the uterus. It is know to increase fertility in women.

Sage: This is used as an astringent and expectorant and is useful for persons suffering with asthma.

thyme: A excellent herb to treat asthma.

Vervain: This herb has longstanding use in herbalism and folk medicine, usually as a herbal tea. It is very brilliant for all kinds of cold and fever.

Yellow dock: The leaves are an brilliant source of both vitamin A and protein, and are rich in iron and potassium.

These herbs for diseases have been proven effective and there are testimonies of those who have been recovered from various ailments. There also those who continued to use them as a preventative method to avoid serious consequences.

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Tags: Walter Raleigh, folk medicine, healing herbs, Alternative medicine, medicinal herb

Lemongrass is a perennial herb, which means once you plant it, the grass comes back year after year. I have a plant right in my front yard and from time to time scores of people will question for a piece of this plant.

It is used for medicinal purposes. It is supposed to help with relieving cough and nasal congestion. This herb is also used to make tea.

In 2006 a research team from the Ben Gurion University in Israel found that this grass (Cymbopogon citratus) caused apoptosis (programmed cell death) in cancer cells. Through in vitro studies, the researchers examined the effect of citral, a molecule found in this herb, on both normal and cancerous cells.

Using concentrations of citral equivalent to the quantity in a cup of tea (one gram of lemon grass in hot water), the researchers observed that citral induces programmed cell death in the cancerous cells, while the normal cells were left unharmed.

Depending on the area you live in the plant will go dormant in the winter. You can also freeze it for about 6 months without any flavor loss.

This plant is available in ethnic markets such as Asian and Mexican. The bulb can be bruised and minced for use in a variety of recipes. This substance is said to aid in digestion as well as relieve spasms, muscle cramps, rheumatism and headaches.

Select fresh looking stalks that don’t look dry or brittle. The light lemon flavor of this grass blends well with garlic, chilies, and cilantro. It is rich in a substance called citral, the active ingredient in lemon peel.

This medicinal herb is frequently used in curries as well as in seafood soups. For best results in recipes use the fresh lemongrass. The powdered variety is useful in teas and curries but it’s not a excellent substitute for the fresh product.

This is a very pungent herb and is normally used in small amounts. The grass blade can be sliced very fine and added to soups. Store it fresh in the refrigerator in a tightly sealed plastic bag for up to 3 weeks. The entire stalk of the grass can be used.

The dried product has to be soaked in hot water and reconstituted before use. In addition, it may be bought dried or powdered.

It is also used commercially as lemon scent in many products including soaps, perfumes and candles. A related plant, (Cymbopogon nardus) is the ingredient in citronella candles sold to ward off mosquitoes and other insects.

Research also shows that the lemongrass oil of this plant has anti-fungal properties.

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Tags: ethnic markets, cup of tea, lemongrass oil, medicinal purposes, Backhousia citriodora

Burdock root (also known as gobo) has been used for centuries throughout the world to cure illness and disease. The polyacetylenes found in it have antibacterial and anti-fungal effects.

This herb is among all biennial root crops. A plant that requires two years to complete its life-cycle, germinating and growing in its first year, then producing its flowers and fruit in its second year, after which it usually dies. Therefore after two years burdock usually dies.

Burdock is a excellent source of minerals as in manganese, phosphorous, iron, chromium, and silicon. It is one of the foremost detoxifying herbs, amongst the rest. Some people find the root edible, while others prefer the tea which at present is a source of treating cancer.

During the middle ages, English herbalists preferred it to sarsaparilla for the treatment of boils, scurvy, and rheumatism.

This is a medicinal herb that cleanses the blood and increases urine production, ridding the body of chronic toxicity and swollen joints. It is alterative, diuretic and diaphoretic.

Burdock root herb is used to purify the blood, cures skin problems such as acne, rheumatism, canker sores, eczema, measles and chicken pox, boils, carbuncles, gout, scrofula, canker sores, sciatica, gonorrhea, and leprosy.

It is brilliant to apply externally as a salve for burns, wounds, swellings, and hemorrhoids. It also contains 27-45 inulin, which aids in the metabolism of carbohydrates.

It can be bought dried, in tincture form, in powder and capsules. Take one capsule twice daily or use half of a teaspoonful of the powder twice daily in a glass of water.

The root and the seeds may be taken as a decoction of one ounce to one and a half pint of water, boiled down to a pint, in doses of a wine glassful, three or four times a day.

The tea taken freely will heal all kinds of skin diseases, boils and carbuncles, and is now thought to be excellent for cancer.

The multi-purpose use of this herb includes applying it as a salve for skin eruptions, burns, wounds, swellings, and hemorrhoids.

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Tags: treatment of boils, chicken pox, medicinal herb, Root vegetables, urine production

The common names for yellow dock(Rumex crispus)are sour dock, curled dock, narrow dock, garden patience, and rumex.

This medicinal herb can be used as a wild leaf vegetable. The young leaves should be boiled in several changes of water to remove as much of the oxalic acid in the leaves as possible, or can be added directly to salads in moderate amounts.

The leaves are an brilliant source of both vitamin A and protein, and are rich in iron and potassium.

It can be made into tea and also used as a decoction. It can be gotten in capsules.

Yellow dock is an brilliant remedy for impure blood, scrofula, glandular tumors, swellings, leprosy, cancer, sore eyes, syphilis, and hemorrhoids. It also relieves acne, psoriasis and other skin diseases.

The plant is considered a highly effective blood cleanser and is used by herbalists to help the body in eliminating heavy metals and to treat other hepatic disorders.

Yellow dock herb has an active effect on the bowel, and may ease cases of constipation, digestive problems, and liver diseases.

Yellow dock root has also been used medicinally as an astringent, tonic, laxative, alterative, depurative, purgative, and cholagogue.

This herb contains vitamin C, iron, calcium , and phosphorus and tannin which can be used in tanning leather.

Preparation

According to Encyclopedia.com, the tea is prepared by boiling 1-2 tsp (5-10 g) of yellow dock root in 500 mL (2 cups) water for 10 minutes. Syrup is made by boiling 0.5 lb of crushed root in a pint of syrup. Dried extracts of yellow dock are also prepared as pills or capsules, and are available commercially. These commercial preparations are often a mixture of several different types of herbs. The directions on the mark of the commercial product should be followed for recommended dosages.

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Tags: sore eyes, medicinal herb, yellow dock root, heavy metals, several different types

Vervain is one of the best herbs for the healing of diseases. It is brilliant to produce perspiration, brilliant in fevers, colds, whooping cough, pneumonia, consumption, asthma, ague, female troubles, and skin diseases.

It is classed among the sacred herbs. It continued to be associated with all-powerful and spiritual forces. It is said that it was called “tears of Isis” in Ancient Egypt and was later called “Juno’s tears.”

It was called “Holy Herb” or “Devil’s bane” because folk legend has it that it was used to stop the flow of Jesus’ blood after he was removed from the cross. Folk legend also said it can protect people from vampires when it is mixed into a herbal tea and it is kept nearby.

Vervain is primarily supported by traditional use. Some of the common names are, wild hyssop, simpler’s-joy, and iron weed habitat. It is a flowering perennial plant native to the United States. It is also called verbena.

Blue vervain can be used to strengthen the nervous system while relieving tension and stress, can ease depression and melancholy. Excellent in bowels, colon, bladder conditions, and menstrual disorders.

The tea can also be applied to sores.

From ancient times herbalists used vervain to ease childbirth, jaundice, dropsy, gout, worms, stomach complaints, wound healing, ulcers and piles.

This medicinal herb is as a mild sedative. It is said to be a quieting herb that acts as a natural tranquilizer and has a relaxing effect. It is used for stress relief, spiritual healing, spiritual growth and empowerment. it is a natural therapy.

The leaves have been used for centuries as a blood purifier. Use this internally for nervous exhaustion, depression, convalescent debility, asthma, migraine,jaundice.

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Tags: Verbena officinalis, United States, nervous exhaustion, tears of isis, whooping cough

A tonic and stimulant, people people who felt sick or stressed have tried drinking camomile medicinal herb, also called chamomile tea as a medicinal cure-all. It is used everywhere as table tea. The tea is a pleasant tasting traditional herbal medicine with a long history of use dating back to ancient Greece and Egypt.

It is best known for its ability to be made into a tea which is commonly used to help with sleep and is often served with either honey or lemon. The flower does not only help to induce sleep, but it can also be used as a relaxant for stress and anxiety.

National Institutes of Health, lists over 100 separate ailments and conditions which has been traditionally used. It is used for culinary, medicinal, and magical uses.

The Egyptians combine it with olive oil and used for massage and sore muscles.

It can be used as remedies to treat stomach and intestinal cramps, anxiety, treating skin problems such as eczema, regulate monthly period, excellent for kidneys, spleen, cold, bronchitis, bladder distress, to expel worms, for ague, dropsy, jaundice, venereal diseases and nervous disorders.

The tea is very excellent as a wash for sore eyes, weak eyes, open sores and wounds. Can be used as a poultice on pains and swellings.

Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should not use this herb.

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Tags: venereal diseases, sore muscles, Alternative medicine, medicinal herb, traditional herbal medicine