Valerian has been used by mankind for many thousands of years as a treatment for sleeping disorders, insomnia and various other ailments.

This herbal Medicine is found in parts of Asia, Europe and in North America.

Valerian has many names as do most herbal medicines. These include garden valerian, garden heliotrope and all-heal.

Usually the underground stem and the roots of Valerian are used to manufacture herbal supplements.

Valerian has been used to treat sleeping disorders such as mild insomnia, poor sleep and difficulty in falling asleep.

Anxiety can also be treated using Valerian. Other common uses are for treating headaches, depression and irregular heartbeat.

Valerian has the ability to help in relaxing the central nervous system, this in turns promotes better sleep, lower anxiety and feeling of calmness.

One of the common benefits of Valerian, is that the morning after using it, there is no morning drowsiness or grogginess.

The effects of Valerian for sleep disorders seems to improve if taken for one to two weeks consistently.

This herbal Medicine does not interfere in sleep patterns or deep sleep.

There are reports of Valerian lessening menstrual cramps and stomach cramps.

Generally, side effects from Valerian are relatively rare, but these might include a mild headache, upset stomach and an abnormal heartbeat.

If you are already under a medical practitioners’’ care, please consult them prior to taking any herbal medicine.

On occasion, more severe allergic reactions have been reported.

There are several common forms available for Valerian. Many of the supplements are mixed with other herbal extracts to increase or heighten the desired effect.

Some of the common forms are capsules, tablets, teas and even tinctures.

Lavender is a flowering plant part of the mint family.  It is not uncommon to see lavender with its pretty purple flowers growing everywhere as people plant this herb in their gardens quite frequently.

The name lavender comes from the Latin root lavare, which means “to wash.”  This name was most likely given to this herb because of its traditional use in soaps and bath and hair products.  In ancient Egypt lavender was used in the mummification process and in Persia, Greece and Rome it was well loved among women as a bath additive.

Traditionally, lavender was used for mental health purposes and as an antiseptic, today, this herb is used to relieve restlessness, insomnia, depression and anxiety.

In ancient times, pillows and bedding where sprinkled with lavender flowers to help restless people to fall asleep.  Scientific studies have now proven that aromatherapy with lavender slows down the activity of the nervous system, thereby promoting relaxation and improving sleep quality.

Massage with lavender essential oil increases mental capacity and makes a more stable mood in people suffering from anxiety.  Adding lavender oil to a pre-bedtime bath can soothe your nerves and help you to relax.

In certain European countries, lavender has been approved as a tea to relieve restlessness, insomnia and stomach irritations.

Lavender essential oil is used in inhalation therapy to relieve headaches and exhaustion, and when added to bathwater, it has been proven to relieve muscle aches and pain.

Gels containing lavender extract are commercially available and bring relief to people suffering from the pain of rheumatic conditions.

Research conducted of people with alopecia areata (a disease characterized by hair loss in patches) showed that massaging the scalp with lavender oil daily for several months experienced significant hair regrowth.

Drinking lavender tea helps alleviate gas and bloating and calms an upset stomach quickly.  Pregnant women often drink lavender tea to relieve morning sickness.

Linalool, which is a volatile oil in lavender, relaxes the bronchial passages, thereby reducing allergic reactions and inflammation.  Lavender is often included in herbal remedies to treat asthma, coughs and other respiratory illnesses.  Linalool is also considered an expectorant and an antiseptic.

Topical uses for lavender include soothing burn wounds and relieving the itching associated with allergic skin conditions.  People who suffer from eczema also find relief when applying lavender creams to their skin.  Insect bites and stings are soothed by applying lavender creams.

Outer ear infections are soothed by rubbing lavender oil gently into the outer ear area.

Adding a few drops of lavender oil to your bathwater will soothe mild sunburn.

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

There are few known side effects of lavender, but some people have reported nausea, headaches and chills when absorbing of lavender through the skin.

Pregnant and breast feeding women should consult their health care practitioner before using lavender herbal remedies.

Lavender might increase the effects of over-the-counter sleep aids and sedatives.  Use lavender with caution when taking anti-depressants.

People who use antihistamines to treat hayfever and other allergies have reported that the sedative effect of the antihistamine is increased when using lavender.

To treat and disinfect cuts and scrapes, apply 1 or 2 drops of lavender oil to the wound after rinsing the wound with clean water.

For outer ear ache, apply a few drops of lavender essential oil to the outer ear and rub it in gently.  This can be repeated during the day as often as needed.

To relieve the itching and pain associated with insect bites, gently rub a few drops of lavender oil into the affected area.  You can repeat this as often as needed.  Please seek medical help if you are allergic to bee stings.

To treat mild sunburn, add lavender oil mixed with almond oil to a cool bath.  This treatment is recommended twice a day.  For severe sunburn, seek medical attention.

For stomach upsets and nausea, use 1 teaspoon of dried lavender flowers for each cup of water.  Brew the dried flowers in a teapot with boiled water for 5 to 10 minutes, depending on how strong you want the tea.  Do not brew longer than 10 minutes as it will become too bitter to drink.  Strain the tea and add milk or sugar to taste.

Cinnamon is regarded as the bark of the cinnamomum zeylanicum tree it is also called darchin in india and iran, canela in protugal and spain. It has culinary and medicinal uses.

It is an ancient spice and is a germicide, stomachic, and antispasmodic herb. It is also used for uterine hemorrhages and as a sex stimulant. This herb may lower blood glucose and cholesterol. It is said by many that just smelling the wonderful odor of this herb boosts brain activity!

It was so highly prized among ancient nations that it was regarded as a gift fit for monarchs and even for a god: a fine inscription records the gift of this herb and cassia to the temple of Apollo at Miletus. To them, it was considered more precious than gold.

Cornmeal porridge for the Caribbean people is never done without the leaves or the powder. From history it is used to produce sweet and savory recipes, especially in baked goods. It is a natural food preservative.

The cinnamon bark is widely used as a spice. It is used in the preparation of chocolate, especially in Mexico, which is the main importer of this right spice. The bark is one of the few spices that can be consumed directly.

It also contains many health benefits such as anti-clotting, astringent, stimulant, carminative, anti-infective, anti fungal, and the digestive aid uses of the bark oil. It is a natural remedy for arthritis pain and is effective in the treatment of Type 2 diabetes mellitus and insulin resistance.

It is used to treat toothache and fight terrible breath and its regular use is believed to stave off common cold. Brilliant for upset stomach, whether cold or hot.

The benefits of this herb are many. This includes mixing it with honey and taken regularly as tea every morning is considered a cure all for all diseases. At a study at Copenhagen University, patients were given half a teaspoon of cinnamon powder combined with one tablespoon of honey every morning before breakfast. This resulted in significant relief in arthritis pain after one week and patients could walk without pain within one month.

I have personally tried this method and has gotten brilliant results. I am still practicing this today and have informed others who are suffering with arthritis to do the same.

This herb is even mentioned many times in the Ancient Testament. Moses is commanded to use myrrh, this sweet spice and cassia to make an oil of holy anointing, in Proverbs where the lover’s bed is perfumed with myrrh, aloe and this spice, and in Songs of Solomon, a song describing the beauty of his beloved, it scents her garments like the smell of Lebanon.

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Ginger is an herb that treats arthritis, but it can also alleviate an upset stomach. Take ginger to alleviate arthritic pain with tips from a nutraceutical supervisor in this free video on herbal remedies. Expert: Miss Dimple Singh Bindra Bio: Miss Dimple Singh Bindra is a nutraceutical supervisor in Bio Neutrix, NY She has done clinical studies in herbs from Micro Logix Lab, New York. Filmmaker: babai das

For women suffering from hot flashes during menopause and perimenopause, finding a cure is often a long process. But amid all of the synthetic treatments on the market, none compare to natural herbal treatments that have been used for centuries by women in the know.

Hot flashes, which are noted by increased heat and flushing in the face, is common among women approaching menopausal age, and some are afflicted by severe symptoms. Finding relief in the form of natural herbs helps eliminate stress that accompanies the problem.

While hormone therapy is used by many women, others prefer the natural route, taking doses of Vitamin E and Vitamin B to aid in the easing of symptoms. But herbs play an vital role in natural hot flash therapy.

Flaxseed, also known as linseed, is used in whole seed and oil form to help ease hot flash symptoms. While there is no hard scientific evidence to back up the support of this claim, women have used it successfully for years.

Evening primrose oil is another herb commonly used to treat hot flashes during menopause. But, this botanical is sometimes accompanied by side effects such as diarrhea and nausea. It’s vital to talk to your doctor before combining evening primrose with other medications, such as blood thinning drugs, because it could cause adverse reactions.

Soy products such as plant estrogen, which is found in isoflavones, contribute an estrogen-similar effect to the body to weaken hot flash symptoms. Many women concentrate on using soy-based food products to treat hot flashes, not soy supplements.

Another herbal remedy for hot flash symptoms during menopause and perimenopause is the use of black cohosh. As a small-term remedy, it works well. But side effects can include an upset stomach, so it needs to be used carefully.

With so much controversy in the news about hormone replacement therapy, it’s vital that women find reliable natural ingredients they can use to treat various symptoms associated with menopause.

The herbs mentioned here only serve as a small reminder of natural cures you can find to treat a single symptom – hot flashes. There are dozens of other herbs that can help alleviate the other menopausal symptoms women have to endure over the years.

More and more consumers are approaching their doctors about getting natural herbal advice for their depression rather than being placed on synthetic anti-depressants. The most common herbal remedy is St. John’s Wort.

The best thing about using an herb in place of a prescribed anti-depressant is that the side effects are fewer in number and severity. You can’t take St. John’s Wort in conjunction with another anti-depressant or with certain other medications, so make sure you consult your doctor if you’re taking anything else before you add St. John’s Wort to the mix.

The NCCAM (National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine) is helping consumers get educated about the use of St. John’s Wort to treat depression. They believe it’s best used to treat mild to moderate (but not severe) forms of depression.

What’s not yet known is exactly how St. John’s Wort works to treat depression. It’s believed that it might prevent nerve cells from reabsorbing serotonin, which is the chemical messenger in the body.

It’s been used and studied by scientists in treating mental disorders for centuries, but still remains somewhat of a mystery, even though its effectiveness in treating symptoms of depression such as mood swings, loss of appetite and energy, and sadness has been largely documented.

The reason consumers are turning to herbal remedies such as St. John’s Wort is because synthetic drugs have a high incidence of side effects, such as dry mouth, headaches, sexual dysfunction and insomnia. It’s also a less costly treatment than high-priced prescription medications.

You can buy St. John’s Wort in capsule form, as a tea, or as an extract. You have to be careful about the quantities you use in taking St. John’s Wort, because high level doses can impede the treatment process by causing dizziness, upset stomach, and a sensitivity to sunlight.

St. John’s Wort isn’t the only herb being used to treat depression. Damiana, Ginseng, and Valerian root are also used to improve depression symptoms such as insomnia and stress.

Regardless of which herbal remedy you wish to try in treatment for your depression symptoms, it’s vital to get the guidance of a doctor skilled in herbal remedies to ensure you’re ingesting the right amount and type of herb for your personal needs.

Its name originated out of the fact that some believe its leaves resembled the tooth of a lion, but for years the Dandelion has done more than just help bees make honey. While its juices are bitter, many animals consume the plant for various reasons, including its ability to stimulate milk production.

For humans, the benefits derived from the Dandelion are quite different. Some people do blanche the leaves and use them in salads, or eat them on sandwiches and in soups, but the plant also serves some medicinal needs.

Both the root and leaves of the Dandelion are used as an alternative to man-made prescriptions. The most powerful part of the Dandelion is the milky white juice found within the root itself.

Dandelion has been harvested for centuries and is often most effective when the weed is in its infancy. It was first used as a medicinal treatment in the tenth century, when it was first used to treat liver ailments. Dandelion’s used to stimulate the entire system, but primarily focuses on the needs of the urinary tract.

Aside from the liver, Dandelion is also consumed for kidney disorders. While it can be taken in straight high doses without being poisonous, Dandelion is usually mixed with other agents in patent medicines and herbal treatments alike.

People who have chronic liver complaints over time often find relief in taking a soup made from Dandelion roots harvested at a young age. It’s said to provide a slight laxative effect and helps aid digestion when you have an upset stomach.

Dandelion has been used successfully in the treatment of gallstones and has also been found safe to give to children. The weed is given to those suffering eczema and other topical diseases and has even been known to remove warts when the juice of the stalk is applied as a topical treatment to the affected area.

A Dandelion tea is used to treat various urinary ailments. A single ounce of the juice is mixed with boiling water and then sweetened with honey before being served. The frequency and doses of how much Dandelion is consumed depends on the type of disease you’re treating.

For instance, to treat piles, you would take three wine glassfuls of Dandelion concoction per day, but for a liver and kidney treatment, you would only need to take 1 teaspoonful of a concoction three times a day.

Using Dandelion to resolve your medical issues is a fantastic alternative to depending on high-priced prescriptions, but it’s always best to check with your doctor and make sure it’s suitable for your needs.