HERBAL WELLNESS
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healing botanicals for your body and mind
Find Your Voice
Do you love to sing? Botanicals can improve your voice and soothe a sore throat BY KARTA PURKH SINGH KHALSA, DN-C, RH
the best single Ayurvedic herb for generally controlling mucus, fat, and toxins in the body. One of three herbs in the Ayurvedic formula triphala, bibhitaki nourishes the lungs, throat, voice, eyes, and hair. It excels at removing stones and deposits (mucus, cholesterol, mineral deposits) in the digestive, urinary, and respiratory tracts. A strong astringent, bibhitaki is great as a gargle since it opens the throat. Put 1 teaspoon of bibhitaki powder in a glass of water and gargle several times until the glass is empty. SCHISANDRA (Schisandra chinensis)
is a woody vine with clusters of small red berries. Several animal and human
studies have determined that schisandra increases stamina and speed, and it improves concentration. What many people don’t know about schisandra berry is that it’s also a super astringent. Brew dried schisandra berry into a tea and, like bibhitaki, gargle until the throat is optimally open. Note: Schisandra has been shown to have phytoestrogen properties. SAGE LEAF (Salvia officinalis) is another
well-known throat astringent. It has been used to treat many inflammatory conditions, and research shows it can help relieve throat pain. Recently, German scientists found that a sage throat spray (with 15 percent sage) provides a convenient and safe treatment
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Herbs That Open Your Airways These helpful herbs are known as “astringents,” which means they help shrink throat tissues. This in turn helps open up airways and allows you to breathe more freely.
BIBHITAKI (Terminalia belerica) is
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Chances are that your throat pretty much performs on command, so you give it little thought—unless it’s your moneymaker or it’s sore. Then it probably becomes just about all you can think about. Since their voices are their instruments, singers rely on a variety of secret weapons to keep their throats in tiptop shape. But these botanical wonders aren’t just for vocalists. They can help anyone who experiences a sore throat or related respiratory symptoms.
