The Guide
Herbal Healing
From the heart of the earth
READER’S DIGEST
The Guide
Herbal Healing
Copyright Š 2015 Sheena Chong All rights reserved. No part of this publickation may be produced, stored in retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means electronic, mechanical, photogopying, recording or otherwise without permission of copy right holder.
I dedicate this book to my mother who have always been there to support me thoughout the courses of my classes at the Academy of Art.
Table of Contents
The basic types of herbs on earth p. 12
Herbal Health benefits for your body p. 20
Herbal techniques for beautiful skin and hair p. 40
Top 5 herbal techniques for colds and flus p. 30
Introduction Herbalists use leaves, flowers, stems, berries, and roots of plants to prevent, relieve, and treat illness. From a “scientific� perspective, many herbal treatments are considered experimental. The reality is, however, that herbal medicine has a long and respected history. Many familiar medications of the twentieth century were developed from ancient healing traditions that treated health problems with specific plants. Today, science has isolated the medicinal properties of a large number of botanicals, and their healing components have been extracted and analyzed. Many plant components are now synthesized in large laboratories for use in pharmaceutical preparations. For example, vincristine (an antitumor drug), digitalis (a heart regulator), and ephedrine (a bronchodilator used to decrease respiratory congestion), etc. were all originally discovered through research on plants.
This book is just a simple guide to know what you should eat that is beneficial to your health. Many people choose to go natural remedies than having over the counter presciptions. Actually, there is a study of people who uses natural remedies, will not get sick or have any health concerns in the long run, compare to those who are taking prescriptions. However, taking natural remedies does take a while to heal when sick, compared to drug medications.
1
THE BASIC TYPES OF HERBS ON EARTH
Anise
Calendula
Rosemary
Mint
Thyme
Dandelion
Oregano
Cilantro
Parsley
Cinnamon
Basil
Cumin
Sunlight is more powerful than any drug; it is safe, effective, and available free of charge. If it could be patented, it would be hyped as the greatest medical breakthrough in history. It's that good. ~ Mike Adams, natural health researcher and author.
Knowing the types of Herbs Growing herbs is a simple way to add edible plants to your garden. Most herbs are very versatile, and grow well in the ground or in containers. Herbs, which generally are annuals except in very warm climates, make a great addition to a traditional flower garden, and are also a pretty, practical accent to windowboxes or containers near a grill or outside a kitchen door. If you're unfamiliar with growing herbs, or simply want to find out how to tend less-familiar varieties of these edible plants, the Herbs section of the Better Homes and Gardens Plant Encyclopedia includes details on growing requirements for each herb, such as sunlight or shade, water preferences, and USDA Hardiness Zones. You'll also learn expert tips for growing the most delicious herbs possible, as well as ideas for using herbs in your favorite recipes. Other benefits from learning about herbs, is that you can save much more money than using modern medicine and avoiding harmful drugs that goes into your body.
Putting in the right amount of herbs to your drinks will produce great benefits towards your body and see improvments everyday.
2
HERBAL HEALTH BENEFITS FOR YOUR BODY
Herbal verses Drug Prescriptions Which is a better health benefit for you? Prescriptions uses drugs that can restrain the body’s natural immune system and causes unwanted side effects. Although it does work well when it comes to surgery, trauma and emergencies. While herbal medication, which is more cost effective, gets to the root cause of an illness. Natural cures emphasize prevention and help the underlying condition rather than just the symptoms. Natural herbal remedies treat the whole person to boost the immune system to help bring a sustained healing.
"The person who takes medicine must recover twice, once from the disease and once from the medicine." - William Osler, M.D. People who uses prescription medicine look for treatment only when they become ill. Which creates imbalances towards the body before it can create the diease. Conventional medicine would define health by the absence of disease. This is considered a negative way at looking at something. While the natural medicine creates a holistic balance in your body. It works with your entire body to relieve ailments and help prevent future illness...not just relieving the symptoms. Natural cures use treatments to strengthen the body’s own defenses and helps restore balance to fight disease. The results don’t happen overnight, it’s a slower process especially if your body is out of balance. Herbal medication uses a gentle long term approach to heal the body from within. Conventional medicine is known for aggressive treatments. It uses terms like “magic bullet” and “quick fixes”. Of course we all like quick fixes...but not at the expense of developing a new problem. Herbal medicine was being used for eons before pharmaceutical drugs ever came onto
the scene. The knowledge behind herbal medicines has been handed down from generation to generation and some find their origin even in prehistoric times. On the other hand, pharmaceutical drugs are usually composed of synthetic materials. They can be very powerful, but on the other hand a drug taken incorrectly and without precautions can have serious and even fatal consequences. Besides the obvious dangers of taking prescription drugs such as overdose/ underdose, allergic reactions and interactions, pharmaceutical drugs may be harmful because they have harmful inorganic compounds that an ordinary person cannot necessarily digest and assimilate. These drugs can mask symptoms but that does not mean that they are effective as a treatment for overall health. Usually, herbal medicine targets the cause of disease and this can eventually lead to a decrease in symptoms permanently.
A Long Healthy Life Natural herbal remedies are more popular than ever. People are now moving toward new ways to improve their health and to stay healthy. There have been countless studies that show the therapeutic benefits of various herbs and herbal extracts. The research presents strong evidence that taking herbal supplements along with a healthy diet and lifestyle can lead to a long and healthy life.
Ginger: Avert nausea Ginger can prevent stomach upset from many sources, including pregnancy, motion sickness, and chemotherapy. A powerful antioxidant, ginger works by blocking the effects of serotonin, a chemical produced by both the brain and stomach when you're nauseated, and by stopping the production of free radicals, another cause of upset in your stomach.
Holy Basil: Combat stress Several animal studies back holy basil, a special variety of the plant you use in your pesto sauce, as effective at reducing stress by increasing adrenaline and noradrenaline and decreasing serotonin. This is no surprise to Pratima Nangia-Makker, PhD, a researcher at the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute in Detroit, whose mother and grandmother relied on a tea made from the leaves of holy basil to relieve indigestion and headaches. It might also: Inhibit breast cancer. First in test tubes and then in mice, a tea made of holy basil shrunk tumors, reduced their blood supply, and stopped their spread, found Nangia-Makker, who plans to study the effects in humans.
Cinnamon: Lower blood sugar In a recent German study of type 2 diabetics, taking cinnamon extract daily successfully reduced blood sugar by about 10%. It might also: Lower cholesterol. Cinnamon packs a one-two punch for people with type 2 diabetes by reducing related heart risks. In another study of diabetics, it slashed cholesterol by 13% and triglycerides by 23%.
It might also: Decrease your blood pressure, arthritis pain, and cancer risk. Ginger helps regulate blood flow, which may lower blood pressure, and its anti-inflammatory properties might help ease arthritis. Those same anti-inflammatory powers help powdered ginger kill ovarian cancer cells as well as—or better than—traditional chemotherapy, at least in the test tube, found a study by the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center. Although further testing is needed, Zick and the study's authors are excited about its prospects: "Our preliminary results indicate that ginger may have significant therapeutic benefit for ovarian cancer patients."
St. John's Wort: Soothe your worries You probably know that research has confirmed this herb's power to relieve mild to moderate depression and anxiety as effectively as many drugs—without a lot of the side effects. It might also: Help you snooze more soundly. St. John's wort not only contains melatonin, the hormone that regulates our sleep-wake cycles, but it also increases the body's own melatonin, improving sleep, says a report from the Surgeon General. (These 20 ways to sleep better every night can also help.)
Rosemary: Avoid carcinogens Frying, broiling, or grilling meats at high temperatures creates HCAs (heterocyclic amines), potent carcinogens implicated in several cancers. But HCA levels are significantly reduced when rosemary extract (a common powder) is mixed into beef before cooking, say Kansas State University researchers. “Rosemary contains carnosol and rosemarinic acid, two powerful antioxidants that destroy the HCAs,” explains lead researcher J. Scott Smith, PhD. It might also: Stop tumors. Rosemary extract helps prevent carcinogens that enter the body from binding with DNA, the first step in tumor formation, according to several animal studies. When researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign fed rosemary extract to rats exposed to dimethylbenzanthracene, a carcinogen that causes breast cancer, both DNA damage and tumors decreased. “Human research needs to be done,” says study author Keith W. Singletary, PhD. “But rosemary has shown a lot of cancer-protective potential.”
Turmeric: Ease arthritis A heaping helping of curry could relieve your pain. That’s because turmeric, a spice used in curry, contains curcumin, a powerful anti-inflammatory that works similarly to Cox-2 inhibitors, drugs that reduce the Cox-2 enzyme that causes the pain and swelling of arthritis, says Lee. It might also: Prevent colon cancer and Alzheimer’s disease. According to a small clinical trial conducted by the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, curcumin can help shrink precancerous lesions known as colon polyps, when taken with a small amount of quercetin, a powerful antioxidant found in onions, apples, and cabbage. The average number of polyps dropped more than 60% and those that remained shrank by more than 50%. In a 2006 study published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, researchers at UCLA also found that curcumin helps clear the brain of the plaques that are characteristic of the disease.
Whorl Fertile Bract Spike
Corolla
Calyx Bracteole Peduncle
3
TOP 5 HERBAL TECHNIQUES FOR COLDS AND FLUS
Keep a supply of thyme essential oil or dried thyme on hand in the event that you fall ill with either the flu or with a common cold. Thyme has long been known as an expectorant, which makes coughs more productive (that is, it helps clear out your lungs faster so you feel better sooner). You can brew a thyme herbal tea by steeping 2 teaspoons fresh thyme in a cup of boilinghot water for 10 minutes. Or make a thyme steam bath: Toss either a handful of dried thyme or a few drops of thyme essential oil into a bowl of hot water and lean over the bowl, covering both your head and the bowl with a towel. Inhaling the steam will help loosen mucus in your chest.
Simple Thyme Syrup Recipe
Ingredients: 2 to 4 ounces thyme leaf and flower (fresh is best but dried will do) 1 quart water 1 cup honey
To make the syrup: Combine the thyme and water in a pan over very low heat. Simmer lightly, with the lid ajar to allow the steam to escape, until the liquid is reduced by half, giving you about 2 cups of strong thyme tea. Strain, and compost the spent herbs. Add the honey to the warm liquid and stir, just until the honey is melted. Store in a glass jar in the refrigerator, where the honey will keep for 3 to 4 weeks.
To use: Take 1/2 to 1 teaspoon every couple of hours until the cold
Garlic boosts the health of your immune system, and a number of studies have found that animals given regular doses of garlic supplements are better able to ward off viruses like the flu and various strains of rhinovirus, the kind responsible for the common cold. In one study from 2001, volunteers who took a daily garlic supplement were less likely to get colds than volunteers taking a placebo, and even when the garlic takers did get sick, they recovered more quickly. For the sake of people who have to talk to you, garlic supplements are probably the kindest way to go. But you can also get the same benefits by chewing on a clove of garlic once a day for prevention or twice a day to get over a cold or flu. Mince a clove of garlic into some honey if the flavor is too overpowering. It’s not clear whether adding more garlic to your cooking affords the same protection, but if you love the flavor, you can add more to your recipes while possibly getting an immune boost.
There isn’t much evidence that echinacea will do anything for you once you get a cold, other than possibly shorten the duration of your symptoms. But there is some evidence that it could prevent colds and flus if taken in conjunction with garlic supplements, according to an article in the Journal of the National Medical Association. The problem with most echinacea products on the market is that they don’t tell you how much of the herb is in the product. Forgo teas and instead take a supplement containing 1000 milligrams three times a day. One note: People who are allergic to ragweed or to pollen may be allergic to echinacea, as well.
Another botanical that helps you cope with cold and flu symptoms is elder, also known as black elder. The extract of elderberries has been tested repeatedly and found to shorten the duration of symptoms by as much as 4 days, and the extract has been found effective at fighting up to 10 strains of flu virus. Nearly all of the scientific studies conducted on elderberry have used a commercial product called Sambucol, which is available as a liquid supplement from a number of different companies.
Licorice root contains a compound called glycyrrhizin that has been found to have pretty potent antiviral effects against serious diseases, such as HIV and SARS, and a number of studies have found that licorice-root extracts can fight off the flu, including strains of the avian flu virus. In Ayurvedic medicine, licorice root is also used as an expectorant. A number of companies make licorice-root supplements and teas, but if using those, be sure they contain actual licorice—many products (licorice candy, for instance) don’t contain any of the herb but instead contain anise seed, which tastes like licorice. Also talk to a doctor or pharmacist if you’re taking any prescriptions, as licorice has been found to interfere with some medications.
4
HERBAL TECHNIQUES FOR BEAUTIFUL SKIN AND HAIR
4
1
3
5
2
6
1. Aloe
5. Chamomille
2. Lavander
6. Rosewater
3. Burdock
7. Rosemary
4. Sage
7
3 1
4
2
5
6
7
1. Evening Primrose 5. Turmeric 2. Comfrey
6. Neem
3. Geranium
7. Basil
4. Henna
Why using natural ingredients is good for our body? Lip gloss, body lotion, shampoo, etc, the list goes on! Most women use various cosmetic products every day to prepare their skin. But are these chemical laden tubes good for our skin and hair in the long run? Nature has provided several products that have the ability to improve the condition of our skin and hair in a totally safe manner, free of chemicals. It is also good on a budget side as well!
TOP HERBAL ALTERNATIVES TO COSMETICS • Coconut Oil - Body Lotion and Anti-dandruff agent • Henna - Hair Dye • Turmeric and Fruits - Rejuvenating face pack • Aloe Vera - Dry Skin Moisturiser • Garlic and Sandalwood - Anti-acne effects • Soapnuts and shikakai - Gentle cleansing Shampoo • Pomegranate seeds - Natural Lip colour
Artificial Fragrances vs. Herbal Essential oils Have you ever deeply noticed or analyzed about the ingredients in your perfume, cologne or other scented cosmetics? These cosmetics contain strong odor or artificial smell with the content of volatile organic compounds. These VOC’s enters your body while breathing and affects the brain function. Isn’t that shocking news? They also collapse the hormone function and turn the blood toxic. With all these side effects, why bother using chemical perfume when you can get better scents, naturally?
Simply add few drops of your choice of herbal essential oil to rose water pour it in a spray bottle and use it as your natural perfume. Essential oils such as lemon grass, lemon, jojoba and lavender can be chosen for making your own perfume.
List of Herbal Benefit forms and uses Botanical Name/Part Used
Common Name
Form
Use
Acacia concinna pods Shikakai Powder Shampoo's Soaps Acorus calamus rhizome Sweet Flag Powder/Paste Aromatic, Dusting Powders, Skin Lotions Allium Sativum bulbs Garlic Powder/ Paste Promotes Skin healing Aloe Vera Leaf Aloe Powder / Paste Radio-protective Moisturizer, Sun screen Alpinia galanga rhizome Galanga Powder/Paste Aromatic, In dusting Powders Avena sativa fruit Oat Powder / Paste Skin tonic / Moisturizer Azadirachta indica leaves Neem Powder / Paste Tooth Pastes, Soaps, Shampoo's Balsamodendron myrrha gum Myrrh Powder/Paste Soaps / Shampoo's Calendula officinalis flowers Marigold Paste Promotes skin care Cedrus deodara wood Deodar Powder/Paste Shampoo's/Soaps Centella Asiatica plant Gotu Kola Powder/Paste Wound Healing Cichorium intybus seed Chicory Powder/Paste Relieves sore eyes/Clears Skin of blemishes Citrus aurantium peel Orange Paste Skin creams, Soaps, Shampoos Citrus lemon peel Lemon Powder Heals skin, Prevents Hair Loss Coriandrum sativum seed Coriander Powder Anti-inflammatory Crocus sativus stigma Saffron Liquid Post bath massage Curcuma longa rhizome Turmeric Powder/Paste Skin creams & lotions Antibacterial Curcuma zedoaria rhizome Zedoary Powder/Paste Antibacterial, Aromatic Daucus carota seeds Carrot Oil Natural source of Vitamin A Eclipta alba plant Bhringraj Powder/Paste Shampoo's Glycyrrhiza glabra root Liquorice Powder/Paste Anti-inflammatory Hedychium spicatum rhizome Kapurkachir Oil Hair Oils Hibiscus rosa sinensis flowers China rose Paste Shampoo's Iris florentina root Orris Powder Additive to dusting Powders Lawsonia alba leaves Heena Powder/Paste In Shampoo's Matricaria chamomilla flowers Chamomile Powder/Paste Hair Tonic/ Relieves sore Limbs Moringa oleifera seed Benjamin Oil Hair Oils, Suntan Lotion Prunus serotina bark Wild cherry bark Powder In shampoo's Pterocarpus santalinus bark Red sandal wood Powder/Paste In Skin creams Rubia cordifolia root Manjistha Powder/Paste Wound Healing Santalum album Sandal Wood Powder/Paste In skin Lotion's Sapindus trifoliatus fruit cortex Soap wort Powder Natural Detergent Triticum sativum germ Wheat germ Oil Skin lotions, A natural sourc of Vit.
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