Abigails Herbs

Ginger is the root of the Zingiber officinale plant, sold fresh and also as a dried powder. Its taste is warm and piquant, with an edgy, flowery bite. In Ayurveda, ginger is undoubtedly known as “the universal medicine” for its anti-inflammatory properties and ability to soothe indigestion.

Recent clinical studies support its occasional use to relieve nausea during pregnancy as safe. An effective dose (for relieving nausea) is about 1,000 milligrams of ginger powder, or about one quarter of a typical 3-inch piece of fresh ginger.

It has also been shown to ease motion sickness and may be effective in managing arthritis. A set of Japanese animal studies published in the International Journal of Cancer suggested that ginger may also prevent colon and lung cancer.

To cook with it, remember that it goes well when paired with honey, lemon, lime, scallions, soy sauce, carrots and fish. It is popular in Asian cuisine and is one of the crucial components in curry. To serve sushi, ginger slices are cut very thin to eat with wasabi and soy sauce, which greatly enhances the taste of the sushi.

In the cold winter months it is good to drink  as a tea. You can slice the root in small or medium pieces,(depending on how strong you like it). It has a rather strong taste, so if you’re not used to ginger, I suggest you start small and increase the root size over time. Sipping this tea really soothes my throat when it is scratchy from post nasal drip. Try it! I am finding that it takes awhile to develop a taste for this valuable herb, but once you start liking ginger, you will seek it more often and find delight in its taste. Then you will start to yearn for its health benefits. Its good stuff.

Good news! Don’t worry about precautions or danger with overuse. You can eat or drink it as much as you want without the worries of side effects. Unlike other herbs, it is safe throughout all nine months of pregnancy.

Cinnamon is an herb or spice which is derived from the bark of the Cinnamomum Zeylanicum tree. The bark is ground up and dried. It tastes warm, sweet and slightly smoky.

It is so good for you! Renowned for lowering blood glucose and LDL or “bad” cholesterol levels, cinnamon’s diabetes-managing prowess was further explored in a 2009 research study that linked it to lower levels of hemoglobin A1c in patients with type II diabetes. Since hemoglobin levels are a good indicator of long-term blood-glucose control, the study suggests that cinnamon may help treat type II diabetes. An effective dose for cardiovascular health is about one-half teaspoon everyday.

To cook with this popular spice, just add a teaspoon or two into pancake batter or into steel-cut oats. Add this spice early in the cooking process to allow the  flavor to blend completely. Cinnamon is also an ingredient of Indian garam massala (mixed with cardamom, cloves, coriander and black pepper). You can make your own organic tea by letting the bark soak in a pot of hot, (but not boiling) water. It makes for a soothing tea. Caution:  Take a break from eating or drinking it by taking one week off every 5 -6 weeks. Remember, that even too much of a good thing can be potentially dangerous.

Turmeric is the root of the Curcuma longa plant, dried and ground into a powder. It has a bitter and sweet taste. It is very healthy for you. Researcher Bharat Aggarwal was responsible for the ground breaking 1995 discovery that curcumin, the active phytonutrient in this spice, actually interferes with the growth of tumors.

While there is not clinical proof yet that turmeric can prevent cancer, a 2009 Chinese study suggests it is effective in inhibiting the metastasizing of melanoma cells. A recent California, Los Angeles research study also indicates that turmeric may help the immune system clear the brain of amyloid beta, which form the plaques found in Alzheimer’s disease. Aggarwal says that curcumin has the ability to turn off a “master switch” of inflammation in the body, and he recommends eating a tespoon or two of this great spice everyday for to achieve optimal health.

How to cook with it – turmeric is used extensively in Indian, Moroccan and Thai cuisines, goes well with chicken, potatoes, rice, mustard and with most other spices like coriander, ginger and cumin. It’s the base spice in creating curry,so, remember to cook with more curry to get these important health benefits.

Winter weather always gives me cold feet and hands. I avoid head colds like the plague, so I use herbs for cooking in the cold weather. These spices render my body stronger, and I am less likely to catch the flu or head cold, even when others all around me are coming down with cold weather illnesses. When it’s cold outside, I go straight to the spice rack to start cooking up  healthy curried stews and soups. Spices add flavor to the entire house and lend a bright flavor to food.

I have been adding extra turmeric to my curries more than ever, even though this has been a mild winter. I love the taste of the pungent spices, and clinical research continues to confirm the incredible health benefits that certain spices contain. In this day and age when everyone is trying to find more affordable healthcare, one would be wise to start cooking with spices, so suggests Blharat B. Aggarwal, Ph.D., professor in the department of experimental therapeutics at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston and a pioneer improving the health benefits of spices in clinical trials. Dr. Aggarwal reports that “the anti-inflammatory abilities of turmeric, cinnamon, ginger and cayenne are absolutely remarkable – more effective than aspirin and many prescription meds, and without the side effects.” That’s important, since inflammation is thought to unerlie a host of chronic diseases, including cancer, diabetes, allergies and heart disease.

Healing Spices: Researchers believe the enzymes and volatile oils that give spices their flavors and preservative properties also contain powerful anti-inflammatories and unique phytochemicals that can work like magic in the body. Dr. Aggarwal says the “the rate of lung, prostate, breast and colon cancers is more than 50 times lower in India than in the United States. That’s because people in India regularly cook with and eat these spices.

The health benefits only increase when you use the spices together. Aggarwal says “the healing properties in spices are especially potent when combined with one another.” These spices work together synergistically. Aggarwal adds “there is wisdom in curry.” A willingness to learn how to cook with these spices is the only thing necessary for tapping into this wisdom.

When I get invited to attend exercise Boot Camps, I feel insecure and wonder if I will be able to keep up with the rest of the group. I get embarrassed if I lag behind during those military runs and rapid sprinting exercises. I can never keep up with those military push ups. Also, when I am called upon to do some public speaking, I worry and I yearn for more self-confidence. I use bergamot essential oil to help me feel more confident and less worried; and it works!

So, the next time your friends drag you to a boot camp or to a new class at the fitness center or gym, shrug off your worries with a whiff of fruity perfume. Most cirus-based fragrances contain a note of bergamot, a bitter Italian citrus fruit. Researchers at Italy’s University of Milan report that the aroma stimulates the brain’s emotion-governing limbic lobe and soothes the sympathetic nervous system to quell anxiety and promote a cheerful mood.

Note: Scents and fragranc ein the form of essential oils are stronger and will last longer. Bergamot also comes in teas. In fact  many breakfast teas and black teas are already infused with this delicious citrus fruit, which is what gives those teas the wonderful, exotic essence, which smells so good!

Before you use air fresheners, please read this article. Scented home-care products emit a variety of dangerous compounds, according to a University of Washington study. Environmentalist engineer Anne C. Steinemann, Ph.D., reviewed 25 popular air fresheners, laundry detergents and other scented products and found that each emits an average of 17 chemicals; 25 per cent of which have been determined to be toxic or hazardous under federal law.

Dr. Steinemann has announced that “none of the chemicals were listed on product labels.”  And, since these products (unlike personal care products) aren’t required to list ingredients, Steinemann analyzed them herself. “Be careful if you buy products with fragrance because there’s no way to know what’s in them,” she warns.

A good alternative is to use essential oils. To scent the air, refresh a potpourri with your favorite aroma or use a small diffuser. For laundry, dampen a washcloth, add a few drops of essential oil and toss into the dryer. I use incense to freshen my house. Oil diffusers are good too, and safer, because you don’t have to use a flame for fear of fire. For my laundry, in my dryer, I have been using lavender and bergamot essential oils and my clothes come out of the dryer smelling fresh and clean. Thank you Dr. Steinemann. It’s what we don’t know that can harm us.

New science is confirming what the ancient healers have known for centuries: that the health of your gums, teeth and mouth affects the health of your whole body. Researchers have found that infection and inflammation in the mouth increases levels of pro-inflammatory markers such as interleukin-6 and C-reactive protein in blood circulation. This triggers body-wide inflammation that has been linked to heart disease, diabetes, respiratory illness and osteoporosis.

Even healthy-looking teeth and gums can harbor bacteria in tooth pores, under a crown or filling, in a seemingly clean root canal or in the space of a missing tooth. “These bacteria may even be hidden from dentists’ best detection techniques such as X-rays,” says Dr. Nunnally,D.D.S., a holistic dentist in Marble Falls, Texas.

The best way to dislodge sneaky bacteria is with oil pulling, say proponents of the ayurvedic technique that uses oil to cleanse the mouth and detoxify the body. “The fatty outer membranes of microbes and other toxins are attracted to the oil, so the oil acts as a magnet, pulling gunk out of every crevice and pre of your teeth, gums and tongue,” explains holisic nutritionist Ann Louise Gittleman, Ph.D., author of Fat Flush for Life (DaCapo Lifelong Books, 2009). Studies have found that oil puling does such a good job of removing bacteria that it reduces gingivitis by up to 60%. In fact, oil pulling was found to be four times more effective than mouthwash at reducing gingivitis. Many “oil pullers” have reported benefits such as:

• more energy
• better sleep
• improved immunity
• whiter teeth
• clearer skin, greater control over cravings
• relief from GI symptoms
• less pain
• a smoother transition through menopause

It is very easy to practice. Just microwave 2 to 3 tsp. of solid, unrefined sesame oil or coconut oil in a shot glass for 5 seconds, then pour it into your mouth. Swish the sesame or cocnut oil around in your mouth, pushing, pulling and sucking it between your teeth and your gums and over the tongue for 10 to 20 minutes. Next, spit out the bacteria-laden oil (it should look cloudy) and rinse with water. Dr. Nunnally recommends oil pulling daily. But, if you have mercury fillings in your teeth, don’t do it more than twice per week, cautions naturopathic physician Carolyn Dean, M.D., N.D., who teaches the benefits of oil pulling and other healthy-living strategies in her Future Health Now Wellness Program. The reason for this is that the technique may extract too many vapors, which can be inhaled, leading to mercur-related health problems. So, if you’re like me and have 14-15 mercury (silver) fillings in your mouth, BE  CAREFUL!

People who have tried this oil pulling technique once every night (before bedtime), report pinker, healthier gums, decrease in post-nasal drip and much whiter teeth. Leave it to the ancient science of Ayurveda!

You are all aware of who Dr. Andrew Weil is?  He is a medical doctor and one of the world’s leading health experts. He is always featured in Prevention magazine, giving health advice for wellness and disease prevention. Dr. Weil says that ginger root tea ” really relieves cold symptoms.”  Go to DrWeil.com and read his advice for yourself.

His recipe for winter health is to get a pot and, over high heat,  combine two cups of cold water and a one inch piece peeled, grated fresh ginger; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for five minutes. Add one-half tsp. of cayenne pepper; simmer for one minute. Remove from heat; add two tablespoons of fresh lemon juice, one clove of garlic (crushed) and honey. The tea’s anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting qualities relieve congestion.

This winter, if you need to relieve stress, I recommend Hawthorne tea. Hawthorne tea is so calming that it is called “nature’s Valium.” Shane Ellison (The People’s Chemist.com), author of Over-the-Counter Natural Cures, says that Hawthorne tea “reduces irritability and relaxes your muscles.” Yet here’s one very important muscle it helps you flex: “Your heart; it strengthens contractions while controlling blood pressure.”

Yes, cinnamon helps to regulate blood sugars and it speeds up our metabolic rate to help us burn more calories at a faster rate, so that is all the more reason why we should use cinnamon in our foods and in our baked goods as well. My grandmother used to bake with nutmeg and cinnamon all the time, but she had no idea that cinnamon was so healthy! Now, research shows that this wonderful spice can help to heal sore throats when mixed with warm water when gargled. It has many other healthy uses too. But right now, I want to share this great recipe  for Cinnamon Raisin Peanut Butter Cookies with all my readers. This puts a new twist on an old-fashioned recipe:

Ingredients:

2 cups whole wheat pastry flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. ground cinnamon

one-half tsp. kosher salt

1 cup natural peanut butter (creamy)

three-fourth’s cup maple syrup (natural)

one-half cup carrot puree

one-half cup canola oil

2 tsp. vanilla extract

one-half cup raisins

non stick cooking spray

To make carrot puree:    Peel and chop 3 carrots, about 6 oz. each. Place in a pot with small amount of water and cook, covered, until very soft, 10-15 minutes. Drain and puree in food processor or  blender.

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees, Farenheit.  In a bowl, combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt.  Set aside.  In large bowl, mix together peanut butter, maple syrup, carrot puree, oil and vanilla.  Stir until combined.
2. Pour flour mixture over peanut butter mixture.  Turn batter over with spatula about 7 times.  Do not over mix!  There will be dry spots. That’s OK.  Stir in raisins.
3. While batter is resting, coat 2 baking sheets with cooking spray.  Using a 2-oz. ice cream scoop, drop tablespoonfuls of dough onto baking sheets 1 inch apart.  Fill small bowl with water and, using fork, press down on dough, making criss cross on each cookie; wet fork each time.  Bake 8 – 10 minutes.  Transfer cookies to wire rack; cool completely.  Store in an airtight container for up to four days.