Abigails Herbs

It is nearing the end of autumn and that means that  it is already getting dark around 4:30 – 5:00 p.m. every evening. Some people are prone to SAD; Seasonal Affective Disorder. As I drive home from work every evening, and it grows dark, it is the lights of the city that cheer me up. Holiday lights also warm my heart and spark a spirit of joy. If it weren’t for the bright and colorful lights, I would probably feel down in the dumps. I am always happy to see daylight savings time return in the spring though.

Inhaling this floral aroma quickly soothes the edginess and anxiety of being trapped indoors, according to British researchers. This is because rose oil revs up the beta brain wave activity that makes you feel relaxed and calm. This positive effect gets stronger and stronger the more you use it since it becomes a conditioned response in the brain.

To use, just mix six drops of rose essential oil and two ounces of unscented lotion, then rub into your arms, shoulders and neck. Use a few times each day. You will feel the cabin fever lift and relaxation will be yours. A rose by any other name will smell as sweet.  I use rose oil directly on my face everyday and every night and, besides smelling so pleasant, it helps my skin stay youthful looking and soft. It makes my wrinkles less noticeable too.

Oregano essential oil helps nearly 100 % of people bounce back from colds, sore throats and sinus infections, often in just 48 hours, reports Fred Pescatore, M.D., medical director of Partners in Integrative Medicine in New York City. He goes on to explain that “oregano oil is rich in thymol and carvacrol, potent compounds which fight infections.”

To battle a cold or infection just add three drops of oregano oil to to water or juice and drink one time daily for five days.  It is better to drink this oil because oregano essential oil works best when it’s absorbed through the gastro intestinal tract.

Remember that oregano is one of the best healing agents on earth. It is better than prescription meds. Be careful not to overuse this herb. Always check with your doctor first before beginning any new herb for purposes of healing.

In past articles, I have spoken about the use of ginger to quell nausea and to help soothe a sore throat. This article focuses on the use of ginger for aiding and healing sore muscles. After I work out I get sore sometimes. I do squats while lifting weights and then I intermittently do several minutes of aerobics interspersed with abdominal exercises mixed with push ups, lunges and jumping jacks in plank position on the floor. If I skip a week or so and then start this exercise regimen up again, I end up feeling sore. It is a good sore because it means that the workout is effectively toning my muscles and trimming away my fat cells.

Taking 1.500 milligrams of ginger daily dampens the pain of tight, sore, overused or injured muscles within one week, and, taking 500 milligrams each day after exercising keeps aches at bay, University of Miami research suggests. The secret ingredient lies in the gingerols, powerful plant compounds that shut down inflammation the same way prescription anti-inflammatories do, but without their  risks of side effects. This is according to herbal researcher Thomas M. Newmark, coauthor of the book,  Beyond Aspirin. Of course, after vigorous exercise, drinking lots of water immediately after finishing your workout is a great way to prevent muscle aches too.

Begin your day in a good way with a stir of cinnamon in your morning drink or a sprinkle on your toast. The scent of this sweet spice makes us feel more energetic, alert and motivated to reach our goals. Research studies have proven that cinnamon is able to give us a feeling of well being and fills us with energy.

You can tuck a cinnamon stick into a folded napkin when you have company over. You will see your dinner guests become much more lively. Watch and observe – it’s true!

At this time of year, when autumn transitions into winter, it is good to fill your home with the scents and odors of the season. A diffuser makes a stunning accessory while sending the aroma of cinnamon your way.

It also warms you up. Just add a cinnamon stick to your drink for a spicy zing and a “make-you-cozy”  bonus. This popular spice contains proanthocyanins, compounds shown to keep hands and feet toasty warm in cold weather.

Use this great spice in apple cider and as an ingredient in pumpkin pie. Pumpkin is packed with cancer-fighting, vision-protecting antioxidants, energy-boosting iron and digestion-friendly fiber. Just the sight of pumpkin and the taste of delicious homemade pumpkin pie makes men feel 40% more aroused and makes women feel more loving too.

With all the talk about new security scanners in airports and with all the trouble with Japan’s nuclear leaks (post-tsunami), you might be wondering if you are in danger from too much radiation exposure. To prevent radiation damage, try eating apples, oranges, broccoli and cabbage. These fruits and vegetables are rich in a cell-protecting compound called caffeic acid. In recent studies, in which caffeic acid was floating around in the bloodstream, a blast of radiation caused no genetic damage at all. For maximum cell protection, be sure to eat at least one of these fruits or vegetables daily.

Stay clear of cigarette smoke. Cigarettes are laced with radioactive compounds that not only cause lung cancer, but they double your risk of developing thyroid problems. Take supplements of Vitamin C (500 mg.), 400 IU’s  of Vitamin E and 50,000 IU’s  of betacarotene for five days before you  go in to get a CT scan or other radiation-emitting test. This can cut your DNA damage in half during and after these radioactive medical tests.

Last of all, reduce your risk of radiation damage with rosemary. The problem with radiation, whether it’s from an X- ray or from a full day in bright sunlight, is that when it comes crashing into your body’s water molecules, it turns them into DNA-damaging free radicals. Fortunately, scientists have discovered that rosemary is packed with plant compounds that quickly mop up free radicals. The recommended dosage of rosemary is only one-half teaspoon daily. It tastes good too.

Did you ever have a cold sore? Some people get them all the time and some people get cold sores every so often. I have a friend who gets cold sores on her lips every so often, and, believe me; these sores are painful and nasty. If you spend time in the sun, while working on a garden or swimming or skiing, it is true that the sun’s rays can activate a dormant cold sore and/or make an existing sore worse.

That why it is important to always a hat and lip balm with sun screen in it. Using a lip balm with zinc oxide or other blocking agents such as Herpecin-L Lip Balm. Too much time in the sun, and stress, can trigger these painful, unsightly blisters on the lips. Cold sores are caused by a virus that enters the body through a break in the mouth or lips.

You can also dab on ice-cold aloe vera. Just keep the aloe vera gel in your refrigerator and apply it to your cold sore with a Q-Tip several times each day.  Dermatologist Sandra Lee, M.D. from Oakland, California claims that the aloe vera chill will relieve the sting of the cold sore, while compounds in the aloe called polysaccharides speed up healing.

Eating healing foods also help to thwart cold sores. Lysine, an amino acid, stops the growth of the virus. Try to consume two servings per day of foods rich in lysine such as milk, eggs, fish, soybeans and cheese. Campho-Phenique, a cream, eases oozing, stinging and redness. Also on the pain.

If you are particularly prone to cold sores, see your doctor for an oral antiviral agent such as Valtrex. Take it at the first sign of a blister before it erupts into a full size sore. Aloe is the way to go because it is a natural plant and its’ gel is soothing and comforting.

The risk of ovarian cancer runs in my family. I am constantly mindful of the possibility of ovarian cancer and how to protect myself from it. Below are some helpful, healthy tips for avoiding ovarian cancer:

First of all, taking the birth control pill for just one year reduces ovarian-cancer risk by 30 per cent, and if you stay on the pill for ten years, the risk decreases by a large 70 per cent.

Secondly, popping 120 mg. of cancer-zapping gingko biloba every day for at least six months reduces your ovarian cancer risk by 60 per cent, as revealed by research studies.

Switch from using talc-based body powders to cornstarch powders. The talc in baby powders and feminine powders can travel up the vagina and irritate ovarian cells, increasing the cancer risk by 18 per cent.

Munching on carrots daily could slash your risk of ovarian cancer by 54 per cent. The carotenoids in carrots are powerful antioxidants that help rid the body of ovary-damaging chemicals and environmental pollutants.

Last of all, make sure you get enough vitamin D. Do  you know that most women are deficient in vitamin D? Getting adequate levels of vitamin D reduces the risk of ovarian cancer as much as 50 per cent by helping to ensure ovarian cells divide properly. The study-proven dose we should all make sure we get should be 1000 units per day.

Last week, I ate a few handfuls of sweet, yogurt covered raisins. They tasted so good, I ate more than I should have eaten. About 30 minutes later, my energy started to take a dip and I felt a sudden, overwhelming fatigue.  My body became extremely sluggish. Then I realized that my body was crashing due to too much sugar. Yogurt covered raisins must have as much sugar in them as candy. I was suffering from the energy-draining effects of  blood sugar swings.

Consuming as little as one-half  teaspoon of cinnamon each day can cut energy draining blood sugar spikes by 29 per cent within a month, according to USDA research. Cinnamon works by activating insulin receptors on muscles, helping them to rapidly burn blood sugar. Use cinnamon to add flavor to toast, oatmeal, smoothies, sweet potatoes, hot chocolate and more. Or you can toss in a cinnamon stick when simmering some hot cocoa or brewing a hot pot of tea.

In the cold wintertime, cinnamon is soothng and comforting, as its’ taste is wonderful in hot apple cider and in warm apple pie. Also, using one tbps. of  honey each morning and afternoon significantly improves blood sugar control, helping you to feel energized, think more clearly and work more productively for at least two hours after each dose. This news is based on a recent report from  University of Memphis scientists. Choose dark, unpastuerized (raw) varieties of honey such as buckwheat or wild flower, which have up to 20 times more antioxidants than the lighter, more pale types of honey.

According to David Feder, R.D., it is no coincidence that hot cocoa is a migraine healer. Cocoa actually raises the body’s level of phosphatases, which are compounds that counteract the nerve inflammation believed to be behind migraine pain. Dr. Feder advises that the key is to choose a premium hot chocolate that is at least 60 per cent cocoa. Of course, it has to be organic, says Dr. Feder.

This will ensure that you get ample amounts of cocoa’s healing flavonoids, plus you’ll avoid the artrificial flavors and sweeteners that can trigger head pain. Remember, it is usually the artificial sweeteners and ingredients that cause the headache pain. However,  it is also important to note that for some women, chocolate causes migraines. For these people, a better remedy for the pain would be to sip some soothing hot green tea. Its polyphenols neutralize inflammation while its caffeine dilates the blood vessels that  are constricted in a migraine attack, plus the steam of the freshly brewed tea helps to clear the sinuses.

There is nothing better than a warm cup of hot cocoa on a cold winter day. It is comforting and soothing for the mind as well as for the body. You can taste the difference between the cheap hot chocolate as compared to the taste of the premium, dark organic kind.

Dr. Feder is the author of  The Skinny Carbs Diet (Rodale, 2010). He was an acclaimed chef before he became a dietician. He combines culinary expertise with scientific knowledge to deliver practical advice for healthy living. Thank you Dr. Feder for such enlightening material.