Abigails Herbs

I have noticed that I love coming home to “where my heart is” after making it through another stressful day at work. I can put up my feet and lean back; I can stretch into any shape or position I want to and I just love the freedom I have to relax and get rid of the tension. I am free to play my piano, do some deep breathing and just change my mindset. I have arranged my furniture and wall hangings in such a way (that is uniquely my style), to calm and soothe my psyche. I breathe into my body the positive energy that surrounds me. I have set up my living environment like that; yes, it is a bit crowded with decorations and candles, but that is what relaxes me.

So, I would reccommend that you make sure that your home and work environments are claming so that you don’t take on needless anxiety. Even the best herbs will not work if you are surrounded by a stressful environment. Choose herbs that help to calm the nervous system. Chamomile is a mild herb that eases nervousness, restlessness and stress.

Skullcap also heps relaxes muscle spasms and produce endorphins. Passionflower and lindenflower also clam nervousness. Find and use these herbs in tea form, and drink a cup or two everyday. AND, remember to sit back and relax. You deserve it!

Right now, I am relaxing in my living room, watching the Olympics. I decided to drink a warm cup of chamomile tea as I had a long day. I had to drive in a 50-mile per hour snow storm to get home from work and I am thankful just to be able to sit down and safely drink my herbal tea. Chamomile tea calms my nerves and it relaxes me totally.

Yesterday, at work, one of the women in our administrative offices came to the floor where I was working. I had not seen her in over a year and the last time I saw her she was out on medical leave. She was suffering from back pain and severe arthritis in her hand and arm. She actually looked good and she had lost some weight. She needed to drop some pounds. She smiled and told me that she was feeling better and more functional because she stopped taking prescription meds and she stopped taking pain killers.

She was actually smiling – something she had not been able to do in months. She reported that she had experienced so many side effects from her prescription meds without seeing long-term progress. Instead, she exclaimed that she stopped eating processed foods and sugar. She switched her diet to fresh herbs and raw and organic fruit and vegetables. She was consuming more cold water fish, nuts and seeds. She stated, “I am a living testimony to the power of healthy eating. I am what I eat.”  When I asked her what prompted her to start consuming  fresh , organic foods, she commented that she had watched a program on BBC TV entitled, “You Are What You Eat.”

My friend commented that she drinks herbal teas at night and during the day on a regular, ongoing basis. So, as I sit and enjoy my soothing chamomile tea,I am thinking of my friend and smiling with her.

I just had some green tea that was naturally sweetened with Rebaudian stevia leaf. This green tea also contained astragalus root, wild cane tea, pueraria root and ophiopogon herb. It tastes delicious and it feels good not to depend on sugar to sweeten my tea. I usually drink my green tea without any sweetener, however, I wanted to mix it with stevia leaf to get a sense of how stevia works as a sweetener.  It has a mild, sweet taste, unlike sugar or honey, which both taste heavy and very sweet. I was delighted to find out that stevia has some very amazing and important health benefits:

1. It has no carbohydrates and no calories. Therefore, it will not put on additional weight like sugar and other sweeteners.
2. Stevia lowers blood pressure, naturally. (Be careful take not to take too much of it if you have naturally low blood sugar because it may lower your metabolism even more).
3. It lowers blood sugar, so diabetics can use it without worrying about raising their blood sugar levels.
4. Stevia has  anti-bacterial properties, so it can be used to clean teeth, preventing cavities, gingivitis and other gum diseases.
5. Lastly, stevia is instrumental in calcium formation, meaning children who take stevia will have stronger, healthier bones and teeth. Research studies in which stevia extract has been given to chickens has  shown that the eggs these chickens have produced have harder and stronger protective shells.

The best advantage to stevia  is that it has a pleasant taste!  I love it.

Cloves have powerful medicinal properties. They are stimulating and have antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal and antiseptic properties. They are also a natural anesthetic (due to the eugenol oil), which is why they were often used for dental procedures in centuries past and are still used in some cultures as a toothache remedy. It is the oil that is derived from the cloves that is so powerful, and this is often used for medicines both topically and internally. This oil contains compound that helps with blood circulation and can stimulate the skin when applied directly to it.

Cloves are a great spice to heal ailments of the digestive system. They are well known for relieving flatulence and can actually help promote good digestion as well as metabolism. They may also help relieve vomiting and diarrhea as well as a host of other digestive disorders.

Cloves have been well known as an all around healing herb and it’s not just digestive problems that cloves are reputed to help with. In fact, they are used in tropical Asia to treat conditions such as scabies, cholera, malaria and tuberculosis. As an antispasmodic it can be applied topically to relieve muscle spasms or in a tea to ease coughing. It can also treat skin problems like styes and sores when applied as an ointment. It is said a paste of milk, salt crystals, and cloves can be a great headache remedy.

Cloves are believed to have other health benefits that aren’t necessarily connected with an immediate illness. For instance, they can make a great mosquito repellant, as well as a moth repellent. Clove studded oranges are often used to repel many kinds of insects in tropical climates. Sucking on cloves may even reduce the craving for alcohol. I love the smell and the taste of fresh cloves.

Research suggests that L-theanine, found in black, green, oolong, rooibos and pekoe teas may enhance the disease-fighting capabilities of the immune system. The herbal teas strengthen the T-cells of the body’s immune system, allowing them to better defend against invading bacteria.

Just drink 2 to 4 cups of tea per day for a potent brew of amino acids and antioxidants. For an added benefit, the dietary phenols  present in herbal teas also  inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria in the stomach. I already drank six cups of different herbal teas today.

Flu, and its’ friend, the cold, are caused by viruses. Antibiotics have no effect on viruses. When my daughter came down with the H1N1 flu this past October, my doctor told me to keep her hydrated and to let it run its’ course. I had orders to give Ibuprofen to keep her fever down and to take her to the Emergency Room if her fever had risen above 104 degrees. I was thankful that it did not get over 103 degrees. My daughter stated that it felt like needles were sticking deep through her muscles and into her bones. She cried, “I wouldn’t wish this on my worst enemy.” She was in severe pain with muscle spasms in her back and through her legs.

I made sure that my daughter drank plenty of filtered water with lemon and that she drank lots of fruit juice without high fructose corn syrup in it.  As there are  quite a few tea mixtures that can help with cold/flu symptoms, I made sure that my daughter drank plenty of herbal teas. Chamomile tea works well. Herbal teas with blends of peppermint and licorice also work well to squelch coughs and to soothe sore throats. For respiratory ailments, look for teas containing  licorice, fennel, and horehound. For sinus ailments and headaches, look for chamomile, echinacea, goldenseal and bayberry.

Of course, don’t forget the Vitamin C. Take at least 2000 mg. per day as it lowers your histimine levels, giving you relief from sinus congestion, watery eyes, sniffling, and sneezing. Fresh fruits and vitamins are a must this time of year. Incidentally, my daughter recovered within 5 days of acquiring the swine flu and is still doing well.

I love rooibos tea. It is from South Africa and there is nothing like it to boost your immune system and help your body stay strong and free from diseases. I drink it with lunch or sometimes I drink it right after lunch and it gives me boundless energy. It really jump starts my metabolism.Rooibos helps to give you strong bones and teeth because of its calcium, manganese and fluoride content.Rooibos contains alpha hydroxy acid and zinc for healthy, smooth skin. This wonder tea is especially useful when applied to skin irritations like itchy skin, eczema, sunburns, diaper rash and acne.Rooibos contains magnesium which is necessary for a healthy nervous system. Rooibos increases the absorption of iron in the body. Rooibos contains potassium and copper minerals that are necessary for several metabolic functions.Rooibos makes a great thirst-quencher and sport drink. Because of its mineral content of iron, potassium, zinc, manganese and sodium, it restores the body’s equilibrium after strenuous exercise.Rooibos is often prescribed for nervous tension and mild depression as it makes a relaxing sedative.Rooibos contains no oxalic acid and can therefore be enjoyed by persons suffering from kidney stones. Rooibos does not contain caffeine, and hence is even better than green tea – to reduce stress! How to use:

Rooibos is very versatile! Steep 1 tsp/ cup of boiling water for 3-5 minutes.

Drink it hot or cold, with or without milk, sugar or honey. Add lemon or mix it with fruit juices for a lovely blend. In South Africa Rooibos tea is also used in cooking and baking. It replaces the liquid content in recipes for soups, marinades, sauces, stews and cakes for added flavor and nutrition!

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Star anise pods have a great anise flavor which is very distinctive. Drinking anise tea several times each day for one week actually helped me to get rid of my nagging bronchitis that I had for nearly the whole summer. It was so soothing to my throat. Well, this herb is used to add rich flavor to culinary dishes too.

Star anise is used in Chinese cooking, where it grows and has been used for many years. Use it in stir fry recipes for a mystical, licorice-type flavor. Always cook with whole pieces of the star; be careful not to break up the star unless the recipe specifies or, when using anise in tea, it can be broken up into pieces.

It has been used in Chinese medicine for hundreds of years because it is a natural expectorant and breaks down mucous and flem very effectively. It is also used as a treatment for indigestion and flatulence.Star anise pods are sold in Asian supermarkets. Always store these pods in airtight containers, in a cool, dark area and they will stay fresh for several months at a time. Store the pods in whole pieces. Use in small quantities as too much is unsafe.