Abigails Herbs

Natural supplements can help tame joint pain from osteoarthritis; even reducing inflammation and restoring some range of motion without the side effects of conventional medications. Such side effects include stomach irritation, high blood pressure, even possibly kidney damage.

To promote healthier range of motion, reduce pain and swelling of joints from arthritis, take some natural supplements:

1. Fish Oil  – the omega 3’s in cold water fish (such as salmon, sardines and mackerel) can help to lessen inflammation and pain in the joints.
2. Capsaicin Cream – Rub capsaicin (hot pepper) on sore joints. It helps to deplete a compound called “Substance P” that transmits pain signals to the brain.
3. Turmeric – the active component in tumeric, curcumin, contains enzymes that curtail inflammation.
4. Ginger – gingerols are the properties found in ginger which harness anti-inflammatory action. Avoid taking ginger if you take other blood thinners or if it upsets your stomach.

If you would rather use whole, fresh ginger to treat achy joints, aim to get 2 to 4 grams each day. Grate some ginger into stir-fry meals, or make a tea by mixing one-half teaspoon of ginger in eight ounces of water and steep for 15 minutes.

This information is from Natural Health Magazine/ March 2009 edition.

Well, it’s cold and flu season again. I hate getting a cold. The reason I hate it is because I do not like getting sick in the first place. Secondly, I am prone to bronchitis and once the cold travels into my chest I hack and cough and can’t sleep at night. I had pneumonia over twenty years ago and that was scary enough! I almost ended up in the hospital during a ski trip in Vermont.

Ever since I have been eating right (fresh fruits and vegetables, mainly), I get two colds per year and thank goodness, they are little ones which don’t last long. I have not had bronchitis in 17 years and I stay away from anti biotics, only taking them when absolutely necessary. Suffice to say, my immune system is much stronger than it was twenty years ago when I was much younger.

I love fresh ginger root. I cook with it in my stir fry dishes and I love it in Asian food. The volatile oils in ginger have long made it a useful herbal remedy for nasal and chest congestion.

Pour two cups of boiling water over a one-inch piece of peeled, grated ginger, steep for 10 minutes, and strain. Add a pinch or two of cayenne pepper to the water and drink as needed. If you can’t find fresh ginger, you can always use powdered ginger and sprinkle over your food  and season it to taste. Some people don’t care for the tanginess of ginger, as it does have a rather strong flavor. I have grown to love the taste of it over the years. It has really grown on me.

Ginger or ginger root is a very effective anti-inflammatory.  Fresh ginger, of course, is preferable to the dried herb. Ginger is so powerful that it helps to fight certain cancer cells and it assists in slowing down the growth of tumors. Ginger infusions, (steeped as a tea), also alleviate nausea from radiation and chemotherapy.

To use ginger as an herb for cooking, and to benefit from ginger’s health benefits, grate some fresh ginger and add to a fruit salad. To spice up the taste of an Asian stir-fry dish, add the freshly grated ginger to the wok or frying pan.

When making a ginger infusion, slice a one-inch piece of ginger and steep it in a cup of boiling water for a minimum of 10 minutes and a mximum of 15 minutes before drinking it. You can drink the ginger infusion either hot or cold. Note: The ginger must be steeped correctly to get the health benefits.

Ayurvedic medicine has the perception that indigestion is often triggered from a weak “digestive fire” which is known as “agni.”  Everyone is prone to indigestion every once in a while. Some of us suffer with sour stomach or indigestion more often than not. It is good to fire up your “agni” and prevent indigestion by taking a combination of ginger and salt before you eat your meals.

All you need to do is to grate an inch of peeled, fresh ginger.  Take a small amount in between your thumb and your index finger and mix it with equals parts of sea salt. Mix it into a paste. The salt and ginger work synergistically with each other. Chew on this paste for one to two minutes and wash it down with warm water. You will be able to enjoy your meal without  gas or esophageal pain or discomfort.

Be sure to eat within ten to fifteen minutes of swallowing this mixture or else you will experience a burning sensation. Ginger has been used for over 2000 years in China  as a revered remedy for indigestion. It has also been used as a healing  herb in India for thousands of years.

Ginger soothes sore throats and calms upset stomachs. It has many other purposes for healing, including recent studies that have found that ginger reduces and actually prevents inflammation.

Numerous  medical studies have discovered that inflammation is linked to heart disease, diabetes, DNA damage and cancer. Now we know that if you reduce inflammation, you will reduce the risk of death from a heart attack.  Acute inflammation is normal as it is a reaction of a healthy immune system to help the body to heal. However, it is when the inflammation becomes chronic that these illnesses take the opportunity to make their home in our bodies.

If your C-reactive protein level (CPR) is greater than 1 mg/L, you are in danger of cardiovascular disease. To reduce and  prevent  dangerous inflammation levels, one should take the following steps:

• Eat colorful foods: the flavonoids contained in bright colored fruits and vegetables definitely reduce inflammation. The best foods to eat are blueberries, oranges, purple grapes, cherries and sweet potatoes.
• Increase your fiber intake  by eating more beans and whole grains. Black beans and lentils as well as buckwheat and amaranth are the best sources of  fiber.
• Balance your intake of Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids. Eating just two servings of wild caught salmon, albacore tuna, sardines, mackerel or trout will suffice.
• Consume 2 to 4 grams of ginger per day. Recent studies suggest ginger turns off the genes  in our DNA that trigger inflammation. Ginger suppresses the molecules in the body that promote inflammation. Good news!

It was one of those cold February days. I  had just gotten over  the flu and I still had a sore throat, mostly from a dry, hacking cough which had been keeping me up half the night. I was afraid that my cough was going deeper into my chest and I was trying to avoid a bronchial infection. I felt miserable.

I saw a new, organic tea shop on the corner of the street across the block, so I walked in and went  up to the counter. I couldn’t help but notice how the tables in the room were pleasantly decorated with colorful tablecloths. I  introduced myself to the brewmaster. He invited me to a free tea tasting on Saturday afternoon. I thanked him and managed to spurt out, in a raspy voice, sounding like a frog, that I really needed something to soothe  my raunchy, irritated throat. I said, “Please help my  aching throat because I can’t stand it anymore!” “What can I take that will help my sore throat?”

He exclaimed, with a warm smile, ” Ah, you need some ginger tea . It will take care of your sore throat and be quite soothing.”  He placed some in a little red bag and I bought some tea sacks in which to brew it. He alerted me to pour the hot water in the teacup right before the kettle reached the boiling point; he emphasized  that I would get the best results if I didn’t let the water reach a full boil.

I went home and immediately drank 3 to 4 cups of medium-hot ginger tea. It felt so good to my aching throat that I started drinking it more and more. After three days, my sore throat was gone and I felt cured. My cough went away also! I was able to sleep at night again, so I was absolutely delighted. I had eaten Chinese food in the past that was flavored with ginger root and the taste made the food more flavorful and pungent, but this organic ginger tea was the best!  I also found out that ginger has other health benefits such as alleviating nausea,  acting as a natural digestive aid and it is an expectorant. I know because it stopped my horrible, bronchial -type of cough.  I am thankful I stumbled into the tea shop that day. 

Ginger  is one of Earth’s greatest gifts.