Abigails Herbs

I  learned about cardamom from a friend of mine who is  from India. She is a nurse and she knows alot about Ayurvedic medicine.

She introduced me to cardamom by handing me a cup of tea with a bunch of cardamom pods in the cup. I mushed the cardamom pods in the bottom of my teacup. I drank the tea and found it to be especially pleasant-tasting and sweet. My friend assured me that cardamom would keep a person’s blood pressure way down. She used to tell me “I will never get high blood pressure because of this cardamom.”  Well, I’ve been using cardamom in my tea ever since, at least 3 to 4 times per day.

It is said that the kings of Babylon had cardamom growing in the sinking gardens in 720 B.C.  Ancient Egytians chewed cardamom to whiten their teeth and sweeten their breath. Cardamom is used as an herb for cooking. It was used by the ancient Greeks and Romans as an ingredient in perfumes. The medicinal uses of cardamom are that it helps with indigestion and it calms flatulence.

Neem oil  and neem leaf is an essential ingredient for Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years. It stimulates the immune system, improves liver functions, generally promotes a healthy respiratory, digestive and circulatory system. Neem oil also detoxifies the blood and improves liver functions.

Neem is consumed as a tea in the Western hemisphere, or taken in capsule form, to boost immunity and to cleanse the blood.  It is also used as a natural spermicide for birth control. Neem oil prevents gum and peridontal disease too.

Farmers who care for the environment use neem oil in sprays as a natural insecticide. It protects garden crops from chewing and sucking insects and it protects plants from fungal diseases as well. Neem is also a natural mosquito repellent. It does not have any dangerous chemicals in it ; deet, the active ingredient in mosquito repellents, is highly toxic!

Put some neem oil in your dog’s shampoo or soap to discourage insect bites, ticks and fleas, ringworm, mange, fungal disorders or any and all skin conditions —- it works wonders!!  It will build and nourish your pet’s immune system, and all without the harmful chemicals.

Holy Basil is also known as Tulsi. It is used widely in India as an Ayurvedic medicine. It supports the immune system and it eases stress. Holy Basil is also used to season certain foods.

Holy Basil can be grown from seed or from a transplant. It also makes a delicious tea. It should be stored in a clean, dry jar, away from heat and light.

Here is how to make a delicious honey from the Tulsi or Holy Basil plant:

1. Harvest the fresh leaves and buds.
2. Divide the leaves with buds into four groups.
3. Pack the first group into a mason jar and cover with honey.
4. Keep layering the groups, ending with honey.
5. Cover the jar and store in a dry, cool place for two to three weeks.
6. Check daily and use a chopstick to push down leaves that float to the surface.
7. Use this honey to sweeten your tea and to spread on your toast.
8. Eat or discard the leaves as you use the honey.

One of the newest products to hit the natural remedy market is Damiana, but many people are still unfamiliar with its basic characteristics. In its most basic, natural form, Damiana is a shrub that can be found everywhere from the Caribbean and Mexico to Central and South America. The shrub itself produces flowers followed by fruit that has often been compared to the fig. In today’s market, it is most often presented as Damiana leaf, which is then made into a tea. This practice, however, is nothing new.

For centuries, the native communities of South America as well as Central America have been reported as drinking this Damiana tea for its purported properties as an aphrodisiac. As an alternative medicine (or herbal supplement), it has been said to help alleviate some of the ill effects associated with depression, common coughs, constipation, and more. Damiana is also known as an ingredient in Triple Sec, and some people even report smoking Damiana to achieve a relaxed state.

Sage is a perennial, branching evergreen shrub which grows up to three feet tall. It requires complete drainage and full sun to grow. The leaves are a deep, velvet-like dark green color. Sage is used to flavor certain foods, including sausage and various sauces. It is very aromatic, spicy and “earthy.”

Sage is approved by the Food and Drug Administration a safe herb, however,  pregnant and nursing mothers should not use it because it would interfere with milk production and be possibly  harmful to the developing  fetus. Those with seizure disorders should not take it at all.

Sage stimulates the central nervous system and the digestive tract. As a tea, it is effective  for soothing sore throats in the form of a gargle.

Sage also acts as a food preservative. It  is used as an antiperspirant because it reduces sweating and salivation. It is good for hot flashes and other symptoms of estrogen deficiencies.  As a tea, it makes a great hair rinse (especially for dark hair) as it makes hair shine and promotes hair growth.

New mothers use sage to dry up their milk supplies when they wish to stop nursing.  It does interfere with  iron absorption when taken internally; therefore, it should be used in moderation. Always check with your doctor before taking this herb.

Sage is used in native American ceremonies, burned in the form of  incense.  It also has the following  active nutrients:

• Calcium
• Iron
• Boron
• Phosphorous
• Potassium
• Magnesium
• Manganese
• Zinc
• Selenium
• Vitamins C, B1, B2, B3 &  B5

One day, during my Aikido class, our  beloved  instructor, Sensei Henry, was telling us that a blend of garlic and mustard oil, applied to the skin, as a salve, really helps to take away joint pain and stiffness from arthritic bones. The smell of this remedy is very strong and pungent. The odor is so pungent that it is hard to describe in words.

I had an annoying ache and stiffness  in my left hip and leg. I had heard of a blend of essential oils that would help to alleviate bone and muscular pain when massaged topically onto the skin. Practicing acrobatics at my age and taking on martial arts had left me sore and in need of a massage to relieve the pain. I just wanted the soreness to go away. I thought I was getting arthritic painfrom all of my physical activities. I love to exercise; I don’t like to sit still for long periods of time.

I rubbed this blend of essential oils onto my skin and I felt immediate relief. It seeped into my skin and actually soothed my aches. Then I poured a few tablespoons of the essential oils and herbs into my bath water. I got into the tub, laid back and relaxed. It was like, “oils, take me away!” I felt totally relaxed and renewed at the same time. It was as if the oils had actually penetrated into the very cells of my skin. It was the ultimate in stress reduction and joint/muscle pain relief!

The essential oils consist of the following:

• eucalyptus
• kava kava root
• mustard
• red pepper
• camphor
• basil
• castor
• sesame
• comfrey
• St. John’s wort

A few months ago, I was in Florida, visiting my sister. We went to one of those huge, outdoor open air markets. I went into a cosmetic section and saw “mood lipstick” for only $2.00 per tube. The  colors of the actual lipstick were either bright green or crazy purple. I bought a couple dozen just for fun, to give away as gag gifts.

After I distributed about a dozen or more as little presents, my co-workers and my nieces came up to me and exclaimed that they loved the mood lipstick I had given to them. I remarked, “Are you serious?” They informed me  that when they applied it, their lips turned a healthy pink color and  felt wonderfully smooth and soft.

I was curious, so I tried one of the lipsticks on my own lips to see what would happen, and, sure enough, I got a big surprise! Instead of my lips turning purple or green or some wild color, there appeared a pleasant pink tone which remained for at least three hours. Most other lipsticks wear off after 30 to 40 minutes.  Then, I immediately noticed that my lips felt smoother and much softer. My lips did not become chapped and dry as they sometimes do when using lip colors. I couldn’t believe it was only two dollars per tube!

I turned the lipstick tube over and read the ingredients on the bottom. The active ingredient was aloe vera. Well, that made rational sense. The gel from the aloe vera plant is known to repair and restore skin cell tissue. Aloe also softens the skin, cosmetically.  Aloe vera also speeds up the healing of dry, chapped skin, burnt skin and even decubiti sores (bed sores). I remember when I was a kid and we went to Florida for vacation. Being fair skinned, I got an awful sunburn. My grandmother picked off a stalk of her aloe vera plant from the back yard, peeled the skin off and a clear, gooey gel oozed out from the leaf. She gently dabbed the gel onto my burnt skin. It made a natural band aid.  I felt immediate comfort and relief from the red, painful sunburn. Way to go Grandmom – aloe vera gel to the rescue!!

The presence of heartburn or gastroesophageal irritation is a horrible burning sensation that one gets after eating. It is a condition that can lead to Barrett’s esophagus, which can induce cancer.

Heartburn or GERD (Gastroesophageal Relfux Disease) is characterized by pain, bloating, gas, nausea, shortness of breath and/or a burning, sour or acidic taste in the throat or mouth.

This condition is usually caused by too much acid in one’s body. It is a serious warning that we need to balance the acidic/alkalinic levels in our bodies. Over 60 million Americans have heartburn – and they are suffering. So many Americans neglect to eat fresh fruits and vegetables. A diet rich in fried foods, processed foods, meats, soda and starches, without healthy green vegetables and colorful fruit  renders a person victim to these preventible diseases. Smoking also irritates the esophagus.

Talk to a person who is suffering from heartburn or other serious gastric conditions and they will tell you that they never ate veggies or fruit or that they did not ever care for fruits or vegetables when they were growing up. This is a condition called acidosis and it can be prevented by a proper diet.

For heartburn you can try drinking  fresh celery or cabbage juice. Also, leave the peel on a raw potato and make into fresh potato juice to drink. I use a Jack LaLane juicer. When you feel heartburn coming on, drink a big glass of water. Eat fresh papaya and pineapple for the digestive enzymes (bromelain). Sip one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar, mixed with water during meals; (do not drink anything else with meals though).  Avoid peppermint, sugar, spearmint, tomatoes or tomato sauce, fried foods, onions, carbonated foods or gravies, cheeses and cream sauce. Probiotics help also.

Aloe vera helps in the healing of the intestinal tract. Deglycrrhizinated licorice has effectively treated both heartburn as well as stomach and esophageal ulcers. Fennel, ginger, catnip, marshmallow root and papaya tea all act as buffers to stop heartburn and aid in proper digestion. Finally, a soothing cup of  chamomile tea helps to relieve the irritation in the esophagus. That is good news!

Get lithmus paper at your local pharmacy to test you acid/alkaline balance regularly.

I came home from work this evening and my eyes were sore, blood shot and achy with a nagging pain from a combination of sinus allergies and stress. It had been a busy, rough two days, with little rest and far too few hours of sleep.

I made a hot cup of tea and rested my head on my therapeutic, magnetic pillow. I reached for my ipod and put on my soft, heavenly harp music. Then I placed my handmade eye comforter over my eyes, breathed deeply and allowed myself to melt into a deep, solid state of  relaxation.

As I breathed, using my Ki breathing techniques, I inhaled the soothing and fragrant scents of the lavender in my eye comforter. To take in more of the rich fragrance of the natural lavender, I went into the linen closet and grabbed a soft towel, placed it gently over my face and then I was able to breathe in much more of the rich, soothing herbal essences.

It seemed as though 10 minutes had elapsed, but my dog started barking, which stirred me from my deep revelry. I sat up, glanced at the clock and discovered that one whole hour had gone by. When I got up to let the dog out, my eye pain was gone, I felt a renewal of energy and I had a peaceful and serene night. I had a solid and tranquil night’s sleep, thanks to the lavender eye comforter. Special thanks to the music and the good tasting tea too.