Abigails Herbs

Bala literally means “youth” in Sanskrit. Bala root is a powerful cell regenerating and nourishing herb, used to maintain youth and vitality. It is also used as a cardiac stimulant. Research reveals that the bala root plant contains all the characteristics of ephedrine.  Both the seeds and the bark are considered to be a potent aphrodisiac.

Ancient Ayurvedic bala root has the following healing properties:

• Analgesic
• Aphrodisiac
• Demulcent
• Diuretic
• Rejuvenate
• Stimulant

It is highly recommended that the dried herb be brewed into a tea. The root can be made into tea four times before the herb loses its’ effectiveness. Warning: Use in moderation and drink no more than four cups of bala root tea in one day. Always consult your medical doctor before you take bala root or any derivative of it.

Ayurvedic loofah is an all natural plant fiber which gently exfoliates dead skin cells. It opens clogged pores and it alleviates all impurities from the skin cells. This valued ancient Ayurvedic plant is considered to be the key to vibrant and healthier skin.

Ayurvedic loofah grows from a seed pod into a gourd which hangs on a vine until dry and crisp. Then the loofah plant is peeled to reveal the fiber inside. After being hung to dry more, the loofah is  ready for use in the bath or shower. It is nature’s way to help us develop smooth, clear and healthy skin.

Use Ayurvedic loofah in warm water, applying your favorite soaps, body scrubs or therapeutic oils and massage into skin. Loofah is a wonderful plant which cleans, purifies and tones skin, naturally.

According to a new research study in BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, frankincense oil holds promise for stopping the growth of bladder cancer. In various clinical trials on human cell cultures,  an herbal extract of the frankincense oil targeted and successfully killed bladder cancer cells while leaving the healthy bladder cells intact and healthy.

K. Soimon Yeung, clinical coordinator at the Sloan -Kettering Cancer Center’s Integrative Medicine Service announced that it is too soon to tell whether frankincense oil will make an effective complement  in the treatment of bladder cancer. Frankincense oil has long been used  as an effective treatment to fight inflammatory diseases. K. Soimon Yeung makes it clear that the medical community needs to understand more about how frankincense oil is absorbed and metabolized when taken as a supplement rather than directly administered to the bladder cells such as in the research study.

Bladder cancer is the fifth most common cancer in the USA. To lower your chances of getting baldder cancer cut your exposure to toxic chemicals and cigarette smoke. Also, drink plenty of water everyday and maintain a diet rich in healthy antioxidants.

If  bees disappeared from the face of the earth, humankind would only have about four years left to live. Bee pollen contains all the nutrients necessary to sustain life. It is a complete food and it contains more amino acids, RNA, DNA and rutin than any other plant or animal product. It also a rich source of powerful vitamin B complex.

Each bee pollen granule is packed very densely with live enzymes. Heat destroys these important enzymes so keep your bee pollen refrigerated. Test to see if you are allergic to bee pollen (if you have never had it) by ingesting only one pellet or  granule first. Work up to taking one teaspoon per day.

Bee pollen is the male seed of the flower. It is necessary for the fertilization of all plants. Every variety of flower in the universe produces a dusting of pollen. The bee goes through hours of labor just to produce a small amount of pollen for you and I. Then it dies after completing this labor of nature’s love.

Some of the health benefits of bee pollen are that it increases physical and mental abilities, especially in memory and concentration. Bee pollen has also been shown to strengthen the cardiovascular and respiratory systems. It has many other health benefits too numerous to mention at this time.

Patchouli has always been my favorite scent of body oil and incense. It is just so  rich, warm,  sensuous and earthy that it is one scent that is difficult  to ignore. Patchouli is grown from a small bush in southeast Asia. Besides being a rich herbal aroma of spice scents, patchouli is also an effective insect repellent and it is used in aromatherapy to alleviate fatigue and strain/stress.

If you have never tried patchouli, you should try it at least once. It  has a wonderful aroma which floods and fills one’s senses with a rich, multi-dimensional woody fragrance. It  is charming, sensual and full of wonder. It definitely has a unique and esoteric scent. Incense doesn’t get much better than this!

To soothe hot, malodorous feet, soak your feet in a tub of black tea for ten minutes. The tannic acid in the tea literally changes the skin’s Ph level, making it unattractive to odor-causing bacteria. The natural astringency of the black tea helps to reduce foot odor.

More good news! The anti-inflammatory properties of chamomille tea helps to reduce razor bumps along your bikini line. Make sure to cleanse the irritated area first with soap and water and then place cool, damp chamomille tea bags over the irritated razor stubble for at least five minutes.

Of course, if your skin becomes aggravated and rough after shaving, you can always use aloe vera gel to soothe and ease the painful bumps.

I love the summer because I can take off my restrictive socks and  shoes to wear sandals. I love sandals because they are much more comfortable and my feet can breathe and  be free. I do have annoying callouses which I am constantly filing down. When I wear my sneakers too long, I do have foot odor. Perhaps you can relate? I have recently tried some refreshing  foot soaks which help to revive my tired feet.

In the evening, or before bedtime, try some of these foot soaks to soften callouses:

• Rest your feet in a warm foot bath filled with some fresh cut lemon slices and bergamot oil extract for 15 minutes before bedtime.
• Try using Epsom salts mixed with fresh-cut orange slices to soak your feet for 15 minutes prior to bedtime.
• A good combination of herbal extracts to relax feet is to combine jasmine, rosemary, Italian bergamot and lavender for a great soak.

Here are some helpful tips for different foot soaks:

• Epsom salts relieve sore and aching muscles.
• Peppermint oil invigorates tired toes.
• Tee tree oil helps to fight fungal infections.
• Dead sea salts revive swollen feet.
• Use citrus essential oils and crushed mint leaves to refresh hot feet.
• Lavender oil calms inflamed skin and eases fatigue.

During the Christmas holidays, I went over to my friend Maria’s house. Now, Maria is from Trinidad and she had another good friend, also from Trinidad, over to her house.  When we sat down to eat a wonderful Trinidadian meal of special rice, beans and vegetable mixtures, her friend said, “Let’s drink sorrell.” I immediately exclaimed “what is sorrell?” They explained that it was an island drink made from fresh herbs. This drink tasted sweet, cold and it had a dark berry color. It was very good and earthy-tasting.

Months later, I found out that sorrell is made from hibiscus flowers and sweetened with honey and some mint and other herbs from the islands. I really enjoyed it. I found out that hibiscus flowers make good warm tea also.I have seen beautiful hibiscus flowers in tropical Florida, however, I never realized that this plant makes great-tasting hot or cold tea.

The true name for hibiscus is Hibiscus sabdariffa. It is free of caffeine and rich in vitamin C. It is unique to taste and pleasantly fragrant, with a dark and ruddy crimson color. In North Africa, they use it as a natural body refrigerant ( to cool down the body during intense heat).

I found out that hibiscus is extremely healthy also. It is a rich source of heart-protective antioxidants known as anthocyanins. According to a recent  study presented to the American Heart Association, adults who drank more than three cups per day of hibiscus tea lowered their systolic blood pressure by an average of seven points in six weeks. Studies are also discovering that hibiscus tea lowers diastolic blood pressure too.

A flowering plant, anise is most associated with the geographic regions of the Mediterranean and southwest Asia. The flavor of anise has been compared frequently to tarragon, fennel, and licorice. The plant itself usually grows to around 3 feet high, and they contain white flowering buds. Anise is one of the favored foods of various kinds of larvae, including butterflies and moths.

The plant thrives well with a lot of light and in well drained soil. They do have a taproot system, so they are notoriously difficult to transplant. Used in a variety of arenas, it’s common to see anise seed in a medicinal role as well as a culinary role. On the food front, anise is used in many dishes across the world. This includes atole de anis from Mexico, Aniseed balls from Britain, and Aniseed wheels from New Zealand. Others know it as the main flavoring in the often banned French liquor Absinthe.