Plantain for insect bite relief

In the spring and summer your kids - and you too- are more likely to be outside barefoot or rolling and playing in the grass. Getting an insect bite or sting can put an end to these happy go lucky times. This quick and easy bug bite and sting natural remedy never fails to work and to get the kids back on track for more outdoor adventures.

To squelch a bug bite or sting:

Quickly find a broad leaf plantain leaf - these are easily found as they are common weeds in almost all grassy areas. (This is one plant I would choose not to eradicate from my lawn because of these medicinal benefits.) It is low growing, dark green and broad, with "ribs" on the leaf - please look it up in a plant identification book if you are not sure.

Chew up the leaf - the saliva activates its sting stopping powers. (If you are afraid to chew it up then bite on it to break the skin and mix it with some of your saliva.)

Place the chewed up plantain leaf on the bug bite or sting. Almost immediately the pain will stop. You or your child can hold the plantain mass in place while you go inside and get the rest of the remedy.

Find your comfrey tincture (you do have a good herbal first aid kit, right?), a big Band-Aid (my kids always went for a gauze pad and first aid tape - so much more dramatic).

Leaving the plantain mass in place, secure it with the Band-Aid or gauze and first aid tape. Secured the bandage then dribble some comfrey tincture under the dressing and on the sting. The comfrey is soothing and cool and takes away any lingering pain, stinging or discomfort.

Leave on until it falls off later that day or the next morning. If it is a bad bite or sting, you may need to put a fresh plantain/comfrey dressing on the next day.

Helping a gluten allergy

Gluten allergy is a malabsorption syndrome which is caused by the ingestion of the gluten protein found in the wheat products. If the patient's sticks on to the gluten free diet then there is a drastic improvement in his condition.

Ayurveda suggests the following modified diet and lifestyle:

Wheat, rye, barley, oats and other related grains contain gluten and it better to avoid it totally. Avoid taking beer, cereal beverages, cakes, biscuits, ice-cream, processed soups, crackers, processed cheese/meats, candy bars.

Instead one may substitute rice, potato, corn, tapioca, chickpea, soya beans, arrowroot, carob, buckwheat, millet, amaranth and quinoa and gluten free flour. Few of the gluten-free foods and beverages are tea, coffee, rum, wine, jelly babies, chocolate, fresh fruits/ vegetables/fish/meat/poultry/eggs, popcorn, jam, honey and sugar. Take a lot of leafy green vegetables by cooking them in an appropriate manner and it has a lot of minerals which improves metabolism.

One may start with eating his favorite naturally gluten-free foods and then later add his unfavourite ones.

To mention a few : Wines and brandies without any preservatives and dyes in it. Gluten-free breads which has an easily digestible base ingredients like rice flours etc., All hard cheeses like cheddar, swiss, edam, and parmesan. Fresh brewed coffee, chocolate made with cocoa, fruit juices etc., Regarding snacks one may take rice wafers, potato or corn starch based chips, popcorn etc. In Sweets one may include sugar, honey, maple syrup, jellies, jams etc.,

One has to take care while buying bakery products and packed/processed food by inspecting the labels and avoid the products if it has gluten as its ingredient. Sometimes alternative names such as cereal products or emulsifiers, stabilizers, are also used in labels.

Always try to eat home made preparations where you will know the ingredients of your intake. Also note that if you have to avoid all the foods with gluten, it is definitely going to be so stressful which can be managed by yoga which comprises of postures, meditation and breathing techniques.

What Is A Tincture?

Throughout the world people are turning to herbal remedies, but many are intimidated by the complex jargon that masks the simplicity of homemade herbal cures. Using herbs to ease common ailments has been around since the beginning of time and the only thing that prevents individuals from utilizing these common home remedies is the medical jargon that disguises simple preparations as something far too complex for the layman to tackle.

Well, that's a lie. If our ancestors could mix up a tincture or infusion, so can you. So I've decided to put together a series of articles on simple herbal preparations that anyone, yes anyone, can make.

What is a Tincture?

A tincture is a solution of herbs in alcohol. Apple cider vinegar may be used in some special preparations. The alcohol dissolves all of the chemical principals of the plant and acts as a preservative for future use.

How is a tincture prepared?

Tinctures in alcohol are made by steeping herbs in rectified spirits or alcohol, by heating herbs and alcohol at various temperatures, or by filtering alcohol through herbs, (similar to the way you brew a pot of coffee, by suspending the herbs in a filter, and the alcohol drips down through the soluble plant material and the herb-saturated alcohol is then used.)

The alcohol used to make a tincture is not rubbing alcohol but a 90 proof spirit, such as vodka, gin or brandy.

Basic Tincture Technique

The easiest way to make a tincture is to steep herbs in vodka, gin, whiskey, or brandy. This way your herbs can be taken internally. Use (1) pint of ninety proof alcohol (as suggested above) with 4 ounces of cut herbs. Allow the herbs and alcohol to steep for 2 weeks. Strain out the herbs, then bottle and label your tincture.

How to use your tincture
Drops of tincture may be added to hot or cold herbal teas for drinking, or may be added to water for external use on compresses. Tinctures can also be added to oils or fats for an instant healing ointment.

Sample Tincture

Comfrey is wonderful example of a healing tincture well worth keeping on hand. Tincture of Comfrey can be added to any compress to treat injuries such as cuts and bruising. It will help to alleviate the pain and promote healing; in fact, its healing ability is nothing short of miraculous.

Herbal Medicines For Sunburn

Sunburn is a very common skin problem. You'll get it with too much exposure in the sun. It is expected with people who love sunbathing in the beach and those whose job requires them to be on the field at all times. There are many ointments and lotions available today that can heal sunburn. But do you know that most of them contain herbs as the primary ingredient? These herbs are very helpful in treating sunburns and other sun-related damages to the skin.

Aloe Vera is an herb that you can use against sunburn. It has soothing properties that allows for a speedy recovery of sunburns. There are many Aloe Vera gels and lotions available at herbal stores and pharmacies today. You can use them on your sun burnt skin. Just read the indications on the label. Take extra care when using these lotions though, as they can be harmful if applied on broken skin. Aloe Vera has effective anti-inflammatory properties that can help soothe sunburns.

Aside from Aloe Vera, comfrey is also an effective herb for sunburn. Comfrey has allantoin, a natural active ingredient that stimulates skin cell regeneration. Comfrey juices and lotions are widely available these days. You can apply them directly on the skin for best effects. If you can't find any comfrey creams in the market, you can simply get some leaves and stems from a comfrey plant and extract the juice yourself.

Green tea can also help address sunburn. However, this herbal remedy is mostly used on the eyes alone. Cool some green tea bag and then put them in your eyelids as you sleep. Its gentle soothing relief would heal sun burnt eyelids in no time.

St. John's Wort is another effective herb for sunburns. The infused oil or extract of this herb can be applied topically on the skin to help relieve the pain, redness, and inflammation brought about by the sun. Use it regularly to speed up the skin's healing process.

Calendula can be used against sun burn as well. Its anti-inflammatory properties can decrease the redness around the affected areas. Look for ointments that contain calendula. Most of the time, this herb is combined with comfrey and aloe for best effects.

Gotu Kola is another herb effective for sun burnt skin. You simply drink Gotu Kola tea on a regular basis as an internal medication for sunburn. Gotu Kola tincture is known to have the same effects. This herb helps by stimulating the formation of collagen while healing damaged tissues.

Other effective herbal remedies for Sunburn:

o Aloe Vera for Sunburn: Aloe Vera comes from leaves of an aloe plant. Its gel has a soothing effect on a sun burnt skin. It has anti-inflammatory properties to help the skin regenerate faster and helps in restoring its natural state fast. Commercially-prepared Aloe Vera gels are now available in health stores and specialty shops. Just apply it on the affected areas and you should be all set.

o Comfrey Treatment for Sunburn: Comfrey contains allantion. It is a very helpful substance for cell regeneration. To use it for sunburn, just extract the juice or lotion taken from the stems of fresh comfrey leaves. It should give you an instant relief to sunburn.

o Calendula Cure: Calendula works as an anti-inflammatory agent. For people with sun burnt skin, calendula can help decrease the instances of redness and swelling. Just like the others, the extracts of this herb is to be applied topically on the affected areas.

o St. John's Wort Remedy: St. John's Wort is another wonder herb that can ease the pain and swelling associated with sunburn.

There are many St. John's Wort oil and extract available at health stores today. Take a small portion of it and apply on the burnt skin. Your sunburn should heal it in no time.

o Gotu Kola Treatment for Sunburn: Unlike the others, Gotu Kola is best taken orally as an aid to sun burnt skin. Gotu Kola tincture or tea can speed up the healing of the tissues. It works by stimulating the synthesis of collagen in the skin.

 

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Ginkgo uses including helping eye problems

For thousands of years ginkgo biloba has been used to treat problems with the lungs and heart. However, for the last few decades, ginkgo has made resurgence because of information about how it works in the body. It is used for many important health conditions that are often associated with aging. In fact, there are so many uses for ginkgo that you’ll certainly want to try it for yourself. Ginkgo is often used for a wide variety of symptoms and to prevent a wide spectrum of problems.

If you’re concerned about memory loss and even developing Alzheimer’s disease, ginkgo may be a good solution for you. There’s been a lot of research surrounding the herb and it’s been found to actually help improve the blood flow to the brain. Because it helps to make sure that nutrients and oxygen are delivered to the brain and the rest of the nervous system, it works to help keep this system healthy.

Ginkgo is thought to help improve memory and concentration and even help to prevent the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. Taking it regularly can actually help you to prevent these problems before they become a part of your life.

And because they help with circulation, the chemicals in ginkgo also help to improve the health of the heart. It can help to treat irregular heartbeats, hemorrhoids, varicose veins, and prevent both heart disease and stroke in people who take it regularly.

It can also help with sexual dysfunction because it helps to improve circulation. Circulatory and blood flow problems are often to blame for problems with the reproductive organs.

If you’re looking for a remedy for eye problems such as macular degeneration and cataracts, ginkgo can also help to prevent and treat those by improving circulation in these areas as well.

Ginkgo is great for improving focus and keeping your memory alert and functioning. But you shouldn’t forget about all of the other things it can do for your body. Ginkgo is available in powder and leaf form. Make sure to follow the manufacturer’s directions when taking it to get the dosing just right.

Comfrey Leaf and Healing

Comfrey has a long history of effectiveness as a healer plant. It has the reputation of being able to knit bones together thus accounting for many of the common names (boneset, nipbone, knitbone, and healing herb).

Comfrey leaves are similar to Foxglove leaves, though they have smaller veins not extending into the wings of the leaf-stalk. The leafy stem, 2 to 3 feet high, is stout, angular and hollow, broadly winged at the top and covered with bristly hairs. The lower, radical leaves are very large, up to 10 inches long and covered with rough hairs which make people itch when they touch them. The flowers are either creamy yellow or purple, growing on short stalks. They appear in April or early May.

Comfrey is a contact healer and is best known for tissue healing. In fact, until the early 1800's, it was only used externally as treatment of cuts, burns, skin ulcers, varicose veins, bronchitis, and rheumatism. The leaf has been tea that is gargled or used as a mouthwash to relieve throat infections, hoarseness, and bleeding gums. One reason for its effectiveness is its abundance of calcium and vitamin C and contains carotene (vitamin A), B12, and chlorophyll.

Internally and externally comfrey is used in the treatment of colitis, varicose veins, assorted pulmonary complaints (pleurisy, bronchitis, bronchopneumonia), rheumatism, metritis, diarrhea, and periostitis. It is utilized as a diuretic and bulk laxative and is credited with scar healing. It is also used as a sedative.

Comfrey is effective as a healer because it contains Allantoin. This is able to help grow new flesh and bone cells and accelerate the healing process. It also reduces the inflammation of pulled tendons. An extract can be used for acne and athletes foot. It is also used for certain female problems. Comfrey tea and extract has been used as a douche for yeast infections. Poultices applied to sore and caked breasts, helps the tenderness leave very quickly.

Comfrey leaves and shoots are also used as a vegetable and are often ground up in a blender or some other type of mechanical device to form the basis of "green drinks" which have become increasingly popular among health conscious individuals.

A modern medicinal tincture, employed by homoeopaths, is made from the root with spirits of wine, and 10 drops in a tablespoonful of water are administered several times a day. Internally, the leaves are taken in the form of an infusion, 1 oz. of the leaves to 1 pint of boiling water.

Many claim that comfrey is so safe that anyone can use as much as they want any time. However, a few precautions are in order. Care should be taken when using Comfrey with very deep wounds as its rapid healing power can lead to tissue forming over the wound before it is healed deeper down, possibly leading to abscesses. Make sure that wounds are thoroughly cleaned and protected from infection.

Natural Anti-Depressants - St Johns Wort, Kava Kava And Lemon Balm

Depression is a much bigger and widespread problem than many would believe. It is estimated that more than 1 in 20 Americans will develop depression in the next 12 months but most sufferers attempt to hide the problem from friends, family and physicians. This makes it incredibly difficult to diagnose unless you are specifically looking for the symptoms. Most sufferers find it difficult to diagnose depression and often attribute it to "feeling a bit down". There is a big difference between feeling down and having depression. If you or someone close to you is suffering from depression it is important to see a doctor as soon as possible.

The Safe Use Of Natural Remedies

As well as psychological and medical treatment there are also a number of natural remedies that can help to eliminate or, at least, reduce stress and depression. Introducing these supplements, vitamins or nutrients into your diet it can be possible to avoid prolonged depression. Always check for interactions with any prescription drug you may be taking and, if necessary, consult your physician to ask their opinion of a particular natural remedy and whether you are safe to take it.

St Johns Wort

St Johns Wort is one of the most popular and effective of herbs to help combat depression. It has become increasingly popular over the last few years, as more and more people have been made aware of its effectiveness. St Johns Wort inhibits monoamine oxidase, a chemical within the human body that is known to encourage depression. However, St Johns Wort does much more than this. It can help to restore self-esteem, confidence and regular sleeping patterns making it not only useful for beating depression but restoring physical health as well. It also increases appetite and restores interest in life.

St Johns Wort is available in capsule, tea, tincture and oil form. There are some recorded precautions that need to be taken when considering taking St Johns Wort. Cases of photosensitivity in those with fair skin have been reported so care should be taken in the sun. You should also avoid combining St Johns Wort with cold and flu remedies as well as other prescription based anti depressants. Avoid using St Johns Wort if pregnant or breast-feeding.

Kava Kava

Kava Kava is another excellent product that can help to beat stress and anxiety. It is particularly effective in the battle against physical stress. Kava Kava promotes feelings of calm relaxation without the drowsiness that can be associated with prescription drugs and even other herbal remedies. Depending on the patient, feelings of euphoria and elation may also be experienced but this is experienced in the minority of cases.

Lemon Balm

Due to its calming aroma and effects, lemon balm is also popular as a herbal anti depressant. Lemon balm has been used for centuries as an antibacterial ointment and also as an infusion or a tea to help calm nerves and settle patients. Lemon balm can easily be grown in gardens throughout the world and by tearing the leaves, adding honey and hot water the perfect, natural relaxant can be made.

A Final Word On Natural Remedies

Nature produces many different herbs and more than a fare share of these can help with depression, stress and anxiety. While some care should always be taken regarding drug interactions and the misuse they are generally considered safe for regular consumption and use. If you are in any doubt then consult your physician; something you should definitely do if you are taking any form pf prescription drug.

 

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