Health Matters

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Health Matters http://www.theopenline.cc/health_page_1.htmby Gayle Eversole

Questions, suggestions and comments for this article are welcome.If you are familiar with my book, My Medicine Garden, you know that Iencourage people to grow their own herbs. Many health promoting herbs

can be grown in pots in a small home, or if you have the space, yourbackyard garden.Spring is on its way, so it is not too soon to consider adding a fewherbs to this year's plan. Today I will be outside adding Naturally

Nutritional Fertilizer to the base of my fruit trees, shrubs andflowerbeds. I will spray the tree leaves with this food based naturalfertilizer as they bud out. I have been selecting seeds from the Horizon

Herbs catalog, and tending the over-wintered plants in my green house.As herbs grow make sure you pinch them back when they reach a height of4 to 5 inches. This encourages growth and full plants.In the grey winter of Western Washington this work makes for sunny days!

Here are my selections:Basil - Holy Basil is an herb used commonly in Europe and EasternEurope, and the Middle East. Its use dates back to the days of theBible, and it is good as a food and a healer. It contains vitamins and

minerals, including vitamins A-D-B2, and calcium, phosphorus, iron andmagnesium. It is added in abundance to the delicious Persian herb stew,Gorma Subzi. It works well for indigestion, headaches, whooping cough

and bites (insect and snake).Chives - Use the flowers form this cousin of the onion in salads.Parsley - A vitamin pill in the garden, a good preventive health herb, agreat source of potassium, good as a diuretic, lowers blood pressure,

helps PMS and aids in weight loss. High in vitamins A, B, C, iron,chlorophyll, other nutrients and it prevents cancer cells frommultiplying. Not to be used in pregnancy and will dry up mother's milk.

Summer Savory - Add to beans when you are cooking them to avoid thegaseous after effects. Summer Savory also reduces cholesterol.Mint - Peppermint is helpful for poor digestion, circulation, headaches,

migraine, nausea/vomiting, colon disorders, colds/flu, fever, colic,nervousness and respiratory problems.Bergamot, a mint better known as Bee Balm, helps to support the nervousand digestive systems with a sweet, uplifting, citrus like aroma. My

flame point Siamese cat Jasper's favorite mint is catnip. In folkmedicine, catnip leaves and flowers are steeped to make a pleasanttasting tea. Taken before bedtime, catnip tea is widely believed tohasten slumber and aid in achieving a restful nights sleep. It is also

employed as a remedy in the treatment of tension and anxiety and ismentioned as being a useful calmative for hyperactive children. Catnipis listed as a mild diaphoretic, helpful in eliminating toxins from the

body, as well as acting as a carminative to support digestion, relieveupset stomach and control the symptoms of diarrhea. The claimed effectsof this mild herb are generally acknowledged to have a volatile oilsimilar in structure to the sedative ingredient found in valerian root.

Lemon mint is another in the widely dispersed mint family. Like allmints it attracts hummingbirds and butterflies.Spearmint is chiefly used for culinary purposes, but it is also used inthe aroma and flavor industry. Spearmint is also used to relieve

hiccough, flatulence, nausea, vomiting and colic pain. It is also usedto treat painful haemorrhoids and for rheumatism. Spearmint also hasantifungal, antiviral, antimicrobial, insecticide, antioxidant, antiame-

bic, antihemolytic, allergenic, CNS depressant, antihelmintic andantiancylostomiasis activities.Oregano - An ancient herb used because of its digestive, antifungal,antibacterial, antiyeast, anthelmintic and anti-allergenic properties.

The active essential oils can be distilled from the plant or extractedwith hot water (by making tea) or alcohol (by making a tincture). Theflowering tops are also put into beer and ale as a flavoring andpreservative. It is good for pain and toothache.

Thyme & Lemon Thyme - antiseptic and general tonic, treats anemia,bronchial and intestinal complaints. Protects against tooth decay, isanti fungal (for athletes foot) and kills internal and external

parasites, good for warts, sciatica, gout and many other conditions. Itis high in B complex, vitamin C and D, iodine, some sodium, silicon andsulfur.Dill - A carminative herb (relief for gas and bloating). Dill vinegar

forms a popular household condiment. Make it by soaking the seeds invinegar for a few days before using. Dill fruit and oil of Dill possessstimulant, aromatic, carminative and stomachic properties, making them

of considerable medicinal value. Oil of Dill is used in mixtures, oradministered in doses of 5 drops on sugar. The most common use from oldtimes is the preparation of Dill Water, remedy for the flatulence of

infants, and is a useful vehicle for children's medicine.Sage - Since ancient times Sage has been the herb of longevity. It isuseful for respiratory congestion with colds and flu, balancingestrogen, night sweats, memory, and sores of all kinds. Add sage to

rosemary and you have natural plant cortisone. Its main nutrients arevitamin A, B complex, and C. It is high in calcium and potassium.Rosemary - used for circulatory, nervous, muscular systems and skin and

hair. It is good for memory and migraine headaches, and is antiviral.Combines well with peppermint.Happy Gardening.HEALTH MATTERS is written by Gayle Eversole, RN, PhD, AHG. Gayle hasbeen studying and using herbs and natural healing for forty-five years.

She is a professional member of the American Herbalists Guild, and hasmore than thirty years experience as a nursing practitioner. Gayle iscurrently a candidate for Doctor of Homeopathy certification. She can be

reached at CHI - Creating Health Institute, #D401, 16410 - 84th StreetNE, Lake Stevens WA 98258. Phone: 1.425.750.5490

http://www.leaflady.orgHerbs and natural health products, meeting stringent standards, alongwith consulting, counseling, educational programs, and mediation areavailable through CHI. We work best with chronic and complicated

situations. CHI is a 501c3, tax-exempt, nonprofit organization. Pleaserequest our brochure. Thank you for your interest in our work.CHI©2001.02Back to HEALTH pageTo translate from one language to another click on website below. (Para

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Nothing wastes more energy than worrying - the longer a problem is carried, the heavier it gets. Don't take things too seriously - live a life of serenity, not a life of regrets.

-Unknown