Popular Colon Detoxing Herbs

Learn about 2 powerful herbs that work together to promote a healthy colon.

There are many ways for the human body to accumulate a whole assortment of toxins even if a person lives a fairly healthy lifestyle. Things such as chemicals in our foods and bathing products, pesticides in our fruit and vegetables and toxic fumes from vehicle and factory emissions slowly build-up in our systems and need to be cleaned out.

The two main detoxifying organs in your body are your liver and your kidneys but there's only so much that they can do. The human body just wasn't created to withstand the requirements most people put on them. On top of all this, people add to the problem by drinking excessive alcohol, smoking and taking drugs.

There are many fast and even extreme detox methods available ranging from all kinds of fasting, very strict diets and the different types of colonic therapy. For a lot of people these types of detox regimes are just too complicated and require discipline and motivation and sometimes lots of money.

But there are a few easy to find herbs you can add to your diet today to help strengthen the immune system and to help the body to rid itself of unwanted toxins and poisons.

Below we'll look at two of the herbs available that actually work even better when used together. They are both used effectively for colon detoxing:

- Psyllium Seeds and Husks

These small seeds or husks are very high in in-soluble fiber which means that they don't digest or get absorbed into the body. They absorb water in the colon and expand, and then act like a sponge by helping waste move out of your body. They also help promote healthy bowel movements and can be useful for problems such as diarrhea. It's easy to drink a cup of water mixed with about a teaspoon of psyllium husks and it can also help to reduce your appetite!

- Cascara Sagrada

This wonderful herb acts as a natural and safe laxative. This herb should only be used for a few days at a time to prevent dependency. On the other hand, the use of cascara will help strengthen the muscles in your colon. Cascara is also best used in conjunction with psyllium husks to give the colon a thorough cleansing. It is a good idea to wait several hours after taking psyllium husks before using any form of laxative to get the most out of the cleansing properties of the husks.

Just by using these 2 easy to find herbs you can strengthen your immune system and prevent severe illnesses. Did you know what colon cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in the US? Also, some health experts are quoted as saying that as much as 90% of all diseases and sicknesses are related to an toxic colon!

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Harvesting Herbs for Cooking and Crafting

When is it time to harvest herbs? The time for harvesting is decided, not by the time of year, but by the readiness of the herbs. It's so much fun to bring the outdoors in and extend your garden through your cooking and crafting.

A great part of the joy of growing your own herbs is in the harvesting. I love to harvest my flowers and herbs this time of year for use in cooking and crafting. You planted herbs which would produce leaves, flowers, seeds and roots for use during the winter. Now is the time that you will see the fruits of your labor. The great bulk of your harvest will be leaves—parsley and chervil, sage, thyme, basil, marjoram, lemon balm, the savories, tarragon, rosemary and perhaps spearmint.

Of course, you have been using your herbs all summer long. You snipped bits of chives and parsley to scatter over eggs and creamed dishes or to spice up low-calorie diets. You gathered those which took your fancy as you wandered about the garden with the salad bowl in mind, or perhaps tucked a sprig into a favorite book or into your purse for fragrance.Now it's harvest time, the time when the bulk of your plants must be gathered for your pleasure and used through the winter. Now you can go into the garden and gather loads of fragrance and fun.

Harvest time is a time of planning too. You must decide which plants to bring into the house, which to dry, which to make into gifts. You will want to mark those plants which you wish to pot for the winter, even though it is not necessary to dig them until just before frost. When making this decision, keep in mind that you will want:

• A variety of culinary herbs for the kitchen window sill.
  
• A few larger plants to provide sprays for bouquets or iced drinks, to toss into your bath, and for other favorite uses.
• Several small compact plants to pot for gifts.
• Pots of plants to place in different rooms throughout your own house.

Just when is harvest time? The time for harvesting is decided, not by the time of year, but by the readiness of the herbs. Most herbs are ready to harvest just as the buds are opening into full blossom. This is when the plants contain the most volatile oils and therefore the greatest fragrance and flavor. Fortunately for you, not all varieties will be ready at the same time. But if you should discover that several are just right on the same sunny morning, take a separate box, basket or tray for each herb and label it. Otherwise, unless you are more of an expert than most of us, you may have trouble sorting the herbs after they are dry.

It is best to gather herbs in the early morning of a warm, bright day when the dew has evaporated, but before the sun is high and hot. This is the most pleasant time for being in the garden, and it is a fragrant, relaxing way in which to begin your busy day.

It is important, too, to harvest as early as possible in the season so that the plants will come up again vigorously before the growing season is over. For me, this first harvesting is a difficult decision. I wander about the garden, enjoying the beauty of the plants, their delicious fragrance and lush growth. And each year, in spite of previous years' experience to the contrary, I think, “What if they do not come back again? Will I ruin this lovely garden?”

But don't you believe it! You are more likely to destroy by holding back than by cutting! If you wait to harvest perennial herbs late in the season, you will lose not only their flavor but probably the whole plants as well. Do cut early enough to assure regrowth. Otherwise, your plants may die during the winter. Do not cut annuals too close to the ground. Leave enough foliage so that the plants will continue to grow. You may hope for another harvest this season, at which time you can take the whole plant. Cut perennials about two-thirds of the length of the stalks and side branches, less if the stalks are stiff and woody.

You may pick sage, marjoram and basil at any time. The new growth of sage is always flavorful, and so is that of marjoram at any time before the young plants blossom. Basil scarcely has an off-season even though, like other herbs, it is at its best just at blooming time.

If for some reason you do not manage to harvest all you want of a particular herb when it is ready, gather some later on even though its peak cutting season has passed. Once I made a final bottle of basil vinegar in a greedy rush when the weather forecaster said, “Look for a freeze tonight.” The resulting product could barely be distinguished from that made earlier.

If the herbs you harvest are to be dried, it is important to gather them when the oils are at their best. If you do decide to dry some of the last-minute crops, it might be well to label your jars so that you will know which are prime and which are seconds. Of course, you will also keep some of your favorite herbs growing in the house throughout the winter, and those you will use fresh.

As soon as you have carried your herb crop indoors, quickly rinse off the dirt from the lower leaves and shake off all excess moisture. Then spread the herbs on either window screens laid across two chairs or on some stretched cheesecloth.

Remove any yellowed, decayed and very coarse leaves, and dry your harvest in an airy place away from direct sunlight.

When to harvest

Harvest these herbs when they are just starting to bloom: basil, tarragon, horehound, mint, sweet marjoram, lemon balm, costmary, fennel, winter savory, sage, summer savory, lavender (also may be cut later).

Clip the tops of these at full stage of bloom: hyssop, rosemary, lavender, thyme.

You can harvest both the leaves and flowers of these four herbs, and you can also pick rosemary leaves separately.

The following herbs should be harvested in the young leafy stage: parsley, caraway leaves, chervil, lovage.

It is the flower heads of the following herbs that you will want to harvest: camomile, German camomile, and marigold. You can go ahead and cut the flower heads off and just dry them on a screen. Camomile is great for the skin and is used in herbal bath sachets along with some oatmeal (uncooked) and grated soap. Put equal amounts of each in a washrag secured with a rubber band and used as a wash cloth in the shower.

The culinary herbs that you will wish to dry include sweet basil, parsley, thyme, chervil, rosemary, spearmint, marjoram, summer savory, sage, tarragon and lemon balm. Lemon Balm cookies are easy to make with 2 tablespoons of chopped Lemon Balm added to a basic sugar cookie recipe. There are some great books on making vinegars and herbal seasonings at you local library and bookstore. With the holidays right around the corner, you may want to obtain one of these books and start crafting some gifts!

As far as the other culinary herbs in your garden are concerned, do not dry chives, but pot for winter use, put in vinegar or freeze. Dill should not be dried either, but the leaves can be frozen fresh or the seeds dried. Parsley may be potted, salted, frozen or dried. If you want to dry parsley, place it in the microwave between two paper towels for one minute intervals until dry. If you try to air dry it, it will simply turn brown and unappealing. Burnett, which is too delicate for drying, can be grown indoors in the winter.

Harvesting herbs in the summer or fall is a fun way to bring your garden indoors for the winter. You will be rewarded with countless hours of fun for not only for you but those you bless with the gifts from your garden.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Julia is a master gardener as well as a professional floral designer. She loves to dry flowers from the garden for wreaths and arrangements.Married to a professional landscape contractor, they have been gardening in the Mid South for over 27 years. They now enjoy teaching others about gardening, floral design and garden crafts through their web site http://www.flowers-plants-gardening-advice.com/

Yin Yang Di Huang Jiao Nan is good for impotence

Every man love to have his kid into his family. Giving birth to a child is not an easy process and many men suffer from inability to produce active sperm. The modern fast foods and mechanical lifestyle has made the world a tough place to live healthily. Stress is commonly found in all men who go for work and all these factors lead to impotence in men. This is not an insolvable problem and ancient Chinese medicine has cure for everything. To make this powerful medicine to be available for everybody across the globe, the Chinese herbs are treated properly and the essence is made into capsule Yin Yang Di Huang Jiao Nan, which is a good treatment for impotence in men.
Chinese Ginseng is a Chinese herb that has been used from the past to treat various ailments. Basically, this herb has the ability to improve the performance by boosting internal energy. In the olden days, people who suffered from weakness were treated with this herb. Modern day researches show that this herb has the ability to control stress and it is an aphrodisiac for men. This property of Chinese Ginseng finds its use in Yang Di Huang Jiao Nan. This herb is used as a stimulant that can rejuvenate the entire body.

Herba Epimedii is an important herb for the reproductive system that was tested for improvements of the testosterone levels in men. This hormone is responsible for increasing the sexual function. By boosting this hormone, the herb is capable of boosting Qi flow thus providing more energy to men. The mice which were tested with this herb showed an increase in weight in prostrate glands. Yang Di Huang Jiao Nan includes this herb to promote energy in men.

Wu Cha Seng is a rare Chinese herb that has adoptogen property. This herb can reduce stress and stabilize adrenaline production. The problem of infertility is solved by this herb as it is basically used for immunizing the entire body. The immune system is strengthened and the whole body is rejuvenated by this herb. Yang Di Huang Jiao Nan includes this herb to cure impotence in men.

Fructus Lycii is also a popular Chinese herb which has antioxidant properties. Free radicals are eliminated promoting natural strength to the body. Semen Cuscutae is widely used to treat sperm abnormalities in men. Apart from regulating sperm production, this herb also acts on kidneys and spleen to regulate Qi flow. Yang Di Huang Jiao Nan contains all herbs that are essential to energize and rejuvenate the body.

Instead of taking contemporary medicines that have side effects, you can take one capsule of Yang Di Huang Jiao Nan every three days and treat impotence problem. The herbs that are included in these capsules are highly active and you can expect great results within one month of usage. You will feel much more energetic. Yang Di Huang Jiao Nan is not suitable for men who have high blood pressure and heart problems.


Herbalspan specialises in traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine and herbalspan stocks whole range of chinese herbs and herbal products. Visit Yin Yang Di Huang Jiao Nan for details.

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Herbs for hair growth

Hair is made up of a protein called keratin. The hair that we see and care so much about is actually nothing but dead cells. The part that is living is below the scalp and is called the follicle. Near the follicle are the sebaceous glands that make the hair look vibrant and shiny. These sebaceous glands make the hair look oily or dry depending on the sebum production.

The following are the uses of herbs for hair growth:

The first positive thing about using herbs for hair growth is that there are no side effects associated with them like the drugs that are available in the market. If you have Lifeless hair, it can be made better with massage with good herbal oil.

- Applying henna to hair deep conditions it. Henna is a very traditional and widely used treatment for hair growth. This herb is available in tropics. Henna is also used as a natural dye. Henna is mixed with other herbs like gooseberry, coffee and lemon juice. This mixture is a very good cure for hair fall.

- Massage your hair with warm oil. Take a fresh green coconut and massage some warm coconut milk into the hair. Keep this on for an hour and a half. This will make the hair soft and healthy.
- Use Aloe Vera gel on the hair once in a week and wash your hair.
- Hair loss is usually due to infection that harms the follicle. You can get rid of this infection by the use of the water on the hair with Neem leaves that have been boiled for 5 minutes. Neem is considered as a natural disinfectant and doesn't damage the hair shaft. It is also known to cure dandruff, which is also one of the reasons for hair loss.
- Honey mixed with warm oil and a teaspoonful of cinnamon powder has to be rubbed into the scalp. This should be left on the scalp for around 15 minutes. This helps in hair growth and helps in keeping the hair soft and shiny.
- Crushed olive leaves mixed with vinegar should be applied on the hair. This a great remedy for hair loss.
- A paste made of honey and egg yolk is also used for hair growth. To counter the smell caused by egg can be countered by rinsing the hair with lemon juice

Doctors recommend diets rich in nutrients that boost the growth of hair. If your want to stop hair loss you should include lots of 'Vitamin A' rich diet. Eat green leafy vegetables like spinach, milk, sprouted beans and salads. Increase the intake of Protein rich diet and you will naturally healthy hairs which promote hair growth.

Good hair adds beauty to your personality and it is only a healthy body that can be capped with beautiful hair. Eating nutritious diet and protein rich diets that are healthy to your health will add starts to your crowning glory.

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Gotu Kola - The Arthritis Herb

According to the National Center for Health Statistics there were 45.8 million adults with diagnosed arthritis in the United States in 1993. Although the term literally means joint inflammation, arthritis really refers to a group of more than 100 rheumatic diseases and conditions that can cause pain, stiffness and swelling in the joints.

The two most common forms of the disease are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis, especially among older people. Sometimes it is called degenerative joint disease or osteoarthrosis. Osteoarthritis is a joint disease that mostly affects the cartilage. Cartilage is the slippery tissue that covers the ends of bones in a joint. Healthy cartilage allows bones to glide over one another. It also absorbs energy from the shock of physical movement. In osteoarthritis, the surface layer of cartilage breaks down and wears away. This allows bones under the cartilage to rub together, causing pain, swelling, and loss of motion of the joint.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that occurs when the bodies own immune system mistakenly attacks the synovium (cell lining inside the joint). This chronic, potentially disabling disease causes pain, stiffness, swelling, and loss of function in the joints.

Today more and more people are seeking an alternative treatment to combat the pain of arthritis. One such treatment that may hold promise is the use of the herb Gotu Kola.

Gotu Kola (Centella asiatica) also known as Indian pennywort, marsh penny and water pennywort is a creeping Perennial herb, native to tropical and sub-Tropical Asia, some South Pacific islands, coastal and central Africa. It has been used for centuries in both Ayurveda and Chinese medicine and was first accepted as a drug in France in the 1880's.

Although treating arthritis is not the most common traditional use of Gotu Kola, down under in Australia Gotu Kola is commonly known as Pennywort "The Arthritis Herb" where the fresh leaves are used to treat arthritic conditions and has become extremely popular. Frequent reports of its efficacy have prompted the Herbal Medicines Research and Education Centre to start a research project to investigate the popular use of Pennywort (Centella asiatica) for the treatment of arthritis.

Numerous reports have emerged from the general public that eating 2 leaves each day is said to relieve the pain of arthritis and even plant nurseries in Australia sell the plant as 'the arthritis herb'.

Note: Gotu kola should not by taken if you are pregnant, breast-feeding or taking certain medications.

Before taking any alternative treatment talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or health care professional if you have any other medical conditions, allergies (especially to plants), or if you take other medicines or other herbal/health supplements.

Discover more information and articles on Herbs and Herbal Medicine by visiting http://www.herbs4medicine.com

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A Natural Remedy for Menopause- Herbs and Foods

It's dreaded by every woman beyond child-bearing years. Obviously there's no cure. Menopause is an entirely natural process, like going through puberty when a woman develops breasts and begins her menstruation. Just as puberty reveals that a young woman is able to have children, menopause signifies the end of that part of a woman's life cycle. Menopause is almost like puberty in reverse process.

Menopause's arrival is made known it's by the slowing and eventual ending of menstruation. Other signs are diminishment of breast size and density, and the body's eradication of hormones linked with child bearing. It is accompanied by unpleasant symptoms such as vaginal dryness, hot flashes, insomnia, osteoporosis, night sweats, and erratic mood swings. Hormone replacement therapy, is often prescribed by gynecologists, however, the link of these medications to breast cancer is still the subject of debate.

So it is no wonder that today more and more women are choosing a natural remedy to ease the symptoms of menopause. One hundred years ago, women used Lydia Pinkham pills, a combination of vitamins and herbal substances, to make menopause easier. Today, if you reject take hormone replacement options, and after discussing with your physician, you may wish to try a natural remedy for menopause.

In traditional Indian medicine (Ayurveda), Shatavari is a particularly useful treatment as a natural menopause remedy for hot flashes. Since it is a natural diuretic, Ayurveda practitioners recommend that women who use it fortify potassium intake to avoid becoming dehydrated by drinking orange juice and eating bananas.

Chinese natural healing uses an herb called Dong Quai to treat women's health issues such as menopause symptom, menstrual cramps, and premenstrual symptoms. Even though its effectiveness has not been confirmed by the FDA, many women find it helpful and recommend it to other menopausal women.

Black Cohosh Root is a particularly popular natural menopause remedy. This herb was used in the original Lydia Pinkham tablets during the turn of the century. It's a general tonic for menopause, relieving hot flashes, irritability, headaches, vaginal dryness and insomnia. It has few, if any, side effects and is tolerated well by most.

Two important cautions about Black Cohosh Root: it should not be confused with Blue Cohosh, a potentially harmful root that has no relation to Black Cohosh. Herbalists recommend that Black Cohosh Root be taken continuously for only six months.

Another favorite natural menopause remedy is Soy Isoflavones. This is a substance derived from soy beans and their by-products tofu and soy milk. Soy acts like a mild natural form of estrogen. It is found particularly useful by women who choose not to use prescription hormone replacement. Herbalists recommend eating soy-containing food rather than taking soy pills or capsules. Soy Isoflavones should not be used if you have a history of breast cancer.

Like Black Cohosh Root, Red Clover is a favorite herb for natural menopause remedy. Red Clover is particularly helpful for easing hot flashes. It may also lower cholesterol levels in post-menopausal women. As a mild form of estrogen, it should not be used by women who have a history or are at risk for breast cancer. Nor should it be combined with blood-thinning medications like Warfarin.

Lastly, gaining ground as natural menopause remedies are alfalfa leaves and seeds. Further research is needed on these plants, but it's been established that alfalfa has an effect on the body similar to estrogen. Those with diabetes or an autoimmune disease such as fibromyalgia or lupus should avoid using alfalfa.

Natural menopause remedies are generally safe and non-toxic if used correctly and with the precautions noted. They are available in many major supermarkets, in natural health and food stores, and of course, on-line.

Was the information in this article helpful to you? For more in depth information on menopause natural remedies, subscribe to this free newsletter, or download this report.

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Can I grow Herbs?

I have always loved gardening. Many times I have started gardens only to let them die because of lack of the right care. I have also had many indoor plants that have died and I don't know why. They were difficult plants to grow and possibly, I just didn't know how to correctly take care of them. I have come home to many shriveled and dried up plants and have wondered their mysterious deaths.

This may not be very encouraging to those who are brand new to plants but want to dive in head first. If you are interested in growing herbs, I have good news for you. Growing herbs in not hard, even I have been able to master growing herbs.

Yes, it's true. While I can't keep a patch of strawberries growing strong for an entire season, I have been able to successfully grow my own herbs. Now understand, herbs are not foolproof, but even those without even a hint of a green thumb can figure it out. Even if it takes a little trial and error, you can do it. Better yet, learn from my mistakes and you can start much better off.

I started my herb gardening with a variety of herbs. I had basil, parsley, dill, and rosemary. I had 4 little pots that I planted about a dozen seeds in each. They all sprouted quite quickly. In each pot, I had about a dozen seedlings growing quite close together. It wasn't until after a while that I realized I shouldn't have so many plants in one pot. This may have been the dismay of most of the herbs. After a couple of weeks, I thinned out each pot so that each had just one plant.

The herbs continued to grow slowly. The basil did very well, but the others seemed to stop and started to turn yellow. I watered them almost daily. Eventually, I did a little research and realized I should be adding some type of fertilizer because I hadn't put any in the soil. I started added a little bit of milk to the water every couple of weeks. The basil began to prosper, but the others didn't have a chance.

I dumped the herbs except for the basil, and started growing all basil. I realized I had been watering the plants too often, so I cut back to just a couple times a week. I continued feeding them milk every so often, and finally my herbs began to prosper.

Yes, you can grow herbs, as long as you know what you're doing. Make sure you use pots or containers that allow the water to drain out the bottom. Preferably, put a fertilizer directly in the soil when you first plant them. Make sure they get a lot of sun and never dry out. Follow the rules on the package of your seeds, be patient, and you will get the herbs you want.
If you want to know more about how to grow herbs and how to start your own herb garden, go to GrowingHerbsMadeEasy.info for more information.

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