Category: Medicinal Herb Series

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Medicinal Herb Series: 10 Benefits of Lemongrass

Medicinal herb series: Lemongrass

Lemongrass is an amazing medicinal herb. Not only does it smell absolutely delightful, it has incredible benefits for your body and your soul.

Lemongrass, also known as Cymbopogon, is indigenous to India and Asia. It is a tall grass like plant with stalks. This plant tends to grow in a bush like manner and loves full sun and well draining soil. The leaves tend to be sharp on the sides and are incredibly hardy. It has a powerful fresh lemon smell that is often times used as a lemon flavor in teas and other beverages.

Most importantly, you will find that lemongrass comes in a few different forms. You can usually find the stalks in most grocery stores. It can be found already dried, to add to teas and season foods. Using it fresh is an option, you can use it in stir fry and other cooking dishes. Lastly, you can find it in essential oil form. This form is my favorite, I love to add lemongrass essential oil to my diffuser necklace, it instantly uplifts my mood, which can be a spectacular benefit. Speaking of which…..

Let’s talk benefits of lemongrass.

This beautiful herb has multiple health benefits, making this medicinal herb a must to have in your medicinal herb cabinet. Whether it’s in dried herb form, so you can make a tea or essential oil form that you can rub directly on your body or diffuse in the air, it is a must have. Let’s dive into some of the benefits.

10 benefits to Lemongrass

Promotes sleep: This herb has been known to react with GABA receptors in our brain (1), which helps promote a healthy sedative state. Drink a cup of lemongrass and lavender tea before bed to help your mind and your body fall into a more restful state.

Mood enhancer: It has a powerful fresh lemon scent that provides your mental state with a calming and clear feeling.

Helps relieve anxiety: Again, the properties of lemongrass react with the GABA receptors in our brain. GABA, Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid, is a neurotransmitter in the brain that connects signals from the brain to our nervous system (2). The beneficial properties in lemongrass will increase the activity of the GABA receptors, which can in turn calm your central nervous system and relieve anxiety.

Supports digestive system: It has been known to help treat digestive problems such as ulcers and diarrhea. (3)

Pain reliever: The powerful anti-inflammatory properties in lemongrass help reduce inflammation related pain. (4)

Helps reduce dandruff: This amazing herb has bacteria killing properties that help reduce the bacteria that causes dandruff. Applying lemongrass essential oil mixed in with your shampoo, to your scalp, can help relieve dandruff and stimulate the hair follicles. (5)

Natural deodorizer: The fresh lemon scent from lemongrass makes this herb ideal to add to soaps, room sprays, deodorants, lotions and body sprays.

Relieves headaches: It can help relieve tension that causes headaches. (6) Drink a cup of lemongrass tea or rub some essential oil on the temples to help relieve pain from headaches.

Reduces fever: The properties in lemongrass have been known to help reduce fever symptoms. (7)

And finally… It is a….

Powerful antioxidant: Antioxidant properties one of the most important properties in my opinion. Lemongrass has the ability to fight off free radicals within our body with its incredible antioxidant properties. (8)

I gotta say y’all, this is a small description of amazing benefits of this beautiful medicinal herb.

Other benefits include:

Helps fight candida

Menstrual cramp relief

Lowers cholesterol

Fights agains cold and flus

Thrush

Diabetes

Thyroid

Hair and skin

Y’all, we need lemongrass in our lives.

I mean, come on! How beneficial is this herb! Growing lemongrass is easy. If you cannot find yourself a starter plant, you can always head on over to a grocery store, find yourself some stalks, place in a glass with water and wait for it to root. Finally, once your stalks have rooted, they are ready to plant in the garden. Harvesting your lemongrass is even more fun. Head on over here to check out our post on harvesting lemongrass.

If y’all can’t grow your own lemongrass, I highly suggest you purchase yourself some lemongrass essential oil. It is the easiest way to obtain all these beneficial properties in a super convenient bottle. As always, when it comes to essential oils, purchase only high quality pure oils.

Happy lemongrassing!

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The Real Flu Shot

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Mother nature gave us these amazing resources to stay healthy. But some how along the way we got side tracked by shiny things. There is a reason why food has so much power. It is made to heal our bodies. Food is what we are meant to metabolize. We are so quick to pop a pill to help head tension or the feeling of a flu or cold coming on. But really, we need to put food, whole food, in our body to give it what it needs to heal itself. Let’s back away from the pills, cold medicines, cough syrups, and nyquil and trust that mother nature gave us all we need to fight off any harmful bugs that enter our body. Ready to fight this flu naturally?

Let’s do this.

This is our version of the flu shot. It actually has multiple parts to it so keep on a reading. It has some power behind it that will knock out what ever is a brewing inside you within a couple days. If caught early, you can even knock it out before it settles in.

Let’s talk a little it about why these ingredients are so important to help your body fight a cold, flu or infection.

Lemon: Is known for its antibacterial properties. It can help protect against throat infections. It can provide relief from fever by increasing perspiration. It can relieve congestion. Lemon is high in vitamin A, vitamin C, magnesium, vitamin B6, riboflavin, folate, zinc and iron, to name a few.

Ginger: Is a powerful anti-inflammatory. It can help lower chances of bacterial infection. The spice of ginger will help relieve congestion. It also helps provide a healthy digestion.

Garlic: Is mother natures antibiotic. It provides the body with the strength to fight against infections. It helps increase a healthy immune function. Garlic is a powerful microbial and anti-inflammatory.

Cayenne: Is a high antioxidant that helps provide support for the immune system. It will also help loosen mucus within the nasal cavity and chest.

Honey: Is a well known antibacterial and antimicrobial. It provides the body with soothing relief of sore throats, coughs and congestion.

*** It is best to use all organic ingredients. When choosing a honey, choose one that is raw and unfiltered. This means that it is in it’s purest form, with more health benefits.

Directions:

  • In a glass you are going to add half a juiced lemon, 1 TBS honey, 1-2 cloves minced garlic, 1-2 TBS grated ginger, a dash or two, depending on how brave you are, of cayenne. Add about 4 oz of water.

Now chug like a gansta.

***Do this about 2-3 times a day when you feel something coming on. If it has already hit, still do it yo! It will decrease the duration of the cold or flu.

Everyone has their variations, it is best to try all and find your groove. You can also add apple cider vinegar to this to kick it up one more notch. Apple cider vinegar has incredible properties to it, that will give your body the strength to fight off anything.

Second part to our flu shot….

We also like to take 2-4 doses of oil of oregano or oregano essential oil, when we feel something coming on. I will put a drop of oregano essential oil in a veggie capsule and take it 2-4 times a day. If I am doing oil of oregano, I will do about 8 drops under the tongue 2-4 times a day.

What is the difference? 

Oil of oregano is dried or fresh herb steeped in a high quality oil such as olive oil that is cold pressed and organic.

Oregano essential oil is oil derived from the plant through distillation.

*** Remember if taking an essential oil internally, please do your homework and find a high quality oil from a company that can provide you with certainty that it is in fact pure essential oil. Please contact me if you would like to hear more about essential oils.

Third part to our flu shot…

Elderberry Syrup! This berry has incredible properties to it that helps keep your body happy and healthy. If you haven’t heard of elderberry check out this post.  and if you want to make it check to this post. On the onset of a cold or flu we take this 4 times a day. If something is going around and we don’t want to get it, we start taking this 2 times a day for an added immune boost.

Lastly…

Black Seed Oil. This is the mother load here. If you haven’t heard of black seed oil check out this post and get yourself some black seed oil. We will take this 2-3 times a day when we feel a cold coming on. We take this daily but increase it by one or two when cold and flu season is around.

That’s it yo!

Our version of the flu shot. It may sound like a crap ton, but I swear by it. My house hold got hit with a nasty flu where the kids had fevers for about 4 days. Then five says later they came down with the stomach flu. I managed to escape both illnesses magically. And I owe it to this regimen above. Screw going to CVS and getting a flu shot filled with who knows what. Use what mother nature gave us, use food to help heal your body.

Happy Healing!

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A Journey into the World of Essential Oils

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Essential Oils?

When someone around says, “oh man I’ve got a neck tension.” and your response is, “Oh I have peppermint oil if you’d like.” and they look at you like you’re a crazy weirdo, don’t lose your confidence homie. The more we look like weirdos, the more we spread the word! If you are reading this and you are the one who looked at someone like they were a weirdo for offering you peppermint oil for your neck tension. Keep on a reading yo! Let me please change your mind.

What in the world are essential oils?

Essential oils are volatile aromatic compounds found in seeds, barks, stems, flowers, roots and other parts of plants. What the heck are volatile aromatic compounds? I’m with ya, let me further explain. Volatile aromatic compounds are are small organic molecules that easily change the state they are in, from solid, liquid to gas. For example, let’s say you busted open your new bottle of lavender oil. The second you crack that bad boy open, you immediately smell the aroma. The physical and chemical state of the volatile aromatic compounds allow it to quickly connect to the olfactory sensors in your nose. By inhaling the essential oils, your body can quickly respond and retain the benefits.

Dang, right! And this is only one way essential oils are beneficial. Lets talk about how they actually work.

Wait, how the heck do they work?

Let me break it down easily, our cells including our brain have essentially a layer of fat that surrounds them and protects them from harm. Essential oils are essentially a form of fat. Fat and fat go hand in hand. Kind of like how bacon grease makes everything taste better when you use it to cook! Oh sorry, I got side tracked with bacon! Anyway, essential oils are one of the few things that can actually penetrate that layer of protective fat. Thus allowing all the benefits of that oil to work with your body to heal it. This includes the blood brain barrier, that layer of fat that I mentioned that surrounds your brain. Can you believe it! Essential oils can actually penetrate through that layer giving you incredible results.

Essential oils are a natural substance. Our bodies are designed to metabolize them with little to no effort. Have you ever noticed that when you take a specific medication you notice you’re more tired, nauseous, your stomach may hurt….. whatever it may be, you just don’t feel right sometimes? Essential oils easily pass through our body’s system and allows the body to start healing itself the way it was designed to.

Small example, Ylang Ylang will speed up ones heart rate but is used for maintaining an already healthy blood pressure. I know, you’re like wait what! Wouldn’t your increase if your heart rate speeds up? But in the case of a natural substance like essential oils, no. They allow your body to do exactly what it was meant to do to heal itself.

What in the world!!! Is this for real! Yes, yes it is! Is your mind blown yet, cause mine is!

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A wee bit about quality.

Did you know that essential oils are not regulated by the FDA? What does this mean? This means, companies are legally able to put 100% pure, therapeutic grade or all natural as long as that bottle contains at least 5% actual essential oil. The rest of the bottle is allowed to be filled with synthetic oil, carrier oil or other toxic chemical.

Ever wonder why essential oils say DO NOT INGEST, DO NOT USE WHILE PREGNANT OR NURSING, DO NOT USE ON CHILDREN.

Why? If oils are a natural substance and our bodies are made to metabolize them,  then why can’t we ingest them? I have come to find that many people fear oils for this reasons. They feel like they are toxic in a sense so they tend to stay away from them. Obviously some oils, because of the herb, have their own safety guidelines but could quality be the reason for these warnings. When buying oils you want to buy from a company that has a certified pure seal. This means that each oil has gone through multiple, rigorous testing to ensure that what is in that bottle is actually pure essential oil. When a company is true to their quality, they will provide all third party testing information.

Okay, I’m feeling better about essential oils but how the F do I use them?

You can use essential oils in three different ways, topically, aromatically, and internally.

Topically:

Remember, essential oils are a “volatile” compound meaning it evaporates quickly. To apply topically simply use a carrier oil such as fractionated coconut oil, almond oil, jojoba oil, even olive oil. This allows the essential oil to stay on your skin for a longer period of time, which gives it enough time to enter your pores and begin doing its magic.

Best places to put the oil. Neck, chest, back of neck, wrists, temples and/or bottoms of feet.

Aromatically:

Diffusing oils in a diffuser is a fantastic way to benefit from oils. The oils travel through the air and are absorbed by your smell receptors. You can also place a drop or two on your palm and inhale the oils that way. Using oils aromatically is still allowing the oils to enter your body. It still allows them to penetrate your cells. So using a less quality oil in your diffuser is not the best way to go. Often times I hear that people will use the good stuff on them and their kids then use the crappy stuff from the store in their diffuser. IT’S STILL ENTERING YOUR BODY! Use the good stuff all around.

Internally:

Now, here is why quality is extremely important.

You are not going to just go to the grocery store and pick an oil off the shelf and take it internally. There is a reason why most oils say do not ingest. Quality! So please, please be mindful and purchase from a reputable company that completely provides all quality testing information. A company that stands by their product and puts directly on their bottle: “For internally use take one drop in 4 oz of water”

So, with that said. You can take oils by placing in liquid, or in food to cook with or by placing a drop or two in a veggie capsule.

Sold! But wait, where in the heck do I buy these oils from, since quality is so important?

doTERRA, is the only company I feel 100% confident taking internally, using topically and using on my children. That is a huge plus. When my kids are in need, I reach for oils to help heal. When I am in need, I reach for the oils. When my husband has an issue, first question is, “did you use an oil?” This is our family’s source of health. A natural solution that makes us feel incredible. Quality is what you need in a natural resource and doTERRA gives you just that. The extent they take to ensure each bottle of oil is cared for, is an incredible feeling. They not only take care of the farmers they buy from, they take care of my family and for that, doTERRA is the only company I trust.

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Happy essential oiling!

 

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If you would like advise on where to start in your oil journey, leave a comment below. If you want to know what oil is best for a specific ailment, comment below or email me. If you would like more information on doTERRA, please send me an email or comment below. I would love to help guide you anyway I can. 

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Black Seed Oil

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Oh dang, have I got the mother of all mothers here. As usual, I am learning about herbs and all the beautiful things they do and I came across Black Seed Oil. It was like BAM, where have you been my whole life. Black Seed Oil is something that should be apart of your medicinal herb cabinet for sure. This right here folks, is called the mother load.

This is the brand we use and love it so far. It’s a great company. When buying any supplement do a little research to make sure that company is doing good things on this earth.

Okay, let’s talk a little about Black Seed Oil and why it’s considered the mother load.

What is Black Seed Oil:

Black Seed Oil is derived from the Nigella Sativa plant, specifically the seeds from the flower. The seeds are compressed and the oil is extracted. There are many names that Black Seed Oil goes by:

Black Cumin

Black Onion Seed

Nigella Sativa

Black Caraway

Black Sesame

Kalonji Oil

A seed by many name is a seed………..Hmmm I don’t know, it a damn good little seed though. Anyway, on to the phenomenal health benefits. Black Seed Oil is a powerful antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, anti fungal and antiviral. It also contains two highly potent phytochemical compounds, Thymoquinone and Thymohydroquinone. These two compounds have been proven to be directly related to providing relief to and possibly curing many diseases. The third compound, which helps make this oil well rounded is Thymol.

A little bit about Thymoquinone, Thymol and Thymohydroquinone because I know you’re like YES, I’VE GOT TO KNOW WHAT THESE THREE CHEMICALS DO!

I gotcha, I gotcha.

Thymoquinone: Is a compound specifically derived from the Nigella Sativa plant. This phytochemical compound is a high antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and actually has anti-cancerous properties. In many studies, it has been shown to reverse cancerous cells. Thymoquinone has potent regenerative properties, those in which closely resemble chemotherapy treatment. Thymoquinone is high in antioxidants that turns free radicals in the body into harmless molecules. These properties help fight infections within the body, ease pain and reduce inflammation.

Thymohydroquinone: Is a potent acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitor. AChE is an enzyme that actually promotes the breakdown of neurotransmitters in the brain. Neurotransmitters are compounds within the brain that are signal molecules. What these molecules do, is they communicate between nerve cells and muscle cells. This natural chemical is what pharmaceutical companies try to mimic when producing medications for mental disease such as, Alzheimers, Autism, Schizophrenia and many other neurological disorders.

Thymol: Is a natural chemical found in the oil of Thyme. It is a strong antiseptic, anti fungal, and antibacterial. All these compounds are very useful in fighting off infections and other diseases in the body.

All three of these chemical compounds are what make this oil the mother load. So far it is the only oil that contains these properties together. Besides Oregano oil, it is the second highest regarded oil when it comes to improving health.

Medicinal Benefits: It is recommended to consume Black Seed Oil  30 days consecutively to see results. 

Reduced high blood pressure: Taking appropriate dosage daily can help reduce high blood pressure.

Kills cancerous sells: The three chemical compounds mention above contribute to this health benefit.

Fights fungal infections: The anti fungal and antibacterial properties in this oil can help kill of fungal infections within the body. It can be also used topically to help with fungal infections of the skin such as staph infections and ring worm.

Liver and Kidney health: The liver and kidney are constantly flushing out toxins within the body and can become overworked. The antioxidants within Black Seed Oil can help flush those toxins out quicker and allow for your liver and kidney to be repaired by regenerating their cells.

Reduces allergies: Black Seed Oil is an anti-inflammatory, this helps reduce inflammation with in the nasal cavity. Helping reduce allergy symptoms.

Helps acnes: Acne is caused by inflammation, by applying Black Seed Oil to the skin, it can help reduce inflammation and ultimately reducing acne.

Boosts fertility: Some have seen great results in using Black Seed Oil to help reduce the chances if infertility. Black Seed Oil also can increase ones sex drive by reducing inflammation and increasing blood flow and oxygen to the male and females sexual organs.

Fights colds and flus: The anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antiviral properties within the oil help boost immune system to help fight off cold and flus off faster. Antioxidants in the oil also help to fight off infection, making recovery a lot faster.

Coughs and asthma: Inflammation is the biggest cause of coughs. Since Black Seed Oil is a strong anti-inflammatory it can help reduce inflammation in the chest and lungs, relieving coughs and

Relieves upset stomach: Black Seed Oil helps stimulate the body digestion and helps reduce gas within the intestinal track, helping relieve nausea and upset stomachs.

Relives pain and swelling: When you feel pain or swelling that usually means there is some sort of inflammation within the body. Because Black Seed Oil is such a high anti-inflammatory it can help relive pain and swelling almost immediately by rubbing oil directly on area.

These are to name a few health benefits. Seriously.

How to take Black Seed Oil:

You can ingest Black Seed Oil from straight oil, 1tsp twice a day. I am not going to lie to you, it has an intense taste. But a swig of water right after and you are good-to-go!

You can take it in pill form. We personally have not tried pill form. We take the oil.

You can also rub it on the skin on problem areas like your back, sore muscles or on swelling. This has worked great on back pain.

Now, aren’t you thinking, “where the hell has this been my whole life?”

I told you!

Mother Load!

Happy Black Seed Oiling!

All information provided is for educational use only. It is not intended to treat, diagnose, cure or prevent any diseases. Contact professional medical provided for guidance. 

Resources:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4387230/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3068742/

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Medicinal Herb Series: Elder

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You may have seen it in your local grocery store, you may have come across the name while reading your favorite homesteading blog. You may have commonly dismissed it like most people because you didn’t know its capabilities. But Elder is a name that you want to be familiar with especially in the cold and flu season.

Elder is mostly found in parts of Asia, Africa, Europe and even parts of North America.  The most commonly used is a species called Sambucus Nigra, the European Elder. The elder flowers and berries are used specifically for its medicinal properties. The berries, which are more commonly used, should be cooked down before using them. Raw berries have properties similar to cyanide poison. Please use with caution.

Elder has been known as one of the oldest most powerful medicinal herbs used. It is an antioxidant, laxative, diaphoretic and an anti-inflammatory. The elderberry fruit contains high sources of dietary fibers, vitamins A, C and vitamins in the B group. It is also rich in minerals such as calcium, manganese, zinc, iron and selenium.

Medicinal Benefits:

Colds: Elderberry tea is an effective method to help relieve coughs and sore throats.

Flu: Elder lessons the “virus” ability to negatively affect cells within the body. Specifically the flavonoids contained within the elder plant. Flavonoids are powerful antioxidants that bind themselves to H1N1 influenza viruses as well as H5N1 avian viruses causing the viruses to die back quickly.

Infections: Due to its high antibacterial and antiviral properties, Elder can help fight against infections within the body quite quickly.

Immunity Boost: Since it is high in antioxidants, elder can help reduce the number of free radicals within the body, helping the immune system to stay strong. When taken regularly it has also been known to help improve vision.

Heart: The antioxidants also help reduce cholesterol, helping maintain heart health.

Helps with allergies: Because if its anti-inflammatory properties, elder can help reduce inflammation within the nasal cavity, helping reduce allergy symptoms.

How to used Elder:

Most popular way of consuming elder is by taking elderberry syrup.

It can be made into an infusion

Made into jams and jellies

Made into gummies

Wine

Sprays

Ointments

Really however you’d like.

Safety:

Eating raw elderberries can result in diarrhea and vomiting. Be sure to cook your berries before consuming. Raw elderberries contain properties of cyanide poison. It is also not safe to consume during pregnancy or lactation.

Elder is considered a superfood especially when it comes to the cold and flu season. Be sure to stock your medicinal pantry with this incredible herb. Be sure to check out our post on how to make elderberry syrup. It is super easy and just makes sense to have on hand.

Happy Eldering!

 

All information provided are for educational purposes only. They are not intended to cure, treat or prevent any illness or diseases. Please consult with a medical professional before use.