Stop spring allergies with these 5 easy-to-source herbs

For many people, it isn’t just the flowers that are springing to life this season. The end of winter signals the start of allergy season: a dreaded time of year for those who are prone to allergies. The constant sneezing, itchiness, and red eyes can be unpleasant and inconvenient, so it’s no wonder why people who suffer from allergies go into mild panic as soon as spring hits.

If you’re one of those people, you may want to try an all-natural cure instead of the usual antihistamine pills. According to an article on OfftheGridNews.com, herbal allergy treatments have been used for centuries, providing effective allergy relief through non-chemical means.

These are five herbs, according to the article, that are commonly used to treat allergy symptoms:

• Butterbur – This shrub has properties that allow it to stop airways from blocking, thereby improving breathing. As a natural allergy treatment, its efficiency is reinforced by the fact that it won’t make you drowsy when you take it, which is a common side-effect in many commercial antihistamines. Butterbur, according to the article, is best taken as a supplement before allergy season hits.
• Stinging nettle – The stinging nettle may be irritating and painful when you come into contact with its leaves, but according to the University of Maryland Medical Center, it’s health benefits are plenty. Apart from being used to treat urinary tract infections, joint pains, sprains, and insect bites, its also been used to reduce sneezing and itching in allergy sufferers. Taking a freeze-dried stinging nettle preparation before hay fever season may be effective in easing allergy symptoms, doctors say. It can also be taken as a tea, tincture, fluid extract, or cream.
• Tinospora cordifolia – Among the common herbs used as natural allergy treatments, this one does not need to be taken in advance, providing easy relief even after symptoms show up. A study called Tinospora Cordifolia: One plant, many roles, conducted a detailed examination of the genetically-diverse plant. After which, they found that it demonstrated many medically-beneficial properties, including being anti-allergic, anti-microbial, and anti-inflammatory — making it perfect a go-to herb for allergy season.
• Ginkgo biloba – Mostly known as an energy and cognitive booster, Ginkgo biloba, also known as the maidenhair tree, actually contains many antihistamine and anti-inflammatory properties that, when taken as a supplement, help reduce allergy symptoms.
• Reishi mushrooms – With a reputation for being the “mushroom of immortality,” these mushrooms were used as far back as ancient China, and are known to treat a variety of ailments. As an antihistamine, it contains certain compounds that help manage allergy symptoms. While the mushrooms aren’t the most appetizing when mixed in food, it can be taken in 1,000 mg supplements thrice a day.
• Bonus: Honey – While not technically an herb, the article’s author recommended honey as another natural allergy cure. While the author’s basis for including it in her recommendations was purely based on her husband’s experience in using it for allergy relief, there are actually studies that explore honey’s efficiency as an allergy cure. One study conducted in the International Islamic University Malaysia exposed allergic rhinitis patients to doses of honey and a honey-flavored placebo. After analyzing their results, the study concluded that “honey ingestion at a high dose improves the overall and individual symptoms of AR, and it could serve as a complementary therapy for AR.”

Learn more about all-natural remedies for all kinds of afflictions on Organics.news.

Sources include:

OfftheGridNews.com
UMM.edu
NCBI.NLM.NIH.gov 1
NCBI.NLM.NIH.gov 2

Is Ashwagandha a plant that can make you sleep well? Researchers believe so

What you need for a good night’s sleep may be found in an herb. Japanese researchers described an active component in Ashwagandha as “a potent sleep-inducing small molecule” in a study published in PLOS ONE. The research team, led by Mahesh K. Kaushik and Yoshihiro Urade of the International Institute for Integrative Sleep Medicine, studied the effects of the different components of Ashwagandha on sleep in mice. Through electromyography and electroencephalograms, they discovered that the triethylene glycole (TEG) in the water extract of the Ashwagandha leaf significantly promoted non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep while having only a slight change in rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. They also found that TEG-induced sleep was comparable to normal sleep.

The active withanolides present in the alcoholic extract of Ashwagandha were found to be inadequate at encouraging sleep in the mice. Additionally, the researchers observed that commercially available TEG “increased non-rapid eye movement sleep in mice in a dose-dependent (10-mg/mouse) manner.”

From this they derived that the TEG in Ashwagandha was the active component that led to “physiologically sound sleep”, reports AlphaGalileo.org. The researchers also noted that the TEG present in Ashwagandha could potentially be utilized in insomnia therapy and treatments for other sleep-related disorders. Currently the researchers are investigating the effects of Ashwagandha on stress.

Also known as Indian ginseng or winter cherry, Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is an herb prized in the Ayurvedic system of medicine native to the Indian subcontinent. Among practitioners it’s known as a “Rasyana” or tonic that improves one’s mental and physical health. Ashwagandha has been used for centuries to treat health problems such as tumors, skin diseases, chronic pain and even male virility. In recent years, this Indian herb has become known for its relaxing and anxiety-reducing properties.

While the adaptogenic herb is more popularly known as a relaxant, there are many other benefits from taking Ashwagandha. Improved mood, greater blood sugar control, arthritis and rheumatism relief, and enhanced sports performance are just some of the noted benefits.

There are many ways to take Ashwagandha, notes BanyanBotanicals.com. Ashwagandha is commercially available as a liquid extract, in powder form and in tablet form. Traditionally, Ashwagandha is taken in its powder form, with a general daily dosage of one or two quarter- and half-teaspoons. The powder is usually mixed with honey, warm milk , sugar cane, or ghee, which is Indian clarified butter. The most convenient way to take Ashwagandha is in its tablet form.

Facts about Ashwagandha

• The name “Ashwagandha” is a Sanskrit word that means “smell of horse”, because the leaves and stem of the plant are known to emit a musky aroma. In addition to its strong odor, the name could also be interpreted as “horse essence”, in reference to the supposed ability of Ashwagandha to provide one with the stamina, essence, or strength of a horse. Its Latin name, “somnifera”, means “sleep inducing”.
• Ashwagandha is commonly found on the foothills of the Himalayas and its surrounding areas, including the plains. While widely distributed in India, Ashawagandha also grows in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, and China.
• Ashwagandha is known by many names. According to the American Botanical Council, the herb is also known as “Ba-dzi-gandha” or “aasogandha” in Nepal and “Amurkkuralckizhangu” in the Tamil-speaking areas of India and Sri Lanka.
• The usage of Ashawagandha can be traced back as far as 6000 B.C., states CureJoy.
• Ashwagandha is part of the nightshade family and is a close relative of the tomato.

Sources:

Journals.PLOS.org

AlphaGalileo.org

BanyanBotanicals.com

Sniffing Rosemary Can Improve Memory By 75%

Rosemary is one of the oldest known medicinal herbs. It has innumerable uses in both the kitchen and in herbal medicine. Both the leaves and flowers of rosemary have been used medicinally for thousands of years to improve memory. Shakespeare was right in saying rosemary can improve your memory.

Rosemary Protects The Brain From Damage And Aging

Some memory loss is considered a normal part of aging. Rosemary protects the brain in a variety of ways to minimize damage and slow down the rate of brain cell aging. It increases blood flow to the brain, which in turn supplies the brain with more oxygen and nutrients.

Rosemary contains carnosic acid, which fights off free radical damage to the brain. It contains  natural acids that help in protecting the body`s cells and DNA from free radical damage. The compounds in rosemary herb are said to prevent the breakdown of acetylcholine, which is a chemical that induces the brain cells that are responsible for memory and reasoning to communicate with one another.

Smelling Rosemary to Enhance Your Memory

There was a study conducted on rosemary where groups of people were given rosemary essential oil. A total of 66 people participated in the study. They were randomly assigned to two rooms, one scented with rosemary and the other not scented. The results were remarkable: people had 60 to 75% chances of remembering things, compared with people who were not given rosemary essential oil!

How To Use Rosemary

There are many different ways to start boosting memory with rosemary. Place three to four drops of rosemary essential oil on a tissue and enjoy as the smell wafts through the air. (1) (2) (3)

Some Other Uses & Benefits Of Rosemary Essential Oil

-Arthritis treatment, anti-inflammatory
-Sooth the stomach and relieve pain from indigestion, menstrual cramps
-Rosemary infused oil removebad dandruff of hair loss
-Reducing anxiety, elevating mood
-Protects against DNA damage
-Improving circulation
-Detoxifying the liver
-Calming effects
-Pain relief
-Headache relief
-Skin tonic
-Hair tonic
-Digestion soother
-Immune booster
-Cancer prevention

Additional Sources:

–http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21877951

–http://www.herbs-info.com/blog/scientists-find-sniffing-rosemary-can-increase-memory-by-75/

–http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3736918/

This often overlooked weed is ideal for delicious soup or tea

Touted as the “Herb Queen of the Spring” by Mother Earth News, stinging nettle is a nutritious and energy-rich favorite of herbalists. Found in most Northern forest regions around the globe during spring, many people regard this wild edible weed as a useless plant.

This humble weed, however, has more value than most people think. For centuries, it has been used by many herbal medicine practitioners to treat a wide variety of conditions, including gout, arthritis, skin disorders, anemia, allergies and asthma, bronchitis, urinary tract infections, sciatica, worms, weight loss, and kidney stones.

Next to its cleansing and healing properties, stinging nettle is a nutrient powerhouse. This potent herbal remedy contains high amounts of protein, calcium, magnesium, iron, selenium, zinc, potassium, boron, vitamins A, B, C, D, E, and K, bioflavonoids, antioxidants, essential fatty acids, and chlorophyll. (Related: Find more news about medicinal herbs at Herbs.news.)

Not impressed? You should be! For far too long the value of this precious weed has been overlooked. But nettle is on its way back. With more people seeking answers to their health issues in nature, they are becoming more aware of nettles’ many benefits and uses. If you are new to using nettles to improve your health, nettle tea and soup are a great way to introduce them into your family’s diet, especially during the spring season.

This incredibly versatile and edible plant can be used in many ways to improve your health. If you live in the Northern hemisphere, you might be lucky to find it fresh. If foraging is not possible, dried stinging nettle can be found in both root and leaf form. There is even a powdered version of the leaf available to add to freshly made smoothies and juices.

How to localize, harvest, and use stinging nettle

Nettles start to emerge in dense clusters during the beginning of spring. They can grow as tall as five feet and are usually found near a water source. The green or purple-tinted leaves are heart shaped with glassy hairs underneath. It’s these hairs that inject a stinging solution into the skin. This plant’s chemical is a combination of formic acid, histamine, and several other phytochemicals. Luckily, nettles lose their stinging ability when cooked.

Always make sure to collect nettles from a clean and toxin-free environment. Nettles taste at their best when they are harvested in early spring. The new leaves at the growing tip are the ones you should aim for. While you can still collect leaves from older plants, according to Off The Grid News, they will not be as tender and sweet.

As their name suggests, it is best to wear gloves and a long-sleeved shirt to harvest the leaves. Hold the growing tip and cut the stem just below. Store them in a plastic bag or container in the fridge. They will last for several days. To preserve their quality, you shouldn’t wash the leaves before storing them in the refrigerator.

While stinging nettle tea and soup are the most popular dishes, nettles can be used for so much more. Blanch stinging nettles for 5 minutes in water, keep the water for tea. Blanched nettles can be used as an alternative to spinach in many dishes. Stinging nettle pesto is another great option, or why not try to dry some in a food dehydrator or oven for the colder months. Dried leaves can be used as a garnish, or they make an excellent healing tea.