Herbal Allergy Relief

Allergy is one of the common conditions that affect a great number of people these days. From any parts of the world, many people are afflicted by some forms of allergies, either minor or serious allergies. So to battle this worse condition, the herbal industry designed some forms of herbal allergy relief including some helpful formulas that will aid the peoples’ immune system to fight with the onset of allergy.

Notably, due to the massive causes of allergy that afflicted mankind, there are now hundreds of herbal allergy reliefs distributed in the market. Some of those come in the form of herbal supplements and some even come in the form of herb itself. Aside from that many people even formulated their own herbal allergy relief in their homes and so many people even self-medicate themselves with either self-prepared or bought herbal allergy relief.

In this article, I will mainly present two of the most trusted and widely visited sites on the web that offer some herbal allergy relief in the form of supplements, including herbal allergy relief formulas.

One of the great portals on the web that provide herbal allergy relief supplements and formulas is HerbalFitness.com. This site has recently provides their seasonal allergy and hay fever relief. It is maintained that the herbs contained in this certain formula are renowned to reinforce the body’s immune responses. Aside from that, this hay fever and herbal allergy relief is proven to soothe the over reaction of the immune system. Besides, it also soothes and lubricates the tissues in the lungs, dilates and bronchial tubes, and it is high in calcium. Calcium is included in this herbal allergy relief formula since calcium helps to fight allergies that are associated with calcium deficiency. So by taking this hay fever and herbal allergy relief, the red itchy eyes, runny nose, sneezing, and some other symptoms of allergies will be relieved. However, one should know that taking more than the suggested dosage for this herbal allergy relief may lead to heart attack, stroke, seizure and even death. So, one should be wary about that.

The other remarkable home of herbal allergy relief is Viable-Herbal.com, which recently provides their botanical formulation that is intended for the symptomatic relief of hay fever and other forms of allergies. In particular, this herbal allergy relief formulation is greatly intended for those forms of allergies that surface as acute inflammation of the nasal, ocular, upper respiratory and throat membranes, which are often accompanied with sneezing, prolific watery secretion, and profuse flow of mucous.

All of the mentioned samples of herbal allergy relief are offered with some combinations of many herbs that are all proven to provide a great relief to those who are affected with allergy. And virtually, most the herbs contained in those formulations are demonstrated to aid distress caused by cough, infection, and inflammation.

Herbal Skin Care Products

Herbal skin care products is what most of the skin-conscious people often look for. With the rapid increase in the number of people who embrace the herbal skin care products as the latest and at the same time the oldest fever in skin care, the herbal skin care products as plant derivatives are now found everywhere.

Due to the great benefits of herbs, most of the highly acclaimed manufacturers of skin care products have currently added herbs to their skin care lines, which greatly vary from cleansers to moisturizers and the whole lot in between. And still those who have not yet tried them may definitely be conscious about the level of safety and effectiveness of the herbal skin care products.

Historically, the application of herbal skin care products dates back to time immemorial. It is noted that as far back as 3000 BC, most of the Egyptians were administering herbs such as roses and fenugreek for the purpose of preventing wrinkles. In the place of the Greeks, some cosmetics containing mint were then favored by them from the period of the first Olympic Games. And virtually every ancient culture in fact has recorded the application of natural herbs for a beautiful and healthy-looking complexion.

For much interest, the modern science has evaluated and verified the healing, cleansing, and protective properties of some known herbs. Some of the studies in fact found out some valuable constituents in numerous herbs which greatly give them the potential for becoming one of the best herbal skin care products. For example, the herb known as rose geranium contains chemicals which make it a tested and proven antimicrobial herbal skin care product, making the plant effective for treating acne and other skin infections.

Unluckily, most of the claims on many herbal skin care products are still studied by the scientific community. And until now, due to the limited funds and time consuming process of examining the complicated herb specimens, trial and error is still the result. However, the trial and error lend some help to herbal skin care products. For instance, chamomile has been acclaimed for its soothing qualities since the Middle Ages and roses have been cherished for centuries for their skin benefits and also for their enchanting fragrance.

Today, there are a growing number of consumers who buy and even make some herbal skin care products and along with that, there have been many cosmetics containing herbs that are bought off store shelves at affordable rates as well some helpful books or guides on how to create homemade herbal skin care goods.

Natural Herbal Soap

Since the beginning of time, we have always relied on natural plants. Herbs are a vital part of our diet. We ate the leaves, roots, and stems of plants to cure our various discomforts and ailments. And we crushed flowers and placed aromatic herbs in our baths to promote general well-being.

Today, we have tons of commercial products that can do what herbs can. We are fond of processed foods sold in fast-food chains. Every year, a new kind of drug is synthetically produced to treat all kinds of diseases. And countless synthetic beauty products line the shelves of many stores. But why would anyone want to give up a centuries-old tradition for a box of nothing more than chemicals?

If you are simply tired of relying on chemicals to enhance your body, you are not alone. Many people are beginning to see the merits of using natural products on their body. To start with, many manufacturers of beauty products are slowly offering natural herbal soaps for those who are looking for something other than what’s offered in the shelves today. Once you begin to use natural herbal soaps, you will discover the difference they will make on you skin and your body. And chances are, you’ll never want to give them up and go back to using commercial products again.

What are Natural Herbal Soaps?

Natural herbal soaps are soaps made from natural ingredients, which means that they contain only naturally occurring chemicals and not the kind that are synthetically produced. Manufacturers of natural herbal soaps use a wide range of natural ingredients in their products. However, as a general rule of thumb, the ones selected are those that require the least amount of chemical extractions and solvents.

How are Natural Herbal Soaps made?

Natural herbal soaps are made by balancing all the theories and lessons of aromatherapy and incorporating it into herbal therapy. Most natural herbal soaps being sold today are handmade. These soaps may be cold-processed or hot-processed and both have their benefits.

Natural herbal soaps that are made by cold process involve mixing all the essential ingredients in a pot. Once the mixture is ready, it is then poured into a mould for drying. The drying process is called saponification and it usually lasts about 48 hours. After sapofinication, the newly dried natural herbal soap is then cut and left to cure for a minimum of 4 weeks and sometimes even 6 weeks. This is to ensure the hardness of the natural herbal soap bars. Hardness of the bar is an important quality as this keeps the soap from dissolving quickly.

Natural herbal soaps may also be made through hot process. In hot process, the herbal nutrients and essential fatty oils are placed in a double boiler in order to accelerate saponification and the curing process. Afterwards, the mixture is then poured into moulds ready to use within a few days.

Horsetail

A plant left over from prehistoric times, horsetail, or Equisetum arvense, is a bushy native perennial that is most often found in open fields, hence its name “arvense” derived from Latin “arvum,” meaning “filed, cultivated land, plowed land.” Instead of producing flowers, the field horsetail plant has spores like its cousin, the fern. It is believed to be a descendant of a huge fernlike plant that covered the planet some 200 million years ago.

To the Romans, the horsetail was nothing but the plant to use when cleaning their pots and pans and make them nonstick, courtesy of silica present in it. Medieval people used it as a finishing for cabinets and other wood crafts.

The Plant:

The horsetail plant is widely distributed throughout the temperate climate zones of the Northern Hemisphere, including Asia, North America, and Europe. The plant is unique in that it barely has leaves with thin, gangly stems.

One variety of horsetail resembles the asparagus save for its brown color and spore-containing cones on top and typically grows in the spring. In the summer, when the plant reaches its maturity peak, it branches out into think, green, sterile stems that look like a feathery tail.

Health Benefits:

Horsetail is best known for its wound-healing properties. Decades before the first Western man came to settle in American, the natives were using horsetail as a poultice to treat open wounds and speed up the healing process. The ashes of horsetail fern stems were used by the Thompson tribe in British Columbia to treat burns. Galen, the Roman physician famous in herbal lore, recommended the plants use as a kind of folk remedy for kidney and bladder troubles. This was later on adapted by several cultures.

The main constituent found in horsetail that makes it a potent wound-healing herb is silica. The plant is rich in silicic acid and silicates, providing approximately 2-3 percent elemental silicon. These substances are easily absorbed. Because of this, they can be utilized to facilitate calcium absorption. In this regard, the plant may therefore be used to promote bone growth and collagen formation, possibly giving it anti-arthritic properties.

Other useful elements contained in the herb include potassium, aluminum, manganese, calcium, and fifteen different types of bioflavonoids. The diuretic properties of the herb are attributed to the high concentration of bioflavonoids.

Subsequent studies on horsetail as a diuretic led to the plant’s chief use as a mild diuretic. It is used as a water pill to increase urination and lessen swelling. It is also used as an herbal remedy for various bladder and kidney problems, including kidney stones and bladder infections.

Various scientists examined the plant to try to identify the compound that is responsible for its diuretic action. They discovered several compounds that appeared to promote fluid loss. These are equisetonin and flavone glycosides. The property of horsetail to promote water loss led people to believe that it can be effective as a weight loss agent. However, this claim remains unfounded.

Horsetail could also have positive effects against bed-wetting and urinary incontinence. The plant provides silica which strengthens connective tissues and reduces urinary tract irritation. Silica may also promote tissue repair and healing for people with bursitis, emphysema, and hemorrhoids.

Buying Information

The herb is available in many forms, such as fluid extracts, tea, tincture, powder, or extracts. If you take horsetail for urinary problems, be sure to get the fluid form. Also, drink lots of water so as to increase urination and potentially cure water loss.

Recipe For Herbal Iced Tea

Herbs according to herbalists are defined broadly as medicinal and cosmetic plants. Any plant that has medicinal properties is considered as herbs this include trees, shrubs, mushrooms, lichens, fruits and vegetables that has medicinal properties. There are a number of herbal recipes that are used for health and healing purposes. But the most powerful herbs can be worthless if the proper herbal recipes are not followed.

The herbal recipes or combinations can change the dried or fresh herbs into a medicine that can be ingested or used in topical applications such as skin salve or massage oil. Herbal recipes for tinctures and body oils can be made from fresh or dried herbs. The best herbal recipes to extract the herb’s properties differ from herb to herb. For instance, St. John’s wort, oat berries and feverfew will lose their effect when dried. Essential oils in fragrant herbs such as peppermint and chamomile are lost if such herbs are dried. Some herbs require herbal recipes that involve drying such as comfrey and calendula flowers because they contain a great deal of water and the final product might come out too diluted if not dried. Some herbal recipes are better than the other preparations when it comes to treating a particular illness. For instance, aloe vera lotion might be better than aloe vera salve in treating burn. Most herbal recipes or preparations are available from natural food stores. Or you can prepare your own herbal recipes. In choosing the herbal recipes, you should consider availability, cost, convenience and effectiveness. In a number of herbal recipes you would find out that the necessary ingredient is not herbs but the essential oils that are derived from herbs. These essential oils contain a host of medicinal properties of the herbs where they were extracted. Moderation in using herbal recipes should be observed in order to prevent overdose. Herbal recipes are oftentimes used externally. Some herbal recipes are to be used internally.

The following are samples of herbal recipes:

HERBAL ICED TEA
Boil water and pour into a pitcher. Add a handful or so of the tea blend and allow to steep in the refrigerator for about two hours. Strain off the tea material and pour into another pitcher. Sweeten with honey and add lemon slices if you like. Serve with ice.

Tea for nervous tension:
    1 1/3 oz. St. John’s Wort
    1 oz. Lemon Balm Leaves
    1 oz. Valerian
Use 1 tsp. of the herb mixture per cup of boiling water. Steep for 10 min., strain, sweeten if necessary. Drink a cup of this tea before going to bed each night for several weeks to calm overwrought nerves, lift depression, and help you fall asleep more easily.
Tea for coughing fits:
    1 1/3 oz. St. John’s Wort
    2/3 oz. Thyme
    2/3 oz. Linden Flowers
Use 1 tsp. of the herb mixture per cup of boiling water to soothe irritations of the upper respiratory tract that cause coughing. Steep for 5-10 min., strain, sweeten if necessary. This tea is helpful with bronchitis and whooping cough.
Tea for migraines:
    1 2/3 oz. St. John’s Wort
    1 oz Valerian
    1 oz. Linden Flowers
    1/4 oz. Juniper Berries
Use 1 tsp. of the mixture per cup of boiling water. Steep for 10 min, strain and sweeten. This tea helps dilate blood vessels and improve circulation. If your headaches are triggered by weather, drink the tea as the weather is changing

Ginger

Ginger, or Zingiber officinale, is a small herbaceous plant belonging to the Zingiberaceae family. The plant is said to originate from India and China. The name of this plant comes from the Sanskrit word “stringa-vera” which means “with a body like a horn.” This indeed is an accurate description of the most apparent part of the plant – the rhizome.

Ginger – Its Role in History

For many centuries, ginger plays a vital role in Chinese medicine. In fact, it is close in rank to Camellia sinensis or green tea, ginseng, and Dong Quai or Angelica. Ginger is even mentioned in one of the writings of Confucius. Likewise, the Moslem Koran makes ample mention of it, indicating that it was known in Arab countries as far back as 650 A.C.

Ginger was one of the earliest spices known in Western Europe and it was used since the ninth century. The herb became so popular in Europe that at one time, it was included in every table setting, joining the ranks of salt and pepper. As common article in medieval and renaissance trade, ginger was one of the spices used to battle against the Plague.

In nineteenth century England, barkeepers of pubs and taverns put out small containers of ground ginger which costumers will then use to sprinkle into their beer – the origin of ginger ale. And in order to “gee up” a lazy horse, Sussex farmers apply a pinch of ginger to the animal’s backside, a truly time-honored practice.

The Plant

Ginger is often mistaken for a “root”, hence the term “ginger root.” Actually, that golden part of the plant is a rhizome. The plant is indigenous to southern China. When the Chinese commenced trade with people from neighboring islands, they brought the plant with them. Thus, the cultivation of ginger spread to the Spice Islands and other parts of Asia, and subsequently to West Africa and to the Caribbean. Today, India is the main producer and exporter of this hot-tasting spice.

Extracts of ginger are used in foods, condiments, baked confections, candies, beverages, cosmetics, and perfumes. And it is common to products containing this plant in many supermarkets for use in food preparation or as an herbal medicine. In China, a type of ginger is produced that is particularly suited for confectionery. Japanese ginger lacks the typical aroma. Pickled ginger called gari or sushoga is always used as a condiment for sushi. In general, products made from this plant vary considerably in taste, pungency, and smell.

Medicinal Properties

Ginger contains many substances that are indicative of its medicinal value. It contains compounds, called phenolic compounds and sesquiterpenes. Gingerols and shogaols are examples of phenolic compounds. These two are the main chemicals that give ginger that pungent flavor without being volatile. The results of recent studies have suggested the plant is valuable as an anti-emetic, which means that it could stop such ailments as nausea and vomiting. Concering the use of this plant to stop nausea associated with pregnancy, more scientific evidence is needed.

The many antioxidants found in ginger are said to help prevent cancer and many other ailments. Antioxidants are the compounds that keep harmful substances such as free radicals from passing through cell membranes. The free radicals are the main culprit in illnesses and diseases.

Herbal remedy for dizziness

Dizziness or lightheadedness is the feeling that one is going to lose consciousness or pass out. Dizziness usually goes away after sitting or lying down. The most probable causes of dizziness or lightheadedness are: sudden drop in blood pressure and blood flow to the head, fatigue, stress, anemia, fever, anxiety, motion sickness, hyperventilation, hypoglycemia, inner ear disorder, brain tumor, hypertension, low blood pressure, allergies, diabetes, head injuries, stroke and a host of other factors.

It isn’t enough to take herbal remedy for dizziness to treat the problem. To get to the core, herbal remedy for dizziness needs to be accompanied with lifestyle changes as a holistic approach to treat it permanently. As part of the treatment process, you should limit alcohol, caffeine, nicotine and fried foods intake. And as much as possible, do not rise quickly from sitting or lying positions. There are also a number of supplements that served as herbal remedy for dizziness. Among the effective herbal remedy for dizziness are:

Dimethylglycine (DMG) this herbal remedy for dizziness helps increase the blood supply to the brain.

Vitamin B complex is herbal remedy for dizziness that is essential for the normal nervous system function and blood circulation to the brain. Natural sources rich in Vitamin B complex include brewer’s yeast, liver, whole-grain cereals, rice, nuts, milk, eggs, meats, fish, fruits, green leafy vegetables and others.

Vitamin C is another herbal remedy for dizziness that contains antioxidants and aids in circulation. Fruits are rich sources of vitamin C.

Calcium, magnesium and zinc are nutrients that are necessary in maintaining healthy nerve impulses and healthy immune system. Milk and milk products are good sources of calcium, magnesium. Rich sources of zinc include: brazil nuts, oats, oysters, peanuts, pecans, pumpkin seeds, rye and split peas.

Gingko biloba is another essential herbal remedy for dizziness that improves circulation and brain function by increasing the oxygen supply to the brain.

Black cohosh is herbal remedy for dizziness that reduces blood pressure. This herb is not recommended for pregnant women.

Ginger is herbal remedy for dizziness that relieves nausea and dizziness.

Dizziness could be a symptom of a bigger problem. It is always advisable to consult a doctor to diagnose your condition. Herbal remedy for dizziness is only recommended to manage the disorder. Also, the herbal treatment could have possible drugs or nutrients interactions. The herbal remedy for dizziness is not meant to replace prescription drugs.

Cayenne

Cayenne is basically an herb that is prized for thousand of years for its great healing potency. Cayenne, which is also called as Capsicum, obtains its name from the Greek, “to bite” which is basically an allusion to the hot spicy qualities of its fruits and seeds. From the cayenne plant, a product known as “cayenne pepper” was produced and was first introduced into Britain from India in the year 1548. Today, cayenne pepper is revered for its various beneficial health effects.

Cayenne is actually a shrubby herb of two to six feet high. Since it has a very pungent taste and aroma, the potent and hot fruit of cayenne has been applied in many areas as medicine for many centuries. Historically, cayenne is though useful for a variety of conditions of gastrointestinal tract, involving the onset of stomach aches, cramping pains, and gas. Aside from that, cayenne was also applied to treat disorders of the circulatory system. And in the traditional herbal medicine, cayenne is still used as a circulatory tonic, which is a substance that is believed to enhance the circulation.

Traditionally, cayenne is frequently rubbed on the skin as a cure for rheumatic pains as well as arthritis that is basically caused to what it now termed as “counterirritant effect”. The counterirritant is that something that roots the onset of irritation to a tissue to which it is used, therefore distracting from the main irritation. A clear example for this is the joint pain in the case of arthritis.

But cayenne is not just a healer from the ancient history. Numerous recent clinical trials have been conducted to validate the health benefits of this miracle herb and fortunately, the therapeutic value of cayenne has been validated and the claims are now being supported.

Recent studies have noted that cayenne is helpful for treating dyspepsia symptoms. In fact, the New England Journal of Medicine has reported that three Italian doctors explained how they were able to make their dyspepsia patients feel better after prescribing the cayenne pepper powder.

Aside from that, cayenne is also useful for treating digestion discomforts since it is found out that this miracle herb can rebuild the tissue in the stomach including the peristaltic action in the intestines. It therefore assists the eradication and assimilation and it aids the human body in producing hydrochloric acid, which is said to be important in for the proper digestion as well as assimilation, most especially of proteins.

Cayenne is also beneficial for those who have heart disease such as heart attacks. In fact, some reports have noted that this herb has been known to stop heart attacks within 30 seconds. That is how great the effects of cayenne, that it even encouraged thousands of heart attack patients to take the extract for a much better condition. It has also a pain-relieving effect that it is used as a treatment for post-herpetic neuropathy or the pain that stays after an attack of shingles. Along with that, it is also applied for peripheral neuropathy and nerve pain after cancer surgery and arthritis.

With its multiple health benefits, cayenne is now offered in health outlets in the form of either pill or powder. It is often added to tonics to ward off disorders and for persons who are addicted to it seems to be valuable possibly by decreasing the dilated blood vessels, therefore providing a relief for chronic digestion.

Ginkgo Biloba

Nicknamed as a “living fossil”, the Ginkgo biloba is a unique tree that remains unchanged through the passage of time. It has been in existence since the time of the dinosaurs and therefore considered as the sole living link between the lower and higher plants. The Chinese, and later the Japanese, who called it Ginkyo, meaning “silver apricot” referred to it as a symbol of longevity because of its history.

The Plant

The Ginkgo biloba is classified under gymnosperms (meaning “naked seeds”) for its seeds are not enclosed in a ripened fruit but are protected only by a fleshy seed coat. The Ginkgo biloba is distinguished from other gymnosperms by its fan-shaped foliages. Its leaves are bi-lobed, hence the name “biloba.”

A Ginkgo biloba tree can grow up to about 30 or 40 meters (100 ft.) in height and spread its foliage across 9 meters of space. The trunk can be as wide as 4 meters (13 ft.) in diameter and in open areas, can even become wider than that. The girth of Ginkgo bilobas that grow in temple grounds are about 10 meters in diameter.

The Ginkgo biloba has branches that may be long or short growing at nearly right angles. Because of the highly variable branches of the Ginkgo, older trees are usually irregular in form. The buds of are mounded with distinct form and leaf scars. The short leaf shoots clustered near the tip of the branch produce the seeds and the pollen.

The leaves of the Ginkgo biloba are its most recognizable feature. They are 5-8 cm wide and sometimes even twice as broad as that. They also resemble the leafshape of a Maidenhair fern (Adiantum), hence it is often referred to as the “Maidenhair tree.” During fall, the leaves turn a brilliant gold making the people in the olden times think it precious; so much so that they called it “tree of forty gold crowns” for that was how much it cost in former times.

Health Benefits

In the last three decades, the Ginkgo biloba has been proven to prevent many problems and ailments throughout the entire body. It is gaining recognition as a brain tonic, enhancing the memory as it positively affects the vascular system, especially the cerebellum. Ginkgo biloba is also used as treatment for vertigo, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), and a variety of neurological disorders and circulation problems. Because of its strangely soothing effects on the neurological aspects of the body, it is also believed to help counteract the effects of aging, including mental fatigue and lack of energy.

The Ginkgo biloba has the ability to increase blood flow to the brain and throughout the body’s network of blood vessels. These vessels are very important since they supply the blood and oxygen to the organs. Because of this ability of the Ginkgo biloba tree, it promotes increased metabolic rate, regulates neurotransmitters, and boosts oxygen levels in the brain.

Preparation Tips

Ginkgo biloba was used in the ancient times as a water-based herb so it may be effective as a tea. However, some studies have suggested that Ginkgo biloba doesn’t break down in water. Fortunately, the herb is available in capsules, tinctures, or powdered form. As a tea, it blends well with sage, rosemary, and Gotu kola.

Herbal Pillow

For thousands and thousands of years, herbs have been used by man for a variety of purposes. Herbs were pounded, ground, pressed, boiled for their extracts, and saturated in order to use them for medicine. Some aromatic herbs were especially valued because of their relaxing effects. The scent of these herbs were “captured” in pieces of cloth and sweet bags, later called “herbal pillows” in order to improve sleep and generally purify the home with their fragrance.

Herbal Pillows – Early History

Perhaps the earliest known civilization who made great use of herbs was the ancient Egyptians. These people were very ingenious and they found many plants that have therapeutic effects and health benefits. Pharoahs and priests used herbal pillows to add tranquility to the night and make them sleep better. Linen cloths filled with fragrant seeds and soaked in perfumes sewn together were the first herbal pillows ever used by man.

Later in the Middle Ages, anxious mothers used herbal pillows to lure their active offspring into tranquil sleep. They placed dill (Anthuem graveolens) in small pillows which they fashioned themselves in order to promote sleep in their children. Incidentally, the name “dill” comes from the Norse word “dilla”, which means “to lull.”

Another popular herb used in herbal pillows was agrimony. It is believed to be soporific, inducing sleep with its relaxing scent. This effect of the agrimony is immortalized in an old English text saying that “if it is layed under a man’s head, he shall sleep as he was dead; He shall never drede ne waken till fro under his head it be taken.”

Herbal pillows were also used to relieve headaches or as treatment for depression. During these times, flowers of therapeutic herbs were crushed or sewn into pillows and placed at the head of the bed. Sometimes, they were also placed between the linens to spread the scent more generously in the bedroom. Herbal pillows were especially used not as mere fanciful decorations but as a necessity. Their scent masked the consequences of poor sanitary conditions and made the surrounding air fresher.

How to make herbal pillows

You can create your own herbal pillow by sewing dried herbs into a square of cloth of bag. To make sure that the aroma would last, use a fixative. Fixatives help dried herbs retain their fragrance. Examples of fixatives are ambergris, civet, and musk.

The herbs used in many herbal pillows are those used in making potpourri. You can also make your own addition to make the scent more interesting. Spices, such as cinnamon, can make your herbal pillow more interesting; plus, it acts as a fixative also.

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