All SuperFoods

The soothing power of valerian root

For many centuries, the perennial herb known as valerian root has been used to treat insomnia.  Even today, with so many prescription and over the counter sleep medications on the market, valerian root continues to enjoy a remarkable popularity.  Valerian root certainly has a number of important benefits over other popular sleep medications.  For instance, it is mild and not addictive and it is effective not only as an insomnia medication but as a treatment for anxiety and stress as well.

What is valerian root?

The plant known as the valerian root grows wild in many places around the world, including North America, Asia and Europe.  It is the underground stems and roots of the plant that are dried and made into the herbal preparation known as valerian root.

There has been a bit of controversy over just what makes valerian root so effective as a sedative, but there is little doubt as to its effectiveness.  In addition to promoting healthful and sound sleep, valerian root has long enjoyed a reputation for reducing anxiety and for reducing tension by relaxing tight muscles.  In addition, Valerian root may play a role in relieving certain digestive problems, including such common ailments as irritable bowel syndrome and diverticulosis.

Forms of valerian root

In addition to being taken orally in the form of capsules or tablets made from dried herb, valerian root is often added to hot water to form a strong herbal tea or used as an essential oil.  It is thought to have a calming effect in all of these preparations.

Valerian root has proven remarkably effective at treating anxiety and restlessness, and valerian root has even shown promise at treating panic attacks.  Research is ongoing into the effectiveness of this herb against this serious condition.

In addition to its calming effects on the mind, valerian root may exhibit the same calming effects on the digestive system.  Anecdotal evidence suggests that valerian root may be effective against common digestive problems, including many brought on by stress

Many people feel that the freeze dried extract of valerian root is the most effective form, and like all herbs how the valerian root is handled after harvest matters a great deal.  If the herb is mishandled, or the equipment used to process it is of substandard quality, much of the therapeutic value of the herb can be lost.  For this reason, it is important to buy valerian root only from high quality, established companies to ensure the best and most effective supplement.

What to look for when buying Valerian Root

Valerian root is sold both as an individual herbal supplement and as part of herbal preparations which combine many different herbs.  When buying a combined preparation with several different herbs it is important to ensure that the preparation contains a high enough concentration of valerian root to be effective against insomnia and other conditions.  If a high enough concentration is not available it may be best to purchase the herb separately.

Valerian root may be one of those times when the natural approach is the best.  Everyone needs to get a good night’s sleep, and new scientific studies, combined with thousands of years of safe and effective use, suggest that valerian root may be one of the best ways to treat insomnia and related conditions.

The benefits of St. John’s Wort for depression

Depression and anxiety are growing problems in the United States, and unfortunately many people who suffer from these serious illnesses are resistant to seeking professional help.  Fortunately, there are a number of natural remedies, including St. John’s Wort, which show great promise in treating depression and anxiety without the use of drugs.  St. John’s Wort has been shown to improve mood in many people, and there are those who swear by the positive effects of this herbal medication.

The history of St. John’s Wort

The herb we know today as St. John’s Wort is know scientifically as Hypericum perforatum, and it gets its name in honor of St. John The Baptist.  St. John’s birthday was thought to be in June, and it is in June that the golden flowers of this herb begin to bloom.  The word “wort” translates to “plant”, therefore St. John’s Wort is St. John’s plant.

This herb grows as a perennial, meaning it will grow back year after year on a single planting.  St. John’s Wort grows wild like a weed, and it has grown abundantly in Europe for thousands of years.  The history of using St. John’s Wort also goes back thousands of years, and it has been used as a safe and effective herbal medication for at least 2400 years.  The founder of medicine, Hippocrates, was known to prescribe St. John’s Wort for relief of such common ailments as hemorrhage, jaundice, dysentery, tuberculosis, colds and insomnia.

In European countries, St. John’s Wort has been studied for many decades, and scientists have discovered that it contains a combination of compounds, the most important of which is hypericin.  These compounds are thought to react with certain chemicals in the brain, thereby providing emotional comfort, a calming element and freedom from depression.  As a matter of fact, St. John’s Wort is thought to work much the same way as many common prescription antidepressants.

St. John’s Wort and depression

In Europe and other places around the world, doctors have been prescribing St. John’s Wort for the treatment of depression for many years, and the therapeutic effects of this herb have been shown to include relief from mild to moderate depression, relief from anxiety, relief from insomnia, and even increased cardiac circulation.

In the United States, St. John’s Wort is available over the counter in a number of preparations and a variety of strengths.  When taken orally St. John’s Wort is often prepared in capsule formula, at a standardized dosage of 300 mg. With a 0.3 hypericin concentration.  The suggested dosage ranges from 2 to 12 capsules per day, depending on the condition being treated and its severity.

St. John’s Wort is also available in tea form.  The tea is prepared by mixing 2 teaspoons of dried herb with hot water and letting it steep for 10 minutes.  After the tea has had time to steep, it is strained, and mixed with sugar or honey to make a tasty drink.

In addition to these common forms, St. John’s Wort can be infused into olive oil and used as a massage oil to relieve joint pain and inflammation.  This massage oil is also thought to be effective against bruises and wounds.

The many uses of tea tree oil

Tea tree oil is one of the most important compounds in the world of traditional medicine, useful for treating such diverse conditions as dandruff, athlete’s foot and acne.  There are many products containing tea tree oil on the market, and they have a number of important uses.  In addition, tea tree oil can be purchased as a pure essential oil.  This essential oil can be added to commercial shampoos for dandruff protection, or it can be applied to the skin to treat acne outbreaks.

The history of tea tree oil

The tea tree is known to the world of science as melaleuca alternifolia, and it grows wild in Australia and some parts of Asia.  The leaves of the tea tree were used by the indigenous peoples of Austalis and Asia to make a sort of tea. It is that traditional use that gave the tea tree its common name.

The oil of the tea tree has long been used by indigenous peoples in the countries where it is grown, and lately modern science has begun to take an interest in the many uses of tea tree oil.  Where aboriginal peoples would use this tea tree oil to heal cuts and infections on the skin, today tea tree oil is used in the treatment of acne and other common skin conditions.  The reason for this effectiveness is that tea tree oil contains compounds known as terpenoids, which have been proven effective in killing both bacterial and fungal infections.

It is this fungicidal property that makes tea tree oil so effective in treating athlete’s foot.  Athlete’s foot is a common fungal condition, and tea tree oil has been shown to be very effective at treating athlete’s foot and other similar conditions.

Tea tree oil and healing

TTO has also proven effective at treating minor cuts and injuries.  Australian aboriginies have long used tea tree oil to treat minor scrapes and injuries, and tea tree oil continues to be used for this purpose today.

TTO has also been proven effective as a topical antiseptic, and has shown promise in treating yeast infections, boils, lice and even yeast infections.

TTO is available in a wide variety of preparations, including shampoos, creams, lotions, ointments and soaps.  Tea tree oil can be used as well as a pure essential oil, and this pure oil is often applied to acne lesions to help them heal more quickly.  Pure tea tree essential oil can also be added to shampoo to make an effective and less costly alternative to dandruff shampoo.

Other uses of TTO

Other preparations of tea tree oil include as a spot treatment for toenail fungus, or diluted into a mouthwash for the treatment of thrush, also known as oral yeast.  When gargling with a mouthwash containing TTO, however, it is important to not swallow the solution, since high concentrations of tea tree oil can be poisonous.

While allergies and allergic reactions to tea tree oil are rare, it is important to be on the lookout for symptoms of allergy and sensitivity.  Such symptoms can include skin rashes and itchy skin.  Anyone experiencing these symptoms should discontinue use of tea tree oil.

Spice is nice - great herbs with great benefits

Herbs can do much more than add much needed spice to the foods you cook.  Herbs also have important health benefits, and many herbs have been shown to have remarkable healing properties.

Growing your own herbs

Fortunately, herbs are very easy to grow in your own home herb garden.  They are also easy and quite inexpensive to buy, either fresh or in their dried varieties.  When buying herbs, whether they are dried or fresh, however, it is important to exercise caution and to buy only the freshest herbs, or those dried herbs made by quality, reputable companies.

The best choice for many people, however, is to grow your own herbs in an herb garden.  Unlike many other forms of gardening, an herb garden takes up almost no space.  Most herb gardens can be grown using the smallest flower pots set in a sunny windowsill.  There are every kits which allow the cook to grow a variety of herbs directly from seed, all in one handy container.

There are as many ways to use herbs in cooking and in healing as there are herbs.  For instance, meats, stews and pasta dishes can all be enhanced with basil, garlic, oregano and rosemary.  Foods that are naturally sweet can be further enhanced through the addition of herbs like cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg, while extra heat can be added to many foods by adding a dash of white, black or red pepper.

Herbs and dieting

Dieters often appreciate the ability of herbs to add flavor and variety to food without adding extra calories.  When adding fresh herbs to a recipe, the best technique is to gently crush the herbs in your hand in order to fully release their flavor.  It is best to add the herbs near the end of the cooking process to preserve their flavor and nutritional value.  A few of the most commonly grown herbs for the home garden are:

> Sweet basil - Sweet basil (ocimum basilicum), in both the dark opal and the green variety are quite easy to grow from seed, and they generally germinate at 7 to 10 days.  Basil can grow to a height of 18 inches, and it provides excellent flavor to tomato paste, pastas, soups and stews.

> Chives - Chives (allium scboenoprasum) is a perennial plant which is popular in both herb gardens and more traditional garden patches.  These tiny plants resemble spears of grass when they first sprout, but they can grow to a height of 12 inches.  Chives are great in salads, sauces and all kinds of egg dishes.

> Dill - Dill (anethum graveolens) is another easily grown herb, and it makes an excellent flavoring for meats.  Dill is also excellent for use in pickling.

> Lavender - Lavender (lavandula) is easy to grow as well, and it provides a fresh scent indoors and out.  While not traditionally eaten, lavender is important in aromatherapy, and the dried leaves of the plant make excellent sachets for sprucing up closets.

> Mint - Mint (menthe spicat) is also quite easy to grow and it can easily be grown indoors as part of an herb garden. Mint is an excellent accompaniment to fruit drinks and lemonade, and we all know how well mint jelly goes with lamb dishes.

> Sage - Sage (saivia officinalis) is another perennial plant that is grown indoors and out.  This popular herb is excellent for use in chicken, turkey and pork, and it is often used for flavoring sausage as well.