Even though there is access to a wide variety of information on the web, it can be easy to miss out on the valuable information found in various herbal traditions around the world. For example if you are searching for information on fenugreek and find the entry on Wikipedia it will tell you that “there is no clinical evidence that fenugreek has therapeutic properties.” Contrast this with one of my Ayurvedic reference books, Ayurvedic Herbs by Virender Sodhi, an Ayurvedic medical doctor and naturopath.…
This Asian food can help lower blood sugar and help fight viral and parasitic infections. It has been shown to both protect and regenerate insulin-producing pancreas cells.
One of the best ways to understand herbs is to taste and smell them, and then try them in liquid form. You can gain a greater understanding of herbs by doing this than you would ever obtain by just reading about them in books and swallowing them in capsules. I would especially try this with Gymnema sylvestre, or just gymnema. Gymnema contains compounds that bind to and block the receptor sites for the sweet taste. So, if you chew up some of the gymnema leaf or put an extract or tea in your mouth…
The American paw paw (Asimina triloba) is a deciduous tree native to the eastern United States and Canada. It is the only temperate member of the family Annonacea. All the other plants in this family grow in tropical or subtropical climates and a number of these are used medicinally, including cherimoya, graviola (sweetsop), and ylang-ylang. While paw paw does produce edible fruits, we’re more interested in how it can be used as a medicine. Like many other members of the Annonacea family, paw…
Long used as a laxative, castor oil can be used topically to ease pain and break up congestion. The leaves can also be used as a poultice to reduce swelling and pain, help heal boils and sores, and help ease constipation
This toxic botanical can be helpful for severe lymphatic swelling, cancer, and glandular imbalances in large, lethargic people. But, because of its toxicity it is important to know how to prepare and dose pokeweed safely.
Lavender is the most popular essential oil used for aromatherapy. It is helpful for balancing the nervous system, aiding sleep, helping wounds heal, and fighting fungal infections.