HERBs | Natural Goodness

Ancient cultures from the east have long seen and used herbs as natural remedies for good health.

By growing your own herbs, you will have your own instant access to remedies for coughs, colds, stomach upsets and headaches.

So here’s a short guide to what herbs do what and how to use them.

Lavender:

Lavender has a superbly strong smell which is a great relaxing remedy for both body and mind.

How to use it:

Just smelling the flowers calms the nerves, lifts the spirit and help relieve stress symptoms such as muscle tension, headaches and insomnia.

A steaming cup of lavender flower tea can bring down a fever and also relieve indigestion, wind, quell nausea and sooth bowl problems.

Coriander:

Both the seeds and the leaves make for good medicine.

How to use it:

Coriander is a great remedy for stress related digestive disorders such as gastritis.  Coriander also has cooling properties useful to help bring down fevers and relieving inflammatory conditions such as cystitis, conjunctivitis, sore throat and skin rashes.

Rosemary:

Rosemary is used as a tonic for the nervous system and also helps improve concentration and memory.

How to use it:

Drinking rosemary tea can help dispel depression and relieve anxiety.  Its anti-microbial properties enhance the immune system fight against infection and a hot tea will help relieve colds and flu.

The herb stimulates the gallbladder function and aids the digestion of rich, fatty foods.  Rosemary is also considered one of the best remedies for headaches.

Rose:

Most of you will think about roses when wanting to send loved ones flowers, but did you know that roses have been used as a remedy for years?

How to use:

Rose petals and rose leaf tea are great for calming anxiety, aiding relaxation and sleep, along with relieving lethargy and depression.

Rose can also help the digestive tract re-establish normal bacterial population after a poor diet.

Camomile:

This is often used to create an aromatic lawn or path that releases a heady fragrance when walked on.

How to use it:

Again another great stress reliever for anxiety and insomnia, but can also soothe headaches, toothaches and arthritis.  Used externally it can be used as an antiseptic and anti-inflammatory, excellent for healing sores and burns.

Nettle:

This one you always hear about on survival programmes, used for such things as nettle tea.  And although it has a bit of a nasty sting, nettles are a great detoxifying herb.

How to use it:

Nettles are great as a first aid remedy; cooled tea made from the leaves can be applied to cuts and grazes, burns and scalds to speed up the healing process.  Nettle can also reduce fevers.  Throw a couple of handfuls of washed young leaves into a vegetable soup for the last 5mins of cooking and then blend together.

 

Category: Kids Fitness & Nutrition Advice, Vitamins & Minerals