Is a minor pain like a headache destroying your productivity?
Before you go popping your, like, 10th Tylenol this week, read this.
It absolutely astounds me how little most people know about plants, even those who claim to be “hippie”. Sure, water + sunlight + soil = a happy plant, but there’s so much more to learn! So many ADULTS cannot identify 5 edible plants native to their home.
Medicine should be simple. Not a concoction of chemicals from a lab. Herbal remedies are always what I turn to first in times of nausea, pain, and headache. And guess what? THEY WORK!
Some of these medicinal recipes and practices are hundreds (if not thousands) of years old. You want to know why they’ve been around for so long? Because they’re effective.
Let me add also that I am pro-medical marijuana. As a scientist, I have to go with the facts, and there is just too much data supporting how potent of an herb it is for healing many ailments. It absolutely appalls me that it is not federally legal in the US. However, I want to wait to write an entire post about this incredible plant, because it’s something I feel strongly about.
Let’s save your liver from acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and opiates with these herbs, shall we?
Ginger
Nausea, inflammation, and immunity boost.
This root has been used for ages to help digestion, reduce nausea, and help fight the flu and common cold. The unique fragrance and flavor of ginger come from its natural oils, particularly the most important of which is gingerol.
Gingerol is the main bioactive compound in ginger, responsible for much of its medicinal properties. It has powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.
Expecting? Morning sickness for women with child can be easily remedied with some ginger, instead of over the counter or prescription drugs that could harm your baby.
Preparation: I recommend to drink this as tea. Boil water, chop a few slivers of ginger, peeling off the skin. Brew your favorite tea, add some lemon, and let the ginger bits sit at the bottom of the cup. It will add a pleasant spice!
White Willow Bark
Minor aches and pains.
Kind of a weird one, right? Most vitamin shops sell this supplement, as ibuprofen has been shown to inhibit muscle protein synthesis.
The bark of white willow contains salicin, which is a chemical similar to acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin). In combination with the herb’s powerful anti-inflammatory plant compounds (called flavonoids), salicin is thought to be responsible for the pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory effects of the herb.
This is a personal favorite, because I no longer have to rely on chemical-filled drug store pain meds when I have a small headache. Game changer!
It also has beauty applications! Willow bark extract can be found as an ingredient in cosmetics and personal care products due to its astringent, anti-inflammatory, and soothing properties. Salicylic acid can help skin shed dead cells while clearing pores.
Preparation: I recommend taking this in pill form. I got a bottle of 60 for like $6 at GNC.
Echinacea
This is fantastic when you’re sick.
Echinacea enthusiasts claim that it cuts the chances of catching a common cold by 58 percent, and reduces the duration of the common cold by almost one-and-a-half days.
I can attest that the latter is definitely true. This stuff is like magic! Bye bye liters of NyQuil, won’t miss you.
What’s more is that the medicinal value of phytochemicals contained in Echinacea may be a valuable tools to combat tumors.
Preparation: I recommend buying this in tea form! Most supermarkets have it in the tea/coffee aisle for under $5.
Aloe Vera
Burn and cut treatment.
This is the key ingredient in after-sun lotions. Why not just skip all the chemicals and go straight to the source of healing?
One of the most crucial elements found in aloe vera gel is a complex carbohydrate known as acemannan. It allows nutrients to reach the cells, nourish them and at the same time relieve them of toxins.
Aloe vera gel contains powerful antioxidants, which belong to a large family of substances known as polyphenols. These polyphenols, along with several other compounds in Aloe vera, can help inhibit the growth of certain bacteria that can cause infections in humans.
Preparation: You can buy a leaf from your local supermarket in the produce section, or buy your own plant to have it always on hand. Slice open the leaf, scoop out the goop, and apply topically after sun exposure, or to the site of a burn/cut. I like to apply it as a facial mask. It’s so soothing!
Turmeric
Swelling, bloating, anti-inflammation.
Curcumin is the main active ingredient in turmeric. It has powerful anti-inflammatory effects and is a very strong antioxidant. Curcumin blocks NF-kB, a molecule that travels into the nuclei of cells and turns on genes related to inflammation.
It is now believed that chronic, low-level inflammation plays a major role in almost every chronic, Western disease. This includes heart disease, cancer, metabolic syndrome, Alzheimer’s and various degenerative conditions.
For this reason, it’s important to combat inflammation when present. Especially during that “time of the month”.
Preparation: I recommend taking this in pill form at a vitamin shop, or buying it as a spice at your local supermarket to sprinkle in your foods.
Cayenne
Diarrhea, high blood pressure.
Providing detox support, cayenne pepper benefits include its ability to stimulate circulation and eliminate acidity.
This delicious spice may also help boost the stomach’s defense against infections, increase digestive fluid production, and help deliver enzymes to the stomach. This helps in aiding digestion, and putting a halt to diarrhea.
Interestingly, animal studies have shown that the active ingredient capsaicin in cayenne peppers may reduce high blood pressure.
1 teaspoon of cayenne pepper contains 44% of your daily vitamin A intake. Pretty spectacular!
Preparation: I recommend buying this in spice format your local supermarket, and sprinkling it in your dishes. I like to add it to my eggs, as it gives a little kick! You can also add it to tea.
Cinnamon
Bad breath/mouth infections, inflammation, diabetes.
Another bark!
Cinnamon has been shown to be protective against bacteria living in the oral microflora that could cause bad breath, cavities, or mouth infections.
The health benefits of cinnamon can be best obtained in the form of its pure bark, essential oils, in ground spice form (which is bark powder) or in extract form when its special phenolic compounds, flavonoids and antioxidants are isolated.
One of the most beneficial spices on earth, cinnamon is a strong antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, anti-microbial, and immunity-boosting warrior.
Preparation: I recommend buying this in spice or stick form. Sprinkle it onto your healthy desserts for a nice twist, or put a stick in your tea!
Garlic
Heart and circulatory system disease, hair loss.
Garlic has been widely recognized as both a preventative agent and treatment of many cardiovascular diseases, including atherosclerosis, hyperlipidemia, thrombosis, and hypertension.
Applying garlic-infused coconut oil as a standalone treatment might even be more beneficial as a hair loss remedy, because it mitigates the risk of absorbing harmful corticosteroids in the skin.
Preparation: I want to recommend that you eat this raw, but it is so powerful and overwhelming, so I’m gonna say that you should cook it. I love wrapping some gloves in tin foil and baking or grilling the tin foil wrap. Pro tip: crush the cloves with the side of your knife, and the peel will come right off!
Originally published at blissful-bohemian.com