Category: Power Herbs

01 JUL

Feverfew

For the Relief of Migraines

As someone has said, headaches can be a real pain! Too many Americans suffer from the nagging pain and inconvenience of headaches. Some experience headaches caused by stress or tension, while others experience the intense throbbing of a migraine headache.

The length of pain from a headache is quite variable. A migraine may last anywhere from several hours to several days. Women are affected by migraines about three times more commonly than men. The pain associated with migraines can be so severe that individuals are unable to conduct routine activities. Headache is known to be a leading cause of absenteeism from work.
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01 MAY

The Cranberry Cure

The cranberry bush (Vaccinium macrocarpon) is a low-growing evergreen shrub with leathery leaves and bright-red berries. This member of the heath family grows in mountains, forests, and damp bogs within the United States from Alaska to Virginia. However, most of the commercial berries are produced in Massachusetts and Wisconsin.

Native Americans used cranberries for both food and medicine. The berries were enjoyed either raw or sweetened with maple sugar. In addition, they used them in sauces, breads, and puddings. Cran-berries were also used in poultices for treating wounds. Cranberry leaves were typically used for diarrhea and urinary disorders. The sailors during Colonial days used cranberries to prevent scurvy.
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01 MAR

Black Cohosh

Herbal relief for menopause and menstrual problems

Menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, insomnia, depression, and emotional lability commonly strike women in their 40s and early 50s. Such women look for help to cope with the discomfort and frustration associated with their change of life. Many postmenopausal women are uncomfortable with using hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to help diminish menopausal symptoms, because of the unpleasant side effects and fear of cancer associated with HRT.
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01 JAN

Kava Kava

Kava kava is prepared from the fresh or dried rhizomes and rootstocks of a robust perennial shrub, Piper methysticum. This shrub possibly originated from Vanuatu. Seafaring Polynesians spread the shrub to Hawaii and throughout the South Pacific Islands. Kava kava (also called kava) is closely related to the black pepper plant.

The shrub grows best in warm humid conditions with lots of sunlight at an altitude of 500 to 1,000 feet above sea level. Kava kava, with its large heart-shaped leaves, can grow up to 10 feet high and can form dense thickets. A 3-year-old plant can produce a massive 20-pound rhizome with many roots. Depending upon the resin content, the rootstock color varies from white to yellow.
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01 NOV

Psyllium

Soluble Fiber to the Rescue

Many people consume highly refined diets that contain very little fiber. In addition, they drink inadequate amounts of water and fail to engage in a regular exercise program. This produces a sluggish intestinal tract with constipation. A large number of people seek relief by spending millions of dollars on various laxatives.
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01 NOV

Ephedra

Herbal ecstasy, or relief for respiratory problems?

Supplements containing ephedra products are very popular in the United States. Today they are commonly used as energy boosters to enhance physical performance, or as appetite suppressants to aid in weight-loss regimes. Truck drivers have also used these supplements to sustain alertness and reduce fatigue.
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01 SEP

Fenugreek

Ancient Medicine for Modern Diseases

Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum), a member of the pea family, is an annual plant that grows from four to 20 inches in height and has pale-yellow flowers. The botanical name for fenugreek means “Greek hay”, since it was used at one time to scent poor quality hay. The plant is native to the Mediterranean region, the Ukraine, India, and China. Today it is cultivated primarily in India, Morocco, Turkey, and China.
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01 JUL

Aloe Vera

The All-purpose Gel

Aloe vera, or commercial products containing aloe, are found in most American households. Aloe vera gel is widely used for the treatment of various skin conditions. Aloe-containing creams, gels, and ointments are used for minor burns, sunburn, cuts and abrasions, wounds, and frostbite. Aloe gel is also found in many shampoos, soaps, sunscreens, skin creams and other cosmetics that are used to soothe, heal, protect, and moisturize the skin..

Aloe vera is a stemless perennial evergreen plant belonging to the lily family. It is thought to have originated from northern Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. Today it is widely cultivated in southern Texas, Mexico, and coastal Venezuela.
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01 MAY

Ginseng

For Common Complaints

Ginseng is one of the most popular of the commonly used herbs in the United States today. This slow-growing perennial has been used medicinally in Asia for more than 2,000 years. Asian ginseng (Panax ginseng) grows throughout Korea, China, and Japan, while American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) grows throughout the eastern region of North America. Ginseng is relatively expensive since it is quite difficult to grow. Normally it takes the ginseng root about four to six years to reach maturity.
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01 MAR

Chamomile

For Common Complaints

Chamomile (Matricaria recutita) is one of the best known and most versatile of medicinal plants. While it is indigenous to various parts of central and southern Europe (Germany, Hungary, Slovakia, Italy, and Croatia), and northwestern Asia, chamomile is now widely cultivated in Australia, Argentina, the United States, northern Africa, and Egypt.
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