Honeybush is a member of the Fabaceae family, genus Cyclopia. It is found growing only in limited areas in the south-west of S. Africa; Eastern Cape. It received its name from its deep-yellow flowers, which have a distinctive sweet honey fragrance.

Honeybush is one of the four, commercially utilized honeybush species, out of the 23 encountered growing wild; C. sessiliflora, Cyclopia intermedia, C. subternata and C. Genistoides. It is not a herb but a medicinal bush.

Leaf form and size differ within the species, but are by and large thin, needle-like to elongated broadish leaves.

Two processes of treating honeybush for its use in making tea are common. In the conventional method, the top new leaves are harvested, during flowering period, then with mechanical means are first cut and thren bruised by rollers, and the final product placed in a sunny place to oxidize.

The new, industrialized process oxidizes the collected leaves, for two or three days, in revolving tanks, heated at low temperatures of up to 80 degrees C. The dried up leaves after heat procesing are place outdoors to air dry.

The leaves and stalks of the Cyclopia species are used most commonly to make a sweet herbal infusion.

Numerous health properties are connected with frequent use of the tea. It has very low tannin content and contains no caffeine. It is consequently particularly of value to children and patients with digestive and heart troubles where stimulants and tannins should be avoided. It is also very rich in minerals and antioxidants.

The minerals Magnesium, Potassium, Sodium, Calcium, Zinc, Copper, Manganese, Iron and fluoride are found in Honeybush. According to research Honeybush besides contains Coumestans, Isoflavones, Xanthones, and Flavones all acknowledged to advance good health and also considered to assist in the prevention of certain types of cancers.

Honeybush has also anti-spasmodic properties which imply those with delicate digestion could easily relish this tea. It has been employed as a treatment for colic in babies and also assists to alleviate insomnia.

honeybush

Creating your own herbal remedy (medicine) could be elaborate and somewhat unsafe since a lot of of the herbs have serious or unexpected side-effects. So anybody curious would be wise not to attempt to do so but to look into the herbal medicinal stock of the closest herbal practitioner or provider. Amongst other things a number of creams and salves are made from herbs.

A lot of of the herbs and their therapeutic properties do now appear rather fanciful. The very few named below are included for their interest value, you are not actually advised to sample them as a remedy for your health issues without the qualified opinion and advice of your herbalist or health care provider.

Agrimony. This is an ancient medicinal herbaceous plant. The Greeks employed it to cure cataract. In Britain, several centuries later, it was produced into a spring tonic and a blood purifier good for those with afflicted liver. Agrimony was also made into an emollient called arquebused and applied to injures imposed by an arquebus, a hand-held gun.

Betony. This was ground into a cream together with animal fat (hog) and used to sooth burns.

Borage. Even in Roman times, borage had the repute of being a cheering, encouraging plant in Pliny’s words brings always courage’.

Chervil. This is yet additional herb which the Romans brought into Europe from the lands of the Mediterranean. in England in the fifteen century it was an all-important plant, and it stayed in favor. For John Gerad, chervil made salads that excelled ‘in wholesomeness for the cold and feeble stomach’. The cooked roots (boiled) were a protective against plague. It could be consumed to cure the hiccups, and its leaves soothed the pain of rheumatism and contusions.

Elder. Elderflowers water has been accepted as a relieve for colds for many centuries.

Fennel. The Greeks thought very high of fennel and employed it for slimming and for addressing more than twenty different illnesses. The Romans ate it-root, leaf and seed-in salads and baked bread and cakes. In Aglo-Saxon times it was utilized on fasting days presumably because, as the Greeks had already discovered, it stilled the pangs of hunger. Even in later centuries it was ‘much used in drink to make people more lean that are too fat’.

Horehound. The Greeks thought also highly of this herb and used it as an antispasmodic drug. It was an antidote for the bite of mad dog and this is how it got its common name.

herbs, herbal medicines

Rue is a highly aromatic and decorative evergreen shrub-herb. It is a member of the Rutaceae family (citrus). It has lacy blue-green leaves, small yellow flowers and grows to a height of about 90cm. Although native to Mediterranean, this perennial herb will tolerate cooler climate and it makes an attractive hedging plant growing also for its (almost entirely) decorative qualities.

Rue has been highly valued for its medicinal strengths over the years. It is reputed to cure numerous complaints, such as headaches, coughs, and croup. Rue is toxic in large doses, but it is prescribed by Homeopaths in minute doses to treat symptoms of weakness or bruising.

The part of the plant used (in very small quantities) is the fresh leaves to flavor salad dressings; if fresh leaves are not available, using the dried leaves make a poor replacement. Rue has a strong fragrance that is pleasant and sweet. Its rather bitter taste is , even more bitter when dried.

The herb prefers full sun and well drained soil with natural or added lime. Propagation is by seed, root division or cuttings 10-12cm long, in late summer. Many centuries ago rue was taken medicinally as a tisane and thought to preserve good health.

Juniper is a sturdy, perennial shrub which on occasions grows to the size of a small, 10 m tall tree. It is a species in the genus Juniperus, in the family Cupressaceae. It is found end-to-end of the cool temperate northerly Hemisphere from the Arctic south mounts to around 30°N latitude in North America, Europe and Asia.

It is dioecious plant with male and female cones on separate plants, which are wind pollinated. The shrub is usually used in horticulture as a decorative bush. From its reddish stems to green, needle-like, pointed leaves and piquant berries the entire plant is highly fragrant.

The green, ripening to purple-black waxy berries are round, 4-12 mm diameter and commonly have three (at times six) fused shells, each with a individual seed. The male berries are yellow, 2-3 mm long, and drop shortly after casting their pollen.

Its astringent blue-black berries are too bitter to consume in the raw state and are commonly sold dehydrated and employed to flavor meats sauces and staffing. Berries are used as well to flavor spirits, especially gin. They are in general crushed prior to use to liberate their flavor. Since juniper berries have a robust taste, they should be used sparingly.

Juniper berries have been agelong used in practice of medicine by a lot of cultures. Pedanius Dioscorides, an ancient Greek physician, pharmacologist and botanist as well names juniper berries, when crushed and applied on the penis or vagina prior to sexual intercourse, as a contraceptive. Juniper berries act as a potent urinary tract antiseptic if ingested and they were employed by American Indians as herbal remedy for urinary tract infections.

Western tribes mixed the berries of juniper with Berberis root bark in herbal tea to address diabetes. Clinical studies have supported the effectiveness of this treatment in insulin-dependent diabetes. Chemical compounds in these plants when mixed and ingested have been exhibited to activate insulin production in the body’s fat cells, as well as stabilize blood sugar levels. Indigenous Americans as well used juniper berries as a female contraceptive.

Juniper grows well in any well-drained limey land. It prefers hill sides and doesn’t like intense shade. It responds well to conservative doses of organic fertilizer which will advance growth. Propagation is by cuttings or seeds. Sow seeds or small plants in spring 1.5 meters apart.

It is crucial to have two plants as it is very uncommon to encounter male and female flowers developing on the same bush. Male flowers resemble green catkins, though the female flowers are cone-like. Berries are picked in autumn once they have turned black. They commence by being green in color and could take two or more years to mature fully.

Sweet Wormwood is a Chinese herbaceous plant known also as Sweet Sagewort and Sweet Annie. It features fern-like leaves, bright yellow flowers and a camphor-like smell. In contemporary central China, particularly Hubei Province it is eaten blended in a delicacy salad which is generally more costly to purchase than meat.

Artemisinin a common malarial drug is obtained from the sweet wormwood plant (Artemisia annua L). It is normally employed in those tropical nations which can afford it, as part of a combination-cocktail with other antimalarial drugs in order to prevent the development of parasite resistance.

The plant has also been shown to have anti-cancer properties. Scientists connected a chemical homing instrumentation, to artemisinin drug, that directs the chemical selectively to malignant neoplastic disease cells, but spares healthy cells, they report in the new issue of the journal Cancer Letters.

According to research workers at the University of Washington, the new chemical compound is 1,200 times more precise in killing certain forms of cancer cells than presently usable drugs and paves the way for a lot of effective chemotherapy drug with marginal side effects.

The artemisinin chemical compound takes advantage of cancer cell’s high iron levels.

Tomikazu Sasaki, at UW chemical science professor and senior writer of the university study said. “The chemical is like the equivalent of a special secret agent setting an explosive devise within the cell.”

Research workers essayed the artemisinin-based chemical on human leukemia cells, and detected it to selectively killing only the leukemia cells.

Sasaki said that the research has also shown leads displaying that the chemical compound is likewise selective and useful for human prostate and breast cancerous cells, and in essence it kills breast cancerous cells in rats safely.

He added that most accessible chemotherapies, to address cancer, are very cytotoxic and destructive to normal cells. On average one healthy cell is destroyed for every ten cancer cells.

Since ancient times, numerous plants have been employed to address the symptoms and causes of diabetes. In particular the Chinese in their practice of medicine have used for hundreds even thousands of years, plants such as dandelion ( Taraxacum officinale ), licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra) and ginseng (Ginseng Panax).

Herbs for the treatment of diabetic conditions, under the professional attention of a naturopath or herbalist can be of great help for all types of diabetes and even hold back an attack of the ever growing numbers of individuals with Type 2 diabetes. Many other herbs are also effective in treating causes and symptoms of diabetes.

Broadly speaking, any herb with the ability to tone up the liver and pancreas will be of assistance as a diabetic treatment. Such herbs used for treating diabetes include Trigonella Foenum Graecum, Ginkgo Biloba, Momordica Charantia, Gymnema Silvestre, Pterocarpus Marsupium, Allium Sativum, Allium Cepa, Vaccinium Myrtuillus, Stevia, Bilberry, Ginkgo Biloba, Asian Ginseng, Barberry, and Cinnamon.

Pterocarpus Marsupium also called Dragon’s Blood, Venga, Pitasara and Kino; a natural resin produced from this tree resembles in appearance that of dry blood, thus its name Dragon’s Blood. An excerpt of alcohol from the tree’s resin and the epicatechin, a flavonoid obtained from the tree’s bark, have both displayed the ability to protect pancreatic alpha cells from been damaged and assist damaged beta cells to regenerate.

Alpha pancreatic cells synthesize and secrete the peptide hormone glucagon, which elevates the in the blood’s glucose levels. Directly and/or indirectly both types of cells keep in line metabolic actions to maintain blood glucose balance.

Gymnema Silvestre it cuts down the feeling for eating sweets. It assists in insulin production and keeps sugar levels low for both 1 and 2 type of diabetes. Just a dose of 500 mg/day of standardized Gymnema extract, will lower rthe sugar levels of blood in diabetics.

Momordica Charantia also known as bitter melon or balsam pear is a widely cultivated plant in South America , Asia and Africa for food (a vegetable) but also as a diabetic treatment. Numerous chemical elements in the plant are scientifically supported as been effective in treating diabetes. A hypoglycemic factor, the polypeptide Charantin, has been confirmed in clinical tests to decrease blood levels of sugar when used by injection.

Allium Cepa (onion) and also Allium Sativum (carlic) are both useful in treating diabetes and also posesse the extra benefit of been effective in the treatment of cardiovascular problems. They can both lower sugar levels in blood .

Trigonella Foenum-Graecum or Fenugreek carries a compound with anti-diabetic properties, derived from the defatted part of the edible seeds.

Vaccinium Myrtuillus is ordinarily named blueberry. A preparation derived from the plan’s leaves, if injected, its effect is only a little less potent than insulin but also less toxic. Its advantageous results could last for many days even weeks. Myrtillin, the active component, is used in order to help the vascular system work effectively which in turn will prevent the development of diabetic retinopathy-an eye disorder connected with diabetes.

All of the above referred herbs are useful in treating specific diabetic symptoms. Exceptional acknowledgment must be given to barberry-one of the finest liver tonics accessible and of the spice cinnamon which when taken helps to increase insulin effectiveness by more than three times.

On going research on the application of special herbs for the cause and symptoms of diabetes might well lead in to a curative remedy. Meanwhile, they have been established as useful in dealing with the disease.

Comfrey is a hardy, perennial herbaceous plant of the family Boraginaceae with a turnip-like root and large, broad hairy leaves. It bears small convex white, cream, purplish or pink blossoms.

It is endemic to Europe, thriving in moist, grassy sites. Comfrey has long been accredited by both organic gardeners and herbalists for its great usefulness and versatility. It has been employed for centuries as curative herb of excellence.

Comfrey is a quick growing plant, giving rise to large quantities of leaf during the growing time of year; very nitrogen hungry. Although it will carry on growing regardless of nitrogen availability, it will do well from the addition of animal manure put on as mulch.

Developed comfrey plants could be harvested up to four or five times a year. They are ready for cutting once about 60-70cm high. Cut back the plant about 5cm above the soil, taking care when handling it since the leaves and stems are covered up in hairs that could irritate the skin.

Propagation is by seed or root division during autumn. When parting comfrey plants take care not to disperse root breaks up around, or discard on the compost pile as from each one a new plant could re-root, and comfrey could be a very hard plant to get rid of.

Comfrey is a especially worthily source of fertility to the organic gardener. It is a very deeply rooted plant mining a host of nutrients from the ground. These are then made available by its fast growing leaves which, rapidly break down leaving all important plant nutrient needful for flowers, seed and fruit yields.

One of its country names for comfrey was ‘knit bone’, a reminder of its traditional employment in healing. Contemporary science substantiates that comfrey can act upon the course of bone ailments. The herb contains allantoin, a cell proliferant that accelerates the natural replacement of body cells.

Comfrey was utilized to treat a variety of ailments ranging from bronchial problems, broken bones, sprains, arthritis, gastric and varicose ulcerations, serious burns, acne and other skin conditions. Internal usage of comfrey should be avoided.

An obscure annual up to 20cm tall, found growing all over the tempered world; chickweed is broadly speaking considered as a weed. It is a low, sprawling plant with small, oval, pointy leaves, white flowers, which seeds and flowers again so quickly that it is accessible about just about throughout the year.

It is full of nutrients and the whole plant might be chopped up and added to salads or sandwiches. It has a salty, fresh flavor and might also be cooked (no more than 5 minutes) and served as a vegetable; it tastes like spinach.

Chickweed is esteemed to treat a wide spectrum of conditions in folk medicine, ranging from asthma and indigestion to skin troubles. Applied externally, made into an ointment, is said to help with: cuts, wounds, itching and skin irritation, boils, burns, inflamed eyes and cure chilblains.

Taken internally, Chickweed acts as a diuretic and helps with rheumatism. Traditional Chinese herbalists employ chickweed internally as a tea to treat nosebleeds. Also said to be of help in the regulation of the thyroid gland. Taken

At one time chickweed was used as a tea, its main use today is as a cream put on generously several times, every day, on rashes and inflammatory skin conditions such as eczema to alleviate itchiness and inflammation. It could be also taken as a tincture, 1-5 ml per day.

chickweed

There are two plants called chamomile and they look very similar. The true chamomile, maricaria chamomilla is an annual and it is used for teas and cosmetics, while the second one Roman chamomile, anthemis nonilis, is a perennial used to plant sweet-smelling lawns. Chamomile, maricaria chamomilla, is a member of the asteraceae family the genus Matricaria.

Marticaria Chamomilla

The Chamomile is renowned for its medical and household uses. The large list of conditions it can help all fall into areas that the relaxing, carminative and anti-inflammatory actions can aid. It is an excellent, gentle sedative, useful and safe for use with children.

The Chamomile is famous for its medical and home uses. The extensive list of conditions it can assist all fall into domains that the relaxing, carminative and anti-inflammatory actions can aid. It is a first-class, gentle sedative, effective and safe for use with children.

Chamomile contains an extensive variety of active elements, each of which comes to the fore under certain conditions and brings an all important supportive part in other situations. A good nerve tonic, sleep aid, appetite stimulant, and digestive aid. It alleviates the bladder, colds, bronchial asthma, inflammatory bowel disease, diverticulosis, feverishness, headaches, hemorrhoids, muscle spasms, and pain.

Chamomile is a somewhat bitter herbaceous plant that helps comfort nerves, step-up mental consciousness, settle the stomach and boost digestion. It is employed as a tea to calm overactive children, menstrual cramps, and asthma. It is a diuretic and has been used for bladder troubles. It assists with fevers, colds, headaches. Chamomile is also useful in the treatment of rheumatism, arthritis, worms, and jaundice. However, do not use chamomile for long periods of time and do not use if allergic to ragweed.

Propagation is by seed on ordinary, dryish soil and full sun. It does not need any particular after care. Harvest the pretty blue flowers of true chamomile as they come into bloom and dry them in aired card boards or warm oven and store in a dry dark place. Oil extracted from the flowers is used cosmetically. Hot infusion made with flowers is excellent for facial steam baths and used as a hair rinse to lighten fair hair as well as condition them.