Insomnia Herbs - Brewing Your Way to Sleep

Worries have plagued mankind since ancient times, and the effect is nights of sleeplessness. Insomnia herbs have been used for as long as sleeplessness was around. With the advent of modern medicine came a proliferation of drugs and sleep aids to help give modern people their craved-for rest--as well as other dangerous side effects. The risks take us crawling back to the insomnia herbs of the old days, and we have thus rediscovered that natural cures are often still the healthier choice.

Caffeine is a habit-forming drug. While it keeps you invigorated on nonetheless lethargic mornings, it will likewise keep you from having some much-needed sleep at night. Because of disturbed sleep, you'll be craving sleep again the next day, not to mention jumpy and touchy and you'll stagger towards the coffeemaker the first chance you get.

It's a self-perpetuating cycle, and it must be stopped. If you cannot wean yourself off caffeine totally, at least try to lessen your intake. Doing this includes stopping drinking and eating colas, chocolate, and yes, the ubiquitous Starbucks. Have some insomnia herbs instead.

Valerian root is the best there is. It is "the safest and most effective sleep aid with no side effects," according to British scientist turned herbal guru Dr. Malcolm Stuart, who says the best time to drink it would be around 8 PM. Thirty minutes before taking to bed, use one to two teaspoons of the dried root to make a sleep-inducing tea. Unlike sleep aids, valerian causes no heavy feeling the day after. And as opposed to its counterpart synthetic cures, which may bring on an addiction, you will not develop a dependency on this herb.

Just like valerian root in terms of its sleep-inducing effects is catnip. Not only is this herb used as a answer to insomnia, but it is also thought to be a solution to nervousness, anxiety, and even migraines. The administration of catnip is again similar to valerian--one to two teaspoons of the dried herb for one cup of boiled water and set aside to infuse for around ten minutes. Do not boil the herb along with the water as this may destroy some of its active ingredients.

Chamomile is milder and is recommended for children to take, more so when they are restless. The usual dosage is two teaspoons of dried chamomile flower for a cup of tea.

Lavender also makes for a very soothing drink at night (three flower heads to one cup of boiling water, immersed like catnip), and taking a whiff of a few drops of its oil or mixing it with your bath water has the same soothing effect. It may also be rubbed onto your body during a massage and its flowers and seeds stuffed into your pillows.

In Chinese medicine, the longan fruit and sour jujube seed are also known to soothe the spirit. The former is used to help insomnia, while the latter complements stronger cures.

While the insomnia herbs mentioned above may be ingested alone, you may also mix an herbal cocktail if you prefer. Try blending valerian with chamomile, catnip, or some other mild herbs like hops and passionflower. Add a small amount of the natural sweetener stevia if you like if you find the taste slightly too strong to your taste. Don't consume too much to spare yourself from sleep-disturbing trips to the loo.

While there is nothing fundamentally bad with relying on insomnia herbs, homeopathy, and aromatherapy to go off to slumberland, it is still best to let nature take its course and let your body to drift off to sleep left alone, the way it's made for. To let your body to perform at its best, a lifestyle overhaul should be undertaken.

To prevent sleep disorders, having an exercise regimen, proper stress management, and committing to a healthy diet made up mostly of fruits and vegetables is the the healthiest way to go, aside from consuming your favorite concoction of insomnia herbs. While you're at it, why don't we have a cup of antioxidant-rich and comforting Valerian-laced grape juice? Cheers!

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Rheumatoid Relief And Chinese Herbs

When it comes to treating arthritis, some herbs can be especially good. Stinging nettles are one particularly, surprisingly good treatment for the condition.

Arthritis is a condition which many people suffer from and sometimes they do not even know that they have it. If you are experiencing pain and stiffness in any of your joints then it is essential that you see a doctor as soon as possible. There are a number of different types of arthritis and so it is important to know exactly which type you actually have.

Treating Arthritis

There are a number of treatments used to relieve patients suffering from arthritis. However, one treatment that is not widely advertised is the arthritis herb. It can be used only to treat the symptoms of Rheumatoid arthritis. So even though it is classed as an arthritis herb, it will not be of much use to any other type of arthritis.

Surprisingly a stinging nettle is one of the best natural treatments for Rheumatoid arthritis. Now the best way to hold the nettle is to grasp it firmly and rub the nettle leaves across the area of pain. You will experience a lot of extra pain at first as the nettle stings the skin. However, once you have finished you will notice that the only pain which you are feeling, is from the nettle stings and not the arthritis. As you use the nettles more frequently, you will become accustomed to the sting and it will not hurt as much anymore. Just remember that when you do use nettles, you have to resist the temptation to scratch the itch as it will just make things worse.

Another way in which you can use nettles to treat Rheumatoid arthritis, is to drink nettle tea. By drinking one cup of nettle tea each day, you can gain all kinds of health benefits. It helps to purify the blood as well as providing relief for Rheumatoid arthritis. If you do not like the taste of pure nettle tea then it is possible to add ingredients such as honey and crown sugar. Now with the tea you will not notice results overnight. It will take a few weeks for them to really show through, but when they do you will notice the difference.

Overall stinging nettles may be a surprising treatment for arthritis, but they do work. The University of Plymouth did a study in the year 2000 and that clearly showed that 63% of those questioned, found stinging nettles helpful in the treatment of Rheumatoid arthritis.

Source : Isnare

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Herbs That Detoxify!

Once the kidneys are detoxified, a healthy flow of nutrients are free to make their way to the scalp where they promote healthy hair growth.

Here are list of the top 10 most effective herbs for detoxification.

1. Camomile - a great relaxant and good for the stomach, which helps if you’re tense. It reduces inflammation and it’s a tissue healer - inhale the azulenes given off in the steam to soothe the inflamed mucous membranes of the nose, throat and chest.

2. Skullcap - skutellaria - improves functioning of nervous system; calming effect- it’s good if you're frazzled .

3. Yarrow - tones the blood vessels and helps you purge toxins by sweating them out.

4. Peppermint - calming, good for the stomach, clears the head, relaxing - and it tastes nice!

5. Elderflower - decongestant, soothing to the mucous membranes; helps to clear out the mucous and catarrh that settles in the lungs of most smokers.

6. Ground Ivy - also decongestant and helps clear out mucous and catarrh.

7. Liquorice - this is an adrenal tonic, so it will perk you up and stop you missing the ‘hit’ of the nicotine quite so much. It’s also demulcent - soothing on the throat - so if you have a smokers cough, this will help. You can get liquorice root as sticks, that you can chew if you want to have something in your fingers and your mouth - good if you’re used to cigarettes as a ‘prop’ - and you can use chunks of liquorice root in the tea.

8. Sarsaparilla root increases the flow of urine and breaks up gas. Classified generally as a blood purifier, it is commonly used for various eruptive skin disorders.

9. Milk Thistle seeds are used for liver, gall bladder and spleen support. It is commonly used as a liver protector when consumed before meals and alcohol consumption.

10. Red Clover is a blood purifier that is mild and mineral-rich. It is good for the general prevention of health problems and may be consumed freely without any known side effects.

Your outer appearance is a pure reflection of how you take care of your inner body. A healthy body, mind, and spirit can be effected by many outside forces. Impurities can be hidden in our air, food, and water, and a build up of toxins can lead to poor digestion, fatigue, lowered immunity, and skin problems.

We urge you to start detoxifying easily by first starting off with some detox teas. There are so many brands which works effectively in detoxifying your body! Start living healthy today!

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Top 7 Tips to Choose Healing Herbs for your Conditions

Those who use over-the-counter and prescription pharmaceuticals always know how much medicine they are taking because FDA regulations require precision. People who use herbs face more of a challenge. However, in controlled doses, herbs cause fewer side effects than pharmaceuticals. Pharmaceuticals are highly concentrated, and pills and capsules have little taste, factors that make it easy to overdose. The active constituents in herbs are typically less concentrated, and most taste quite bitter, which discourages taking too much. Once you decide you want to use herbs, you are still left with some key questions. Which herbs? And how do you use them? Here is a list of common safe and effective herbs to choose from, along with some information about the conditions they treat that you can consider.

1. Ephedra

In addition to its decongestant value, Chinese ephedra has a long history of use in Asia as a coffeelike stimulant. Recent studies have also shown that ephedra boosts metabolic rate – the speed at which the body burns calories. As a result, it has shown some benefit as a weight-loss aid, but only in those who are significantly overweight. Ephedra can also increase heart rate and blood pressure, so do not use it if you have high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes or glaucoma. You should also not take ephedra if you have thyroid problems. In fact, ephedra has been shown to be harmful when taken improperly and should not be used by anyone with health problems. If you want to take ephedra or any product containing ephedra, you should discuss it with your doctor.

2. Ginseng

Prized above gold for thousands of years, ginseng root has been Asia’s most revered tonic. It was viewed as an aphrodisiac that strengthens the body, enhances health and aids longevity. Early Jesuit missionaries in Canada discovered American ginseng in 1704 and made a fortune shipping it to China. The herb was eventually discovered growing as far south as Georgia, and it quickly became one of the American colonies’ most valuable exports, until the overcollection just about wiped it out. Today Amercian ginseng is farmed in Wisconsin. Most of the crop is shipped to Asia. Evidence is mounting that the herb helps the body resist illness and damage from stress. Studies show that ginseng stimulates the immune system, helps reduce cholesterol levels, protects the liver from toxic substances and increases stamina and nutrient absorption from the intestines. Asian Olympic athletes take it regularly to boost their performance.

3. Ginger

Scientific research has shown that ginger fights nausea better than the over-the-counter anti-nausea drug Dramamine. This root herb does more than simply soothe the stomach, however. An ancient Indian proverb says, “Every good quality is contained in ginger.” Well, not quite, but studies show that it also boosts the immune system’s ability to fight infection. And like garlic, it lowers blood pressure and cholesterol and helps prevent the blood clots that trigger heart attack.

4. Rosemary

Long before refrigeration was available, the ancients noticed that wrapping meat in crushed rosemary leaves preserved it and imparted a tasty flavour. To this day, the herb remains a favourite addition to meat dishes, and its preservative action led to its use in herbal medicine. Meats spoil in part because oxidation turns their fats rancid. Rosemary oil retards spoilage and compares favourably with the commercial preservatives BHA and BHT. Rosemary’ s preservative action may help prevent food poisoning at your next picnic. Mix the crushed herb into burger meat and tuna, pasta and potato salads. Rosemary also helps soothe the stomach.

5. Aloe Vera

In ancient Egypt (1500 B.C.), the Ebers Papyrus recommended aloe vera for skin problems, and the world has been using this herb ever since. Chinese, Greek, Roman and Arab herbalists recommended it for wounds, burns, rashes and hemorrhoids. During the 1930s, radiologists discovered aloe vera’s effectiveness in treating radiation burns. The latest studies show that the herb has clear value in treating minor cuts, scrapes and burns.

6. Chamomile

When Peter Rabbit ate himself sick in McGregor’s garden and got chased out at the wrong end of a hoe, his mother gave him chamomile tea, a traditional remedy for indigestion, anxiety and wounds. Peter’s mom was a wise woman…er, bunny. German herbalists once used chamomile so extensively, they called it alles zutraut, “capable of anything.” That is an exaggeration, but recent studies show that this popular beverage herb does indeed calm jangled nerves, relieve stomach distress, prevent ulcers and speed their healing and help fight infection by stimulating the immune system. Chamomile tea is an excellent home remedy for indigestion, heartburn and infant colic. It also has mild relaxant and sedative properties.

7. Garlic

After ephedra, garlic is considered the world’s second oldest medicine. The oldest surviving garlic prescription, chiselled into a Sumerian clay tablet, dates from 3000 B.C. The ancient world revered garlic as a virtual panacea, but none loved it as deeply as the Egyptians who consumed so much that the Greek historian Herodotus called them “the stinking ones.” As the centuries passed, Europeans hung braided garlic plants from their doorsteps to keep evil spirits at bay – a custom echoed today in the garlic braids that adorn many kitchens. During World War I, army doctors used garlic juice quite effectively to treat wounds and dysentery. After the war, scientists discovered why it worked: When chewed or chopped, garlic is a potent natural antibiotic. In fact, ten medium cloves pack approximately the same antibiotic punch as a typical dose of penicillin. Garlic also has antiviral properties. Garlic is a useful herb. It can help protects against stomach cancer and reduces risk of heart disease by lowering blood pressure, reducing cholesterol and decreasing the likelihood of blood clots that can trigger heart attack.


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