(This can be moved to the Health sub-forum, it just wouldn't let me post a new thread in there.)


First off, I am NOT a physician or any kind of health care professional. Nor am I an herbalist or any other kind of anything. I am however an herb enthusiast! I love herbs! I use them daily and have been for several years now and feel that they've been of great service to me in many ways concerning my health and well-being. Of course before using any type of herb or natural substance it's always best to research the particular herb/substance and find out everything you can about it. With enough leg-work (thanks to the Internet) and very, VERY CAREFUL trial & error, you too can form positive, healthy, life-long relationships with Natures most awesome little helpers!! So, with that said I'll get into listing some of my favorite herbal friends and sites that provide a wealth of helpful, in-depth information!!



Chamomile (German):

I'm convinced that without this life-saver, I'd be in prison right now!! It really does soothe the nerves and calms the mind. There are SO many health benefits to this simple little flower that it's just best said that "Chamomile is good for just about Everything!!" Here are some sites with lots of really good information on Chamomile:


www.herbs2000.com/herbs/herbs_chamomile_ger.htm

www.herbwisdom.com/herb-chamomile.html

www.teabenefits.com/herbal-tea-benefits/...le-tea-benefits.html

www.anniesremedy.com/herb_detail13.php

www.holisticonline.com/herbal-med/_Herbs/h44.htm



Cat's Claw:

This one is an overall helper/healer with cleansing, detoxing benefits as well as being an anti-cancer/anti-tumor herb! It helps to regulate the immune system and is also helpful with depression. Although you can use this herb to make tea, I prefer to just "toss & wash" the powdered bark as then I'm getting ALL of the herb into my system and not just an infusion of it. I also make tinctures with this herb, they work really well and last indefinitely when made with vodka (as opposed to vinegar).


www.herbs2000.com/herbs/herbs_cats_claw.htm

www.herbwisdom.com/herb-cats-claw.html

www.teabenefits.com/herbal-tea-benefits/...aw-tea-benefits.html

www.anniesremedy.com/herb_detail227.php

www.holisticonline.com/herbal-med/_Herbs/h41.htm



Catnip:

This just makes a really great, chill cup of tea! And it's a nice smoke too, although I prefer the tea!! Good for gas, anxiety, insomnia, headaches and has a mild laxative effect. Definitely one herb to keep on hand at all times!


www.herbs2000.com/herbs/herbs_catnip.htm

www.teabenefits.com/herbal-tea-benefits/...ip-tea-benefits.html

www.anniesremedy.com/herb_detail94.php

www.holisticonline.com/herbal-med/_Herbs/h40.htm



Celery/Celery Seeds:

This is another "wonder-drug" of the herb world! Since being diagnosed with Gout a few years ago, I've really come to rely on celery seeds to keep things in order for me. At first I tried the prescribed meds for the condition but after 6 months (I wanted to give it a fair shake) I realized that I couldn't live the rest of my life feeling like I was coming down with the flu, EVERYDAY! So, I hit the world-wide web and did as much research as I could and saw that celery seeds were highly praised the world over as a gout/arthritis treatment. I was sold! I got myself some celery seeds (and celery seed tablets, which are a concentrated form of the active ingredients in the seeds) and have never looked back!! My flare-ups have been fewer and further between than when I was on the pharms and now I don't have to worry about my liver or kidneys giving out!! Along with being an excellent gout/arthritis treatment, celery/celery seeds are also good for nervousness, indigestion, high blood pressure and an overall system flush/cleanser.


www.herbs2000.com/herbs/herbs_celery.htm

www.anniesremedy.com/herb_detail14.php

www.holisticonline.com/herbal-med/_Herbs/h212.htm


I'll be adding to this list as time goes on. I just wanted to get the ball rolling with these few as they have really been a huge help to me and if I can pass that on to others who can benefit as I have then it's not only a pleasure but a duty!!


Here's another site with a lot of great information:

www.herbnet.com/

Does kava (Piper methysticum) fit in here?

Not really a 'herb' maybe...more a psychoactive plant

Anyway its good stuff, but as you said above..care needed.

Only buy the genuine powdered root preparations. Anything with the leaf extract in can seriously damage your liver.

diamondgeezer wrote:
Absolutely! Any and every thing natural that grows from the Earth that can be used as food or medicine can be discussed in this thread! Herbs, vegetables, plants, fruits, flowers, seeds, roots, fungi, cacti, nothing's off limits! I've always wanted to try Kava but isn't it now illegal in the UK?

And as always with EVERYTHING you put into your body, always go for the 100% Certified Organic stuff, sometimes it's not possible (availability and whatnot) but it's ALWAYS the best option! This is easier to do with herbals than with food, cost-wise, as herbs go a long way and food just kinda, doesn't.... for the money anyway.

Frank Cook

Frank was a man on a mission with a passion for plants his life was cut short in 2009. His goal was to meet, feel and understand the nutritional and medial benefits of the 5000+ genera of plants on the planet. It's thought that he had managed to achieve that with over 70% of them over the course of his journey. Which he set out on after 20 years in the computer industry. He died at the age of 47 on the 19th of August 2009.

Here is one of the many thread which reported on the news of his passing Eatweeds.co.uk.

He had a real passion for the humble Nettle which he demonstrates in the videos below which was filmed while he was visiting the UK.





Here is one of the many youtube clips of Frank...



Here's another link with information about Frank plantsandhealers.com

I look forward to checking those videos out, Frog! Thanks!!

phemohilia wrote:
The law seems to be rather undefined & confusing regarding Kava. I think as things stand, its been illegal to sell it in the UK since 2003 (after the German health scare), but not to possess or import it for personal use.

I order it online from a grower in Hawaii...the customs declaration on the package says its Kava powdered root, & I've not had a problem yet.

Its definitely banned full-stop in some countries though. Australia is one I think.

*edit* apparently importing Kava in the form of 'food produce' into England is banned...

www.food.gov.uk/multimedia/faq/kavakavaban/

Super thread, guys.

How the Universe is an amazing thing indeed.

Earlier this evening I was investigating some guy's assertions about his herbal remedies, which led me to his US Federal conviction, which led me to his foreign website where he sells his products expensively, which led me to some Jamaican (I think) guy's site which led me to this:

fenugreek, capsasian, mullein leaves

After checking out the individual ingredients, each seem to be well reputed in reducing inflammation and excess mucus from the bronchi and body on their own. I would assume the combination would be quite effective ALTHOUGH I'VE HAD NO EXPERIENCE WHATSOEVER WITH THE PREPARATION.

I also stumbled across Russian penicillin. I am familiar with some of the ingredients and have found them effective in reducing cough and phlegm when I had a very bad flu about 20 years ago. (There was a very bad bug going round back then. Hospitals were turning people away - in a large city with lost of medical facilities! The elderly were terribly affected as were diabetics and those with weak constitutions. Odd, there was no giant media end of the world, pandemic panics on the news; Why the change these short years later? *rolls eyes*)

Russian Penicillin:

2 Grapefruit (cut into 1/8ths squeeze juice into pot then throw peels into pot)

2 Lemon (cut into 1/4s, then squeeze juice into same pot and then throw peels into pot too)

2 Onion (cut in lg chunks)

2 Whole Garlic Bulbs (chop)

1/2 t. cayenne pep (90,000 hu's is best)

1/2 t. eucalyptus oil(internal kind)

Add 8 cups of water. Bring to boil, then turn low, simmer for 10 minutes. Drink 1/2 cup every 1/2 hour.

The above bolded I used (with peels) along with brandy in boiled water. I drank a couple of very warm tablespoons and I thought the taste would kill me but found the cough was ceased and I could sleep. I refrigerated the rest and heated it up in the microwave when taking the next bloody awful tasting dose. I was much better in a couple of days and well on my way to regaining my health. Bad tasting, but positively effective. This was after buying different and ineffective cough meds over a two month period - never again!

Again, I am only referring to the bolded items above which I can attest to in personal experience......plus brandy.

I'm also looking into Thieves Oil.

Coco,

Wild Lettuce is also a fairly decent cough suppressant. Helps ya get sleepy too!!


www.herbs2000.com/herbs/herbs_wild_lettuce.htm

www.anniesremedy.com/herb_detail364.php

www.holisticonline.com/herbal-med/_Herbs/h307.htm

OK Irrep, this one's for you!

Nettle:

Found here: www.herbs2000.com/herbs/herbs_nettle.htm



Other helpful sites with more info are:


www.herbwisdom.com/herb-nettle.html

www.teabenefits.com/herbal-tea-benefits/...le-tea-benefits.html

www.anniesremedy.com/herb_detail107.php

www.holisticonline.com/herbal-med/_Herbs/h270.htm


Nettle is an all-around powerhouse and a very good herb to keep on hand!!

Dandelion (leaf):

www.teabenefits.com/herbal-tea-benefits/...on-tea-benefits.html


More info can be found here:


www.herbs2000.com/herbs/herbs_dandelion.htm

www.herbwisdom.com/herb-dandelion.html

www.anniesremedy.com/herb_detail92.php

www.holisticonline.com/herbal-med/_Herbs/h48.htm

NOTE: Dandelion root can be used in a lot of the same ways that the leaf/foliage material is used but they're not completely interchangeable as they do have some differing qualities according to both use and dosage. ALWAYS make sure of the differences and only use the right herb and dosage for the right job!! That's with any herb really, but especially those that offer slightly different effects with different parts of the plant.


Here's another great herb dubbed "King Of All Herbs" in certain Arabic regions....

Alfalfa:


www.herbs2000.com/herbs/herbs_alfalfa.htm

www.herbwisdom.com/herb-alfalfa.html

www.teabenefits.com/herbal-tea-benefits/...fa-tea-benefits.html

www.anniesremedy.com/herb_detail218.php

www.holisticonline.com/herbal-med/_Herbs/h1.htm


There's really no other herb that packs as much vital nutrient-rich punch as Alfalfa! It's literally got EVERYTHING!! The leaves/foliage are what you really want to use as the seeds can be toxic depending on dosage and really can't be used long-term.

And for the saucy lovers among us....

Damiana:

This one is good for teh sexy time!!

It's very helpful in raising the libido (especially in the ladies, rrowll!) and can also be of service in helping out prostate issues, depression, premature ejaculation, erectile dysfunction, nervousness/anxiety (careful though, too high a dose can trigger nervousness as it contains alkaloids similar to caffeine), general sluggishness and mental exhaustion and is an overall good tonic for the mind/body! And it tastes great!! Makes a wonderful tea and is also a pretty good herbal smoke, if you're into that sorta thing.

www.herbs2000.com/herbs/herbs_damiana.htm

www.herbwisdom.com/herb-damiana.html

www.teabenefits.com/herbal-tea-benefits/...na-tea-benefits.html

www.anniesremedy.com/herb_detail201.php

www.holisticonline.com/herbal-med/_Herbs/h47.htm

Nettle is an effective allergy treatment? I'm going to try this. There are a zillion junipers and cedars in the area our house is, just 40 miles east where I work, not so much. When driving home in the afternoons, the closer I get to home the more congested I become; also burning, watery eyes, eye matter, sneezing, the itchies.

Receiving rain this spring in Texas after last year's devastating drought, many plants have sprung forth with allergens in greater than normal quantity. As a result, there have been reports of some asthmatics and non asthmatics having severe attacks, particularly in the eastern part of the state.

My sales manager's five year old grandson was recently airlifted from East Texas to Dallas because it was thought he was having an asthma attack and while local doctors could stabilize him, they could not raise his blood oxygen. After numerous tests in Dallas, it was determined he did not have asthma, flu, pneumonia, other viruses, or bacterial infections. He had one hell of an allergy attack. The boy is fine now and back to normal.

If this nettle works for me, it may work for my dad.

*kiss on cheek*

Good luck Coco!! I've never used nettle for allergies, just catnip and chamomile teas. They work great! I'm sure nettle works really well too, it's got a LOT of good stuff in it!!

phemohilia wrote:
I've just watched those videos Frog, they were really good! He seemed like a very kind and gentle soul! I'm going to be watching more clips of him on YouTube! Thanks again!!

Excellent thread, Phem! I've been thinking about different ways to start my own herb garden, and this should be a big help.

phemohilia wrote:
Hey Phemmy Excellent thread!

Actually I just made a cup of hot dandelion tea made from the leaves I picked earlier. It does make me feel good and I know its good for cleansing the bloodstream and for the liver.

I eat the leaves and nom nom nom them all up, too.

I love it! Nice taste, too!

Its especially good for those who like to indulge in the spirits now & then for this reason.

Thanks for the nettle post phem
Lots of good info. There are some nettles growing in the garden so i'm going to make my first cup of nettle tea in the next few days

I've been drinking 3 cups of the Clipper stuff these past few days, and I've found it's working wonders on my sinuses. I've had problems with inflammation of my nasal passage as well, it's like a breath of fresh air, literally!

Everytime I come in here to read posts, I see the word 'nettle' and just think about myself and it makes it all just go wrong

psketti wrote:
That's alright Nettles, it's an honest mistake!

phemohilia wrote:
Cheers

After all, it's not my fault those prickly little bastards decided to copy me...

Hello all,

Thread moved to health section as per op.

Cheers,
Ab