HippyMom Herald's Herb Article's

[LadyHawk]

As we begin to have articles on herbs printed in the Herald I will submit them in here for future reference.

Olive Leaf Extract
Kim Anderson

Olive Leaf extract has become my favorite herbal defense against many common maladies. I usually get my Olive leaf from Natures Sunshine Products www.naturessunshine.com which provides a total for 400mg of olive leaf extract, standardized to contain 12% oleuropein and comes in capsules. I have also seen it in liquid from other companies, but haven’t tried it. One should be able to find it in most health food stores, too. I like to use it at the first sign of a cold or flu or if I think I might have been exposed. I’ve given it to all my family members- 2 teenage sons and husband. According to HART’S Herb Allure, p2., “Researchers have determined that a bitter glucoside known as oleuropein, along with its active constituent elenolic acid, are primarily responsible for olive leaf extract’s extraordinary antibacterial, antiviral and antiparasitic activity. For example, studies have shown that oleuropein inhibits the of Staphylococcus aureus, antibiotic-resistant organism that is the cause of nearly all hospital infections. Oleuropein is also a powerful antioxidant and the compound responsible for olive leaf’s extract’s ability to successfully inhibit oxidation of LDL cholesterol. Elenolic acid is the element that is the primary destroyer and growth inhibitor of viruses, interfering with bacterial and viral growth, while simultaneously activating immune cells that fight infection. Elenolic acid also kills numerous flatworm, hookworm, roundworm and tapeworm parasites.”

So, here we have an herb that not only fights infections; but also boosts the immune system. There have been no known side effects from taking olive leaf extract, but it is still not recommended for pregnant or nursing mothers. Also, according to A-Z Guide to Drug-Herb-Vitamin Interactions Revised and Expanded 2nd Edition, by Healthnotes copyright 2006,p.296, “At the time of writing, there were no well-known drug interactions with olive leaf.” So, it’s also presumed safe to take with other medications. Please note that if you begin to take this herb, especially in a large dose, a “healing crisis” may occur in which you may feel some flu like symptoms. Just reduce the dose until your body can adjust. I haven’t found anywhere that a person would have to cycle on and off doses to maintain its effectiveness-unlike some information on Echinacea. However, I don’t personally take it when I don’t need it. Realize that one should always consult their health care professional, pharmacist or prescribing doctor to get all the necessary information to make informed decisions about your health care.
To your perfect health!

Kim Anderson began her spiritual journey after a bout with breast cancer 6 years ago. Since then she has embraced a new life paradigm and explores various complementary health practices and procedures. She is a Shamanic practitioner, Reiki Master, certified teacher and healing arts student. She lives on a small farm with her husband and 2 teenage boys. Kim is not only full of life but she is filled with information and has joined us here at HippyMom as a guest writer to share her knowledge of alternative healing.

[LadyHawk]

Garlic

Garlic is a wonderful herb to use for a variety of reasons. It is part of the allium family and grows in cloves. Many people think of garlic as a seasoning to add to their food for its flavor. Raw, roasted, sliced, diced, dried, salted and added to spice mixes makes garlic very versatile for flavoring food. I also like it in food, but not just for its flavoring. I love it for its healing qualities.
Garlic has been used for centuries for its healing capabilities. It has been used as an antibiotic, blood cleanser, blood pressure reducer, arthritis pain reducer, blood clots dissolver, mucus reducer, and even an emotion booster! It has been taken as a protection against colds, worms, dysentery and typhoid. It has been used mostly as an immune booster: something that supports and strengthens your natural immunity to viral and even malignant attacks. Researchers at Brigham Young University found that garlic kills cold and flu viruses. Its active ingredients are alliin, allicin, terpenes, resin, flavonoids, and volatile oil. Garlic works as an antioxidant. It counteracts free- radical oxidation which can be implicated in everything from cancer to cardiovascular disease. It is also an antifungal, especially in the extract and concentrated oil form. According to a 1995 study in the journal Applied Microbiology, it worked just as well or even better than standard pharmaceuticals against aspergillus, the most common form of fungal infection. As an antimicrobial, garlic targets the helicobacter pylori bacteria, which can be found in 75% of all stomach ulcers and is thought to contribute to stomach cancers. The main chemical component of garlic is allicin which seems to help protect people who consume a large amount of it from stomach cancers by blocking the formation of nitrosamines.
The best way to get the full benefits of garlic is to eat it raw: three or more fresh cloves a day for the medicinal effect or three to five cloves a week for preventative purposes. Here is where your creativity comes in! Try it in salad dressings, mashed potatoes, butter, soups etc. Cooking does destroy some of garlic’s allicin, but not all of it. Make sure to cut, crush, or chop it before cooking it to trigger the allicin into mixing with the other chemicals in garlic. Also, garlic pressed through a garlic press can be ten times stronger in flavor than minced with a knife. Another helpful hint: Adding garlic to a pot of beans prevents some of the gas upset that people can feel.
Deodorized garlic in the form of powered, dried, and pill form are not as effective for use as an antibiotic. It is effective for lowering blood pressure, reducing phlegm, and reducing cholesterol. Applied topically, warm garlic oil may be useful against earache; use one –two drops in an ear canal 2-3 times a day at the onset of pain. Dosage as a tincture: 1 teaspoon (80 drops or 5 milliliters) 3 times a day; as raw cloves, eat 2-3 a day; as an oil, apply 5 drops (0.33 milliliter) topically for earache, ear infection, or fungal infection on the skin twice a day. As a standardized extract (pill/capsule form): take 400 milligrams (containing 5,000 micrograms of allicin), 2 to 3 capsules a day.
Please be aware that garlic may interact with the blood-thinner Coumadin, Chlorzoxazone, Ticlopidine, and Warfarin and that placed directly on the skin may cause it to blister and burn. The drug, Dipyridamole, may actually benefit from garlic. “A test tube study has shown ajoene, a compound found in garlic that prevents platelet clumping, enhances the beneficial action of dipyridamole on human platelets. More controlled research is needed to determine whether taking garlic supplements together will enhance the effectiveness of either compound taken alone. Garlic may cause stomach upset, especially if taken alone. Always check for drug and herb interactions with a knowledgeable professional before taking anything if your aren’t sure.
I could go on and on about garlic, there is so much more. I cook with it, grow it, and use it in pill form; especially, if I feel like I have post nasal drip. It helps me to “dry up”. The material I used is referenced from the following books: Nature’s Pharmacy in Consultation with the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians copyright 1998, Prescription for Natural Cures By James Balch, M.D. and Mark Stengler N.D. copyright 2004, A-Z Guide to Drug-Herb-Vitamin Interactions edited by Alan R. Gaby, M.D. and the Healthnotes Medical Team copyright 2006,The Natural Healing Companion by Dr. Deborah A. Wiancek copyright 2004, and The Complete Book of Herbs and Spices by Lesley Bremness and Jill Norman copyright 1995.
To your perfect health!

Kim Anderson
Guest Writer for HippyMom Herald

[LadyHawk]

Sage

This month’s herb is sage. Sage is more than just a culinary herb to flavor your stuffing! Of course that is an excellent use. For me, sage is used mostly as an herb for ceremonies, rituals, and other types of energy clearings; however, I like it in my stuffing too!
From the book, Nature’s Pharmacy by the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians, “Why should anyone die who has sage in their garden?” sums up the various ways in which sage can be used. Its botanical name Salvia comes from the Latin word “to save or to heal”. Dating back thousands of years, it has been used as a digestive aid, appetite stimulant (like you need that at Thanksgiving!), to relieve gas, cramps and bloating. Sage contains thujone, a volatile oil that can trigger seizures in people with epilepsy. However, using it as a cooking spice is considered safe. Medicinally, it should be avoided in large amounts during pregnancy. But after pregnancy, it can be used to help dry up milk due its estrogenic cooling action; also, for hot flashes, diarrhea, colds, flu, and excessive perspiration. Use for coughs, throat infections and to dry up phlegm by taking it as a tea preparation. Now if you would like to color the gray or white hair, use it as a rinse or for dandruff, oily hair or scalp infections. Its thujone oil has anti bacterial properties that kill all types of bacterial infections. Sage is also an antioxidant and an antimicrobial agent. If you have high blood sugar, it may help to lower it by drinking it as a tea on a regular basis. Sage’s other active ingredients include terpenes, tannins, phenolic acids and flavonoids.
Use the leaves dried in teas (1 tablespoon per cup of water) or infused. Many people like to mix it with mint, lemongrass or chamomile or other herbs to cut its pungent flavor. Gargling with sage tea or taking small sips throughout the day is good for throat and upper respiratory congestion. To dry up breast milk or reduce perspiration, drink several cups a day for a few of weeks as needed. As a tincture take 1/8 to ½ teaspoon in a sip of water once or twice a day. From the book, The Woman’s Book of Healing Herbs by Sari Harrar and Sara Altshul O’Donnell, as an infusion, put 4 heaping tablespoons of dried sage in a cup of hot water. Cover tightly and steep for 4 or more hours. Susan S. Weed, an herbalist and herbal educator from Woodstock, New York, and author of the Wise Woman series of herbal health books, including Menopausal Years: The Woman’s Wise Way, cautions against taking too much in large quantities because it “…can provoke irritability.” As of this writing, I haven’t found any contrary interactions with pharmaceutical drugs form my resources; however, as with anything, consult a professional health care provider with concerns or questions. I am not a professional, just a person who likes to use herbs along with other tools to improve my health and my family’s health and well being.
Sage is also used outside the kitchen and medicine cabinet for a different type of healing. It is used to cleanse the auric field. Kenneth Meadows from the book Shamanic Experience gives a good explanation. “As we go about our daily lives, dust and grime from the atmosphere adheres to our physical bodies, and for our own health and comfort we need to wash it off. Our auras are similarly affected by our location and by the energy fields of other humans, but it is ‘psychic’ substance which attaches to the aura, in the same way that cigarette smoke penetrates a fabric and ‘sticks’ to it.
American Indians had a special way of cleansing the aura. They used smoke from burning herbs to penetrate the aura and gently and effectively dilute and disperse psychic ‘dirt’. This method was called ‘smudging’.
The herb they used was sage, which Indian tribes regarded as a sacred plant whose special qualities set it apart for cleansing. The smoke from burning sage banishes negative energies from the surrounding atmosphere that cling to the aura.” I like to use sage for smudging when I have had a rough day or week, or when I feel like I am getting sick. I sometimes will smudge before I give a Reiki or other energy treatment, as long as the person doesn’t have respiratory problems. I use a ‘smudge bowl’ or sea shell and loose leaves most of the time. I can control the amount of smoke alittle better than with a smudge stick. To smudge, hold the receptacle or stick in your left hand, light the herb or blend (you can also use sweet grass and lavender to add a blessing, or cedar to attract positive energies) and then fan the smoke with a cardboard or feather fan first towards your chest and up towards your throat and face and then over your head. Continue fanning the smoke down to your lower body and towards your feet. I like to smudge the back, too. If fanning another person, they should ‘collect’ the smoke by drawing it toward their face with their hands. Anything can be smudged: rooms, houses, objects, crystals, jewelry. I definitely saged my sons’ cars after they bought new used cars and after they had their first fender benders. I also offered a blessing. To me, sage is a sacred sensational herb and I haven’t even tried it for gray hair yet!

Many blessings to your health. ~Kim Anderson