7 Plants & Herbs That Heal Respiratory Infections & Soothe The Lungs

Collective Evolution – Hippocrates, the ancient Greek physician, was right when he pronounced, “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” This has been confirmed by decades of research showing the healing power of food, as well as, inversely, its potential to cause some serious health problems. So many diseases, as well as the exponential rise in chronic disease in recent decades, can be linked to our eating habits today.

We live in a world full of pesticides, antibiotic-laced meats, and processed foods that are manufactured to be addicting. On top of this, the birth and rise of chemical-based medicine has completely wiped out natural remedies that seem to be more effective. Chemical-based medicine, according to many, is also responsible for the massive rise in various diseases.

As Glenn A. Warner, MD, former head of the immunotherapy department of the Tumor Institute under Orliss Wildermuth, MD, writes: “We have a multi-billion dollar industry that is killing people, right and left, just for financial gain. Their idea of doing research is to see whether two doses of this poison is better than three doses of that poison.”

This is precisely why Dr. Richard Horton, the current editor-in-chief of The Lancet – considered to be one of the most well respected peer-reviewed medical journals in the world — recently  published a statement declaring that a lot of published research is in fact unreliable at best, if not completely false:

The case against science is straightforward: much of the scientific literature, perhaps half, may simply be untrue. Afflicted by studies with small sample sizes, tiny effects, invalid exploratory analyses, and flagrant conflicts of interest, together with an obsession for pursuing fashionable trends of dubious importance, science has taken a turn towards darkness. (source)

Dr. Marcia Angell, a physician and longtime Editor in Chief of The New England Medical Journal (NEMJ), which is considered to another one of the most prestigious peer-reviewed medical journals in the world, makes her view of the subject quite plain:

It is simply no longer possible to believe much of the clinical research that is published, or to rely on the judgment of trusted physicians or authoritative medical guidelines. I take no pleasure in this conclusion, which I reached slowly and reluctantly over my two decades as an editor of the New England Journal of Medicine. (source)

It is highly unlikely that a doctor would prescribe you a daily dose of celery rather than pills to lower your blood pressure, despite the fact that some foods, like celery, have been shown scientifically and experimentally to have amazing results…

That being said, below is a list of 10 plants and herbs that can heal respiratory infections, boost lung health, and repair pulmonary damage. They can be done by vaporizing different herbs, making it into tea, or through other forms of ingesting it.
Continue reading

Grow Your Own Anti-Aging Skin Care

“. . . if you’re looking for a natural remedy for hair loss, rosemary is the herb to try. To create a therapeutic hair oil, press rosemary with a spoon and let it soak overnight in a cup of coconut oil, jojoba, and olive oil. Apply to the roots of your hair, massaging the mixture into the scalp.” ~Dr. Richard Foxx 

plant_rosemary
Rosemary

Why spend hundreds of dollars on anti-aging skin care products when you can grow a herb garden and get all you need to fight the effects of aging? In addition to enhancing the taste of food, many herbs also have strong anti-aging properties. And best of all, you can find many of them at your local grocery store year-round. Now that it’s summer, you can also look at a farmer’s market in your area where naturally grown herbs are for sale. Or, if you’re feeling ambitious and have the space, why not plant your own anti-aging herb garden?

The following are the top three herbs you can use to fight the effects of aging for younger-looking skin.

Mint: Consuming mint can soothe skin conditions like rosacea, eczema, and acne. You can also take a handful of mint, place it in two cups of hot water, and refrigerate the mixture for a soothing toner. Continue reading

5 Native American Survival Medicines Secretly Made At Home

“Many of these beneficial herbs are easy to grow in the home garden and make an attractive and practical addition to any landscape.” ~S. Patterson

If someone told you that your backyard may contain plants that could boost your immune system, improve your eyesight, relieve your upset stomach and help you fall asleep, would you believe them? Most people take for granted the fact that their yard, neighborhood or favorite spot in the woods are full of vegetation with therapeutic value.

However, Native Americans were quick to realize the value in plants. They have been practicing herbal therapy for thousands of years. Some believe that native medicine may be as old as 40,000 years old, although there was no early written language and nothing was documented until the Europeans arrived at the end of the 15th century.

According to oral traditions, Native Americans watched sick animals and learned how to apply various herbs for certain conditions. It was they who shared their knowledge of medicinal herbs with new settlers. We should be grateful for the information and knowledge which they imparted.

Hundreds of herbs and plants were used in Native American remedies — many of which we value today for their potent healing properties. Below are just 5 such plants that deserve recognition for not only their beauty but also their functionality.

Sage (Salvia officinalis)

Plant_sage
Sage (Salvia officinalis)

Native to countries around the Mediterranean Sea, sage is held sacred by a number of Native-American Indians mostly due to its purifying capabilities. It is thought to cleanse the body and mind of negative energy and improve function of the stomach, liver, colon, lungs and skin. From the Latin word “salvere,” Salvia officinalis means “to be saved.”

New “Survival Herb Bank” Gives You Access to God’s Amazing Medicine Chest

Sage is a member of the mint family, was recognized as Herb of the Year in 2011 by the International Herb Association, is an excellent source of vitamin K, contains volatile oils, flavonoids and rosmarinic acid, and is loaded with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties.

Although well-known for its culinary strengths, modern research indicates that sage has a very broad range of medicinal applications including regulating blood sugar and reducing blood pressure. This gray herb is about 2.5 inches long and produces flowers that are purple, white, blue or pink. It has a wonderfully fresh fragrance and is often used as an ingredient in personal care products. Sage is loaded with antioxidants and also contains anti-inflammatory properties.

Wild cherry bark

Continue reading

The Benefits Of Sage As An Herb And Spice: Growing Your Own Medicine

Natural Society February 12 2013

Sage, scientifically known as Salvia officinalis, is derived from the Latin “to save”, and its medicinal properties illustrate just how appropriate this name is. The herb has one of the longest-standing records in medicinal uses, and has been used in one form or another in nearly every culture and region in the world. Now, sage as a plant or spice can be used by you in your kitchen or backyard, and could save you from using another over-the-counter or even prescription drug remedy. Further, growing sage is fun and easy.

There are several varieties of sage. Because they are so closely related, they have many of the same benefits. But, these different varieties—some growing better in certain regions than others—mean that sage has been successfully grown and used from the desert to the tropics.

Some Sage History

Sage has a long history of both physical and spiritual healing. Ancient Greeks and Romans used the herb in sacred gatherings and also used it to reduce spoilage of meat. In the 10th century, Arab healers believed it promoted immortality. Europeans of the 14th century believed it would protect them from witchcraft.

Here in the United States, sage has a long history with the Native population. Along with sweet grass and cedar, sage is used to “smudge” homes, objects, and people to purify them. This is the act of burning sage and using the smoke as a spiritual purification. In addition, Native Americans use sage in a variety of physically healing methods including poultices, teas and baths.

Continue reading