Mustard greens and mustard seeds are among the oldest known herbal remedies for a great number of health conditions. Originated from the Mediterranean areas, mustard and the herbs from Brassica family were quite popular in the Middle and Far East. These herbal remedies are mentioned in ancient writings of Sanscrit and New Testament. Curative purposes and health benefits of mustard seeds were used in ancient Rome and Greece. In most modern kitchens, both mustard seeds and mustard greens are used for a variety of purposes: to spice up sandwiches, salads and other meals, to preserve pickles and so on. Read the rest of this entry »

Many specialists could not help noticing that such phenomenon as “post-New Year” or winter depression attacks many people in the beginning of January, when Christmas and New Year holidays are over and we have to be back to our usual routine. Certainly, the factors like temperature fluctuations, decreased duration of daylight periods and lack of sun also contribute to increased feeling of sadness, despair and hopelessness. Winter depression is familiar to many people. Read the rest of this entry »

Artichoke plants (Cynara cardunculus) are large herbs that originate from Ethiopia and are now widely being cultivated in southern regions of Europe and other continents. Artichoke was one of the most valuable and expensive foods in Ancient Greece and the Roman Empire. In the 17th century European explorers brought artichoke plant to the U.S., and since then it became quite a popular and loved food for many American families. The green huge buds of artichoke plant, which are used for cooking, are considered to be among the most nutrient-rich veggies on earth. Read the rest of this entry »

Autumn is the time for my favorite flowers, chrysanthemum. White or pink, yellow or red, they all are extremely beautiful, tender and sensitive, just like old Italian romantic songs. In herbal medicine, Chrysanthemum indicum has been one of the principal herbs in traditional Chinese medicine since the ancient times. Chrysanthemum tea was quite a popular treatment in ancient China for a great number of inflammatory diseases, including stomatitis, influenza, tonsillitis, pneumonia, dermatosis, etc. Also, special tinctures and herbal mixtures with Chrysanthemum flowers were used for external purposes: in particular, as an effective skin treatment, as a remedy for fever reduction, and so on. Read the rest of this entry »

In our times, scientists suggest a number of ways how to use natural approaches and certain herbal remedies to boost our memory. You can add to your diet such foods as walnuts, blueberries, spinach, broccoli, tomatoes or pumpkin seeds. Herbal remedies which can help us improve our memory include sage, rosemary, ginseng, Ginkgo Biloba or an exotic herb called “gotu kola“, which is quite popular in India. In the beginning of 2009, German scientists reported in the journal Science about one more effective way to use herbal remedies to boost memory. They claim that the scent of roses can have positive effects on our memory and help us memorize the things better. Read the rest of this entry »