In Western herbal medicine, the herb alfalfa (which is also known as Father of All Foods, Buffalo herb or Buffalo grass, lucerne, Chilean Clover, Purple medic and other names) is used for a wide variety of medicinal purposes. Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is a perennial plant with small  leaves and purple flowers. It originates from Asia and in the 4th century BC Persian King Darius imported this herbal remedy to the Europe during his march on ancient Greece. For many centuries alfalfa has been used as a natural nutrition tonic. Read the rest of this entry »

All of us are very well familiar with peppermint. It is one of the most favorite flavor for candies, chewing gums, toothpaste, soaps, shampoos, gels and other popular consumer products. Many of us like drinking peppermint tea, and some even like adding peppermint flavoring to a cup of coffee. Weird? Not at all! Try a cup of mint mocha or mint latte. You can prepare it for yourself by adding some fresh mint leaves into your cup of coffee or by using several drops of peppermint extract. Mint is very common to cooking, especially in India and the Middle East. It is used in various salads, punches, milk shakes, as well as as a garnish for chicken and red meat. Read the rest of this entry »

St. John’s Wort (Hypericum Perforatum, also known as Goat weed) is one of the most popular medicinal herbs, which has been known since the times of ancient Greece and used to treat various problems with cardiovascular and digestive systems, liver and bladder, as well as to relieve certain mental conditions and nerve pain. The herb received its name after St. John the Baptist as it blossoms in the middle of June, around the time for the feast of St. John the Baptist. In herbal medicine, flowered tops of St. John’s Wort are used for preparing tinctures, teas extracts, capsules, dietary supplements or other medicines. Read the rest of this entry »

Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara) is a quite a popular herbal remedy in modern Europe and Asia which is used to suppress cough, relieve sore throat and other symptoms of bronchitis. The leaves and blossoms of this plant are used for various herbal teas, tinctures, syrups and infusions, which can be found in the pharmacies of the UK, Japan, Germany, France, Russia, China and many other countries of the world. At the same time, this small perennial plant from the family Asteraceae grows throughout the north, east and central regions of the United States and in the south of Canada. Therefore, those people, who frequently suffer from colds, throat irritations, chronic coughs and other related problems can gather the flowers and leaves of Coltsfoot, dry them and prepare therapeutic teas.

This herbal remedy has a great variety of therapeutic effects: anti-spacmotic, demulcent, soothing, antitussive, diuretic and so on. Active elements of Coltsfoot blossoms include mucilage, carotene and other flavonoids, tannin, arnidiol, taraxanthin, essential oils, etc., and the leaves contain zinc, glycosidal, sitosterol, inulin and so on. Before taking the products with Coltsfoot, it is essential to remember that the pyrrolizidine alkaloids containing in this plant can have negative and highly toxic effects on our liver. However, the majority of such alkaloids is destroyed when the parts of the plant are boiled.

Coltsfoot syrups and teas are very effective for relieving bronchitis attacks and the symptoms of asthma. You can use dry leaves of this plant for preparing a special tea: two table-spoons of the leaves steep in 300 ml of hot wanter and keep for 4 hours. Take 100 ml of the tea before having meal. Or, you can prepare a “fast herbal tea” using 1 teaspoon of the dried blossom and steeping it for 10-15 minutes in 250 ml of hot water. Such teas can help you strengthen your immunity and relieve the symptoms of cystitis. Coltsfoot tincture can be used for the treatment of wounds and various skin infections. Finally, some specialists recommend Coltfoot tea for improving the function of your digestive system and stimulating appetite. Do not forget to consult your health practitioner before taking Coltsfoot products on a regular basis, use this natural remedy for your benefit and be always healthy!

Sage (Salvia officinalis, Salvia grande or Garden Sage) is a perennial herb which is widely used both in cooking (in particular, to flavor various dishes with meat, omelets, soups, cheese, etc.) and in herbal medicine as an effective antiseptic and natural antibiotic. The herb received its name Salvia Officinalis from Latin Salvere - to heal, and such known ancient physicians as Hippocrates and Pedanius Dioscorides studied therapeutic properties of sage. In the Roman Empire, sage was considered to be a “sacred herb”, because it could create and save human life. A sage tea was believed to help women to conceive, as well as to be a perfect tonic for body and mind and a refreshing beverage associated with wisdom, clear thinking, being in good humor and good health. Read the rest of this entry »