When someone mentions spearmint leaf, most people probably think of Wrigley’s gum. It was first made in 1893. Real spearmint oil is used in its favoring. In fact, almost half of the spearmint oil produced in the US each year is used to flavor gum. Most of the rest is used to flavor toothpastes. The answer is 13,000. The question is, how many sticks of chewing gum can be made from one pound of mint oil?

The scientific name for spearmint is Salvia sclarea. Other common names include Our Lady’s mint, spearmint, brown mint, mint, garden mint, sage of Bethlehem, silver mint, menthol mint, and spiremint. There are many different kinds of mint. The list includes catnip, peppermint, lavender mint, apple mint, orange mint, and Scotch spearmint. The US produces 70% of the world’s mint supply, with Washington and Oregon the leading producing states.

Though spearmint is not as popular as peppermint, it does have its own unique flavor. Spearmint plant has a creeping root and unequally serrated and smooth leaves. It is a herbaceous plant with branching, quadrangular, smooth stems, that grow to 2 ft. high. The leaves are the only part of the plant used.

Spearmint is native to the Mediterranean region. Its history goes back thousands of years. In 1568, herbalist John Gerard Writing wrote of ‘spere mynte’, it “rejoiceth the heart…” The Bible mentions mint twice, in Matt. 23:23 and Luke 11:42. Both spoke of religious people tithing the tiniest of leaves. In the Middle Ages spearmint is mentioned as a strewing herb. It was scattered on the floor to get rid of rodents, to give health to those in the house, and to add a beautiful scent.

Spearmint made its way to America during the Colonial period. Because mint was not taxed by the English government, it soon became a popular tea substitute during the American Revolution. After the war, spearmint became a significant cash crop in Connecticut. During the American Civil War when imported black tea was hard to get, spearmint’s popularity flourished. It was used to help purify drinking water and as a cleansing tonic. They used spearmint to treat dog bites and wasps and bee stings by mixing salt and mint and applying it directly to the wound.

Spearmint contains volatile oil, the flavonoid thymonin, caffeic acid, rosmaric acid, carvone, and limonene. It also contains aromatic compounds that increase the production of digestive fluids and enzymes, relieve smooth muscle spasms, increase blood circulation, promote sweating, relieve pain and are antiseptic. Spearmint contains astringent compounds that shrink inflamed tissues. It has been used to treat indigestion, morning sickness, nausea, menstrual cramps, flatulence, muscle aches, flu, and vomiting. Ice cubes of mint tea are useful to promote healing and to soothe the pain of canker sores.

Externally the application of a strong decoction of spearmint will heal chapped skin. Spearmint can be inhaled to relieve tension headache and to revive memory. Sugary juices can be diluted with herbal teas such as mint.

Some women suffer from hirsutism, which is excessive hair growth in locations where hair normally does not grow. Spearmint’s anti-androgenic properties reduce the level of free testosterone in the blood, while leaving total testosterone and DHEA unaffected. Drinking two cups of spearmint tea a day for five days can reduce androgen levels in women with hirsutism. The dosage is 1 c. morning and evening during each of the 5 days of the follicular period (the five days leading up to ovulation) of each menstrual cycle.

What is the recommended dosage to get the best Spearmint benefits?

• For a decoction: mix 2 tbsp. dried leaf in one cup water. Steep 10 min. Do not boil. Strain.
• For an infusion: mix 2 tsp dried leaf in one cup water. Steep for 10 min. Do not boil. Strain.
• For a bath decoction: mix 3 tbsp. dried leaf in one cup water and follow the above directions.

There are no known side effects to spearmint. It is safe and useful for children. Use it for relief in colic and congestion for the gentle menthol content is warming and relaxing to the esophagus. Spearmint has a mild anesthetic effect to the mucous membranes of the stomach and can thus ease motion sickness and help restore the appetite.

Plantain (officially Plantago major) is a weed commonly found in the wild and (much to suburbanites’ chagrin) the lawns of almost everyone living in temperate climates. Just think, here’s a weed probably found in your yard that you used to kill, and now, after reading this, you will want to harvest! There are over 200 species. You can find it quickly when you see the green, nubby spikes, which stick up out of a cluster of round leaves.

Plantain was used in time past to heal the bites of “mad dogs, snakes, and venomous creatures.” On this side of the ocean, Native Americans learned to use plantain in the same way. In colonial America a slave would be freed if he taught them how to use plantain to cure rattlesnake bite. An article written in 1710 listing the benefits of plantain leaf made it sound like the proverbial medicine man’s elixir, Doctor Magic’s Cure for everything!

Take a few fresh leaves, crush or chew them, and see how quickly they stop the bleeding of an open wound or the pain and inflammation of bites and stings. Plantain can also be used to treat minor cuts and a wide range of skin disorders, including dandruff, eczema, or sunburn. Plantain is like a First Aid kit growing in the lawn! A cup of strong Plantain tea will calm indigestion, and the leaf will relieve the pain of a toothache. In Europe they endorse plantain as a treatment for bronchitis, sore throat, and cold symptoms.

In more recent times, plantain has been acclaimed for its ability to relieve bee stings, insect and spider bites, and rashes from an unfortunate encounter with Poison Ivy or Stinging Nettles. Dr. Christopher called Plantain, Jewelweed, and Hound’s Tongue “Nature’s erasers.” He said, “Stand anywhere within sight of Poison Ivy, and look about. You will always see at least one of these plants, placed by the hand of God to come to your aid, if you should need it.”

Plantain will protect the body against tumors and help resist damage to the liver from chemotherapy drugs. The fiber and mucilage from the seeds of the Plantago species are the primary fiber supplement for millions of people around the world.

Plantain leaves contains allantoin, an anti-inflammatory substance that kills germs, speeds wound healing, and stimulates the growth of new skin cells. It is listed as an active ingredient in many commercial cosmetic creams and lotions.
Plantain is a must in case of physical injuries because it is a contact healer. As such, along with cayenne, and comfrey, it is essential for emergency situations to stop itching and/or bleeding, kill infection, reduce inflammation, etc.

Plantain is also available as a supplement in liquid extract and capsule form. The usual dosage for, say, bronchial symptoms is 6 grams in capsules or one teaspoon of liquid extract three times a day.

A simple ointment can be made using olive oil, extract of fresh plantain, and a little beeswax. Apply this to skin ailments, including diaper rash. Or rub fresh plantain leaves on the skin to soothe poison ivy, bug bites, eczema or other minor skin irritations. You can also make a soothing poultice of fresh, mashed leaves mixed in a little cool water. Apply it to sunburns.

There have been no toxic reactions reported with the use of plantain though consuming extremely large amounts could cause diarrhea, skin rash, or other allergic reaction. It is very critical to store plantain in a dark, dry, and cool place. Refrigeration or freezing is highly recommended, but not necessary. By doing this you will delay the loss of its highly valued nutritional and medicinal properties.

The above was a syndicated article

You can learn more about herbs on our herb blog.

Have you ever been tempted to seek acupuncture care for some malady, but were concerned about the actual experience? Would it make you feel any
better to learn that an acupuncturist is every bit as well trained and
experienced in his own field as a medical doctor is in his?

Acupuncture specialists go thru rigid coaching courses and licensing techniques. There is a national board ratification from the national Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. This validation ensures that the person who will be treating you has completed a three or 4 year course of study of at least three thousand hours. You may also wish to make sure that your consultant operates a fulltime practice, which will mean that he or she has gotten a lot of experience doing acupuncture techniques.

It shouldn’t be tricky to find a qualified acupuncture specialist. You can try something as straightforward as using the yellow pages, you can ask the opinions of friends and contacts, or you can do a web search to find the best acupuncture resources in your area.

Maybe you think you’ll never have an excuse to visit an acupuncture clinic. After all, you aren’t sick, and you have no pain. Have you ever thought about losing some pounds? Acupuncture treatments can help you do that. Acupuncture therapy is also reported to help reduce the insulin in your blood, if needed, and it can be used to help lessen the discomfort and period of a common cold. Actually, there are dozens of different anomalies of the human body that acupuncture can effectively treat.

Another thing to remember about your acupuncture specialist is that acupuncture has been practiced for over 2,000 years, and during that time systems have been perfected, a great amount of research has been done, and many millions of people have been helped. That doesn’t sound so bad now, does it?

This article was syndicated from SeoLinkVine

Conventional medicine has a certain predictability to it, in that you pretty much know what your Doctor will say. Not that conventional medicine isn’t effective, it is, but sometimes it’s not quite the cure for what ails us. There are other approaches that you may be unaware of, and they are referred to as complimentary and Alternative Medicine.

Complementary and Alternative medicine (also known by the abbreviation CAM) have been around for a long time. Many of their practices come from various parts of the world and may date back thousands of years, such as herbalism and massage. Complimentary and Alternative medicines each use the same basic types of treatments to bring you back to robust good health, but there are differences in how they are used.

Generally, alternative medicine has been practiced in lieu of conventional medicine, herbalism being a good example. Complementary medicine uses the many types of alternative medicine along with conventional medicine. Massage therapy is an example of this. You can be in charge of your own health decisions, yet still listen to the advice of your doctor (which is always a good idea) when you decide to go the complementary and alternative medicine route.

Health centers and traditional hospitals are now incorporating various alternative medicine therapies into their available services. it is not uncommon for a doctors visit to include some type of recommendation for alternative therapies, such as chiropractic treatments for back pain.

Meditation is another technique that is increasingly recommended, and may people find it to be a very useful technique in dealing with the stresses of modern life (not that earlier times were any less stressful.)

A recent survey by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control has found an increase in the use of holistic practices with complementary and alternative medicine being used by adults and the children who live in their households. What we are seeing is a trend towards alternative medicine even with adults that have medical insurance coverage.

Here is an example of complementary medicine that probably everyone has tried at least once. Taking a daily multi vitamin can be considered a form of complementary medicine, as you use it along with whatever regular treatments you receive from your doctor. This is a mild form of complementary medicine that would almost always meet with your doctor’s approval. Massage is another form of CAM, as is Aromatherapy.

It is a comforting thought to know that by using complementary and conventional medicine, you have chosen to do something to safeguard your health, all on your own.

Natural Supplements and Eating Well

Exercising and eating healthy foods are just some of the things a person can do to live a life that is healthy and free from disease. You may have herd the saying “an apple a day keeps the doctor away”. Avoiding nasty habits like drinking alcohol and smoking is another way to prolong life as well as to improve overall health.

Other than these, taking natural healing supplements can also make a person healthier because these supplements will clear away the many built up toxins that are present in your body.

There are holistic medicines that help promote the removal of toxins in the body, the renewal of skin cells and the flushing out of harmful substances like cholesterol and fat.

There are also supplements that improve your mental and emotional well-being through the relaxing properties that are used in the supplements.

Since stress is known to be one of the major factors that can cause a person to become sick, the use of stress relieving supplements is a important part of a natural health regimen that can keep a person healthy and fit.

End of syndicated article

A very modern treatment, which we have found to be very effective at reducing stress and increasing focus, is Brain Entrainment. This is a process that effectively trains our brains to reach a meditative state far more rapidly than traditional methods, which retaining all of the traditional benefits. You can learn more about entrainment here.

Use Herbal Remedies with Care

If you have ever shopped for herbal products in a health food store, you may have noticed that the labels almost never tell the potential medical benefits of the herb, much less, any directions or precautions for their use. Why is this?

Well, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) prohibits manufacturers from making any claims that any product will treat or prevent a disease until that product has been tested. Although, many herbs have age-old histories as safe healers, the manufacturer would have to get approved from the FDA, which is a lengthy and costly process.

Since natural substances, such as herbs, can not be patented, it would not be profitable to go through this approval process. This is also the reason why drug companies have little interest in exploring any promising herbal remedies.

As to sidestep the FDA regulation problem, herb suppliers have chose to sell their products as food supplements without therapeutic claims. However, this leaves the consumer clueless as to a products uses or risks and with no assurance of its potency or quality.

Given this confusion, here are a few helpful suggestions and ideas to consider in helping you to pick safely from natures garden of healing plants.

First and foremost is to educate yourself. The quality of commercially sold herbs varies widely. Dried herbs may lose their potency quickly if not stored properly. There is no government regulation for quality, potency, or authenticity. Purchase herbs from reputable companies with a name and reputation that they want to protect.

Do not play doctor. Never use alternative therapy instead of a proven medical treatment without consulting your physician first. In some cases, you can use herbs and other natural treatments as a substitute for conventional medicine, but there are also curative treatments you might miss if you don’t get a check up. Unless you are absolutely sure what is wrong, do not try to self medicate.

If you do decide to try herbal remedies, use them for conditions you know are not serious and will eventually clear up by themselves, like colds or minor arthritis pain.

Do not presume that natural means safe. People tend to think that just because an herb is a plant, its safe to use. That is not always true. Some of the most extremely poisonous toxins known come from plants. Although, herbs have been used by thousands of people for hundreds of years with virtually no ill effects and many benefits, there has been reports of herbal remedies causing sickness, even a rare death. Buy herbal products only from reputable growers and manufacturers.

Start low and go slow.  When trying a new herbal product start with the lowest dose. If you don’t experience any benefit after a week, gradually increase the dose. Do not take more than the recommended amount and don’t take high doses of any remedy for months or years unless the long term effects have been studied.

If you feel worse after taking an herbal remedy, stop taking it. If an herb disagrees with you or if you develop new symptoms after taking it, discontinue using it. Allergies or other adverse reactions to any plant substance is always a possibility.

Avoid herbal remedies if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking other medications. Little is known about the effects of herbs on an unborn child or a baby through breast milk. Do not mix herbal remedies with prescription or over the counter drugs. An herb may make the action of another medication stronger or weaker.

Check in with Age Old Herbs for continuous educational information on subjects such as; the health benefits of herbs, natural remedies for pets, and some great tips on growing herbs.

More about Herbs and Herbal Treatments:

• Gems4friends’ main page on healing with herbs.
• Herbal remedies blog

What is Natural Medicine?

There is a lot of confusion about exactly what natural medicine is. Is aromatherapy or acupuncture worthwhile? Is it a con? What does it actually involve? In this post I’d like to describe some background to natural medicine, and maybe dispell some of the confusion surrounding it.

Natural medicine is simply the use of traditional remedies, natural methods, and herbal medicines, to cure illness. Most societies in the world have a long history of using these natural medicines. Many types of healing treatments and alternative therapies fall under the term natural medicine.

A number of herbal medicines have been prevalent for many years in Chinese and Indian society. These natural medicines tend to be (though they aren’t always) inexpensive and risk free, in stark contrast to many modern manufactured drugs, and have few if any side effects other than allergic reactions.

Since the creation of the popular penicillin, traditional natural medicine treatments have fallen out of favour or been forgotten. However, alternative treatments like acupuncture are making a comback. More and more doctors are beginning to realise their benefits, and many scientific studies are being conducted to measure their effectiveness against modern drug therapy.

With more people becoming aware of the vast number of chemicals we put into our bodies – either from treatments or clothing – natural therapy is surely becoming a more viable treatment in our modern society.

Article syndicated courtesy of Syndicate Kahuna

Quartz crystals have been used by healers, spiritual teachers, and scientists of the sacred throughout history to receive, transmit, store, transform, and balance the various forms of energy found in our Universe.  Many may wonder why crystals were chosen as the medium to tap into these sources.

Essentially, it is because every quartz crystal point contains the attributes of the five elements, Earth, Air, Fire, Water, and Ether or Spirit. How are crystals similar to the five elements?

Element Air: Crystals grow deep in the earth and form much of the earth’s crust, yet like the element air, crystals allow light to pass through them and split light into spectrums.

Element Fire: Quartz is a good conductor of heat. Ancient civilizations were well aware of this property. Objects and spheres carved from quartz always feel cool when touched or held, even in the heat of the day, because the crystal conducts the heat.

Crystals are also fiery in that they have piezoelectric properties.  Piezoelectricity is the ability of crystals to generate an electric potential.  One of the most common piezoelectric uses of quartz today is a crystal oscillator. The quartz clock is also a familiar device using quartz crystal.

Element Water: Crystals are watery in their hexagonal molecular structure which resembles snowflakes, and in their ice-like appearance. Roman naturalist Pliny the Elder believed quartz to be water ice, permanently frozen after great lengths of time. (The word “crystal” comes from the Greek word for ice.) He supported this idea by saying that quartz is found near glaciers in the Alps, but not on volcanic mountains.

Element Spirit: Crystals are expressions of the element of Ether or Spirit, the fundamental energy that sustains all forms of energy in the known universe.

When looking at the healing attributes of crystal, think of the human body as a series of energy systems. Crystals are devices for adjusting and balancing these systems. When one uses natural quartz crystals to heal the body, energy transference occurs between the crystal point and the body. Thus, crystals function as transformers of energy to help rebalance bodies on a cellular level, as well as on emotional, mental, and spiritual levels.

When you think about it, your brain is the center of all of your bodily functions. Any ailments you experience usually start within your brain, and how your brain perceives the trauma. Therefore, if your brain experiences stress, imagine how uncoordinated your body will perform. If your heart beats at an abnormal speed, your blood will flow at an unhealthy rate. It then becomes a domino effect with your other organs as well. In Chinese medicine, the over activation of one organ in the body meant that another organ had to weaken.

Whenever the body becomes out of balance, in any aspect, quartz crystal points can place balance back into the body. With the aid of crystals, thoughts are focused on a particular area of the body that needs either activated or slowed down.  “The crystal is a neutral object whose inner structure exhibits a state of perfection and balance,” according to crystal researcher Marcel Vogel, a senior scientist with IBM for 27 years. “When its cut to the proper form and when the human mind enters into relationship with its structural perfection, the crystal emits a vibration which extends and amplifies the powers of the human mind. Like a laser, it radiates energy in a coherent, highly concentrated form, and this energy may be transmitted into objects or people at will.”

Why is it better to use crystal points rather than your hands for healing?  Dr. Marcel Vogel explained that “The psychic healer has to deal with the emanations of his hand or his bioenergy field, which do not have the same levels of coherence one can obtain by using a crystal. The crystal works much the same way that a laser does: it takes scattered rays of energy and makes the energy field so coherent and unidirectional that a tremendous force is generated — one that is much stronger than if the energies were allowed to be emitted without having come into coherence.”

Where is the best place to purchase healing crystal points?  Quartz crystals absorb energy from the sun, moon, and lightning discharges, so in reality, crystals found in uncultivated environments are fully charged from natural sources of energy and ready to be utilized.  Thus, crystal points, when purchased from sellers that mine their own crystals, have tremendous healing powers already invoked within them that can immediately be used to aid in healing endeavors.  Crystal points processed in large scale quartz mines lose all of the natural charged energy, so if you decide to purchase from such companies, you will need to cleanse the point very well before using it.

Are you in need of some positive energy? Do the stresses of everyday life seem to be getting you down? If so, then Check out Crystal Creek’s large selection of naturally charged Arkansas Crystal Points and bring positive vibes to your soul.

EFT is an emotional version of acupuncture except needles aren’t necessary. Instead, you stimulate well established energy meridian points on your body by tapping on them with your fingertips. Does tapping really work? As my Grandmother used to say, “the proof is in the pudding”. Try it. That’s what personal development (and life) is all about. Have fun. Enjoy it. Learn and grow. Pass it on. And don’t forget to smile – it makes people wonder.

Two EFT Videos on Tapping

It should make a good start to your day.