Herbal Collective Source

Ok, so asking for someone’s opinion on herbs can sound rather vague.

It could mean any number of things, right?

Whether one likes herbs, uses herbs, grows herbs or just wants to know more about herbs.

So this is why I have designed an Herbal Survey to get an idea of what our readers would like to know about herbs, readers of the Herbal Collective blog and also readers and those who use our companion site, a herbal community at Herbguide.

Many people, for instance want to know how to use herbs to attain better health.
Do herbs work for better health?

You better believe it.
But, you have to know how to use them properly and use the right herb for a specific health condition.
It’s also important to know how much to take, how often to take and whether one should take an herb continuously or not.

What else do you want to know?
Do you have a question about growing herbs?
Are there specific herbs you want to grow or is the herb garden more for aesthetic value?

When asking questions, the more specific the question the more specific the answer will be.

A specific question would be something along the lines of – what are the best Mediterranean herbs to grow?

Or, which herbs grow well in the shade?

Now, what about cooking with herbs?
Does one use fresh, dried or a combination of both?

But I’m sure there are more burning questions than that.

Our readers may also wish to know about other uses of herbs in aromatherapy, in bath and beauty products or for crafts.
Let us know what is on your mind so we can help you.

Go answer our short 10 question survey now. Click here.

By Marilyn Zink

Stinging nettles are a great way to get energized when you add them to your diet.

Most of us are familiar with stinging nettles and know to avoid touching them or you’ll get stung.

But did you know that adding stinging nettles to your diet is a great way to take advantage of the many health benefits in nettles?

Yes, they have a myriad of  vitamins and minerals, such as Vitamins A and C and minerals like iron, potassium, manganese and calcium. Stinging nettles are also good for the liver.

You can cook the fresh nettle leaves like spinach by plunging them in boiling water for several minutes and then add the leaves to a soup or stew.

But you can also make a smoothie with stinging nettles. Now you may worry about your mouth getting stung by the nettles. I don’t blame you.

However, chopping the leaves and then whirling them in the blender will remove the formic acid from the nettles, eliminating the sting.

Use gloves to pick a fresh handful and mix it with berries. You can also add other veggies like kale. I have done this and it works out well.

If you’re cautious about getting stung, parboil the nettle leaves for about 5 seconds, then plunge them into ice cold water. Voila, the sting is gone and you still get the benefits.

Stinging nettles are a great way to get fresh, raw food that grows abundantly in nature. Be careful where you pick it and be sure the area is unsprayed.

Get recipes for stinging nettles, learn more about stinging nettles and other herbs when you become a member of Herbguide, a herbal community.

By Neelam Toprani 

Holy Basil, or Tulsi, holds the most supreme place among the various medicinal herbs in India perhaps  next to Lotus.
The ancient scriptures describe it as protector of life accompanying human being from birth up till death. There are innumerable references of Tulsi in Indian mythology. The ancient Ayurvedic scriptures mentioned the plant in the management of several diseases. The plant has a purifying influence by liberating ozone and also repels mosquitoes.  

Its healing properties are so well established that most people in India grow it in courtyards and it is traditionally worshipped daily in a ritual for the well being of the family.

The botanists have given Tulsi ( holy sacred basil) the Latin name Ocimum sanctum. The species means both green leafed Rama Tulsi and purple leafed Krishna Tulsi. More recently Ocimum has also been known by Ocimum tenuiflorum meaning “ basil with smaller flowers. “

The seeds, leaves and roots of Holy Basil have a great medicinal value. It is used both internally and externally. Holy basil has mild antiseptic and analgesic properties and relieves swelling. The leaves when chewed mitigate the infection of the gums. Instillation of fresh juice of the leaves into ears is an effective domestic remedy for ear aches.

A tea made with leaves of holy basil is a common remedy for cold, cough and mild indigestion. The ancient texts of Ayurveda describe multiple use of Holy Basil in treating impotence, poisoning, dyspnoea, coughs and halitosis, backaches, respiratory diseases and arthritis.

Holy basil is traditionally used in many Ayurvedic preparations as a blood purifier in the diseases of blood and heart. It is an immuno-modulator and anti-microbial remedy with strong background for reducing toxicity.

Holy Basil has specified actions on the respiratory system. It effectively liquefies the phelm due to its hot and sharp attributes. Holy Basil is an effective panacea for cough due to allergic bronchitis asthma and eosinophilia. Since time immemorial Holy Basil is used as a treatment for a nasal inflammation and bronchitis. Due to the anti allergic property of Holy Basil, it provides protective effect against allergic diseases. In a study without controls, oral administration of an aqueous extract of dried Holy Basil to 20 patients with asthma increased lung vital capacity and relieved labored breathing.

Holy Basil contains many bioactive substances including minerals and vitamins, which normalize the disturbed physiological functions of the body by harmonizing the different imbalances (energy formation/conservation and tissue respiration, neurological system and neuro-hormones and water/electrolyte system)

Ayurvedic pharmacopoeia of India has a long list of herbal preparations with Holy Basil as important ingredient. For countless generations, Ayurvedic medical knowledge with its many disciplines and medicinal plants have made an invaluable contribution to modern medical science in the understanding of pathology and in the treatment of diseases due to long history of  use and documented evidence  of safety and efficacy.

Holy Basil has gained increasing interest for its numerous medicinal uses. In keeping with the guidelines of Ayurvedic  classical formulations , the pharmacological and phytochemists  team at Sewanti Ayurvedic series has combined the healing properties of Holy Basil in synergy with other important key Ayurvedic herbs to enhance bioavailability of Holy Basil  and stimulate its activity in the formulation. These herbs  include Ashwagandha, Karanja, Chitraka, Amalaki and Haridra.  

 Neelam Toprani is the formulator of the Sewanti Ayurvedic Series of Sewanti Herbs.
This article was first published in the May/June issue of the Herbal Collective.

By Marilyn Zink

I love taking maca and have found it to be an excellent benefit to my health.
Maca is an adaptogenic herb so it helps balance hormones, provides energy and can boost libido.

People often get confused about how to take adaptogenic herbs, or they mix adaptogenic herbs together.

This is not recommended. You don’t take two adaptogenic herbs at the same time.  It’s completely unnecessary and can have a negative effect on the body.

I’ve heard stories of people taking maca and ginseng at the same time and experiencing side effects.  Both these herbs are super foods for the endocrine system and can overstimulate the body when taken together.

So only take one adaptogenic herb at a time. Also avoid taking dong quai, black cohosh, licorice root and fertility drugs with maca.

If you are taking any drugs, make sure you consult a health professional before taking maca.

The other thing I’ve seen is that people take too much maca too soon. This is a powerful herb used by Peruvians for thousands of years.

Start with a small amount, 1/4 tsp. in the morning and the same at night, always taken with meals or just before eating.

Give it a week or two to notice any changes. Increase the dosage by another 1/4 tsp. if no changes have been noticed.

As maca has an effect on the endocrine system which balances hormones, some people will notice a difference quicker, while others may take slightly longer.

You should not exceed three teaspoons a day and don’t take it all at once.  The latest it should be taken is just before dinner, as it can affect sleep.

Also, give yourself a maca ‘holiday’ once a month. If you have been on it a month, take a weekend off.  If you have been taking it for 3 months or longer, take a full week off.

For myself, I take two capsules a day in the morning - that’s equivalent to 1500 mg. or about 1 tsp.  That’s it. On the rare occasion I take four capsules a day and that works for me.

Ensure the brand of maca you purchase is quality and you trust the manufacturer. Are you getting a pure product?

To learn more about maca and adaptogenic herbs, get the May/June’12 issue of  The Herbal Collective or see it online with other issues and much more at Herbguide.

Marilyn Zink is the publisher of The Herbal Collective magazine.

By Marilyn Zink
Dealing with stress using herbs is an effective way to help the body heal.

Choosing the right herbs to use and how to use them is a critical component to deal with stress effectively.

Often people think of using calming herbs to deal with stress. While this is a good approach, it’s worthwhile to consider another group of herbs for dealing with stress.

This group of herbs are known as adaptogens.
These herbs are called this because they help the body adapt to different situations - they have a normalizing and balancing effect on the body.

They neither stimulate, sedate or inhibit the body but rather have a tonifying effect. The beauty of adaptogens is that they help the body deal with stress more effectively by helping the body’s systems.

These are systems such as the immune system, usually the first area impacted by stress, the circulatory system, the nervous system and the endocrine system.

This is particularly important as stress has such as negative effect on so many areas of the body.

Ginseng is one of the most well known herbal adaptogens.
There are different types of ginseng so it’s important to know what type of ginseng is best to take and how that will effect the body.

Not everyone can take ginseng.
This is where other herbal adaptogens come into play.

Learn the full story of the different types of herbal adaptogens, 15 ways how they help the body cope with stress and much more in the May/June’12 issue of the Herbal Collective.
Marilyn Zink is the publisher of the Herbal Collective magazine.