After reading up on how kidneys work, I found that they're sort of second and third hearts that are set just below our ribcages in our back and are about the shape of a fist (each). They are a filtration system for all the liquids that pass through our bodies. Not only do they filter and absorb nutrients from all the different things we drink but they also pump about 20 percent of our body's blood in order to work. In consequence, maintaining your kidneys will help your blood pressure. This explains why drinking water is so much better for you than drinking soda or juice--it allows the blood to flow much more freely because it's far more easy to filter once it hits the kidneys. Kidneys also regulate calcium in the body; so when there isn't enough water provided for the kidneys to filter, the calcium can build up into a concentrate and eventually turn into kidney stones.
To maintain the health of your kidneys, first and foremost, drink at least 8 glasses of water every day. That is the best form of kidney cleanse one could use. A few foods to eat while attempting to cleanse and help the kidneys are watermelon (as well as any other fruits and vegetables--watermelon is just so packed with water that it's perfect!), lemon juice (astringent, helps cleanse both kidneys and bladder), cranberry juice (another astringent), and pumpkin seeds (also good for clearing up acne).
A few herbs to try while cleaning and maintaining the kidneys are dandelion, marshmallow root, juniper, nettles, parsley, red clover, ginger, and golden rod. Also, take your B Vitamins (B2 and B6)!
To avoid kidney stones, limit your intake of certain foods filled with oxalate, such as chocolate, okra, sweet potatoes, sesame seeds, greens, nuts, and spinach. Avoid too many sugary foods and drinks, especially soda and high-sugar juices (if you're going to drink juice, might as well get the good stuff with only natural sugars...from the fruit itself). As always, drinks lots and lots of water!
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
Thursday, March 13, 2014
JASMINE
JASMINE is one of my favorite scents; and therefore, one of my favorite flowers. So, today, I thought I'd look into what types of healing properties JASMINE holds.
According to LGNWH:
Synonyms/Related Species: Arabian Jasmine, Carolina Jasmine, Chameli, Common Indian Jasmine, White Jasmine, Yasmin, Yellow Jasmine, and Zambak Jasmine (just to name a few in the long list).
Family/Class: Oleaceae (olive).
Habitat: Algeria, Asia, Britain, the Canary Islands, Catalonia, Europe, India, the Mediterranean, Persia, Turkey, and other subtropical and tropical regions.
Flavor: Bitter.
Parts Used: Flowers.
Medicinal Uses:
- Soothes coughs
- Helps with eye problems (very non-specific)
- Helps with liver problems
- Eases stomach pain, especially while coping with diarrhea
- Prevents some cancers
- APHRODISIAC
- Reduces stress
- Lowers blood pressure
- Lowers cholesterol
- Regulates the aging process
- Sedates
- Prevents tooth decay
- Inhibits growth of some bad stomach bacteria, such as salmonella
Warnings:
Be cautious while consuming JASMINE if you are pregnant or breast-feeding, as everyone is unique in the effects the use of this herb may cause. Beyond that, I haven't heard anything JASMINE could do that would harm you. Of course, be wise and take it in small amounts, at first, to make sure you're not allergic or anything.
Recipes:
Jasmine Rice
Jasmine Tea (It's a Yahoo answer, but it's pretty descriptive and useful.)
Friday, February 28, 2014
BLADDER INFECTION/UTI STUDY
One of the reasons why I created this blog is so I can document what I learn from using more healthy routes to treating my ailments. This morning, I woke up with a horrible bladder infection, due to my unwise decision of drinking large amounts of alcohol a couple of days ago along with holding it too long and not drinking enough water. I have had countless bladder infections throughout my adulthood--literally, I turned 18 and my bladder started spazzing out on me. Many times, it reaches my kidneys before I do anything about it. Currently, my kidneys are fine; however, I'm having an unearthly amount of pain in my bladder, especially whenever I try to empty it. Here is what I have done so far, as well as what I intend to do, in order to restore my health without stepping foot in a doctor's office:
First of all, I started drinking more water. It was difficult at first because my bladder seemed to understand that I was feeding it and only ached more. However, when I swallowed a couple of cranberry pills (the ones I used this morning can be found at Walmart and aren't too expensive, however, I prefer AZO brand cranberry pills), the pain dissipated after about half an hour, and I was able to get back to sleep. I've tried to keep drinking water as the day has passed, even though I've been running around a bit and have been away from home.
When I got home, I immediately made tea: squeeze a fresh lemon in a mug, 2 teaspoons of Apple Cider Vinegar (with the mother), and a generous helping of honey, then pour your boiling water over it and stir. This is the first time I've used Apple Cider Vinegar to treat a bladder infection, so I was a little worried about the taste. However, once I got a few sips in, I was fine. The subtle vinegar taste of the Apple Cider Vinegar mixes well with the sour lemon in the tea, so it isn't unpleasant to drink this. On the bottle, it says to take it three times per day (morning, noon, and night), so I plan on having another mug of tea before I go to bed.
As far as food goes, I made one of my favorite dishes. I cut up a few pieces of garlic (natural antibiotic) and sauteed it in vegetable oil and soy sauce with onions and eggs. I like to add a bit of Tumeric, just to keep things moving in my body--blood, poop, whatever--and then I eat that concoction over white rice. I also plan to make a batch of peanut butter cookies with extra Cinnamon (another natural antibiotic) in them. I'm trying to eat as much protein as I can, while still maintaining a healthy amount of fruits and veggies. My body will need all the protein it can get (and Vitamin C) while fighting off this infection.
While I'm not drinking tea, I'll be drinking more water and watered down pomegranate/cranberry juice, which I found at a local health food store and is 100% fruit juice. When looking for a good cranberry, pomegranate, or blueberry juice to fight off a bladder infection, it's best to spend a little more and get a quality product, seeing as these are key juices to drink while fighting off a bladder infection. If you get something that is full of weird sugars and doesn't have much real juice in it, that will only irritate your bladder more. You get what you pay for in juices.
As a side note, I'll add a few pointers for those who aren't as familiar with bladder infections, but would like to know how to prevent them. Drink lots of water every day. At your first feeling of discomfort in the bladder area, take a cranberry pill. If the discomfort doesn't go away within an hour or two, take another. Don't take more than 2 or 3 in a day, though. Make sure to wear breathable clothing, preferably cotton underwear. Your underbits need to breathe. Make sure you're wiping from front to back if you're a lady. Also, go pee as soon as possible every time after you have sex (foreign bacteria can get caught in that area, and if it's left there for a long time, it can affect your bladder negatively).
In a couple of days, I will come back and give you all an update on how I'm feeling and whether this regime has worked. If you're suffering with the same problem, I hope I have helped guide you in healing yourself. Have a nice, relaxing day!
UPDATE: A week ago, I was in a state that would typically motivate me to catch a ride to the closest emergency clinic in order to get a prescription for antibiotics and pain killers. Luckily, I didn't do that and, instead, chose to self-medicate. I took my tea for a few days fairly consistently (I'm not good at being consistent at anything), made those cookies with extra cinnamon, and made sure to feed myself plenty of healthy foods. I also made an extra effort to keep away from stress, as stress will make any sickness worse (if your environment makes stress unavoidable, I can suggest to you the herbal complex I take whenever I'm feeling overwhelmed--it takes the tension away within a few minutes of taking it). As of today, I feel healthy and strong...and, better yet, I don't have to be afraid of peeing my pants in public.
Once more, I hope this post has been helpful and informative. If you have any suggestions or questions, feeling free to find me on facebook or comment below and drop me a line!
First of all, I started drinking more water. It was difficult at first because my bladder seemed to understand that I was feeding it and only ached more. However, when I swallowed a couple of cranberry pills (the ones I used this morning can be found at Walmart and aren't too expensive, however, I prefer AZO brand cranberry pills), the pain dissipated after about half an hour, and I was able to get back to sleep. I've tried to keep drinking water as the day has passed, even though I've been running around a bit and have been away from home.
When I got home, I immediately made tea: squeeze a fresh lemon in a mug, 2 teaspoons of Apple Cider Vinegar (with the mother), and a generous helping of honey, then pour your boiling water over it and stir. This is the first time I've used Apple Cider Vinegar to treat a bladder infection, so I was a little worried about the taste. However, once I got a few sips in, I was fine. The subtle vinegar taste of the Apple Cider Vinegar mixes well with the sour lemon in the tea, so it isn't unpleasant to drink this. On the bottle, it says to take it three times per day (morning, noon, and night), so I plan on having another mug of tea before I go to bed.
As far as food goes, I made one of my favorite dishes. I cut up a few pieces of garlic (natural antibiotic) and sauteed it in vegetable oil and soy sauce with onions and eggs. I like to add a bit of Tumeric, just to keep things moving in my body--blood, poop, whatever--and then I eat that concoction over white rice. I also plan to make a batch of peanut butter cookies with extra Cinnamon (another natural antibiotic) in them. I'm trying to eat as much protein as I can, while still maintaining a healthy amount of fruits and veggies. My body will need all the protein it can get (and Vitamin C) while fighting off this infection.
While I'm not drinking tea, I'll be drinking more water and watered down pomegranate/cranberry juice, which I found at a local health food store and is 100% fruit juice. When looking for a good cranberry, pomegranate, or blueberry juice to fight off a bladder infection, it's best to spend a little more and get a quality product, seeing as these are key juices to drink while fighting off a bladder infection. If you get something that is full of weird sugars and doesn't have much real juice in it, that will only irritate your bladder more. You get what you pay for in juices.
As a side note, I'll add a few pointers for those who aren't as familiar with bladder infections, but would like to know how to prevent them. Drink lots of water every day. At your first feeling of discomfort in the bladder area, take a cranberry pill. If the discomfort doesn't go away within an hour or two, take another. Don't take more than 2 or 3 in a day, though. Make sure to wear breathable clothing, preferably cotton underwear. Your underbits need to breathe. Make sure you're wiping from front to back if you're a lady. Also, go pee as soon as possible every time after you have sex (foreign bacteria can get caught in that area, and if it's left there for a long time, it can affect your bladder negatively).
In a couple of days, I will come back and give you all an update on how I'm feeling and whether this regime has worked. If you're suffering with the same problem, I hope I have helped guide you in healing yourself. Have a nice, relaxing day!
UPDATE: A week ago, I was in a state that would typically motivate me to catch a ride to the closest emergency clinic in order to get a prescription for antibiotics and pain killers. Luckily, I didn't do that and, instead, chose to self-medicate. I took my tea for a few days fairly consistently (I'm not good at being consistent at anything), made those cookies with extra cinnamon, and made sure to feed myself plenty of healthy foods. I also made an extra effort to keep away from stress, as stress will make any sickness worse (if your environment makes stress unavoidable, I can suggest to you the herbal complex I take whenever I'm feeling overwhelmed--it takes the tension away within a few minutes of taking it). As of today, I feel healthy and strong...and, better yet, I don't have to be afraid of peeing my pants in public.
Once more, I hope this post has been helpful and informative. If you have any suggestions or questions, feeling free to find me on facebook or comment below and drop me a line!
Tuesday, February 11, 2014
ROSEMARY
Hello, again, everyone! I decided to start this blog with one of my favorite herbs: ROSEMARY. I'm honestly not sure why I'm so fond of it, as I haven't used it all that much; but I'm sure some of you will understand when I say that this herb calls to me. It's like the equivalent of my spirit animal, only in plant form.
Anyway, I have my trusty 'Let's Get Natural With Herbs' reference book by Debra Rayburn here by my side (I'll be using this reference book throughout this blog, so I'll just abbreviate it from now on: LGNWH). So, then, let's get started!
Synonyms/Related Species: Common Rosemary, Compass Weed, Polar Plant, and Sea-Dew.
Family/Class: Labiatae (mint).
Habitat: Africa, Asia, Australia, France, the Mediterranean, Morocco, Portugal, Spain, and the United States.
Flavor: Pungent.
Parts Used: Leaves.
Medicinal Uses:
(Links to sources are in the text for additional information)
Do not use rosemary (either internally or externally) while pregnant, as it may cause miscarriage. Also, avoid using rosemary while breastfeeding. People with high blood pressure should also be cautious, as it raises blood pressure to a certain degree. Epileptics beware, as well. Rosemary can cause seizures to worsen. Make sure to use rosemary sparingly, as it can cause nausea and vomiting if too much is consumed at one time. Of course, if in doubt, ask your doctor or local herbalist whether rosemary is good for you.
Recipes:
Jo's Rosemary Bread
Rosemary Pork Roast
Butternut Squash Pizza With Rosemary
Crispy Rosemary Chicken With Fries
Rosemary Shortbread Cookies
Anyway, I have my trusty 'Let's Get Natural With Herbs' reference book by Debra Rayburn here by my side (I'll be using this reference book throughout this blog, so I'll just abbreviate it from now on: LGNWH). So, then, let's get started!
Synonyms/Related Species: Common Rosemary, Compass Weed, Polar Plant, and Sea-Dew.
Family/Class: Labiatae (mint).
Habitat: Africa, Asia, Australia, France, the Mediterranean, Morocco, Portugal, Spain, and the United States.
Flavor: Pungent.
Parts Used: Leaves.
Medicinal Uses:
(Links to sources are in the text for additional information)
- Source of antioxidants
- Anti-inflammatory
- Improves digestion
- Enhances memory and concentration
- Prevents brain aging
- Prevents cancer
- Protects eye sight
- Speeds healing of wounds and bruises (used externally)
- Improves scalp condition
- Promotes hair growth
- Wards off insects and small pests
- Soothes menstrual cramps (used externally)
- Reduces migraines (used externally)
- Reduces pain, especially for arthritis (used externally)
- Anti-bacterial
- Liver detox
- Promotes respiratory health (used both internally and externally)
Do not use rosemary (either internally or externally) while pregnant, as it may cause miscarriage. Also, avoid using rosemary while breastfeeding. People with high blood pressure should also be cautious, as it raises blood pressure to a certain degree. Epileptics beware, as well. Rosemary can cause seizures to worsen. Make sure to use rosemary sparingly, as it can cause nausea and vomiting if too much is consumed at one time. Of course, if in doubt, ask your doctor or local herbalist whether rosemary is good for you.
Recipes:
Jo's Rosemary Bread
Rosemary Pork Roast
Butternut Squash Pizza With Rosemary
Crispy Rosemary Chicken With Fries
Rosemary Shortbread Cookies
Wednesday, January 29, 2014
Intro!
Hello, everyone!
My name is Virginia, and I am an herbal scholar. I'm pretty excited to start this blog, seeing as I have quite a passion for herbs and all of the fantastic things they can do.
I plan on using this blog in a practical way as I study my way through as many herbs as my brain can handle. I'm mostly interested in the medicinal properties of herbs, but I'd also like to add a few magical tidbits, as well. Another goal of mine is to break down the information I find into small, easy-to-digest nuggets so that people like me (people who don't like to read text books) will enjoy learning the things that I've found.
I'm always open for suggestions on what to research next. If you are curious about a particular herb but don't want to bother with a bunch of research, hit me up! I'd love to help you out because helping you out also helps me learn more!
Keep an eye out for my next post. Have a great day, everyone!
My name is Virginia, and I am an herbal scholar. I'm pretty excited to start this blog, seeing as I have quite a passion for herbs and all of the fantastic things they can do.
I plan on using this blog in a practical way as I study my way through as many herbs as my brain can handle. I'm mostly interested in the medicinal properties of herbs, but I'd also like to add a few magical tidbits, as well. Another goal of mine is to break down the information I find into small, easy-to-digest nuggets so that people like me (people who don't like to read text books) will enjoy learning the things that I've found.
I'm always open for suggestions on what to research next. If you are curious about a particular herb but don't want to bother with a bunch of research, hit me up! I'd love to help you out because helping you out also helps me learn more!
Keep an eye out for my next post. Have a great day, everyone!
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