For years now, many of us have been hearing about the benefits of natural remedies. One of the most popular natural remedies in use is in the berry family. From blueberry to strawberry, from raspberry to acai, berries everywhere are basking in the limelight watching as their popularity continues to grow.

Aside from the more common berries such as blueberry, there are many lesser-known beneficial berries. For instance, you might not have heard of the Schisandra berry. Unknown among the Western countries, this berry is extremely popular remedy among the Chinese due to the many benefits that they derived.

In fact, the Chinese have used Schisandra berries as a staple in their diet for centuries.

Among Schisandra berries, many claimed benefits are: preservation of beauty and youthful appearance, increase of stamina and mental clarity, relief of stress and fatigue, protection against liver disorders and anti-depressant qualities.

Nevertheless, Schisandra berry benefits may not stop there. In medical studies, this berry has suggested an ability to fight hepatitis, produce antioxidants, stimulate the nervous system, improve speed and reflexes and make the brain more efficient.

Although it has only been historically recorded that the Chinese use Schisandra berries, it is not the only country in which they grow. Russia and Korea are both homes to Schisandra vines. It is even rumored that some parts of the Eastern US have these vines as well.

Like all herbs, Schisandra berries might not be right for everyone. Please consult your doctor before consuming any botanicals on a regular basis.

Just as many Eastern cultures have embraced the offerings of the land, using roots, herbs and plants for medicinal and everyday purposes, so have Native Americans. In fact, Native American herbs were among some of the most widely and commonly used herbs in the past.

The Native American culture is a culture of creativity bent on finding original ways to use all kinds of things on Earth; it is almost as if no plant goes to waste. They use herbs to make medicines, teas and even insect repellent.

The variety of Native American herbs is as varied as their uses. Each Native American herb serves a specific purpose and engages in a specific job. Here is a taste of the more common Native American herbs and their benefits.

Sage: Native Americans have historically used this herb for nearly every ailment. Sage, from a scientific standpoint, is said to be an antibiotic, antifungal, tonic and antispasmodic.

Sweet Grass: Sweet grass is one of the most commonly used Native American herbs. In fact, many Native Americans believe that sweet grass was the first plant on Earth. It has been used for everything from crafts, to perfume, from ceremonial purposes to eyewash. Medicinally, it has been used for treating windburn and calming nerves, usually before entering a meditative state.

Parsley: Parsley can be used to help make the bladder stronger and decrease blood pressure. It acts as a natural diuretic, flushing out the kidneys. When rubbed against the skin, it may help relieve the itchiness of mosquito and other insect bites.

Thyme: Thyme is an antiseptic used as the main ingredient in mouthwash. Historically, it has been used as an antibiotic (before modern antibiotics came to be) and to aid with infected toenails. It is also great for respiratory diseases by helping to clear the nasal passages while clearing the throat of irritation.

Pepper: No longer the peanut butter to Salt’s jelly, pepper, by itself, is finally getting the accolades it deserves. According to folklore, pepper may aid many ailments, including constipation, earache, insomnia, tooth decay, hernia, lung disease and hoarseness. It is also known for increasing metabolisms, acting as a stimulant and helping the absorption of several key vitamins and minerals.

Chances are, you don’t look longingly at flowers, licking your lips and hoping for a taste; simply put, you are not a giraffe. While eating flowers might not be a common thing among the human population, it turns out that they may actually be good for us, at least their extracts are. This is particularly true for the Hibiscus flower.

The Hibiscus flower is actually not one flower but a combined genus of around 220 floral species. These flowers are grown in naturally warm, subtropical and tropical climates, such as the Caribbean. A variety of these species are known for their exceptional beauty and vivid colors, but they have also received accolades for their other talents.

Using Hibiscus flowers for health their health benefits has become a common practice. These flowers may possess similar benefits to red wine and green tea.

This theory comes from a study conducted in Taiwan, as published by the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture.

In this study, researchers divided rats into four different groups and provided them with a variety of diets. One group was controlled, one involved high cholesterol, and two involved high cholesterol with hibiscus flower extract.

After three months, the healths of these rats were assessed. The results showed that the rats that received Hibiscus flower extract had significantly lower cholesterol content and no oxidation of low-density lipoproteins. This suggests Hibiscus flowers may have positive impacts on one’s health.

What this means is that Hibiscus flowers may work with your body the same way wine tannin’s do: to help prevent oxidation and the build up of cholesterol.

Of course, this news is not new, at least not to certain cultures. Some countries have used Hibiscus flowers for health benefits for years. In Jamaica, for instance, Hibiscus flowers are used often in soft drinks and holiday drinks, mixed with other herbs and spices. A Hibiscus flower tea is also consumed in West Africa, the Middle East, India and Brazil.

The Hibiscus flower itself contains a lot of Vitamin C and acts as a natural diuretic. In folk medicine, the leaves have been used to treat high blood pressure and liver ailments.

Hibiscus flowers are just one more healthy food to add to your diet and you don’t need to be a giraffe to do so.

Thankfully the holiday season is finally over. I don’t know how many more dinners and holiday cookies I could possibly eat. If you are anything like me, then you are scrambling for a way to lose those extra holiday pounds we all manage to put on. The good news is there are many ways to do just that with the right combination of herbs and spices in bulk.

The first one you can try is Cayenne. Full of vitamin A, vitamins C and B6, Cayenne also is a great source of fiber, vitamin K and manganese. It is nutritious and is a thermogenic food, meaning it burns calories through increased metabolism. This is why it is such a good tool for weight loss.

Hot peppers contain capsaicin and the hotter the chili is; the more capsaicin it contains. Chili always makes a great meal but by having cayenne pepper daily you not only spice up your food but also speed up your metabolism which may help you lose those holiday pounds.

Among herbs and spices in bulk great for weight loss, cinnamon ranks among the best. Not only is it delicious but also has many health benefits, but Cinnamon may help reduce bad cholesterol and triglycerides. Cinnamon may also improve blood circulation, which can, in turn, increase the rate of oxygen reaching the cells of the body, increasing your metabolism.

Ginger is one of my favorite herbs and spices in bulk for weight loss. A recent study by the International Journal of Obesity showed that ginger could help greatly reduce body fat. The reason is ginger much like cayenne is a thermogenic food. After we eat ginger, tissues in our body use more energy than they normally would have. This creates higher metabolism. As with cayenne pepper, ginger also improves circulation. So go ahead and enjoy some ginger. If you have never tried it, you can find some delicious recipes to enjoy this tasty herb.

Let’s face it, no one is going to stick to a diet for very long when the food is bland and gross. Adding these tasty but healthy spices to our diet is one way to help you achieve your weight loss goals while still enjoying great meals. This makes a huge difference in our commitment to weight loss, especially with that troublesome belly fat. Make your food taste delicious with herbs and spices in bulk and you will find it much easier to reach your goals.

You may also enjoy these other posts on related topics to herbs, spices and health:

• Calming herbs for anxiety
• Herbs for improving digestive health
• The secrets of Cinnamon

Generally speaking, a tincture is a solution that uses alcohol as the extract. Many people are making tinctures with alcohol and glycerin, and have been used in traditional and alternative medicine practices. Herbal tinctures offer a popular way to use dried herbs and spices for many health purposes. They are easy to make as well.

Tinctures were used historically to preserve the potency of herbal medications. Although dried herbs can lose potency over time, alcohol-based herbal tinctures enjoy a longer shelf life.

Make Your Own Herbal Tinctures

For the simplest method for making natural tinctures, take a clean glass jar and place your dried herbs of which you want to make a solution in it. Cover it with alcohol or glycerin, cover it tightly with a lid, and let it stand in a cool, dark place for fourteen to twenty-one days. The jar should be shaken each day. After the essence of the herb has been extracted into the alcohol or glycerin, you can strain the herbs out of the solution, and pour it into a clean jar with a tight-fitting lid.

Alcohol with a high alcoholic content, such as vodka or rum, were often used for making tinctures, but the use of alcohol is not mandatory for making natural tinctures. You can substitute glycerin for a non-alcoholic version with good results.

Tinctures should not be confused with infusions. Infusions are created with a water or oil base, to which herbs are added and processed in much the same way as a tincture using alcohol or glycerin. In this instance, making a cup of tea would be a way of creating an infusion, because the herbal essence is extracted from the plant by the hot water.

For additional information on making herbal tinctures, please enjoy this video presentation from Brigitte Mars.

You can find all of the dried herbs and spices you need for making natural tinctures, as well as vegetable glycerin, and tincture bottles in amber or cobalt available from Starwest.

Astragalus root is a widely known medicinal herb that has long been a staple of Chinese herbal medicine. Practitioners of Chinese medicine have used this powerful root to stimulate and strengthen the immune system. Astragalus herb is thought to help keep your immune system healthy so it fights off free radicals and diseases. More recently, the use of the herb is catching on with practitioners of alternative medicine in the rest of the world.

The Astragalus root, otherwise known as astragalus membranaceous, is thought to be a powerful herbal supplement. Astragalus root comes from a perennial plant of the pea family which grows in northern China and Mongolia. As an herbal remedy, it has been used for literally thousands of years in China for therapeutically healing. Hard to believe something so small can hold such big benefits.

While there may be many areas of human health that a dietary supplement including Astragalus capsules can help, there is surprisingly little or no research on the properties of the herb. Herbalists believe the root can stimulate the spleen, liver, lungs, circulatory, and urinary system. Astragalus powder has been recommended to treat conditions ranging from arthritis, asthma, and nervous conditions to lower blood sugar and blood pressure. Another positive benefit of the Astragalus root is its ability to increase both energy levels and vitality.

The Astragalus herb is famous for its purported ability to boost your immune system. Western medicine has discovered that this Chinese herb stimulates our bodies by producing a substance known as interferon and boosting red blood cell formation. Interferon, an anti viral agent, assists our bodies when destroying viruses and other harmful free radicals. For this reason, herbalists recommend the Astragalus powder for people who suffer from a weakened immune system. This would include those who frequently suffer colds or respiratory infections. It may also be helpful for those with more serious conditions such as cancer, since the body is in a weakened state while fighting this disease.

Known as a safe herb, the Astragalus herb has no known side effects. However, it is still important to consult a physician before taking any kind of supplement, especially if you are taking medications already. Some medications can counteract the properties of the herb, and vice versa. Before starting any herbal regimen consult with your doctor. Also, if you are pregnant or nursing, it’s not advisable to take astragalus as its effect on children have not been tested.

Feverfew herb is a delightful short-lived perennial plant with bright chartreuse or yellow leaves and wonderful tiny flowers that look like miniature Shasta daisies with a bright yellow center and white rays. This herb is known by the Latin botanical name of Tanacetum parthenium, although it also has the common names of featherfew, Santa Maria and wild chamomile. Although it has a small daisy-like flower similar to the chamomile flower, the chamomile flower is conical in shape in the central yellow portion of the flower whereas the feverfew flower is flat. Ferverfew herb was originally native to Eurasia, but is now commonly found worldwide, likely because it is self fertile and due to its propensity to reseed freely.

Feverfew herb is used in a variety of ways. It may be drunk as feverfew tea with the flowers being dried for use in tea. The essential oil of feverfew herb may be used in perfumes as well.

Feverfew herb may help to prevent or treat bruising, as well as may help to reduce swelling of joints or injuries. It may be useful as a tonic and as a mild laxative, and the leaves may help with headaches. In traditional herbalist practices the leaves are thought to possibly help with migraines. It may also reduce intestinal gas and may increase menstrual flow. It is bitter in flavor and may stimulate the appetite. The dried flowers of feverfew herb may also help to repel insects.

The name of feverfew herb has an interesting derivation. It was thought in early times to have the ability the break a fever. These types of herbs were known as febrifuges, and thus the name was drawn from that classification. The “parthenium” part of the Latin name goes back to an old myth where a person had fallen off the Parthenon, the famous temple of ancient Greece. This herb was given to him and thought to save his life.

You can find feverfew herb available in cut and sifted as well as powder and capsule forms. Feverfew capsules are usually made from dried leaves. Parthenolide occurs naturally in the plant and is found in the highest concentrations in the flowers and fruit. This active ingredient been used in remedies for the relief of migraines, to help prevent blood clots, as an anti-inflammatory providing relief in cases of arthritis, to relieve some types of menstrual problems, and as a digestive aid.

Everyday there are new ways of helping our bodies deal with infections and other problems. Herbal remedies for various conditions are constantly being discovered. Used appropriately, herbal remedies, such as slippery elm bark extract, can speed up the process of our bodies healing themselves and fighting off harmful free radicals.

The slippery elm herb comes from the bark of elm trees which grow throughout North America. The tree has been utilized in a number of ways, including canoe making, as a food preservative, as a source of survival food during the Revolutionary War and as a medicine. The inner bark of the slippery elm tree is a strong and durable fiber, which can be spun into thread, twine or rope. It was once used for bowstrings, ropes, jewelry, clothing, snowshoe bindings, woven mats, and even in some musical instruments.

For centuries, the bark has been used as an herbal remedy for a number of conditions. Other common names for Ulmus rubra, or slippery elm bark, include slippery elm herb, red elm, moose elm, gray elm, soft elm and Indian elm. The part of the Ulmus rubra tree used in making slippery elm bark extract is the inner heartwood of the tree itself. Red in color, the inner slippery elm bark heartwood is ground into a fine powder. This powder or extract is most often how it is sold. It is also common to find the powder sold in slippery elm capsules, as well.

Slippery elm bark extract contains high mucilage content and becomes a slick gel when mixed with water. Many herbalists believe it is good for coating and calming the entire scope of your digestive tract from the mouth down to the intestines. Slippery elm bark herb may relieve diarrhea, cramps, and indigestion, and in general may soothe the respiratory and digestive tracks.

While Slippery elm herb has many uses, it is perhaps most well known by herbal practitioners for its use as a healing tea. When done so, the herb becomes mucilaginous in texture, and is great for soothing a sore throat. It also is not uncommon to see slippery elm powder or extract used as an expectorant as a means of relieving throat and lung congestion. For sores, rashes and burns affecting the skin, slippery elm bark soothes the skin when externally applied. It is also made into a poultice as a treatment for burns, wounds, boils and ulcers by reducing pain and inflammation.

Juniper berries are often used in the culinary world as a spice to enhance meat, stuffings, sausages, stews, and soups and marinades. As an herbal remedy juniper berries are used in an herbal infusion by herbalists for urinary tract and bladder infections and inflammations and to to reduce water retention.

You can make juniper tea by adding 1 cup of boiling water to 1 tablespoon of juniper berries, covering, and allowing the berries to steep for 20 minutes. The usual dosage is 1 cup twice a day.

At Starwest Botanicals, we enjoy making herbal teas and infusions and wanted to share this video on making your own Juniper Berry Infusion. We stock high quality wild-crafted juniper berries and organic juniper berries for use in your own remedies and preparations.

Juniper should not be taken internally by pregnant women or by individuals with kidney problems. Juniper contains a potent volatile essential oil, oil of sabinal. Not for use exceeding four to six weeks in succession; contraindicated in inflammatory kidney disease. Before taking for a medical condition, it is best to consult with a physician.

Essiac herbal tea is thought by practitioners of alternative medicine to be a potent natural herbal formula used to fight cancer. Well-known for over 90 years, the proponents and critics of Essiac herbs are constantly going back and forth about the true efficacy towards our health. Essiac tea is recommended by herbalists as an alternative healthcare means of treatment for various forms of cancer and is used to alleviate symptoms and side effects of conventional cancer therapy, such as chemotherapy.

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All natural Essiac tea offered by the pound in certified organic and conventional blends. Blended according to Rene Caisse’s recipe using only the finest quality ingredients.

Essiac Herbs Help to Fight Free Radicals

Essiac tea is made from a combination of four herbs: burdock, slippery elm inner bark, sheep sorrel, and Indian rhubarb root. Many believe that this unique formula stimulates immunity, alleviates pain, boosts overall energy, and curbs inflammation. While Essiac herbal tea may not benefit all people suffering from cancer, early studies show that the herb burdock can potentially improve wellness by fighting free radicals, strengthening liver health, and triggering the growth of probiotics. However, there is minimal scientific evidence to support such claims.

The actual tea itself was named after Rene Caisse who was a Canadian nurse. Essiac is her last name spelled backwards. During the early 1920s, Rene Caisse began treating cancer patients with an herbal formula she discovered and claimed it could help fight the disease. While medical authorities put down the herbal treatment as ineffective and unproven, Essiac herbs has continuously gained popularity among those looking for new and more natural ways of beating cancer.

One of the wide ranges of benefits of why people buy Essiac tea is how well it cleanses red blood corpuscles. This is where it gets its medicinal value from and why more and more doctors have begun recommending Essiac tea. Cleaning the blood is not any easy process to attempt; Essiac herbs are thought to be specially prepared for this process.

So while health professionals argue for and against Essiac tea, it is worthwhile to note that both sides have compelling points. However, further study is needed regarding Essiac tea’s effectiveness towards cancer and other conditions.

If you are interested in the history and use of teas you may enjoy our other explorations in discovering teas from around the world. Be sure to see our previous posts on Hibiscus tea for your health, an overview of Japanese green teas our tasty Chai tea recipe and our insights into making therapeutic herbal teas.