Health Benefits Of Basil

Basil is a popular herb in Italian cooking, particularly in pesto. This fragrant and flavorful herb, a relative of peppermint, is an excellent, nutritious addition to your pasta sauce, soup, or salad.
An array of flavonoids exist in basil, which help to protect cells and chromosomes from damage. Studies have shown that two of these flavonoids in particular, orientin and vicenin, are useful in protecting cell structures and chromosomes from damage by radiation and oxygen.
Essential oil of basil has been shown to inhibit the growth of several types of bacteria, many of which have become resistant to antibiotics. This essential oil has been found to inhibit growth of the widespread staphylococcus, enterococcus, pseudomonas, and e. coli bacteria, among others. Adding basil to your vinaigrette will both enhance the flavor, and ensure that the fresh salad greens are safe to eat.
Eugenol, which is found in essential oil of basil, provides an anti-inflammatory effect, by blocking an enzyme called cyclooxygenase. Aspirin and Ibuprofen work by blocking this same enzyme. So, basil can have healing benefits, and provide relief from the symptoms of inflammatory problems, like rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel conditions.
Basil is also a good source of vitamin A, which helps to prevent damage to the cells by free radicals. Vitamin A also prevents free radicals from oxidizing cholesterol in the blood stream, preventing the cholesterol from building up in the blood vessels.
Magnesium is also present in basil. This essential mineral helps the heart and blood vessels to relax, improving blood flow. Other nutrients found in basil include iron, calcium, potassium, and vitamin C.
The fresh, spicy flavor and scent of basil will wake up any boring salad or soup. Use fresh basil whole, or shredded to add a burst of flavor to your dinner. If you are using fresh basil in a cooked dish, add it towards the end of cooking, so that the volatile oils will not be dissipated by the heat.
Insalata Caprese is a simple salad, utilizing tomatoes, fresh mozzerella cheese, basil, and olive oil.
1/2 pound, fresh mozzerella, sliced 1/4 inch thick.
2 large tomatoes, sliced 1/4 inch thick.
1 cup fresh basil leaves.
salt and pepper
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil.
On a serving plate, arrange the mozzerella and tomato around the edge, alternating mozzerella and tomato slices.
Tear up the basil leaves, and sprinkle them on top of the tomatoes and mozerella cheese.
Season with a bit of salt and pepper.
Just before serving, drizzle the extra virgin olive oil over the salad.
Serves 4.
By Tim Sousa 

Common Herbal Remedies

People have been collecting herbs to use as medicine for centuries. Many doctors claim however that taking herbs in place of your prescribed medication is not recommended.
There has been a vast amount of information and testing with regard to herbal remedies. Herbs like vitamins are good for your body and overall health. Although the exact cause of why herbs have a positive effect on the body is not always known. Usually, herbs need to be taken over a long period to receive the benefits to you health.
Listed below is information about some common herbal remedies.
Alfalfa has been known to be effective in healing ailments such as gas pains, pain and stiffness from arthritis and ulcers. Alfalfa herb tea possesses no adverse components and is safe for all people including children.
For relief from upset stomachs, colds, bronchitis, bladder troubles, and jaundice, Chamomile is recommended. This herb is also helpful in the regulating menstrual cycle's rheumatic pains, and headaches. Chamomile has also been effective for babies with colic. In addition, it can act as an insect repellent when used properly.
Dandelion increases activity in the pancreas, liver, and spleen and contains insulin substitutes. Dandelion has a high vitamin and mineral content that is used for treating kidney and liver disorders, along with skin disease and loss of appetite.
Eucalyptus is a major ingredient in many commercial medicines such as cough and sore throat medications. These plants also contain oils that are extremely potent antiseptics. The oil may be applied locally on wounds, sores, and burns. Eucalyptus can also be used as an insect repellent.
Ginseng has been used for more than 5000 years in the Chinese culture. This herb strengthens the heart and nervous system. In addition, it builds up a general mental and physical vitality and may be effective for treating colds, coughs, gout, diabetes, headache, and backache.
Hawthorn is known to cause the dilation of the coronary vessels. An improvement has been shown in patients and is helpful in insomnia. It has been used to treat high blood pressure when taken over a period of time.
A strengthening tonic for the entire system is Strawberry. It is helpful with diarrhea, night sweats, liver complaints, gout, and jaundice. Strawberry is used internally for weak intestines and is also used for enema.
The above herbal remedies listed above are general guidelines. If an herb does not agree with you or if you feel adverse effects, discontinue using the herb. The information contained in this article is not intended to replace the services of a physician.

By David Chandler

Making Your Own Herbal Hair Shampoo

In 1990 I decided not to use the commercially made shampoos after reading Aubrey Hampton's book, "Natural Organic Hair and Skin Care." In this book Aubrey tells you how to read the label on any product that you put on your skin or hair.

Manufacturers are constantly using toxic chemicals in their skin and hair products and disregard their toxic effects on your body. This is easily seen in the list of chemicals that they use. Here are a few of these chemicals found in many product labels:

* propylene glycol or glycol- a petrochemical used because it is cheap
* cetearyl alcohol - emulsifier that can be synthetic or natural
* methylparaben or propylparaben - typical synthetic preservatives
* distearate - this is polyethylene glycol or polypropylene glycol which are petrochemicals
* isopropyl alcohol - used as a cheap solvent to carry synthetic oils.

Here is a natural shampoo that you can make. This formulation is something that I have been using for many years. First collect the following items:

4 oz of castile soap with any scent is that available - plain, peppermint, eucalyptus.

½ oz of rosemary - stimulates the hair follicles and helps to prevent premature baldness

½ oz of sage - has antioxidants and keeps things from spoiling and is antibacterial

½ oz of nettles - acts as a blood purifier, blood stimulator, contains a large source of nutrients for hair growth

½ of lavender - controls the production of sebaceous gland oil and reduces itchy and flaky scalp conditions

2000 mg of MSM - provides organic sulfur to your scalp, which improves the health and strength of your hair. It also helps to drive herbal nutrient into the skin and follicles where they can do the most good.

One empty 8 oz plastic bottle, or any other empty shampoo or soap bottle.

Mix the herbs in a mason jar, which has a lid. Boil 2 cups of distilled water. Add 3 heaping tablespoons of the mixed herbs into the boiling water. Pull the boiling water and herbs off the stove. Let the herb mixture sit for 30 - 40 minutes. Put the 2000mg of MSM into the herb mixture after 30 minutes of cooling. After 40 minutes and the MSM is melted, strain the herbal mixture into a bowl.

Pour 2 to 2 1/2 oz of strained herbal tea into the 8 oz plastic bottle. Now, pour the 4 oz of castile soap into the 8 oz plastic bottle. Cap the bottle and shake to mix the ingredients.

The shampoo is now finished and ready for use. Use this as a base for all of the shampoos you make. You can add different herbs as you learn what these herbs do and how they help your hair. You can vary the ingredients according to your taste. But now you have a shampoo that has no additives that can harm you.

By Rudy Silva

Tooth Pain Relief Right From Your Kitchen - 4 Products

What is a tooth ache? You have a cavity and now it has reached the nerve or root or you have developed an infection. There could be other reasons, but for the most part these are the main reasons. Whatever treatment you need is going to be decided by your dentist. You may need to have the tooth pulled or maybe you could just need a root canal. You are not going to know the answer until you reach the dentist office, but you have a problem now. You have severe tooth pain and you need the pain to be gone now.

Herbal toothache remedies from your very own kitchen
Have you ever noticed that most problems occur at night time. Now you have a toothache and it is killing you and it is night. You can't sleep due to the pain, you need help. It would be easy to swallow some tooth pain medication and see your dentist in the morning, but, you don't have any medication and all the stores are closed. Now what? You are having severe tooth pain, you need to sleep and can't, what do you do?
Don't worry, you have the stuff right in your kitchen to help reduce the severe tooth pain. Some of these can really provide some serious pain relief. Below is a list of some herbal toothache remedies for your pain relief for this severe tooth pain.

Clove - a lot of people use clove oil for tooth pain relief. Sometimes people don't have clove oil. You can use a few cloves to do the same thing. You want to bite on the cloves to get the juice onto the affected tooth with the pain. Clove as you may or may not know is a natural analgesic. You can feel the pain leaving your tooth almost immediately.
Asafetida - This substance can work wonders for tooth pain relief and can get you through the night. Take a pinch and some lemon juice and make a paste with these two substances. Next you want to warm up the mixture. Use a cotton swab and apply the mixture to the tooth that is having the pain. This is going to be great because the tooth pain relief is going to be fast and total, which is what you are looking for. Now you can get some sleep and get to the dentist in the morning.
Garlic - this is going to make a great tooth pain reliever. What you are going to want to do is use the clove of garlic after you have slightly smashed it and mix it with some rock salt. Then just put the mixture on the tooth to relieve the pain.
Pepper - take some pepper and mix with a little juice from some mashed cloves. Use this mixture as a topical pain relief for almost instant tooth pain relief. Use this mixture on cavities that are large and bleeding.

Here you have some herbal toothache remedies that are going to get you through the night when you are having severe tooth pain. You won't have to run out to the drug store to pick up tooth pain medication. Print this out for future use when you are suffering from severe tooth pain.
By: Steve A Madigan