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Herbal Solutions
Fountain of Youth? Sage and Herbal RemediesSage has long been highly
regarded for its perceived ability to bestow longevity.
Traditionally, sage has been
thought to have the ability to
restore failing memory to the elderly. As one of the most
popular of the memory-enhancing herbs, sage has long been
traditionally planted at gravesites. There are many different
varieties of sage. The most popular forms of sage include Green
sage (Salvia officinalis), Greek sage (Salvia fruticosa) and
Purple sage (Salvia officinalis). Most herbalists tend to
prefer Purple sage, although a combination of Greek and Green
sage has also proven popular. The root and leaves of the sage plant are most commonly harvested to create herbal remedies. The leaves are known to be particularly healing for mouth and throat conditions. The leaves of the sage plant are often used to create gargles and mouthwashes. The leaves of the sage plant are also known to be estrogenic and drying. This makes the sage leaves particularly helpful for treating menopausal problems, as well as during periods of weaning. Many herbalists use fresh sage leaves to create a bitter digestive stimulant. The leaves of the sage plant are traditionally harvested throughout the summer months. The root of the sage plant is also widely used in a variety of herbal remedies. In traditional Chinese medicine, the root is used to create a number of tonics. One of the most popular Chinese tonics made from the sage root is used for "moving blood" wherever there is stagnation. For instance, these tonics are used in cases where menstrual pain and certain types of heart conditions, such as angina pectoris, reveal stagnation. The root of the sage plant is thought of as cooling and sedative, the root (known as dan shen in Chinese medicine) is used to reduce heat. It is also used to treat liver and heart problems. The sage plant has several different applications. The sage plant is often used in herbal remedies to treat scrapes, skin sores, and insect bites. In France, sage is quite popular in a cream that treats a variety of skin problems. The leaves of the sage plant can also be easily used to create a healing gargle and mouthwash. A mouthwash can be used to treat gum disease, mouth ulcers, sore throats, or tonsillitis. However, make certain that the gargle or mouthwash is in a weak infusion so that it will not aggravate any already-existing mouth conditions. Sage can also be used in a hair rinse to treat dry hair, to restore hair color to graying hair, and to treat the symptoms of dandruff. Simply create an infusion of the sage leaves in water. To create a healing infusion, use roughly 20 grams of leaves to cup water. This tonic can also be used as a liver stimulant and to improve digestive function. Other uses include as remedy for menopausal night sweats and to reduce lactation during the weaning process. Sage is also commonly used to create tinctures that can also help treat menopausal problems. An Interesting Herb FactCommon Herbal Remedies using Aloe VeraThe plant Aloe (scientific name Aloe Vera) is originally from tropical Africa, but it can now be found all over the world. It is a very common ingredient in many herbal remedies. It is believed that related species were traditionally used as an antidote to treat poison arrow wounds. We know that the Greeks and Romans traditionally used the Aloe Vera plant, making a gel to treat battle wounds. Aloe Vera was also commonly used during the Middle Ages, where it was a popular purgative. Aloe Vera is....
12/03/2008 | |||||||||||
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