Slippery Elm

Ever had a sore throat? Most of us have at some point. What did you do for it? There are several options in the herbal field to choose from, one of which is Slippery Elm.

Slippery Elm is a traditional Native American remedy for several things. Not only does it soothe the throat, but it soothes the digestive tract from the top to the bottom! This means not only can it be an aid to your heartburn symptoms, but can also soothe inflammatory bowel conditions.

Slippery Elm is a mucilaginous inner bark that is powdered up fine so as to be easily in tea or capsule or lozenge form. That mucilage is able to coat the tissues and provide protection from things that cause problems. By taking it as a tea or lozenge, it can coat and soothe the throat. As a capsule, it can coat and soothe the intestinal areas affected by Chrohn's Disease, ulcers, hemorrhoids, diarrhea, constipation, colitis and more.

Due to its mucilaginous texture, it is also good for external uses, such as chapped lips, burns and wounds, boils, abscesses and diaper rash.

Sounds like a good addition to a first-aid kit!

While slippery elm seems to cause no considerable adverse effects, it may interfere with the absorption of some medications.

It should also be noted that despite common health claims, slippery elm is not advised for the treatment for serious chronic conditions like cancer and bronchitis.

Fingernail Colors

Ever wondered about the signs you see displaying on your fingernails? If you are curious about some of these things, this post should give you some clues where to look.

COLORS

Yes, fingernails DO develop colors, and sometimes the colors can form in patterns! What do these things mean? They actually DO represent other health conditions or weaknesses that might be present in your body! Some examples are:

• White nails may indicate a circulation problem, anemia, liver or kidney problems.
• White spots on the nails can indicate a zinc deficiency or anemia.
• White lines across the nail may indicate a liver disease, possible heart disease high fever or arsenic poisoning.
• A half-white nail with dark spots on the tip may indicate a possible kidney disease.
• White nails with a dark band at the end may indicate a serious illness.
• White nails with pink tips may indicate liver problems.
• White square nails may indicate hormonal disorders.
• Pale nails usually indicates poor circulation or anemia.
• Yellow nails can indicate chronic bronchitis, problems with the lymph system, diabetes or liver disorders. Nail polish can also yellow nails.
• Green nails may indicate a bacterial infection.
• Deep blue nail beds may indicate pulmonary obstruction such as asthma or emphysema.
• Red skin at the bottom of the nail may indicate circulatory or connective tissue disorder.
• Red "splinters" in the nails may be tiny hemorrhages of the capillaries in the nail bed caused by liver trouble or psoriasis.
• Red-brown pitted spots and frayed and split ends usually indicate psoriasis; Vitamin C, folic acid, and protein are needed.
• Dark streaks across the nail may indicate an under-active adrenal gland.
• Pink half moons usually indicate Candida or parasites in the bowel.
• If the white moon area of the nail turns red, it may indicate heart problems; if it turns blue, then it usually indicates overexposure to silver or lung trouble.

For more information at changes in the nail surface, be sure to get signed up on our e-newsletter and look for the June issue to be sent! If you are not on our email list already, send your request to be added to robinsherbshop@gmail.com .

*Info is an excerpt from ©Footprints On the Path, 2009 edition.

Potassium

The human body needs potassium. The heart needs it, the kidneys need it, reproductive processes need it,... and yet, many of us do not get enough of it. If we all ate a healthy diet constantly, we would likely consume enough potassium to satisfy our needs. However, the call of the fast food industry and processed microwavable meals is frequently more temptation than a lot of people can resist.

What symptoms might be telling you to increase your potassium intake?

• Muscle cramps
• Muscle fatigue and weakness
• Irregular heartbeat
• Irritability
• Abnormally dry skin
• Insatiable thirst
• Chills
• Depression
• Nausea and vomiting
• Insomnia
• Diarrhea
• Low blood pressure
• Periodic headaches
• Constipation
• Glucose intolerance
• Edema
• High cholesterol
• Impaired growth

The average adult needs approximately 4,700mg of potassium daily.

What foods can provide potassium?

• Bananas
• Avocados
• Nuts, like almonds and peanuts
• Citrus fruits
• Leafy, green vegetables
• Milk
• Potatoes

As good as these are, boiling and other cooking methods can actually destroy the potassium content, rendering the food "empty."

There are medications and habits/choices that actually deplete the body of potassium, too. Certain diuretics cause the body to lose potassium through fluid removal. Excessive use of laxatives can do this as well. Alcoholism, anorexia, cystic fibrosis, kidney disease, influenza, and many other conditions also can contribute to potassium deficiency symptoms.

It is wise to consult your doctor and become educated about your body's needs. Then look for a supplement or dietary change that can improve your personal situation and give you that healthy glow that just plain feels good!

Chlorophyll

Middle school children are taught in science class that plants produce chlorophyll using sunlight and water. This chlorophyll is what plants use to "feed" themselves, and it is also what makes the plants so green when they are healthy. Chlorophyll is the culprit that leaves behind grass stains on children's clothing and it's also what turns the water green when you boil green beans for supper. Our world is rich with chlorophyll even if we're not looking for it!

Let's switch gears a moment.
The human body was designed to gain nutrition from many plant sources. As children, many of us can remember parents and grandparents preparing a garden every spring and cooking most of our meals from what was grown in those gardens. Beans, peas, squashes, tomatoes, melons, cucumbers, okra, .... and when there were leftovers, that just meant we were having vegetable soup tomorrow! What I remember noticing back then was that the foods we got from the garden were so brightly colored. The same foods from a can were dull and lifeless and mushy. The canned ones had lost a lot of their nutritional value. Those vegetables and fruits from the garden were RICH in those nutrients, though!

Combining the two thoughts we've discussed here, it makes sense to say that we consume a lot of chlorophyll all the time. We likely got more of it when we were kids and fewer processed foods were available. Society in general was a lot healthier back then too! Did chlorophyll have something to do with that? Perhaps!

Today, we see a lot of people in the herb shop with various health concerns. During the summertime, when Georgia is so stifling hot, chlorophyll comes to the rescue and helps lower the body's internal temperature. Those who have days they can't seem to get their blood sugar to come down to earth, chlorophyll enhances the body's ability to utilize resources better and lower that blood sugar number. Some find that they struggle with anemia, and they opt to take their chlorophyll in a capsule form so they get a more regulated amount in their system. Not surprisingly, they see improvement in iron levels! With such a range of health benefits, it's no wonder that chlorophyll gets recommended to so many people.

So the next time you need help with:

• improving anemic condition
• counteracting toxins eaten
• cleansing and deodorizing bowel tissues
• purifying the liver
• improving hepatitis
• regulating menstruation
• improving hemophilia conditions
• improving blood sugar problems
• improving asthma
• increasing iron content in mothers milk
• healing sores faster
• eliminating body odors
• inflammation
• pyorrhea
• improving nasal drainage
• eliminating bad breath
• relieving sore throat
• inflamed tonsils
• soothing ulcers
• soothing painful hemorrhoids
• improving varicose veins

...then just stop by and see us at Robin's Herb Shop and we'll help you find chlorophyll!

Lavender

Lavandula angustifolia.... better known to most of us as Lavender... isn't it beautiful? Don't you wish you had the means and energy to grow it in fields like this photo shows it? Ahhhh... it seems like such a peaceful job to grow it....

Lavender truly is a beautiful plant, but its beauty is not the reason you come to the herb shop to look for it. By the time it reaches the herb shop, it has changed appearances a bit. We commonly purchase it as an essential oil, which is a very concentrated extract of the oil from the flower buds. It takes a LOT of lavender blooms to make an ounce of essential oil. And it gets put into so many products because we love it so much. We've found SO many uses for lavender that I suspect it will be with us forever.

What is YOUR favorite way to use lavender? It has so many uses!

Yesterday, I spent the day outside with my family. We put in a garden and did some yard clean-up as well as potting some plants. It was a great day to be together -- and get sunburned a little. After we took showers and washed the garden off of ourselves, the kids lined up to get their burns doused with some lavender oil. I admit, I was in line too! My arms are still red today, but the fire has been relieved a lot in my skin. We all slept pretty well too, because of course, lavender oil relieves anxiety and brings a restful state of mind.

Lavender oil relieves pain and prevents infection of wounds and burns, but it does a lot more:

• helps with anxiety and depression
• reduces insomnia
• eases headaches / migraines
• soothes digestive complaints
• remedy for many skin conditions
• helps women recover from birthing processes

Lavender is used in so many specific instances (flatulence, breast abscesses, exhaustion, edema, sinus headaches, constipation, inflammation, burns, jet lag,...) that it really does make a great addition to first aid kits and home herb collections. It's a great ingredient to use for those who like to craft (soaps, bath salts, candles, sachets, potpourri, etc) as well as for those who like to create their own personal products (insect repellent, deodorant, shampoo, lotion, laundry products, perfume, etc.)

It might be a tiny flower, but it has a mighty power!

Alpha Lipoic Acid

If you suffer from diabetic neuropathy, then you know that your nerves NEED consideration in your health practices. Alpha Lipoic Acid does just that: takes your nerves into consideration. Neuropathy isn't disorder it aids, though! It also helps diabetics to improve insulin function and glucose uptake. It helps to prevent cataract formation. It even helps to reduce symptoms of burning mouth syndrome.

Alpha Lipoic Acid is an antioxidant. It is found inside every cell in the body, where it functions as an essential component of energy production. Because of its antioxidant activity, it neutralizes a wide variety of free radicals, many of which play a significant role in disease processes.

For diabetics, this energy production can improve glucose tolerance. How nice would it be for a diabetic to find out their body is handling sugars a little better? Diabetic neuropathy is a frequent complication of diabetes. Specifically, it is a degenerative nerve condition caused in part by nerve damage from long-term elevated blood-glucose levels. It displays symptoms of numbness, tingling and sometimes burning pain.

Nature's Sunshine Products has formulated their Alpha Lipoic Acid to also contain Turmeric, which has been shown to provide potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. We've seen many of our customers joyfully find relief in their inflammatory conditions by using turmeric alone. Combining an anti-inflammatory with a potent antioxidant can be just the relief you are looking for, and your nerve damaged parts will thank you for considering them!

References:
HART NSP Master Reference

Dandelion

As you drive through the countryside, glance to the side of the road at the grassy lawns and pastures. Do you notice the little yellow spots popping up through the green-ness? Dandelions are beginning to appear!

"According to the USDA Bulletin #8, "Composition of Foods" (Haytowitz and Matthews 1984), dandelions rank in the top 4 green vegetables in overall nutritional value. Minnich, in "Gardening for Better Nutrition" ranks them, out of all vegetables, including grains, seeds and greens, as tied for 9th best. According to these data, dandelions are nature's richest green vegetable source of beta-carotene, from which Vitamin A is created, and the third richest source of Vitamin A of all foods, after cod-liver oil and beef liver! They also are particularly rich in fiber, potassium, iron, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and the B vitamins, thiamine and riboflavin, and are a good source of protein." See more here...

Dandelions might be a nuisance to your landscape, but they are a blessing to your health! Whether they are served on your dinner plate or taken as a supplement, these little plants are packed with goodness.

Let's set aside the nutritional value for a moment and look at the healthful properties. Dandelion aids in these (and other) areas:

• purifies blood


• improves bowel function


• prevent or improve anemia


• cholesterol lowering


• blood pressure reducing


• kidney stone removal


• reduce acid indigestion


• acne/skin improvements


• assist in weight reduction


• reduces intestinal gas build-up


• helpful with gall bladder disorders


• gently reducing water retention


• and the list goes on!

Now imagine if you went to the doctor for something that felt serious to you, and instead of writing out 5-6 prescriptions, the doctor says "go home and EAT!" Doesn't that sound like something so easy that anybody can do it? Good nutrition is always the first line of defense. Dandelion is a good choice here. You can even purchase dandelion greens in some grocery stores. If you don't feel like you can eat greens like that (sometimes it does require developing a taste for things like this), then perhaps dandelion tea is a better choice. STILL taste sensitive? Capsules don't leave a taste in your mouth and you still get dandelion in your system, and this method might be easier to take regularly.

Consider your lifestyle, consider your health needs, and then consider dandelion. It just might be what you've been looking for!

*Note* Dandelions can be grown or harvested from the wild, but be SURE you identify your plants correctly when doing so. Also make sure they are free of pesticides and other harmful chemicals that might not be easy to see with the naked eye.