Using Your Fresh Herbs In Infusions, Herbal Teas, or Decoctions As An Herbal Medicine.

Recently it has been shown that high herbal tea and quality teas have many health benefits, especially Black and Green Tea. With all the news on Black and Green Tea lately, you may be considering adding it to your daily diet regime. If that is so, only use the best quality and freshest tea available for the maximum health benefits. Also consider the health benefits of herbal teas using fresh herbs. Think of these as herbal medicine.

Millions of people all of the world have been drinking tea and infusions for centuries specifically for herbal medicine. In America, it has been considered a cheap convenient drink for soothing the soul and stimulating the senses. Yet there is a far more important reason that people drink tea more than any other beverage: the tea leaf has potent health-enhancing powers. The Japanese have known this for thousands of years and the modern West is just catching up to the remarkable health benefits of drinking tea.

To make a tea or infusion you must steep the fresh herb in boiling water. Many think of teas and infusions as the same, but there is a slight difference.

When making teas or herbal teas you are brewing it and you don’t leave it steeping for very long. An easy way to brew it is to place the tea bag or fresh herbs into a measuring cup with 8 ounces of water. Microwave for two minutes and you have a cup of tea. Fresh herbs make a marvelous cup of tea and are considered essential in herbal medicine.

Infusions on the other hand stay in the boiling water longer, anywhere from 10 – 20 minutes. Obviously the longer the fresh herbs steep the stronger the brew will become and it will become a more potent herbal medicine. Infusions should be used immediately after brewing to reap the most out of this herbal medicine, especially when using fresh herbs. Rule of thumb is to use 1-2 teaspoons of dried, crushed, or powdered herbs. If you want to get the most out of this herbal medicine use fresh herbs and double the amount to steep. After the steeping time your infusion will be at room temperature. It is okay to warm it back up if you prefer it hot.

Infusions can be therapeutic as well as being considered herbal medicine. While your infusion is steeping bend over the container and breathe in the steam. This will act as a decongestion when you are suffering from colds or allergies. Close your eyes, try to envision this herbal medicine as attacking the germs in your system. Visualizing the fresh herb infusions attacking the malady will help to fight illnesses quite well, according to some published studies. It is like the grounding technique used in yoga. Here again, fresh herbs make the best infusions in herbal medicine.

There is a problem with infusions as they tend to be quite bitter. And of course, if you can’t drink the infusion then it will not be an advantageous herbal medicine. To make it taste better try adding honey or sugar. If you still can’t get it down, try a different infusion. There are many different fresh herbs to try when brewing your herbal medicine.

Decoctions are a different story as they don’t use strictly fresh herbs. Here you would use the dried roots, flowers seeds and barks for their medicinal purposes, not fresh herbs. To get the most from your mixture heat will be used since it is more difficult to extract their active chemicals. Start by boiling the roots and allow them a good head start. Next add the bark, the seeds, the flowers and any spices in that order. Allow a few minutes of simmering after each addition. Then simmer the herbal medicine slowly for 10 to 20 minutes.

Now you have another use for your fresh herbs. This gives you yet another excuse to plant a beautiful herb garden

Happy Healthy Gardening!

Copyright © Mary Hanna, All Rights Reserved.

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Detox Your Mind and Body

Detox, or detoxification, is typically used to refer to the removal of toxic substances from the body. Taking a holistic approach to detoxification, you can not only detox your body, but also your mind and your surroundings. Toxins and chemicals are found in our foods, water, and in our air in the form of pollutants and pesticides. At work, we are exposed to airborne microorganisms and pollutants from paint, carpets, air conditioning, and even our computers. Research has shown that a prolonged state of toxicity can undermine cellular function, and may contribute to many chronic diseases. While our bodies have an inbuilt detox system that includes the liver, skin and urinary system, people who live in larger cities may need a regular “detox” to maintain a sense of well being. Physical symptoms of increased toxicity may include:

*low energy, tiredness and fatigue*constipation, bloating and digestive problems*dull skin, or chronic skin conditions such as acne and eczema*chronic headaches*respiratory difficulties*allergies*dark circles under the eyes*insomnia or poor quality sleep*irritability and moodiness*poor concentration*being more susceptible to infections or coldsWhile some people attempt to detox through fasting, it is not recommended by health practitioners. There is no reason to purchase supplements that claim to detox your system, or detox diet products. Most of these products contain amino acids, which you can get from the protein in your food. The most beneficial way to detox your body is by cutting out processed foods, refined sugars and if you feel bloated cut out wheat products as well. Substitute olive oil for your normal cooking oil, and cut out caffeine and alcohol. Decaf tea and coffee taste the same as regular, or better yet have some fruit tea, herbal tea, fruit juice or water. Red meat raises cholestrol and puts a strain on your liver, while detoxing try to eat fish or turkey instead. Green salads and green vegetables like spinach and broccoli provide a boost to your metabolism and immune system. Have healthy snacks like dried fruits, unsalted nuts, and seeds instead of crisps and chocolate.

While you are getting a healthier body, why not double your pleasure by detoxing your mind as well? If you don’t have time to meditate, try taking a walk someplace peaceful to clear your mind. If you have a pet, make extra time to play, relax and reward your furry (or feathered) friend who loves you unconditionally. Invite a friend to have a picnic with you, there must be a lovely green space near your home or theirs. If the weather is bad, invite your friend or partner to go see a comedy with you. Laughter is really the best medicine! Do something totally silly and fun, like rollerblading or karaoke.

There are a few detox helpers that will benefit both your mind and your body. Massage is a great way to relax both, and even the most basic massage will stimulate circulation and release plasma myoglobin from the muscles, restoring balance and normal muscle function. Clinical studies in India have shown Yoga to have physical and mental benefits. Not only does Yoga keep you fit and flexible, but it has been shown to relieve stress and lower blood pressure. Last but not least, try some good old fashioned lovemaking, which stretches your muscles, burns calories, and releases endorphins into the bloodstream.

The results of a week or two of detox will be evident. You will have more energy, feel happier and more relaxed, your skin will look better, and your mind will be clearer. Pregnant women, or those with chronic illnesses should of course consult your GP before making any radical changes to your diet.

Using Your Fresh Herbs In Infusions, Herbal Teas, or Decoctions As An Herbal Medicine

Recently it has been shown that high herbal tea and quality teas have many health benefits, especially Black and Green Tea. With all the news on Black and Green Tea lately, you may be considering adding it to your daily diet regime. If that is so, only use the best quality and freshest tea available for the maximum health benefits. Also consider the health benefits of herbal teas using fresh herbs. Think of these as herbal medicine.

Millions of people all of the world have been drinking tea and infusions for centuries specifically for herbal medicine. In America, it has been considered a cheap convenient drink for soothing the soul and stimulating the senses. Yet there is a far more important reason that people drink tea more than any other beverage: the tea leaf has potent health-enhancing powers. The Japanese have known this for thousands of years and the modern West is just catching up to the remarkable health benefits of drinking tea.

To make a tea or infusion you must steep the fresh herb in boiling water. Many think of teas and infusions as the same, but there is a slight difference.

When making teas or herbal teas you are brewing it and you don’t leave it steeping for very long. An easy way to brew it is to place the tea bag or fresh herbs into a measuring cup with 8 ounces of water. Microwave for two minutes and you have a cup of tea. Fresh herbs make a marvelous cup of tea and are considered essential in herbal medicine.

Infusions on the other hand stay in the boiling water longer, anywhere from 10 – 20 minutes. Obviously the longer the fresh herbs steep the stronger the brew will become and it will become a more potent herbal medicine. Infusions should be used immediately after brewing to reap the most out of this herbal medicine, especially when using fresh herbs. Rule of thumb is to use 1-2 teaspoons of dried, crushed, or powdered herbs. If you want to get the most out of this herbal medicine use fresh herbs and double the amount to steep. After the steeping time your infusion will be at room temperature. It is okay to warm it back up if you prefer it hot.

Infusions can be therapeutic as well as being considered herbal medicine. While your infusion is steeping bend over the container and breathe in the steam. This will act as a decongestion when you are suffering from colds or allergies. Close your eyes, try to envision this herbal medicine as attacking the germs in your system. Visualizing the fresh herb infusions attacking the malady will help to fight illnesses quite well, according to some published studies. It is like the grounding technique used in yoga. Here again, fresh herbs make the best infusions in herbal medicine.

There is a problem with infusions as they tend to be quite bitter. And of course, if you can’t drink the infusion then it will not be an advantageous herbal medicine. To make it taste better try adding honey or sugar. If you still can’t get it down, try a different infusion. There are many different fresh herbs to try when brewing your herbal medicine.

Decoctions are a different story as they don’t use strictly fresh herbs. Here you would use the dried roots, flowers seeds and barks for their medicinal purposes, not fresh herbs. To get the most from your mixture heat will be used since it is more difficult to extract their active chemicals. Start by boiling the roots and allow them a good head start. Next add the bark, the seeds, the flowers and any spices in that order. Allow a few minutes of simmering after each addition. Then simmer the herbal medicine slowly for 10 to 20 minutes.

Now you have another use for your fresh herbs. This gives you yet another excuse to plant a beautiful herb garden

Happy Healthy Gardening!

Top Keurig Products for Your Kitchen

Have you had coffee from a Keurig coffee maker yet? If you have not, it is something you should try. A Keurig coffee machine uses K-Cups to brew the perfect cup of coffee each time to your individual specifications. If you want French Vanilla flavored coffee and someone else in the house wants a plain old cup of Joe, you can both get what you want, both in fewer than two minutes.

Each K-Cup, an individual airtight cup packed with coffee and a filter, makes one cup of coffee. Pop the flavor of coffee you want into the Keurig machine, add water, push a button, and in less than two minutes coffee is ready. No mess, no fuss, and no more waiting ten minutes for an entire pot to brew. Keurig machines are a coffee lovers dream.

These one-cup coffee makers are becoming increasingly popular and there is a lot to choose from. While you do not necessarily need to purchase the same thing everyone else is purchasing, sometimes it is helpful to start out knowing what the best selling options are to get your research started.

What are the best selling Keurig products for your kitchen?

Best selling Keurig machines

Keurig offers a variety of machines. These are their three most popular.

Best selling K-Cups

The only products that will work in a Keurig machine are K-Cups. K-Cups are made by the owner of Keurig, Green Mountain Coffee. Green Mountain also licenses the ability to make K-Cups to select coffee makers.

Here are some of the best selling K-Cups.

Best selling Keurig accessories

· Keurig Milk Frother – This frother is easy to use, easy to clean, and makes perfect frothed milk. It can froth either hot or cold milk.

· Counter Top Tower – This tower is a great way to display your variety of K-Cups for easy access and for guests to easily see your assortment of coffees, teas and cocoas. It is black and chrome design makes it sleek and modern.

· K-Cup Spinning Carousel – The function of the carousel is the same as the tower, but its design is different. It is all chrome and not as modern looking as the tower so it is appropriate for casual and modern kitchens.

There are many other machines, K-Cups, and accessories available. Everyone has individual tastes and styles so even though something may be a bestseller, it does not mean it is the best option for everyone. If you are considering a Keurig machine, take some time to check out all of your options in machines, K-Cups, and accessories before making a purchase. Keurig coffee machines are of the highest quality so you do not want to make a purchase without considering a Keurig.

Using Tea To Reduce Your Cholesterol

High cholesterol is a health concern for many Americans. High levels of LDL cholesterol are a leading contributor to heart disease. LDL cholesterol is what contributes to clogged arteries. Arteries become clogged and narrowed when LDL cholesterol circulating in the blood becomes oxidizes and hardens into plaque. The more LDL cholesterol you have circulating in your blood, the more plaque you’ll develop.
A second type of cholesterol, known as HDL cholesterol is what we refer to as “good cholesterol”. This form of cholesterol carries away LDL cholesterol to the liver, where it can pass out of the body. This is why we should have high levels of HDL cholesterol. However, when our levels of LDL cholesterol are high, our HDL levels are typically low.
If you’re trying to lower your LDL cholesterol levels and raise your HDL cholesterol levels there are several things you can do.
The first is watching your diet. Avoiding foods high in saturated fat and cholesterol like butter, eggs and red meat can help you lower those LDL cholesterol levels. In addition, you can help raise your HDL levels by replacing those saturated fats in your diet with healthy fats like olive oil, canola oil, avocados and nuts. These fats raise our HDL levels and keep us healthy.
Secondly, to reduce LDL cholesterol levels, it’s important to exercise. Walking is a great way to help reduce your cholesterol levels, and it will help lower your blood pressure, as well.
If you’re overweight, losing weight will help you reduce cholesterol levels, as well. Making the dietary changes mentioned above and beginning to exercise should make dropping a few pounds easier. If you’re a smoker, you should stop. Smoking significantly increases your risk for heart disease.
Your cholesterol level is also affected by your heredity. Some people are prone to high cholesterol even if they exercise regularly and eat a healthy diet. If you fall into this category, you may require medication in addition to lifestyle changes in order to get your cholesterol under control.
Another way to help reduce LDL cholesterol levels is to drink tea. Green tea has been shown in many studies to help prevent LDL cholesterol from oxidizing and turning into plaque. These studies have suggested that even if your LDL cholesterol level is high, drinking tea may prevent it from causing a problem.
However, it appears that drinking tea may actually have the power to lower your blood cholesterol levels, too. A study conducted by the University of Hong Kong studied various types of Chinese tea and their effect on cholesterol in rats. The rats were all fed a high cholesterol diet for a week before beginning the study. Then, the rats were divided into several groups. Each group was fed a different type of tea while continuing the high cholesterol diet for another eight weeks. A control group of rats received water instead of the tea.
The types of tea used for evaluation including Jasmine, Iron Buddha, Pu-erh, oolong and green tea. The reason that multiple types of tea were used was to evaluate whether fermented teas are as effective at reducing cholesterol as those that are not fermented. Green tea is completely unfermented, Jasmine tea is mildly fermented, and oolong and Iron Buddha are semi-fermented. Pu-erh is a fully fermented tea.
In addition to measuring the cholesterol levels in the mice participating in the study, the weight and fattiness of the liver was also measured.
This study concluded that the teas that had been minimally fermented (Jasmine and green tea) had a significant effect on both the serum and liver levels of cholesterol. In addition, these teas reduced the weight and fat of the liver. These teas were able to significantly lower the cholesterol levels, while the fermented teas and the water did not. The levels of triglycerides and HDL cholesterol were not significantly different among the groups.
So, it appears that green tea may be a powerful way to help reduce your cholesterol level, particularly when combined with a healthy diet and exercise. If you combine the results of this study with those of past studies, you can come to the conclusion that consuming tea, particularly green tea may be able to help reduce the actual level of LDL cholesterol circulating in your blood and may also be able to prevent the cholesterol that is there from oxidizing and turning into plaque.
If you’re struggling to get your cholesterol level under control, green tea is definitely worth a try. It has no side effects, and is well tolerated by nearly everyone – even those who are sensitive to caffeine. And, in addition to helping you lower your cholesterol, green tea may have other added benefits.
Green tea may be able to help you lose weight and may prevent heart disease, diabetes and cancer. Green tea just might be the one supplement to your diet that can help with many of the health problems plaguing Americans today.