World Diets News for Celebrities » Herbs

Aloe Vera

admin — Tue, 27 May 2008 21:51:47 +0000

Common name: Aloe Vera (sometimes called Barbados Aloe, Medicinal Aloe)Most Aloes grows upright with thick, succulent leaves in a rosette. The leaves are lance-shaped with a sharp apex and a spiny margin. Usually Aloe flowers bloom in the fall with golden-orange tubular forms on spikes.

It ranges in size from very short flower stems to some with stems over 20 feet tall.

Location: Aloe Vera is a semi-tropical plant which looks more like a cactus. It is a member of lily family which usually grows in the African continent.

Parts Used: Gel from the leaves. An orange-yellow sap can be seen when a leaf of Aloe Vera is cut from the top.

Cosmetic Uses: Aloe can be used to treat skin disorders (acne, oil skin), dandruff, cosmetics and beauty (it is included in many beauty creams, lotions and in health drinks).

Medicinal uses: The Aloe Vera plant contains number of health benefits that has been used for medicinal purposes around the world for more than 3500 years.

Aloe has been used as a healing herb. It is taken internally for, and to improve the immune system.

A vast research has been done on Aloe Vera and proved to be very effective and significant in the treatment of various ailments, cathartic, hepatic, cholagogue (a cholagogue is a medicinal agent which promotes the discharge of bile from the system, purging it downward), emmenagogue (those herbs which stimulate blood flow in the pelvic area and uterus, some stimulate menstruation), vermifuge (an agent that causes the expulsion of worms or parasites from the body).

The aloe actually has tissue regenerative properties. It is also anti-bacterial and anaesthetic. The sticky gel used it to treat any kind of sunburn (experiments show that aloe protects from ultra-violet rays and may help in the treatment of cataracts and skin cancer), skin sore, stomach problems, mouth ulcers, insect bites and even poison ivy rash.

Toxicity Precautions: Aloe Vera is a legally restricted (it is illegal in some countries to possess or use this plant without proper certification). The bitter yellow juice from its leaf base is toxic. Do not take internally. Aloe Vera is not safe for use during pregnancy or breastfeeding period. Aloe is a purgative and stimulates uterine contractions.

Tip: Keep an aloe plant in your kitchen to use on burns and cuts. To apply, simply cut a leaf off of the plant, and squeeze the gel onto the burn or cut. For more serious burns or cuts you can open the leaf long ways and apply it to the burn as a poultice.

Click www.aloevera.com to watch Aloe Vera manufacturing process.

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March 19, 2008 -- Jasmine
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March 14, 2008 -- Savory

Mentha (Mint Family)

admin — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 17:26:11 +0000

Common Names: mint, spearmint, peppermint, curly mint, ginger mint, apple mint
Parts Used: Leaves and flowers
Leaf colors range from dark green and gray-green to purple, blue and sometimes pale yellow.
The peppermint leaf is rarely used in cooking, but the oil is used for making sweets and medicinal flavourings.

Culinary Uses:
The leaves have a pleasant warm, fresh, aromatic, sweet flavour with a cool aftertaste.
Spearmint is milder and is better for other cooking purposes, enhancing meat, fish, and vegetables. Use the specialty mints in salads, fruit dishes, teas, and as a garnish.
Mint leaves are used also in teas, beverages, marmalades, syrups, confectionary, ice creams and chewing gums.
In Middle Eastern cuisine mint is used on lamb dishes. In British cuisine, mint sauce is popular with lamb.
Mint is a necessary ingredient in a popular tea in northern African and Arab countries.

Medicinal uses:
Peppermint is an excellent digestive aid. It is specific for use in treatment of morning sickness and motion sickness.
Use it as an inhalant to treat stuffy noses and congestion.
It helps relieve the discomfort of painful periods.
Mint was originally used as a medicinal herb to treat stomach ache and chest pains.
Mint tea also is a strong diuretic.
Menthol and mint essential oil are also much used in medicine as a component of many drugs, and are very popular in aromatherapy.

Cosmetic uses:
Mint essential oil and menthol (wide range) used as flavourings in breath fresheners, antiseptic mouth rinses, toothpaste, soaps and perfumes.
Some people added to their baths for relax and to stimulate their bodies.

Other uses:
Mint leaves are often used by many campers to repel mosquitoes, extracts from mint leaves have a particular mosquito-killing capability.
Mint oil is also used as an environmentally-friendly insecticide for its ability to kill some common pests like wasps, hornets, ants and cockroaches. Also rats and mice dislike mint.

Tip:
Herbs are a familiar ingredient in cooking but it is so easy to just use the familiar ones each time. Here is a guide to some of the more unusual ones around. All are available fresh or dried but remember that fresh herbs have a milder flavour and use roughly 15ml (1 tbsp) of fresh herbs to 5ml (1 tsp) dried.

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March 12, 2008 -- RANCH DRESSING WITH HERBS

Jasmine

admin — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 16:34:03 +0000

Common Names: Jasmine, Jessamine, Yasmin
Parts Used: Flowers
Jasmine is a popular house plant. The flowers are generally white, although some species have yellow and red flowers. They are often strongly and sweetly scented.
The delicate Jasmine flower opens only at night and is plucked in the morning when the tiny petals are tightly closed. Between six and eight in the evening, as the temperature cools, the petals begin to open.
Culinary Uses:
Jasmine flowers are used to make tea, which often has a base of green tea. Apart from such jasmine tea health benefits as prevention of cancer and heart diseases, recent studies show that drinking jasmine tea may fight fat. People who consumed jasmine tea extract during the period of three months lost more fat as compared to those who consumed regular oolong tea. According to researchers, substances found in jasmine tea, trigger weight loss by decreasing body fat and stimulating body to burn calories.
Medicinal Uses:
Jasmine tea is possibly the most popular scented tea worldwide, which is believed to have far more health benefits as compared to regular tea. Jasmine tea health is responsible for lowering blood pressure and cholesterol level and reducing stress. It is good for diabetes prevention and reducing high blood pressure. Some claim (attribution needed) that the daily consumption of Jasmine tea is effective in preventing certain cancers. Jasmine tea fights viruses and bacteria, preventing cavities and food poisoning, including cholera, dysentery, mouth bacteria damaging teeth. Gargling with jasmine green tea is also believed to be one of the most effective ways to protect oneself from influenza, as the tea performs anti-viral functions.
Other Uses:
Many species also yield an absolute which is used in the production of perfumes and incense.

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May 27, 2008 -- Aloe Vera
March 14, 2008 -- Garlic
March 14, 2008 -- Bay Leaves
March 14, 2008 -- Cayenne
March 14, 2008 -- Basil
March 14, 2008 -- Valerian
March 14, 2008 -- Savory
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Mustard

admin — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 04:11:22 +0000

Common Names: Mustard
Latin Name: Brassica spp.
Parts Used: Leaves and seeds.
Culinary Uses:
A cooked hot dog garnished with mustard. Use the tender young leaves as a tangy addition to salads. Use the seeds to flavour pickles or chutney, or grind them to make mustard. Dry mustard, typically sold in tins, is used in cooking and can be mixed with water to become prepared mustard.
Mustard is most often used as a condiment on meat, especially cold meats. It is also used as an ingredient in mayonnaise and vinaigrette, in marinades and barbecue sauce. It can also be used as a base for salad dressing when combined with vinegar or olive oil.
Medicinal Uses:
Used externally, mustard stimulates the circulation and relieves inflammation. Taken internally, mustard stimulates the appetite and aids digestion. Large doses can cause vomiting.
Cautions:
Do not apply the mustard directly to the skin as it is quite irritating and can cause blistering.

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March 14, 2008 -- Garlic

Garlic

admin — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 03:57:43 +0000

Common Name: Garlic
Latin Name: Allium sativum
Parts Used: Bulbs
Culinary Uses: Garlic adds zest to every kind of food except desserts. Roast cloves whole in their skins to spread on toast. Toss a clove into soups and stews. Crush and use in Italian, French, and Asian dishes.
Medicinal Uses: The active ingredient in garlic - Allicin, which is produced when the bulb is crushed, has an antibacterial action similar to that of penicillin. It is also effective against staph and strep germs, yeast infections, influenza, cholera, and dysentery. Garlic helps to lower blood cholesterol levels and blood pressure, and inhibits blood clotting and clogging of the arteries. It even seems to have some effectiveness in treating stomach cancer. Especially aged garlic - can have a powerful antioxidant effect. Antioxidants help to protect the body against damaging “free radicals”.
Cautions:
Raw garlic is very strong, so eating too much could produce problems. There are a few people who are allergic to garlic. Symptoms of garlic allergy include skin rash, temperature and headaches. Also, garlic could potentially disrupt anti-coagulants, so it’s best avoided before surgery. Possible side effects include gastrointestinal discomfort, sweating, dizziness, allergic reactions, bleeding, and menstrual irregularities.
Garlic and onions are toxic to cats and dogs.
Other Uses:
It can even be effective as a natural mosquito repellent.

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May 27, 2008 -- Aloe Vera
March 19, 2008 -- Jasmine
March 14, 2008 -- Mustard
March 14, 2008 -- Bay Leaves
March 14, 2008 -- Cayenne
March 14, 2008 -- Basil
March 14, 2008 -- Valerian
March 14, 2008 -- Savory

Bay Leaves

admin — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 03:42:03 +0000

Common Names: Bay, Sweet Bay, Bay Laurel
Parts Used: Leaves
Sweet Bay or Bay Laurel is a Mediterranean tree. The leaves are shiny, smooth and dark with a strong aromatic scent.
Culinary Uses:
Bay leaves are a fixture in the cooking of many European cuisines (particularly those of the Mediterranean), as well as in North America. They are used in soups, stews, casseroles meat, marinades, sauces, seafood, vegetable dishes and as a decorative garnish. The leaves also flavour classic Creole, Indian dishes. The leaves are most often used whole and removed before serving. Check leaves carefully for scale before using, and never use immature leaf tips, as they have a high acid content. Bay leaves should be removed from food before serving. Bay leaves can also be crushed (or ground) before cooking. Crushed bay leaves impart more of their desired fragrance than whole leaves, and there is less chance of biting into a leaf directly. Use them sparingly as they are very potent.
Cuisines all over the world utilize Bay Leaves.
Medicinal uses: Rub bay oil on arthritic joints to relieve pain and swelling. It also has benefits in the treatment of bruises, sprains, and rashes. Bay oil is an astringent and a diuretic with antibacterial and anti-fungal properties.
Cautions: Mountain laurel leaves are poisonous to certain livestock and are not sold anywhere as a culinary herb (Britannica). This has led to the mistaken belief that bay leaves should be removed from food after cooking because they might poison humans. Bay leaves are safe to eat, however, a person may accidentally swallow a leaf, and the leaves remain stiff even after several hours of cooking. This sometimes causes cutting of the throat and should be avoided.
Other uses:
An infusion of the leaves may be taken for flatulence.
Bay leaves add a strong, spicy fragrance to potpourri. To prevent silverfish damage to books or clothing, place a few leaves in drawers or on bookcases. A few leaves in the pantry shelves will keep weevils away.

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May 27, 2008 -- Aloe Vera
March 19, 2008 -- Jasmine
March 14, 2008 -- Garlic
March 14, 2008 -- Cayenne
March 14, 2008 -- Basil
March 14, 2008 -- Valerian
March 14, 2008 -- Savory

Cayenne

admin — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 03:31:08 +0000

Common Names: Cayenne is also known as hot pepper, chilli pepper, paprika, and red pepper, is an effective remedy for muscular tension, rheumatism, and digestive ailments.
Parts Used: Fruits
Culinary Uses: Add a half-a-pinch of ground cayenne to just about anything.
Medicinal Uses:
Cayenne can also be taken orally, and is available in both capsules and tinctures. There is evidence that cayenne supplements can relieve cluster headaches, heartburn, and indigestion, and even promote weight loss. Oral doses of cayenne have also been used to treat menstrual cramps, loss of appetite, alcoholism, diarrhoea, and seasickness.
Cayenne’s ability to make the body more heat resistant has made it a popular folk treatment for fever, including malarial and yellow fevers. Capsaicin is the active ingredient in Cayenne. Capsaicin in cayenne is being studied for its ability to prevent cardiovascular disease, including hardening of the arteries, stroke, and heart disease. It is thought that cayenne helps reduce cholesterol and triglycerides, thus promoting a healthy vascular system. Capsaicin is often included in home remedies for cough, and can be helpful when combined with other medicines as a treatment for pneumonia.
Cautions:
If you take too much capsaicin for extended periods of time you could develop chronic stomach problems, kidney damage, liver damage, or nerve problems; so people with intestinal disorders like chronic ulcers or chronic bowel diseases should avoid the use of cayenne in large quantities.
Do not apply capsaicin creams close to the eyes, mucous membranes, or areas of broken skin, and follow the instructions on the packaging here as well—overdoing it on the cream can cause skin inflammation, blisters, and ulcers.

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May 27, 2008 -- Aloe Vera
March 19, 2008 -- Jasmine
March 14, 2008 -- Garlic
March 14, 2008 -- Bay Leaves
March 14, 2008 -- Basil
March 14, 2008 -- Valerian
March 14, 2008 -- Savory

Basil

admin — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 03:18:31 +0000

Common Names: Basil
Latin Name: Ocimum Basilicum
Parts Used: Leaves
Culinary Uses:
Basil is most commonly recommended to be used fresh. In cooked recipes it is generally added at the last moment, as cooking quickly destroys the flavour. Finely chopped basil stirred into mayonnaise makes a good sauce for fish. Use as a garnish for vegetables, chicken and egg dishes. Basil is the traditional pizza herb and is widely used in Italian cooking. Chop and add fresh to just about anything. It is one of the best herbs to add to tomatoes, mushrooms and pasta dishes, sauces, stews, salad dressings, vegetables, poultry, vinegar. Basil it’s the main component in Italian pesto sauce.Remember: fresh herbs have a milder flavour and use roughly 15ml (1 tbsp) of fresh herbs to 5ml (1 tsp) to dry.
Basil extract has been reported to have antioxidant activity.
Medicinal Uses: Basil is used as a digestive aid and has a slight sedative action.
The extract of the seeds has an antibiotic effect.
Traditionally, basil has been used as a medicinal plant in treatment of headaches, coughs, diarrhoea, constipation, warts, worms, and kidney malfunctions. It is also thought to be an antispasmodic, stomach ache, carminative, stimulant and insect repellent. The oils of basil, especially the camphor-containing oil, have antibacterial properties.
Other Uses:
•    Basil in the bath is refreshing.
•    Leaves and flowers can be dried for potpourri.
•    Burn sprigs of basil on the barbecue to deter mosquitoes.
•    A bunch of basil hung over the kitchen window or a pot of basil in the windowsill will deter flies.

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May 27, 2008 -- Aloe Vera
March 19, 2008 -- Jasmine
March 14, 2008 -- Garlic
March 14, 2008 -- Bay Leaves
March 14, 2008 -- Cayenne
March 14, 2008 -- Valerian
March 14, 2008 -- Savory
March 11, 2008 -- Italian salad with basil

Valerian

admin — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 03:07:42 +0000

Latin: The word “valerian” is thought to be derived from the Latin valere, meaning “to be healthy or strong.” Valerian has been used orally for centuries as a sedative, sleep aid, antispasmodic, and digestive aid. Traditional Chinese and Indian Ayurvedic medicine recommends valerian for treatment of insomnia.
Parts Used: Roots
Medicinal Uses: Valerian is a tranquilizer useful in treating anxiety, insomnia, and nervous tension. It has fewer side effects than Valium and does not react synergistically with alcohol. Valerian also has a strengthening effect on the heart and may lower blood pressure. The sedating effect of valerian on the central nervous system may help reduce muscle spasms and prevent convulsions.
Cautions: Valerian may cause headaches, muscular spasms, and palpitations. It is not recommended for long-term use.
Recent animal studies suggest that valerian may also help lower blood pressure and inhibit tumour growth.
The valerian plant and flower is an attractive addition to any garden. However, it is the root of valerian that is used medicinally, and it pretty much smells and tastes awful. Brewing your own valerian tea is not recommended.
Other Uses:
Tincture of valerian helps clear dandruff.

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May 27, 2008 -- Aloe Vera
March 19, 2008 -- Jasmine
March 14, 2008 -- Garlic
March 14, 2008 -- Bay Leaves
March 14, 2008 -- Cayenne
March 14, 2008 -- Basil
March 14, 2008 -- Savory

World Diets News for Celebrities » Herbs

Aloe Vera

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Mentha (Mint Family)

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Jasmine

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Mustard

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Garlic

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Bay Leaves

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Cayenne

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Basil

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Valerian

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