Hangover Remedy!

After-party hangovers and indigestion: drink sauerkraut brine!

It helps with nausea and headaches. Good luck and happy new year!

Use Lemon for Your Daily Care

Although it is not among the most delicious fruits, the lemon brings many benefits to the body. In addition to being rich in vitamin C, which helps to fight colds and strengthen the immune system, the lemon has other uses too.

It whitens the nails

If you have yellow nails and you have failed to get rid of this problem in any way, use lemon juice. Squeeze a lemon in a bowl, remove the nail polish from your nails, and place your fingers in the lemon juice for two to three minutes. Some women believe that this treatment not only whitens the nails, but also strengthen them, especially if you add to the juice a teaspoon of olive oil.

Emergency deodorant

If you forgot to use a deodorant or you do not have any at hand, the following trick is one that really works. Cut a lemon in half to use as a deodorant. Citric acid in lemon kills the bacteria that cause perspiration.

It softens freckles

Although nobody knows exactly how the lemon works when it comes to freckles and blemishes on the face that occur with age, well, it actually has visible effects! Squeeze a lemon in a bowl and place a cotton ball in the juice. Apply on your face as if you would remove make-up at least once a day. Visible effects of this treatment will be seen over time, so be persistent!

It lightens the hair

You can get your hair lighter in color by using a bit of lemon juice. When you apply lemon on your hair,, make sure it is sunny outside, because it is necessary to expose yourself to sunlight for at least an hour. If you want to get a less intense effect, mix half a cup of lemon juice with half a cup of water. Hair color will open according to its texture.

A natural exfoliating method

Applied on the face, lemon juice removes excess sebum, invigorates and smoothens the skin. Lemon juice in combination with salt supports the skin's natural exfoliation, leaving the skin smoother and brighter.

Dental problems: Remedies for you can find in your pantry!

Maybe you did not know, but the kitchen hides unexpected cures, which relieve toothaches and help to have fresh breath. This is how you get rid of toothache:

One of the most unbearable pains, the toothache usually occurs in the middle of the night, when it is more difficult to get to the dentist. You can find help in the pantry and the spice cabinet.

Garlic

Rub the gums around the painful with grounded garlic. If the pain is intense, you can keep the garlic on the gum for about an hour.

Coltsfoot/poppy seeds

If the symptoms appeared after an extraction, wash a few leaves of coltsfoot, apply them to the inflamed area and the ache will quickly disappear. You can also prepare an infusion of one teaspoon poppy seeds in a cup of boiling water. Rinse the mouth with it and the ache will gradually disappear.

Parsley/vanilla essence

Crushed fresh parsley leaves placed on the gum also sooths the pain, and so does vanilla essence. Soak a gauze in this essence and apply it on the aching tooth.

Cloves

Cloves help get rid of toothache caused by cavities. Rinse your mouth well with mouthwash (or with salt water), and chew a few cloves for a few minutes. You can also use them as a compress, as follows: crush a few cloves and put them on a gauze, then apply on the aching tooth. Keep the compress on your tooth until the pain disappears.

A fresh breath all day

Fresh mint is recommended for daily tooth brushing and oral hygiene. If you chew some leaf two to three times a day you will have a fresh breath.

For the same result, drink unsweetened mint tea after each meal, or chew some sunflower seeds and drink a glass of water. Pineapple juice removes mouth odors, while apples consumed daily help clean the teeth and remove bacteria that cause bad breath.

Season salads and other dishes with parsley. It keeps the breath fresh and banishes onion or garlic odors. If mouth odors persist, you should check your health because it can be a symptom of diseases such as diabetes, tonsillitis, sinusitis, gastrointestinal or mouth disorders.

Help for gum disease

Prepare a decoction of three tablespoons of chamomile flowers in a cup of water. Keep this hot tea in the mouth for a few minutes. Repeat the treatment four to five times a day. Equally effective is the infusion made of two tablespoons of water in one cup of water, used to gargle several times a day.

Infusion made of flowers and strains tops of melilot, collected during the flowering season has antiseptic, antibacterial, astringent, healing and anesthetic effect. It calms and has gingival anti-inflammatory effect. If your gums bleed after this treatment, go to the dentist.

Mouth and dental diseases (stomatitis, gingivitis) caused particularly by abnormal microbial flora, can be treated using the following remedies: bilberry, angelica, arnica, basil, sea buckthorn, mulberry, horseradish, licorice, hollyhock, nut, plantain, propolis, willow, sage, celery and garlic.

Did you eat too much? Chamomile will save you!

Whether you use them as infusions, tinctures or powders, natural treatments are effective and help you have an easy digestion. It is therefore advisable to prepare beforehand some remedies for heartburn, bloating, constipation and indigestion.

Buckthorn for constipation

In case of constipation, the most widely used remedy is decoction of buckthorn. It is prepared by boiling one tablespoon of chopped buckthorn bark, for 15 minutes, in 250 ml of water. Drink the tea at night, before going to bed. You can also take buckthorn powder, one teaspoon, placed directly under the tongue for 10-15 minutes, and then swallowed with some water.

Combination for indigestion

Some plants that facilitate digestion are caraway, anise, coriander and fennel. Mix 20g of each, take a spoonful of this mixture and boil it 10 minutes in 200 ml of water in a covered pot. Drink one cup of tea after each meal.

Chamomile works against bloating

A hearty meal has often resulted in bloating. To resolve this problem, prepare a tea of two tablespoons of chamomile and two of fennel, as well as four tablespoons of mallow root, licorice and mint. Take two tablespoons of this mixture and scald them with two glasses of water. After five minutes, strain the liquid and sweeten the tea. Drink one quarter cup of tea during the day.

Potato works against heartburn

Spicy foods, fats, fruits, sweets, alcohol and fizzy drinks promote heartburn. In this case, drink a glass of plain water, because it dilutes the gastric acid and reduces burning. The same results can be obtained by drinking the fresh juice from a grated potato.

Basil removes nausea

Basil can help you get rid of unpleasant nausea. If necessary, drink an infusion of basil, prepared with one teaspoon of herb to a cup of water. You should drink one to two cups of tea per day. Lavender infusion is also efficient, prepared from 30g of plant per liter of water. You can drink two cups a day.

Remedies for Back Pain, Rheumatism and Arthritis

The changing weather and gives us a hard time and the most affected are the joints. Rheumatism, arthritis or back pain is increasing during rainy weather. Here are some natural remedies that you can use.

Wheat bran baths against rheumatism

Boil the wheat bran, 1 liter of water to 4 tablespoons of bran, and then pour the content into the bathtub filled with hot water. Take 10 minutes baths daily.

Potato juice has anti-inflammatory effect

This is why potato juice is successfully used in treating joint pain, especially when combined with carrot juice. You can also use green barley juice, as it helps restore damaged cells and tissues of the joint (treatment lasts for at least 3 weeks).

Hot peppers help get rid of back pain

One of the most popular remedies for back pain is hot pepper. It contains a substance called capsaicin that has the extraordinary property of inhibiting the painful sensation. Massage the painful area with a mixture of equal amounts of glycerin and tincture of cayenne pepper.

Calendulas relieve arthritis

When the pain caused by arthritis is increasing, massage the painful spots with calendula tincture, or ointment from the same plant.

Tomato juice cleans Your Body

Easy to prepare and full of vitamins, vegetable juices are a healthy menu for hot days. They cool you, give you energy, and regenerate the whole body.

Squeeze vegetables and drink their juice on a daily basis. Places in soups and broths, vegetables lose their properties. In their natural state they give you the amount of vitamins you need. With minimal effort from the digestive system, vegetables juices nourish and regenerate the entire body.

Tomato juice is recommended because it detoxifies the body, due to high content of pectin, a substance that has the ability to absorb bowel toxins. It is rich in minerals, especially calcium and iron, helps with fatigue and anemia, regenerates the body, it is refreshing, revitalizing, anti-infectious, detoxifying, eases digestion, and provides cell balancing.

Cucumber juice, a good diuretic

Through its high content of sulfur and silicon, cucumber juice helps hair growth. As it has no taste, you should drink it with beet juice. It helps treat rheumatism, diseases of the teeth and gums, but also in preventing hair loss and cracking nails.

Cabbage juice is anti-cancerous

Cabbage juice is known for its stimulating effect and normalization of digestion, but also for its anti-cancer action. Cabbage juice also contains iodine and vitamin C, being useful in constipation and skin rash. If you drink large amounts, cabbage juice can cause bloating, because of the waste decomposition action of the digestive tract. However cabbage juice is the most effective of all gastric bandages and healers. Drink it without salt.

Folk Remedies from Ratna Ling - 2012 Calendar

Ratna Ling Retreat Center is home to a very diverse plant life. Many plants that grow here are purported to have therapeutic properties by practitioners of alternative medicine. Among them, the sage, also known as Virgin Mary’s flower, can be grown in a garden and used every day to purify the spirit. One sage leaf placed in a water bottle is enough to lift the mood. Other herbs, such as fennel, basil, mint, dill, parsley, garlic and lavender, are internationally renowned and used as folk remedies.

Ratna Ling is also a tomato paradise. Enjoyed in international cuisines, the tomato is a fruit full of vitamins and hidden remedies. While tomatoes color the summer and fall, the cabbage grows in winter. It is a veritable panacea, as it can cure about any condition of the body.

Ratna Ling is located in the heart of the redwood forest, the land of the sequoia - a real folk remedy for strength and longevity. Many other trees grow on this land, among which the fir tree is an old remedy used for a variety of diseases. The hawthorn blooms in May, a spectacular vision in pink and an invaluable remedy for the heart.

Herbal medicine, based on traditional folk remedies, is as old as humankind and as widespread as the occurrence of communities. Herbal medicine is based on an intimate and practical knowledge of plants, handed down for hundreds of generations, while acknowledging the unique needs of individuals. While diet, exercise, and increased self-awareness form the foundation of good health, fresh herbal therapy provides one of the key elements in the process of self-care.

Available to purchase online at Dharma Publishing, or by phone at 707-847-3717 or 1-800-873-4276.

Dill Remedies

Dill, an aromatic plant used as a spice in international cuisine, is a remedy for the problems faced by women at any age. It is recommended to eat at least three to four tablespoons of fresh dill daily. For nursing mothers, fresh dill stimulates lactation. A dill diet during lactation positively affects breast milk, protecting your baby from colic. As fresh dill leaves contain flavonoids with antioxidant properties, they soothe menstrual pain. Dill seed tincture stimulates the production of estrogen, delaying the aging process and maintaining the vigor of the breasts. A diet of fresh dill, with 20 g per day, followed in spring and autumn for 20 days, prevents osteoporosis after the age of 40. An infusion of one teaspoon of chopped fresh dill in a cup of boiling water is very good for relieving headaches. Infuse for about five minutes, and then strain. Drink two cups per day, preferably in the morning and in the evening after meals. You can also try to chew a few stalks of dill, which have beneficial effects on the nervous system.

Dill is a natural digestive, relieves insomnia and respiratory and menstrual disorders, and is even recommended to treat cancer. Dill has been used in the kitchen since ancient times. The flavonoids, minerals and amino acids in dill make it a true panacea. Its essential oil stimulates the gallbladder, and is therefore recommended in treating digestive problems. For the stomach, dill is antimicrobial, so it is a good internal disinfectant, used successfully in treating dysentery.  Furthermore, studies have shown that dill essential oil can act as a slight sedative through the activation of hormones and enzymes with calming effect.

Dill is recommended to women having irregular periods because it normalizes the secretion of certain hormones. Its first effects will be seen within a month. In oral hygiene, dill is good to refresh the breath and remove infections of the mouth. It can be used after every meal as an effective breath freshener. Dill is good for nursing mothers because it stimulates lactation and is a perfect source of calcium for children. It is the perfect condiment for any cooked food, but also an ideal natural treatment for the whole family. Eat it fresh or use it every time you cook, and you will soon see its effects.

Dill tea stops hiccups
A good tea to stop hiccups is dill seed tea. Boil a teaspoon of seeds with 250 ml water for three minutes, and then drink this tea unsweetened.

Please consult with your doctor or a professional herbalist before using any herbal remedy.

Prevention with Basil

Basil has been known since ancient times. Native to Sri Lanka and India, basil was brought to Europe during the expeditions of Alexander the Great. It is a holy plant in India, and was very much appreciated by the ancient Egyptians: bouquets of basil were found in their pyramids. An aromatic plant, basil is used in the culinary art as a seasoning for various dishes. Traditional medicine uses basil as a remedy for chronic gastritis and stomach aches. Its pharmacological actions are sedative, diuretic, and antiseptic. Starting from the essential oil content, as related to the other active elements, basil is recommended in the treatment of gastrointestinal and renal afflictions, bronchitis and fever. The use of basil leaf tea is recommended for nervous system fatigue, insomnia, and painful menstruation. To avoid the unpleasant effects of insect stings, rub the wounded spot with fresh basil leaves or juice from fresh basil plants.

Heart attack
Experimental medicine studies show that eating basil on a daily basis prevents heart attacks. Basil protects the coronary arteries from cholesterol deposits, keeps blood pressure under control, and has complex action on the central nervous system, protecting the cardiovascular system from the adverse effects of stress.

Food poisoning
A recent study shows that putting a single drop of essential basil oil in one liter of drinking water that is consumed throughout the day helps avoid many infections from bacteria consumed in food. Especially during the summer, these bacteria can produce food poisoning, with symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, and fever. Seasoning food with basil is recommended, especially during summer, because the volatile substances in basil keep the food unchanged for longer, protecting us from infections of the digestive tract.

Asthma
Consumed in salads, sauces or soups, basil protects the respiratory system from allergic reactions, preventing in good measure the relapse of pulmonary infection, and protecting the airways from inflammatory processes that lead to asthma.

Atherosclerosis
One of the secret benefits of Mediterranean cuisine on the cardiovascular system lies in the basil. Along with oregano, basil is the main spice used in flavoring sauces for pasta, but also in salads, and many types of pizza. Antioxidant substances contained in basil prevent plaque formation in arteries and keep blood vessels elastic.

Please consult with your doctor or a professional herbalist before using any herbal remedy.

Remedies with Mint

Gallstones - mint helps with gallstones, thus the need for surgery is eliminated.
Nausea - mint has a slightly anesthetic effect on the gastric mucosa, reducing nausea.
Flatulence – by helping digestion, it reduces flatulence.
Gastric ulcer - mint helps relieve pain, and also heal stomach ulcers, but do not to use it if you have frequent heartburn.
Decongestant - whether you choose to drink or to inhale the fragrant steam of infused mint, this herb is a decongestant that streamlines nasal mucus and reduces inflammation.
Headache - mint oil can be an effective analgesic. Apply spearmint oil (in diluted solution) on the forehead and temples.
Muscle pain - whether you are frequently playing sports or only on weekends, make sure to keep some mint oil or a menthol-based cream in your medical kit. Use it for massage.
Toothache - due to its analgesic effect, mint is also used to relieve toothaches. Put a drop of peppermint oil on a pad and apply to the aching tooth.
Oral hygiene - mint oil kills viruses and bacteria. Add a few drops of mint oil in one cup of water to make a disinfecting mouthwash. For fresh breath put one or two mint oil drops on the tongue. Warning: Do not exceed this amount, or the mint oil will cause heartburn. A quantity of two teaspoons of mint oil ingested can be fatal.
Stimulates peripheral circulation - massage with mint essential oil stimulates peripheral circulation and reduces the feeling of tired legs. In summer, it is great to freshen up your swollen, tired, irritated feet. The sensation of coolness is wonderful. In the winter, if you take warm baths with salt and mint you will immediately get rid of fatigue.

Please consult with your doctor or a professional herbalist before using any herbal remedy.

The Benefits of Fir

The green eternity of the fir tree is an unsolved mystery showing that, through the fir’s core must travel particularly strong saps that might be useful to man. The fir tree is an old remedy used in a variety of diseases. In ancient times, baths with fir tree were used to strengthen the weak and those recovering from illness, and for healing the bones and chest pain. Fir resin was used in greases for musculoskeletal infections or for healing wounds and burns. The fir tree’s fragrance was considered a true elixir for lung diseases. Chest problem patients were advised to go at night in a fir tree forest, where the conifers’ ethereal emanations immediately had a healing effect. In winter, it used to be customary to place freshly crushed fir needles and branches at the head of a patient with chest problems. The fir buds and honey syrup with healing virtues were used in treating asthma, asthmatiform bronchitis, and tuberculosis. Fir resin was used for fumigation. The smoke of fir resin was said to ward off disease, sorrow, and all evil spirits.

Fir buds are picked in the spring. The fir bud’s syrup is the best treatment for bronchitis, cough, and various diseases of the respiratory system. Fir buds mixed with honey are covered for six weeks, after which it is strained to obtain the syrup. The syrup can be taken one teaspoon at a time or diluted in a warm cup of tea. Drink it especially when coughing or having a chronic lung disease.

Baths with fir branches or buds

Pick a handful of buds and twigs (mainly tips) and put them in three liters of water. Boil for three hours, then strain. Pour this liquid into the bathtub. Baths with fir branches or buds are recommended in various conditions for the restoration of poor circulation, or against various infections, and even in cases of paralysis and stroke. The liquid obtained can be used against hemorrhoids, cystitis, and urinary tract or genital infections. Take a few 20 minutes baths every day for a few days.

Treatment with fir syrup

Fir trees secrete a large amount of aromatic oils with excellent healing effects. The fir needles’ syrup is made of fir needles loosened up from branches with a knife, washed and then crushed with a rolling pin. Fill a quarter jar with these fir needles, then fill with honey. Close tightly. Keep on stove or near a heat source for three weeks, then filter the obtained syrup. It has a strong fir smell (much stronger than the buds’ syrup). Use for the following conditions:

• Persistent cough, decreased immunity of the respiratory system: Take half a teaspoon of fir needle syrup six times a day. The treatment lasts at least seven days and has anti-infectious, regenerative, and immunostimulating effects.
• Excessive appetite: administered five minutes before and after the meal, one tablespoon of fir needles syrup, no water. This preparation is good also as dessert, because it inhibits the appetite for sweets for quite a long time.
• Intellectual fatigue: take one or two teaspoons of fir needles syrup when you have to make an extended mental effort. The honey in the syrup nourishes the brain and balances blood glucose levels, while the volatile oil from fir needles is a good mental and psychic tonic.
• Sterility in women: take a one or two months cure with fir needle syrup. Fir needles have a strong stimulation and regulation effect over the activity of women’s reproductive glands.

Compresses with boiled fir branches are an excellent cure for wounds that do not close, sprains and fractures that are hard to heal, and infections. Apply compresses on the affected area several times a day until healed. Fir tree resin ointment is recommended for healing burns, light cuts, rheumatism, hemorrhoids, asthenia, convalescence, muscle pain, hyper- and hypothyroidism, and as an adjuvant in multiple sclerosis.

Please consult with your doctor or a professional herbalist before using any herbal remedy.

Elderflower remedies

Elderflowers have a refreshing and pleasant flavor, and are recognized as medicinal plant and magic herb. Elder can be used to treat conditions such as sinusitis, colds, fever, and prevent kidney and urinary tract infections. It has depurative and anti-inflammatory effects and helps combat degenerative processes. Fresh or dry elderflowers are used for therapeutic purposes as infusion, powder, tincture or oil. Elder has a blood cleanser and anti-inflammatory action, and therefore it is used to treat and prevent rheumatism and gout. Elder juice is a good general tonic with diuretic, antitoxic and depurative effects. A two week cure with one liter of elder juice a day has a remarkable effect in people with nervous exhaustion and fatigue.

Powder is obtained by fine grinding the dried flowers with electric coffee grinder. Store the obtained hermetically sealed in a glass jar, and place it somewhere dark and cold for a period of up to two weeks (because the volatile oils evaporate very quickly). Administer three times daily, one teaspoon on an empty stomach.

Tincture: place 15 tablespoons elderflower powder in a jar and add two glasses (400 ml) of 50° alcohol. Close the jar hermetically and allow to macerate for two weeks, after which the liquid is filtered and the resulting tincture is bottled is small, dark colored bottles. This remedy is administered four times a day, 50-100 drops, diluted in water.

Combined infusion: place three to four tablespoons of chopped elderflower to soak in half a liter of water for eight to ten hours, and then filter. The obtained preparation is set aside, and plant left after filtration is boiled in another half liter of water for five minutes, then allow to cool and filter. Finally, mix the two extracts to obtain about one liter of preparation, which is used internally (one to two cups a day) or externally in the form of compresses and wash.

Hot infusion is usually used only as an emergency remedy for its perspiration, febrifuge and antitussive effect, because during boiling the plant looses most of its therapeutic qualities. The hot infusion is prepared with a teaspoon of crushed dried herb and a cup (250 ml) of boiling water. Allow to infuse for ten to fifteen minutes, then filter and drink as hot as possible.

Elderflower oil: place 15 tablespoons of elderflower powder in a jar, and add half a liter of sunflower or olive oil. Close the jar tightly, let the flowers soak for two weeks, then filter the liquid. The resulted preparation is placed in a dark bottle and it is usually used as massage solution for people with dry skin.

Poultice with elderflower: chop a handful of flowers and leave for one to two hours to soak in warm water (40-50 C°).  Apply for an hour long directly on the affected area, covering it with gauze.

Prevention with Garlic

Cold and flu

The effects of garlic against flu are known for hundreds of years, and research studies have confirmed them. It was found that garlic contains more than 20 antiviral and antibacterial substances, so it is considered a true anti-flu medicine. Two cloves of garlic per day protect you from the cold, flu, respiratory problems, heart rate acceleration, or headaches. Also, if during a cold treatment you also eat garlic, the healing time is substantially reduced. In this case, garlic can be used in external poultices applied to the chest and back to remove hoarseness and cough.

Hypertension

A study done 12 years ago showed that people who ate garlic had significant reductions in blood pressure. A series of special treatments for hypertension have been released, with a high content of active substances similar to those of garlic.

Effeminacy

Testosterone in men can be enhanced with garlic. Garlic stimulates the testes and favors the increase of endocrine secretion of male hormones. These hormones help increase muscle mass in normal limits, increase sexual desire and develop traits such as courage or spirit of initiative.

Poor blood circulation

Blood circulation can be improved by regular consumption of garlic. This has been studied and demonstrated by German researchers in 1996. Those tested had peripheral artery disease. The experiment has proved that those who ate garlic had visibly improved their blood circulation.

Diabetes and gout

Garlic balances blood sugar levels, and prevents diabetic arterial disease and heart disease caused by diabetes. Meanwhile, garlic can treat gout, regulates metabolism, and because it is a natural diuretic, it helps to eliminate the excess urea in the blood.

Obesity

Garlic reduces fat storage in the body and hastens its elimination, and therefore it is recommended for people who want to lose weight. It can be easily "infiltrated" in diet recipes and slimming cures.

Otalgia

Garlic has analgesic effect and therefore can be used successfully in curing diseases of the teeth or ear. Wrap half a clove of garlic in gauze and insert one in each ear. It is important to take this natural treatment only after you have consulted a physician.

Cancer of the rectum and colon

A team of American doctors have made a scientific study on a group of people who consumed garlic and have consistently reached the following conclusion: if the food is introduced in the daily diet, the risk of colon cancer is reduced by 10% for meat consumers, and 50% for vegetarians.

Parsley Remedies

From a medicinal point of view, parsley behaves as an anti-cancerous herb, anti-rheumatic, stimulant of digestion, of kidneys, eliminating toxins and kidney stones. Moreover, parsley seeds stimulate fertility, help against dependency upon alcohol and brain tumors. Between 25-30 mg of parsley a day are enough to provide the daily dosage of vitamin C. It is important to mention that parsley contains more vitamin C than lemon, orange, or any other fruit. It has abundant quantities of other vitamins and minerals such as: pro-vitamin A, vitamin B, E, K, beta-carotene, magnesium, phosphorus, iron, manganese, sodium, potassium, sulfur and calcium. It acts like an antioxidant, eliminating toxins and maintaining the elasticity of the blood vessels, it is a general stimulant, diuretic, antiseptic, anti-infectious, and anti-rachitic. Apart from these, parsley is a great neutralizer of the negative effects of smoking and dependence upon alcohol. Among other effects, it straightens the body and immune system, has a beneficial effect over the liver, spleen, digestive and endocrine organs.

Parsley leaves are a good source of vitamins and minerals. Parsley is composed of protein (20%), flavonoids that maintain blood cell membranes and act as an antioxidant, essential oils, iron, calcium, phosphorus, manganese, inositol, sulfur, vitamin K, beta-carotene and in particular, vitamin C. Thus, parsley helps the spleen and the stomach, improving digestion and preventing bloating and indigestion. Fats and proteins are digested easier. Furthermore, the calcium in parsley helps bones and teeth, the magnesium fixes calcium, the iodine helps the thyroid gland, and the amino acids prevent the development of tumors. The parsley leaf is four times richer in vitamin C than an orange and contains more iron than spinach.

Parsley relieves eye irritation. Lavage with parsley is recommended for excessive tearing. Make a decoction of 10 g of shredded parsley root to 250 ml of water. Boil 15 minutes and wash the eyes or use as a compress, twice a day, for as long as necessary.

Parsley is an excellent remedy for insect bites, specifically for bee or wasp stings. Rub the place with fresh parsley leaves to avoid inflammation and reduce pain.

A few parsley leaves help you get rid of bad breath and make your breath smell good. Moreover, parsley acts as a disinfectant medium of the upper airway, and it is highly recommended for people with respiratory problems.

Hay fever, ameliorated with onion

Grate one large onion on the cheese grating surface of the shredder, take two tablespoons of the shredded onion and place it in a pot with little water, then boil bain-marie. Cover with a cone-shaped thicker paper with a small opening at its end. Place the nose next to this opening and inhale the vapors through each nostril, for a few minutes, or for as long as you can. Do this for three times a day. In a few days, the hay fever will disappear and it won’t come back for the rest of the year.

Blackcurrant treats allergies

The blackcurrant is very appreciated for the alimentary and therapeutic value of its fruits, which contain an important complex of vitamins. The list of therapeutic properties of the blackcurrant fruits was presented in the 18th century by the abbot Bailley de Montaran, from the monastery of Dijon. He underlined their wonderful tonic qualities, considering the currant as being an elixir of youth. Containing tannin, vitamin C, potassium salts, and essential oil, the black currant is a good diuretic, anti-sclerotic, pectoral, sudorific, stomachic, anti-diaretic, anti-colitic, anti-stringent, hypotensive, and anti-rheumatic. Its leaves have a great diuretic capacity; they have anti-rheumatic effects, favoring the elimination of uric acids.

The fruits, leaves and buds of the blackcurrant have multiple effects in treating and preventing various diseases. Because it contains vitamin C, the blackcurrant is used in treating cardiovascular diseases, preventing cardiac insufficiency and vascular accidents, increasing the resistance of sanguine capillaries, reduces arterial hypertension. Also, it intensifies weak peripheral circulation caused by menopause, cleans the blood of toxins, wastes and cholesterol.

Blackcurrant buds extract

The action of the blackcurrant buds extract is focused specifically on the adrenal glands, stimulating their cortex, causing the release of products with anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic action. The blackcurrant was assigned with the “cortisone-like” action, because it behaves like a natural cortisone, but without its toxicity. Glycerin macerate of blackcurrant buds present the following mechanisms of action: activates and stimulates 11-oxy-steroids and increase the levels of corticosteroids important as endogenous activators of response in inflammatory processes. The main clinical indication of the blackcurrant buds extract is the prophylaxis and treatment of allergies and inflammatory states of different etiology (mechanical, chemical, immunological or infectious). For permanent sensitivity to allergens (house dust, medicines, food, etc.), it is recommended a regular treatment for two or three months, with two months break, for a long time. For seasonal allergies (pollen, grass, etc.), it is indicated for susceptible individuals to pursue a treatment with Ribes nigrum before the allergens that affect them emerge, and until their disappearance.

Treatments with Lavender

In cases of headaches, anxiety states, rheumatism or distension, the consumption of lavender flower tea or infusion of lavender flowers is recommended. Lavender tea is prepared with two teaspoons of flowers to a cup of boiled water. It is to be drunk hot and sweetened with honey. It is good against stress and headaches. Concentrated tea, obtained from 5-6 spoonfuls of herb macerated in a cup of boiling water, is used for treating superficial burns or light wounds.

For cases of insomnia it is best to add a few drops of lavender oil on the pillow. This is also useful for relieving stress, clearing nostrils - a case in which 5 drops of oil are added into a vessel filled with hot water and inhalations are taken. The plant’s oil is a good disinfectant of wounds and burns. In case of solar burns a few drops of lavender oil are added into mineral water, which is then used to moisten the affected area. Having antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties, lavender oil can be used for treating headaches through massaging the temples with a few drops of it. Lavender oil is obtained from 20g of dried lavender flowers mixed with 20ml of alcohol. The mixture is put into a small jar, and then 200ml of olive oil is added after which it is stirred well. It is boiled in a steam bath for two hours while being stirred. After the vessel is taken out of the steam bath, it is left covered for 2 days, and then filtered through a gauze. Leave it in a cool place, in the dark. Oils are applied once a week, in the evening, after cleaning the complexion, before going to sleep, for 20 minutes, then washed away with warm water.

Hawthorn tea helps you sleep better

Hawthorn flowers, leaves and fruits are used for medicinal purposes, as all have a vasodilatory effect. If stress, heat, or worries do not let you sleep, drink hawthorn tea. It is an excellent remedy for insomnia and balances blood pressure. Hawthorn fruits contain flavonoids, fatty and essential oils, tannins, sugars, and vitamins C and B. They have a calming, sedative effect and are therefore recommended in treating arterial hypertension, headaches, and heart disorders with a nervous substrate. Hawthorn calms the sensations of heaviness around the heart, and regulates the heart rate. Infusion of this plant heals migraines and disorders related to menopause, balances blood pressure, and cures pectoral angina and disturbances caused by the menstrual cycle.

Hawthorn helps in cases of anemia, states of weakness, old age, and serious illness, and it is an adjuvant in bronchial asthma. As a remedy against insomnia, one cup of hawthorn infusion is recommended before bedtime, or 10-15 drops of hawthorn tincture in the evening. Large doses may have a sedating effect. Use with care during pregnancy.

Viola tricolor - The Wild Pansy/ Heartsease

Heartsease tea will get rid of your allergies

Do you suffer from allergies? Drink wild pansy tea. The plant is the best known allergy remedy. It contains saponozides, flavonoid, salicylic compounds, carotenoids, anthocyanins, tannins, volatile oil, vitamins C and A. It has depurative action, clearing the blood of toxins, and it is diuretic, anti-allergic, and slightly laxative. Great results are achieved in people sensitive to colds and bronchitis. Drink one to two liters of tea per day, for one to three months.

A cure for cancer

Heartsease, a plant that attracts attention with its fragrance, and vivid and varied colors, is a miracle remedy for detoxifying the body. For centuries, however, in the folk medicine, the wild pansy is the plant that heals all skin diseases. This remedy has complex therapeutic actions that release the flow of bronchial secretions, prevent super-infections, and controls asthma attacks. Furthermore, recent studies showed the wild pansy contains very strong substances with cytostatic effect. Therefore, the researchers say that the next generation of cytostatic drugs will contain extracts from this plant. In the treatment of lung cancer, six teaspoons of wild pansy powder are administered traditionally during the course of three months, followed by a three to four weeks break. Studies have shown that the same treatment is an effective therapy for other forms of cancer, such as gastric and intestinal cancer.

Cabbage Soup Diet

The Cabbage Soup Diet is the diet that, the more you eat, the more you loose weight.  During this diet, you can not eat just anything, and your main food for a week (the diet takes a week) is cabbage soup.
How to prepare the cabbage soup?

Choose a couple medium onions, 2 green peppers, 1 medium (or 2 small) cabbage, 2 boxes of tomato paste or sauce, salt and pepper as you prefer, 1 Knorr cube, celery leaves, hot pepper (if you like spicy food) and parsley. Wash and cut all veggies and place with all ingredients into a pot of water just enough to cover the vegetables. Boil 10 minutes at high heat, and for 2 hours at low heat. Eat as much as you can. The soup is nourishing and pretty tasty


The diet
This diet is recommended for 7 days at the end of which, if you do not cheat, you lose between 5 and 7 kilograms.

• On the first day, along with cabbage soup, you are allowed to eat fruit as much as you want and drink and a lot of plain water.
• The next day, combine the cabbage soup with vegetables and water, but avoid vegetables such as beans, peas, potatoes and corn.
• The third day you can have both fruits and vegetables. And a lot of water, of course.
• The fourth day eat 3 bananas and the soup. Do not forget the water.
• The fifth day you can have 800 grams of beef or chicken with the soup, and lots of water.
• In the sixth day you can eat boiled rice along with the soup you are already used too, plus water.
• The seventh and last day you can have some fish and more soup, of course.

If you feel you lose too much weight in the early days, stop the diet for 2 days and then start again.
It is better not to use this diet for more than a week. If you want to lose more than 7 kilograms, take a break for a week and then start all over again.
Good luck!