Action of Herbs

Winter Blues & Snotty Things

The Respiratory system consists of the nasal passage, the larynx, the pharynx, the trachea and lungs.  The human being depends on the ability to utilise oxygen and eliminate carbon dioxide, and respiration is the exchange of these two gases in the body.  The lungs are extremely efficient at allowing the exchange of gases between air and fluid, throughout its fine system of blood capillaries. 

As with all imbalances in the body, diet, exercise and quality of life have a profound influence.  If you are going to place your body in a position where it is exposed to physical and emotional toxins and pollutants, it is going to respond with respiratory system ailments.  Smoking for instance, physically taxes most body systems and in particular the respiratory system, but at the same time being emotionally stressed can trigger an asthma attack.  So physical and emotional stresses on the body can reflect in ailments.

Aromatherapy can assist in accelerating in the healing process.  With the respiratory system, we can encourage the elimination of toxins, relax breathing, tone debilitating tissues and relieve underlying symptoms feeding the problem. 

The Immune System.  Twenty-four hours a day, your immune system is fighting a war to protect you from millions of microorganisms.  The fact is that these micro – organisms are merely trying to survive as well.   The impact of these organisms on your body will be decided by the state of your physical and emotional health and your immune system. Viruses and bacteria are very adaptable and can multiply within any host; they just require a comfortable environment.  The cleaner and more balanced your lifestyle the less chance you will have of housing these uninvited guests.   

Echinacea is a herb fantastic for acute immune system ailments, but not as effective for chronic.  Astragalus is a fantastic herb for chronic immune system ailments.  Both of these herbs should not be taken continually.  Consult your naturopath for a dosage for you.

Dietary Considerations: 

• A 3:1 Alkaline diet to acid diet is recommended to prevent the build up of toxins.  Alkaline forming foods are fruits and vegetables.
• Elimination of refined and processed foods, sugars, wheats, salts.
• Reduction / elimination of stimulants – tea, coffee, alcohol.
• Elimination of suspected allergens – dairy, wheat, preservatives.
• Regular exercise, no smoking, “breath in life”.

Asthma 

Asthma is the reversible narrowing of the bronchioles (small air tubes), by inflammation of the mucous membranes or contraction of the muscular walls of the diaphragm.  This results in difficulty in breathing, wheezing and coughing will occur if excessive mucous is present. 

Hayfever  

Symptoms, like runny nose, sneezing, itchy eyes, watery eyes all can be from hayfever.  There can be antigens like dust, pollens, powders, and insecticides etc that can grab sensitive people.  It does not matter what the antigen, symptoms need to be relieved, so if you know that you are sensitive to an antigen, stay away and work on immune system. 

Herbs: Chamomile, Echinacea, Elder flowers, Marshmallow root.

Essential Oils: German Chamomile, Myrtle, Thyme, Tea Tree, Eucalyptus, Pine, Lavender, Lemon, and Peppermint. 

Method:  Inhalation, Chest rub.

Sinus

This is the bacterial infection version that comes from inefficient drainage of nasal mucosa and commonly runs with or after colds and flu or hayfever.  Symptoms can be headache and toothache, loss of smell, tenderness over face areas, pressure build up in head. 

Herbs:  Fenugreek, Echinacea, Elder flowers, Marshmallow root.

Essential Oils: Cajeput, Aniseed, Ginger, Myrrh, Sandalwood, Thyme, Eucalyptus, Pine, Spike Lavender, Frankincense, Lemon, Peppermint. 

Method:  Inhalation, Chest rub.

Sore throats

This can come from anything that is irritating the sensitive mucous membranes at the back of the throat.  Irritants can be as simple as cigarette smoke, dust, fumes etc through to infections and abrasions.  Chronic coughing can also irritate the throat. 

Herbs Teas: Sage, Echinacea, Thyme, Licorice root, Marshmallow root.

Essential Oils: Cajeput, Ginger, Sandalwood, Thyme, Lavender, Chamomile, Frankincense, Lemon, Tea Tree.

Method:  Inhalation, Throat and Chest rub.

Herb Teas:  Relaxants like Vervain, Chamomile, Passion Flowers as a preventatives.

Essential Oils: Cypress, Atlas Cedarwood, Aniseed, Clary Sage, Eucalyptus, Pine, Lavender, Chamomile, Frankincense, Lemon, Mandarin, and Peppermint. 

Method:  Inhalation (not over steam), Chest rub.

Bronchitis

Bronchitis is the inflammation and or obstruction of the bronchi (breathing tubes) that lead to the lungs.  Symptoms that can be present are coughing and expectoration, fever, back and chest ache, sore throat and breathing problems.  Acute bronchitis usually follows an upper respiratory system infection (cold/flu), and chronic results from a frequent irritation of the lungs, not an infection. 

Herb Teas: Licorice Root, Ginger, Thyme, Echinacea, and Marshmallow Root.

Essential Oils:   Cypress, Basil, Cajeput, Atlas Cedarwood, Aniseed, Ginger, Myrrh, Sandalwood, Thyme, Clary Sage, Eucalyptus, Pine, Lavender, Chamomile, Frankincense, Lemon, Mandarin, Peppermint. 

Method:  Inhalation (not over steam), Chest rub.

Coughs

Coughs can be the resulting symptoms from asthma or bronchitis or from your body simply trying to eliminate a blockage.  Either way, we do not want to suppress the cough, but we do want to relax breathing and assist the elimination of the blockage.  If it is a build up of mucous, essential oils like Aniseed, Myrrh and Frankincense are excellent, combined with Cypress to regulate breathing. 

Herb Teas:  Licorice Root, Ginger, Thyme, Echinacea, and Marshmallow Root.

Essential Oils: Cypress, Atlas Cedarwood, Aniseed, Ginger, Myrrh, Sandalwood, Thyme, Clary Sage, Eucalyptus, Lavender, Chamomile, Frankincense, and Peppermint. 

Method:  Inhalation, Chest rubs.

Catarrh (snot)

Catarrh is the fancy name for good old snot.  This occurs either from the body trying to eliminate an excess of toxins in the diet and environment from the mucous membranes, or a faulty elimination of toxins by the usual organs, i.e. liver.

Herbs: Ginger, Fenugreek, Echinacea.

Essential Oils: Cajeput, Atlas Cedarwood, Aniseed, Ginger, Myrrh, Sandalwood, Thyme, Eucalyptus, Pine, Frankincense, Lemon, Peppermint, Ylang Ylang.

Method:  Inhalation, Chest rub.

Recommended Products

Plant Essentials Breathe Essential oil Blend

contains Eucalyptus, Peppermint, Kunzea, Cajeput, Tea Tree, Lavender, Aniseed & Ginger essential oils.  Use as an inhalation for the temporary relief of respiratory problems such as coughs and colds, flu, sinusitis & mucous congestion. 

Plant Essentials Breathe Ointment

Contains the Breath essential oil blend in an ointment so that it can be easily massaged directly into the chest for the temporary relief of respiratory problems such as colds and coughs.

Breathe herbal Tea 

A great fortifying blend ideal to keep those winter ills and chills away.  Contains elderflower, sage, peppermint, chamomile, Echinacea, olive leaf, cinnamon, thyme and yarrow.

Plant Essentials

www.plantessentials.com.au

Skin Brush to reduce Cellulite

Did you know you can reduce the burden on your kidneys by regular skin brushing?  Sounds a bit far fetched, doesn't it?  When you consider the facts, it does make sense.

The skin is the largest eliminating organ of the body.  If we stimulate it in a constructive way, the skin increases its rate of elimination of toxic waste products.  Less demands are then placed upon the kidneys.

In Each square centimetre of skin there are as many as three million cells, 15 sebaceous glands, 100 sweat glands, a metre of blood vessels, 3000 sensory cells, 4 metres of nerves, 200 pain detectors, 25 pressure sensors for touch, two cold sensors and two heat sensors.

All of these components have vital functions and, brushing is the surest way of stimulating them and improving their efficiency.  This type of stimulation is positive and does not lead to exhaustion as do unnatural stimulants such as caffeine, tannins, alcohol etc.

Except when the skin is physically covered with dirt or grease, soap cannot clean it as effectively as a brush.  Dry skin brushing removes the dead cells from the surface of the skin, which would eventually shed off.

Because skin brushing contributes to cleansing the blood stream, it improves the skin everywhere on the body, although the skin that is brushed would benefit the most.

Brushing should be carried out once or twice a day, on rising before you dress and on retiring.  If you are having a shower, skin brush before the shower so that the dead skin and other debris will be washed away.

Spend a few minutes brushing, working on each limb, the front of the trunk and on the back.  Please ensure that the brush is used dry.  Please use a good quality natural fibre brush, as synthetic brushes can damage the skin.

A really nice thing about skin brushing is that it warms the body up in less than a minute.  In cold weather, the massaging effect instantly stops you feeling 'freezing' which is a much better way to start your day or get into bed.

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Detoxify Naturally

    Detoxification is the process of clearing ‘toxins’ from the body or neutralising or transforming them.

We detoxify/cleanse for many reasons and many authorities claim the detoxification process helps clear wastes and old or dead cells and revitalises the body’s natural functions and healing capacities, including: Preventing disease, Reducing symptoms, Treating  Disease, Cleansing the body, Resting organs, Rejuvenation, Weight loss, Clearing the skin, Slowing aging, Improving flexibility, Improving fertility, and Enhancing the senses.

Toxicity is of much greater concern in the twentieth century than ever before.  There are many new and stronger chemicals, air and water pollution, radiation and nuclear power.  We ingest new chemicals, use more drugs of all kinds, eat more sugar and refined foods, and daily abuse ourselves with various stimulants and sedatives.  The incidence of many toxicity diseases has increased as well.  Cancer and cardiovascular disease are two of the main ones.  Arthritis, allergies, obesity, and many skin problems are others.  In addition, a wide range of symptoms, such as headaches, fatigue, pains, coughs, gastrointestinal problems, and problems from immune weakness, can all be related to toxicity.

Toxicity occurs on two basic levels – external and internal.  We can acquire toxins from our environment by breathing them, by ingesting them, or through physical contact with them.

On the internal level, our body produces toxins through its normal everyday functions.  Biochemical, cellular, and bodily activities generate substances that need to be eliminated.  When these substances are not eliminated, they can cause irritation or inflammation of the cells and tissues, blocking normal functions on a cellular, organ, and whole-body level.  Microbes of all kinds – intestinal bacteria, foreign bacteria, yeasts, and parasites – produce metabolic waste products that we must handle.  Our thoughts and emotions and stress itself generate increased biochemical toxicity.  The proper level of elimination of these toxins is essential to health.  Clearly, a normal functioning body was created to handle certain levels of toxins; the concern is with excess intake or production of toxins or a reduction in the processes of elimination.

Our Body’s Detoxification Systems

Through detoxification, we clear and filter toxins and wastes and allow our body to work on enhancing its basic functions.  These are our body’s ‘waste processing and elimination units’:

·          Respiratory – lungs, sinuses and nose

·          Gastro-intestinal – liver, gall bladder, colon, and whole digestive tract

·          Urinary - kidneys

·          Skin – sweat and sebaceous glands, tears

·          Lymphatic – lymph channels and nodes

DIET

 Detoxification involves dietary and lifestyle changes that reduce intake of toxins and improve elimination.  Avoidance of chemicals, from food or other sources, refined food, sugar, caffeine, alcohol, tobacco, and many drugs helps minimize the toxin load.  Drinking extra water (purified) and increasing fibre by including more fruits and vegetables in the diet are steps in the detoxification process.  Moving from a more to a lesscongesting

diet helps improve detoxification. Appropriate foods are preferably organically grown or produced.

Water is likely the most important detoxifier. It helps clean us through our skin and kidneys and it improves our sweating with exercise.  Eight to ten glasses a day on average of clean filtered water are suggested.

We can think of fresh juices as natural vitamin pills with a very high assimilation percentage, and we do not need to do the work of digesting them.  In general, diluted fresh juices of raw organic fruits and vegetables are best.  Canned and frozen juices should be avoided.

Juice + Uses

Lemon                   Liver, gallbladder, allergies, colds, cardio

Citrus                    Cardio-vascular system, veins

Apple                      Liver, intestines

Pear                       Gall bladder

Grape                     Colon, anemia

Paw Paw                Stomach, digestion

Pineapple              Allergies, arthritis, inflammation, oedema

Watermelon          Kidneys, oedema

Black                     Cherry  Colon, menstrual problems, gout

Greens                  Skin, eczema, digestive problems, cardio

Spinach                 Anemia, eczema

Parsley                  Kidneys, oedema, arthritis

Watercress           Anemia, colds

Wheatgrass          Anemia, liver, intestines

Cabbage                Colitis, ulcers

Carrots                  Eyes, arthritis

Beetroot                Blood, liver, menstrual problems, arthritis

Celery                    Kidneys

Cucumber             Oedema

Garlic                     Allergies, colds, hypertension, high fats, cardio

Radish                    Liver, high fats

Potato                    Intestines, ulcer

HERBS

Many herbs can support or even create detoxification including blood cleansing, cleaning the tissues or strengthening the function of specific organs.  The old term for blood cleansers is “alteratives”, which is found in many books on herbs. 

‘Detox’ herbs include:

Garlic Red Clover Echinacea Dandelion Rt Fenugreek Ginger Root Liquorice Root Sarsaparilla Burdock Root Juniper Berries Calendula

Blood  cleanser, lowers blood fats,antibiotic blood cleanser, good during convalescence lymph cleanser, improves immune system liver and blood cleanser, diuretic, filters toxins blood cleanser, lymphatic, immune booster,loosens mucus stimulates circulation and sweating mild laxative, immune booster, energy tonic skin and blood cleanser, lymphatic cleanser ultimate detox herb – liver, skin, kidneys, blood diuretic, stimulates the kidneys.  Stimulates white blood cells, blood purifier, skin  healer

Ishta 10 day Detox Herbal Tea Blend is a superb blend of detoxifying herbs. It contains Dandelion root, Burdock, Pau d’arco, Rosehips, and Black Walnut, St Mary’s Thistle, Juniper Berries.

Ishta Purify Herbal Tea Blend is a superb blend of detoxifying herbs.  It contains Dandelion root, Burdock,, Red clover, Fennel, Juniper, Calendula, and Nettles.

Skin Brushing

The skin is the largest organ of the body, and the largest area from which toxins are eliminated.  Skin brushing not only removes the build up of dead skin cells but improves the circulation of blood and lymph, which helps the body in its removal of cellular waste.

See our Brochure on Body Brushing for more information.

Ishta Detox massage

Ishta detox massage incorporates lymphatic drainage massage techniques and detoxifying essential oils  is a very gentle, rhythmic technique that assists in the removal of cellular waste by stimulating circulation. It’s recommended to have a massage once a week for the month of your detox.

Available in our in all Plant Essentials Spas.

Aromatherapy

Pure essential oils can be used in body oils or bath oils to help the body with detoxification.  They include the following essential oils

Fennel  Grapefruit Cypress Lemon   Juniper Mandarin Orange Tangerine Black pepper Ginger   Rosemary Carrot seed Chamomile Geranium Lavender Lime Peppermint

Diuretic, alterative/blood cleanser Diuretic, stimulates lymph & tissue  fluid circulation, liver Diuretic, liver Diuretic, alterative/blood cleanser, Diuretic, alterative/blood cleanser, stimulates lymph & tissue fluid circulation Diuretic Diuretic, stimulates lymph & tissue fluid circulation Diuretic, stimulates lymph and  tissue fluid circulation Stimulates blood and lymph circulation Stimulates blood and lymph circulation Stimulates blood & lymph circulation &  tissue fluid circulation, alterative/blood cleanser, liver Alterative/blood cleanser, liver Alterative/blood cleanser, liver Alterative/blood cleanser Alterative/blood cleanser Stimulates lymph and tissue fluid circulation Stimulates lymph and tissue fluid circulation,  liver

     Detox Massage Oil

The Plant Essentials Ishta Detox Massage Oil can be used as part of a detoxification programme.  It contains essential oils, which assist your body’s detoxification processes, including grapefruit, juniper, Lemon, Geranium & Birch Essential oils.  Apply twice a day after bathing or showering or use during a Ishta detox massage.

Exercise

To improve elimination through the skin, regular exercise is important to stimulate sweating and circulation.  Exercise also improves general metabolism and helps overall with detoxification.  On the other hand, exercise also increases the production of waste so it must be accompanied by adequate water intake.

Exfoliate

In addition to skin brushing, body scrubs use a combination of exfoliating particles such as polished nut shells and milled legumes with detoxifying essential oils and toning clays to work on several levels. Use a body scrub once a week as part of a

detoxifying body treatment, shower it off, apply a body mask or clay then hop into the bath for a cleansing soak.

Ishta Detox Body Scrub contains green detoxifying clay, pumice & walnut exfoliation particles, potent antioxidants and detoxifying essential oils. It will cleanse and rejuvenate your skin and prepare it for a massage oil application, of ishta detox massage.

BATHING

Regular bathing is essential to cleanse the skin of the toxins it has released and to open the pores to eliminate more.

Ishta Detox Bath Salts contain essential oils of grapefruit, lemon, juniper, geranium and green clay, Epsom salts.  The essential oils along with the Epsom salts encourage waste elimination.

Masks

Green Clay

The Plant Essentials Green Argiletz Clay can be mixed with purified water into a paste and smoothed over the body.  It will draw and absorb toxins from the skin.  Leave on for 15 to 20 minutes before removing.

Flower Essences

Detoxification occurs on many levels.  Physically, it can help clear congestion, illnesses and disease potential.  It can improve energy.  Mental detoxification is also important.  Cleansing our minds of negative thought patterns is essential to health; the physical detoxification also helps this mental process.  Emotionally, detoxification helps us uncover and express feelings, especially hidden frustrations, anger resentments, or fear, and replace them with forgiveness, love, joy and hope.  On a spiritual level, many people experience new clarity and/or an enhancement or their purpose of life during cleansing processes.

Detoxification is part of a transformational medicine that instills change on many levels.  Change and evolution are keys to healing.  Enhancing elimination helps us deal with and clear problems from our past, from childhood and parental patterns to recent job or relationship stress. 

When our body has eliminated much of its toxic build-up, we feel lighter and are able to really experience the moment and be open for the future.

Australian Bush Flower Essences that can help with clearing out and change include Bottle brush and Boronia, Spinifex, Mountain Devil, Dagger Hakea. Purifying Essence is a blend specifically for this purpose.

Bach Flower Remedies that may assist with clearing out, letting go and change include Crab Apple, Honeysuckle and Walnut.

Meditation and Relaxation

Meditation and relaxation are also an important aspect of fasting to help attune us to deeper levels of ourselves and clear the stresses that we have carried with us.

Detoxification is an individual affair, and many personal aspects are involved in devising a complete plan.  It would not be appropriate for those with deficiency problems such as extreme fatigue, underweight people, those who experience coldness, blood sugar instability, or those with heart weakness.  People with cancer need to be very careful about how they detoxify.  Prior to or just after surgery is not a good time to detoxify, but after healing i.e. about four to six weeks later.  Pregnant or lactating women should not do any detoxification regime. 

Herbal Hair Colours

Henna is made from the pulverised leaves of the Henna plant (Lawsonia species). The use of henna and other herbs as colouring agents and conditioners have a long history.  It was used extensively in ancient Egypt; Cleopatra and Nefertiti are reputed to have enhanced their beauty with it.

Pure henna is an excellent conditioner for the hair.  It protects the ends form splitting and gives a glorious shine.  It adds red colour to the body of your hair, giving different effects depending on your own hair colour.

On black hair it imparts reddish tones which will show particularly well in the sunlight.  Brown hair becomes auburn and fair hair red.  It gives shine and brightness to red hair.  In general, henna fades gently over 2 - 3 months, thereby minimising the effect of unsightly regrowth.  Do not  use henna on bleached, chemically treated or very grey hair. 

The following ingredients may be used to modify the henna colour:

Red Wine - use in place of water to impart burgundy tones.

Ground Coffee - dulls the red tones and gives a darker hue.

Beetroot Juice - (not tinned) will help impart a plum colour.

The following hair colours are a blend of herbs and henna which have been blended for your convenience.

Burgundy recommended for medium to dark brown hair.

Chestnut Brown recommended for dark blonde to light brown hair and to maintain brown hair colour.

Black is recommended for brown to black hair.

Golden Brown recommended for light brown hair.

Dark Brown recommended for light brown or darker hair.

Clear Henna is recommended for all hair colours to impart condition and shine.  Does not colour the hair.

Because the effect of natural dyes is unpredictable, it is essential to do a strand test first so that the nature of your hair in terms or receptivity to the dye can be gauged.  Mix about a teaspoonful of the herbal hair colour with a small amount of boiling water and mix into a paste.  Apply the henna to a tiny section of your hair, wrap in foil and after one hour rinse off and check the colour.  In this way you can see exactly how long you should leave the henna on to achieve the desired shade and whether that shades suits you.          

How to use Herbal Hair Colours

Set aside several hours.

Prepare the utensils.  You will need plastic or rubber gloves, a wooden spoon, an old towel, old clothes, and a plastic shower cap or cling film with which to cover your hair.

Before applying the herbal hair colour rub cold cream or a vegetable oil around the hairline, so that the skin will not be stained.  Make sure not to get any of this on the hair or the henna will not penetrate it.

Mix the herbal hair colour powder with enough hot water to give it the consistency of a cake batter.  You may mix a beaten egg throughout the mixture to give it a better consistency and extra conditioning qualities.  when replacing water with wine or beetroot juice, replace the water completely, do not just water it down.  The liquid should be hot.  You may also add 20 mls of apple cider vinegar or the juice of half a lemon to every 50gms of herbal hair colour as it will enhance colour development.

For dry hair you may prefer to use 20ml of sweet almond oil to every 50gm of henna in addition to the water.

Apply the mixture either with a henna brush or gloved fingers on to hair, which has been washed and dried.  Apply to small sections at a time, starting from the roots.  If possible, work form underneath to the top layers.  Lastly, do the ends as these (in long hair) are often both lighter colourwise and our more porous taking the colour faster. 

Make sure the hair is evenly coated.  Cover your hair with a plastic shower cap or cling film as henna likes heat to develop the hair.  For browner tones cover the hair with a hair net to allow oxygen to activate its colour.  The ultimate colour of your hair depends on the original colour.  Do not use on grey hair, tinted or bleached hair.

      Leave mixture on hair until completely dry. 

      Rinse thoroughly, shampoo and condition.

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The Dangers of Re-using Plastic Water Bottles

“Many people are unaware of poisoning caused by re-using plastic bottles.  Some of you may be in the habit of using and reusing your disposable mineral water bottle (eg Evian, Aqua, Ice Mountain, Vita, etc) keeping them in your car or at work.  Not a good idea!

In a nutshell, the plastic (called polyethylene terephtalate or PET) used in these bottles contains a potentially carcinogenic element (something called ciethylhydroxylamine or DHEA)

The bottles are safe for one time use only!  If you must keep them longer, it should be no more than a few days, a week max, and keep them away from heat as well!

Repeated washing and rinsing can cause the plastic to break down and carcinogens (cancer-causing chemical agents) can leach into the water YOU are drinking!

Better to invest in water bottles that are really meant for multiple uses.  This is not something we should be scrimping on.  Those of you with family- do please advise them, especially children.

Graham Bauer

Workplace Health and Safety Officer

Department Natural Resources and Mines Australia

Magazine Reference: Health  & Healing Vol 23 No 3. January-March 2004 Page 6

Presented for your information by:-

The Original Polycarb Pop-Top Drinking Bottle… drink to your health

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