Saturday 26 December 2015
Saturday 19 December 2015
Unlocking the benefits of cloves
One of my favourite winter spices, cloves are often pushed to the edge of your plate. They are mostly used to flavour dishes but seldomly eaten whole. But if you’d know about their impressive qualities, you’d agree they deserve more attention.
Looking back, cloves were probably first used by Chinese emperors to hide bad breath. Over the years, cloves grabbed a prominent place in traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurveda to treat nausea, digestive disorders and flu. The clove tree which is native to Indonesia bears dry, aromatic flower buds which are used as a spice. These unopened, pink buds are picked and dried till they turn brown. They can be used whole or ground. When cooked or soaked in water, they tend to become soft and flavourful. Cloves have a long shelf life and this flowering spice will last you almost a year if stored away from light and moisture. Powered cloves tend to lose their flavour faster.
The sweet aroma sparks memories of the good things about winter - frosted windows and cloves swirling in a hot cup. The pungent and peppery flavour leaves you with a warm fuzzy feeling – just what you need during those chilly days.
The active component of cloves is the eugenol oil. This oil makes up about 60-90% of each clove and it acts against bacteria, viruses and fungi. The oil is known for its antiseptic, anesthetic, aromatic and astringent properties.
According to Dr. Ashutosh Gautam from Baidyanath, “Clove oil is one of the richest sources of antioxidants. In aromatherapy, it is used as an antiseptic and pain reliever especially for toothaches and stomach pain. It is often mixed with other oils to treat various disorders. For instance, those who have troubled sleep can apply some warm clove oil along with sesame oil on the forehead to feel calm and relaxed.”
To make clove infused oil at home, start with toasting a table spoon of whole cloves over medium heat. This helps in mobilizing the volatile oils and makes it easier to extract them. Lightly tap the heads to crack them open and add them to a cup of olive oil or coconut oil. Alternatively, you can grind them and place the powder in a cheesecloth and dip it in the oil jar. Seal with a lid and let it sit for 10 to 15 days but don’t forget to shake it every couple of days. For a stronger flavour you can use more cloves or let them steep for a longer time. Strain and it’s good to use. Since clove essential oil is very potent in nature, it's best to dilute it.
In Ayurveda, cloves are said to be kaphahar which means that they have the ability to balance the kapha dosha. Kapha governs the structure and fluid in the body. Its primary function is protection. Being carminative in nature, it helps in improving digestion. A carminative is any herb or preparation that prevents the formation of gas in the gastrointestinal tract or helps with expulsion. Therefore, it is suggested you add cloves while cooking foods like kidney beans or black gram that tend to cause flatulence. I simply love the wonderful spiciness it adds to everything.
At home, using cloves for clearing up cold has been an ancient natural remedy. You can sip away the symptoms of flu and congestion with a healing brew of cloves, cinnamon and some whole cardamoms infused in tea. You can even inhale the vapours of cloves or clove oil and then sit back and breathe easy. From my grandmother’s treasure trove of home remedies, cloves are great to clear acne and blemishes. Make a paste with cloves, some honey and a drop of lime. Leave it on for 15 minutes and rinse off for glowing skin. Moreover, clove oil is very effective in treating dry and itchy skin. Another clever use of cloves was when she would toss some in the wardrobe and other places to cover up odours.
The strong, spicy scent can do wonders even while cooking meats like fish or pork where the fleshy smell may put some people off. I usually like to stick some cloves in an onion bulb and use it to stir my soup. That gives it a warm and intense flavour.
Looking back, cloves were probably first used by Chinese emperors to hide bad breath. Over the years, cloves grabbed a prominent place in traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurveda to treat nausea, digestive disorders and flu. The clove tree which is native to Indonesia bears dry, aromatic flower buds which are used as a spice. These unopened, pink buds are picked and dried till they turn brown. They can be used whole or ground. When cooked or soaked in water, they tend to become soft and flavourful. Cloves have a long shelf life and this flowering spice will last you almost a year if stored away from light and moisture. Powered cloves tend to lose their flavour faster.
The sweet aroma sparks memories of the good things about winter - frosted windows and cloves swirling in a hot cup. The pungent and peppery flavour leaves you with a warm fuzzy feeling – just what you need during those chilly days.
The active component of cloves is the eugenol oil. This oil makes up about 60-90% of each clove and it acts against bacteria, viruses and fungi. The oil is known for its antiseptic, anesthetic, aromatic and astringent properties.
According to Dr. Ashutosh Gautam from Baidyanath, “Clove oil is one of the richest sources of antioxidants. In aromatherapy, it is used as an antiseptic and pain reliever especially for toothaches and stomach pain. It is often mixed with other oils to treat various disorders. For instance, those who have troubled sleep can apply some warm clove oil along with sesame oil on the forehead to feel calm and relaxed.”
To make clove infused oil at home, start with toasting a table spoon of whole cloves over medium heat. This helps in mobilizing the volatile oils and makes it easier to extract them. Lightly tap the heads to crack them open and add them to a cup of olive oil or coconut oil. Alternatively, you can grind them and place the powder in a cheesecloth and dip it in the oil jar. Seal with a lid and let it sit for 10 to 15 days but don’t forget to shake it every couple of days. For a stronger flavour you can use more cloves or let them steep for a longer time. Strain and it’s good to use. Since clove essential oil is very potent in nature, it's best to dilute it.
In Ayurveda, cloves are said to be kaphahar which means that they have the ability to balance the kapha dosha. Kapha governs the structure and fluid in the body. Its primary function is protection. Being carminative in nature, it helps in improving digestion. A carminative is any herb or preparation that prevents the formation of gas in the gastrointestinal tract or helps with expulsion. Therefore, it is suggested you add cloves while cooking foods like kidney beans or black gram that tend to cause flatulence. I simply love the wonderful spiciness it adds to everything.
At home, using cloves for clearing up cold has been an ancient natural remedy. You can sip away the symptoms of flu and congestion with a healing brew of cloves, cinnamon and some whole cardamoms infused in tea. You can even inhale the vapours of cloves or clove oil and then sit back and breathe easy. From my grandmother’s treasure trove of home remedies, cloves are great to clear acne and blemishes. Make a paste with cloves, some honey and a drop of lime. Leave it on for 15 minutes and rinse off for glowing skin. Moreover, clove oil is very effective in treating dry and itchy skin. Another clever use of cloves was when she would toss some in the wardrobe and other places to cover up odours.
The strong, spicy scent can do wonders even while cooking meats like fish or pork where the fleshy smell may put some people off. I usually like to stick some cloves in an onion bulb and use it to stir my soup. That gives it a warm and intense flavour.
Shivangana Vasudeva , NDTV, Modified:
Wednesday 16 December 2015
Thursday 10 December 2015
Amazing Herb Kills 98% Of Cancer Cells In Just 16 Hours In Lab Test
Artemisia (aka. Wormwood) has been used in herbalism since ancient times. It is extremely bitter tasting and named wormwood on account of its efficacy in destroying intestinal parasites. It is also one of the herbal ingredients in that mysterious alcoholic beverage Absinthe – which according to the traditional recipe was also prepared with several other herbs including lemon balm, mint, anise, fennel, hyssop, marjoram, angelica and dittany of Crete. [1]
After discovering a write-up on the highly selective and rapid anticancer properties of Artemisia on Healthy Food House, I dug in and did some research. What I found was astounding: The research base is solid. Artemisia has tremendous promise as a potential anticancer agent – especially when combined with iron: It targets the cancer cells specifically.
Artemisinin, a compound derived from Wormwood, has been the subject of much research – and it has shown much promise as an anti-malaria agent. It is now well established to have anti-proliferative and apoptotic (killing) effects on a number of cancer cell types. [2]
Artemisia annua was first noted as a possible anticancer herb in 2001, when two researchers at the University of Washington learned that wormwood showed highly selective activity against breast cancer cells. “Artemisinin reacts with iron to form free radicals that kill cells. Since cancer cells uptake relatively large amount of iron than normal cells, they are more susceptible to the toxic effect of artemisinin.” [3] The anticancer effect of artemisinin is thus much enhanced (up to 100x) by the preloading of cancer cells with iron. [4]
Recent scientific research conducted at the Cancer Research Laboratory, University of California (Berkeley) has found that Artemisinin, a compound found in Artemisia, induced a growth arrest of tumorigenic human breast cancer cell lines with preneoplastic and late stage cancer phenotypes, but failed to arrest the growth of a nontumorigenic human mammary cell line. [5]
In lay terms, what this means is that artemisinin killed the breast cancer cells without harming the healthy cells. This is exactly the kind of effect that researchers are looking for – because one of the greatest challenges of modern cancer research is to develop effective anti-cancer agents which do not also harm healthy cells. Current anticancer regimens are notorious for their highly toxic effects – aka “collateral damage”. [4]
It is also thought that hyperbaric oxygen therapy could further enhance the anticancer effects of artemisin. [6]
Note that these studies were performed in vitro i.e. in laboratory glassware and so this research, though highly encouraging, should not be considered as proof that artemisinin can cure cancer in human subjects. It is however one of the more promising anticancer herbs we have come across and worthy of due consideration not only by naturopaths but by orthodox medicine. Artemisinin is sometimes being used as supplementation as an adjunct to chemotherapy. I just discovered this comment from a lady whose husband had lung cancer:
“My husband was diagnosed with lung cancer, it filled the left lung and it was wrapped around his spinal cord. Too close to a main artery and esophagus to operate. It also got into the Lymph system. The doctors were surprised that he wasn’t paralyzed since the cancer had crushed and cracked the spinal cord. I gave him Artemisinin capsules for four days at the beginning of the treatments with radiation and chemo. After six weeks hubby was cancer free and stayed that way. An amazing recovery. The medical staff said “they don’t see that very often.”” [7]
I am sure we will here more about artemisinin soon as research continues…
For more anticancer herb reports, please view our full page investigating 60+ “Anticancer herbs” – with links to the scientific studies.
References:
[1] Aleister Crowley “The Green Goddess” (1915) http://www.museeabsinthe.com/Crowley-Green-Goddess.pdf
[2] “Artemisinin Blocks Prostate Cancer Growth and Cell Cycle Progression by Disrupting Sp1 Interactions with the Cyclin-dependent Kinase-4 (CDK4) Promoter and Inhibiting CDK4 Gene Expression” (2009) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2629082/
[3] “Effects of artemisinin-tagged holotransferrin on cancer cells” (Life Sciences 76, 2005) http://assasmus.s.a.f.unblog.fr/files/2010/05/publicationartemisiadrlai.pdf
[4] Antitumor Activity of Artemisinin and Its Derivatives: From a Well-Known Antimalarial Agent to a Potential Anticancer Drug http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3228295/
[5] “Antiproliferative effects of artemisinin on human breast cancer cells requires the downregulated expression of the E2F1 transcription factor and loss of E2F1-target cell cycle genes” http://europepmc.org/abstract/MED/22185819
[6] http://www.washington.edu/news/2011/04/04/high-dose-of-oxygen-enhances-natural-cancer-treatment/
[7] http://www.healthyfoodhouse.com/amazing-herb-kills-cancer-cells-in-just-16-hours/ (in comments)
Monday 7 December 2015
Treating dandruff with natural, homemade remedies is easier than you think
If you like to keep things natural when it comes to your hair care regimen, don’t let dandruff get in your way. Before you resort to manufactured products packed with harsh chemicals, give some simple home remedies a go.
More: Top 10 superfoods for healthy hair
Dandruff is basically a buildup of skin cells that have matured and dried too fast, which can cause itching and leave unsightly flakes on the hairline.
The best products for treating dandruff are those that get rid of the skin buildup or that act as a fungicide.
1. Apple cider vinegar
Apple cider vinegar has many surprising benefits, and one of them is as a treatment for dandruff and a dry, itchy scalp. Simply wash your hair with your regular shampoo, and rinse well. Mix 1 part apple cider vinegar with 3 parts water, pour it over your hair, and leave it to sit for 15 minutes before rinsing with water.
2. Baking soda
Baking soda is a natural, mild exfoliator and also acts as a fungicide, making it a powerful treatment for dandruff. Everyday Roots recommends mixing 1 tablespoon of baking soda to 1 cup of warm water and pouring it into an old (clean) shampoo bottle. Shake the mixture well, then apply it generously to your hair. Use in place of shampoo, preferably once a day, until you notice a difference in your dandruff. Don’t worry if your hair feels dry initially — its natural oils will soon do their job. To give the mixture a pleasant fragrance, add a few drops of rosemary oil.
More: 10 Apple cider vinegar beauty benefits you're missing out on
3. Fenugreek
The plant fenugreek, commonly used as a spice in Indian cooking, is known for having medicinal properties. The seeds of the plant are high in protein and amino acids, which are believed to boost hair health and help eliminate dandruff.
Mix 3 tablespoons of finely powdered fenugreek seeds with as much plain yogourt as you need to make a thick paste. Mix well, and leave it to soak overnight. Apply the paste once per week, leaving it on the scalp for up to 10 minutes. Rinse well, and wash as normal.
4. Tea tree oil
While it might seem strange to use oil to treat dandruff when excess oil can be the root cause of the problem, certain oils can help keep it at bay, and one of the most popular is tea tree oil. The oil extracted from the leaves of the tea tree plant have fungicidal properties and also help soothe itchy, irritated skin.
Pour 1 tablespoon of tea tree oil into 1 cup of warm water, and mix together in a clean spray bottle. Shampoo your hair as normal, then spray the tea tree mixture all over your scalp. Massage it gently into the scalp, then leave it to sit for a few minutes. Remove excess moisture by patting, but don’t wash it out.
5. Salt
A natural home remedy for dandruff everybody has in the kitchen is salt, and it couldn't be simpler. According to Reader's Digest, shaking some salt onto your dry scalp before you shampoo is great for removing dandruff flakes. Work the salt through your hair with your fingers, massaging it into your scalp, then shampoo as normal.
More: Shampooing with oil isn't as crazy as it sounds
Wednesday 2 December 2015
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