Desmodium

Desmodium, scientific name Desmodium adscendens, called also tick trefoil or tick clover, is a plant belonging to the Fabaceae family used to protect liver and kidneys and to fight asthma. Desmodium is a natural medicine of tradition, known and used for centuries by the people of the Amazon rainforest and Africa. Nowadays, desmodium is the subject of various scientific studies to test its effectiveness. Properties - What is emerging from the scientific researches is that desmodium is a source ...

Gumweed

Grindelia, also known as gumweed, scientific name Grindelia robusta, is a plant native to California and Mexico belonging to the Asteraceae family, just like chamomile, marigold or arnica. Grindelia is a remedy with proven anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic properties, moreover, it is also expectorant and anti-asthmatic thanks to particular antioxidant and protective substances, saponins and flavonoids, contained in the resin that covers the flowerheads of grindelia. From these flowerheads it i...

Pranayama

Yoga is an ancient discipline, born thousands of years ago in India with the aim to restore and maintain balance and health of mind, body and emotions. We are witnessing a great spread of yoga all over the world and this thanks to the numerous scientific researches that are demonstrating its effectiveness as an aid to control stress and chronic inflammation in the body, which, as we have seen in several posts, can cause in the long run cardiovascular or autoimmune diseases, depression and even t...

Elecampane

Elecampane, also known as horse-heal or elfdock, scientific name Inula helenium, belongs to the Asteraceae or Composite family and is characterized by very beautiful yellow flowers that can be admired from the beginning of spring until advanced autumn. Elecampane, already known by the ancients, is beneficial to the airway health, calms cough, acts against bronchitis, even chronic, and asthma due to an expectorant and antiseptic action. In addition to this, the remedy has also diuretic properties...

Ephedra

Ephedra, scientific name ephedra distachya, is a plant of the Efedraceae family characterized by bronchodilator, antihistaminic and hypertensive properties. This effect is due to the alkaloids present in the remedy, ephedrine and pseudoephedrine, considered performance-enhancing substances for sporty people. Ephedrine was an ingredient of many dietary supplements, but since 2004 in the United States is no longer on the market because of some deaths caused by an abuse of this substance. However,...

Coltsfoot

The Coltsfoot, scientific name Tussilago farfara, is a plant belonging to the family of Asteraceae that grows on clayey soils and is characterized by yellow flowers very similar to daisies. Known since ancient times, this remedy has expectorant, anti-catarrhal and anti-inflammatory properties and is used to treat persistent cough, hoarseness, but also bronchitis, pharyngitis and laryngitis, asthma and bronchial catarrh. You can prepare the herbal tea by leaving in infusion a teaspoon of flowers ...

Strawberry tree honey

Strawberry tree honey is one of the rarest and most valuable honey. In fact, the strawberry tree, scientific name Arbutus unedo of the Ericaceae family, the same as the erica and the blueberries, blooms in late autumn between October and November. For this reason, the honey production is restricted only to certain areas where bees can do their job without the fermentation of honey due to humidity and rainfall, very likely in this time of year. For example, in Italy, only Sardinia and Tuscany can...

Sulfur

Sulfur is a chemical element with important beneficial properties. This mineral was already known in ancient times as a method to purify the environments. It is the sulfur that Ulysses, in the Odyssey of Homer, uses to purify the house before he meets Penelope after the massacre of the suitors. Today we know that sulfur has an energetic action since it has a role in converting carbohydrates into energy, but it has also a detoxifying action by promoting the elimination of toxins that accumulate i...

Common Sundews

Drosera rotundifolia, commonly known as common sundews or round-leaved sundew, is a medicinal plant of the Droseracea family. It is a carnivorous plant, the name derives indeed from the Greek droseròs that means covered with dew because of the small drops that cover the leaves and act as bait. This remedy has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties, it is an effective cough sedative, muscle relaxant on the airway smooth musculature due to a substance, the droserone contained therein, but als...

Hazel

Hazel, scientific name Corylus avellana, is a plant belonging to the Betulaceae family. Its glycerine macerate is a remedy in case of bronchitis and, in general, in case of diseases related to the lungs. The glycerine macerate has, in fact, an anti-sclerosis action and prevents that the lungs lose elasticity, that can cause, for example, asthma, emphysema or bronchitis. The glycerine macerate of the hazel, however, is also used in chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis since it acts on connective liver...

Ground ivy

Glechoma hederacea, commonly known as ground ivy, is one of the Lamiaceae or Labiatae plant family, the same family of sage and mint. Unlike climbing ivy, a different species, it does not climb on the obstacles but prefers to remain at the ground level. The plant is not toxic and is rich in vitamin C, it helps in case of respiratory problems such as cough or asthma, colds and bronchitis, and is a very powerful tonic. It also has diuretic properties and improves the functionality of the stomach a...

Scutellaria Baicalensis

The Scutellaria baicalensis, also known as Baical skullcap, comes from Russia and China and is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat allergies, inflammation, flu, liver and lung diseases and headaches. The herbaceous plant has in fact anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-allergic, antispasmodic and sedative properties, it can be used in case of back pain, because it is able to relax the muscles, headaches, but also insomnia and anxiety states, panic attacks, but especially in case o...

Perilla

Perilla frutescens, called also shiso or chinese basil, is an annual plant that belongs to the Lamiaceae species. It is mainly cultivated in the East where it is used to flavor soups and seafood dishes, the variety characterized by red leaves is used in a very famous seasoning, umeboshi, but you can find preparations of perilla in specialty shops. Perilla is a powerful anti-inflammatory and natural antihistamine: in case of allergies perilla represents a valid remedy to treat emergencies but al...

Lemon verbena

Lemon verbena (lippia citriodora), also called lemon beebrush, belongs to the vervain family, verbena officinalis belongs to this species too. Lemon verbena comes from South America but can also be found in North America and Europe, the plant is richer, in respect of verbena officinalis, in healing properties. Lemon verbena can be used in case of poor digestion, heartburn, flatulence. This herb results a remedy to treat stomach cramps, asthma and heart palpitations thanks to the antispasmodic ac...

Viburnum lantana

In case of cough, bronchitis, respiratory allergies, asthma you can try the glycerine macerate of viburnum: taking 50 drops in a small glass of water before dinner helps to relieve the cough and the bronchospasm and acts as a natural antihistamine by reducing the inflammation of the mucous membranes and by making them less responsive. Moreover, this remedy can bring relief in case of rhinitis. In addition to this the glycerine macerate of viburnum has a function of thyroid regulator in case of h...

Onion

The onion can be eaten raw or cooked, you can also drink its herbal tea or prepare compresses. Onion stimulates digestion, is able to purify the intestine and it has a diuretic action, for this reason it is recommended if you suffer from kidney or bladder stones, water retention, gout or rheumatism. Onion helps also remove toxins and it has a powerful purifying and detox action. It is also helpful if you have high levels of blood sugar, cholesterol or if you suffer from high blood pressure. Onio...

Helycrisum

Helycrisum has antihistamine, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and expectorant properties. It can be used in order to treat all the issues related to the respiratory tract. Helycrisum helps to get rid of catarrh, treats cough and the inflammations in the nasal mucosa. Helycrisum is also a remedy in case of trauma or skin issues such as cold sore (herpes simplex), psoriasis, sunburns and irritations. Herbal tea – In case of cough, bronchitis, catarrh, asthma prepare a herbal tea with a tablespo...

Savoy cabbage

Savoy cabbage belongs to cabbage family and contains iron, potassium , selenium as well as vitamins such as vitamin C, K, E and carotenoids. These features make savoy cabbage a very important vegetable for the daily diet, since, according to studies, it has anti-cancer properties. So, add raw savoy cabbage to your salads. Savoy cabbage is also a source of fiber, very helpful in case of constipation. If you suffer from hypothyroidism it is better to eat savoy cabbage not more than twice a week ...

Propolis

Propolis is collected from tree buds and sap flows by bees, that mix it with enzymes and pollen. The result is a powerful anti-inflammatory substance, useful in case of asthma, inflamed throat and other infections of the respiratory tract. Propolis is also a natural antibiotic and a remedy against viruses and bacteria by fortifying the immune system. In addition to this propolis has also energetic and antifungal properties, helpful in case of candida and nail fungus. Propolis also helps to hea...