All too often we turn to pharmaceuticals and reach for something off the shelf when we are feeling off-colour or feel that we'd like to be healthier.
Many modern drugs and products that are packaged are worth seeking out in their natural state – the first line of defence to protect our health and our bodies is in the food that we eat and the fluids we ingest.
For example, modern aspirin was created as an alternative to willow-bark, a natural source of salicylic acid, which was referred to as early as the 5th Century BC by Hippocrates, the father of medicine.
I don't suggest that you immediately replace your medicine cupboard with an herb garden (although frankly I think it's a great idea!) but to educate yourself on the wonders of the natural world and how beneficial it is to supplement and enhance your diet with naturally occuring plant-based material that will support your quest for great health.
Here are a list of natural materials that are found in the plant world that will support your intention to live a healthy and robust life:
Slippery Elm: This substance is invaluable for supporting the alimentary canal, from mouth through the oesophagus, stomach, intestines and all the way through to the bowel. Take it with a little honey or a mashed up banana, and if you like to fast, do this for several days before you begin. Your body will thank you for it.
Comfrey: Dorothy Hall called this the middle-aged lady's friend, the young lady's insurance policy and the elderly lady's last resort! It contains high concentrations of vegetable calcium and also allantoin that is known to speed up the rate of growth of new skin cells.
Dandelion: This herb is a complete health match for the liver. If the whites of your eyes are yellow and your skin is looking sallow and grey, then adopt a regular habit of drinking dandelion tea or coffee, including dandelion leaves in your salads and even adding dandelion supplements if you feel your liver needs an extra boost. The choline in dandelion will help a liver that has been overloaded with unhealthy fats in the diet and too much wine.
Fenugreek: The seeds from this plant are often used in curries, and it is useful for eliminating toxins from beneath the skin's surface. The skin is often referred to as the third lung, and will become clogged and unhealthy if your body contains toxins that it cannot eliminate by the normal route.
Peppermint leaves: These are aids to the digestion, and if you combine with a little grape juice and sip before going to bed – particularly if you've had a heavy meal for dinner – then your sleep will not be disturbed by a rumbling tummy.
Aniseed: Chewing a small amount of aniseeds supports your body when suffering from respiratory complaints – combine this practice with drinking fresh lemon juice (and a little honey to make it palatable). The lemon will dislodge mucus from the lungs membranes and the aniseed has the effect of vaporising mucus.
Give it a try, and if you have some favourites of your own, let us hear about it by writing a comment below.
