The Benefits of Aloe Vera Juice

Okay folks, now that I am back, I wish to start the barrage of new posts that will be coming with one about the benefits of the wonderful aloe vera plant.

But first of all, before I begin listing all of the health benefits of this amazing plant, I wish to account a personal story of how this plant has helped me.

There's not that many young folks who do not struggle with acne. Sure, there are a few blessed individuals with an almost flawless complexion, and you wonder how they do it. Well, some people just have genes engineered to give them healthy looking skin. Or, maybe their body is just that healthy as not to cause acne to appear, because their composition, their gut, and their hormones are in balance.

Some of us don't quite have that advantage. Sometimes it may be severe. Sometimes very minor. But still.

Acne. Is. Annoying.

Last year I began searching for home-made natural remedies for this plague that most of us face.

I read of lemon juice, I read of toothpaste (!? okay...), I read of harsh chemicals, and I read of Aloe Vera Juice.

Seriously? Hmmm.

I began researching more, and I soon purchsed my first bottle of the juice from the health food store.

I was skeptical at first, and I just knew it wasn't going to work. But, night after night after washing my face with just water, and then applying the juice, I began to notice a difference!

It took consistency, and it didn't eliminate every single stinkin' blemish, but it helped dramatically. It has worked better than anything else I have tried.
And I can tell, if I go a few days without using it, well, the little stinkers start to appear yet again!

I believe it really works. It will, of course, be different for every individual, but it still is very beneficial.

I would encourage any of you who may struggle with acne to at least give it a try.




Another post on the benefits of aloe vera juice, gel, etc. is to come soon.

(an apology)

Hello blogosphere. Jess is back. It's no use in apologizing for the scarce amount of posts on this blog, so I will spare you all an explanantion. :)

However, I, Jess Warren, promise to TRY and get back to posting on this blog. I don't know how often that will be, but I will try. I have lots of ideas and such about posts, I just lack time (and sometimes concentration!)

I will post things that have to deal with herbs, herbal remedies, supplements, natural body care, and much more. It may not always have to deal with herbs, but it will always deal with well-being or natural healing.

Anyway, please keep your eyes out for posts in the near future. Hopefully we can get this thing going again. Thanks ya'll!!

Culinary Herbs...with Medicinal Properties!

Have you ever wandered through your garden looking at your basils and your tarragon and wondered what else you could do besides cook with them? Have you ever been to Wal-mart's nursery and bought a whole cart full of herb seedlings and wondered just what you were going to do with them all. Have you ever planted Oregano or Mint or Rosemary one too many times and thought to yourself, "Well I'll be...these things just don't stop growin'?" Have you ever looked through seed catalogs and ordered Evening Primrose or Marshmallow or something else mainly for medicinal purposes, just to discover that they didn't germinate or didn't take off like you expected.

Or, maybe you are like me, and there's just not many sources for medicinal plants in your area, and you're at a loss about what to do.

Well, until you get to that point and began growing medicinal plants in your garden, let me give you some wonderful news.

Almost every plant we use for cooking, has some sort of medicinal property.

Let me give you a short list of these wonderful herbs and a few things they can be used for.

FRENCH TARRAGON
Can be taken internally for indigestion and worms.
Externally for toothache and rheumatism.

CILANTRO
Taken internally for digestive problems.
Externally for joint problems.

FENNEL
Taken internally for indigestion, colic, to aid lactation, and for urinary problems.
Can be used as a gargle for sore throats.

LEMON BALM
Internally for indigestion, depression, feverish colds, headaches, and as a sedative.
Externally for insect bites and gout.

SWEET BASIL
Internally for colds, influenza, nausea, abdominal cramps, insomnia, and migraines.
Externally for insect stings, acne, skin infections, and non-venemous snakebites.

SWEET MARJORAM
Internally for insomnia, headache, anxiety, and painful menstruation.
Externally for bronchitis, arthritis, sprains, and stiff joints.

OREGANO
Internally for colds and stomach upsets.
Externally for bronchitis and asthma.

PARSLEY
Internally for menstrual problems, cystitis, kidney stones, indigestion, anemia, anorexia, and arthritis

ROSEMARY
Internally for headaches, migraines, depression, nervous tension, poor circulation, and digestive problems.
Externally for arthritis, neuralgia, rheumatism, wounds, dandruff, and muscular injuries.

SAGE
Internally for indigestion, flatulance, liver problems, night sweats, depression, female sterility, and menopausal problems.
Externally for insect bites and skin infections. Also used as an eyewash or mouthwash.

THYME
Internally for coughs, bronchitis, asthma, laryngitis, indigestion, and diarrhea.
Externally for tonsilitis, arthritis, gum disease, and fungal infections.


~~~Neat, huh?

Never take your Oregano or Rosemary plant for granted!

The Joy of Growing Herbs

I have probably been growing herbs for three or four years now. Seems to me, there's honestly hardly any science to it. Sometimes there is, but for the most part, they're pretty easy to grow. I do admit, for some reason there are ants on my German thyme, sometimes little cooties like to gnaw on my Basil leaves, but really. Think about it. Take mint for instance. It's easy to grow and hard to kill. Perfect combination for such a beneficial plant! In addition, there are countless varieties. Here are a few that I grow.




But really, it doesn't matter if you are a city slicker and only have a back porch to work with, or if you're a hayseed and have the back fifty to work with, you can grow herbs anywhere. And they're so much fun!! Medicinally, culinary, or teaching your little sibling how to differentiate bee balm from lemon balm. :)

If you have them, enjoy them. Use them. Savor their aromas. Thank God for these wonderful blessings!!

Yarrow

It all started about two years ago when a good friend of mine brought me a small, spindly specimen of a plant, all stuffed into a pile of Georgia red clay. To top that off, it was in a cottage cheese bowl!! Good grief. I sure didn't think that thing would ever grow. But I did as she said, planted the puny thing, and man!! if that thing didn't take off like a chicken after a june bug!! It was incredible. It has been faithful to come back, and now it thinks it can just take over my garden and bloom all summer long!! Talk about a fool-proof herb.



In addition to being extremely easy to grow, it is extremely common growing wild in Georgia, (pretty much everywhere else, too) and I have already harvested and dried more that a lot.

Not only is this wonderful plant beautiful, it is medicinal. Very medicinal.
Here is a profile I wrote up for this little amazing rascal.


Yarrow
Scientific name: Achillea millefolium
--astringent, diaphoretic, anti-inflammatory, tonic, stimulant, aromatic

It is also known by a variety of other names, such as Soldier's Woundwort, Sanguinary, Thousand-Leaf, Old Man's Pepper, the Nose-Bleed Plant, and Milfoil, among many others.

An interesting story behind it, and the explanation of its scientific name, is that the fabled Greek warrior Achilles carried it into battle to treat his soldier's wounds.

While this may seem silly to us who do not believe Greek mythology, Yarrow HAS been used for thousands of years to treat a variety of wounds. In Scotland folks made a good liniment for that purpose.

Not only is Yarrow an astringent and anti-inflammatory, it is a diaphoretic, making it extremely useful for fevers.

The Cherokee indians very commonly used it in a tea for fevers and colds.

Yarrow has also been used in the treatment of the following conditions: measles, diarrhea, arthritis, hemorrhoids, headaches, menstrual problems, cardiovascular complaints, varicose veins, urinary problems, hay fever, and so much more.

In my opinion, if Echinacea is the king of herbs, then Yarrow is the prince. It is one we certainly shouldn't be without.

Just as an example of its ability to stop bleeding, I have an experience of my own to share.

The other day I was feeding my rabbits, and somehow a wire in the hutch went astray and decided to attack my poor little finger. It kept on bleedin' and bleedin', but I was busy, and didn't have time to go inside to clean it up. Over I went to my garden and plucked a flower head and several leaves of that glorious Staunchweed. I crushed it a few times and patted it on my finger, leaving it there. The bleeding stopped almost instantly, and on I went with my work.


Okay, a few more things.

Yarrow is an excellent companion plant. It attracts the beneficial bugs and helps repel damaging insects. A study was done in Sweden showed that Yarrow extract helped in repelling mosquitoes.

Yarrow is extremely easy to identify, and chances are, it is growing wild somewhere very close by. Get out there and gather some. You can always dry it for later use.

Here are a few more photos to aid you in identifying this gift from the Lord.

First Post

Well, I have long been infatuated with herbs and their properties. I have always marveled at the amazing cures and remedies that are so readily available to us. In fact, most are right outside our doors!! God has provided a vast array of plants, herbs, and trees; we just need to put them to use. Genesis 9:3 says "Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things."

Join me as I explore this part of our Lord's glorious Creation.