MYSTIC, Conn., Feb. 8, 2001 (PRIMEZONE) -- Gracelyn Guyol, co-owner of organic, medicinal tea manufacturer Herbal Tip, Inc. suggests adopting grandmas practice of adding a few health boosting herbs between the tomato vines and green beans in your garden this spring.
"Many people don't realize common culinary herbs have medicinal benefits," she explains. "Often, what perks up a recipe is also great for your body. For instance, Rosemary stimulates the circulatory system and is good for headaches, memory and concentration. Purple Sage inhibits the enzyme that breaks down acetylcholine thus preserving a compound that scientists believe may help prevent Alzheimers. That Parsley on your plate is not just garnish, its rich in zinc and the chlorophyll fights bad breath."
Mint in all its forms stimulates bile flow to aid digestion, eliminate nausea, ease heartburn and calm stomach spasms and cramps. Its high menthol content is good for fevers, chills, colds and headaches. (Plant all mint in containers, however, or it will take over your garden.)
Less familiar plants with well documented medicinal benefits include immune boosting roots and berries. Astragalus root (harvested after three years growth) contains polysacharides and increases T-helper cell production. Native to Asia with over 2000 species in the genus, it has been used for centuries to fight colds or flu and to help a body recover from debilitating illness.
Schizandra berries come from a perennial woody vine that likes cool, moist conditions. The sour red fruit can be dried and used in tea to protect against radiation exposure, counteract the effects of sugar, normalize blood sugar and fight infections. Both Astragalus and Schizandra are "adaptogens," plant substances known by traditional healers and science alike to boost immunity and strengthen the bodys ability to resist stress and disease.
Fenugreek comes from an annual plant native to the Mediterranean and contains phytoestrogens, plant chemicals similar to the female hormone estrogen. Leaves are used to aid milk production in nursing mothers. Fenugreek seeds contains mucilage with six compounds that help regulate blood sugar in diabetics, have been proven to lower cholesterol in humans and relieve constipation, gas and stomach cramping.
Bilberries (and their close garden relatives, blueberries and huckleberries) contain anthocyanidins that help prevent blood clots and break down plaque deposits. Their high antioxident content benefits the entire body but especially the eyes by strengthening capillaries, reducing macular degeneration and helping regenerate cells.
Don't just eat raspberries and ignore the rest of the plant. Red raspberry leaf tea is used to tone uterine muscles before and after childbirth and to reduce uterine cramps in countries where midwives are primary health care providers. It contains high levels of iron in a form easy for the body to convert to hemoglobin, the substance that carries oxygen to the body, and it helps prevent anemia.
If the vegetable garden is just too crowded, plant medicinals with your flowers. You might start with the popular Echinacea (also called Purple Coneflower) with beautiful pinkish-purple, daisy like flowers. The leaves strengthen immune response against viruses and bacteria, are a tonic that improves lymph filtration thus helping cleanse the body and they benefit enlarged prostates.
One well documented herbal treatment for PMS and menopause thrives in shady perennial borders. Usually grown for its lush leaves and cream colored, fragrant, gorgeous flowers, Cimicifuga racemosa or Black Cohosh rhizomes contain estrogenic substances that relieve irritability, anxiety, headaches and hot flashes. Delicate Chamomile flowers aid relaxation too. Their list of benefits could cover several pages. Drinking chamomile tea is recommended for heartburn and stomach distress as well as inflammatory ailments including carpal tunnel syndrome, bunions and other joint inflammation. The tea is recommended externally for skin disorders such as psoriasis, eczema and dry skin. The oil is fungicidal and fights athletes foot. Pay attention when first using it, however. Chamomile is in the ragweed family and can cause allergic reactions in some people. Catnip is a favorite of perennial gardeners because it flowers profusely for weeks each summer. Plant one for your cat to roll in and one from which you can dry leaves to fight anxiety, colds, flu, inflammation or use as a mild sedative for children with colic, restlessness or gas.
If you have space in your yard for a couple of small shrubs with medicinal benefits, consider planting Chaste Tree or Oregon Grape Root. Chaste Tree berries follow whorls of lavender flowers on a small, deciduous shrub hardy to Zone 6. They help maintain hormone balances during the menstrual cycle by stimulating and normalizing pituitary gland functions and are effective for both PMS and menopause.
The yellow rhizome of Oregon Grape Root, an evergreen shrub resembling holly, contains berberine, the same healing alkaloid found in Goldenseal. It enhances the flow of bile through the liver and gallbladder, improving liver function and purifying the blood. It also aids the bodys absorption of nutrients from food, and helps clear bronchial congestion, relieve arthritis and fight cancer. Can't find these plants locally? Gracelyn recommends medicinal herb seed catalogs from Horizon Herbs, P.O. Box 69, Williams, OR 97544 (541) 846-6704 or from Richters, Goodwood, Ontario, Canada LOC 1AO (905) 640-6677 (or on line at www.richters.com). These catalogs include brief planting and growing tips but she also suggests the book Medicinal Herbs in the Garden, Field & Marketplace by Lee Sturdivant & Tim Blakley.
Herbal Tip offers six blends of medicinal teas made from organic and wildcrafted herbs: Brain Friend, Chill Out, Cold-Be-Gone, Digestive Calm, Immune Tune and Womens Rites. For more medicinal herb information visit Herbal Tips Web site at herbaltiptea.com. To interview Herbal Tip founder and herbalist Jeremy "Jazz" Freitas, call 1 888 HerbTip.
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CONTACT: Gracelyn Enterprises
Gracelyn Guyol
(860) 535-4770