Posts Tagged ‘Herbal’

What are different characteristics and health benefits of Yellow Dock?

Yellow dock is commonly known as Rumex Crispus. It is a perennial flowering plant belonging to the family of polygonaceae. Mature yellow dock stands no more than 4 feet tall and is reddish brown in color. Yellow dock has a large basal rosette shooting smooth leaves from it with waved and curled edges. Plants produce light green floppy flowers between early spring and late autumn. The stalk of the plant produces flowers and seeds in clusters on branched stems.

Habitat:-
Yellow dock is native to Europe and parts of Africa. Usually, it is considered a weed problem, it is most commonly found in open areas where the soil is disturbed frequently, such as fields, roadsides, waterways and landfills.

Nutritional role:-
The active ingredient of yellow dock is anthraquinone glycosides, which works as a mild laxative to stimulate bile production and help poor digestion.

Uses and Benefits:-
- The taproot of plant is commonly used in herbal remedies as it is rich in compounds that have cleanliness and calm qualities, as well as minerals such as calcium, iron, magnesium and phosphorus.
- The dock contains a number of anthraquinones, including emodins, which are known for their laxative action. Although small doses of yellow dock can be used as an herbal remedy to treat diarrhea, higher doses actually cause diarrhea. The herb acts to stimulate peristalsis and increase mucus production and secretion of water into the colon, thus relieving the discomfort associated with constipation.
- This herb has diuretic properties, making it a natural remedy for water retention, inflammation of the gallbladder and urinary stones.
- Both laxative and diuretic properties of cow tongue make this herb a natural cleanser. The toxins are expelled from the system through urine and feces. Yellow dock has been used to clean the circulatory system, liver, spleen, kidneys and bladder. It is often mixed with cleansing herbs such as burdock, red clover, and dandelion or to remove toxins from the body and clear the way for the healing of primary enforcement such as acne, boils, eczema, psoriasis and fungal infections.
- Yellow dock is a traditional remedy for menstrual pain and heavy bleeding. It is also useful for unbalanced cycles. This herb has also been reported to increase fertility.
- When preparing a poultice, it has a calming effect. It is used for boils and burns, and skin problems like eczema weeping, psoriasis, hives, boils and abscesses. It has even been used as an herbal remedy in the treatment of syphilis and other venereal diseases, outbreaks of skin as it relieves itching and inflammation.
- The narrow dock contains antibacterial compound, rumicin which makes this herb a natural remedy for the treatment of bacterial infections of Escherichia, Salmonella, Staphylococcus and Bacillus.
- This herb has also been used in the treatment of Anthrax, anorexia, cancer, chronic fatigue syndrome, common cold, pain, depression, fever, general weakness or loss of strength, headache, hepatitis, cholesterol high, leprosy, malaria, menopause, mental stupor, mouth sores, oral hygiene, ringworm, and tuberculosis.

Precautions:-
Yellow dock contains oxalates and therefore should not be overused, especially for those prone to rheumatism, arthritis, gout, kidney stones and hyperacidity. Overuse can cause dermatitis and nausea, and the use of yellow dock for too long can cause difficulty to defecate without the use of a laxative or a low level of potassium in the body. Talk to your doctor before taking yellow dock if you have a bowel obstruction or bowel or have had kidney stones.

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Cloves and Clove Oil – Health Benefits and Side-Effects

Cloves are the heavily scented, dried, unopened buds of the clove tree. Cloves are nail shaped. Cloves are considered one of the top four of the spice world, the other three being pepper, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Cloves are available whole dried or ground. They are used in both sweet and savory dishes, sauces. Cloves are mainly cultivated in topical plantations close to the sea. Clove is a commonly used flavoring agent and food product. Clove is also available as an herbal supplement. Cloves have powerful medicinal properties.

Health Benefits of Clove and Clove Oil

- They are stimulating and have antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal and antiseptic properties.
- They are used for dental procedures.
- They are used to cure toothache.
- The use of cloves in cooking helps in relieving flatulence and helps in the healing of various ailments of the digestive system.
- The oil is used for treating a variety of health disorders including toothaches, indigestion, cough, asthma, headache, stress and blood impurities.
- Clove is rich in minerals such as calcium, hydrochloric acid, iron, phosphorus, sodium, potassium, and vitamin A and vitamin C.
- Gargles with diluted clove oil help in easing the throat.
- It also removes bad breath.
- Clove oil is useful for wound, cuts, scabies, athlete’s foot, fungal infections, bruises, prickly heat, scabies, etc.
- Clove oil is efficient for acne patients.
- Clove has a stimulating effect on the mind and removes mental exhaustion and fatigue.
- Clove oil gives a cooling effects in case of headaches when mixed with salt.
- Clove oil has a cooling and anti inflammatory effect, and thereby clears the nasal passage.
- Clove and clove oil is a very effective home remedy for treating sty.
- Extract of clove has been shown to enhance the sexual behavior of male mice.
- Cloves are also used as an anti-inflammatory agent, due to their high content of flavonoids.
- Clove and clove oil boosts the immune system by purifying the blood.
- Cloves benefit the diabetic patients by controlling the blood glucose levels.
- Cloves are very useful for treating cholera.
- Cloves treat asthma when 4 grams of cloves are boiled in 3 litres of water until half the water has evaporated.
- Clove oil has been linked to contributing to stress and depression as well.
- It relieves pain caused due to dry socket.
- It helps in nausea as well as vomiting.
- Clove oil is often added in cosmetic creams and lotions and perfumes. It is a good massage oil providing relief from pain and stress.
- The clove oil makes an excellent natural mosquito repellent.

Side Effects of Clove

Consult your doctor before using any product with clove oil in it.
- Clove oil may also cause local tissue damage, dental pulp damage and sore lips especially when used in the mouth in its undiluted form.
- Allergic symptoms include an itchy or red rash and trouble breathing.
- It is not advised for patients who have bleeding disorders or those who are already taking drugs with the possible side effect of bleeding. It increases the risk of bleeding.
- Pregnant and breastfeeding women should stay away from clove oil.
- Clove oil can cause unconsciousness, dizziness and seizures.

What are different health benefits of eating triphala regularly.

Triphala (Trifala) has a myriad benefits primarily because of its composition of 3 powerful healing herbs. In Ayurveda, Triphala is considered a ‘tridoshic rasayan’, having balancing and rejuvenating effects on the three constitutional elements that govern human life: Vata which regulates the nervous system, Pitta which maintains metabolic processes, and Kapha which supports structural integrity.
Triphala is one of the most famous herbal compounds in ayurvedic medicine. Triphala literally means “three fruits.” The three fruits contained in Triphala are Haritaki, Amalaki and Bibhitaki.
- Haritaki: It is a rasayana for the eyes and good for the digestive system.
- Amalaki: It is also a rasayana, which means that it has longevity-enhancing and disease-defying qualities.
- Bibhitaki: It is ideal for pacifying both Pitta and Kapha, and that it cleanses the nutritive fluid (Rasa Dhatu), the blood, the muscle and the fat tissue.

Health Benefits of Triphala

- It acts as an antioxidant agent preventing any free radical formation in the body.
- It is helpful in regularizing the normal peristaltic movements that are very essential for proper passage of food from one organ to another.
- Triphala was considered the best colon cleanser in the world. Colon cleansing is an ancient and proven practice for rejuvenating the body. Colon cleansing helps detoxify and clean decayed food residues and other toxic substances accumulated in the intestines walls. This not only gets rid of constipation, hemorrhoids, parasites, flatulence, acne, bad breath and foul body but also prevents colon cancer. Colon cleansing also helps to relieve headaches, irritability, and depression.
- It helps in curing the viral infection and leukemia.
- Triphala helps in expelling stones from the urinary tracts.
- It helps in natural colon cleansing and also used in relieving constipation.
- It is a strong rejuvenator of the body especially for the vision, hair and voice.
- It is helpful in reducing the lipid levels in the liver and heart.
- Triphala helps in curing the viral infection and leukemia.
- It is also responsible for promoting wisdom and intellect.
- It helps in reducing the excessive weight.
- It is believed to promote tissue growth and health.
- Being a mild laxative it helps in evacuating the bowel and therefore is considered as one of the best body detoxifier and facilitates expulsion of toxins out of the body.
- This useful medicinal herb is known to boost attention level, improve concentration and also relax tension.
- Triphala has long since been treated as an anti-spasmodic and is thus used to treat high blood pressure and hypertension.

Side Effects of eating triphala

Side effects of triphala are usually rare. However, when taking a high dosage of triphala, some people may experience bouts of gas and loose bowel movements. If you are considering using triphala, you may want to consult your doctor in order to discuss what kind of effects it might have on your body.