Fungi, including mushrooms, molds, and mildews, are not plants.
Compared to plants they cannot make their own food, they do not contain chlorophyll. They depend on other living or non-living organisms for food.
However, the mushrooms are neither animal nor plant, they are actually more closely related to animals!
I had no idea.
Friday, October 15, 2010
Monday, October 11, 2010
Herbal infusion
An herb is a plant with medicinal properties, however, it can’t replace a chemical drug because its substance and purposes are completely different.
A chemical drug creates a chemical reaction on a specific place of the body.
An herb contains ingredients which are released through the digestive system, depending on the form in which the herb is processed.
Despite the difference between herbs and chemical medicine, herbs can be successfully used to support the healing process during illness, to prevent decease and to treat simple ailments and discomfort.
But again, chemical medicines is not to be replaced by herbs!
Herbs have a particularly good effect within a natural way of healthy living and a proper diet.
We make an herbal infusion to extract the medicinal properties of herbs.
Infusions are teas made by pouring boiling water over the (dry) herb.
The whole herbs keep their medicinal properties and freshness better than the pre-ground variety.
Use one teaspoon of herbs to one cup of boiling water, cover and steep for maximum 10 minutes, depending upon which part of the plant is being used. Seeds, berries, flowers, and leaves will need to steep for shorter periods of time than roots and barks.
Then strain and let it cool to ca 40 °C.
At 42 °C you’d burn your lips.
You can keep it one day in a thermo bottle or even drink it cool. Both keep the medicinal properties the same way; it only depends if you need to sweat, for example.
If necessary, you can sweeten your tea with honey but don’t forget that honey apparently retains the antibacterial properties only up to 40 degrees °C.
Don’t drink too much of herbal tea. Drink only up to 5 cups a day for just a few days otherwise the herbs can have opposite effect on your body.
For example, too much of chamomile tea or lavender essential oil sprinkled in the bedroom can actually be stimulant for some people.
In most cases also with herbs less is more.
A chemical drug creates a chemical reaction on a specific place of the body.
An herb contains ingredients which are released through the digestive system, depending on the form in which the herb is processed.
Despite the difference between herbs and chemical medicine, herbs can be successfully used to support the healing process during illness, to prevent decease and to treat simple ailments and discomfort.
But again, chemical medicines is not to be replaced by herbs!
Herbs have a particularly good effect within a natural way of healthy living and a proper diet.
We make an herbal infusion to extract the medicinal properties of herbs.
Infusions are teas made by pouring boiling water over the (dry) herb.
The whole herbs keep their medicinal properties and freshness better than the pre-ground variety.
Use one teaspoon of herbs to one cup of boiling water, cover and steep for maximum 10 minutes, depending upon which part of the plant is being used. Seeds, berries, flowers, and leaves will need to steep for shorter periods of time than roots and barks.
Then strain and let it cool to ca 40 °C.
At 42 °C you’d burn your lips.
You can keep it one day in a thermo bottle or even drink it cool. Both keep the medicinal properties the same way; it only depends if you need to sweat, for example.
If necessary, you can sweeten your tea with honey but don’t forget that honey apparently retains the antibacterial properties only up to 40 degrees °C.
Don’t drink too much of herbal tea. Drink only up to 5 cups a day for just a few days otherwise the herbs can have opposite effect on your body.
For example, too much of chamomile tea or lavender essential oil sprinkled in the bedroom can actually be stimulant for some people.
In most cases also with herbs less is more.
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Back to plants
Somehow I lost my interest in the healing power of plants when I moved to Western Europe 15 years ago.
I don’t remember what the exact reason was; maybe I just wanted to fit in the modern West?
I never lost my love for nature though and in Holland I found joy and satisfaction in gardening.
To make a long story short, after our uncountable move abroad while coping with unemployment frustration, guilt and anxiety I accidentally came across this herbal education. I was immediately enthusiastic. I had no idea there actually exist schools of natural health. I visited the school open door day and I enrolled in their Herbalist program directly.
I only wish I was introduced to it sooner.
I'd like to share notes from my classes and I'll be posting them here on this blog.
I don’t remember what the exact reason was; maybe I just wanted to fit in the modern West?
I never lost my love for nature though and in Holland I found joy and satisfaction in gardening.
To make a long story short, after our uncountable move abroad while coping with unemployment frustration, guilt and anxiety I accidentally came across this herbal education. I was immediately enthusiastic. I had no idea there actually exist schools of natural health. I visited the school open door day and I enrolled in their Herbalist program directly.
I only wish I was introduced to it sooner.
I'd like to share notes from my classes and I'll be posting them here on this blog.
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