Page 48 - Lost Book Remedies

The Lost Book of Herbal Remedies

Athlete’s Foot, Fungal Skin Infections, your liking. Add one teaspoon of dried leaves and flow-
Yeast Overgrowth: Soak the foot or infected area ers or one tablespoon of fresh leaves and flowers.
in a bath with a strong infusion of Anise Hyssop. Soak Add them to the boiling water and cover tightly. Allow
daily until the infection is cured. the leaves to steep for 15 minutes.
Recipes: Anise Hyssop Tea or Infusion. Strain the tea through a fine sieve. Add raw honey to
You’ll need one cup of boiling water and raw honey to sweeten, if desired.

Ashwagandha, anxiety, anti-depressant, and anti-inflammatory prop-
erties. Roots and leaves of the ashwagandha plant are
Withania somnifera used for their medicinal properties.

Root extracts in powdered or capsule forms are effec-
Ashwagandha, Withania somnifera, is a member of tive as are leaf extracts and tinctures. Powders can be
the nightshade family. It is sometimes called Winter added to food or drinks thought they have a strong
Cherry or Indian Ginseng, due to its importance in taste. Ashwagandha tea made from the leaves is also
Ayurvedic medicine. Ashwagandha is considered a re- used. Adding a little honey improves the flavor.
juvenating adaptogenic herb, useful for treating many
debilitating conditions. Expect it to take two weeks or more to begin to notice
the benefits of ashwagandha. Long-term use has not
Identification: Ashwagandha is native to India but been studied and may not be safe, but many patients
can be grown in herb gardens across the United States. do well taking the herb long-term.
It is a perennial in warm climates with no frost. Ashwa-
gandha likes sandy or rocky soil, full or partial sun- “Adrenal Fatigue” (= HPA Axis Dysregula-
light, and moderately dry conditions. tion – HPA-D): Ashwagandha supports adrenal
function and overcoming “adrenal fatigue”, though
The bush grows to a this term is really a summary of stress response symp-
height of 2 to 3 or toms that are often caused by a hypothalamic–pitui-
more feet (0.6m- tary–adrenal (HPA) axis dysfunction. Essentially,
0.9m), with dull HPA-D is our stress response system and a more accu-
green leaves. Light rate term for adrenal fatigue. Ashwagandha helps bal-
green, bell-shaped ance this.
flowers appear in
midsummer and or- Combats Stress, Fight or Flight, Anxiety,
ange to red berries in and Depression: Ashwagandha has long been used
the fall. Branches to relieve anxiety, improve mental health, concentra-
grow radially from a tion, vitality, and overall improve the quality of life. It
center stem. also acts as a mood stabilizer and relieves symptoms of
Edible Use: The depression. It provides benefits similar to anti-anxiety
plant is not generally and anti-depressant drugs without drowsiness, insom-
Photo By Hari Prasad Nadig, CC BY 2.0 eaten, but its seeds are nia, or other side effects.
used in the production of vegetarian cheeses. The Reduces Cortisol Levels: Cortisol is a stress hor-
leaves are used to make Ashwagandha Tea. mone implicated in controlling blood sugar levels and
fat storage in the abdomen. Studies show that ashwa-
Other Uses: The fruits are rich in saponins are can
be used as a substitute for soap. The leaves repel in- gandha helps significantly reduce cortisol levels in
chronically stressed adults.
sects.
Balances Blood Glucose Levels: Ashwagandha
Medicinal Uses: Ashwagandha is an adaptogenic
herb that has been in use for thousands of years. It is is particularly beneficial to diabetic patients in reduc-
highly valued for its ability to strengthen the immune ing blood glucose levels. It may help improve insulin
system, balance hormone levels, and for its anti- sensitivity and reduce inflammation.

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