Nervines and More!!

There are basically 2 types of herbal nervines...relaxing & stimulating. Most times, in today's society many of us want the relaxing kind and these are the types I will focus on in this blog.

Relaxing nervines relax & benefit the nervous system! Plain & simple! They are calming. Then there are the ones that are stronger and have more of a sedative effect on the nervous system. There are also the ones that have an analgesic effect...reduces pain, also called anodynes. We will attempt to sort through all the ones that are available and what kind of effects they might have on the human body!!

So first off, we have the analgesics: chamomile, hops, jamaician dogwood, pasque flower & wild lettuce.

The tonics include: chamomile & skullcap.

In past articles I have mentioned & explained what a tonic is, so keep that in mind!

Then we have the ones that are strictly nervines: passion flower, wild lettuce, pasque flower, hops, skullcap & chamomile.

Now the sedative list is bigger, remember, these are stronger: passion flower, hops, skullcap, chamomile, pasque flower, wild lettuce, valerian and California poppy.

So do you see a pattern here??? One herb can fall into more than one category and when you are trying to decide on a blend, it's a good idea to know what herb will do what!!!!

It can be confusing for the newbie or even for us that have been doing it for ages.....

The Amazing Cucumber!!!

Superfoods are natural foods that have an array of nutrients that synergistically work to together to exponentially expand the individual nutritional components. Many raw, organic vegetables fall into this category. One of the world's favorite superfoods are cucumbers.

Cucumbers are the 4th most cultivated vegetable in the world. They are in the same botanical family as melons & squashes. They are considered one of the abolute best foods for the health of the skin, joints, liver & kidneys. Cucumbers are also a natural energy tonic with their rich array of phytonutrients and electrolytes.

Cucumbers are loaded with the mineral silica, which is an essential component for healthy connective tissue (muscles, ligaments, cartilage, bone, & skin). It is also full of ionic potassium, magnesium, and vitamin C which give it a powerful alkalizing effect within the body. Additionally, cucumbers are particularly rich in fluids that hydrate the skin, joints, and tissues.
 
More recently scientists have begun studying the unique lignans found in cucumbers. These lignans include lariciresinol, pinoresinol, and secoisolariciresinol. New research is linking these lignans with reduced risk of cardiovascular disease as well as breast, uterine, ovarian, and prostate cancer.
Cucumbers also contain the triterpene phytonutrients cucurbitacins A, B, C, D, and E. These phytonutrients have been the major focus of some extensive research looking deeply into their abilities to inhibit cancer cell signaling pathways.

Fresh cucumbers have been shown to improve anti-oxidant levels within the body and inhibit pro-inflammatory substances such as COX-2 and nitric oxide. The combination of alkalizing elements, electrolytes, and fluids make it one of the world's best foods for enhancing energy levels. Cucumbers are also great for stabilizing blood pressure and stimulating the body's natural detoxification process.

Cucumbers make for beautiful skin

Cucumbers are often used topically to enhance skin function. The natural ascorbic acid and caffeic acid within the cucumber act to prevent water retention in the skin. This reduces swelling under the eyes and helps the skin heal from sunburn, inflammation, and eczema.

Cucumbers are also very effective when eaten and applied topically for removing unwanted cellulite. They act to draw out excess fluids and tighten collagen which has the effect of a natural cellulite reduction. Simply eat some cucumber, juice it, and/or place the cucumber on the regions of water retention.

Cucumbers are typically highly sprayed with pesticides so it is necessary to get organic varieties. If conventional is the only option it is best to scrape off the green skin rather than washing. Many of the chemicals are waxy and do not come off easy with washing.

Try dicing up cucumbers, adding some apple cider vinegar, oregano & pink salt. This makes a quick, electrolyte and enzyme-rich snack to boost energy levels.