Herbs in the Garden and Bugs

 

Herbs that planted near the home or in the garden keep away bugs.

Bay leaves: Repel flies. When you grow this plant, you won’t have to rely on the dried leaves from stores to add flavor to roasts and soups. Just pick the leaves as you need them.

Chives: Repel carrot flies, Japanese beetle and aphids.

Dill: Repels aphids, squash bugs, spider mites, cabbage loopers and tomato hornworms.

Fennel: Repels aphids, slugs and snails.

Lemon balm: Repels mosquitoes.

Oregano: Repels many pests and will provide ground cover and humidity for peppers.

Parsley: Repels asparagus beetles.

Thyme: Repels whiteflies, cabbage loopers, cabbage maggots, corn earworms, whiteflies, tomato hornworms and small whites.

The Herbal First Aid Kit

Antiviral Herbs To Support Your Immune System

Going the natural way to manage a variety of health-related problems is growing in popularity as modern day medicine starts to catch up with herbal folk remedies. 

There are plenty of studies that focus on the benefits of natural methods of treatment, compared to the notorious side effects of taking prescription drugs. 

However, there is an underlying truth that science has taken long to realize – that viruses are inherently part of the Earth – they have been around for billions of years, maybe even predating the arrival of humans. They have mutated over time, changing forms, yet modern medicine has come up against a stumbling block, with viruses rapidly developing immunity to new drugs and medical treatment. 

It’s clear that a completely new strategy is required…. or could it be an old strategy revisited? 

Plants could be the answer medicine has been waiting for. 

This is the focus of Stephen Buhner’s recent book – Herbal Antivirals: Natural Remedies for Emerging & Resistant Viral Infections. 

Which gives a highly detailed, top quality report on antiviral herbs.

Resistant Infections

There is one word that strikes fear into the heart of many a medical professional, and that word is “drug resistant”. 

Infections that are resistant to multiple drugs are very hard to treat and often end in mortality. 

The CDC defines antiviral resistance as the way a virus has changed so that “antiviral drugs are less effective or not effective at all”. 

You would think that by this time modern medicine would have been able to make a drug against the common cold, but that is far, far off. 

Similarly, the influenza virus constantly mutates – and as a result there is a yearly change to flu vaccines brought out into the market. 

Lin, Hsu, and Lin called viral infections a “critical issue” in public health, linking viral infections to chronic conditions like diabetes, liver cancer, and Alzheimer’s disease. 

However, there are plenty of antiviral herbs that work well in fighting viral infections – and resistance is not developed by virii – presumably due to the plants’ broad array of active molecular components, as opposed to single-moleculed drugs. 

It’s been speculated that a single mutation could render a microorganism immune to a molecule – but that it is less likely for such an organism to be able to develop immunity to multiple active components at once. 

Here are 5 of the best herbs considered antiviral – and some reference studies that have supported these benefits:

1. Oregano

This plant is not only popular because of its fragrant addition to a variety of dishes; it also has potent antiviral properties from a compound called carvacrol. 

According to Pilau, et. al. in 2011, carvacrol, a major compound found in Oregano essential oil, was able to inhibit viral activity of drug-resistant viruses, from herpes simplex to respiratory syncytial virus in humans. 

2. Garlic

Garlic is known for its strong antibacterial properties but how does it fare against viruses? 

Very well, as it happens. 

There are older studies published in the 1980s and 1990s that show garlic’s potential influenza-fighting properties. 

Tsai, et. al. in 1985 studied garlic extract and found that it was able to fight against influenza B. Similar results were seen in Weber’s study in 1992, where fresh garlic extract was virucidal against a variety of viruses, including the herpes simplex virus. Recently, Kang, et. al. in 2001 found that garlic was able to boost the body’s immune system which can help fight against viral infections. 

3. Elderberry

For centuries, Elderberry or elder has been used to manage the flu as well as treat open wounds. 

A 2012 study by Kinoshita, et. al. found that elderberry juice was able to boost the body’s immune response to the human influenza virus (a.k.a. the flu virus), able to defend the body against viral infection. 

4. Echinacea

Echinacea is a Native American plant used for hundreds of years on wounds and infections, dubbed a general “cure-all”. 

A recent publication by Ross concluded that Echinacea extract was able to reduce cold episodes and their length, reducing the need to take additional prescription drugs. 

He concluded that Echinacea could be an effective agent in managing and preventing the common cold. 

5. Calendula

According to the NIH, the flower of the Calendula (aka. Marigold) is typically used to manage muscle spasms, fever, and pain and swelling. 

There have been only a few studies that focus on the anti-viral activity of Calendula but a prominent one was published by Kalvatchev, Walder, and Garzaro, concluding that organic extract of Calendula officinalis could potentially have anti-HIV properties. 

The extract was able to significantly reduce HIV-activity and slow its progress.

From: Moonflower )O(

http://www.herbs-info.com/

Healers, Nature and Magick

How beautiful is this?

Even though the word "witch" often is associated with the Wiccan faith, witches come from many spiritual paths. Some belief systems are structured and group-oriented, and others are free-form, solitary or eclectic -- but most use magical items and supplies. The witch’s cabinet is personal and even the arrangement of the bottles may be considered rituals unto themselves. Above all, a witch’s cabinet is sacred and should be treated as a special place in the home.

Ancient Art of Smudging

Pagans and Native Americans practice smudging to purify a room with the smoke of sage and other herbs to clear out negative energy.

Actually, smudging has been around for thousands of years, maybe pre-dating the Native American culture. 

The act of burning herbs happened in Egypt in 1530 B.C.E and in Israel in the fifth century B.C.E in ceremonies.

Now scientific evidence validates the ancient knowledge about the effect of ethnopharmacological aspects of natural products’ smoke for therapy and health care on airborne bacterial composition and dynamics.

Researchers discovered the burning of wood and herbs over a one-hour period in a closed room resulted in a 94 percent reduction in airborne bacteria.

Pathogenic bacteria were found to be absent in an open room after 30 days following the smudging.

Smudging also works as a defense against depression, resentment, anger, fear and grief.

So, while we live in a world of skepticism, science shows that ancient cultures understood nature well enough to know that smudging is much more than superstition.

Smudging does more than cleanse the surrounding air of harmful bacteria and negativity.

Smudging is a great way of clearing crystals and stones of unwanted energy. 

Lght your smudging materials and fan them gently to smolder and give off smoke. Now pass your stone several times through the smoke of burning cedar, sage, sweetgrass, or incense.  

When you are finished, take a moment to thank the crystals.