Herbs & Spices

Herbs and spices are dried parts of various plants cultivated for their aromatic, pungent, or otherwise desirable substances that adds zest or flavor. Spices and herbs consist of bulbs, barks, flower buds, stigmas, fruits, rhizomes, seeds, and leaves. herbinfopages.com

Saturday, June 04, 2005

Herbs - Your #1 Site for Herbs & Herb Information - Herbs Articles

Website challenges FDA ban on herbal remedies

January 26 2004--In response to the FDA's attempt to conduct the first-ever ban of a herbal dietary supplement, ephedra, public outcry is being heard loud and clear on the forum page of ephedra.com.

Since the FDA's announcement of the intended ban of all dietary supplements containing the herb ephedra, a flood comments supporting the continued marketing of ephedra have been pouring into the website. Members of the ephedra.com forum are presenting mounds of information both contesting the alleged danger of ephedra, discrediting numerous studies, including those contracted for the FDA by the Rand Corporation, and providing information and research that clearly support ephedra, a herb that has been used for nearly 5000 years in China, as a safe product.

The FDA is being verbally pounded by ephedra.com forum members against the FDA for supporting unfair bias against dietary supplements in collaboration with the Council for Responsible Nutrition, a body of experts whose members are substantially comprised of pharmaceutical company executives. Other allegations being made on the website include the FDA's use of ephedra's unfair allotment of bad press with the eventual intent to regulate vitamins, minerals, amino acids, herbal and various other nutritional supplements with the eventual intent to institute a system like the one in the UK, where many supplements have been banned or reduced to a point that many consumers feel that they are no longer effective. These public opinions only add to the sting of criticism by Chinese medical practitioners, who are ridiculing American's for our ignorance of the safe use of herbal products and our public embrace of the hype surrounding ephedra.

"I can't imagine how stupid the Americans must be," said Chinese Herbal Safety Committee spokesperson Zhou Li Quing. "We've had this
stuff for like 5000 years. The Americans get it for a few decades and screw it all up. Morons."

Members of the website forum at ephedra.com, contend that they have used the herb safely and with few, if any, side effects. Others are hoping to find a replacement for the ephedra containing supplements in the hope of fighting obesity and other conditions such as asthma.

Whether supported by the public or not, the FDA ban on ephedra containing herb products, excluding Chinese traditional herbal remedies and herbal teas, is due to begin in March, if the action passes congressional review.

Anyone interested in voicing their opinion on the ephedra ban is encouraged to join the forum and share their thoughts at ephedra.com.

This article courtesy of http://herbinfopages.com.

Herbs - Your #1 Site for Herbs & Herb Information - Herbs Articles: "Website challenges FDA ban on herbal remedies"

Friday, June 03, 2005

The Tip of the Iceburg

Herbs - Your #1 Site for Herbs & Herb Information - Herbs Articles
For thousands of years, tea has been considered a healthy, even medicinal drink in China. And why not? China has a long history of herbal medicines. There is a widely-used herbal medicine called kugan that cures the common cold. The treatment for cancer is an herbal remedy which the patient must drink five times a day for a few years, a much more comfortable process than that used in the west. But, it was only recently that western methods have been used to study the science of Chinese medicine. Since then, we've seen that Chinese medicines not only work, but work without the unpleasant side effects of manufactured medicines. But, until funding for such research increases, we'll have to continue using those manufactured medicines as prescribed by our doctors. FDA approval costs are high, and the drug industry, which does much of that funding, makes it's money from the manufacture of *patented* drugs, not from growing widely available herbs. We have been blessed though, mostly by the British Medical Association, with research on that most common Chinese medicine - tea. Not distinguishing here between different types of tea leaves, which all come from the same plant but are processed differently, we can explore the many health benefits of tea, most of which are closely related to its antioxidant content, and include benefits to metabolism, strong bones and teeth, hydration and prevention of aging diseases. One not so well known fact about tea is its flouride content. One cup of tea will provide you with 70% of your minimum recommended daily flouride intake. Fluoride is, of course, needed to support bone mineralization and protect against tooth decay. Drinking two cups of tea a day will therefore have preventative effects against osteoporosis and cavities. It is a much better source of caffeine than coffee, therefore, since coffee has the opposite effect on bones. Tea also has less caffeine than coffee, less than half of fresh-brewed coffee. It's not safe to consume more than 300mg of caffeine in a day. Your average cup of fresh-brewed coffee has 115mg of caffeine, while tea has a mere 50mg. Because of its caffeine content, tea is a central nervous system stimulant, aiding in your focus and attention; a bronchodialator, helping you to breath more easily; and a diuretic, helping you to clean your system out. In the past, the diuretic affects of the caffeine in tea were considered a health risk, as it was generally accepted that caffeine causes dehydration. However, because tea only has 50mg of caffeine per serving, its holistic effect is that of a hydrator. Staying properly hydrated will reduce both mental and physical fatigue. The caffeine in tea also plays a part in tea's effect on metabolism. Tea increases metabolism by about 10%. Though it's not exactly clear and proven why, it is theorized that this is due to the synergistic affects of caffeine and adrenal gland stimulation. Much of tea's greatest health-enhancing characteristics are the result of its antioxidant content, which rids the body of free radicals. Free radicals find their way into your body through normal metabolic processes, but, can also be formed in response to pollution, UV sunlight, and cigarette smoke. Free radicals are molecules that attack other molecules in the body. Free radicals are thought to be the cause of some chronic and aging diseases such as cancer, stroke, arthritis, cardiovascular disease, cataracts and Alzheimer's. Antioxidants rid the body of free radicals by giving them something to attack, thus reducing the risk of all those diseases. Vegetables and fruits, which contain antioxidants, should for the same reason be eaten everyday. Of the Chinese teas, green teas have the most antioxidant content (one cup of green tea is equivalent to eating six apples), while black teas have the least. So, you can see, for those concerned about their body and looking for a safe alternative to their everyday high-calorie caffeinated drinks, tea is a drink of choice. However, for our doctors to prescribe us the whole range of world medicines, we will have to restructure our system to funnel more money to research methods that don't necessarily reap a handsome profit for the drug industry. Until then, you can view the tip of the iceburg by drinking daily tea.

herbinfopages.com

Thursday, May 26, 2005

Herbs - Chinese Medicine

Herbs - Chinese Medicine: " Dong Quai Echinacea Essential Oils"

Herbs - Catnip

Herbs - Catnip: " Chamomile Chinese Herbal Medicine Chinese Herbs"

Herbs - Basil

Herbs - Basil: " Bilberry Black Cohosh Bulk Herbs"

Sunday, April 10, 2005

Organic - All Natural Products

Organic - All Natural Products: "Asia Organic Products

Aubrey Organics

Avalon Organics"

Organic - Advantages Of Organic Food

Organic - Advantages Of Organic Food: " Advantages Of Organic Food

Alba Organics

All Natural Products"

Organic - Organic

Organic - Organic: " Acros Organics

Active Organics

Advantages And Disadvantages Of Organic Farming"

Herbs - Viagra Alternative

Herbs - Viagra Alternative: "Yarrow

Young Living Essential Oils"

Herbs - Organic Essential Oils

Herbs - Organic Essential Oils: "Wolfberry

Wormwood"

Herbs - Lavender

Herbs - Lavender: "Viagra Alternative

Viagra Alternatives

Wholesale Essential Oils"

Herbs - Korean Ginseng

Herbs - Korean Ginseng: "Valerian

Valerian Root

Verbena"

Herbs - Herb Seeds

Herbs - Herb Seeds: "Tea Tree Oil

Thyme

Traditional Chinese Medicine"

Herbs - Herbs

Herbs - Herbs: "Stevia

Stevia Recipes

St Johns Wort"

Herbs - Herbal Weight Loss

Herbs - Herbal Weight Loss: "Spice Rack

Spice Racks

Spices"

Herbs - Herbal Viagra

Herbs - Herbal Viagra: "Roasted Garlic

Rosemary

Spice"

Herbs - Herbal Tea

Herbs - Herbal Tea: "Plantain

Plantains

Potpourri"

Herbs - Herbal Supplements

Herbs - Herbal Supplements: " Peppermint

Peppermint Pig

Pickled Garlic"

Herbs - Herbal Supplement

Herbs - Herbal Supplement: "Oregano Oil

Organic Essential Oils

Parsley"

Herbs - Herbal Soap

Herbs - Herbal Soap: "Nutmeg

Oil Of Oregano

Oregano"

Herbs - Herbal Skin Care

Herbs - Herbal Skin Care: "Medicinal Herbs

Milk Thistle

Mugwort"

Herbs - Herbal Remedies

Herbs - Herbal Remedies: "Kava Kava

Korean Ginseng

Lavender"

Herbs - Herbal Medicine

Herbs - Herbal Medicine: "Kava Kava

Korean Ginseng

Lavender"

Herbs - herbal extract

Herbs - herbal extract: "Homeopathy

Horseradish

Kava"

Herbs - Herbal

Herbs - Herbal: "Herb Seeds

Herb Spice Blends

Holistic Medicine"

Herbs - Herb

Herbs - Herb: " Herb Information

Herbology

Herbs"

Herbs - Ginseng

Herbs - Ginseng: " Herbal Viagra

Herbal Weight Loss

Herb Garden"

Herbs - Flower Essences

Herbs - Flower Essences: "Herbal Supplements

Herbal Tea

Herbal Teas"

Herbs - Essential Oils

Herbs - Essential Oils: "Herbal Skin Care

Herbal Soap

Herbal Supplement"

Herbs - Echinacea

Herbs - Echinacea: " Herbal Nutrition Supplement

Herbal Remedies

Herbal Remedy"

Herbs - Dong Quai

Herbs - Dong Quai: "Herbal Life Weight Loss Product

Herbal Medicine

Herbal Nutrition"

Herbs - Cinnamon

Herbs - Cinnamon: "Herbalist

Herbal Life

Herbal Life Products"

Herbs - Chinese Medicine

Herbs - Chinese Medicine: "Herbal Essence

Herbal Essences

herbal extract"

Herbs - Chinese Herbs

Herbs - Chinese Herbs: "Ginseng

Herb

Herbal"

Herbs - Chinese Herbal Medicine

Herbs - Chinese Herbal Medicine: "Ginger

Ginger Root

Ginger Spice"

Herbs - Bulk Herbs

Herbs - Bulk Herbs: "Feverfew

Flower Essences

Garlic"

Herbs - Bilberry

Herbs - Bilberry: "Echinacea

Essential Oils

Fennel"

Herbs - Aromatherapy Recipes

Herbs - Aromatherapy Recipes: " Chinese Medicine

Cinnamon

Dong Quai"

Herbs - Aromatherapy Products

Herbs - Aromatherapy Products: "Chamomile

Chinese Herbal Medicine

Chinese Herbs"

Herbs - Aromatherapy Oils

Herbs - Aromatherapy Oils: "Black Cohosh

Bulk Herbs

Catnip"

Herbs - Aromatherapy Essential Oils

Herbs - Aromatherapy Essential Oils: " Ayurvedic Medicine

Basil

Bilberry"

Herbs - Aromatherapy Candles

Herbs - Aromatherapy Candles: "Aromatherapy Recipes

Astragalus

Ayurvedic"

Herbs - Aromatherapy

Herbs - Aromatherapy: "Aromatherapy Essential Oils

Aromatherapy Oils

Aromatherapy Products"

Herbs - Alternative Medicine

Herbs - Alternative Medicine: "Arnica

Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy Candles"

Herbs - Herbs

Herbs - Herbs: "Alternative Medicine

Angelica

Anise"

Saturday, April 09, 2005

Herbs & Spices 101

Herbs and spices are dried parts of various plants cultivated for their
aromatic,
pungent, or otherwise desirable substances that adds zest
or flavor. Spices and herbs consist of bulbs, barks, flower buds,
stigmas, fruits, rhizomes, seeds, and leaves.


Spice seeds are the tiny aromatic fruits and oily seeds of herbaceous
plants
including anise, caraway, cumin, fennel, poppy, and sesame.

Spices are the highly esteemed, fragrant or pungent plant products of
tropical and subtropical areas. The dominant species of the trade
include cardamom,
cinnamon, cloves, ginger, and pepper.

Herbs are the fragrant leaves of such plants as marjoram, mint,
rosemary, and
thyme. Spices, spice seeds,and herbs are employed
as adjuncts to impart flavour
and aroma to foods. They stimulate
the appetite, add zest to food, enhance the taste, and delight the
gourmet.


Spices and herbs were used in medicine in very early times to make
holy oils, unguents, and aphrodisiacs.

Priests employed them in worship, incantations, magical rites, and rituals.

Their essential oils and oleoresins are the basis of a number of spice flavourings and seasonings employed in food manufacturing, where oil spices are preferred to the whole or ground spices for the preparation of certain products.


Spices and herbs—or their oils go into the preparation of liqueurs, including absinthe, anisette, benedictine, crème de menthe, curaçao, and kümmel.

Their essential oils are the flavouring components of a number of extracts, and they are employed in perfumery, cosmetics, toilet preparations, hair oils, toothpastes, soaps, and even tobacco.

Essential oils are extremely concentrated particularly when they have been derived through distillation, which is the most effective method of extraction. Essential oils are so highly concentrated, most of them are at least 50 times more therapeutically potent than the herbs or plants they came from. When herbs are cut & dehydrated for therapeutic use, they can lose as much as 90% of the healing nutrients as well as the vast majority of the vital oxygen molecules. Not so with essential oils, which are many times more potent than dried herbs.

There is a very big difference between the low quality essential oils and true therapeutic grade essential oils & what they can do to enhance your health.

In India and other Asiatic countries their curative virtues enjoy respect. They are again finding their place in Western medicine. Herbalists extol the efficacies of some spices, spice seeds, and herbs in the treatment of health issues. Garlic and onions were the first known spices used as part of the diet in very early times. Today we are finding they have tremendous health benefits.