Health Help

The official name is Melissa officinalis but it is better known as lemon balm, bee balm, sweet balm, Melissa, and cure-all. Lemon balm is a mint plant originated in the Mediterranean region. This hardy perennial grows into a bush about 24 inches around. You can cut the leaves two or three times during a growing season. When lemon balm’s  light green, ridged leaves are rubbed, they give off a strong lemon scent.

Today lemon balm is found growing throughout the world. The leaves, stems, and white flowers of lemon balm have all been used for centuries. The claims for lemon balm from literature as far back as the 1600’s make it sound like the proverbial cure-all miracle medicine.

The tannins and polyphenols in lemon balm have both an antibacterial and a antiviral quality. Therefore it has been used to help treat mumps, strep, and yes, herpes. Creams and ointments using lemon balm have helped to heal cold sores or genital sores induced by herpes. However, lemon balm doesn’t cause unpleasant side effects like vomiting, nausea, and irregular menstruation like prescription drugs might.

Lemon balm both helps speed the healing of wounds and also relieves pain. A traditional use of lemon balm is for treatment of nervous disorders such as chronic nervousness, anxiety, and slight insomnia. Like mint, lemon balm has a soothing effect on the stomach and digestive system. The volatile oils, including citronellal and citrals A and B are responsible for this.

Lemon balm extract has been administered intravenously to help with an overactive thyroid. It particularly helps with Graves’ disease. Lemon balm also seems to help block some of the secretion of the thyroid gland and the thyroid’s ability to release hormones in the body. An important note: If you are currently taking any thyroid medication, be aware that lemon balm may interact with your prescribed medications.

Lemon balm has been shown to help relax spasms affecting the uterus and intestines. Therefore it is used to treat premenstrual syndrome and irritable bowel syndrome. Lemon balm may improve memory and lengthen attention span in Alzheimer’s patients. The aroma has been used to affect the mood of a patient. One person made floor cleaner by mixing three-parts water to one-part white vinegar. Then she added a few sprigs of crushed lemon balm. The fragrance both masks the vinegar smell and adds some antiseptic qualities.

Lemon balm may be purchased in creams, tablets, capsules, teas, tinctures, and extracts. Typically an adult should take 1 teaspoon of lemon balm extract daily, or 1½ teaspoons of tincture. A homemade tea is made by adding 1 to 3 teaspoons of the dried lemon balm leaves to a cup of hot water. Try adding dried lemon balm leaves to your bath. If you have difficulty sleeping or have stomach problems such as flatulence, or bloating, lemon balm may be just what you need. Treating children is safe and effective. Lemon balm may be used topically on cold sores. For ingestion, adjust amounts based on the above given for a 150 pound adult.

Beekeepers have loved lemon balm for centuries. It has the ability to attract and nurture swarms of bees, as well as to provide a remedy for bee stings. Lemon balm may increase the effects of other sedatives so do not take them together without checking with your doctor.

Those who regularly use lemon balm receive fast healing, natural infection fighting, muscle spasm relief and more health boosting benefits. To find out more about this and other bulk dried herbs, visit More Than Alive – an online store and trusted resource for family health information.

There are various diet recipes, exercise methods or food supplements available that promise to offer a safe alternative in keeping healthy . Regular intake of diatomaceous earth (or DE) is effortless and less stressful than the usual custom.

This all natural product is formed from the skeletons of microscopic water plants. Diatomaceous earth is the microscopic remains of one-celled plants called diatoms that are abundant in oceans and lakes .  The product can be readily used after it is excavated from the ocean beds and processed effectively .  Magnesium, calcium, sodium and silicon are the basic components of this compound, found to be essential in absorbing minerals to stay healthy. It then provides over-all wellness.

The diatomaceous earth has the ability to function both as a digestive aid and as a colon cleanser . It further eradicates intestinal worms and parasites when taken in sufficient quantities. Proper nutrients are absorbed thereby stimulating regular bowel movements and preventing the occurrence of indigestion problems. As a result, developing colon-related disorders is forestalled naturally .   It isnÕt even as aggressive to the intestinal mucosa or barrier wall in spite of its aggressive characteristic in warding off diseases .

Some scientific reports show that mercury, e-coli, endotoxins, viruses (including polio virus), pesticide residues, drug residues, and toxins produced by intestinal infections are sucked up by the food grade diatomaceous earth. It keeps the body free from dangerous substances.

Bad cholesterol is lowered by dissolving fat deposits that are clogged in the blood vessels . It also regulates blood pressure.  Surely, this is reason enough to incorporate diatomaceous earth into the daily routine as people who reach old age are likely to develop hypertension .

Due to the normal wear and tear or lack of calcium absorption in the bones, people experience bone diseases, but with the help of diatomaceous earth, it reduces sore joints and prevents other symptoms associated with osteoporosis .

Aside from these primary health benefits, diatomaceous earth may even replace some of the basic hair products and skin creams . The skin will cast off a youthful glow and give hair its renewed shine and strength . It is naturally effective, toxins free, safe for pregnant women, decreases mortality and easy to ingest .

At any given age or from any social standing, regular intake of food grade Diatomaceous Earth is the safe and organic way in keeping healthy. You can find this and other quality bulk herbs at More Than Alive.

Arrowroot plant also known as Maranta arundinacea makes Arrowroot powder that is used for cooking as a thickener. It originated with aborigines of West Indies and with the Arawak Tribe to cure arrow poisoning. It was concluded that the term was taken from that. The arrowroot plant is now predominantly grown in Brazil, Thailand, Bengal, Philippines, Mauritius and West Africa. The arrowroot plant is abundant in countries like Brazil, Thailand, Bengal, Philippines, Maritius and West Africa.
The rhizomes of the arrow plant are cleaned, washed twice, and drained.  It results to a milky liquid after pulverizing the pulp in a wooden mortar.   Clean water is added again, mixed, drained and placed on sheets to dry under the sun. Arrowroot powder is then set for packaging in an air-tight container.

The characteristics of bulk arrowroot powder are similar to that of a cornstarch. Cornstarch and flour is as unscented, flavorless, and dry as arrowroot powder. It is chiefly used to give food a concentrated mixture like pie, pudding, jellies, and gravies or sauces. A thickener is a group of additives that solidifies liquid to make a gelatinous mixture.   The color of the food remains uninterrupted after arrowroot powder is introduced.

It thickens in the presence of acidic preparations and works under low heat.  Freezing does not distress the solidified mixture formed using arrowroot powder.  It is recommended to avoid blending arrowroot powder with dairy as the outcome becomes greasy.

Tapioca Starch, Instant Clear Gel, Kudzu Powder, Potato Starch, Rice Starch and Flour are the commonly used substitute for Arrowroot.  Be reminded though that some starch substitutes may not work precisely as the Arrowroot powder does when used in a recipe.

Arrowroot is the appropriate stabilizer in cooking and a suitable component in baking, as a herbal alternative to wheat flour. Arrowroot is devoid of proteins as its basic composition is carbohydrates. This characteristic makes it esculent for elderly individuals or infants who have irregularities in bowel movement. Furthermore, the calcium content in arrowroot powder is sufficient to help the body in the regulation of acid and alkali balances.

Because of its lack of protein, it is greatly used by vegetarians and by individuals with dietary restrictions who require less or no protein in the diet.   Food commonly containing arrowroot as ingredient would be biscuits, pudding, jellies and cakes. In Korean cuisine, arrowroot powder is added in beef tea, milk, veal broth and noodles.