Cut the B.S Wednesday – Top Herbs for Digestive & Reproductive Health
Herbs can be a gentle and effective part of natural healing through nutrition. The powerful properties contained in herbs act on a deeper level, to help you heal from the inside out. As an added bonus, they pack a delicious punch, and can turn an otherwise flavourless meal into a gourmet feast. This week we are going to touch on some of the top herbs for your digestive system. One of the best parts about healing with herbs is that they often work on more than just one body system, so a couple of them are also great for your reproductive health and your immunity.
This week on Simplicity TV we have our first guest – Jenn’s assistant, Vanessa Fioretti, (a Holistic Nutritionist). This week we’re talking about some of the top herbs for digestive and reproductive health. Check it out:
Garlic – a powerful antimicrobial herb, which helps to knock out bacteria or virus’ lingering in your gut. This is one of the top foods to start including into your everyday diet to help boost immunity – plus is adds amazing flavor to just about everything! If garlic tends to making you gassy or bloaty, try roasting your garlic first. This can help to breakdown the enzymes in the garlic, making it easier on your GI tract. Garlic also brings warmth to your digestive system, which helps to get blood flowing to your GI tract, which aids in the act of digestion, and therefore assimilation of nutrients.
Turmeric – Currently the most widely studied herb, and for good reason! Turmeric acts at every level of inflammation, is beneficial for digestion, and when it is cooked with black pepper, it absorbs more readily into your tissues, to access a deeper level of healing.
Ginger – great for reducing inflammation throughout the entire digestive tract and will also get your digestive fires flowing. It sends blood moving toward your stomach as well as your pelvic region, which is excellent for reproductive and prenatal health, as it helps to get fresh blood, fresh oxygen, and fresh nutrients moving towards those very important body systems.
Peppermint – Peppermint is very popular and widely known as a excellent tea to aid in the act of digestion. Peppermint is special because has both heating and cooling properties, and it also helps to tone the tissues of your digestive tract. It is also anticatarrhal, meaning that is helps to draw mucus or other invaders out of your system to be eliminated. Peppermint can be used for stomach upset, as it helps to cool and dry out inflamed tissue.
Sage – an under-rated herb and a powerful antimicrobial, meaning it helps to kill microorganisms circulating in your system. Sage is excellent for a sore throat, and gentle enough for children. It acts as an astringent to the tissue, meaning it will help to clear mucus inside your respiratory tract. Below is a recipe for a effective Cold and Flu Elixir.
Parsley – this one is excellent for reproductive health, and helps to your get blood moving toward the extremities. For some women it is helpful to make your period come when it is delayed and leading to extended PMS and misery!
Here is a recipe for a nice, effective herbal tea that you can use anytime you or your family are feeling under the weather, to give your immune system the boost it need to knock that virus out!
SAGE-HONEY-LEMON ELIXIR
- 2 handfuls of fresh sage OR 2-3 quality sage tea bags
- 1-3 TSP of raw honey (more if the child dislikes lemon)
- 2 cloves of chopped garlic
- 1-2 TBS of minced ginger (optional)
- Juice of 1 lemon
Roughly chop or rip fresh sage and place in a 1-quart glass jar or bodum, fill it will boiling water and cover for 30 minutes. Add lemon juice and sweeten with honey. Excellent for kids feeling under the weather. Will kill any throat infection and is an excellent, gentle, effective anti-microbial.
WHY RAW HONEY? Raw honey is rich in amino acids, minerals, is astringent, kills bacteria lingering in your stomach and is one of the best things for an upset stomach (Not good for children under 1 year) When you mix raw honey with this tea, you will still get the bitter effects of the herbs while satisfying the taste buds.
Vanessa studies with renowned Herbalist John Redden at Viriditas in west end of Toronto.
Resources:
James Duke, CRC guide to Medicinal Use of Spices, CRC Press, 2003
Tiffany Wyse ND, Healthy Family’s Preventing the Cold & Flu, 01/20/15
Aviva Romm MD, Winterize Your Kids! Optimizing Health with Herbs, Diet and Common Sense, 01/20/15
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Disclaimer: The information contained is intended to be used for general health care information purposes only, and should not be considered complete or used in place of a visit, call, consultation or advice from a physician and/or healthcare provider. Individuals are encouraged to contact their own private physician or healthcare provider regarding continuation or changes in their symptoms.