The Modern Herbal

Sandalwood Essential Oil

Admin — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 22:14:42 +0000

Sandalwood essential oil is derived from one of three sources. East Indian sandalwood (Santalum album L.), also known as white sandalwood, is a tall evergreen tree sometimes referred to as Mysore that grows wild or cultivated in India and areas of Malaysia. Because the tree is currently considered a threatened species, oil . . . → Read More: Sandalwood Essential Oil

Blue Cohosh Herb

Admin — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 22:36:59 +0000

Blue cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictroides), also known as papoose root or squawroot, is a medicinal herb that grows natively from eastern Canada south to the Appalachian regions of the United States. The herb’s preferred habitat comprises rich, moist, mountainous areas and the plant grows best under the shade of large hardwood trees. Blue . . . → Read More: Blue Cohosh Herb

Natural Remedies for Anxiety

Admin — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 22:01:04 +0000

Anxiety, defined as a general feeling of worry, happens to everyone sooner or later. Individuals with anxiety disorders, however, experience frequent and excessive feelings of worry, anxiousness, fear or even panic. For these people, anxiety can interfere with normal day-to-day activities, which makes life very difficult. Common signs and symptoms of anxiety . . . → Read More: Natural Remedies for Anxiety

How to Make Natural Shampoo: Recipes Customized to Your Hair Type

Admin — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 19:54:55 +0000

Using a natural shampoo, either store-bought or homemade, can help you achieve the beautiful, shiny, bouncy hair that you’ve always wanted. Herbs and natural ingredients are gentle on the hair and don’t strip away natural oils like many commercial shampoos. The best part about making your own natural shampoos, however, is the . . . → Read More: How to Make Natural Shampoo: Recipes Customized to Your Hair Type

How to Make Herbal Tinctures From Fresh or Dried Herbs

Admin — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 17:50:08 +0000

Herbal tinctures, alcoholic extractions of fresh or dried herbs, are more potent than other types of herbal medicines and have a much longer shelf life. In most cases, a properly prepared herbal tincture will retain its potency for several years. In addition, making herbal tinctures is not a complicated, unattainable process; anyone . . . → Read More: How to Make Herbal Tinctures From Fresh or Dried Herbs

Bergamot Essential Oil

Admin — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 22:34:13 +0000

Bergamot essential oil, extracted from the bergamot orange tree (Citrus aurantium var. bergamia), has a fresh, sweet, spicy, citrus-like scent. It smells similar to both neroli and lavender essential oil, but still maintains its own distinct aroma. The oil has a thin, almost watery consistency, and ranges in color from light green . . . → Read More: Bergamot Essential Oil

Cayenne Pepper Benefits

Admin — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 19:59:07 +0000

Cayenne pepper (Capsicum annuum), an exotic condiment and healing herb used in cooking and natural medicine, is the fruit of a shrubby plant native to tropical America. Although it was most likely cultivated for thousands of years in Africa, India and tropical areas of the Americas, the herb eluded literary reference until . . . → Read More: Cayenne Pepper Benefits

Gout Home Remedies

Admin — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 17:36:17 +0000

Gout, a form of arthritis, occurs when uric acid forms crystals that build up in a joint, which results in the sudden onset of inflammation and severe pain. Uric acid is a normal by-product of the body’s protein metabolism. Individuals who experience gout either produce too much uric acid or do not . . . → Read More: Gout Home Remedies

Ylang Ylang Essential Oil

Admin — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 18:03:41 +0000

Ylang ylang essential oil (pronounced e-lang e-lang) is created from the aromatic, star-shaped flowers of the ylang-ylang tree (Cananga odorata) that grows natively in Malaysia, Indonesia and other lowland countries of east Asia. Today, the tree is also cultivated in Madagascar, where it thrives in the country’s moist, tropical climate and volcanic . . . → Read More: Ylang Ylang Essential Oil

Star Anise Health Benefits

Admin — Tue, 28 Dec 2010 22:12:07 +0000

What is star anise (Illicium verum)? It’s a culinary spice and medicinal herb that is cultivated from an evergreen tree native to tropical and subtropical areas of China and Vietnam. The herb is shaped like an eight-pointed star, hence its common name. Often used in Chinese and Indian cuisine, star anise also . . . → Read More: Star Anise Health Benefits