Herbs Really Boost Hair Growth

Herbs and vitamins are known to play a significant role in healthy hair growth. And while there is no such thing as a magic herb to make your hair grow, some herbs can be looked at as nature’s healing ingredients.

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Liver Detox – 7 Effective Herbs

Your liver is the first major line of defense against disease, high cholesterol, and even obesity. In an age of polluted water and air, combined with diets full of refined foods and chemicals, there has been no more critical time than now to ensure our largest vital organ is running at it’s highest level of efficiency. Our blood is filled with toxins and tired cells all waiting for the liver to cleanse them from the body – or not. For thousands of years we have been using herbs to cleanse our liver but in all of our modern brilliance, many have chosen to embrace western medicine instead of the wisdom of the ancients. Let us take a look at a few of these herbs and methods to maximize the liver’s ability to detox our bodies.

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How to Grow an Herb Garden For Beginners

Growing your own herbs is an enjoyable and rewarding experience. Many people desire growing their own herbs for culinary or medicinal purposes. Planting herbs is a great way for the beginning gardener to learn the basics of growing plants for harvesting. Starting with a few herbs and watching them thrive just might give the confidence to pursue larger planting endeavors. Growing herbs from home will also eliminate paying the high prices at the market and assure fresh herbs are always on hand and ready to use in that special sauce or favorite tea.

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Find Health and Happiness in the Ancient Practice of Tai Chi

Tai chi, also known as “tai chi chuan,” is an ancient, kinesthetic art that originated in China as a form of self-defense, but is now widely used as an effective method for stress-reduction and overall health improvement. Tai chi is comprised of soft, smooth-flowing movements that fully engage both the mind and body.

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Aromatherapy-Making Your Own Massage Oil

Aromatherapy is the use of specific fragrant substances in lotions and inhalants to affect mood and promote health.
Unless unable to detect scents, we all use aromatherapy every day: smelling an armload of freshly-washed towels which has dried in the sun, your boyfriend’s aftershave, newly-cut grass or fresh coffee: in all instances, aromatherapy is immediate pleasure derived from inhaling scent.
Aromatherapy is an age-old practice. In 3500 BC, Egyptians used incense made from herbs, aromatic woods and spices in religious tributes. They believed as the smoke rose, so did their prayers and praises, wishes and wants.
Egyptian women often wore waxy herbal cones on their heads, which, when melted, released fragrance.
Aromatherapy has also been used medicinally for centuries. In European monasteries during The Plague, monks worked overtime growing angelica, as it was believed the herb could ward off the sickness that was running rampant. During World War II, essential oils such as chamomile, clove, lemon and thyme were used to treat gangrene.
While certain essential oils are chosen for specific ailments, some are “adaptogenic” which means they will be of beneficial use to whatever the body needs at the time. Such oils are lemon and lavender.
The process of extracting oils from plants and herbs is very painstaking, and it is important to choose the best oils possible. Some manufacturers “standardize” their oils to comply with a specific profile , and oftentimes additives are used or product is diluted with vegetable oil.
However, it’s very easy to make your own aromatherapy oils. The healing benefits are many, including stimulating cell renewal and fighting bacteria, fungus and infections.
You will need a good amount of fresh plant material, as you will be adding new flowers/herbs to the mixture every day for four days. You will need a “base oil”, which can be olive, grape seed or sweet almond oil.
You’ll need glass jars with corks for storage, which will allow the oils to breathe (no plastic). Also have some ziplock bags handy.
Into a ziplock bag, place 2 cups of flower/herb petals. Seal and bruise petals slightly with mallet to release oils. Place petals in 1 cup of oil. Cover.
Next day, drain the oil, squeeze out/discard petals. Add 2 cups fresh plant material. Repeat this process for two more days.
If you would rather purchase ready-made oils, make sure you look for clinical, or therapeutic, oils produced by organic growers.
Then, simply combine essential oils with easy-to-find ingredients to produce your own massage oils, body sprays and gel fresheners. Some favorites:

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