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ISSUE 12
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AÂ MAGAZINE FOR ANYONE WHO WANTS TO LIVE IN HARMONY WITH NATURE
HERBS
Pregnancy AND
10 SPRING HERBS TO NOT OVERLOOK
Yummy Recipes HERBAL
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ISSUE 12 APRIL, MAY, JUNE
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WEIGHT 1 Pound lb. 1 Ounce oz. 1 Dram (Pinch) dr. 1 Grain gr. VOLUME 1 Quart 1 Pint 1 Cup 1 Fluid ounce 1 Tablespoon 1/2 Tablespoon 1 Teaspoon 1/2 Teaspoon
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MY HERBS MAGAZINE
Subscribe Today Inside Every Issue: • Tasty (and easy!) whole food recipes • Introduction to herbs − and what they can do for you • DIY projects to enhance your natural beauty and health Sign up now & get the new My Herbs issue delivered directly to your door (4 printed issues / year).
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Editorial
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MY HERBS MAGAZINE
Dear readers, The time is finally here. The snow has melted away revealing small buds bursting from the ground. Our landscapes fill once again with lush, verdant earth. And we welcome the warm weather of spring. Just as the natural world is awakening, so too can we attune ourselves, and revel in the many benefits it bestows. In this issue, we offer practical, hands-on projects and recipes that allow you to harvest the healing benefits of herbs so abundant in spring. We take you step-by-step through the process of growing herbs in your garden and highlight the necessary precautions to take when picking herbs in the wild (page 32). With only a few ingredients and just 2 steps of preparation, your skin can be reaping the benefits of your homegrown herbs. Try a calming camomile herbal tonic (page 42). Or if the fragrant flowers of spring beckon to you, try integrating them into your own signature scent with an herbal perfume (page 40). The My Herbs kitchen has quick and tasty recipes for all your springtime brunches. Think banana pancakes with dandelion honey, nettle spinach with potatoes and quail eggs, and asparagus quiche with pancetta (page 44). Yum! Whether through healthy meals, or healing tonics, spring is the perfect time to begin to integrate the many benefits herbs provide into your life. We hope this issue offers you simple and useful ways of doing so! Wishing you all the best this spring, Kelsey Quinn and the whole My Herbs family. MYHERBSMAG.COM
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Contents
10 Ten Spring Herbs To Not Overlook 18 Herbs as Part of Healthy and Tasty Dishes 24 Pregnancy & Herbs 32 Can We Grow Wild Herbs in the Garden? 36 Prime Up Your Own Green Medicine Cabinet 40 Do It Yourself: Spring Herbal Perfume 42 Homemade Cosmetics: Two-Step Herbal Cleansing Tonic 44 Healthy Cooking, exclusive recipes tested in the My Herbs kitchen
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54 The Healing Powers of Coffee and the Coffee Tree 60 Greek Herbs and Spices 68 Wasabi: Potential AntiCancer 74 Gluten-Free Low-Carb Flours 82 Will Manioc Help Cure Civilization Diseases? 84 Is There Such a Thing as Healthy Sweeteners? 88 Helpers for Curing Wounds
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94 Herbs that Help Cure Unwell Skin
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Herbal Recipes
10 Spring Herbs Worthy of Recognition Daisies are most often used in infusions and meals for a spring detoxification.
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MY HERBS MAGAZINE
Don’t let the spring herb collecting in the garden and open nature pass you by – you would be cheating yourself of great remedial herbs that you can use in the kitchen, home cosmetics, and healthy herbal teas.
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pring is perfect for collecting the first buds and fresh blooms of herbs. But it is also the time for harvesting the roots of remedial plants. We will now introduce you to 10 herbs that you certainly shouldn’t pass up picking. Meadows have a myriad of herbs that fight coughs, detoxify, improve moods and also greatly alleviate female and urological troubles.
CHOOSING THE LOCATION If you decide to pick herbs in open nature, always keep in mind that not all places are ideal for this purpose. Some herbs do especially well near junkyards or roads. Avoid these places for the sake of your health, and only collect herbs in clean environments. What follows is an overview of early spring herbs that should certainly not be overlooked. While some have specific uses, others are more universal and serve as prevention.
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Herbal Recipes 1) Coltsfoot
(Tussilago farfara) dissolves mucus This somewhat weed-like plant spreads itself with underground growths and often grows in shambles, junkyards and roadsides. However, avoid these places when picking herbs. Thanks to its high content of slimes. coltsfoot is used to treat inflammation, asthma, and bronchitis. Coltsfoot has similar effects to those of lungwort, which, just like this yellow-blooming plant, is collected in spring.
2) Dandelion
(Taraxacum officinale) is a diuretic Many of us consider this herb a pesky weed that spoils decorative lawns. However, if we were more aware of just how useful this low-maintenance herb is, we would surely approach it very differently. The whole plant has remedial proper-
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ties, but its roots are most often picked in fall or early spring and dried to be stored for later use. Its young, freshly developed leaves can be added to salads, while its blooms can be used in the making of sorbets and interestingly-flavored honey. The dandelion is a natural antibiotic and, thanks to its detoxifying properties, can be found in many mixtures for the cleansing of blood and the body as a whole. Not only does it support kidney, liver, and gallbladder functioning, it also has a positive impact on the heart and lowers blood pressure.
3) Plantain
(Plantago lanceolata) suppresses cough and colds Plantain is another herb that no good herbal medicinal cabinet should be without. Its long, thin leaves grow in early spring, and it is good to dry
them ahead of time. The fresh leaves can be used for preparing a healthy syrup to ward off coughs, ideally with the cold method, in order for it to retain most of its curing compounds. The herb functions antivirally and anti-bacterially, hence its use in treating the flu, cold, and bronchial inflammations. It is also useful in cleansing the organism, because it is a diuretic and purifies blood. However, these aren’t all the benefits of plantain. Should you at some point suffer from indigestion and high stomach acidity, make sure you try this herb with a variety of uses. It is often added to children’s teas, because using it even long-term is not dangerous to health.
4) Daisy
(Bellis perennis) for spring detoxification Daisy blooms can be found pretty much throughout the entire year, even under a snow cover. It is one of the first herbs that coats meadows with white and pink hues. It is in spring when this non-demanding herb contains the most effective compounds, which makes picking it during this season ideal. The blooms and leaves can be eaten in vegetable salads or can serve a use as decorations for soups or sweet desserts. Its anti-inflammatory effects predispose this herb to being used in the treatment of air pipes and indigestion. Alongside daisy blooms and plantain leaves, it is often added to tea mixtures used for cleansing the organism. It has a pleasantly fresh smell in mixtures, but it tends to be overshadowed by other, stronger-smelling herbs.
5) Shepherd’s purse
(Capsella bursa-pastoris) protects against irregular menstruation We usually see shepherd’s purse as a weed growing in gardens, fields, and meadows. Its leaves are great in vegetable salad, thanks to its pleasant taste. The herb can be picked almost all year round, but if you want to use it in cooking, it tastes best in spring. Its medicinal properties are used primarily to counter heart disease and issues of the vascular system. It is also used to stop bleeding and fluctuating blood pressure. It has a positive impact on the spleen and liver. However, it cannot be used long-term and in high concentrations, so do consult with your doctor before using. Pick its small capsules for medicinal uses.
6) Ground ivy
(Glechoma hederacea) for better breathing Ground ivy is one of the most common weeds in lawns and meadows. Its leafy tops with blooms are picked for medicinal uses. It is also valued as a wild vegetable that works well in vegetable meals. It is most often used to fight breathing problems. It alleviates coughs and, thanks to its anti-inflammatory effects, it also helps with digestive problems. Ground ivy can be eaten fresh in the form of alcohol tincture, in tea mixtures, and can also be used when preparing curing baths. A strong infusion can be used for gargling and compressions for wounds and scars that aren’t healing well.
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Bylinkový Herbal Recipes receptář 7) White nettle
(Lamium album) is a urological herb
Although this white-blooming herb ranks among the typical spring herbs, it can essentially be picked throughout the entire year. It often grows in ruins and other contaminated areas, so be careful when picking it. Pick the white blooms, which are most typically used in treating male and female issues, and do this during a spell of dry weather. While the nettle strengthens women’s uteruses and suppresses ovary inflammations and irregular menstruation, in men it is used to treat prostate disease. Even though picking the small blooms is a difficult process, it is certainly worthwhile. White nettles can be used in treating colds and have a positive effect on the respiratory system. They can even improve sleep.
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8) Cowslip
(Primula veris) suppresses coughs Although we usually see cowslip as a decorative plant, believe us when we say its uses are much wider. The fresh blooms are great in vegetable salads or as a dessert garnish. It is used by healers for its beneficial effects on the lungs. It is also used to treat the flu and colds. Since it eases coughing up mucus, it helps with coughs, too. It has a great calming effect, remedies insomnia, and improves one’s condition during nerve troubles. It cleanses the organism, has a diuretic effect, and dissolves kidney stones. It is a herb you should consult a doctor about prior to using it. Also, be aware that it is usually added to herbal mixtures, since on its own it can cause problems.
9) Lungwort
(Pulmonaria officinalis) saves the respiratory organs This low-maintenance plant grows in leafy forests or in gardens. Its leaves or leafy tops are used for medicine. As its name suggests, its effect primarily concerns the air tract and lungs. Lungwort is added to herbal mixtures when dealing with cough, bronchial issues, and pneumonia.
10) Strawberry
(Fragaria vesca) maintains health This resilient plant is one of the most universal. It is often used as base in various tea mixtures alongside raspberry and blackberry. Pick the leaves while they are still young and fresh. Later on, they lose a portion of their remedial compounds, so pick them at a time when the plant is still in bloom. Both the dried and fresh leaves cleanse the organism, have a diuretic effect, dissolve sand and stones in the urinary tract, and have an overall positive impact on the whole organism. It can be used in any amount, since strawberry hasn’t shown any negative side effects. It is great when combined with raspberry, blueberry, and other forest herbs.
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Our prices have never been so low To subscribe to My Herbs, please visit our website or call us. Phone: +1 (818) 286-3114 www.MyHerbsMag.com myhcs@magserv.com Address: My Herbs Magazine P.O. Box 16505 North Hollywood CA 91615-6505, USA
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