Dong Quai Health Benefits:

Dong Quai, Angelica sinensis, is also known under many other names in its native areas, including can qui, dangdanggui, dang gui, dong quai, duong qui handanggui, hashyshat almalak, kara toki, langdu danggui, min-gui, tang-kuei, and tangkuei tân qui, and in the West as female ginseng or Chinese angelica. It is closely related to angelica, parsley, celery, carrots, and poison hemlock.

Description

It is a fairly hardy perennial (tolerating minimum temperatures of -5º C) which is found at higher altitudes in China, Japan and Korea. It…


Cascara health benefits: intestinal tonic and laxative

Cascara, Frangula purshiana syn. Rhamnus purshiana, is also known as bearberry, cascara buckthorn, cascara sagrada, chittem, chitticum and Western buckthorn. It is not related to Uva ursi (also called bearberry). It is closely related to other buckthorns, including common buckthorn.

The name cascara comes from cáscara sagrada, Spanish for sacred bark, a name coined in the 17th century. It has…


Guest Post: Top 5 Medicinal Herbs in Costa Rica

With the cost of healthcare increasing, medical tourism is on the rise. It is now a well-known fact that Costa Rica is a medical-treatment destination for many people from the USA, Canada and beyond.

However, what is less well-known, is that Costa Rica has many indigenous herbs and plants that provide medicinal qualities. This natural side of Costa Rica medicine is often overlooked. It provides a perfect balance to the modern high-tech medical facilities in the country.

Let us take a look at the top 5 medicinal herbs in Costa Rica, and get a better understanding of the power of nature’s…


Guest Post: 7 Foods Your Teeth Will Thank You For Eating

We all have a pretty clear image of what foods are bad for your teeth. Steer away from fizzy juice, take a break with the caramel chews, and cut out the coffee. We’re sure none of these are news to you.

However, what a lot of people forget to mention is that there are lots of foods that will help you maintain a good healthy oral hygiene.

In this guest blog, we’ll have a look at 7 superfoods that are great for your teeth. They help keep your teeth strong, fight off cavities, keep your breath fresh, and the last but…


Guest Post: Yummy superfoods that don’t break the bank

With everyone talking about how “superfoods” can accelerate weight loss, improve digestion, enhance mood, and boost your overall health, it’s no wonder we’re all looking for ways to incorporate these seemingly magical ingredients into our own diets. However, the hefty price tag that often accompanies these superfoods can make them somewhat inaccessible for most of us – and usually, they’re not the tastiest options out there.

The idea that these foods are “super” is mainly just a marketing term. Generally, these foods are nutrient-dense foods that are packed with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties – but a lot of these can…


ultimate-toothpaste-guide-healthy-smile.jpg

Guest Post: The Ultimate Toothpaste Guide

Why is it that some people put only pea-sized toothpaste on their brush while others put a lot? Which one is more effective? Does it mean that putting more toothpaste will allow you to maintain healthy teeth a healthy smile?

These are just some of the questions most people think of when using commercial toothpaste. The truth is that the quantity of toothpaste used each time you brush doesn’t determine its effectiveness. Just because you have used a lot of toothpaste at once doesn’t mean you can expect the best results right away.

In fact, it could be the exact opposite….


Vanilla Essential Oil

Vanilla essential oil benefits and uses

There are three types of vanilla essential oil*, which are:

  • extracted from Vanilla planifolia, sometimes labelled Bourbon vanilla,
  • extracted from V. pompona, sometimes labelled West Indies vanilla, and
  • extracted from V. tahitensis (which is not often used, due to the low vanillin content), sometimes called Tahitian vanilla.

You may also come across an oil called Mexican vanilla, which is also extracted from V. planifolia like Bourbon vanilla, but unfortunately is often adulterated with oil from…


Society garlic, Tulbaghia violacea

Society Garlic health benefits: Strong healing, no garlic breath

Society garlic, Tulbaghia violacea syn. T. cepacea, is also sometimes called sweet garlic and wild garlic (a name it shares with Ramsons) in English, wildeknoffel in Afrikaans, isihaqa in Zulu and moelela in Sotho.

It is native to KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, Western Cape and Northern Cape (South Africa), but is also found growing wild in other South African provinces as well as Southern Tanzania, Malawi, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Swaziland and Lesotho.

Description

Society garlic is in the Alliaceae family, as are Garlic, Ramsons, onions, leeks…


Weight Loss: Low Fat or Low Carb?

I don’t usually do this, but an article in the Guardian which I’ve just read is so important that I need to bring it to your attention.

The article in question is The sugar conspiracy by Ian Leslie. It describes how the nutritional science establishment suppressed evidence over many years to promote the idea that cholesterol and high fat content in the diet was the major cause of obesity.

The result of this was that official dietary advice since the 1970s has advocated a low…