Ginger: Healing Medicine for the Cold and Flu Season

Valued for its therapeutic and culinary properties, Zingiber officinale, or ginger has been used by Asian, Indian and Arabic traditions since ancient times. Hippocrates used it as medicine, but the Greeks and Romans valued ginger for its aromatic and pungent flavor. Rediscovered later by Marco Polo, it became one of the most important trade items of the Far East.

Healing Properties of Ginger

The leaves of the ginger plant are edible, but it is the root, called a rhizome, where the real benefits lie. The root contains essential oils, anti-oxidants, amino acids, minerals, and fiber. Gingerols and shogaols, plant compounds that give ginger its spicy taste and pungent aroma, are anti-inflammatory and analgesic. In China ginger has been used to aid digestion and dyspepsia for thousands of years. It has been used to treat respiratory illness, headache, fever, nausea and morning sickness, hypertension and arthritis. In addition, research indicates that ginger might inhibit the growth of certain types of cancer cells. It may also lower cholesterol and help prevent blood clots.

Ginger is perhaps one of the best known herbs for digestion. It increases the production of enzymes which help to break down proteins and rid the stomach and intestines of gas. It also aids in the digestion of fatty foods. Its anti-bacterial power is effective in preventing intestinal problems that take place as a result of the alteration of the intestinal flora.

Ginger's pungent, spicy flavor gives it a warming quality that increases and improves circulation, facilitating blood flow and bile production, thereby aiding the body in detoxification. Its spicy-hot taste, stimulating aroma, and powerful anti-inflammatory effects are useful in diminishing headaches and the nasal and chest congestion associated with the cold and flu season. Ginger tea with lemon and honey may alleviate the pain of a sore throat. Brewed as a tea, ginger induces sweating, which helps fevers run their course.

Ginger Availability

Ginger is available as fresh or dried ginger root, and from distillation of the root oil. The herb is available in extracts, tinctures, capsules and oils. Whenever possible, choose fresh ginger over dried as it is superior in flavor and also contains higher levels of gingerols and shogaols. It is sold in the produce section at the grocery store. Look for a root with a firm smooth skin, if it is wrinkled, it is drying out and will be woody inside.

Remove the skin with a paring knife and then slice, mince, or julienne. Pairing the flavor of ginger with garlic adds a complexity to the taste and complements ginger's healing qualities as garlic also has anti-oxidant properties to help strengthen the immune system.

Remove the skin with a paring knife and then slice, mince, or julienne. Pairing the flavor of ginger with garlic adds a complexity to the taste and complements ginger's healing qualities as garlic also has anti-oxidant properties to help strengthen the immune system.
To make tea, steep five or six quarter inch slices of minced ginger root and a large clove of minced garlic in a cup of boiling water for ten minutes. Remove the ginger and garlic and add a slice of lemon and a teaspoon or two of honey.
Dosage and Side Effects

Ginger may be used by children over 2 years of age to treat nausea, stomach cramping or headaches. Your doctor can help you determine the right dose. Generally, adults should not take more than 4g of ginger per day. Pregnant women should not take more than 1g per day. You may also chew a 1/4 oz piece of fresh ginger as needed. You should not take ginger if you have a bleeding disorder or are on blood thinning medicine as ginger may increase the risk of bleeding. Ginger may lower blood sugar, raising the risk of hypoglycemia, and it may also lower blood pressure, increasing the risk for hypotension and irregular heartbeat. For these reasons ginger should always be taken with care.

Side effects of ginger are rare, but if taken in high doses it may cause heartburn, diarrhea, and mouth irritation. You may be able to avoid some of these effects by taking ginger in capsule form.

The use of herbs is a traditional approach to supplementing the diet with added vitamins, minerals and fiber. It is a time-honored way of strengthening one's immunity, a way to prevent and treat disease. Used in moderation, herbs can be used to complement your health, vitality and the quality of your life.

Red aloe vera (Aloe cameronii)

Aloe cameronii Plants

Photo Courtesy of Geoff Stein.

Aloe cameronii (Cameron's Red Aloe) is a medium sized aloe which produces numerous upright stems of open rosettes to growing up to 2 feet tall. Its narrow leaves turn deep red when grown in full sun and high heat. Aloe cameronii’s bright orange-red flowers emerge in 1 foot tall spikes from late fall through the winter. And while the flowers are truly beautiful, they are even more attractive in contrast with the deep red of Aloe cameronii leaves.

Aloe cameronii should be grown in full sun in well drained soil and irrigated only occasionally to enhance its leaves’ red color. If you over water this plant, the leaves may turn green. Aloe cameronii is a relatively hardy plant, handling down to the mid 20's without frost damage. This aloe species combines attractive foliage and attractive flowers.

Aloe cameronii was first discovered by Kenneth Cameron of the African Lakes Corporation, who sent it to the Royal Botanic Garden at Kew in 1854.

Herbal Remedy, Elymus repens

Alternative Medicine to Treat Cystitis and Urethritis

Elymus repens may be used as an alternative treatment to relieve disorders disorders of the kidneys and urinary tract such as Cystitis and Urethritis.

Elymus repens, synonym Agropyron repens, also known as Couch grass, Dogs Grass, Quack grass or Twitch, is widely distributed in North America, Europe, North Africa and North Asia. It is found growing wild in gardens and fields, particularly those with a clay soil. The fleshy white roots are spearlike with regular nodes of small rootlets every few centimeters. The roots can spread underground many tens of centimeters, and the bright green leaves may reach up to a meter in height.

It is not easy to find an Elymus repens enthusiast amongst gardeners as it has a bad reputation as an invasive and persistent perennial weed; in the past, however, Elymus repens was widely used as an herbal remedy to treat disorders of the kidneys and urinary tract such as cystitis and urethritis (infection and inflammation of the urethra).


Clinical studies
Scientific studies have shown that Elymus repens has diuretic and sedative effects in rats and mice, but there is a lack of clinical research assessing the medical effects of Elymus repens in humans. The Council of Europe classifies it as suitable for addition to foodstuffs in small quantities; indeed the French still do regularly make a tisane of Elymus repens root. In the past the dried, ground roots of Elymus repens have been added to bread dough, and it is still used today as fodder for livestock.

How to prepare Elymus repens herbal remedy yourself

To collect and prepare Elymus repens yourself, dig up the long roots in spring or early fall and wash them well. Cut out the thick sections of root between the nodes of rootlets. Dry these sections of root and store in an airtight container.

The easiest way to use Elymus repens as a herbal remedy is to prepare a decoction of the herb; gently simmer the dried root in water (do not boil hard) for thirty minutes, strain and discard the boiled roots. Take 4-8 grams of the dried root prepared in this way three times daily.

This pale straw colored fluid has a rather bland, but not unpleasant, taste.

Given the lack of scientific studies in humans, avoid using Elymus repens during pregnancy and lactation.

Elymus repens in commercial herbal preparations Elymus repens is included in many herbal preparations, such as “Femmeherb Cystaid” treatment for cystitis and “Napiers Uva Ursi Tea” for urinary tract infections or an irritable bladder. These are blends of several herbs including Elymus repens so be sure to read any warnings on these commercial treatments that include Elymus repens.

Although the scientific evidence today is inconclusive, Culpeper was in no doubt over the virtues of Elymus repens:

Turmeric Spice Benefits the Heart

Popular Asian Spice’s Heart Health Benefits Proved

Turmeric has long been known by Chinese and Indian healers for its curative properties. Canadian researchers have shown how it can prevent or reverse cardiac problems.
Turmeric, a golden yellow spice derived from a root similar to ginger and galangal, is a major ingredient in spice mixes for cooking curry dishes throughout India, China and Southeast Asia.

Healing Properties of Turmeric
As well as its digestive properties, the healing properties of turmeric have been well known in eastern cultures. It is used in traditional Indian and Chinese medicine to reduce scar formation, and is a common home remedy to apply to a cut or bruise to prevent ugly scarring.

Now Canadian researchers have shown that eating curcumin, a natural ingredient in turmeric, may dramatically reduce the chance of developing heart failure.


Researchers at the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre of the Toronto General Hospital found when the herb was given orally to a variety of mouse models with enlarged hearts (hypertrophy), turmeric can prevent and reverse hypertrophy, restore heart function and reduce scar formation.

Curcumin Works in the Cell Nucleus
The researchers were able to show that, unlike many natural compounds whose effects are minimal, curcumin works directly in the cell nucleus by preventing abnormal unraveling of the chromosome under stress, and preventing excessive abnormal protein production.

“Curcumin’s ability to shut off one of the major switches right at the chromosome source where the enlargement and scarring genes are being turned on is impressive,” says Dr. Peter Liu, cardiologist in the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre and Scientific Director at the Canadian Institutes of Health Research – Institute of Circulatory and Respiratory Health.

He is also the Heart and Stroke Foundation’s Polo Chair Professor in Medicine and Physiology at the University of Toronto,

Dr Liu described the research and its implications for people with heart problems in a media briefing on the paper, Curcumin prevents and reverses murine cardiac hypertrophy, which was published in the February edition of the Journal of Clinical Investigation.

Curcumin’s action is good news for the many fans of Indian and Asian food, and people with concerns about developing heart attacks or heart failure.

However, Dr Liu cautions about going overboard on eating curries or other turmeric-based dishes. “The beneficial effects of curcumin are not strengthened by eating more of it,” he says

Safe and Effective Means of Preventing Heart Failure
Since curcumin is a naturally occurring compound that is readily available at a low cost, it might be a safe and effective means of avoiding heart failure in the future by preventing enlargement of the heart.

“Whether you are young or old, male or female, the larger your heart is, the higher your risk is for developing heart attacks or heart failure in the future,“ Dr Liu says.

Clinical Trials of Curcumin
However, it’s too soon for curcumin-based medications to be on the market, as they have not yet undergone clinical trials.

There are some curcumin-based treatments currently in clinical trials; these are for patients with pancreatic and colorectal cancer and are showing promising results.

If clinical trials of curcumin support initial findings of preventing heart enlargement, Dr Liu predicts it may offer hope for millions of patients with heart enlargement in a relatively safe and inexpensive manner.

In the meantime, he recommends common sense approaches to maintaining a healthy heart: “lowering blood pressure, reducing cholesterol, exercising and healthy eating.”

And if that healthy diet also includes a golden yellow curry dish once in a while, so much the better!

Healthy Cooking with Spices

Nutritional Benefits of Cinnamon, Ginger, Nutmeg and More

Adding aromatic and flavorsome spices to recipes has a variety of health benefits.
Spices are full of antioxidants which may help prevent certain conditions, such as premature aging and heart problems, from occurring. Although many spices can be purchased in capsule form from local health food store, a tastier option is to incorporate these health giving seasonings directly into culinary creations. It is much healthier to flavor foods with herbs and spices rather than sprinkling on loads of sugar and salt.

Benefits of Cinnamon
Cinnamon can be used to help control diarrhea and vomiting. Recently this spice has been studied to see if it can be used to help regulate blood sugar levels in people with diabetes. An added benefit of these studies is that cinnamon may also help to lower cholesterol levels.


Benefits of Ginger
Ginger has traditionally been used as a digestive regulating herb. It can help to alleviate the symptoms associated with nausea, morning sickness, motion sickness and indigestion.

Benefits of Clove
Clove oil can be used in an emergency to help alleviate the pain associated with a toothache. Saturate a cotton ball with a few drops of the oil and place it on the tooth that is causing discomfort.

Benefits of Nutmeg
Nutmeg is another spice that can be used to ease complaints associated with an upset stomach and may bring relief to anyone suffering with diarrhea.

Other Spices
Additional spices worth researching for their health benefits include garlic, turmeric, cayenne pepper and paprika.

Using Spices
Cinnamon can be sprinkled on top of cereal, oatmeal and lightly buttered toast and muffins. Cinnamon, ginger or nutmeg can be added to coffee beans or tea leaves before brewing the next cup. Sweet spices, such as clove and allspice, work well when paired with foods such as sweet potatoes, carrots and winter squash. Nutmeg also tastes great sprinkled onto baked squash or incorporated into meat dishes such as Swedish meatballs.

Exercise Caution
Anyone that has a history of heartburn should exercise caution when using some of these remedies. The hotter, spicier herbs, such as cinnamon and ginger, have been known to cause heartburn in certain susceptible individuals. Also, nutmeg can be a hallucinogen when used in excessive quantities.

Flax Seed Oil Source of EFAs

Essential Fatty Acids in Oil and Seeds Maintain Health of the Colon

Flax seed oils and seeds contain Essential Fatty Acids ( EFAs) needed to maintain the health of the colon. Helps clean the body of toxic materials.
“Wherever flax seed becomes a regular food item among the people, there will be better health.” Mahatma Gandhi

Flax Seed for Health
Flax is a blue flowering plant that is grown for its oil rich seeds. Flax has been used in the human diet since at least 3000 B.C. Around 650 B.C., Hippocrates wrote about the soothing nature of eating flax to relieve abdominal pains. Today, many people consume the whole seed for its many health benefits and its unique nutty flavor. Flax is currently under study at the National Cancer Institute as well as other research centers in the U.S. and Canada.

The major components of flax seed are oil and protein. The majority of flax oil that is available in North America is sold in capsules or in bottles. The interest in flax oil has grown in recent years because it is unique among oil seeds containing an exceptionally high concentration of the Omega 3 fatty acids. Flax oil, when extracted with care, is one of the greatest sources of essential fatty acids.

The protein in flax seeds is easily digested and contains all the amino acids needed for building a strong body. The fiber in flax acts as a broom sweeping the colon of toxic material, metabolic waste and dried mucus. Flax fiber is an excellent food for friendly bacteria in the intestine, which keeps disease-causing organisms in check.


Flax mucilage helps to prevent toxic build-up in the bowel during fasting or a healing diet. When juice fasting, take a teaspoon of whole flax, two to three times per day, with a generous supply of water. Do not chew the seeds; swallow them whole with a glass of water. This will allow only the mucilage to escape. The flax seed will pass out of the system without releasing any of its oil. Even though the oil is highly nutritious, it can hinder the deep cleansing process that is desirable during juice fasting.

Flax seed contains lignans that have antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal and anti-cancer properties. Flax seeds have the richest source of lignans, 100 times more than the next best source, that of wheat bran. These little seeds improve digestion, help stabilize blood glucose levels, fight tumor formation and enhance cardiovascular health. Never purchase ground flax. Grind your own flax seeds fresh in a coffee grinder and eat immediately. Both the flax seed and the flax oil are very unstable and turn rancid if they are not refrigerated.

In this day and age of fat phobia and the resultant barrage of low fat and non-fat food products lining the grocery store aisles, a recommendation to supplement your daily diet with one to two tablespoons of essential fatty acid-rich flax or borage seed oil would appear to go against what you are being told! To the contrary, this is exactly what health conscious consumers are doing across the country to attain and maintain health

The essential fatty acids (EFAs) found in flax seed oil have been scientifically validated to benefit optimal health. A lack of the dietary essential fatty acids has been suggested to facilitate degenerative disease. Surveys indicate that at least 80% of our population is deficient in the essential fatty acids. Unfortunately, mass commercial refinement of fat and oil products and foods containing them has effectively eliminated the essential fatty acids from our food chain, contributing to our modern day deficiencies and growing concern with obesity. Flax seed (whole or ground) can be a wonderful addition to pancakes, breads, muffins, soups and whole grain casseroles.

Rosemary Herb Helps Memory

How Rosemary Protects our Brains from Free Radicals


New research details how the culinary and medicinal herb, rosemary, a delight to taste and smell, also protects our brains against neurodegeneration from free radicals.

Who doesn’t love the tangy, aromatic smell of rosemary? Picked fresh off a bush, bought in the market or cooked with your favourite foods. Roast lamb with rosemary and garlic, skillet fried chicken with rosemary, white wine and butter, oven-roasted potatoes with sea salt, olive oil and rosemary, mm mm!

Culinary and Medicinal Herb
Originally a native of the Mediterranean, the evergreen shrub Rosemary, (Rosmarinus officinalis), grows well in most countries, and has been an important part of many cuisines since the Greeks and the Romans first used it for flavouring foods and wine. It also has a long medicinal history, brewed into remedies for respiratory, digestive, skin and nervous complaints. In the Middle Ages, rosemary was used to fumigate houses against the plague.

The herb also had spiritual and religious significance, particularly in remembering the dead, as Shakespeare tells us: “There’s rosemary: that’s for remembrance”, and it is often planted around war memorials and cemeteries.


Now scientists are able to tell us how rosemary can assist with memory and thinking by protecting our brains.

Carnosic Acid Fights Free Radicals
A collaborative group from the Burnham Institute for Medical Research in La Jolla, California and in Japan, report that rosemary contains carnosic acid (CA) which fights off free radical damage in the brain.

CA can protect the brain from stroke and neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s Disease resulting from damage caused by free radicals. These free radicals are thought to contribute not only to stroke and Alzheimer’s, but also to the ill effects of normal aging on the brain.


The scientists report that CA activates a novel signaling pathway that protects brain cells from the ravages of free radicals. In animal models, the group, led by Drs. Takumi Satoh (Iwate University, Japan) and Stuart A. Lipton, MD, PhD, Director, Professor, and Senior Vice President at the Burnham’s Del E. Webb Neuroscience, Aging, and Stem Cell Research Center found that CA becomes activated by the free radical damage itself, remaining innocuous unless needed. This makes it the perfect drug. they say.

New Drugs From Rosemary?
The Institute is looking at ways to isolate CA as the basis for a medication for elderly and neurologically-ill patients. Doctors Satoh and Lipton have filed a United States patent application for a whole series of novel compounds that show increased benefits over rosemary itself.

“This is not to say that rosemary chicken is not good for you,” said Dr. Satoh, “but it means that we can do even better in protecting the brain from terrible disorders such as Alzheimer’s and Lou Gehrig’s disease, perhaps even slowing down the effects of normal aging, by developing new and improved cousins to the active ingredient in rosemary.”

“This new type of drug works through a mechanism known as redox chemistry, in which electrons are transferred from one molecule to another in order to activate the body’s own defense system,” said Dr Lipton

“Moreover, unlike most new drugs, this type of compound may well be safe and clinically tolerated because it is present in a naturally-occurring herb that is known to get into the brain and has been consumed by people for over a thousand years.” The studies are reported in the latest editions of The Journal of Neurochemistry and Nature Reviews Neuroscience.

While the scientists get on with developing new drugs from rosemary, we can go on enjoying the aromatic herb in many delicious dishes, knowing it not only smells and tastes heavenly, but is protecting our brains as we eat.