Know Your Herbal Chemistry

A herbalist should be fully aware of details about the pharmacology of herbs, a basic understanding of it is more than enough. Herbs are used for healing the human body, they are considered to be holistic agents, and they are used on a physical and biochemistry level. Many pharmacologists try to find out the constituents of herbs, place them according to their chemical groups and have done numerous research and have found herbs to be very complex in their characteristics. Herbs contain a huge variety of chemicals like water, inorganic salt, sugars, carbohydrates, proteins that are highly complex, and alkaloids.

Plant Acids:

An example of weak organic acids is generally found among plants, lemon is the perfect example of citric acid. Organic acids can be split into those based on a carbon chain, and those, which contain a carbon ring in their configuration, but what both have in common is the…

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Know Your Underground Roots

Crooked Bear Creek Organic Herbs

Underground Stems

The underground stems, by being situated below the surface of the soil, protect themselves against unfavorable conditions of weather and the attack of animals and serve as storehouses for reserve food, and in vegetative propagation. Their stem nature can be distinguished by the presence of nodes and internodes, scale leaves at the nodes, axillary buds in axils of scale leaves and a terminal bud. Further, the anatomy of the underground stem resembles that of an aerial stem. The underground stems are of four types namely rhizome, tuber, bulb, and corm.

Rhizome

A rhizome is a thick horizontally growing stem which usually stores food material. It has nodes and internodes, scale leaves, axillary buds, adventitious roots and a terminal bud. Scale leaves enclosing the axillary buds are seen arising from the nodal points of the stem. Some of the axillary buds develop into branches which grow upwards into the…

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Your Apothecary Cabinet: The Healing Properties Of Herbs

Crooked Bear Creek Organic Herbs

There have been lots of pharmaceutical studies to evaluate the active elements present in herbs to discover the reason as well as the manner in which they work. A relatively outmoded method is to classify the herbs by exploring the types of health conditions that they can aid in curing. Identifying the actions of the herbs and the manner in which they may be employed together forms the basis of a comprehensive approach.

For example, in a number of instances, the action of herbs is owing to certain chemical or a blend of chemicals present in them – the sedative herb valerian is a perfect example of this. Alternatively, the action may also be owing to a multifaceted synergetic interaction between the different elements of the herbs. Nevertheless, the best way to comprehend the actions of the herbs is to consider them as characteristics all together and to interpret the chemical…

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Endangered Species; Herb Guide: Goldthread

Crooked Bear Creek Organic Herbs

Health Benefits of Goldthread

Goldthread, also known as coptis or canker root, is a genus of perennial herbs that have been part of Asian and North American traditional medicine for hundreds of years. The roots of the plant look like a tangled mass of gold thread, hence its name. Herbal goldthread is actually the powdered rhizome, or underground stem, of the goldthread plant.

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Herb Guide: Senna

Crooked Bear Creek Organic Herbs

Cassia senna syn. Senna Alexandria

Also, Known As:

Alexandrian Senna
Senna

The senna plant is a small shrub belonging to the Caesalpiniaceae family. Incidentally, the senna belongs to two genus of Cassia – C. senna is also known as Alexandrina senna and C. Angustifolia that is also called the Tinnevelly senna. While the first variety of senna is found along the Nile River in Egypt and Sudan, the second type is widely cultivated in southern and eastern parts of India. It may be noted here that some experts are of the opinion that both the varieties of senna belong to a single species – Senna Alexandrina. Despite such claims, it may be said that the two varieties of senna differ greatly both according to morphology (structure of the plants) and histology (tissue study). Hence, the theory that Senna belongs to one single species is yet to get the pharmacognosists’ sanction.

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Herbal Pet Care

Crooked Bear Creek Organic Herbs

Just as we use herbs to enhance our lives, we can do the same for our four-legged family members – our pets. A growing number of veterinarians take a holistic approach to health care for animals, and that includes the use of herbs to promote wellness and increase the quality and length of our pet’s lives. At home, you can use herbs to supplement your pet’s diet and make healing preparations for them. But remember Always work with a veterinarian who is trained in the use of herbs for pets.

German-Shepherd-Dog

Nutritive Herbs for Pets

The following herbs are excellent daily additions to your pet’s diet. Finely mince the fresh organic herbs and sprinkle them over food just before serving. Grind the seeds into a powder and add just a pinch to food before serving. Decoct {simmer in water for 10 to 15 minutes} the burdock root, and pour some of…

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Herbal Healing For Pets

Crooked Bear Creek Organic Herbs

Even with a healthy diet and regular exercise, your cat or dog could be plagued by parasites, be stung by a bee, or could develop an acute or chronic disease. A holistic veterinarian might treat the problem in a variety of ways, but the treatment will likely include the use of herbs. Here are a few of the most common problems dogs and cats experience and the herbs used to treat them. Work with your vet to determine the best preparation and dosage for your pet. To find a holistic veterinarian in your area, contact the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association {www.ahvma.org}. Many of these practitioners use herbs as part of an integrated approach to pet health.

Allergies:

Allergies result when the body’s immune system becomes overactive in response to an allergen. Besides identifying and avoiding the triggering substance, treatment could include the use of herbs that help the…

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Herb Guide: Cat’s Claw {Uncaria tomentosa}

Crooked Bear Creek Organic Herbs

Also, Known As:

Cat’s Claw
Garabato
Saventaro
Una De Gato

Traditional herbalist and indigenous healers or shamans in South America make wide use of the herb called the cat’s claw in their remedies. All types of infectious diseases, many cancerous disorders and inflammations are normally treated using the cat’s claw herb by the Ashaninka Indians of Peru; in their view, this herb is a powerful and effective “health-restorative” herbal medication. The herbal cat’s claw based remedies are marketed essentially as an alternative preventive natural medicine in the west and the western pharmacopeia classifies the herb as an alternative treatment option for the treatment of disorders such as cancer, the human immunodeficiency disease or HIV and to treat all other infections in the body, in the West it is also used in the treatment of disorders such as arthritis, symptoms of asthma and ulcers – and other long-term or persistent inflammatory illnesses.

Traditionally derived knowledge, case reports and trials conducted without controls are…

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Herb Guide: Lemon Balm

Crooked Bear Creek Organic Herbs

Learn the medicinal and culinary uses of lemon balm, how to grow it, and how to make your own traditional Carmelite water.

Often when someone asks me what my most favorite herb would be, I enjoy the surprise on their face when they hear my answer: Lemon balm, I say, without any hesitation.

Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) isn’t at the top of most people’s favorites list. Basil, parsley, and lavender are the most popular herbs in America, but lemon balm isn’t even on the top 10 list. But it is deserving of considerably more recognition.

Lemon balm is a perennial herb from the mint family (

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Tree Alchemy: Hydrosols and Essential Oils from Sacred Trees

The Druid's Garden

Nature can provide tremendous wisdom and healing, especially when we work with our local ecosystems and ecologies. One of the most powerful ways of working healing with nature, I believe, is to combine the innate healing properties of plants with your own various kinds of medicinal preparations. The plants and trees offer the raw material and your hands and tools shape that material into something that heals the body, mind, and/or spirit. Working to transform tree and plant matter through alchemical processes into medicine–and then taking that medicine–can be an incredibly powerful way of establishing deep relationships not only with the living earth but with the trees themselves. Today, I want to talk about a particular kind of medicine known as a “hydrosol” and talk about how you might make your own with plant and tree material. This is especially beneficial for today as many of us are thinking about…

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