Vendor Application For HerbFest 2012 Now On HerbFest Site
Come join the largest herb festival in the U.S. devoted to herbs and lifestyle. Click here to copy or have this year’s vendors application emailed to you. Dates are April 20-29, 2012.
What are the benefits of having certain teas in water for a foot scrub?
Hi Lara,
Basically I don’t know but let me give you an educated guess.
1. Some teas are “astringent” meaning they remove fluids from the skin surface as well as possibly slightly below the surface. That can be good on topical bacteria.
2. Some teas have chemicals to soften the skin, and that can help if great deal of callous type material.
3. Some teas such as a tea made from “tea tree oil” or certain “thyme oils” have antiseptic properties that kill bacteria. Of course my question would be why use it diluted in a tea when could apply directly.
On a more general note don’t forget the benefit of simply doing a “foot scrub” using warm/hot water. When a body part is exposed to a thermal agent with a temperature higher than the body part then the reaction is to increase blood flow to the area to “cool” the area so it is equal to surrounding tissues. That process of increased circulation is almost always beneficial to pain and/or healing.
Hope this helps.
bobj
P.S. For more information on pain and healing you might enjoy the videos on our MedFaxx web site which deals with physical medicine.
Herbs for Back and Cervical pain
For many pains can apply topically it’s the mint family. Example when you look at most topical products you will find, generally in first or second place, on list of ingredients the word “mentha” which is mint oil. Peppers are often next and “capsacin” will be that ingredient. Most topical use varying degrees (%’s) of mint, pepper, ileux(biofreeze) in their products. Of course standy by is always “aloe”. Hope helps understand. Also go to our website and type in “medicinal” and will get more info.
bobj
Herbanite Sandy Responds to Potential Herbs To Help With Radiation Burns Following Cancer Therapy
Here is an article found by one of our Herbanites, Sandy, in response to the previous request on what herbs can help with radiation burns following cancer therapy.
This is general information our Herbanites find and it’s not a recommendation but a chance to exercise one’s own mental energy deciding if beneficial or not. That is one’s own decision to make, and not something we control or can influence. Here is additional information>
Go to: http://www.cancerchecklist.com/purification/radiation_poisoning.html
What herbs can/are used for healing radiation damage to throat, blood vessels and nerves?
Below was asked by “Norma” and working on better answer than below:
Custom ask your herb question: herbs for healing radiation damage to throat, blood vessels, nerves?
Hi Norma,
My immediate answer is I don’t know but do know two herbs to use for some of the potential issues.
1. Aloe is very good as a topical anesthetic for pain or redness on skin surface. Also parts of aloe, not topical use part, can be used internally for any digestive issues arising from chemo or radiation.
2. If there are minor open skin wounds, or skin eruptions caused by bacteria then tea tree oil is used as a bactericidal.
This is a good question and let me see if can find more info. I’ll post to our HerbFest blog when/if find. Thanks and hope you doing well.
bobj
Natural Tea Tree Antiseptic Scrub from Sandy in Montana – another of our Herbanites!!
I really like and appreciate your stories and tid bits. Regarding Tea Tree Oil (how interesting how it got it’s name), I found this recipe in the latest Herb Quarterly. I am always looking for frugal ideas…especially herbal. So here this is for you to share. 
Tea Tree Counter Scrub
1 box baking soda
10-20 drops of tea tree oil.
Mix together and store in an air tight container.
Disinfects your counters better than any chemicals…and is is supposed to deter bugs too.
Thanks again, Sandy
Digestive Herb Plants – Here’s One For You – Turmeric
Just put on Herbfest web site . This only one but check out our web site for more info. on herbal uses.
Herbs For Diabetes
Question posted from herbal lore/legend list:
Upon my first posting of this I noticed that the information source may not be totally reliable for those of us not acquainted with “ayurevedic herbs” as in the translation over plants are identified that are not the same plants we recognize from the common name. Example is “curry plants” and then the source goes on about other benefits etc. BUT that is not the plant we in the Western world know as the “curry plant”. This is always a problem, especially going cross culturally, using our names to another area’s plants. Rarely works out so need botanical names when possible and other info about processing, time of day to harvest, part of plant and distillation process.
Now having said that here is the original information posted.
From http://organicjar.com/2009/1424/ found this that may be helpful listed below. I know at Herbfest most of the herb crowd who have or have someone they know with diabetes tend to flock to Stevia or another herb called “sweet herb of the Aztes” as a substitute for sugar. Stevia leaves are dried and ground down and sprinkled in place of sugar.
This from Organic jar:
Diabetes is a disease that can either be inherited or brought on by an unbalanced diet. Other than using the regular prescription drugs, you can treat diabetes naturally with herbal remedies.
Bitter Gourd is held in high regard for the treatment of diabetes. It is recommended that bitter gourd is taken regularly as part of a diabetics diet. The juice of the bitter gourd should be taken in the morning before having anything else. You could also take the bitter gourd in powder form. Just add the powder to your food or mixed with warm water. The Indian gooseberry, which is high in Vitamin C helps in controlling diabetes. The juice of the Indian Gooseberry can be added to the bitter gourd. This combination taken every two to three months is excellent at treating diabetes since it provides nutrients for the pancreas to release insulin.
Butea Leaves, is another amazing herb. The leaves work by reducing and controlling your blood sugar level. You use the leaves by boiling them and take the infusion either hot or cold. Mango leaves, that are either dried or in its powder form, can be taken daily with water. Place some dried leaves in the water overnight and let saturate for you to drink in the morning. It has been noted to help treat and improve the condition of diabetes.
Curry Leaves, chewing on ten of them will help with the treatment of diabetes. Aside from treating diabetes, the curry leaves are able to help in weight loss. Curry leaves can be used in cooking and making of salads. It is known to be especially helpful in dealing with hereditary diabetes.
Fenugreek Seeds can be taken many ways. If you prefer, you can take the seeds raw at night or more conventionally in your drink. Either leave the seeds in the water overnight and drink the next morning or add the powder to milk. You could also use the fenugreek seeds to cook. Taken daily and you will be able to see the results.
Cinnamon may not seem like much, but it is a very capable herb. Honey and cinnamon taken before going to bed will help you treat diabetes by controlling sugar levels in the blood. However, what makes cinnamon shine is that is also able to improve your appetite and placate cranky stomachs. It gives your vegetables and food another dimension it is added to them.
After all is considered, it wise for you to refer to your family doctor before proceeding to use the herbal treatments. Even though there is little to worry about when taking these natural herbs, they still might have interaction with whatever medication you are taking. It is better to be safe than sorry.
The list of herbs mentioned is not an exhaustive one. There are still many more herbs that can be used to treat diabetes naturally. Maybe they can be discussed in another article. Regardless of the lack of space, the herbs mentioned would be more than enough for you to start going on the path of natural treatments for diabetes.
Source: controllingheartburn.com
What Herbs To Use for Excess Mucus?
Annie’s Remedies (http://www.anniesremedy.com) suggest the below for coughs etc. but the basic answer is “expectorant herbs” and that is the term to google for more information.
Often mucus is a reaction to a stimulus the body does not want in the nose, respiratory system so our body responds by producing mucus to “wash away” the irritant. An issue will be is there an irritant around the person that is causing the reaction and if so then the answer is to find the irritant and get away from it. Often though the irritant can be something that one is ingesting so must remove that from our diet.
A general term used to retard mucus if it is excessive and, not a reaction, is to use herbs that are “vaso constrictive”, ie. they reduce the diameter of the capillaries or olfactory vessels and suppress the output.
Vasoconstrictors are:
Ephedra sinica (Ma Huang)
• Hamamelis virginiana (Witch Hazel)
• Hydrastis canadensis (Goldenseal)
• Lycopus virginicus (Bugleweed)
If
Annie’s Remedies Suggestions:
Herbal cough remedies
Expectorants : Pleurisy root acts as an expectorant and relieves pain and congestion in the lungs. This plant has long been regarded as a valuable medicinal plant and one of the most important of the indigenous American remedies.1 Anise is an expectorant that is also antiseptic to the mucous membranes. Anise can be used as a herbal seed tea, or the essential oil can be used in chest massages and room diffusors. Cayenne (capsicum) The antioxidants in peppers support the lungs, and the capsicum thins mucus, allowing you to expel it easier. Adding a dash of cayenne pepper to teas has been a long time favorite home cough and congestion remedy. Colt’s Foot is both emollient and expectorant. It will soothe the tissues of the throat as well as cause phlegm to be expelled.4 The medicinal chemicals responsible for horehound’s expectorant action, marrubiin and marrubinic acid, also help stabilize heart rhythm. 2 Lobelia stimulates the nervous system and speeds respiration. It also helps break up mucus and facilitates coughing.2 Black mustard seeds make an excellent stimulating poultice (mixed with a soothing substance such as slippery elm powder) for stubborn coughs and arthritis joints. Mustard foot baths are good for poor circulation, chilblains, and upper respiratory mucus.3 Modern herbalists still consider that an infusion of dried speedwell is useful in coughs, catarrh, etc., and is a simple and effective remedy in skin diseases.1 Most homeowners consider this low growing, blue wildflower an invasive lawn weed 
PBS Airs Video Show on HerbFest
PBS Video On HerbFest. History of, what it is and why do it.
