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Posts Tagged ‘potassium’

Herb of the Month: Dandelion

Sunday, May 9th, 2010

I grew up on a farm in Wicklow, where weeds were the enemy of my dad!  Dandelion was one such enemy.  A weed is only a plant out of place!  It was not until I started to study herbal medicine that I began to understand the medicinal value of every day plants like Dandelion.  Its yellow flower can be seen everywhere at the moment, reminding us that winter is over!

Dandelion is one of the most useful medicinal plants, as all parts are effective and safe to use.  It is regarded as one of the best herbal remedies for kidney and liver complaints.  The root is a mildly laxative, bitter tonic, valuable in treating dyspepsia and constipation.  The leaves are a powerful diuretic.

The strong leaves are high in potassium and have potent diuretic properties that make it a wonderful treatment if you suffer from water retention, high blood pressure or swollen ankles.  The bitter root stimulates the liver and the release of enzymes throughout the digestive tract.

The dandelion flower stem exudes a milky-white latex sap that can be applied directly to warts and verrucas to inhibit viral replication.  If you suffer from skin problems such as eczema, psoriasis and acne, it can help to flush toxins from the body.  Dandelion also has the ability to aid removal of uric acid from the body, making it good for treating gout and joint disease.

What to harvest

The leaves, roots and sap.  The root is best harvested in early spring or autumn when the plant is dormant and before the active growth and flowering depletes its constituents.

What is it good for?

Acne, Eczema, Psoriasis, Warts and verrucas, Arthritis, Gout, Atherosclerosis, High cholesterol, High blood pressure, Depression, Bloating, Constipation, Flatulence, Gallstones, Indigestion, Irritable bowel syndrom, Worms, Kidney stones, Menopause, Premenstrual tension (PMT)

Cautions

Do not use in combination with orthodox diuretics.  If treating with high blood pressure, its is advisable to do so with the assistance of a medical herbalist and your doctor.

References

Wild Drugs, a forager’s guide to healing plants by Zoe Hawes

Jekka’s Complete Herb Book by Jekka McVicar

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Posted in Herbal Medicine, Natural Healing | 1 Comment »

Super food of the month!

Tuesday, April 6th, 2010

 FIGS

 

Figs are a dried fruit that contain a lot of potassium and fibre and if we are concerned with our mental health it is a great idea to have potassium getting into our cells.  We can be sure that our nervous system is getting a helping hand as it’s a mineral that is essential for proper functioning of the cells.  Stress depletes our bodies of potassium.  When we get aches and pains and feelings of tiredness this can lead us to feel more stressed and less able to cope.

Eating a couple of figs a day may help increase your potassium levels and help combat stress as a result.  The other great thing about figs is that they are high in dietary fibre, which is essential for getting our digestive system working efficiently.  The quick elimination of waste food from our bodies is very important to reduce feelings of sluggishness and tiredness that can build up if we are bloated and constipated.  Our energy goes down as our bodies have to work so much harder to function at optimum level.  When we are cleaner inside we can feel lighter in mood and figs are a natural laxative and really work well to promote an internal spring clean that is gentle on the body.  

Figs are generally eaten dried and it is always a good idea if you can to get the pure unsulphured variety, which are to be found in health food shops.  Figs are high in concentrated sugars but do not cause the crash and burn effect of more processed sugary foods.  In fact they are a good alternative to sweets, cakes, biscuits etc and can help alleviate the cravings associated with reducing sugar intake by providing a more wholesome sweet alternative.

Lastly dried figs are also high in iron and for those of you who do not eat a lot of meat this can be a good way of making sure your iron levels are increased which again will help you if you are feeling tired or run down.

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Posted in Natural Healing, Nutrition | 1 Comment »