Tag Archives: herbal

Herbal remedies you may find useful now (if you didn’t before)

Posted on 21 December, 2011 by | Leave a comment

Here’s a couple of herbal remedies which you might find useful for this time of year.

First of all there’s Milk Thistle tablets – “A traditional herbal medicinal product used to relieve the symptoms associated with occasional over indulgence… such as indigestion or an upset stomach – based on traditional use only.”

Another is Cold & Flu Echinacea tablets – “A traditional herbal medicinal product used to relieve the symptoms of cold or influenza type infections – based on traditional use only.” (And, may I say, great as a preventative medicine if you know you regularly fall ill around this time of year.)

Now I understand
Both of these are traditional herbal remedies used for centuries by those in the know, yet both seemingly up to date and easy to understand, something anyone would be interested in…

echinacea

Echinacea - a herbal remedy that makes sense

It seems that the recent regulation of Traditional Herbal Remedies by the MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency) has had the effect of making public understanding of herbal medicine clearer. The packaging looks a lot more like the kind of item you’d expect to find in a pharmacy, as the HRI (Herbal Remedy Institute) products mentioned above show. It’s simply easier for Mr Average to recognise what type of product it is, make sense of the labeling and appreciate what it is for.

Other herbal groups like Bio Health seem to be doing the same thing with their designs and remedy names. (In front of me I have a box of ‘Periagna‘ – Angus Castus Fruit capsules used for pre menstruation, and a box of ‘Ekinalife‘ – another Echinacea product.)

The same evolution can be seen with the new Kalms Day tablets ‘slider’ pack which is designed to provide “patient information, durability, and easy access”.

But do they work?
At the end of the day the real issue is whether these remedies work? But now that more people can easily see what they’re supposed to do, herbal remedies will surely have more of a level playing field against larger pharmaceutical competition?

To find more Traditional Herbal Remedies visit GoodnessDirect’s Herbal shelf.

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Posted in Colds, Complementary Health, Women's Health

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Let Yogi Christmas tea warm you up this winter

Posted on 6 December, 2011 by | Leave a comment

If you are a fan of tea, especially Yogi herbal teas, then their Christmas Collection is likely to warm you – right down to the cockles of your soul.

It’s a perfect cup of Christmas with its range of warm restful flavour and exotic spices. And there are so many to choose from, its ideal to share with friends.

Yogi teas - share a little love

Yogi teas - share a little love

Each Christmas Collection box contains two of the following tea bags: Classic Rooibos, Sweet Chilli, Choco, Licorice, Jamaica, Bright Mood, Heart-warming, Ginger Hibiscus, Ginger Lemon, Bedtime and Black Chai.

It’s a selection that should meet anyone’s desire for herbal tea, and it makes a nice little gift too.

But, if the purist in you makes you more choosy about the teas in your cupboard then perhaps one of Yogi’s  latest organic creations might interest you:

■ Ginger – ginger with lemon grass, liquorice, peppermint and black pepper
■ Pure with Lemon – lemon grass with dandelion, ginger, cinnamon, liquorice, lemon myrtle, lemon peel and peppermint
■ Ginger Orange with Vanilla – ginger with liquorice, lemon grass, black pepper, orange peel, peppermint, vanilla extract, orange extract

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Posted in General Food, Organic

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Why I can’t diet without a good night’s sleep

Posted on 25 November, 2011 by | 3 Comments

If you’re planning to lose weight in the new year but you haven’t got your sleep sorted you’re starting with a serious disadvantage.

At least that’s my experience. If I don’t sleep my self control when it comes to food is wrecked. I just can’t stop feeling hungry.

We need to be getting 7.5 hours of good sleep. If it’s not restful or it’s a shorter night, then the metabolism is slower and, chemically, you’ll feel hungrier – two great ingredients for a failed diet. And, when you think about it, the fact that you’re tired is also less likely to motivate you to get any exercise done.

So, sort your sleep out first.

Sleep helps dieting

Sleep helps dieting

A good night’s sleep increases the amount of leptin hormone in your body – which tells you when to stop eating. Less sleep means more of the ghrelin hormone which tells you to eat more! It’s a vicious circle, bad sleep = lack of energy = eating more carbs = lethargy = no exercise = restless sleep.

It’s a good idea to learn some good sleeping habits.

To help regulate your sleep (especially of you know you’re about to have a bad night) you may want to try a herbal sleeping aid.

These come in two strengths:
a lighter version such as Kalms Sleep which will help you get a good rest during sleep (1 tablet =  45mg of valerian)
a stronger variety like Kalms Night for the occasional night when you can’t sleep (1 tablet = 500mg of valerian)

(Kalms do also make a new formula Day version for the relief of stress and anxiety for you herbal fans out there.)

The use of natural ingredients such as hops, passion flower, valerian and lettuce makes a lot of sense to me – these are traditional ingredients well known for their ability to induce sleep and are used by a lot of other herbal companies. If by helping me sleep better it means they also help contribute to weight loss in the long run then that’s no bad thing.

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Posted in Complementary Health, Diet, Insomnia, Weight-Loss

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The brilliant Qi teas all began with the mistaken purchase of a book at an airport

Posted on 25 October, 2011 by | Leave a comment

It’s fascinating to learn how some companies started. Take for example the beginning of Qi Herbal Health.

There has been a huge increase in the tea business in recent years but few probably started by mistakenly buying the wrong book at an airport. Joe d’Armenia must have been forced to read about the benefits of Green Tea for a few hours, but he was fascinated what he read of the benefits of drinking the tea.

It surprised him more to learn that Green Tea was mostly imported by German brokers rather than directly from China. Following an introduction to Mrs Yu Jing Hong, a minister supervising over the Yellow Mountain Region of China, Joe d’Armenia arranged for tea to be imported directly into the UK.

The Yellow Mountain Region is an area of outstanding natural beauty, remote and unspoilt. The farmers there still farm by organic methods and Joe d’Armenia helped organise more than 400 families into the Xitou Organic Farmers Association, a Fairtrade partnership.

The farmers pride in their tea, blending the teas into wonderful varieties such as pomegranate with white tea or oolong with mint and licorice. Qi Herbal Health has resulted not only in industrial enterprise for the area but also the funding of a local school, greater medical care and amenities such as street lighting and road repairs for the local town of Xitou. Not bad for a journey which began with buying the wrong book.

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Posted in Antioxidants, Organic

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Dr Stuart’s are selling tea to China!

Posted on 17 May, 2011 by | Leave a comment

Dr Stuart’s make quality herbal teas, and news of them has finally reached China.

The Chinese are renowned for their interest in health benefitting herbs, so it is natural that they would be keen on Dr Stuart’s uniquely British herbal teas.

Dr Stuart’s uses only the best of the best herbs for their 21 different teas – all aimed at providing wellbeing, some to help you unwind, some for detox and even some to help get to sleep at night, and there is no doubt that their benefits will be explored by China.

But the possibility of a new market doesn’t mean Dr Stuart’s will forget about the UK; they are a truly British success story. The West Sussex company, along with its herbs, remain firmly rooted in the tradition of an English country garden. Other tea manufacturers might ship their production facilities abroad, but Dr Stuart’s will continue to produce and pack all of its teas here in the UK.

There is a Chinese proverb: “When you drink the water, remember the spring.”

Dr Stuart’s has gone from strength to strength in its homeland of Britain, but it’s good to see great English traditions of herbalism and tea reach out to their ancient counterparts in China – the earliest records of which date back to the 10th Century BC.

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Posted in Complementary Health

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A herbalist in your store cupboard

Posted on 22 April, 2011 by | Leave a comment

I’m sure there was a time when tea was kept in a hallowed box in one place in the house. Yet now, I seem to need a whole cupboard for all the different types of tea we drink.

Herbal expertise in a cup

Herbal expertise in a cup

But I must be wrong. Heath & Heather have been blending herbs and infusions since the 1920s. Of course it is true that medicinal herbs, particularly in teas, goes back pretty much as far as the history of man.

What Heath & Heather do is make all these beneficial herbs ready to pick off your cupboard shelf.

Whether it’s wellbeing, relaxation, invigoration or antioxidants that you need, Heath & Heather have got it covered. They’re proud of their association with The National Institute of Medical Herbalists and so they should be, it means they’re able to get quality beneficial teas onto my shelf.

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Posted in Antioxidants, Complementary Health, Organic

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Chai-tea – I’ve found a new religion

Posted on 14 June, 2010 by | Leave a comment
Tea-thoughts

Tea-thoughts

Perhaps for some people tea is the perfect religion.

If you want a moment’s quiet, what better than finding calm in the depths of a cup of warm copper coloured infusions.

Or if you need some healing, then there are a variety of time-tested tastes to ease your ailments.

Are you desperate for a listening ear and sympathy? Invite your friend over for no better reason than the ritual brew of tea-for-two.

And if you really need to know the future, well, you can always get your aunt to read the tea-leaves…

Of course the humble tea bush and all its adherents won’t quite match the majesty of a higher power, but many a prayer has risen on the incense of a steaming cuppa, and many a moment has been satisfied by the perfect choice of tea at that perfect time.

It’s not as if the gurus of tea making don’t know they’re on to something. You’ve surely noticed how shops’ shelves have become increasingly laden with a greater supply of different teas? Continue reading →

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Posted in Fairtrade, Organic

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Trendy party drinks for this summer

Posted on 10 June, 2010 by | Leave a comment

It’s BBQ season again.

Party drinks for the summer

Party drinks for the summer

What drinks will you be serving in your garden this summer?

Here’s a few suggestions…

How about a Raspberry Lemonade with Vanilla or an Elderflower Bubbly or even a nice organic St Clements (orange and lemon mixer). Luscombe make a very posh selection of organic soft drinks for discerning grown ups.

Or there’s Healthy Thirst vineyards and orchards to supply fruit drinks with no added sugar, just gently sparkling infusions of fruit, herbs and flowers. Try their new Cherry Healthy Thirst – ruby red and massively delicious.

Now if you prefer something a little stronger without getting boozy you can’t do better than sample some Fentimans botanically brewed beverages. Their fine Victorian techniques and recipes have produced some pokey ginger beer. But it doesn’t stop there – we’re talking about classic English recipes like Dendelion & Burdock, Full Bodied Shandy or their fiesty Mandarin and Seville Orange Jigger.

These nostalgic drinks will certainly raise a delighted eyebrow or too, as well as tickle the upper lip.

But you’ll know you’re having a party when you start mixing with the best.

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Posted in General Food, Organic

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Zotrim – the herbal diet pill proven to work

Posted on 26 March, 2010 by | Leave a comment

I have to confess, I like herbal tablets. When I can’t sleep I use the valerian and hops found in Natrasleep and feel surprisingly refreshed in the morning. When I’m stressed I find St John’s Wort is a great relief – it just seems to put a cap on how stressed I can get.

Admittedly, just because a tablet is herbal does not mean it’s less dangerous – the active ingredients can be very powerful; but many customers like me feel more confident using naturally based remedies – you’re not going against the grain.

So it’s no surprise that Zotrim, a herbal diet pill is receiving rave reviews, not least because it can actually prove what it claims to do.

Zotrim - a diet pill that works?

Zotrim - a diet pill that works?

  • It curbs your appetite
  • And reduces your desire for the sweet stuff

The latest lab research, from the University of Liverpool, says that because Zotrim keeps you fuller for longer you should be able to reduce your calorie in take by 400-500 calories a day. This seems to confirm another study which found that on average women lost 11.5lbs over 6 weeks through using the pill.

Zotrim is a mix of the plant extracts Guarana, Yerba Mate and Damiana. I don’t know of any other product in the UK which combines these herbs, but I can say that this diet pill is cheaper than many other popular diet drugs.

If you know you need to keep hunger at bay and lose fat from your belly then this may well be the way to fool your stomach into thinking it is full.

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Posted in Complementary Health, Diet, Weight-Loss

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Frustrated insomniacs just need to stay cool

Posted on 24 July, 2009 by | Leave a comment

Have I mentioned before that I don’t always get a good night’s sleep? I tend to swear by Natrasleep which doesn’t knock you out but delivers a blissful slumber once you finally drift off. I usually wake up feeling refreshed and ready to face the day; and, of course, I like it because it is made from herbal products (valerian and hops) and it’s suitable for vegetarians and vegans.Insomnia - waiting for dawn

However, American scientists have found that a ‘cooling cap‘ can help insomniacs to sleep better, because it lowers activity in your prefrontal cortex, the part of your brain thought to help you switch off for a good night’s sleep. But British academics are not so excited. Professor Jim Horne, of Loughborough University, suggested a fan at night might help as much.

If, like me, you’re an insomniac you will probably have tried a lot of things already. And there are some great natural things to try. Some of us are better with teas and others with tablets. But it might interest you to know that the much talked about new kid on the block, acai berry, is thought to improve sleep as well. I haven’t tried this one yet. If you have, please post a review. It comes as a vegicap, a drink and a tea. It is also reported to be excellent to aid weight loss, to help fight stress, to improve digestion and to help maintain good skin! Wow, and all as I sleep?

According to one survey, one third of people in the UK have trouble sleeping  about three times a week so I’m not alone.

Here’s a list of things that I find useful when I’m trying to nod off.

  • Get up, do something downstairs, go back to bed when you feel tired.
  • Stay cool, but wear something to keep your chest warm.
  • Write down the things in your head onto a notepad – empty your mind.
  • Black out your windows.
  • Avoid chilli, bananas and cheese (or anything high in protein).
  • Exercise earlier in the day.
  • Change your bed sheets.
  • Use in-ear earphones to listen to the radio (they fall out when you turn over and then you can’t hear it anymore).
  • Drink some cocoa.

At the end of the day (or should that be in the early hours of the morning?) you just have to do what works for you…

Have I mentioned before that I don’t always get a good night’s sleep? I tend to swear by Natrasleep which doesn’t knock you out but delivers a blissful slumber once you finally drift off. I usually wake up feeling refreshed and ready to face the day; and, of course, I like it because it is made from herbal products (valerian and hops) and it’s suitable for vegetarians and vegans.

However, American scientists have found that a ‘cooling cap’ can help insomniacs to sleep better, because it lowers activity in your prefrontal cortex, the part of your brain thought to help you switch off for a good night’s sleep. But British academics are not so excited. Professor Jim Horne, of Loughborough University, suggested a fan at night might help as much.

If, like me, you’re an insomniac you will probably have tried a lot of things already. And there are some great natural things to try. Some of us are better with teas and others with tablets. But it might interest you to know that the much talked about new kid on the block, acai berry, is thought to improve sleep as well. I haven’t tried this one yet. If you have, please post a review. It comes as a vegicap, a drink and a tea. It is also reported to be excellent to aid weight loss, to help fight stress, to improve digestion and to help maintain good skin! Wow, and all as I sleep?

According to one survey, one third of people in the UK have trouble sleeping about three times a week so I’m not alone.

Here’s a list of things that I find useful when I’m trying to nod off.

Get up, do something downstairs, go back to bed when you feel tired.

Stay cool, but wear something to keep your chest warm.

Write down the things in your head onto a notepad – empty your mind.

Black out your windows.

Avoid chilli, bananas and cheese (or anything high in protein).

Exercise earlier in the day.

Change your bed sheets.

Use earphones to listen to the radio (they fall out when you turn over and then you can’t hear it anymore).

Drink some cocoa.

At the end of the day (or should that be in the early hours of the morning?) you just have to do what works for you…

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Posted in Insomnia

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