Fenugreek

Name

Fenugreek

 

Origin

Southern Europe and Southwest Asia

 

Scientific Name

Trigonella foenum-graecum

 

Description

Fenugreek is a member of the pea family. It is cultivated in warm climates throughout the world. The plant has been grown since the time of the Assyrians and the seed was found in the tomb of Tutankhamen. India and China are primary producers of fenugreek. Fenugreek is one of the oldest recorded medicinal plants and one of the most versatile of the seed spices. The seeds are tonic, astringent, demulcent, emollient and expectorant.

 

Uses

Fenugreek seeds can be used internally for treating loss of appetite (anorexia). It is also used in the treatment of diabetes and gout. Fenugreek is considered to be an aphrodisiac and rejuvenator. They also have been used to stimulate milk flow. As food the seed is eaten raw or cooked used in curries in India, in bread in Egypt and as a coffee substitute in Africa.

 

Possible Side Effects

No side effects or contraindications are generally reported, though in clinical studies, some patients have experienced intestinal gas and diarrhea. Given uterine-stimulant activity and possible estrogenic effect use during pregnancy should be avoided.

 

REMINDER

If you have a medical condition such as a heart condition, high blood pressure, palpitations, high blood sugar or other medical conditions talk to your doctor before taking supplements.

Fennel

Name

Fennel

 

Origin

mediterranean region

 

Scientific Name

Foeniculum vulgare, azoricum, dulce

 

Description

Fennel is a very valuable seed spice combining several herbal properties. It is antispasmodic, carminative, diuretic, expectorant and stimulant. Fennel is metioned in virtually every European work on herbal medicines from ancient times to the present day. Major producers include China, Egypt and several eastern European countries. Sweet fennel (foeniculum vulgare dulce) is grown for the fruits and their essential oil. Florence fennel (foeniculum vulgare azoricum) or finnochio is grown as vegetable for it’s swollen stems. Bitter fennel (foeniculum vulgare) is also grown for it’s fruits. The flavor of fennel depends on which type you use. Wild fennel is slightly bitter, and no anise or licorice- like flavor. Sweet or (Roman) fennel, tastes strongly of anise and is not bitter.

 

Uses

Stomach bloating, digestive spasms, catarrh. Fennel seed is used for treatment of digestive problems such as bloating, flatulence and mild spasms of the gastrointestinal tract. Fennel syrup is used for catarrhs of the upper respiratory tract. Externally the oil eases muscular and rheumatic pains.

 

Possible Side Effects

Rare allergic skin or respiratory tract reactions have been reported. Given a potential estrogenic effect, avoid during pregnancy.

 

REMINDER

If you have a medical condition such as a heart condition, high blood pressure, palpitations, high blood sugar or other medical conditions talk to your doctor before taking supplements.

Top Five Tips to Maintaining Wellbeing

Greetings everyone.

It is a common question I am asked in my daily work in natural health from clients who have made a recovery from poor health; “What do you recommend for ongoing wellbeing now?” Well there are many and varied answers to this because each situation is slightly different but as a general guideline, I recommend these five tips.

Top Five Tips to Maintaining Wellbeing

1. Eat proper, nutritious food – This is an obvious one. A good, well balanced diet incorporating lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, lean meats, grains, nuts, seeds etc is the basic foundation for lasting wellness as is avoiding the traps of excessive caffeine and alcohol consumption, junk foods and excessive sugar, recreational drugs and smoking. Add to this a good quality daily multivitamin, mineral and antioxidant supplement, omega nutrients and probitoics and you have all the bases covered. Yes, I did include supplements there as I believe our food quality is so poor that it is a necessity to include these in modern times.
2. Drink Plenty of Water – Most people I meet are under hydrated which leads to lethargy in some, poor removal of toxins and more. Water is what we are chiefly made of so it is of dire importance to maintain your water levels.  At least 2 litres per day of good quality water..most tap water despite popular media is quite safe, if you are unsure, boil it, cool it then drink or invest in a filtration system. Beware to use daily water bottles once and THOROUGHLY CLEAN THEM again BEFORE  refiling to stop bacterial contamination from Staph and strep which will cause sore throats, upset tummies etc.
3. Sleep – Create a nightly winding down routine to ensure good sleep. Avoid too many late nights and substances like alcohol, coffee, tea, chocolate etc that can disturb sleep. Good quality sleep is essential for your body to recover and heal from daily stresses and more. Poor sleep is one of the most common reasons I see for people with poor health and wellbeing. Avoid sleeping pills and drugs as they generally compound the underlying problem. Sleep is also where much of our daily stress is resolved and filed away. Most adult need from 6-8 hours per night to operate at optimum levels.
4. Exercise/Meditation – You might wonder why i have placed these together..well they work best together! Exercise can be meditative for some as it allows them to be here now and focus on one thing for a time. Exercise is essential in the release of feel good brain chemicals and hormones that help stabalize mood and keep us generally happy. It stimulates many systems including the lymphatic, circulatory and neuroendocrine all of which are needed in good operating status! A degree of fitness aids in stress management, immune system functions, circulation, cholesterol levels, and much more. meditation is also excellent for managing these things and is a great practice for relieving stress and coping with stress. It also helps to keep the mind clear and active in a positive way which is of great benefit as we age. There are many ways and techniques to meditation and I recommend seeking out a good, qualified teacher to help get you started. It need not be religion based to be a good meditation technique.
5. Massage - Getting a professional therapeutic massage regularly is extremely good for ongoing wellbeing. Massage helps to release tension and stress, improves circulation and lymphatic circulation, boosts immune system function, helps with tissue repeair and much, much more. It is not a luxury, it is a necessity in modern times and in times past, massage was common place in many civilizations for it’s life promoting properties.

I could add to this regular check ups a few times a year with your naturopath to ensure all is in good working order as prevention is better than a cure, but I reckon most folks are on to this by now. By utilizing these 5 simple tips and implementing them into your daily routine, you will be helping to prevent a plethora of illness and conditions from taking hold of you and you will be reaping the rewards of lasting wellbeing long into your senior years.

Best of health folks!

Craig Hitchens. B.HSc, Dip. Massage, Dip. Reflexology, NESCP, ATFTCP

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