Tag: silica

Black Walnut For Restoring Tooth Enamel

Medicinal Herbs: Thankyou to Charlie, who wrote in asking about Black Walnut as a restorative herb for tooth enamel.

DSCO 1851Photo taken at Dunedin Botanical Gardens by Merrilyn on Holly’s camera.

Restorative Diets such as those used for cancer, arthritis, multiple sclerosis and other diseases, have proven successful in many cases, for restoring tooth enamel.  Often, people have discovered that their teeth have repaired themselves whilst following a strict dietary and cleansing regime to treat eczema, psoriasis, or a life-threatening disease.

However, there are some specifics which are helpful in keeping tooth enamel healthy, and even in repairing tooth enamel.  Black Walnut is one of them.  Comfrey is another.  Prickly Ash is another.  Nettles, called ‘Stinging Nettles’ are another.

So what is it about the Black Walnut,  the Juglans nigra, which gives it such a great reputation for facilitating healing, including the regrowth of tooth enamel?  Louise Tenney who wrote the book ‘Today’s Herbal Health’, 1983, gives a summary of the healing attributes of the Black Walnut, in which she includes its ability to heal tooth enamel.

Valuable Minerals in Black Walnut:  For a start, Black Walnut Husks and Leaves are rich in important healing minerals.  Some of these, according to Louise Tenney, are organic iodine, magnesium, manganese,  Vitamin B15, silica, iron, calcium, potassium and phosphorous.

Iodine, especially, is a natural anti-bacterial, which would make Black Walnut helpful for the teeth.  Iodine helps to keep harmful germs in the mouth at bay. So the use of Black Walnut and other herbs which have a high organic iodine content, will help to kill off those germs which eat away at the teeth.  In this sense, Black Walnut would be very helpful for the restoration of the tooth enamel.

Silica is another important mineral which helps to keep harmful germs at bay, as well as having an important function in building strong teeth, bones, hair and nails.  Silica is found in the Black Walnut husks and leaves, as well as in Comfrey, Stinging Nettles, and Prickly Ash.  Comfrey is one of the richest sources of silica, which is a good enough reason to have the plant brought back for the general public to use again:  At present, many countries have banned comfrey because the drug companies have convinced governments that it can cause cancer and should be banned.  But this is really so that they have the monopoly on all the healing ingredients contained in comfrey.  People have been using comfrey as a healing herb TO GOOD EFFECT for thousands of years.  Stinging nettles are another rich source of silica, but commercial herbicides and people’s desire to control our road-side verges have almost put this vauluable healing plant into extinction.

Avoid Chemcials including Food Additives: Of course, it is not enough to simply use Black Walnut tincture, or another iodine product, on a daily basis.  For Black Walnut tincture to be effective on the teeth, you would need to have a nutritious diet, with plenty of protein, green vegetables, and plenty of raw salad material to keep the teeth clean and the saliva alkaline.  The same goes for using Comfrey in the diet, or Nettles, or Prickly Ash rubbed onto the gums and teeth – You need to be following a sound and healthy diet, rich in green vegetables both raw and cooked, with adequate protein, and little or no sugary foods, for the teeth to restore themselves.  You also need to avoid any harmful chemicals such as those food additives which are put into all sorts of packaged food these days.  Even breads contain preservative, which are very bad for the teeth as well as the general physical, mental and emotional states of well-being.

Cleansing With Castor Oil:  Periods of cleansing, where raw foods are eaten for a day, or several days, depending on the advice of your health practitioner, can be helpful in removing toxins from the body.  Ridding the body of toxic chemicals, and avoiding contact with chemicals, can help the general health as well as the health of the teeth.  Jacqui Davison was following the cancer-cure outlined by Dr Max Gerson, who cured many people of cancer during his life-time.  Castor Oil was one of the most important ingredients of his cancer cure.  Dr Gerson’s diet for reversing cancer also healed the tooth enamel on Jacqui’s teeth.  However, it must be remembered that Jacqui followed this diet with its rigorous cleansing procedures, for almost a year before she realized that her teeth had repaired themselves.  Healing of the teeth takes as long as it takes to heal an invasive cancer, and it requires the same amount of vigilant effort.

How To Make Comfrey Tea.

Comfrey The Miracle Herb: I love Comfrey.  It helps all manner of conditions such as broken bones, irritable bowel syndrome, is a marvellous herb for skin and hair, and acts as a digestive tonic in mild doses.

Update:  I have just visited my sister in Napier, June 2014, and I was delighted to see that she has planted an orchard of about 25 trees.  Around the base of each tree she has planted comfrey, as the comfrey helps to draw up minerals from the soil which in turn benefits the fruit trees. Comfrey works symbiotically with the fruit trees.

So it looks like the ban on comfrey has been forgotten in the meantime.  Thank God.

Earlier, I wrote: The ban on it should be lifted, as Comfrey is such a valuable household medicine, which is why I am actively promoting Comfrey.  There is a danger that Comfrey will become a forgotten herb, because of the powerful drug companies having banned Comfrey.  We must not let them have their way and let the herb fall into decline.  Their ruling has resulted in Comfrey not being talked about – it is a ‘No No’ because the drug companies decided this is how it should be. Governments have been persuaded by the drug companies to ban or restrict Comfrey, in effect, so that the drug companies may benefit.  Why was Comfrey banned?  “They” gave the reason that Comfrey may cause cancer.  Comfrey was fed to pigs over three months, so the report which I read said, and this resulted in the pigs getting cancer.

I really do not believe that there is any danger of Comfrey causing cancer under normal usage, such as in Comfrey tea.  You would have to eat an awful lot of it for it to be a danger.  “They” probably fed these pigs nothing else but Comfrey for three months.

Carrots and Vitamin A Poisoning: If you feed any animal a diet of  only carrots for three months, these animals would perish.   And I know this for a fact, unfortunately, because of my own experience.  I once was on a carrot juice diet, and thought that I would feed the carrot pulp to my very greedy rooster, who, of course, dominated the roost, and the food scene.

I thought that the carrot pulp would cut down on the food bill for my rooster.   But alas:  After he had had about a week on this diet of mainly carrot pulp, he suddenly got ill.  The skin on his legs turned yellow.  He became paralysed, and the poor creature  had to be destroyed.  This was a terribly sad lesson for me.  I had to learn to be more generous, and not to worry about wastage such as carrot pulp.

Comfrey Is No More Poisonous Than Carrots:  Carrots can make you die if you eat enough of them, because of their high Vitamin A content:  If you eat only carrots, your skin becomes yellow, and you end up with Vitamin A poisoning.  So will green potatoes cause disastrous effects.  But governments do not ban carrots, or potatoes because of their POTENTIAL hazard to the health.  It is the same with Comfrey – yes, there is a POTENTIAL danger, and you would suffer if you had a steady diet of it, and ate nothing else. But people are no more likely to over-use Comfrey than they are green potatoes, or carrots.

There was never any link with Comfrey and cancer, at least not until the drug companies discovered Comfrey’s miraqcle ingredients, the main one being Allantoin, a cell-proliferant,which they desired for themselves. So  the drug companies ban Comfrey, but they do not ban carrots. THEY can use the marvellous ingredients of Comfrey in their drugs and cosmetics, but they deprive us of the natural source, so that they may profit from having hijacked the herb.

There is a danger that people might forget how good a herb Comfrey really was, and is, because of their ban world-wide on the growing of Comfrey, and the sale of the fresh or dried herb.

So – another promotion for Comfrey:   Comfrey tea is high in silica which benefits the bones, hair, nails, teeth, the skin, the nervous system, and aids the healing of wounds. It can be used to help chest ailments such as bronchitis.  It contains allantoin, which aids healing. Comfrey  has iron for the blood, Vitamin B12 for the nerves and the general health, and is a soothing tonic for the digestive system and the nerves.

Here is How To Make Comfrey Tea: Cut up two leaves of Comfrey.  Put into a pot and pour over a pint of boiling water.  Let the mixture infuse for a couple of minutes, as you would ceylon tea, and then pour. You can use these leaves once more, as long as you use them within two or three hours.  After that, they will begin to ferment, which is not good.  The comfrey pulp may be put over any skin abrasion to aid healing.

Herbal Remedies For Depression

Uplifting Herbal Remedies:

There are many herbal remedies for depression which are easily obtainable, and which have been proven to be effective in treating depression.

It is a good idea to get professional help if you are depressed. Go to your doctor, your acupuncturist, naturopath or health professional for advice. You should discuss the information below with your health professional before beginning any treatment.

First of all – check that you do not have SAD, or seasonal affective disorder. If SAD is the reason you are depressed, then increasing exposure of the body to natural sunlight on a regular basis,  and  supplementing the diet with Vitamin D rich foods, or a supplement,  should help the condition. Deficiencies of sunlight and Vitamin D accompany this type of depression.

Diet For Depression:  The best foods are alkaline greens, fruits and vegetables.  Avoid sugar, preservatives in food, and avoid wheat products and dairy foods except for butter.  Prepare your meals at home fresh.  Eat plenty of salads, brown rice instead of wheat bread and pasta, cooked green vegetables.  Make sure you have enough protein – organic free range eggs and meats and chicken.  If you are vegetarian, then you need to eat plenty of sprouted seeds and grains to get adequate protein and vitamin B.  Vitamin B deficiency, lack of Vitamin D and iron deficiency can lead to depression.

Protein In The Diet:  Choose any of this list to complement your diet:  Egg yolk, Sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, avocado, almonds and nuts.  These are importan additions to the diet if you do not eat any meat or fish.

Gotu Kola (Hydrocotyle asiatica) is a natural stimulant. It is considered to be a helpful herbal remedy for depression. This herb benefits the central nervous system, and brain and hormone function. Gotu kola has been used to treat schizophrenia, epilepsy and memory loss, which are related to brain function. It also helps the body to rid itself of toxins via the kidneys. Gotu kola contains Vitamins A, K, and the mineral magnesium, which is another nervine. Gotu kola is not recommended for expectant mothers, or nursing mothers, though, because of its diuretic effect. People with intestinal disfunction, such as irritable bowel syndrome, or colitis,  are best to avoid this herb.

Ginseng (Panex spp), that wonder of Oriental medicine, is another stimulating and reviving health herb which is useful in  treating depression. Ginseng helps brain function, increases vitality,  and nourishes the nerves. It is a good restorative medicine. Ginseng root has been used in Chinese medicine for over 5000 years. It is mineral-rich, and contains Vitamins A, B12 and Vitamin E.

Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) is another popular stimulating Chinese herb which is used to counteract depression, in combination with other treatments. It is reputed to be a great memory herb. However, this herb lowers the blood pressure dramatically, and so ginkgo should definitely be avoided by people with low blood pressure and avoided also by people who have disturbances with their sugar metabolism.  I would recommend that you take this herb only under the guidance of a qualified health practitioner.   My experience of this herb is that it certainly improved memory function, and increased alertness, but it had an unpleasant and disturbing side effect in that it made me feel terrible because of lowered blood pressure.

Ayurvedic Medicine: However, the reason this herb is not suitable for everyone might have something to do with the different mental and physiological types, known as doshas in Ayurvedic medicine. Vata, Pitta and Kapha are the three dosha types:

Vasant Lad, is the author of The Complete Book of Ayurvedic Home Remedies, A Comprehensive Guide to the Ancient Healing of India. In this book, Vasant Lad recommends  Ginkgo tea for Pitta depression. You obviously need to know your body type if this herb is going to be effective. Vasant Lad’s book is published in the UK by Judy Piatkus (Publishers) Limited, 5 Windmill Street, London W1T 2JA, 1999. Reprinted 2002.

Hawthorn Berries have a tonic and stimulating effect on the digestion, the heart, and the nervous system. Hawthorn is useful, in combination with other herbs and modalities in treating depression, as it  helps  improve kidney function and aids in the elimination of waste products.

Cayenne Pepper (Capsicum frutescens) is a safe herb to take to help drive  those blues away. Cayenne  pepper helps melancholia, mainly because it  has a marked beneficial effect on the blood circulation, and also the digestion. You can use it in your food, or use it in foot baths to gain benefit from this stimulating herb. Cayenne contains the Vitamins A, C, and also has traces of iron and calcium.

The following are some other stimulating herbs which are safe to use in treating depression:

The mint family; marjoram, lemon verbena, thyme and basil. These can be used in your food,  as herbal teas, as herbal treatments for the bath, or for use in a foot bath.

Herbs which Calm and Help  With Natural Hormone Production:

Borage (Borago officinalis) Borage is the herb of courage, according to John Gerard, who quoted: ‘ego borago gaudia semper ago’, “I Borage, always bring courage’.  Borage is a safe herb to use, and you can grow it easily in your garden. Just collect a few borage seeds after the purple flowers have died down, and sprinkle them around your garden, or your flower pots. They grow easily, as long as they are watered. Bees love this plant, especially bumble bees. Borage stimulates the adrenal glands, and healthy adrenal glands help promote that feeling of ‘joie de vivre’. Borage is rich in silica, which helps to soothe and heal the nerves. Make herbal tea with borage, or use a few leaves every day in your salad.

Black Cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa) is an herb which has been used in traditional medicine by the North American Indian people. It is often used for treating depression, as it is helpful in regulating hormones, and benefits the central nervous system, the brain, and emotions. Black Cohosh has nervine minerals calcium and magnesium. Black Cohosh is one of those herbs which should really only be used under the guidance of a health professional.

Dong Quai (Angelica Sinensis) This is another herb which, like ginkgo and ginseng, has been used in Chinese and Tibetan medicine for thousands of years. It  is a valuable women’s herb, as it  helps to restore estrogen levels. It is regarded as a general tonic for the female glandular/endocrine system. It also has a beneficial effect on the central nervous system. Dong Quai contains Vitamin E, B12, cobalt and iron, which contribute to its tonic effects.

Chaste Tree (Vitex agnuscastus) This herb helps the pituitary gland, which in turn, regulates hormone function. Vitamin B is recommended to supplement Chaste Tree berries.

Other Nervine herbs to Help Calm and Soothe: (Use under guidance from your health professional)

Chamomile (Anthemis nobilis) (Note – chamomile tea is safe to use at any time); Pasque Flower (Anemone pulsatilla); Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora); Wood Betony (Stachys officinalis); Vervain (Verbena officinalis); Valerian Root (Valeriana officinalis); Passion Flower (Passiflora incarnata); Lavender (Lavandula spp.)

Herbal Bath With Uplifting Herbs:

Lavender Bath: Put a handful of fresh lavender flowers into your bath as it is filling.

Rosemary Bath: Alternatively, you can use a sprig or two of rosemary.  Leave the herbs in the bath to infuse as you soak in the water.

Homeopathic Arsen alb. 30x is very useful homeopathic for alleviating depression. Other ones which might be considered are Lachesis, or Ignation, Nat. mur, Lycopodium, Aconite, Belladona or Pulsatilla, depending on what the other symptoms are. Generally, you would choose just one, or maybe two, to treat the individual. Best to see a professional homeopath for advice, of course.

 

Herbal Treatments for the Hair

Herbal Hair treatments

Organic Hair Conditioner

This is rich in nutrients which will encourage hair growth, and help your scalp and hair to remain healthy. The combination of oils in this recipe are particularly beneficial to the hair roots, as well as to the hair follicles. 
Mix together: 20 ml almond oil, 20 ml of wheatgerm oil, 20 ml of glycerine, 10 ml apple cider vinegar, 3 drops of rosemary oil, 3 drops of carrot oils,
plus 2 eggs. Apply to hair after shampooing. Leave on for half an hour. Rinse off with warm water.

Rosemary Hair  Rinse
This helps darken the hair and helps keep the scalp free from dandruff.
It also puts a wonderful shine to the hair, and will stimulate hair growth when used regularly. Simmer a cup of fresh rosemary, stalks and all, in a litre of water for half an hour. Cool.  Apply about a half cup to the scalp as a final rinse after washing the hair. Massage well into the scalp.
Keep in the fridge for a week, then make up a fresh lot.

Chamomile Hair Rinse  This is a good rinse for people who have fair hair, as it helps to lighten the hair coloring. The chamomile hair rinse will give your hair shine and provide some nutrients to your scalp, which will benefir your hair roots. There is a certain amount of silica in chamomile. It has a soothing effect on the nerves. Using chamomile as a tea to drink, and as hair rinse will give you a slow-release of those soothing nutrients to your hair roots and your nervous system.

To Make Chamomile Hair Rinse: You can make up a tea as for drinking, and use this on the hair. However,  you will  get the best benefits, as seen in a great shine to the hair, by using  a double  strength mixture of the tea  and applying this externally,  after washing the hair.

Oat-Straw Hair Rinse:  Drinking oat-straw tea is very good for the hair, as oat-straw is especially high in silica. You can also use oat-straw tea as a herbal rinse to use on the hair after washing. To Make Oat Straw Tea:  Put two teaspoons of dried oat-straw in a small saucepan. Add two cups of water and simmer for 10 minutes. Add honey to drink as a tea. Let the mixture cool if you are going to use it as a hair rinse.

See merrilyn’s other  posts about hair health, entitled Regrow Hair; Iodine Scalp Hair Remedy; Best Vitamins for Hair Growth

to be continued tomorrow

Borage and Silica

Silica Content in Borage

Borage, Borago officinalis, or Bugloss,  is the next best thing to Comfrey for its wondrous healing properties.

Borage, like Comfrey, has an especially high silica content. Silica helps hair, nails, teeth and bone to grow. So drinking a daily cup of weak borage tea, or adding the odd leaf or flowers to your salad will provide extra silicic acid to aid the growth of your hair and nails, and help keep your teeth and bones strong.

Borage Tea Hair Rinse

Borage tea can be used as a hair rinse after shampooing to aid hair growth and give a shine to the hair.  Using borage as a rinse means that your hair roots will benefit immediately from the silica and other minerals in borage: once the rinse is applied to the scalp, the minerals in the tea are absorbed readily into the pores of the scalp where they nourish the hair  and vitalise the blood stream.

For Inflammation Of Internal Organs

Borage tea hs a therapeutic function on the  liver, uterus, lungs, stomach and bowels. It helps form healthy tissue on mucous membranes. It has been used to treat  inflammation resulting from pleurisy, peritonitis, and as a calmative for the nerves. It is also helpful in treating conditions of the bowel such as colitis, and irritable bowel syndrome. For these conditions you would take a therapeutic dose for a period of up to three days only. See dose at bottom of page under ‘Childbirth’.

For Varicose Veins

Borage can be used as a poultice to help  varicose veins. Simply pour boiling water over borage leaves. Use enough water  in a saucepan to cover a cupful of leaves. Simmer for three minutes.  Stand aside until cool, then lightly squeeze the borage leaves and pat out into a shape which will cover the sore area on the legs. Put a piece of plastic over the poultice and lightly bind with a bandage. Leave on for half an hour with the legs raised level with the buttocks.

Borage  tea will help with the problem of haemorrhoids, which are a type of swollen vein. The tea helps reduce inflammation when taken internally. Borage ointment can be applied externally to ease pain and reduce swelling on veins and haemorrhoids.

Recipe For Borage Ointment

To make a Borage ointment for this purpose, use half a cup of tightly packed, chopped borage leaves. Put 100 mls of glycerine into a small heat-proof bowl, put over a small saucepan of boiling water and steam for half an hour. Let cool, then strain. Store in a small corked bottle, or one which has a good screw top lid. Use as an ointment when needed.

Skin Tonic For The Bath

Borage leaves and barley, one cup of each, can be simmered together for an hour. Cool the liquid and add to the bathwater for a soothing, silica-rich soak.  This improves the skin.

For Childbirth and To Increase Milk Flow

Borage tea helps to reduce the pain of childbirth in much the same way as raspberry tea does. Borage tea made from leaves and flowers helps to stimulate the milk flow in nursing mothers. For either of these specific requirements, you would normally take a stronger tea for a three day period.

The dose: One teaspoon of dried flowers and one teaspoon of dried leaves infused in a cupful of boiling water taken twice daily for three days. Stop if milk flow has begun. For childbirth, begin the borage treatment as soon as you think labor has begun. Borage taken during labor will help with milk flow after baby is born.

Note: Do not continue with this dose of borage for longer than three days. Long term use of borage on a daily basis is not advised.