Ayurvedic Medicine - Part IV
Wendy Keeney-KennicuttIn India, as Ive said, I had this wonderful opportunity to meet an Ayurvedic physician.The other product she suggested for my low performing thyroid was Varanadi Kathayam.Varanadi kashayam is indicated in many health conditions like obesity and I am overweight.This Ayurvedic treatment, cures indigestion, cures headaches, stomach gas bloating, headache, abscess and wounds.It is also used as nat...
Read more...CategoriesHealing Herbs and PlantsAyurvedic Medicine - Part III
Wendy Keeney-KennicuttAs part of the treatment there was a wonderful herbal and olive oil massage, which started with a prayer and ended with my receiving an incredible golden-orange marigold necklace.Unlike our marigolds, the ones in India are pleasantly fragrant; I wish I could have brought it home with me. Before the massage, we talked about a health issue that I have, hypothyroidism (low thyroid function).M...
Read more...CategoriesHealing Herbs and PlantsAyurvedic Medicine Part II
Wendy Keeney-KennicuttBeing very familiar with Western herbalism, I was fascinated with the Ayurvedic tradition.In India, students must take a very competitive exam to pursue further education in medicine.One student explained that her grades werent quite good enough to go to modern medical school, but she was given the opportunity to learn Ayurvedic medicine.Apparently, there was a tradition of this in her family a...
Read more...CategoriesHealing Herbs and PlantsTravels to India and Ayurvedic Medicine
Wendy Keeney-KennicuttI was so fortunate to be able to accompany my husband to India over the holidays.We spent New Years in Goa, where all the hippies went in the 60s and 70s, and the next week in New Delhi.We took a side-trip to Agra to see the Taj Mahal and it is as beautiful as everyone says.Our hotel had an Ayurvedic doctor on staff and so I took this amazing opportunity to have a session with a doctor trained...
Read more...CategoriesHealing Herbs and PlantsMaking Herbal Cough Drops Conclusion
Wendy Keeney-KennicuttSo today was the day to try out the recipe for herbal cough drops. Im not the best cook and Ive never made candy before, except for maple sugar candy, where you simply boil down maple syrup until it hardens when cooled.I decided to follow April Hortons recipe. I ordered the herbs and organic sugar from a reputable herbal company and bought a candy thermometer.On paper, it looked quite easy...
Read more...CategoriesHealing Herbs and PlantsHorehound in Herbal Cough Drops
Wendy Keeney-KennicuttThe final herb to be included is the old favorite, horehound (Marrubium vulgare). This has been used for thousands of years to help the body fight cold and flu symptoms. It breaks up congestion but in 1989 the FDA ordered a ban on horehounds use in cough remedies claiming it was ineffective.However, orehound is still sold in Europe in cough syrup and lozenges. Mrs. M. Grieve in A Modern He...
Read more...CategoriesHealing Herbs and PlantsThyme for Herbal Cough Drops
Wendy Keeney-KennicuttThe second herb I decided to include in my recipe was thyme, or Thymus vulgaris.Yup the culinary herb.However, it has amazing medicinal properties as well.Wikipedia relates that its essential oil is 20-54%thymol, which is a powerfulantiseptic and the primary active ingredient inListerine mouthwash. Before modern-dayantibiotics, it was used on bandages to prevent infection. Its tea can be used ...
Read more...CategoriesHealing Herbs and PlantsChoosing Herbs for Cough Drops
Wendy Keeney-KennicuttThe first thing about making herbal cough drops is deciding which herbs to include.April gave many suggestions, but she didnt mention an old favorite the reason why many commercial cough drops are cherry flavored wild cherry bark.Here are two links to wild cherry bark and why it has proved itself historically to be so useful for coughs.Native Americans knew that the inner bark of wild cherry ...
Read more...CategoriesHealing Herbs and PlantsImmune Support Just in Time for Winter!
Dr. Keri MarshallThe temperature is starting to drop and runny noses, body aches and stomach bugs may be in your future this winter. However, your best defense is consistent healthy living, which comes from staying well-rested and well-nourished. When your body feels fatigued and undernourished, it makes you more susceptible to the bacteria and viruses that linger around us. When your body is healthy, your immu...
Read more...CategoriesHealing Herbs and PlantsMaking Herbal Cough Drops
Wendy Keeney-KennicuttAs a chemistry prof at Texas AM University, Im around kids a lot. About 10 days into the semester, all the bugs and viruses that the students have been exposed to all summer long come together to create the perfect storm of colds and flu. Needless to say, Im down with the flu. I take my herbs and recover in a few days, except for a persistent cough. I know that coughing does have its func...
Read more...CategoriesHealing Herbs and Plants
Non-Medicinal Uses for Cleavers
Wendy Keeney-KennicuttCleavers is an important plant in medicinal herbalism, however you can use it in other ways as well. Im a big fan of Delena Tulls book Edible and Useful...
Read more...CategoriesHealing Herbs and PlantsCleavers Have Healing Powers
Wendy Keeney-KennicuttAs a blood purifier and lymphatic system tonic, cleavers (Galium aparine) is considered by herbalists to be one of the most valuable herbs around. It is used...
Read more...CategoriesHealing Herbs and PlantsAn Introduction to Cleavers (Galium aparine)
Wendy Keeney-KennicuttI know spring is over, but I want to introduce you to cleavers (Galium aparine), commonly thought of as a sticky weed, but also one of the best herbs for sup...
Read more...CategoriesHealing Herbs and PlantsDIY Witch Hazel Astringent
Wendy Keeney-KennicuttIf you are very lucky to have access to witch hazel shrubs, here's a recipe to make your own astringent and avoid the drying alcohol found in many products...
Read more...CategoriesHealing Herbs and PlantsWitch Hazel: Nature’s Astringent
Wendy Keeney-KennicuttSince I make an aloe vera based herbal skin cream, people think I know a great deal about natural skin care. Thats not so trueIm actually a soap and wat...
Read more...CategoriesHealing Herbs and PlantsTea Tree Oil for Breath, Gums and Sore Throats
Wendy Keeney-KennicuttTea tree oil, as Ive said in previous blogs, is proven to be antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral. Ive actually used it when I had infected gums yea...
Read more...CategoriesHealing Herbs and PlantsTea Tree Oil
Wendy Keeney-KennicuttTea tree oil, a pale yellow oil derived from the leaves of the Australian melaleuca evergreen tree (Melaleuca alternifolia), has a long history as an antisep...
Read more...CategoriesHealing Herbs and PlantsTreating a Dog's Hot Spots Naturally—with Tea Tree Oil
Wendy Keeney-KennicuttI have often talked about my pets as teachers. My aging golden retriever/Australian shepherd cross, Sam, has always been my itchy girl. We have regularly...
Read more...CategoriesHealing Herbs and PlantsNatural Garlic/Honey/Lemon Remedies
Wendy Keeney-KennicuttIn recent blogs, I have discussed garlic being a natural remedy for colds and flus as well as how to make Garlic Tea and how to use garlic externally in a remed...
Read more...CategoriesHealing Herbs and PlantsUsing Garlic Externally: Garlic GOOT
Wendy Keeney-KennicuttGarlic GOOT is a favorite of many as an external way to benefit from garlic. Click here for more info on GOOT. 1. Blend 3 Tbsp coconut oil, 3 Tbsp extra-virgin...
Read more...CategoriesHealing Herbs and PlantsGarlic Tea
Wendy Keeney-KennicuttResearch tells us that taking garlic can help our bodies stave off colds and flu. How can we take garlic naturally? I’ve collected some recipes, and here'...
Read more...CategoriesHealing Herbs and PlantsFlu Season—Get Your Garlic Out!
Wendy Keeney-KennicuttWell, flu season is here—no surprise to those of us working in the school system. What can we do to help ourselves and our loved ones naturally? Among the top ...
Read more...CategoriesHealing Herbs and PlantsOlive Leaf
Dr. Keri MarshallDue to my love for cooking and my Italian heritage, I have made it my personal mission to be a connoisseur of olive oils from around the world. I have found th...
Read more...CategoriesHealing Herbs and PlantsYaupon "Black Drink"
Wendy Keeney-KennicuttI love yaupon. Its use in Xeriscape landscaping—landscaping using very little additional water—is so vital in drought-striken Texas in this day and age. The be...
Read more...CategoriesHealing Herbs and PlantsA Plug for Eco-Landscaping or Xeriscaping
Wendy Keeney-KennicuttHere in Texas, we are in a severe drought and have had more days of 100°F+ temperatures than I can remember. However, here is a picture of our front yard: loca...
Read more...CategoriesHealing Herbs and PlantsHawthorn Berries
Wendy Keeney-KennicuttI recently included hawthorn berries in a client’s regime, so I thought I would write a little on the wonderful uses of this plant’s berries. In the herbal wor...
Read more...CategoriesHealing Herbs and PlantsClassic Herbal Text from 1653
Wendy Keeney-KennicuttI wanted to share with you a website: www.bibliomania.com. This site has over 2,000 free texts for your reading/studying pleasure. One historic textbook on her...
Read more...CategoriesHealing Herbs and PlantsHerbs for Urinary Health: Buchu
Wendy Keeney-KennicuttUrinary issues are no fun! One herb that isn’t as well known as cranberry is buchu (Barosma betulina or Agathosma betulina and the related species B. serratifol...
Read more...CategoriesHealing Herbs and PlantsHerbs for Urinary Health: Cranberry
Wendy Keeney-KennicuttThere are many plants that we can use as natural remedies to help our urinary systems stay healthy. In my last blog I talked about uva ursi. Another very well...
Read more...CategoriesHealing Herbs and PlantsHerbs for Urinary Health: Uva Ursi
Wendy Keeney-KennicuttLast week I was preparing to travel with my hubbie to Europe and I came down with a urinary infection. Yuck! I didn’t want to use antibiotics; as part of natur...
Read more...CategoriesHealing Herbs and PlantsRecipes with Rosehips
Wendy Keeney-KennicuttRoses are beautiful flowers. Not only can you enjoy the loveliness and fragrance—and even the taste if you add the petals to your salad—but after the flowering,...
Read more...CategoriesHealing Herbs and PlantsSpring, Roses, and Rosehips
Wendy Keeney-KennicuttSpring has definitely come to Texas. Our wildflowers are blooming along the our roads, thanks to Lady Bird Johnson’s efforts to beautify our landscapes. My hubb...
Read more...CategoriesHealing Herbs and PlantsEleuthero: Adaptogen Supreme
Wendy Keeney-KennicuttEleuthero, which used to be called Siberian ginseng, is a wonderful herb that helps us adapt to stress—hence it is called an adaptogen in herbalese. It also is ...
Read more...CategoriesHealing Herbs and PlantsAdaptogens for Stress
Wendy Keeney-KennicuttAn adaptogen is an herb that helps our bodies adapt (hence the name) to all kinds of stresses in our lives, both physical and emotional. These herbs are used...
Read more...CategoriesHealing Herbs and PlantsIodine in the Diet
Wendy Keeney-KennicuttIn my last blog I talked about low thyroid function. Now let’s talk about the importance of the element iodine in our diet. Before iodized salt was introduced ...
Read more...CategoriesHealing Herbs and PlantsLow Thyroid Function and Iodine
Wendy Keeney-KennicuttA client came to me last week, telling me that her thyroid was not performing up to par. She was gaining weight; sluggish; sensitive to cold; tired easily; had ...
Read more...CategoriesHealing Herbs and PlantsSeaweed Is Superfood
Wendy Keeney-KennicuttI've been discussing some superfoods from Rosemary Gladstar's book, Herbs for Longevity Wellbeing. Another one is seaweed. These wonderful plants fr...
Read more...CategoriesHealing Herbs and PlantsShiitake Superfood
Wendy Keeney-KennicuttAnother superfood I'm fond of—from Rosemary Gladstar’s list for longevity and good health—is the shiitake mushroom. Rosemary suggests including shiitake mu...
Read more...CategoriesHealing Herbs and PlantsFlaxseed Oil
Wendy Keeney-KennicuttFlaxseed oil has become very popular recently. Even my husband is now taking it to keep his heart, arteries, and immune system in good health—it was prescribed ...
Read more...CategoriesHealing Herbs and PlantsSuperfood of the Bees: Bee Pollen
Wendy Keeney-KennicuttA list of nutritious superfoods must include bee pollen, a powerful product of the flowers. Rosemary Gladstar, in her book Herbs for Longevity & Wellbeing, ...
Read more...CategoriesHealing Herbs and Plants