HERBAL MEDICINE NUTRITION

3 essential herbs to support your immune system

1st May, 2020

Used by ancient healers through to modern-day herbalists, herbs have always played an important role in building resistance and supporting healthy immune systems, particularly through the cold and flu season. Many herbs which were popular centuries ago are still as popular today. Below are just a few herbs that may help to keep your immune system strong and keep those cold and flu symptoms at bay.

Andrographis (Andrographis paniculata)

Andrographis paniculata, a traditional Ayurvedic herb, is highly valued in India for its medicinal properties. Because it grows so abundantly in hedgerows and gardens, the plant is commonly used as a household remedy by locals. Often referred to as ‘the king of bitters’ the herb has also gained popularity in both Western Herbal Medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for its affinity for the immune system. When used in TCM, Andrographis paniculata, may help to reduce excess chest phlegm and coughs, similarly, in Western herbal medicine the herb is used to aid in reducing the symptoms of common cold and ﬂu, while also supporting over all immune health.

While it has a wide array of traditional uses, Andrographis paniculata is now recommended and used widely in modern times to aid in the treatment of common colds & flu, helping to relieve the severity of symptoms such as cough, runny nose and fevers. Taken at the first onset of symptoms, Andrographis helps to improve the immune response and shorten the duration of common colds and flus, helping you to get back on your feet sooner.

Astragalus (Astragalus membranaceus)

Astragalus membranaceus is one of the most important herbs used in Traditional Chinese Medicine. There are many species of Astragalus, over 2,000 in fact, however most herbal supplements utilise the species Astragalus membranaceus. The root of the plant is used as it contains the majority of the active plant compounds responsible for the medicinal actions.

Used for centuries in Traditional Chinese Medicine, the herb’s main benefits are centered around immune support and vitality. Modern Western herbal medicine still uses the herb for such indications, including relieving the symptoms and reducing the duration of the common cold. It is also a highly regarded herb used to assist with recovery after illness.

Reishi Mushroom (Ganoderma lucidum)

Not only are mushrooms known for their culinary uses and nutritional value, some have been used for their medicinal properties throughout history and across many cultures. The most valued medicinal mushrooms generally come from Asia. Ganoderma lucidum is a species of mushroom which grows throughout the world and is typically found growing at the base of living trees. With its kidney shaped caps and fan-like appearance, it can be found on its own or in small colonies.

In China, Ganoderma lucidum is known as ‘Lingzhi’ and has been prized for its immune enhancing properties for over 2000 years, this popularity quickly spread throughout the world. Today, it is commonly known as Reishi mushroom, a name given to the mushroom by the Japanese. Ganoderma lucidum naturally contains many active compounds which are responsible for enhancing the body’s natural immune response.

Enjoy the changing seasons

These are just a few of the many herbs offering immune support to keep us strong through the colder months. Find a herb that works for you, eat well and exercise and rug up to enjoy the cooler months ahead.

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Historical Use Of TumericMost of us are familiar with turmeric as an ingredient in cooking, nestled amongst the other herbs and spices in the spice rack, it’s hard to ignore with its vibrant golden hue. There’s no denying the warming and comforting goodness that a good bowl of curry can deliver, however, the benefits of turmeric are not a discovery of modern times, its use can be traced back to over 4,500 years ago!Turmeric was not only used as a culinary spice and a revered traditional medicine, but it also played an important part in religious practices, wedding ceremonies and was even worn as an amulet to ward off evil spirits. Turmeric was often used to dye the cloth for the vibrant, golden robes worn by Buddhist and Hindu monks.As a native plant of Southeast Asia, India has long been the largest producer of turmeric since its early beginnings. Turmeric root comes from the plant Curcuma longa which belongs to the same botanical family as ginger. The underground stems are called rhizomes which are harvested, dried and ground into a yellow powder. Because of this bright colour, turmeric has also been known as ‘Indian Saffron’.Currently, turmeric is enjoying the limelight as one of the most popular herbs on the market for joint health and to relieve inflammation with good reason. Much research has been conducted on the medicinal uses of turmeric and you’ll find the internet and trendy cookbooks brimming with recipes for lattes, smoothies, dressings and of course, curries to help you incorporate turmeric into your diet.So, what is it that makes turmeric so beneficial for relieving inflammation and supporting joint health?The turmeric root naturally contains bioactive substances called curcuminoids, the most important of them being curcumin. Curcumin is the compound which is responsible for the medicinal actions of the plant. Although curcumin only takes up a small proportion of the total root, it possesses powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Curcumin can be hard for the body to absorb, so when adding it to recipes it’s important to ensure that there is a fat component in the dish, such as yoghurt, olive oil or nuts to help get the full health benefits from the root. Joint health is important in all stages of life, particularly as we age and as our joints are more vulnerable with wear and tear. Turmeric has been shown to be effective for relieving inflammation. Turmeric is not only helpful for relieving inflammation, but it can also help to protect our cells from free radical damage through its antioxidant action. Antioxidants help to keep our cells operating as they should, our body systems running smoothly. Oxidative or free radical damage has been linked to many health conditions, so antioxidants are important to keep our bodies healthy.The popularity and medicinal benefits of turmeric have stood the test of time. If you are looking for an anti-inflammatory herb that maintains joint health, with the added antioxidant benefits, why not give turmeric a try?

HERBAL MEDICINE FITNESS

Benefits of Turmeric For Joint Health

Traditional Ayurvedic and Chinese Medicine healers have been using turmeric as a natural remedy for centuries. Today, Turmeric is now one of the most researched herbs in the world and thousands of studies have demonstrated its therapeutic benefits for a wide range of health conditions. Is turmeric a herb or is it a spice? It’s both. Turmeric is a perennial herbaceous plant from the same family as ginger. The underground stems, called rhizomes, are harvested, dried and ground into a powder, which is the golden spice used for medicinal and culinary purposes. What gives turmeric its health benefits? There’s a lot of confusion out there about how turmeric works. Turmeric isn’t just a homogenous powder. Like many natural remedies, it’s made up of a number of biologically active substances. Of these, there is a group of three compounds, called curcuminoids, which make up about 2% -5% of turmeric. They are curcumin, demethoxycurcumin and bisdemethoxycurcumin. Curcumin is the star of the trio. It’s the curcuminoid primarily responsible for turmeric’s anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Curcumin is a natural anti-inflammatory Inflammation can be triggered as the body’s way of defending and healing. In the process of inflammation, the release of cytokines sets off a pro-inflammatory cascade which lead to the production of inflammatory molecules such as thromboxane and prostaglandis. Tissue damage, as in arthritis, causes the release of cytokines and sets off pro-inflammatory processes which lead to the production of inflammatory molecules such as thromboxane and prostaglandins. These inflammatory molecules are produced by enzymes such as phospholipase, lipoxygenase, 5-LOX and COX-2. Curcumin works by inhibiting some of these inflammatory processes and enzymes, and also by down-regulating the activity of some inflammatory molecules. Curcumin also helps to support joint health. Curcumin also helps to protect cells from damage by free radicals Free radicals are highly reactive molecules that roam around the body and can damage cells through a process called oxidative stress. Oxidative stress has been linked to many health conditions, including poor joint health and function, so antioxidants are important to keep our bodies healthy. Learn more about the benefits of Turmeric for joint health, here. Curcumin works by directly scavenging free radicals as well as by inhibiting some of the processes that generate free radicals, so it helps to reduce the damage they can cause to body cells. Can you just eat turmeric powder to get the benefits of curcumin? Not really. Firstly, like we mentioned earlier, curcumin and turmeric are not the same thing. Curcuminoids make up only around 2-5% of turmeric rhizome powder, and of that 2-5%, curcumin makes up about 75%. So that means an average teaspoon of turmeric powder may contain less than 1% of the all-important curcumin. And that’s not the only reason that turmeric powder alone can’t really deliver much in the way of health benefits. To have a therapeutic effect in your body curcumin needs to get into your blood plasma. Once there it can circulate around the body and exert its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. But turmeric, and the curcumin in it, is very poorly absorbed by your body. It is naturally insoluble in water (just check out that yellow gunk at the bottom of your turmeric latte or tea!) Very little remains intact after it gets into the highly acidic stomach environment What does remain isn’t absorbed very well by your digestive system And what is absorbed gets broken down and excreted by your liver really quickly. So consuming turmeric, or even straight curcumin powder, isn’t a very effective way of getting enough bioactive curcumin into your bloodstream. A better way to get the health benefits of curcumin The best way to get the health benefits of curcumin is by taking a high strength supplement which has been formulated for higher bioavailability.

HERBAL MEDICINE WELLNESS

Turmeric- The ancient healing herb that’s now a modern wellness sensation.

Traditional Ayurvedic and Chinese Medicine healers have been using turmeric as a natural remedy for centuries. T...

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3 essential herbs to support your immune system

1st May, 2020

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