Fun Facts

Many of you might have heard about Chamomile, or Camomile, tea and the many benefits it offers to a person consuming it.

What is Chamomile?

Chamomile is nothing but a type of aromatic plant having white or yellow flowers. The unique feature of this plant is the smell of the flower, which is similar to that of an apple.

Chamomile tea is renowned for its flavor and the innumerable benefits it offers, especially its ability to calm down the nerves and provide a comforting sleep.

Besides providing refreshment to the body and mind, chamomile offers innumerable health benefits and is a subject of research.

Chamomile contains a chemical called Apigenin that helps in calming down the central nervous system and helps in getting a peaceful and comfortable sleep at night. If too much strain and stress is haunting you before going to bed, one can try out a cup of chamomile tea. He or she can even have a warm bath in the tub of water added with about 10 drops of chamomile oil. Either the warm bath in water mixed with chamomile oil or a cup of chamomile tea will greatly help in relaxing the anxiety and / or stress and paves way for a comfortable and sound sleep.

Chamomile is the storehouse for a number of chemical compounds. One of such chemical compounds is bisabolol, which act as antispasmodics. In other words, the bisabolol compound helps in relaxing the smooth muscles that are lined along the digestive tract and the uterus in the body and helps in easing the stomachache that may be caused immediately after a meal. It also helps in soothing any menstrual cramps.

It is beneficial to have a cup or two of chamomile tea daily, especially for people suffering with arthritis or such other diseases that cause pain and warrant consumption of pain-killing tablets. Chamomile has the capability to reduce the stomach-eroding effects of medicines like aspirin and such other related drugs.

Chamomile has antiseptic as well as anti-inflammatory powers as well and can be effectively used for treeing minor health-related complaints.

If you experience any type of skin infection or eye-infection, it has been found that a wash of the affected region with chamomile will give you relief, because the antiseptic properties of chamomile helps in killing some of the bacteria or fungi that caused infection in the first instance.

It has been found that inhaling steam from heating chamomile will provide a soothing effect, especially to persons suffering from hay fever and / or related sinusitis, on the inflamed mucous membranes and also helps in reducing allergic reactions induced by histamine.

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Many of you might have seen and tasted the sweetness of pineapple – a large juicy fruit consisting of edible flesh in yellow color surrounded by a tough as well as segmented skin and also topped with a tuft of leaves.

The fruit, said to have been first grown in South America in the ancient past, is now grown all over the world, especially in the tropical areas. The fruit is available throughout the year in many places, but the months of June and July seem to be the peak season for this sweet fruit. Ironically, most of this fruit is available in either frozen form or in dried form. The majority of this fruit is primarily reserved for delicious preparations in canned varieties such as juices, fresh fruit and / or other forms of canned delicacies.

What makes pineapple so special among other fruits? Well. It is nothing but the unique flavor that is both sweet and also tangy at the same time. The utility value of pineapple also catches the eye of the people. Pineapple would be an ideal fruit in a plate of fruit salads. Pineapples can also be cooked, grilled and / or baked with any type of meat such as ham, poultry and sea-foods.

Pineapple is a good source for a number of vitamins and minerals including Vitamin C, Vitamin B6, thiamine, iron and manganese. According to nutrition experts, a cup containing chunks of a fresh pineapple provides as much as 75 calories, 25 milligrams of Vitamin C, 0.17 milligrams of thiamines, 16 micrograms of folate, 0.15 milligrams of Vitamin B6, 0.6 milligrams of iron and 2.6 milligrams of manganese.

The interesting feature of pineapples is that canning the fruit does not alter the content of Vitamin C in the fruit. A cup of pineapple juice retains 25 milligrams of Vitamin C, same as the fresh fruit offers, but a cup of heavy syrup made of pineapples offers about 20 milligrams of Vitamin C. It has been found that the calorie content nearly doubles in the case of a normal syrup containing pineapple chunks to about 150 calories and more than doubles in the case of heavy syrup to as much as 200 calories.

Pineapple contains a number of healing properties. It has been found that an enzyme called bromelain is present in the fruit which helps in dissolving proteins. The anti-inflammatory enzyme, Bromelain, has been discovered to be effective in reducing the risk of blood clots in the body , thus reducing to a great extent the risk of heart attack and / or stroke. Research reveals that pineapple also contains ferulic acid, that helps in preventing the formation of substances that can cause cancer.

One should exercise caution while purchasing this fruit from the market. You should ensure that the fruit has a fragrant odor and also has flesh that is either yellow or white in color. Also ensure that there are no brown patches in the skin of the fruit as it indicates spoilage.

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Many people think of herbs as medicine used only by alternative practitioners who do not use conventional medical practices. But, in fact, herbal medicine is a precursor of modern pharmacology. About one-fourth of all prescription medicines come from herbs and other plants. And many physicians and researchers are taking a new look at traditional herbal remedies.

Many people assume that because herbal remedies are made from natural ingredients they are safer than synthetic drugs. In reality, some herbal medicines – just like their pharmaceutical counterparts – can have adverse effects. Some are even highly toxic.

Medicinal herbs do play a role in our daily usage, and a lot of interest is being evinced of late for exploring the benefits of these medicinal herbs.

Some of the medicinal herbs which we often hear and also frequently use include the following:

Aloe vera

A soothing gel extracted from the leaves of Aloe Vera is found to be an effective means to treat diseases such as burns, stings, insect bites or cuts by applying the gel on the external surface. While some herbalists recommend the consumption of aloe vera juice internally as a tonic for treating inflammatory digestive disorders, little research has been done to prove the validity of internal consumption of aloe vera.

Bilberry

Bilberry extract is the leading herbal remedy for maintaining healthy vision and treating various eye disorders, including macular degeneration, as well as treating night blindness and poor vision from daytime glare. One of the major components of Bilberry, anthocyanin, a powerful antioxidant, is responsible for the curative properties of Bilberry.

Echinacea

Some preparations made from the purple coneflower can increase immune function and help reduce the severity of viral infections such as the common cold.

Other notable herbals

The list of medicinal herbs is on the rise and new research is continuing in this vast field of herbal treatment. Other notable medicinal herbs include Gingko biloba, Ginseng, Hawthorn, Licorice, Milk thiste, Nettle and St. John’s wort

Points worth considering before trying herbal medicines

One should bear in mind that herbal medicines are not subject to the same rigorous testing and standards that are required for pharmaceutical products. A wide variety of herbal supplements are available in the market place that are capable of preventing and treating many diseases, including heart disease, cancer, arthritis, low immunity, depression, common colds, and menopausal concerns. Before deciding to try out herbal medicines, one should take in to account the following points.
Herbs are sold in five common ways in the market place. They are – a) teas, b) tinctures, c) capsules, d) Tablets, and e) other standardized forms of herbs.

One is advised to start with the lowest recommended dosage to try and test whether the herbal treatment is suitable to your body and does not have any adverse reactions. Herbal medicines coming in the form of teas and tinctures should always be taken on an empty stomach for better absorption, and capsules as well as tablets should be taken along with the meals. If you find any inconvenience on taking herbal medicine for the first time and not confident, it is advisable to seek the advice of the doctor immediately.

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