Asafoetida

Image via WikipediaAsafoetida has been also referred to as the "Food of the Gods." The main part of this plant that is used is the resin which makes up a volatile oil. The history of this herb is amazing as it was used frequently back in time by Alexander the Great for flavoring. That was back in 4 B.C. still in early times, Asafoetida was used to treat gas and the bloating associated with it. Carrying through time the resin gum is used often for vegetarian dishes that are prepared in India. Today, it is one of the main flavorings in Worcestershire sauce.

Asafoetida is an herbal plant that has many diverse uses such as an aid for digestion, a remedy for headaches, an antidote, and an expectorant. Asafoetida has been known to be used on some mental impairment but not very often has it been shown to make any significant difference except for mild anxiety. Therefore it focuses primarily on bodily functions where it can do greater good.

As mentioned earlier, it works on gas and the bloating associated with it but further it also eases indigestion, rids stomach cramps, and helps with constipation, which is Asafoetida's contribution in the digestion department. When it comes to headaches, when Asafoetida is mixed with water it is showing great promise for the treatment of migraines and tension headaches. As an antidote, it works great for snake bites and an insect repellant when it is mixed with garlic.

As an expectorant the Asafoetida oil helps to rid the body of excess mucus and eases the respiratory system. Many use it for whooping cough, asthma, and bronchitis. Where expectoration is a problem asafetida helps in expelling accumulated cough. Some mixtures that seem to blend together well for coughs and as expectorants are roasted fresh resinous gum powder with real ghee or a mixture of asafetida powder with honey, white onion juice, betel nut juice and dry ginger.

Asafoetida has a very unpleasant odor to it, so bad that many call it the "Devil's Dung." The foul odor comes from the resin that is removed from the plant's stem and root. Asafoetida is a species of the fennel plant but a relative to the carrot. The wicked odor is formed from the organic sulfur compound found as part of the essential oils. When it comes to the value of the Asafoetida tree, the older, the better and trees less than four years of age are virtually worthless.

When buying Asafoetida in the marketplace it will likely be available in three different forms, one is called tears which are commonly sold in Chinese pharmacies and characteristically may have fragments of root and earth. It is also sold in a paste which is very commonly used as a condiment for flavoring such dishes as curry, to flavor beans, sauces, pickles, and many use it as a substitute for garlic.

A few other unique things that Asafoetida is used for is that if used in recipes regularly it has been suggested that it may increase the chances of male fertility. Often it is used for toothaches as well.

Cilantro

Image via WikipediaCilantro is a very fast growing herb which can be grown just about anywhere. It is a relative of the carrot family and is sometimes called Chinese parsley and Coriander. Cilantro actually is the leaves and stems of the Coriander plant.

It has a very strong unique odor and is relied on heavily for Mexican, Asian, and Caribbean cuisine. Cilantro also resembles Parsley which is not surprising since the two are related. For thousands of years Cilantro has been around, first in Egypt, India, and China and then it was introduced to Mexico and Peru where it is still used with chilies when making masterful food dishes. It has since become very popular in certain parts of the United States as well. Today, Cilantro has lost its popularity in Europe as most Europeans are repulsed by the very smell of it.

Cilantro is a Greek word that means "koris" which in English means bedbug oddly enough because it is said by many that Cilantro smells like a bedbug. The Chinese did not seem to mind because they add Cilantro to their various love potions because to them it symbolizes immortality and has aphrodisiac properties to it. Many also say that it is an appetite stimulant. Cilantro is very easy to find in pretty much any local grocery store or fruit market any time of the year.

Cilantro has an interesting history to it and has showed up many times throughout history. Keep in mind that Cilantro is also in part Coriander, and some seeds were found in King Tut's tomb. It is also mentioned in the Old Testament and was used by physicians dated back as far as Hippocrates. The Ancient Egyptians used Cilantro for such things as headaches and urinary tract infections.

Cilantro can also mask the scent of rotting meat and it was used for that purpose quite frequently by earlier cultures. It would be fair to say that Cilantro is an herbal plant that has two identities since Cilantro is what the plant is referred to in its earliest stages and when it is fully developed it then becomes Coriander. Cilantro grows very quickly but also dies very quickly but it can easy grow in a pot on your windowsill. It is always best to harvest Cilantro before it bolts or blooms. If you wait too long to harvest Cilantro what will happen is that you will be harvesting Coriander because it will then be all seed.

Today, Cilantro can be found just about anywhere in the United States and is a garnish on almost every plate served in an upscale restaurant. The odd thing about Cilantro is that most people either love it or they hate it, usually there is no in between.

Those who hate it claim that it has a soapy taste while those who love it claim that it is a strong taste that Cilantro delivers but they do enjoy it pungency. Cilantro is sold as fresh and if you find it in a dried form do not waste your time with it because drying it causes it to lose its entire flavor.

Tea tree oil

Image via WikipediaThe leaves of Tea tree ( Melaleuca alternifolia) produces oil which has been used by Australian for centuries to treat skin infections. This fragrant oil smells similar to that of nutmeg. Tea tree only grows in Australia. Right now, Australia is the major source of tea tree oil which exports some 700 tons annually. Pure tea tree oil is colorless to pale yellow. It is often called as ‘melaleuca oil’.

There is a number of health benefits associated with this herbal medicine. Tea tree oil with high quality contains 40% or more of terpinen-4-ol, which is the major ingredient that combats harmful bacteria and fungi. It is the component that makes tea tree oil effective in treating cuts, scrapes, insect bites and stings. Other benefits one can derived from tea tree oil include:

* It treats cuts, scrapes, insect bites, stings, minor skin wounds and irritations. The oil changes the chemical barrier of the skin making it inhospitable to fungi and other organisms.
* It fights fungal nail infections, jock itch and athlete’s foot. Tea tree oil is effective in fighting Trichophyton, the fungus that causes a number of topical infections such as athlete’s foot and jock itch.
* It minimizes the course of vaginal yeast infections. It is effective in countering the causes which are Candida albicans and Trichomonas vaginalis.
* It can control acne. Preparations of up to 15% of tea tree oil can treat even the severe case of acne due to its antic-acne properties.
* It treats dandruff and head lice. 5% solution of tea tree oil is effective in combating Pityrosporum ovale, a fungus which cause dandruff.
* It stops warts by stopping the virus.



Tea tree oil comes in suppository, oil, gel and cream formulations. In order to get the most benefit out of tea tree oil, find a product that is derived only from the Melaleuca alternifolia tree. Other species have higher percentage of cineole which can cause skin irritation and lessens the oil’s benefits.

To treat minor skin wounds, insect bites and stings and irritations, cleanse the wound then apply one or two drops of tea tree oil to the affected area twice or thrice daily.

To treat nail infections, rub tea tree oil on the nail twice daily.

To treat athlete’s foot, apply the oil or cream to the areas affected twice daily and/or use it in a foot bath. For foot bath, put 20 drops of tea tree oil in small basin of warm water, soak the feet for 15 minutes two or three times a day. Dry the feet then apply a drop or two of oil to the affected area.

To treat vaginal yeast infections, use tea tree oil vaginal suppository every 12 hours for a maximum of five days.

To treat acne, put a drop or two to each acne lesion three times daily.

To treat warts, put few drops on small gauze and tape it over the wart at bedtime then remove in the morning. Continue until wart heals.

In buying the product, the following pointers might help:

* Make sure that M. alternifolia is one of the first ingredients listed in the tea tree oil.
* Tea tree oil can be found in skin care and beauty products such as shampoo and soaps. Research if the product can give you the benefits of tea tree oil.
* Some toothpaste also contains tea tree oil but in very small quantity. This amount is not enough to fight bacteria in the mouth though.
* Do not ingest tea tree oil. It is strictly for external use only. If ingest accidentally, call the doctor.

There are no known drugs or nutrient interaction with tea tree oil. Possible side effects of tea tree oil include skin irritation for those with sensitive skin. It can also cause allergies in some people.