Coffee Herbs 

Coffee Photo     Coffee mixes well with herbs to moderate its effects or to create synergistic blends. Coffee lowers levels of type 2 diabetes due to flavanoids, magnesium and increasing the metabolic rate. Alcoholics at risk for cirrhosis of the liver have lower rates. Asthmatics have fewer attacks and can head them off with coffee or a coffee foot bath. Alzheimer’s can be slightly reversed and progression reduced. Coffee is associated with 24%lower levels of colon cancer, 21% lower incidence of gallstones and an 60% reduction in Parkinson’s Disease and in a dose-dependent manner will reduce inflammation as marked by C-reactive protein. 

     We have all heard that coffee is bad for us, and it does have alkaloids and essential oils that can be overly stimulating. Caffeine can stress our adrenal glands and it is energetically warming which is not always desirable. Most commercially available coffee is highly sprayed with pesticides, which is why shade-grown organic is best. Coffee can potentiate medications or medicinal herbs which means that we may need to adjust dosages. More than three cups daily during pregnancy increases the miscarriage rate (but decaf correlates with even more.) It makes fibrocystic breasts and fibroids worse and eliminating coffee can increase good health in many other areas.

     Coffee can not displace green or black tea which have numerous health benefits. It may keep us up at night (although there are certain individuals who sleep better with it.) In fact many of us who drink coffee are addicted and will get headaches if it is withdrawn, which is not desirable.


Copyright by Karen S. Vaughan, L.Ac., MSTOM
To read the full article: Acupuncture and Herbs, Coffee Herbs

A Quick Guide to Herbs and Growing Tea Ingredients

Herbal teaThe inside herb garden is a wonderful project that will give months, if not years, of flavorful, aromatic, healthy, and delicious plant products to the table. Herbs are used for hundreds of separate chores, and have been for thousands of years.

Until about twenty years ago, most people felt that herbs were simply for spicing and pickling food, but we have begun to circle back around to the health benefits that herbs, roots, and leaves offer to the mind and the body. Many people are growing tea herbs in their gardens and in mini indoor gardens, adding more flavor and nutrition to one of our favorite beverages.

There are twelve tea seeds which are most commonly grown by herbal tea makers, though there are literally hundreds of teas that can be infused using these with additional spices, roots, berries, and leaves. What's more, your inside herb garden kit will come with an infusion tool for steeping, as well as bags to get you started once your plants have matured to the necessary size and color. You will also be given information on the many uses for each of the plants that you have grown, including recipes and instructions for making fresh tea at home.

While learning about herbs and growing your garden, you might transplant them from the starter dome to large, clay pots so that they have plenty of room to take root and become full. Also, keep them tagged properly with the recommended system, because using the wrong plants for your specialized remedies can cause an unpleasant end result. Because herbs are so powerful, you will want to understand and gain their full benefits. One little mix up could have you sound asleep when you were meant to revive.

The most common tea herbs grown indoors and by amateur tea makers include Marigold, Catnip, Chamomile, Lemon Balm, Rosemary, Lemon Grass, Lemon Bergamot, Anise, Peppermint, Fever Few, Lavender, and Angelica. You may also learn about rose pedals, dandelion, sage, ginger root, and quite a few other plants which are commonly infused as healing, fortifying, and soothing teas. Many learn through trial and error how to sweeten their teas naturally with nutritious berries and fruits, and this can add a very relaxing finishing touch to your overall efforts. This type of inside herb garden should prove to be as rewarding as it is beneficial.

The most common tea herbs:












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