Benefits of Plantain
by Doris Potter
Plantain, (Ribwort, Fleawort) – Plantago Lanceolata and Plantago Major
Plantain is another favourite of mine, mostly unnoticed, yet abundantly grows along the edges along lanes and footpaths, camouflaged amongst grasses. The slightly sticky seeds get carried around with our foot wear. The very observant Red Indians named it the “White Men’s Foot Step” as it grew wherever he had been.
It again proves to be a very nutritious and powerful healing plant. It is easily found and is the perfect first aid plant when out and about. Rub the leaves and put it on itchy allergic skin, or insect bites, or use it as a plaster on wounds. For blisters on your feet, just put the leaves over the blister in your shoes. It is antiseptic, ant inflammatory and promotes the healing process in the tissues. Plantain also helps wounds that just do not want to heal, like bedsores, ulcers etc. read more →
Bellis Perennis – the Common Daisy
Submitted by Doris Potter
Do you remember from childhood past times, the playing with daisies or making daisy chains?
Can you put your foot on 7 daisies? According to a folklore saying: If you can, then summer surely has come. I love the very common plants and knowing the mystery of their healing properties. Such a plant is the Common Daisy, growing in abundance all around us, but its very good healing properties are almost forgotten.
Its pretty flowers peep out from our lawns from early spring until late autumn. This plant has given its existence completely over to the course of the sun, even the day rhythm of light and dark is expressed in opening its petals in the morning and closing them in the evening. Is it surprising that “Daisy” is a shortened version of “Days-Eye” or that in the North Myths it is referred to as “Baldur’s eye”? Baldur being the Sun-god.
This little plant has not only an affinity to light and the sun, but also harbours an enormous amount of vitality. You mow it and already the next day it is there again. Apparently its great healing qualities are equivalent to the nowadays better known Calendula or Arnica. It used to be called ”Bruisewort” or “Woundwort” indicating it’s use, also reduces bleeding. read more →
Ben from Amber SOS Instore
Ben from Amber SOS, our supplier of our gorgeous therapeautic and decorative amber jewelry will be instore with us on Thusday 19th April from 10am to 1pm.
Ben will be able to tell you everything you ever wanted to know about amber whether you are using it to ease teething symptoms in babies or arthritis in adults. He is also bringing some fantastic new jewelry with him for you to try on PLUS we have a lovely prize to be given away on the day!!
Nichola’s on the Radio Discussing Medicinal Mushrooms
Join Nichola for her monthly slot on The Morning Mix with Alan Corcoran on Friday 26th January at 11.15am.
This month Nichola will be discussing the ancient tradition of Medicinal Mushrooms and their many uses and beneficial properties. Used for centuries in Eastern cultures some of the reported benefits of mushrooms are – immune enchancement, blood pressure regulation, alkalizing, anti-arthritic, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and much more…
Make sure to tune into South East Radio tomorrow at 11.15am to hear what Nichola has to say.
Featured Product – BeeActiv Raw Ivy Honey
Ivy honey, a new honey for winter.
“There have been many scientific studies into the healing and curative benefits of ivy. These have mostly centred around the use of ivy as either an anti-inflammatory or to treat respiratory diseases. The latter has gained the most acceptance in modern medicine. The positive response from users of ivy products is due to compounds naturally present in the plant. The plant saponins “Hederacoside-C” and “alpha-hederin” are believed responsible for this cough relieving efficacy. Importantly, new research into ivy honey has shown that the unique compound “Hederacoside C” is present in pure ivy honey from Ireland and the unique benefits of ivy honey are attributed to this.
The honey has been creamed and has a delicious flavour so, apart completely from helping with coughs and chesty conditions, spreading a little Hederacoside C on your toast in the morning makes for a rather tasty treat! A 227 gram jar retails for €12.95.
Nichola on the Radio
Join Nichola this month on The Morning Mix with Alan Corcoran on Friday 27th May at 11.15am. This month Nichola will be talking about ever-increasing popular Turmeric.
Turmeric has a long history of traditional use as a treatment for inflammatory conditions. However as one of the most thoroughly researched spices, turmeric holds impressive findings in depression, cognitive function, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease and in chronic disease prevention.
If you like the sound of this wonder spice make sure to tune in this coming Friday at 11.15am!
Skincare From The Inside
As summer comes ever nearer it’s natural to start thinking about skin health and about how to look our best for the months of better weather and outdoor leisure. Any drive towards improving skin health should start with a nutritional assessment. Are we eating right to feed the skin and, if not, how can we change that? Are we drinking enough water for hydration? Are we exercising enough to promote proper elimination through the other channels because, don’t forget, the skin is our largest organ of elimination? Are we smiling enough? I believe it’s a way better facial exercise than a grimace😀
What follows is a bit more specialist as we take you on a tour of the supplements that science has shown to be beneficial for different aspects of skin health and what we can realistically expect from them.
Collagen is the most predominant protein in the human body and studies show that taking a collagen supplement literally ‘plumps up’ the skin’s dermis layer improving skin elasticity and hydration and improving wrinkle depth into the bargain.
Hyaluronic Acid, which can absorb 3,000 times its own weight in water, is an important hydrating agent for the body’s tissues. It has a high daily turnover so large amounts may be needed for maintenance. The decline in Hyaluronic acid which accompanies aging has been proposed as a causative factor for the dryness and wrinkling that is characteristic of aging skin.
Product Review – Viridian Quercetin B5 Plus Complex
The sneezing season’s here, Quercetin’s the answer.
Pollens hit the atmosphere from as early as March so don’t suffer this year, take action now! Viridian’s formulas are spot on for this kind of issue so as always we’ll be championing their Quercetin B5 Plus Complex formula for the duration of the season.
So what’s in the capsule?
Vitamin B5 (calcium pantothenate) helps the adrenal glands to produce cortisone, the body’s natural anti-inflammatory hormone to modulate allergic response.
Nettle Leaf is a natural anti histamine.
Pine bark extract is antioxidant.
Chamomile is calming and soothing.
Vitamin C boosts immunity.
Bromelain is an enzyme with anti inflammatory properties.
Acerola fruit is another source of vitamin C.
All in all Viridian’s Quercetin B5 Plus Complex is a powerful combination to deal with any inflammatory or allergic condition and will be one of our go to remedies for the hayfever season. This product is on special this month for our Loyalty Card Holders – 60 caps (1 month’s supply) regular price €24.40 offer price €16.40 you save €8 so now could be a good time to stock up for the hayfever season ahead!
