winter's festive plants are also he...

winter's festive plants are also healing holiday herbs

During the holidays, a of us enjoy pine Christmas tree holly wreaths, mistletoe, frankincense and myrrh. What we may not realize is these botanicals also yield one of nature's most valuable natural medicines. near of the most powerful medicinal plant amalgamates (phytochemicals) are found in evergreen The immense evergreen family includes botanicals of the like kind as European mistletoe, rosemary, clove allspice and holly as well as conifers, including pines, cedars and cypres With near assistance from the following plants, you will find yourself de-stress refreshed, renewed and ready for the holidays.

PINE POWER

greatly of the conifers' healing properties tend hitherward from strong-smelling compounds, such as camphene, which acts as an antiseptic, astringent and stimulant.

Anyone who has be delighted withed the exhilarating, lung-expanding fragrance of pine tree has also been expos to these trees' protective properties, especially effective for respiratory ailments. Acting as powerful antiseptics, a two-inch cutting of cedar, cypres or pine, or 3 ear-rings of their essential oils, can be added to a receptacle of steaming water and inhaled to help treat cough bleaks and bronchitis.

MISTLETOE AND HOLLY

The tradition of hanging sprigs of mistletoe (Viscum album) and holly (Ilex aquifolium) in our dwellings as an emblem of have affection for and good fortune, goes as far back as 200 BC During their winter celebrations, Druids would hang mistletoe and holly with great parade to greet the New Year and to countenance against evil; they also rever mistletoe as an important healing herb.

Mistletoe tea, made by the agency of steeping one teaspoon of mistletoe twigs in common cup of cold water for several hours, can be used as a compres for varicose veins.

Mistletoe berries are toxic in large doses, and should merely be used with a health professional's guidance. In addition, mistletoe should always be kept away from the reach of children, as ingesting the berries could cause convulsions.

Holly berries are toxic and should not be eaten. However, a tea of holly leaves has been used in the past, made by the agency of boiling one tablespoon of dried leaves in common cup of water to treat smack stones, urinary problems, rheumatism and arthritis. Today, southern American holly (Ilex paraguariensis), or yerba mate, is institute in health food stores and its leaves are brewed as a tea. Yerba mate helps with migraines, insomnia and fatigue, and stimulates mental and physical energy

HOLIDAY HERBS

Rosemary, clove and allspice are tantalizing and pyrotic seasonings found in many of our favorite holiday meals. from one extremity to the other of the centuries, rosemary has not solely been used in Christmas viandss and decoration, but also traditionally given as a modern Year's gift. Among its many uses, an infusion of rosemary is best known as a hair rinse, for the prevention of premature baldness and dandruff. Rosemary hair rinse can be made on steeping one teaspoon of dried flowering tops or leaves in a half portion of water.

Clove and allspice are a festive combination, famous for flavoring holiday pies, cakes and cookies. In traditional Kwanzaa dishes, clove and allspice are used in dundu oniyeri (West African fried yams) and muddleed cider, served during the Karamu feast.

Clove tea, made on steeping one teaspoon of whole dried clove in the same cup of water, may relieve nausea. All, spice is frequently added to mulled wine as a sweet flavoring, which may be helpful for the digestion. For a festive occasion, add a half teaspoon of allspice berries, three whole clove and sum of two units tablespoons of sugar to the same bottle of red wine and heat, nevertheless do not boil. Strain and serve

GIFTS OF THE MAGI

During the holidays, frankincense and myrrh are known as gifts from the three wise men For millennia, the resins of these sum of two units botanicals have been traditionally used for worship and spiritual practice at many religions. Jewish ceremonial incense includes frankincense and myrrh, and is commonly mentioned in the Pentateuch, the Jewish not new Testament.

Try burning the incense or resins of these holiday fragrances to create a festive atmosphere in your family circle Incense sticks, resins, metal burner and charcoal are originate in many health food stores. Incense sticks should be safely consume ed in incense holders and resins can be chared on small pieces of charcoal in metal burners

In Egypt charred frankincense is made into kohl or black comminute which women traditionally painted upon their eyelids. Myrrh resins and tinctures have also been used as a gargle and mouthwash, made from steeping one teaspoon of myrrh in undivided pint of boiling water for a hardly any minutes, to treat gum infections, cough and other chest problems

This holiday season, derive pleasure from these healing herbs from Mother Nature and share them with those you love!

Oh Yuletide tree oh Yuletide tree

This seasonal favorite does more than apply the mind (and smell) pretty

THE HOLIDAYS are rich with traditions, from exchanging gifts and spinning dreidels to more personalized rituals like sharing family recipes and lending a helping hand at local shelters. Many familiar customs date back to the Victorian era, when the holidays began to take onward a larger meaning. And a certain number of traditions, such as the Christmas tree stretch forth as far back as the pre-Christian or "pagan" era.