Plant medicine … what is it and how can it save your life and your beautiful black skin?
Have you ever walked into a store and you know you’ve walked through someones nasty germs?
Something comes over you and all of a sudden you’ve got chills or you feel weak … you struggle to get back to your car and make it home.
This happened to me the other day. Before I could finish my grocery store run it hit me. I have a supper sensitive nose and can smell odors that aren’t always pleasant, from a distance.
A nasty cold has a certain odor, an odor that lingers. Unfortunately I turned down an isle where someone had entered it with a nasty cold.
By the time I u-turned, it had hit me. What does this tell me about my immune system? Two things. It’s not as strong as I thought it to be and that I definitely needed to get more rest.
Fortunately … I’d also been to the farmer’s market for what I call my plant medicines. Moving deeper into the Fall Season, it was time to increase certain herbs for beauty and wellness. My apothecary is always filled with dried rosemary, sage and lavender. These are staples.
However, knowing that we’re moving into November, it was time to get really serious. So, the big guns come into play. Echinacea, Elderberry, Turmeric, Ashwaghanda and Astragalus. These herbs and spices boost your energy and immunity. The Ashwaghanda actually helps calm and relieve the body of stress.
You can find herbs and spices – raw foods – at farmer’s markets and health food stores. They’re great to add to salads and steamed veggies as well as for seasoning pasta and quinoa.
Echinacea is herald as a superhero herb that boost your immune system and reduces many of the symptoms of cold and flu.
Elderberry is called the flu and cold fighter. It contains flavonoids that are rich in antioxidants that help protect your cells from free radical damage. Those free radicals protect your skin and allow its beauty to shine through.
Turmeric has been one of my go-to-herb for inflammation for years. Turmeric contains curcumin which is known for it’s anti-inflammatory properties. It stimulates the adrenal glands to increase the hormones that lessen inflammation in your system.
Astragalus is a mild adaptogen and is very good as a tonic for your immune system. Astragalus is also known to protect your liver and kidneys from damage that’s caused by viruses or medication. It also helps lower blood sugar and improve blood flow to your heart.
Ashwagandha is one of my go to herb for soothing my nerves. I remember being in the health food store and I saw this woman filling a bag with this powder. I asked her what was it and what was it good for? She told me of the toxic/stressful work environment where she spends most of her time and she uses ashwagandha to move through each day in a calm state.
So I tried it! My dislike of protein powder drinks have me on guard of all drinks in any powder form. I tried the ashwaganda, it evaporated right into the water and it did not leave the pasty taste in my mouth that powder drinks usually leave. More importantly, I could feel myself moving slowly into a very relaxed state.
The key to a healthy lifestyle and the beauty of your skin. These herbs and spices will help cleanse you internally. When herbs and spices act as diuretics, they’re moving any mucus/phlegm out of your system. Mucus is what has your body holding on to germs and toxins. It’s a breeding ground for disease.
Don’t stop with this article about plant medicines. Let this be the beginning of your own personal quest for beauty and a healthy lifestyle using plant medicines as your base.
That’s it for this week. As always …
Dedicated To Your Beauty,
Juliette Samuel
Esthetician/Author/Publisher