Next time you are planning a trip down to the chemist for an over the counter drug, why not try a herbal alternative to bring relief to an everyday ailment?  Here are ten herbs that you can use in your kitchen everyday and incorporate into your menu planning...

Mint - Peppermint is both a stimulant and a relaxant and can be used to aid digestion, as it works to increase the flow of digestive juices in the stomach whilst at the same time relaxing the main muscles in the gut. It’s lovely and soothing for the lining and muscles of the colon, calming issues in this area as well as aiding diarrhea. The healing properties of peppermint are also prominent when using the herb in an oil form. Once processed into an oil, the antispasmodic properties work to soothe stomach and menstrual cramps. Due to the presence of thymol and eugenol in peppermint oil, it works effectively to balance oral and intestinal flora, reducing fermentation of undigested food and assisting in the treatment of colon issues and Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Drinking fresh peppermint tea is a wonderful way to add the benefits of peppermint into your diet. Use in salads, vegetables and lamb dishes.

Sage contains rosmarinic acid which acts as an anti-inflammatory within the body. Sage is known to help women suffering from excessive sweating due to menopause, and sage tea is a good way to incorporate it into your diet. Sage can help to regulate menstruation and is good for all female gynaecological problems. It is often used by herbalists as a remedy for respiratory infections. The oils and tannins in Sage have astringent, antiseptic and irritant properties, helping to loosen up congestion, treat coughs and soothe sore throats. Flavour meats, roasts and vegetables with fresh sage.

My name is Rebecca Cook and I am the resident Herbalist on the Supercharged Food web site.  Each month I will be bringing to you information about herbal medicine and answering any questions you may have.

You can email me here: bexjc@yahoo.com.au

Just a little bit about me. I am a fully qualified Herbalist and have previously worked as a Massage Therapist for 8 years.

I have treated a diverse range of ailments with various techniques ranging from remedial massage to hot stones, relaxation and energetic healing with reiki. Massage therapy is incredibly beneficial, however after treating people for many years I observed that there is much more going on with people than just the physical complaints that have manifested themselves.

Most of the re-occurring complaints were related to ‘stress’ and the body’s ability to manage the acute and chronic stress response on a mental, emotional and eventually physical level. I wanted to offer more to my clients and that is where my passion turned to herbal medicine. I believe the best results can be achieved when a treatment can be individualised; this is one of the major benefits of herbal medicine. I am committed to assisting clients achieve their goals by enhancing their knowledge and responsibility for their health. This involves supporting and motivating compliance of treatment programs and offering guidance in preventative diet and lifestyle.

Herbal medicine supports the body systems to function in synergy with each other, addressing the underlying cause of ‘dis-ease’ which in turn supports the body to restore to its intended state of balance without doing any further harm.

Prevention is better than cure, however the same herbs that will strengthen immune function prior to getting a bug, will also help support the immune system if you are currently fighting off a cold or flu. Herbs you can use in cooking and that are also found in a herbal dispensary: Garlic; anti-microbial, anti-viral, anti-fungal, anti-biotic, assists in killing or expelling intestinal worms and parasites, anti-oxidant an excellent herb for fighting a wide range of infection and boosting the immune system.

Echinacea; an effective anti-bacterial and blood cleanser that gives this herb its wonderful reputation when treating the common cold and flu, it is most effective before the full onset. Echinacea increases the level of a chemical which activates the part of the immune system responsible for increasing defence mechanisms against virus and bacteria.

Andrographis; stimulates one or more aspects of the immune reaction, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, reduces fever, increases the resistance to physical, emotional or biological stressors, restores balance to the body.

Astragalus; stimulates one or more aspects of the immune reaction in time of chronic infection, debility or auto-immune disease, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, increases the resistance to physical, emotional or biological stressors, restores balance to the body.

Liquorice; increases the resistance to physical, emotional or biological stressors, restores balance to the body, reduces spasm of respiratory tract, reduces to formation of mucous, soothes inflamed mucous membranes of the respiratory tract.

Boneset; promotes sweating during fever, alleviates body aches that feel they are ‘through to the bone’.

Cinnamon; anti-microbial, reduces the feeling of nausea.

Golden rod; reduces the formation of mucous in the upper respiratory tract, normalises the function and secretions of mucous membranes, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, adrenal tonic.

Yarrow; promotes sweating during fever, anti-inflammatory

Worms. I’m sorry, this isn’t the most enjoyable subject material, but if you’re a mum or dad with  school aged children, you may already be familiar with this unsavoury situation. If you haven’t experienced it in your family yet, it’s time to get informed so that when the problem rears its ugly head you know exactly how to tackle it. I also have some great news on a natural way you can rid your body of these pesky critters before resorting to drugs.

Pinworms, also known as threadworms are the a parasitic worm and the most common worm infection in Australia, the UK and the USA.  Kids are more likely to pick up an infection than an adult, probably because of children’s tendency to put their fingers in their mouths, and you may notice worms emerging in your family when your littlies begin day care and school. An annoying truth of the childhood worms experience is that once a child is infected, other members of their household are also likely to get pinworms unless strict hygiene practices are observed.

Threadworms are spread by children scratching their bottom and carrying the worm eggs back to their mouth with their hands. They can also be spread indirectly through food and dust. The eggs can survive up to two weeks outside the body, and once these eggs are swallowed, they hatch in the small intestine and travel down.

Despite the ugly reputation, a pinworm infection is relatively harmless and can be easily treated.

What to look out for

Signs of a pinworm in children include

• Tiredness, or generally feeling “out of sorts”
• Disturbed sleep
• Lowered appetite
• Itchy bottom, especially at night
• Small white worms appearing around the anus
• White worms in stools

Home care practices

When you notice an infection of worms, you can help reduce the spread to family members through

• Discouraging scratching the bottom
• Keeping everyone’s fingernails trimmed and clean. A nail scrubber is a good option.
• Washing hands with warm soapy water after the toilet
• Laundering bedding in hot water
• Vacuuming the house often to remove eggs

Ridding the body of worms naturally

Diatomaceous Earth is a brilliant first step alternative to over the counter drugs and is something that I personally consume regularly to rid my body of parasites, especially during travel overseas or if I suspect an infection. It’s been very effective in gently cleansing my digestive system. And a clean digestive system is the starting point for overall body and mind health. It’s also a beautiful all-rounder for family gut health and cleansing and because it is a food not a supplement, it's safe for adults and children.

Diatomaceous earth is one of the best natural, food based anti-parasitic medications. It works by attracting bacteria, fungi, viruses, pesticides, drug residues etc to absorb them. The hollow cylinder structure allows pathogenic bacteria to become trapped and passed through the body. Larger parasites found in the stomach are actually cut up and killed by the Diatomaceous Earth particles!

My naturopathic grade, Diatomaceous Earth, also known as organic fossil shell flour or as I like to call it Dinosaur powder, also contains 15 minerals that are beneficial to your overall health and wellbeing. With its detoxifying properties, you and your children will be able to absorb these minerals much more effectively!  Being high in silica it has the added benefits of better hair, skin and nails too.

One tablespoon of diatomaceous earth taken by an adult, once a day for seven days, can be extremely effective for killing parasites. When used on children, bear in mind that height is a better indicator of the size of their G.I. tracts than their weights. Thus, a child who is 4 feet tall should take 2 teaspoons, and a child who is 2 feet tall should take 1 teaspoon.

You can simply add your appropriate dose to water or juice twice a day, preferably before meals. You can even add it to smoothies or sprinkle it on top of your children’s cereal as it’s completely free of additives, fillers, sugars, artificial sweeteners or preservatives!

Love Your Gut, Diatomaceous Earth is a safe food grade product and of the highest D Earth grade. When using it, be sure to drink plenty of fluids and always consult your health care practitioner when treating children.

Find out more about my Love Your Gut Powder here.