There’s been a lot of news the last few years about chronic inflammation and its debilitating effects on the body, but researchers are still unclear about the causes. Under normal circumstances, the body is supposed to “inflame” a little to mount an immune response and counteract infection — it’s when the body stays in that state that problems occur.

Thyme, an herb native to the Mediterranean but now grown over most of the world, has been used for thousands of years a medicine, an antidote for the Plague and in embalming preparations. And while it’s unlikely that thyme stopped the plague, modern research has proven that thyme does indeed combat infection. One study from 2010 suggests that thymol, the active ingredient in thyme, can reduce bacterial resistance to common drugs, including penicillin. A member of the mint family, thyme has long been used in Mediterranean cuisines for its sharp minty flavor as well as its medicinal properties.

“The health benefits of coconut oil include hair care, skin care, stress relief, maintaining cholesterol levels, weight loss, increased immunity, proper digestion and metabolism, relief from kidney problems, heart diseases, high blood pressure, diabetes , HIV and cancer , dental care, and bone strength. These benefits of coconut oil can be attributed to the presence of lauric acid, capric acid and caprylic acid, and its properties such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, antifungal, antibacterial, soothing, etc.” Recently, the health benefits of coconut oil was addressed in the New York Times. Read inside for the link to the article!

Essential oils have long been used for Ayurvedic treatments and aromatherapy, but they are now increasingly popular in Western medicine. Long associated with their calming or soothing qualities, doctors are now treating everything from burns to cancer and diabetes to heart disease with plant based medicine and natural oils. In fact, a recent article in The Atlantic highlights the growing search in the medical community for essential oils to treat staph and other bacteria that have grown antibiotic resistant over the years. Many oils are famous for their anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, but new research indicates that many may have anticancer components as well.

Urtica dioica, often called common nettle, or nettle leaf, is a herbaceous perennial flowering plant in the family Urticaceae. It is native to Europe, Asia, northern Africa, and western North America, and introduced elsewhere. There are more than 500 types of nettle worldwide. Used since ancient times, stinging nettles are used to thin and purify the blood, to relieve chest congestion, as a diuretic, and to stimulate the digestive system.

Today we’re going to take an in-depth look at the bone health, overall health, and detoxification properties of three flavorful easy-to-find herbs. I also give you a scrumptious recipe to get you started. Fortunately, as you’ll soon see, detoxification can be a pleasant — even delicious — experience! I’d like to start with a decorative herb that more often than not gets ignored. Don’t overlook the.… from www.saveourbones.com

There are many great holistic websites but this is one of our favorites: www.greenmedinfo.com , where the motto is “Education Equals Empowerment.” In their mission statement the founder, Sayer Ji, writes, “GreenMedInfo.com exists in order to provide convenient and open access to the biomedical research available today on the therapeutic value of natural substances in disease prevention and treatment.” The website provides articles, newsletter, videos and more…

Named for the way the fruit hangs in bunches (like grapes), the grapefruit is a nutritious member of the citrus family. It comes from sunny Barbados and is thought to be the result of the natural cross pollenization between the orange and the Asian pomelo. Today the greatest quantity of grapefruits is produced by the United States, followed by China and South Africa. Here are 6 health benefits of grapefruit that may make you want to include it in your diet on a regular basis.

Used for millennia in Ayurveda and Chinese medicine, activated charcoal is gaining attention in the Western world now, thanks to its potent detoxification properties and health benefits. Health advocates such as Dr. Mercola list it among their go to remedies. Activated charcoal works by trapping toxins and chemicals in its millions of tiny pores…