HEART VIGOR - HERBS FOR HEALTH

Warning: Many herbs adversely interact with modern medicines and should only be taken after consulting with medical professionals. Use as directed by a health care provider. Always follow the manufacturers dosage guidelines!

ROOIBOS (lat. Aspalathus linearis)

The Rooibos bush is a member of the pea family. It is also known as Redbush Tea or simply Red tea.
The Rooibos bush is a flowering shrub indigenous to the Western Cape of South Africa. It can grow up to 1.5 meters in height.
Rooibos has become the national beverage of South Africa.
The ancient Khoi (Hottentots) and San (Bushmen) people are believed to have been the first to discover that the Rooibos leaves can be used to make a refreshing brew. They mashed the stems and leaves and then left the remains of the plants to ferment in the sun, and used it to make a tasty beverage.
Early Dutch settlers at the African Cape started drinking Rooibos as an alternative to the very expensive black teas. Cultivation and industrial processing of the rooibos plant began in the 1930s.

Benefits and uses:
Rooibos is naturally caffeine free and therefore suitable for children, infants and breast-feeding mothers.

Rooibos is a good source of antioxidants and is the only known source of the potent antioxidant aspalathin, which could play a role in fighting several diseases. Rooibos has also been shown to have cancer-fighting properties in animal research studies. Japanese research into the effects of oligosaccharides, a substance also found in Rooibos, indicates they may aid the immune system in fighting viral infections.

Rooibos is also said to be beneficial in the treatment of diabetes, high blood pressure, irritability, headaches, stomach cramps, disturbed sleeping patterns, insomnia, nervous tension, mild depression or hypertension, liver diseases, allergies, cataracts, skin irritations and other conditions, mellitus, atherosclerosis, and colic and feeding problems in infants,as well as nausea and vomiting, constipation, stomach ulcers, heartburn.
Externally it can be used to ease allergic skin conditions. It is also used as a cosmetics ingredient.

Enjoy Rooibos for more than just its great taste.
Rooibos herbal tea has a slightly sweet and fruity flavor that can be enjoyed plain hot or cold. The traditional South African rooibos tea is consumed with cream, and it requires little or no added sweetener due to its natural honey-like flavour. Served as iced tea, it is also very delicious.
To make a cup of Rooibos tea, use one teaspoon of Rooibos in an infuser, pour in boiling water and enjoy one of the healthiest drinks available.

Cautions:
The only noted side effect is that rooibos slightly slows down the absorption of iron from food. Rooibos contains low amounts of tannin, plant polyphenols that bind and precipitate proteins and interfere with iron absorption in the body, thus people having an iron deficiency should avoid drinking rooibos tea.

ROSEMARY (lat. Rosmarinus officinalis)

Rosemary is a perennial, woody plant,with a pleasant flavour. Originating in the coastal areas of the Mediterranean it has now spread over most of Europe and North America.

Benefits and uses:
Rosemary has been used since ancient times as as a medicinal, ritual and seasoning herb. Hippocrates, Galen, and Dioscorides all prescribed rosemary for liver problems and othe ailments. The French saw it as a cure for just about anything.
Rosemary was also used for conserving meat, even in hot weather, it slows the deterioration of meat foods.

The leaves, stems and flowers of the plant are used for teas, vinegar flavouring, in jams, bread, butters, stuffing, vegetables, and meat dishes for flavouring.

Medicinally it is said to have calming effects by working against fatigue, sadness, anxiety, calming muscle soreness, digestive pains, flatulence, and indigestion caused by stress.
The main properties of rosemary are: analgesic, antiseptic, antidepressant, anti-inflammatory, expectorant, antiviral, aphrodisiac and disinfectant.
Rosemary is also known as "the herb of remembrance" as it is useful for poor memory, aiding in concentrating, fatigue and mental clarity.
The herb has also been used as a powerful anti-oxidant and cardiac tonic. It is said to prevent damage to the heart from free radicals and other toxins, and helping to regulate blood pressure. Give it a try to relieve migraine headaches.
It can be used as a tea, tincture, capsules or ethereal oils.

Essential Oil added to your bath is an excellent treatment for sore muscles.

Cautions:
Don't use in excessive doseage, don't use in cases of epilepsy, it shouldn't be used by children or pregnant women.

Warning: Many herbs adversely interact with modern medicines and should only be taken after consulting with medical professionals. Use as directed by a health care provider. Always follow the manufacturers dosage guidelines!