1. Turmeric
Or you might know it by its Latin name "Curcumin," but whatever you decide to call this sexy herb is okay as long as you start taking it. It works wonders if you have any kind of shoulder or neck pain. This herb invigorates the blood, but it specifically goes to those areas. This sexy orange root is part of the ginger family and is one of the herbs used to make curry.
It has been used in India for over 2500 years, and they consider it a "Wonder Herb" because it can help with so many things, from cancer all the way to Alzheimer’s. Turmeric helps to invigorate the blood and is an anti-inflammatory for the whole body, so it helps with arthritis, pain, stiffness, and any kind of systemic inflammation. It can also help with depression and if you mix turmeric with cauliflower some Ayurvedic physicians say it can also help with prostate problems.
Turmeric is a strong liver detoxifier so it can help with depression, frustration, and irritability which are all signs of liver toxicity. This orange spice can also stop the growth of cancer cells and prevent metastasizes from occurring for many different forms of cancer.
There are not many herbs that can help with pain, stop inflammation, kill cancer cells, get the blood flowing to the brain, and help with depression.
The beginning of disease in Chinese Medicine is when blood stops flowing or if we have inflammation, so the more we can get our blood flowing and reduce the inflammation, the better we will be and the less pain we will feel.
Turmeric can be added as a spice to your food or in pill form that can be bought in any health food store. Be careful of taking the powder and making it into a tea because it will stain your teeth or dentures, and orange teeth are not sexy.
2. Dragons Blood, "Sangre de Drago"
This resin that is found in the Amazon rainforest comes from the sap of the tree and when they cut the tree to get the sap it looks just like blood coming out of a freshly cut wound. This tree sap is very helpful for all different kinds of blood and circulation problems. I find it interesting that even the leaves of the plant are shaped like little hearts. The sap helps to stop bleeding and is an anti-inflammatory like Turmeric. The sap can also help with nerve pain and with any kind of bleeding issues for women. The Amazon Indians know that if they get a severe cut they can just smear the sap on their wound, and it will stop the bleeding and create a second skin. This is very helpful when the closest doctor or hospital is thousands of miles away.
Another sexy property of this sap is that it can help with skin problems and because of all the anti-oxidants it has some anti-aging properties and will keep you looking young. The more we can get new blood up to the skin, the faster our old skin will regenerate and the blood will give our skin a nice, rosy look.
Imagine taking Dragons blood on the inside to help you with any wound, pain, or circulation problems and then using it on the outside of your body to keep you looking great.
Dragon's blood is sold in capsules and tinctures that you can buy online or at any health food store. You can also buy a cosmetic cream with dragon’s blood as the main ingredient in it at Nordstrom.
3. Boswellia, "Indian Frankincense"
This herb is used a lot in Ayurvedic medicine for inflammation. It is like Ibuprofen because it has anti-inflammatory properties and it also helps to invigorate the blood. It is great for bursitis, menstrual cramps, and all inflammatory bowel diseases. They also make it into an ointment for back pain so you can take it internally and externally to help alleviate the pain, and it doesn't hurt you or your liver (yahoo).
Ashwagandha is a Nootropic so it can help you to sleep if you are having difficulties. It is also an adaptogen so if you need energy it can give you a boost of energy that will last the whole day. For sleeping problems taking ashwagandha with 2 capsules of 250mg of magnesium helps you get a good night’s rest, especially if you are up all night with pain.
Another healing property of this resin is that it can help with digestion and with chronic indigestion and gas. It helps to speed up the digestion and the secretion of the digestive juices, so that food is broken down faster and easier while at the same time also breaking down the gas that gets blocked. Can you imagine getting a good night’s sleep, not having as much back pain, less indigestion, and less gas? Now doesn't that make you want to strut your stuff?
Some cosmetic companies are starting to use it in night creams because it can help soften wrinkles.
4. Ecommia Bark: Du Zhong, "The Bone Strengthener"
This small, little, tree bark can help with lower back aches, knee pain, and strengthen the skeletal system so that you can stand up straight without any pain for years to come. We use it in Chinese medicine as a tonic to help strengthen the bones and the essence of the body. It is also used in Chinese Medicine as a liver and kidney tonic.
Some scientists believe it helps the bones because it helps you to absorb your vitamin D. Chinese doctors prefer that their patients get their vitamin D in a form that the body can absorb, but we also like that this bark is a kidney and bone tonic. Kidney tonics help to tonify the bones and the body so that you are not as achy and stiff as before your treatment. Some herbs just invigorate blood while others tonify the body. This herb tonifies and invigorates, so you will feel that your pain is better even though you might be getting older. This herb will help you to get that "Spring" back in your step.
If you are feeling stiff and achy at your lower back or knees, take this herb in capsule form, or you can go to the Chinese market and purchase the bark and make it into a tea to help to keep you limber and sexy for years to come.
5. Burdock Root, "The Gout Reliever"
This root is very popular in Japan and all over Asia as a blood purifier and to help with ridding the body of inflammation. Burdock is so good for pain because this root is chock-full of omega oils that help stop inflammation and pain. I highly recommend this herb if you have rheumatism or gout because it can clear the uric acid and stop the throbbing pain and inflammation by directly clearing the acid out of the body via your blood system.
Burdock also helps with pain that is associated with psoriasis and with the skin condition that goes with it. It also helps with other inflammatory skin conditions like eczema and acne because of its strong blood purifying properties and the omega-3 oils that also alleviate the redness and itching.
This root can be purchased in capsules or in teas from any health food store, or you can purchase the root itself at Whole Foods or any Asian store. Try to make a wonderful Japanese dish called "Kimpira," that is easy to make and so good for you. The Standard American diet (SAD) causes a lot of inflammation in the body because of the high quantities of refined carbohydrates and animal protein. Those foods are very acidic and that causes more inflammation, so the more anti-inflammatory dishes you can add to your diet the better you will be in the long run.
Burdock root is also very high in vitamin C, so it is also a strong antioxidant for the skin. This helps the skin look smoother, clearer, and the inflammation can stop, and your skin will be able to regain its youthful look again.
Kimpira Recipe (Carrot and burdock stir fry)
Ingredients:
3-4 burdock roots, peeled and cut into 2 inch pieces
2 carrots, peeled and cut into 2 inch pieces
1½ Tbsps. of toasted sesame oil
⅛ tsp. of Chinese 5 flavor spice
¼ cup of tamari
Toasted sesame seeds to garnish
Directions:
1. Cut the carrots and burdock into matchstick size pieces. Soak them in cold water for about 20 minutes. Drain. Remove the excess water by wrapping the carrots and burdock into a clean dish towel. Press out as much water as possible.
2. Heat the oil in a wok or large skillet over medium heat and then stir fry the burdock and carrots for about 5-8 minutes.
3. Add the Chinese five flavor seasoning and mix well. Then add tamari and stir until the liquid is absorbed.
4. Sprinkle with the sesame seeds before serving.
6. White Willow Bark, "Natural Aspirin"
The little magical pill you take whenever you are in pain comes from this sexy tree. A German doctor figured out that the bark contains a chemical called "salicin" or “salicylic acid” which is an anti-inflammatory and helps with pain. Some people don't like to take a synthetic version and would rather take the real stuff for their pain. When I have a sore back or knee from over working them I will brew myself a cup of willow bark and sit down and relax for a moment. I enjoy taking the moment to acknowledge what my body is trying to tell me and then enjoying the relief when the tea kicks in, and it works.
White willow bark is sold in capsules, tinctures, or teas. I do recommend the tea if you are having a tooth ache or a sore throat because you can gargle with it and it helps to numb the throat. It is also good for any kind of lower back aches, joint pain, or any kind of pain for that matter.
They say that you can take it for a cold to stop the fever, but I would rather recommend that you take a hot bath and sweat out the virus more than trying to stop the fever. The fever is the body’s way of heating up so the body can kill the bacteria or virus, and if you stop the fever the virus or bacteria stays longer in the body and it takes on a stronger hold. When you are experiencing chills during the fever, then that is the body’s way of telling you that the body is losing that round of the fight. When your fever breaks and you sweat that is your body’s way of knocking the bacteria out and helping you to win the fight. I would also recommend that you only drink liquids or soups during the time that you have the fever because you don’t want the body to have to do anything else but fight. The warmth of the soup will give your body a shot in the arm to help knock ugly bacteria out of the park.
White willow bark is nice to take but all the precautions that exist with aspirin also exist with the bark. Do not take it if you are on any kind of blood thinners, suffer from peptic ulcers, or have any kind of bleeding conditions. Please do not give it to a child less than 16 years old because they could develop Rye's syndrome.
Anytime I can have a cup of tea and not have to pop a pill I am happy, so if you would like to sip your pain away from a lovely cup of tea, then enjoy some white willow bark and relax.
7. American Skullcap, "A Wonderful Nerve Tonic"
This wonderful American herb helps with muscle pain, muscle cramping, tremors, and tension headaches. Skullcap is an anti-inflammatory and it also has a relaxing and sedative property that affects your nervous system and calms you down and settles the irritated nerve that is letting you know he is not happy.
We use this herb for chronic pain and not so much for acute pain because there are other herbs that are better for that. It is, however, safe for children and the elderly so in their case you can use it for acute pain. The nice thing about this herb is that you can take it for a while because it is a restorative tonic and it can help anybody to relax and get centered.
This herb also can help alleviate anxiety and stress that is related to your pain and help you to calm down. You don't even have to be experiencing pain to enjoy this herb because it can be used when you are just stressed out or when you can't seem to quiet the brain. It will help you to focus and relax.
I prescribe this herb to my patients who are feeling like they are on their last nerve or they feel like their "nerves are raw” because they are just really exhausted. Skullcap helps them to relax. It also alleviates some of their pain and helps them to get some much needed sleep. If it is really bad and they can't sleep I do mix it with Kava Kava to help knock them out so that they can heal.
Purchase this herb in a tincture bottle and not in a tea bag because the tincture will help with the pain and is medicinal while the tea bag is very weak and does not have that many medicinal properties.
8. Stinging Nettle, "The Sting That Heals"
If you have ever been hiking and have gotten stung by the hairs of the nettle plant please don't get too upset about the sting because this plant has many healing properties. It has several uses in folk medicine and around the world. When these sexy hairs sting you they cause a histamine reaction that can help calm your inflammation. It is very helpful for arthritis, gout, tendonitis, and sciatic pain.
This herb is also used extensively for allergies and hay fever to stop the inflammation, redness, and irritation that develops when you suffer from these conditions. If you are suffering with pain and allergies you might want to give this herb a try because it will help with the allergies without all the side effects of the over-the-counter drugs, and it will also help with the pain.
If you are suffering with gout, drink a tablespoon of the juice 3 times a day because it will break down the uric acid, and it will help to eliminate it from the body. This herb also has a diuretic effect as well as a nourishing effect on the body. Nettle has also shown to be very helpful for an enlarged prostate and because it is also a vasorelaxant it will lower your blood pressure. So if you would like your blood pressure or prostate to go down, you might want to start drinking a cup of nettle every day. A cup of nettle will keep your heart and prostate sexy and healthy.
Nettle has also been used for malnourished children and for children who have rickets because it is very high in vitamins D, C, and A, as well as minerals like iron, calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus. If you have children who are looking weak or having problems absorbing their nutrients this herb is safe for them to take, and they will absorb the nutrients right into their bodies.
This herb can be boiled and eaten just like spinach but the process of getting the plant into the pot can cause some discomfort, so I would recommend wearing gloves if you are adventuresome enough to try. For the rest they sell it as capsules or tea. Both are very nice but not as potent as the real plant.
9. Cayenne Pepper, "One Hot Mama"
This spicy herb can heat up your tongue and body when you add it to your cooking. By adding some spice to your dish it will give you several health benefits. All peppers help with circulation and can help break up plaque and congestion in the arteries to help lower your blood pressure and cholesterol.
This pepper helps with getting your blood moving so it can also help with arthritis and pain. It helps by revving up your blood flow and at the same time calming the sensory nerves to help you relax the pain. If the area of the pain responds well to heat you might want to take this herb internally because it can raise your internal thermostat to relieve some of the pain.
Cayenne does have some thermogenic properties; it raises your body temperature so it can help with weight loss. It only works for weight loss if your weight gain is due to a low thyroid or if you are sluggish and cold all the time. I would not take it for weight loss if you are having problems with sleeping, hot flashes, or feel like you are too hot all the time. Those are usually signs of a hot liver and you don’t want to get your liver any hotter. You will want to cool your sexy liver down with some wonderful, dark, leafy greens like dandelion, collards, or kale. He just loves those leafy greens.
I would also like to recommend taking cayenne to warm you up if you are just feeling cold because you are out in the elements. Some skiers take it when they are on the slopes to prevent them from getting frostbite. You can also take it if you are living up north and you have to be outside in the cold weather. It will keep your sexy fingers and toes warm.
10. Cinnamon, "The Body Warmer"
This inconsequential spice that most of us have on our spice rack comes from India and at one time in history it was desired more than gold because its benefits are quite astounding. If you suffer with pain in your body and it is worse on a cold, rainy day, then cinnamon might be the herb that you will want to grab out of the kitchen. This spice is able to warm not just your digestion but it warms all the limbs and can break up that pain. If you mix it with raw honey the results are even more astounding. It can help alleviate arthritis and it cost pennies a day.
In Copenhagen, some doctors did an experiment on 200 patients who have suffered with chronic arthritis. Every morning before breakfast they were given 1 tablespoon of raw honey with ½ teaspoon of cinnamon, and within a week 73 patients were totally relieved of pain and within a month all the patients who could not walk or move around because of their arthritis began walking and moving around without pain.
if your body is achy and cold, or you can't find any relief, and it is about to rain or a cold front is coming in cinnamon will be more precious to you at that moment than gold. After your pain is gone and you feel nice and warm inside you can now go and enjoy your other activities without pain.
Cinnamon is great for pain due to cold, but it is also great for lowering blood sugar levels and cholesterol. They say that if you start taking ¼ teaspoon of cinnamon a day you will lower your blood sugar by 18% and cholesterol by 7%. Now don't you think that taking a tasty spice like cinnamon is a lot better for you than taking metformin or a statin? The other benefit is that it breaks up plague on the brain and helps it to function better.
It is used in Chinese medicine for providing vitality and longevity. Experts recommend making a tea every day out of 4 spoons of raw honey, 1 spoon of cinnamon powder, and 3 cups of water. Bring it to a boil and then drink ¼ a cup 3-4 times a day.
This will give you energy, warm up the body, and help you to lose weight. I think that it is not sexy to be a weather monitor and letting everybody know that it is going to rain today because your arthritis is starting to act up. I think it is sexier to run around in the rain, laughing, and singing, because you are loving life and enjoying it without pain.