The Healing Power of Plants
In a Bedouin camp in Israel a man was speaking about the healing properties of plants. Lior Oknin studied about the medicinal benefits of plants in college, but he really learned about the healing powers of plants through his experience treating people
Lior mentioned that medicine men, shamans, and other natural healers have been using plants to heal people for thousands of years. He said today’s modern pharmaceuticals are often trying to synthesize or replicate the power of nature, sometimes with harmful or dangerous results. Aspirin for example comes from a certain tree bark. According to Lior, there are other compounds in the tree bark that make the aspirin safe for consumption. Manufactured aspirin is missing those compounds, and has a much higher concentration of aspirin than the tree bark. That’s why there is a warning label on aspirin, and why many people have died from taking aspirin. Prescription pharmaceutical drugs have killed more people than traffic accidents and illegal drugs according to a recent L.A. analysis.
Lior claims there is a plant to heal every illness. Before I give out some examples, let’s set some ground rules for using the plants. Dr. Oknin said to check online or with a doctor to make sure these plants do not conflict with any medicine you are currently taking. To use most of the plants, you can brew a tea with the plant and drink it, or add salt and gargle for severe cases. And of course, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. You should consider using these remedies before you get sick.
Sage
Lior recommended sage tea for anything and everything involving the mouth and throat, from sore throats to bad breath.
“In the first century C.E. Greek physician Dioscorides reported that the aqueous decoction [making tea] of sage stopped bleeding of wounds and cleaned ulcers and sores. He also recommended sage juice in warm water for hoarseness and cough. It was used by herbalists externally to treat sprains, swelling, ulcers, and bleeding. Internally, a tea made from sage leaves has had a long history of use to treat sore throats and coughs; often by gargling.” – http://www.herbwisdom.com/herb-sage.html
“Some of the distinct effects of sage that have been reported include anhidrotic (prevents perspiration); blood sugar-lowering effects in diabetics; antimicrobial; and drying up the flow of milk during lactation.” – http://www.naturalnews.com/027520_sage_herb.html
“After taking the sage extract, the subjects felt more alert, calm, and contented, and the benefits lasted for several hours afterward.” spacefillspacefillspacefillspacefillspacefillspacefillspacefillspacefillspacefillspacefillspacefillspacefillspacefillspacefillspacefillspacefill
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White Zuta
White Zuta according to Lior is the best plant for cleaning the lungs.
“Used for millennia for fever, headache, insomnia, joint pain, cold, cough, congestion, sore throat, bronchitis, laryngitis, stomach ache, gas, indigestion, irritable bowel syndrome, nausea, motion sickness, and to suppress appetite.” – http://www.canaanimports.com/MaimoniTEAS-TM-Nana-White-Zuta-Herbal-Tea-18-tea-bags-NWZ-001.htm
“The tea is good for easing stomach pains and sore throats. And a warning: Its oil contains pulegone, which is considered dangerous for pregnant women.” – http://food.lizsteinberg.com/2009/01/18/what-to-do-with-zuta-levana-aka-white-savory/#ixzz1oGq1RPIR
“Zuta Levana (micromeria fruticosa) is also known as Tea Hysopp, White Leafed Savory, Tea zaatar and a few other names. Difficult to find in Australia Zuta Levana is widely grown in the Middle East where it is used for culinary and medicianal purposes. Consult your doctor before using this herb.” – http://www.nurseriesonline.com.au/HerbAndSpices/Zuta-Levana.html
Geranium
Geranium cleans, protects, and heals exterior skin problems. A great method for this is to put geranium in a hot bath. Let the geranium flower soak for half an hour, then take a bath. People sell the oil but all you need is the flower.
“As well as having a balancing effect on the mind, this uplifting essential oil has a great all-over balancing property also extends to the skin, where it helps to create balance between oily and dry skin. An astringent that is not dying, Geranium is soothing to the mucus membranes of the skin. Balancing the sebum production (the fatty acid secretions in the sebaceous glands) of the skin, Geranium helps to cleanse the skin as well as to restore balance, tone, and suppleness.” – http://www.anandaapothecary.com/aromatherapy-essential-oils/geranium.html
“Rose geranium essential oil is beneficial for all skin types because it helps balance sebum production and also maintains elasticity. You can use it as a home remedy for skin problems such as acne, oily skin and also cellulite. Its antiseptic and mild antibacterial activities are useful in providing relief from minor burns and wounds.” – http://www.the-ibenefits.com/rose-geranium-oil.html
“On the skin, rose geranium oil helps to balance the secretion of sebum and clears sluggish and oily skins, while the antiseptic and cicatrisant properties make this oil an effective aid to help with burns, wounds, ulcers and other skin problems.” – http://www.essentialoils.co.za/essential-oils/rose-geranium.htm
Red Clover
Red Clover according to Lior is the best plant for cleaning the kidneys.
“There are a few kidney cleanses that are centered on herbal remedies. Those remedies might include dandelion, juniper, marshmallow root, nettles, parsley, red clover or ginger.” – http://www.liquidvitaminsleader.com/kidney-cleanse/
“Red clover blossoms are traditionally used for menopause issues, as they are said to helps balance the estrogen levels during this time. Red clover is also used in herbal cancer fighting treatments. This herb does have a blood thinning effect, and should not be used by anyone taking blood thinning drugs.” – http://herbgardens.about.com/od/medicinalherbs/p/RedClover.htm
“Red Clover helps with cardiovascular system by increasing blood flow, improving arterial flexibility and helps prevent blood clotting.” – http://blog.herbalelements.net/
“Red clover may also block enzymes thought to contribute to prostate cancer in men. It has shown a definite limiting effect, however, in the development of benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH), which is a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate gland. An enlarged prostate may cause men to experience a weak or interrupted urine stream, dribbling after urinating, or the urge to urinate even after voiding. For most men, BPH is a normal part of aging.” – http://www.herbwisdom.com/herb-red-clover.html
Milk Thistle
“For many centuries extracts of milk thistle have been recognized as “liver tonics.” Research into the biological activity of silymarin and its possible medical uses has been conducted in many countries since the 1970s, but the quality of the research has been uneven. Milk thistle has been reported to have protective effects on the liver and to greatly improve its function. It is typically used to treat liver cirrhosis, chronic hepatitis (liver inflammation), toxin-induced liver damage including the prevention of severe liver damage from Amanita phalloides (‘death cap’ mushroom poisoning), and gallbladder disorders.” – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milk_thistle#Health_benefits
“Milk thistle (Silybum marianum) has been used for 2,000 years as an herbal remedy for a variety of ailments, particularly liver, kidney, and gall bladder problems. Several scientific studies suggest that substances in milk thistle (especially a flavonoid called silymarin) protect the liver from toxins, including certain drugs such as acetaminophen (Tylenol), which can cause liver damage in high doses. Silymarin has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, and it may help the liver repair itself by growing new cells. – http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/milk-thistle-000266.htm
Oregano
Oregano in my experience heals the respiratory system and is great for preventing and beating colds and the flu. Oregano has also been demonstrated to help fight cancer. http://www.livestrong.com/article/536796-oil-of-oregano-cancer/
I regularly take oil of oregano to prevent colds. You can get it at Whole Foods, make sure to get the liquid kind and check the ingredients. The less ingredients, the better. Pure oil of oregano will beat your cold the quickest. Hold in under your tongue for 30 seconds and swallow. Make sure to have a chaser, because it tastes very bad!
“Hippocrates used oregano as an antiseptic, as well as a cure for stomach and respiratory ailments. Oregano is high in antioxidant activity, due to a high content of phenolic acids and flavonoids. It also has shown antimicrobial activity against strains of the food-borne pathogen Listeria monocytogenes.” – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oregano#Medicinal
To illustrate how the modern pharmaceutical industry has tried to monopolize healing, the wikipedia article on oregano describes a lawsuit filed by the the US Federal Trade Commission against a firm that had claimed oil of oregano treated colds and flus, and that oil of oregano taken orally treated and relieved bacterial and viral infections and their symptoms. Because you can grow oregano in your background, no one can make a patent on it. Pharmaceutical companies have helped finance the campaigns of politicians who have controlled the FTC in order to fight against natural (inexpensive) medicine.
Lime Blossom
For all you parents, Lior says lime blossom helps put children to sleep. He recommended having the kids drink lime blossom tea 1 hour before bed.
“Some people swear by lime blossoms to greatly lower stress levels and help treat anxiety and nervous disorders. It has a natural calming effect when consumed in a tea form. Switching from coffee or regular tea to a cup of lime blossom tea three times a day can help one calm down and become less nervous. Infants who are overwrought and upset can usually be soothed by placing them in a bath with a strong infusion of lime blossom.” – http://www.naturalremedies.org/lime-blossom/
You can contact Lior Oknin at NaturaLior@gmail.com
