Eucheuma Seaweed My Antioxidant Booster

Tea or Coffee? I love coffee very much. To be a little bit more health conscious what I can do is to avoid overdoses with caffeine. Nowadays I would avoid taking more than 3 cups of coffee in a day. Try to cut down the caffeine intake for my body before it does deteriorate my body. I need to boost my immunity system with high antioxidants due to stressful works. Usually taking a cup of tea certainly is calming effect, especially flora tea and green tea.

The picture of unwashed and washed Eucheuma Seaweed/Sea Bird Nest in process stages.

• Top picture of Washed Eucheuma Seaweed take about 5 hours to soak and preparation in progress.
• Below is those unwashed Eucheuma Seaweed take at least 3 days of soaking and washing in several times daily in progress.

Adding food varieties in taste, nutrients and benefits plus anti-aging of cos the beauty and slimming always come first to me.

Eucheuma Seaweed + Jasmine green tea mixed with orange juice Plus Plus ++ it is my great antioxidant booster, with its light and refreshing aroma flavor may go well with Eucheuma Seaweed / Sea Bird Nest. This fishy thing is as good as Bird Nest....Also "Edible Skincare".

Carrageenan extracted from the Eucheuma Seaweed is used as a stabilizer in food and cosmetics. Its highest amount of protein does not contains any cholesterol. And it has good compound to stabilize the fruit juices, jelly and pudding.

About the benefits of taking Eucheuma Seaweed you can refer to this link here. After soaking process and removed the fishy smell of Eucheuma Seaweed with ionized water or water. In fact I found Eucheuma Seaweed is tasteless after soaked and washed in water for several times.

The purpose of get rid of the fishy smell with the combination of orange juice aroma taste of citrus added Vitamins C plus refreshing taste. Whatever best goes well with my taste bud, I try to make it. Not only that, especially Green tea to those with irritable bowel movement can not take too much of it. So the idea of making it with Eucheuma Seaweed / Sea Bird Nest would help to solve the problem for green tea lover.

Benefits of Green Tea

In additional, the health benefits of Green Tea contain catechin polyphenols which possesses powerful antioxidant activity and antibiotic properties. It helps reduction in cancer risk and lower fat tissue levels, if you want to slim down take more of this stuff and boost metabolism rate to burn more fat with its detoxification process, it really help in digestion tract problem and weight lost plus anti-aging naturally, Eucheuma seaweed /Sea Bird Nest is edible skincare for women. It is just like taking collagen for your skin. Why not! It’s satisfying your sweet tooth by taking junk foods this is one of the best skincare.

Add Orange Juice or Citrus in Green Tea health benefits

This suggests of add in orange juice or lemon increases green tea’s antioxidants, if you have ever had probelms with poor digestion you may want to try drinking teas or some kind of herbs, try to add and make this Eucheuma Seaweed into your diet or beverage. it will help with digestion and giving your body an extra boost and improve bodily absorption.

As the Citrus juice increased recovered catechin levels by more than 5 times, Lemon Juice and its Ascorbic acid, or vitamin C has a stabilizing affect higher than orange, the benefits of adding orange or Lemon juice into Green tea to cook Eucheuma Seaweed, not only adding Vitamin C is used for flavor and also to increase shelf life. It showed the results in more available antioxidants at the absorption phase also simulates digestion in the stomach and small intestine. As the green tea catechins become unstable in a non-acidic environment and less than 20 percent of the amount originally ingested remains after entering the intestines.

Ingredients:

1 bowl of Eucheuma Seaweed/ Sea Bird Nest (blend or cut into fine pieces)

2 Jasmine Green Teabags

Juice of 2 Oranges

4 cups of water

(This recipe is just like making agar-agar Jelly)

Preparation:

1. Boil 3 cups of water and put in the Eucheuma Seaweed till it totally dissolved and turn into jelly form.
2. Boil 1 cup of water, put in Jasmine green tea bags to a teapot. Add in rock sugar till dissolve. simmer or let it sit for 5 to 7 minutes. (do not cook Jasmine green tea).
   
3. Remove the tea bags. Ready for use. 
4. After the Sea Bird Nest is dissolved. Stir well all the ingredients.
   
5. Let it cool a little bit then add the orange juice and Jasmine Green Tea to it. Stir well all the ingredients.
   
6. Pour the Eucheuma Jelly into the small container with cap or Jelly mould to set. 
7. Chill in refrigerator and it will become jelly form in container and serve for 4 persons. Done and Enjoy!

Tips: Do not throw away the green teabags, freeze the used tea bags it is good eyes treatment pads for tired eyes!

For cooking tips:

Instead of using corn starch to thickening a broth in cooking. Use Eucheuma Seaweed plainly cooked without adding any sugar or salt and form it into jelly form, then keep in small container. chill in refrigerator and ready for use, to replace corn starch for thickening a broth in your cooking.

It will thicken the broth in your cooking with its high in phyto-nutrients and ease poor digestion and don't worry it is tasteless.

 

Apple cider vinegar Raisin

The making of Vinegar Raisin and procedure comes to me quite an easy job, I keep trying to make my healthy diets easy and nice to swallow is my way to prepare, and consume it without painful experience I should say it to myself.

Raisin and the vinegar it is easiest to use brews vinegar like rice vinegar but its taste funny, so I like to use Apple cider vinegar or own made fruit enzyme vinegar naturally for making Vinegar Raisin.



There are two kinds of Vinegar Raisin how to consume in procedure:

• First one is completes soak for 15 minutes and eat immediately;
• Another kind is soaked it over night and consume all at one time. (a bit sour in taste)

Note: It's good to prepare in small quantity for daily consumption. do not over soaked it for more than 2 days as it will taste funny.

Procedure to prepare:

1. Puts raisins in the small glass jar with cover.

2. Pours Apple cider vinegar into the laying aside raisin inside the vessel

3. Soaks it one night, the Apple cider vinegar will seep into the raisin, made the raisin to inflate.

4. After one night of soaking the raisin "plump up" and soften.

5. Ready to consume or after soaked for one night consume all the apple cider vinegar raisin for good health.

If you don't like the intense sour taste, might as well add in with a bit of water and dilute the sour taste. it is best to take it without dilute with water.

After finished taking the raisin, just add some water to the leftover cider vinegar in the bowl and drink the water. That's is simple and healthy snack too.

The benefits of taking Vinegar Raisin

• prevention of colon cancer
• Restore vision problem.
• beautify skin complexion and repair collagen
• It has fast relieve fatigue effect
• Improve anemia and the malignant dermatitis
• prevent presbyopia; usually occurs beginning at around age 40
• Heals skin disease
• To help in weight lost
• Prevent and reduce the fibroid growth.
• Improved the dementia sickness;
• naturally improve leukemia
• Improve Tinnitus, also known as “ringing in the ears”, and rhinitis known as a runny nose

Raisin are low in sodium, fat free, cholesterol free and rich source of antioxidants.


Among all home remedies and cures, Apple cider vinegar is well known as helps in reduce the inflammation, fungal infections, and kills bacteria and viruses and most of its alleged beneficial health and beauty properties. Apple cider vinegar has been valued for its healing properties for thousands of years; it can help improve your general health in many ways.


*Note: This alternative and natural healing information is solely for informational purposes. I am not INTENDED TO PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. Before undertaking any course of treatment, the reader must seek the advice of their physician or other health care provider.

My diarrhea cure by Rice Water

I am here to share my own experienced of diarrhea. This evening I got serious diarrhea, firstly I guess it must be my digestive tract problem or due to excessive consumption of coffee with empty stomach for the whole day. After I recalled back what I had taken this morning. Discovered that is the contaminated food I took this morning in one coffee shop.

The sharp pain of my stomach really killing me, it comes every 20 minutes so to find out what’s the cause of my diarrhea, I have watery bowel movements every 10 minutes. Alternatively I am trying to stop the diarrhea by home remedies by self healing method. Partly it is in the middle of the night. if really worst then I decide to search doctor consultation later.

But then to hold on my pain and quickly searching for the home remedies from my kitchen, because I dare not try any herbs due to empty stomach. Then I remember I received one email from a friend long time ago. There is one home remedies by “Taking rice water to stop the diarrhea”.

This simple recipe is quite easy to prepare. I quickly take a cup of brown rice and boil with 6 cups of water for 15 minutes, add a little bit of salt. Pour off the rice water only. Let is cool.

This is what I had taken in the picture.

Immediately after I took 2 cups of rice water and surprisingly my diarrhea stop within an hour and less pain.

Well, this is a real experience I had gone through with rice water home remedy, what I am trying to share with you all is “Rice water for curing diarrhea" really ....really work wonders to me.

After all I keep taking more rice water or rice porridge to replace back the fluid for my body.

Note: Diarrhea can be dangerous as it can cause lost of fluid and dehydration. If your diarrheas still can not cure or serious diarrhea, please try to consult your doctor instead of using home remedies if serious.

Home remedies for H1N1 prevention

Recently I got a few home remedies for H1N1 prevention from friends by email on how to. It has been from "chinese Liong cha" (chinese herbal tea) to raw fruit and juices.

How truth about it, yet to try it by yourself, since it is easy home remedy no harm trying and most important that's is simply ………simple.






"Taking garlic and eating minimum of 6 Green apples per day Plus fresh orange juice."

1st home remedies:
EAT MINIMUM 6 GREEN APPLES A DAY AND FRESH ORANGE JUICE


For those with sore throat please blend the apples and keep on taking till your fever disappear and till the symptoms are gone.

It claimed that one testimonial to one infected H1N1 patient in KL, then he was put in quarantined room after 2 days and his eyes were turning yellow and saliva greenish, his parent was told by someone with simple prescription, that was given the apple juice for the whole day and all these happened within just 4 days. he was out of the fever and eating normal.





2nd home remedies:

Taking Raw Garlic

Garlic is used for both medicinal and culinary purposes. Its medicinal use and health benefits As carminative, aphrodisiac, expectorant, stimulant, anticancer actions an excellent remedy for cough, difficulty of breathing, and most other disorders of the lungs, improve cholesterol and it has great antibiotic too. Plus good source of vitamins C, B6 and the minerals selenium and manganese.





Before you go to bed at night, prepare this magic potion:

Finely chop or use the food blender to chop up two cloves of fresh garlic and let it expose to the air for a few minutes while you wash up your blender or chopping board.

The chopping releases the enzyme alliinase in the garlic. Swallow the chopped garlic with water. Garlic is smelly and the unstable sulphide is more powerful than any antibiotic and is potent in crushed fresh garlic.

The garlic will travel your entire digestive tract while you sleep and scavenge and neutralize all the toxins, carcinogens, harmful bacteria, fungi, viruses, foreign chemical before they can harm your healthy cells. It help speed recovery from strep throat or other minor ailments because of its antibiotic properties. Garlic promotes healthy digestion and protects the body from toxins produced by the infection.

Swallowing the chopped garlic will not give you garlic breath, as long as you don't chew it. You brush your teeth and rinse your mouth before you go to bed anyway.


In the morning, drink a big glass of water. Your first bowel movement will have a strong garlic odor and you will know that the harmful stuff have been eliminated from your body. Try it, especially if you have had a bad eating day.

Remember taking with moderation, Eating two cloves fresh garlic can reach the best effect for diseases resistance. Overdose with garlic may feel irritation of or even damage to the digestive tract. Due to its antibacterial function you can make Garlic rice, garlic soup or taking Garlic and Parsley oil instead of swallow raw garlic for children.


My other alternative method of prevention for flu, cough and sore throat.

As long as it is toxin-less and alternative healing, I opt for this drink for quite sometimes for soothing my throat.


Lime peels and Manuka Honey Drink

Ingredietns:

2 limes (Only take the lime peel )

1 or 2 tbsp. of Manuka Honey (individual sweetness depends)

200 cc water

Preparation:

1. Bring to boil 200cc of water together with lime peels. Cook it for 15 minutes.

2. Remove lime peel. Just take the lime peel water.

3. Pour into a glass and add in Manuka Honey and serve warm.



This is good natural cough syrup to ease the common flu, coughing and irritating throat. if serious sore throat and coughing. Continuously taking the fluid for the whole day. Best to take it before meal.

Limes or Lemon contain unique flavonoid compounds that have antioxidant. Lemon or Limes juice called limonoids have been shown to help fight disease of the mouth, skin, lung, breast, stomach and colon.

I prefer to use limes as it is locally or organically grown partly due to the wax coatings. Those conventionally growth lemon and lime may be waxed to protect them from bruising during shipping. As this recipe is to use the lime peel.

Why used lime peel

As it has small measurable amounts of oxalate, but for those suffered or already existing and untreated kidney problems may want to avoid eating lemon or lime peels.

Dragon Fruit Orange Lime Enzyme DIY

Dragon fruit is safe, clean, skins easily to remove and best choice for fruit enzyme ingredients. It has remarkable concentration of nutrients and the most valuable antioxidant to protect us from the damaging free radicals. The seductive red color dragon fruit in fact it is anemia benefit remedy.

Most importantly it has the benefits of expulsion of toxin against cancer's function, regeneration and boots metabolism enhance body cell, improve and cleans the blood and help to reduce bad cholesterol, as well as improve blood platelet formation and gives good clotting ability, help digestion, good for body organs function, healthy skin function and complexion.

Ingredients:

1 Red Dragon Fruit

1 White Dragon Fruit

2 Orange

2 Lemon

10 Golden Lime (Kumquat)

1/2 pkt of block sugar

10 oz Honey

Preparation:

1. Washed and air dried all fruits and ready for use. Prepare one clean glass container.

2. Peel off Dragon fruit skin, cut into small cube.

3. Peel off Lemon skin and slice into pieces.

4. Cut golden lemon into half.

5. Cut Orange (with skin) into slices.

** The skin of the orange may be used if desired, make sure they are properly rinsed and dried.



6. divide the fruits into 2 or 3 portion. Place all ingredients layer by layer and place block sugar on top, and pour in honey.

7. Cover with lid and let it ferments for 14 days before serving. Remember to shake the container alternate day.


















After 1 weeks of fermentation period.



























Yum.....I love this red color dragon fruit enzyme.
























Golden Lime (Kumquat) is traditional used to reduce phlegm and help prevent respiration tract infection like sore throat, flu and asthma.

When lemon and orange mixed together, the citric acid in it helps to increase calcium absorption as well as enhance with orange, high level of Vitamin C travels through the body neutralizing free radicals, good for people suffer from cold easily.

Almond Eucheuma Seweed Soup and Dessert

Eucheuma Seaweed can make varieties of desserts and pudding, other than making soup and salad. Almond milk can cook with cereal or oatmeal and I enjoyed it as my beverage.

This time I am going to use Almond and Black bean powder cook with Eucheuma seaweed definitely good ideal for healthy way to make soup and pudding.

With its healthy content of vitamin E and A, C and B complex, Amino Acids, Anti-Radical group, mineral ect., the micro nutrients which is good for skin and reducing cholesterol. Other than that Eucheuma seaweed is good for gout problem too.

Besides from nutritious, it has medicinal properties that can keep you well, and against heart disease, diabetes and giotre. They are rich in iodine and such as potassium and iron. And the important is the calcium of it. it is good for old lady to prevent osteoporosis and strong bones and teeth. And I think this recipe is very good for upset stomach and those children dislike to take green vegetable. For those at risk of diabetes, heart disease and overweight, must try to make it a habit of taking at least 5 gm of sea plant like Eucheuma add into your diet daily.

Almond Black Bean Eucheuma Soup and Pudding


Preparation:

1. Soak Eucheuma Seaweek (Sea Bird Nest) in water overnight or at least 5 hours or more, Keep changing water 3 to 4 times.

2. Ready the Jelly mold to use.





Ingredients:

4 tbsp. Almond Powder

3 tbsp. Black Bean Powder

1 bowl of Eucheuma Seaweed

2 tbsp. Sugar (depends on individual taste)






Ready Washed Eucheuma Seaweed

















Black bean powder
































Cook Eucheuma Seaweed in boiling water.











Cook it till dissolve into jelly like. I prefer to make it half dissolve.
















Add in Almond powder, sugar and black bean powder, Stir it till total dissolve.






then pour it to the Jelly mold and let it set. Chill in refrigerator and serve cool.





Almond black bean Eucheuma Puding

























Serve it hot like Oatmeal type of Almond black bean Eucheuma Soup

This is good recipe for the sick and elderly. Cold and flu, bronchitis and chronic chest infections. It is like smoothie and oatmeal in tast, and the jelly make from Eucheuma is agar jellies has the laxative effect and carrageenan can alleviates diarrhea.

Chuan Xin Lian - Bitter Herb

Due to my tonsillitis problem, I need to safeguard myself with several home remedies herbs. From A to Z if that is alternative way of natural healing, So I have to plant some of the useful herbs at my herbs garden. 

This herb looks quite similarly to Sabah Snake Grass (SSG). But this is not SSG. It also has its other name known as "Snake Grass". You can easily found this herb nearby or beside of the flower pot, or it grows like wild weed at your garden. 

I like this bitter taste herbs, it is known as "Chuan Xin Lian" or "Ku Cao" 

Common name in English: "Herbs Andrographis paniculata". 
Also know as "King of Bitters". 



The whole plant is very useful and quite popular in capsule form that sold in China and Asia.


Its meridian channels to heart and lung. 



It claimed to be good for detoxification, anti-bacterial, removes pharynx and soothing painful sore throat, traditionally used to treat colds, diarrhea, fever, tonsillitis, diarrhea, liver disease, inflammation, herpes, cough, respiratory tract and lung infection, liver infection, and the poisonous snake or insects bite.


Andrographis, as its anti-tumor activity in the study of traditional medicine in recent concern. According to the recent and latest researches found Chuan Xin Lian or Andrographis paniculata plant extracts and compounds with antiproliferative activities or tending to suppress tumor cell growth to most colon carcinoma cell, and Colorectal cancer treatment with andrographolide as a future alternative treatment of colon cancer by andrographolide is worth more research.   

It also produced a strong anti-angiogenic activity in tumor tissue and immunomodulatory active agents, and effects on cancer cells in addition to its cytotoxic effect. Likewise this herb is also applicable to treat of breast cancer, colon cancer, liver cancer, cervical cancer, leukemia, and prostate cancer. Such a fact by using of alternative herb in treatment, this may requires certain combination therapy, through one or more compounds as it affects in multiple pathways. Although many plant molecules exhibit miraculous effect of chemotherapy, but there are also many herb compounds can act as potential anti-cancer drugs, which need to conduct a lot of research and further to work better in way of improving of immune regulation to fight against tumor cells.  
 
And I found with my own testimonial by using of Chuan Xin Lian dried leaves, as this herb is real bitter, so I dried the leaves and blended it into powder form then insert it into capsule form. So that it's easier for swallowing or consumption.

I used Andrographis or Chuan Xin Lian capsules to a friend who suffers with dermatitis type of skin problem (herpes-like pimple) around the corner of his mouth area, by taking this "Xuan Xing Lian" capsules for 2 weeks and surprisingly it healed and solved that skin problem. For here it proven this herb has highest anti-inflammation treatment result.

Chuan Xin Lian is rich in amino acids, flavonoids, polyphenols ingredients, important phytosterol and choline, it is good home remedies for cooling the blood, diarrhea, urinary tract infection, soothing the throat and solve inflammation. Especially good to use on sinus and nose syndrome too.

Instead of taking it raw I used to make it as detox tea "Ku Cha" (bitter herbal tea) whenever I am having sore throat or tonsillitis infection.

 
How to make "Ku Cha" Bitter Tea



It is very simple, just simmer 3 - 4 Chuan Xin Lian Leaves into hot water in a pot. Simmer for 1/2 an hour or more, then serve it warm.

Taste like bitter gourd juice....but nice to soothe the swollen tonsils and sore throat.

Must try..... :P

Pang Da Hai and Lo Han Guo Herb Tea

It seems everyone is taking "Liong cha" chinese herbs tea to prevent this current outbreak of the deadly swine flu H1N1 virus. Taking more cooling herbs like "5 flowers Tea" or "Jin Yin Hua Tea" is very common to most Chinese. To take or not to take...anyway, prevention better than it happens will be too late.

And we really concerned about how not to get infected. As far as I know when the cooling tea is in demand, one of the herbs "Jin Yin Hua" or "Gold Silver Flower/Honey suckle flower " price has been increased tremendously.

In Asia, commonly we taking Chinese medicine in fact is to balance instead of cure or kill the disease. In other way TCM is more into self healing system to balance the immunity system and fight against the virus.



But the virus keeps changing and out breaks, and what we know about western medicine Tamiflu, new vaccine and the scientist keep on research for new medicines to cure this virus. "Think East and Think West" and I rather choose Eastern, so I prefer to use Chinese medicine than Western Medicine to protect with natural method.


My own self prevention herbal tea is just to give myself a boost and re-balancing, I found that this natural remedies herb tea is good for sore throat, cough, bad breath,Tonsils, and swelling inflammation of the lungs and mouth ulcer, plus it improves constipation and detoxify toxin.


I named it as "Pang Da Hai Lo Han Minty Tea". It's real refreshing and soothing with its aroma oil and mint taste. As usual, simple, simply easy to prepare is my recipe for busy people.

Ingredients:

2 - 3 leaves of Zuo Shou Xiang
3 Pang Dai Hai
1 Lo Han guo

Preparation:

1. Wash and clean Zou Shou Xiang (french thyme), by lightly crushing 2 - 3 leaves into the glass.


















2. Soak Pang Dai Hai in a glass of hot water for 10 minutes.















After it became fluffy and spongy in size, removes its skin and the seed. Just take the flesh and ready to use.











3. Crush Lo Han Gou into half or smaller size, put in the Jar with hot water, simmer it for 1/2 hour.










4. Now place Zou Shou Xiang (thyme) and Pang Dai Hai into the glass, pour in the Lo Han guo tea into the glass and leave to infuse for five minutes; Serve warm.

























What is Zou Shou Xiang


In chinese name: Zou Shou Xiang, Dao Shou Xiang
Common names in English: French-Thyme, Broadleaf Thyme, Country Borage, Country-Borage, Cuban Oregano.

It is a "great" herb found with the effectiveness of its essential oils on flu symptoms, the scientist also found that oregano, Oreganum vulgare, essential oil a potent remedy against flu viruses, its powerful oil can be misused and do not overdosed with it. Zhou Shou Xiang (french Thyme) which have antiseptic, anti-fungal characteristics.






This is Pang Dai Hai (Boat Sterculia Seed in common name.)


















All the while whenever I am having cough or sore throat, I would take this traditional chinese herb "Pang Da Hai" with "Lo Han Guo" as it is very cooling and help in improving the inflammation of the mucous of throat and nose, especially good for constipation and clears the Intestines to promote bowel movement and plus detoxifying purposes.

What I do just simmer it in the hot water, removes the skin and seed, left over the spongy-like flesh of Pan Dai Hai, simmer it with hot water for 15 minutes or 1/2 hour. Then taking the water extract of "pang da hai" water, to mix manuka honey. That's simply easy and nice taste natural "cough Syrup" to me.

"Pang Dai Hai" its channel meridian entered to Lungs and intestine. This herb actions and indication for acute conjunctivitis, good for chronic throat inflammation and dry coughs, pain in the throat, coarse voice, dry and hard stool, hemorrhoids, heat type of tooth ache. But do not overdose or must use with caution in those with loose stools or diarrhea. Due to its laxative effect and the effect of the seed is the strongest.


This is Lo Han Guo in chinese.

It has sweet taste and sugar substances and common used in chinese medicinal herb to treat cough and sore throat, it moistens the lungs, eliminates phlegm, stops cough, and promotes bowel movements of the intestine which can induce a mild laxative effect.

It has claimed to be good in treating Diabetes. With an appropriate measure of the Lo Han Guo and crush it break apart, cover with water, and simmer. Or add to food being prepared, using it as a substitute for sugar. Lo Han Guo's sweetening component in related to diabetes and obesity, to substitute for caloric sugars consumed in the diet.


Zhou Shou Xiang Cucumber Pineapple Juice

To Improves rheumatic arthritis, degeneration arthritis, this juice recipe is quite good to release the painful gout and arthritis problem.

5 - 6 Zhou Shou Xiang (French Thyme)

1/2 cucumber (remove skin)

1 slice of Pineapple

cold water 100cc

Preparation:

1. Removes cucumber and pineapple skin. Cut into small cube.

2. Wash French thyme and cut it to smaller pieces.

3. Add in all the ingredients together with 100cc of cold water and blend it. Serve.

Beauty Herbs for women ~ Mugwort

The Woman’s Herb "Mugwort"

Why mugwort (Ai Cao) is woman's herb?

~ Mugwort's generic name is from that of the Greek moon goddess Artemis, a patron of women.

It acts as an emmenagogue, an agent that increases blood circulation to the pelvic area and uterus and stimulates menstruation. Mugwort is ingested to stop excessive or inappropriate menstrual bleeding.

It is an useful remedy for painful and irregular menstruation. Therefore mugwort is great natural healing herbs for women’s reproductive system.


Mugwort in chinese known as "Ai Cao".

What I know mugwort is widely used in Malalysia for making soup for regulates menstruation, used for stomach troubles, vomiting, and intestinal problems, cure worms, promoting and calming nervousness. Also it purifies blood and prevents getting cancer diseases.

The Benefits of Mugwort:

• This herb also help in speed up curing and healing for cancer and hepatitis C.
• It also widely used for the treatment of diabetes and depression.
• For most organic eaters used Mugwort mashed into liquid form and mixed into their home made bread, cake and noodle for healthy food.
• Used with Mugwort in tea as a remedy for liver problems, depression, jaundice, and stimulate menstruation.
• Good anti-aging and natural skin alternative treatment for skin rashes and pimples. It increase skin's radiance and decrease inflammation.

Mugwort has great anti fungal, expectorant, uterine stimulant, haemostatic and anti-asthmatic properties. You will be amazed for its wonderful and hidden power.

Mugwort leaf and stem are used medicinally. The volatile oil includes "thujone, linalool, borneol, pinene, and other constituents". It contains rich enzyme, chlorophyll and minerals.

Note: Taking mugwort with caution and it should not be taken internally for extended periods of time due to its toxin levels call "Thujone".

What is Thujone?

Thujone is a natural chemical compound found in many different plants and flowers. It is especially known in many spices, herbs and essential oils. It has good aroma in smell and slightly bitter in taste.

Mugwort contain thujone (toxin) level too. Though thujone reportedly stimulates the immune system, too much of Thujone caution of its doses use can easily be abused and may cause addiction. it also cause nausea, liver damage if overdosed.

Do not over doses and Precaution when taking Mugwort

Over doses may interfere with the brain and nervous system functions. As it is good stimulant and regulates for woman’s menstrual, for pregnant women should avoid taking too much mugwort due to its affect on menstruation maintenance and other reproductive system functions. It used to help promote labor and assist with expulsion of the afterbirth. Do not take during pregnancy and lactation.


My favorite Mugwort Recipe

Rice wine Mugwort Egg soup

Ingredients:

• Mugwort leaves
• 2 - 3 tbs. Sesame oil
• 3 eggs (beaten and ready for use)
  
• 2 ginger
  
• 1 cup of rice wine and 1/2 cup of water
• salt

Method:

1. Remove Mugwort stem and keep the young leaves.



















Chop and mashed mugwort leaves (excluding the stem) and chop ginger into tiny pieces.
















2. Heat the wok at medium high, drizzle in the sesame oil.











3. Add and stir-fry chopped ginger. Stir-fry until it is almost brown.




4. Stir in the mashed mugwort leaves until it is nearly half cooked. Do not overcooked to maintain its enzyme contains.









5. Add the beaten eggs. Combined well with the mugwort and then stir-fry the mixed eggs and mugwort slightly browned.
















6. Add in Water or rice wine and a bit of salt.














7. Serve the Rice wine mugwort soup. Enjoy!


It's ideal for confinement mummy after birth with mugwort







Rice wine is a rich-flavored liquid that is made from fermented glutinous rice, there are a few Chinese dishes, such as Drunken Chicken, we use either quality sesame oil and Chinese wine or Rice wine. This mugwort cooking with rice wind is quite similar to Drunken Chicken Chinese confinement dishes for the confinement period is the “Pui Yuet” for Chinese confinement mummy after birth, taking of this dish is to nurture the mother's health back to its pre-natal state.

There are many taboos to most of us Chinese women, but recipes and taboos vary from region to region. Even though educated, we may feel obliged to toe the line. There is a minority of women who do not regard the confinement tradition seriously. But to believe it better than none, since it is good for women. Choosing mugwort instead of chicken for Chinese traditional culture cooking in confinement period for new mom. It is great food for vegetarian eaters. So I believe it is good to take it before or after menstruation, also good for women in pre-menopause stage.


Usually, after cooking the Mugwort rice wine dish, I used the leftover Mugwort stem or fresh Mugwort leaves in making ~ Senz's Mugwort PMS Herbs Tea.


Senz's Mugwort PMS Herbs Tea (Mugwort combined with Motherwort)


Ingredients:

• Mugwort stem or fresh Mugwort - 1 plate (shown in picture)
• Yi Mu Cao ~ Dried Motherwort
• Black sugar 3 tbs. spoons (depends on individual taste)
• 15 slices Ginger (without peeling skin)
• 12 Red dates (cut into small pieces)

Why add ginger

It works as stimulant and aids in the circulation of blood throughout the body, treating wounds, aid in digestion to expel wind, provides stimulation, and creates hormone. Very good for Women suffering from painful menstruation, they can take ginger to ease the symptoms. Its also an antiseptic, which means it is effective in killing the bacteria that causes acne. I like the aromatic, pungent and spicy and medicinal properties of ginger, and prefer to cook it without removes the skin as it will deliver a more pungent taste.

What is Yi Mu Cao ~ Motherwort



Its taste slightly bitter, cold and pungent herbs like Mugwort. As in Chinese Medicine it is used for premenstrual abdominal pain, infertility, post partum abdominal pain with lochioschesis (discharge in post delivery), cardiac symptoms of neurosis, cardiac insufficiency, fast heart rate or other arrhythmias, and hyperthyroidism.

Meridian: Heart, bladder and Liver

Alternative healing usage: it is being used to cool the liver., aid as invigorate blood flows, regulate menstruation, induce urination and reduce swelling.

Note: Not to use in case of blood deficient and in cases of without blood stasis or during pregnancy (Do not use for pregnancy woman).



This is dried Motherwort (Yi Mu Cao)





This herb tea is very good for Pre-menopause women, abdominal pain after childbirth and retention of afterbirth to regulating menstruation and promoting blood circulation.





Take caution in taking Motherwort for long term usage as it can be toxic to the kidneys.

Preparation:

1. Cut Mugwort in pieces, put in the leftover mugwort stems.

2. Wash and clean dried Motherwort (Yi Mu Cao) and ready for use.

3. Bring one pot of water to boil. Add in the Red dates and ginger slices and mugwort leaves and stems, Motherwort and to cook for 30 minutes or more.

4. Add in black sugar. Simmer for 10 minutes, removes the mugwort, ginger and red dates residues. Pour out the tea and serve warm.






Mugwort has slightly bitter in taste it makes a great appetizer too. This tea may relieve flatulence and bloating. It helps clean toxins from the blood and restores menstruation cycle delays caused by stress.

Note: Remember when drinking any herbs tea you should not be taken it more than 3 glasses a day or more than 3 days.






External usage for skin

For skin disease mash mugwort leaves and place it to the wound, best is to boiling a big pot of mugwort and take the water, soak your body in the bathtub for at least 1/2 hour. This is great home spa for skin problem.



Preparation for Mugwort and Epsom salt bath

1. Bring a big pot of water and mugworts to boil.

2. Boil it for at least half an hour. Turn off using a strainer to pour the mugwort liquid into a bath tub.

3. Add 5 tbs. of Epsom salt with lukewarm water in bathtub.

4. Bath your body and soak in tub at least 15 to 20 minutes. Then dried off, the result is good for detoxify reducing the skin rashes

The beauty and healing with Mugwort moxibustion

In traditional and beauty treatments, Mugwort then it is shaped into a cigar-like roll placed into a special instrument like a roller to roll on the affected areas for healing therapy, this method of heating specific acupuncture points on the body to treat physical conditions. We called it “Moxibustion” or “Moxi”.

This "moxa" stick is then burned and inserted into specific roller and burned close to the skin to heat the specific pressure points. To alleviate rheumatic pains aggravated by cold and damp circumstances. The traditional ways of using mugwort stick for moxibused to relief of gout. It is good to do this step prior to meridian massage for better flow of "qi" and lymphatic drainage circulation.