Anti-inflammatory herb ~ Honeysuckle flower

One of my home grown herbs ~Japanese Honeysuckle in my herb garden is blooming with beautiful flowers. I noticed the white flowers bloom and then it turns to yellow flowers in 2 – 3 days. Then it falls off within a week. 

Herbal Chuan Xin Lian Mung Bean Barley Therapeutic Mask

When I was young my granny used the home remedies to treat my pimples skin. Her ways of ancient beauty therapeutic method is really fantastic, when I recalled it back. 

It is really to the extreme of wanting to cure my inflammation skin problem, she even used rice water as facial cleanse, cucumber juice extract as face toner, green bean powder and home made dried potatoes powder, mix and match to make it as facial mask in thick paste form, simply pasted on my face. Surprisingly that kind of home remedies really works to reduce the redness and outbreaks of the pimples. 

Due to my previous experiences of curing pimples with her traditional methods, the greatest benefits to what I had gained not only clear away the serious pimples and cure infection acne skin. Thus, by getting all sorts of her ancient home remedies into my present beauty therapeutic method I learned and experimented. Some of granny’s home remedies into making my own herbal mask are really great. 

Now what I like to share on this blog, the wonderful and natural beauty home remedies by using the traditional Chinese herbs, the dried herbs leaves of Chuan Xing Lian (Chinese Name). Botanical name is Andrographitis Herb

This inventive herbal mask was created in an anti-bacterial therapy way, for which I had tried on several pimples and acne skin cases has shown great improvement. 

It is quite easy to make, affordable and provided you can find the herbs of Chuan Xing Lian ~ "King of Bitter herb" Andrographis.

Firstly, the herbs of chuan xin lian need to be air dried or room drying, when dried finely blended into powder form.

Follow by mixing Mung bean powder and barley powder (can buy the ready made powder form type.). This helps in soothing, whitening and removes of excessive clogged oil on face. Barley powder is wonderful skin whitening and helps to lighten the dark spots, pimple marks and hyper-pigmentation. Green Bean or mung bean powder gives setting effect to mask, it is great anti-blemish ingredients. It exfoliates the dead skin cells, calming effect, natural antiseptic to acne prone skin type. 

For severe eczema problem on body, try to apply this herbal mask on to infected areas or body part, it has very cooling and soothing effect, relieves of itchiness, anti-inflammation and naturally relieves the outbreak infection areas and reduces redness.

To save time making the Mung Bean powder, you can find this Mung Bean Powder in the grocery shop.

Chuan Xin Lian Mung Bean Barley Therapeutic Scrub and Mask

Ingredients: 

• ½ tsp. Chuan Xing Lian Powder
• ½ tsp. Green Bean Powder
• ½ tsp. Barley Powder
• Toner or distilled water – 5 to 10 cc 

Method:

1. Washed and air dried the Chuan Xin Lian - Andrographis herb, till it’s totally dried. Blend it into powder form. 

2. Barley and Green beans blended into powder form too. 

3. Mixed all the ingredients in small bowl, pour in the toner or distilled water. Mix slowly into thick paste form.

4. Apply on clean face wait for 10 to 15 minutes. 

5. Wet the face and scrub lightly in circulation movement for 1 minute. (Not applicable to serious acne skin type, skip this)

6. Rinse off with lukewarm water.

Extra Benefits: 

Additional tips: 

Use it as herbal healing mask and exfoliation scrub, after application, uses it as whitening scrub for oily skin, before rinse off the mask paste, lightly wet face with water, and scrubs the face in circle movement for about 1 – 3 minutes. Rinse off thoroughly with lukewarm water.

This herbal mask and scrub can be used 1-2 a week. Try it for a few time if any adverse reactions, stop using it. 

After every application of this mask and scrub, instant result shown on lightening of scars, pimples marks and blackheads is being soften, clear and clean....It is amazing for glowing skin scrub and whitening facial mask of the day.

What is Chuan Xing Lian for:

Chuan Xin Lian

Chuan Xin Lian also known as Andrographis herb is common herbs that used by Chinese herbalists to treat inflammation and infected problems, digestive problems and clearing heat, expels toxicity, herpes and most effectively to treat the formation of pus and eczema, boost immunity system, snake bites and throat infection problems. As for me, this is my wonder herb for my occasionally tonsillitis problem, a capsule of Chuan Xin Lian just relieves my painful sore throat. (more informations read here)

According to the researches and studies indicate that this herb is traditional Chinese herbs has the antibacterial and antiviral effect, non-toxic, it is natural anti-biotic for treating urinary tract infection, It resolves inflammation and swollen glands, clearing lung heat, diarrhea and dysentery, and digestive cardiovascular removing dampness and cooling blood too.

This herb is making into capsule form as herbal supplement commonly selling in the Chinese medical shop.

This herbs is very bitter, it is quite hard for those never like bitterness taste. To make an easy way of ingesting this bitter herb, purchase the empty Gelatin capsules, you can make your own Chuan Xin Lian capsule; I bought some empty Gelatin Capsules fromthe Chinese medicine shop. 

My home made custom blend Chuan Xin Lian Capsules. 

Most important, hygienic preparations come first, a pair of surgical gloves, facial mask, empty Gelatin capsules must be in clean and hygienic condition to make your own herbal capsules. 

As a way of my health purposes, this is my tonsillitis cure herbal capsules and Tea for years into my own hands. Also some feed back from my friends,after taking the capsules or tea for about 2 to 3 days, it really good for curing dry cough with sore throat problem effectively. 

Decoction of Chuan Xin Lian Tea has Anti-hypertensive effect. The whole plant can be used for making tea, for better effect add in the stems as well.

Caution:
* Pregnant women may not advisable to take Chuan Xin Lian
* Do not over doses as it may injure stomach Qi and function.
* Doses to take 500 - 3,000 milligrams, 2 to 3 times/ day. 

* Stomach ulcer person may not take this herb.

Note: 

Please consult your health care practitioner before using any of the herbal or alternative home remedies. 

Green Papaya Ku Ding Tea Cure Painful Gout

Ku Ding Tea

Chinese name, as “Ku Ding Cha’, Ku means 'bitterness', Ding is its appearances is twisted rolled leaves into a narrow spike like, like a nail. literally as 'bitter-nail tea'.  

Ku Ding Tea is the wax tree species Ligustrum Robustum, and the holly species of llex. Grown in the Sichuan and Guangxi Provinces and Japan.
It is a traditional Chinese health Tea or the beverage consumed in china And its taste particular distinctive bitter and with a bit of sweet taste undertones.

In Chinese medicinal properties its ability is to disperse wind-heat, to resolve toxin, eye ailments for itchy eyes and red eyes, it also alleviate thirst, invigorate stomach and as for slimming and beauty herbs tea to control obesity. It promotes blood circulation and increase blood flow, detoxifying and has anti-oxidant effect similar to tea.



Using Green Papaya with Ku Ding Tea for Gout cures.


Papaya is a wonderful fruit in medicinal usage. Papaya contains an enzymes called 'Papain', papain is a good source of protein digestive enzyme to helps in dissolve and break down protein to form amino acid, it also in aiding the body upholds better overall health to alkaline condition. It has been proven its medical benefits, it is an active anti-inflammation agent.

As using food as medicine, this Papaya herbal tea drink has the certain medicinal properties to put off the uric acid that accumulated and build up in the body. This simple alternative home remedy can help in alleviate joint pain, body aches and pains, rheumatism, so as to alleviate the digestion problem, try Papaya Ku Ding Tea.


Using an unripe Green Papaya with Chinese Tea or Ku Ding Tea to cook it as herbal drink or brew into herbal tea for treating painful joints and gout. Ginger is also a good home remedy for gout and digestive tract problem, to relieve of stomach gas and body aches, you can add in 1 or 2 slices of ginger into the infusion.

Method of how to brew Green Papaya Ku Ding Tea:

• Use one unripe Green Papaya to act as a tea pot. 
• Cut open the top portion of the papaya and removes all the seed, 
• place in your Chinese Tea or Ku Ding Tea, add hot water into it.
• Open a small ventilation hole to the top cover of the papaya, covers back the top portion of the papaya, and brewing the tea.
• Steep the Ku Ding Tea leaves in the Papaya with the hot water at the 80°c to 90° for 15 minute. 
• Increase the steeping time after the second brewing. You may add more water if the Ku Ding Tea is too bitter.
• Drink the tea.

Note:  This Tea can be infuse at least 3 - 4 times continuously by adding hot water in steeping. The water temperature is very important for brewing this herbal tea. Repeating adding hot water to keep it warm for drinking.

As this recipe helps in treating arthritis, uric acid, lower cholesterol and lower blood pressure. Also helps to reduce the body weight naturally and effectively.






Disclaimer:
Most important is to understand what is right for your health condition, although herbs are safe for some people, if you wish to try it is advisable for you to consult with your holistic health practitioner or doctor first. When taking medication try to consult your doctor before taking any of the alternative healing herbs.

No matter what type of healing herbs or alternative healing method, we still have to be careful in consumption, start off slowly and minimize it to prevent overdoses with it.

A Stimulating Blend ~ Raisin Rosebuds Jasmine Herbal Infusion

Earlier in my blog I wrote about apple cider vinegar soaked with raisin. Raisin is wonderful home remedies and alternative healthy snack and dessert. It has many benefits and with rich amount of iron and calcium, especially it is good source of health and blood tonic to bone health and anemia.


It is brilliance to take raisin regularly. For those who suffer from cold always, and women always in cold hands and feet condition, plus the potassium and magnesium 2 popular constituents of antacids which is very effective in neutralize and reducing body acidity. Raisin is considered as warming food in traditional Chinese medicine.


The great combination of pink rosebuds, dried jasmine flowers, dried stevia leaves and raisin tea gives the beneficial of the effect to ease ingestion and relief constipation too. This natural sweet scented flora herbal infusion is very good alternative natural anti biotic to fight against bacterial infections when you have fever, it helps to bring down the fever and treating flu, sore throat as well running nose.


When feeling fatigue and stressful, The wonderful part of making this infusions comes easily for working people, it restoring nervous system and soothe irritability. Good home remedy for women especially to the menstrual problems.


Ingredients:

• 12 Rosebuds 
• Jasmine Flower1 tbs.
• Dried Stevia leaves 1 tbsp
• 2 tbsp. of Raisin
• 3 bowls of Water 

Serve 4 cups


Rosebuds or petal is common flora herbs for vital energy circulation, ease abdominal pain, chest stifling, not only for beauty to smoothen skin complexion, it dispels blood stagnation and relief menstrual pain, also common use in home remedy to stimulate and regulate irregular menstrual. It has slimming and alleviates anxiety relieves tension effect. 


Infusions of dried rosebuds have cooling effect and vitamin C content with mild laxative and diuretic effect, relief ingestion and bloating stomach also for weight lost. Drinking rosebuds tea may help to reduce headaches and induce sleep, also blood purifier to clear toxins and heat from the human body. Rose tea is great in decongestant action help to induce menstruation cycle when the cycle is irregular, heavy flows and menstrual pain, and liver remedy for cleansing and stimulating the gallbladder flow in Chinese herb practice.




Dried Jasmine Flower is a sweet highly scented flower; in home remedy it is good for treating inflammation, treat chronic stomach upset to prevent infection, good for gastrointestinal health to promote and increase the probiotic bacteria in the stomach and intestines, relieve anxiety and headache, it cool the blood and calming in Chinese medicinal herb. For women it solves the women menstrual disorder, it helps to stimulate and regular the menstrual disorder, relax the uterus menstruation cramps and pains, jasmine flower can help to relieve the pain and it is uterine tonic herbs.


Dried Stevia leaves are natural sweetener in alternative herbs. It has natural sweetness, calories-free sweetener to taste instead of using sugar, it is a herb plant that use for diabetes and high blood pressure. 
Please refer to this link: Natural sweetener Stevia Rebaudianna Sweet leaves in my previous blog.




Method:

1. Cut raisin into small pieces, cook in hot water for 3 minutes.






















2. Add in dried rosebuds, dried jasmine flowers, and dried stevia leaves to the pot, continue cooking for 3 minutes.

3. Remove and place in infuser to keep warm and simmer for 3-5 minutes, strain and serve warm.

Optional: 
If you prefer to add smooth taste to it, mixture of fresh milk will give you the milky taste also to boost vital energy, very soothing in taste and can relieve insomnia, dispel fatigue. 


This can be a very nourishing tea for beauty skin indeed. If you have milk lactose intolerance tries not to add fresh milk to it.
















A real healing magic to relieve stress and nourishing to beauty herbal infusion. Try it yourself.


Note:
It should be taken with caution for breast feeding woman, and during pregnancy, due to the jasmine flower reduces milk production while weaning, it has stimulant effect to uterus.

Beetroot Mai Dong Tea For Mouth Ulcer and Eliminate Body Heat

Chinese Traditional medicines always find the solution of balancing and restore, adjust in harmonies the Yin and Yang. Disharmonious of “heat”, “fluid”, “blood” and “qi” circulation within our body caused stagnation of heat affect the 5 organs system of lungs, liver, heart, stomach, and kidney.


As always, using “cooling” measure to treat the “heat” by home remedies method to reduce body heat. To determine what is the actual cause then gets the treatment with suitable remedies, or herbs by alternative medicine to restore and balance with physical, emotional and spiritual aspect.

Many Chinese herbs can treat and reduce body heat, to release the “fire” or “heatiness” and clean “heat” from the heart, stomach and liver. The causes of body heat can be aggravated by heat producing foods or drinks such as coffee, spicy food, sugar and strong heating and pungent spices, and alcohol. The excessive of heat arise in response to an acute feverish and illness. Some cooling food or herbs that is useful to remove of “body heat”.


This cooling herbal drink can be used to eliminate heat. The “Cooling” remedy such as "Mai Dong and Beetroot" cook it as soup or herb drink helps in recuperates deficiency-fire, and this herbs drink has the soothing and cooling effect to sedates heat in the heart nourishes lungs and stomach Yin.

In TCM what is heat (fire) actually mean? Body heat (Fire) we normally called it “body heat or Fire”, the 6 external energies categories as Cold, Dampness, Dryness, Heat (Fire), summer heat and Wind, each of the influence varies throughout the day, month, from year to year by 4 seasonal.

Actually what causes pathogenic body heat? There are relatively influences and causes due to disharmony in Yin or Yang in the human body organ system. The human body 5 internal organ systems are the lungs, liver, heart, stomach, and kidney in channel.

The entire body system is interconnected and corresponds with the vital energies, which is the fundamental essential substance is composed by blood, energy (Qi), essence and body fluids. And the meridians or channel flows throughout the body.

It works in relationship to each of the other organs. The Yin and Yang together it creates a balancing and harmony with the whole body system. The Yin and Yang in human Organ, each of Yin organ is paired with a Yang organ like this:

Yin <<< >>>Yang

Heart <<< >>>Small Intestine

Spleen <<< >>>Stomach

Lungs <<< >>>Large Intestine

Kidney <<< >>>Urinary Bladder

Liver <<< >>>Gall Bladder

Pericardium <<< >>>San Jiao


Note:
San Jiao is translated as "triple heater," triple warmer (or three warmers)," and "triple burner," There are three "burning spaces":

The San Jiao has 3 “burning spaces”:

• Upper Burner (Shang Jiao) – corresponds to thoracic cavity, the space includes of Lungs, Heart and is associated with respiration.

• Middle Burner (Zhong Jiao) – corresponds to upper part of dorsal cavity, The space includes of Stomach, Spleen and is associated with digestion.

• Lower Burner (Xiao Jiao) – corresponds to lower part of the doarsal cavity. The space includes small intestine, large intestine, kidneys bladder and is associated with elimination.


The pathogenic body heat is either exogenous (internal) and endogenous (external) pathogenic influences. The Pathogenic heat due to body endogenous “the fire” invades the body; external pathogenic heat causes disease or illnesses by attacking human body through mouth, nose and skin.

When heat attacks the body, heat arises or excessive cause fever, thirst, headache, excessive perspiration and rapid pulse. Heat is one of the Yang pathogen, when Yang is pertains and the heat or in the case of high fever tends to consume and replenish Yin-fluid, when the body feels hot, and drive body fluid out of the body by sweating and extreme thirst, fever arise.

Likewise, when “Yin” in the present of excessiveness consumes “Yang” and “Yang” in the present of excessiveness consumes “Yin”. Yin photogenic is “Cold and Dampness heat”, Yang Photogenic is refer to “Dryness and Wind Heat”. In turn, Yin in excess will get “cold” syndromes, and Yang in access and causes “heat” syndromes.

When the Yin and Yang is impaired and the sensation of obvious symptom, due to impairment of body fluid similarly excessive of heat occurrence in body causes by “body heat”, high intake of hot spicy foods and hot foods caused heat (Fire), ingestion problem, restless sleep or insomnia due to pathogenic heat in the liver and gallbladder, heart and kidney can causes thirst and irritability.

If deficiency of Heart-Yin, the insomnia may occurrence, and feeling restlessness and feeling of heartburn, dry cough and mouth ulcer, the photogenic heat can leads to sickness usually feeling extreme thirst, such as mouth ulcer, sore throat, and bad breath. Besides, lack of Vitamin B, thus, they may be other reasons that caused in some cases.



The benefits of taking Beetroot with Mai Dong Herbs drink:

• It raises the effect of promotes saliva or body fluids and slakes thirst.
• Relieve of dry cough, mouth ulcer, dry mouth and sore throat
• Clear away heat in the heart, rid of phlegm heat,
• Improves of insomnia
• Relieve of hard stools and improve constipation problem.


Ingredients:

• Beetroot 25g
• Mai Dong 15g
• Brown sugar 15g
• 500ml of water

Method:

1. Peel beetroot skin, wash and cut into smaller pieces.
2. Place water to boil and add in Beetroot and Mai dong to cook for 30 mins.
3. After decoction, the herbs are strained, take the water only, and add in brown sugar to serve warm.

Dosage: continue taking this herb drink for 3 days. Once daily











Alternatively, Mai Dong might be used for this purpose of treating those with hard stools and constipation may also try this to add a little bit of Mai Dong with Chrysanthemum (ju hua) make it as herbal Tea.

Mai Dong (Radix Ophiopogonis) also known as Mai Meng Dong in Chinese, it is diuretic, expectorant, cardio tonic and tonifying properties. It nourishes the heart and detoxifies the liver, clears liver heat and disperses wind-heat of the body. This herbs tea is ideal for women suffer with night sweats and hot flush; add in wolfberries to it for better result.





Ingredients:

Mai Dong – 10g
Chrysanthemum – 10g
Wolfberry (Goji) - Optional
Honey

Method:

• Wash and cook Mai Dong in boiling water for 15 mins.
• Turn the heat off and add in Chrysanthemum, and then pour all ingredients into infuser, and let is sit in simmer for 10 minutes or half an hour.
• Serve with honey (Optional)






Caution:

This is slightly laxative herbal tea. The dosage recommended by practitioners usually from 5 – 10g, combined with other herbs or foods decocted as herbal drink. Over-consumption may causes loose-motion, for those with spleen deficiency Yin may result in diarrhea form of stools. Take in moderation and consume it once a while as natural laxative herbal tea.


What is Mai Dong

Chinese Name: Mai Dong or Mai Meng Dong

Scientific name: Radix Ophiopogonis, Ophiopogon root

Nature is cold and slightly sweet and bitter, non-toxic, usually use to treat injured fluid from deficient of Yin and get rid of heat. Use cooked Mai Dong in water as gargle to treat mouth infections, sore throat and ulcer.

The channel enters: heart, lungs and stomach.

The benefits of taking Mai dong is to improve immune system, anti bacteria, improve contraction of heart muscles, in folk medicinal used by Chinese home remedy for children as anti shock herbs, help improves toleration of lack of oxygen, moisture intestine for constipation and slightly laxative effect, It reduces damp heat in stomach, used as tonic. To sooth the throat especially to dry cough.

Caution when taking Mai Dong:
Do not used in cases of diarrhea, due to cold from deficiency and fluid retention, not compatible to cook with white fungus (bai Mu Er).
Dosage to use is about 6 to 15g.

In the meridians channel and human organ system, these refer to the aspect of meridians and human internal organ system which the food can act. Beetroot is heart healthy food that benefits heart and nourishes Yin invigorates the kidney. It is neutral food that balances Yin and Yang.

In Chinese traditional medicine it is been part of folk medicinal food as blood building food, stimulating effects on liver’s detoxification process. Also alternative medicine to treat mouth ulcer, Beetroot is high in vitamin B, and the magnesium assist with sleep as well. Lacking of vitamin B can also be the reason of causing restless sleep, mouth ulcer.

Use of fresh beetroot with Mai dong has revealed many amazing result of get rid body “stomach-heat” help relieve constipation and “heat in the heart” to improve the quality of sleep.

Beetroot also help in metabolism, it improve the quality of sleep for restless sleep people, and also mental health by elevate mood by the mood enhancing know as serotonin, which is the awaken hormone, serotonin is found in the brain and central nervous system, it is implications on behaviors, sleep and mood. Serotonin can be converted by the pineal gland into melatonin, melatonin is the sleep hormone, it is good to taking at night to improve restless sleep or insomnia, it sways the minor acid balance to improve and in favor of sleep. When heat is trapped in the heart, beetroot is a good alternative home remedy to treat stomach ulcer, dry cough and heartburn, and helps to cure persistent dry cough and harness of voice.



There are many beverages and recipes when taken to eliminate heat:

• Drink more water or fluids intakes, like Vegetable or Fruit juices such as Lemon Juice, apple, celery, grapefruit and pear.
• Salad or Fruit Salad like Lettuce, mixed bean salad
• Herbal infusions or Tea such as Peppermint or Chrysanthemum
• Taking fruit mixed with Agar-agar or jellies, or Sea Bird Nest or Eucheuma Seaweed.

Peppermint Chrysanthemum Infusion for wind-heat flu

Few hours more to say goodbye 2009 and looking forward to welcome New Year 2010. I know I haven't update this blog since earlier this month. Been busy and it's a bit of less productive for this blog. As always, a simple herbal infusion to prevent of influenza and wind-heat type of flu.

In folk remedies, the peppermint is the "world's oldest medicine" and is not only for the oral cavity coolant, but also has calming effect for stomach ache, stomach inflation and the diarrhea. Commonly used in treating colds and flu.

The Scientist recommend to take peppermint tea puts in boiling water as herbal infusion, simmer for about 15 minutes, and drink before the volatile oil (the active component in aromatic plant is an effective decongestant and expectorant) evaporate. This is an auxiliary treats to stomach uncomfortable more effectively. Also help in reducing of intestinal gas.

The peppermint, or menthe, pungent in taste and the nature is cool, and acts in lungs and liver meridians. It includes the peppermint essence and the tannic acid, Vitamin B, potassium and calcium and so on, for its medicinal benefits peppermint can induce perspiration and bring down a fever as well as antiseptic properties or sterilize. It may govern catches cold and prevent of influenza, ease the headache and bronchitis, good for the stomach.

Peppermint tea is good for treating sore throat, stuffy nose, respiratory tract ill, anxious, dyspepsia. The scent of peppermint oil may curb appetite for those intend to reduce food cravings.








Usually peppermint can be taken solely as herb infusion, when combined with dried chrysanthemum is good for common cold and swollen sore throat, and for the prevention of wind-heat type of influenza, which help in relieve heat symptoms, to expels pathogenic heat and relieves coughs, dryness in the throat or dry cough.

Traditionally, the dried chrysanthemum is to use for expel pathogenic wind-heat, to reduce hyperactivity of liver yang, like treating colds, headaches and inflamed eyes.

The chemical compound of volatile oil, usually found in aromatic plant like fresh peppermint is used as a flavoring agent, and as a gastric stimulant and carminative. And the essential oil of chrysanthemum "Ju Hua" are borneo, camphor and chrysanthenone, it should be taken at the suggested therapeutic dose, with a large dose, it may lead to diarrhea or digestive system disorders. As in TCM this combination of infusion is cooling properties for expelling of lungs and liver heat.



Peppermint and Dried Chrysanthemum is best to serve as infusion and avoid boiling for too long:



Steep from 5-15 min.
should be taken about the dosage of 6oz, 3 times daily.

Note: Serve with or without rock sugar








Although the peppermint tea is good, but everybody is by no means suitable. The experiment indicated that the peppermint for pregnant women and breast feeding woman should avoid taking it. The peppermint may also reduce parturition of woman's milk quantity, therefore the breast-feeding women, also for those with excessive or spontaneous sweating is not suitable.

Enjoy your herbal tea....HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL.

Roselle ~ Luo Shen Hua Beverage and Jams

In Southeast Asia countries, the Roselle (Roselle Hibiscus Sabdariffa) named in Chinese known as 洛神花 (Luo Shen Hua) is regarded as medicinal plant use as herbal infusion. It is very common in making delicious and healthy soup, Jelly, sweet pickle and homemade Jams.




In recent years the Chinese medicine researches that it had the anti-hypertension besides the preliminary confirmation Roselle is widely used, in folk medicine it has associated with traditional medicine as:

• Blood purifier as well as a diuretic, treat urinary tract infection,
• To improve of constipation as it has mild laxative,
• Can also reduce the blood fat and blood triglyceride effectively,
• For several diseases such as hypertension and improve blood circulation,
  
• Help digestion and improve digestive tract absorption,
• Anti-aging by suppress free radical activity
• Treat cardiac and nerve diseases and cancer.
• Treat the liver disease, regarding suppressed cancer,
• Adjust the feminine physiological menstrual cycle,
• In cosmetology maintenance used as skincare
• Healthy beverage and herbal tea with good effect for weight loss
• Whets the appetite, cooling and relieves thirst effect.

Roselle (Luo Shen Hua) is rich in vitamin C and its calyces are made into healthy food and beverage, the red pigment of Roselle which contain of crystalline anthocyanins, hibicin as well as protocatechuic acid. The Roselle extract contains the oxidation inhibitor ingredients and the Polyhenols has oxidation resistance in majority by suppress low density lipoprotein to prevent oxidation in our body.


Commonly the fruit is taking fresh, decore them, and then dry the Roselle calyces used as beverage and herbs tea. It can also process into sweet pickle, salad and fruit jams.

Now it has also commonly used to make into enzyme or vinegar as healthy drink in Asia. Frequently drinking the Roselle herbs tea or beverage may achieve the health care effect.


Roselle herbs tea or beverage

Preparation:

• Peel Roselle Calyces and remove the seeds. Wash thoroughly.

Ingredients:

• Roselle Calyces – 2 bowl
• Rock sugar (depends on individual taste)
• 500 ml of water

Simply cook the Roselle Calyces with water and add in rock sugar to taste.











The health benefits of taking Roselle as drink or herbs tea, its reduce high blood pressure by lowering the high levels of LDL cholesterol to protect and against heart disease.

The recommended dosage about 10 grams in the dried flower tea form once or twice a day.


Healthy homemade Roselle Jams

Usually after cooking of Roselle extract, I used the cooked Roselle Calyces to do homemade healthy jams. Simple as that and do not waste good thing.



Ingredients:

• Cooked Roselle Calyces - 1 bowl
• 1/2 cup of Roselle extract
• Honey 1 tbsp.
• Maltose 2 tbsp.
• Brown sugar 1 tbsp.
• Lime Juice 1 tbsp.

Preparation:

1. Blend cooked Roselle Calyces into creamy form.
2. Squeeze lime juice and set aside.


Method:

1. Add Roselle extract and blended Roselle Calyces in pot and cook with low heat for 15 mins.

2. Add in honey, maltose and lime juice. Stir and mixed well and continue cooking till dry into jams form.

3. Remove from heat. Keep aside and till cool. Place them into the Jam container and keep in fridge.

Done and enjoy it!


to be continued...

Replenishing Beet Herbal Tea

When think of the grey hair, first I think of “He Shou Wu”.

He Shou Wu (Plygonum Multiflorum) is black in color.
Black in 5 elements is for “Kidney”.

What about Red in color Beetroot?
The red color beet is for Heart, blood and circulation.
Important for cardiovascular health to lower blood pressure.


This fancy “Black and Red in color” combination makes a simple traditional herbs drink to replenishing and invigorating the kidney to strengthen the “Yang”, nourishing the “Yin” by ways of improving the Kidney “Qi” and ”Blood”.

With the nature of “Yang” and “Yin” in this herbs tea to treat deficiency of the Kidney and blood, something like immerse a pot of “He Shou Wu and Beetroot” herbs tea come naturally and easily to prepare for health purpose.


This shocking reddish in color herbal tea is kind of aroma soothing and sour in taste yet not the least, it works wonderful kidney and hair tonic also as a “blood builder” and “youth preserver” to promote of blood circulation for skin plus good stimulates of hair growth. Help with keeping healthy arteries to prevent hardening of arteries.


Constrained flow due to stressful and emotional constrains that cause restricts the flow. If kidney “Qi” and “Blood” is insufficient this aspect will also influence to bad blood circulation. That will eventually affect to the skin complexion, not only which, it may also link to other illnesses. Certainly some due to bustle about stressful work lifestyle and it disturbs the hormone secretion, metabolism, insomnia and headache.


Ingredients:

• He Shou Wu – 10g

• Beet – 14g

• Rock sugar – 1 tbs. (optional)

* Beet is high sugar content.

Method:

1. Wash Beetroot and He Shou Wu. Peel Beetroot skin and cut into smaller slices.

2. Immerse both ingredients into tea pot or infuser with boiling water.

3. Simmer for about ½ hour. Serve warm.






Simple and yet it’s nutritious and healthy for:

• Stimulates hair growth.

• Anti aging formula

• Improves insomnia

• decrease hardening of the arteries,

• Improve immune function.

• greatest estrogenic activity


What is He Shou Wu (Plygonum Multiflorum)

He Shou Wu is a Chinese medicinal herbs and important longevity herb which is derived from the dried tuberous root of the plant Plygonum Multiflorum.

Nature is mild and slightly warm. It is painstakingly astringent and tastes a bit bitter and sour sweet.

Used to treat Alzheimer’s disease, stimulates hair growth as hair tonic, restoring hair color and preventing hair loss, this herbs contains laxative compound to treat constipation, menstrual and menopausal complains also it is a youth preserver.

Meridian channel: to the liver, the kidney, the heart, the lung.



"He Shou Wu" combination with other ingredients benefits:

• Boil with black soybean for strengthen kidney and improve vertigo.

• "He shou wu" with mulberry leaf or fruit used for preventing grey hair too.



Caution when use of He Shou Wu:

• Skin Rashes and numbness may occurred to certain people if overdoses of "He Shou Wu".

• Not for Acute hepatitis and stomach inflation people.



About Beetroot

Beetroot is rich in folate and vitamin C, potassium, calcium, iron, beta carotene. A good colorants use as a natural food coloring or dye from the red pigment (Betacyanin) in beetroot. Its nature is cold, taste of aroma sweet. Good blood purifier for treating pimple and skin disease.

Beets are considered aphrodisiac and it plays an important role in human sex hormones. Good for treating menstruation and menopausal problem.

Beetroot combined with He Shou Wu (polygonum multiflorum) as therapeutically herbal drink, it is a stamina builder and helpful to kidney "Qi" and "Blood" which makes up the body to be insufficient with, and a tonic to increase vitality and energy, strengthen the blood, kidneys and liver.

Lo Han Gou Olive Tea and Pickle

I got this fresh black olive from one of my friend’s farm as they are planting all sorts of organic fruits. Taking Raw Olives taste is not as good as you think. It is bitter and sour in taste.

Fresh Olive needs to be cured to get rid of the bitterness first before you can consume it. To cure Raw Olive is quite simply. A simply brine cured by just soaking Olives with salt and water. Curing refers to various preservation and flavoring processes.

We enjoying Olive pickle or preserved Olives as excellent snack by simple way of cooking it with low heat and simmer till it turns soften. Pickle it with light soy sauce and sugar marinade, it simply simple to prepare and taste wonderful!

Something that tastes so delicious after home-curing with salt. If you prefer the taste of its original taste, just add a little bit of salt to wash it before placing it into hot water and cook with salt. Or simmer in hot water for few minutes then you can consume it with the original taste of olives.







Ingredients:

1 bowl of Raw Black Olive
2 tbs. of light soy sauce
2 tbs. of sugar
1 tbs. of salt

For curing Oliver:

2 tbs. of salt
1 tbs. of Apple cider vinegar






Cooking preparation:

1. Wash raw olive with water, lightly wash Olives to remove the white spot or discard blemishes that might have stuck to the fruit. Use salt water to cure it first.











2. Drain with water after salt-cured. Add 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar to soak it for 5 minutes, drain and wash with running water before cooking.












3. Bring water to boil with 1 tbs. of salt.

4. With low heat add in raw olives to boil for 5 minutes. Remove the pot from cooker and simmer it for about 10 minutes or till it’s softened.











5. Removes the water, add in light soy sauce and sugar to pickle olives . That’s it.


6. Eat it warm or keep in refrigerator and serve cold as pickle taste better. Keeping in refrigerator and consume it within a month or two.












Olive is one of the healing foods in traditional Chinese medicine. Taking fresh olive help in soothe mucus membranes, but it tastes bitter in raw. When cooked it also a delicious snack with healing potential.

It has highest content in calcium, high fiber, Vitamin E, Omega3 Fatty Acid. Not all fats are bad, olives have plenty of the good fats of monounsaturated fat, they are considered as stable fat that provide good protection to our body.

Researchers found the active ingredient of Oleocanthal found in fresh olive is similar to ibuprofen. It works like “painkiller” same process as drugs like an aspirin and is a non- steroidal anti-inflammatory and anti oxidant. With regular intakes of fresh Olive and Olive oil protects the intestinal tract and improves bile and liver functions. And lower the chance of developing gallstone by cleansing the gall bladder.


In beauty skin and fitness health benefits, its unique properties may control and prevention of aging process. It also increases in metabolism and help in weight lost due to monounsaturated fat of its satiating affects will ward off hunger. Moderate intake of fresh olives considered as one of the good dietary food, that actually make you feel full and help to stop the hunger signal enable you from overeat.

Olive has the medicinal benefits of preventing and helps in protect from diabetes, colon cancer, breast cancer, asthma, arthritis, atherosclerosis, heart attack and improve blood sugar levels, lowers blood pressure, treat rhumatism, hand and foot numb syndrome, it increases good cholesterol and decreases bad cholesterol. And the Vitamin E against cardiovascular disease and protect our heart. It has powerful antioxidants which neutralizes free radicals to our body and enhance our immunity system.

One of my late granny’s natural healing by using Lo Han Gou with Raw Black Olive in this formula is to treat tonsillitis, soothing sore throat and coughing. Plus help to ease constipation effectively.


Ingredients:

10 Raw Black Olives
Lo Han Guo fruit (for diabetes) or Rock sugar
3 bowls of water













Cooking Preparation:

1. Wash Olives with water, remove dirt and blemishes that stuck on the fruit. Soaking it with 1/2 tbs. of salt water for 1 hour, drain the salt-water and wash thoroughly with running water.

2. Use a sharp knife cut out the meat of the olive into smaller slices.

















3. Bring water to boil, smash Lo Han Gou into half, add into the pot with olive pits and Olive meat to cook it for 1/2 hour.


4. Remove from induction cooker and remove the olive pits.















5. place remaining Lo Han Gou and Olives into infuser then simmer it and serve warm.















Lo Han Guo refers to the fruit of Siraitia grosvenori, used as a medicinal herb for treating cough and sore throat, acute or chronic throat inflammation.

Lo Han Guo the fruit itself, though sweet, the extracts are nearly 250 times sweeter than sugar, for diabetes can using it as a substitute for sugar and it helps in normalized blood sugar levels naturally.