Plant some garlic

I try to use garlic in my cooking but I always seem to buy too much and it starts to go bad before I can use it all.

Boo hoo..

So what do I do with all of those extra bulbs? Why plant them of course! I just break apart the cloves that are left and plant them in pots or a special place in my garden. They'll grow and mature and spread and I'll not have to buy garlic for quite some time.

Super easy to grow - just dig it into the soil like your planting tulips - water - and that's pretty much it.

I think I've talked about garlic before and its health benefits but its really worth mentioning again. You can use garlic to fight ear infections and colds as well as fighting heart disease. Ok, it might smell bad but who can compare that to the benefits?

It's also great to put in soups, sauces and sautes - spread on some buttered bread to make garlic toast...hmm. Alright, that one may not be so good for the heart. Anyway, it adds some interest to your dishes and its good for you so, don't throw away that extra garlic, plant it and use it later!

Three Seed Tea

This tea helps with constipation, gas, coughs and upset stomach. It also will mildly cleanse the blood.

Take 1tsp each of fennel seeds, flaxseeds and fenugreek seeds ~ simmer them in 3C of water for about 15 minutes.

The fennel seeds in the tea are sweet tasting and they held with stomach aches and gas. Fenugreek seeds are said to aid in digestion, lower cholesterol levels and stabilize blood sugar. It's also useful for lung congestion and is a good expectorant. The flaxseed in this recipe helps with stomach issues, as well. It also is said to reduce your risk of developing some
cancers, heart disease and eases the symptoms of menopause.

Any of these three ingredients can be made into a tea individually ~ they're powerful herbs ~ but this tea is a triple boom and the fennel makes it drinkable.

The Lovely Artichoke

The artichoke is a vegetable which contains a lot of bitters which stimulate your bile ~ so it is helpful with liver function as well as lowering your cholesterol. You can consume the artichoke leaves and heart or you could take it in capsule form.

Another option is to make a tincture and take it daily before meals:

Simmer 1/2C of artichoke leaves (dry or fresh) per 2C of filtered water for about 5 minutes. Let is steep (sit in the water) for 15 minutes and take 1/2-1t twice or three times per day before meals*

*courtesy of Herbal Remedies for Dummies

Meditation

I know that this blog is primarily about herbs and plants ~ but since I've been writing about sickness and immunity, I couldn't discount the positive effects of meditation on the immune system.

At the same time and in the same place every day ~ sit in a relaxed position and try to clear your mind. If thoughts arrive, just let them pass on by. It will help by choosing a mantra to say to yourself while in this position and to listen to your deep breathing. A mantra can be as simple as an "om" or it can be a simple phrase ~ a positive affirmation.

Do this for at least 5 minutes each day to improve your immune system and to raise your spirits.

Onions

Onions, I'll admit, had to grow on me over the years ~ but really there are SO many varieties that you're bound to find one or two or ten that you like! Please do because the benefits are tremendous! Check this out:

they..

• raise HDL (good) cholesterol
• protects blood vessels
• reduces risk of heart attacks
• helps to reduce high blood-sugar levels

Try this Onion Wine to prevent colds and help keep your heart healthy!

1. Puree 1 lb of peeled onions (3-4 fresh onions) in a blender or food processor ~ strain
2. Add 14 lb of honey and 1 C of white wine
3. Put in a bottle and store in a cool place

Take 1T 3x a day

(Recipe courtesy of The Complete Guide to Natural Healing)