Category: Herb of the Week

Memory is something we all wish we had a little more of, especially as we age!

A study a few years ago tested the impact of various essential oils on cognitive performance and mood in healthy volunteers. Analysis of performance showed that rosemary produced a significant enhancement of performance for overall quality of memory and secondary memory factors, but produced an impairment of speed of memory.

The researchers conclude that essential oils can produce objective effects on cognitive performance, as well as effects on mood. Since then, further studies have been conducted and shown similar results of various kinds. How does this work? The compounds in the oils work their way through the nose, then to the bloodstream and then to the brain, where they have a direct impact on receptors.

For this reason, rosemary is sometimes called the Herb of Remembrance. As a bonus, rosemary is affordable and easy to grow at home or in your garden!

If you’d like to try a sniff of our rosemary oil, please pay us a visit anytime. We promise it’s a great time you’ll never forget.

Rose hips ( Rose Canina)

Rosehips are the fruit of the rose plant, appearing once the flower has bloomed and the petals have fallen off. Rosehips provide one of the best naturally available sources of vitamin C.  This high vitamin c content aids your body in recovering from periods of stress, in which your stores of vitamin C become depleted, and helps the body defend against infections and the development of colds.

Because they contain a variety of antioxidants; carotenoids, flavonoids, polyphenols, leucoanthocyanins and catechins, rose hips are considered to be a good preventative measure in maintaining a healthy cardiovascular system.

Topically, rosehip seed oil has astringent qualities and has the ability to help regenerate new skin cells. This can be used to treat scars, acne and burns. While it is an astringent, it does not dry out the skin, rather it helps to rehydrate it, keep the skin elastic and nourished. Rosehip seed oil is high in Vitamins A an E along with essential fatty acids.  It can be used directly on the skin or it can be added to other cosmetics. You can find organic rosehip seed oil sold on our shelves at The Herbal Clinic and Dispensary.

How to prepare dried rose hips:

DECOCTION:  scoop 2.5 tsp’s of dried rosehips into a cup of water, bring to a boil and simmer gently for 10 mins.

INFUSION: Use 1 heaping teaspoon of rosehips per cup of boiled water and steep 15 minutes.

BLENDING TIPS:

Find rosehips in our ‘Stress Rest‘ Tea blend, and allow us to blend it for you with any of our wide selection of dried herbs! We love blending it with Nettle leaves as it’s vitamin c content works synergistically with the iron content of nettles, helping your body to absorb more of these incredible nutrients.

Sheng Di huang

Rehamnnia Glutinosa

Personal Note: This is the most Yin of all our herbs. Traditionally used in TCM, Rehmannia is becoming increasingly common in Western formulas for it’s ability to support and rebuild in convalescence. I like it especially post-delivery, or following a significant illness.

Description

Sheng Di huang is mainly found in Mongolia as well as northeast China. This dried slightly sweet tasting herb is used in traditional Chinese medicine to ‘clear heat and cool blood’ as well as ‘nourish yin’.

Common Medical Uses

• Fever
• Dry mouth
• Nosebleeds
• Internal bleeding
• Rheumatism
• Constipation

How To Consume

• Decoction
• Tincture

Works well with – Rehmannia is so yin in nature that it must always be paired with other herbs to balance. Usually it’s used with herbs like Codonopsis, Canadian Ginseng, and Licorice root.

NOTE: Always use the cooked root.

Selenecereus Grandiflorus

Night Blooming Cereus

Personal Note: A useful herb in lowering blood pressure, Cereus is often used in combo with other cardiovascular herbs or alteratives.

Description

Selenecereus grandiflorus is a species of Night Blooming Cereus originating from Mexico and Central America. It blooms only once a year, for a single night. Its principal action is upon the circular muscle fibers of the heart and arterioles making it a useful cardiotonic and hypotensive.

Common Medical Uses

• Angina pectoris
• Hypertension
• Congenital heart failure

How To Consume

• Tincture

Works well with –  I like Cereus with Hawthorn, Lily of the Valley, Linden, and perhaps some Gingko.