Hawthorn is a common, thorny shrub that grows up to five feet tall on hillsides and in sunny wooded areas of North America, Europe, Western Asia, and North Africa. The Hawthorn plant produces small berries, called haws, which sprout each May after the flowers of the hawthorn plant bloom. Hawthorn berries are usually red when ripe, but may be much darker. Hawthorn leaves, while usually shiny, may grow in a variety of shapes and sizes.
Bioflavonoid complexes (including oligomeric procyanidins (OPCs), vitexin, quercetin, and hyperoside) found in the leaves, flowers, and berries of hawthorn are believed to be responsible for the herbs positive health benefits. Hawthorn is well know for the cardiac benefits it provides, including improved coronary artery blood flow as well as improved blood flow in the extremeties. Hawthorn may also be helpful when used in connection with other conditions such as angina, atherosclerosis, hypertension, and some arrhythmias. It is believed by some professionals that chemicals in hawthorn may act directly on the heart muscle to increase the force of heartbeats and to relax the arteries around the heart. Hawthorn may also work indirectly by widening blood vessels close to the surface of the skin. As a result, it may assist in stabilizing blood pressure.
Based on evidence provided by clinical trials it has been confirmed that hawthorn extracts benefit individuals with early-state congestive heart failure.
In recent animal studies, results indicated that hawthorn herb may be able to lower cholesterol levels by reducing the production of cholesterol and by augmenting the body's ability to breakdown cholesterol. An additional human study also produced similar cholesterol-lowering results, but evidence is still lacking to verify the validity or applicability of these results.
Many of the active contituents found in hawthorn exhibit potent antioxidant properties.
Dosage and Administration
Hawthorn products standardized to contain either 4 to 20 mg flavonoids/30 to 160 mg oligomeric procyanidins, or 1.8 vitexin rhamnoside/10 procyanidins, are recommended. When supplementing with hawthorn make sure to follow the manufacturer's recommendations.
Hawthorn for heart failure or angina may require at least six weeks of use, three times per day before an effect is noticed.
Precautions and Side Effects
Most researchers are in agreement that hawthorn is a relatively safe herb. Notwithstanding, it is always recommended to follow recommended dosages or consult with a doctor before taking any supplement.
Thank natural to make herbals for good life!
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Hawthorn Herb Information and Benefits
Monday, September 1, 2008
Kovakkai, Tindora masala recipe
Kovakkai ,Tindora masala,it easy to do, I had never tasted kovakkai before.I found many of my friends cook this vegetable and when I happen to taste it I liked it too. Once when we went to a friend's house for dinner , she had cooked this curry.It was different with peanuts and I couldn't find out it was kovakkai. I got the recipe from her and whenever I buy this vegetable I cook this way
Ingredients
Kovakkai- 3 cups (cut lengthwise )
Onions- 1 large chopped finely
Green chilli-1 chopped finely
Ginger garlic paste- 2 tsp
Coriander powder- 2 tsp
Chilli powder – 1 tsp or acc to taste
Turmeric powder- ¼ tsp
Cloves- 3 or 4
Salt to taste
Oil- 4 to 5 tsp
Coriander leaves- 2 tsp chopped finely
For seasoning
Mustard seeds- ¼ tsp
Jeera- ¼ tsp
Curry leaves - few
Peanuts- 3 tsp
Method
Heat oil in a pan add the seasoning items. Add the chopped onion and green chilli and fry till the onions become transparent. Then add the ginger garlic paste and fry till the raw smell disappears. Now add the kovakkai pieces and fry for some time. Add the turmeric, coriander and chilli powders. Crush or powder the cloves and add it to the masala. Add little water , simmer the flame and close it with a lid. Cook till the vegetable becomes tender and oil seperates. Garnish with coriander leaves and serve hot with rice.
Thank natural to make herbals for good life!
Vendakkai/Okra Fry
Vendakkai/Okra Fry :Easy to me : We usually make vendakkai masala or curry . My Mother used to make vendakkai fry sometimes. This recipe is quite different from the usual ones we make and I love to have it with Rice and sambar. Try it folks and I bet you will love this too.
ingredients
Vendakkai/okra- 300 gms(see to that they are yound and tender)
Onion- 1 sliced thinly
Chilli powder- 1 tsp or acc to taste
Turmeric powder- ¼ tsp
Curry leaves- 1 or 2 sprigs
Salt to taste
Oil for deep frying
Method
Wash and dry the okra in paper towels(make sure it is dried well). Cut into medium rounds.
Heat oil in a pan and deep fry till they are brown. Finally when you are done frying the okra pieces fry the onions till dark brown. Off the stove and fry the curry leaves. Add the fried onions and curryleaves to the fried okra. Add salt, turmeric powder and chilli powder and toss well so that it is well mixed. It can be called as okra chips too.
Serve with rice and Sambar or Tomato rasam.
Thank natural to make herbals for good life!
Essential Skin Care Tips
Skin Care Tips
warmth, it is probably one of the most damaging elements for our skin. The rain, wind and daily pollutants such as car smoke, chemical and fumes present in the air that we are not even aware exist also play a role in damaging the natural beauty of our skin. Here are some skin care tips that will help your skin face all these factors everyday and provide you with a glowing, young look.
What You Should Know about Your Skin
The first skin care tip is that there are various types of skin and finding out which types you have will help you take care of it better. There are four main skin types and they are: dry, normal to combination, oily and sensitive. Each skin type requires precise skin care that if applied wrong will irritate it further and not deliver the desired results. For example, if you apply a normal cream on sensitive skin you could develop a rash soon and thus, damage your look instead of improving it.
In order to find out your skin type you can consult a skin therapist, a dermatologist or a beautician in any department store who will be only too happy to assist. Simple tests will be able to determine your skin type and you will then be able to apply the right treatment in order to have radiant and young looking skin at all times.
The second skin care tip is that your skin needs to be taken care of everyday without exception and here are some essential steps. Due to the fact that the sun is our biggest enemy we need to ensure that we wear a sun protective cream of at least 15 SPF at all times. This can block the ultraviolet rays but still allow the goodness of the vitamins to get through.
A daily moisturizer for the face and body is a must, which should be applied every morning after your shower. At the end of the day you must perform an equally important ritual and that is of cleaning your face of the dirt and bacteria that was exposed to for the entire day. To clean your face you need to use a cleanser first on the face and neck and then a toner without alcohol, which will refresh and revitalize it.
After the cleansing is done you need to ensure that your face and body receives the required ingredients to replenish and rejuvenate just as you body and mind does during the night time and therefore you must provide it with a night cream as well.
Important Skin Care Tip
With age, the skin looses its elasticity and glow especially on the face, neck and hands, which unfortunately are the most exposed to damaging factors of the weather and other elements. Therefore we must ensure that we take extra care of these parts by providing specially designed creams for them such as, eye wrinkle creams, eye gels and hand creams.
To get more skin care tips, contact a beautician or dermatologist who will be happy to work with you in order to find the right skin care that will provide you with desired results.
Thank natural to make herbals for good life!
