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SUPERHERBS

January 18, 2016  //  Health

Hi guys!!

I first of all want to thank you SO SO much for your amazing and supportive response to my last post. I have gotten so many positive emails, comments, and messages from you, and you have no idea how incredibly good it feels to have your love and support. I am so excited for the next step and sharing it with you as the year unfolds!

Recently, StyleCaster asked me the health trends I see popping up for 2016, and the answer was easy for me because it’s something I’ve been really getting into the past year or so. Superherbs and adaptogens are the trend I see going big in 2016 that I’m really excited about! We’ve all been informed about superfoods and the nutrients they pack, but superherbs do more than deliver vitamins and nutrition. Superherbs are a class of herbs that help heal the body, aid in well being, support the immune system, and boost energy levels. These herbs have adaptogenic properties that help the body adjust to stresses, whether external (environmental) or internal (emotional/physical). Herbal adaptogens can have extremely powerful healing effects that benefit the whole body by restoring balance and strength, versus just addressing specific symptoms. This focus on the whole body means adaptogens can restore homeostasis better than drugs targeted at specific ailments.  Stress can cause all sorts of imbalance and disarray in the body, and I believe it is a big contributor to disease. Adaptogens help the body maintain health by igniting chemical processes that offset the effects of stressors.superherbs

In the last several years, people have taken it upon themselves more than ever to learn about the detrimental effects on the body of taking synthetic pharmaceuticals and consuming processed foods. People are sick and tired of being sick and tired. The body is not designed to digest, assimilate, and eliminate chemicals, and it simply cannot. When these toxic wastes and their byproducts are stuck in the body, they create disease and imbalance, which has become evident over time. Taking a pill may mask the symptoms of certain ailments, but it does nothing to treat the ailment itself. The body is still suffering despite the fact that the resulting superficial pain has been quieted, and it is important to dig deeper and treat the real reason for the pain, not just the pain itself. Superherbs do that by treating the body as a whole, not just one isolated area or symptom. When we experience an ailment, the body is almost always in disarray systematically in a number of ways, and treating it as one total and connected unit is the best way to restore balance and vitality.  I hope that in the near future many of us will be taking herbs over prescriptions and over the counter drugs as our remedy of choice for certain ailments.

Below I’ve detailed out my favorite supercharged herbs that can help our bodies adjust and rebalance in response to stress:

ASTRAGALUS: Astragalus is an adaptogen that protects the body from physical, mental, and emotional stress. It benefits the immune system, heart, and liver, and is currently under scientific study for its use as a treatment for cancer. Taking astragalus long term prevents colds and allergy symptoms during seasonal episodes.

RHODIOLA: The medicinal components of the succulent rhodiola are found in its thick root. It is a great adaptogen for mental stress and memory issues. Not only can it help with brain fog, but it also reduces stress by boosting endorphins. In animal studies, it has been shown to lower blood pressure, slow heart rate, and normalize heart rhythm. Rhodiola is also a powerful antioxidant that reduces cell damage.

ASHWAGANDHA: This is one of the most powerful Indian healing herbs, used for a wide variety of conditions including stress, fatigue, lack of energy, and difficulty concentrating. Ashwagandha has very similar restorative effects to ginseng and can help support energy and well-being . It contains many medicinal chemicals that improve stamina and reduces tress on the body. It also stimulates immunity and has profound antioxidant benefits.

REISHI: This is a Chinese mushroom that is through to increase life sforce and longevity. It is used to treat a myriad of ailments form fatigue to heart disease. Research has shown enhance immune function in people who consumed reishi mushrooms because of their antibacterial and antiviral powers.

GINGER: Ginger root is a powerful anti-inflammatory herb that can be used to remedy a wide range of issues, including nausea, indigestion, and joint problems. It is a warming herb, making it great for boosting circulation and has anti-viral properties to help boost immunity and speed recovery time during cold and flu season. It is most commonly and primarily used for gastrointestinal upset including discomfort after eating, heartburn, gas, bloating, and nausea.

OREGANO: Oregano has high amounts of antioxidants and antibacterial properties. It can be highly effective as an antiparasitic, antiseptic, antiviral, and immune boosting remedy. I love taking oregano oil in capsule form when I am sick instead of an antibiotic as well as adding it to boiling water with rosemary and basil for a congestion clearing facial steam. I also love taking it when I’ve had an extra indulgent few days of sugar or grain consumption because it is highly effective in preventing candida overgrowth. Candida is a bacteria in the gut that feeds on sugar and when we consume high amounts, the candida overgrowth and creates bacterial imbalance that can lead to cravings, energy dips, and yeast infections.

TURMERIC: Turmeric is a root in the same family as ginger containing curcumin, which is a potent group of antioxidant compounds. It has been shown to have highly effective anti-inflammatory properties that have powerful pain relieving qualities in those with join pain, muscle soreness, and arthritis.

CHAMOMILE: Chamomile is my favorite after dinner tea because it is great for digestion and stomach settling. I love boiling some water with ginger root and adding chamomile tea for the ultimate digestive concoction. It also has strong relaxant properties making it perfect before bed. I also love drinking it during busy days when I’m feeling stressed because it calms me out and makes me feel less anxious. I add a little coconut milk to make a warm tea latte that is both comforting and delicious. If you experience menstrual cramps, chamomile is great for that as well because it loosens the muscles that are tense.

ARNICA: Arnica is a mountain flower, and I think of its benefits similar to Advil, without the synthetic components. Arnica is a wonderful treatment for bruises, sprains,soreness, swelling, muscle aches and spasms, arthritis, and joint pain. It can be taken in pill form or topical application to areas of soreness. I love using an arnica balm during massage or sore areas and I also like taking it before AND after strenuous athletic activity to offset any resulting pain.

GINSENG: Ginseng works by reducing the secretion of stress hormones in the body, so it can be useful in a myriad of scenarios. Ginseng’s Latin name, Panax, comes from the word “panacea” to describe it’s “all healing” properties. Studies have shown ginseng helps athletes uptake more oxygen and improve their stamina during workouts, which illustrative of it’s adaptogenic ability to help the body adapt to stress. It also boosts immunity by helping the body produce its own antiviral compound when exposed to germs.

Have you heard of any of these superherbs and would you reach for them instead of synthetic chemical drugs for certain ailments?

X

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  • Liz Stark

    I’m familiar with the majority of these superherbs (I just recently tried Ashwagandha for the first time, thanks to the Sakara NYC meal delivery service) – definitely interesting stuff!

  • Honestly Fitness

    This was such an interesting post, Annie! I haven’t heard of the first superherbs but I’ve heard of the others – my grandmother-in-law swears by arnica and has been using it and recommending it for years. I’m curious what your thoughts are on companies who use superherbs that may have adverse side effects on certain medication in an unethical manner – how can we combat this? I’ve seen all these tea companies promoting products which can affect birth control and it always annoys me that they don’t disclose this!

  • Well-Intentioned Reader

    Hi Annie, I was curious….is one way of ingesting ginger for example superior to another (ginger root vs. ground ginger)?

  • Liz Gospel

    Love this post! I’m in school for Western medicine (even though I disagree with some of the principles…) and was so pleased when I found out that herbs are taught in my curriculum. Nowhere near the depth I would have liked, but at least Western medicine is catching on! I plan on opening an integrative health practice in south FL when I finish school and cannot wait to give our medical community a holistic makeover.

  • Liz Gospel

    Also, fave herbal supplement is Zyflamend by New Chapter…. Super critically extracted turmeric, ginger, oregano, and holy basil just to name a few. More and more research is showing that many disorders and diseases are caused by underlying inflammation. I’ll reach for this before an Advil any day.

  • Megan

    I would love to know more about brands that you trust and websites or stores you recommend to purchase these herbs – especially those in your post that are less common. Thanks so much for the new information!

  • Kat Motl Meeker

    This is such a great resource! I’m familiar with most of these herbs and I definitely think herbs are far superior to standard OTC meds. When your body is already fighting against an invader like a virus or stresses in your life, why make it fight even harder to extract some benefit from a candy colored pill that’s full of stuff you don’t need?! It’s amazing what benefit herbs have and I love the fact that they are natural. Do you have any good sources for buying those you mentioned? Online makes me nervous sometimes because it’s hard to tell what the quality is. Thanks for sharing all your health knowledge as always!!

  • NOLAgrlnSF

    Annie – Thanks so much for sharing this information! I am a huge fan of yours on everything from your health/wellness/food posts to your posts on fashion and travel. I am so excited for your youtube channel!

  • Amanda Godfrey

    I second this!

  • FT

    Yes, I agree! This would be SO helpful! Thanks for another great post, Annie 🙂

  • studiolindy

    Great info! I love ginger + turmeric. PS: I emailed you about 9 months ago about drinking juices during my pregnancy and you were kind enough to send the longest reply… well baby boy is now here and I just know he’ll love juices like his mommy… xo

  • Pia @ Gymbags and Jetlags

    Ginger has been my favourite forever. I’ve never heard of some of these! Thank you for an informative and so always, fun post!
    xx, Pia

    http://gymbagsandjetlags.com

  • Alexandria

    I love this post!! I am saving this and definitely will add these into my regimen. My fiance’s sweet grandmother is a BOSS at healing herself with natural herbs and remedies. She recently suggested for me to start drinking fennel tea and I looooove it so much. I drink a hot cup after dinner and it soothes me and makes me feel so good. Thanks for sharing these! 🙂

  • blawnde

    Hi Megan!! In my next post I’ll follow up with links, my favorite brands, and why I like those forms! XO

  • blawnde

    U got it in the next post! X

  • blawnde

    I’ll do it in the next post as a follow up so I can detail it out and not try to do it down here in this small space 🙂 X

  • blawnde

    I hear ya – the supplement industry is one of the most under-regulated areas under the FDA. With more than 85,000 supplements on the market each year, there are only about 25 people in the FDA office that oversee the category and how they’re marketed and regulated. My thoughts are that it’s absurd, but just like anything, we all have to realize we can’t trust the government and food/drug companies to have our best interest in mind so we have to do our own research and look out for ourselves. Sad, but true. X

  • blawnde

    Love Sakara!! So cool they’re using Ashwgandha – i love how much more accepted and mainstream these powerfully healing foods are becoming. X

  • blawnde

    LOOOOOVE FENNEL! LOVE! you can also try chewing the seeds after meals to help with digestion. X

  • blawnde

    So welcome – thanks for reading and let me know if you give any of the a try what you think! X

  • blawnde

    Ahhh, I remember :)! So glad I could help! It’s great you were so nutrition savvy and health conscious during your pregnancy. X

  • blawnde

    Thank you!!! I can’t wait to share more with you! XO

  • blawnde

    YES! I will follow up in the next post with all my faves and links/info on the forms and types because I got a lot of questions about it after I posted. X

  • Shannon Silver

    This post was so interesting to me! To be quite honest, I only knew a handful of these. For whatever reason, Rhodiola & Ashwagandha are the two that really stood out to me and I cannot wait to see which ones you recommend and how you do it! That steam you mentioned sounds so dreamy – I’ve heard a lot about oil of oregano, but I have yet to try it. The coconut milk in the chamomile tea is perfect – that sounds like the best before bed drink ever – Will absolutely give it a go. Thanks for sharing!! xx SS

  • Honestly Fitness

    25 people to monitor 85,000 supplements a year … that is insane! I appreciate you letting me know your thoughts on this and I agree with you that we have to make sure we are doing our due diligence in terms of keeping up with research on these!

  • Sarah Greenberg

    love this! I just saw Teavana is launching a new line of wellness teas that incorporate some of these superherbs. thanks for sharing! https://news.starbucks.com/news/teavana-launches-line-of-wellness-teas

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