Jasmine, For a Peaceful Sleep

If you experience anxiousness and troubled sleep, but don't want to use prescription or over-the-counter sedatives, consider jasmine. Researchers have found that the scent of jasmine is as effective as Valium and similar drugs for relieving anxiety, promoting more peaceful sleep, and reducing anxiety upon waking. Particular jasmine fragrances were even shown to have the same neurochemical mechanism of action as barbiturates.

You can get the benefits of jasmine by taking a warm bath or shower with jasmine-scented soaps before bedtime, or placing a diffuser containing jasmine in your bedroom. Other recommendations for getting quality rest include paying attention to your sleep hygiene - don't drink anything containing caffeine or alcohol for a few hours before bedtime, keep your bedroom at a comfortable temperature and make sure there is minimal or no light when you go to sleep. It's also helpful to spend time outdoors during the day.

Garlic, A Natural & Traditional Medicine

Garlic is more than a culinary mainstay that can add flavor to meals; it is a natural, traditional medicine that has antiviral, antibacterial and anti-fungal properties. Research indicates regular consumption of garlic may:

1.    Alter how cholesterol is metabolized in the body, making it less likely to oxidize

2.    Lower blood pressure and decreasing clot formation, thus reducing the risk of stroke and heart attack

3.    Combat respiratory infections such as common colds and sore throats

4.    Reduce fungal or yeast infections

Eating raw garlic (chopped or mashed) releases the herb's full potential as the active component, allicin, forms only on contact with air – When chopping garlic, let it sit for 5 minutes to get the full health potential that garlic offers. Garlic loses its antibiotic properties when you cook or dry it, and commercial garlic capsules do not preserve the full activity of the fresh bulb.

You can make raw garlic more palatable by chopping it fine, mixing it with food and eating it with a meal, or cut a clove into chunks and swallow them whole like pills.

Ginger for Motion Sickness

Crystalized ginger, ginger tea, ginger syrup, or capsules of ginger powder can combat motion sickness and nausea in general (ginger ale or even ginger snaps may help, too). One study found that ginger worked better for motion sickness than anti-nausea medication, and Danish researchers report that ginger helped quell seasickness in susceptible naval cadets better than a placebo.

Cinnamon, For help to control Blood Sugar

A Spice to help control blood sugar.  Use cinnamon in smoothies, in yogurt, oatmeal, or soup before any meals that are going to have more than 35 grams of carbohydrates.

Keep in mind that if you take medications, you need to consult with your doctor to make sure that cinnamon use does not interfere with the medications (especially with blood thinners).  About 4 grams per day (about 1.5 teaspoons) is probably the max amount of cinnamon that anyone should take.

And remember that yet another benefit of maintaining lower blood sugar levels is that you help to SLOW the aging process, since high blood sugar levels over time increase glycation in your body, which ages you faster.   

The Healing Power of Sugar

Sugar has been getting a bad rap in the world of health. It plays a key role in causing obesity, type 2 diabetes and arthritis just to name a few health concerns.

However, a doctor from Zimbabwe has discovered the amazing healing power our ordinary table sugar contains – if used in the right way.

Dr. Moses Murandu, while studying at Birmingham University in the UK, has successfully used an ancient treatment for wound healing using an ingredient that is found in most cupboards in kitchens worldwide.

After a patient had a complicated veinectomy and amputation that were not healing properly, Dr. Murandu proposed packing the wound with sugar, before dressing.

Much to everyone’s surprise, the healing process not only improved, but its timeframe was greatly expedited.

Scientists are just beginning to unravel the reasons why this could be, but it appears to have its base in the reaction of the harmful bacteria to the sugar- the normal table sugar was able to fight off infection better than most antibiotic treatments currently used.