The secrets to good health:

You’ve heard of superfoods, but where the real power lies is within the SUPER HERBS!

I find the below list of POWER HERBS to be really quite effective. I personally take most of these seven power herbs every day, although not each and every day because that’s not how herbs work. It’s good to take the herbs when your body needs an extra boost, when you are trying to manage a particular ailment, or to take certain herbs — such as adaptogenic ones — for several weeks then take several weeks off. You don’t want to become committed to taking a herb each and every day like prescription medication.

7 POWER HERBS:

1. Milk Thistle

Key Benefits: Liver tonic, Antidepressant, Weight loss

Saint Mary’s Thistle, also known as Livercare Plant to some, is one of the most effective liver herbs! It is an amazing way to detox the liver, especially after indulging in alcohol and other drugs. Alkaloids in the plant help expel liver toxins and boost the production of new liver cells. It is typically used by herbalists to help uplift the mood, lower cholesterol, and increase breast milk production (hence the name Milk Thistle).

2. Ginkgo Biloba

Key Benefits: Antioxidant for focus and memory; Circulation and alertness

As a major brain tonic and memory support, Ginkgo Biloba is great for all kinds of degenerative brain disease as well as improving circulation. Ginkgo Biloba also has a very powerful effect on the circulatory system so if you get cold hands, feet, and head, this is the herb for you. It also assists the heart and helps prevent and treat strokes by preventing the formation of blood clots.

Heart disease is one of the biggest killers in the world and in an ideal world medical practitioners would recommend Ginkgo Biloba to all people over the age of 50 due to its ability to dilate blood vessels, allowing improved blood flow to the tissues and inhibiting the clumping of blood platelets which contribute to heart problems, strokes and artery conditions.

3. Damiana

Key Benefits: Our favourite happy herb for depression, hormonal/emotional balance and libido.

My favourite happy herb! Damiana was used by the Aztecs for erectile dysfunction, and Mexican women were also known to use the fragrant leaves in a tea to stimulate lovemaking. In Mexico, the Damiana plant has been classified in Mexico as a “national treasure” and now is a prohibited export as a live plant. I love Damiana because it produces a mild emotional uplift and relaxes the mind and body, and it also is a wonderful kidney tonic.

4. Ashwagandha

Key Benefits: A great adaptogen for stamina, balancing stress/hormones/emotions, anxiety, libido, and sleep.

Ayurvedic all-round strengthening tonic. Ashwagandha is particularly high in iron. It is used in Ayurvedic medicine as a tonic for tired or overworked bodies and is particularly useful for low sex drive in women. I have heard great feedback from customers on its powerful effects for managing anxiety and stress levels.

5. Gotu Kola

Key Benefits: Great herb for arthritis, skin care, stress, memory, and overall good health and stamina

Gotu Kola is a rejuvenating nervine recommended for nervous disorders, it aids intelligence and memory, combats stress and depression, increases libido, and improves reflexes. Truly a wonder herb!

6. Ginseng

Key Benefits: A popular herb for stamina, energy, immunity, and overall wellbeing.

There are a few different types of ginseng, my favourites are Siberian and Korean.
Korean is perhaps the most famous and prized herb on the planet, as it improves mental and physical efficiency and resistance to stress and disease

Siberan ginseng is a beautiful adaptogen that can help the body adapt to a wide range of internal and external stress factors. Despite its name, it is completely different from American (Panax quinquefolius) and Asian ginseng (Panax ginseng), and has different active chemical components. The active ingredients in Siberian ginseng, called eleutherosides, are thought to stimulate the immune system. This amazing herb aids in the recovery from hard physical exercise, as well as from extreme mental exertion. Its reputation for this is fast becoming common knowledge all over the world. It is now commonly used by thousands of people who engage in high stress, high energy-demanding activities.

7. Brahmi

Key Benefits: A restorative herb for the brain. Great for improving memory, focus and stress management.

Brahmi is awesome for memory-health and brain vitality! I value this as a superior brain tool, because it helps me with improving my memory retention, focus, clarity, and stamina. A prized member of India Ayurveda for over 3000 years, it also can have extremely positive effects on your blood circulation, liver, kidney and lung function.

Preparation

I drink cups of the above, often mixed with other herbs in a plunger as a tea and coffee substitute in the morning, or as an alcohol substitute after work depending on how I am feeling.

Sometimes I have them as a spagyric extract dropped under the tongue, which is especially convenient when traveling.

I also regularly enjoy: Lemon with water first thing in the morning, along with Ginger, Saw Palmetto, Chaga mushroom, Guarana and Tribulus.

But that’s a story for the next blog!

Love,

Ray

Seven Power Herbs for Optimum Vitality