Travel Safely Using Aromatherapy Essential Oils

Written by Thanate on September 4, 2010 – 7:52 am -

Essential oils can actually be used when traveling. They may aid in a wide number of travel related problems such as jet lag, sun burn, travel sickness, and insect bites.

travel sickness
Photo: seq

Going on holidays and vacations means traveling which is so much fun, however, plenty of health problems may come up during traveling. Aromatherapy can be used for minor health problems. Many essential oils assist in relieving travel symptoms which include sun burn, insect bites and sickness. With just a little knowledge and practice, a number of minor health problems can be prevented from ruining a vacation.


Essential Oils for Curing Travel Sickness

Whether travel sickness occurs in a car, on a plane, or on a boat, ginger and peppermint essential oils can be used. Ginger essential oil is very effective in relieving sea sickness while peppermint essential oil is calming for the stomach. You can inhale the essential oils from a tissue, or you can combine it with a lotion or carrier oil before the journey and rub the stomach with it.

Essential Oils as a Relief to Jet Lag

Jet lag usually occurs after a very long flight. The differing time zones interfere with the body's clock synchronization. To help keep your mind alert and focused while to a different time zone, use grapefruit essential oil once you arrive at your destination. You can also additionally use geranium and lavender essential oils, either in a lotion or in a bath, to help you relax before you go to bed and aid induce sleep. You can also stimulate the mind in the morning by using peppermint.

Essential Oils for Stomach Upsets

Minor stomach upsets usually occur when on vacation as a result of a change in water and different food types. Ginger and peppermint essential oils assist in relieving the pain caused by minor stomach upsets. Also, acidic disorders can be treated using lemon essential oil. Ensure that you prepare a carrier oil or lotion with the right essential oils before going on a trip.


Photo: straight, no chaser

Using Essential Oils to Treat Sun Burn

Excessive sun while on vacation can lead to sun burn with inflammation, redness and soreness. However, sun burn can be relieved with roman chamomile, geranium, lavender and peppermint essential oils. You should combine the essential oil that is appropriate in a lotion base rather than with a carrier oil because it is more soothing. Apply this combination to the areas with sun burn with care.

Treating Insect Bites Using Essential Oils

There are plenty of insects that can cause extremely painful bites but this depends on the location of where you are going on vacation. You can use lemongrass or citronella essential oils either in a spray or in a carrier oil base to prevent getting bit by insects. Tea tree, lavender, geranium and eucalyptus essential oils can aid in relieving insect bites. You can combine more than one of these essential oils in a lotion base (white) and spread evenly to the area that is affected.

Wherever or whenever you go on vacation or on business you can keep yourself safe and improve the quality of your trip if you take along your own aromatherapy kit.

About the Author
Click on aromatherapy essential oils for some great products and customer reviews. Or for more information visit http://purearomatherapy.info

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ARRA Implications On Healthcare

Written by Thanate on September 1, 2010 – 2:11 pm -

The past 18 months has brought swirling winds of change by new rules and regulations flowing from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) and Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH). These rules and regulations have implications on Healthcare and medical billing services.

Health care
Photo: borman818

Never before has there such a need for change facilitation as there is presently in healthcare. Healthcare leaders and medical billing services that have learned techniques to master change in the most effective manner can pull on these resources during implementation of processes to meet the final regulations of ARRA and HITECH.


Some of the characteristics for effective guidance of change include expertise, credibility, leadership, power and influence. Physician practices and their medical billing services company can work together for change facilitation and implementation of policies and procedure for compliance with new regulations.

A variety of meaningful use and privacy regulations have been making their way slowly throughout the year from the Department of Health and Human Services. Frequently the steps within the process including the following:
  • Proposed rules
  • Interim rules
  • Public comments
  • Committee recommendations
  • Final rule

The order of the above steps was often difficult to maintain. Some effective dates were established prior to the closing dates for public comments.

Medical offices and medical billing services companies need to step back and take an organized approach to meeting the requirements of the regulations.

Specifically breach notification regulations are in effect and if staff education and procedures have not been completed this should be given top priority by medical offices and medical billing services.

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About the Author:

PGM Medical Billing Services

At PGM, we believe physicians should focus on practicing medicine, not submitting claims and collecting payments. As insurance carriers and HIPAA requirements change, physicians are dedicating more and more of their time and resources to administrative tasks and red tape. By effectively managing this time-consuming work, PGM gives time back to physicians allowing them to do what they do best.

Our specialized medical billing service is focused on maximizing medical provider reimbursement. For the past 30 years, PGM’s medical billing service has been helping physicians not only get paid more, but get paid faster. Our complete practice management solution includes claim submission and follow-up, payment posting, advanced claim scrubbing to minimize denials, and much more.

PGM medical billing services will maximize your collections, reduce your time to payment and help you lower and better manage your expenses, all dramatically improving your bottom line.

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About the Author
The past 18 months has brought swirling winds of change by new rules and regulations flowing from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) and Health Information Technology.

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The truth about herbals- Things you must know

Written by Thanate on August 25, 2010 – 9:47 am -

A lot has been said over the centuries about herbal healthcare, and unfortunately the mythology is the common image of herbal treatments. In an age where procedures like breast augmentation and genetic therapy are grabbing center spotlight, it's easy to overlook the fundamentals of modern health care and pharmaceutical practices.

Breast
Photo: RYN TMRW

Some basic facts about herbals

1. There are no myths about plant chemistry

All plants are "live" chemistry. Some of the most basic needs of human health, and some of the most toxic substances on Earth, are contained in plants. Anyone who went for a general nibble around the average suburban garden would wind up dead or in a hospital. Herbal science is the result of thousands of years of study.


2. Herbal pharmacology is the basis of modern pharmaceuticals.

The original aspirin was a combination of white willow bark and vinegar. Opium and cloves are original painkillers, almost totally based on basic plant materials. Digitalis, used in heart therapy, is derived from cottage garden flowers. The modern versions tend to be synthesized, but are basically very similar in their actions.

3. Plant pharmacology is a science, not a "mystic process".

All plants have well known pharmacological constituents. The basic dandelion, for example, includes:
  • Copper (used to assist breathing and dietary deficiencies)
  • B vitamins (neurological supplements, more easily digested in this form)
  • Trace elements like calcium, zinc, etc. (These are taken up by the plants, and are essential nutrients for both plants and people)
  • Chlorophyll (A useful dietary addition, and a culinary addition in many organic diets)
4. Herbalists don't like mumbo-jumbo claims any more than doctors.

The real philosophical difference between "alternative" and "conventional" medicine is that herbalists generally consider herbs safer than some of the high powered, side-effects prone, modern pharmaceuticals. There's no difference between doctors and herbalists at all, however, regarding the issues of patient safety. Real herbalists are highly motivated, ethical people, and they loathe the nutcase claims of salespeople who obviously don't care about the well-being of the people to whom they're selling packaged rubbish. A herbalist will refer you to a doctor if appropriate.

5. What about the contamination issues with some herbal products?

Some herbal supplements, mainly imports, have been found to contain levels of contaminants including lead arsenic, herbicides, and other very non-herbal contents. These are the exceptions, and users of herbal supplements and therapies are strongly advised to ensure they remain informed of any brand issues or pharmacology with any possible negative impacts.

breast
Photo: gabrielsaldana

Consumers have rights in these areas, and you should make yourself fully aware of your rights. Most retail herbal supplements are quite safe, and the main issues regarding product safety are actually raised by herbalists, as well as medical professionals and pharmacists, about suspect products.

Like breast enlargement, cold tablets and other mainstream products, herbals are based on consumer law, medical practice, and responsible professional practices. If you have a complaint, make yourself heard. You have civil, as well as statutory options, available to you.

Professional herbalists will respect your rights and help with your issues, and you can be sure that they'll check out any negative effects of herbal products.

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Information You Need About Intestinal Health

Written by Thanate on August 21, 2010 – 9:07 am -

Probiotics are live microorganisms found in the human digestive system and are a contributing factor to the intestinal health. They are labeled as the good bacteria. Probiotics are made available to people in the form of dietary supplements and foods.

microorganisms
Photo: sciencedaily.com

Some of the dietary supplements containing Probiotics are capsules, tablets, and powders. A few of the examples of foods that contain Probiotics include yogurt, fermented and unfermented milk, miso, tempeh, certain juices, and soy beverages. In most probiotic supplements and foods, the bacteria may have already been present or added during preparation.

Most of Probiotics are bacteria that are identical to those which are naturally found in your intestines, such as breastfeeding infants for their natural protection against many diseases.

These good bacteria can come either in lactobacillus or bifidobacterium. Within each of this group are different species, and within each species, there are different varieties. A few common Probiotics like the Saccharomyces boulardii are yeasts and different from bacteria.

There are quite a few reasons why people take daily probiotic supplement. For one thing, individuals take Probiotics as a Complementary Alternative Medicine or CAM to prevent and treat illnesses, and to maintain general good health.

It also helps keep the balance between good and bad bacteria in the human system, for another thing. Factors such as yeasts, fungi and parasites can cause imbalance between the unfriendly and friendly bacteria, and which in turn can trigger some diseases.

Human Body
Photo: dhammza

The human body consists of trillions of microorganisms disseminated throughout. The intestines are just among the internal organs that host bacteria. Probiotics can help keep the intestinal health of an individual and thus makes him healthy.

Another use of probiotic supplements is to ease the symptoms of lactose intolerance. Lactose intolerance is a condition in which the intestines do not have the accurate enzymes essential to digest large amounts of sugar in milk, which causes gastrointestinal symptoms as well.

Another interesting fact that makes probiotics good for intestinal health is the existence of cells in the digestive tract that is connected with the immune system. A theory that is considered by medical professionals is that when you modify the microorganisms in an individual’s intestinal tract, you can affect the immune system’s defenses.

Admittedly, the scientific understanding of this type of good bacteria and their potential benefits in preventing and treating medical conditions is still in its infancy. Nevertheless, it is progressing.

Take for example the conference report prepared after the conclusion of the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, and which convened by the American Society for Microbiology revealed that there are applications of probiotic formulation with evidence of benefits.

Health care
Photo: thinkpanama

These applications include the treatment of diarrhea especially from rotavirus, prevention and treatment of urinary tract infection, treatment of irritable bowel syndrome, reduction of recurrence of bladder cancer, and prevention and treatment of pouchitis.

Certain probiotic formulations can also shorten the length of intestinal infection caused by a bacterium known as Clostridium difficile. All in all, probiotic supplements and foods can impact your intestinal health.

About the Author
At http://www.sustenex.com/ , you can learn how to have good intestinal health. Your body thrives on good bacteria. Discover how you can help your body by constantly give it this bacteria. At Sustenex find a good daily probiotics supplement. Go to Daily probiotic supplement and learn about bacteria Bacillus coagulans, a powerful probiotics.

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Things You Need To Know About Detox Program

Written by Thanate on August 10, 2010 – 4:14 am -

It's a common knowledge that people have always searched for the meaning of living. In ancient times the living was different from the life we live at present. People used to get more troubles with survival, so their main objective was to facilitate their life and to make it more pleasant. They used their brain so as to create new technologies and to acquire new knowledge. Technological advance has changed our living greatly, technologies have developed to an unbelievable extent. Today people have everything they require for convenient living. But the philosophic problem of looking for the sense of life is still present and even has become more urgent.

want to drink
Photo: Loving Earth

People have tried to apply something in order to stimulate activity of their brain for years. Alcohol, tobacco, various kinds of drugs - all these substances create an illusion of relax and help to distract from everyday troubles and begin enjoying your living. Artists try to find in drugs new impulses of creativity. Drugs and alcohol help unattached people to forget about their loneliness. Diffident people feel themselves more confident when drunk as their subconsciousness isn't suppressed as it usually is when they're sober-minded and try to check all their moves. Alcohol has become an obligatory attribute of all the celebrations since it's famous for its capability to set people free and to make them more gay. There is a trend at present to early administration of alcohol by teenagers, so they soon take alcohol as an inadequate way to get relaxed. The drug application amid young people under twenty has significantly increased in the latest years.


If you realize that you're addicted to alcohol or drugs, you should think about a drug detoxication program. Drug addiction contains both physical and psychological addiction, and you need to escape both of them. Study information about detox programs that are rather popular today and find the one that is the most suitable for you. Take into account that your sincere wish to stop applying drugs is the first and the most essential step on the way of your recovery.

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About the Author
This article is created by an expert with long-time experience in detox tests. For precise info about passing drug test, please address to his web page.r

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What You Need To Know About Breath Mints When You Are On A Diet Eating Plan?

Written by Thanate on August 2, 2010 – 8:44 am -

Bad breath can be a big problem (especially if you're the one smelling it!) It can cause embarrassing moments and bad first impressions. That’s why so many people chew gum. In fact, according the US Census Bureau, Americans eat about 1.8 pounds of gum per capita each year. That may not sound like a lot but think about the size and weight of one piece of gum.


Photo: zoomar

Gum chewing studies have shown many bad effects, such as bloating and hormone and biomechanical imbalances, as well as the habit leading to bruxism and acid reflux ulcers. Many have educated themselves and moved on to mints, but is this any better? After all, most mints are made with artificial sweeteners, so they can claim to be fat free or calorie free. I understand the necessity for fresh breath in a pinch. Most people don’t carry around their tooth brush or mouth wash for a quick refresh. That’s why I've come up with several good options, in order from best to worst:


  1. Peppermint Breath Drops or Peppermint Essential Oils - Many natural health food stores and anyone who carries essential oils would have these. One drop is pretty strong and enough to freshen your breath. Peppermint is also a good appetizer and promotes digestion, due to its typical aroma. It also soothes stomach in cases of indigestion, inflammation etc. This aroma of mint activates the saliva glands in our mouth as well as glands which secrete digestive enzymes, thereby facilitating digestion. Thus it is extensively used in culinary.
  2. Mouthwash or teeth brushing after meals - I know this isn't ideal but it is a good option if you have time.
  3. Mints or candies that are sweetened with cane sugar instead of artificial sweeteners. There are even small ginger candies that are not only great breath fresheners but also help after meals with digestion.
  4. Gums or mints sweetened with xylitol - This sweetener is a great calorie free option and many popular brands use this ingredient. Careful as some people have trouble digesting xylitol and can lead to stomach discomfort.
  5. A piece of regular chewing gum sweetened with sugar. The caloric content many be a little higher, but you are only having a small bit. This is not ideal if you are trying to lose weight and plan on using this option on a daily basis.
  6. And the last possible option is a small piece of artificially sweetened gum every now and then. The amount in one piece every once in a while is not enough to amount to any dangerous affects.

Get started on your own personal fat burning meal plans right away with The Diet Solution Program.

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About the Author
Now that you have a mint and trying to loose weight with meal plans. Do Mints have weight effect? What are the best and worst mints.

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The Ingredients to Herbal Weight Loss

Written by Thanate on July 24, 2010 – 2:34 pm -

Let's face it - no magic potion or miracle pill can make you melt the pounds away overnight. The truth is that true weight loss begins with you, from eating in moderation to exercising at least 30 minutes a day. But when combined with a healthy diet and fit lifestyle, all natural diet pills or weight loss dietary supplements may give you the boost to help further your weight loss regimen.


Photo: naama

From drinking a tea infused with weight loss herbs to taking an herbal nutrition supplement, such natural plant herb ingredients, found in products like Bio3 Natural Health Products' Weight Control Tea, may promote weight loss in a variety of ways.


Here, we list some common medicinal herbs included in herbal infusions with suspected impact on weight loss:
  • Cassia Angustifolia, also known as senna, has a powerful laxative action that provides natural remedies for constipation and has a cleansing effect. A natural plant herb native to Africa and cultivated in regions of India and Pakistan, senna is an ingredient widely used in weight loss products. It is recommended to drink plenty of water when consuming products containing senna as dehydration is a common side-effect.
  • Salvia Officinalis, or sage, is a leaf grown in the Mediterranean region. While the cultivated herb is used primarily in flavoring foods, the herb may aid in digestion.
  • Malva Sylvestris, simply mallow, is a common weed plant originating in Southern Europe and Asia. Ancient Greeks and Romans used mallow as a food product and medicine, and today, mallow is used in herbal infusions for bodily cleansing.
  • Fucus Vesiculosus, a brown seaweed variety known as bladderwack, is found on the northern coasts of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans and the North and Baltic seas. It is a common ingredient found in weight loss products.
  • Cynara Scolymus, or the globe artichoke, has shown increased flow of bile due to the plant's concentration of Cynara. Bile is a fluid produced by the liver and aids in the emulsification of food fats. A study published by the University Hospital Münster's Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology states that the ancient Romans used extracts from artichoke leaves and flower heads to treat indigestion.
Still, consulting a doctor is advised when taking over-the-counter medicines and alternative herbal remedies, especially if the user is pregnant or breastfeeding. Just remember that such herbal infusions, as with any other weight loss product, are not substitutes for healthy eating and daily exercise.

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Top 4 Tips for Caring For Your Skin

Written by Thanate on July 16, 2010 – 2:04 am -

Caring for your skin can often seem like hard work. There are so many skin care products on the market at the moment that the whole affair can seem confusing. By following four simple steps, you'll be on your way to healthy, beautiful skin in no time.


Photo: davidz

Wear sunscreen
We all know this but we don't often stick to it. Especially in the warmer months. Wearing sunscreen is so important to keep your skin looking radiant and youthful. It protects you from premature ageing, sun spots, redness and so much more. If you want a tan-fake it. There are some great fake tans now available on the market which look like the real thing, without the long term damage caused to your skin.


Eat good food and drink Water
We all know that what we put into our bodies, shows on the outside. Our skin is no exception. Certain foods such as foods high in saturated fat can often lead to break outs and pimples. Foods high in antioxidants are helpful to the skin and help it to look youthful and retain elasticity. Any beautician will tell you that no matter what products you use on your skin, maintaining a healthy balanced diet is just as important.

Similarly, drinking the right amounts of water is also important. Water keeps the body and the skin hydrated which is important for it to keep healthy and clear from blemishes.

Find a skin care regime that suits your needs
Firstly, you need to find a suitable skin care regime that is suited to your skin type and fits in to your lifestyle. Take a little time to go online and fill in an online survey to establish what skin type you are if you are not quite sure. There are plenty to choose from, and the best thing about researching online is you can do it in your own time,at home, when it suits you.


Photo: Laurel.Miss

Make sure you research the appropriate skin products to use for your skin type. Your regime should include a basic routine of cleanse, tone and moisturise. You should also have a suitable scrub (to exfoliate) to use a few times a week. Skin care brands such as Dermalogica have a wonderful range of products suitable for a variety of different skin types.

Once you have done the research, found the right products and put the regime in place you'll soon notice the difference that quality, targeted skin products can make to the look and feel of your skin. Others will notice it too.

Don't skimp on quality
Your skin is so important and caring for it through the different stages of our lives is imperative. So when you are searching for the right skin care regime don't opt for a lower price over quality. If you are going to invest in something, it should be your skin.

Caring for your skin is one of the first steps to looking and feeling great. By following the steps we've listed above you'll be on your way to healthy, beautiful skin in no time.

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Middle Eastern Culture

Written by Thanate on July 8, 2010 – 12:53 am -

Middle East comprises of 22 countries that follow the traditions of Arab culture. The population majority is by far of the Muslims who follow different aspects of the modern living standards conservatively. Being a Muslim, there are various constraints in the Arab culture and in order to work with them, the foreign workers have to respect those constraints and consider those as integral part of their lives. The Arab culture follows the extended family perspectives where the males are the dominant part and are responsible for feeding the families. The countries are rich with oil reserves therefore most of the population lives above the poverty line but that doesn’t impact the provision of better and proper medical services to everyone. The Arab culture emphasizes greatly on the western medicines. However, there are two types of the medical services that move parallel to each other; one is the medical services as pertained by the western culture also known as allopathic and other mostly belongs to older aged local practitioners who follow the natural aspects of every disease known as the herbal way of curing the patients (Rached, 123).


Photo: getreligion.org

Arab culture emphasizes more on the family than any other thing. In contrary to the American culture, families are very close to the patients and stay with the patient until the patient is out of critical conditions. The medical doctors are respected all around the Arab countries and their suggestions and ideas are pretty much practiced as well by the patients. The beliefs are quite different as well for the Arab people as they regard Mighty Allah for the responsible for the life and death and in case any patient gets ill, many of the family members start to pray for the God apart from being taken care to the hospitals (Rached, 56). This is quite contrary to how the Americans or the western people behave in case anyone close to them gets ill. In the realm of the situation, the religious beliefs are considered of more strength than the medical care and there are some parts of Arab where the provision of acute medical care is still absent and the main ways of treating patients are done through herbal ways by praying to the God.


The societal differentiation between male and female is quite obvious as well where the females take veils and are obliged to retrain from confronting those males with whom they have no relation (Holtz, 56). However, with different advancement, the western culture has integrated into the system where now the male doctors are extensively used for the treatment even if the patient is male or female. The Arabs on the other hand wants to get healed quickly. Because of this reason they give much care in understanding what is being suggested by the doctors and take evasive actions according to the prescription. However, it is a pity that Arabs don’t get complete medication for a longer period. They are vulnerable to the continuity of medication and if they find any improvements in their health, they will surely get away from the medications and will not even bother to visit doctors again until they get ill again. This flaw has created much more serious consequences for the Arabs lately because they now have developed various permanent diseases but if they are physically well they don’t bother to visit a doctor.

The male doctors are preferred in nearly all the cases however, in the gynecological cases the females prefer to visit a female doctor (Faier, 88). Females can get suggestions from the male doctors but in actual operations, they want females to operate them. This is also a custom in Arabs that close family member of the family stays in the operation theatre with the patient in order to calm the patient down and see what is happening. In cases of serious illness where the consequences may lead to death, the doctors doesn’t have to confront the patient rather a family member will heard all from the doctor and may not even tell the patient about the seriousness of the health. Arab people expect good news and in fact they will also forward good news to the others and patient but will not forward anything that implies to be disastrous.

Nurses are not given a special protocol by the Arabs, in fact the Muslim population believes only in the guidance from a professional doctor and might not even confront a nurse for professional suggestion. Nurses are considered as helpers who will help doctors in getting their schedules right and how they might handle the equipments during the operations. This is where the doctors have to tell the executive role of nurses to the patient and the family members, but still problem persists. In fact the nurses don’t have any social respect in the society as well where they are not treated well by the family members. Nurses are like servants who have been hired for some duration. The majority of the nurses in Arab countries is female and belongs to low income families whereas males completely try to restrain from becoming nurses as opposed to the American culture where male nurses play effective role in the professional guidance and help during the whole stay of a patient in the hospital.

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About the Author

Middle East comprises of 22 countries that follow the traditions of Arab culture. The population majority is by far of the Muslims who follow different aspects of the modern living standards conservatively. Being a Muslim, there are various constraints in the Arab culture and in order to work with them

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Cooking Many Recipes With Fresh Herbs

Written by Thanate on June 10, 2010 – 2:52 pm -

Herbs are fun and easy to grow. The many uses of fresh herbs introduces you to the many ways of using fresh herbs. When harvested they make even the simplest meal seem like a gourmet delight. You can use them in cooking, to flavor vinegars and oils and even to make a facial mask. By using herbs in your cooking you can easily change the flavors of your recipes in many different ways, according to which herbs you add.


Photo: tannazie

The versatility of herbs is truly amazing and this article is a stepping stone for you to start your own culinary collection using fresh herbs. Fresh herbs are great in breads, stews, soups or vegetables. Every time you add a different herb you have completely changed the taste. If you are a beginner start slowly, add just a little at a time adjusting as you go along until you have it just right.


You will see in most instances that an individual herb is associated with a particular food item. Basil is paired with tomatoes, Oregano with sauces, Rosemary with lamb and Chives with butter or cream cheese. Of course, none of them are limited to these items, but you will see them paired most often with that particular food. Use your imagination and experiment, experiment, experiment. You can make herb vinegars for salad dressings, marinades, or soups.

Herb oils are very useful in cooking whenever a recipe calls for it. Fresh herbs as garnishes dress up any dish making it look truly spectacular. Lay individual sprigs of rosemary over broiled lamb chops. Chop fresh parsley and sprinkle it over the top of your potato salad. The combinations are endless and the outcome delicious. Fresh herbs will keep in the refrigerator for several days but then you must freeze them.

They can be frozen by laying them a paper towel and putting them in a plastic bag. Once they are frozen only use them in cooking not as garnishes. A friend of mine washes them, puts them an ice cube tray, covers them with water and then freezes them. When she needs them for soup, stews or sauces she just drops a cube in.


Photo: vanesscipes

A tip here would be to bury an empty coffee can and plant the mint in it. The can prevents the mint from "creeping" all through your garden. My favorite herbs to grow are basil, oregano, lemon balm, parsley and mint. Mint is great but be careful, mint can over run your garden.

A fresh herb in any salad dressing really makes it sparkle. You can use any herb or a combination, be creative. A trick a long time ago using basil, lemon and avocados to create and instant natural face mask. Put a big handful of basil in a blender and run it on high. Once the basil has been pulverized, throw in a half of an avocado and a large teaspoon of lemon juice, mix until smooth. Wash your face, pat it dry and gently rub the avocado mixture on. Leave it on as long as you like, then use warm water to it wash off.

Copyright © 2006 Mary Hanna All Rights Reserved.

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