From deep the divine heals with potions of our land

[Maïwa]

When it comes to healing , natural remedies and good intent could be alot better for you than any antibiotics or chems. that give a blow to your system each time. Heres some info on some plants i grow and love to use.
---The Aloe Vera-----


Aloe vera contains Glucomannan, a special complex polysaccharide composed largely of the sugar mannose. It interacts with special cell-surface receptors on those cells which repair damaged tissues, called fibroblasts, stimulating them, activating their faster growth and replication. Plant hormones in Aloe, called gibberellins, also accelerate healing by stimulating cell replication. These combined actions make Aloe a uniquely potent healing Herb.
The Aloe vera mucopolysaccharide (MPS) is a long chain sugar molecule composed of individual mannose and glucose sugar molecules connected together. There is wide range in the size of the mucopolysaccharide molecule.

The varying sizes determine their healing properties:
Small
50-600 molecules
Reduces inflammation - which is involved in such diseases as ulcerative colitis, arthritis, and gastric reflux. Also helps with the reduction of blood sugar with both type I and II diabetes.
Medium
up to 1,500 molecules
Where as vitamins and minerals can only function outside the cells, mucopolysaccharides are very effective intracellular antioxidants and free radical scavengers - very important in preventing and treating arteriosclerosis, heart disease and Parkinson’s disease. With the ever increasing pollution on the planet and loss of nutrients in the soil, the increase in free radicals and loss of cellular oxygen will only become worse with time. This makes Aloe vera mucopolysaccharides even more important than ever.
Large
up to 5,000 molecules
Has a direct anti-bacterial and anti-viral effect. Important with all the new infectious diseases cropping up and the older ones becoming more virulent from long term use of antibiotics.
Very Large
up to 9,000 molecules
The very large molecules are immune modulating, which have a powerful healing effect on AIDS, cancer and many different immune system disorders. It is also this large molecule that causes the body to produce a natural chemical, tumor necrosis factor, that functions to shut off the blood supply to tumors.
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Although very popular in the last few years, the potential of echinacea as the truly beneficial herb it really is, has yet to be fully understood by most. For several generations, Native Americans knew of the power of this plant and other herbs in treating or preventing many different ailments.

Commonly know as the coneflower, echinacea can be found growing as a wildflower mostly in the prairies, the midwest states and as far south as Texas. Today this flower is not only an ornamental in many gardens, but also a cultivated herb with it's beautiful flowing rows of purplish blossoms.

Of the several varieties of echinacea the three most popular are purpurea, angustifolia and pallida. They are harvested for their roots, flowerheads,seeds, or juice of the whole plant and can then be made into capsules,extracts, tinctures and tea. Other species are probably just as effective medicinally but little research has been done on them.

Echinacea is best known for its' immune enhancing ability, but has proven very effective in many other areas as well. To find out more detailed information on echinacea, visit the sites listed below. Just keep in mind that you need to do your research carefully. Whether you plan to use echinacea or grow it read as much as you can before coming to your own conclusions. Let us hear what youve discovered?

Well to all health and love...

Cheers Whiteshadow
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info derived from:www.forthrt.com/~roland/herbfarm.
                          .berkeleywellness.com/html/ds/dsEchinacea
                           The Healing Properties Of Aloe Vera
                            By Lawrence Plaskett, B.A., Ph.D., C.Chem., F.R.I.C

[visionarybear]

thanks for that
never really used echinacea, made a nice addition to the garden tho.
aloe vera is amazing, my grandmother used to have plantrs and showed us how to use them. works wonders on sunburn
personally i use herbs more as relief than immune super charging, i.e skullcap for head aches etc

[Maïwa]

thank you visionarybear, the aloe vera here is getting huge, but i guess in a warmer climate it would indeed grow immensly

   cheers WhiteShadow
echinacea...:http://www.cobleskill.edu/courses/orht321/Echinacea%20purpurea%200104.jpg

[dergheist]

I have hundreds of aloes and two of the biggest of my friends are flowering again.  I swear by aloe and in fact it saved a beloved white racing pigeon of mine that was recently shot by a some stupid cajun around here.  Echinacea is great for boosting when you feel a cold coming on, but use it sparingly just as antibiotics should be used.  :roll:  Both great plants, but in greatest healing terms, I would rate aloe as one of the best in the plant world.

[dergheist]

My friend corrected me on how many aloes are blooming.  I missed one other, so I guess the total is three aloes blooming as of yet.  If anyone is interested in seeing some pics I am sure my friend would not mind posting them.

[wheel935]

I have hundreds of aloes and two of the biggest of my friends are flowering again.

 Could some one explain that to me..    xx(

[dendro]

I burned my stomach with amoxicillin given by my endodontist after a root canal. Ouch! So I got a bottle of aloe juice, but it has citric acid in it to make it taste better I suppose. Problem is,  the citric acid burns the sore spot, so I can't drink it until I heal more. White shadow, what type of aloe preparation should I be taking for burned stomach? Thanks for the good info.

[dendro]

Has anyone tried potato juice for gastritis? I drank some this morning and it seems to be doing my stomach burn a lot of good. Is the potato starch in any way related to the glucomannan found in aloe?

[dergheist]

Here is one of our aloes in bloom.

[Maïwa]

Beautiful aloe  :lol: nice to see it flourishing in a more appropriate environment. Here I have not that chance, naturally but they are getting there slowly :wink:

Heres one  
   

Cheers,

-WS

[judih]

Here's a shot of the beautiful aloes blooming these days on the kibbutz



best stuff in the world to soothe burns. Break off a leaf and apply the gooey sap

[Maïwa]

Wow Judih  

It heals or at times helps the body to heal anything; burns, cuts, stomach irritaiton, sporiasis/dry skin, a whole lot anyhow even the worst of skin irritations ive been able to heal with it.

[dergheist]

Nice picture judih!  I am quite impressed.

[judih]

dergheist and whiteshadow - you're encouraging me!



such a luscious plant - irresistable

[Maïwa]

No doubt!! The texture itself is great to behold and feel aswell, inst it?
It's healing properties a plus, in all a beautiful plant of our planets garden.

Heres a nice history ive fallen upon friends,

All About Aloe Vera History and Where the Magic Came From


Aloe Vera mysteriously appears in every phase of history, with many testimonials to its great medicinal values. There is mention of Aloe Vera by all civilisations from the Eygptians, Arabs, Greeks, Chinese, Indians, Japanese, Native American Indians and various European populations.

It is believed by many however to have originated in Africa and transported to various parts of the globe by conquering armies and travellers.

=> Alexander the Great was known to have carried the Aloe Vera plant into battle to treat the cuts and wounds of his soldiers. The medicinal effects of Aloe Vera are so powerful that they help combat infection in the wound and overcome the potential for further infection because of its anti-fungal / bacterial nature.

=> Cleopatra, is said to have used the aloe vera gel on her skin as protection from the sun, and to have thought the aloe vera gel helped to keep her skin looking young.

=> The Egyptians are thought to have used aloe vera in their embalming.

=> The Spanish Conquistadors and Missionaries were probably responsible for taking Aloe Vera to the "new world". Aloe Vera was planted around missions and used extensively by missionaries and the native population as a universal healing agent.

The Plant of Many Names...

Aloe Vera, has been known by many names over the ages:- The Greek scientists, 2000 years ago called Aloe Vera "The Universal Panacea"

The Egyptians called Aloe Vera "The PLANT of IMMORTALITY"

The American Indians called Aloe Vera "The WAND of HEAVEN"

Today the common name is just "ALOE VERA" or "The BURN PLANT" or "Lily of the Desert" or just "The Medicine Plant".

Today many pf the ancient tales of the natural healing powers of Aloe Vera have proven to be factual, rather than fanciful, as modern medicine unlocks the secrets contained within the leaves.

Aloe Vera is now the basis of a multimillion-dollar industry of health and beauty products. And why not, aloe vera has long been known for its natural healing and powerful regenerative properties.

Although Scientists have not yet discovered all the secrets of why Aloe Vera works...

they do realise that it is the "Specific Mixture of the Ingredients" in Aloe Vera that is responsible for giving the plant it's wide range of healing powers.

So-called "modern medicine" can't argue with the effectiveness of Aloe Vera on hundreds of maladies.

From::http://www.aloe-vera-health-benefits.com/aloe-vera-history.html

The healing properties of the Aloe plant have been exploited for centuries.  In fact, records of it's medicinal use dates back over 3,600 years.  Sumerian clay tablets from l700 BC make reference to the Aloe plant.  Believed to have originated in northern Africa, Aloe vera's spread could be explained by Sumeria's extensive trade with Egypt, where hieroglyphics from 4000BC reference the plant.
Ancient Persian and Indian healers have used a species of Aloe Vera for many generations. Chinese and Japanese civilizations have also taken advantage of Aloe Vera's medicinal properties for centuries, as have the Russian and Zulu cultures. Greek and Roman physicians as well, prescribed Aloe for various ailments between 40 AD and 90 AD.
Of the 360 different species of the genus "Aloe" known to exist throughout the world, only five family members are considered to possess therapeutic healing properties.
Aloe vera
Aloe arborensis
Aloe saponaria
Aloe ferro
Aloe perryi

Aloe vera is most prominently used  and studied in Britain and the United States, while the Japanese, who have done a significant amount of research, primarily use Aloe arborensis and Aloe saponaria.  Aloe ferro and Aloe perryi are the other species known to have therapeutic properties.
Limiting the genus to only five species has allowed for extensive research of Aloe's medical properties.  However, pharmaceutical companies have not taken a great interest because Aloe exists in the "public domain."
The medical community's work, not being readily available to the general public, leaves Aloe's properties and healing agents in the realm of folk medicine.  However, the experience of generations is rarely found to be completely without basis.
Today's public is becoming eager to learn more about the "natural" healing elements provided on our planet.  Growing concern for preventative health and education about health awareness is beginning to open the doors to the many alternative medicines that are available.
Aloe Heals by Nature

continues...//http://www.aqaloe.com/history.html



http://www.awl.ch/heilpflanzen/aloe_ver ... _gross.jpg

Cheers,

-WS