Meet our new favourite super-herbs!

These four potent little herbs are all in our winter menu. They have some pretty noteworthy health benefits. Check them out:

Mint

• Digestive aid: relieves bloating, nausea, indigestion, cramps, spasms, IBS
• Antispasmodic: relaxes smooth muscle in the GIT
• Anti-microbial: wages war on germs and nasties
• Anti-allergic: helps prevent histamine release
• Analgesic: helps reduce pain – great for tension headaches!
• Respiratory aid: clears and soothes the respiratory tract
• Stimulant and cognitive aid: mint tea is a good alternative to caffeine when you need your brain cells to get their busy on in the evening but still want to fall asleep afterwards!
• Antioxidant (oh yes, we all love a bit of anti-ageing, cell-protecting goodness)

Parsley

• Digestive aid: it… um, helps you go to the loo more often
• Astringent and purifier: cleanses the liver, kidneys, intestines and blood
• Anti-microbial: helps ward off infection
• Immune booster: repairs and strengthens
• Cardiovascular aid: prevents hardening of the arteries and helps eliminate blood clots
• Anti-inflammatory: supports joint health and relieves arthritis
• Anti-carcinogenic: helps inhibit tumor formation and neutralizes carcinogens
• Antioxidant (bye bye free radicals)

Rosemary

• Anti-bacterial: less bugs, more goodness
• Antispasmodic: reduces cramps and spasms in the gut
• Hepatoprotective: loves your liver (someone has to)
• Anti-inflammatory: reduces inflammation throughout the body
• Anti-mutagenic: doesn’t stop you from turning into a mutant but does reduce the effect of toxins on cells (we like)
• Improves cognitive function: making you all alert and perky and stuff
• Mood booster: popular remedy for depression
• Antioxidant (yep, this super-herb keeps your cells young too)

Thyme

• Respiratory aid: your new super-weapon against colds, flus and the like
• Anti-tussive and expectorant: calms coughing and helps produce um… mucus
• Antimicrobial: less of the nasty stuff
• Astringent: it’s a great disinfectant for skin conditions
• Digestive aid: useful in treating gastritis, dyspepsia and other stomach complaints
• Antispasmodic: reduces cramps and spasms in the gut
• Antihelmintic: fights off parasites (particularly of the wormy kind, ew)
• Antioxidant: (herbs really are your new anti-ageing friends)

And there you have it. Who would have thought these weed-like creatures could be so darn useful... Is it us or do herb gardens suddenly seem less pretentious master-chef, more medicinal genius?

Sources: 
1. Herbs & Natural Supplements, An evidence-based guide, 2nd edition, Lesley Braun and Marc Cohen, Churchill Livingstone (Elsevier), Australia, 2007
2. The Juice Fasting Bible, Sandra Cabot M.D., Ulysses Press, USA, 2007

Boost your immunity this Autumn!

It's that time of year when everyone starts to get sick. You can almost feel the cooler Autumn air climb into your chest and sinus cavities, setting up shop for the season. The tickle in your throat, the night-time cough, the runny nose. Your body is sending you signals, waving a white flag in surrender. But, do you actually take heed and listen?

There are a few simple acts of self-love that can really help you in boosting your immunity and staving off the worst of the season's colds. And the best bit, you won't have to reach for that dreaded and unnecessary dose of anti-biotics.

1) Thyme tea:
Thyme helps calm the non-stop coughing, soothing the throat and relieving headaches. Thyme is an expectorant, which means it helps to shift the mucous build up in the chest. Don't reuse the thyme, use a couple of fresh sprigs for each boil.

2) Hot water, lemon + manuka honey tea:
A classic remedy but one that works. The anti-bacterial honey, the alkalising lemon and of course the warming hot water make this the perfect combination to nourish, hydrate and flush out the flu.

3) Steam:
Boil a big pot of water, add in fresh thyme or eucalyptus oil. With a towel over your head and the pot, inhale the steam for a good 15-20 minutes. This will help break down the congestion.

4) Chicken soup:
The famous chicken soup. The natural anti-biotic. You'll want to cook up a big pot with chicken and bones. It's the fat which is anti-microbial and will give your body energy to heal. Add in lots of nourishing veggies: spinach, leek, kale, carrots, pumpkin, red capsicum, barley, parsley, thyme and a touch of chilli.

5) Sleep:
The best armour against colds and flus. Rest. Now isn't the time to push yourself. Rest, rest, rest. And if sleep doesn't come easily spend some quiet time at home, meditate, do some gentle stretches or wind down in a hot bath.

Don't wait until the last moment when it's too late. Take the time to switch into your body and notice the little clues it’s leaving you. With a little t.l.c you can hopefully skip the flu season altogether!

Take care,

Claire