Benefits of Sage Tea

Sage is a herb, which has been used for centuries for both medicinal and culinary purposes.  It was used by ancient Egyptians as a fertility drug. It has anti-fungal, antiviral, antiseptic and astringent properties. It can help to reduce perspiration. It is also an antioxidant. It has been used for long to treat respiratory problems. Gargling warm sage tea combined with honey and apple cider vinegar can help to cure sore throat and cough. The tea helps to strengthen the nervous system and memory.

                                           Sage Plant

                 Source: Wikimedia Commons: Aomorikum

              

 

Stimulant

Sage tea is a stimulant for the brain which helps to boost memory and helps you to think clearly. It is very useful for Alzheimer’s patients.

Preparation of Sage Tea

Sage tea can be prepared by adding a cup of boiling water to half a cup of sage leaves and straining it after 5 minutes. One tbsp of honey and one tbsp of lemon juice can be added to the tea. It may have blood sugar lowering effects. A cup of sage tea can be taken daily for maximum of ten days. You can resume drinking the tea after a gap of another 5 days.

Sage Tea for Lung Problems

Sage tea has a soothing effect on the mucous membranes and helps to get rid of cough and colds. It is an excellent expectorant and helps to expel mucous. Add a 10-12 sage leaves to water and boil it. Inhaling the fumes can also help to clear the mucous.

For Dental Care

Sage tea has the powers of a disinfectant and is especially useful for the heath of teeth and gums. It is highly effective as a mouth rinse.

For Skin

Sage lotion helps to get rid to excess oil from the skin and tighten up the pores. The tea can be applied to improve your complexion and get rid of acne. It is used in manufacture of deodorants and lotions because of its astringent properties. According to mothernature.com, it can help to suppress excessive perspiration. 
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Hair Loss

Sage tea helps to reduce hair loss. It can also help to stop graying hair and promote hair growth. It contains zinc, potassium, magnesium, vitamin B and C. You can apply it over your scalp with a gentle massage overnight and wash it off after next morning. According of University of Maryland Medical Center, sage oil can be used for aromatherapy to treat insomnia, hair loss and anxiety. The oil can be inhaled or applied on the skin.

Menopause

Sage tea can help to reduce hot flashes and night sweats for menopausal women. It may also reduce excessive sweating. It acts as a general tonic, helping to sooth the irritability during the period preceding the menopause. Prepare dilute sage tea pouring half a liter of boiling water over 3 tsp of dried sage leaves and steep it for 30 minutes. Drink a cup of the tea thrice a day.

These are some of the health benefits of sage tea

Health Benefits of Grapefruit: Weight Loss: Diabetes

Grapefruit may not be liked by everyone because of its bitter sour taste. But it is highly nutritious and has a variety of health benefits. Grapefruit contains very low amounts of fat, cholesterol and sodium. Grapefruit juice is very good for the heart. It helps to keep the skin healthy and lowers the cholesterol and blood sugar levels. It also aids weight loss. It is highly beneficial to drink a glass of grapefruit juice twice a day along with breakfast and dinner.

Grape Fruit

Source: Wikimedia Commons: Aleph

Grapefruit Nutrition Facts

Health benefits of grapefruit include its very high nutritional value. It contains

- Vitamin A, C and B5

- Folate

- Calcium

- Dietary fiber

- Antioxidants like lycopene

- Phytochemicals

Grapefruit for Weight loss

Grapefruit has a fat burning enzyme which helps to promote weight loss. It helps to reduce the starch and fat content in the body. It is very low in calories. It is a very good source of vitamin C and potassium. It is said to be a high volume food as it has high fiber and water content. As a high volume, low calorie food, it will lessen your appetite without adding too many calories. It helps to increase insulin resistance. Higher levels of insulin make the body to store excess glucose as fat. Grapefruit helps to keep the blood sugar levels stable and reduce levels of the release of insulin. This helps you to lose weight.

Grape Fruit for Diabetes

Grapefruit helps to flush out excess sugar and starch from the body. It contains certain enzymes that reduce the levels of sugar in the blood. It also has abundance of dietary fiber and low content of carbohydrates. For people with a family history of diabetes, it helps to prevent or at least postpone the advent of the disease.

Immune System

Grapefruit helps to strengthen the immune system. Regular intake of grapefruit juice help to fight a variety of infections. It is very effective against cold and fever. Drinking grapefruit juice helps you to get rid of cough and throat infection

For Digestion

Grapefruit helps to strengthen the digestive system. Its fibre content helps to prevent constipation and improve bowel movement. Grapefruit juice has alkaline properties. It is an excellent remedy for acidity.

 For Fatigue

A glass of grapefruit juice helps to get rid of fatigue. It also helps to rid insomnia. Grapefruit juice before going to bed helps you to sleep better and overcomes insomnia.

 For Atherosclerosis

Grape fruit contains pectin fiber which will help to prevent or slow down atherosclerosis. It helps to lower LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol). It will also lower the levels of triglycerides which is a fat, linked to heart disease. It has very high antioxidant content.

Other Health Benefits

- It is an effective drug poison eliminator

- Offers protection against cancer

- Fights against urinary problems and acidity

- Acts as a natural antiseptic for external wounds

- Aids bowel action

- It contains natural quinine which helps to treat malaria.

These are some of the health benefits of grapefruit.

Health Benefits of Cloves: Antioxidant

There are several health benefits of cloves. They are very good antioxidants. They aid digestion and help to get rid of bad breath.
  
Cloves are dried flower buds from the clove tree. Clove bud is pink in color. It turns brown when it dries. Zanzibar is the world’s largest producer of cloves. Clove is also cultivated in other countries like Indonesia, India, West Indies and Madagascar. Cloves have been used for thousands of years in India and China for its medicinal properties and health benefits. Clove is used as a spice in several cuisines across the world. It gives a special flavor to food. It has excellent medicinal and nutritional value.

     

   Cloves

    Wikimedia Commons: Thamizhpparithi Maari

Nutrition Cloves

Cloves are rich in proteins, carbohydrates, potassium, sodium, calcium, manganese, phosphorous and hydrochloric acid. They also contain dietary fiber and omega 3 fatty acids.

Cloves for Teeth

Clove contains eugenol which has very good analgesic properties. They are very good for the teeth and can get rid of toothache. Hold a cotton ball dipped in clove oil to the gums below the affected tooth. It helps to relieve toothache. It also has antibacterial properties. It is used in the manufacture of dental creams, mouthwashes and mouth sprays.

Antispasmodic and Antiseptic Properties

Due to its antiseptic properties clove oil is used to treat cuts, burns, wounds, fungal infections and bruises. It has to be diluted as it can cause skin irritation. It can be applied topically to relieve muscle pain and spasms.


 Digestion Cloves

Cloves are an excellent remedy for indigestion. They can also help to relieve symptoms nausea, diarrhea, gastric irritability and vomiting.


Cloves Antioxidant Properties


Cloves are very good antioxidants and have the highest antioxidant capability compared to any other food. This helps to protect you against several degenerative diseases. Clove provides a boost to the immune system and helps to provide immunity against of a variety of diseases


Aromatherapy


Clove oil is used by aroma therapists to treat arthritis and rheumatism. It can help to relieve asthma, colds, cough, bronchitis and sinusitis.


Clove Tea


Add a four freshly ground cloves with tea leaves to half a liter of water and boil it. Let it steep for about 20 minutes. Strain it with a fine mesh strainer. You can drink the tea plain. You can also add milk and sugar for taste. Drink clove tea twice a day to get its wonderful health benefits.


Clove for Bad Breath


Clove has a fresh spicy smell and is an excellent mouth freshener. Keep a few cloves in the pocket and put it in the mouth and chew whenever you want to.It masks bad breath effectively.Clove oil is used in the manufacture of perfumes. Mixed with salt and milk it is used as a remedy for headaches. Eugenol helps to control blood glucose levels. It also helps to prevent blood clots.These are some of the health benefits of cloves.

Uses of Neem Plant

Neem plant has several uses. Both neem oil and leaves have medicinal properties  

Neem oil is extracted from the seeds of the neem tree. A majority of the Ayurvedic remedies contain neem oil. It is being used for its insecticidal and medicinal properties for thousands of years in India. It also has wide ranging uses in medicine and cosmetics.

Neem  Plant

            Source: Wikimedia Commons:  Thamizhpparithi Maari                          

Chicken pox and Warts

Neem leaves are used in the treatment of chicken pox and warts. It is made into a paste and directly applied to the skin. Water soaked with neem leaves is used for bathing. 

Tooth Paste 

In the earlier days neem twigs were used as tooth brush in India. Now neem toothpaste is available in the market. It is very useful in combating tooth decay. 

Fertilizer and Pesticide

The residual cake that remains after extracting oil from the seeds is used as a fertilizer and pesticide. It is an excellent organic fertilizer. It is also a very good insecticide. 

Neem Oil

Neem oil is used to prevent hair loss

  

It is also good for the scalp. 

It is used as a moisturizer. 

It is an excellent antiseptic. 

When applied to insect and bug bites it helps to reduce the pain. 

It has a very strong odor and used as a mosquito repellent

It is used in the manufacture of soaps and shampoos.

Ointments containing neem oil are used for lice, scabies, ring worm and athletes foot. 

A combination of hair oil with neem oil is very good for the hair as it kills bacteria. It also helps to get rid of dandruff and is good for itchy scalp

It is used to cure scalp infections.

Neem Leaves

Eating raw neem leaves is good for diabetes. Fresh neem leaf paste is used in the treatment of acne. 

Neem leaf soap has anti fungal and anti parasitic properties. It is also good for treating acne. Neem leaves are boiled in water. Then the water is cooled and applied on acne. 

Capsules made from leaf extract are helpful in purifying blood. 

Neem leaf paste is used as face mask to cure pimples and acne

Dried neem leaf powder helps to keep the insects away from cupboards and bookshelves. 

Neem leaf is used as a natural eczema remedy. Its anti fungal and anti bacterial properties keep the bacteria from entering the skin.

These are some of the uses of neem plant