La’au Lapa’au | Herb Guide: Oregano

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Origanum vulgare

Also, Known As:

  • Common Marjoram
  • Oregano
  • True Oregano
  • Turkish Oregano
  • Wild Marjoram
  • Winter Marjoram

The famous European herb called the oregano or the pot marjoram is a very familiar spice, botanical name Origanum vulgare. It is a common herb, and the European oregano is known to be a very hardy and perennial herb characterized by the presence of an erect, and somewhat hairy and well-branched stem, the leaves of the herb are also hairy. When fully grown, the plant can cross two feet in height, and is characterized by a very acrid and pungent odor, the fragrance of the plant is very strong, and has a sage-like an aroma, it also smells somewhat like another spice, the thyme – also used in a lot of European cuisines.

The oregano also refers to the pleasant and mint smelling European herb, the marjoram, or the wild marjoram as it is…

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Health | Best Advice For Buying CBD Oil Online

The Internet continues to change the way we do things. Long gone are the days you had to spend hours commuting to a store and hours standing in line to buy something. Today, thanks to online stores, you can purchase virtually anything from the comfort of your home. The purpose of this post is to guide you through the process of buying CBD oil from an online store. Here are the most important things you need to do.  […]

Read more:  Best Advice For Buying CBD Oil Online

Lāʻau Lapaʻau | Kalo Is More Than a Native Hawaiian Plant—It’s an Ancestor to Hawaiian Culture 

A story about Kalo (taro), a native Hawaiian plant.  […]

Errata:  The story incorrectly stated the Taro Security and Purity Task Force was involved in the GMO taro issue. They were not in existence at the time and are mandated not to become involved.

Source: Kalo Is More Than a Native Hawaiian Plant—It’s an Ancestor to Hawaiian Culture – Indian Country Media Network

Lāʻau Lapaʻau | Plantain

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plantain

Plantain

Botanical Name:Plantago major.

Other Common Names: Greater or common plantain, broadleaf plantain, rippleseed plantain, wagbread, white man’s foot, plantain majeur (French), groblad (Swedish), Wegerich (German), græðisúra (Icelandic), piharatamo (Finnish).

Family Plantaginaceae

TCM Name: Che Qian Zi (Translates as “Before the Cart Seeds.”)

Also Known As: Plantain Seed, Plantago Seed, Semen Plantaginis

Meridians: Bladder, Kidney, Lung, Liver

Key TCM Actions & Medicinal Uses: Drains Damp/Promotes Urination/Regulates Water/Clears Heat: edema, lin syndromes due to Damp Heat in the Lower Jiao, diarrhea, dysentery, difficulty or urgency with urination, dribbling. Stops Diarrhea: the seeds move water from the bladder promoting urination and solidifying the stools. Clears the Eyes: eye problems due to Liver Heat or Liver Yang rising, dry eyes, cataracts, red painful swollen eyes, sensitivity to light. Clears Lung Heat/Dissolves Phelgm/Stops Cough: expels thick, copious, yellow sputum, phlegm in the lungs, stops cough.

Habitat: Plantain is originally native…

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Lāʻau Lapaʻau | Guide to Propagating Herbs

Crooked Bear Creek Organic Herbs's avatarCrooked Bear Creek Organic Herbs

Seeding is our favorite form of propagation. A seed is a repository for all the genetic diversity of the ancient wildness of these potent medicinals. When you are looking for medicine in a herb, you want to use the purest, strongest strain of the species you can get; in other words, you want the original, unchanged, wildest form available. So you will not, in most cases, choose a hybrid, which is indicated by a multiplication sign between a plant’s genus and species name or by a proper name within single quotes, like ‘Jenny’. And you won’t choose varieties developed for a wide array of flower colors or disease resistance. Seeds of unselected, wilder species will give you the full range of biodiversity possible for the herb – which makes it perfect for use as herbal medicine.

Most of the herbs featured on this website can be easily sown from seed…

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Lāʻau Lāpaʻau | Companion Planting with Herbs

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Boost your garden this season with the right pairings of plants.

Companion planting is a fantastic addition to any garden. By specific plants next to certain fruits, flowers, and vegetables, you can boost their health and increase their production. Of course, knowing what pairings work best is key, especially when it comes to herbs.

How It Works

Companion planting improves growth in a number of ways. To start, some plants serve to repel unwanted pests while providing shelter and safety for beneficial insects. Others encourage pollination, which is especially needed for those fruits and vegetables that don’t have noticeable flowers. Species with bright shades of blue, white, or yellow and/or with high concentrations of nectar can attract bees to these lesser-flowered plants. Larkspur, sunflowers, sweet peas, cosmos, zinnias, and mints all do well in vegetable gardens {though the mint does spread quickly}. Companion planting is a wonderful tool for organic…

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Lāʻau Lāpaʻau | Food as Medicine: Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis, Asparagaceae)

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History and Traditional Use

Range and Habitat

Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis, Asparagaceae) is a herbaceous perennial with stalks that can grow to several feet in height. Most asparagus is harvested once the stalk reaches 6-8 inches in height. The stalk is the edible portion of the plant, along with its pointed, budlike tip.1,2 If asparagus is not harvested, the stalks grow into finely textured, fern-like plants before going dormant in winter.3 In the United States, the primary asparagus producers are the states of California, Washington, and Michigan.4


Depending on the cultivation method, asparagus yields a crop in one of three colors: green, white, or purple. Green asparagus, the most common in the US, is allowed to grow exposed to sunlight until harvested. White asparagus contains no chlorophyll due to human intervention, which involves mounding dirt on the stalk as it grows to shield it from sunlight.

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Lāʻau Lāpaʻau | Effects of Altitude on Phytochemistry and Genetics in Different Maca Phenotypes

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Maca (Lepidium meyenii, Brassicaceae) tubers have been used by indigenous Peruvians as a medicinal food since antiquity. Age- and gender-specific physiological effects of maca have been seen in vivo and in human trials with male and pre- and postmenopausal female subjects. Effects vary by color phenotype and levels of bioactive compounds, including glucosinolates (GCs). In an earlier study, red maca (RM) was found to have the most GCs. RM is reported to have a selective therapeutic effect in men over 50 against prostate hyperplasia. Black maca (BM) and purple maca (PM) had the next-highest GC levels in the earlier study. BM was reported to improve sexual desire and function in healthy men. Yellow maca (YM), with the least GCs, in a mixed-phenotype, traditional blend, was reported to help hormone balance in pre- and postmenopausal women. The effect of altitude on plant composition has been well documented across various…

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Lāʻau Lāpaʻau | Herbs & Actions for Eczema, Psoriasis & Dermatitis Part 1

The Wonky Pot Apothecary's avatarThe Wonky Pot Apothecary

cropped-calendula.jpg

Alteratives

Alteratives are herbs that gradually restore the proper function of the body and increase health and vitality.  They seem to alter the body’s processes of metabolism so that tissues can best deal with a range of functions from nutrition to elimination. Many herbs with this action improve the body’s ability to eliminate waste through the kidneys, liver, lungs, or skin. Some stimulate digestion or are anti-microbial. Alteratives move the body to a state of health, removing indicators of systemic disintegration. They are often used for skin conditions to take some of the pressure of “detoxifying” the body and off of the skin while at the same time improving the skin’s ability to eliminate waste and heal. Alterative herbs are best used internally for their properties and can be particularly helpful for psoriasis, eczema, acne and many other skin conditions.

OREGON GRAPE – MAHONIA AQUIFOLIUM (BERBERIDACEAE) – ROOT AND BARK     

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THE ANGELUS SPIRIT

Up there, things are moving your way, and the mysterious ways of Heaven are now leading you straight to Happiness.

To assist you, I am happy to send you your Angelus Spirit. Here is the image, below.

Now, as a prayer that will rise directly to the Divine World, here are the Sacred Words you must recite after having stared at your Angelus Spirit for a few seconds:

IN THE NAME OF THE ANGELICAL FORCES,
MAY THE DIE BE CAST.
MAY THE MAGIC WORK.
TODAY, A NEW LIFE OF
WEALTH AND ABUNDANCE IS BORN.
IT IS READY TO UNFURL BEFORE ME.
BEYOND YOUR SECRET, PANTACLE,
YOU WILL LEAD ME THERE.
THIS IS MY DESIRE AND MY WISH,
AND I SURRENDER TO YOUR MIGHTY POWERS.

There you are: the powers of your talisman have now been activated. From now on, everything will work out in the most favorable manner possible for you. Whether you decided to print it or not, make sure you keep it in a safe place, so that you may have it before you every time you need it.

Lāʻau Lapaʻau | Valerian

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Common Valerian

Valerian

Botanical Name: Valeriana officinalis.

Other Common Names: Valerian root, garden valerian, tobacco root, garden heliotrope, all-heal, phu (Galen), great wild valerian, amantilla, setwall, setewale capon’s tail.

Family: Valerianaceae

Habitat: The plant is native to Europe, South Africa and parts of Asia. It has naturalised in North America. It prefers rich, heavy loam with adequate moisture. Most of the valerian used in medicine is grown on farms and cultivated for this purpose.

Description: The valerian plant is a perennial that can reach a height of 4 feet. The stems of the plant are erect and hollow with white or reddish flowers that bloom each summer. The leaves are dark green and paired at their base. The flowers have a peculiar, though not completely unpleasing, scent. Some describe the scent as similar to well-aged cheese or milk.

Plant Parts Used: The root and rhizome are…

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Lāʻau Lāpaʻau | Clove

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cloves

Clove

Botanical Name Syzygium Aromaticum.

Common Name Mother Cloves, Clovetree, Gewürznelken (German), Lavanga (Ayurvedic), Kryddernellike (Danish), Clous De Girofle (French), Clavo (Spanish), Chouji (Japanese), Laung (Hindi).

Family Name Myrtaceae

Tcm Name Ding Xiang

Also Known As: Gong Ding Xiang

Meridians: Kidney, Spleen, Stomach, Lung

Key TCM Actions & Medicinal Uses: Warms the Interior/Expels Cold: relieves nausea, aids digestion, hiccups, vomiting, white vaginal discharge Warms and Fortifies Yang: morning sickness, vomiting, diarrhea, cold belly, premature ejaculation.

Parts Used  The Dried Immature Flower Buds Are Mostly Used As Spice But Also As Herbal Medicine.

Native Region It Is Believed That The Clove-tree Is Originally Native To The Maluku Islands Or The Moluccas, A Indonesian Archipelago And From There It Has Spread To Other Parts Of The Globe With Suitable Climate.

Botanical Description The Clove tree Is An Evergreen Tree That Belongs To The Myrtle Family (Myrtaceae). It Can Reach Up To…

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Lāʻau Lāpaʻau | Cinnamon

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cinnamon

Cinnamon

Botanical Name Cinnamomum Verum.

Common Name Cassia, Ceylon Cinnamon, Kayu Manis, Canela, Vayana.

Family Name Lauraceae

Ayurvedic/ Tcm Name Rou Gui

Also Known As: Kuei Pi

Meridians: Heart, Kidney, Liver, Spleen

Key TCM Actions & Medicinal Uses: Warms the Kidneys/Fortifies Yang: Aversion to cold, weak back, frequent urination. Fortifies Spleen Yang: poor appetite, abdominal pain, diarrhea. Wheezing due to Kidney Yang not grasping Lung Qi. Principal herb for treating floating deficient Yang: red face, wheezing, sever sweating (like oil), weak and cold lower extremities. This pattern is called Heat above and Cold below or True Cold with Illusory Heat. Used when upper body is Hot and lower part Cold.  Disperses Deep Cold/Warms the Meridians/Alleviates Pain: Deep Cold causing pain and Qi or Blood (Xue) stagnation, including amenorhea, dysmenorrhea, Yin type boils. Helps nourish Qi and Blood (Xue): used in Qi and Blood (Xue) tonics as…

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Spirituality | The Great Invocation

From the point of Light within the Mind of God
Let light stream forth into the minds of men.
Let Light descend on Earth.

From the point of Love within the Heart of God
Let love stream forth into the hearts of men.
May Christ* return to Earth.

From the centre where the Will of God is known
Let purpose guide the little wills of men –
The purpose which the Masters know and serve.

From the centre which we call the race of men
Let the Plan of Love and Light work out
And may it seal the door where evil dwells.

Let Light and Love and Power restore the Plan on Earth.