Healing Powers of Herbs


Herbs have been used for centuries to heal.
We here at Cloverleaf Farm enjoy teaching people the power of healing naturally through herbs. We hold several classes throughout the year that help people use herbs to heal everything from Healing Anxiety Naturally to Lowering Your Cholesterol Naturally .
The classes are fun and taught in small groups. Each student learns how to take control of their health using the healing powers of herbs. In each class, the student learns to make an herbal remedy using organic herbs, and how to use it at home.
The next round of classes is starting in June. Please check Cloverleaf Farm Herbal Center for a list of classes and the dates.

Take control of your health using the wonderful healing powers of herbs.

Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis)

Lemon Balm has been used medicinally since the Middle Ages. It is has been used to relieve anxiety, stress and tension since that time and is still used today for those same illnesses.Lemon Balm helps heal naturally.Lemon Balm is used most often as a medicinal herbal tea. It is also used in herbal and medicincal body care products. Lemon Balm can also be used in an extract or tincture form. Our biggest seller is Lemon Balm Ointment followed by Lemon Balm Oil.
Anxiety And Lemon Balm
Lemon Balm is a wonderful nerve tonic. It is good on it's own for anxiety and stress, but can also be used in combination with other calming herbs such as valerian, catnip, lavender, or passionflower. When using valerian, you should not use any other sleep inducing medication such as valium.
For anxiety Lemon Balm is either given in tea or tincture. A tincture is a concentrated herbal medicine that is made with alcohol. The alcohol draws in the medicinal properties of the lemon balm as it is being made, and is a good way to take herbal medicine. You can easily dissipate the alcohol by letting it sit in warm water for a few minutes. This works well for people who have a sensitivity to alcohol, or don't want to use products with alcohol in them.
If a tincture does not suit you, you can certainly use lemon balm as a tea. The usual dosage for a cup of herbal tea is 1 tablespoon per one cup (coffee cup) of water. Pour hot water over the herb in the cup. Cover with plate to allow the essential oils of the lemon balm to stay in the cup. Strain after 10-15 minutes. Sit back, drink, and enjoy. It is best to take 3-4 cups per day for 2 weeks to allow the lemon balm to take effect.
Herpes / Cold Sores
In studies, lemon balm has been shown to have polyphenols. The polyphenols give lemon balm fantastic antiviral actions. In particular, they help to combat and heal cold sores due to the herpes simples virus (HSV). Applied to the affected area, lemon balm helps heal cold the sores in about 3-5 days. It also helps double the time between outbreaks.
Lemon balm that is used on herpes cold sores is usually found in either an oil or an ointment. The leaves of the plant are steeped in a carrier oil (such as almond, apricot, or olive) for 4-6 weeks. The oil absorbs the medicinal actions of the lemon balm. It is then strained and either used as lemon balm oil or ointment. It is a popular herbal ointment for herpes.
Lemon balm is also useful on chicken pox and shingles. Both chicken pox and shingles are the same virus as herpes. Used topically, lemon balm will help heal the sores of chicken pox and shingles much quicker than on their own.
Flu with Muscle Aches and Pains
Due to its antispasmodic and relaxant actions lemon balm can come in quite handy when a flu hits with muscle aches and pains. It will help relax the body, and the antispasmodic action will help with any muscular spasms. Lemon balm increases sweating, and could help in the case of a fever. By making the body sweat, the toxins are driven out of the body through the pores. It can be used at the first sign of flu for best results.

Natural Herbal Healing

Herbal healing has been common practice for civilizations for thousands of years.
Herbs have been used to cure everything from acne to whooping cough.
In fact about 80 % of all allopathic medicines are derived from plants. In the United States, you are not allowed to patent an herb, so they create a synthetic version so they can market it. The only problem there is that the synthetic creation usually creates major side effects.
Most herbal remedies do not have side effects. This is due to the fact that the herb is working in balance with your body to heal, rather that just covering up the symptom. For example; you have a cold. Most people reach for the cough medicine. The cough medicine only pushes the symptoms back into your body. The virus that causes the cold is still there.
If using herbs to help your body fight the cold, the herbs will boost your immune system and help your body heal it rather than just pushing it back down. Herbs heal from the inside out.
Herbal healing and natural healing has become more prominent as people are now more aware of the dangers of allopathic medicine.

Herb of the Month

Ah, May 1. Warm weather is here, and it will soon be summer.
I thought this was the perfect time to start an herb of the month series again.
This month's herb is Borage.
Borage is a common Mediterranean weed thought to have originated from southern Spain and Morocco. A hairy annual or perennial growing to between two and three feet in height producing a pulpy stem, large basal leaves, and bluish-lavender, star-shaped flowers, it is now cultivated worldwide mainly for its seed oil. Borage flowers have a slight cucumber taste, and are a great additive to salads.
Borage is helpful in the garden as well. Planting borage between tomato plants help keep down the dreaded horned worm, otherwise known as the tomato worm. By interplanting, also known as companion planting, you can help keep the bad bugs at bay.
For more information on Borage please visit Borage Information.