Friday, 22 April 2016

The Spiritual Sacred Lotus Flower - Hypnotic, Calming and Relaxing



The Sacred Lotus, also referred to as Indian Lotus, Bean of India, or simply just Lotus, is one of two variants of aquatic plant in the Nelumbonaceae family group. 
This plant is an aquatic perennial. Under beneficial conditions the seeds can stay viable for quite some time, with the longest-existing documented lotus germination being from that of seeds 1300 years old retrieved from a dried up lake-bed in north eastern China.
The Sacred Lotus is indigenous to Tropical parts of Asia and also Queensland, Australia where it tends to be nurtured in water gardens. It is additionally the national flower of India and Vietnam.

Lotuses are typically presented in white as well as pink colours and develop in shallow, sometimes murky waters. Lotus blossoms relish warm sunlight and are intolerant to cold temperatures; for this reason the Lotus is not observed blossoming in the winter months. The floating leaves of Lotus blossoms possess lengthy stems, which contain air pockets designed to help them to sustain their buoyancy.

The Sacred Lotus possesses natural substances that offer it numerous healing properties, to both the body as well as the mind.
The blossoms of the lotus flower possess a variety of effects. For instance being hypnotic, and also calming, as well as to help relax the nerves and the muscles. Restlessness and nervousness, as well as depressive disorders have been addressed traditionally utilizing the seeds, blossoms and also leaves of the Sacred Lotus. There are many reported pharmacologic researches of sacred lotus, which include its antioxidant, hepatoprotective, immunomodulatory, anti-infective, hyperlipidemic, as well as psychopharmacologic actions. 
The Sacred Lotus continues to be placed in high esteem medicinally, in regions in which it has been extensively grown and utilized for numerous ailments. 

Apart from the consumption of the plant for foods and to support overall wellness, the lotus is also formulated as a flower essence, much like the Bach Flower Remedies.
Lotus essence continues to be well respected as an elixir for any ailment, acquiring a positive impact on the overall body. Lotus is believed to produce better assimilation of other natural herbs and herbal remedies, as well as an enhanced response to any kind of healing. The essence is utilized to assist in energising the heart, liver, spleen, kidneys as well as intestines, for tissues and skin cells rejuvenation, to curb the aging process, and is utilized as an over-all cleanser for the whole body system. 

Lotus is furthermore believed to help increase creative abilities and mind powers, as well as promote a sense of ease and peacefulness.



Below are extracts from other respected websites: 
http://www.lotussculpture.com/my_articles_lotus.html

The Lotus Flower, Hindu God's Favourite Flower
Both in worship and in portrayals of the divine, Hindus are infatuated with lotus flowers. The very name of the Hindu worship ritual, puja, can be translated as "flower act."
The lotus is the foremost symbol of beauty, prosperity and fertility. According to Hinduism, within each human is the spirit of the sacred lotus. It represents eternity, purity, divinity, and is widely used as a symbol of life, fertility, ever-renewing youth. The lotus is used to describe feminine beauty, especially female eyes.
One of the most common metaphysical analogies compares the lotus' perennial rise to faultless beauty from a miry environment to the evolution of consciousness, from instinctive impulses to spiritual liberation.
In the Bhagavad Gita, a human is adjured to be like the lotus; they should work without attachment, dedicating their actions to God, untouched by sin like water on a lotus leaf, like a beautiful flower standing high above the mud and water.
In the postures of hatha yoga, the lotus position, padmasana, is adopted by those striving to reach the highest level of consciousness, which itself is found in the thousand-petalled lotus chakra at the top of the head.
For Buddhists, the lotus flower symbolizes the most exalted state of human; head held high, pure and undefiled in the sun, feet rooted in the world of experience.
There is a story that the lotus arose from the navel of God Vishnu, and at the center of the flower sat Brahma. Brahma (the Creator), Vishnu (the Protector) and Siva (the Merger) are associated with this plant. There are also accounts of the world born through a "Golden Lotus" and Padmakalpa, the Lotus Age in the Padmapurana (678 ce).


Extract from the website: http://www.theflowerexpert.com/content/aboutflowers/exoticflowers/lotus

Some facts about Sacred Lotus:
  • The Lotus is a sacred flower for Buddhists.
  • The Lotus flower is quoted extensively in Puranic and Vedic literature.
  • The Lotus is one of the eight auspicious signs of Buddhism - an eight petalled lotus used in Buddhist mandalas symbolizes cosmic harmony, a thousand petalled Lotus, spiritual illumination. A bud symbolizes potential. The well-known Buddhist mantra, "Om mane padme," refers to the jewel in the lotus, enlightenment.
  • In Egyptian mythology, the Lotus is associated with the sun, because it bloomed by day and closed by night. The Lotus is even believed to have given birth to the sun.
  • The roots of the Lotus are planted in the soil of the pond or river bottom, while the leaves float on top of the water surface. The Lotus flowers are usually found on thick stems rising several centimeters above the water.
  • The Lotus flowers, seeds, young leaves and rhizomes are all edible. In Asia, the petals are sometimes used for garnish, while the large leaves are used as a wrap for food.
  • Various parts of the sacred Lotus are also used in traditional Asian herbal medicine.
  • The Lotus fruits are a conical pod with seeds contained in holes in the pod. Nucifera means having hard fruit. When the seeds are ripe, they become loose in the pod. The pod then tips down towards the water, releasing the seeds.
  • When the Lotus flower's petals fall, they are replaced by a flat-topped seed pod divided into compartments, resembling a wasp's hive.
  • The tender seeds are munched happily in north-east India.
  • The Lotus stem is eaten almost in all parts of India, and pickled too.
  • Nelumbium luteum is the American Lotus, with pale, small flowers.
  • The Indian or Chinese Lotus, nelumbium nelumbo, usually has pink flowers although white, rose and double varieties are available. 

Sacred Lotus Flower in dried form can be obtained from The Herb Shed

Botanical Name: Nelumbo nucifera

Status: Wild-crafted

Contraindications: Avoid use if hypersensitivity exists to any constituents of sacred lotus.

Adverse Reactions: Due to potential drug interactions, sacred lotus should be used cautiously by patients being treated for diabetes, high cholesterol, psychiatric or cardiac conditions, or erectile dysfunction.

All information on this site is for informational purposes only. We do stress that you should do your own research, or talk with your health professional if you suffer from an existing health condition, or if you are on other medication, prior to consumption of our products.
 


Friday, 22 January 2016

8 Herbs To Help Fight Fatigue And Increase Energy



Siberian Ginseng - Siberian Ginseng helps boost your vitality, improves physical and mental performance and make it easier to cope better with life's challenges, including fighting off infections, enhancing stamina and also endurance... Find out more 

Ginkgo Biloba - Ginkgo is a gentle yet powerful circulatory stimulant, it assists to improve memory and also sharpen mental concentration for all ages... Find out more

Green Tea - Green Tea is used to boost mental alertness. It contains caffeine thus works as a mild stimulant providing you with an extra injection of energy. It’s furthermore packed with antioxidants, which happen to be great for your overall health...Find out more

Ashwagandha Root - Ashwagandha is commonly used as an “adaptogen” to assist the body to cope better with day-to-day stress, as well as to increase energy. It is also a general tonic. Used in Ayurvedic medicine it is renowned for alleviating nervous exhaustion and fatigue...Find out more 

Nettle - Nettle Leaf is among humankind's most constant and generous herbs, and has become one of the best all-round supporters that exists in the plant world. Nettle is a genuine tonic; being both nourishing and stimulating it gives a wake-up call not just to the digestion but also to the whole body...Find out more 

Rhodiola - Rhodiola is an "adaptogen", which means that it will help people adapt to better manage emotional stress, and provide a general boost in positive thoughts or well-being and also energy...Find out more

Licorice Root - Licorice root possesses a formidable list of well documented applications and is possibly just about the most over-looked of all herbal remedies. Licorice root possesses multiple anti-depressant compounds and is a superb alternative to St. John's Wort. The herb's key therapeutic compound, glycyrrhizin (which is actually 50 times sweeter compared to sugar) exerts numerous advantageous effects on the entire body, which makes licorice an invaluable natural herb for the treatment of a host of health conditions. It appears to prevent the breakdown of adrenal hormones for instance cortisol (the body's primary stress-fighting adrenal hormone), to make these hormones much more accessible to the human body. Moreover it possesses powerful antioxidants...Find out more 


Damiana - Damiana is a wonderfully special herb. It is a recognised aphrodisiac, which is employed to increase sexual potency. Damiana is also an all natural anti-depressant helping to alleviate exhaustion and also provides an uplift in energy...Find out more


All information on this site is for informational purposes only. We do stress that you should do your own research, or talk with your health professional if you suffer from an existing health condition, or if you are on other medication, prior to consumption of our products.

Monday, 4 January 2016

7 Herbs and Teas for Detox and Weight Loss



7 Herbs and Teas for Detox and Weight Loss

Dandelion Root - benefits the liver and gallbladder by promoting bile excretion and purifying the blood. Dandelion Root helps to better metabolise fat and optimise cholesterol levels, and also assists in cleansing and repairing the liver.

St Mary’s Thistle – helps the liver recover from illness or poisoning from harmful toxins such as prescription drugs or chemotherapy, and can protect the liver from damage in the case of alcohol abuse.

Green Tea – helps to increase mental alertness. It is also used for weight loss, headaches, vomiting, diarrhoea, and stomach disorders, and to prevent cancers.

Ginger Root – one of the most prized digestive herbs which stimulates circulation to get the body moving and blood pumping. Ginger Root is also calming, warming, anti-inflammatory, pain relieving, a wind-dispeller, anti-viral and anti-spasmodic.

Siberian Ginseng - will help increase your vitality, improve your physical and mental performance and enable you to cope better with challenges, including fighting off infections and increasing stamina and endurance; all important to raise energy during the detox and weight loss process to encourage exercise.

Peppermint – benefits to aid digestion and breaking down of food, reduces muscle spasms and joint inflammation and also bloating and gastric discomfort. 

Hibiscus - contains the all-important vitamin C, various minerals, several kinds of organic acids, and other substances such as polysaccharides and flavonoids. Hibiscus is also high in antioxidants.

All of these herbs work especially well in combination and can be safely blended, which results in a pleasant tasting herbal tea for detox and weight loss. 

Try our Detox Cleansing & Weight Loss Tea:

Containing all of the herbs above: Dandelion Root, St. Mary's Thistle (Milk Thistle), Green Tea, Ginger Root, Siberian Ginseng, Peppermint and Hibiscus this 100% all natural herbal tea will help remove harmful and dangerous toxins from your body while providing important minerals and vitamin support. 
This blend will also assist in providing energy for exercise, which is an important part of weight loss, and will help to increase circulation to get the body system moving.

Toxins, if left in the body, can contribute to disease such as cancers, disease of the gall bladder, liver, kidneys, arteries, and so on.

The herbs in this herbal tea blend will assist with promoting bile excretion from the liver so the body can more efficiently process foods and liquids while also purging harmful toxins. 
In addition, making it possible for the body to better metabolize fat, which helps optimize the body’s cholesterol levels, also effectively stimulating a sluggish gallbladder helping to purify the blood.
This special blend of all natural herb ingredients will help with losing weight as your body works more efficiently to burn more fat.

Recommended Consumption: Drink 3 times per day after meals.

Method: Add 1 Tbsp. of the blend to 1 Cup of boiling water, leave to infuse for at least 7-9 minutes before drinking. Do not brew for much longer than this as the brew may become bitter. A little honey can be added if you have a sweet tooth.

Alternative Method: Enjoy Chilled. Brew enough for 3 cups (750mls) and store in the fridge for up to 24 hours.

All information on this site is for informational purposes only. We do stress that you should do your own research, or talk with your health professional if you suffer from an existing health condition, or if you are on other medication, prior to consumption of our products.