Plant Doctor

Plants are powerful healers

There is general agreement amongst scientists that plants improve the indoor environment and are useful in fighting the modern phenomenon of Sick Building Syndrome (SBS).

No specific cause of SBS has been identified but poor air quality, excessive background noise and inadequate control of light and humidity are all thought to be important factors.
Because plants have large surface areas and exchange gases and water with their surroundings, plants can help tackle some of these issues.

Particular benefits of interior plants include:

1.    Reducing carbon dioxide levels

2.    Increasing humidity

3.    Reducing levels of certain pollutants, such as benzene and nitrogen dioxide

4.    Reducing airborne dust levels

5.    Keeping air temperatures down

House Plants do more than just brighten up a room with color and living energy. Along with being pleasing to the eye, they bring real health benefits to your body. Not only do complaints about headaches, stress, heart/circulation-symptoms and colds decrease when indoor plants are present.

The good news is that a classic NASA study found that common house plants could improve air quality. In fact, they reported that houseplants were able to remove up to 87 percent of air toxins in 24 hours. The recommendation? Use 15 to 18 "good-sized" house plants in 6- to 8-inch diameter containers for an 1,800 square-foot house.

Here are a few plants and one recipe that showcase their healing ability.

Aloe vera

Aloe is a cactus-like succulent plant with thick, fleshy leaves. The aloe family probably originated in Africa, but it has been cultivated all over the world for centuries.

The gel from Aloe Vera leaves has been used for thousands of years to treat wounds, skin infections, burns and other skin conditions. It may also be the most important plant discovered for digestive health. More than 60 million North Americans suffer from frequent heartburn and drinking homegrown aloe juice will reduce the acid in your stomach immediately.

Directions for use:

· Using a sharp knife, peel away the rind from aloe leaves to extract six ounces of gel.

· Discard the rind.

· Peel away the top yellow layer (the aloe latex) and discard.

· Transfer the aloe gel to a blender and add the freshly squeezed juice of half a lemon and 1/2 cup of water.

· Blend on high speed until smooth (but not frothy). Drink immediately.

Haskap

These berries are touted to be the super berries of the coming years. It's known by the Japanese as the 'fruit of the longevity'. The Haskap fruit is similar to blueberries in colour, but it is elongated and slightly cylindrical - more like a mini plum. The Haskap berry is known to have five times the amount of anti-oxidant found in a blueberry, making it an antioxidant superfood. It helps prevent heart disease, cancers, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and osteoporosis. It's also well suited to the North American climate.

Directions for use:

· 1 cup haskap berries, fresh or frozen
1/2 cup strawberries
1/2 cup raspberries
2 cups coconut milk
1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
1 tsp chia seeds
8 ice cubes

· In a blender, combine all the ingredients above (sweeten with honey to taste) and blend on high speed until smooth.

Comfrey

This plant is nature's answer to a band-aid. Comfrey's ability to help heal wounds comes from a compound called allantoin, which is believed to reduce inflammation and promote new cell growth.

Modern science seems to back up traditional beliefs. In one study, for example, a 35% comfrey cream applied topically to ankle sprains was very effective at treating tenderness, swelling, and pain even when compared with anti-inflammatory pharmaceutical creams.

Directions for use:

· In a blender, puree the comfrey leaves with enough water to make a thick paste.

· In a small heatproof bowl over a pot of boiling water (acting as a double boiler), melt the coconut oil and beeswax, stirring occasionally.

· Add the pureed comfrey and mix thoroughly. Transfer the mixture to a small glass jar with a tight fitting lid. Once the cream has cooled and solidified, apply it liberally to the affected area. The cream will keep in a cool, dry place for a year.

Capsicum

This hot pepper has the ability to block “substance P”, capsicum is also helpful for metabolism and weight loss.

If you already “like it hot,” you may have an advantage when it comes to keeping off the pounds. Research shows capsicum can help you lose weight in three ways: by increasing your metabolism (you can burn an extra 50 or more calories per day), improving your energy expenditure, and reducing your appetite.

Directions for use:

· Consume 10 grams of cayenne pepper with food daily to eat less

· Alternative to having in your food, you can make your own easy-to-swallow capsules at home.

· 1,000 milligrams empty gelatin capsules (purchase at your local health food store)

· Sun dry 30 peppers and place in a blender, cover with the lid, and pulverize to a fine powder.

· Take 5 capsules twice daily with food to enjoy a significantly reduced appetite and an increased metabolism

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