Herb Highlight Cayenne Pepper Powder

Evening Greetings!

Today we highlight Cayenne Pepper Powder. We use it regularly in our No More Ouchy Salve!  It is also great to bring out the flavor of your food! Of course this wonder herb is available at Breathless beauty Organic, Vegan & Natural Market

 

Cayenne Pepper

 

Cayenne or capsicum, one of the most important herbs, is a wonderful healer. References to it have even been found on plaques in the Egyptian tombs. It is an herb many herbalists would choose if they could only have one herb. It is found in many combinations with other herbs because it acts as a catalyst.

  • Nutritional as well as medicinal.
  • Builds up the body’s resistance. High in vitamin C, good to take at the beginning of a cold.
  • One of the best general stimulants. Stimulation is the key to healing. When the body and its organs are properly stimulated, they will heal, cleanse and begin to function normally. If taken regularly it will reach every part of the body.
  • Improves entire circulatory system; feeds the cell structures of arteries, veins, and capillaries so they will regain elasticity.
  • Regulates the flow of blood so it influences the heart immediately – the frequency of the pulse is not increased but is given more power.
  • Normalizes blood pressure; used for both high and low blood pressure.
  • Taken internally for an injury to stop internal or external bleeding. The powder can be poured directly on an external wound to stop bleeding, fight infection and promote healing. It may feel warm but it will never cause a blister.
  • Used to treat shock or to keep someone from going into shock.
  • Used with lobelia for tetanus.
  • Used for a gargle for sore throats and pyorrhea.
  • The tincture is excellent for first-aid kits. It is an herb to keep on hand.

Has been used in the following:

  • Arthritis
  • Asthma
  • Bleeding
  • Appetite stimulant
  • Bronchitis
  • Catalyst
  • Chills
  • Circulation
  • Congestion
  • Convulsions
  • Colon
  • Colds
  • Elasticity in the veins, Heart
  • Hemorrhages
  • Energy
  • High blood pressure
  • Infection
  • Digestion
  • Low blood pressure
  • Nosebleeds
  • Senility
  • Tonsillitis

Rescheduled-Medicinal Herbs Workshop with Nathaniel Whitmore

 

MEDICINAL HERBS
FOR BOOSTING THE BODY’S NATURAL DEFENSES
&
WARDING OFF COLDS, FLU, AND FEVERS
With Nathaniel Whitmore

Come learn about selecting and preparing herbs for home-care treatment of colds, flu, fever, sinus congestion, coughs, and weakened immunity.

A full selection of herbs will be covered; including herbs found regionally in the wild and in gardens, herbs available at health food and herb stores, herbs of Chinese pharmacies, and a few of the little-known.

Learn how to select the proper herbs for particular conditions. Discussion will include differentiating types of cough and fevers and selecting the appropriate herbs; how to use herbs for infections; using herbs to clear mucus out of the body; and preventing illness with herbal tonics.

Common misconceptions revealed.

at: BREATHLESS BEAUTY in MILFORD, PA
In the Apple Valley Plaza on Route 6

on: SATURDAY, February 04th at 1:00 pm

Contact Nathaniel Whitmore at (845) 418-6257 or wathakes@gmail.com

or

Breathless Beauty at (570) 296-2849 or (347) 698-2068

Check out:
www.barefootplantwalks.weebly.com
for information on other classes, such as the weekly Ethnobotany Study Group

Spic, Span and SPOTLESS…….

Hi dear friends, today we would like to share with you just a few quick ,affordable and useful cleaning tips, using staples/ products you already have  in the cupboard. Hope you enjoy!

TO CLEAN YOUR MICROWAVE OVEN:

Microwave a cup of water with some baking soda in it until it’s boiling, This eliminates odors and makes it super easy to wipe away all that stuck on stuff.

HOME MADE  DEODORIZER:

The combination of Vinegar and water is a great deodorizer for a musty bathroom. Spray your shower down as you are getting out. It really absorbs the odors, and the smell of vinegar goes away in an hour.

RECYCLED OVEN CLEANER:

A wet pumice stone will clean a dirty oven faster than any spray -on product.

Have a great weekend everyone….

Men’s Monday: Our new weekly health segment with a focus on the male.

Welcome Dear friends to Men’s Monday ,this is the first of what will be a weekly blog highlight each and every Monday where we will be discussing and introducing healthy products, natural herbal alternatives, holistic living tips in addition to some really fun cooking and home improvement tips for those Granddads, Fathers,Husbands,Sons, Brothers, Uncles ,Boyfriends and Buddies in our lives. All of these wonderful and amazing products are exclusively available here at Breathless Beauty Organic, Natural, “N’ Vegan Market.

For todays Blog we will be discussing the following:

Prostate Herbal Blend Formula :

CLEANSE  - TONE  - REJUVENATE.

Is traditionally used for cleansing,healing,stregthening,rejuvenating and maintaining the male reproductive system,kindey and bladder. It helps restore the prostate and relieves common problems such as : inflamed,enlarged blocked or frequent urination problems.

It is an aid in bladder,kidney, and urinary tract conditions. It also helps to improve circulation,vitality and sexual stamina.

IT’S MAIN INGREDIENTS:  Corn silk, Gota Kola, Couch Grass, Queen of the meadow, Saw Palmetto Berries, Uva Ursi, Cinanamon and Cayenne Pepper.

HOW TO USE:

  • Submerge the pouch in one gallon of alkaline,distilled or spring water. Slow boil for 5 minutes. Simmer for 15 minutes. Turn flames off and allow to sit one hour. Remove the pouch and sweeten with honey, agave nectar and/or blackstrap molasses if desired. Bottle and refrigerate. Drink 1 to 2 cups daily. Sediments are natural. Consume Hot or as and Iced Tea.
Fasting Detox Herbal Tea Blend:

Eliminates toxins fast,safe and easy!! This traditional herbal formula will assist in detoxing, cleansing, nourishing and rebuilding your body, organs, colon, large and small intestines and blood. It also assists in breaking down and cleaning out years of toxic waste, fat and cellulite and aids in the curbing of appetite.

FASTING DETOX ALSO AIDS :

  • Digestive problems.
  • Acid reflux.
  • Constipation.
  • Bloating and Gas.
  • Excessive weight.
  • Stiff aching joints and muscles.
  • Prolonged Stress.
  • Skin eruptions and outbreaks.
  • Premature aging.

IT’S MAIN INGREDIENTS:  Red clover, Burdock Root, Pau D Arco, Sarsaparilla Root, Milk Thistle, Chickweed, Black Walnut, Alfalfa Leaves and Senna Leaves.

HOW TO USE:

  • Submerge the pouch in one gallon of alkaline,distilled or spring water. Slow boil for 5 minutes. Simmer for 15 minutes. Turn flames off and allow to sit one hour. Remove the pouch and sweeten with honey, agave nectar and/or blackstrap molasses if desired. Bottle and refrigerate. Drink 2 to 3 cups daily. Sediments are natural. Consume Hot or as and Iced Tea.

Cool and Affordable Healthy Food and Herb Combinations:

BROCCOLI: basil,dill,lemon verbana, majoram,oregano,rosemary,tarragon and thyme.

CABBAGE: basil,caraway,dill,fennel,marjoram,sage,savory and thyme.

EGGPLANT: basil,chervil,chives, lemon verbana, parsley, sage and savory.

CHIPOTLE-LIME FRUIT KABOBS: 

  • 1 Lime.
  • 1 tbsp of chipotle pepper,ground.
  • Several cups of assorted fruit pieces (banana,grapes,mango,melons,papaya,peach,pineapple,etc).
  • Wooden Skewers.
Combine the juice of 1 lime with chipotle powder in a dish. Slide the pieces of the fruit onto wooden skewers in personally pleasing creative patterns/arrangements. Over medium heat,baste the skewers with the chipotle-lime juice several times as you turn them periodically on the grill. The skewers should take about 12 to 15 minutes to reach a lovely level of charred crispness. Serve immediately. Makes about 5 skewers.

HANDY HOME IMPROVEMENT TIPS:

WINTERIZE YOUR WINDOW AIR CONDITION UNITS:

Installing panels of plexiglass around the surround of existing air condition units (without removing them) is a great and affordable way to seal out the winter weather and retain the heat of your home which also conserves on your energy and utility costs. Simply measure the required sizes, visit your local Hardware, Home Depot or Lowes to purchase the plexiglass and install to the existing openings with a bead of clear 100% silicone . This allows light to enter the respective rooms and can also be kept in place during the summer months.

For ever disease we know, The Almighty allows a plant to grow”..

Shea Butter Nature’s Best Kept Secret!

100 % SHEA BUTTER, AFRICA’S BEST KEPT NATURAL BEAUTY SECRET! Exclusively at Breathless Beauty Organic, Natural “N” Vegan Market:

Shea butter is the most nourishing,healing and anti-aging moisturizer available. It also prevents and then protects against stretch marks during and after pregnancy,after which its usefulness continues as a key baby-care product.

A member of the Sapotaceae family,native only to the savannah regions of the Sudan, these particular trees resist plantation-based cultivation. Instead these trees thrive in the ever-receding rain forests and jungles that stretch from Cameroon to Senegal, the Ivory Coast, Nigeria,Togo, Benin, Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso. This unusual tree grows only 10 to 15 meters high and does not even flower until it is 20 years old. In fact, shea trees only reach maximum productive capacity at the age of 50 years and then remain fully productive for more than a century.

The green, plum-shaped fruits of the shea tree, which become brown when they ripen,can achieve a diameter of about 4 cm.  The commodity /butter is extracted by boiling the kernel in water after first drying it in the sun.

Shea Butter’s amazing  skin-care and healing properties were first harnessed thousands of years ago where this precious commodity can be traced back to ancient Egypt. Local healers have also used Shea butter to relieve “inflammation of the nostrils”  and also ”nasal congestion”.

Common Uses:

  • Cremes.
  • Lotions.
  • Massage lotions.
  • Soaps.
  • Candles.
  • Effective solution for chapped/dry skin.
  • Effective treatment of eczema,acne,rashes and psoriasis.
  • Treatment of Skin Blemishes,wrinkles and itching.
  • Protects against and soothes Sunburn and Frost bite.
  • Soothing and accelerating healing after circumcision.
  • As an effective insect repellent.
  • Protection against Simulium infection.
  • Natural antiperspirant when used in combination with citrus juices such as lime.
  • Relief from rheumatism and muscle and joint pain.
  • The positive biochemical and physiological effect of shea butter on skin injuries makes this natural product ideal for wound healing.
  • As a versatile source of  lamp and heating oil and is also an important source of cholesterol -fighting cooking oil.

Shea acts as an antioxidant and exerts a positive effect by increasing the skin’s microcirculation of blood. The moisturizers in Shea Butter in concert with its natural Vitamin A,Vitamin E and allantoin content are the same ones produced by the sebaceous glands of the skin, since Shea butter mimics the effects of these naturally produced moisturizers that the skin itself produces,  and also acts as an anti -inflammatory agent and antioxidants.

The allantoin and phytosterols in shea are responsible for the promotion of cellular growth: the resinous esters help to heal the skin and wounds. Kariten, a blend of various derivatives with pro-vitamin properties,may also be a factor in healing and probably helps to nourish skin cells it is therfore no wonder that shea is such a superior moisturizer and protectant.

To put it succinctly: Shea Butter is one of the most versatile, safe and effective botanical extracts on the market today. Be sure to visit us at Breathless Beauty Natural, Organic, ‘N’ Vegan Market to sample and experience our very own hand-crafted  line of Shea Butter products.

” For every disease that we know, The Almighty allows a plant to grow”.

 

 

Herb Highlight! Black Walnut Powder!

Many Cool Sunny Greetings,

This morning we chose to highlight Black Walnut Powder as it is used in 2 soaps and 1 drawing salve that we create at Breathless Beauty!

To make this into a powder takes time and tons of patience trust me but it is well worth it in every way possible!

Our Soap Made with Black Walnut Powder

 

Black Walnut Short Description:

Black Walnut has anti-fungal, antiseptic, astringent, and antiviral properties, and has earned a great reputation as a vermifuge and anti-parasitical remedy, particularly for the intestinal tract. Traditionally, black walnut has been used to treat hemorrhoids, intestinal worms, parasites, fevers, wounds and bruises, and is effective on the malaria parasite and tapeworm.

Excerpts from Practical Herbalism

In recent times, black walnut earned a great reputation as a vermifuge and anti-parasitical remedy, particularly for those affecting the intestinal tract. As a rich source of organic iodine, black walnut (the hulls in particular) also gained much popularity as nourishment for the thyroid, especially in the interior parts of the country where sea vegetables were hard to come by.

Primary Constituents:

The active principle of the whole walnut tree, as well as of the nuts is nucin or juglone. The kernels contain oil, mucilage, albumin, mineral matter, cellulose, and water. Iodine is present in all usable parts of the black walnut, but the highest concentration is in the outer hulls of the nuts. Black walnut is also a significant source of potassium, magnesium, manganese, sulfur, copper, and silica. The nut meats are a rich source of essential fatty acids.

Indicated Usages – Internal:

  • Ballooned or relaxed colon
  • Constipation
  • Diarrhea
  • Parasites (intestinal worms)
  • Sore throat, tonsillitis
  • Warts

Indicated Usages – External:

  • Abscesses, boils
  • Acne
  • Conjunctivitis, eye disorders
  • Nosebleed
  • Leukorrhea, yeast infection, candida
  • Hemorrhoids
  • Eczema, psoriasis, shingles
  • Ringworm (tinea)
  • Sore throat, tonsillitis

Fresh Ground Black Walnut Powder

Pet Bites 2 WOOF & PURR 4

Greetings,

We have launched our next line of Organic Baked Pet Treats! Baked right here and delivered to you fresh!

PetBites

We treat ourselves to the best now let’s do the same for our canine and feline friends too!

Very affordable and tasty biscuits,cookies and cakes baked with all natural organic ingredients! Each treat will come in 1 pound batches and we can custom them to your pets likes and size!

Need some as a gift? We can do that and shipping will be offered free for a limited time!

Breathless Beauty will carry a few of these treats starting Saturday January 14th!

Please send us a message or stop by Breathless Beauty for some!

Sudsing off! Dmarie

Tuna Kat

Doggy Me Treats

Kitty Catty Cookies!

Herb Pick #2 Eucalyptus

Greetings All,

The herb choice of the week is Eucalyptus! Sit back relax and learn all about this fabulous herb!!!   Do not forget to try out the awesome recipe too!

 

Eucalyptus is native to Australia, but today can be found growing in subtropical regions worldwide. One of the first recorded medicinal uses of Eucalyptus was by the Australian aborigines, who not only extracted valuable water from its roots, but used its leaves to relieve fevers. It has been reported that early Australian developers were able to successfully treat and cure fever using Eucalyptus leaves.

Eucalyptus is sold as both a supplement and is an ingredient in over-the-counter products. Eucalyptus supplements have been promoted for cough/bronchitis and rheumatism. Eucalyptus as an ingredient in over-the-counter drugs is used for temporary relief of minor aches and pains of muscles and for temporary relief of nasal congestion and coughs associated with a cold.

The medicinal properties of Eucalyptus reside in its oil, which is extracted from the fresh leaves and branch tips, as well as dried leaves. Eucalyptus leaf (Eucalypti folium) is an approved remedy of the German Government’s Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (Commission E) for catarrhs of the respiratory tract. Eucalyptus oil (Eucalypti aetheroleum) is approved for internal and external catarrhs of the respiratory tract and externally for rheumatic complaints. Approval by Commission E should not be considered the equivalent of FDA approval. The FDA has a much higher standard and requires the establishment of absolute certainty of safety and efficacy of any product intended to diagnose, cure, mitigate, treat, or prevent disease and demands that such products be classified as a drug.

Health Benefits of Eucalyptus

Eucalyptus supplements are derived from the fresh leaves and branch tips as well as the dried leaves of the tree known as Eucalyptus Globulus, Eucalyptus fructicetorum, and Eucalyptus smithii. The primary active constituent in eucalyptus leaves is the volatile oil euclyptol. For eucalyptus to provide an effective expectorant and antiseptic action, the volatile oil should contain at least 70 eucalyptol. Eucalyptus oil has been compared to menthol because it acts on receptors in the nasal mucosa, which help to alleviate nasal congestion.

Cautions and Side Effects

Eucalyptus supplementation is inadvisable for children, adolescents, older or chronically ill people, pregnant women or women who are breastfeeding, and anyone with low blood pressure, kidney problems, stomach problems, intestinal or biliary inflammation, or liver disorders. Insulin-dependent diabetics should carefully monitor blood sugar since eucalyptus may affect blood sugar levels.

Eucalyptus may affect the metabolism and clearance of drugs like phenobarbital, aminopyrine, and amphetamine by the liver. Anyone taking such medication should avoid the use of eucalyptus.

Precautions and Side Effects

Unlike pharmaceutical companies, the manufacturers of herbs and supplements do not have the same mechanism for reporting adverse effects associated with the use of their products. Therefore data on adverse effects is limited. Life-threatening poisonings have been reported from overdoses of eucalyptus oil. Initial symptoms of toxicity are epigastric pain and vomiting, followed by central nervous system depression, and coma. Other potential adverse effects include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Only a few drops of Eucalyptus oil are enough to cause life-threatening poisoning in some children. Adults have been poisoned with only 4 to 5 milliliters. Symptoms of overdose include a drop in blood pressure, circulation problems, collapse, and asphyxiation. In the event of overdose, you should seek emergency medical treatment immediately.

Supporting Literature

Brinker F. Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions. 2nd ed. Sandy, Ore: Eclectic Medical; 1998:69-70.
Castleman M. The Healing Herbs. Emmaus, PA: Rodale Press, 1991, 162-163.
Kumar A, et al. Antibacterial properties of some Eucalyptus oils. Fitoterapia. 1988;59:141-144.
McGuffin M, Hobbs C, Upton R, Goldberg A. American Herbal Products Association’s Botanical Safety Handbook. Boca Raton, Fla: CRC Press; 1996.
Wren RC. Potter’s New Cyclopedia of Botanical Drugs and Preparations. Essex, England: C.W. Daniel Co., 1988, 110-111.

 

Eucalyptus Aromatherapy Bath Oil Recipe

Ingredients

eucalyptus aromatherapy bath oil15 drops Eucalyptus essential oil

10 drops Peppermint essential oil

10 drops Sweet Orange essential oil

5 drops Rosemary essential oil

5 drops Tea Tree OR Spruce essential oil

4fl oz (125ml) carrier oil of your choice, such as jojobaolive oil or apricot kernel oil

 

Directions

Combine all the ingredients in a dark glass or PET plastic bottle. Store it in a cool, dark place (not your bathroom cabinet – it’s too warm and humid.)
To use your aromatherapy bath oil, pour about a tablespoon into the bath after you’ve finished running the water. Click here for tips on how to take a perfect aromatherapy bath.
In addition to using this aromatherapy bath recipe as a bath oil, you can also rub it into your chest and back to help reduce coughing and congestion. Another good idea is to rub it into your feetbefore you get sick to strengthen your immune system.

 

Sudsing Away,

Dawn Marie

Medicinal Herbs Workshop At Breathless Beauty

MEDICINAL HERBS

FOR BOOSTING THE BODY’S NATURAL DEFENSES

&

WARDING OFF COLDS, FLU, AND FEVERS

With Nathaniel Whitmore

Come learn about selecting and preparing herbs for home-care treatment of colds, flu, fever, sinus congestion, coughs, and weakened immunity.

A full selection of herbs will be covered;  including herbs found regionally in the wild and in gardens, herbs available at health food and herb stores, herbs of Chinese pharmacies, and a few of the little-known.

Learn how to select the proper herbs for particular conditions.  Discussion will include differentiating types of cough and fevers and selecting the appropriate herbs; how to use herbs for infections; using herbs to clear mucus out of the body; and preventing illness with herbal tonics.

Common misconceptions revealed.

at: BREATHLESS BEAUTY in MILFORD, PA

In the Apple Valley Plaza on Route 6

108 Route 6 Building 2, Milford PA 18337

on:  SATURDAY, JANUARY 21st at 1:00 pm

Contact Nathaniel Whitmore at (845) 418-6257 or wathakes@gmail.com

or

Breathless Beauty at (570) 296-2849 or (347) 698-2068

Check out:

www.barefootplantwalks.weebly.com

for information on other classes, such as the weekly Ethnobotany Study Group

Herb Highlight- ROSEMARY

2012 Greetings!!!

We have sucessfully made it to a new year, a new day and a new time! What a better way to start this day than to choose an Herb to discuss!!!

There are so many herbs we can use but that would take up a lot of writing and time to explain them all! So each week we will choose one herb to highlight!

This week we chose Rosemary!!!

Rosemary can help us in so many ways, and is easy to obtain from your local herb shoppe or even your local supermarket! When buying any herb always choose organic and try to support local herb farms!!! There are so many very small herbal gardeners that you can get some from! I  get many of my herbs from Pittsburgh PA a very sustainable local farm called Healcrest Urban Farm and we also use Mountian Rose Herbs for many of our herbs that we carry at Breathless Beauty! Or better yet Grow your own!!!

 

Rosemary

Overview:

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) is widely used as a spice when cooking, especially in Mediterranean dishes. It is also used for its fragrance in soaps and other cosmetics. Traditionally, rosemary has been used medicinally to improve memory, relieve muscle pain and spasm, stimulate hair growth, and support the circulatory and nervous systems. It is also believed to increase menstrual flow, act as an abortifacient (causing miscarriage), increase urine flow, and treat indigestion. Almost none of these uses have been studied scientifically in humans. However, one study in humans found that long term daily intake of rosemary prevents thrombosis.

In the lab, rosemary has been shown to have antioxidant properties. Antioxidants can neutralize harmful particles in the body known as free radicals, which damage cell membranes, tamper with DNA, and even cause cell death. Also in the lab, rosemary oil appears to have antimicrobial properties (killing some bacteria and fungi in test tubes). It isn’t known whether rosemary would have the same effect in humans.

Indigestion

Rosemary leaf is used in Europe for indigestion (dyspepsia) and is approved by the German Commission E, which examines the safety and efficacy of herbs.

Muscle and Joint Pain

Applied topically (to the skin), rosemary oil is sometimes used to treat muscle pain and arthritis and to improve circulation. It is approved by the German Commission E for this purpose. However, there is no scientific evidence that it works.

Alopecia

Historically, rosemary has been used to stimulate hair growth. Rosemary was used in one study of 84 people with alopecia areata (a disease in which hair falls out, generally in patches). Those who massaged their scalps with rosemary and other essential oils (including lavender, thyme, and cedarwood) every day for 7 months experienced significant hair regrowth compared to those who massaged their scalps without the essential oils. But the study was not well designed, and it is impossible to say whether rosemary caused the hair growth.

Neutralize Foodborne Pathogens

Several studies show that rosemary inhibits foodborne pathogens like Listeria monocytogenes, B. cereus, and S. aureus.

Improve Memory or Concentration

Rosemary is often used in aromatherapy to increase concentration and memory, and to relieve stress. One study suggests that rosemary, combined with other pleasant smelling oils, may lower cortisol levels and help reduce anxiety. Another study found that the use of lavender and rosemary essential oil sachets reduced test taking stress in graduate nursing students.

Plant Description:

Native to the Mediterranean area, rosemary now grows widely in other parts of the world. It thrives in a warm and sunny climate. The plant takes its name from rosmarinus, a Latin term meaning “sea dew.” It is an upright evergreen shrub that can grow to a height of 6 and a half feet. The woody rootstock bears rigid branches with fissured bark. The long, needle-like leaves are dark green on top and pale beneath. Both the fresh and dried leaves are aromatic. The small flowers are pale blue. The leaves and parts of the flowers contain volatile oil.

What’s It Made Of?:

The leaves and twigs of the rosemary plant are used for culinary and medicinal purposes.

Available Forms:

  • Dried whole herb
  • Dried, powdered extract (in capsules)
  • Preparations made from fresh or dried leaves, such as alcohol tinctures, teas, and liquid extract
  • Volatile oil (to be used externally, not orally)

How to Take It:

Pediatric

Because rosemary has not been studied in children, it is not recommended for medicinal use in those under age 18. It is safe to eat as a spice in food, however.

Adult

Rosemary can be used as a tea made from the dry herb, a tincture, fluid extract, decoction for a bath, or as an essential oil mixed with other oils for topical use. Speak to your health care provider to find the right dose for your condition. Total daily intake should not exceed 4 – 6 grams of the dried herb. Do not take rosemary oil orally.

Precautions:

The use of herbs is a time honored approach to strengthening the body and treating disease. Herbs, however, can trigger side effects and interact with other herbs, supplements, or medications. For these reasons, you should take herbs with care, under the supervision of a health care provider.

Rosemary is generally considered safe when taken in recommended doses. However, there have been occasional reports of allergic reactions. Large quantities of rosemary leaves, because of their volatile oil content, can cause serious side effects, including vomiting, spasms, coma and, in some cases, pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs).

Because higher doses of rosemary may cause miscarriage, pregnant and nursing women should not take rosemary as a supplement. It is safe to eat as a spice in food, however.

People with high blood pressure, ulcers, Crohn’s disease, or ulcerative colitis should not take rosemary.

Rosemary oil can be toxic if ingested and should never be taken orally.

Possible Interactions:

Antiplatelet and anticoagulant drugs (blood thinners) – Rosemary may affect the blood’s ability to clot. It could interfere with any blood thinning drugs you are taking, including:

  • Warfarin (Coumadin)
  • Clopidogrel (Plavix)
  • Aspirin

ACE inhibitors – Rosemary may interfere with the action of ACE inhibitors taken for high blood pressure.

  • Captpril (Capoten)
  • Elaropril (Vasotec)
  • Lisinopril (Zestril)
  • Fosinopril (Monopril)

Diuretics (water pills) – Because rosemary can act as a diuretic, it can increase the effects of these drugs. That can raise your risk of dehydration.

  • Furosemide (Lasix)
  • Hydrocholorothiazide

Lithium – Because of its diuretic effects, rosemary might cause the body to lose too much water and the amount of lithium in the body to build up to toxic levels.

Diabetes – Rosemary may alter blood sugar levels and could interfere with any drugs taken to control diabetes.

Alternative Names:

Rosmarinus officinalis

Read more: http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/rosemary-000271.htm#ixzz1iE1ursBs

Sudsing Off

Dmarie

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