Herb: A plant or a part of a plant that is used as medicine or to give flavor to food.
~ Merriam Webster Several human and animal stud-
ies have shown that curcumin can be an effective treatment for Alzheimer’s disease, both in prevention and to slow or even stop its progress. One Austra- lian study showed that curcumin helps rid the body of heavy metals that may be an underlying cause of the mem- ory-robbing disease. Scientists at the University of California, Los Angeles, found that curcumin helped dissolve the plaques and tangles of brain mate- rial characteristic to Alzheimer’s. Curcumin is also known to be
effective in lessening depression and preventing heart disease, some types of cancer and diabetes, says McBarron. Ginger (Zingiber officinale): Primarily used for its considerable anti- inflammatory properties, ginger makes a delicious and healing tea and an enticing spice in a variety of dishes. This herbal powerhouse has at least 477 active ingre- dients, according to Beyond Aspirin, by Thomas M. Newmark and Paul Schulick. Considerable research confirms
ginger’s effectiveness against a vari- ety of digestive problems, including nausea from both morning sickness and chemotherapy. Research from Florida’s University of Miami also confirms its usefulness in reducing knee pain. “Ginger is a good-tasting herb
to treat any type of bacterial, fungal or viral infection,” says Linda Mix, a retired registered nurse in Rogersville, Tennesse, and author of Herbs for Life! The health benefits of these four vital herbs are easily accessed by grow- ing them in a home garden or pot or via extracted supplements.
Kathleen Barnes is the author of Rx from the Garden: 101 Food Cures You Can Easily Grow. Connect at
KathleenBarnes.com.
Note: For referenced studies, check the National Center for Biotechnology Information.
natural awakenings May 2014 53
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