10 HEALTH CURES FROM YOUR OWN GARDEN!

Feeling ill does not always have to result in a costly trip to the pharmacist. Much of what you need to treat common ailments and boost resistance to illness is free and growing in your back yard. Listed below you will find ten natural cures as set out by registered herbal medicine practitioner Dr Ann Walker, also a senior lecturer in human nutrition at Reading University.

1. APPLES are beneficial to asthmatics because they help improve lung function. Research shows they may help reduce the risk of heart disease, cancer and strokes. Apples are also rich in pectins, which have been shown to lower cholesterol levels.

2. PARSLEY is good if you are breast feeding because it increases the supply of milk. It promotes healthy skin, wards off fatigue and is a diuretic - so helps to get rid of surplus body fluid.

3. MARIGOLD can help soothe sunburn. Dr Walker advises boiling leaves and soaking for then minutes. Then dampen a white kitchen paper towel in the tea and apply to skin when cool. Wrap the towel around affected area and cover in cling film.

4. DANDELION root cleanses the system and stimulates liver function. The leaves are an efficient diuretic. Add hot water and stew for 10 to 20 minutes to make a tea. Add honey or sugar to taste.

5. ONIONS can be made into a syrup which can help children with a chesty cough. Cut an onion horizontally and put it into a jar. Add layers of sugar and the syrup will come out.

6. CARROTS boost the immune system. They contain two types of carotene which may help prevent ultraviolet light damaging the lens of the eye and reduce the risk of cataracts. Studies show people who eat carrots regularly also have a lower risk of cancers of the lungs, stomach and bladder.

7. ARTICHOKES and MINT are fantastic for indigestion. Artichokes also help keep the liver healthy. They are a good source of fibre, vitamin C, folic acid, and potassium. They are low in sodium and fat free. Artichokes also act as an aphrodisiac, diuretic and breath freshener.

8. STINGING NETTLES reduce hay fever symptoms. They are also rich in iron and potassium and help relieve eczema. They can be used to make a winter tea which enhances your appetite when you have been feeling low. Wearing gloves, chop off the tops and put a handful in boiling water. Leave for ten to twenty minutes and drink the tea as it cools.

9. LEMON BALM helps "lift the spirits," says Dr Walker. The Arabs were the first to use it for anxiety and depression and it has been used as a sedative or tonic tea ever since. Cover the tea when it is brewing to prevent losing the essential oils. Rosemary is another good stress reducer.

10. SAGE is a must if you are experiencing the menopause as it helps stop hot flushes. It can also be used as a mouthwash and as a gargle for sore throats, inflamed gums and mouth ulcers. Put the fresh leaves in boiling water to make tea but ensure the cup you use is covered so that none of the essential oils are lost.
    
    
    FOR MORE INFORMATION, contact the National Institute for Medical Herbalists on
    01392 426 022 or visit www.herbalinfo.org.uk
    
    
                                                   30/06/01