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Page 71
| ginseng (p.37) to help the body cope more effectively with stress. |
| Tired Eyes |
| Too much reading, staring too long at the computer screen, or too much time in a smoky or polluted atmospherewhatever the cause, tired, strained eyes are commonplace. They can be relieved by applying slices of cucumber or soaked fennel or chamomile bags over the closed eyes as you lie down and relax for ten minutes. Drink the chamomile tea before using the tea bag in this way to further encourage relaxation! |
| Flatulence |
| Gas is usually more of an embarrassment than an indicator of serious health problems. Diet is often the problem. Some foods are essentially very "windy"; old herbals usually stress this point about beans and the cabbage family, and traditional recipes usually add carminative herbs to these foods to reduce the problem. Adding fennel, rosemary, or sage to the cooking pot not only improves the flavor but also introduces herbs that stimulate and soothe the digestive system, thus reducing the risk of gas and indigestion. Similarly, cutting down on dairy, wheat, alcohol, and sugary foods can be beneficial. |
| Drinking a carminative tea such as chamomile, peppermint, fennel, or lemon balm (1 teaspoon to 1 cup of water) after meals is also helpful. A cup of sage tea, made in the same way, taken three times a day before meals will help to tonify a weak digestion and improve function. (See also Indigestion, p 76.) |
| Fractures |
| Broken bones need professional treatment, although in the past, that treatment would have relied heavily on herbs. After any accident where movement of a limb is impaired or where there is severe bruising and pain, an X ray is essential to identify cracks and fractures. Immobilize affected bones as much as possible, and head for the emergency room. |
| For minor cracks or breaks in toes or ribs, orthodox medicine |
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