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| IRISH MOSS (Chondrus crispus). A widely used seaweed, Irish moss is a source of water-soluble fiber that reduces irritation in the intestines, reduces sensitivity to gastric acid and relaxes painful urinary spasms. Demulcent, emollient and nutritive, Irish moss can be combined with licorice, lemon, cinnamon or other flavors. To brew the decoction, soak 1 tablespoon moss in cold water for 15 minutes to soften, then simmer in 3 cups water for 10 to 15 minutes, covered, over low heat. Let stand another 5 minutes before straining. |
| JUNIPER BERRIES (Juniperus communis). These fragrant, pleasant-tasting berries, best known as an ingredient in gin, are diuretic, aromatic, stimulant, carminative, antiseptic and a tonic for the stomach. If you gather them yourself, collect the dark, older berries that have dried on the bush for best results. Juniper berries increase the appetite, aid digestion and, their major use, increase urination. Rudolf Weiss, the German physician, wrote that juniper irritates the kidneys and should never be taken for more than six weeks without interruption. The legendary Father Kneipp, a 19th-century German physician and priest, used 1 or 2 berries a day in tea on the first day of therapy, building up to 15 berries on the tenth day, then back down to 2 per day on the twentieth. "This really cleanses the kidneys," wrote Bernard Jensen in Nature Has a Remedy "and is good for the liver, blood cleansing, weak stomach, foul breath, gas, urethral infection, bladder stones and as a stimulant." Brew the tea as an infusion, combining juniper berries with other herbs as desired. The berries can also be chewed or added to food. |
| KUDZU or KUZU (Pueraria pseudohirsuta). Called pueraria or ko ken in Chinese medicine, the kudzu is best known in the U.S. as an obnoxious vine that now covers the South, where it was planted as an experimental cattle food. Whole kudzu root recently made headlines by reducing alcoholic cravings in laboratory animals. It is valuable as a digestive aid because of its antispasmodic, demulcent properties. It neutralizes stomach acid and helps relieve gastrointestinal |
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