DID YOU KNOW MEDICINAL HERBS HAVE BEEN USED FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS?

        Long before there were pharmaceuticals and drug store remedies, herbs provided the medicines for the people in all continents. Many plants, trees, shrubs, grasses and lichen have been used for years as sources of food, medicines, housing, air, clothing, sleeping mats, spiritual insights, and rituals. Before our early human relatives learned about fire, their existence as gatherers depended solely on plant life, and so they fashioned a very close alliance with the green biomass of wherever they were on the earth.

        Although the practice of using herbs has been changed over time, and the fashion in which they were used was dependent on geography, the actual use of the same plant for medicinal purposes has proven to remain the same across cultures. The World Health Organization estimated that over 80% of the world’s population still uses herbal medicine as the principal system of healing practices.

The native people on all continents had to use the indigenous herbs found near where

they lived. Since plant medicine has been utilized so successfully for thousands of years, the knowledge in the use for the plants, how to plant and harvest the herbs, and the preparation of the herbal remedies was passed down through oral tradition. Herbal apprenticeships happened when a child was determined to have a special relationship with the plant world. Then they participated in a rigorous training for many years as an herbal apprentice to a shaman or the community herbal healer. Today there are schools and certification programs to train the modern herbalist, and many new ways to prepare herbal tinctures and capsules.

        Modern science has begun to validate through laboratory testing what our indigenous ancestors knew through intuition and trails. Since herbs were inexpensive, readily available, effective and natural, they have persisted throughout the ages and still offer good medical cures for many ailments and are used for the same treatments that were predicated by thousands of years of “on the job” testing. Depending upon the herb and the ailment, different treatment modalities are used. Herbs can be eaten, cooked, turned into tinctures, made into tea, used as a spice, put into a poultice, encapsulated, made into an ointment, used as a cosmetic, and so on.

        Here are some common herbs and their unusual uses for treating a multitude of ailments. There are formulae for the dosages and the treatment modalities that can be found in the compendium of herbal medicine literature, given to you from an herbalist, or obtained from reputable resources online. The herbs listed here are a mere sampling of the healthy living options that can be developed through the use of medicinal herbs, and they have been selected because their medicinal qualities have been proven effective through biomedical laboratory testing.

1. Hawthorn – The leaves, flowers, and haws are used as a cardiac and circulatory elixir; treats heart weakness caused by kidney disease, thickening tissue and irregular heartbeat; dilates the heart’s blood vessels; and controls both high and low blood pressure.
   

    

2. Turmeric- The root is used for a spice; stimulates blood circulation; treatment for cobra venom; strengthens the gall bladder; inhibits blood clotting; reduces liver toxins; helps to metabolize fat; and has an anti-inflammatory action.
   

1. Watercress – The aquatic herb uses the leaves as a diuretic; blood cleanser; anemia; prevents scurvy; expectorant for tuberculosis; skin cleanser; and the juice dissolve nicotine.
   

    

2. Catnip – The root and leaves are used for treating colds; relieving the pain for teething babies; reducing fevers; calming upset stomachs; soothing headaches; treating scalp irritations; and soothing babies with colic.
   

    

3. Garlic – The cloves are used to purify blood; reduce blood pressure; helps control acne; reduces cholesterol; reduces blood clotting; has an antibody effect against candida, cholera, staphylococcus, salmonella, dysentery and typhus; clears phlegm; treats colds and bronchitis; treats whooping cough; treats tuberculosis; treats lead poisoning; treats some types of carcinomas and diabetes.
   

    

4. Rosemary – The leaves are used as an antiseptic; antioxidant; aids digestion of fat; eye wash; hair conditioning and dandruff treatment; stimulates circulation and the central nervous system; eases joint pain; antibacterial; and antifungal.
   

    

5. Chamomile – The flowers are used for antioxidants; soothing nervous stress; treatment for insomnia; digestive aid; treatment for ulcerated or inflamed bowels; oils prevent allergic seizures; inhibit inflammation; antibacterial; treatment for ulcers; antifungal; and poultices treat herpes, eczema, and irradiated skin.
   

    

Tibbatu – The leaves, stems and fruit are used as an aphrodisiac; astringent; treatment for ringworm; skin irritations; the root treats colic, coughs, and asthma; the berries lower blood pressure and treat menstrual pain; anti-rheumatic; diuretic; liver tonic; and compress is used to reduce cellulite.

DID YOU KNOW YOU NEED RECEIPTS FOR TAX DONATIONS?

    The beginning of a new year means getting your files ready for a new tax season. It’s time to get your previous year’s files ready for the tax accountant, or for yourself if you do your own taxes. There are many ways to maximize your tax refund that should be discussed with your accountant, but one path everyone should use is to donate goods and money to non-profit organizations and funds. This is a winning approach for all because through giving to worthwhile causes, you will enjoy a tax break. Not all donations are tax deductible, however, and you must follow a few rules to make the deductions legitimate with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Here are some helpful guidelines for making tax deductible charitable donations.

1. Observe the Deadline: All individuals and businesses must have made their charitable contributions by the deadline of December 31^st on the year for which they are claiming the deduction.

    

2. Obtain Receipts: Whether the donation is given to a church on a weekly basis or to canvassers for a local charity, the person claiming the deduction must be able to show a receipt for the amount given. Receipts can be obtained from the charitable organization, or be documented by a cancelled check, bank statement, deduction statement on a paycheck, or by a dated letter from the charity stating the amount given.

    

3. Use A Qualified Appraiser: Some donors give cars, houses, boats, household goods, or clothing to charities. You will need a receipt from the charity with the stated assessed value, or you can use a professional appraiser’s receipt for tax purposes. All tangible goods donated must be in “good used condition or better” per the IRS guidelines.

    

4. Donate to Known Charities: This may sound like an obvious statement, but many people assume their donations are going to non-profit organizations when they aren’t. Be sure to check the tax status of the organization online to see if the charity is actually non-profit before you make the donation, or contact the IRS online for a list of acceptable charities at IRS.gov.

    

5. Value Based on Resale: If you donate goods or clothing to a charitable organization, you will only receive the tax donation benefit for the amount at which the item sold. For example, you may donate your $3,000 satin Armani gown to a charity thrift store, but if the gown only sells for $50.00, then the sales price is your charitable deduction, not the purchase price.

    

6. Form 1098-C: If you are claiming a very large donation as a tax deduction, then you will be required to fill out and submit a Form 1098-C which is available online from the IRS. Be sure to check with your accountant or the IRS for the necessary documentation and guidelines prior to filling out this form.