Gotu Kola is a low-growing vine-like plant native to India, Sri Lanka, Japan, and parts of Northern Australia. This nondescript little plant grows lovely and tasty leaves that are a favorite food of the elephant and, more recently, us humans. In fact, some people believe that is was from watching elephants, notoriously long-lived creatures, that humans first began to draw a parallel from the elephant’s diet and the long-life powers contained in the Gotu Kola plant. And so, tipping a hat toward the gentle elephants, humans began to eat Gotu Kola and have been reaping the benefits ever since. In Ayurvedic and Chinese traditions alike, Gotu Kola is used for the purposes of prolonging life and youthful vitality as well as a way to improve memory and an overall sense of mental clarity – and let’s not forget the gotu kola cellulite connection in the treatment of weight loss. In fact, yogis have been using the herb for centuries as a way to improve concentration during meditation.

There are several different natural prescriptions for taking Gotu Kola: jaundice, rheumatism, skin disorders, and varicose veins, just to name a few. And, because it has become increasingly popular in the Western world, there are several different gotu kola capsules, tonics, and other forms of herbal supplements available. These products are just fine to experience the health benefits of Gotu Kola and are a great way to track precise amounts and dosages. However, there is an easier and simpler way to experience this wonder plant: salad. That’s right, just add the leaves to your next salad, toss it with your favorite dressing, and, voila, longevity and mental clarity in a bowl—elephant style!

The majority of the English-speaking world is missing out on this powerful medicine! Black cumin, from the plant Nigella sativa, is just starting to make the rounds in the Western world, but this potent healer has been well-known and respected as an all-around remedy in African and Islamic countries for millenia. Nigella sativa is native to southeast Asia, and it’s also known as karayal, kalonji, fennel flower, nutmeg flower, Roman coriander, blackseed, black caraway, or black onion seed, along with its many names in dialects and tongues. It’s also often confused with another plant, Bunium persicum, which is also called by the name “black cumin” but which has a completely different flavor. The black cumin health benefits abound.

The Nigella sativa plant is humble in appearance – it looks like a small shrub, attaining about a foot’s height and equipping itself with dark, spindly leaves. Eventually the black cumin plant grows a small pale flower. In its native climate, the Nigella sativa plant flowers late in the fall and the seeds – that is, the source of the plant’s healing powers – are available after that, in the early winter.

Black cumin has a rich history – you can tell that just by examining its variety of names. If something has many names in many languages, it most likely has been found to be valuable in those cultures; for example, in Finnish, the plant is called Rohtoneidonkukka, meaning “balm maiden’s flower,” a clear reference to its use as a medicinal plant. It has reportedly been said that black cumin seeds were found among the remedies in King Tutankhamen’s tomb. As an impressive testament to its healing power, the prophet Muhammed said that black cumin can cure every ailment “except death”! Similarly, Avicenna (Ibn Sina), the great ancient polymath and philosopher, regarded the seed highly as a substance that stimulates the body’s energy and helps it recover from a variety of ailments. Traditionally, the seeds of the Nigella sativa plant have been administered to treat respiratory ailments (asthma, bronchitis) and inflammatory diseases (like arthritis). It has also been prescribed as a digestive aid and found to be helpful infighting parasitic infections. Oil extracted from the plant is useful as a topical ointment against boils and skin infections. The health benefits of blackseed are remarkable.

Modern medicine, too, is taking note: the plant contains nigellone, which has been found to protect guinea pigs from bronchial spasms; this could lead to more research to determine the plant’s use in treating asthma and allergies on a long-term basis. It also contains beta-sitosterol, which helps reduce levels of cholesterol in the blood and can be effective against tumors and cancers. Both of these medical benefits are very real, and lend credibility to the black cumin plant’s widespread use as a health aid.

To use black cumin, you can either get a hold of the fresh plant or the extract. It is always best to use fresh plants, preferably grown by an herbalist you know and trust; however, it’s not always available. The plant’s healing properties come through in the oil form as well. The oil can be used in many ways as a nutritional supplement by dropping 3-5 drops into tea or juice and consuming. It’s also good for colds; start by rubbing a small amount of the oil on the chest. For best anti-cold results, combine the oil treatment with an increased consumption of raw onions and garlic. Consider growing some of this fantastic little plant in your own herb garden – considering its potency and variety of use, you’ll be glad you did.

Normally when someone says ginger, I think about that chewy candy I can’t get enough of or my favorite way to spice up a stir-fry. But recently, I’ve learned about unique Thai massage therapy techniques that use ginger, specifically cassumunar ginger, to relieve deep-seated muscle and joint tension Ginger health benefits are far and wide.

This remedy, from the Zingiber family, is a part of Thailand’s natural healing arts and has been used effectively for centuries to treat everyday aches and pains and more serious arthritic conditions. During a massage session, a hot cassumunar ginger compress is applied to the area where the pain is manifesting in the body or on an acupressure point along meridians that have an effect on pain proprioception and energy flow within the body. Legend has it that this technique was used to treat soldiers during the epic Thai-Burmese battles some 200 years ago.

Cassumunar ginger compress massage is markedly different than most compress massages simply because the compress is heated. Typically, as massage goes, cold compresses reduce swelling on affected tissues and are the prescribed method to reduce pain and tension. But for this method, the idea is exactly the opposite, as the heat works to open blood and energy flows to the area. When hot compresses are applied to stiff joints and ligaments before massaging, flexibility increases dramatically. This flexibility can be manipulated by a skilled massaged therapist to create a much greater release of tension.

Cassumunar ginger shares the same gingerol compounds as ordinary ginger which are very powerful anti-inflammatory agents. Many people take ginger orally as a part of a natural prescription for joint pain and arthritis. In the Thai remedy, the topical application of cassumunar ginger has similar effects because the heat activates those very powerful gingerols that work from the surface and radiate down into the tissue.

As the heat rises on these warm August days, so too do our hemlines. It’s only natural that instead of rushing headlong into the perpetual freon-enriched white-noise hum of air conditioning, we adapt by digging those Daisy Dukes out of the bottom drawer and – gulp – getting outside. The only problem is that some of us are really self-conscious about that ornery dimpling of subcutaneous fat that peppers our hips, stomachs, and thighs — also known as cellulite. Well, in lieu of heading to the spa for overpriced and ineffectual treatments, head to your local health food store and secure some invigorating and aromatic juniper oil to reduce cellulite.

Juniper berry oil has depurative, diuretic, and tonic properties that are both cleansing and invigorating to the lymphatic and circulatory systems. When massaged into the skin, the oil stimulates blood flow which, in turn, cleanses and flushes those near-skin fat stores that are responsible for cellulite. The tonic properties in Juniper can even help restore muscle tone and skin elasticity. Juniper oil has been revered for its health properties since ancient times, and to its ancient users, was most notably effective for treating cystitis and other kidney and bladder ailments—that’s some serious cleansing power.

To treat your cellulite naturally, you’ll want to develop a routine and possibly explore creating your own herbal remedies. Treat the affected area multiple times daily by massaging the juniper oil into the skin in a circular pattern and drinking plenty of water to help the body rid itself of toxins. It’s very easy to order some natural massage oils on the net.

Tip: When massaging the affected area, try reversing the direction of the circles. Begin counter-clockwise and end with clockwise strokes, as this helps encourage a total flushing of the tissue.

For many of us, another season of summer fun and sun can be pretty hard on the skin: heat rash, bug bites, sunburns, and various scrapes and bruises. One trip to the drug store promises relief in 1000+ varieties of creams and ointments with an ingredient list so long and complex a pocket dictionary is necessary just for translation. Well, if you’re looking for some topical relief without all of the synthetic chemical strings attached, look no further than a fabulous little flower called calendula.

This vibrant yellow flower is in the daisy family and looks a lot like your average marigold. In fact, its common name is “pot marigold”, but distinct botanical properties set calendula apart from true marigolds. It is native to the Mediterranean, but it is a versatile and hardy plant that is easy to grow with a little love and care in your backyard garden. Calendula has been used to treat to treat topical skin irritations for hundreds of years; these conditions include the following:

• Eczema
• Dermatitis
• Bruises and abrasions
• Burns
• Poison oak and ivy
• Conjunctivitis

When used to treat skin irritations, calendula is applied to the affected area in the form of salves, creams, lotions, tinctures, and poultices. Lab studies have shown that calendula has antimicrobial properties, so it’s no surprise that it is a common ingredient in natural acne treatments and cosmetics. A very small portion of the population may have adverse reactions to calendula—a small rash or reddening of the skin—but those instances are very rare. To play it safe, always conduct a skin test on a small part of your forearm before you apply calendula to the irritated area—you don’t want to add another level of discomfort to your sunburned cheeks!

The mysterious red seed in the spiny, hedgehog-looking pod certainly seems strange looking and maybe even downright dangerous, but it’s actually quite a traditional part of both Mexican cuisine and Caribbean folklore and herbal medicine. Achiote, otherwise known by its Aztec name of achiotl, comes from the Annatto tree (Bixa orellana), and is known for the brilliant saffron color its seeds exhibit after the pods split open to reveal their tiny inhabitants. Indeed, achiote is often used to dye foods like rice, and sometimes used as a substitute when saffron itself is too expensive. It’s also a very common natural source of food dye in the USA, where it is more commonly known as annatto. But did you know that achiote has a powerful legacy of healing and antioxidant effects?

Traditionally, the achiote seed has been involved in everything from decorative painting to food-preparation to ritualistic evil-banishing ceremonies. Most of the time the achiote seed has been incorporated because of its highly pigmented red color – no wonder the mother plant is sometimes called the “lipstick tree”! This concentrated red hue can be extracted by boiling the seeds that emerge from inside the seedpod when it bursts open. The intense vermilion hue comes from the high concentration of bixin that the annatto seed contains. The little known fact is, though, that bixin is also an effective antioxidant – in studies done on small mammals, it has proven to heighten “cell-mediated and humoral immune response”. Bixin is similar to beta carotene, but bixin is generally seen as the more stable of the two compounds.

The leaves of the achiote plant are also powerful; applied directly, they have anti-inflammatory effects and so they’re often incorporated into injury treatment as well as prescribed for fever and disorders of the digestive system that involve disrupted blood flow. Some say achiote has mild laxative properties as well. The consensus about achiote is that it is effective in drawing out toxins; for this reason, it’s also been traditionally used to treat snakebite.

Most of us don’t have an achiote tree in our backyards. The species itself is tropical, finding its home in the Amazon rainforest and in surrounding areas. However, it’s still possible to obtain achiote in many forms – many groceries that cater to Latin American foods carry this fantastic herb which can easily be used to add both spectacular color and antioxidant benefits to whatever dish you’re cooking! Next time you’re in the market, have a look – incorporating achiote into your diet can be a fantastic idea. The ancient Aztec civilization was on to something when they brought this little seed into their daily rituals.

Have you ever heard of ho shou wu? I first looked up this fascinating herb after a friend recommended it as a way to combat against stress-related hair loss. Turns out that this herb has quite a history. Ho shou wu, known in binomial nomenclature as Polygonum multiflorum, is also referred to as as fo-ti, and sometimes as Chinese knotweed (for its bizarre, lumpy root structure); sometimes you might see it also packaged under the names fo-ti teng or he shou wu. Fo-ti is a name that was invented by or for Westerners and has never been used in Chinese nomenclature. This sheer confusing multitude of names does a disservice to an effective herb, and it’s perhaps one of the reasons that the herb isn’t widely known as a hair tonic in Western society.

Once upon a time, though, ho shou wu was a crucial part of the ancient Chinese apothecary. Its delicate flowers and rapidly vining stalks were a common sight, and it was second only to ginseng in its variety of uses. Ho shou wu was, and still is, used to treat the common ill effects of old age, including appetite loss, sexual dysfunction, and, most interestingly, hair loss. In fact, the name translates to something like “black-haired Mr. Ho” and refers to a man who was reportedly the first consumer and advocate of the herb. This man reportedly lived to be very old, and his hair never grayed. The story sounds like the tallest of tales, but all tales start from somewhere — so it’s worth it to examine some effects and properties of ho shou wu.

In Chinese medicine, it is believed that a person’s appearance reveals their internal condition – not really such an outlandish claim! – so if a person is losing hair, it is the result of some kind of internal imbalance on the inside. Ho shou wu has been around since at least 800AD, when it was first described in medical writing, though it’s probably older than that. Ho shou wu has been re-incorporated into many anti-aging and longevity formulas in modern Chinese medicine.

Ho shou wu acts as a stimulator of the cardiovascular system and enhances immune function; this is because – in terms that even the modern Western scientist can agree on – ho shou wu boasts a high concentration of stilbene glycosides that are similar to resveratrol. Yes, this is the same powerful antioxidant that’s found in, you guessed it, red wine! It has properties that prevent arterial clog and stimulate blood flow, and it’s been shown to reduce cholesterol. Resveratrol is one of the new hot buzzwords on the market, and ho shou wu is a good source of it. And additional blood flow to the scalp could be a possible solution to the problematic hair loss. I’m not sure I’m convinced that this herb will make me live longer or keep my hair from graying, but given its proven antioxidant powers, it certainly couldn’t hurt.

Dandelion is one of those plants we tend to think of as a weed. It pops up everywhere, and early; it continues to grow wild unless we pluck it out; and it self-sows at the drop of a hat, so if you have one dandelion, chances are you’ll soon have about eight hundred to pull up. Dandelions reproduce asexually, so each new dandelion is a genetic copy of its parent plant. In recent years, dandelion has also seen surge in popularity as a culinary ingredient. Its bitter leaves make for a pleasant addition to a savory stir-fry – I recently cooked up a dandelion fried rice dish, myself – and its high nutritional content makes it a valuable addition. Dandelions contain sufficient quantities of vitamins A, C, and K, and they’re also a good source of calcium, iron, and manganese. It’s more nutritious than even spinach! Also, dandelion root can also be used to make a caffeine-free but very coffee-like drink that people say helps them wean off coffee seamlessly.

But few people regard dandelion for its forgotten use as a medicinal herb. For centuries, perhaps even millennia, this “weed” was highly prized in ancient China as well as in Tibetan medicine and the Ayurvedic healing tradition for its use as a natural liver detoxifier and diuretic and to treat gallstones, eczema, and even cancers. Called Pu gong ying in Chinese and Kanphul in Hindi, dandelion is one of the most common of the ancient healing plants, and one of the earliest documented.

One of the dandelion’s common healing properties is the detoxification of the urine. In cases of urinary tract infection, dandelion helps immensely, creating an effect similar to that of the herb Uva Ursi and flushing out the urinary tract. Dandelion is also a diuretic, so it helps if you tend to retain water — but unlike other herbs with these properties, dandelion does not deplete the body of potassium, which contributes to its antioxidant benefits. It also contains the antioxidant luteolin, a micronutrient that has been shown to decrease swelling and hold antibacterial properties.

Of course, ancient medics didn’t necessarily know the science behind these properties of dandelion. They still found it fascinating, though: in Tibetan and Ayurvedic medicine, dandelion is associated with a cooling effect, and placed certain class of foods thought to benefit an unbalanced heat of the body. This makes sense even in the light of modern medicine, because an inflammation causes a fever as the body begins to fight it. Ayurveda in particular functions by identifying the “type” of the person and then seeking to balance them. Dandelion is known in Ayurveda as a bitter herb with cooling powers and is used to restore the balance in people with Pitta and Ama conditions, especially of the stomach and intestines. For example, Pittas tend to be “hot” by nature, and when a Pitta becomes imbalanced, cooling herbs like dandelion are prescribed. There’s a vast library of information available on Ayurveda, so you can read more and find out about your own type.

Needless to say, we could go on about the dandelion forever. It’s a fascinating and integral part of these ancient Eastern traditions, and it’s packed with a nutritious punch to boot. We would do well to take this little weed and get more intimate with it – and summer is the best time to start.