As you know the internet is a big place! Search engines have gotten really, really big but WHY? Because the internet is too big to search yourself, it is too big to look at directories, it is too big to rely on many things! Because there are so many new sites and scammers out there, the search engines will sometimes not show you the best results, just the best results to their algorithm and that’s okay! No matter how bad the world gets, word of mouth with always reign big!

On that note, this is what we are talking about. Where do you buy your herbal supplements? I have recommended  Dimmak Herbs in the past for a variety of needs. Dimmak Herbs doesn’t make something for everything, but they do make alot of herbal remedies for first aid, training, sports medicine, and ailments. Dimmak Herbs has now launched their long awaited new site!

They have had 40k hits on the video that launched to celebrate their new site! All of these products are made from scratch, strait from a dried herb. Many of the products are also hand made!

For a limited time save 10% on your order there!  Through the month of Octobersave 10% by using the coupon “blogofherbs”.

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No reason to read this article because you already know the answer? However, my answer is not Ginseng, nor Echinacea. My herbal ruler can do many things and do them well. In fact, my herbal ruler has a very unusual property up its sleeve. Let me explain why my picks aren’t the popular Chinese Ginseng or the Western Echinacea herb which are widely considered the king herbs globally and are in demand that also carry a high price tag.
Echinacea is a powerful herb from the west known as Echinacea Purpurea. Echinacea is a mild herb and has little side effects even in huge overdoses, and sometimes is recommended in large doses. Echinacea has powerful anti-inflammatory properties and impressive antibiotic properties to boot. Both of these properties make for its powerful properties it’s used for: Infections, Blood Cleaning, and Acute Inflammations and Sores. Upon first signs of infections or the body being invaded by about anything Echinacea can start to be taken in large doses and tapered off. Blood cleaning is a very popular thing to do now days and Echinacea is the staple in that regimen along with similar, but not as potent herbs. Cleaning out toxins, relieving swollen glands, and lowering fevers makes for a great monthly cleanse and a program for cancer patients as well. In the world of first aid Echinacea is a great remedy because you can use it internally and externally right on the sores, cuts, wounds, boils, or any skin condition and get treatment for both ends. I love my Echinacea, but it’s not the winner. Echinacea is not a tonic; it is used for acute conditions and loses any long term effectiveness after 10 days. It does not build up immunity as people believe, except for a short time where you would use it to actually treat a condition. Echinacea is endangered and considering the doses needed sometimes, can make it expensive. Because Echinacea is primarily to treat inflammation and acute conditions, it is most effective against coldness and deficiencies. Therefore, it must be used in combination with other herbs to make it work on those that aren’t suffering internal heat.
Ginseng, know as Ren Shen, is probably the most popular and well known of all herbs. In Chinese Medicine we classify this herb as a Qi Tonic. Ginseng warms, moves, and tonifies the Qi in the body and spreads it out through the body. For westerners this herb is known to increase energy, support an active lifestyle, and build up a healthy body. One thing I do give Ginseng is the fact that it not only does all of these things, it is useful in emergency situations including controlling blood and encouraging blood flow. It is used in China in I.V. form for hemorrhage, shock, and keeping consciousness. Ginseng is both powerful and one of the few herbs where it can be used by itself. So why isn’t this herb getting the credit of the king herb? Well you know I wouldn’t give you something this easy did you? Ginseng is also difficult to prepare when wanting to use it alone for tonifying. It requires a separate steamer and special preparation. Ginseng is very expensive and is often sold powdered from immature root and probably mixed with other herbs. Although this herb has these bleeding disorder qualities, it cannot be used in initial stages; it should not be used when there is an attack of sickness, and shouldn’t be used with caffeine. With the world hyped up on coffee and energy drinks how can I put this on top :).
And now for the moment you have been waiting for. My personal choice as the herb to rule them all is- San Qi. San Qi is known as Tien Qi, Notoginseng, and Pseudoginseng. What is this herb used for? San Qi stops bleeding, reduces swelling, alleviates pain, and breaks up blood stasis and clots. Yes, I said that this herb stops bleeding AND breaks up blood stasis and clots. San Qi can be used for one or the other or both. When used to stop bleeding you need not worry about thrombosis or stasis. For instance some women take herbs containing San Qi for heavy bleeding (menses), but they don’t have to worry about menstrual clotting. When used for stasis there isn’t a worry about thinning out the blood. This herb is great for injuries where there is swelling and bruises but it won’t result in thinning of blood. Topically San Qi can be found in almost every popular external herbal application for pain, swelling, and to move blood. Herbs like this are excellent because they are pretty specific on application, but are versatile at the same time. San Qi should be taken internally and externally for a dual action purpose by working on the problem from the inside and out.
This herb has a pretty celebrated history of its effectiveness on the battle field. Stories of soldiers injured in battle were able to stabilize themselves with the San Qi and then make their way home. I’m talking about some serious wounds that have supposedly been treated with San Qi. To this day this herb is specifically indicated for gun shot wounds in the Materia Medica.
Externally the herb works to clot wounds immediately and becomes part of scab and is the outside of it, and it won’t come off until the scab does. It should be applied as a paste moistened with a touch of water and it is because of this you need to take care in covering the wound. If you place direct loose gauze over this application the gauze will be permanent to the paste. Powdering over the paste will be effective in keeping the wound from bonding to your covering.
Want to see this herb in action?

http://www.dimmakherbs.com/wounddemo.html

I wrote about this herb here as well:
http://blogofherbs.com/herbs/deep-laceration-home-remedy-fix

Want to get some pills and powder for your First Aid needs? Visit Dimmak Herbs and look for their Dimmak Clot at www.dimmakherbs.com
San Qi should not be taken internally in pregnant women.

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Familiar with the famous stomach ache and pain after your 3rd trip through the Chinese Buffet line? Did your last trip to Las Vegas leave you in a ‘Carb Comatose’ from all the Buffets?

Regardless your eating style you may have experienced the same symptoms from weak GI tract or many other reasons. In Chinese Medicine this is known as Food Stagnation. The intestines are very durable but have their limit. When more food is taken in than your body can keep up with then food isn’t moving. The food movement is supposed to be a slow process of churning and decomposition so your body can take in the good, clean and clear and discard the turbid. This process is strained and overworked and cannot perform its functions and intended. We literally end up with non movement of food or Food Stagnation. Signs and Symptoms of Food Stagnation include abdominal distension, abdominal pain, acid regurgitation and brief relief is found from flatulation, vomiting, and burping.

There is no secret that most herbs don’t taste all that well, but of course things that taste terrible usually seem to be great for you. In this case Shan Zha is a berry, more specifically Hawthorn berry. I wouldn’t recommend running out and buying these to eat like some strawberries or anything, they are quite sour, I am saying they are definitely on the tastier end of herbs. Shan Zha tastes pretty sour and has an unusual taste to your palate at first (some describe it like meat) but it is sweet and easily eaten straight up by itself.

Now that early ‘meat taste’ has a bit of importance. Shan Zha has a specific affinity for certain stagnation of foods- meat and greasy foods. What a perfect choice for a Buffet? This herb also has some other great features that make it a great herb. Shan Zha has been clinically shown to be a cardio-tonic- more specifically lowers cholesterol, lowers blood pressure, widens the coronary arteries, etc… What a perfect choice for a Buffet herb?

As usual Shan Zha is best in specific formulas and dried out, but Hawthorn is available in raw berry form and in drinks found at your local Asian Food Stores.

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A first degree burn is basically a sun burn or any other irritation of the skin. Skin will appear red and will be sensitive to heat. A second degree burn is more severe and deals with blistering and puss in the area. The body at this point is trying to cool itself by sending liquid to the area (pus) to cool and protect the area. Third degree burns are even more sever and relate to a loss of skin at the area. I would like to touch only briefly on the first two and talk about using herbs and household goods to heal 3rd degree burns.

First degree burns are most commonly had from sunburns or from some hot water. The skin gets red and is very sensitive to heat. At this point the skin is very irritated and either gonna die and peel or make it through. Honestly the best remedy here is Aloe Vera Gel. Nothing magic here that you may not have already known. Aloe is a very soothing and since its a gel you are able to run it over the area and instantly feel a nice cool feeling on the area. Keep the area from heat and exposure and you’ll be fine in no time.

Second degree burns are a furthering of a first degree where the body is trying to cool and pad the area. This leads to blistering and a whitening of the area. Second degree burns are common in fair skinned people and for those of you who are not may never see this type of burn. This can be a much more painful experience and its a little trickier because you have open wounds basically. Our main herb here is going to be calendula. For the absolute quickest and most effective use of calendula simply saute it on low heat with Olive Oil in a 1 part calendula to 4 part Olive Oil. After about an hour just strain out the herb and use the oil. If you have access or want to make a better oil take 2 parts calendula, 2 parts comfrey leaves, 1 part lobelia. If there is pain the area add 1 part Kava Kava. Kava acts as a local anesthetic and will help a great deal. You will want to powder these down and combine with olive oil to make a thick paste. You could also add all of these in 1 part to 4 parts water with a little slippery elm and cook down to a really thick paste. You will want to apply this and cover with gauze very lightly and wash often to avoid infection. These formulas should provide a good deal of relief and quick healing!

Third degree burns are the most serious burns although you don’t have to be a in a ‘burn victim ward’ to have them. You can burn smaller areas or limbs of your body quite easily. Fire is the most direct cause of third degree burns and they are not fun. In reality the worst part of the burn is that it is an open wound with complete burn off of skin. So you have infection to worry about and the scar that will be left there as you body tries to heal this area. If you have a serious burn, I recommend a hospital trip. If you choose not to or whatever, I am not responsible :). What we want to do here is apply a soothing paste to the area that will also help our bodies regenerate skin in the area! Well, there happens to be such an herb and its called comfrey. Here is the recipe you need. 3 parts comfrey root, 1 part lobelia, 1 part calendula, 1/2 part honey, some garlic juice, 1/2 part wheat germ oil, and some olive oil. Notice the similarities to the second degree burn formula, although there are some differences. We are using comfrey root instead of leaves, we are using honey, we aren’t using anything additional for pain, the ratios are a bit different, and you need to make this a certain way.
You need to fine powder the herbs and throw the honey in a stainless steel pot. Heat the honey to where it is liquified. At this point put your wheat germ oil in there and then turn off the heat. Now put all of your herb into the pot and mix up while adding olive oil to get a very thick paste. You can throw your garlic juice in there now and make sure your paste is thick like cake frosting. At this point you will know if you over did the honey cause the paste will harden. If you did this right you are ready to apply. Apply directly and thickly over the wound and bandage over. You will leave this on for 3-4 days and then remove without disturbing anything. Make sure you THUROUGHLY CLEAN THE WOUND prior to applying this!
Now let me explain what we have here. You washed the wound and now you have a clean third degree burn. Calendula is a very soothing herb and treats burn very well. Lobelia helps other work by relaxing the area and helping with pain. Garlic is one of the best disinfectants on the planet and will help with a clean healing process. Comfrey root is a very strong flesh regeneration herb. It also has drawing power and is soothing and anti-inflammatory. Wheat germ is protecting the area and soothing, a very important part of this formula and should not be left out. The olive oil helps with the binder and is much less expensive than wheat germ oil although you can use only wheat germ oil if you want. Finally the honey will act as a barrier on the wound and keep infection out for the 3-4 day period you will have this on.

A few things I would like to point out. You can buy a formula ready to go for burns called Burn Paste from www.dimmakherbs.com. Calendula is a weed and grows abundantly. You should learn to recognize the herb as it could help you tremendously if you were out in the wild. Fresh calendula works the same as dried.

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