Tea and Coffee Substitutes

Drinking too much tea and coffee is not something that is recommended by doctors and nutritionists as not only does caffeine dehydrate us, it also interrupts our sleep patterns and plays havoc with our bodies. To many of us however, going without that first cup in the morning is not something that can be given up easily.

There are a number of alternatives to these caffeine filled drinks. Coffee substitutes that are designed to taste and smell like coffee are readily available. Lima Organic Yannoh Coffee Substitute is a very good one to try. Another great alternative to coffee is a cup of Cotswold Roasted Dandelion Root Coffee.

Chicory root that has been roasted and dried is another popular coffee alternative, and in fact it has been this root that people have turned to throughout difficult periods in history such as war time when money for coffee, or coffee itself was not available. The root has a strong flavour and after roasting the taste is similar to that of coffee, yet with no caffeine. Furthermore, chicory has many positive health benefits for organs such as the liver and even helps cleanse the blood.

If you want to drink less coffee for medicinal or health reasons, it doesn’t have to be the end of the world as there are some excellent alternatives available that are likely to offer a host of benefits that caffeine laden drinks cannot.

Do any of you drink coffee substitutes? Have you tried roasted chicory root? Send in your comments below.

Help in the battle against hayfever

Hayfever affects millions of Britons every year with around one in 10 adults being affected. It is caused by an allergy to either tree pollen or grass pollen and is therefore more prevalent in the summer months when pollen counts are higher than in winter.

There are a few precautions you can take to help fight against the itchy eyes and continuos sneezing that hayfever causes which I shall outline below. If I have missed any out or you have a home made remedy that helps, please send them to me!

• Rub vaseline inside each nostril.
  This will help reduce soreness and to capture pollen before it heads into your nasal passages.
• Wear wrap around sunglasses.
  Wrap around glasses reduce pollens affecting the eyes, so wear them any time you are outside.
• Close windows.
  Never sleep with the bedroom window open, now matter how hot it gets! Also keep the car windows closed when you are driving.
• Don’t change your clothes in the bedroom.
  Taking your clothes off before entering the bedroom will ensure that allergens cannot be transfered to where you sleep.
• Wash hair before bed.
  Pollen sticks to your hair and will be transfered to your pillow at night, so remove as much as possible with a hair wash before bed.
• Hang your washing out mid-morning.
  Furthermore, bring it in no later than early evening to avoid bringing into your home more pollen than is necessary.

These are a few top tips for helping combat the nuisance that is hayfever. Of course there are also a variety of anti-histamines that you can take to help too, but if you want to try natural remedies before reaching for the pills and capsules, the ideas above are a good place to start.

Grow your own drugs

James Wong is a respected ethnobotanist (a scientist who studies how people use plants) and is passionate that people should look at plants, not as a way to decorate a room or garden, but instead as a source of elixirs capable of helping prevent and cure a host of ailments from eczema to sore throats and even insomnia. With a popular book that was accompanied by a television show, his ideas are beginning to catch on.

Both Wong and indeed the World Health Organisation point out that modern day medicines are often derived from plants. Morphine based painkillers are derived from opium found in poppies, Aspirin originally came from sal acetic acid found in willow, meadowsweet and the shrub spirea, and the contraceptive pill began its life once extractions were made from the Mexican wild yam plant.

You don’t need to be very green fingered either, as many of the herbs and plants that work as useful medicines grown in poor environments with low levels of water. Cutting the herbs and plants back is important so as they do not take over the whole garden, so why not put the cuttings to use, instead of just throwing them away?

Another advantage of growing your own drugs is the cost factor. Peppermint tea, made from hot water and peppermint leaves is a far cheaper alternative to over the counter drugs designed to ease suffering from irritable bowel syndrome, indigestion and heartburn. In the book you will find recipes for all common ailments, as well as body scrubs, deodorants, lip balms and you won’t need to go searching for unusual plants or seeds, most of the ingredients will be in your kitchen cupboard.

Have any of you read the book? Perhaps you are already a big fan of growing your own drugs and cook up concoctions at home to help prevent problems or cure sickness. Send in your comments below along with any tips you may have.