SLC S21 Week 4 - Herbal Remedies for Energy, Pain Relief, and Mental Clarity

Hello my steemian fellows! I warmly welcome you to the season 21 of the Steemit Learning Challenge. This is the week 4 and today we will learn about the herbal medicines in the kitchen.

Herbs for Energy & Vitality

Herbal medicines are used to strengthen and restore energy and for the enhancement of general endurance as well as mental sharpness while alleviating tiredness in general. Almost all of these plants can be referred to as adaptogenic herbs, which help the individuals to cope with stress. There are herbs that have energizing, nourishing and strengthening properties.

Ginseng

Ginseng is the foremost and probably the most renowned of clinical adaptogens. It increases energy by helping the body to cope with certain conditions or stresses. It improves both the physical and mental work capacity and the body's resistance to disease and likely improves attention and focus as well.

Uses:

Tea : It is possible to prepare a refreshing tea from the roots of ginseng.
Tincture: Ginseng is taken in the form of a tincture which is the most helpful for ginseng's benefits.
Powder: Ginseng powder can be added to smoothies or warm drinks.

Fig

They are local sugar, fiber, and even other essential nutrients. It contains especially the vitamin A, K, and B6. Such capabilities restore one's health and can also help to improve energy levels in organs to make them healthy.

Uses:

Fresh or Dried Figs: They are also great in between meals as a snack or added to other meals them such as in salads or oats or desserts.
Fig Leaf Tea: The leaves of the tree are made into a tea called fig leaf tea, this tea is said to help in regulating energy and blood sugar levels to its drinkers.
Fig Syrup: Figs can also be used to make a light energy boosting syrup or sweetener with a similar technique to that of making fig preserves.

Fruit Filbert

The fruit of filbert tree contain fats, vitamins and antioxidants which serve to energize the body. It is effective in improving heart function and also enhances memory retention.

Uses:

Culinary Use: Hazelnuts are cooked in one of the two ways - either roasted or eaten raw. They are full of nutrients and good snacks.
Oil: Filbert oil can serve two purposes: offer cooking oil and as a moisturizer for skin/hair whilst also revitalizing the person.

A great energy booster combination is ginseng, figs or hazelnuts. Ginseng is known to be one of the best energy giving herbs while figs provide sugars and fibers which when digested, provide energy over time. Filberts provide the lasting energy in the form of healthy oils.

Herbs for Pain Relief

Herbs have been used for centuries in traditional medicine to alleviate pain. Many of these herbs contain compounds that have anti-inflammatory, analgesic (pain-relieving), and muscle relaxing properties. Here are some well known herbs that can help with various types of pain:

Carom Seeds (Ajwain)

Carom seeds come from a herb known as carom or ajwain and are used in alternative medicine because of their anti-inflammatory, analgesic (pain suppressing), and carminative effects.

Pain Relief Mechanism: Thymol is the active factor in ajwain that has been indicated to have anti-inflammatory and analgesic property. This comes in handy where pain is caused by arthritis or muscular pain. It is also helpful in gas discomfort, and so on.
Uses: Ajwain is also used as a spice in small amounts or in tea or as a poultice. In fact, a hot wonder of ajwain seeds is found to relieve sore muscle or joints when applied warm in a pouch.
How to Use: You may take water and boil the ajwain seeds. You can drink the tea or you can grind the seeds to paste and smear it on the affected parts.

Oats

Oats belong to the family of grains that boast anti inflammatory and soothing qualities which helps patient especially who are in pain due to external skin disease or internal inflammation

Pain Relief Mechanism: Oats are great sources of antioxidants, fiber, and beta glucans which are essential in fighting internal body inflammation. For instance, an oatmeal bath was taken to help calm the skin and relieve ailments like eczema and persistent rash outbreaks oatmeal infusions are also helpful as they calm the digestive system which in turn may relieve abdominal discomfort resulting from gas or indigestion.
Uses: Oats can be used on the skin in a bath or as a face pack to ease discomfort in certain areas due to rashes or any other similar skin condition. Including these in the diet assists in reducing the internal swelling and further enhances the state of the gut.
How to Use: For irritated skin, such as rashes or other open sores, you can add some ground oats to warm water in a basin for a soaking treatment, or you can mash the oats with some water or milk and spread the concentrated oats paste over the target area.

Saffron

Saffron has been used for centuries for its medicinal properties, including its ability to alleviate pain and improve mood.

Pain Relief Mechanism: Many potential pain reducing compounds are present in saffron such as crocin and safranal as well as pain relieving effects of picrocrocin. Due to its aches, saffron helps, come down the swelling primarily due to pain in the joints or in case of menstrual cramps. Besides the physical pain, saffron is thought to support health in such a way that pain is rendered less by one's mood.
Uses: Saffron is available in small quantities, which are usually incorporated into milk, tea, or as part of a dish from time to time. It can also be included in topical applications to relieve pain or discomfort due to a particular inflammatory disorder of the skin.
How To Use: The easiest way to use saffron for reducing pain is to take warm milk and dissolve two or three strands of saffron into it and drink. This helps your body relaxed and especially helps in controlling the pain.
Carom seeds (ajwain) are useful for knee joint pain, muscle pain, and for relieving any digestive discomfort.
Skin and the internal organs heal after exposure to discomfort, cooling and wetting are provided by oats which are stagnant post ingestion due to digestive concerns.
Saffron is considered non irritating, uplifting and may provide relief from any pain associated with inflammation.

These vary from each other therefore it is useful to apply them or some of them in conjunction with other remedies, depending on the pain you are suffering.

Making a Herbal Pain Killer Oil

Here I am going to make a herbal oil which will be used as a painkiller. For this purpose we will need these herbal ingredients:

Peppermint extract or Mint essence
Carom Seeds
Extract of Carom Seeds
Extract of Camphor
Mustard Oil

Item	Quantity
Peppermint Extract	5 gram
Extract of Carom Seeds	5 gram
Extract of Camphor	2.5 gram
Carom Seeds	50 gram
Mustard Oil	250 ml

Process:

First of all take oil in the container and keep it on the furnace.

When the oil has become enough warm then put carom seeds in the oil.

Keep on warming and boiling the oil for around 20 to 25 minutes until the carom seeds are fried completely in the oil. In this way there extract will be added in the oil.
Then off the furnace and give time so that it can become normal ion temperature so that we can add other ingredients in it easily.

Now mix all the 3 extracts and place them in the packet or in the glass bottle. In this way they will be converted into the liquid.
Now we need to add this liquid of the extracts in the oil. Mix everything well in the oil so that their quantity can become same at each place in the oil.

Now the pain killer oil is ready to use. We can use this oil as a painkiller on the body. In this way we can make painkiller oil.

Benefits:

It is useful for the joint pain, headache, toothache and ear pain. Besides this we can use it for the rashes and for the healing of the wounds.

Herbs for Mental Clarity

For many years, mental enhancement, focus, and clarity have been the factors considered with the integration of some herbs. There are also many vegetables, which have some natural substance that aids in brain functioning, lessens tiredness and improves attention. And with respect to herbs and mental clarity, it usually comes down to their ability to facilitate the function of neurotransmitters, increase blood flow to the brain, reduce stress, or supply required nutrients for the brain. Here are the individual herbs for the mental clarity:

Orchis Mascula (Lady Orchid)

Orchis mascula is an uncommon herb, which is native to particular regions in Europe and Asia. It is known for other medicinal properties rather than for the enhancement of mental clarity, especially among the other herbs. For instance Orchis mascula is an orchid, and sometimes orchids such as it are valued in traditional medicine for their believed effects on the mind.

Potential benefits for mental clarity:

Adaptogen properties: There is a possibility that Orchis mascula possess certain adaptogenic qualities, aiding in stress management. Stress affects clarity and cognitive function, and since this herb is believed promotes it, therefore it can be said to enhance mental performance through stress management.
Anti-fatigue: Relatives of orchids belonging to the Orchis genus have been applied to relieve fatigue, which aids in clearing the head.
Nutrient-dense: Where available, orchids often have some alkaloids or such other classes of compounds that have more or less stimulating action on the nervous system which can aid in concentration.

Though, one should be cautious of the fact that, Orchis mascula has not been studied extensively like other herbs that are known to positively impact cognition as such it is hard to ascertain its influence in mental clarity in particular.

Chicory Seeds (Cichorium intybus)

Chicory (Cichorium intybus) belongs to the family of herbal plants that have been exploited in one way or the other for ages. It's seeds, roots and flowers are however other parts used in herbal medicine and substitutes for coffee. The herb is primarily recognized for its prowess in aiding digestive problems but in addition, the herb contains potential benefits for clarity of mind.

Potential benefits for mental clarity:

Anti-inflammatory: Chicory has inulin and other antioxidants that help in reducing inflammation in the body. Cognitive decline is associated with chronic inflammation, inclusive of the brain, hence it is helpful in retaining mental clarity to reduce inflammation.
Digestive health: Chicory promotes the health of the brain indirectly by encouraging the well-being of the digestive tract. The connection between the gut and brain is a significant one, and a balanced gut microbiome has been improved evaluated cognition and mood levels.
Liver support: The functionalities of chicory may happen at the level of the liver as well, which is a critical organ in detoxification processes and also in attaining the efficiency of the brain. If the liver is working well, it prevents the brain from being subjected to toxins that may alter cognitive clarity.
Mild stimulant effects: Chicory has chemicals that act as caffeine and other mild natural appetites as seen in other plant products and these mild stimulants are possessed in much lower quantities than coffee and hence the effect is energizing and alertness directed though mild.

Tribulus Terrestris

Tribulus terrestris is an herbal remedy which is widely used in traditional practices of healing especially Ayurveda and in some cases Chinese medicine. Many athletes take it for improving their performance, libido and stamina in general. Its effects on mental clarity, however, are less researched, although owing to its effect on energy levels and stress management, it has become of interest.

Helpful effects on mental clarity:

Adaptogen and mood support: Due to its adaptogenic characteristics, Tribulus helps an individual by helping them cope with both physical and mental stress. It is possible that by lowering the stress hormones such as cortisol, Tribulus helps to enhance one's thinking and mental functioning indirectly.
Increase in energy and stamina: Some individuals may suffer from tiredness, and in such a case, the use of Tribulus as a booster of physical stamina is common, which is more likely to improve mental clarity as well by alleviating the physical exhaustion that inhibits focus and cognitive activity.
Testosterone regulation: Several papers propose that the use of Tribulus may be useful in controlling testosterone level fluctuations which may be associated with increased mental focus, motivation, and even mood, especially for those whose levels of the hormone are on the lower side. Healthy hormone levels are beneficial in promoting cognitive performance, even if it is not precisely advanced clear thinking abilities.
Neuroprotective properties: Preliminary studies prove that Tribulus may also protect brain cells from potential damaging factors which in turn protects overall health of the brain.

In that regard, each one of these herbs Orchis Mascula, Chicory seeds, and Tribulus Terrestris seems to have its own effects enhancing mental clarity, although the ways in which they work are different.

Orchis mascula in particular is thought to be an adaptogen that helps reduce stress and fatigue.
Chicory seeds enhance gut health and eliminate inflammation, which helps in improving brain activity indirectly.
Tribulus terrestris is important for hormonal equilibrium as well as energy enhancement which improves focus and clarity.

Homework

Energy Boost Tea or Powder: Create a tea or add a powder (like ginseng or ashwagandha) to your drink for energy and write about its benefits. (2 Marks)
Pain-Relief Oil: Make an oil for the pain relief by using herbal ingredients and describe how it helps with pain. (3 Marks)
Mental Clarity Remedy: Make a herbal remedy for the mental clarity from the herbs which are commonly found in your area. Write down its benefits for the health and how it helps in mental clarity and why? (3 Marks)

2 marks will be given based on the creativity and relevancy to the topic and the quality of your images.

Rules for Participation

Publish your post on your blog or in any community.
Post must be #steemexclusive.
Post must be free from plagiarism and AI.
Use your country tag such as #pakistan.
Use course specific tag, #herbalmed-s21w4 so that I can find your post easily.
Use your own images of the herbs and add watermark of your username.
Post the link of your post under the comment section of this post.
Share your post on social media such as X.
Invite at least 3 of your friends.
Use #burnsteem tag only if you have set 25% to @null
The participation schedule is between Monday, November 18, 2024 to Sunday, November 24, 2024.
Your post should be minimum 800 words.
Use the title: SLC S21 Week 4 - Herbal Remedies for Energy, Pain Relief, and Mental Clarity.

Rewards

SC01/SC02 would be checking on the entire 17 participating Teaching Teams and Challengers and upvoting outstanding content. Upvote is not guaranteed for all articles. Kindly take note.

At the end of the week, we would nominate the top 4 users who had performed well in the contest and would be eligible for votes from SC01/SC02.

Important Notice: The selection of the four would be based solely on the quality of their post. Number of comments is no longer a factor to be considered.