Dandelion Root  -- ON SALE! Dandelion (Taraxicum officinale) occurs naturally in Asia but is now a common plant everywhere. Its medicinal virtues were probably introduced in Europe by the Arabs in the 10th Century. Known principally as a weed, dandelion has an astonishing range of health benefits. The leaves, which can be eaten in salads, are a powerful diuretic. The roots act as a "blood purifier" that helps both kidneys and the liver to remove impurities from the blood. This effect seems to be due to its potassium content. It also acts like a mild laxative and improves appetite and digestion. Uses: diuretic, digestive, antibiotic, bitter with an affinity for the liver and bladder, mapped tongue, hysterical tympanites, frequent urination, impatience and irritability, sternomastoid muscle very painful to touch, headaches due to liver disturbances, cold finger tips, neuralgia of knee, night-sweats, cancerous conditions, general debility, diabetes, gallstones, liver disorders, rheumatism, and Typhoid fever. Dandelion is sacred to the Greek lunar goddess Hecate. The root is used to call forth spirits to fulfill wishes and foretell the future. When the root is roasted and ground like coffee, the infusion not only increases one’s psychic powers but also is said to open a doorway through which all-knowing spirits from the Other Side can travel. The Latin name means “the official remedy for disorders”, and shows how honored Dandelion has been for many different ailments. It is high in potassium and vitamin A, as well as the various salts which, in the body, are manufactured and used to purify the blood in the liver. Dandelion’s main use is for the liver, to protect and strengthen it, and dandelion has even been known to reverse the early stages of cirrhosis. Many herbalists consistently add dandelion to therapies for jaundice, hepatitis, and other liver disorders. Its high potassium level means that it acts as a balanced diuretic, not causing potassium depletion like many chemical treatments. Dandelion may also increase the removal of uric acid, a factor in some arthritis, and has shown activity against some tumors and cancers, especially of the breast. Dandelion is very supportive and nutritious, and it’s content of sugars an starches are easily assimilated, even by those who normally have absorption difficulties, such as the elderly, diabetics, and people recovering from long illness. Young dandelion leaves also make a delicious salad, and the tea is taken as a tonic for liver problems. Both the Persians and the East Indians used it for liver complaints. The herb is cleaned, cut, sifted, and dried. Ruled by Jupiter. 1 lb. size!  Item #201390-31. Normally $23.95. Our price $19.

lemon balm - ON SALE! Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis) or Melissa has been cultivated in the Mediterranean region for more than 2,000 years and was a favorite herb of Islamic alchemists. The Muslim herbalist Avicenna recommended lemon balm for heart problems. Its main action is as a tranquilizer. It calms nervous spasms, colics and hearth spasms. The hot tea promotes sweat that that is good for colds, flus and fevers. Its sedative actions have been used to help in the treatment of psychiatric problems, including dystonia. Lemon balm’s anti-histamine action is useful to treat eczema and headaches. Today, this sweet-smelling herb is still widely valued for its calming properties, and new research shows that it can help significantly in the treatment of cold sores. Uses: relaxant, antispasmodic, increases sweating, carminative, anti-viral, nerve tonic, sedative, colds, influenza, depression, headaches, indigestion, restlessness, allergies, herpes, and bad dreams. Planets: Mercury, Jupiter. 1 lb. size! Item #209395-31. Retails for $24.95. Our price $19.     milk thistle  - ON SALE! Milk Thistle (Carduus marianus) or Mary Thistle is native to the Mediterranean and has been in use as a remedy for liver problems for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. It is used in a whole range of liver and bladder conditions including hepatitis and cirrhosis. Recent research has confirmed traditional herbal knowledge, proving that the herb has a remarkable ability to protect the liver from damage resulting from alcoholic and other types of poisoning. The active ingredient appears to be silymarin. Uses: digestive, liver tonic, stimulates secretion of bile, increases breast-milk production, antidepressant. Carried or used dry, it is said to give riches and honor to spiritually pure individuals. Planets: Saturn, Mars, Venus. Leaf. 1 lb. size! Item #209434-31. Retails for $25.95. Our price $19.     reishi mushroom (whole dried) - ON SALE! The "mushroom of immortality" commonly known as Reishi (in Japanese) or Ling Zhi (靈芝 in Chinese) is probably the most respected medicinal mushroom in Asia. The earliest mention of Ling Zhi was in the era of the first emperor of China, Shinghuang of the Ch'in Dynasty 221-207 B.C.E. Once reserved for royalty to extend life and improve health, this polypore mushroom is strikingly beautiful. Deep reddish brown and saucer-shaped, often emerging from a branch-like stem, its smooth upper surface looks lacquered when wet. Because of this glossy appearance, Western mycologists called them "varnished conks" for many years (conks are mushrooms that have pores instead of gills on their undersides, such as maitake and turkey tails). While reishi mushrooms have historically been prepared as teas or infusions, other modern preparations include capsules, tinctures, and fractionated extracts of mushrooms, mycelium, and spores. Reishi is also added to chocolate bars, candies, energy drinks, and even coffee blends! Because of its rich history and long tradition of medicinal use, Ganoderma lucidum is now one of the few mushroom species whose DNA has been fully sequenced (16,113 genes). Reishi is remarkable for its diversity of genes coding for cytochrome P450 enzymes. These enzymes not only afford this species a broad arsenal for producing secondary metabolites for digesting nutrients, but may also confer benefits to human health such as enhancing the degradation of toxins and free radicals and increasing the liver's metabolic efficiency. The variety of these enzymes, among more than 400 active constituents that have been found, indicates that mushrooms such as reishi are like miniature pharmaceutical factories that can produce hundreds of medicinally-interactive compounds. Through trial-and-error and observable outcomes, our ancestors narrowed the field of edible mushroom candidates to just a few with remarkable, health-supporting properties. Today, reishi stands out as one the most valuable of all polypore mushrooms in nature for the benefit of our health. Many naturopaths and doctors prefer organically-grown reishi from pristine environments such as the kind we offer because they are more pure. 1 lb. size! Whole dried mushrooms. Item #202027-01. Retails for $44.95. Our price $34.     St. john's wort  - ON SALE! St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum) is native to Europe but is widely cultivated elsewhere. St. John's Wort blooms during the summer solstice, and in medieval Europe it was considered to have powerful magical properties that enabled it to repel evil. People hung it inside their houses to protect themselves from vengeful acts of god or attacks by demons. It is named after St. John because bright red spots appear on the leaves around August 29, the day St. John was beheaded. The most well-known action of St. John's Wort is in repairing nerve damage and reducing pain and inflammation. It is taken to relieve the pain of menstrual cramps, sciatica and arthritis. The oil is applied to inflammations, sprains, bruises and varicose veins. St. John's Wort is also used to treat circulation problems, bronchitis and gout. Properties: antidepressant, antispasmodic, astringent, sedative, relieves pain, anti-viral. Uses: lacerations, shooting pain, injury to the brain and spinal cord, spasms after injury, crushed fingers, puncture wounds, bites of animals and insects, tailbone pain from injury, tetanus, crawling sensation in hands and feet, neuritis, hemorrhoids with pain and bleeding, painful scars, and injury to nerves, especially fingers, toes, nails. St. John’s Wort was believed to possess magical properties in the Middle Ages. The herb contains hypericin, a proven antidepressant, and relieves anxiety, tension, and insomnia. The flowers of the herb are infused in olive oil to make a pain-relieving massage oil. Planets: Saturn, Mars, Sun. 1 lb. size! Item #202160-31. Retails for $19.95. Our price $11.