Pumpkin

Pumpkin, Cucurbita pepo, is popular in the fall. For me it brings up memories of my dad carving a pumpkin for me every Halloween. There were some restrictions. The Jack O` Lantern had to have a happy face and could not be scary or grotesque.

Both the flesh and the seeds of this member of the squash family have  health benefits. Pumpkins come in all sizes and are usually orange or yellow, though some are green, white, red or gray. There are field pumpkins for carving and feeding animals and there are the smaller pie pumpkins that are best for cooking and baking purposes.

Pumpkin is a member of the vegetable kingdom and is low in calories; just 27 calories for 100 g of fruit. The fruit has no cholesterol and lots of  fiber. It contains vitamins A, C, and E as well as the B vitamins. Pumpkin is rich in minerals such as calcium, copper, potassium, magnesium, manganese and phosphorus. Pumpkin has flavonoids such as lutein, zeaxanthin, and carotenes. The nutrients in pumpkin may reduce the risk of certain kinds of cancer, protect against asthma, heart disease, high blood pressure, and support eye health and immunity. .

Pumpkin seeds are a great source of fiber and contain mono-unsaturated acids. They also contain protein and minerals like iron, selenium, zinc and tryptophan. They are recommended for men with prostate problems. You can buy the seeds already hulled and salted at the farmers market. They  make a great snack.

There are very few side effects with pumpkin, but it does interact with Lithium. If you are taking lithium, consult with your doctor about using pumpkin.

Pumpkin is very versatile for cooking. One can make bread, cookies, pies, cakes, and soups with them. At this time of year pumpkin recipes abound. Just check the internet for pumpkin recipes and you will find hundreds of ways to fix pumpkin. Below is one of my favorites for pumpkin bread.

Pumpkin Bread

1 cup canned pumpkin (You can cook your own, but I find organic canned easier and quicker.)
1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup olive oil
2 eggs beaten
1/4 cup water
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1$ teaspoon cinnamon
1//4 teaspoon allspice
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1/2 cup cranberries

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Sift flour, salt, sugar and baking soda together. Mix the pumpkin, oil, eggs 1/4 cup of water and spices together, then combine with the dry ingredients, but do not mix too thoroughly. Stir in the nuts and cranberries. Pour into mini-loaf pans that have been greased.I spray them with cooking spray.  Bake 35-40 minutes or until toothpick poked in center of loaf comes out clean. Turn out of pans and cool on cooling rack.

Have a great time this fall and be sure to check out my web page at www.valerielull.com

Valerie Lull, Author
Ten Healthy Teas
Lullval@clearwire.net 

Lemon, Honey and Cinnamon

Some herbalists like to use just one single herb at a time for a particular problem. Others believe that herbs in formulas and combinations work better. I feel you can do either one depending on what one's problem is. Lemon is a powerful substance. So is cinnamon. When they are  mixed with raw honey they are even more powerful. Organic honey is good and locally produced raw honey is good too. Especially good is Manukah honey which comes from Australia and New Zealand.

When honey and lemon are teamed up together they help a number of things. One thing that this combination helps is weight loss. Many people consider it a tonic. It is also good for digestion and it helps your liver. The honey is good for the friendly bacteria in your colon and the lemon is packed with vitamin C. This combination also helps heartburn and bloating.  Honey and lemon is good for insect bites, it soothes respiratory problems and it is good for your skin.

Another winning mixture  is raw honey and cinnamon.This combination has been around for centuries. It was used by the ancients in China and India.  It helps prevent heart disease, it clears one's sinuses, it helps maintain a healthy weight, it helps with arthritis and it boosts the immune system. In addition to that honey and cinnamon can help you get through cold and flu season, help your digestion by stopping the growth of bacteria and fungi, and help you recover from bladder infections.

Take 2 tablespoons of lemon and one teaspoon of honey. Take it with warm water. I do it first thing in the morning, but it can be taken at any time of day. For cinnamon and honey use 1 teaspoon of honey and 1 teaspoon of cinnamon and dissolve in a cup of boiling water. If you really want a winner mix all three, lemon, cinnamon and honey.

As always, be sure to discuss the use of these remedies with your health care provider. Herbs do interact with medicines. Be sure to refrain from giving children honey under the age of two.

Check out my website and learn more about healing teas. Go to www.valerielull.com

Valerie Lull, Author
Ten Healthy Teas 
Lullval!@clearwire.net

Celery the Vegetable Herb

Celery, Apium graviolens, is an herb, a vegetable and if you count the seeds that are used in cooking it is a spice. This lowly  vegetable is a powerhouse of nutrition, more than most people realize. It is great for those wanting to lose weight and it is well known for helping with blood pressure. Below are some of the things celery is good for.

Celery is a very low calorie food containing about ten calories per stalk. It aids in digestion because it contains lots of fiber. Celery helps to reduce inflammation, and the magnesium can soothe the nervous system when one is stressed. It is good for those with sleep problems. Eating some about a half hour before bed will help you sleep better. It helps the body maintain a healthy pH balance, and has nutrients that can protect your eyes. Celery helps with reducing bad cholesterol. A some studies show that celery may be an aid in fighting cancer. Celery is also used for gout and pain relief in folks that have inflammation in their joints.

On the nutritional level, celery contains antioxidants vitamin K,  folate, vitamin A, potassium, and vitamin C. also, the antioxidants known as phytonutrients, flavonols, flavones and phytosterols. Celery is mainly water, but it also provides dietary fiber. Celery has a salty taste because it contains sodium, but don't confuse this with table salt, the salts in celery are good salts and quite different from table salts.

Be careful if you have an allergy to celery, it can cause anaphylactic shock in a very few folks that are allergic to this. It is not recommended for women who are pregnant or nursing, though the amounts used in food are safe to use. Celery may increase bleeding. Do not take it in medicinal amounts for two weeks before or after surgery. Don't use celery in medicinal amounts if you have kidney or low blood pressure problems . Always consult your health care practitioner if you wish to use celery for medicinal purposes.

Check out my web site at www.valerielull.com . Learn about healthful teas and how they can  help you.



Valerie Lull
Author
Ten Healthy Teas
Lullval@clearwire.net

Cayenne Pepper

Cayenne pepper is a popular herb as well as a culinary item. It is also called red pepper or chili pepper. Cayenne has many health properties and can be used as medicine and as food. Cayenne peppers can be dried, powdered and made into tinctures, pills or capsules  which can be used for various health problems..

Cayenne is good for digestion, stimulating the circulation all over the body. It helps other herbs to be absorbed and and circulated throughout ones system. It can clear out sinuses and causes one to sweat which releases toxins. Cayenne can relieve congestion and reduce fevers. It is good for people with cold hands and feet because it gets the blood flowing in the small capillaries in distant parts of the body.

Cayenne is a pain reliever and is often formulated into a lotion or liniment to be applied to areas that are painful, It is especially good for arthritic conditions. Cayenne is good for intestinal gas, diarrhea , cramps, heart conditions, poor circulation, high cholesterol and preventing heart disease. Additional uses are relief from a toothache, seasickness, muscle spasms, as a gargle for laryngitis, and for sinus infections.

Cayenne can cause intense pain if it gets into ones eyes and it is not too good on the face either, though it is sometimes used in pepper sprays. .Don't use cayenne orally if you are pregnant or nursing, Using capsaicin on the skin of children under 2 is not a good idea. Don't use on damaged or broken skin. Don't use cayenne if you are having surgery. Cayenne does not mix with cocaine, and cayenne should not be used with ACE inhibitors which are for high blood pressure. Be sure to consult with your doctor before taking cayenne orally, especially if you are taking other medications. Don't use cayenne if you are taking a blood thinning medications, cayenne can slightly thin the blood and does not mix well with these drugs. Always consult your health practitioner.

I'm adding my favorite recipe for taking cayenne below. It is great for getting the blood circulating, and for clearing out the sinuses.

1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (Use more or less depending on your tolerance for the heat.)
1 teaspoon chicken bouillon
1 cup hot water

Put cayenne and bouillon in a mug. Add the hot water. Stir. You may want to wait for the hot water to cool a bit.

Check out my web page at www.valerielull.com   It has been updated

Valerie Lull
Author
Ten Healthy Teas
lullval@clearwire.net

cayenne pepper (capsicum) Uses & Effectiveness

Likely Effective for:

• Pain from rheumatoid arthritis (RA), osteoarthritis, psoriasis, shingles and nerve pain due to diabetes (diabetic neuropathy), when applied to the skin in the affected area. The active ingredient in topical preparations of capsicum, capsaicin, is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for these uses.

Possibly Effective for:

• Back pain, when applied to the skin.
• Reducing painful tender points in people with fibromyalgia, when applied to the skin.
• Relieving symptoms of prurigo nodularis, a skin disease, when applied to the skin. It may take 22 weeks to 33 months of treatment to see a benefit. Symptoms may return after stopping use of capsicum.
• Cluster headache, when used in the nose. Capsicum seems to reduce the number and severity of cluster headaches. It’s best to apply capsicum to the nostril that is on the same side of the head as the headache.
• Relieving symptoms of perennial rhinitis, a runny nose not associated with allergies or infection, when used in the nose. Sometimes the benefit can last for 6-9 months.

Possibly Ineffective for:

• Nerve pain related to HIV or AIDS, when applied to the skin.

Insufficient Evidence for:

• Stomach ulcers. There is evidence that suggests people who eat capsicum fruit (chili) an average of 24 times per month appear to be less likely to have an ulcer than people who eat chili an average of 8 times per month. This applies to chili in the form of chili powder, chili sauce, curry powder, and other chili-containing foods.
• Heartburn. Beginning research suggests that red pepper powder (containing capsicum) in capsules taken 3 times daily before meals reduces symptoms of heartburn. But in some people, symptoms get worse before they get better.
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Early evidence suggests that capsicum fruit taken by mouth doesn’t help symptoms of IBS.
• Hay fever. There is conflicting evidence so far about the effectiveness of capsicum for reducing hay fever symptoms.
• Polyps in the nose. Putting capsicum in the nose seems to improve symptoms and airflow.
• Swallowing difficulties. Some people, especially elderly people or those who have suffered a stroke, are more likely than other people to develop “aspiration pneumonia.” This is a kind of pneumonia that develops after food or saliva is sucked into the airways because the person couldn’t swallow properly. There is some evidence that dissolving a capsaicin-containing lozenge in the mouth of elderly people with swallowing problems before each meal can improve their ability to swallow.
• Colic.
• Cramps.
• Toothache.
• Blood clots.
• Fever.
• Nausea.
• High cholesterol.
• Heart disease.
• Migraine headache.
• Muscle spasms.
• Laryngitis.
• Other conditions.

More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of capsicum for these uses.

cayenne pepper (capsicum) Side Effects & Safety

Medicinal lotions and creams that contain capsicum extract are LIKELY SAFE for most adults when applied to the skin. The active chemical in capsicum, capsaicin, is approved by the FDA as an over-the-counter product. That is, it can be sold without a prescription.

Side effects can include skin irritation, burning, and itching. Capsicum can also be extremely irritating to the eyes, nose, and throat. Don't use capsicum on sensitive skin or around the eyes.

Capsicum extract is LIKELY SAFE for most adults when taken by mouth, short-term and in amounts typically found in food. Side effects can include stomach irritation and upset, sweating, flushing, and runny nose. It is POSSIBLY UNSAFE to take capsicum by mouth in large doses or for long periods of time. In rare cases, this can lead to more serious side effects like liver or kidney damage.

Capsicum extract is POSSIBLY SAFE when used in the nose. No serious side effects have been reported, but application in the nose can be very painful. Nasal application can cause burning pain, sneezing, watery eyes, and runny nose. These side effects tend to decrease and go away after 5 or more days of repeated use.

Special Precautions & Warnings:

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Capsicum is LIKELY SAFE when applied to the skin during pregnancy. But not enough is known about its safety when taken by mouth. Stay on the safe side and don’t use capsicum if you are pregnant.

If you are breast-feeding, using capsicum on your skin is LIKELY SAFE. But it is POSSIBLY UNSAFE for your baby if you take capsicum by mouth. Skin problems (dermatitis) have been reported in breast-fed infants when mothers eat foods heavily spiced with capsicum peppers.

Children: Applying capsicum to the skin of children under two years of age is POSSIBLY UNSAFE. Not enough is known about the safety of giving capsicum to children by mouth. Don’t do it.

Damaged or broken skin: Don’t use capsicum on damaged or broken skin.

Surgery: Capsicum might increase bleeding during and after surgery. Stop using capsicum at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.

cayenne pepper (capsicum) Interactions 

Moderate Interaction Be cautious with this combination

• Cocaine interacts with CAPSICUM
  Cocaine has many dangerous side effects. Using capsicum along with cocaine might increase the side effects of cocaine including heart attack and death.
• Medications that slow blood clotting (Anticoagulant / Antiplatelet drugs) interacts with CAPSICUM
  Capsicum might slow blood clotting. Taking capsicum along with medications that also slow clotting might increase the chances of bruising and bleeding.
  
  Some medications that slow blood clotting include aspirin, clopidogrel (Plavix), diclofenac (Voltaren, Cataflam, others), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others), naproxen (Anaprox, Naprosyn, others), dalteparin (Fragmin), enoxaparin (Lovenox), heparin, warfarin (Coumadin), and others.
• Theophylline interacts with CAPSICUM
  Capsicum can increase how much theophylline the body can absorb. Taking capsicum along with theophylline might increase the effects and side effects of theophylline.

Minor Interaction Be watchful with this combination

• Medications for high blood pressure (ACE inhibitors) interacts with CAPSICUM
  Some medications for high blood pressure might cause a cough. There is one report of someone whose cough worsened when using a cream with capsicum along with these medications for high blood pressure. But is it not clear if this interaction is a big concern.
  
  Some medications for high blood pressure include captopril (Capoten), enalapril (Vasotec), lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril), ramipril (Altace), and others.

cayenne pepper (capsicum) Dosing

The following doses have been studied in scientific research:

APPLIED TO THE SKIN:

• For pain, including arthritis, neuropathy, and fibromyalgia: Creams contain the active capsicum constituent capsaicin and are typically applied 3-4 times daily. It can take up to 14 days for maximum pain relief. Most creams contain 0.025% to 0.075% capsaicin concentrations. Higher power preparations may be used for diabetic neuropathy.
• For back pain: Capsicum-containing plasters providing 11 mg capsaicin/plaster or 22 mcg/cm2 of plaster applied have been used. The plaster is applied once daily in the morning and left in place for 4-8 hours.
• For prurigo nodularis: 0.025% to 0.3% of the active capsicum constituent capsaicin 4-6 times daily has been used.

Be sure to wash your hands after applying capsaicin cream. A diluted vinegar solution works well. You won’t be able to get the capsaicin off with just water. Don’t use capsicum preparations near the eyes or on sensitive skin. It could cause burning.

INSIDE THE NOSE:

• For cluster headache, 0.1 mL of a 10 mM capsaicin suspension, providing 300 mcg/day of capsaicin, applied to the nostril on the painful side of the head. Apply the suspension once daily until the burning sensation disappears. A capsaicin 0.025% cream (Zostrix, Rodlen Laboratories) applied daily for 7 days has been used to treat acute cluster headache attacks.

Putting capsaicin in the nose can be very painful, so a local painkilling medicine such as lidocaine is often put into the nose first.