Paths To Power

Growing Herbs Indoors Year Round

by Alison Agnock

When it is cold outside, most people do not  want to go out to try to garden. But  even though it is cold, people still want to garden all the same. This is one reason why indoor gardening has  become so popular. Plants that are  fairly easy to grow successfully indoors are herbs.

Not only beautiful to look at and fragrant,  you can also eat them. Give year-round  indoor herb gardening a try, and you will be hooked.

You can either start your herbs from seed  or purchase plant starts at a nursery, or even hardware and grocery stores in  season. Starting seeds is very cost  effective, and you have a much wider selection of varieties from which to  choose, but it does take longer to get from a seed to an edible plant. If you want to enjoy your plants sooner, then  look for plant starts instead.

Some herbs can grow in a sunny window with  just the natural light that is available.  Herbs like mint, rosemary and oregano work well in this type of  light. However, if you wish to grow  plants like basil or cilantro, then you will need to make sure that you give  them extra artificial light, or they will not survive in the lower-light  levels.

There are a couple of different options for  lighting herbs with artificial light.  Fluorescent grow lights can work well for this purpose, as can metal  halide HID lamps. Other specific types include solarmax grow lamps, chrome dome grow lights and hortilux grow lights. Both fluorescent and HID types of light  offer the blue color spectrum needed for early plant growth, and the red and  orange spectrum, which plants need to flower properly. Both types of lights require electrical  ballasts or digital ballasts to control the flow of the electrical current in  the bulb, and they can be included inside the light fixture or they can be a  separate component used in conjunction with the light bulb and light fixture.

Herbs can be annuals, biennials or  perennials. Annuals complete their  entire life cycle of germination, growth and reproduction in one year, whereas  perennials will live for many years and repeat their life cycle. Biennials live for two seasons, where they  grow in the first and bloom in the second.  To help you decide which ones to grow, think about the types of foods  you enjoy cooking, and what types of herbs you typically use to flavor them as  a good way to start. Some herbs are  fairly easy to grow, including annual basil, dill and summer savory. Parsley is a biennial, and also easy to  grow. Beginners also usually have good  luck growing perennial mint, thyme, winter savory, marjoram and chives indoors. The perennial herbs can survive for several  years, and they like to go outside in the summer if possible.

Alison Agnock is an expert in gardening topics such as hydroponic gardening, fluorescent grow lights and hydroponic grow lights.

Article Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/Growing-Herbs-Indoors-Year-Round/173318

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Learning Some More about Common Medicinal Herbs

by Anne Harvester

As long have people have tried to cure diseases, they have continuously studied the beneficial properties of organic herbs.  They found that different bulk herbs and bulk spices work wonders for a whole variety of illnesses while also helping to maintain proper health. These organic herbs were gathered and cultivated in the homes and kitchens of every family.  Their benefits couldn't be disputed. As more and more healing properties are being discovered, the use of dried herbs for medicine has quickly spread.

By now the benefits of organic herbs and their effects are well documented. Medical professional and alternative medicine practitioners are beginning to give herbal medicine more credit and more respect as more positive revelations are being discovered about dried herbs. Chinese culture has always used forms of herbal medicine as part of their daily treatment for centuries upon centuries.  Different illnesses and ailments now have their own herbal treatment solutions.

Another popular choice for bulk herbs is Aloe Vera.  This multi purpose, wonder treatment is great for dealing with ailments ranging from arthritis, spots, growth, to allergic reactions. Lavender organic herbs help with arthritis, as well. Other dried herbs are frequently recommended for helping with a wide variety of problems such as treating infections, stomach pain and pulmonary infections. The herb, St. John's Wort, is thought to be a significant treatment for mild to moderate levels of sadness.

Let's not forget about the anti-inflammatory properties of Devil's Claw. These organic herbs are great from alleviating the arthritis pain, even though it technically has not been medically proven. Everyone who has used these bulk herbs have said its analgesic anti-rheumatoid properties worked wonders in soothing their pain.

Anyone who suffers from daily tiredness can be helped by periwinkle or dandelion. Plus, periwinkle is also great for easing the symptoms of menopause. This just goes to show that there are many herbal remedies used by people across the world.  All claim that their remedies are more effective than the next.

Some organic herbs come with strange names, such as dog grass root.  It all depends on where the herbs or bulk spices are commonly found. 

The dog grass rhizome, for example, is commonly used as a tea for the treatment of urinary infections. It's active ingredient, Agropyrene, is an oil which has shown to possess powerful antibiotic properties.  You can probably find dog grass under its alternative name of couch grass.

No matter how many health benefits many of these organic herbs hold, there is an overwhelming consensus that more investigation should be carried out and these old remedies studied.  The more we understand just what makes them beneficial to us, the greater the chance we have of pinpointing it and harvesting it for a greater good.

As an herbalist who spends her time learning about the properties of organic herbs and bulk spices, Anne Harvester has a thorough knowledge of dried herbs and it's uses. Annes advice for purchasing herbs and spices in bulk can save you time and money.

Article Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/Learning-Some-More-about-Common-Medicinal-Herbs/525545

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Herbal and plant remedies

by Jiffy

Herbal and plant remedies are an option known to mankind for ages now. An alternative form of treatment, this line of alternative cure has been present for years. However, due to the lack of knowledge and unavailability of the specific details regarding the herbal medicines and their effects, the remedies have not been very popular.

They have been in use in countries like India and China for centuries now; however, their use in the western world was limited. The western world is now gaining more awareness regarding the benefits of natural remedies and is exploring the world of nature"�'s medicine. The main attraction about natural remedies medicine is the fact that you have cures to almost all diseases without any side effects. These herbal treatments do not use any chemicals that can cause any side effects.

For those who have had to take drugs on a regular basis due to the nature of their ailment, natural remedies come as a big relief. These drugs offer a natural cure and in no way cause any harm to your body. If you are worried about popping pills, the answer to your problems lies in herbal remedies  a solution that does not have any kind of side effects.

Herbs of different kinds act differently providing relief from several diseases. The different parts of an herb are used for developing a cure for different diseases. From the root, stems, leaves to the flowers provide effective remedies for the treatment of different illnesses.  There are herbal treatments and flower remedies that work as supplements, astringents, diuretics, laxatives and other cures depending on the herb that you choose to use. Herbal or natural remedies are available for diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, heart ailments, psoriasis, weight loss, backaches and even for treating the symptoms of menopause. The list of ailments that herbal remedies can provide a solution to is truly unlimited. It is an effective cure that is provided by nature herself.

With herbal remedies now becoming an accepted and popular mode of treatment, there are several companies involved in the field of research. The companies with their excellent research and development facilities are able to carry out extensive research and gain insight into the uses of an herb and the diseases that they can provide a cure for. There are reputed renowned brands that have made an entry on the scene and backed by their experience and expertise offer you an authentic natural remedy that has no side effects. There are herbal tinctures and other medicines that are produced using the different parts of herbs. 

With natural remedies there are specialists who provide you information and cure the herbal way. You would be able to find an herbal expert who would be to guide you regarding the herbal treatment that you should adopt. The herbal expert would be able to prescribe you a suitable natural remedy that would cure you of your ailment without any kind of side effects.

The Author writes for health articles. The author gives valuable information about natures medicine, herbal tinctures, antiseptic cream and natural remedies which are available at healthinajiffy.co.uk

Article Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/Herbal-and-plant-remedies/289411

The Many Uses of Herbs

by Herbal_Gardening

Herbs have been known for its many uses since ancient times. They are generally used for cooking (chefs would use them to decorate in plates or for garnishing), for its medicinal purposes and even for pest control. There are a lot of ways where one can grow an herb garden. It can be indoor or at some area outside the garden. But just like any other plants, herbs grow as annuals, perennials, shrubs and trees. In growing your herbs, you will need a well-drained soil for it to grow perfectly. Herbs often don't need fertilizers. Herbs can grow well in a sunny location although some prefer full shade.

Herbs can be grown into a home garden or they can also be grown from seeds. If you choose to grow them from seeds, it is best to put them in a shallow pot or box in the late winter. Proper use of light can also be a big factor in growing your herbs. Make sure not to cover the whole seed with soil as herbs don't have a deep root base. Although most herbs can be grown from seeds, few of them don't transplant well such as dill, fennel, coriander and anise and can only be planted directly into the garden.

In conclusion, herb gardening can be very easy and worthwhile. It can be rewarding to grow herbs for its many uses and benefits. It is best to get all the information you need and better understand everything about herbs before starting your own herbal gardening. You may make use of resources like eBooks that are being provided by some herbal gardening sites where you can easily download information or subscribe to email newsletters.

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Author's Bio:

Kevin J. Smalley is an Herb Enthusiast and Expert. For more information about how to grow herbs and other home herb gardening tips, feel free to visit his site at: http://www.herbalgardeningonline.com. Sign up for a FREE Herbal Gardening Online Mini-Course and learn more about how to successfully raise your own herb garden!

Article Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/The-Many-Uses-of-Herbs/752907

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Bathing With Essential Oils From Herbs

by Sharon Hopkins

Imagine your self floating in a gigantic bathtub full of herbs hugging your skin; its magical powers take away your tensions, worries and transforming you to feel complete and new.

Bath is calming way to relax in today's fast paced stressful life. It is a soothing way to start a new day and blissful send-off to bed. Herbs and its essential oils soothes aching muscles, tense nerves, skin irritations, softens skin and ensures peaches and roses complexion.

Set the stage for your bath with a clean fresh bathroom. Keep clean towels, bath gels, herbs, loofah, etc handy. Choose relaxing music, light aromatic candles around you. All in all make sure that everything you need for your luxury is within arms reach.

While filling tub with warm water, create a bag of your favourite herbs to be used in bathing. It is ideal that you give your skin a quick loofah brush head to toe before you start. To create an herb bag, fill muslin cloth or even an old stocking with your favourite herbs. Dip it in your bath, letting the herbs gently soak in the water. Bath salts, citrus leaves, dried rose petals, dried lavender flowers to name a few to create an herb bag. If you don't have the fondness of creating your own bag of herbs, you can definitely buy ready made herb bags.

Not more than 5 drops of essential oils should be used in a bath. Dilute it with milk or carrier oil. Common herbs and its essential oils used in bath for calming properties.

- Black Pepper � relief for aching muscles

- Clary Sage - as a perk me up and premenstrual tension

- Eucalyptus - for respiratory problems

- Geranium - for very dry or itchy skin, eczema and PMS

- Jasmine - when you wish to feel luxurious

- Lavender - dry skin, eczema, sprains, hot flashes, headaches, over work, insomnia

- Orange - to pep you up

- Rosemary - to get you going in the morning, a quick pick-me-up in the evening. Also good for aches and sore muscles.

- Chamomile, Lavender or roses are good for dry, delicate or irritated skin.

- Rosemary, Calendula and Thyme for oily skin.

- Lemon Balm - good for hyperactive children

- Citrus & Lavender - soothing and therapeutic properties

- Ylang Ylang - exfoliates and moisturizes the skin

- Apricot and Amber - moisturises, restores softness and suppleness to skin.

- Chamomile - aids in relief of aching muscles and nervousness

- Eucalyptus - opens the pores and the vapours from the bath help to clear the breathing passages.

Make sure that your bath time is a time of solitude. Just let yourself luxuriate in the watery haven. And don't forget to put a "Do Not Disturb" sign on the door.

Sharon Hopkins manages aromatherapies sites providing Aromatherapy recipes for skin care, beauty and hygiene, emotional and physical well-being. The aromatherapy oils make useful moisturizers having good penetrative properties.

Article Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/Bathing-With-Essential-Oils-From-Herbs/12520

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Food Therapy In Chinese Medicine

by Stephen Lau

Hippocrates, the father of medicine, once said: "Let food be your medicine, and your medicine be your food." Food therapy is the foundation of Chinese medicine.

For thousands of years, Chinese medicine has focused on food cures.

One of the major differences between Chinese medicine and Western medicine with regard to food therapy is that the former uses diet to prevent and cure illness, while the latter seldom uses foods for symptomatic treatment of disease, other than using diet exclusively for treating obesity problems.

Another major difference is that Chinese medicine takes into consideration not just the nutrients of foods, such as carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins and minerals, but also the flavors, the energies, and the movements of foods in relation to different body organs.

In Chinese medicine, foods have five flavors: bitter, pungent, salty, sour, and sweet. Flavors in foods don't just give you the taste: they have an impact on your internal organs.

Foods with bitter taste, such as bitter melon (Chinese vegetable), lettuce, and radish, affect your heart and small intestine. Such foods reduce your body heat and dry your body fluids.

This explains why herbs used to treat fever and diarrhea always taste bitter because of their "drying" effect.

Foods, such as chive, clove, coriander, ginger, parsley and peppermint, have a pungent flavor, which acts on your lungs and large intestine. Foods with pungent flavor induce perspiration and promote energy circulation.

Foods with salty flavor, such as salt, kelp, and seaweed, affect your kidneys and bladder. Salty foods can soften hardness, and therefore they are ideal for treating symptoms involving the hardening of muscles.

Foods, which are sour in taste, such as mango, lemon, pear, and plum, affect your liver and gall bladder. Such foods obstruct movements, and are therefore ideal for treating diarrhea and controlling excessive sweating.

Foods with a sweet flavor are sugar, banana, beef, chestnut, and watermelon, and they affect your stomach and spleen. These foods slow down acute symptoms and neutralize the toxic effects from other foods. In Western medicine, sweet foods make you gain weight because they are often loaded with "empty calories." From the perspective of Chinese medicine, sweet foods affect your stomach and spleen, weakening your digestive functions, and therefore making you eat more and gain more.

It should be noted that some foods have more than one flavor, and this is not uncommon. Beef is sweet, while pork is both salty and sweet.

According to Chinese medicine, foods are also considered for their energies because they generate heat or cold; that is to say, they give sensation of heat or cold to the human body. For example, if you drink a glass of cold water, you body feels cold; but that sensation is only temporary, while the sensations from foods are more lasting.

The foods, whether they are hot or cold, have a more lasting sensation on your body. Foods have five energies: hot, cold, warm, cool, and neutral. Tea, for example, gives cold energy, even if it is hot tea. Pepper provides hot energy, even if it is chilled. Chicken gives warm energy, and corn has neutral energy, that is, neither hot or cold. Accordingly, if your arthritis pain is more acute and severe in cold winter days, then you should take more foods that provide hot or warm energy to reduce the cold in your joints.

Furthermore, foods have four movements: the outward movement that induces perspiration and reduces pain; the inward movement that eases bowel movements and abdominal pain; the upward movement that relieves diarrhea; and the downward movement that stops vomiting or asthma.

Chinese medicine is based on balance and harmony, in which food therapy plays a pivotal role through its flavors, energies and movements. For thousands of years, the Chinese have used food science for food cures.

Copyright (c) 2009 Stephen Lau

For more information on how to be healthy the Oriental way, go to Stephen Lau's websites: The Seven Pillars of Wisdom; and Are You Healthy?. Stephen Lau is a writer and researcher with websites on longevity, eating disorders, mental depression, Chinese natural healing and Zen health.

Article Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/Food-Therapy-In-Chinese-Medicine/758167

Herb Gardening For Beginners

by Josh Newsbomsdy

If you’re not the type of person that wants to spend their time managing an elaborate fruit or vegetable garden, you might consider planting and maintaining an herb garden. While the product might not seem as significant, you’ll still enjoy the constant availability of fresh, delicious herbs to flavor your meals with.  First you’ll want to choose the herbs that you’ll plant. You might have a hard time doing this because of the huge scope of herbs  vailable. But the best way to choose is to do what I did; just look at what you have in your kitchen. By planting your own collection of these herbs, you can save money on buying them from the grocery store while having the added benefit of freshness. Some of the herbs you might start with include rosemary, sage, basil, dill, mint, chives, and parsley among others. When choosing an area to put your herb garden, you should remember that the soil should have extremely good drainage. If the dirt gets watered and stays completely saturated, you have no chance of ever growing a healthy plant. One of the best ways to fix the drainage problem is to dig a foot deep in the soil, and put a layer of crushed rocks down before replacing all the soil. This will allow all that water to escape, thus saving your plants.
 
When you are ready to begin planting herbs, you might be tempted to buy the more expensive plants from the store. However, with herbs it is much easier to grow them from seed than it is with other plants. Therefore you can save a bundle of money by sticking with seed packets. Some herbs grow at a dangerously fast rate. For example, if you plant a mint plant in an open space then it will take over your entire garden in a matter of days.
The best way to prevent this problem is to plant the more aggressive plants in pots (with holes in the bottom to allow drainage, of course). When it comes time to harvest the herbs you have laboured so hard over, it can be fatal to your plant to take off too much. If your plant isn’t well established, it isn’t healthy to take any leaves at all, even if it looks
like its not using them. You should wait until your plant has been well established for at least several months before taking off any leaves. This wait will definitely be worth it, because by growing unabated your plant will produce healthily for years to come. Once you’ve harvested your delicious home grown herbs, you’ll want to use them in cooking. Why else would you have grown them? Well first the process begins with drying them out. This is easily achieved by placing them on a cookie sheet and baking them 170 degrees Fahrenheit for 2 to 4 hours. After they’re sufficiently dried to be used in cooking, you can consult the nearest cookbook for instructions on using them to effectively flavour a dish. If you want to store your herbs for later usage, you should keep them in a
plastic or glass container. Paper or cardboard will not work, because it will absorb the taste of the herbs. During the first few days of storage, you should regularly check the container and see if any moisture has accumulated. If it has, you must remove all the herbs and re-dry them. If moisture is left from the first drying process, it will encourage mildew while you store your herbs. Nobody likes mildew.  So if you enjoy herbs or gardening, or both, then you should probably consider setting up an herb garden. It might require a little bit of work at first to set it up for optimal drainage, and pick what herbs you want to grow. But after the initial hassle, it’s just a matter of harvesting and drying all your favorite herbs.

Peter Papaogas is an expert in Herb growing and Herb Gardens. With many years of experience in growing herbs the author has compiled an extensive resource of knowledge in regards to growing and cooking with herbs.

Article Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/Herb-Gardening-For-Beginners/386477

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Basics You Need To Know With Indoor Herb Gardening

by Lian Vaiphei

For many reasons, indoor herb gardening is becoming more popular among herb gardening enthusiast. Few of the popular reasons are lack of outdoor space, for ultimate convenience, and the ability to grow your family's favorite herbs indoors on the windowsill or even in small containers.

For many reasons, it is very helpful for gardeners to grow herbs indoors as well. Herbs can be used for potpourri, to give food flavor, for medical reasons, for tea, and also to keep pest out of their herb gardens. People create herb gardens to fit one of those uses or they can mix it up and get herbs that serve different purposes. Herbs can be grown in the same garden as other plants are and they can be grown inside in an indoor herb garden.

There are several different ways you can grow herbs indoors, like having one inside in your kitchen or having a garden in your windowsill. For a small family, all you need to grow your herbs is four to six feet of earth or a few containers. Even though it is very popular to use herbs as culinary herbs, or herbs used for cooking, some herbs are grown because they smell really good or because they are beautiful.

When you plant your herbs indoor, you need to use soil that is well-drained. If the soil you are using is too heavy or is compacted, then you might want to add some organic material to it.

You don't need to use fertilizers. Many herbs like the sun, but some will like the shade better. Many herbs will develop well if they have shade in the afternoon.

Amazingly, there aren't many insects or diseases that herbs have to worry about. When the weather is hot and dry, you might find red spider mites on plants growing low to the ground and you also might find aphids on the caraway, dill, fennel, or anise.

You can purchase herbs and plan them in your indoor herb garden or you can grow them from seeds. It is spectacular and it makes you feel good to see your plant grow from a seed. You will be a part of each step of the seeds growth, from the time it first starts to grow until it dies. It is even more rewarding to grow an herb from a tiny seed than it is to grow other plants because you can use the herb. Most herbs can be grown from seeds.

In late winter, you should put your seed in a small box or pot. Make sure to have your herbs grow in soil that is not heavy but well-drained.

Because the herb's roots will not go down very far, don't put a lot of soil over your seed. You should plant the seed shallow. Keep this rule in mind: the tinier the seed, the shallower the seed should be.

In the spring, you will be able to transplant your herb to the outdoor garden or place them in your windowsill. Even though you can grow your herb from a seed, sometimes you will not be able to transplant them very well. If you are growing herbs like fennel, dill, coriander, or fennel, then you need to plant them in the garden to start with.

Although growing herbs indoor is extremely easy, there is a ton of information that you should know and understand about indoor herb gardening. Your first step was this article, but you need to find out more information to know everything you should.

Lian Vaiphei is an herb expert. For more great information on indoor herb gardening, visit http://www.indoor-herb-gardening.com.

Article Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/Basics-You-Need-To-Know-With-Indoor-Herb-Gardening/767504

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Rhodiola Rosea, ther Herbal Answer to Stress and Anxiety

by Keith Woolley.

Rhodiola  or Rhodiola Rosea root, is a native of arctic Siberia. Historically it has been used by European and Asian peoples to aid physical endurance, work fatigue, extending longevity, giving resistance to altitude sickness, and helping to treat fatigue, depression, anemia, impotence, gastrointestinal ailments, infections, and nervous system disorders.

The first recorded medicinal applications of rodia riza (renamed Rhodiola Rosea) was made by the Greek physician, Dioscorides, in 77 C.E. in 'De Materia Medica'. Rhodiola Rosea has been included in official Russian medicine since 1969.

Even despite its very long history, the Western world has only just become aware of the health benefits of Rhodiola Rosea. It has come to the attention of many alternative health practitioners because of studies which demonstrated its affects on combating anxiety and stress.

Rhodiola Rosea Root is now considered an adaptogen. This defines how it has an overall stabilizing effect on the body without disrupting other functions. Its ability to normalize hormones  in the body suggest it may be effective for treating depression and anxiety.

Studies of the amazinly versitile Rhodiola Rosea demonstrate that it enhances neurotransmitters and adds to their effects on the brain. This includes the ability for the brain to process serotonin which helps the body to adapt to stress.

Since adaptogens improve the body's overall ability to handle stress, it has been studied to identify it's effects on biological, chemical and physical stress.

A favourable study was commisioned  to demonstrate the effects of Rhodiola Rosea when students are under stress is caused by intense mental work (such as final exams). Such studies concluded that using Rhodiola Rosea improved the amount and quality of work, increasing mental clarity and reducing the effects of fatigue.

The effects of Rhodiola Rosea have also been demonstrated on stress and anxiety from both physical and emotional sources. A report by the American Botanical Council concluded that "Many users find that it (Rhodiola) improves both their mood, energy level, and mental clarity." They also reported on a study that indicated

Rhodiola Rosea could increase stress tolerance while at the same time protecting the brain and heart from the physical affects of stress.

This report included details of studies which highlight the overall health benefits of Rhodiola Rosea.

The generally recommended dose is 200-600mg/day. The active properties should be a minimum 0.8 percent salidroside and 3 percent rosavin.

It is important for anyone considering the benefits of Rhodiola that it may be sold using other species that do not share the properties of Rhodiola Rosea, or at strengths considered innefective for treatment. Anyone with  chronic depression or serious anxiety should also check with a health professional when treating these symptoms.

The more authentic information about Rhodiola you research and absorb, the more likely people are to consider you a Rhodiola Rosea expert. Read on for even more Rhodiola Rosea facts that you can share with your friends.  So that's the latest from the Rhodiola authorities and researchers. Once you're familiar with these ideas, you'll be ready to move to the next level. 

For more information, visit rhodiola.co.uk

Keith Woolley is Herbal Advisor of Boots Herbal Stores, in Staffordshire, UK. Rhodiola Rosea is one of the herbs that is now realising world wide attention.  For more Information on Rhodiola

Rosea Click Here. Finally, take care of inferior brands and potencies that may not be be effective. This article is available as a unique content article with free reprint rights.

Article Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/Rhodiola-Rosea--ther-Herbal-Answer-to-Stress-and-Anxiety/265748