KAVA KAVA (PIPER MENTHYSTICUM)
This perennial herb is from the PIPER family. Its name is from the Greek language meaning "Intoxicating Beverage". Kava is one of the more popular herbs today. It is also known as Kava Kava, Wati, Yogona and Waka. The roots of the Kava plant are used medicinally.
HISTORY: Kava originated in the Polynesian Islands of the South Pacific. Crushed Kava steeped into water makes a potent drink, which is drank recreationally like alcohol. It does not have the unpleasant side effects though, nor does it have any addictive properties. Its use does cause the drinkers mouth and tongue to become numb for a time. It is also said, that Kava can be used as a drinkable truth serum!
INTERNAL USE: This herb can be taken as a tea, tincture, tablet or in capsule form. It acts like a natural sleeping agent and helps asthma, bedwetting, bronchitis, gout, insomnia, rheumatism and urinary tract infections. It also relaxes muscles and reduces anxiety.
EXTERNAL USE: Kava can help heal cuts, scrapes and wounds. It can also be used as a mouthwash to ease the pain of a toothache.
KELP
This herb is from the LAMINARIA family and the whole plant is used medicinally. Kelp is one of the most nutritional of all herbs. It has vitamins A, B complex, C, E and K and contains over 30 minerals as well! The richest concentrations of compounds are iodine, calcium, sulfur and silicon. This herb also has phosphorus, iron, sodium, potassium, magnesium, chlorine, copper, zinc and manganese as well as trace amounts of barium, boron, chromium, lithium, nickel, silver, titanium, vanadium, aluminum, strontium, bismuth, cobalt, gallium, tin and zirconium. This large assortment of elements enables Kelp to provide a very wide range of all the nutrients that the human body needs to properly work.
INTERNAL USE: The iodine in Kelp helps to rejuvenate the human endocrine system, chiefly the pituitary, pinal, thyroid, hypothalamus and lymph glands. It also has alginic acid, which absorbs toxins in the human body so they can be more easily eliminated. It has protective properties against radiation and heavy metals poisoning. Kelp helps to stimulate the thyroid gland, and helps to normalize the metabolism of the body. It has sodium alginate, which bonds with radioactive Strontium-90, and helps carry it out of the body.
VITAMIN K
Menadione, Menaquinone, Phylloquinone
RDA – 80 mcg
CAN PREVENT –
- Osteoporosis because necessary in formation of osteocalcin-protein in bone tissue on which calcium crystallizes
- Infection in children by boosting resistance
- Cancers that target the inner linings of organs
ALSO –
- Needed for production of prothrombin which is necessary for blood clotting
- Essential in bone repair and formation
- Important role in the intestines
- Aids in converting glucose into glycogen for storage in the liver
- Promotes healthy liver function
- Aids in promoting longevity
- Essential in blood clotting
DEFICIENCY SYMPTOMS-
Bruises, nosebleeds, blood in urine, intestinal bleeding
DEFICIENCY RISK –
Gastrointestinal disease, cholesterol medication use, antibiotic use, anti-seizure medication use, chemotherapy patients, diet low in vegetables
SOURCES –
Asparagus, blackstrap molasses, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, dark green leafy vegetable, egg yolks, liver, oatmeal, oats, rye, safflower oil, soybeans, wheat
Herbs – alfalfa, green tea, kelp, nettle, oat straw, shepherd’s purse.
SUPPLEMENTS-
Not usually necessary due to food content and because vitamin K is synthesized by "friendly" bacteria present in the intestines; do not supplement if taking blood thinning medications
OTHER –
Caution – do not take large doses of synthetic vitamin K during the last weeks of pregnancy, can result in toxic reaction in newborn; mega-doses can result in skin flushing and sweating due to accumulation.
