Let Foods Be Your Medicine

The three herbs I am going to talk about are recognizable by most people as foods, confirming Dr. Christopher’s saying of “let foods be your medicine”.

Broad Bean is one that jumped out to me as I was not familiar with its medicinal use before adding the page. Broad Beans contain Lysine which helps to build immunity and combat and prevent fever blisters and herpes. Broad Beans contain L-dopamine, known to correct Parkinson's Disease and other shaking disorders. We have Broad Bean available in extract and bulk whole bean.


I love “juicing” but often don’t have the time to prepare the vegetables, much less juice them. Green smoothies are a much quicker option for me. But sometimes my green smoothies end up being a rather unattractive unappetizing color. I have found a great solution to the color problem and have been adding Beet root powder to my smoothies. Beet root is rich in minerals: potassium, phosphorus, calcium, sulfur, iodine, iron, manganese, chlorine, and copper, as well as traces of the rare metals rubidium and caesium; vitamins B1, B2, niacin, B6, B12, C, P, and beta carotene; flavonoids; and amino acids. I am adding a more palatable “color” to my smoothies as well as an abundance of nutrients. Beet root is available in bulk powder and vegicaps.

Another single bulk herb that I like to add to my smoothies to improve
the color as well as nutrient value is Acai Berry powder, though more often I add it to my Jurassic Green concoction for the added flavor. Acai Berry may be the world’s most powerful anti-aging food. Acai Berries possess an unmatched ability to absorb free radicals that attack the body and contribute to the aging process and disease. High in Anthocyanins which have been shown to restore mental function, concentration, memory and mental clarity. Due to their ability to protect the brain from free radical damage and their support of healthy, cellular tissue growth, anthocyanins are reputed to be one of the most valuable anti-aging antioxidants known. Acai Berry is available in organic bulk powder and vegicaps.

I hope that you will enjoy using these foods as herbs as much as I do. Broad Bean, Beet root and Acai Berry are just a few of the great herbs that we have available at Herbs First.

Order online or call 801-228-1901 to order.

Essential Oils for ADD/ADHD

I want to tell people about a great little essential oil for ADD/ADHD that has been added to Herbs First web site. Attention Deficit Disorder is close to my heart since I raised a very rambunctious ADD boy who is all grown up, yay! We worked on diet and used herbs to get him through his school years and I was quite relieved when he graduated from high school. He got married in December to a great gal and they love each other very much.

In a two year study (1999-2001) Dr. Terry Friedmann M. D. found significant results when children with ADD/ADHD were administered therapeutic essential oils by inhalation. The study was on children between ages six to fourteen. Each group was pre-tested using a baseline evaluation with real time EEG and the T.O.V.A. Scale. Each subject was tested on each oil for 30 days and then reevaluated, and then another oil was used for 30 days and reevaluated, until each of the oils had been tested.

The oil was administered by inhalation 3 times per day for 30 days. An inhalation device was also used at night to administer a continuous inhalation of oil. The inhalation of the oils settled the children’s brain waves back to normal patterns and improved scholastic performance and behavioral patterns.

Lavender increased performance by 53%

Cedarwood increased performance by 83%

Vetiver increased performance by 100%

Results with therapeutic-grade essential oils for ADD and ADHD may help with focus, learning, calming and grounding. I would certainly remove sugar, artificial sweeteners, flavors and colors, processed foods and high fructose corn syrup from the diet keeping in mind that diet is essential!

For my child I would use Vetiver on the bottom of both feet and especially the big toes, which is the brain reflex points, as well as on the temple area of the forehead and across the shoulders. I like to put about 10 drops of any carrier oil into my hand and add a few drops of the essential oil, mix and apply to the desired areas. I would diffuse the oil into the air at night. This is an easy and affordable alternative treatment for ADD/ADHD and would certainly be one to try on autistic children as well.

I would love to hear how Vetiver works for your kids.

Read: Back to school for the ADD/ADHD child & parents

Read: Making a Killing The Untold Story of Psychotropic Drugging. Herbal Formulas to use instead of medication.

Learn about the single oils and oil blends at this link

Order online or call 801-228-1901 to order.