Parsley (Petroselinum crispum)

Description:

Parsley is a biennial plant native to Greece. It forms rosettes of leaves 10–25 cm long with many small leaflets. It grows up to 80 cm.

Attributes:

Parsley herb is a diuretic and it is helpful in the treatment of several kidney diseases (gravel,  congestion, etc). 

It is high in iron content and rich in vitamins A, B, C and trace minerals.

”Apigenin, a chemical found in great quantities in parsley, has been found to have potent anti-cancer activity. It works by inhibiting the formation of new blood vessels that feed a tumor.^”  (Source: Wikipedia)

Usage:

Parsley is widely used in food recipes worldwide. It is often used as a garnish on fish, lamb, steaks and it constitutes a basic ingredient for many sauces. Parsley should not be consumed in excess by pregnant women.

Oregano (Origanum vulgare)

Description:

Oregano is a very common plant in Greece. It is a perennial herb, growing up to 80cm tall, with opposite leaves  up to 4cm long. It is often cultivated.

Attributes:

Oregano has a positive effect to stomach. It is also used to treat cold and fever.

“The main chemical constituents include carvacrol, thymol, limonene, pinene, ocimene, and caryophyllene. The leaves and flowering stems are strongly antiseptic, antispasmodic, carminative, cholagogue, diaphoretic, emmenagogue, expectorant, stimulant, stomachic and mildly tonic”. (Source: Wikipedia)

Usage:

Oregano is often used in tomato sauces, Greek salad and grilled meat. It is also added to the lemon-olive oil sauce that accompanies many fish. Oregano tea is traditionally used to treat colds.

Herbs in Ancient Greece (part 2)

According to many sources, It seems that ancient Greeks very often used various herbs, such as: Acanthus, Achilea, Adonis, Agimonia, Allium, Althea,   Barley, Basil, Bay, Blake Bryony, Blessed Thistle, Camomile, Capparis, Capsella. Cucumber, Cumin, Cyclamen, Colchicum, Conium, Dictamnus, Dill, Fenugreek, Garlic, Garden Cress, Germander, Hellebore, Hyssops, Malva, Marigold, Mint, Mistletoe, Mountain Tea, Olive oil, Onion, Oregano, Rubus, Salvia, St. John's wort, Thyme, Valeriana, Viola, Wake robin, Wormwood and many others as well!

Herbs in Ancient Greece (part 1)

In ancient Greece the use of herbs was very common. Many ancient Greek botanists based their medicine on herbs and it seems that they were aware of many herbal properties. One of them was Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine. 

Many ancient Greek physicians, philosophers and writers often mention in their scripts, herbs as being healing. Some of them are:

• Antiphanes of Berge
• Clearchus of Heraklia 
• Dioscorides
• Hesiod 
• Homer 
• LysimachusKalimachios
• Mithradates Eupator
• Phaenias of Eresus
• Ptolemeos
• Pythagoras of Samos 
• Sophocles
• Theophrastus

Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)

Description:

Ιt is a small plant native to Greece, widely cultivated for its spicy flavour and aromatic smell. It is found in dry and sunny places. It is a perennial with woody fibrous root, numerous stems and tiny leaves. The ancient Greeks used thyme in their baths.

Attributes:

Its main constituents are the phenols Thymol and Carvacrol.  Other constituents are Cymene, Pinene, Menthone, Borneol and Linalol. The medicinal actions of thyme are attributed to thymol and carvacrol.  “Before the advent of modern antibiotics, it was used to medicate bandages. It has also been shown to be effective against the fungus that commonly infects toenails. “(Source: Wikipedia)

Usage:

Wild thyme tea is recommended for cough and sore throat. It can be used externally in wound infections. Greeks often use thyme in recipes for all kinds of meat.

The Teabag Method (for Dark under Eye Circles)

The appearance of dark under eye circles is usually caused by lack of sleep. If you don’t get a lot of rest, you get easily tired and stressed out and eventually dark under eye circles appear.

Make sure you sleep at least 7 hours daily. Take some rest on the afternoon. 

Follow a balanced diet (including many fruits and vegetables). 

Don’t forget to drink 8 glasses of water daily.

You can also follow the teabag method:

Brew a cup of mountain tea, remove the teabag and allow it to cool. Then gently place it on your eyes, leave it for 10 minutes, remove the teabag and rinse the eye area.

Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis)

Description:

Lemon balm is a perennial herb in the mint family Lamiaceae, native to Greece known with the name Melissa (it means 'honey bee' in Greek). It is found mainly in forest areas. It is also cultivated as it is very easily grown. Lemon balm grows up to 1.50 m tall. It has small white flowers that attract honey bees and leaves that smell like lemon.

Attributes:

“Melissa officinalis contains; 1-octen-3-ol, 10-alfa-cadinol, 3-octanol, 3-octanone, Alfa- cubebene, Alfa-humulene, Beta-bourbonene, Caffein acid, Caryofyllene, Caryofyllene-oxyde, Catechinene, Chlorogenic acid, Cis-3-hexenol, Cis-ocimene, Citral-A, Citral-B, Citronellal, Copaene, Delta-cadinene, Eugenyl-acetate, Gamma-cadinene, Geranial, Geraniol, Geranyl-acetate, Germacrene-D, Isogeranial, Linalool, Luteolin-7-glucoside, Methyl-heptenone, Neral, Nerol, Octyl-benzoate, Oleanolic acid, Pomolic acid, Protocatechuic acid, Rhamnazine, Rosmarin acid, Rosmarinin acid, Stachyose, Succinic acid, Thymol, Trans- ocimene and Ursolic acid.” (Wikipedia). 

                                                                                                                                       

Usage:

Lemon balm is used as a herbal tea; use 1 tablespoon of dried leaves or 2 tablespoons of fresh leaves for each cup of boiling water, you can add honey and lemon.
 

Melissa is an excellent herb for stress problems. It has been used as a sedative, as an antispasmodic and it also has antibacterial properties. Many people use it in Greek villages in cases dyspepsia.

Deep Cleaning Clay Facial Mask

When they have to deal with dead skin cells, the first solution most women turn to is the latest revolutionary skin product. Before spending your money, it may be in your best interest to try out this natural mask:

Ingredients:

1/4 of an apple

1 tablespoon oatmeal

1 tablespoon honey

Mix all the ingredients in a small bowl and make a paste. Then apply it to your face. Leave the mask on for 10 minutes and then rinse off.

Facial Mask that Smoothes the skin

Why pay for a face mask when you can make your own simple, hydrating mask? All you want is:

      

• 1 medium avocado
• 1 small banana
• 1 tablespoon of organic yogurt
• 1 tablespoon of olive oil
• 1 tablespoon of chopped cucumber

Process all the ingredients in a blender. Apply the paste on clean face. Leave the mask on for 20 minutes.  Wipe it off, rinse with warm water and then close your pores with a cold water rinse.

Aloe Vera

Description:
Aloe vera is a very short stemmed plant that looks like cactus. It is a member of Liliceae family. It grows up to 50–100 cm tall, with thick grey-green leaves. It was long known to the ancient Greeks (Dioscorides mentions that ancient Greeks often used aloe vera gel, in order to heal skin diseases).

Attributes:

Aloe gel has antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral compounds that help prevent wound infections; this is why it is used widely for the treatment of burns and skin afflictions. It can also be used as a moisturizer for oily skin. “Aloe vera juice is used for relief of digestive issues such as heartburn and irritable bowel syndrome although it bears significant potential to be toxic when taken orally”(Wikipedia). 

Usage:
This herb is widely used by cosmetic companies in the  production of many everyday products (tissues, shampoos, soaps, etc)

Aloe vera gel can be used externally to heal wounds of many kinds. 
Aloe juice should not be taken internally especially during pregnancy or menstruation, or in cases of rectal bleeding. Nursing mothers should avoid internal use of aloe.

Another -easy to make- Face Mask

This mask is extremely effective for wrinkles.   

Chop 2 bananas in order to make a paste and apply it on clean face in smooth motions. Leave the mask on for 20 minutes. Wipe it off, rinse with warm water and then close your pores with a cold water rinse.

Basil

Description:

Basil is a herb native to the Mediterranean that grows up to 80cm. It is widely cultivated in many countries.

 

Attributes:

Basil improves appetite and relieves intellectual fatigue. It is carminative and disinfectant. It has also been used for melancholy and depression.

Usage:

The green leaves of basil have been making their mark on the beauty industry.  Basil extracts are often used in shampoos and bath soaps. Basil is also used in crèmes for moisturized skin.

Basil is frequently used in tomato sauces and It is the main ingredient of pesto sauce.
The fresh picked leaves of this herb make a tasty and refreshing tea.

Natural Silky Hair

If you want to make your hair look soft and silky, you can prepare a recipe that is well known in Greek villages. You will need:

• 2 tablespoons of honey
• 3 tablespoons of olive oil

Mix the ingredients and apply on hair. Wrap the hair with a towel and let it rest for 10 -15 minutes. Then, shampoo and rinse your hair.

Face Mask from Cucumber (for oily skin types)

Cucumber is a plant native to the Mediterranean well known to the ancient Greeks and Roman that used to cultivate it as a vegetable. The cucumber (Cucumis sativus) is nowadays the fourth most widely cultivated vegetable in the world (next to onions, tomatoes and cabbage).

You can make a beauty mask from cucumber that will ease many signs of fatigue.  

You will need the following ingredients:

• 2 organic cucumbers
• 2 tablespoons of milk

Mix cucumbers and milk together in order to make a paste. Apply to face and leave the mask on for 40 minutes.  Wipe it off and rinse with warm water.

Beauty Mask from Tomato (normal skin types)

Tomatoes contain large amounts of vitamins such as A, C, E and minerals such as iron and potassium, which help nourish the skin.

Make a smooth paste from 2 medium sized organic tomatoes and a small sized organic lemon and apply to face. After 25 minutes, rinse your face completely, tone and moisturize.

Tomatoes can also help skin remove excess oil and refine the pores.

Prepare a Relaxing Bath with Lavender leaves

A warm bath can help relax stressed nerves and improve your health. The temperature for your relaxing bath should be around 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Just drop in the water 2-3 tablespoons of fresh lavender leaves or 5-6 drops of lavender essential oil. 


Enjoy your relaxing bath for not more than 20 or 30 minutes and then blot yourself dry and apply a natural moisturizer.

Lavender has antiseptic and medicinal characteristics and it is used widely for its calming qualities.

Honey Face Mask

This is a very easy to make mask. You will need:

• 4 tablespoons of honey
• 1/2 cup of organic yogurt
• A few fresh parsley leaves

 Mix together all the ingredients and apply to a clean face in smooth motions. Leave the mask on for 20 minutes.  Wipe it off, rinse with warm water and then close your pores with a refreshing cold water rinse.

Honey will deliver basic nutrients to your skin.

Face Mask from Strawberries (for all skin types)

This mask will make your skin glow. It will also ease many signs of fatigue. You can make this mask with the following - easy to find – ingredients:

Strawberries (1/2 cup)
Cornstarch (1/4 cup)

Mix strawberries and cornstarch together in order to make a paste. Apply a thick layer of the face mask to the face in smooth motions. Leave the mask on for 20 minutes.  Wipe it off, rinse with warm water and then close your pores with a refreshing cold water rinse.




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