Plant & Herbal Medicine

For red and itchy eyes due to allergies, try boiling chrysanthemum leaves in warm water for 20 minutes. After the water cools, use it as an eye wash.

Although there are many 'alternative' ways to relieve rheumatic and arthritic pain, another one cropped up recenty. Red bell peppers/capsicums can be crushed and mixed with a gel or cream to make a pain relief cream/gel/ointment for arthritic and rheumatic joints. It's a similar action to chillies, but with a different slant. Something to do with the capsaicin in the peppers, we're told.

Still prefer treatments that work on the whole system, but some forms of arthritis and rheumatism, including rheumatoid arthritis, may be beyond complete healing after a while.

I've noticed recently that Açaí products from Brazil are popping up everywhere in grocery stores. I've heard that Açaí berries are high in antioxidants and will give you a lot of energy. I've seen a lot of juices and smoothies with Açaí, but not any food products. I'm wondering if you could make Açaí muffins...just not sure where to get the berries in wholel form.