Celiac Disease can be defined as a permanent intolerance to the gliadin fraction of wheat protein and related alcohol-soluble proteins (called prolamines) found in rye and barley. Celiac Disease is found in genetically susceptible individuals who eat these proteins, leading to an autoimmune disease, where the body’s immune system starts attacking normal tissue. This condition continues as long as these food products are in the diet.   

For those who have been diagnosed with the disease or intolerance there are many resources today to help in all aspects of living with celiac/gluten intolerances. Blogs are dedicated to gluten-free recipes  and living tips.  You can also add gluten-free cookbooks to your kitchen , ask local restaurants for gluten-free items as many now can accommodate if they do not already have a separate section on their menu, and  gluten-free iPhone apps  are available and this one is on sale for May in recognition of Celiac Awareness Month.

Hanna Kroeger  developed a formula many years ago that promoted good digestive system maintenance and to keep the intestinal wall and villi healthy.  People with Celiac Disease can have damaged intestinal walls resulting from auto-immune disorders that attack the intestinal lining and villi.  Since this is where nutrients from our food intake are absorbed it is essential to a healthy system to maintain functioning intestines.                                                        

Whether your friends, family or you have or have not had experiences with gluten issues please take some time to spread the word  and do your part.

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The following is a list of herbs and their properties to be aware of when a woman is pregnant.  Please remember that most of these are fine in small doses or when taken just as needed and not continuously.  There are varying degrees of caution for using these herbs, but is fairly complete in the need to pay attention to them.

• Agave (Agave spp) – strong bitter, laxative
• Alder buckthorn (Rhamnus frangula) – cathartic, laxative
• Angelica (Angelica archangelica) – emmenagogue
• Arbor vitae (Thuja occidentalis) – abortifacient
• Autumn Crocus (Colchicum autumnate) – teratogenic damage
• Barberry (Berberis vulgaris) – emmenagogue, uterine stimulant
• Bearberry (Arcostaphylus uva-ursi) – emmenagogue
• Beth Root/Birthroot (Trillium spp.) – uterine astringent
• Black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa)- emmenagogue
• Blessed thistle (Cnicus benedictus) – strong bitter
• Blood root (Sanguinaria canadensis) – Emetic
• Blue cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictroides) – emmenagogue
• Broom (Sarothamnus scopanius) – abortifacient
• Buckthorn (Rhamnus catharticus) – laxative
• Butternut (Juglans cinerea) – laxative
• Calendula (Calendula officinalis) – estrogenic effect
• Cascara sagrada (Rhamnus purshiana) – laxative
• Celandine (Chelidonium majus) – emmenagogue
• Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara) – possible fetotoxic
• Cottonroot bark (Gossypium herbaceum) – stimulates uterine contractions
• Damiana (Turnera diffusa) – nervous system and hormonal activity
• Dong quai (Angelica sinensis) -  hormonal activity
• Drug aloe (Aloe vera) – cathartic
• Ephedra (Ma-huang) (Ephedra sinica) – high alkaloid content, cardiac stimulant
• Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium) – emmenagogue
• Ginseng (Panax ginseng) – affects nervous system
• Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis) – emmenagogue, uterine stimulant
• Gotu kola (Centella asiatica) – affects nervous system
• Hops (Humulus lupulus) – strong bitter
• Juniper berries (Juniperus communis) – possibly fetotoxic, affects kidneys
• Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) – can cause high blood pressure
• Male Fern (Dryopteris felix-mas) – emetic and laxative effect
• Mandrake (Mandragora vernalis) – slightly toxic
• Mistletoe (Viscum album) – Hemostatic
• Motherwort (Leonorus cordiaca)- emmenagogue
• Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) – emmenagogue
• Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans) (safe to use in cooking) – slightly toxic
• Osha (Ligusticum porteri) – emmenagogue
• Parsley (Petroselinum crispum) (safe to use in cooking) – emmenagogue when used vaginally
• Pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium) – emmenagogue
• Peruvian Bark (Cinchona spp.) – strong bitter
• Pleurisy root (Asclepias tuberosa) – cardiac stimulant
• Poke Root (Phytolacca spp.) – emetic due to high sapon content
• Rhubarb (Rheum palmatum) – laxative
• Rue (Ruta graveolens) – emmenagogue
• Sage (Salvia officinalis) (Safe to use in cooking) – emmenagogue, hormonal activity
• Sarsaparilla (Smilax spp.) – hormonal activity
• Scotch broom (Cytisus scoparius) – cardiac stimulant
• Senna (Senna alexandrina) – laxative
• Shepherd’s purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris) – hemostatic
• Southernwood (Artemisa abrotanum) – emmenagogue
• Tansy (Tanacetum vulgare) – emmenagogue
• Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium) – emmenagogue
• Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)- emmenagogue

Also, for all you moms out there, check out EcoMom for eco-conscious products for you and your babies.

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You might have heard about a new product that Kroeger Herb is introducing.  The moment is here and Kroeger is pleased to announce Healthy Gut to the world at Expo West in Anaheim, CA today.  Healthy Gut is an original Hanna Kroeger formula previously known as Tumee, which we are re-introducing to the world.  With an increase of health problems related to unhealthy digestive systems today, Kroeger Herb Products knows this product can do great things for many people.

The combination of chamomile, spearmint, gentian, wintergreen, slippery elm, marjoram and meadowsweet in this product does wonders to maintain a properly working digestive system.  Many times the system will fail to function properly due to years of consuming over-the-counter medicine and processed foods.  These toxins can eventually damage the intestinal wall and allow undigested foods and toxins to leak into the bloodstream which may cause severe health issues including auto-immune conditions.

It is important to maintain a healthy system so it can digest and absorb all proteins and nutrients properly.  With the increase of issues such as celiac and fibromyalgia which have been associated with improper protein digestion this product is available at no better time so people will realize how important it is to keep their digestive system functioning as it should.

Stay tuned on Hanna’s Herb Shop  to order your bottle of  Healthy Gut next week.

Click here to see more information on HealthyGut

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Hands on Heart Health-Photo by kortini

February is Heart Health Month. Everyone is getting on the bandwagon ranging from the Centers for Disease Control  to college students. It helps to bring awareness to the issue with all of the Valentine’s Day hearts in abundance everywhere we look. Of course we like the attention as well since we are “The Heart of Herbal Health”.

I recently did a radio interview for a great local health food pioneer based out of a tight knit community in southern Pennsylvania.  Sonnewald Natural Foods is one of the original American health food stores in the great family run tradition.  Willa Lefever was interested in helping people learn about our great heart health product, Circu Flow and how Hanna Kroeger was able to come up with the formula when it was needed most. Hanna’s strong medical and folk healing background combined with a strong religious faith is a story that many people find personal resonance with. It was a relatively short time slot for the interview so we didn’t really get to cover as much as we would have liked to but you can always contact us here and we would love to answer any questions you might have.

Our heart is a tireless organ that can never stop its very important work and it is a blessing to be able to do what we can to assist in its healthy function.  Heart disease is the number one killer but happily it is often preventable.  Remember the old adage “ an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” and its words were never more relevant than they are today.

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Spearmint is used in Healthy Gut for cooling, soothing and keeping the digestive sysytem healthy.

Did you know that you have space inside your body that is not “inside” your body? That’s right, your entire digestive tract is a sealed “pipe” running right through the middle of you. As strange as this idea may sound, this process is a very important feature of the human body and essential to proper digestion. Everything you eat and drink is broken down in this system, scrutinized by your immune system and then filtered through your liver and kidneys before it is allowed “inside.” This process is designed to screen out viruses, bacteria, parasites and numerous other components of food that the body cannot use or sees as harmful, as well as pulling out nutrients for the body to use.

So what happens if your “pipe” has holes in it? There’s a medical term for this issue called “leaky gut syndrome.” The most common cause in western society is overuse of anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen. These drugs are also called NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) and they effect the production of something in your body called prostaglandins. Prostaglandins are chemicals that are responsible for inflammation, but also happen to regulate the process of repairing many tissues. When the body doesn’t have enough of these chemicals, the lining of the intestines has tissues that are not always repaired properly. This lining consists of a layer of tightly packed cells called “villi.” They are very robust, but never the less are constantly dying due to the harsh environment caused by digestion. Under normal circumstances the tiny holes they create as they die are filled in and repaired almost instantly by the surrounding live villi. However, things such as NSAIDs, some other over the counter drugs and some medical conditions can cause this process to be impaired. This contributes to a more permeable intestinal lining, creating the opportunity for foreign organisms and rogue proteins to escape your digestive tract.

It’s needless to say you don’t want any creepy crawlies getting out of there, but why care about the proteins? Undigested proteins floating around in your body can be bad news. Your body will recognize them as an invader and launch an immune response to attack them. The problem with this is that once the attack has started, your body may not be able to distinguish between your own tissue and its original target. This can be a contributing factor in many auto-immune disorders.

So what to do about all this? First, try to limit your anti-inflammatory use. An ibuprofen here and there is fine, but for those of you who take a “vitamin-I” every day, you may want to reconsider. To repair your digestive system, nutritive teas of calendula, plantain, licorice, gentian and angelica can be wonderful. L-Glutamine, an amino acid, is known to have many gut-healing properties. We here at Kroeger make a fantastic Licorice Root Tincture, our STM (Stomach) tea can be soothing and we’re about to reintroduce Healthy Gut, a Hanna Kroeger original formula! Our FML and FRD teas, while used for other things, also contain ingredients that can be beneficial for stomach health.

Be cautious of what you put in your body, and keep your gut healthy!

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Cinnamon Bark-Photo Courtesy of FotoosVanRobin

It’s nice to know that many of the solutions to our biggest health problems are within our kitchen cupboard. I think most of us realize that the food choices we make impact our health in a very powerful way. Reducing saturated fats reduces our risk for heart disease. Watching how much sugar we eat can help keep us from problems like obesity or diabetes.

Cinnamon is an herb that most of us have smelled coming from the kitchen over the holiday season informing us that something delectable will soon make its way to our table. Did you know that this pungent herb, in addition to stimulating our appetite with its delicious aroma, also helps us with our body’s ability to process sugar?Studies by the USDA have shown Cinnamon can naturally boost insulin sensitivity.

What does this mean for our health? This means that less insulin is needed to assist the sugar in your blood with crossing over the cellular membrane, which is beneficial in many ways. The longer sugar remains in your body before processing the more likely it will be converted to fat for long term storage. This obviously can lead to unhealthy weight gain. If your pancreas is forced to produce more and more insulin it is taxing on that organ and can lead to diminished functionality which is a pre-diabetic condition.

The studies have shown however that when we eat cinnamon, some of the active constituents are damaged by our digestive process. Because of this, a supplement using a powerful extract from the herb, swallowed in a capsule can much more efficiently deliver these amazing compounds to where they are needed. Be sure to choose wisely and question whether or not the supplement you decide on is naturally produced using safe processes and containing only necessary ingredients instead of fillers that can interfere with your ability to absorb the benefits of this familiar old friend.

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So what can you do to protect yourself from this health hazard? Eating a lower carb diet is a good start, but supporting your body’s natural mechanisms is just as important. Cinnamon, chromium, and even coffee can combat insulin resistance and support cellular response. Kroeger’s Pancreas Formula and Blood Sugar Pro can also help your body to maintain normal blood sugar and insulin levels. We here at Hanna’s Herb Shop believe a healthy diet and exercise is the first step to true health, and wish you the best of it!

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So what kinds of fats should you eat? Omega-3’s from fish oil and grass-fed animals are the most important. These fats make your cell’s run smoothly, keep your brain working sharply, and help control inflammation. Omega-6’s from vegetable sources like coconut help balance Omega-3’s. Omega-9’s from special plants like Borage and Primrose help your body maintain healthy hormone levels. Our company, Kroeger Herbs, manufactures a wonderful Evening Primrose Oil soft gel. We also carry quality fish oil supplements and coconut oils at Hanna’s Herb Shop. Viva healthy fats!

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Milk Thistle

Milk Thistle seed has been used for ages to protect this vital organ from damage. It is most effective in an extracted form, such as Kroeger’s Milk Thistle Complete Concentrate. Taken regularly this wonderful herb has been shown to help reduce wear and tear on your liver. To help “clean the liver out,” and help everything flow smoothly, Dandelion root, Yellow Dock root and St. John’s Wort are traditional remedies. As well, a strong flush using Epsom salts, olive oil and grapefruit can be a powerful tool. We here at Hanna’s make a kit called, would you believe it, the “Liver Cleanse Kit” designed for just this purpose.

On the more esoteric side of things, there are herbs that can be used to ease emotional turmoil “stored up” in the liver. Lavender and Melissa (Lemon Balm) are used to “relax” the channels of “chi”. This allows anger and stress to be released. St. John’s Wort fits this bill as well. It may sound like these things are completely unrelated, but Chinese herbalism has recognized the connection for thousands of years.

So remember, your liver is the “king of organs”, all hail the king.

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From Hanna’s perspective, this was wasteful.  Why throw out part of the plant that may have healing benefit  for the sake of producing a drug-like substance that requires a very unnatural approach in it’s production?  Especially since the benefits of the plain leaf, by itself, had been noted for over two thousand years!

After some searching, a manufacturer was found that could produce an extract using the natural solvent water, at a smaller concentration of 10%/2.5% (as opposed to 24/6), while preserving the other as yet undiscovered compounds of this wonderful healing herb. This later became known as a full-profile extract. Hanna further improved on the concept by removing the commonly used, nutritionally empty, flowing agents that these extracts use to keep the material from gumming up the encapsulating machinery; and replaced them with some of the raw material itself. In this case, plain, unadulterated Ginkgo leaves!

The problem of encapsulating a difficult extract was solved and in the process a new way of looking at herbal extracts was born.  She had made a product that the body would accept readily as food with the advanced efficacy of an extract!

We later took this concept that Hanna pioneered with the Ginkgo and applied it to other herbal extracts creating our Complete Concentrates^® line of supplements that we are very proud of.

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