Frequently Asked Questions about Composure

• Alfalfa
  Affects: stomach, blood
  Alfalfa is one of the green grasses, which are some of the most nutritionally rich foods there are. It is a source of chlorophyll, beta carotene, and minerals. It is especially rich in minerals, as it pulls up nutrients from root depths as great as 130 feet.
  
• Irish Moss
  Affects: lungs, kidneys, skin
  Irish moss contains 15 of the 18 elements composing the human body. It contains vitamins A, D, E, and K and is also high in iodine and calcium.
  
• Marshmallow Root
  Affects: intestines, kidneys, bladder
  Marshmallow root derives its botanical name from the Greek word altho, which means "to heal." Humbart Santillo, in Natural Healing with Herbs, calls marshmallow root a nutritive. Michael Castleman, in The Healing Herbs, notes that it is a digestive aid.
  
• Oatstraw
  Affects: nerves, uterus, stomach, lungs
  Research has shown that oat bran, and to a lesser extent oatmeal, may help reduce high blood cholesterol. Oats contain flavonoids, a number of minerals, vitamins B1, B2, D, E, and carotene, as well as wheat protein. Santillo, in Natural Healing with Herbs, notes that oatstraw is good for the nerves, and Penelope Ody, in The Complete Medicinal Herbal, notes that it may help with depression.
  
• Passionflower
  Affects: nerves, circulation
  Passionflower was used by Native Americans to soothe the nerves, and there is evidence that it does that. Its constituents maltol, ethyl-maltol, and some flavonoids are potentially sedating, and another constituent, passi-florine, reportedly promotes calmness and ability to sleep. In Europe passionflower is used in sedative preparations.
  
• Shavegrass (Horsetail grass)
  Affects: kidneys, blood, heart, and lungs
  Shavegrass is a member of one of the oldest groups of plants on earth. The plant’s success can be attributed to its ability to grow in poor soil with minimum moisture. It has been used both internally and externally since the sixteenth century, usually as a powder. As an herb, the entire plant is used. It contains flavonoids and minerals.
  
• Slippery Elm Bark
  Affects: whole body
  Slippery elm bark was used by Native Americans as a skin ointment, and at one time it was listed in the U.S. Pharmacopoeia, a book describing medicinal preparations. Castleman, in The Healing Herbs, and Ody, in The Complete Medicinal Herbal, cite the bark as being good for digestion.
  
• Yucca
  Affects: blood
  The yucca is a cactus-like succulent common to the western United Sates and most of Mexico. It has been commonly used by Native Americans for centuries as a soap for personal hygiene.