Friday, 2 January 2009
Natural Herbal Remedies-Harmful Effects and Things to Avoid
In recent years the issue of Alternative Healing has skyrocketed to the forefront of the medical field. A 2004 government survey concluded that more than one third of adults use alternative medicine and healing.
However, there are over 300,000 higher plant species. A good herbalist may know of one or two thousand of them. This means that even an experienced herbalist can make mistakes. Let’s take a look at some of the most common problems.
Pregnant women should avoid barberry root bark, cascara sagrada, feverfew, juniper berries, mugwort, pennyroyal, pokeroot, rue, senna, southernwood, tansy, thuja and wormwood. All of those herbs can increased a risk for miscarriage. Safe herbs during pregnancy would be Manna, Butternut Bark or Root, Flax Seed, Slippery Elm and Lemon Verbena.
No matter what herb(s) you are taking, be mindful of anything unexpected. Stop taking whatever it is and consult an expert you can trust.
Make certain you have the correct diagnosis. Diagnosis is not easy and sometimes doctors make mistakes. Generally, however, a doctor is much better equipped to diagnose. Discuss any planned herbal discipline you plan to undertake with your physician.
Watch for any allergic reactions. Even though you may have never had any allergies in the past, if you are embarking on an herbal journey, watch carefully for any adverse reactions. If you experience difficulty in breathing within 30 minutes of trying a new herb, food or drug, call 911 immediately! You may be having an anaphylactic reaction which is the most severe form of allergic reaction. This condition can quickly become fatal unless treated promptly. This reaction is rare, but you need to be careful and be aware.
Watch for any interactions. Medicines often interact negatively with one another. So do herbs. Always be careful when taking more than one drug or herb or a combination of both. If you suspect an interaction consult your physician or pharmacist.
One interaction that you should be aware of is Antidepressants known as monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors. They interact badly with wine, cheese and many other foods. St. John’s Wort is also an MAO inhibitor so the same food restrictions apply. If you plan on using St. John’s Wort, discuss it with your physician or pharmacist.
Lastly, make certain that both your physician AND your herbalist are fully aware of all medications and/or herbal treatments you are using.
Posted by mathewroberts190
at 10:51 AM EST
Using Fatty Acids for Reducing Joint Pain
Joint pain as experienced in arthritis occurs in both men and women. Osteoarthritis is the most common arthritis, but there are other types of arthritis:
* rheumatoid arthritis
* arthritis from lupus
* gout
* psoriatic arthritis
* reiter's disease
* infective arthritis
As you age, the constant movement of the joints creates wear and tear. Toxic wastes that circulate in the blood, dead cells, uric acid, inorganic acids and liquid can accumulate in the various joints and cause inflammation and pain.
Continual inflammation can cause damage to the joints. In some cases, the cartilage that coats the bone ends, wears down and joints then rub bone to
bone causing extreme pain. There are several conditions and lifestyles that contribute to arthritis:
* Obesity
* Diabetes
* Heredity
* Poor nutrition
* Poor digestion
* Lack of water
* Allergies
* Repetitive use of fingers, hands, legs or arms
* Body injuries - sports or accidents
Arthritis is a difficult disease to treat because there is usually more than one cause. Just working on one cause may not help enough to give pain relief. But it always helps to know the many things the contribute to arthritis so that different nutritional and lifestyles changes can be made.
The use of omega-3 is known to provide anti-inflammatory benefits. In my other fatty acid articles, I point out that the breakdown of omega-3 eventually produce prostaglandins. It is the prostaglandins that provide the anti-inflammatory relief.
So by using the omega-3, GLA, and EPA/DHA or Fish Oil supplements,
you can get some pain and inflammation relief from arthritis. This will prevent some damage from occurring in your joints. It is recommended that you use a good dose of,
* Borage oil
* Primrose oil
* NKO oil
* Fish oil
* Flax seed oil
Using these oils spread across the day provides the benefit of feeling reduce joint stiffness and pain in the morning. One additional benefit of using these oils is the coating protection that GLA has in your stomach lining.
The standard treatment for arthritis is the use of NSAIDs and COX-2 inhibitors. These, however, have undesirable side effects such as attacking the stomach lining. Thousands of deaths and visits to the emergency are associated with the use of NSAIDs. You can benefit greatly if you use NSAIDs by adding fatty acid oils to your diet.
By using fatty acid oils your can reduce arthritis pain and protect your stomach lining from acid attack.
Posted by mathewroberts190
at 10:51 AM EST
Hemorrhoids and Enlarged Rectal Veins
Hemorrhoids, in the rectum, occur when the veins are not returning enough blood back to the heart. When this happens, the vein walls do not receive enough oxygen and release a substance into the blood that causes them swell and become inflamed. This swelling weakens them and their more likely to break when they are rubbed, like during a bowel movement.
If your stools are hard, you have a higher chance of breaking a swelling vein. For this reason getting your stools softer is one step in clearing your hemorrhoids. You can do this by eating a diet and using remedies that help relieve constipation.
Hemorrhoids, which are enlarged or swelling can exist,
On the inside just above the muscle that closes the anus and into to the rectum. They are near the surface of the rectum mucus membrane
On the outside, they occur on the skin that surround the anus and protrude or hang outward.
In a way, hemorrhoids can be considered varicose veins of the rectum. Just like varicose veins in the legs, the rectum veins become enlarged and come to the skin surface and bulge out.
Hemorrhoids occur when you are constipated for long periods, sit for long hours, lift heavy items, or are pregnant.
If you’re constipated, you’re probably having a difficult time having a bowel movement. And when you do, your stools are usually small, hard, and dry. If you have to push and strain or sit on the toilet for 10-15 minutes, then expect to have hemorrhoids at some point. Two to three minutes is all you normally need to have a natural bowel movement.
Over 85% of the population has hemorrhoids. Hemorrhoids are a sign that fecal matter is not passing through your colon like it should. Simple hemorrhoids are not dangerous to your health, but hemorrhoids that have been building for a while will cause you some discomfort, such as,
Mucus discharge
Bleeding showing up in your stools or dripping into the toilet water
Itching on the outside of the rectum
Pain in the rectum area and during a bowel movement
Pain in the rectum area, when you sit
Soft bulging area in the rectum or anus that give you a sensation that something is there
See your doctor if your hemorrhoids are painful, have excess bleeding, or stools have change in color from medium brown to dark brown or black.
Just be aware of any growth in the rectum, bleeding during a bowel movement, and a change in your stools color. Then take action to take care of these changes.
Posted by mathewroberts190
at 10:51 AM EST
Prevent Cancer Through A Detox Diet
Getting cancer is very common nowadays. It may be a loved one, a relative or your next door neighbour, who has got cancer and is now desperately trying to find a cancer cure. Finding a cure when one is already diagnosed with cancer is definitely more difficult and nerve wrenching than adopting good cancer prevention habits in the first place. Learning how to prevent cancer is a must for everyone because cancer does not discriminate - anyone can get it.
To treat and prevent cancer, new ideas are being thrown out there everyday, but all of them are based on living a healthy lifestyle. Going on a detox diet is a newer form of cancer prevention that has really taken off.
Preventing cancer is possible if you keep your body healthy and free of toxins. Eating healthily is always advisable no matter what disease you are fighting. The reason for this is that healthy foods contain vitamins and have properties that make your body function better. A body that functions properly and at an efficient level stays healthier. That brings us to exercise. Exercise helps your body to burn fat and keeps your muscles toned. It also helps your heart and lungs work better which allows your blood to flow better and keeps waste moving through your body properly. Keeping a healthy lifestyle prepares your body to be healthy.
A detox diet helps your body organs to work at its optimal level and without obstruction. It helps help to remove toxins from your body and remove waste more efficiently. A detox program usually involves lots of fiber and water, and giving your body organs a break. Fiber helps your body to remove waste, which frees up your system to digest food better. This in return gives you more energy. Water has an overall effect on your energy levels and how your body functions. Instead of letting waste build up and causing loads of problems, the detox diet rids your body of waste that frees up your colon. In a nutshell, the detox diet lets your colon get back to work and for your colon to work optimally once again. A colon that is not working can only result in cancer.
Because all the causes of cancer are unknown, but just taking the time to become healthier in cancer prevention can do a lot for your health and future outlook.
Posted by mathewroberts190
at 10:50 AM EST
What is a Healing Crisis?
A difficult concept to grasp when undergoing a cleansing regimen is the detoxification symptoms that occur along the way. These unpleasant side effects are merely a necessary part of the healing process that we must endure so that we can experience the true benefits of a clean, healthy body.
The turbulence that our bodies experience during detoxification can be scary-- even horrifying at times. And if the detox occurs too rapidly, the symptons can be extreme and severe. So severe sometimes that death would be a welcome relief. This is what’s called the healing crisis. As the body eliminates the accumulated toxins and waste materials that have been stored for so long, it is natural that this will cause a reaction. Basically, we temporarily relive past conditions and illnesses as they are released. The good news is, once eliminated and released, we are free of future problems and diseases that arise from a toxicated body.
Detoxification can be induced through dietary changes such as going vegan or raw; water or juice fasting; and herbal cleanses. The more toxins that have been accumulated, the sicker and more miserable you will be during a detox cleanse.
A healing crisis is usually identified by:
intense joint or muscle pain
severe headaches
fevers and chills
skin eruptions (acne, pimples, rashes)
insomnia
cramps
fatigue
mood swings
emotional-rollercoaster-type behavior
The fact that must be faced is that there will be some degree of discomfort as the body rids itself of the poisons and toxins that it has been burdened with for so long.
The symptoms are only indicators that everything is working properly and the discomfort is temporary. If severe symptoms occur for more than 3 days or so, you can get some relief by slowing the detox:
Drink lots of clean, pure water
Get some sunshine and fresh air
Slow down and get plenty of rest
Reduce dosages of herbs if taking teas/capsules
Remember, sometimes things have to get worse before they can get better. It’s a difficult time but don’t give up. You’ll feel so much better when it’s over.
You will have faced the challenge and won a major battle. When you are strong for your body, your body will be strong for you!
Words cannot describe how this victory will impact you on many levels- physically, spiritually, emotionally, and psychologically.
So if you can hold on through the turbulent times and rough patches you’ll soon be greeted with radiant health and new possibilities.
Posted by mathewroberts190
at 10:50 AM EST
Chinese Food Therapy Brings Natural Healing To The Body
In your quest to find more natural healing methods and natural supplements to good health, you’re well advised to consider the ancient healing methods of the Chinese.
Chinese food therapy, also known as Chinese nutrition therapy, dates back to as early as 2000 BC, though proper documentation about its uses was found around 500 BC. In essence, Chinese food therapy involves the use of certain foods to aid in the healing of certain body ailments or assists in keeping healthy other bodily functions. Followers of food therapy believe in the concept of yin and yang in food; the yin foods are believed to lower the body’s metabolism, or decrease the body’s heat, while the yang foods are said to increase the body’s heat or increase metabolism.
The Chinese believe in four food groups, which are grains, vegetables, fruits and meats. There is no classification for dairy products, which are considered unsuitable for humans. The Chinese believe a balanced diet will consist of the following food combinations on a daily basis: 40 percent grains, 30 to 40 percent vegetables, 10 to 15 percent meats and the rest of the foods should be nuts and fruits.
In Chinese food therapy, foods are then further classified by taste. The tastes are defined as pungent, salty, bitter, sweet and sour. Each taste is believed to have a direct effect on a body organ; when consumed in moderation it benefits the organ, but if over consumed, can cause detrimental effect to the organ.
It’s fair to say the Chinese and followers of Chinese food therapy truly believe you “are what you eat”.
One simple example of Chinese food therapy is the remedy for a cough. The Cantonese cough remedy required apricot kernels, watercress and dried duck gizzards. The ingredients are slow cooked for several hours, and a bit of pork can be added for flavor (though you can’t add beef or chicken because both will nullify the healing effects of the watercress). The watercress removes the excessive amount of yang in the body, while the duck gizzards are added to balance the yin yang of the recipe. The apricots target the lungs.
Take the time to learn from chinese healing wisdom - you may just be surprised how it benefits your health.
Posted by mathewroberts190
at 10:50 AM EST
Palm Oil Is Another Healthy Oil!
Now that food manufacturers in the U.S. have to label their trans-fat content, some of them are switching to healthier oils like palm and coconut. I am happy to see this change for the better! I hope more grocery store products continue this trend.
Undoubtedly, there will be ignorant people who will cry out that palm oil is an unhealthy saturated fat. Like coconut oil, palm oil has been mislabeled as unhealthy for far too long, when it is actually is a very healthy saturated fat. Both oils have been staples in the diets of tropical people for thousands of years, and have helped people stay lean and healthy for centuries.
Like coconut oil, palm oil is great for baking and frying, and is very stable and solid at room temperature, so it does not require hydrogenation and contains no trans fatty acids. (Trans fat is the bad stuff that you want to avoid like the plague!) According to authors and researchers Sally Fallon and Mary G. Enig, PhD, of the Weston A. Price Foundation, "palm oil is a stable, healthy, natural fat composed of saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids." (http://www.westonaprice.org)
Palm oil is the second most used dietary oil in the world, behind soy oil, and much healthier for you than soy oil. It comes from a different palm tree than coconuts-- a palm tree in Africa that produces small fruits that contain the palm oil. Palm oil is redish orange colored in it's natural (unprocessed) state and a rich source of carotenes and and one of the best sources of vitamin E.
Unprocessed palm oil does have a bit of a strong taste that (for Americans) takes a little getting used to. (I use it when I cook fish, because my family doesn't notice the small flavor difference with the strong fish flavor covering it.) Processed palm oil has the flavor removed, but so are some of the nutrients. But even then, it is still much better for you than soy or canola oil.
I think it is high time Americans see what most of the rest of the world already knows, that switching to palm and coconut oil is definately a change for the better! So, look for products that contain non-hydrogenated coconut or palm oil, or better yet, make your own healthy snacks with these oils.
Posted by mathewroberts190
at 10:50 AM EST
Will surgery help my back pain?
Everyone experiences back pain at some time in their life. In fact, it is in the top three complaints that people bring to the doctor’s office.
In most cases there is soft tissue inflammation, muscle spasms, or degenerative arthritis. These respond well to conservative treatments such as anti-inflammatory medicines, stretches, and osteopathic manipulative therapy. Physical modalities such as heat or cold, massage, and acupuncture are also helpful.
So when should you worry? Any loss of bowel or bladder control needs immediate attention. Surgery can release the pressure on the nerves and full function usually returns.
The longer the loss of bladder or bowel control continues without treatment, the higher the risk of permanent damage. This also includes weakness of any muscles in the legs or feet. Plus you can reduce the risks of falls and fractures.
Contrary to popular opinion, a thorough history, neurological and structural exams, plus basic X-rays of the spine can diagnose the problem 80-90% of the time. Expensive MRI studies certainly can be helpful looking at the cross-sections of the spine into the discs and spinal cord. But, in most cases it will not change the eventual conservative treatment anyway.
Consider an MRI if surgery is likely. Certainly if there is no improvement in your symptoms after several weeks or there is worsening of your pain.
Besides the obvious causes of low back pain from muscle spasms, degenerative discs and osteoarthritis, chronic structural imbalances play a major role. Wear and tear to the spine from old trauma, sports, and obesity cause the discs to lose their cushioning ability. They also may bulge or protrude backwards.
Over 50 years of age almost everyone has changes I the discs loosing height and acquiring some bone spurs. However, not everyone has pain. Again, unless the nerve root coming out of the spinal cord or the spinal cord itself is squeezed, surgery will not help. Even radiating leg pain called sciatica along with numbness and tingling in the legs can go away over time with proper treatment that includes osteopathic manipulation therapy.
Studies show that back pain sufferers who have surgery have no better pain relief or function than those who didn’t have surgery after five years passed. Certainly if surgery is recommended it is wise to get a second opinion.
Posted by mathewroberts190
at 10:48 AM EST
Lime for Health and Beauty
Although it has sour taste, lime (citrus aurantifolia) has many benefits, from as being used for flavouring beverage to supporting beauty. This fruit functions as expectorant, astringen, antiseptic and antioksidant. No wonder it becomes one of the most popular fruits in the world.
According to the historical data available, lime came from South East Asia before spreading to Africa, Europe and US. But whenever its origin, one should admit that it has many amazing benefits.
For instance, it works wonder for a smelly body. Having smelly body can reduce one's confidence, right? That's why some people also use it for washing their hands after eating.
For you who have oily skin, lime can solve the problem by causing the pores to contract. That is why this fruit is often used to reduce the oil on an oily face. By rubbing it on your face, particularly on your nose and forehead, you can overcome any problem that is commonly inherent in an oily face such as acne. Well, by opening your kitchen cabinet and with a few minutes of preparation you can find a safer, less expensive, and easy-to-use natural skin care.
The same goes for the skin of your head; lime can be used to vanish annoying dandruff. If you want to use this fruit as dandruff cure, first squezee it and use the water. Rub the water on your head skin and leave it for about half an hour. Then wash your head with water.
Having cold.and flu? Don't worry! This fruit is a good home remedy for cold and flu. Boil three limes in 500 ml of water. Leave it until the amount of water become half of the original amount. Add honey and drink it warm.
If you get cut, smear its water on it. Although it is painful, the astringen substance will stop the cut from bleeding and cover it.
Last, don't forget that this fruit is very juicy. Although not as rich as in other kinds of citrus fruits, Vitamin C contained in lime is much enough. You can make a fresh drink with it. Add sugar and ice to make it taste better. If you are experiencing throat ache, try to drink it. lime juice can also be drunk by dieting people. Vegetables and fruits that are rich in vitamin C are very good for maintaining a balance diet.
The benefits of lime are much longer than just these few. But as always, If you are in doubt, you should consult with any knowledgeable health professional before using it. There will be times when you do need modern medicines or supplements.
Posted by mathewroberts190
at 10:48 AM EST
Organic Skin Care ? Because Your Skin Is Precious
Each one of us desires to look beautiful. Looking good is no more confined to woman, in today’s world both man and woman has become cautious about their beauty. The word beauty is denoted by how healthy your skin is. Organic skin care is the best way to take good care of your skin.
Your skin is something that will be with you for the rest of your life. It serves you and your body in a number of ways. It aids in sensory perception, protects you from injuries, works as a barrier against dehydration, assists in temperature maintenance, removes toxic wastes, aids in the manufacture of vitamin D, and serve as a structure to the organs and tissues within your body. In simple words, your skin is a vital part of your life. It's very essential that you care for it and maintain it in a healthy state so that it will continue to function well for you in future too.
Organic skin care involves using organic products. The word organic is used to describe food that is grown without synthetic pesticides, insecticides or any other artificial chemical. Thus, using organic skin care products can help you take best care of your skin and that to without harming your skin. In simple words, organic helps you gain fresh and glowing skin the natural way.
Different people have different skin texture some of you may have dry skin, normal skins or oily skin but, you need not to worry. Organic skin care products are available in the market to meet the diverse needs of people. Organic cleanser, toner as well as moisturizers are available in wide range in the cosmetic market.
Chemicals used in traditional skin care products affected people’s skin adversely. Organic skin care products have become the latest wrath for people who are interested in avoiding the harmful affects of traditional products. Don’t get confused with the enormous number of organic care products you get to see. You can easily assess the safety of any ingredient listed on your skin care product with the help of your local library or the internet.
No need to stop yourself from looking beautiful and possessing a healthier skin. Organic skin care can help you accomplish this goal easily without harming your skin. Make sure to read the ingredients of the organic skin care product you choose to use, search for organic skin care with certified organic ingredients.
Posted by mathewroberts190
at 10:47 AM EST
