Natural Health and Herbal Remedies Blog - information on herbal medicine » Herbal

HERBAL REMEDIES

admin — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 08:44:06 +0000

Largely derived from Ayurvedic or traditional Chinese medicine, herbal medications now fill supermarket and pharmacy shelves across America. Fueled by mass advertising and promoted as part of multiple vitamin and mineral regimens by major drug manufacturers, herbal supplements represent the hottest trend in the health market. But do they have real benefits? We know that over-the-counter medications have been through rigorous testing to prove effectiveness. Herbal supplements, on the other hand, have not been measured by the same standards of efficacy. How do we know if the purported benefits are real?
To be a wise consumer of the great variety of herbal remedies available in health food stores and supermarkets, there are a few things you should know. Tinctures (extracts of fresh or dried plants) usually contain a high percentage of grain alcohol to prevent spoilage and are among the best herbal options. Freeze-dried extracts are also very stable and offer good value for your money. Standardized extracts are also among the more reliable forms of herbal preparations. In general, herbal medicines tend to be milder than chemical drugs and produce their effects more slowly; they also are much less likely to cause toxicity because they are diluted forms of drugs rather than concentrated forms. It is important to note, however, that too much of even the most seemingly harmless herb may cause problems, particularly those from non-standardized extracts. Remember that herbals are drugs and should not be taken casually, any more than you would take over-the-counter or prescription drugs without really needing them or knowing their side effects. Though the word natural may make herbal remedies sound safe and comforting, remember that they have many of the same chemicals as synthetic prescription drugs.
Perhaps most important, remember that even though herbal supplements are growing in popularity, herbs are not panaceas. Some of them work; many do not. Some may react with prescription drugs or cause side effects that are unusual. Unfortunately, because herbs are classified by the government as foods, not drugs, they are not subject to the same rigorous evaluation and testing that the FDA completes for virtually every medicine on the market.
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THE CHOICE OF MUSIC – TREATMENT

admin — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 08:41:42 +0000

Great care should be taken that someone suffering from Graves’ disease (exophthalmic goitre) and others with an increased heart beat are only exposed to soft harmonious music, which will be of greater benefit to them than fast, exciting sounds. On the other hand, a slow heart that can do with perking up will benefit from a little more movement and rhythm, so as to catch a little of the enlivening spirit.

As with all biological methods of treatment, it is necessary to apply intuition, understanding and feeling. Those who lack such sensitivity and do not have the ability to develop it, should at least be considerate and spare the patient at home or in the neighbourhood from the worst of the blaring noises that go under the name of ‘music’ today. It is sad to see the abuse that has been inflicted on us since radio has been invented.

In summary, try the influence of some healing music with your family, friends and acquaintances, at the same time not forgetting to show consideration for your neighbours and especially those who are ill.

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A MISCALCULATION – INTRODUCTION

admin — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 08:21:51 +0000

If you have been so infected by a hurried pace of life that it becomes a habit and you cannot even slow down when you should rest and relax, the end result of rushing about will not be what you expect. It will not save time and enable you to relax for longer. If the spare time is not devoted to relaxation but sacrificed to other business activity or intense efforts, do not be surprised to find your interest in work declining.

Our ancestors used to start the day at 4 a.m. in the summer and, as the poet Johann Peter Hebel wrote: ‘The work you do at four in early morning light, will not affect your health and rest at nine at night.’ A working day was not an eight-hour period in which certain work had to be done; but rather, the day was long enough to make work a pleasure and the evening hours a time for ‘recharging one’s batteries’. Because people today want to get more out of life and enjoy it in a different way, all these former pleasures have gone. However, the calculation has misfired. The outcome has not provided a beneficial basis for relaxation. On the contrary, a shorter working week has demanded greater effort from us, often taxing the energy reserves beyond capacity.

An overtired person derives less benefit from a longer period of inactivity than those who work steadily, without hurrying and feeling under pressure, because they prefer to spread their workload over a longer period of time.

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COOKING SALT – YEAST AND YEAST EXTRACT (HERBAFORCE AND PLANTAFORCE)

admin — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 08:08:21 +0000

Those who suffer from stomach and intestinal problems and those with circulatory disturbances have a splendid food supplement in yeast extract. In fact, yeast fulfils the requirements the ancient medical researchers looked for in food: that food should be remedy and a remedy should be food.

At one time barm or beer yeast was used to produce yeast extract, but its bitter taste, which cannot be completely eliminated without altering its health value, led to this method being replaced by a precultured and special control method, usually using molasses as a base. So, if possible, obtain the cultured extract.

Herbaforce and Plantaforce are yeast extracts enriched with juices from organically grown herbs and vegetables. Their taste and flavour are superb. Herbaforce is especially suitable for use as a sandwich spread.

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WHOLE WHEAT AND OTHER CEREALS – INTRODUCTION

admin — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 07:54:36 +0000

However intensively one may campaign against the use of white flour and other refined foods, there is still far too little attention given to the fact that cereal deprived of its germ and bran is no longer a health food. Vitamins, minerals, highly valuable oils and other substances are no longer present in refined flour. As a result, it is not the least bit surprising that the general standard of nutrition is decreasing despite the abundance of other varieties of food. Even though many may not want to see that the health and physical strength of the people are drastically reduced when white flour, white sugar and other refined products are the common fare, the facts cannot be denied. Modern nutritionists and researchers tell us clearly that minerals and vitamins are essential to good health, yet what do we do? Most of us simply ignore such clear-cut statements based on scientific research.

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VITAMINS – WHY CARROTS ARE SO GOOD (INTRODUCTION)

admin — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 07:40:40 +0000

One kilogram (2.2 lb) of carrots contains approximately 2.5 g potassium, about 300 mg calcium, 6 mg iron and 0.6 mg copper. If you consider the importance to our blood of iron and copper in organic form, that is, from plants, you will have every reason to give your children plenty of carrots or Biocarottin. Moreover, it is good to know that there are about 300 mg of phosphorus in every kilogram of carrots, and we all appreciate the significance of phosphorus for the brain, particularly our memory. Carrots are also good for the glands because of their content of iodine. Furthermore, they are a source of magnesium and cobalt, as well as carotene (provitamin A) at the rate of 70 mg per kilogram of carrots.

Carotene is extremely important in our effort to keep the cellular system healthy and the digestive organs functioning efficiently. It promotes healthy growth and the development of strong, resistant teeth. In fact, vitamin A, that is, carotene, together with calcium and vitamin D, contributes considerably to good teeth.

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PROPER CARE OF THE PANCREAS 2

admin — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 09:48:10 +0000

As already stated, fasting is an excellent means of resting the pancreas. Moreover, whatever the patient eats, it is important to ingest small quantities, chew everything thoroughly and insalivate well before swallowing. These are inexpensive ways and means of supporting the pancreas in the healing process. If you feel a slight pain after eating, you have probably had something that did not agree with you, did not chew your food well enough, drank too fast or ate too much. The answer to the problem is in the patient himself; he should watch himself carefully to avoid unpleasant reactions.

Regular deep-breathing exercises, with diaphragm-breathing, practised in the open air are also effective and promote the healing process at the same time. In conclusion, then, breathing exercises, together with a proper diet, warm water therapy and moist hot herbal packs, will help to rectify any condition where the pancreas is weak or upset. Many a serious, chronic ailment can be prevented if its proper function is restored. All it needs is a little understanding and perseverance with the treatment.

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TAPEWORMS – CATTLE TAPEWORM

admin — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 09:37:47 +0000

Even more dangerous than the cattle tapeworm, which can reach a length of several metres, is the dog tapeworm, of the genus Echinococcus. It is only about 5-6 mm (lA inch) long but its size bears no relationship to its danger, for this little worm is capable of causing greater damage than the much longer cattle tapeworm. Although called the dog tapeworm, it has been known to infest sheep, goats, pigs and even cattle. When this happens, blisters the size of a walnut form in the lungs of cattle, and in the case of swine, these formations are found in the liver. The Swiss Information Service to Physicians reported that in 1963, for example, 508 cattle and 62 swine brought into the Zurich abattoir were infested with the Echinococcus. As far as domestic animals and pets are concerned, extreme precautions need to be taken, especially with dogs and cats. Adults who are otherwise meticulously clean, are often offended when reminded to be careful when handling pets. They think nothing of patting their pets while eating. But it is unwise to do this. Neither should we allow a dog or cat to lick the hand or the face, because of the danger attached to it. What is more, young animals, puppies and kittens, should be trained not to do so. To minimise the risk of infection, dog owners would be wise to abstain from feeding raw lungs or liver to their dogs. After a long journey, perhaps abroad, check your dog’s faeces, since 7-8 weeks after infection small flecks with thousands of eggs may be seen. You certainly cannot be called over-fussy for taking such proper care and precautions in the interest of your health.

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A TYPICAL DAILY PROGRAMME – WEIGHT CONTROL (UNDERWEIGHT AND OVERWEIGHT)

admin — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 09:27:57 +0000

In the past it was thought that being underweight was caused by an insufficient intake of food and that eating too much resulted in obesity. However, there are some people who eat a lot and remain extraordinarily thin, and others who eat very little and still put on weight. Everything, they say, turns to fat!

Meanwhile, research has shown that dysfunction of the endocrine glands, the glands with internal secretions, is largely responsible for both excessive corpulence and thinness. These glands are, primarily, the pituitary, the ovaries, the testicles and the thyroid. Their overactivity or imbalance usually leads to thinness, while their insufficiency (or underactivity) leads to corpulence. It has been observed that removal of the ovaries, or a disease causing ovarian insufficiency, causes a person to put on weight. Obesity following the menopause confirms the truth of this statement. Typical examples are the inhabitants of southern climates. How slim and supple the Italian or the Latin and South American girls are in the early prime of life. But as soon as the glandular secretions diminish, which is usually at a much earlier age in hot countries, they become plump. If the older generation is stout, stolid and comfortable, the reason for this can be traced to the insufficient functioning of the endocrine glands and, more than anything else, the sluggishness of the ovaries. In such cases sitz baths and other therapies which stimulate the ovaries (see below) would be of immense help towards reducing corpulence.

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THE URINARY BLADDER – ADDITIONAL TREATMENT 2 (BED-WETTING (ENURESIS))

admin — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 09:17:58 +0000

Being a bed-wetter is always upsetting for the healthy, intelligent child, as well as for the handicapped one. Hence, no effort should be spared to cure the child’s problem. A child whose health leaves much to be desired and who may not be so quick mentally has enough to put up with and will feel even more helpless when nothing seems to go right. Bed-wetting also means an added burden to a child suffering from cerebral palsy. So there are sufficient reasons to make use of all available natural remedies to strengthen the bladder and kidneys. In addition to these, the child must be given biological calcium and silica, but only from plants.

In order to treat the various factors involved in bed-wetting, the following remedies are recommended: kidney tea, Cystoforce Bladder Drops, Galeopsis, Usneasan and Urticalcin. The treatment must be supported by an appropriate diet, low in salt and fat. The diet should consist of brown rice and millet, together with vegetables and salads. At the same time a glass of fresh carrot juice should be taken daily. As with all types of liquid, it should be sipped slowly and well insalivated. Train the child to chew well so that the food becomes properly mixed with saliva so as to promote good digestion. No fluids should be given to the child after 4 p.m.

Considerable improvement can be brought about in time through physical therapy. A warm and moist compress of hay flowers placed daily on the lower abdomen stimulates the blood circulation of the urinary organs. From time to time the child should be given a sitz bath with a decoction of hay flowers or horsetail added to the water. But make sure that the child does not start shivering or even get cold. His whole body should be kept warm by covering the tub with large towels, protecting the parts of the body that are not under the water, or by heating the bathroom.

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