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Thursday, June 16, 2011
Classic Chamomile Tea treatment for Stomach Ulcers
This treatment method can be very effective. All you need is some chamomile tea and 20 minutes longer to lie in bed in the morning.
Prepare a strong cup of chamomile tea before you go to bed and put it next to your bed.
When you wake up in the morning before you get out of bed, drink the cup of chamomile tea. Now right after you drink the tea lay on each of your four sides for five minutes. That's five minutes lying on your back, five on your stomach, five on your right side and five on your left.
The healing powers of the chamomile will help to ease the pain and repair the damaged tissue caused by the ulcer.
This is not a silver bullet, if you do this just once it may help for that day but not long term. Also this will work best when done along with lifestyle changes to help heal the ulcer.
Vitex Agnus-Castus – Chasteberry - Monograph
Common Name – Chasteberry
Botanical Name – Vitex agnus-castus
Parts used – Fruit
Active Constituents -Iridoid glycosides (aucbin and agnoside) and flavonoids (casticin, isovitexin and orientin).
So what is Vitex good for?
Vitex is a herb that can help to bring balance to the female reproductive system. It can be used to help treat irregularities of menstruation and PMS.
Vitex can be beneficial during menopause.
Vitex can help to balance the body after the use of oral contraceptives.
Vitex may help control acne in female and male teenagers.
Dosage
Tincture – 20 drops three times a day
Tea – three cups a day
How to make chasteberry tea?
Add one teaspoon of the dried ripened fruit to one cup of boiling water and cover the cup. Let it steep for 15 minutes and strain out the used herb.
Contraindications
Vitex should not be taken by pregnant women. Weak and anemic women should use caution when taking this herb.
Chamomile - Monograph
Common Name- Chamomile
Botanical Name - Matricaria Recutita, Matricaria Chamomilla
Parts Used – Flowers
Active constituents – Volatile oils and bioflavonoids (apigenin, luteolin, and quercetin)
So what is chamomile good for?
Therapeutic properties of Chamomile – anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-spasmodic, calming, emmenagogue, bitter, stomachic.
Chamomile is one of those herbs that are good for almost everything.
Chamomile is a calming herb and could be used to help falling asleep. A strong cup of chamomile tea is great for helping to relax if one is feeling stressed.
Chamomile is good for almost all problems of the digestive system, stomach ache, indigestion, and lack of apatite, ulcers and many others. Because of its ability to help heal wounds it could be very helpful in the treatment of mouth ulcers.
Chamomile can be used to help ease pain. It has been even said to help with teething babies.
Chamomile can help with menstrual pain and bloating.
Chamomile tea can help to clear up eye infections.
Chamomile can be used topically to help heal wounds and sooth irritated skin.
Dosage
Tincture – 30-100 drops 1-3 times a day
How do you make a strong cup of chamomile tea?
Add one heaping tablespoon of dried chamomile flowers to a cup of boiling hot water and cover the cup. Let it brew for 5-10 minutes and the strain out the used herb.
Contraindications
Some people are allergic to chamomile.
Beside the allergic aspect chamomile is safe even during pregnancy and nursing.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Bell’s palsy – What is it and what can be done Using Natural Medicine to Help?
Bell`s Palsy is an acute idiopathic unilateral facial nerve paralysis. Which in simple English means, that a nerve which controls one side of the face muscles, temporarily stops working for no knows reason. For the most part the condition last from one to six months.
The theory is that this is brought on by an inflammation of the nerve as it passes through the narrow bone canal under the ear. The inflammation then causes a cut off of the circulation to the nerve resulting in temporary nerve damage.
Treatment of Bell's palsy using natural medicine is in one way similar to that of conventional medicine in that one should start by taking anti inflammatory herbs and supplements. Omega 3 fatty acids and garlic are two thing that I would suggest to lower inflammation and also thin the blood a bit so that it can flow better to the nerve with the hope that this will quicken the rejuvenation of the nerve.
50mg of B-complex vitamins should be taken three times a day along with an additional B12 sublingual tablet which should be take once a day. This is to supply the body with what it needs to repair the damaged nerve.
Capsicum capsules have been noted to be very helpful due to the herbs blood moving properties. This helps with speedy delivery of all nutrients to the damaged nerve, which aid in a quicker recovery.
Nerve tonic herbs which help with improving blood flow would also be beneficial. Hers such as ginkgo biloba and guta cola can be very helpful.
Acupuncture can be extremely helpful also.
In most cases the problem will take care of itself even without any treatment, but the hope is that by helping the body to heal it will result in a more speedy complete recovery.
Elder Flower and Elder Berries – Monograph
Common Name – Elder
Botanical Name – Sambucus Nigra
Parts Used – Fruits and Flowers
Active Constituents – Flavonoids, such as Quercetin and others
So what can elder be used for?
Elder flowers seem to have more therapeutic aspects then the Elder Berries.
Elder Flowers - stimulate and balance the immune system (meaning they can be used to help with infection and allergies), act as an anti-inflammatory, have anti bacterial properties and is considered to be a lung tonic.
Elder Berries – are good for all problems of the upper respiratory tract and contain anti-oxidants.
Sambucol is a elderberry extract that was discovered by an Israeli scientist. It has been found to be greatly effective against all kinds of flue and cold.
Note –fresh elderberries and elderberry juice is slightly toxic, but when cooked they are harmless.
Contraindications
Both flowers and berries are considered to be safe even for pregnant and lactating women
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Natural Remedies for Hair Loss
For a lot of people hair loss is a very bothersome thing. The fact is that it has a lot to do with genetics but there must be something that you can do to either slow or stop the process.
My suggestion to people that are trying to stop the thinning and loss of their hair is two basic things.
- Start taking a good multivitamin and mineral with a high concentration of B complex vitamins
- Start using a herbal shampoo that contains rosemary oil
These two things are to help the whole of the body to be healthier and to increase blood flow to the scalp and hair follicles.
Another technique that could be helpful is to run the hottest water you can handle over your head and then the coldest water possible. Repeat this 4 or 5 times. This process is known as aqua therapy and is meant to increase blood flow to the hair follicles.
Other herbal remedies for hair loss:
Bhringaraj oil – this Ayurvedic medical herb is famed to help prevent hair loss, graying and dandruff.
Saw Palmetto (Men Only) – Because of its ability to balance testosterone levels it is believed to help prevent hair loss in men.
Nettle Root Extract – Contains vitamins and minerals which are important to healthy hair.
Jojoba oil – has been used to prevent hair loss and dandruff.
Aloe Vera – Is popular in the Caribbean and amongst Native Americans to promote healthy hair and prevent hair loss.
Good luck and let me know if you try something if it works or not.
Hawthorn - Monograph
Common Name – Hawthorn
Botanical Name – Crataegus
Parts Used – fruits, flowers and leaves
Active Constituents – tannins, flavonoids, oligomeric proathocyanidins (OPCs), flavone-C, triterpene acids and phenolic acids.
So what is Hawthorn good for?
Therapeutic properties of Hawthorn - antispasmodic, cardiac, sedative, vasodilator.
Hawthorn is a good herb for all problems related to the heart. It could be used for both high and low blood pressure. Hawthorn may be helpful to people who have high cholesterol. Hawthorn is also good for nervousness and sleeplessness.
Dosage
Standardized herbal extract of hawthorn should be taken in amounts of 80-300 mg two or three times a day.
Hawthorn tinctures should be administered at a dosage of 100 drops two times a day.
How do you make tea from hawthorn fruits?
Boil two tea spoons of dry fruit in one and a half cups of water for five minute. The tea should be drunk twice a day.
Contraindications
No interactions with drugs are known. Hawthorn is considered to be safe even for pregnant and lactating women.
Clinical trial shows Hawthorn to be beneficial in the treatment of chronic heart failure.