Herbal Anti-inflammatories

Herbal anti-inflammatories and how they work
The use of NSAID’s (Non steroid anti-inflammatory drugs) is so huge in the pharmaceutical world. Advil, tylenol and all of their cousins are common in every home across the modern world.


We all use them because they work so well and so fast. Head aches, fever and pain caused by a million and one things are gone in fifteen minutes once we take them.


I cant wont tell you that I don’t use them myself because I do. When my children are suffering because of a high fever I try many alternative ways to help them be comfortable but many times I will give them one form or another of these chemicals because I cant bare to see them in pain.


But it there a natural alternative to these seemingly magical chemicals?


Perhaps after this article is finished we can all have a pure natural way to relieve pain, fever and inflammation.


So lets take a look at the mechanism of inflammation and pain in our bodies so we can better understand how this all works.


So our story of inflammation starts with the MAST CELL and ends (for the purpose of this article) with the PROSTAGLANDINS.


The prostaglandins are the guys responsible for the pain and inflammation.


Mast cells are stimulated in one of three ways:
1.\tPhysical injury
2.\tChemical agents
3.\tImmunological means – such as allergies or fighting off a disease


The mast cell when stimulated releases a lot of Different materials that activate our bodies defense or immune system.


Amongst all of the cells that are thrown into action by the mast cell are these prostaglandins.


Other cells that are called to the cite of activity are white blood cells of different sorts to fight off bacteria and clean up the mess.


Prostaglandins are not just released but they need to be synthesized or created.


What a lot of these NSAID’s do is they stop the process of synthesizing the prostaglandins, which then reduces pain and inflammation in the body.


Prostaglandins also increase blood clotting and protect the stomach.


This is why NSAID’s can be used as blood thinners but can also cause peptic ulcers.


Aspirin as well and most other NSAID’s inhibit cyclooxygenase, which is one of the key enzymes in the synthesis of prostaglandins. This is how they work to reduce inflammation and pain.


White willow bark contains a phytochemical salicylic acid which the body can make into an active form of a substance the works just like aspirin but does not irritate the stomach.


Other plants that have these same phytochemicals which are categorized as salicylates are cowslip and meadowsweet.


Because of the unknown concentration of the active ingredients in these plants and the need for the body to process them into their active form, it is difficult to get the same result from them as we do chemical medications.


Today we have herbal extracts that are produced with known amounts of these phytochemicals. These are called standardized herbal extracts which make the best of modern science and herbal medicine.


Try these natural anti-inflammatories and enjoy the best of both worlds.

Magic Herbal Formula for Treating Runny Nose

The Magical Herbal Formula


This is the number one, time tested herbal combination for parents who want to get their kids through the winter with out a runny nose.


Read on and I will tell you everything you need to know to use this formula.


I will tell you what the six herbs are and give you a eight step process on how to use them.


Here are the six herbs that make up the magical formula.
1.\tElder flower
2.\tElder berry
3.\tYarrow
4.\tLinden
5.\tChamomile
6.\tCatnip
Eight steps how to use the formula


Sep 1: Buy the herbs
Buy equal amounts of all the herbs listed.


I suggest buying 50 grams or about that amount in ounces.


Step 2: Mix the herbs


This is why its important to buy equal amounts of all the herbs. If you didn’t then you will need a scale for this step.


Mix the herbs well so that there is equal distribution.


Step 3: Heat the water


Heat two cups of water until boiling, and then remove from the stove.


Step 4: Add the herbs to the water


Add four heaping table spoons of the herbal mixture to the water while still boiling hot.


Step 5: Wait


Let the herbs steep in the boiling hot water for fifteen to twenty minutes while covered.


Step 6: Strain out the herbs


Strain out the herbs and save the liquid tea.


Step 7: Drink


For an adult you will need to drink one cup twice a day if you have a cold that you are trying to get rid of.


For children two to nine years old reduce by half that amount.


For children one to two years old one half a cup of tea a day should be given.


For infants six to twelve months one hundred ml per day.


These are the dosages for treatment. To use this formula for prevention just cut the dosage in half.


Step 8: Repeat daily


This may be the most important step if you want to see results.

Top ten supplements to help improve focus and productivity

 Top ten supplements to help improve focus and productivity


The class of these supplements are called Nootropics.


They help to improve the function of the brain both for the short term and the long term.


In order to really obtain healthy brain function we cant just take a pill or herb. We need to live a healthy life style and eat proper nutrition so that our mind will be working at its optimal potential.


A healthy life style includes proper exercise for body, mind and emotions.


This is the health and wellness triangle of mind body and emotions (I call them emotion but also mean this as soul).


I will be touching on these in future posts.


For now we are going to talk about the top ten supplements that help to strengthen chemically the functioning of the brain cells.


Here are the top ten supplements:
1.\tCiticoline
2.\tPhosphatidylserine
3.\tBacopa Monnieri
4.\tLions mane mushroom
5.\tPterostilbene
6.\tTyrosine
7.\tL-theanine
8.\tRhodiola rosea
9.\tVinpocetine
10.\tB-complex vitamins


These all together help to strengthen the brain cells. In the future as I do more research into how they work and clinical research on each I will link more information to this post.


For now you can use this list while searching for a product to buy.

Understanding mental function and how it can be improved

When we speak about increasing our ability to focus and think clearly it is important to understand the way in which our brain works.

The most basic concepts which we need to understand is the workings of the brain cell which is called a neuron.

For our discussion right now the only part of the neuron which is going to be focused on is the synaptic gap. This is the bridge between one neuron and the next.


What I am going to explain is the acute or short term increase in focus and concentration like that which is caused by pharmaceuticals such as Adderall and Ritalin.


Long term brain health is a very different topic which I will talk about in a different post.


But for right now our main focus (no pun intended) is going to be the synaptic gap and the neurotransmitter acetylcholine.


In the brain, acetylcholine functions as a neurotransmitter and as a neuromodulator. The brain contains a number of cholinergic areas, each with distinct functions. They play an important role in arousal, attention, memory and motivation.

The way that these drugs work to improve our ability to concentrate is they do two things.


1-\tThey increase the secretion of acetylcholine
2-\tThey inhibit (stop) the reuptake of acetylcholine


In this way the concentration and duration of acetylcholine in the synaptic gap is increased.


This in term increases the ability to focus.


Natural supplements that also perform the same way are:


•\tCiticoline – our body is able to transform citicoline into phosphatidylcholine which is a precursor of acetylcholine.
•\tBacopa monnieri herb – inhibits acetylcholinestrase which is an enzyme that brakes down acetylcholine in the synaptic gap.


I would suggest that any supplement that you are thinking about taking to improve mental focus should have these two in it.

Treating The Big Bug

In the past I have come across that one bug, maybe a bacterial or viral infection, that I just thought there was no choice but to give anti-beotics.


Just this past week I came in contact with one such bug.


This is a true story that just happened this past week, and as a matter of fact is still going on.


My youngest son is in a day care. If you are a parent and have already been through the day care system you will know exactly what I am talking about, and if you don’t know what I am talking about then now you will be prepared.


Most of these kids walk around all winter long with a runny nose. I really don’t want to get to in detail but it could be kind of gross.


To my great satisfaction I have been successful in treating the runny nose and it turns out that by treating runny nose I was able to successfully treat the big bug.


So last week half of my youngest son’s day care was home sick. Now this wasn’t just the runny nose but bad cough and fever. My son was still fine but then he started to get this cough.


Over the weekend he got the fever though and that’s when I said “oh s!@t”, it’s the big bug.


Now at this point I added garlic an essential oil rub to the regular herbal formula that I give my kids to treat the runny nose, and I also increased the dose of the herbal formula.


The essential oil rub that I used was a very simple one.


10 drops eucalyptus oil
10 drops lavender oil
2 table spoons olive oil


This I Rubbed on my three year olds back and chest about three times a day. In addition I would add the same oils to his bath with a spill of apple cider vinegar.


After the weekend my kid was good to go but then my oldest who is eleven called home from school.


In short my eleven year old is home sick but the thing is he never takes the runny nose herbs because he hates the taste.


Now I am going to start to treat my oldest and I will let you all know how it goes.


What needs to be taken from this story is what I have said time and time again, the most important part in treatment, is prevention.


If my oldest would have been taking the runny nose herbs the whole time he probably would not have gotten sick, but hind sight is always 20/20 right?

Understanding Alkaloids In Plant Medicine

So I have written in the past about the importance of understanding the chemistry behind plant medicines.


I really think that if we fully understand the workings of the body and how the phytochemicals in the plants effect them, plant medicine can be effective just as much as modern pharmaceuticals.


I have been really trying to study the chemistry behind plant medicines and to tell you the truth really enjoying it.


I have started to think I might go back to school to study biochemistry. But that will need to wait until I get this website up and running at 100%.


Any how here is what I have t say about Alkaloids.


Alkaloids are the largest category of secondary metabolites. The reason for this is very simple, any nitrogen containing compound that does not fall into another category is currently classified as an alkaloid.


Right along with this goes the fact that we can find alkaloids that effect all most every area of the body.


Alkaloids can be used by plants to deter animals from eating them and to store carbon for later use when needed by the plant.


Because of the size of the group there is no one best used solvent for alkaloids. Some are better dissolved in water some in alcohol and others oils.


Many alkaloids have a stimulating effect on the nervous system. The best know and widely used alkaloid is caffeine.


Many alkaloids have been researched in great depth and are now used in modern medicines but many we still know nothing about.

Healthy Tips For Using Stimulants

Healthy Tips For Using Stimulants

Do you drink coffee in the morning?

Do you have a second cup in the afternoon?

Well I sure do, and because I understand that my body gets used to the caffeine in the coffee I also use those other gifts of nature to try and get more done in the day.

For most of us that are trying to do our best to get ahead in life, using one or more of natures boost plants is just part of the game. You cant make the day longer no matter how hard you try but you could sleep less and then have more time to get things done.

That’s the way that I look at it and probably you do as well or you wouldn’t still be reading this.

Yerba matte, tea in all of its wonderful colors, cola nut, and of course chocolate. All of these contain stimulating compounds which work like caffeine, but have a slightly different chemical make up.

Which could be my first healthy tip for using stimulants.

Tip number one: variation

I just went with this one as my first tip because really its not a health tip but a get better results tip.

What happens is we build up a tolerance to the coffee and then we try to just drink more of it. But how many cups of joe can you have in a day?

So instead we need to alternate our uppers or stimulants if you like in order to continue to get the best results.

It is important for me to mention that this sort of thing is very unhealthy if we don’t give our bod a time to recuperate.

The way to live this kind of jacked lifestyle is to make sure to take a cleansing vacation at least a few times a year and lay off the caffeine for a bit.

Tip number two: Drink lots of water

This can also go right along as a get better results tip but even more importantly for your health.

Drinking lots of water is super important for over all health at all times but even more so when using stimulants such as caffeine.

Because these substances also increase your kidney functions they cause an increased release of fluids from the body. If we are not carful to replenish our bodies water supply we run the risk of dehydration, and just think about how bad that could be for your productivity.

Also when we are properly hydrated everything in our body flows better.

Pun intended.

Our blood flows better, our absorption of nutrients is better, and its easier for our bodies to eliminate waste.

So drink up!

Tip number three: Protect the stomach

As I go through these it seems that they are all not just help tips, but also get better results tips.

Now these stimulants also increase the acid levels in the stomach so if you don’t have something in the stomach for the acids to brake up they could start to damage the stomach lining. This could end up causing stomach ulcers.

Once again not good for productivity.

When I first started studying nutrition I would use carbohydrates to get even more of a boost out of caffeine, now I have learnt that using proteins gives me a longer lasting and more balanced energy.

Eat healthy proteins such as nuts and seeds to protect your stomach and also provide even more energy for the body.

Tip number five: Take B-complex plus C vitamins

Now this is the super boost to go along with your coffee. B-complex vitamins and vitamin C are what helps the cells to produce energy.

By taking a solid B-complex plus C formula you can really boost your energy levels in a balanced and healthy way, together with some good old Joe.

Now these are my top four tips for using stimulants. Please let me make it clear that using too much stimulants is not good for your over all health.

To really have the most energy in your life you need to be healthy in all ways both mind and body.

And to be most productive you need to make sure to just get things done.