Dec
17
Our bodies use nutrients from our food to cleanse, build, and repair. Herbs
are food. Our bodies use them as they would any other food. 
Since an herbal extract does not have to rely on the digestive system to
break down and absorb the herb as in capsules or tablets, it is a most
effective, usable means for a body to immediately absorb and utilize the
herb. This also makes a most usable product for people incapable of taking
pills, since extracts can be taken internally as well as applied externally and
absorbed through the skin.
Herbal supplements are more popular now than ever before. People are looking for new ways to improve their health, and they are turning to natural remedies rather than pharmaceutical drugs more and more.
As such, there have been countless studies performed on the therapeutic benefits and applications of various herbs and herbal extracts. Much of this research presents strong evidence that taking herbal supplements in conjunction with a healthy diet and lifestylecan be beneficial.
Herbal supplements can be used to help vision, thyroid problems, diabetes, and many, many more problems we encounter everyday.
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Dec
16
Nutritional Supplements For Chronic Pain Relief
Filed Under Herbal Nutritional Supplements | 7 Comments
Herbal Supplements For Chronic Pain Relief In Your Muscles
Muscle pain can be debilitating… Read about what the causes are and the methods for relieving them .
When 36 year old Aaron Powell, a software engineer by profession, woke up on Sunday morning and found that the muscles in his back and legs were killing him, he knew he would have to call it quits about joining his friends on the day long hiking trip they had planned. He knew what had brought on the pain in his muscles; he had been hauling furniture into the new apartment he had moved into, practically all through Saturday.
While everybody experiences the occasional back muscle pain some time or the other in their lives, for people who suffer from chronic muscle pain, it can be an incapacitating condition, with the quality of life deteriorating to a great extent. Muscle pain may be caused by a specific injury, or due to muscular spasms, or because it affects the soft connective tissues surrounding muscles such as tendons, ligaments, and fascia, or it could be as a result of a broader condition, like arthritis. It can range in intensity from aches that come on infrequently to disabling, chronic pain.
Usually, muscle pain is linked to overuse, physical exertion, or injury due to exercise. In such cases, the pain tends to affect specific muscles, starting either during the activity or after it. Tension can also result in muscle pain.
In the United States, pain in the muscle is the second most prevalent reason for visits to the doctor. According to estimates, 80 percent of Americans experience muscle pain, of some type or the other, at some part of their lives or the other. People often push their muscles right to their limits, and sometimes even beyond that. If muscles are pushed to limits that are beyond their capacity, the fibers in them begin tearing.
In fact, severely overworked muscles can develop innumerable tiny tears. The body responds by repairing these small little tears, and this is what causes the familiar ache and tightness we feel when we get a muscle pain. While most of these just cause minor discomfort, others can result in permanent disability, especially when the back and neck are affected. While there are many therapies that can provide muscle pain relief, choosing amongst them is largely dependent upon the cause of the muscle pain, how severe it is along with its duration, and of course according to what the doctor prescribes or the patient chooses.
Prescription and Over-The-Counter Medicines
These medications, which include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen, or Tylenol, are used to alleviate muscle pain. Certain nutritional supplements may also be advised in order to provide muscle pain relief. For instance, magnesium and calcium supplements are used for treating leg cramps that develop in the night. Enzyme therapy, containing bromelain, are also used to treat certain kinds of muscle pain.
Massage and Bodywork Therapies
Bodywork therapies are highly useful for providing muscle pain relief and restoring full body function. Massage, in particular, is often recommended to relieve tension and pain, which helps to increase blood circulation, thus bringing nutrients and oxygen to the muscles that are affected and also help to carry away toxic substances. If there is a strain in a muscle, a massage can prevent the shortening of the muscle while it heals.
Some of the other effective bodywork therapies are:
Reflexology: Pressure is applied to various reflex points on the hands and feet which helps the body to heal itself.
Shiatsu: This involves pressure applied with fingers to certain points on the meridians of the body, which improves circulation and eases pain.
Feldenkrais Method: In this method, new ways of moving the body helps to relax tense or cramped muscles.
Rolfing: Connective tissue and muscles are manipulated, which realigns the body according to the field of gravity.
Trained practitioners are required to perform these therapies.
Aromatherapy
In this therapy, essential oils from certain herbs and plantsare used for muscle pain relief, along with any inflammation or spasms that may accompany it. The oils are usually applied with compresses or gentle massages. Some of them can also be added to warm bathwater. Some of the common essential oils used for muscle pain are: helichrysum, ginger, peppermint, marjoram, and thyme.
At-Home Remedies
At-home remedies like ice packs are also effective for relieving muscle pain, as are physical aides like wrist wraps and back braces, which hold bones and joints in their correct positions, thus helping to reduce strain being put on the affected muscles.
Exercises for Muscle Strengthening
Physical therapists or doctors also usually prescribe certain exercises, which help in increasing muscular flexibility and strength. A physical therapy course is also useful for educating patients about the importance of using ergonomic tools, like padded chairs, which help to reduce strain on muscles. Therapists also teach patients the correct ways of sitting, lifting, walking, or doing work that requires repetitive movements, in order to prevent problems in the future.
| By Rita Putatunda Published: 9/29/2007 |
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Dec
16
Herbal Remedies For Hypothyroidism
Filed Under Herbal Remedies | 16 Comments
Symptoms and Natural Treatments for Thyroid Problems
By Mitamins Team
Published: 3/3/2007
Thyroid problems are largely a result of an imbalance in your thyroid levels, and leads to weight problems. Natural vitamins, herbs, and minerals, have been found to help preveyo and treat hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, and other thyroid imbalances. Get more thyroid advice in this article.
Thyroid problems are largely a result of an imbalance in your thyroid levels. Any kind of thyroid problem, regardless of cause, leads to a weight problem, and it’s usually drastic - you could find that u are gaining weight, losing it rapidly or maybe
you just can’t get rid of it no matter how hard you try! This can then give rise to other weight-related diseases. The ensuing problems are bad whether you suffer from an under-active thyroid an overactive thyroid.
The American Thyroid Association has a publication issued in the interests of people who need thyroid support. This is great considering that over 7 million women in America are sufferers and would dearly love to get some kind of thyroid support.
So, what are the symptoms of thyroid problems? An under-active thyroid (hypothyroidism) means that your metabolism isn’t really up to scratch and results in the pounds piling on. An overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism) means your metabolism is speeded up and you begin to lose weight. Well, this might seem great for those who want to get that model-like figure real fast but it comes with its own set of problems. Hyperthyroidism can get so bad sufferers could end up with a lot of weakness and even bulging of the eyes. A bad case could mean hospitalization.
Hypothyroidism works in the opposite way. The metabolism slows down to such an extent that you keep putting on weight. This too could leave you weak and could result in serious complication so it must be treated. Without adequate throid support, many problems could be caused by fluoride poisoning in the water.
So what options are there for those who need thyroid support? Well, marine phytoplankton has come to be known as thyroid health food. The electrolytes and nutrients marine phytoplankton possesses are what the human body needs to control metabolic rate. Another natural supplement for thyroid support showing positive results in studies is the juice of the go-ji or lyceum berry from Asia. The fruit is seen as an immunomodulator - it can balance abnormal responses in the body and is seen by many as a natural treatment for thyroid problems.
Are there any vitamins that can be take for thyroid support? Well, kelp is a combination of vitamins, minerals and supplements and has been said to work well in the treatment of thyroid problems. If you are on thyroid medication, be sure to take a good multivitamin with minerals and a few grams of Vitamin C everyday. Vitamin A is also very essential for the treatment of hypothyroidism as enough of it must be present in the body to enable the gland to absorb enough iodine. Adding Vitamin A to your diet could not only prevent thyroid problems, it could also help alleviate the symptoms if you suffer from hypothyroidism. Make sure your food is rich in copper, which means that you will have to include thyroid foods like yeast, offal, nuts, raisins, and eggs. Just a little care and you could minimize your problems and offer thyroid support.
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Dec
16
Aromatherapy is a form of herbal medicine. It uses the scents in essential oils distilled from herbs, flowers and trees to improve health and vitality. Used properly, it can re-energize and rejuvenate the mind, body and spirit. Aromatherapy comes in many forms. It can be used as oils, candles, lotions and soaps.
How Is The Scented Oil Extracted From The Plants?
Many herbs are used in the production of essential oils and waters for aromatherapy. Essential oils are the aromatic compounds found in the herb. They are extracted by distillation. There are different methods of this but they are all basically the same.
The herbs are put into water which is heated until it produces steam. This releases and then carries chemicals, including the aromatic compounds. The steam is then chilled in a condenser and the material left behind is collected. Oils (which will become the Essential Oil) floats to the top of the distilled water and may be scooped off.
The distilled water part is called hydrosol. If you want to buy a herb or flower ‘water’ the best kind is a hydrosol as this is the by-product of aromatic distillation. Many ‘waters’ are essential oils added to water or alcohol and are not as good as true hydrosols.
Treat Aromatherapy With Respect!
Many people think that because the scented oils have ‘only come from plants’ that they can use as much as they like. Essential oils are very concentrated and are usually measured in drops. Strength wise - one drop would equal the volume amount of two cups. Ingesting one ounce of essential oil could prove fatal.
Unless you are a skilled aromatherapist, it’s best to use essential oils only on the skin. Always mix the drops of oil with a ‘carrier’ like sweet almond oil. Undiluted essential oil can burn the skin.
How Can Anything From Plants Be So Powerful?
Our pharmacology has developed from herbal medicine. Many medications in use today are still derived from plants.
There are more than 250,000 known plant species and yet less than 1% of them have been thoroughly tested for use in medicine. A quarter of our prescription medications are derived from this tiny 1%. The list includes morphine, atropine, ephedrine, warfarin, aspirin, digoxin, taxol, hyoscine - so plants are pretty powerful and care should be taken. Isn’t it amazing to think what other helpful medications are out there and as yet undiscovered!
Growing Herbs For Aromatherapy
A large area of crops is needed to grow herbs for aromatherapy purposes. This is because when calculated on the weight of fresh herbs distilled, plants only yield between 0.01% and 2% of essential oil. So a lot needs to be grown and distilled to produce reasonable amounts of oil.
To produce essential oils, the requirements are the plants, good soil (often organic), irrigation, reasonable shelter from harsh weather, harvesting and distillation equipment.
Hints And Tips On Essential Oils
1. Always read and heed advice on the labels on essential oils.
2. Keep them out of the sight and reach of children.
3. Never put essential oils near the eyes.
4. Always dilute with carrier oil before putting on the skin - or it will burn!
5. Essential oils are for external application only. Don’t ever ingest them.
6. As with any new skin preparation, test the oil first. Dilute a drop of essential oil with carrier oil and apply to the skin on your inner arm. If there is any irritation, discontinue its use.
7. Many herbs should be avoided by pregnant women and by people suffering some health conditions. Always check before use.
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Dec
16
People have been purchasing aromatic bath salts for years, because bathing in a tub with bath salts is both relaxing, helps respiratory problems, and invigorating. Did you realize, though, that you can also make your own bath salts much less expensively than you can purchase ready-made ones? The process is so easy to do that even those with little claim to creativity can make them successfully. These homemade bath salts also make lovely, thoughtful gifts for family and friends.
Bath salts are made using only a few ingredients. In fact, you will only need salt, fragrance, and baking soda in order to devise your own. Any of the common salts you can purchase at the grocery store will work, especially Epson Salt, Sea Salt, and Rock Salt. You’ll find that salts with coarser grains work best. Non-iodized table salt can be used, but it isn’t ideal due to the added ingredients it contains.
Depending on the fragrance you wish, you can use scented oils or herbs.
Be sure to read the labels of any essential or fragranced oils before buying, because some of them are unsafe for use in a bath.
If you’re looking forward to relaxing in an herbal bath, start by layering fresh herbs and salt in a glass jar with a plastic lid (if the lid isn’t plastic, cover tightly with plastic wrap). Leave the mixture covered for two to three weeks which will allow the salts to acquire the fragrance of the herbs. When time is up, all you have to do is remove the herbs and pour the aromatic bath salts you’ve produced into your bath water.
You’ll find many simple recipes for bath salts that call for adding baking soda to the mixture. The baking soda will create nice soft water for you to bath in. The easiest recipe calls for putting the salt and soda mixture into the tub while the water is running. Then, when you’re just about ready to step in, add 2 or 3 drops of the scented oil. Too much oil can result in unwanted skin irritations.
When giving any bath salts containing baking soda away, keep in mind that baking soda can mix with some ingredients and cause minor explosions. Before bottling aromatic bath salts to give away, test the recipe for possible safety issues. Don’t just randomly mix ingredients together and call it good. Do some research first, and use sources you trust for information.
Aromatic bath salts are relaxing when used in the tub and lovely to look at in your bathroom. Do keep in mind, though, that essential oils will lose their smells over time. The life expectancy of scented oil is only about 2 years. After that time they will lose their potency and need to be replaced. Most people won’t have any trouble with the oils expiring, though. They’ll have used the wonderful bath salts long before the 2 years is up.
Visit us for more information on double bathroom vanities, clawfoot bathtubs and bathtub resurfacing.
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By Christopher Smith |
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Dec
16
Asthma: Try The Natural Remedies
Asthma: Try The Natural Remedies There are many medications that are used to control asthma-related symptoms and outbreaks. These prescription medications are well researched and very effective;… Read more…
How to Cure Bronchitis - Herbal Remedies For Bronchitis
In take sufficient amount of water helps to liquefy the cough and it becomes easier to cough out the phlegm inside the respiratory track. Taking steam vapor from water ease the problem o… Read more…
Mullein.
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Dec
16
Herbal Bipolar Products
Filed Under Herbal Nutritional Supplements | 21 Comments
| Herbal Bipolar Products |
With the ups and downs that are associated with bipolar disorder (sometimes referenced as manic depressive disorder in more recent times), it’s understandable that the patient might want to find a medication that can help to keep things more level. Instead of having the extreme highs and lows, the patient can manage their disorder and live a healthy and normal life. In recent years, the idea of additional medications and natural remedies to handle this diagnosis has been discussed - with surprising answers.
What is Bipolar Disorder?
When the brain is unable to regular the chemicals in the brain that affect mood, the patient can experience wide variations in their temperament. The ‘ups’ include euphoric feelings in which the patient is energetic, happy, and feels as though they can accomplish anything. They will often not eat as much, they will sleep little, and they will be very productive. However, when the brain chemistry changes, the ‘downs’ create depressive states in which the world seems lonely. The patient may be sad or angry as well as begin to isolate themselves from the world. In some ‘downs,’ the patient can begin to have suicidal thoughts along with fatigue, changes in eating habits and crying spells.
What’s hard about bipolar disorder is that there is so little known about the chemistry in the brain that it’s hard to determine how to control these chemicals. While this condition is not difficult to diagnose anymore, the medication and therapies that are tried can be successful for a time and then stop working as they once did. This may be due to another shift in the brain’s chemistry or the body simply building up a resistance to the medications themselves.
A lifelong disorder, bipolar disorder can lead to major life disruptions as swings in mood can lead to erratic and harmful behaviours that need to result in hospitalisations. Once the moods are stabilised again, the patient is free to leave the hospital, but the cycles can repeat again and again.
How is Bipolar Disorder Traditionally Treated?
While the individual cases of bipolar disorder and treatments vary, there are a few common therapies that are used more commonly:
Mood stabilisers
Anti-psychotic medications
Anti-depressants
Psychotherapy
Acute hospitalisation
Outpatient therapy
With medications like mood stabilisers, the mood can be greatly regulated over the long term. Medications like lithium are widely prescribed, but they have side effects that can be detrimental to the long term health of the patient. Other medications need to be closely monitored in the bloodstream as they can affect the liver and other organs if too highly concentrated. Other medications like anti-psychotics and anti-depressants are only used in short term therapies as a sort of bridge out of the mania or the depressive state.
Talking therapies can be beneficial when used in conjunction with medication therapy, but by itself, this does not address the brain chemistry malfunctions. Hospitalisation is a fair way to address the change in brain chemistry, but the treatment is only for issues in which the patient is suicidal and harmful to themselves and to others.
What are the Studies Saying?
That said, there are some promising studies that are linking the use of fish oil and success with bipolar disorder patients. In 1999, a controlled study used fish oil and the placebo of olive oil to see how patients with bipolar disorder responded. Results showed that moods stabilisation was possible with the use of fish oil, often helping to promote the same cellular reactions as lithium and other medications.
Another statistical analysis of countries that eat diets high in fish and fish oil showed that these countries had much lower rates or mood related disorders.
How to Increase Fish Oil Levels in the Body
The good news is that adding fish oil and essential fatty acids to the diet is a relatively simple process. With a number of fatty fishes to choose from, it’s simple to add two to three servings of these essential nutrients to your diet each week. However, with rising pollution counts in the water, scientists are wary of suggesting human consumption of anything more than two to three servings a week. Higher mercury levels in the water can damage the body and cause toxicity in the bloodstream.
Essential fatty acids can also be found in non-fish sources like flaxseed, nuts, and seeds. Many more food choices are also being fortified with Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids, so it’s easier than ever to add these to the diet.
However, finding the time to prepare fish and to find these products can be difficult. To help make this step easier, fish oil supplements are also available. They provide concentrated amounts of essential fatty acids in a convenient form. In addition, they don’t contain the high levels of mercury.
Conclusion
While dealing with mental illness requires several different approaches to therapy, adding fish oil seems to be the easier step toward more stable moods and a much more stable life.
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Dave McEvoy is an expert in omega 3 fish oil EPA with over 20 years experience; for more information about fish oil and how it can help come and visit. www.mind1st.co.uk
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