Herbal Household Remedies

Here is some advice that could very well have come from my grandma…  “If you have the flu, go to bed”, is one of them - common sense, people, use common sense !

Via: canada.com

For years, common wisdom for a cold was to take a pill. But scan pharmacy shelves these days - not to mention bookstores - and the message is changing.

While over-the-counter cold and flu medications have lost favour in light of studies that show the only worthwhile ingredient is the painkiller, natural remedies are gaining ground.

In fact, around 20 per cent of Canadians - about 5.4 million - use alternative remedies and treatments, according to a recent Statistics Canada report.

“Consumers are becoming more wary and are thinking more cautiously about everything we put into our mouths,” says Toronto-area pharmacist Sherry Torkos, author of The Canadian Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine (Wiley).

“With over-the-counter medications, for example, they might mitigate symptoms, but there are side-effects for people with asthma, diabetes and heart disease, all of which are on the rise,” says Torkos. “Overall, along with an increase in people turning to natural alternatives, there are more questions being asked: Are there side-effects? Are there benefits? What are the risks?”

It’s a state of affairs that doesn’t surprise Michele Boisvert, a Montreal pharmacist and Canada’s first female homeopath who recently launched her book Healthy…Naturally: A Guide to Homeopathy. Boisvert says interest in natural therapies is increasing, particularly during the cold and flu season. “There are other ways to deal with those ailments that are safe and gentle,” she says.

For a cold

Wash your hands frequently.
A recent survey by the Health and Hygiene Council Canada found that 90 per cent of Canadians know hand-washing helps avoid contracting the flu or colds, but only 37 per cent of children and 44 per cent of adults soap up before eating. “Wash your hands, especially during winter when we spend more time inside with each other,” advises Boisvert. “Don’t touch your eyes, nose or mouth unless you have just washed. And think about the tissue you used to blow your nose. Put it in your pocket and you’ve stored 1,500 germs right there.”

Increase your allicin.
You might call it garlic- or onion-breath, but the active compound in those vegetables is both antibacterial and antifungal. Animal studies published since 1995 show that allicin does more than ward off the sniffles. It can reduce atherosclerosis, balance lipoprotein, lower blood pressure and act as an anti-inflammatory. Torkos recommends taking products like Kyolic regularly to support immune function.

Get lots of sleep.
“It seems simple, but when we’re tired, exhaustion impairs immune system function and makes us more vulnerable,” says Torkos, who suggests relaxing activities and avoiding caffeine or rigorous exercise before bedtime. If sleep still evades you, try melatonin, a hormone naturally secreted by the brain that affects diurnal rhythms. Otherwise, she recommends Bach Flower Rescue Sleep, a mild distillation of relaxant flower essences like Star of Bethlehem, rock rose, cherry plum and impatiens.

Echinacea or not?
Is echinacea good for treating a cold or not? Torkos says studies have shown mixed results in its impact on cold severity, but not all research examined the same strain.

“I would say the majority of evidence has shown that one type, echinacea purpura, is good, not for prevention, but to shorten the duration of the cold.” As with all natural remedies, however, she advises talking to your doctor first. Echinacea should not be taken by anyone with an autoimmune disorder.

Drink green tea.
Best known for its weight-busting ingredient, epigallocatechin galeate, green tea also offers an immune function boost and L-theanine, a relaxing amino acid that has been shown to reduce the severity and duration of colds and flu. According to a 2007 peer-reviewed study in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition, researchers from the University of Florida and Harvard Medical School administered a form of L-theanine called Immune Guard to 120 participants. After three months, cold and flu incidence dropped by 32 per cent and the need for medical attention decreased by 58 per cent.

For the flu:

Go to bed.
The bad news is that if you have the flu, it can lead to more serious illnesses like bronchitis and pneumonia. The good news is that it won’t last more than 48 hours. “The flu comes and goes in a short period of time,” says Torkos. “Really, the best thing is to get rest. If you have a high fever, aches and pains, take Tylenol or ibuprofen.”

Drink fluids.
“You may not feel like eating, but you must stay hydrated,” says Torkos. However, avoid alcohol, coffee and colas since they can make dehydration worse.

Take Homeocoksinum (9doses) Brand: Homeocan
or Oscillococcinum Bonus Pack (12 doses total) - 12 - Dose
As with many homeopathic remedies, the medical fraternity sees little value in taking a dilution of a Barbary duck’s liver and heart (otherwise known as Anas Barbariae Hepatis et Cordis Extractum) to fight a flu. Nevertheless, Oscillococcinum sells briskly in 50 countries during flu season and has been produced in France for 65 years. “If you catch it in the first eight hours, there’s an 80 to 90 per cent chance you won’t get the flu,” Boisvert says. “If you’ve passed that stage, you’ll still get it, but it’ll reduce the duration of the flu by half.”

There are many ways of improving your health the natural way, and a lot of very helpful books have been written on the subject, such as The Herbal Medicine Maker’s Handbook: A Home Manual.  Spices have always been a part of Grandma’s Old-Time Remedies, so this article might repeat remedies you have already heard of, but I am sure it will also offer some new insight even if you are a well versed home remedy user already

Via: NaturalNews

Spices do more than make food taste great. Recent research is showing that spices can promote health and well being through a series of actions that are anti-aging and inhibiting of degenerative disease. The vegetarian diet so often associated with good health and lack of disease relies heavily on the use of spice. But you don’t have to be a vegetarian to gain the amazing health benefits these inexpensive flavor enhancers have to offer.

The addition of spices can turn up the taste of almost any food. Add some chili pepper, cumin or turmeric to mashed potatoes or rice. Sprinkle marjoram or rosemary on your salads, and dress up cottage cheese with whatever spicy flavor appeals to you. Add spice to vegetable dishes and sprinkle it on meats, poultry or fish before cooking. Spice up your veggie juices and smoothies. Any way you do it, adding spice means adding a wealth of health benefits.

Recent research continues to show the power of these natural medicines

Spices have more antioxidant power, measure for measure, than fruits and vegetables. Antioxidants help prevent cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, heart disease, and premature aging. In a study reported in the British Journal of Nutrition, fifteen aromatic herbs and spices consumed in Central Italy as part of the Mediterranean diet were studied to reveal total phenolic, flavonoid and flavanol content as well as their antioxidant potential as measured by oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC). Comparison was made between salads to which aromatic herbs had been added. The addition of lemon balm and marjoram increased by 150% and 200% respectively the antioxidant capacity of a salad portion, corresponding to an intake of 200 mg. of phenolics and 4000 ORAC units. Among other spices tested, cumin and fresh ginger made the most significant contribution to antioxidant capacity.

Full Story and a list of Spices that stand out for their health benefits

Via: Baltimore Health Examiner

Americans love herbs. Consumer use of herbal therapies increased 380% from 1990-1997, and it continues to rise. Many people, especially those wary of pharmaceuticals, believe that herbs are safe and free of side effects. Others appreciate the control that herbs offer – no visits to the doctor are required.

Americans use herbs to treat acute problems such as colds and more chronic problems such as depression and memory loss. Five of the most common herbs are:

1. Echinacea
Generally used at the first sign of a cold as an immune system stimulant. It isn’t appropriate for long-term use and shouldn’t be used by people on immunosuppressants.
2. Ginseng
Gineng is used for many purposes, often relating to alertness, energy and mental functioning. Some people believe that it can stimulate the immune system and possibly even decrease the risk of cancer.
3. Garlic
Garlic is often used to decrease cholesterol and high blood pressure. It may also thin the blood and can interact with other blood thinners. There is some evidence that regular use of garlic may decrease the risk of cancer.
4. Ginko Biloba
Ginko is generally used for memory loss and dementia syndromes such as Alzheimer’s disease.
5. St. John’s Wort
St. John’s Wort is sometimes thought of as ‘mini-Prozac’ and is used for mild depression.

Herbs are popular and generally safe, but some cautions are appropriate. Since many herbs are biologically active, they can have side effects and interact with other medications. Before using any herb, be sure to educate yourself about its use. There are many internet resources with excellent information about commonly used herbs. Two good ones are The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine and AltMD.

One of the problems with herbal therapies in the U.S. is that they are not closely regulated by the FDA. Consumer protection studies have been done to evaluate the correlation between stated contents and actual contents in various herbal formulations and the results were disturbing. Many pills had less of the active ingredient then stated, and some actually contained none of the listed herb at all.

There is no definite way to determine which companies are most reliable, but common sense can help a bit. Don’t buy herbs from a deep discount store and be wary of small internet companies. If you find a product that works for you, try to stick with the same brand. And if you tried one brand of an herb but had no result, you could consider trying another brand before giving up.

If you don’t feel confident choosing an herbal plan yourself, there are resources to help you. You could ask your physician for help however, while some physicians are knowledgeable about herbal therapies, many are not. Consider visiting either an Integrative Medicine physician or a Naturopath. We have both available in Baltimore.

Be well.