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Archive for June, 2010

Disorders of digestive system

Toothaches

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June 29, 2010 at 12:58 pm

A Toothful Solution

Teeth, Teething, Toothaches

Best Single Herb: Cloves

Best Combinations: White willow bark, valerian, wild lettuce, capsicum; garlic (for infection); black walnut extract (brush)

Other Helpful Supplements: Vitamin C; calcium/magnesium with vitamin D

Possible Causes: Blood sugar imbalance; poor oral hygiene

Complementary Help: Visit the dentist; check your blood sugar; floss

Having problems with your teeth is no fun. First and foremost, of course, you need to have proper hygiene habits, such as brushing after meals and flossing at least once per day. Second, regular dental check-ups and cleanings will help you keep your oral health in top condition.

Some people are afraid to go to the dentist, but it is better to go more frequently — especially if you are worried — because the sooner your dentist can catch a problem, the easier it will be to fix for both of you. Letting cavities, cracks, and receding gum lines go unattended can only lead to more serious problems requiring much more time in the dental chair. A cavity now could require a crown or even a root canal farther down the line. So be sure that you stay on top of your oral health, and then use these herbal remedies for your internal environment and help you in emergencies when you can’t get to your dentist right away.

About overcoming an ailment with herbs

Ask your hygienist to show you how to brush correctly — believe it or not, there are right and wrong ways of brushing. You can even damage your gums by using the wrong type of brush! Don’t be embarrassed to ask for clarity; your hygienist will be happy to instruct you on the proper ways to brush and floss.

Numbing Tooth Pain with Cloves

Clove (Eugenia caryophyllata) is a very powerful aromatic herb that has been used for thousands of years as a painkiller. The dried flower buds have been used to numb pain, to kill bacteria and parasites, and to help expel mucus. Topically, clove oil is the best application to numb the pain of a toothache. Rub a small amount around the tooth that is bothering you as a topical analgesic, and call your dentist to have the underlying problem corrected.

Warnings about the use of herbs

Use caution when using clove oil on yourself — and especially with babies. This concentrated oil is extremely powerful and could make you very sick when used in excess.

If you have a child who is teething, a drop of diluted clove oil can be applied to your finger and rubbed onto your baby’s gums. Use only a small amount of this oil, and dilute it first with olive oil (1 part clove oil to about 20 parts olive oil). Do not give clove oil to babies internally, however — cloves are extremely powerful and need to be used with caution, especially the concentrated essential oil. Too much can be toxic for adults, and it is too strong for babies internally. It can give children nausea or headaches. See Chapter 26, “An Herbal First Aid Kit,” for more on the uses of the essential oil of cloves. Birch or peppermint oil placed on gums in this same manner can be used as a substitute for clove oil for teething babies or toothaches.

More to Chew On

Because your teeth are bones and are considered part of your overall structural system, herbs and supplements that will support your overall structural system can also strengthen and nourish your teeth. For instance, a calcium and magnesium supplement that includes vitamin D is one of the best minerals you can feed your bones. Vitamin C with extra citrus bioflavonoids will also help you absorb calcium and nourish the tissues that surround your teeth. Alfalfa is another excellent herb that is rich in organic minerals, and liquid chlorophyll (the blood of the alfalfa plant) will help you keep calcium in the body, where it belongs!

If you are having lots of dental caries (cavities) despite your great oral hygiene, then consider your nutrition. To help you with a tooth infection, try garlic. When you have a tooth abscess, the infection can be spread throughout your blood stream and can cause you to feel ill. The garlic will help fight off the bad bacteria and will keep your immune system fighting. But, for your dentist’s sake, take an enterically coated garlic tablet instead of chewing the raw cloves!

For tooth pain, until you can get to your dentist, try this combination: white willow bark, valerian, wild lettuce, and capsicum. These are great for relaxing you (pain usually causes tension) and curbing the pain associated with toothaches. For infections of the gums, brush with black walnut powder, or use some myrrh to pack around gums. Herbs used historically to prevent tooth decay include:

  • Wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) contains the active ingredient (thymol) used in the mouthwash Listerine®, known to kill bacteria in the mouth. This herb also contains geraniol, known as a decay-prevention compound.
  • Stevia (Stevia rebaudiana) is a controversial herb that can be used as a sugar replacement. It is said to be 100 times sweeter than table sugar, so only a pinch is needed to sweeten foods or drinks. Using this herb instead of sugar could help you prevent sugar-induced tooth decay.
  • Chaparral (Larrea divaricata) can be made into a mouthwash and used to prevent tooth decay. This herb contains antiseptic properties and has been used for toothaches in folk medicine for centuries.
  • Myrrh also contains antiseptic properties and can be used as a mouthwash or dental pack.

About overcoming an ailment with herbs

Soda pop creates an acid environment and can wreak havoc on your dental health. Sugary gum and hard candies create an environment for decay to begin. Dried fruit such as raisins and fruit rolls are sticky and can be just as bad for the teeth. Try sugarless snacks instead, and brush and floss after meals.

Mental disorders | Tags:

Stress

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June 27, 2010 at 12:33 pm

STRESS: That’s the Way We Spell Success

Best Single Herb: Chamomile

Best Combinations: Chamomile, passion flower, hops, fennel, marshmallow, feverfew; suma, astragalus, Siberian ginseng, ginkgo biloba, gotu kola

Other Helpful Supplements: B-complex vitamins

Possible Causes: Lifestyle

Complementary Help: Massage; reflexology; stress management; chamomile eye pillow; chamomile tea

Who hasn’t heard of stress these days? It seems to enter our vocabulary daily. One definition of stress is mental or emotional pressure. This is stress you can’t see, but your body still knows it’s there. Unfortunately, stress is not always caused by negative things, such as work-related stress, or bad-relationship stress, or car-trouble-induced stress. In fact, some of the top related stresses are good things.

Read over these examples of some positive things that cause a great deal of stress in our lives, if you have more than two or three of these things going on at once, you could benefit from extra stress-reducing herbs and supplements:

  • Weddings
  • A new marriage
  • Travel
  • A move to a new home — even when it is your dream home!
  • A promotion at work
  • A new baby
  • High goals you set for yourself and then work toward
  • Starting your own business, and being successful
  • Retirement preparations

Needless to say, the universe has a way of keeping in balance, and along with the positive things that come your way, you can be sure you’ll experience negative side effects from stress to make up for it. Stress is linked to a host of related ailments and can make your immune system more vulnerable to other illness. If you are overburdened with good or bad things in your life that are causing you stress, take some time to sip the herbal tea.

Chamomile for Soothing the Right Nerve

Chamomile (Matricaria recutita) is one of the safest and most effective herbs to use to gently calm your nerves and ease stress. It has been used successfully to calm intestinal cramps; ease colic, indigestion, stress, and ulcers; and ease restlessness. What’s more, this herb is safe enough to be shared by pregnant and nursing moms and babies.

Herb Lore: information related to holistic health

Recently, a nursing mom asked me about what she could do for her colicky baby. I told her about the soothing effects of chamomile, and she sipped a couple cups of tea before breast-feeding her baby that evening. The next day she told me that she hadn’t slept so well in weeks — and her baby woke up only once during the night!

Chamomile flowers are used as a hair rinse for blond hair to help keep the hair’s color. This herb, also called wild pineapple or ground apple, grows low to the ground and gives off a wonderful smell — similar to pineapple — when picked fresh. I find it interesting that wild chamomile grows in areas such as driveways and where people walk constantly — I have always found it under my feet, literally. I have a theory, based on the doctrine of signatures, that chamomile grows in areas where it receives much abuse or stress, and that is what makes it such a good herbal remedy for this condition!

Warnings about the use of herbs

Although chamomile is considered a very safe herb, a small percentage of folks may be allergic to it. The people who have a severe sensitivity to ragweed seem to be the most vulnerable.

Researchers have found that a plant’s medicinal parts are actually part of the plant’s own immune system. When a plant is attacked, such as when its leaves are plucked or when it’s trampled on, the medicinal qualities actually get stronger. So, maybe the chamomile that is trampled on will serve as a more potent stress-relieving remedy than a chamomile that is pampered. I don’t know for sure, but, as always, there are many thoughts to ponder while sipping that nice, relaxing cup of chamomile tea. Ahhh!

About overcoming an ailment with herbs

Kava kava has been used as a staple herb in the Pacific Islands for more than 3,000 years to ease anxiety. Kavalactones, the active ingredient in this herb, serve to relax muscles and sedate the nerves without the toxic side effects that tranquilizers can have. Several studies have shown that kava actually increases mental mood and alertness, while creating a euphoric-type state.

Mote De-Stressing Solutions

Plenty of remedies in the herbal kingdom can help ease your mind and body. Passion flower and hops are also favorites. (See more on hops in Chapter 6 in the section “Anxiety: Panic Not — Herbs to the Rescue.”) The B-complex vitamins are always helpful as well because your body utilizes more of these B vitamins when under stress.

Add some adaptogen herbs that help your body adapt to stress if you are feeling worn-out due to lifestyle. Suma, astragalus, ginseng, and gotu kola are all excellent herbal tonics that can help pull you back together after a stressful period or keep you going through the rough times. Avoid taking these herbs just before bed, however, because they can keep you awake.

Other great therapies that are helpful to many with stress include massage, aromatherapy, reflexology, meditation, and exercise.

Diseases of respiratory system | Tags: , ,

Sinusitis

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June 25, 2010 at 12:23 pm

Sinusitis: Sniffing Out a Cure

Best Single Herb: Thyme

Best Combinations: Fenugreek, thyme; burdock, golden seal, parsley, althea, ephedra, capsicum, horehound, yerba santa; bee pollen; bayberry

Other Helpful Supplements: Vitamin A or beta carotene; vitamin C; pantothenic acid

Possible Causes: Old catarrh; lowered immune system; body trying to cleanse old bacteria

Complementary Help: Cleanse bowel; take golden seal “snuff”; avoid dairy and sugar; use self-help with reflexology, squeeze the toes and fingers firmly

Sinusitis is the inflammation of the sinus passages. Symptoms include headache, clogged nose, inability to breathe through the nose, pressure in the sinuses, a runny or dripping nose, and post nasal drip, causing an irritated throat.

Sinusitis is usually caused by an allergy, which causes the sinuses to react by sneezing and producing mucus. The allergy can then lead to a localized infection, causing more irritation to the sinus passages that can then be called sinusitis. Make sure you boost your immune system when dealing with sinusitis, and be sure to read the post “Allergies Bee Gone,” for more. Until then, you can use a little thyme to clear your head. Let’s talk about the best use of thyme next.

Thyme for a Solution

Thyme (pronounced time) (Thymus vulgaris) is an excellent herb that has been used in a variety of herbal combinations for boosting the immune system. This herb has been especially helpful in ailments of the respiratory system (sinuses, lungs, and bronchials). Thyme is used as a spice in soups, stews, chili, and other foods and helps you digest fats. This herb is not recommended in high doses for pregnant women, but having some as a spice in your food should be safe for you. A little bit is also an excellent and safe remedy for children with colds and the flu.

Warnings about the use of herbs

Thyme should not be taken in large doses if you are pregnant Also, it is better to acquire your thyme from a reputable manufacturer because picking your own can be dangerous — the different species of thyme can vary in potency by 10,000 times.

I have seen fenugreek and thyme stop a runny nose within 20 minutes after ingestion, so thyme’s anti-bacterial and antiseptic properties might be just the thing your body needs to kill off your sinus infection. Don’t be surprised, however, if you experience a temporary increase in mucus leaving your sinus cavities or lungs; thyme is an expectorant and will help your body rid itself of excess mucus through the lungs. Thyme may also be useful for combating shingles because it helps boost the immune system.

Herb Lore: information related to holistic health

Thyme is interesting in that its effects will change depending on how much you take. For example, taking tiny amounts of the herb will create a sedating effect and can relax you and help you get the rest you need when you are sick. However, larger doses act as a stimulant and may make you feel more energetic to pull you through the day. Thyme has also been used for bronchitis, colds, colic, digestion, fevers, gas, hysteria, infections, menstrual cramps, nightmares, skin conditions, toothaches, and whooping cough.

Sinus Up for More Herbs

Other herbs useful to the respiratory system and sinuses include golden seal, yerba santa, and ephedra. See the table at the end of this chapter for a good combination of herbs and some vitamins that will aid your recovery.

When suffering from a sinus infection, stop eating or drinking products that create more mucus in your body. Eliminate wheat, dairy, and sugar while fighting your infection, and avoid any foods that cause mucus for you. Also, bowel cleansing can help eliminate respiratory congestion — see the post “Constipation: All Dressed Up and Nowhere to Go” for a great cleansing drink.

Infectious And Parasitic Diseases | Tags:

Shingles

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June 23, 2010 at 12:13 pm

Shingles: Better on Your Roof

Best Single Herb: Calendula

Best Combinations: White willow bark, black cohosh, capsicum, valerian, ginger, hops, wood betony, devil’s claw; elecampane; licorice root; una de gato

Other Helpful Supplements: B-complex vitamins; acidophilus; 1-lysine or all essential amino acids; calcium/magnesium with vitamin D; vitamins A and D; zinc; trace minerals

Possible Causes: Stress; anxiety; low immune system

Complementary Help: Calendula fomentation; vitamin E oil applied externally when healing to prevent scarring; stress reduction

Shingles is an ailment that usually strikes middle-age women and men, but it is especially common and can be more harmful in those with weak immune systems and the elderly. This ailment is recognized as a severely itchy or painful red rash that appears across the trunk of the body and sometimes on the face. Most of the time this rash lasts about three weeks until the blistered scabs heal. However, in some with particularly weak immune systems, the problem may linger for months and can lead to nerve pain that can continue for years.

Shingles is related to the chicken pox and herpes virus (all of the same family). It is thought that the chicken pox virus lurks in the body inactive for decades; when we experience a crisis or other major stress in mid-life that causes the immune system to become vulnerable, the virus then resurfaces as shingles. Therefore, when working with shingles, you will need to take into consideration herbs that nourish your nervous system (see the post “S-T-R-E-S-S: That’s the Way We Spell Success”). You will want to boost your immune system with herbs to help fight off the virus and to help you recover.

Calendula: Scratching the Itch

Calendula (Calendula officinalis) is an excellent herb to help you with your painful rash because it has properties that make it work as an anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, antiseptic, anti-spasmodic, a sedative, and an astringent. Sounds like it can ease that itch, doesn’t it?

Make a poultice or fomentation from the flowers of the calendula plant and apply it directly to your rash to help with inflammation and itching. Although I have never had shingles, I have used calendula topically for other skin ailments to prevent infection with success. An old saying states something to the effect of, wherever calendula is, no puss will form. Calendula then, may help prevent your shingle blisters from becoming infected.

When taken internally in small doses, calendula works as a sedative and thus may help ease the stress and tension that brought out your shingles in the first place. You will usually find calendula flowers in topical applications at the health food stores. This herb also may be an ingredient in some herbal combinations, or as a homeopathic ingredient, or you might find the flowers in bulk. I would follow this lead and use calendula topically or in a homeopathic form. Then consider some of the herbs we’ll discuss next for internal use.

About overcoming an ailment with herbs

A vitamin E oil capsule that’s punctured and applied topically to a rash or any other skin wound during the healing process has proven useful in preventing scarring.

Nervous System Support

White willow bark has been used for pain — remember, this was the herb that aspirin was derived from. A good mixture of eight herbs that can help the pain associated with shingles is listed in the table at the end of this chapter. B-complex vitamins also will feed the nervous system, and the amino acid 1-lysine has been reported to help suppress the herpes virus and makes it of value in fighting a shingles outbreak.

Take a calcium and magnesium supplement to help your muscles relax and to accelerate tissue healing once your rash begins to clear. Acidophilus supplementation or eating extra yogurt with live acidophilus cultures will help you absorb your nutrients better and will aid in boosting your immune system, too.

Injury And Poisoning

Radiation Poisoning

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June 21, 2010 at 12:08 pm

Best Single Herb: Algin

Best Combinations: Algin or kelp; bee pollen; aloe vera; liquid chlorophyll

Other Helpful Supplements: All antioxidants; CoQ10; amino acids

Possible Causes: Radiated foods; repeated X-ray exposure; continual microwave exposure; nuclear fall-out

Complementary Help: Epson salt bath

Fortunately, radiation poisoning or sickness is not such a common problem. This sickness is usually associated with radiation treatments for cancer or some other type of deliberate exposure to radiation on a continual basis. Symptoms of this fatal sickness usually include diarrhea, nausea or vomiting, and noted changes in blood chemistry.

Radiation is a general term meaning “to radiate,” which in physics is the term for the emission and movement of waves through space. This section is intended to help you detox your body from the general radiation many of us are exposed to daily. These herbal remedies can also help you before you can get medical treatment if you experience a serious exposure to radiation.

These are some examples of being exposed to radiation:

  • Having diagnostic X-rays taken at the dentist, doctor, or chiropractor offices; at hospitals; and elsewhere
  • Working in any of these offices, whether you take the X-rays or not
  • Undergoing radiation treatments for cancer
  • Repeatedly or continually exposing yourself to microwave ovens, such as when working in a restaurant or a food store
  • Living near a nuclear testing site where there is a danger of nuclear fall-out
  • Living or working next to or near power plants
  • Consistently exposing yourself to irradiated foods (foods such as meats that have been blasted with rays for preservation purposes) or crops exposed to fall-out or other radioactive pollutants
  • Excessive airplane travel

If you have some daily exposure to any of these forms of radiation, you can use herbs and supplements for daily protection. You should also consider detoxing each month or every other week, just for prevention’s sake. If nothing else, it can make you feel refreshed and clean, and it may just help you prevent long-term damage.

Warnings about the use of herbs

Do not try to treat yourself with herbs or home remedies if you have radiation poisoning — you could die. If you are suffering from serious exposure to radiation, seek competent medical help, and use the suggestions here until you can get to a doctor.

Algin: You’re Soaking in It

Algin is a component in the seaweed herb kelp, which makes algin very “kelpful.” You can take kelp if you cannot find the supplement algin, but because algin is the concentrated substance found in kelp, this herb has been proven useful in radiation exposure; you will need to take more kelp than you would an extracted algin supplement.

Algin is very effective in eliminating the body of toxic materials such as radioactive Strontium 90, mercury, barium, tin, cadmium, and excess zinc. The algin is a non-digestible fiber and protects the body from absorbing these poisons by attracting and then grabbing hold of the toxic materials, and then excreting them from the body via the bowel and urinary tract. There are no dangers in taking this kelp extract, either, which makes it an excellent daily supplement for those who are continually exposed to forms of radiation.

Terms related to herbs or holistic health

Strontium 90 is a radioactive substance harmful to the body. It can accumulate in food substances high fn calcium; when you ingest the food, the calcium that is used by your bones will carry the pollutant to the bones, where it will damage your bone marrow. The algin found in brown kelp can help block this absorption.

If you have been exposed to radiation of any kind, soak in a bathtub with algin and/or Epson salt added to the bath water. I would also take four capsules of algin every four hours or so if this was the only supplement I was taking. Other supplements can help speed up or enhance the effects of the algin by working synergistically — let’s take a look at a few more.

Other X-Rated Cures

Exposure to anything toxic will increase the amount of free radicals in your body. The best way to protect your body from the effects of free radical damage is to supplement with antioxidant vitamins and herbs.

Some of the main vitamins, herbs, and minerals used for their antioxidant-boosting abilities include:

  • Vitamin C (try to find one with extra citrus bioflavonoids)
  • Vitamin E (with selenium, a trace mineral that enhances the vitamin)
  • Beta carotene (or vitamin A — your body will synthesize vitamin A from beta carotene in the liver, and beta carotene is safer to take in larger doses)
  • Zinc (not too much — 25 to 50 mg daily only, unless prescribed by your doctor)
  • Red clover (contains much of the antioxidant properties found in vitamin E)
  • Grape seed extract or pine bark extract, found together or separately (more potent than vitamin C or E as an antioxidant)

About overcoming an ailment with herbs

Your thyroid gland is specifically vulnerable to radiation, and protection of the thyroid is critical when dealing with radiation. See site for more on the functions of your thyroid and to learn one of the favorite herbs used by those with thyroid problems.

Utilizing liquid chlorophyll in your daily water intake and taking a liquid aloe vera will also protect your cells from the effects of radiation exposure.

Diseases of genitourinary system | Tags: ,

Prostate Trouble

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June 18, 2010 at 5:44 am

Prostate Trouble: The Pressure Is On

Best Single Herb: Saw palmetto

Best Combinations: Saw palmetto; nettles; Siberian ginseng; pumpkin seeds; grape seed or pine bark extract

Other Helpful Supplements: Zinc; vitamin E with selenium

Possible Causes: Constipation; lack of exercise; caffeine abuse

Complementary Help: Bowel cleansing

Prostate trouble usually comes in the form of an enlarged prostate gland, which is the small, donut-shaped gland surrounding the neck of the bladder in males. Prostatitis is an inflammation of the prostate gland due to a bacteria infection. Either can cause difficulty with urination and may interrupt sexual function.

How can you tell if you could have prostate trouble? Here’s a list of the most common symptoms:

  • A need to urinate often, especially in the middle of the night
  • A weak or interrupted urinary stream
  • A feeling that you cannot empty your bladder completely A feeling of delay or hesitation when you start to urinate
  • A feeling that you must urinate right away
  • Continuing pain in the lower back, pelvis, or upper thighs

He Saw Palmetto and Was Cured

If you tell almost anyone who knows anything about herbs these days (even a complete idiot) that you have prostate trouble, you won’t be surprised to hear about the herb saw palmetto (Serenoa serrulata). Saw palmetto berries are used as a tonic to all the glands in the body and also prove helpful as a diuretic. These berries have been used not only for prostate problems, but also for respiratory ailments, diabetes, nerve problems, and digestive trouble.

In addition, this herb helps those who wish to put on weight, and it has been observed that animals that munch on these berries in the wild get plump!

About overcoming an ailment with herbs

Saw palmetto is also a well-known aphrodisiac — added to damiana, it makes a powerful remedy to help both men and women get back that loving feeling.

Besides being helpful for the prostate gland, saw palmetto is also used for asthma, bladder health, chronic bronchitis, head colds, gonorrhea, impotence, kidney disease, lung congestion, neuralgia, and sterility.

Women use this herb for breast problems, frigidity, hot flashes, gonorrhea, reproductive organs, sexual stimulation, and urinary problems.

Herbs for Prostate Health

Although saw palmetto has been one of the best-known herbs for men suffering from prostate conditions, a few more can prove useful as well. Because zinc is a mineral that is carried in the prostate, this gland may need some more for replenishment. An herbal source of zinc is pumpkin seeds — or, you can eat raw pumpkin seeds, but you’ll have to eat a lot of them and chew them well to get enough zinc to help correct your problem.

Nettle is another excellent male tonic (listed earlier in this chapter) because it has astringent-like effects on the tissues. It not only can help tighten swollen or inflamed tissues, but it also provides lots of minerals to nourish your body. Siberian ginseng is another overall body tonic, and grape seed and/or pine bark extract are powerful antioxidants for the prostate and other tissues of the body.

If you are suffering from an enlarged prostate, cut back on your coffee intake, get some exercise, and do some bowel cleansing. These can all enhance your herbal program and get you back into shape.

Diseases of respiratory system

Pneumonia

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June 16, 2010 at 5:37 am

Pneumonia: Clearing Up Quick with Horseradish

Best Single Herb: Horseradish

Best Combinations: Boneset, fennel, fenugreek, horseradish, mullein; lobelia (for coughing); garlic (for infection)

Other Helpful Supplements: Beta carotene or vitamin A; zinc; vitamin E with selenium

Possible Causes: Overexposure to respiratory pollutants or irritants (chemicals, dusts, fumes); smoking

Complementary Help: Cleanse the bowel; diffuse essential oil of oregano or eucalyptus oil; place a baked onion on the chest

Pneumonia is an inflammation of the lung(s) causing chest pain, difficulty breathing, and coughing. The air sacs in the lungs can become filled with pus, which hardens the lungs. Bacteria generally causes this illness, which means that your lungs can be more prone to pneumonia if you are exposed to air pollution on a constant basis.

Horseradish (Armoracia rusticana) makes an excellent herb to use for any ailments of the respiratory tract. Horseradish is extremely hot — if you don’t believe me, taste a spoonful of the condiment. You won’t get it far from your nose before you can tell what a pungent herb this is.

Because of its strong, pungent odor, horseradish is used in small quantities and will usually be found mixed with other herbs used for the respiratory system, including fenugreek and mullein. Horseradish has also been helpful for bronchitis, catarrh, coughs, flu, and hay fever.

Of course, anything that aids your other eliminatory systems, such as bowel cleansing, will aid your respiratory system as well. An old home remedy for pneumonia (the same home remedy for earaches) includes the use of a baked onion on the chest. See for this home remedy and for more details on using onion.

Warnings about the use of herbs

Horseradish should not be used directly on the skin, as its volatile, essential oils can cause a burn. It should be taken internally in small doses only; in large quantities, this herb can make you vomit. Also, people with an underactive thyroid should not use horseradish.



Diseases of genitourinary system

Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)

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June 14, 2010 at 5:27 am

Best Single Herb: Wild yam

Best Combinations: Wild yam; evening primrose oil; red raspberry, dong quai, ginger, licorice, black cohosh, queen of the meadow, blessed thistle, marsh-mallow

Other Helpful Supplements: B-complex vitamins; calcium/magnesium with vitamin D

Possible Causes: Constipation; water retention; hypoglycemia; stressed liver

Complementary Help: Avoid fatty foods; reflexology; acupuncture; cleansing the bowel

Premenstrual syndrome encompasses a variety of symptoms, which is why it is referred to as a syndrome. Symptoms of Premenstrual Syndrome include irritability, moodiness, nausea, bloating, cramping, facial break-outs, swollen abdomen or breasts, and tension. These symptoms are usually caused by an overproduction of estrogen and a lack of progesterone production, which is caused by unknown reasons. (We have to keep those men guessing don’t we?) Actually, since the liver has the job of filtering excess estrogens from the blood, a couple capsules of milk thistle added to your daily herb program can help. Milk thistle cleanses and boosts a sluggish liver and can help keep your hormones balanced.

Several herbs listed in this book can help you during any of these symptoms. For instance, see for nausea; and for menstrual troubles. Here we will address an herb used to help tame the wild feelings and tension that accompany PMS symptoms.

Wild Yam to Tame a Wild Woman

Wild yam (Dioscorea villosa) is another one of God’s gifts to women. This herb has been misunderstood by some; it can be confused with the potato-like vegetable tuber, sometimes called sweet potatoes or candied yams that are served at many holiday dinners. Wild yam is different from these vegetables; although the herb is a root, too, it is derived from a tropical vine found in Mexico.

The Japanese discovered that they could derive steroid components from the wild Mexican yam species and process them many times to create steroid drugs. Drugs derived from the wild yam include oral birth control pills and corticosteroids. (However, if you really don’t want to get pregnant ladies, don’t rely on wild yam as a viable birth control!)

A component in wild yam called diosgenin is a hormone-like substance that acts like progesterone in the body. Progesterone is a female hormone that helps keep estrogen in check. When progesterone and estrogen are in the right balance in the body, women do not experience Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) symptoms.

Terms related to herbs or holistic health

Progesterone is a hormone made in the ovaries that helps keep estrogen levels in balance within the body to create harmony. If progesterone levels drop for some reason (menopause, PMS, and other unknown causes), there is nothing to keep estrogen in balance. The result is experienced as the cranky symptoms of estrogen overload — otherwise known as Premenstrual Syndrome.

This is why supplementing with wild yam during your usual PMS time can be helpful. This herb taken 10 days to two weeks before menstruation can ease PMS symptoms by assisting a hormonal balance. Wild yam is also used to relax muscle tissue, which can help ease menstrual cramps. Consider supplementing with wild yam if you have any spasmodic conditions in the muscles because this herb may be able to ease the pain associated with tension and cramping. Two capsules taken three times daily have been helpful for many, but dosage is always an individual thing.

A Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) Plan

Evening primrose oil contains hormone-like substances and has also been helpful as a supplement for PMS suffers. My recommendation is that you try wild yam or evening primrose oil separately. If one doesn’t seem to work for you, try the other. How many tablets or capsules you take will depend on your body and will differ for everyone. If you are not working with an herbalist or practitioner who can guide you, read the label on the bottle and start there.

Cleansing the bowel can help take away that bloated feeling you get when PMS-ing. Also, B-complex tablets will help your body rid itself of excess water and should be considered as a daily supplement; you can increase your intake during Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) times.

Here are some helpful tips in keeping you more steady during your cycle:

  • Supplement with wild yam or evening primrose oil capsules 10 days before your scheduled period, or try the combination listed in the table at the end of the chapter.
  • Avoid excess salt in the diet, which can cause water retention and lead to bloating and irritability.
  • Take extra B-complex vitamins to help get rid of excess water.
  • Avoid fatty foods such as dairy products. These can actually have a change on your own hormones, so eat more vegetables, fruits, and grains.
  • Try reflexology. This therapy has been studied extensively for its effectiveness on PMS symptoms.

Also keep your blood sugar in check; fluctuating blood sugar levels (see on hypoglycemia) caused by sugar consumption and a weak liver can cause a person to be irritable with or without Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS).

Infectious And Parasitic Diseases

Parasites

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June 12, 2010 at 5:18 am

Parasites: Dealing with Uninvited Guests

Best Single Herb: Wormwood

Best Combinations: Elecampane, mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris), spearmint, turmeric, ginger, garlic, clove, wormwood (Artemisia absinthium); cascara sagrada; black walnut

Other Helpful Supplements: Acidophilus; food enzymes with hydrochloric acid

Possible Causes: Poor stomach acid; problems with the drinking water; transfer from food or pets

Complementary Help: Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly; cleanse the bowel; avoid sugar

Parasites are organisms that live off a host (you) that do not contribute to the welfare of that host. Basically life-suckers, parasites are linked to a myriad of illnesses, and parasite infestation can be very damaging to the system. Several different types of parasites exist, from microscopic organisms to large intestinal tapeworms. Because most of you will be terribly grossed out by this topic, I’ll spare you the gruesome details. However, I think that everyone should be aware that more of us than you might think have parasites.

In this section, I’ll also make you aware of some of the signs of infestation, and I’ll give you some preventative measures to take. Then we can get on with the herbal remedies.

Parasites can be transferred through contact with the following contaminated items:

  • Animals
  • Feces
  • Meat
  • Soil
  • Vegetables
  • Water

Parasites can enter our body via the mouth or through the skin.

About overcoming an ailment with herbs

Think of bugs and parasites as nature’s undertakers — they invade only when conditions are ripe. Keep the body clean, digestion strong, and tissues oxygenated so parasites cannot take a foothold.

How can you tell if you might have a parasitic infection? Here are some things to look for:

  • Sudden, unexplained illness
  • Dramatic weight loss or weight gain
  • Diarrhea, intestinal distress
  • Vomiting, nausea
  • Grinding teeth, especially at night
  • Sugar cravings
  • Abdominal bloating
  • Lowered immunity
  • Insomnia
  • General body aches, pains, weakness
  • Liver problems, anemia, cirrhosis

These ailments can be caused by a host of things (no pun intended!) but are common among my clients who suffer from parasite infections.

Warnings about the use of herbs

Avoid sugar when dealing with a parasite infection. Sugar is a favorite food of parasites, and you will need to starve the party to get rid of them for good.

When utilizing herbs to kill off a parasite infection, get some guidance from your holistic practitioner and herbalist because the process can sometimes take more than a month — and sometimes several months — to complete.

Try this regimen that my clients have followed with success:

1. Take your parasite-killing herbs (examples are given in the table at the end of this chapter) for 10 days, and avoid eating sugar, meat, cheese, and bread.

2. Replace these foods with lots of rice, steamed vegetables, tofu, beans, salads, and other wholesome foods.

3. Then, continue on your clean diet and discontinue the parasite-killing herbs for 10 days. (You can continue on your food enzyme supplement with hydrochloric acid for protection.)

4. After this 10-day rest period, resume taking your herbs for another 10 days. This will ensure that you have killed off any eggs that may have hatched from the first batch of the nasties.

Don’t be discouraged if you have to go through this process for another month or so — it will depend on how strong of a foothold the buggers have on you. You can also increase your garlic intake to speed up the process.

Wormwood, Would You?

In case you’re out in the bushes identifying different herbs, let’s clear up a common problem in identifying or labeling sage. There is the herb sage, and then there is the herb sagebrush. Sagebrush is commonly referred to as just sage, for short, but sage and sagebrush actually come from two separate families. Sagebrush is part of the Artemisia family (also referred to as the wormwood family). We’re going to talk about the wormwood or Artemisia family here for its usefulness in fighting parasites. This family contains three different herbs, and all are quite different.

Let’s get this wormwood, sage, sagebrush thing straight:

Wormwood is a common name for the herb Artemisia absinthium, Artemisia frigida, or Artemisia tilesii. This is the herb we will discuss for its effects on ridding the body of parasites.

Mugwort is the common name for the herb Artemisia vulgaris. This herb is also used to fight parasite infections and can be used together with wormwood for enhanced effect.

Sagebrush is the common name for the herb Artemisia tridentata and is the common, bush-like herb you see in the mountains, deserts, and plains of North America. We’ll talk a little more about this common plant here, too, because it’s one of my favorites. This herb has been used for respiratory ailments and many other conditions of the body. See the following photo of sagebrush taken early in the spring to help identify this herb.

Sage does not belong in the Artemisia family at all — its Latin name is Salvia officinalis, and it’s used for sinuses, the bladder, mucus membranes, sore throats, and nerves.

Growing up in Colorado (and now living in Idaho), I have been surrounded by sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) almost everywhere outdoors. I love its bittersweet smell and have harvested it for use as incense. The plant burns easily, and with an incense holder and a piece of self-igniting charcoal, you can burn the fresh herb for quite a while. Use sagebrush for a psychic cleansing for your environment and self. When moving into a new home that was previously occupied or buying a previously owned vehicle, a smoky sagebrush cleansing will help purify others energies and makes the space feel cleaner.

Artemisia tridentata, commonly known as sagebrush and sometimes called sage.

The sagebrush is the silver-green, somewhat fuzzy plant you see in the Western high deserts and plains of North America. Next time you watch a cowboy Western movie, notice the sagebrush that is always growing abundantly in the dusty, rocky ground. Pick some for its wonderful smell, and remember its differences from the other herb: sage.

Now back to the other Artemisia family members that specifically have been used as verimfuges (parasite killers) and anthelmintics (parasite expellers).

Herb Lore: information related to holistic health

Having the opportunity to be involved with a tribe of Lakota Sioux Native Americans helped me see what a useful and revered herb sagebrush is. Women added a pinch of it to soups and stews; fresh sprigs were added to the flames of the sweat lodge fire; and the medicine man always cleansed the energy of each person who entered the healing ceremonies with the smoke of burning sagebrush. Sometimes when flesh offerings were given, the medicine man would pick some sprigs and immediately dress the wounds with the leaves; the application stopped bleeding immediately.

Wormwood is a plant that may have received its name because pests are repelled by it. You can take wormwood internally but only in small doses; this herb can kill and send unwanted parasites from your body, and it may work specifically well for roundworms and thread worms. You will usually find wormwood mixed with other herbs in combinations because too much of this herb can be toxic to the system. Parasites aren’t the only pests that dislike this herb — mice also are repelled by it. In fact, it is said that writers and authors in the days of old used to add the juice of the wormwood plant to their ink to protect mice from chewing on their papers! (Isn’t it funny how times have changed? Now authors couldn’t survive without a mouse!)

Terms related to herbs or holistic health

A verimfuge is a term used for an herb that has properties that push parasites from the body. This term has been used interchangeably with anthelmintic, parasiticide, and antiparasitic. An anthelmintic is a term used for an herb that has properties that kill parasites. This term has been used interchangeably with verimfuge, parasiticide, and antiparasitic.

You can also use dried wormwood to make sachets for protecting your closets and sweater drawers from moths. Try wormwood as a tea or decoction, and apply it externally for use as a topical insect repellent and to combat lice, scabies, and itchy skin.

In folklore, the dried herb of the wormwood plant was used to protect a person from spells given by the evil eye. So, it seems, wormwood has been used for a long time to rid unwanted things from our body and from our environment.

Other Herbs to Evict Unwanted Tenants

Many herbs can be used safely in combination or separately to fight parasitic infections and to protect you from them in the first place. For protection, take a food enzyme supplement with hydrochloric acid before every meal, especially when eating out or traveling. Food poisoning is usually caused by bacterial infections, but parasites can be contracted the same way — either way, hydrochloric acid should kill them both!

Here’s a list of well-known herbs that kill and rid the body of parasites:

About overcoming an ailment with herbs

If you and your physician cannot pinpoint the exact cause of your ailments, consider a parasite infection.

Any combinations of these herbs can serve as an internal fumigation for your parasites! Not all of these are safe for use if pregnant or nursing, so see the contraindications listed back in “Herbs Are Not Just for Hippies Anymore,” before utilizing these herbs.

Disorders of digestive system

Pancreatitis

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June 10, 2010 at 4:59 am

Pancreas Trouble: A Cedar Berry Cure

Best Single Herb: Cedar berries

Best Combinations: Golden seal, juniper berry, uva ursi, cedar berries, mullein, yarrow, garlic, slippery elm, capsicum, dandelion, marshmallow, nettle, white oak, licorice

Other Helpful Supplements: Calcium/magnesium; B-complex vitamins

Possible Causes: Virus; injury; malnutrition; alcoholism; scar tissue

Complementary Help: Support digestion

The pancreas is an organ that serves many functions. It is a pinkish, semi-oblong-shaped organ about six to eight inches in length. It is located on your left side midway between your diaphragm and waist. The pancreas sits a little behind and a little below the stomach.

Pancreatitis is an inflammation of the pancreas that is frequently diagnosed as idiosyncratic pancreatitis by physicians. This term cracks me up because it is such a long, technical-sounding term that, when interpreted simply means, “The pancreas is swollen, and we don’t know why!” As far as I’m concerned, you could use this term for other things, such as “idiosyncratic shop-a-holic,” meaning, “I’m addicted to shopping, and I don’t know why!”

Seriously, if you have a swollen pancreas, consult your physician to find out why, if possible. Alcohol may cause the pancreas to inflame, as can a virus, malnutrition, and any injury to the body near the pancreas. If you have a swollen pancreas, the root cause could be because of inadequate digestion, low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), or high blood sugar (diabetes).

Take herbs that are helpful in the body tissues, such as cedar berries (Juniperus virginiana). The berries of this toning plant, which take about two to three years to ripen, are the medicinal parts of this herb. Cedar berries have been used to aid inflammations of all types, including gout, ureteritis, arthritis, and hemorrhoids. Some claim that cedar berries also help combat the side effects experienced after immunizations.

Warnings about the use of herbs

Although good for contracting inflamed tissues, cedar berries should be avoided if you have inflammations due to kidney or bladder infections, or if you are pregnant.

You can apply the essential oil of the cedar berries as a topical application to help dandruff and achy joints or as an insect repellent. The oil acts as an astringent, so its topical applications can help shrink cold sores, hemorrhoids, and acne.

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