| When you cut out sugars and quickie, processed carbs, you'll find that many natural veggies, starches, fruits, and herbal teas have a yummy, delectable, satisfying aroma and flavor. Enjoy Mother Nature's gifts such as red peppers, sweet potatoes, jicama, apples, strawberries, blueberries, cashews, walnuts, and carrots. Experiment with herbs and spices such as cinnamon, cloves, ginger, and nutmeg. In short, be grateful and appreciative that you can choose such delicious, nutritious foods.
15. EXPRESS YOURSELF.
Wow! Kicking sugar can give you incredible mental clarity and acuity. |
Simon Mills and Kerry Bone
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 PHYTOTHERAPEUTICS General approach to infections
It is worthwhile reviewing the considerations for the herbal management of infections. These are as follows:
• Immune-enhancing herbs like Echinacea angustifolia or E. purpurea or Baptisia (wild indigo root) are an effective core element in the treatment of any infection, acute or chronic (see below for a treatment protocol for Echinacea).
• Warming circulatory stimulants will act to promote defensive immune activities in many cases of acute infections. |
Mike Adams, the Health Ranger
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 Beating infectious disease with herbal ingredients
Power Immune is extremely effective at protecting you from infectious disease. I've had the chance to test this twice on myself after picking up a bug at the local gym. Engaging in a heavy workout in an enclosed environment creates an easy opportunity for acquiring colds or flus. You're sweaty, breathing heavily and exhausted. Your immune system is suppressed from all the exertion. That's when a bug gets in and starts to replicate. |
Bottom Line Health
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| Then transition to herbal tea or hot water with lemon.
•Add flaxseed. Ground flaxseed contains lignans, which seem to modulate fluctuating estrogen and progesterone levels. Aim for two tablespoons a day. Ground flaxseed has a pleasant nutty flavor—sprinkle it on cereal, yogurt and salads.
Bonus: Flaxseed reduces cholesterol, helps prevent certain cancers and relieves constipation (be sure to drink plenty of water).
•Eat soy foods in moderation. Some countries that have diets containing large amounts of soy report low rates of menopausal symptoms and breast cancer. But I'm cautious about soy. |
Linda B. White, M.D.
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 The best treatments for chronic bronchitis are quitting smoking and avoiding air pollutants. No herbal or conventional treatments can substitute for these two crucial steps.
Drug treatment
Cough Suppressants
Dextromethorphan (Benylin DM, Comtrex, many others),- codeine (Actifed with Codeine Cough, Brontex, many others),- either of the above may be combined with decongestants or expectorants. Function: act directly on the cough center in the brain. Dextromethorphan side effects-. few when taken as directed but many people experience side effects from the decongestants in combination products. |
Jack Challem
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 After that, stick with water, green tea, or herbal teas.
Feeling stressed is often a sign that you do not have adequate personal boundaries protecting you against the excessive demands of work or other people. To reduce stress, it's important to set priorities in work and social activities, avoid multitasking, and establish clear boundaries so that you have time for yourself. For more information on combating stress, refer to lack's previous book The Food-Mood Solution. |
Hyla Cass, M.D.
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 Cinnamon, cilantro, parsley, garlic, oregano, turmeric (cumin), ginger, and rosemary are just a few of the herbal superstars of the kitchen that have known healing effects.
The Salt Issue
Limit your intake of normal table salt. It is processed sodium chloride and is as bad for you as any other processed food. On the other hand, sea salt in its natural form is essential for good cellular function. It contains trace minerals, including iodine—the mineral usually added to table salt, important for the health of the thyroid gland—in a concentration that is more usable by the body. |
| Independent, nonprofit research and education organization; great resource for the latest accurate information about herbal medicines.
Consumer Lab—www.consumerlab.com: Independent testing and evaluation of nutritional supplements; a useful tool for choosing the best quality for your money. Requires a subscription, but well worth the nominal fee.
Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN)—www.crnusa.org: Trade association representing dietary-supplement-industry ingredient suppliers and manufacturers; supports high-quality standards under good manufacturing practices (GMP). |
| Talk to your doctor or to a pharmacist before adding any OTC drug or herbal supplement to your regimen, and keep each of your doctors informed about what drugs and nutrients you are taking.
• Have all your doctors talk to each other. Symptoms from different underlying conditions can be the same, and two doctors may end up treating them differently, overloading you with prescriptions. |
| More and more drugs, together with herbal preparations, are available over the counter, with no consultation or prescription required.
Let's say you're taking a couple of prescription drugs . . . you add a few herbs and a dose or two of Tylenol here and there . . . and, of course, your nightly beer or glass of red wine (or two). You're playing a dangerous game with your health—a game that has killed some well-known people. Remember Anna Nicole Smith? |
| Take an herbal supplement called Triphala, a combination of three Ayurvedic herbs that improves elimination.
• Take 1,000 to 2,000 mg of magnesium oxide before bed.
• Take 5,000 to 10,000 mg of vitamin C; build up gradually to find the right dose.
• If you decide to use an enema, use only saline or water versions, and use them only occasionally—or you can end up making the problem worse.
• Don't strain! Sit down and relax; do some deep breathing; elevate your feet slightly; and let nature take its course. |
| Drink at least two quarts (64 ounces) of water a day, either pure or in diluted juices, and herbal or fruit teas.
• Minimize your intake of tea, coffee, and alcohol.
• Eat lots of antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables—at least five servings a day.
• Take these supplements daily: a high-potency multivitamin formula, 1-3 grams of vitamin C, 30 mg of CoQ10, a probiotic supplement containing 1 billion live bacteria per dose, an antioxidant formula, and 1 gram of fish oil, twice daily.
EXERCISE AND SELF-CARE BASICS
You need a minimum of twenty minutes worth of exercise a day. |
Jonny Bowden, Ph.D., C.N.S.
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 In fact, although curcumin is available as a supplement, some herbal experts suggest that eating turmeric itself is even more beneficial since you not only get the curcumin, but all the other potentially beneficial components of the spice as well.
Turmeric Known for Alleviating Arthritis and Joint Inflammation
Turmeric is part of the healing systems of India, China, and the Polynesian Islands, and occupies a place of distinction in both Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine. |
| While artichoke extract has a distinguished history as an herbal supplement, the vegetable itself is a really healthy food. It contains 72 mg of magnesium, 425 mg of potassium, a little bit of folate, the eye-friendly carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin, and best of all, a really substantial 6V2 g of fiber per one medium artichoke (if you go for a large one, you get almost 9 g!). And that's all for a miserly 60 calories (okay, 76 if you're going for the big guy). A good nutritional deal no matter how you slice it. (Or, in the case of the artichoke, dig for it. |
| David Frawley and the highly respected Indian doctor and herbal authority Dr. Vasant Lad, "Turmeric gives the energy of the Divine Mother and grants prosperity. It is effective for cleansing the charkas and purifying the channels of the subtle body."
When modern Western science and traditional forms of healing like Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine both agree on the healthful properties of the same compound, it's time to go to the store. m 70 03 CO to n m to
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Vinegar
(apple cider vinegar)
Vinegar was discovered by chance more than 10,000 years ago. |
| According to herbal experts Joe and Teresa Graydon, Ph.D., authors of The People's Pharmacy, pregnant women should not use fennel oil or fennel extracts. Also, anyone allergic to celery, carrots, dill, or anise should avoid fennel as well. fennel trivia
Fennel is the Greek name for marathon. Seems that back around 490 B.C.E., the Greeks defeated the Persians in a fennel field exactly 26 miles and 385 yards from Athens. |
| In Peruvian herbal medicine systems today the plant is employed for diarrhea, gastroenteritis, gastric disorders, and menstrual pain. Indians throughout the Amazon make a leaf decoction —a tea made by boiling the leaves —and use it for mouth sores and bleeding gums. A decoction is also recommended as a gargle for sore throats, laryngitis, and swelling of the mouth, and is used externally for skin irritations and discharges. A Chinese study published in 2004 noted that the guava leaves contained "remarkably high phenolic content. |
Dr. Paula Baillie-Hamilton
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 Natural Remedies
In addition to the above, there is also a whole range of natural and herbal medicines that can be used to enhance the nervous system. Many appear to be very effective, such as ginkgo biloba extract for memory loss and Saint-John's-wort for depression. First make sure that you are getting all the nutrients, and once any nutritional deficiencies have been sorted out, then move on to herbal remedies. |
Linda B. White, M.D.
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| Herbal Prescriptions for Better Health, starts his CFS patients on 2,000 to 3,000 milligrams of licorice root twice daily for four to eight weeks. Caution-. Do not take for longer than six weeks without a doctor's supervision. Do not take if you have high blood pressure, diabetes, or a disease of the thyroid, kidney, liver, or heart, or if you take diuretics. Do not use if you're pregnant.
Lomatium (Lomatium dissection)
This herb has a long history of use by Native Americans. Some research suggests that it is active against many types of viruses and bacteria. |
Dr. Paula Baillie-Hamilton
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| First make sure that you are getting all the nutrients, and once any nutritional deficiencies have been sorted out, then move on to herbal remedies. I would also advise anyone starting with these remedies, particularly Saint-John's-wort, to do so under the supervision of a trained herbalist, as it has been linked to side effects such as sensitivity to light.
Chapter 7
Digestive Disorders we all know that you are what you eat. |
Linda B. White, M.D.
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| Cover your head with a towel and hold your face at least 12 inches from the steam so that it feels warm but not unpleasantly hot. herbal steams can be doubly helpful. Many herbs contain volatile oils that rise with the steam and have antiseptic, expectorant, and airway-relaxing properties. Good choices include eucalyptus, thyme, peppermint, and rosemary; use about a total of % cup of herbs for every 4 cups of water. You can also add 3 to 5 drops of the essential oil of these herbs. |
| Side effects: heartburn, indigestion, stomach irritation, mild nausea or vomiting. herbal remedies
Garlic (Allium satixd) and Onion (A. cepa)
Both of these delicious, aromatic herbs contain substances that prevent platelets from sticking together, lower total cholesterol and triglycerides (a type of blood fat), and increase "good" HDL cholesterol. Garlic also promotes the breakdown of certain types of blood clots and
ţ Vitamin E. There are many kinds of vitamin E. The tocotrienol form may be especially helpful in lowering cholesterol. |
| To do an herbal steam with peppermint, add 3 to 5 drops of the essential oil to 4 cups of just-boiled water. Typical dosage-. 1 cup of tea as needed (steep 2 teaspoons of dried leaves in 1 cup of hot water for 5 to 10 minutes),- or 10 to 20 drops of tincture three or four times per day.
Hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis)
This bee-attracting herb is antiviral and expectorant,- you can find it in syrups and liquid extracts. Typical dosage: 10 to 40 drops of tincture up to four times per day,- or 1 cup of tea as needed (steep 1 teaspoon of dried herb in 1 cup of hot water for 10 to 15 minutes). |
Alan Keith Tillotson, Ph.D., A.H.G., D.Ay.
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 It is also important to correct nutritional deficiencies while using herbal treatments for a holistic treatment.
TAM doctors believe that chronic tension in the uterus or a small uterus is sometimes the cause, and they explain that this is why, in some women, the cramps cease after childbirth. TCM doctors see this condition as stagnation of blood and Qi. The primary treatment goals with Chinese herbs are to break up the blood stagnation (clotting) and relax the uterus. |
| Following are some examples of the less-than-truthful tactics that have been used by critics of herbal medicine.
• Convince the public that an adverse effect of an herb was discovered through credible research. The study mentioned above, published in Fertility and Sterility, suggested that echinacea and St. John's wort cause sterility and mutation of cells. This test tube study certainly cannot support this conclusion because it does not resemble real-life conditions.
• Base claims of toxicity on single parts of the herbs, while ignoring the whole herb. |
| Try to find a physician trained in the use of herbal medicines.
Overuse or Improper Use of Laxatives
There are two areas to be concerned about from a biochemical perspective:
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
(SSRIs) are drugs like Paxil, Prozac, Zoloft, and Celexa. Herbs such as St. John's wort may interact with these medications and increase their action. On the other hand, if you are trying to come off these medications St. John's wort may be a gentle, helpful alternative during the transition period. |
| In fact, in an editorial in the fall of 1998 pharmacist and TCM physician Dennis Awang stated, "The overwhelming majority of adverse events recorded from herbal treatments has involved adulteration with, or substitution of, toxic plant material from relatively innocuous components. . . . Careful characterization of botanical material, whether being assessed for activity or implicated in adverse health effects, is an absolute prerequisite to authoritative judgement. |
| Well-constructed herbal formulas are put together to match the needs of the individual patient, and should be based upon a solid system of diagnosis or scientific reasoning. Each herb in the formula should have a stated and specific purpose.
For example, putting six diuretics into a formula for the kidneys is not the correct way to treat a kidney infection. Some of the diuretics may be mild, while others, such as uva ursi leaf (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi), may be irritating and therefore not recommended. |
Devra Davis
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 His position was firm and clear; only medications derived from controlled studies, including herbal remedies, should be used in medical treatments. Chalmers had no problem concluding that smoke ought to be kept out of airplanes, because smoke left gooey, tar-laden marks that not only were unattractive but also mucked up the electronic equipment. They couldn't be good for our lungs either.
But what about substances in the environment that affect our health and our chance of getting cancer that leave no telltale signs? |
| For new herbal and nutritional remedies against cancer, or even for new uses of the soothing sounds and relaxing smells of aromatherapy, we can't persuade patients who've been told they will die to agree to sit through a trial they may not see the end of.
All this has played into the hands of those who want to delay acting until we have better evidence, even though this will keep us waiting for what can never be obtained. Like the characters in Samuel Beckett's drama Waiting for Godot, we keep thinking that whatever it is we really need will show up if we just hold out a bit longer. |
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