Natural Remedies and Illnesses

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Herbal home remedies for common diseases

by Grimes

There are many herbs that can help raise immunity and comfort a person with the cold and flu. Research has even shown that some of herbs can speed the time to healing.

Garlic Common household garlic is great as a preventative and as a treatment. Take two tablets three times a day until mucus production has slowed down dramatically, or until the color of mucus becomes clear rather than yellow or green. Garlic can also help treat ear infections. Squeeze a garlic clove until the juice runs into a cotton ball and place the cotton ball in the ear. Raw garlic has anti-fungal, antibacterial, and antiviral properties. Researchers in England found that garlic can speed up recovery from a cold and increase resistance. Study participants had half the number of colds and made a more rapid recovery.

Echinacea Echinacea has become commonly used to boost the immune system. It is a powerful antiviral and immunity-boosting effects. It can rev up the immune system at the first sign of a cold. Echinacea has been found to work better before you get sick, to build up immunity. It has not been found as effective for treating a cold or flu.

Ginger Ginger tea can help kill germs, as an antiviral and is also very good for an upset stomach. up the immune system at the first sign of a cold. Echinacea has been found to work better before you get sick, to build up immunity. It has not been found as effective for treating a cold or flu. Dosage: take daily according to manufacturers instructions. Take daily during the fall and winter months.

Pelargonium sidoides Marketed under the name, UMCKA COLDCARE, was discovered in 1897 by an English traveler to South Africa, who called it, 's Consumption Cure. This remedy is made from a species of geranium traditionally used by Zulu healers for respiratory and digestive ailments. Research has shown relief of respiratory symptom as well as shortened duration and severity of sinus and bronchial irritation. The remedy is made from roots and prepared homeopathically. Missionary doctor Adrien Swchehaye in Switzerland published cured cases as far back as 1929. i Dosage: 1 tsp 4 to 5 times a day.

Elderberry This herb is known to support the immune system and to stimulate the body's ability to fight viruses. Elderberries have been used in medicine since Fifth century, for treating the flu and ill effects of the chills, and been referred to by Hippocrates, Dioscurides and Plinius. Even Shakespeare mentions it in his play, The Merry Wives of Windsor, "What says my Aesculapius? My Galen? My heart of Elder?" Studies have shown elderberry to inhibit replication of human influenza virus type A, type B and animal strains from swine and turkeys in cell cultures and to reduce the duration of the flu by approximately four days.

Studies conducted on elderberries marketed under the brand name, SAMBUCOL, show a reduction of flu symptoms. During a Southern Israel flu epidemic in 1992-93, improvement in flu symptoms was noted within 24 in 20% of participants. This included a reduction of fever, muscle aches and pains and coughing. By the second day, 73% felt better compared to 6% who were not treated. Dosage: one teaspoon, four times daily, at first sign of a cold.

Olive leaf extract (OLE) Olive leaf has been shown to be an excellent antibacterial. This herbal supplement fights bacterial and viral infections. Dosage: 500-1000 milligrams every few hours or two capsules four times a day.

Astragalus Astragalus membranaceus or milk vetch has been used in Chinese medicine for over 2,000 years to strengthen the immune and respiratory systems and to fight the flu. Astragalus belongs to a class of herbs called adaptogens, and helps the body handle stress. Astragalus also fights pathogens like bacteria, viruses. Dosage: one dropper of tincture of Astragalus (standardized to 15 percent polysaccharides) to a hot liquid like tea or soup three times a day. As tablets, take 350 to 400 milligrams three times a day.

Grapefruit leaf Best taken in capsules, as it can be bitter. Research has shown GSE to be effective as an antibacterial, antiviral, anti-fungal, and anti-parasitic.

Ginseng The patients who received ginseng had a lower incidence of influenza and colds, higher antibody titers, and higher natural killer cell activity levels.iii Also know as an adaptogen (a substance that helps the body fight stress) it has been shown to shorten the duration of a cold. Study used 200 mg of ginseng extract a day for four months and found a reduction in the length of symptoms. Another study found that ginseng may prevent influenza-caused acute respiratory illness (ARI) in elderly patients. Dosage: Extract -200 mg per day of extract, or dry root (tea) up to 2 g per day.

Natural Remedies Found In Your Kitchen

by Angie

Below are just a few of the natural remedies I have applied to some of our family emergencies. All of these healing remedies work when applied properly. Open your mind to trying the herbs and spices that God has given us in their natural form. These healing remedies cannot hurt you because they are not processed into chemicals but are natural and absolutely safe to use.

EAR INFECTION:

Next time your child has an earache blend up three tablespoons olive oil with one clove of garlic in your blender until smooth. Have your child lie down with the hurt ear face up. With a cue tip or a bulb syringe put two or three drops into the ear, letting it drip down into the canal. Have a wet washcloth handy incase any of it drips down onto your child's neck.

Make sure your child stays lying down while the oil and garlic mixture drains down into the ear canal completely, about a half hour or so. After about five or ten minutes your child will tell you that it tickles inside their ear, and that means it is working. Do this remedy three times a day or when your child complains of pain. The oil cleans out the earwax and the garlic heals the infection.

No more earache, no more doctors! You can now cure the common earache your self! Amazing, isn't it?

TOOTHACHE:

Have a toothache? This solution is only a temporary solution to ease the excruciating pain of a toothache. I know how painful a toothache can be and I ran across this old kitchen remedy years ago when it was too late to rush to the dentist.

Blend up about two tablespoons whole cloves in the blender until blended into powder form. Mix this with 1-tablespoon olive oil to make a paste. With your finger, dab directly on the infective tooth and gum area, wait 5 minutes. You will be so relieved you tried this natural remedy. Absolutely unbelievable that it really works! The properties in the clove actually numb your gums!

STOMACH VIRUS:

This remedy only works if you do it BEFORE you start to feel sick. If there is a stomach virus going around the school or in your home and you're thinking that you might be next to get this awful virus, eat a bunch of raw garlic. Yeah, that's right. Most people think I'm crazy when I tell them to do this but I know it works. I do it myself every time I know there is a stomach virus going around.

Eat two good sized or three small cloves of garlic every four hours and you will not get the stomach virus. This will only work by eating the real garlic. Taking the pill form will not work! You might smell like garlic for while but this all natural and safe remedy will also ward off any vampires coming to your home.

You may not be getting any kisses or hugs from anyone, but it sure beats getting terribly ill to your stomach for 24 or 48 hours! Garlic to your health!

ACID REFLUX:

This method is an absolute miracle cure! You will love its properties. Do you have acid in your stomach after eating? Throw away the Tums and Rolaids because they just make your acid worse in the long run. Try this. Mix 1-tablespoon powdered ginger with warm water in an 8 ounce coffee cup. Sip it down slowly. You will see that this remedy works instantly.

I call this the ginger tea remedy for acid reflux. Ginger is a safe and natural spice that can't harm your system like those other antacids can. You will be astonished that this really works! You can also buy the whole ginger root and blend the root into a powder to get the same results. You will be flabbergasted that ginger can get rid of your acid. It's safe, cheap and miraculous!

CONSTIPATION:

Senna Leaf Herbal Tea is so much better for you than those other over the counter medications. Senna leaf is an all-natural herb and it taste good too. I was absolutely amazed when this worked so well. Brew it like any other tea by steeping in hot water for 5 minutes. You can add honey or lemon to the tea if you like.

There are several different brands you can buy that have Senna Leaf Herb in it. I have always used "Smooth Move" available from Wal-Mart or even your local grocery store. No matter what brand you decide to use, read the ingredients and make sure that Senna Leaf is the active ingredient. You will be relieved that you decided to try a more natural approach.

Good luck and great health

ARE YOU SUFFERING FROM PINK EYE? by Author Stacey Chillemi

Pink eye (conjunctivitis) is an inflammation or infection that lines your eyelid and part of your eyeball. Pink eye usually makes you feel like you've got something in one or both of your eyes that you can't remove. Your eyes may seem to be pasted shut from the discharge coming from your eyes. The whites of your eyes may begin to have a pink discoloration, and you may not see as well as you did before.

Pink Eye

Pink eye (conjunctivitis) is an inflammation or infection that lines your eyelid and part of your eyeball. Pink eye usually makes you feel like you've got something in one or both of your eyes that you can't remove. Your eyes may seem to be pasted shut from the discharge coming from your eyes. The whites of your eyes may begin to have a pink discoloration, and you may not see as well as you did before.

Swelling causes small blood vessels in the conjunctiva to become more prominent, resulting in a pink or red spread to the whites of your eyes. Pink eye and red eye are conditions commonly used to refer to all types of conjunctivitis.

Pink eye is an irritating infection to have to experience; it hardly ever affects your sight. Pink eye can be contagious; it should be diagnosed and treated early. This is especially important for preschool-age children, who commonly develop both viral and bacterial conjunctivitis.

Symptoms

Redness in one or both eyes

Itchiness in one or both eyes

Blurred vision

Sensitivity to light

A rough feeling in one or both eyes

A discharge in one or both eyes that forms a crust during the night

Tearing

Causes

Viruses

Bacteria

Allergies

A chemical splash in the eye

A foreign object in the eye

Most cases of pink eye are caused by viruses. In newborns, pink eye may result from an partly opened tear duct.

Viral and bacterial conjunctivitis may affect one or both eyes. Viral conjunctivitis usually creates a watery or mucous discharge. Bacterial conjunctivitis often produces a thicker, yellow-green discharge and may be associated with a respiratory infection or with a sore throat. Both viral and bacterial conjunctivitis are related with colds. Both viral and bacterial types are very contagious. Adults and children alike can get both of these types of pink eye. Bacterial conjunctivitis is more common in children than it is in adults.

Diagnosis

Your doctor may take a sample of eye secretions from the conjunctiva for laboratory analysis to find out which form of infection you have and to decide on the best way to treat it.

If you have a young infant with recurrent pink eye or persistent eye tearing, your child may have a blocked tear duct. Your child's pediatrician may closely monitor the situation to see if the tear duct opens on its own, or you may be referred to a specialist.

Treatment

Your doctor may prescribe antibiotic eye drops if the infection is bacterial, and the infection should clear within several days of starting treatment. Antibiotic eye ointment, in place of eye drops, is sometimes prescribed for treating bacterial pink eye in children. An ointment is often easier to administer to an infant or young child than are eye drops. With either form of medicine, you should notice an improvement within one to two days. Make sure that you use the medication for the entire time your doctor prescribes it, to prevent repetition of the infection.

Viral conjunctivitis can't be treated with antibiotic eye drops or ointment. Like a common cold, you can use an over-the-counter remedy to relieve some symptoms, but the virus just has to run its course. You may notice the condition getting worse in the first three to five days. After that, you should see that the pink eye will slowly clear up. It may take up to two to three weeks from the time you were infected for the virus to go away.

If the irritation is allergic conjunctivitis, your doctor may prescribe one of many different types of eye drops. These may include:

Antihistamines

Decongestants

Mast cell stabilizers

Steroids

Anti-inflammatory drops.

Prevention

Practicing good hygiene is the best way to control the spread of pink eye. Once the infection has been diagnosed, follow these steps:

Don't touch your eyes with your hands.

Wash your hands well.

Wash your hands regularly.

Change your towel and washcloth daily

Don't share your towels with others.

Change your pillowcase regularly.

Get rid of eye cosmetics, especially mascara.

Don't use anyone else's eye make-up or personal eye-care items.

Follow your eye doctor's advice on proper contact lens care.

Obesity

by HD

A report issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stated that in 2005-2006 that one third or approximately 72 million Americans suffer from obesity. This is saying one in three people you observe today have a weight issue in varying degrees. This has created a surge of new diet products ranging from prescription drugs and herbal remedies to holistic approaches. What method works? What method is safe? We will take a more in-depth view of one product that use dates back to 5000 BCE by the ancient Babylonians. Apple cider vinegar (ACV) was used in biblical times as flavoring for food, a energizing drink, and medicine.

Apple cider vinegars main ingredient is acetic acid. Acetic acid is formed when alcohol comes in contact with air. This can be alcohol from cider, wine, beer, or any other alcoholic beverage. ACV's nutrients, enzymes, and organic acids work to speed the metabolism, suppress appetite, and reduce water retention.

A study performed by Dr D. C. Jarvis, M.D. shows that two teaspoons of ACV in a glass of water before meals helped individuals lose fifteen pounds a year without changing eating habits or exercise. Professor Carol S. ston, a nutritionist at the Arizona State University East in Mesa, recently did a four week study using ACV. His study dosage was two tablespoons before two of three meals daily. To his surprise test subjects were losing weight. Several subjects lost up to four pounds in four weeks. That is an amazing fifty-two pounds a year.

Studies show that at varying dosages ACV can and will produce weight lose results. Do your research. There are many books and web sites that go into more detailed description of ACV's healing properties. They provide dosage recommendations, recipes to compensate for the taste, and other methods to be used in conjunction with ACV to produce optimal results.

In closing the best defense against obesity is eating a health diet and exercise. ACV and other diet products should be used within the boundaries of a proper diet and exercise for best results. You should always consult a medical doctor before starting any diet product if you are taking any medications or are at risk for serious illness.

Herbal Home Remedies

by Gill Hamper

Herbal remedies have been around since the beginning of time. Cavemen discovered that certain leaves and plants made them feel better, and passed on this information to their friends and families. Over the centuries this is the way that the knowledge of traditional cures has been passed on.

The first cure I learnt as a child, was that a stinging nettle rash could be cured by rubbing it with a dock leaf. This is common knowledge now, and I wonder how many thousands of people over the centuries have been glad of that little piece of information.

Lemon is a very useful when you have a sore throat, or a cold. For either use simply fill a small glass with hot water, and add a squeeze of lemon juice and a teaspoon of honey. Drink when cool enough not to burn, but before it has gone cold.

Ginger helps with several common ailments. It can be made into a tea before going on a journey, and eaten on the way, to prevent travel sickness.

It also helps to relieve the pain of arthritis by improving the blood circulation. For this you should have a teaspoon of dried ginger a day, or six teaspoons of fresh ginger. It can either be made into a tea, or added to food such as stir fries or ginger biscuits.

Catmint can be made into a tea and used to promote perspiration in someone who has a fever, and bring down their temperature. It is also good for children who are in pain, or nervous, or suffering from wind. For this they are given one or two teaspoons of the tea, not the whole cup.

Chamomile is a herb that everyone has heard of. Made into a tea it is very good for headaches and migraine. It can also be used as a tonic for children as it makes them less excitable, and is also known to relieve toothache, earache and neuralgia.

Dandelion may be regarded as a weed in most gardens, but it has medicinal uses too. The plant is diuretic and also helps to reduce blood pressure, so you might want to add the young leaves to your salad. The dried herb contains decent amounts of potassium, which is needed by people who are on long term diuretic therapy.

Garlic is naturally antiseptic, and if you dilute the juice with water it can be applied directly to wounds. It can be eaten to prevent colds, and also tastes very good when added to recipes. The juice can be made into a syrup to help coughs, colds, and asthma. The dose of the juice taken alone is 10 to 30 drops. Garlic tincture can be bought from herbalists, it causes a drop in blood pressure, and is effective against angina.

Wormwood is very good for gout. To make an infusion add 1oz of the dried herb to 1pint of boiling water. Take in doses of 2 fl oz (56ml) for use as a stomach tonic, to expel worms, and reduce temperature in fevers. It is one of the best remedies for dyspepsia, poor liver function, and gastro-intestinal pain.