Posted on 08 Jul, 2009 -
10 Herbal Remedies Everybody Should Know About
Get beautiful soft skin, healthy digestion and healthy immunity with this top 10 of alternative remedies
Some of the best you can take for depression, arthritis, the menopause, mental acuity, libido boosting and NITS!
For some reason this week I am in a TOP 10 kind of mood.
It is the effects of the summer heat, perhaps, inspiring me to be whimsical. Or maybe a desire to put things in neat boxes.
Whatever the influence (for some reason I am thinking of lawnmowers, suitcases, and radios in attics), the more critical side of my brain was quite impressed by the idea too.
“So many people,” I heard it saying as the playful side of my brain started drifting away to a willow tree beside a stream, “could get so much benefit and relief if only they understood these simple remedies.”
And it really is true. I sometimes wish we could get an alternative health expert on the NHS who would write us a prescription for the right vitamin or herbal supplement. Then we would need to take less harmful chemicals. Could improve our general health. And many people would shout “But this works better than what my doctor have me!”
Just 10 among hundreds. But you’ve got to start somewhere....
There are, of course, hundreds of alternative health solutions and it can take a lot of research and trial and error to find what works best for you.
To get us started and thinking down the right track, however, I have trawled through a number of books and internet health sites to come up with an initial top 10.
They have been chosen generally for their proven effectiveness and ability to relieve the most common annoyances without toxic chemicals. There is probably also a dose of personal interest and inclination in their too…
In no particular order…
Goldenseal as an alternative antibiotic. This herb has a definite strong medicinal effect and is sometimes called a herbal antibiotic. It was first used by the Native American Indians for colds and other respiratory tract infections internally and (externally) for eye infections and skin disorders.
Today it is still one of the first herbs recommended for any kind of cold or infections. It can be particularly effective for sinusitis, sore throats, bronchitis, urinary tract infections, colitis and other digestive tract infections.
Cautions: Don’t take during pregnancy. May cause heartburn and tummy ache if not taken with food.
St John’s Wort is often said to work as well as Prozac with less side effects. It has already been used as a treatment for mild to moderate depression for a couple of decades in Germany and the US. In fact, sales of St John’s Wort in Germany are actually higher than that of antidepressants.
Like many anti-depressant drugs, it works by causing an increase in the neurotransmitter serotonin which makes us feel in a better mood.
It is also good for anxiety and SAD and the oil can be used to treat eczema, bruises, burns and wounds.
Cautions: It can interact with other drugs, and may reduce the effect of the birth control pill. Don’t use if you’re currently using pharmaceutical anti-depressants.
Tea (and coffee) because it makes me feel better! I often find myself feeling guilty or even a little perplexed by how much I like having my cups of tea and coffee. I don’t have a lot (coffee and tea both twice a day). But it does feel that it makes a difference. I was reassured this morning, therefore, to be reminded that caffeine does have a positive effect on us. Not only does it block pain perception and relieve pain but as a mood elevator it can generally make you feel better.
Many reports, including one in the Archives of Internal Medicine, have shown that adding about 65 milligrams of caffeine to aspirin, ibuprofen or acetaminophen increases pain relief by around 40 percent.
Coffee can also work as an effective decongestant and improves athletic ability (so there!).
If you can train yourself to drink green tea then that’s even better still. Studies show that women who drank at least 3 cups a day were less likely to get breast cancer. It also helps prevent colon, rectum and pancreas cancers.
Cautions: Too much caffeine, of course, is not a good thing. If you’re the kind of person who thinks ‘I can’t drink less, it’s the only thing that keeps me going’ then it’s probably the thing that’s actually playing havoc your energy levels and health.
Turmeric for arthritis, joint injuries and digestive problems. Turmeric wins its place in the top 10 because this really is something that everyone should know about. As all you need to do is include it in your food then it really is a case of there being no reason why not.
Turmeric has been used in both Ayurvedic and Traditional Chinese Medicine for centuries to treat many conditions including liver disease, digestive problems, menstrual pain and injuries and arthritis. Modern Western scientists are not sure why turmeric has such strong anti-inflammatory effects but they are at least certain that it does.
It is great to use in your diet in general and can also be taken as a supplement. Many curry powders contain it. Or try adding it to some mayonnaise with a bit of garlic salt for a dip for crudités.
Cautions: Check with your doctor before using if you have gallstones or are taking blood-thinning medications. Supplements not recommended for pregnant women.
A non-chemical way of freeing your child of nits. OK, a metal comb with extremely fine teeth can hardly claim to be classified as a herb by any standards. I wanted to include the fabulous ‘Nitty Gritty Nit Free Comb’ here, however, as I have used it and found it brilliant. I can justify putting it in this category because, like a herbal remedy, it reduces your exposure to the heavily chemical.
The Nitty Gritty Comb costs about £11 to buy but you can use it over and over again so you’ll never have to buy another comb or bottle of nit solution for any member of the family. The special design of the teeth enable it to remove all head lice, nits and live eggs. Everything done in one blast using only a normal conditioner!
Garlic as an antibiotic and all-round super health-improver. Again, garlic earns its place because it takes very little effort and expense for everyone to add more of it to their diet. Its medicinal effects include powerful antioxidant, antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal actions.
Many studies suggest that it can decrease your chance of developing certain kinds of cancer.
Black Cohosh for women and arthritis sufferers. The “Cimicifuga” part of its Latin name, Cimicifuga racemosa comes from two Latin words which translate to “drive away bugs” and that’s exactly what black cohosh does in the garden. In herbal medicine, it is used to drive away more medical nuisances.
Normally only thought of as a treatment for menopausal symptoms including menopausal depression, Black Cohosh can also be effective in relieving the symptoms of arthritis. As arthritis pains are also a common symptom associated to the menopause, this would seem to be a must for most women over a certain age…
Many double blind placebo studies have been carried out of Black Cohosh and shown it to be extremely effective and safe.
Cautions: Should not be used when pregnant or while breast feeding. Occasionally causes digestive upset and may cause headaches and dizzyness if taken in very high doses.
Echinacea is always on every herbalists or health experts top 10. Why? Apparently because it works! If you want to boost your immune system’s ability to protect you against infections and disease then this is your number one choice.
In herbal terms, Echinacea is known to be ‘stimulating’, and is an ‘alterative’.
Its stimulating effect means that it boosts a weakened body, and helps give the Immune System the energy to fight off an infection. An alterative is a herbal term which means that it alters disease processes, persuading the body to change its path from sickness towards health.
Cautions: May occasionally cause an allergic reaction.
Aloe vera to sooth and soften your skin and damaged internal organs. Aloe vera is one of those remedies that when you read the lists of benefits you want to run to the health store and buy a bottle immediately. It’s also one of those remedies, however, for which there is a lot more anecdotal and historical evidence than Western scientific so it really is a case of try it and see.
Externally, aloe is used to sooth sunburn, burns and wounds. Taken internally, it also seems to have a soothing and regulating effect on the stomach and bowels. Many people use it to relieve the symptoms of acid reflux, heart burn and ulcers.
I was also attracted to aloe vera because many people claim it gives them wonderfully soft skin. Other people also used it as an aid to regulate weight, to boost immunity and as a general provider of the nutritional benefits of a rich supply of amino acids and vitamins.
Cautions: Too much may cause diarrhea. Avoid becoming dependent upon it is a laxative. Some people may have a reaction to topical application.
Ginkgo Biloba for Alzheimer’s, mental acuity, erection, circulation problems, hypertension, depression and libido problems
When I’ve finished my working day and my daughter comes out of playschool we are going to the shops for a new school uniform for her and some ginkgo biloba for me. That’s how sold I’ve been by what I’ve just been reading! Here are just a few snippets:
The main reason why ginkgo is so effective for so many things is because it works by improving blood flow around the body and to the brain.
In one big study reported in the journal of the American Medical Association, patients suffering from Alzheimer’s retained measurably more mental function than those given a placebo.
Four recent studies also showed that ginkgo improves mental function in people who are cognitively normal too. In a study published in Phytotherapy Research, for example, health adults given 120 to 300 mg a day showed an improvement in several measures of memory.
In a study published in the Journal of Urology, 60 men with erection problems caused by narrowed arteries and impaired blood flow to the penis were given ginkgo (60 mg a day). After six months, half had regained erection ability.
Cautions: Very few reported mild side effects. Do discuss with your doctor, however, if you’re taking blood-thinning medication such as coumadin or aspirin.
Wow! That should be enough to get you started!
