Using herbs

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Outsmart Your Cancer: Alternative Non-Toxic Treatments That Work Tanya Harter Pierce See book keywords and concepts

Essiac tea not only resulted from Native Americans testing and using herbs for hundreds of years, but was also clinically proven by Canadian and American physicians. This included Dr. Charles A. Brusch who had been the personal physician to John F. Kennedy. After 10 years of studying Essiac, Dr. Brusch concluded that Essiac was "a cure for cancer, period." ?Dr. Gerson was a highly esteemed physician in his home country of Germany, whom the famous humanitarian doctor, Albert Schweitzer, called "one of the most eminent medical geniuses in the history of medicine.

The New Detox Diet: The Complete Guide for Lifelong Vitality With Recipes, Menus, and Detox Plans Elson M. Haas, M.D. See book keywords and concepts

Water, diluted fruit and vegetable juices, warm broths, soups, and teas using herbs such as chamomile, skullcap (a nervine), or valerian root are good choices. Other helpful herbs include white willow bark for reducing pain and inflammation, ginseng, cayenne, and peppermint. Small amounts of light proteins, such as non-fatty poultry, fish, or even chicken soup will provide more nourishment. Amino acid powder is also supportive. L-glutamine, an amino acid, has been shown to reduce cravings for alcohol and sugar, and is used in many detox clinics.

Prescription for Dietary Wellness: Using Foods to Heal Phyllis A. Balch, CNC See book keywords and concepts

For detailed information on using herbs and on interactions between drugs and herbs (an important concern), consult Prescription for Herbal Healing (Avery/Penguin Putnam, 2000). Use the table below to identify some of the many foods that can be used for healing. TYPE OF DRUG THERAPEUTIC ALTERNATIVE COMMENTS cherries, garlic, green tea, kale, kelp, kiwi, onions, oranges, pink grapefruit, plums, red grapes, red bell peppers, reishi mushrooms, rose hips, spinach, tomatoes.

More details on using herbs to cure or prevent health problems can be found in Prescription for Herbal Healing (Avery/Penguin Putnam, 2002). Bilberry Bilberry hails from the same plant family as the blueberry and huckleberry. The part used as an herb is the leaf portion of the plant. Bilberry conditions capillaries and red blood cells, thereby helping to lower blood pressure. It also protects the eyes; inhibits bacterial growth; has anticar-cinogenic, anti-inflammatory, and antiaging properties; and helps to lower blood sugar levels.

Prevention's New Foods for Healing: Capture the Powerful Cures of More Than 100 Common Foods Prevention Magazine See book keywords and concepts

One advantage of using herbs is that they tend to cause fewer side effects than modern drugs. Drugs are highly concentrated, which is why taking one tiny pill or capsule can have such dramatic results. Since herbs are much less concentrated, you don't get as much of the active ingredient in your body at one time, so you're less likely to have uncomfortable reactions. But the main reason that people are using herbs such as garlic, echinacea, and feverfew is that they work—which is why, in just one year, German physicians wrote 5.

Medical Herbalism: The Science Principles and Practices Of Herbal Medicine David Hoffman, FNIMH, AHG See book keywords and concepts

Remedies that stimulate intestinal peristalsis and help overcome chronic constipation—in other words, laxatives When using herbs in any of these three categories, it will often be appropriate to include an antimicrobial herb. A number of different bases may be used, but keep in mind that the base must be firm enough to be inserted into the orifice but must also melt at body temperature once inserted, to liberate the herbs it contains. The herbs should be distributed uniformly in the base; this is particularly important when using a powdered herb.

Gary Null's Power Aging Gary Null See book keywords and concepts

Herbs for Cancer Many studies are being performed using herbs to treat cancer with excellent results. Zhao and a group at Shanghai University found that two Chinese herbal formulas, one called Chinese Jianpi herbs and one called SRRS, inhibit gastric cancer cell growth.58 At the Cancer Research Institute at New York Medical College, Hsieh and his group studied the effects of an herbal formula called Equiguard on prostate cancer. Their results indicated that this formula was effective in killing prostate cancer cells and could be considered as a viable treatment for prostate cancer.

Staying Healthy in a Risky Environment: The New York University Medical Center Family Guide Arthur C. Upton, M.D. See book keywords and concepts

If you are interested in using herbs for medicinal purposes, gather information (including any studies) about the herb, and bring it to your physician for an opinion. The following is a partial list of many common herbs and their effects. Box 17.

The Doctors Book of Home Remedies II: Over 1,200 New Doctor-Tested Tips and Techniques Anyone Can Use to Heal Hundreds of Everyday Health Problems the Editors of PREVENTION See book keywords and concepts

Before you begin using herbs for your pet, though, there are a few things that you should know. Herbalists and holistic veterinarians stress the importance of feeding your dog or cat a home-prepared diet that combines lean meat, whole grains like brown rice, and raw vegetables. "If we don't have that foundation, we're simply wasting the herbs," says Gregory Tilford, a member of the American Herbalists Guild and developer of Animals Apawthecary, manufacturers of glycerin-based herbal extracts for dogs and cats, in Conner, Montana.

When using herbs to fend off a case of jet lag, your treatment should begin before you even leave home," he advises. Siberian Ginseng Two weeks before your trip, start taking two 400-milligram capsules of powdered root twice a day. You can minimize the effects of jet lag by enhancing your body's resistance to stress, says Dr. Pelechaty. Also called eleuthero, Siberian ginseng is an invigorating tonic that can offset fatigue and boost your stamina. Although the herb has been studied since the 1950s, science hasn't determined exactly how it improves stamina.

That would date it about 1,300 years before the Egyptians began using herbs such as myrrh and castor oil. In truth, the Pen-T'sao may be based on oral traditions that go back that far, but the written version has probably been around only since 200 b.c. or so. It's old, but Egyptian and African herbals are considerably older. Still, the Red Emperor must have has tremendous powers of concentration: He was certainly nothing if not thorough. The Pen-T'sao contains some 350 herbal remedies, each of which he is said to have tried out personally.

The idea that what you eat will have a beneficial effect segues neatly into using herbs," he says. "They're right on the cusp between the nutritional and the medicinal." Hawthorn Take 1 teaspoon of tincture or V4 teaspoon of solid extract two to four times a day, or take two 500-milligram capsules two or three times a day. "The way to treat angina is with anything that increases blood flow to the heart," says Ian Bier, N.D., Ph.D., a naturopathic physician, licensed acupuncturist, and natural medicine researcher in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. "Hawthorn is a very powerful one for that.

Even more inspiring is the fact that using herbs at home ranges in difficulty from the very easy (making a tea) to the extremely easy (putting some drops of tincture in water and drinking it) to the embarrassingly easy (swallowing a capsule). Making Herbal Teas To be an expert herbal tea brewer, you need to know three things: one, how to boil water; two, the difference between a teaspoon (the littler one) and a tablespoon (the bigger one); and three, the difference between a root and a leaf.

The Way of Herbs Michael Tierra See book keywords and concepts

In collaborating with Michael in producing this book, I have taken special care to include much practical information for one not only to get started using herbs, but even to proceed towards the point of becoming a herbalist. You will find information here that has not been collected into any other single reference source. On the strength of this knowledge, you can move to familiarity with other herbs and techniques as necessary. I have long been interested in providing an accessible education in herbal knowledge. Working with the Herb Trade Association and Dr.

The Complete Book of Alternative Nutrition Selene Y. Craig, Jennifer Haigh, Sari Harrar and the Editors of PREVENTION Magazine Health Books See book keywords and concepts

We've done our best to explain how and why the herbs are believed to work, but keep in mind that while people may have been using herbs for thousands of years, many modern Americans are unfamiliar with their uses and effectiveness. Most of the information we have about herbs is either anecdotal—based on the claims of people who've used them and say they're helpful—or highly scientific, originating in laboratories and reported in science journals. On the following pages you'll find, in alphabetical order, many health conditions—from cancer to yeast infections—that herbs may help prevent or cure.

The Herbal Drugstore Linda B. White, M.D. See book keywords and concepts

CHAPTER 3 Buying and Using Herbal Products Even though there are more and more herbal products for sale, and more and more people buying them, choosing and using herbs isn't easy for the typical shopper. Federal laws won't allow manufacturers to provide straightforward benefit statements on their product labels. Why is this so? For an answer, you have to go back several years to about 1993. That's when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) presented Congress with an initiative to control and limit consumer access to dietary supplements such as herbs, vitamins, and minerals.

Smart Medicine for Healthier Living : Practical A-Z Reference to Natural and Conventional Treatments for Adults Janet Zand, LAc, OMD, Allan N. Spreed, MD, CNC, James B. LaValle, RPh, ND See book keywords and concepts

However, teas can deliver inconsistent doses, so they are not recommended as the primary form of using herbs for specific health problems. Lozenges Herbal-based, nutrient-rich, naturally sweetened lozenges are readily available in most health-food shops. You'll find cold-fighting formulas, natural cough suppressants, some with decongestant properties. Many are boosted with natural vitamin C. Choose lozenges made without refined sugar.

Herbal medicine has a long history, and a time-tested, valuable place in the treatment of many common health problems. When using herbs to treat an illness, often you not only help to alleviate symptoms, but also address an underlying problem and strengthen the overall functioning of a particular organ or system. Herbs are readily available—they can even be grown in your own back yard. To be sure you are getting the best and purest product possible, however, we recommend that you use herbal products formulated by reputable manufacturers.

Principles and Practice of Phytotherapy: Modern Herbal Medicine Simon Mills and Kerry Bone See book keywords and concepts

Such unresponsive cases may respond to adrenal support using herbs such as Panax, Rehmannia and Glycyrrhiza (licorice). Case history A woman, 47 years old, presented with hot flushes, sweating, depression and interrupted sleep caused by the hot flushes. She was irritable, low in energy and under stress at work. The hot flushes started 18 months ago.

Other traditional therapeutic insights into the use of diuretics The traditional treatment of arthritic disease often involved using herbs that were otherwise considered diuretics. There is a more modern tradition that suggests these act to increase the elimination of metabolic acid wastes, like uric acid, factors popularly associated with arthritic disease. The precise explanation for the apparent efficacy of remedies like birch, celery seed and nettle leaf in arthritic diseases may be more complex.

A local treatment such as a throat spray or lozenge using herbs such as: Glycyrrhiza (licorice) - soothing, antiinflammatory, topically antiviral Salvia (sage) - astringent and antiseptic Propolis - antiseptic, healing and anaesthetic Kava - anaesthetic Echinacea - immune enhancing, antiinflammatory Capsicum - stimulant, antiseptic Hydrastis (golden seal) - antiseptic, mucous membrane trophorestorative Althaea (marshmallow root) - demulcent Myrrh - antiseptic, induces local leucocytosis • A dairy-free diet rich in fruit and vegetables should be observed.

The Doctors Book of Home Remedies II: Over 1,200 New Doctor-Tested Tips and Techniques Anyone Can Use to Heal Hundreds of Everyday Health Problems the Editors of PREVENTION See book keywords and concepts

REPPED: using herbs at Home The Evidence for Herbs -Zou feel a cold coming on, so you take generous amounts of the herb echinacea—and feel well on your way to recovery. You rub some liquid from an aloe plant on that nasty little burn your kitchen stove inflicted upon you—and lo and behold, it heals faster than anything you've experienced since childhood. Too much anxiety is keeping you awake at night, so you swallow a 150-milligram capsule of powdered valerian twice a day—and soon find yourself calm and rested, without feeling groggy.

The One Earth Herbal Sourcebook: Everything You Need to Know About Chinese, Western, and Ayurvedic Herbal Treatments Alan Keith Tillotson, Ph.D., A.H.G., D.Ay. See book keywords and concepts

Herbal medicines can, of course, be of great benefit in reducing inflammation, as long as you realize that using herbs to block inflammation without dealing with its cause will not work very well. Since these causes range from the subtle (genetic imbalances) to the gross (poor nutrition), we must examine different methods. Our solutions must proceed from understanding both the causal process and the symptoms. Traditional herbal systems compare this to treating the root and the branches of an ailing tree.

New Choices in Natural Healing: Over 1,800 of the Best Self-Help Remedies from the World of Alternative Medicine Bill Gottlieb See book keywords and concepts

When using herbs in the treatment of major health problems, you must consult with a health professional, Dr. Watson cautions.) But whether using them for prevention, as home remedies or as helper substances for drugs, people are using a lot of herbs. In 1993, total sales of herbal remedies were estirnated to be about $1.5 billion, says Mark Blumenthal, executive director of the American Botanical Council in Austin, Texas.

The Way of Herbs Michael Tierra See book keywords and concepts

It is important to avoid using herbs and foods that are too extreme in their Yin-Yang nature as it is almost impossible to obtain a good balance that way. Rather, one should use substances that are themselves close to balance, thus the therapeutic diet emphasizes the use of 50% whole grains on a daily basis. The following chart indicates the relative Yin-Yang qualities of common foods and herbs. Since Yin and Yang are relative, fruits would be classified as being more Yin than vegetables but within the realm of fruits there would be those that have more Yang or Yin qualities than others.

Before bed, take a bath using herbs that are antispasmodic, nervine and/ or sedative. Note: Reduce the intake of strong stimulants, especially coffee and black tea, and normalize the daily schedule of meals and activities. Kidney and Bladder Infections Internal: Make a tea of equal parts: Plantain Parsley root Marshmallow root Take one-half cup every two hours. Also alternatively take two capsules of echinacea or two capsules of chaparral along with the tea. External: Apply a hot ginger fomentation over the lower abdomen.

The Way of Chinese Herbs Michael Tierra, L.Ac, O.M.D. See book keywords and concepts

Finally, those who are predisposed to alcohol addiction should avoid using herbs in this way. Following are a few special herbal wine formulas that I like to make. --o- GINSENG AND DANG GUI TEN WINE This is one of the most commonly used tonics for general vitality. It is primarily a blood and qi tonic. It is very effective for weakness and lack of energy and can be used to promote stamina and endurance and to promote recovery after prolonged sickness. It can be used for any deficiency symptoms, chronic diseases, and all diseases except those that have signs of excess.

The One Earth Herbal Sourcebook: Everything You Need to Know About Chinese, Western, and Ayurvedic Herbal Treatments Alan Keith Tillotson, Ph.D., A.H.G., D.Ay. See book keywords and concepts

By the way, her cancer disappeared after her first surgery, she breezed through chemotherapy using herbs, she discontinued tamoxifen and all further treatment with Western medicines by choice after 1 year, and she has been cancer-free since 1997. The Mind Controls the Body The Mind/Body Health Newsletter regularly publishes research examining the ways that the mind can directly affect health. The following findings are some of my favorites: • Hostility toward one's spouse elevates blood pressure and lowers immune response.

Before using herbs to treat depression, it is important to look at the whole physiology to rule out physical causes like hormone imbalances and dietary problems. Here are some suggested herbal treatments for depression. • St. John's wort has been shown to inhibit the breakdown of several neurotransmitters including serotonin. This action makes it a useful treatment for depression. • Ginkgo leaf also acts on serotonin and has been shown to relieve depression in the elderly. • Bacopa, gotu kola, and white peony root can increase cognitive function.

The Herbal Drugstore Linda B. White, M.D. See book keywords and concepts

Clear those Stopping the Spasms In addition to using herbs that gradually improve artery health, people with intermittent claudication can benefit from herbs that relax smooth muscles to improve blood supply. The prime examples are motherwort (Leonurus car-diaca), cramp bark (Viburnum opulus), valerian (Valeriana officinalis), and skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora). Because these herbs are also relaxants or sedatives, they're especially good if anxiety or stress is part of your symptoms. All can be taken in either tea or tincture form.

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