Be Cautious With Home Remedies.....

Alternative medicine has become quite popular once again. One aspect of alternative medicine is the use of herbs for common ailments and disease prevention. Many people tend to believe that because herbs are all natural they are much safer than a man made drug. This is not true. Here are some things you need to consider when using any herbal remedy...

Herbs ARE medicines. Man has made many of the medicines we know and have used from plants with medicinal properties. However, man has regulated the strength and dosage of the medicinal ingredients. In the plant itself the medicinal strength may be so strong that a unsuspectingly small amount could be fatal. The best thing you can do is to remember that natural does not always mean safer. Always read all package labels and follow directions precisely when using herbal products. Although the use of herbs in pretty safe and beneficial, overdose on herbs is as real and deadly as overdose on prescription drugs.

Not all herbs are created equal. Each herb does a different thing for the body and mind. Most herbs are user friendly and do not harm the body while helping it. However, there are some herbs that do more harm than good. The following herbs should be avoided at all costs...Chaparral, Coltsfoot, Comfrey, Ephedra, Lobelia, Pennyroyal, Senna, and Yohimbe. The first three of these herbs can cause serious liver damage. They contain the chemical NGDA, along with other liver damaging chemicals like Allantoin and Pyrrolizidines. Ephedra is an herb that has also been known to cause liver damage, along with high blood pressure, heat problems, and strokes. It has caused deaths in some of it's users, and severe complications in others. Lobelia can possibly lead you to coma and death if misused. Pennyroyal has been used throughout early history as a means of inducing miscarriage in pregnant women. In other words, abortion. Senna can irregulate your heart. Yohimbe can cause a variety of minor ailments, and some severe as well. It is definitely a good idea to steer clear of these specific herbs, for the sake of your health and safety. Always consult your health professional before using herbs as medicine.

Join us next week when our Botanical Health Magazine Editor, 'Kat Torres' will be doing an interview with our in house physician Dr. Judith Caporiccio, ND.

Herbal Medicine for Healing and Health

Valued for their aromatic, savory, or medicinal characteristics, herbs come from plants or various parts of plants and possess certain chemical substances that have affects on the body. Herbal medicine, also called Botanical Medicine or Herbalism, is the use of these herbs for medicinal or therapeutic value.

Herbal medicine is older than any other type of healthcare. Every culture has taken advantage of herbs and their benefits. Herbal medicine began with primitive cultures using different plants for shelter, clothing, and medicine. Man learned medicinal benefits of plants through trial and error methods in addition to observing animals. Man’s knowledge of herbs and their medicinal uses advanced over time. Herbal pharmacopoeias were developed by different tribes. Even the pharmacopoeia of scientific medicine in the 20th century was developed primarily from native herbal lore. Herbal medicine continues to influence the medicines of today. Up to 25 percent of all prescription drugs in the United States have at least one active ingredient that comes from plant extracts or synthesized plant compounds.

As many as 4 billion people, or 80 percent of the earth’s population, are estimated to use a form of herbal medicine in their health care, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Herbal medicine is a large part of naturopathic, homeopathic, Native American Indian, Ayurvedic, and traditional oriental medicine. Of the 119 plant-derived pharmaceutical drugs, as many as 74 percent are used in the same ways the plants were used by natives. Plants gathered from locations such as the rain forests are being studied for their possible medicinal values by various pharmaceutical companies.

Conditions such as high blood pressure, asthma, pain, and heart disease are often treated today with commercial medicines containing plant-based substances. Ephedrine is derived from an herb called ephedra and is used in commercial medicines to relieve respiratory and asthma symptoms. The actual herb ephedra has been used for over two thousand years in Traditional Chinese Medicine to treat the same symptoms.

The foxglove plant is an herb that has been used since 1775. Today this herb, also referred to as the cardiac stimulant digitalis, keeps millions of heart patients living all over the world.

Branches of Herbal Medicine include Ayurvedic Herbalism and Traditional Chinese Herbalism. Ayurvedic Herbalism stems from Ayurveda and Western Herbalism and originated in Greece and Rome. Its practice spread throughout Europe and eventually to North and South America. Traditional Chinese Herbalism comes from Traditional Oriental Medicine.

Western Herbalism is now considered folk medicine. Ayurvedic and Chinese Herbalism differ because they have developed over centuries into very advanced forms of treatment and systems of diagnosis.

People in the United States are continually gaining interest in herbs because of an increasing number of success stories. One example is the use of St. John’s Wort to treat forms of depression. People have used this drug to avoid using Prozac, which produces unwanted side effects. Certain Ayurvedic herbs are commonly used to help those with conditions including diabetes and high cholesterol. Herbs such as Ginkgo biloba (ginkgo) and Ginseng continue to increase in popularity because of their helpful effects.

For more infor mation on Herbal Medicine and remedies visit www.naturalherbsguide.com , we find this website to be very informative.

Garlic.....and you thought it was just for fending off vampires!

People feel strongly about garlic. They either love its lingering aroma or hate its pungent odor. It's no wonder, then, that folkloric shamans prescribed a necklace of garlic to ward off vampires.
Love it or hate it, garlic can help protect your body from more than a mythic pair of sharp teeth.
Even ancient practitioners recognized its beneficial qualities. More than 2,000 years ago, Hippocrates, father of diagnostic medicine, listed garlic as a worthwhile treatment. Today scientists know from a battery of studies that garlic contains several properties that may keep the cardiovascular system healthy. Garlic is particularly effective against low-density lipoproteins (LDLs), the "bad" cholesterol that can damage the arteries and threaten the heart.
Without getting too technical, tiny LDLs can form plaque on the arterial walls after they have been oxidized by "free radicals," renegade molecules in the body that damage the cells and provoke disease. When this happens, special cells migrate to the area and start gobbling up the LDLs. Eventually, these cells eat so much that they become "foam cells," which are deposited in arteries as plaque. The plaque, in turn, can create atherosclerosis, blockages that lead to heart attack and stroke.
Garlic is such a great antioxidant that it stops the creation of these foam cells by acting early on in the process, preventing free radicals from oxidizing the LDLs.
Clinical research also shows that garlic may encourage the formation of "good" cholesterol, high-density lipoproteins (HDLs), which are too large to stick to artery walls. Instead, the HDLs help to sweep out LDLs as they flow through the system and clean out the LDLs already creating plaque on the arteries.
Like aspirin, garlic has certain qualities that thin the blood. By preventing platelets from banding together, garlic may keep the circulatory system healthy. Garlic can do this without any of the discomfort or other problems associated with aspirin.
For the same reason, garlic can help a person who is feeling weak get back on his or her feet. By improving circulation, garlic can allow a person to get the exercise he or she needs, which in turn can lower blood pressure and cholesterol.
Garlic is also useful in preventing other problems. Several scientific studies have shown that garlic may eliminate many of the symptoms associated with yeast infections, which include fatigue, disorientation and depression. But be careful! Yeast infections can erupt after lying dormant for years and be accompanied by other medical problems. You may need to stop consuming alcohol and eliminate sugary foods, yeast and mold from your diet. Be sure to consult a physician in the case of a yeast infection.
Garlic's renowned pungent smell comes from its sulfur-rich compounds, which are excreted through the lungs. But even garlic haters can take heart in the knowledge that garlic may be taken as a supplement known as Kyolic, which has a slightly altered chemistry and leaves no lingering smell to drive off loved ones. A dose of 1200 mg to 1600 mg of Kyolic every day should be sufficient to keep both heart disease -- and vampires -- at bay.
With exercise and a good diet, garlic can help reduce body fat, one of the greatest enemies to good health. If you are at risk for or already have atherosclerosis or any other forms of cardiovascular disease, consult your physician for treatment.
-- Health and peace.
©1996-2005 WebMD

Ahhh.....the power of herbs!

Cooking with herbs has taken on new importance with our awareness of reducing salt and fat in the diet. Herbs can add interesting flavors to foods when salt and fat are reduced in a recipe. Because herbs are so popular, they are being sold fresh at local farmer's markets and grocery stores, and are often grown as part of a kitchen garden by the homeowner.

Selection

Herbs are best harvested in the morning, after the dew has evaporated, but before the sun has warmed them. The oils that give herbs their aromas and flavors are volatile (readily escapes from the leaves, seeds and stems if injured.) Therefore, herbs need to be handled very gently, and should never be "stacked" or handled in such a way that they may be bruised. Select just enough herbs to be used, dried or frozen, the same day. Herbs should look fresh and clean, be free of disease, not discolored or damaged.

Storage

Since the flavor and aroma of herbs deteriorates quickly after picking, be prepared to use them immediately. If you must store them for a few hours, keep them in the refrigerator in a perforated plastic bag. When you are ready to use them, wash the herbs gently under cool (not cold) water and pat dry between paper towels.
For long term storage, herbs can be dried. Store the dried herbs in air-tight containers out of the direct sun.

Serving

Once you have used fresh herbs in cooking you will be spoiled! Their special flavor and aroma contributes greatly to the enjoyment of food.
There are no rules when cooking with herbs. Start to experiment using small amounts of herbs and see what you like. The following ideas may help you get started:

A good general rule of thumb is not to mix two very strong herbs together, but rather one strong and one or more milder flavors to complement both the stronger herb and the food.
In general, the weaker the flavor of the main staple item, the lower the level of added seasoning required to achieve a satisfactory balance of flavor in the end product.

Dried herbs are stronger than fresh, and powdered herbs are stronger than crumbled. A useful formula is: 1/4 teaspoon powdered herbs = 3/4 to 1 teaspoon crumbled = 2 teaspoons fresh.
Leaves should be chopped very fine because the more cut surface exposed the more flavor will be released.
Be conservative in the amount of an herb used until you're familiar with its strength. The aromatic oils can be strong and objectionable if too much is used.
The flavoring of herbs is lost by extended cooking. Add herbs to soups or stews about 45 minutes before completing the cooking. But for cold foods such as dips, cheese, vegetables and dressings, herbs should be added several hours or overnight before using.
For casseroles and hot sauces, add finely chopped fresh or dried herbs directly to the mixture.

To become familiar with the specific flavor of an herb, try mixing it with margarine or butter, let it set for at least an hour, and spread on a plain cracker.
Try herbs as a flavoring in vinegars or "butters." Use one cup of "bruised" leaves for every 2 cups of white wine vinegar. Allow to steep two weeks. Use 1 tablespoon of finely chopped fresh herbs to 1/2 cup margarine, butter, cottage cheese, low fat yogurt or cream cheese.

What in the World is "RLS"?

"Restless Legs Syndrome"
Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a disorder of the part of the nervous system that affects movements of the legs. Because it usually interferes with sleep, it also is considered a sleep disorder.

Symptoms of Restless Legs Syndrome
People with RLS have strange sensations in their legs (and sometimes arms) and an irresistible urge to move their legs to relieve the sensations. The sensations are difficult to describe: they are not painful, but an uncomfortable, "itchy," "pins and needles," or "creepy crawly" feeling deep in the legs. The sensations are usually worse at rest, especially when lying in bed. The sensations lead to walking discomfort, sleep deprivation, and stress.

The severity of RLS symptoms ranges from mild to intolerable. Symptoms get gradually worse over time in about two thirds of people with the condition and may be severe enough to be disabling. The symptoms are generally worse in the evening and night and less severe in the morning. While the symptoms are usually quite mild in young adults, by age 50 the symptoms may cause severe nightly sleep disruption that can significantly impair a person's quality of life.

Who Gets Restless Legs Syndrome?
RLS affects about 10% of the U.S. population. It affects both men and women and may begin at any age, even in infants and young children. Most people who are affected severely are middle-aged or older.

RLS is often unrecognized or misdiagnosed. In many people the condition it is not diagnosed until 10-20 years after symptoms begin. Once correctly diagnosed, RLS can often be treated successfully.

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Let Off Some Steam.....

The positive effects of steam bathing have been understood for thousands of years. Hippocrates found that fever could cure many diseases, and steam baths and saunas have been producing 'simulated' fevers ever since that time and maybe even earlier than that.
There are excellent healing attributes of both saunas and steam baths but the steam bath is especially good for respiratory troubles like bronchitis, asthma, and allergies the since it offers an elevated moisture content. The steam bath is also useful for cleaning and toning the skin surface. The increased volume of sweat that is induced by the steam bath and sauna leaves the skin soft and supple while the bathers are left feeling re-energized and recharged.

Steam Baths - Special Benefits
As previously discussed, a steam bath is excellent for respiratory ailments since steam can remove allergens and mucus from the lungs. Doctors have been advising that patients breathe steam for various respiratory problems for a long time now. The steam bath allows the user to inhale a larger concentration of steam than by using a vaporizer. This allows maximum benefits to those with breathing problems.
Steam has a soothing quality for the breathing passages since it raises the moisture level in the lungs, throat and nose. People that suffer from the problems of asthma or the common cold will find they feel much better after indulging in a steam bath.
No matter how good the sauna bath might feel by relieving symptoms it is not cure for respiratory diseases. The temporary benefits of relief from the symptoms are good enough that many sufferers go back to the steam bath again and again.

Skin Benefits
A good sweat is excellent for healthy skin. Dermatologists understand the benefits of steam to create a beautiful, healthy glow. Serious sweating washes the skin better than soap and water since it unlocks the pores and lets deep-seated grime along with dead cells to be washed out. Also a steam bath increases the blood circulation to the skin contributing to a healthy, glowing manifestation, you will glisten!

Pain Relief Benefits
Heat is a useful tool for management of muscular pain. Taking a steam bath after a substantial bodily workout is an excellent method of speeding up the healing progression of hurt tissues and muscles. Heat allows the blood vessels to enlarge which boosts the blood circulation, letting increased oxygen to arrive at injured parts of the body. This has the twofold effect of pain reduction and improving the healing speed.

Relaxation Benefits
Deep sleep is one of the best medicinal ways to heal the body. Our contemporary life is filled with daily stresses, and these stresses will build up over time and can induce stress linked illnesses such as high blood pressure and hypertension. A sauna bath is a excellent method of unwinding and help relieve the daily stresses. The heat of the sauna allows the muscles to loosen up, and the steam makes available a comforting atmosphere for calming the mind.

You will discover that a steam bath ahead of bedtime is an excellent method of promoting a deep restful sleep. You come out of the steam bath experiencing a relaxed and calm state. When you take a steam bath on a regular basis, you will reap remarkable benefits for your health and your state of mind. Check out the special Mother's Day Sale at "Salmon Creek Botanicals" going on now through May 11th, 2008. When you spend $40.00, you receive a free Lavender Milk Bath. This luxurious bath is made with powder milk, powdered sugar, and baking soda with pure lavender essential oil. Visit http://www.salmoncreekbotanicals.com/ today!

The Great Debate.....

The debate over the effectiveness of St. John’s Wort in fighting depression now has added fuel.

Three recent clinical trials from 2005 and 2006 and a critical review of the literature (2006) have examined whether the herbal supplement is an effective treatment for depression. The data all indicate that St John’s Wort is indeed safe and effective for people who are mild to moderately depressed. The evidence on how it affects moderate-to-severe depression remains unclear.
This is particularly newsworthy because two prior studies—including a 2002 study sponsored by the National Center on Complementary and Alternative Medicine at the National Institute of Health, suggested that St. John’s Wort was no more effective than a placebo in treating mild to moderate depression.
Hyla Cass, M.D., chairwoman of complementary and alternative medicine at the American University of Complementary Medicine in Los Angeles, maintains that in her own practice of using St. John's Wort she has found that people “respond well and really appreciate the lack of side effects and not feeling 'medicated.' "
Contrary to U.S. medical practice, St. John’s Wort is already used extensively in Western Europe. In Germany, for example, doctors often turn to traditional antidepressants only after a trial of St. John’s Wort has not been successful.

St. John's Wort (Hypericum) is a roadside weed that has been used for centuries to treat a variety of disorders. In 350 B.C., the Greek physician and writer Hippocrates prescribed the herb’s extracts for relief from such ailments as dysentery, tuberculosis, malaria, hemorrhage, jaundice, colds, insomnia and hysteria. Today, St. John's Wort is used primarily to relieve the symptoms of depression, anxiety and sleep disorders.
The flowering tops of St. John's Wort are used to prepare teas and tablets containing concentrated extracts of the active ingredients hypericin or hyperforin. The extracts are standardized to 0.3 percent hypericin, with a typical adult dose of 300 milligrams 3 times a day (yielding 2.7 mg hypericin per day). Preparations available in the United States contain inconsistent amounts of active ingredient, so be sure to read labels to know exactly how much you're actually getting in your tablet or tea.
Many folks who regularly take St. John’s Wort note improvements in overall mood and sleep. Researchers believe that the antidepressant effect of St. John’s Wort is due to its inhibition of serotonin uptake by certain receptors in the brain—the same mechanism attributed to many widely prescribed antidepressants.
Although St. John’s Wort is generally considered safe, it can cause undesirable interactions with herbs, other supplements or prescription medicines, including theophylline and digoxin. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends that St. John's Wort not be used with any type of antiretroviral medication used to treat HIV or AIDS.
St. John’s Wort is not to be used if you’re pregnant or nursing. New data presented at the 21st Annual Meeting of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (August 2006) suggest that St. John’s Wort might interact with medications prescribed during pregnancy and might cause lower infant birth weights.
As with any herbal medicine do not take St. John’s Wort without speaking to your health care provider first.

By Jill Shuman, M.S., E.L.S.

Content provided by Revolution Health Group