Love this article on natural remedies from Mother Earth Living. This article focuses on several great natural remedies including: saw palmetto, aloe, chamomile and many other: Check It Out... Aloe for Burns and Cuts
Aloe (Aloe vera) is the herb for minor burns and cuts. In one study published in the Journal of Dermatological Surgery and Oncology, 27 people had burns treated with aloe or standard medical care. In the standard-care group, healing took 18 days, but in the aloe group, it took only 12 days. “Aloe is my first choice for burns,” says botanist James Duke, Ph.D., former chief of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Medicinal Plant Research Laboratory and author of The Green Pharmacy (Rodale, 2000). “Keep a potted aloe on your kitchen windowsill. For minor burns, snip off a thick leaf. Slit it open. Scoop out the inner leaf gel and apply it to the burn once or twice a day.” Aloe requires no care beyond weekly watering.Dosage: If you use a commercial aloe gel, follow label directions.
Red Flags: Aloe helps heal superficial wounds but not deep wounds, such as surgical incisions.
Black Cohosh for Hot Flashes
American Indians first introduced colonists to black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa), which they used to treat many conditions, including menstrual problems and recovery from childbirth. For 40 years, Europeans have used black cohosh to treat menopausal discomforts. During the past decade, the herb has become popular in the United States. Occasionally, a study questions its benefit, but the clear majority shows black cohosh effective for hot flashes. How the herb works is still a mystery, but it does not act like estrogen, so it’s safe for women who can’t take the female sex hormone—for example, those with a history of breast cancer. “Black cohosh is definitely worth a try,” says Mark Blumenthal, executive director of the Austin, Texas-based American Botanical Council (ABC), the nation’s leading herb-education organization, “especially now that hormone replacement therapy has been shown to do more harm than good.”Dosage: Follow label directions.
Red Flags: Side effects are rare but possible: A few users have reported stomach distress, dizziness, headache and allergic reactions. Commission E, the German equivalent of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, says black cohosh should not be taken for longer than six months. After that, consult your doctor or herbalist.
Chamomile for Indigestion and Relaxation
Remember The Tale of Peter Rabbit? After the young bunny’s “hare”-raising adventures, his mother soothes his jangled nerves and upset stomach with chamomile tea. Peter’s mother was right. Chamomile (Matricaria recutita) soothes both the nervous system and the gastrointestinal tract.Dosage: 1 tea bag or 1 to 2 teaspoons of dried flowers per cup of boiling water. Steep a few minutes and drink as much as you’d like.
Red Flags: Allergic reactions are possible, especially if you’re allergic to pollens.
Cranberry to Prevent Urinary Tract Infections
Cranberry juice—and the dried berries and extract—prevent bacteria from sticking to the bladder wall long enough to cause infection, according to a 2004 article published in Clinical Infectious Disease. Many studies confirm the value of cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) in the prevention of urinary tract infections (UTIs). In a 2002 study, Canadian researchers gave 150 women one of three treatments: cranberry juice (three cups a day), cranberry tablets (3 daily) or a placebo. One year later, compared with the placebo group, the women who took cranberry experienced significantly fewer UTIs. Cranberry juice cocktail and dried cranberries are available at health-food stores and supermarkets. Capsules containing cranberry extract are available at health-food stores and many pharmacies. “I recommend cranberry for UTI,” Duke says. “But if you drink the juice, you have to drink a lot of it. It’s usually easier to munch on the dried berries or take capsules.”Dosage: If you use cranberry juice cocktail, drink at least three cups a day. Try to select one with less sugar and a higher content of cranberry juice, or drink 100-percent cranberry juice diluted in apple juice. If you use dried cranberries, munch on a handful or two a day. If you use commercial cranberry extract, you should follow label directions.
Red Flags: None.
Echinacea for Colds
For reasons that remain unclear, the root of daisy-like echinacea (Echinacea spp.) bolsters the immune system and helps the body fight colds. An occasional study shows no treatment benefit, but most show that echinacea minimizes symptoms and speeds recovery by at least a day or two. The most comprehensive investigation of echinacea’s cold-fighting power was a University of Wisconsin analysis of nine studies. Eight showed significant treatment benefit—milder symptoms and briefer colds. Most recently, Canadian researchers gave echinacea or a placebo to 128 people coming down with colds. They took 10 doses the first day and four doses for the next seven days. The echinacea group had 23 percent milder symptoms. However, echinacea does not prevent colds. “I don’t recommend it for cold prevention,” Duke says. “But as soon as my wife or I feel a cold coming on, we take echinacea. Our colds are mild and brief.”Dosage: Echinacea is available in teas, juice, tinctures and capsules. Follow label directions. Typical directions are to take it several times a day at first, and then taper off as you begin to feel better.
Red Flags: Liquid echinacea products can cause temporary, harmless numbing or tingling of the tongue. Some people don’t like echinacea’s sharp taste. Minor stomach upset is possible with tincture. If symptoms persist beyond two weeks, see a doctor.
Flaxseed for Menopausal Discomforts and Prevention of Osteoporosis and Heart Disease
Flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum) is rich in plant estrogens (phytoestrogens). At Laval University, Quebec, researchers gave 25 menopausal women hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or flaxseed (1.5 ounces daily mixed into food). Six months later, flaxseed relieved hot flashes as well as HRT. Flaxseed also mimics HRT’s bone-preserving ability. Oklahoma State researchers gave a placebo or flaxseed (1.5 ounces daily) to 38 postmenopausal women for 14 weeks, and measured calcium excretion in their urine, an index of calcium loss from bone. The flaxseed group showed decreased calcium excretion, meaning reduced bone loss. Recent research published in Drug News and Perspectives also suggests that flaxseed lowers cholesterol and risk of heart disease.Dosage: 1.5 ounces per day, mixed into food.
Red Flags: Women who cannot take estrogen should consult their doctors before using flaxseed.
Garlic for Cholesterol Control and Cancer Prevention
Researchers at Penn State University gave men with high cholesterol either garlic (Allium sativum) or a placebo. The herb lowered their total cholesterol 7 percent. For every 1 percent decrease in total cholesterol, risk of heart attack drops 2 percent. So according to this study, garlic can reduce heart attack risk by 14 percent. Occasionally, a study shows no benefit, but the vast majority shows that garlic reduces cholesterol and helps prevent heart disease. However, garlic does not reduce cholesterol as much as the statin drugs. If your cholesterol is really high, you may need medication.Garlic also helps prevent several cancers. In the Iowa Women’s Health Study, researchers followed 41,387 middle-aged women for five years. Those who ate the most garlic had the lowest risk of colon cancer. Fruit and vegetable consumption in general helps prevent cancer, but in this study, of all plant foods analyzed, garlic yielded the greatest preventive benefit. Other studies show that garlic also helps prevent prostate, esophageal, stomach and bladder cancer.
Dosage: Most studies have used approximately the equivalent of one clove a day. Garlic works best when it’s raw or only slightly cooked. Or take garlic supplements, including deodorized brands, which have a similar cholesterol-lowering effect. Garlic supplements with proven benefit include Kwai and Kyolic. Follow label directions.
Red Flags: Garlic impairs blood clotting. If you have a bleeding disorder, don’t take it. If you notice increased bruising, stop taking it, and consult your physician. Stop taking garlic at least two weeks before scheduled surgery, and make sure to inform your physician/surgeon of garlic supplementation.
Ginger for Nausea
Perhaps your grandmother gave you ginger ale for an upset stomach. Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is an indigestion soother that also relieves nausea. Australian researchers gave 120 pregnant women either a placebo or capsules containing 1.5 grams of ginger powder (about a teaspoon). Almost immediately, the ginger group experienced significantly less nausea.Several studies also show that the herb prevents motion sickness. Danish researchers tested it on 80 naval cadets in heavy seas. Compared with those who took a placebo, the ginger group experienced 72 percent less seasickness. To prevent motion sickness, take a capsule containing 1,000 mg of powdered gingerroot about an hour before you embark, and every two hours during your journey. “I use ginger to prevent seasickness,” Duke says. “It works for me.”
Dosage: Start with 1,000 to 1,500 mg. If necessary, take more. Ginger is safe. Or brew a tea using 2 teaspoons of fresh grated root per cup of boiling water. Or drink ginger ale—just make sure it contains real ginger. The label should say ginger extract, not artificial flavor.
Red Flags: Heartburn is possible. Read More...
