Herbal Teas and their Uses

These notes are merely a printed list of first herbs often used in tea form along with some words to help remind you of the sorts of benefits to be expected

Alfalfa
* Digestive for protein.
* Reduces Acidity, Arthritis.
* Assists to reduce allergic reactions. (amino acids)

Angelica
* Stomach Strengthener.
* Immunity protection from colds and flu.
* General Tonic for rheumatic complaints.(Cu, Vit A, Steroids)

Aniseed
* Used as a digestive.
* Expectorant for hacking coughs and catarrh


Barley
* Demulcent qualities soothe the urinary tract for cystitis.
* Lemon barley water is a nutritious and diuretic drink.

Basil- "The King Of All Herbs"
* Likes to have its foliage watered as well as its roots.
* Gives off its aroma without the leaves being crushed.
* Deters flies.
* Clears the head and brain.
* Use it sparingly and at the last minute for culinary purposes to prevent bitterness.

Bergamot
* Sometimes called Oswego .
* Contains thymol which makes it useful for sore throats.
* Use bruised leaves in a salad for piquant flavour.

Borage "Herb Of Gladness"
* Promotes kidney and adrenal health when used fresh with salads.Chop finely after washing to remove "hairiness".
* The saline content helps reduce temperatures and fevers when taken as a hot tea.

Black Currant
* Vitimin C, P and Folic acid. Dried Fruit, Ribena, Rocket Fuel

Boldo Liver, Gall, Pancreas, Digestive, Weight Control. CAUTION.

Burdock Rheumatoid, Uric Acid. CAUTION

Catmint (Nepeta Cataria) Not the Garden Variety
* Used as a mild sedative especially for children who suffer from nightmares, restlessness at night. Better when taken regularly.
* A favourite tonic for cats.
* Attracts Butterflies !!


Celery
* Don't waste the water that celery has been cooked in.
* Assists rheumatic problems.
* Kidneys and Mineral Balance (Ph, Na, Si) CAUTION

Chamomile
"The Herb Of Humility"
* Vagus Nerve. Sleep, Abdominal Migraine, Allergies etc (A team)
* Chamomile tea ensures a soothed digetsive system and a good nights sleep.
* Mild enough to be used for children and babies.
* Add it to bath water to reduce redness and inflammation of the skin, including sunburn.
* Used as a rinse for a hair tonic,highlighting and perfuming blonde hair.
* Put any left over tea on the compost to keep it sweet.

Chicory
* Used in the floral clock as flowers open at sunrise and close at 2 pm.
* Leaves align themselves to the north -it is said to have great life giving qualities.
* Can be eaten as a vegetable.
* Used in conjunction with coffee to provide support to the liver.

Cinnamon
* Flavour, Clear the Head (brain)
* Cleanses the mouth and throat and can cure nausea if sipped slowly when warm.
* May prevent and alleviate the symptoms of colds.

Coltsfoot
Bronchial. Tea and Smoked.

Corn Silk
* Soothing for urinary complaints, cystitis and UTI
* Only useful when still green

Couch Grass
* CAUTION This is not the couch grass that grows in our lawns.
* Diuretic and Bladder Sphincters

Dandelion
* Liver, Kidney and Gall Support
* Acne, Allergies, Hepatitis, Chemotherapy (A Team)
* Use leaves in salads and juices.
* More potent in spring and summer

Dill Seed
* Colic, wind-dispeller (dill water)
* Gassy with Cucumber Cabbage etc.
* Used for fretful infants-carminative.

Elder Flower
* A refreshing Tonic, Endocrine Balance, Soothing, * Stimulating and astringent as a skin cosmetic (A Team)

Eucalyptus
* Respiratory - use as inhalant.
* Helps remove Fleas from animal sleeping areas

Fennel
* Liver and Pancreas. Eye lotion. Wt Control

Fenugreek
* Lymphatic - aid in digestion of fats.
* Sinus.
* Skin, Diaphoretic (choline and lecithin)
* Brings down a fever, take with garlic and echinacea.

Ginger
* Aids Digestion.
* Reduces flatulence.

Ginseng
* Pituitary Stimulant -can create a feeling of wellbeing.
* This herb does not always have the same effect on all people.

Golden Seal Mucosa Tonic, Digestive Spring Clean CAUTION

Hawthorn
* Heart and Circulation. Safe Cardiac Tonic.

Hibiscus
* Iron Copper and Vitimin C added to Rosehips.

Hops
* Relaxant, Releases Nervous System Tension
* Some say if drunk first thing in the morning it will help a hangover headache.
* Usedas a poultice for boils and bruises.

Hyssop
* A strong tea from leaves and flowers can reduce catarrh and congestion of the throat and nose.
* For the pain and bruising of black eyes a bunch of leaves in a muslin bag, immersed in boiling water and placed as hot as possible on the eye can reduce swelling and discolouration.

Juniper CAUTION
* Oedema, Cystitis, (K) Blend with Celery and Barley.
* Diuretic.

Lemon
* Vitimin C, Enzymes, Astringent Tonic
* A few sips of lemon tea can stop stubborn hiccoughs.
* Therapeutic aid to prevent clotting.

Lemon Balm
"The Scholars Herb" * Powerfully attracts bees.
* Taken daily to improve memory and improve understanding of students.
* Diaphoretic, Over Heating- can be added to cool summer drinks along with mint to cool you down
* The leaves make a poultice for boils.

Lemon Grass
* Used for clear skin and bright eyes.
* Use as a night cap with a little honey and lemon.

Licorice
* Laxative. * Adrenal Exhaustion, Cortisone Antidote. * Soothing for stomach ulcers

Linden
* Relaxant, Wind Down.

Lovage
* Adds a celery flavour to stews and salads.
* May be used in the bath for its deodorizing qualities.
* A tea is helpful for rheumatic conditions, to stimulate the kidneys and remove waste products.

Mate
* Smooth muscle and heart tonic.
* Satisfying enough to take the place of a carbohydrate snack.
* Helps one think clearly.

Mints
* Digestive , aids in the bringing up of wind.
* Mouth wash-for sore gums and tongue.
* Cosmetic skin improvers when used as a lotion.

Nettle
* Iron, Arterial Tonic, Anaemia, Low BP (A Team).
* Assists burns, insect bites ans skin irritations.
* May comfort rheumatic pains.

Parsley Tonic, CAUTION

Penny Royal
* Deterent to ants and their nests.
* Acts as a flea and mosquito repellent.
* A tea is helpful for depression with honey and a slice of orange.
* Garnish new potatoes with a few chopped leaves.

Plantain
* May discourage the smoking habit for those anxious to stop.
* Wineglassful doses for diarrhea and haemorroids.
* Soothing for toothache when held in the mouth.

Raspberry Leaves
* Tones uterine Ligaments, pre, during and post birthing

Red Clover
* Spleen, Minerals and Blood Tonic, Cysts. CAUTION

Rosemary
* Set the seed on Good Friday.
* Eases aching muscles when used in the bath.
* Rub oil lightly on temples to aid memory.
* Use as a final tonic rinse for hair .
* Rubbing on the oil can reduce dandruff.

Rue
-"Herb Of Grace"
* Treat with care when handling as it can be inflammatory for sensitive skin.
* A weak tea can be taken internally and also used as an eye bath.
* Strengthens blood vessels including those in the eye.
* An insect repellent in the garden.

Sage
* Best used fresh for culinary use.
* A tea strengthens the brain, memory and senses.
* Eat Sage leaves on bread with butter every day.
* Use as a rinse and tonic to darken grey hair.
* Cerebro Circulatory Tonic, Blood Brain

Sarsaparilla
* Low or inefficient hormone production. Both sexes.

Senna
* A nonhabit forming safe laxative for anyone , following surgery, travelling etc.

Slippery Elm
* Muselage, Ulcers, Baby Food (A Team)

Southernwood
* A tea from flowers and leaves can expell round worms from animals and humans.
* Dried crumbled leaves can keep moths away.
* Tea reduces bodily weakness and limb pain following the flu.
* Withstands grimy air and smog.
* Planted among roses can deter aphids.

Thyme
* Rub Thyme oil on temples for headache resulting from tension and strain.
* A very powerful antiseptic.
* For sore throats and colds.
* An aid for singers and speakers,

Valerian
* CAUTION
* It has very unpleasant taste and aroma.
* Valerain has strong sedative qualities in its roots.NB. they need to be dried and powdered before use.
* Strengthening to the nerves assisting the body to send calm and relaxed messages.
* Growing it draws earth worms close by.
* Rotten Vegetation, (Mag Phos) (A Team)

Yarrow
"A Sacred Herb" * Soldiers Herb- closes and heals wounds and cuts. It is a natural Styptic.
* Emergency Pick - me - up.Have a cup when you wake up feeling ghastly.
* A tea of leaves taken very night before bed can break chronic cold symptoms, reduce a fever and prevent cramp after exercise in cold weather.
* A cup of tea can stop nose bleed.
* Used with Comfrey chopped into the compost for quick activation.

Herbal Alternatives to Drugs in Pain Management, Part II

raditional Chinese Medicine

According to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), the fundamental etiology of pain is qi stagnation, blood stagnation, or both.

It is often said that where there is pain, there is stagnation; where there is stagnation, there is pain. Therefore, effective pain relief most often requires the use of herbs that activate qi and blood, removing stagnation and thus resolving the cause of pain. As is true in all treatment involving Chinese medicinal herbs, they are most commonly prescribed in carefully-combined formulas (rather than singly) that directly address the causes and/or symptoms of the imbalance and treat without creating unwanted side-effects or complications.

In addition to treating qi and blood stagnation, successful treatment of pain also requires careful differential diagnosis of pain. The three main diagnostic keys are the location of the discomfort, the type of pain and the cause of pain. Location refers to the exact part of the body that is affected: upper body, lower body, external musculoskeletal muscle, internal smooth muscle and so on. The type of pain refers to the characteristics of the patient's pain, such as a sharp, stabbing pain or dull aching, pain at a fixed location as opposed to migratory pain, pain helped by cold or by heat, and other distinguishing characteristics. Lastly, identifying the cause of pain helps the practitioner differentiate soft tissue injuries from structural damage. For example, leg spasms and cramps often involve only soft tissue, while an acute sprained ankle is often accompanied by structural damage. Accurate evaluation of these three criteria is crucial for greatly enhanced diagnostic accuracy and successful relief for the patient.

Herbal Treatment for Headache

Headache pain may arise from internal or external causes such as invasion of wind, cold, heat, dampness, dryness, summer heat, accumulation of phlegm, and other pathogens in addition to qi and blood stagnation. Headache pain may represent excess or deficient conditions and may affect the occiput, vertex, sinuses and orbital region. It may also present with a complex of locations/symptoms, such as in migraine.

Corydalis (yan hu suo) is one of the strongest herbs available to relieve pain and reduce inflammation. Research studies have shown it to work directly on the central nervous system with analgesic effects comparable to those of morphine and codeine.^1,2 Another herb, pueraria root (ge gen), has demonstrated remarkable effectiveness in relieving headache pain.^3,4,5 Other herbs have proved effective in relieving various types of headaches, including (but not limited to) migraine, vertex, sinus and orbital headache.^6,7,8

Many classical Chinese herbal formulas are also commonly used to treat headache. Cnidium & tea formula (chuan xiong cha tiao san) treats headaches due to wind cold. Evodia combination (wu zhu yu tang) relieves vertex headache due to cold and is also used to treat migraine. Coptis, phellodendron & mint formula (huang lian shang qing wan) addresses headache caused by heat. Notopterygium & tuhuo combination (qiang huo sheng shi tang) treats headache due to wind and dampness. Gastrodia & gambir combination (tian ma gou teng yin) relieves headache secondary to liver yang rising. Eucommia & rehmannia formula (you gui wan) tonifies kidney deficiency to relieve headache. Tangkuei & ginseng eight combination (ba zhen tang) tonifies qi and blood deficiency to relieve headache. Pinellia & gastrodia combination (ban xia bai zhu tian ma tang) relieves headache due to phlegm stagnation.

Herbal Treatment for Neck and Shoulder Pain

Neck and shoulder injuries can be divided into two major categories: acute and chronic. Acute injuries are generally characterized by redness, swelling, inflammation and sharp pain. Chronic injuries are generally characterized by stiffness, numbness, discomfort and dull pain.

Acute neck and shoulder problems are often caused by accidents, whiplash, improper sleeping or reading postures, and similar traumas. In addition to pain, redness, swelling and/or inflammation are sometimes present. Treatment consists of reducing pain, swelling and muscle spasms. Herbal formulas are designed to dispel painful symptoms while supporting the healing process. Strong analgesic herbs like corydalis (yan hu suo) are combined with anti-spasmodic herbs and blood-invigorating herbs to alleviate pain, promote blood circulation and open the meridian channels.

Chronic neck and shoulder problems are characterized by pain, numbness, stiffness, discomfort, limited mobility, slow recovery or continuing deterioration. Effective treatment must focus on activating qi and blood circulation, opening the channels and collaterals, and nourishing the muscles and tendons.

Corydalis is a main herb in the treatment of both acute and chronic neck and shoulder problems. In addition to having strong analgesic properties, it also has a distinctive facility for treating both acute and chronic cases of inflammation.⁹ Corydalis also protects against NSAID-induced gastric and duodenal ulcers by reducing gastric acid secretion.¹⁰

Classical formulas that treat neck and shoulder pain include the following specific applications. Lindera formula (wu yao shun qi san) is formulated for shoulder pain, while pueraria combination (ge gen tang) is more specific for stiff neck due to cold. Atractylodes & arisaema combination (er zhu tang) relieves deficient-type neck and shoulder disorders but may not have strong analgesic effects.

Herbal Treatment for Back Pain

Similar to neck and shoulder pain, back pain can be divided into two major categories: acute and chronic, with many of the key symptoms described in the categories above.

Many classic formulas tonify the kidney to relieve back pain and weakness. Tuhuo & loranthus combination (du huo ji sheng tang) eliminates wind and dampness and has a rapid onset to relieve acute back pain. Herbal formulas that tonify the kidney tend to be slower in action and are more suitable for chronic back pain. Cyathula & rehmannia formula (zuo gui wan) is more specific to address kidney yin deficiency; eucommia & rehmannia formula (you gui wan) focuses more specifically on kidney yang deficiency; and rehmannia eight formula (ba wei di huang wan) tonifies both kidney yin and yang.

Herbal Treatment for Musculoskeletal Pain and Painful Obstruction (Bi) Syndrome

Musculoskeletal pain is often classified as painful obstruction (bi) syndrome. Though there are many causes of this syndrome, cold and heat are the most common etiologies. Cold-type musculoskeletal pain is characterized by stiffness, pain and limited range of motion of the joints. In Western terms, cold conditions are associated with chronic arthritis and arthralgias such as osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia.

Heat-type musculoskeletal pain is characterized by redness, swelling, pain and/or inflammation of the muscles and joints. Patients typically present with muscle cramping and spasms. From a Western perspective, these patients have acute musculoskeletal disorders, typically involving inflammation of the muscles, bursae, tendons and ligaments.

Gentiana macrophylla root (qin jiao), a popular ingredient in some remedies, has been shown to have anti-inflammatory activities comparable to those of aspirin (salicylic acid).⁴ Aconite tsao wu (cao wu) and aconite wu tou (chuan wu) Other herbs have demonstrated exceptional anti-rheumatic, anti-inflammatory, analgesic and anti-pyretic functions.^13,14

White peony (bai shao) and licorice (gan cao) have demonstrated remarkable properties in relieving spasms, cramps and pain of skeletal and smooth muscles. Clinical applications include dysmenorrhea,³ musculoskeletal disorders,¹⁵ trigeminal pain,¹⁶ muscle spasms and twitching in the facial region,¹⁷ pain in the lower back and legs,¹⁸ abdominal pain and cramps due to intestinal parasites,¹⁹ and epigastric and abdominal pain.²⁰

If there are complications to the musculoskeletal disorders described above, classical formulas offer treatment options for the patients. Cinnamon & anemarrhena combination (gui zhi shao yao zhi mu tang) treats musculoskeletal and joint pain due to wind heat. Cyathula & plantago formula (ji sheng shen qi wan) treats musculoskeletal and joint pain arising from cold. Coix combination (yi yi ren tang) treats musculoskeletal and joint pain caused by dampness. Tuhuo & astragalus combination (san bi tang) treats musculoskeletal and joint pain due to deficiency of qi and blood and weakness of the liver and kidney. If the etiology is unclear, notopterygium & turmeric combination (juan bi tang) may be used for relief of general musculoskeletal and joint pain.

Herbal Treatment for Traumatic Injury

Traumatic injury is characterized by severe qi and blood stagnation. Types of injuries include bruises, contusions, sprains, broken bones, surgical incisions and related internal trauma, and other physical traumas.

For complications of traumatic injury, cinnamon & hoelen formula (gui zhi fu ling wan) is used to treat internal bleeding after traumatic or sports injuries; persica & rhubarb combination (tao ren cheng qi tang) is used to treat subcutaneous bleeding with severe swelling and pain.

Conclusion

Pain is universally understood as a signal of disease and is the most common symptom that brings a patient to a physician.²¹ Western clinical medicine and traditional Oriental medicine share common goals of alleviating pain and eliminating the causes of pain; however, the philosophy and clinical approach to pain management in the two disciplines is very different. Generally speaking, Western drugs have immediate and reliable analgesic effects. Unfortunately, Western pharmaceuticals often cause serious short- and long-term side-effects. In addition, the chronic use of drugs, especially opioid analgesics, is strongly associated with addiction and negative social consequences and connotations. As a result, more and more patients are turning to herbal medicine as their primary, complementary or alternative treatment for pain.

Herbal medicines definitely have outstanding analgesic, anti-inflammatory and anti-spasmodic functions and benefits. However, even though herbs and pharmaceutical drugs have many overlapping functions, they are not directly interchangeable or analogs of each other. The therapeutic effectiveness of herbal formulas is dependent on accurate diagnosis and careful prescription. When used properly, herbs are powerful alternatives to drugs for pain management.

References

1. Pharmacology and Applications of Chinese Herbs 1983; 447.
2. Zhu XZ. Development of natural products as drugs acting on central nervous system. Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz 86 (2):173-5, 191.
3. Bensky D, et al. Chinese Herbal Medicine Materia Medica. Eastland Press 1993.
4. Yeung HC. Handbook of Chinese Herbs. Institute of Chinese Medicine, 1983.
5. Gao XX, et al. Effectiveness of pueraria root (ge gen) in treating migraine headache: a case report of 53 patients. Journal of TCM Internal Medicine (Zhong Hua Nei Ke Za Zi) 1977;6:326.
6. Effectiveness of angelica (bai zhi) in treating occipital headache: a report of 73 cases. Air Force hospital in Hengyang, China. Modern Medical Journal (Xin Zhong Yi) 1976;3:128.
7. Effectiveness of angelica (bai zhi) in treating chronic headache: a report of 62 cases. National Defense Hospital. Journal of Modern Medicine (Xin Yi Xue Yao Za Zi) 1976;8:35.
8. Wang LS. Treatment of headache using xiong zhi shi gao tang: 50 cases. Shanxi Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 1985;10:447.
9. Kubo M, et al. Anti-inflammatory activities of methanolic extract and alkaloidal components from corydalis tuber. Biol Pharm Bull February 1994;17(2):262-5.
10. Study of Chinese Herbal Medicine 1976; p. 340.
11. Military Hospital Unit #64. Effectiveness of aconite wu tou (chuan wu) in treating low back pain, a report with 225 patients. New Journal of Medicine and Pharmacology 1975;4:45.
12. Zhang HT, et al. Treatment of frozen shoulders with aconite wu tou (chuan wu) and camphor (zhang nao). Shanghai Journal of Medicine and Pharmacology 1987;1:29.
13. Liao JF. Evaluation with receptor binding assay on the water extracts of ten CNS-active Chinese herbal drugs. Proceedings of the National Science Council, Republic of China. Part B, Life Sciences. July 1995;19(3):151-8.
14. Sun DH. Treatment of heat type of painful obstruction (Bi) syndrome with stephania (fang ji) in 120 patients. Shangdong Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 1987;6:21.
15. Tan H, et al. Chemical components of decoction of radix paeoniae and radix glycyrrhizae. China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica Sep 1995;20(9):550-1, 576.
16. Huang DD. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 1983;11:9.
17. Luo DP. Hunan Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 1989;2:7.
18. Chen H. Yunnan Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 1990;4:15.
19. Zhang RB. Jiangxu Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 1966;5:38-39.
20. You JH. Guanxi Journal of Chinese Herbology 1987;5:5-6.
21. Harrison TR, et al. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 14th edition, 1998.

Herbal Pain Remedy

Herbal Pain Remedies - The Better, Safer Way to Relieve Pain

Pain is a condition that drastically inhibits the ability to live a normal, happy life, and people will pay dearly to make the pain go away. And medical science has responded swiftly and with much promotion to that call. It seems every year we are introduced to a newer, better pain relief medication that is purported to be better, faster and more effective than its predecessors.

And while this may be true, it seems that more and more of these newer, better and more effective pain medications are being pulled off the shelves as fast as they were put on them due to serious health concerns coming to light after real "civilians" have taken the drug and experienced health complications.

It begs the question, can't we conquer pain without compromising our other bodily functions and maintain our health in other areas, or must we always sacrifice one component of our health to reduce the greater of the two evils (always pain)?

This is not true any more for people living with chronic pain, or even the type of pain that comes just often enough to be burdensome and make you a less effective, less joyful person.

There have been great strides in natural medicines, and pain relief is just another example of how herbal medcine has come so far. Herbal pain remedies are creating quite a little buzz right now due to their superior pain-reducing qualities, and absence of side effects.

Herbal pain remedies utilize powerful anti inflammatory agents found in nature, as well as pain receptor inhibitors that are found in various parts of herbs and botanicals in the wild. It is a precise blend of these anti inflammatory herbs and naturally pain inhibiting botanics that creates a very effective overall approach to fighting pain without side effects, and with all natural ingredients.

This combination can prove very appealing to many people looking for an alternative remedy for their painful conditions. Not only that, but most people want to feel better about what they put in their body, and the thought of putting a product 100% derived from nature puts people at ease.

See Natural Pain Relief Remedy for more information on how to naturally conquer pain through herbal supplementation. Danna Schneider is the webmaster of Herbal-Therapeutics.com, a site dedicated to providing effective and natural alternatives for optimum health.

Get Rid of Kidney Stones- Dissolving Kidney Stones with Natural Phosphoric Acid

You have wondered this for weeks, "How can I get rid of kidney stones?" And you are finally at the front gate of discovering the most simple, most effective and most affordable way for dissolving kidney stones naturally. No expensive surgery or treatment required!

Can you believe that over 20 million Americans suffer from a disease that is preventable and naturally curable in most cases? Though to the medical industry's benefit, most people do not know how simple it is to prevent and even dissolve kidney stones. And unfortunately, these people suffer from pain and aching in the back; sudden spasms; abdominal pain; groin pain; bloody urine; fatigue; fever and chills.

You are experiencing the same amount of pain as a woman in labor! Are you ready to get rid of kidney stones naturally and say good bye to the misery of pain?

What Doctors Want You to Know!

So how do you pass those stones in your kidney? Like most disorders, kidney stone treatments might vary from person to person based on the severity of the problem. Most kidney sufferers will simply wait out the pain and hope that the stone may pass with a water flush. Doctors typically suggest drinking 2 to 3 quarts of water per day to flush your stones. Seems like expensive advice?

Other sufferers might have larger stones which are hardened that require medical treatment. If this is the cases, Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL) is often a doctor-favorite because of its simplicity. ESWL uses sound waves to break up kidney stones into smaller pieces thus allowing a simple flush to pass the kidney stones. Though costly, this treatment has been proven effective.

Two less common surgeries are Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy and Ureteroscopic Stone Removal. Both treatments are significantly costly and are also surgical treatments where doctors will use incisions to manually remove the kidney stones from the organs.

Though doctors will get your stones out; your body is able to do it for free if you provide it with the proper natural acids to dissolve the calcium kidney stones. About 80-90% of kidney stones can be passed naturally!

What Doctors do NOT Want You to Know- Phosphoric Acid!

Most of us believe the myth that soft drinks cause the formation of kidney stones. This is FALSE! However, soft drink consumers typically have a higher tendency to form kidney stones because of consistently lower water intake.

The problem behind soft drinks is NOT that they cause kidney stones. The problem with soft drinks is that they leave you feeling hydrated (not thirsty) and you typically drink less water than your body needs to run efficiently. With less water filtering your body and kidneys, calcium deposits form in the kidneys and BAM! Kidney stones are formed! But, you can get rid of kidney stones just as easy as you formed them by dissolving kidney stones with natural phosphoric acid. Like I stated earlier, 8 out 10 kidney stones can be dissolved with this treatment.

Research Concludes Phosphoric Acid Naturally Dissolves Calcium-Based Kidney Stones

Recently, researchers conducted an experiment on 1000 kidney stone sufferers who drank at least 5 ounces of soft drinks per day. During the 36 month trial, half of the men stopped drinking any form of cola, soft drink or soda. While the other 500 drank their soft drink of choice (all containing phosphoric acid).

After the 3 years, researchers were baffled! The men who drank the soft drinks containing phosphoric acid were one-third less likely to experience a recurrence of kidney stones. The researchers expected exactly the opposite.

Could phosphoric acid in soft drinks be naturally dissolving future kidney stones from forming?


Research leads to remedy! Can phosphoric acid dissolve formed kidney stones? Research does not lie! Therefore, many researchers also experimented with a natural remedy (phosphoric acid) to dissolve and pass kidney stones. Again, researchers were speechless because it worked! To learn more about a doctor-approved, step-by-step, guaranteed natural home-remedy (using phosphoric acid) to get rid of kidney stones in hours, please visit us!

Laugh Your Way to Pain Relief

A man rushed into a veterinarian's office carrying his limp, lifeless dog. The vet examined the animal and told the man the dog was dead. The man asked if there was any way the doctor could revive the dog. The doctor left the room and returned with a cat, who sniffed the dog from head to tail then looked up at the vet and meowed.

"Sorry," said the doctor. "There's nothing I can do."
"Thanks for trying," said the man with a sigh. "How much do I owe you?"
"Three hundred and fifty dollars," replied the doctor.
"Three hundred and fifty dollars! Just to tell me my dog is dead?"
"Well," said the doctor, "it was $50 for the office visit. The other $300 is for the CAT scan."

Whether the above joke made you laugh or groan, it lightened your mood. And if you had been in pain, many scientists agree, it would have eased the hurt—at least temporarily.

A fresh take on an old idea

The notion that laughter is good for the body has been around for thousands of years—certainly as far back as the Old Testament. Proverbs 17:22 says, "A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones."

Seventeenth century English physician Dr. Thomas Sydenham remarked, "The arrival of a good clown exercises more beneficial influence upon the health of a town than of twenty asses laden with drugs." Or as Groucho Marx put it, "A clown is like aspirin, only he works twice as fast."

How do you get a sweet 80-year-old lady to say the F word? Get another sweet little 80-year-old lady to yell *BINGO*!

The value of laughter in helping to relieve pain began to attract significant attention in the 1980s when Dr. Norman Cousins in his book Anatomy of an Illness described how watching Marx Brother movies and reading humorous books and articles helped him recover from a life-threatening tissue disease.

Cousins made it a point to enjoy a hearty belly laugh several times a day. He claimed that a few minutes of laughter gave him an hour or more of pain-free sleep. As a result, many pain centers around the country began to use humor therapy to reduce the level of pain medication needed by patients.

There was even a movie made about real-life doctor Patch Adams, a physician who was totally committed to making his patients laugh as an essential part of his treatment.

How does laughter reduce pain?

Clinical staff consistently note that the primary benefit of humor therapy is that it serves as a diversionary tactic—that is, it takes a patient's mind off the pain.

A study published in the Journal of Holistic Nursing reported that patients who were told one-liners after surgery and before painful medication was administered perceived less pain when compared to patients who didn't get a dose of humor as part of their therapy.

Why don't bunnies make noise when they have sex? Because they have cotton balls.

Another study, this one published in the Journal of Applied Behavioral Analysis, found that young girls with burns who were shown cartoons during very painful hydrotherapy said they felt less pain than similar patients who were not exposed to cartoons during the same procedure.

A second theory of how laughter helps relieve pain is that it triggers the release of endorphins, the chemicals in the brain that can make us feel good.

Natural healing

Around the same time that the Cousins book appeared, the departing editor of the New England Journal of Medicine, Dr. Franz Ingelfinger, noted that 85 percent of all human illnesses are curable by the body's own healing system. Building a positive focus in your life—which includes a regular dose of laughter—can play a key role in supporting the body's ability to do just that.

Laughing, in fact, has been shown to increase the body's natural killer cells and T-cells, which are types of cells that attack foreign material in our bodies. Laughter also keeps away negative emotions such as anxiety and depression, which tend to weaken the immune system.

Why are they called "hemorrhoids". They should be called "asteroids"?

Research on stress-related hormones and humor has shown that laughter reduces at least four of the hormones associated with the stress response, including epinephrine, cortisol, dopac, and growth hormone.

Some studies have indicated that laughter improves lung capacity and with improved lung capacity come improved oxygen levels in the blood, thereby alleviating ischemic pain or pain do to lack of oxygen-rich blood.

Internal jogging

According to Dr. William Fry from Stanford University, one minute of laughter is equal to 10 minutes on the rowing machine. Laughter is a kind of "internal jogging" that exercises our heart and reduces blood pressure in the same way as does standard aerobic exercise. This kind of laughter exercise is well suited to sedentary people and those who are confined to a bed or wheelchair.

What did One saggy boob say to the other saggy boob? If we drop any lower people are gonna think we are nuts!

If you keep the Huh Huh Huh - going for long periods of time and increase the number of times you do it while at the same time shrugging your upper body you will keep the oxygen flowing to the cells that need it and you will be giving what you body need to begin to reduce your pain and speed healing.

And here's a final fascinating fact: Researchers at St. Paul Ramsey Medical Center in Minnesota say that tears of laughter remove toxic substances that normally build up during periods of emotional stress…So, whether you prefer Dirty jokes, Redneck jokes or Funny Photos the Internet has provide us with an unlimited number of resources not to mention the ton of emails that you get from your friends that they think are funny and they just have to send to you for some reason thinking that you have the time to read it and that you have nothing else to do. Maybe just read on a week and see how you feel.

If you do read a joke or see a funny photo and it does put a smile on your face learn to keep that smile going longer and feel how good you feel when you keep your head up and a smile on your face.

Life will always be full of challenges but we should always be driven to seek those thing that give us Joy and Piece, so if a joke can give you 30 seconds of joy, read a joke and keep smiling.

6 Gallstone Remedies Your Doctor Don't Want You To Know

Gallstones form when liquid stored in the gallbladder hardens into pieces of stone-like material. The liquid, called bile, is used to help the body digest fats. Bile is made in the liver, then stored in the gallbladder until the body needs to digest fat. At that time, the gallbladder contracts and pushes the bile into a tube called the common bile duct that carries it to the small intestine, where it helps with digestion.

Bile contains water, cholesterol, fats, bile salts, proteins, and bilirubin. Bile salts break up fat, and bilirubin gives bile and stool a yellowish color. If the liquid bile contains too much cholesterol, bile salts, or bilirubin, under certain conditions it can harden into stones. Gallstones during its initial development show no signs or symptoms. In the initial stage, gallstones are not calcified. They are also of negligible size. Therefore they are rarely detected through x-rays. However, sometimes, in its early stage, the presence of gallstones can result in allergic symptoms in some people. When the gallbladder of these people are x-rayed or scanned, the gallstones may not show up. You may then think that you have no problems as there are signs of gallstones. However, gallstones may actually be lodged in the tubes in the liver.

There are two types of gallstones, cholesterol stones and pigment stones. Cholesterol stones are usually yellow-green and are made primarily of hardened cholesterol. They account for about 80 percent of gallstones. Pigment stones are small, dark stones made of bilirubin. Gallstones can be as small as a grain of sand or as large as a golf ball. The gallbladder may develop just one large stone,or hundreds of tiny stones, or any combination of large and small stones.

Now that you know what gallstones are, how can you naturally prevent gallstones? Here are six natural suggestions:

1. Eat Food Rich In Magnesium- A diet rich in magnesium appears to reduce the risk of developing painful gallstones, according to the experts. You should take 400 mg of this marvelous mineral daily. Raw cacao contains one of the highest sources of magnesium in any food. Magnesium acts as the relaxing counterpart to calcium and it also helps to balance brain chemistry.

2. Increase serving of Fruits and Vegetables- By increasing your consumption of water-soluble fiber, you can naturally flush your body with fiber. This is a good way to flush cholesterol which could cause gallstones.

3. Drink Coffee- Recent research indicates that coffee increases the flow of bile and may help to decrease the risk of gallstones. Be sure to only buy regular coffee (not de-caf) and possibly organic coffee. For those who know they need to kick the coffee habit, Yerba Mate offers a good substitute. A highly mineralized South American food, Yerba Mate tastes somewhat similar to coffee, but instead of depleting the adrenal glands, it nourishes them with B-vitamins, 15 amino acids, 11 polyphenols, and provides more magnesium and chlorophyll. Whereas coffee provides a caffeine jolt, mate's energy comes from the B-vitamins, blood purifying properties and a component called mateine.

4. Reduce Intake of Saturated Fats- You should decrease the amount of saturated fats you consume (namely red meats and pork). This will greatly decrease the chance of developing cholesterol-based gallstones (almost all gallstones are composed of cholesterol).

5. Take Vitamin C- Vitamin C is needed by the body to convert cholesterol to bile acids in the body. When you take moderate amounts of vitamin C, between 500 and 1500 mg a day, vitamin C works to build the immune system and also greatly reduce the risk of having gallstones.

6. Start Exercising- Exercising will naturally help you to stay healthy. By having a regular exercise schedule you can actually prevent future gallstones from forming.

Allergies Type 2

Allergies Type 2 is also called antibody-dependent allergy. It is when antibodies combine with healthy cells in the your body and then your immune system attacks the health cells. Type 2 usually start in early childhood and are caused by repeated exposure to high concentration of pollen, dust or mold in the environment. Hyperactive children are at risk of developing this disease.

Food and environmental pollutions are the most common cause of allergies type 2. Symptoms include mental confusion, depression, memory loss, personality changes, anxiety, migraine headaches and hyperactivity.

A 23 year ongoing study has noted that 95% of the American population has a type 2 allergic reaction to as least one type of food. Symptoms are usually mild and are difficult to associate with the allergies type 2 diseases. Since different foods break down at different rates it is very difficult to associate specific foods to reactive symptoms unless you are hypersensitivity.

Arthur Coca is a well-known immunologist that has developed the Coca Pulse Test that you can use at home to determine if you have food allergies. If your pulse rate increases for than 20 beats per minute after eating they you may be suffering from an allergic reaction to some type of food.

Simply removing the cause of the allergies type 2 will result in a dramatic improvement of all symptoms. The most common allergenic foods are dairy, soy, citrus, peanuts, wheat, fish, eggs, corn, chocolate, and tomatoes.

Common Vitamins and over the counter products can help with Allergies Type 2 such as Vitamin A, Vitamin B, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Pantothenic Acid, Glucosamine, Antioxidants, Allergy Aid, and Quercitin.

Vitamin A is a known antioxidant and can assist the human body in the healing process. Vitamin A is stored in the liver and fat cells of the human body and can reach toxic levels. DO NOT take more than the recommended dosage of Vitamin A.

Up to one-third of older people can no longer absorb Vitamin B from their food. Vitamin B is needed to form red blood cells and keep nerves healthy.

Vitamin C is nature's protective nutrient, essential for defending the body against pollution and infection and enhances the bodies immune system.

Beta Carotene protects the mucus membranes of the mouth, nose, throat and lungs. It also helps protect Vitamin C from oxidation, which enables it to perform at optimum efficiency.

Vitamin E protects the lung tissue from inhaled pollutants and aids in the functioning of the immune system.

Many find Pantothenic Acid to be very helpful against allergy symptoms. It is another form of nontoxic B vitamins. Pantothenic Acid is critical in the metabolism and synthesis of carbohydrates, proteins and fats.

Glucosamine is an anti-inflammatory and may give some relief from allergy symptoms.

Substances called antioxidants can neutralize free radical by pairing up or binding with the free radical elections thus inhibiting them from damaging cells in the human body.

Allergy Aid supplies 9 beneficial Herb's to help provide temporary relief of respiratory allergies. The natural action of these specific Herb's help to open bronchial tubes and ease breathing.

Quercitin is a well known flavonoid. Flavonoids are powerful antioxidants and can reduce inflammation boost the immune system and strengthen blood vessels and improve circulation. Quercitin is also known for its ability to block the release of histamines, thus reducing or preventing allergy symptoms.

Always consult your doctor before using this information.

This Article is nutritional in nature and is not to be construed as medical advice.

Penicillin Allergy

If you have a Penicillin Allergy then you suffer from allergies Type 1 what is also called Contact Allergies. The immune system overreacts to the beta-lactam molecule found in penicillin. Why the immune system thinks this molecule is harmful to the body is not very well understood and more testing is needed.

The overuse of the penicillin 40 years ago for bacterial infections resulted in an increased frequency of allergic reactions to the drug and also created what is known as antibiotic resistance bacterium. Penicillin and Amoxicillin were routinely given for bacterial infections such as ear infections, sinus and upper respiratory infections. Different types of penicillin such as Amoxicillin, Ampicillin, Dicloxacillin, Nafcillin, Penicillin V, and Penicillin G were given to target different infections.

Since then many new drugs have been developed to treat bacterial infections and a true allergy to penicillin should not be a problem when treating for infections. Penicillin is a beta-lactam antibiotic while Amoxicillin is an amino antibiotic. Children may be allergic to Penicillin but may not be allergic to Amoxicillin or visa versa, however care must be taken when using a related type of penicillin for anyone who has reported a history of allergic reaction to penicillin. It is recommended that an alternative class of antibiotic be prescribed.

Some types of penicillin will cause reactions that are not normally associated with allergies to penicillin. They include dark or amber colored urine, yellow eyes or skin, and pale stools. If you notice any of these symptoms after taking any antibiotic you should notify you doctor immediately. If you are allergic to penicillin, reactions on rare occasions may cause severe stomach cramps, bloating, vomiting, seizures, pain, unusually bleeding or bruising, or bloody diarrhea and should be treated as quickly as possible.

Testing for allergies to penicillin are usually performed with a skin test. The skin is scratched or injected with a small amount of penicillin usually on the forearm or back. If you are allergic to penicillin you will develop a red, raised bump and possibility hives. Only specialized allergy centers are able to perform skin test.

Treatments for allergic reactions include antihistamines such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl) to relieve the itching and rash. More severe reactions will require treatment with an oral or injected corticosteroid. For life a threatening emergencies then injection of epinephrine administrated at a hospital.

If you are allergic to penicillin then it is best to avoid penicillin and similar antibiotics. Tell you doctor about you allergy and he will give you antibodies that are completely unrelated to penicillin.

If you have any type of allergy then you should wear a medical alert bracelet that describes your allergy. These items are available over the counter at most drugstores.

Mild cases of Allergies Type 1 can be treated with common products such as Vitamin A, Vitamin B, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Pantothenic Acid, Glucosamine, Antioxidants, Allergy Aid, and Quercitin.

Vitamin A is a known antioxidant and can assist the human body in the healing process. Vitamin A is stored in the liver and fat cells of the human body and can reach toxic levels. DO NOT take more than the recommended dosage of Vitamin A.

Up to one-third of older people can no longer absorb Vitamin B from their food. Vitamin B is needed to form red blood cells and keep nerves healthy.

Vitamin C is nature's protective nutrient, essential for defending the body against pollution and infection and enhances the bodies immune system.

Beta Carotene protects the mucus membranes of the mouth, nose, throat and lungs. It also helps protect Vitamin C from oxidation, which enables it to perform at optimum efficiency.

Vitamin E protects the lung tissue from inhaled pollutants and aids in the functioning of the immune system.

Many find Pantothenic Acid to be very helpful against allergy symptoms. It is another form of nontoxic B vitamins. Pantothenic Acid is critical in the metabolism and synthesis of carbohydrates, proteins and fats.

Glucosamine is an anti-inflammatory and may give some relief from allergy symptoms.

Substances called antioxidants can neutralize free radical by pairing up or binding with the free radical elections thus inhibiting them from damaging cells in the human body.

Allergy Aid supplies 9 beneficial Herb's to help provide temporary relief of respiratory allergies. The natural action of these specific Herb's help to open bronchial tubes and ease breathing.

Quercitin is a well known flavonoid. Flavonoids are powerful antioxidants and can reduce inflammation boost the immune system and strengthen blood vessels and improve circulation. Quercitin is also known for its ability to block the release of histamines, thus reducing or preventing Penicillin Allergy symptoms.

Always consult your doctor before using this information.

This Article is nutritional in nature and is not to be construed as medical advice.

Allergies Type 3

Allergies Type 3 is also called immune complex allergy. It is when allergens invade the immune system and can cause injury to cells throughout the body. Antibodies form in the blood and are typically deposited in the tissues of the skin, kidney and joints.

Rheumatoid arthritis is considered an allergies type 3 disease. The immune system attacks the joints causing a disabling and painful inflammation of the joints. It can lead to loss of mobility and pain because of the destruction of the joints. Within 10 years of diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis 60 percent of patients were unable to work.

Serum sickness develops as a result of exposure to antibodies from animals. Lab animals are given a disease, and when the concentration of antibodies in the blood of the lab animal reaches the desired level the animal is bled. The blood is allowed to clot, then the serum is remove and refined into an Antiserum. Antiserum is used to vaccinate humans for many diseases and prevent infections. If the immune system mistakes the proteins in the antiserum for something harmful then the human body produces antibodies, which attacks the proteins.

Symptoms can take up to two weeks to appear and may include a rash, joint pain, fever, swelling of the lymph nodes, and a decrease in blood pressure.

Allergies Type 3 is also caused by foods. Antibodies bind directly to the food as it enters the bloodstream. Delayed reactions to the food may occur anywhere from two hours to up to 48 hours before symptoms appear. Delayed-onset food allergies are rarely self-diagnosed. To detect the allergic foods a health professional who is smart about food allergies and a good laboratory is needed. Over 100 allergic symptoms and well over 150 different diseases are associated with delayed food reaction allergies.

Mild cases of Allergies Type 3 can be treated with common products such as Vitamin A, Vitamin B, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Pantothenic Acid, Glucosamine, Antioxidants, Allergy Aid, and Quercitin.

Vitamin A is a known antioxidant and can assist the human body in the healing process. Vitamin A is stored in the liver and fat cells of the human body and can reach toxic levels. DO NOT take more than the recommended dosage of Vitamin A.

Up to one-third of older people can no longer absorb Vitamin B from their food. Vitamin B is needed to form red blood cells and keep nerves healthy.

Vitamin C is nature's protective nutrient, essential for defending the body against pollution and infection and enhances the bodies immune system.

Beta Carotene protects the mucus membranes of the mouth, nose, throat and lungs. It also helps protect Vitamin C from oxidation, which enables it to perform at optimum efficiency.

Vitamin E protects the lung tissue from inhaled pollutants and aids in the functioning of the immune system.

Many find Pantothenic Acid to be very helpful against allergy symptoms. It is another form of nontoxic B vitamins. Pantothenic Acid is critical in the metabolism and synthesis of carbohydrates, proteins and fats.

Glucosamine is an anti-inflammatory and may give some relief from allergy symptoms.

Substances called antioxidants can neutralize free radical by pairing up or binding with the free radical elections thus inhibiting them from damaging cells in the human body.

Allergy Aid supplies 9 beneficial Herb's to help provide temporary relief of respiratory allergies. The natural action of these specific Herb's help to open bronchial tubes and ease breathing.

Quercitin is a well known flavonoid. Flavonoids are powerful antioxidants and can reduce inflammation boost the immune system and strengthen blood vessels and improve circulation. Quercitin is also known for its ability to block the release of histamines, thus reducing or preventing allergy symptoms.

Always consult your doctor before using this information.

This Article is nutritional in nature and is not to be construed as medical advice.

Dust Bunnies Allergy

If you are allergic to dust then you suffer from Allergies Type 1, also called Contact Allergies. Dust come into contact with your lungs and your hypersensitive immune system kicks in causing your life to become a nightmare. You can develop hives, shortness of breath, bronchial spasms and other symptoms.

Having a Dust Bunnies Allergy is very hard to live with in today's environment. Every one of those vile and evil creatures must be hunted down and destroyed. They live under furniture, behind doors, in the corners of rooms, on ceiling fans, on curtains, on window screens, and along the baseboards of every room. They are sneaky little buggers and they multiply like - well like rabbits.

You need not have what you would consider a dirty house to suffer from dust allergies. Some of the more common overlooked ideas for dust management are as follows.

1. Carpets.

After you have vacuumed your carpets get down on your hands and knees, in a well lit room and slap the carpet with your hand. If you see dust rising into the air then you need a better vacuum cleaner. Most vacuums will blow the smaller particles of dust back into the air through the exhaust. You will need to get a vacuum that has some type of HEPA filter that traps microscopic particles of dust from being blown back into the air.

2. Ceiling Fans.

Ceiling fans not only trap dust on top of the fan blades but will also stirs up any dust in the area when turned on. Clean them weekly and if you must use them be sure to have a good HEPA type of Air Purifier in the area.

3. Curtains.

Run the vacuum over all curtains every week and wash them in the washing machine ever couple of months. If you have curtains that require dry cleaning, replace them because the chemicals used during the cleaning process can lead to problems with someone who has allergies or asthma.

4. Dusting.

Do all you dusting with a damp cloth. Using a dry cloth will only stir up the dust into the air.

5. Window Screens.

Take the window screens down and give the a good hosing four time a year.

6. Aerosol Cleaners.

Why put more pollutants into the air by using Aerosol Cleaners or deodorizers.

7. Kitchen Cabinets.

Most of us believe that are kitchen is the cleanest room in the house. When was the last time you cleaned on top of the kitchen cabinets? If you haven't cleaned up there in a while it will not be a pretty site.

As a last resort you could go to the World Center for Disease Control and see if you could stay in one of their Bio-hazard rooms.

Common Vitamins and over the counter products can help with Allergies such as Vitamin A, Vitamin B, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Pantothenic Acid, Glucosamine, Antioxidants, Allergy Aid, and Quercitin.

Vitamin A is a known antioxidant and can assist the human body in the healing process. Vitamin A is stored in the liver and fat cells of the human body and can reach toxic levels. DO NOT take more than the recommended dosage of Vitamin A.

Up to one-third of older people can no longer absorb Vitamin B from their food. Vitamin B is needed to form red blood cells and keep nerves healthy.

Vitamin C is nature's protective nutrient, essential for defending the body against pollution and infection and enhances the bodies immune system.

Beta Carotene protects the mucus membranes of the mouth, nose, throat and lungs. It also helps protect Vitamin C from oxidation, which enables it to perform at optimum efficiency.

Vitamin E protects the lung tissue from inhaled pollutants and aids in the functioning of the immune system.

Many find Pantothenic Acid to be very helpful against allergy symptoms. It is another form of nontoxic B vitamins. Pantothenic Acid is critical in the metabolism and synthesis of carbohydrates, proteins and fats.

Glucosamine is an anti-inflammatory and may give some relief from allergy symptoms.

Substances called antioxidants can neutralize free radical by pairing up or binding with the free radical elections thus inhibiting them from damaging cells in the human body.

Allergy Aid supplies 9 beneficial Herb's to help provide temporary relief of respiratory allergies. The natural action of these specific Herb's help to open bronchial tubes and ease breathing.

Quercitin is a well known flavonoid. Flavonoids are powerful antioxidants and can reduce inflammation boost the immune system and strengthen blood vessels and improve circulation. Quercitin is also known for its ability to block the release of histamines, thus reducing or preventing Dust Bunnies Allergy symptoms.

Always consult your doctor before using this information.

This Article is nutritional in nature and is not to be construed as medical advice.

5 Anti-aging Tips Every Women Must Know.

1. Relax
Think you are stressed out? Your body would react negatively to the stress and the end result of chronic stress is premature aging. Your DNA is affected over time. The part of the DNA associated with aging, the telomere, protects the DNA from damage. Well your telomeres fray away with aging and with the protection gone, the cell dies. Stressed out individuals display more badly damaged telomeres as compared to their peers who are better able to cope with stress.
If your work is too stressful, maybe a less stressful job might be in order. If you are overwhelmed at home, consider getting help from friends or relatives, or hiring help.
Find ways to cope with stress. Release tension with a run or a swim or go out for a walk to get away from it all, temporarily.

2. Quit smoking

Cigarette smoke ages your body prematurely in too many ways to list in this one article. If you smoke, quit. If you don't smoke, don't start. Stay away from smoking areas and keep away from smokers when they puff their cigarettes as second hand smoke is just as damaging.

3. Use Sunscreen at all times
Go for an SPF15 for full protection. The sun's UV rays damage your skin at cellular level. Though your body rapidly repairs the damage, if the damage is too much, your skin gets red and blisters form as you develop a sunburn. Even a tan is a sign of skin damage as the darkening of the skin wit melanin is a defense mechanism against sun damage. UV rays damage the skin's collagen

Sunblocks have chemical or physical sunscreens to block off the UV rays. SPF or Sun Protection Factor tells you how much longer you can stay in the sun before you burn. For example, an SPF 4 sunscreen allows you to stay in the sun 4 times longer than if you had gone without any protection.

For optimal protection, go for at least SPF15, and reapply frequently if you sweat a lot or get into the water.

4. Eat your fruit, veggies and nuts.

These are rich in antioxidants. To cut the long story short, we are constantly bombarded by free radicals. These could be the by product of oxidation within the body, through the body's natural processes, or could be due to environmental factors.

Either way, free radicals wreak havoc on out bodies. Free radicals are unstable and steal electrons from their neighbors, rendering them unstable too, leading to a chain reaction. In this way, cell membranes and even the DNA of cells get damaged which in turn, speeds up the aging process.

Antioxidants neutralize free radicals by donating electrons to them and stabilizing them, even while they stay stable themselves. In this way, antioxidants eliminate the threat.

By eating your fruit and veggies and some nuts, you get the antioxidants your body needs to beat those free radicals.

5. Sleep at least 8 hours every night.

When you sleep, your body repairs itself most effectively, producing new cells to replace the old, worn out cells. By depriving yourself of sufficient sleep, you do not allow your body to regenerate itself properly and end up aging more quickly than you should. No doubt, this regeneration of cells is ongoing even when you are awake, but when you sleep, the natural renewal process is at its peak. When you don't get enough sleep, your body produces more stress hormones that interfere with your skin's collagen production. Collagen is what supports your skin and as collagen levels decrease your skin begins to sag and wrinkles form. Look at yourself after a sleepness night. Lack of sleep gives you puffy eyes and dark rings which makes you look much older.

So grandma was right after all. Eat your veggies, stay out of the sun and sleep early every night to preserve your youth.

Herbal Remedy To Ease Nicotine Withdrawl

If you're a chronic smoker who's tried to quit smoking, learn which herbs can help you reduce the number of cigarettes smoked, even after treatment is stopped. Learn how the brain is affected by nicotine, how it hard-wires you to addiction. One herbal remedy can be taken whenever you crave a cigarette. And another is for use in conjunction with an acupuncturist.


One of the difficulties in trying to quit smoking is that smokers become physically dependant on nicotine. Smoking affects the parts of the brain that relate to reward and pleasure. It increases the amount of the neurotransmitter, dopamine, and the nature of nicotine is that it creates a cycle of positive reinforcement within your brain that makes you want more.

Scientists have found that when you withdraw from chronic nicotine use, it results in changes in these neural pleasure pathways. And the effect on the brain is similar to what someone addicted to cocaine, opiates and other drugs experiences. Hence, depression and anxiety are common.

Fortunately, some resourceful modern herbalists began applying traditional knowledge to a modern problem. In Ayurvedic medicine, common garden variety oats (but not oat straw), is used to treat opium withdrawal. The herbalist Anand, using a tincture (an alcoholic extract of the herb), applied this same reasoning to nicotine withdrawal, with significant results.

In a group of 26 heavy smokers, he gave an oat tincture, and in another group of 26, he gave a placebo. The group who took the oat tincture smoked less cigarettes, and this effect remained for two months after they stopped treatment. The herbalist Weiss theorizes that it is the sedative effect of oats. Oats contain as active constituents the indole alkaloid, gramine, and the alkaloids avenine and trigonelline. Oats are described in herbal medicine texts as helping create a feeling of well-being whilst simultaneously acting as a tonic to the nervous system. But unlike narcotics, these are mild, non-habit forming effects.

My herbal teacher, Ses Salmond, suggested the following formula for those trying to stop smoking. In a 50ml bottle, mix the following herbal tinctures:

• 15ml green oats
  
• 10ml white horehound
  
• 10ml mullein
  
• 5ml golden seal
  
• 10ml peppermint

Take 6 drops on the tongue whenever the craving to have a cigarette is felt.

Acupuncture is also an excellent support option. HerbMed offers the following herbal option, to be used on appropriate acupuncture points. Mix oil of cloves, oil of wintergreen, an extract of evodia fruit, an extract of sichuan lovage rhizome, and msg, and apply to specific acupuncture points. Unfortunately, they don't say which acupuncture points, but this may be determined by what each person presents with.

Resources: 1. www.herbmed.org/herbs/herb36.htm#Category24Herb36
2. Class notes by Ses Salmond
3. C Fisher & G Painter, Materia Medica Of Western Herbs For The Southern Hemisphere
4. R Weiss, Herbal Medicine (Beaconsfield Arcanum, 1988)
5. drugabuse.gov/Infofacts/Tobacco.html

Herbal Remedy To Ease Nicotine Withdrawl

If you're a chronic smoker who's tried to quit smoking, learn which herbs can help you reduce the number of cigarettes smoked, even after treatment is stopped. Learn how the brain is affected by nicotine, how it hard-wires you to addiction. One herbal remedy can be taken whenever you crave a cigarette. And another is for use in conjunction with an acupuncturist.


One of the difficulties in trying to quit smoking is that smokers become physically dependant on nicotine. Smoking affects the parts of the brain that relate to reward and pleasure. It increases the amount of the neurotransmitter, dopamine, and the nature of nicotine is that it creates a cycle of positive reinforcement within your brain that makes you want more.

Scientists have found that when you withdraw from chronic nicotine use, it results in changes in these neural pleasure pathways. And the effect on the brain is similar to what someone addicted to cocaine, opiates and other drugs experiences. Hence, depression and anxiety are common.

Fortunately, some resourceful modern herbalists began applying traditional knowledge to a modern problem. In Ayurvedic medicine, common garden variety oats (but not oat straw), is used to treat opium withdrawal. The herbalist Anand, using a tincture (an alcoholic extract of the herb), applied this same reasoning to nicotine withdrawal, with significant results.

In a group of 26 heavy smokers, he gave an oat tincture, and in another group of 26, he gave a placebo. The group who took the oat tincture smoked less cigarettes, and this effect remained for two months after they stopped treatment. The herbalist Weiss theorizes that it is the sedative effect of oats. Oats contain as active constituents the indole alkaloid, gramine, and the alkaloids avenine and trigonelline. Oats are described in herbal medicine texts as helping create a feeling of well-being whilst simultaneously acting as a tonic to the nervous system. But unlike narcotics, these are mild, non-habit forming effects.

My herbal teacher, Ses Salmond, suggested the following formula for those trying to stop smoking. In a 50ml bottle, mix the following herbal tinctures:

• 15ml green oats
  
• 10ml white horehound
  
• 10ml mullein
  
• 5ml golden seal
  
• 10ml peppermint

Take 6 drops on the tongue whenever the craving to have a cigarette is felt.

Acupuncture is also an excellent support option. HerbMed offers the following herbal option, to be used on appropriate acupuncture points. Mix oil of cloves, oil of wintergreen, an extract of evodia fruit, an extract of sichuan lovage rhizome, and msg, and apply to specific acupuncture points. Unfortunately, they don't say which acupuncture points, but this may be determined by what each person presents with.

Resources: 1. www.herbmed.org/herbs/herb36.htm#Category24Herb36
2. Class notes by Ses Salmond
3. C Fisher & G Painter, Materia Medica Of Western Herbs For The Southern Hemisphere
4. R Weiss, Herbal Medicine (Beaconsfield Arcanum, 1988)
5. drugabuse.gov/Infofacts/Tobacco.html

Easy Tips For Teenage Acne Treatment

Acne is a part and parcel of growing up. Ninety per cent of teenagers develop acne. The fortunate ones only get a few isolated outbreaks and then grow out of it. For some unfortunate souls, there are serious outbreaks of acne that do not cease even well past puberty. Acne occurs as a result of all the chemical and physical changes that the body undergoes during puberty, but it does not have to be something that you have to live with on a daily basis. These easy tips for teenage acne treatment will ensure that you spend the most interesting times of your life with beautiful, smooth skin.

Cleanliness. Cleanliness is the single most important defense in your fight against acne. Dirt clogs the pores of the skin and leads to acne and blackheads. It takes only a minute to wash your face with soap and water. We know that you have a busy schedule but this little precaution will really serve you in good stead in the fight against acne. Another little point, pick a good, neutral, face soap that is not harsh on your skin. Look for the word 'non-comedogenic' on the label.

Water. One of the best cures for acne is plenty of water. Water keeps the skin hydrated yet oil free and helps to flush out toxins from your body. Drink at least eight to twelve glasses of water a day. Next time you feel like reaching for a tall glass of soda, substitute it with water instead. It is healthier, sugar free, and good for acne.

Hands off. Picking at pimples and pustules is not only a disgusting habit, but also results in the formation of scar tissue and increases the incidence of acne. So keep your hands off any pimples that do develop. Do not pick or pop zits. I know it takes some effort but leave them alone and they will dry and fade away naturally. Fingering them will only aggravate the problem.

Exercise. Exercise also plays an important role in the fight against acne. Proper exercise not only helps to control the effects of the raging hormones that are released during puberty, but also makes the body expel toxins in the form of sweat. One of the best forms of exercise for acne treatment is Yoga. Yoga involves a lot of inverted postures that help blood rush to the face. This helps to nourish skin and stimulates removal of toxins.