Licorice was one of the first foods studied by the US National Cancer Institute”s experimental food programme.

Licorice is cultivated in Greece and Turkey and is a member of the pea family. The medicinal properties are in the roots which contain glycyrrhizin.

This herbal medicine is also used as a curing and flavouring agent in the tobacco industry.

The medicinal component of Licorice, glycyrrhizin, has been shown in several studies to have antiviral activity against the human immunodeficiency virus. (HIV)

Licorice is also beneficial for people suffering from respiratory problems because it fights the viruses that attack the respiratory tract. This herbal medicine relieves symptoms such as coughing, a sore throat and it also helps to thin mucus.

Licorice is often used by dieticians to treat fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome and other disorders affected by the body’s levels of cortisol, an adrenal hormone.

Studies have shown that Licorice is beneficial for hepatitis, combating liver infection and fighting the virus that triggers the disease.

Another form of Licorice, DGL (deglycyrrhizinated licorice) is helpful in cases of heartburn, stomach ulcers and inflammatory bowel disease.

Please consult your medical practitioner prior to using any herbal medications should you be under their care.

People who suffer from high blood pressure should not take Licorice as this herbal medicine acts on the adrenal glands, increasing blood pressure.

Individuals consuming large amounts of Licorice can suffer from sodium and water retention.

A dose of 200mg Licorice three times a day is recommended for most disorders, but for digestive complaints, 380mg of DGL three times a day is recommended.

Tags: Alternative medicine, Medicinal plants, stomach ulcers, herbal medications, medicine acts

Pau d’arco is obtained from the bark of the Tabebuia impetigonosa tree indigenous to South America.  Other names for pau d’arco are lapacho, taheebo or ipe roxo.  This herbal medicine was well loved amongst the Incas, Aztecs and native tribes of the South American rain forests to promote general health and well-being.  It was also used to cure diseases and as a pain killer for toothaches and headaches.

The beneficial ingredients in pau d’arco include potent plant chemicals called naphthoquinones.  Of these chemicals, lapachol has been studied the most and even has several patents associated with it. In the 1960′s, pau d’arco became well loved and many books and articles were written on its ability to fight disease and relieve pain.  By the 1980′s this herbal medicine was readily available in health stores and pharmacies.

Lapachol and other compounds contained in pau d’arco combat bacteria, viruses and fungi.  It has also shown to be an immune-enhancing herb and can also reduce inflammation.  Herbalists often recommend this herbal medicine as a tea douche to help restore the balance in the vagina, thereby fighting vaginal yeast infections.

A tincture of pau d’arco applied directly to warts will help to eradicate them.  People suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome, HIV or AIDS and acute bronchitis will benefit greatly from taking pau d’arco in either capsule, tablet, tincture or tea form.

The most vital benefit though is the potential cancer-fighting properties of this herbal remedy.  When this herb starting getting a reputation as a cancer fighting medicine, the US National Cancer Institute (NCI) started an investigation and identified lapachol as the main ingredient capable of shrinking tumours.

Due to the high rate of success in animal studies in the 1970′s, the NCI started human trials using high doses of lapachol.  Although there was evidence that pau d’arco ruined cancer cells, participants started having serious side effects such as nausea and vomiting and blood-clotting problems.  This was thought to be because lapachol interferes with the action of vitamin K which is needed for blood to clot properly.  As a result, research was abandoned.

Researchers opposing this study believe that lapachol should not have been used in its pure form, but that therapeutic doses of pau d’arco would be more beneficial and would produce similar benefits without the undesired side effects.  Other studies suggest that taking pau d’arco with vitamin K supplements will make it possible for people to use the pure lapachol to further study its cancer fighting properties, without interfering with blood clotting.

Despite all the controversy surrounding the research of lapachol, herbalists and health practitioners recommend pau d’arco as a complementary herbal medicine to conventional cancer treatments.  Pau d’arco tea has had beneficial effects for cancer victims alleviating the symptoms of chemotherapy.

Please consult your medical practitioner prior to using any herbal medications should you be under their care.

Using whole-bark products are generally safe and do not produce any of the side effects associated with high doses of pure lapachol.  Should you experience any stomach upsets or nausea when using pau d’arco herbal supplements, take it with food.

People using blood-thinning medication such as Warfarin should take care when using pau d’arco supplements.

Pregnant women should not use pau d’arco.

If you are using pau d’arco tablets or capsules, the daily recommended dosage is 250 mg twice a day.  This dose is suggested for people suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome or HIV and AIDS.  Use pau d’arco herbal supplements in conjunction with other immune-enhancing herbs such as echinacea or goldenseal.

To make pau d’arco tea, steep two or three teaspoons dried herb in two cups of boiled water and drink over the course of a day.

To treat vaginal yeast infections, let pau d’arco tea cool down to lukewarm before using it as a douche.  Repeat the treatment twice a day for a period of 5 days or until the symptoms are gone.

To treat warts, apply a compress soaked with pau d’arco tinture to the affected areas before bedtime and leave it on all night.  Repeat the treatment until the warts disappear.

Herbalists recommend purchasing whole-bark products because they believe that the benefits of pau d’arco come from the entire range of chemical compounds found in the bark.

To be truly effective, pau d’arco herbal supplements must contain lapachol which is found only in the bark of the Tabebuia impetigonosa tree and not the other Tabebuia species. The most effective pau d’arco products are the ones that contain 2 to 7 percent standardized extract of lapachol.

Be sure to consult an herbalist or a reputable health store when buying pau d’arco supplements to ensure that you are getting excellent value.

Tags: US National Cancer Institute, chronic fatigue syndrome, beneficial ingredients, american rain forests, bacteria viruses

Studies have also indicated that Lysine could suppress genital herpes.

Use of Lysine as an alternative treatment to cold sores reduces the frequency of outbreaks and lesions heal quicker.

Please consult your medical practitioner prior to using any herbal medications should you be under their care.

Lysine has small known side-effects as it is an amino acid that the human body needs.

Lysine should not be taken with milk or any foods that contain milk as it neutralizes the effects of Lysine.

Do not take Lysine if you are using any of the following anti-biotics: Gentamicin, Tobramycin, Amikacin, Kanamycin or Netilmicin.

Lysine is available in pill form and cream form. At the onset of an outbreak of cold sores, start with a dosage of 1000mg Lysine daily and as the condition improves, take a therapeutic dosage of 500mg daily.

Lysine cream can be applied topically to the affected areas to reduce the symptoms of painful outbreaks.

Tags: Herpes simplex, Aminoglycoside antibiotics, Herpes labialis, herbal medications, Cold sores

Fever blisters or cold sores are caused by the Herpes simplex virus (HSV-1).  Cold sores are just another name for fever blisters and this name originated because often fever blisters appear during the same time that a patient is suffering from a cold or flu.

Fever blisters first appear three to ten days after exposure to the virus and an outbreak of fever blisters can last up to three weeks. 

Unfortunately, this virus remains in the body and moves into the nervous system.  Outbreaks can be triggered by stress, emotional trauma, a cold or a viral infection, exposure to sun and wind or a weakened immune system.

Fever blisters are highly contagious and studies have shown that children as young as ten carry the virus.

There are several warning signs that a fever blister is about to make its appearance, the most common being the tingling, itching feeling on the lips or around the lips.  As an outbreak of fever blisters usually go hand-in-hand with a weakened immune system, you might find that a day or two before your cold or flu starts, you will have an outbreak of fever blisters.

Having a fever and fatigue are also common symptoms of a fever blister outbreak.  Often the patient will complain of a sore throat and difficulty eating as well.  Fever blisters are simple to identify:  a group of blisters on a painful base that is often hot to the touch and very painful.  The blisters that form will dry up rapidly and leave scabs.  Depending on the severity of the infection, these scabs may last for a few days up to a few weeks.

Fever blister sores are not limited to the lips, it can sometimes be inside the mouth, on the face, and even inside or on the nose.    There are several stages of the development of a fever blister:

     Stage 1:  no sores are visible yet, but there is a tingling, prickling feeling around the affected area.     Stage 2:  swelling starts and the affected area is red and often hot to the touch.     Stage 3:  the first signs of tiny blisters appear and itching and pain increases.     Stage 4:  a soft, very painful ulcer forms. Fever blisters or cold sores are caused by the Herpes simplex virus (HSV-1).

Herpes is a group of viruses that cause painful blisters and sores and the Herpes simplex virus can cause both cold sores around the mouth and genital area.  HSV-1 (herpes simplex virus 1) is responsible for fever blisters and HSV-2 (herpes simplex virus 2) is responsible for sores around the genital area.

HSV-1 is considered to be the most common herpes simplex virus and most people develop it in early childhood.

The Herpes viruses are known as neuroinvasive viruses which mean that they enter and hide in your body”s nervous system.  This unfortunately means that once you have contracted the Herpes simplex virus, you will be prone to outbreaks for the rest of your life.

Once you have contracted the Herpes simplex virus 1, a recurrence can be triggered by stress, fatigue, colds and flu, over-exposure to the sun and wind, a weakened immune system and even changes in hormones such as menstruation.

Fever blisters are extremely contagious and can spread easily to other areas on the face. The HSV-1 virus spreads through direct contact, either skin contact or through contact with the oral secretions from fever blisters.  You can still pass on the virus even when fever blisters are not present.  You can transmit the virus by sharing eating utensils and glasses or cups.

If a person has fever blisters on the mouth, the Herpes simplex virus-1 can be transmitted during oral sex and cause herpes in the genital area.

Touching the fever blister and then touching a mucous membrane will also cause the virus to spread. Mucous membranes are the moist, protective linings found in areas of your body like the nose, eyes, and the inside of the mouth.

Wash your hands regularly to prevent the spread of the virus.

Do not share face towels and face cloths and discard your toothbrush after an outbreak of fever blisters as you might cause re-infection.
The list of herbal supplements and herbal remedies listed here can all help to minimize future outbreaks and speed up the healing process.

The herbal supplements must all be used in combination and often results are seen within a few days.

The most useful and powerful of the herbal remedies recommended for fever blisters is the amino acid lysine.   Lysine is an essential amino acid that the human body cannot synthesize on its own, therefore it needs to be obtained from your diet or from an herbal supplement.  Using a lysine supplement long-term can help to prevent fever blister outbreaks.  Increasing the availability of Lysine in the human body slows the virus replication and inhibits the use of Arginine, which is an amino acid that the Herpes simplex virus 1 utilizes.

Lysine is available in pill form and cream form.  At the onset of an outbreak of fever blisters, start with a dosage of 1000 mg Lysine daily and as the condition improves, take a therapeutic dosage of 500 mg daily.  Lysine cream can be applied topically to the affected areas to reduce the symptoms of painful outbreaks.

1000 mg 3 times a day for flare-ups, then 500 mg a day as a therapeutic doseApply cream to the affected area 2-4 times a day1000 mg vitamin C and 500 mg flavonoids 3 times a day10 000 IU twice a day for 5 days200 mg echinacea and 125 mg goldenseal 4 times a day100-150 mg of each B-vitamin dailyTaking a Flaxseed oil supplement can help in speeding up the healing process by promoting cell renewal.  Recent studies have shown that Vitamin C may be effective in treating fever blisters when applied topically.

Patients with recurring fever blister outbreaks can apply melissa cream regularly to prevent outbreaks.

The herbal supplement and herbal remedies listed here can all be used safely with prescription antiviral creams such as acyclovir, which also promotes the healing of fever blisters.

Using a protective lip balm with an SPF of 15 or higher can prevent fever blister outbreaks.

As mentioned before, do not touch the blisters as you will spread the infection.

Holding an ice cube on the affected areas can help to reduce the pain and swelling associated with fever blisters.

Try to avoid foods that contain the amino acid arginine.  As mentioned, arginine is used by the Herpes simplex virus.  These foods include nuts, chocolate, whole-grain cereals and gelatine.

Please consult your medical practitioner prior to using any herbal medications should you be under their care.  Suggestions offered are not intended to replace appropriate medical investigation and treatment.

Tags: hsv 1, common herpes simplex virus, oil supplement, viral infection, Herpes simplex

The Aztecs and the Maya first used wild yam for its pain relieving properties.  Centuries later, European settlers used wild yam to treat joint pain and muscle cramps.

It is only the roots of this herbal plant that contain any medicinal value and once dried, it is used to make an herbal tea.

The roots of the wild yam contain a substance called diosgenin, a phyto-estrogen, and in the 1950′s scientists learned that this substance can be chemically converted into the hormone progesterone.  The first birth control pills were manufactured in the 1960′s and contained diosgenin.

Most of the claims that wild yam can relieve PMS and menopausal symptoms are yet to be scientifically proven.  Although this herbal medicine contains diosgenin, this substance cannot be converted into progesterone by your body, it can only be done in a laboratory.  Some holistic health care practitioners claim that their patients found relief when using a cream that contain wild yam herbal extracts.  These creams have to be applied to the belly and thighs, but how the cream works, is not clear.

Be very careful when purchasing creams and lotions that claim to contain a natural progesterone such as wild yam.  The molecules and particles in wild yam are too huge to be absorbed through your skin, and as mentioned, your body cannot convert diosgenin into progesterone on its own.

Wild yam does but have other herbal benefits.  In tea, tincture or capsule form, wild yam acts as a muscle relaxant and an anti-inflammatory.  Some health care practitioners prescribe wild yam in capsule form to relieve joint and muscle pain.  If you are looking to use wild yam as an herbal medicine to relieve menstrual cramps, combining it with herbs such as chasteberry is your best option.

Substances called alkaloids are also found in wild yam.  Alkaloids are muscle relaxants that specifically work on the muscles in your abdomen and pelvis.  People who suffer from Crohn’s disease, irritable bowel syndrome and other painful digestive disorders report that they find relief after drinking wild yam herbal tea.

Please consult your medical practitioner prior to using any herbal medications should you be under their care.

Do not exceed the recommended dosage as it can cause diarrhoea and nausea.

Pregnant and lactating women should not use wild yam herbal supplements.

Do not use wild yam if you are on a birth control pill or using hormone replacement therapy, as wild yam can negatively interact with the hormones found in these prescription medicines.

Wild yam herbal medicines are available in capsule, tea or tincture form.  Take half a teaspoon of tincture three times a day, or 500 mg of wild yam in a capsule form.  You can drink a cup of wild yam herbal tea three times a day to relieve cramps and muscle aches.

To make the tea, use a cup of boiling water with two teaspoons of dried wild yam root and let it steep for 10-15 minutes.  Combining wild yam with other herbal teas such as peppermint tea will increase the benefits when using it for digestive disorders.

Wild yam herbal supplements should be taken with food to minimize the risk of nausea and stomach upsets.  

Tags: muscle cramps, Endocrine system, Herbal tea, Hospitality Recreation, muscle aches

Evening Primrose seeds contain gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) which is an essential fatty acid which the human body converts into hormone-like compounds called prostaglandins. Prostaglandins regulate several vital bodily functions.

Evening Primrose oil also contains omega-6 fatty acids, which can help to regulate insulin absorption and can even help to regulate your heartbeat.

The human body does not manufacture fatty acids on its own, therefore taking Evening Primrose oil supplements can improve your general health.

Several studies have shown the benefits of taking Evening Primrose oil supplements to treat atopic dermatitis, or eczema. Eczema occurs when the body is unable to convert fats from food into GLA. Evening Primrose oil supplements alleviate itching and can reduce the need for topical steroid creams and other medications which have undesirable side-effects.

Due to its high GLA content, Evening Primrose oil is very effective to treat a variety of menstrual disorders. Evening Primrose oil blocks the inflammatory prostaglandins that cause menstrual cramps and several women have reported that taking Evening Primrose oil supplements ease the breast tenderness experienced just before their periods.

Menopausal women have also benefited from taking Evening Primrose oil supplements as this herbal remedy assists to alleviate the flushing as well as mood swings experienced by menopausal women.

Symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis improve dramatically when taking Evening Primrose oil supplements. The GLA found in Evening Primrose oil eases the joint pain and swelling.

Evening Primrose oil lessens the inflammation of acne as well as rosacea. The redness and swelling associated with both these conditions are dramatically improved and some studies have shown that with long-term use of Evening Primrose oil supplements, new outbreaks of these skin conditions can be prevented.

People living with diabetes often suffer from a condition called diabetic neuropathy, or nerve hurt, caused by diabetes. The GLA in Evening Primrose oil helps to minimize the symptoms of the nerve hurt and can even help in preventing future nerve hurt.

Evening Primrose oil is recommended to people who suffer from Raynaud disease, which is a disease that causes numbness and tingling in the limbs due to poor blood circulation.

The GLA found in Evening Primrose oil can also help to lower blood pressure, but further studies are needed.

Please consult your medical practitioner prior to using any herbal medications should you be under their care.

Care should be taken by people who are taking medicine to treat mental illness or medicine used to treat epilepsy. These drugs include chlorpromazine, thioridazine and trifluoperazine. People using these drugs have reported an increase in seizures when taking Evening Primrose oil.

If you are having surgery that requires anesthesia, you should stop taking Evening Primrose oil at least two weeks before the surgery to minimize the risk of seizures.

Only about 2% of people using Evening Primrose oil have reported bloating and abdominal upsets. Consuming Evening Primrose oil with food lessens these side-effects.

Evening Primrose oil lowers blood pressure, therefore consult your health care practitioner before taking Evening Primrose oil supplements with your regular blood pressure medication.

Evening Primrose oil should be taken only under your medical practitioners care when you are taking blood-thinning drugs such as Warfarin.

The recommended therapeutic dose of Evening Primrose oil is 1000 mg three times a day. This supplies 240 mg of GLA a day.

When buying Evening Primrose oil supplements, check that the supplement contains a small dose of vitamin E. The fatty acids in Evening Primrose oil break down very quickly, but vitamin E slows this process down.

Evening Primrose oil can be applied topically to ease the symptoms of eczema, acne, rosacea and rheumatoid arthritis.

Taking Evening Primrose oil with meals assists with absorption.

Tags: diabetic neuropathy, Gamma-Linolenic acid, mental illness, Health Medical Pharma, Fatty acids

Fibromyalgia is a rheumatic disorder that is characterized by widespread muscle pain and fatigue that has no physical cause.

People suffering from FMS will wake up feeling tired and lethargic and will experience aching and stabbing muscle pain. These pains often disappear throughout the day.

Symptoms of Fibromyalgia may be constant or can disappear and then recur months later. Females are more susceptible to Fibromyalgia than males and FMS often starts to manifest in early adulthood.

As with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, FMS is very hard to diagnose as blood tests and x-rays show no abnormalities.

The most distinctive feature of Fibromyalgia is the existence of “tender points” that specialists use to diagnose and distinguish Fibromyalgia.

The “tender points” refer to eighteen specific spots where the muscles will be abnormally tender to the touch. These points are clustered around the neck, shoulders, chest, knees, hips and the elbow region and will include the following:

At the insertion of the second ribIn the middle of the knee jointAround the lower vertebra of the neckIn muscles of the neck and upper backIn muscles connected to the base of the skullIn muscles of the mid-backIn the upper and outer muscles of the buttocksOn the side of the elbow

People who suffer from Fibromyalgia also suffer from various sleep disorders, all of which contribute to the extreme fatigue experienced.

Alpha-EEG anomaly – the individual’s deep sleep period is interrupted by bouts of waking-type brain activity, i.e. the person is wide awake for long periods of time and literally cannot shut off their thoughts

Sleep apnea – a condition where the individual will stop breathing for a few seconds and the brain automatically “shocks” the body awake to start breathing

Restless leg syndrome – the individual will complain that as he/she is falling asleep, their legs start to involuntarily twitch and the only way to relieve this is to go the limbs

Other disorders common in people suffering from Fibromyalgia:

HeadachesJaw painMenstrual painChemical and/or food allergiesDizziness and loss of balanceIrritable bowel syndromeMemory loss and difficulty in concentratingA sensitivity to bright light and loud noisesSensitivity to dairy productsSkin sensitivitiesStiffness and pain in the morning and when walking

In most cases of FMS, symptoms are severe enough to interfere with daily activities. A number of people suffering from Fibromyalgia are really disabled by the disorder.

The exact cause of FMS is not known. Some experts suggest that the condition is due to low levels of serotonin which is a chemical that transmits messages throughout the brain and the nervous system.

Other researchers have found that some patients with Fibromyalgia have extremely high levels of substance P, which is believed to transmit pain messages from the body to the brain. People with FMS are therefore much more sensitive pain-producing stimuli.

A severe injury, a weak immune system and long-standing psychological stress are all common factors associated with Fibromyalgia.

Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome have been closely linked and symptoms often overlap each other.

Chronic pain sufferers tend to have a magnesium deficiency and a magnesium supplement is therefore crucial. Magnesium is vital for muscle relaxation and Malic acid should be added as this assists the body with magnesium absorption.

St. John’s Wort assists in raising serotonin levels which can improve pain tolerance.

Using Kava Kava or Valerian to aid sleep will help the patient in combating fatigue associated with Fibromyalgia.

Vitamin C and grape seed extracts are powerful anti-oxidants and protect cells from hurt.

Evening Primrose oil eases rheumatoid pain.

150 mg magnesium and 600 mg malic acid twice a day

Eat a well balanced diet that consists of mainly fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, raw nuts and seeds and fish. These foods supply nutrients that renew your energy levels and boost your immune system.

Try to eat at least four small meals during the day to keep a constant supply of carbohydrates and proteins available. Carbohydrates and proteins are essential for proper muscle function.

Drink plenty of water – at least 8 glasses a day and include fresh fruit and vegetable juices. Liquids help to flush out toxins and help in reducing muscle spasms and pain.

Cut out caffeine and refined sugars found in foods such as chocolates and soft drinks.

Include pomegranates and pomegranate juice as this fruit has anti-inflammatory properties.

Regular moderate exercise will be beneficial to keep muscles flexible.

Please consult your medical practitioner prior to using any herbal medications should you be under their care. Suggestions offered are not intended to replace appropriate medical investigation and treatment.

Tags: early adulthood, chronic fatigue syndrome, brain activity, Sleep disorders, muscle spasms

Are you looking for a herbal medicine to treat a skin disorder?

If you have itching skin, burns, blisters or any other skin related disorders, then herbal Aloe can help you.

Find out the origins and uses of this powerful herbal remedy.

Learn how it can treat your skin disorders and bring relief to your skin conditions.

Over 500 species of Aloe are found growing worldwide. Aloe is a succulent in the Lily family and the fleshy leaves of the Aloe plant provide a gel that has been used since the reign of Cleopatra.

Egyptian healers described the use of Aloe as far back as 1500 BC and African hunters have long used Aloe to hide their scent from their prey.

Modern healers have used Aloe since the 1930s for various skin ailments such as skin ulcers and cuts and abrasions.

Commercial growers cultivate Aloe in the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, Japan and the United States.

Even though scientists are not exactly sure how Aloe works, they have identified several of the active ingredients. Aloe is rich in anti-inflammatory substances and the gel contains a gummy material which acts as a soothing skin cream.

Aloe contains a compound called bradykininase that helps to treat pain and reduce swelling. In addition, Aloe also contains magnesium lactate which soothes itching skin.

Acemannan is a newly learned compound found in Aloe that is being studied for its ability to strengthen the immune system by boosting T-lymphocyte cells.

Aloe leaf juice can relieve the pain of burns and even prevent blisters from forming. As a topical herbal medicine, Aloe gel decreases inflammation, redness and accelerates wound healing.

This herbal medicine helps in keeping the skin supple and has long been used to relieve the itching associated with insect bites and skin allergies. By increasing the availability of oxygen to the skin, Aloe is a powerful herbal skin healer.

Aloe gel has been used for many years as an effective herbal treatment for sunburn, by soothing and calming the redness and inflammation caused by over exposure to the sun.

Studies have shown that Aloe gel has antiviral effects and is therefore a natural healing product used in treating warts.

Recent studies have been conducted to prove Aloe’s effectives in treating the skin disorder psoriases. An 83 percent improvement was noted in patients who topically applied Aloe gel 3-4 times daily.

Aloe juice contains anti-inflammatory fatty acids that are helpful for the colon, small intestine and the stomach. This herbal medicine is a natural alkalizer that prevents over acidity which is a common cause of indigestion.

Aloe juice has also been used by herbalists as a natural digestive tract cleanser, balancing and soothing the digestive system.

Aloe Vera juice has been found by Japanese scientists to inhibit stomach secretions and lesions; therefore this herbal plant is an effective treatment against peptic ulcers.

American scientists are conducting research into the use of Aloe Vera juice as a treatment for people with ulcerative colitis which is a common type of inflammatory bowel disease.

Please consult your medical practitioner prior to using any herbal medications should you be under their care.

Topical applications of Aloe are very safe; but in rare cases a mild, allergic skin reaction has been noted. Simply discontinue use if this occurs.

Never use Aloe juice if you are pregnant or breast-feeding.

Aloe juice can have a laxative effect if the recommended dosage is exceeded. A form of Aloe, called Aloe latex, is a powerful laxative and should only be used under your doctor or herbalist’s recommendation.

Aloe dilates blood vessels known as capillaries, allowing blood to get to an injury; therefore care should be taken when using Aloe together with blood thinning medicine such as Warfarin as it can cause the skin to bleed easily.

Topically, Aloe gel can be applied repeatedly, especially in the case of burns. This will also prevent painful blisters from forming.

Fresh Aloe gel from a broken leaf of this herbal plant is the most effective and economical way to topically apply the gel.

For topical herbal treatments to be effective, it should contain at least 20 percent Aloe.

For internal use, Aloe juice can be taken between meals. Make sure that the Aloe juice contains at least 98 percent Aloe and does not contain aloin or aloe-emodin.

Aloe juice can also be added to your bathwater as a soothing herbal skin remedy by simply adding a cup or two of the Aloe juice to your bathwater.

Tags: skin burns, aloe leaf, lily family, Product Issues, Aloe arborescens

The Cherokee and other Native American tribes used Goldenseal for everything from insect bites to eye infections. Today, Goldenseal is officially recognized in 11 countries as an herbal medicine.

Goldenseal is related to the buttercup and is native to North America. Only the roots are used as an herbal medicine.

The name Goldenseal comes from the scars on the previous year”s root growth, which resembles the wax seals used to seal envelopes.

How can Goldenseal help me?

Goldenseal”s primary benefit is its effect on the immune system. Goldenseal does not only increase the immune system’s production of germ-fighting compounds, it also combats viruses and bacteria.

This herbal remedy has a excellent reputation as a natural antibiotic, therefore taking Goldenseal at the onset of a sinus infection will not only relieve the symptoms, but will fight the infection itself.

The berberine content in Goldenseal has very strong antibiotic and antiseptic qualities, which makes this herbal medicine a very effective natural alternative to antibiotics commonly prescribed.

Goldenseal fights the human papilloma virus that causes warts and applying Goldenseal tincture directly to warts can help to heal these unsightly skin lesions.

Goldenseal is also used to treat urinary tract infections as well as intestinal infections.

Goldenseal can be used topically to treat mouth ulcers and sores. Used as a tincture, Goldenseal promotes the healing of the sores. Using Goldenseal as an antiseptic mouthwash is also very effective to treat the inflammation of sore throats.

In treating periodontal disease, Goldenseal destroys the bacteria that cause the disease and relieves inflamed gums.

Cooled Goldenseal tea can be used as an eyewash to relieve and treat eye infections such as conjunctivitis.

Goldenseal was used by the early Native Americans to treat a variety of stomach disorders. Several scientific studies have proven that Goldenseal increases the flow of digestive enzymes, thereby treating heartburn, constipation, indigestion as well as inflamed peptic ulcers.

Goldenseal is also an effective herbal remedy used to cool a nauseated stomach.

Goldenseal soothes inflamed mucous membranes and has long been used to treat infections of the respiratory system because it eases congestion.

As Goldenseal is one of the main herbal remedies used to strengthen your immune system, it is very effective in treating disorders associated with a weakened immune system, such as shingles and cold sores.

Please consult your medical practitioner prior to using any herbal medications should you be under their care.

Pregnant or lactating women should not use Goldenseal or any herbs containing berberine.

Goldenseal limits the efficacy of anticoagulants such as Warfarin.

If you are taking antibiotics such as tetracycline, do not use Goldenseal in conjunction with the antibiotics.

People with glaucoma should not use Goldenseal to treat eye infections.

As Goldenseal is a natural antiseptic, it can reduce the presence of “excellent” bacteria in the digestive system, thereby causing diarrhea and nausea.

Prolonged use of Goldenseal can affect the absorption of the B-group of vitamins.

Do not take Goldenseal for prolonged periods of time, rather use it in rotation with other immune-support herbal remedies such as Echinacea.

To treat colds, flu and other respiratory illnesses, start taking 125 mg of Goldenseal five times a day for five days as soon as you start feeling ill.

For urinary tract infections, drink several cups of Goldenseal tea a day for a period of 3 days.

To help in healing cold sores and shingles, take 125 mg of Goldenseal four times a day.

Apply Goldenseal tincture directly to mouth ulcers and warts three times a day.

To make an eyewash from Goldenseal, use one teaspoon of dried herb per 500 ml of hot water. Let the tea steep and then make sure that you strain it thoroughly to avoid any gritty bits staying behind. Use the cooled Goldenseal tea as an eyewash three times a day.

Tags: Medicinal plants, Health Medical Pharma, Cold sores, stomach disorders, sore throats

Folk healers have used Dandelion for centuries for liver and digestive problems.

Dandelion is grown commercially in Europe and both the leaves and the roots are used for herbal remedies.

Dandelion is closely related to chicory and grows wild throughout much of the world. The plant forms a puffball of seeds that is dispersed by the wind or by children playing with the plant.

Bright yellow flowers are seen throughout the growing season, opening at daybreak and closing at dusk.

Dandelion is well known as a garden weed.

Dandelion increases the production and flow of bile (a digestive aid) from the liver and the gallbladder.

This increased flow of bile helps to treat such conditions as jaundice, gallstones and hepatitis.

In addition, Dandelion has a high content of the B vitamin choline, which assists in general liver health.

Dandelion is often mixed with other herbal medicines that boost liver function, such as milk thistle and black radish. These combinations are known as lipotropic or stout metabolizing supplements.

Because Dandelion improves liver function, this herbal remedy may also be effective in reducing the painful symptoms of endometriosis.

Dandelion enhances the ability of the liver to remove excess oestrogen from your body, thereby helping women to restore a healthy hormone balance.

The root of the Dandelion plant can be used a gentle laxative, so drinking Dandelion tea will provide gentle relief from constipation.

Dandelion also assists the liver to absorb iron from food or mineral supplements, thereby combating anaemia.

Dandelion tea is also useful as a diuretic, thus relieving water retention and bloating. In addition, Dandelion leaves are high in potassium, so using this herbal medicine as a diuretic is a excellent thought as your potassium levels will not be depleted.

Dandelion root is also used as an appetite stimulant because it is a bitter.

Please consult your medical practitioner prior to using any herbal medications should you be under their care.

Dandelion has no serious side effects but in large doses can cause a skin rash and stomach upsets. Discontinue use if any of these symptoms occur.

Dandelion should not be used during acute attacks of gallstones. Seek professional medical care for this condition.

If bile ducts are obstructed, Dandelion should not be used at all.

Safety of use in pregnant and lactating women has not been established.

To boost liver functions, take 500 mg of standardized, powdered Dandelion root extract twice a day.

For constipation, drink one cup of Dandelion tea three times a day.

To treat anaemia, take one teaspoon of fresh Dandelion tincture or juice mornings and evenings with half a glass of water.

When taking Dandelion juice or tincture, make sure that you drink at least half a glass of water as well.

Pills containing Dandelion extracts can be taken with or without food.

Dandelion leaves and flowers are very tasty when steamed like spinach and can also be used in salads.

Tags: herbal medicines, Medicinal plants, garden weed, mineral supplements, potassium levels