This immune boosting herb has long been used to not only treat but also prevent diseases.  Astragalus only gained popularity in the 1980′s in the United States, but in China it has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries.  Astragalus is a frail looking plant, but is really very hardy.  It has a sweet-smelling, pale yellow blossom and the roots are mainly used for herbal remedies.

Over 2000 species of Astragalus exist, but only 2 are used in herbal remedies:  Astragalus membranaceus and Astragalus mongholicus.  In North America there are several species that are highly poisonous to livestock and are called “locoweed,” but these species of Astragalus are very different from the disease fighting species.

One of the main benefits of Astragalus is that it is safe to use with conventional medicine and will not interfere with any standard treatment.  

The root of the Astragalus plant contains numerous health-promoting substances, one of which is polysaccharides, which is a class of carbohydrates which are responsible for this herbal remedy‘s immune enhancing effects.  The other substances are saponins, astragalosides, flavonoids and triterpenes.

Health practitioners prescribe Astragalus as a general health tonic as it enhances your overall health by improving resistance to disease, increasing your stamina and vitality and promotes general wellbeing. This herbal supplement is also an adaptogen, which means that it will greatly increase your body’s resistance to stress, trauma, anxiety and fatigue.

Astragalus has antiviral, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.  In addition, it also has antioxidant properties, which means that it can protect your body from cell hurt caused by free radicals.  

This herbal treatment is especially effective in treating and preventing the common cold, flu, sinus infections and bronchitis as it prevents viruses from gaining a foothold in the respiratory system.  Just like Echinacea, Astragalus can stop a disease from the onset of the first symptoms.  If a disease does develop, Astragalus can shorten the duration of the disease and lessen the severity of symptoms.

People undergoing chemotherapy or radiation treatment for cancer will benefit greatly from using Astragalus on a regular basis as this herb rebuilds their immune systems and helps to repair hurt caused by cancer treatments.  Using Astragalus will also protect bone marrow from the immune-suppressing effects of chemotherapy and radiation.  This herb is also used to help the body”s production of T cells, macrophages, natural killer cells, interferon and other immune cells as these cells are often ruined by chemotherapy and radiation.  

Recent research indicates that Astragalus may offer antioxidant benefits in people who suffer from heart disease, relieving symptoms and improving heart function.  The first study revealed that if a patient takes Astragalus within 36 hours of a heart attack, it could enhance the functioning of the heart”s left ventricle, which is the chamber responsible for pumping oxygen-rich blood through the body.  The second study was conducted to prove that Astragalus could prevent chest pain, or angina.  Astragalus produced better results than a well-known prescription medication commonly used for this condition.

Astragalus root may also help reduce high cholesterol levels and regulate blood pressure by widening blood vessels and improving blood circulation.  The Astragalus root also acts as a mild diuretic.

In addition, this herb can aid digestion by inhibiting gastric secretions and reducing gastric acid, which makes Astragalus helpful in curing stomach ulcers. 

Ongoing research is being conducted into the use of Astragalus to treat HIV and other autoimmune diseases such as lupus.

Please consult your medical practitioner prior to using any herbal medications should you be under their care. After centuries of use, few side effects have been reported by people using Astragalus, but, because of its immune-enhancing benefits, people who receive organ transplants should not use this herb.

To boost your immune system, take 200 mg of Astragalus once or twice a day for a period of three weeks.  Then alternate, in three week periods, with cat”s claw, echinacea and pau d”arco.  Choose a product that contains a standardized extract of this herb with 0,5% glucosides and 70% polysaccharides.

Creams and ointments containing Astragalus are readily available at health stores and will help with wound healing and stop wounds and ulcers from becoming septic.

You can add dried Astragalus root to soup, stews or rice dishes.  Let it simmer for 30 minutes, then remove the herb as it is tough to chew.  This not only adds flavour to these dishes but also makes it simple to add immune-enhancing properties to your food.

Tags: chest pain, autoimmune diseases, chinese medicine, Health Medical Pharma, immune systems

Garlic has been used as food and medicine for centuries by many cultures and Egyptians worshiped this potent herb for its medicinal and culinary powers.

18th Century French drank Garlic tea to try and prevent getting sick from the plague.

Doctors in both world wars used Garlic to treat battle wounds.

Garlic is related to the onion and spring onion plants. The bulb contains the healing powers and flavor.

Today, Garlic is used to prevent heart disease.

Studies suggest that Garlic can prevent heart disease in many ways. One study showed that Garlic extract prevents the stiffening of the aorta which occurs naturally with age.

Garlic makes platelets less likely to clump and stick to artery walls, thereby reducing the risk of heart attacks.

This herbal medicine helps to dissolve clot-forming proteins, which affects plaque development. Plaque build-up can cause arteries to narrow and cause heart attacks.

Garlic widens blood vessels and lowers blood pressure, helping blood circulate better.

Recent studies have proven that Garlic interferes with the metabolism of cholesterol in the liver and so less cholesterol is released into the blood, making Garlic an alternative to long-term cholesterol treatments.

People who take Garlic supplements are less likely to suffer from the common cold and when suffering from a cold, the symptoms lasted a much shorter period. People who suffer from asthma can benefit from regular use of Garlic supplements.

Because of its immune-enhancing properties, Garlic is now being studied as an herbal medicine in the fight against cancer.

Large quantities of fresh, raw Garlic may have anti-parasitic properties against roundworm, which is a common type of intestinal parasite.

Garlic contains allicin, which is antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal.

Garlic consumption can help to fight the bacteria that cause stomach ulcers.

Herbal practitioners have prescribed Garlic to treat adult cholic for many years.

Warts can be treated by placing a crushed raw Garlic clove directly on the wart.

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

Consult your health care professional if you are taking anti-coagulants such as Warfarin and medications to lower blood pressure.

Garlic can be taken indefinitely, but if you are taking Garlic to lower your cholesterol levels, make sure that you test the levels regularly to ensure that it has a positive effect.

Some people have reported heartburn, flatulence and diarrhea when taking high doses of Garlic. Lowering the dose and taking enteric-coated supplement will reduce these side-effects.

Most experts recommend that you buy Garlic powder supplements as they are more effective.

Cooked Garlic loses most of its nutritional and herbal nutrients, so fresh Garlic is a better option.

Enteric-coated Garlic supplements prevents most of the side-effects from occurring and is also passed through the stomach undigested, ensuring that you are getting all the necessary nutrients.

Studies have shown that deodorized Garlic supplement have the same benefits as regular supplements.

When buying Garlic supplements, make sure that it contains at least 4 000 mcg of allicin per pill, as this is what you would find in one clove of fresh Garlic.

To boost general health and to help to lower cholesterol, take 400 to 600 mg of a Garlic supplement a day.

To fight common colds and flu, take 400 to 600 mg Garlic supplements four times a day.

To treat skin conditions such as warts or fungal infections such as athlete’s foot, apply a crushed Garlic clove or Garlic oil directly to the affected areas.

Tags: battle wounds, common colds, artery walls, fungal infections, healing powers

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: inflamed gums, Medicinal plants, antiseptic mouthwash, Health Medical Pharma, Viral diseases

This herbal medicine is commonly grown in gardens because of its pretty orange flowers and its ability to resow itself.  Calendula is sometimes call “garden marigold” or “pot marigold.”  Calendula is well-known as an effective insect repellant and also keeps harmful insects away from other plants.

Calendula is one of the herbal remedies that has a long history of use as a wound-healing botanical.  In Greece and Persia, calendula was used to flavour food and the ancient Egyptians viewed it as a rejuvenating herb.  Medieval monks used this herbal medicine to treat snake bites and liver problems.

Battlefield doctors used calendula flowers to treat open wounds during the American Civil War and this practice was continued by doctors during WWI.

Today, calendula is available in many different herbal remedy forms – topical creams and ointments, teas, tinctures and pills.

Keeping calendula in your first-aid kit is excellent practice as it is prescribed to treat minor cuts and abrasions, as well as minor burn wounds.  Calendula is also considered to be a excellent antiseptic cream that can prevent wounds from getting infected.

There are numerous topical creams and lotions available containing calendula. Calendula lotion is especially excellent to treat diaper rash and keeping a tube in your handbag or pocket is the ideal treatment for chapped lips.

Mild cases of sunburn can be soothed by applying calendula lotion to the affected areas several times daily.  Eczema is treated and symptoms kept under control when using herbal lotions and creams containing calendula.

This herbal remedy is of benefit to people with diabetes who often suffer from slow-healing sores and wounds as calendula speeds up the healing process and minimizes scarring.  Bed-ridden patients experience relief when calendula is massaged into bed sores several times a day.

Calendula is often prescribed by health care practitioners to treat a variety of intestinal complaints such as indigestion, colitis, gastric ulcers and duodenal ulcers.  In two separate medical studies, calendula was proven to heal duodenal ulcers.  Further studies showed that when combining calendula with comfrey, the healing effects on the intestinal system was greatly enhanced.  People suffering from gastroduodenitis find relief when drinking calendula tea.

Tea made from calendula can be used as a mouthwash to treat gum and tooth infections, and as a gargle to treat sore throats and tonsillitis.

To relieve the pain and itching associated with bee stings and insect bites, rub the fresh flowers of the calendula plant directly onto the affected area for immediate relief.  

Calendula is often prescribed to treat varicose veins as well as spider veins.  Varicose veins are veins on the legs which become twisted and inflamed and can cause swelling, itching and pain.  Massaging the legs with calendula oil or calendula lotion twice daily can not only relieve the symptoms but also heal varicose veins.  This is due to calendula’s ability to restore circulation and increase the skin’s healing properties.

This herbal remedy is also believed to stimulate the immune system to help the body to fight off colds and flu, and the antibacterial properties make it an brilliant herbal medicine for a sore throat. Calendula is one the most well loved treatments for fungal infections such as athlete’s foot and thrush.  

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

Side-effects when using calendula are very rare, although some people have reported a skin rash and itching after using a cream or lotion containing calendula.  Simply discontinue use of the specific herbal remedy containing calendula.

There are no known interactions with prescription medicine.

To make an herbal calendula tea to soothe intestinal complaints, use 1 teaspoon of dried flower per 250 ml of boiled water.  Let it steep for 10-15 minutes and drink 2-3 cups a day of this herbal remedy.

When purchasing an ointment, lotion or cream containing calendula, ensure that the herbal treatment contains at least 5% calendula.  Apply to wounds, sores, scrapes and cuts and minor burn wounds 3-4 times daily.

To treat vaginal thrush, insert a calendula suppository into the vagina every 12 hours for 5 days.  These herbal suppositories are available at health stores and through health practitioners.

Tags: experience relief, Athletes foot, duodenal ulcers, Alternative medicine, first aid kit

For Centuries, the North American Indians has been uses Echinacea for its medicinal value. Echinacea is often referred to the as the Purple ConeFlower due to its purple summer flowers but  also goes by the name American ConeFlower or just coneflower.

There are several species of Echinacea, but not all of these species can be used as herbal medicines.Echinacea angustifolia  is the most commonly used species for herbal remedies.

Echinacea is found only in North America.

For many centuries, the American Indians have known that the main benefit from Echinacea is the immune system boosting powers this herbal remedy possesses.

For us today, one of the greatest benefits Echinacea has to offer, is increasing our body’s power to fight off colds and flu. This herbal medicine is most effective when it is used just before you get the cold or flu. Just as those horrible cold and flu symptoms start taking hold that is the time to take Echinacea

Traditionally, Echinacea has also been used to fight other infections too. Infections such as skin problems, acne or boils have all been treated using this wonderful herbal medicine.

As part of the infection fighting properties, Echinacea has antiseptic properties which are useful to treat mild infections. Echinacea has even been used to treat fungal infections such as Athletes foot.

As always, if you are under a medical professionals’ care, please consult them before taking Echinacea or any other herbal remedy. Rashes and asthma have been reported as two of the more severe side effects of using Echinacea . The most common side effects are generally gastrointestinal.

People showing allergies to plants related to the daisy family should avoid Echinacea as they tend to be more likely to have an adverse reaction.

Echinacea is not a excellent thought for use by people with multiple sclerosis, white blood cell disorders, collagen disorders, HIV/AIDS, autoimmune disorders, or tuberculosis. Always consult your doctor if you have a serious medical condition.

As a herbal supplement, Echinacea is commonly sold as pills, tinctures or teas.

When you are taking Echinacea in the form of pills, try and take the pills with water.

Sometimes Echinacea is sold as a tea which can be brewed and then drunk.

Tags: purple coneflower, Echinacea pallida, People showing allergies, herbal remedy, north american indians

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Tags: Common cold, herbal remedies, swine flu, Flu pandemic in the United Kingdom, Health Medical Pharma

Cinnamon is regarded as the bark of the cinnamomum zeylanicum tree it is also called darchin in india and iran, canela in protugal and spain. It has culinary and medicinal uses.

It is an ancient spice and is a germicide, stomachic, and antispasmodic herb. It is also used for uterine hemorrhages and as a sex stimulant. This herb may lower blood glucose and cholesterol. It is said by many that just smelling the wonderful odor of this herb boosts brain activity!

It was so highly prized among ancient nations that it was regarded as a gift fit for monarchs and even for a god: a fine inscription records the gift of this herb and cassia to the temple of Apollo at Miletus. To them, it was considered more precious than gold.

Cornmeal porridge for the Caribbean people is never done without the leaves or the powder. From history it is used to produce sweet and savory recipes, especially in baked goods. It is a natural food preservative.

The cinnamon bark is widely used as a spice. It is used in the preparation of chocolate, especially in Mexico, which is the main importer of this right spice. The bark is one of the few spices that can be consumed directly.

It also contains many health benefits such as anti-clotting, astringent, stimulant, carminative, anti-infective, anti fungal, and the digestive aid uses of the bark oil. It is a natural remedy for arthritis pain and is effective in the treatment of Type 2 diabetes mellitus and insulin resistance.

It is used to treat toothache and fight terrible breath and its regular use is believed to stave off common cold. Brilliant for upset stomach, whether cold or hot.

The benefits of this herb are many. This includes mixing it with honey and taken regularly as tea every morning is considered a cure all for all diseases. At a study at Copenhagen University, patients were given half a teaspoon of cinnamon powder combined with one tablespoon of honey every morning before breakfast. This resulted in significant relief in arthritis pain after one week and patients could walk without pain within one month.

I have personally tried this method and has gotten brilliant results. I am still practicing this today and have informed others who are suffering with arthritis to do the same.

This herb is even mentioned many times in the Ancient Testament. Moses is commanded to use myrrh, this sweet spice and cassia to make an oil of holy anointing, in Proverbs where the lover’s bed is perfumed with myrrh, aloe and this spice, and in Songs of Solomon, a song describing the beauty of his beloved, it scents her garments like the smell of Lebanon.

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Tags: type 2 diabetes mellitus, Cinnamomum aromaticum, cinnamon bark, uterine hemorrhages, Alternative medicine

Garlic (Allium sativum) has been used both as food and medicine in many cultures for thousands of years, dating as far back as the time the Giza pyramids were built. It is still grown in Egypt, but the Syrian variety is the kind most esteemed now (see Rawlinson’s Herodotus, 2125).

Its plant’s bulb is the most commonly used part of the plant.A member of the lily family, it is possibly the most well loved herbs in the world’s kitchens. Although it originates from Central Asia, it has been cultivated worldwide for millennia.

It owes much of its popularity in Europe to the Benedictine monks who grew this herb in their monastery gardens.

The Greek historian Herodotus reported that large amounts of the herb, radishes and onions were consumed by construction workers in the Egyptian pyramids.

It is nature’s incredible nutritional and medical wonder. Whether sliced, diced, crushed or ground, the medical benefits of this herb is far reaching and it requires no refrigeration.

This is one of my favorites. I use it very often in my cooking, as a tea and a poultice to any spot on my skin. I remembered having an earache, and my mom told me to place a small clove in a piece of cheese cloth and stuff my ears when retiring at bedtime. I woke up next morning painless until today.

It known to have antibacterial, antiviral and anti-fungal activity. It is also said to help prevent heart disease (including atherosclerosis, high cholesterol and high blood pressure) and cancer prevention and control of the common cold, a remedy for infection, and it enhances immune response.

It is reported that taking supplements of this herb could cut the incidence of stroke by anything from 30 to 40 per cent, while heart disease could be reduced by 20 to 25 percent.

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Tags: garlic allium sativum, Central Asia, heart disease, high blood pressure, medical wonder

Echinacea herb, or purple coneflower, is a perennial herb of the composite family, commonly known as the daisy family. This herb’s species are herbaceous, drought-tolerant perennial plants growing up to 140cm in height.

The Kiowa used it for coughs and sore throats, the Cheyenne for sore throats, the Pawnee for headaches, and many tribes used it as an analgesic. It is one of the most well loved herbs used in Europe.

It is very well loved for use in treatment of colds and flu, ear infections, cold sores, yeast infection, viral infections.

It is also an brilliant blood cleanser, brilliant for fever, carbuncles, acne, eczema, boils, peritonitis, syphilitic conditions, bites and stings of poisonous snakes and insects, infections, wounds, troubled skin, allergies, and inflammation.

It is among the top ten herbs by herbalists and is one of the most well loved one bought over the counter.

Its benefits are many and it has been found to boost the immune system and has been touted for many years as the wonder herb for an immune system.

It has anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties and is the best-selling herb in health food stores for several years.

Health supplements should be bought from a reliable source to minimize the risk of contamination.

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Tags: colds and flu, sore throats, troubled skin, perennial herb, Medicinal plants

Pink eye (also known as conjunctivitis) is an infection or irritation of the conjunctiva, a transparent membrane that lines your eyelid and the whites of your eyes. The condition is characterized by a pink or red cast to the whites of the eyes (caused by inflammation of tiny blood vessels in the conjunctiva).

In addition to redness in one or both eyes, pink eye symptoms include itchiness, discharge, sensitivity to light, and blurred vision. Pink eye patients often wake to find their eyes pasted shut by the crust that forms from discharge.

In many cases, pink eye is caused by a viral or bacterial infection (often linked to the common cold). Viral conjunctivitis is typically associated with a watery discharge, while bacterial conjunctivitis tends to generate a thicker, yellow-green discharge.

Pink eye can also result from seasonal allergies or from exposure to chemicals, smoke, dust, or other irritating substances.

If you experience pink eye symptoms, flush your eye(s) with water and contact your physician promptly. Although bacterial conjunctivitis may need to be treated with antibiotics, other forms should clear up on their own within a week. Be particularly careful if you wear contact lenses or have injured your eye.

To soothe the irritation of pink eye, soak a clean cloth in warm water, wring it out, and apply to your closed eyelids. For allergic conjunctivitis, use cool water instead of warm water.

In folk medicine, the anti-inflammatory herb eyebright is used to make an eyewash thought to ease pink eye symptoms. Although eyebright’s effects on pink eye have not been extensively tested, a 2000 study showed that eyebright eye drops may help relieve conjunctivitis caused by inflammation, cold, allergy, exposure to pollution, or physical irritation.

Chamomile is also used in folk medicine to treat pink eye. Brewing a cup of chamomile tea, removing the tea bag and allowing it to cool, and placing the bag over your infected eye may help alleviate irritation.

Viral and bacterial conjunctivitis are both highly contagious. To keep the infection from spreading (and prevent reinfection), seek immediate treatment, avoid touching your eyes and sharing towels, wash your hands frequently, change your pillowcase often, and discard your eye makeup.

Sources:

Stoss M, Michels C, Peter E, Beutke R, Gorter RW. “Prospective cohort trial of Euphrasia single-dose eye drops in conjunctivitis.” Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine 2000 6(6):499-508.

Tags: Common cold, eye patients, watery discharge, transparent membrane, pink eye symptoms