How to Make Tinctures From Herbs

How to Make Tinctures From Herbs,philosophy behind tincture is to capture the spiritual and physical essence of the plant. This is done by using the power of ethyl alcohol to dissolve and preserve the herb in question.

The substance used to extract the herbs is known as the menstrum. The herbs you are tincturing are known as the mark. Tincturing will extract and preserve both the water-soluble and alcohol-soluble properties of an herb.

In the interest of taking a more involved stance in their health, many people are turning to homemade tinctures made from fresh or dried herbs. Tinctures have proven to be more powerful and longer lasting than dried herbs. Dried herbs can get moldy or be eaten by insects, tinctures do not. Tinctures will keep up to two years and keep their potency if stored properly. Making your own tinctures will save you quite a bit of money. If you purchase tinctures in a retail store you will get a few ounces whereas if you make it yourself it will yield about a quart.

When purchasing herbs, make sure you are buying from a reputable source. Better yet, grow your own herbs to be sure of the highest possible quality. When growing your own you can make any number of combinations to make up your tinctures. I have also found that when growing my own herbs I get the most enjoyment, knowing not only did I make the tincture but I grew the herbs. I become part of the process from beginning to end.

There are several items that you will need to make your own tinctures. First you need either powdered herbs or fresh cut herbs. Vodka, brandy or rum, 80-100 proof to cover the herbs. Mason jars with lids. Muslin or Cheesecloth that is unbleached. Lastly, labels for the jars.

You will need 7-10 ounces of chopped fresh herbs for every quart of vodka, brandy or rum. I prefer to use fresh herbs when making my tinctures. When using powdered herbs, I use 4 ounces of herbs to one pint of liquid. If you are making a tincture from bitter herbs it is best to use rum as it will mask the taste of the herbs. To make a non-alcoholic tincture use distilled water, glycerol or vinegar. Keep in mind that if you use vinegar the tincture will have to be refrigerated.

Put your herbs in the mason jars and then pour the liquid over them so that it comes up to about an inch above the herbs. Seal tightly and label the jars then put them in a very dark, warm area. Keeping them in a paper bag has worked well for me. You will have to shake the jar everyday, several times a day if you can mange it.

At first check the solution daily to make sure the vodka, brandy or rum still covers the herbs. Let the mixture steep for at least two weeks and up to three months. When you reach the allotted waiting period, line a sieve with the cheesecloth or muslin and pour the liquid thru the sieve into another bottle. Gather up the ends of the cheesecloth and squeeze to extract all of the liquid. You can now fill small bottles with droppers with the tincture for ease in use. Be sure to label the jar with the name and the date.

The dose is one teaspoon tincture in a cup of tea, juice or water taken three times daily.

There are no right formulas for making tinctures. Experiment with different combinations. Be sure you write down the formula so when you come up with a winning combination you will have it on file.

Here are a few ideas for treating colds. Make tinctures from the following herbs:

* echinacea (leaves, flowers)
* elder (leaves, flowers, berries)
* eyebright (leaves, flowers)
* ginger (root)
* peppermint (leaves)
* yarrow (leaves, flowers)
* catnip (leaves )
How to Make Tinctures From Herbs
by: Mary Hanna


Thank natural to make herbals for good life!

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Herbs for Menopause Relief

Herbs for Menopause Relief,Today, the number of women turning to herbs for menopause relief is staggering. With great concern about hormone replacement therapy in recent years, we now see women interested in avoiding chemicals and toxins, preferring a natural path. Because there are so many women now seeking alternatives to traditional treatment for menopause, more investigation is being done to find new options in addition to those that have been used by naturalists for hundreds of years. If you are like so many women who want to find relief from night sweats, hot flashes, joint pain, insomnia, and depression the natural way, then we believe this article will expose you to some excellent options.


First, a great herb for menopause relief, especially when it comes to many of the annoying symptoms is called Dong Quai. In Chinese medicine, Dong Quai, the root of the angelica sinesis plant, helps with many menopausal symptoms. Interestingly, while many women will use this natural herb for menopause relief alone, in Chinese medicine, it is always used as a supportive herb. Regardless, many studies have been performed whereby women taking 1500 mgs of this herb three times a day had improvement in symptoms.

Another popular herb for menopause relief is red clover. Affordable and easy to find, this herb has been used in the United States for more than 100 years. Containing phytoestrogens, which are hormone-like substances, found in certain plants such as soy, red clover is wonderful for treatment of vaginal dryness and hot flashes. Typically, a woman would take between 40 and 60 mgs for about 12 weeks. The reason this is not a long-term treatment option is that red clover has been shown to stimulate cancer cells in the breast.

Next on the list of herbs for menopause relief is black cohosh. This herb is a member of the buttercup family and considered one of the most popular, natural treatment options for menopause. You can purchase black cohosh as a supplement from a health food store or in brand form such as Remifemin. When it comes to anxiety, depression, night sweats, and hot flashes, black cohosh works exceptionally well. Other herbs for menopause relief to consider include evening primrose oil, chaste tree berry, tribulus, St. John's Wort, soy, and ginseng, which seem to ease symptoms overall.

In addition to herbs for menopause relief, you have many other options such as vitamin E. In recent years, a number of studies have been performed showing that vitamin E brings relief for miserable hot flashes. Wild yam is also an option, which can be found in many types of progesterone creams. For this, women experience fewer and less intense hot flashes, the number one complaint among menopausal women. With so much negative attention on hormone replacement therapy, you might consider herbs for menopause relief. In many cases, the natural approach is more successful in treating the body during the change of life than traditional drugs.

by: Dawn Olsen

Thank natural to make herbals for good life!

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Growing Your Own Herbs for Tea

If you love herbal teas, as I do, you know they are just a little bit pricey. However, growing your own herbs is easy and so much fun!
Here are just a few of the herbs you might want to consider for a tea garden:

Chamomile: Remember the favorite tea of Peter Rabbit? Only the flowers of this fragrant herb are used when making tea. Chamomile tea can be enjoyed by itself or you might enjoy adding mint or lemon verbena.

Lemon Balm: This herb is lemony with a touch of mint and makes a soothing cup of tea. It's easy to grow (almost too easy) so remember to keep it clipped back.

Lemon Verbena: An excellent herb to grow in a sunny spot, it makes a delicious tea. You might try combining it with orange mint or spearmint.

Mints: There are many mints available. Generally, they are aromatic plants and they are aggressive. It may be a good idea to plant mint in a pot and then put the pot in the ground so it doesn't take over your herb garden. Spearmint, peppermint, orange mint all make wonderful teas, alone or along with chamomile or any of the lemon herbs.

Herb teas can be made with fresh or dried herbs and can be enjoyed either hot or cold.

For one cup of hot tea, use one teaspoon of dry herbs or up to 3 teaspoons of fresh herbs. Bruising the leaves of fresh herbs will help release the flavor. Pour boiling water over the herbs in a glass or china pot. Metal pots can sometimes leave a metallic taste. Let steep for 5 or so minutes. Strain and enjoy with a little honey to sweeten.

Sun tea can be made simply by filling a jar with water, throw in a handful of crushed fresh herbs, and set in the sun for 3 or 4 hours. Stir in a little honey to sweeten, pour over ice and enjoy.

Trying different combinations of herbs is fun. Remember you can also add spices you have on hand, such as cinnamon, cloves, etc.

There are many benefits to growing and making your own herbal teas. Gardening itself is very relaxing and rewarding. With herbs from your garden you can soothe away your troubles with a cup of chamomile tea or make yourself a refreshing cup of peppermint tea after a hard day at work.

by: Cyndi Roberts

Thank natural to make herbals for good life!

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natural herbs to prevent boils

Natural treatments for boils,Boils as "furuncles" in the medical field, are round, pus-filled bumps on the skin caused by a Staphylococcus aureus bacteria infection. The infection usually begins deep in the root of the hair follicle and works its way to the surface of the skin. Boils are very common, especially in children and adolescents.

Boils can be caused by stress, illness, toxicity, allergy, decreased immunity and thyroid imbalance.

Boils are red, tender, painful and appear suddenly. Fever and swelling of the lymph glands nearest the boil may occur. Without treatment, a boil will open, then drain and heal in about 10 to 24 days. With treatment, the life of the boil is reduced and its symptoms are contained and less severe.

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Top 5 Herbs to Fight Hair Loss

Hair loss is devastating to all who experience it. From male to female, young and old premature balding can rob you of your self-esteem. Fortunately, there are treatments available that will help fight baldness.

Some of the best alternatives to prescription hair growth treatments are herbal supplements. Herbal supplements have very minimal side effects and improve health as well as stimulate hair growth. Whether you use herbs to improve circulation, halt the process of hair loss, or block the DHT hormone, herbs are highly effective.

Here are the top five herbs recommended in the fight against hair growth problems.

1.Saw Palmetto

Saw Palmetto has been used for thousands of years and has been shown to be an effective remedy in the fight against hair growth problems. Saw Palmetto helps block the hormone DHT, therefore slowing down the rate of hair loss. Saw Palmetto may be in capsule form, added to herbal hair loss formulas, or applied in oil. Whichever method you prefer, Saw Palmetto is a valuable herb in the fight against premature balding.

2.Horsetail

Horsetail helps improve circulation and blood flow. This stimulates the hair follicles and is necessary for promoting hair growth. High in Silica, Horsetail strengthens weak hair and increases its vitality. Horsetail is often added to herbal preparations that fight pattern baldness.

3.Rosemary

Rosemary will help unclog follicles and promote hair growth. Rosemary may be added to oil and massaged in the scalp. Rosemary is also a powerful antioxidant and helps fight free radicals. It is also frequently added to herbal hair remedies.

4.Siberian Ginseng

Ginseng is a wonderful herb that has many benefits. One of these is that it increases stimulation and improves circulation. This has helped those who are suffering from hair loss or weak and damaged hair. Ginseng will also remove any toxins that may be clogging your hair follicles, slowing down or stalling new hair growth. You can choose to apply Ginseng through a hair and scalp oil. You may also take Ginseng in capsule form daily. Ginseng and Saw Palmetto are the most common herbs recommended for herbal hair growth treatments.

5.Nettle

Nettle is rich in vitamins and minerals. It is also great for promoting blood circulation and helps stimulate hair growth. Nettle has also been shown to block BPH and therefore has been highly useful in the fight against hair loss.

It is important to check with your health care worker or physician before beginning any herbal remedy course of treatment.

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Natural Healing Herbs For Cancer

Nature has its own ways to life, there are some bad things and good things as well to make us cheerful. The same goes for cancer. If the body can be infected by cancer then the body too has mechanisms to throw it away. These mechanisms help in fighting against cancer and revitalize immunity to further enhance our fighting abilities. There are groups of herbs (natural) that are potent in cancer prevention; the herbs have qualities like antioxidant & help revitalize the immune system, examples are given underneath

EXTRACTS OF MAITAKE

Chinese mushroom are used for these extracts. The extracts from Maitake are helpful in eradication of cancer cells & at the same time stops tumors from multiplying.

EXTRACTS FROM GREEN TEA

These extracts come from tea plant leaves; the leaf extracts have ECGC a chemical, the chemical as ingredients which can negate free radicals that can cause immense harm. Also cell replication is inhibited; replication is a major characteristic of cancer.

TURMERIC

There exists curcumin which is a therapeutic compound, it has been proved to be cancer fighter & stops growth of tumor, plus properties of immunity-stimulating.

Quercetin

In other term it is a citrus bioflavanoid, it has a good remedy to annul cell growth & also slows prostate cancer process.

RED CLOVER

It is derived form an herb having 3 leaves and has as many as 4 anti-tumor composite. Tocopherol is in excessive quantities, it too is a antioxidant that will suppress and kill free radicals that destroy cells.

Beta Glucan

They can rejuvenate the immune system as they are polysaccharides.

Vitamin C & K

Cancer growth will be inhibited by taking the two together. Liver cancer can be treated with Vitamin K.

Certain herbs are useful in treating cancer. If there is no relief then they could a minimal be reducing the free radicals, herbs increase life time period and thwart development of cancerous cells. Garlic extract, cat’s claw, L-arginine, suma, flaxseed, pau d’arco, Norwegian kelp, red clover, dandelion root, graviola & barberry help greatly. Specific conditions of cancer require specialized medication

· INTESTINAL and STOMACH CANCER: Cancer is a painful disease and more so when affecting the intestine & stomach. Shove off the cramping, bleeding and pain by consuming fennel, milk thistle extract, fenugreek, cat’s claw, goldenseal, cayenne, cascara sagrada, cinnamon bark, ginger root, psyllium husks, and oat bran.

· BONE CANCER: Cancer of bones could affect any bone, such as skull, spine, shins, pelvis, limbs, hips, ribs and others. In this type of cancer the bone is more likely to have fractures and becomes fragile too. Paget’s disease too might take over the body. This disease can get treatment in the form of coral calcium, glucosamine sulfate, L-phenylalanine, shavegrass, alfalfa, white willow bark, and nettle.

· PROSTATE CANCER: This type of cancer is the 2nd most reason leading to the death of men through cancer. This is certainly a life threatening disease. Graviola, dandelion root, saw palmetto, red clover, pygeum bark, licorice root, and yarrow can prove helpful.

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Herbals cures to combat fatigue

Coffee is the strongest natural form of caffeine. However, coffee is addictive and drinking more than three cups a day could lead to problems such as jangled nerves and diarrhea.

Other sources of caffeine include colas, tea, cocoa, and South-American beverages such as yerba mate. Although tea has comparatively lesser caffeine, it contains more of Theophylline, which in its pure form, is used to treat Asthma. Like caffeine, it causes nervousness, insomnia and increased heart rate.

However, in cases of stress-induced fatigue, which could lead to loss of sleep at night an exhaustion during the day, folk practitioners prescribe variety of herbal relaxants, including valerian and lavender.

Black Tea: A cup of black tea contains about 30mg of caffeine. About two doses (60mg) of this tea act as a stimulant increasing activity of central nervous system. The tea can be prepared by pouring a cup of boiling water over one and a half teaspoon of black tea leaves. Allow it to steep for five minutes. Strain and drink.

Valerian: It is a sleeping aid which has been in use for more than 2000 years now, and has been helpful in treating stress-induced fatigue. Pour one cup of boiling water to ½ to 1 teaspoon of minced fresh roots, or mix a few drops of valerian extract or tincture into a glass of warm water. This makes a good bedtime tea. However, it is not advisable to be used for longer than two weeks.

Lavender: The herb has been well-known as a calmative. The dried flowers or an extract of the herb can be added to warm bath water, just prior to bed time. The oil too can be dabbed on to the temples before bedtime.

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benefits of medical herbs, herbals health

benefits of medical herbals

The medicinal applications of herbal supplements

From the beginning of time societies have used medicinal herbs to treat all kinds of ailments and afflictions. However, in the last few decades there has been a resurgence of interest in medicinal herbs as an alternative to pharmaceutical drugs and medications.

Herbs have been used for centuries to treat everything from depression to high blood pressure to cancer. But it wasn't until recently that doctors and other medical professionals have started realizing the importance of these medicinal herbs and their potential for treating and curing a wide variety of ailments.

At herbal Supplements Guide, we have researched hundreds of medicinal herbs uses. On this site you will learn the therapeutic applications of these herbs..some are beneficial to overall health and general wellbeing...others can be effective as herbal medicine for preventing, treating and even curing specific health conditions.

If you are interested in high quality herbal supplements containing many of the medicinal herbs we discuss on this herbal supplement directory, just click the link above or continue reading below.

To begin learning about the limitless health benefits of medicinal herbs, and how they may be a safer alternative to prescription medications, choose an option in the navigation bar to the left or click on an herb/herbal extract below:

Aloe Vera Juice Benefits : popular herb for treating wounds, skin conditions and fighting infection.

American Ginseng Powder : herbal tonic for increasing energy and helping cope with stress.

Benefits of Ginger Root : a digestive aid that can lower cholesterol and treat nausea and motion sickness, among other medicinal herb uses.

Benefits of Red Clover : treats the many symptoms of menopause and also fights off cancerous growths.

Benefits of Spirulina : a blue: green algae with a high concentration of important nutrients with many health benefits.

Bilberries : one of the most important herbs for vision improvement as well as aiding in digestion.

Bitter Orange Extract : popular herb for increasing metabolism and facilitating weight loss.

Black Cohosh Side Effects : an essential herb for women, black cohosh helps alleviate menopause symptoms and balance hormones.

Bloodroot Paste : an astringent found in many toothpastes and oral rinses, as well as skin medications.

Benefits of Bromelain : a protein: digesting enzyme from the fruit and stems of pineapple used to treat a variety of conditions but most widely used for gout, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Benefits of Olive Leaf Extract : an anti: inflammatory as well as an immune system booster.

Bromelain Dietary Supplement : an anti: inflammatory used to treat sports injuries and arthritis symptoms.

Burdock Root Oil : used for various herbal medicine skin conditions such as eczema and acne, as well as a detoxifying agent.

California Poppy Seed : a mild sedative helpful in treating behavioral disorders such as ADD and ADHD.

Chinese herbal Medicine : learn about traditional Chinese herbal remedies and how they can be a safer alternative to modern prescription medications.

Chinese herbal Teas : discover the healing power of Chinese herbal teas, an ancient decoction used to treat a variety of health conditions, prevent illness and promote general wellness.

Cinnamon Health Benefits : long used as a digestive aid, cinnamon may be helpful in treating diabetes.

Echinacea Side Effects : one of the most popular herbs, echinacea treats colds and flu, and boosts the immune system.

Ephedra Dangers : learn about ephedra problems and side effects which caused this herb to be banned.

Evening Primrose Oil Benefits : medicinal herb uses include treating symptoms of menopause as well as skin conditions.

Fenugreek Seed Uses : ancient herb with many applications including increasing milk production, lowering blood sugar and reducing cholesterol.

Fertility Herbs : learn about the best natural medicinal herbs for fertility, including black cohosh, dong quai, red clover and wild yam.

Flax Seed Oil Benefits : contains Omega 3 fatty acids for heart strength and circulatory function.

Garlic Benefits : a powerful herb, garlic is an antioxidant, an antibiotic and can help prevent heart disease.

Ginkgo Biloba Analysis : improves memory and mental alertness and also a strong antioxidant.

Ginkgo Biloba herbal Remedy : learn about the benefits of ginkgo for memory, lowering blood pressure and fighting disease.

Gotu Kola Facts : treats a variety of skin conditions and improves circulation to the brain.

Green Tea Benefits : an all: powerful herb, green tea can lower cholesterol, guard against cancer and promote weight loss.

Holy Basil Plants : used for centuries in Ayurvedic medicine, holy basil has shown some promise in treating high cholesterol and diabetes.

Kelp Health Benefits : provides a wide spectrum of vitamins and minerals that may help treat various conditions.

Medicinal Capsaicin : an extract of chili pepper (cayenne) usually in cream form that can help treat pain associated with arthritis.

Milk Thistle Benefits : good for detoxifying and strengthening the liver, as well as for its antioxidant abilities.

Naringin : powerful citrus extract with bioflavonoids that have antioxidant properties.

Negative Effects of Garcinia : ingredient in many weight loss supplements, evidence of its efficacy is lacking.

Noni Juice Benefits : an alternative treatment for many different health conditions, the medicinal herb uses of noni juice may be more hype than cure: all.

Oat Straw herbal : known as avena sativa, oat straw can increase libido and energy, as well as aid in drug and alcohol detoxification.

Red Panax Ginseng Extractum : also called Asian ginseng, a powerful tonic and stress reliever.

Research on Valerian : research on this medicinal root shows that it may be effective in treating insomnia and depression, without the side effects of prescription medications.

Saw Palmetto Side Effects : can prevent enlargement of the prostate, a condition which affects millions of men.

Senna Natural Laxative : a powerful natural laxative that could cause serious side effects.

Side Effects of Kava : a popular anti: anxiety herbal remedy, the side effects of kava can be quite troubling.

Stevia Side Effects : a powerful natural sweetener hundreds of times sweeter than sugar that has met with some controversy in the United States.

Tea Tree Oil Uses : used for the treatment of infections, vaginitis and acne and other herbal medicine, tea tree oil is a strong topical supplement.

Turmeric Benefits : very important herb for lowering cholesterol, improving blood flow and guarding against cancer.

Uses of Damiana Leaf : an herbal aphrodisiac, damiana can increase libido and strengthen the nervous system.

White Kidney Bean Extract : the main ingredient in carb blocker diet pills, can be hazardous to your health.

Yohimbe Cream : a controversial herb used to treat erectile dysfunction and stimulate sex drive.


Outside of our herbal Supplements Directory, we also discuss a variety of other medicinal herbs and herbal medicine under our General Health and Specific Health Conditions sections.

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herbs: Home remedy for Scabies Tips

Just use herbs home remedy for Scabies
1.Fresh juice of apricot leaves should be extracted and applied over the infected area. It has beneficial results in the treatment of scabies.

2.Make a neem leaf paste with fresh or dried neem leaves and an equal quantity of turmeric powder mixed with mustard oil. This should be applied on the body and left for an hour or so. Then the person should bath. Repeat for 7- 10 days till all lesions have healed.

3.The dried bark of a peepul tree can be powdered fine, strained through a fine sieve and used as a dusting powder on lesions of scabies.

4.Extract the juice from 400 - 500 gm of drumstick leaves. Mix with an equal amount of sesame seed oil, and boil till the water dries up. Cool and store. Apply daily over the infected parts. Both have strong anti-microbial properties.

5.Apply lotions containing gamma benzene hexachloride or sulphur, available in the market under trade names such as scabiol and gammascab. These should be applied on the whole skin below the neck at night. All the red bumps should be scratched before application.

6.Avoid physical contact with infected persons and their belongings, especially clothing and bedding.

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Herbal: Foods for Prostate Health

Prostate cancer is a very scary thought for most men. The idea that every single man, if unencumbered by other diseases, will in his lifetime eventually have either an enlarged prostate or suffer varying degrees of prostate cancer is no secret any more.

The difference now is, we've become a nutritionally advanced culture who has learned more and more about natural supplements and products that can help us achieve and maintain health much longer than we used to, as well as to eat the right foods that will make our organs function at peak levels well into late ages.

Prostate health is no different. There are foods that you can eat that will help keep your walnut-sized prostate gland functioning at peak performance, and in healthy condition for a longer time than if you had a nutritionally lacking diet.

The foods that a man can eat to support the health of your prostate actually have multiple health benefits in addition to prostate health. This is because they are mostly classed into a coined group of foods dubbed "super foods" for their healing and health promoting properties, as well as therapeutic uses.

What are these "super foods" for prostate health you ask? Well, the first one may be a bit surprising for a guy to hear, because this nutrient rich food is usually reserved for female health. It's soy.

The compound derived from the common soybean, which is so many time suggested as a benefit to women's health. Well, some research has shown that soy derived products can also support a man's prostate health as well. Soy is a common ingredient in vegetarian and vegan dishes.

It is used because it is so versatile, and easily absorbs the flavors of other foods, and can easily emulate these foods as well. Soy burgers, soy cheese, and other soy products that taste like meat and poultry have a lot of soy in them, but it's actually best when you get it in the form of the actual soybean or in tofu, because it is not so radically processed at this point.

You can also buy powdered soy genistein, which is actually the active chemical in soy products (not all though) that can be an excellent cancer thwarting agent.

Another good food for prostate health is fruit. This may seem like common sense, but there is a slightly more complex reason that fruits may be good for your prostate. Fruits contain a natural sugar in them which has been found to have a protective effect on the male prostate gland. There is another natural chemical compound in some fruits called lycopene, which has been shown to have very beneficial effects.

This natural nutritionally powerful compound gives fruits and veggies a deep red color, so the deeper the red, the more lycopene it is likely to have. Men who were studied and had diets high in fruits and vegetable rich in lycopene were also found to have less incidence of prostate cancer.

Saw palmetto, an herb that is fairly inexpensive to come by, has long been thought to provide great benefit to men with an enlarged prostate, and to help continue prostate health. Some have refuted this, but nonetheless there is some anecdotal proof out there that men may not want to bypass the likelihood this herb still has great benefit to overall male health, especially prostate health.

As far as foods to avoid to keep the prostate gland in good shape and functioning properly and efficiently, milk has been found to be a possible deterrent to maintaining the health of this important gland.

Perhaps just limiting the consumption of milk or dairy in general would be prudent, especially for men in their older age where every little bit might help. Another possibility would be to replace milk with a milk substitute such as soy milk (kill two birds with one stone).

As long as you maintain a quality diet with a variety of color, less red meats and more fruits and veggies, you can rest assured you are doing all you can to promote a long, healthy and complication free life for your prostate gland. Not only that, these foods will benefit other areas of your health as well, making it well worth your while to pay attention to what you put in your body.
Foods for Prostate Health
Article Source: http://www.ApprovedArticles.com

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Guide To Some Common Herbs That Heal

Herbs have long been an acceptable way to fight common ailments
and while they should not take the place of medical advice, can
be a great supplement to your current medical care. There are
many common herbs that have healing properties which you may
not even know about.

Some of the herbs like garlic, parsley, rosemary and cayenne
you may associate more with cooking, but these plants also have
medicinal properties that you can easily put to use by using
them in teas, compresses and even as spices in your meals!

Some common healing herbs include:

Aloe Vera
The gel within this plant is reputed to heal wounds and other
skin problems such as sunburn. It is also a strong laxative.
The plant can be grown in your garden in tropical climates or
on your window sill. Slit open the leaves and use the juice
inside.

Cayenne
Cayenne is great for the circulation and it’s no wonder with
it's spicy bite! You can use it in your food, or if you are
really brave, in a tea. You can also take it in a capsule. It
is said that Cayenne will help to expedite the healing effects
of other herbs.

Chamomile
This herb has many uses. In a tea, it has a relaxing effect and
can sooth the digestive system. It is also excellent for the
skin when applied topically in a cream or lotion. Many herbal
soaps, shampoos and lotions include this herb which has been
used since ancient times.

Echinacea
This much publicized herb can help stabilize the immune system.
It can be taken as a pill or tincture or pulled out of the
ground an eaten as a snack! You may have some of these purple
daisy like flowers growing near you and not even realize that
they have medicinal properties.

Garlic
You thought it was just a tasty root to put on bread but this
herb has been used since ancient Egypt and has properties that
strengthen the immune system. It is used as a treatment for
infections, coughs and colds.

Ginger
Our herb guide likes ginger as it can be used in so many
dishes. It is reputed to aid in circulation.

Parsley
Rich in potassium, this herb is often used as a garnish and
left uneaten. I suggest you put it right in your salad and eat
it up - it has many vitamins and is reputed to strengthen the
kidneys and help with waste removal.

Rosemary
This herb stimulates circulation and aids in memory.

St. John's Wort
No herb guide would be complete without mention of this herb
which is used to treat mild depression and elevate mood.

About The Author: Lee Dobbins writes for pet and health related
websites. Visit http://www.herbs-home-remedies.com for more on
natural home remedies and herbs. Don’t forget to check their
extensive article
Guide To Some Common Herbs That Heal
Lee Dobbins

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Herbs & Their Preparation FAQ

Modern medicine regards cancer as a localised disease expressed in the form of a tumour. Surgery, radiation and chemotherapy are treatments aimed at the removal or destruction of such tumours and cancerous cells. If this viewpoint is indeed true, it means that after such successful medical treatments, we should not expect any more tumour growth.

Unfortunately, most cancer patients know that this is far from the truth. Dr. Karl Poehlmann wrote, Every therapy that only aims at the destruction of the tumour must be unsuccessful in the long run. To every thinking person it is quite clear that cancer producing "therapies" like radiation and more so chemotherapy cannot possibly work. Dr. Ulrich Abel of University of Heidelberg, in his book Chemotherapy of Advanced Epithelial Cancer, evaluated all available medical statistics until 1995 about chemotherapy and concluded that positive results (excepting, of course pharmaceutical company profits) are at best wishful thinking or "correlated statistics".

Complementary healing methods regards cancer as a general disease of the body and the tumour as only a symptom. Cancer is a result of the accumulation of toxins in the body. As such, the first and important healing treatment for cancer is to detoxify the body, not adding in more poison! In addition, we must avoid the further addition of toxins into the body system by practising a proper and healthy diet.


Based on these views, Cancer Care Therapy has advocated the use of herbs for healing and the eating of proper healthy food. In addition, there is the need to strengthen the body’s immune system. A strengthened and cleansed body shall then be able to heal itself. The herb used in CA Care Therapy are formulated with these views in mind and with the main aim of healing the whole person.

Herbal Teas Formulated by CA Care
How to prepare the herbal teas?
How to schedule the intake of herbal teas?



Herbal Teas Formulated by CA Care


Most cancer patients who came to us are medically written-off cases. They have exhausted all avenues of modern medical treatments. So, in addition to detoxifying the body, we have to alleviate many other discomforts like pain, severe weakness, severe coughs with excessive phlegm or breathlessness, constipation (often, morphine-induced), ascites, distended abdomen, edema, etc. We have formulated herbal teas to provide relief and healing of such problems.

The following are some of the herbs provided by us.






Herbs for Detoxification

Capsule A This consists of a mixture of herbs for general cancer. All cancer patients are to take two capsules, three to four times per day, preferably on empty stomach. If the patient has gastric problems these capsules are to be taken after food. The function of Capsule A is to detoxify the body system.

Capsule B This consists of a mixture of herbs which is taken together with (in addition to) Capsule A with honey water, for persons with liver problems or suffering from liver cancer. As with Capsule A, Capsule B is taken three to four times per day.

deTox Tea, C-Tea and LL-Tea These are herbal teas and we recommend that a person drinks one to two litres per day. Take this tea as your daily drinking water. The function of this tea is for general cleansing of the body. DeTox is for those with NPC, prostate and bladder cancer; and also people with urinary problems in general. C-Tea is for those with various cancers while LL-Tea is specifically for those with liver cancer and leukemia.






Herbs for Pain

Pain is the most common problem experienced by cancer patients. The pain can be due to inflammation, a tumour, or the tumour pressing on the the nerves or organs. Tumour metabolites can sometimes stimulate the nerves and muscles or joints to cause pain. The basic dictum of Chinese medicine is that, If there is pain, there is no free flow, if there is no free flow, there is pain. Lack of free flow could be due to stagnation or stasis, thus obstructing the flow of qi and blood. Deficiency of qi may also result in poor blood circulation. This can also cause pain. A few herbal mixtures have been formulated to help patients who are in pain.

Pain Tea This herbal mixture does not contain any pain killer. It relieves pain by promoting blood circulation. Depending on severity, Pain Tea can be taken one to six times per day. Prepare the tea per instructions found at the top of the box. Initially, patients can gradually decrease the intake of pain killers or morphine when they start taking our herbs. In many cases, after taking Pain Tea, patients do not have to take morphine or pain killers any more. They do not have to continue taking the Pain Tea once the pain is completely gone. Pain Tea actually heals the pain.

Pain Solution This herbal mixture is steeped in Chinese wine and is usually recommended for those in need of quick relief from pain. It is for external use only. The solution is applied onto the painful part of the body.






Herbs for Coughs

A cough is not a disease. It is a symptom of lung disorder or the dysfunction of the internal organs i.e., internal injuries of the spleen and kidneys. Such impairment could lead to accumulation of fluid, phlegm and fire. Depending on the syndrome, patients are to take the appropriate herbal cough mixtures.

Cough No. 1 is for dry, long standing coughs with little mucous. Sometimes the sputum can be blood-tinged. There is dryness in the mouth and throat and feverish sensations in the palms and soles.

Cough No. 3 is for coughs producing yellow, thick and sticky sputum. Sometimes, the patient may feel fullness in the chest, has shortness of breath and may experience nausea or vomiting.

Cough No. 5 is for coughs producing thick, sticky, white phlegm. There may be fullness in the chest, nausea or headache and dizziness.

Cough No. 6 is generally for elderly persons who have productive coughs with shortness of breath, chest upset or indigestion. The sputum is whitish and foamy.

Cough No. 11 is for non-productive coughs with an itchy feeling in the throat. The patient is with or without chill or fever.

Cough No. 12 is for those with phlegm that seems to be stuck in the throat and is difficult to expectorate.






Herbs for Constipation

Constipation refers to difficulty in passing stools. This could be due to excess internal heat leading to dry intestines. Weakness of the body is another cause of constipation and in this case, the stools are not necessarily dry or hard. Most cancer patients suffer from constipation. Their stools are dry and bowels are moved only once in several days. These patients usually produce small amounts of deep yellow urine. Elderly patients generally have difficulty in passing stools although there is an urge to defecate.





Herbs for Phlegm and Fluid Retention


Retention of phlegm and fluid leads to excessive water in certain parts of the body resulting in swelling, bloatedness and ascites. Phlegm is thick and turbid while fluid is clear and thin. Chinese medical scholars are of the opinion that phlegm and retained fluid were of the same origin, holding that fluid is the initial form of phlegm. The cause is the malfunction of the spleen leading to disorder of the transportation, transformation and distribution of the body fluid. This disorder is manifested in various symptoms. Ascities is the internal accumulation of fluid, especially in the peritoneal cavity, causing the abdomen to swell. Edema is the accumulation of fluid in the subcutaneous tissues expressed by puffiness of the head, face, eyelids, limbs, abdomen, back and scrotum. It is a result of malfunctions of the heart, liver and kidney. Abdominal distension is the enlargement of the abdomen accompanied by dark yellow coloration of the skin or visible superficial veins on its surface.

Ascities Tea Many cancer patient suffer from ascities. The medical answer to this problem is to puncture the abdominal cavity and draw out the fluid. In severe cases, this has to be done as often as once every few days. An alternative to surgical intervention is to take Ascites Tea, one to three times per day and experience the amazing results!

Edema-Upper Tea is for the swelling of the face, hands and other upper parts of the body.

Edema-Lower Tea is for the swelling of the legs and the lower parts of the body.

Abdominal Distension Tea is for the tight and hardened enlargement of the abdomen. In severe cases, the tea can be taken two to three times per day.

Lung Phlegm Tea is for those in which there is fluid or phlegm in the lungs resulting in laboured or difficult breathing.






Herbs for Strengthening Body Resistance

Most cancer patients who come to us are generally weak or exhausted. The use of proper herbs to increase body resistance and body vitality is recommended.

Chemo-Tea Those who are currently on chemotherapy generally benefit from taking this tea. It strengthens the body, reduces nausea and vomiting and encourages appetite.

Radio-Tea is especially formulated for those who are currently undergoing radiotherapy. It strengthens the body, encourages appetite and helps in blood formation.

Appetite Tea helps in restoring appetite.

Vomiting Tea helps those who experience problems of nausea and vomiting.

T & E Tea for patients who tumours in their body and or lack energy.






Herbs for Specific Cancers

In addition to taking Capsule A or Capsule A and Capsule B for liver cases, and deTOX, C-Tea and LL Tea, we have formulated various teas for specific cancers.

Brain Tea for brain cancer.

Bone Tea for bone cancer.

Breast Cancer Teas:
Breast L are for those with fixed or movable hard mammary masses;
Breast M are for those exhibiting metastasis or who have suffered relapses after chemotherapy or radiotherapy.

Cervical Tea for cervical cancer

Fibroid Tea - GY6 This is not a cancer tea. We have formulated this tea for benign lumps in the reproductive organs.

GI 1 and GI 2 Tea are for colon and rectal cancer.

Leukemia Tea for leukemia.

Lung 1 and Lung 2 Teas for lung cancer.

Liver-P Tea for liver cancer and various hepatitis.

Lymphoma 1 and Lymphoma 2 Tea for cancer of the lymph nodes

NPC 1, NPC 2 and NPC Phlegm Teas are for nasopharyngeal cancer.

Throat & Oesophagus Tea for throat and oesophagus cancer.

Tougue 1 and Tougue 2 for tongue cancer.

Prostate Cancer Teas:
Prostate A is for prostate cancer.
Prostate B is for those with sporadic urination or possible urinary obstruction, low abdominal fullness and pain in the back.

Stomach Tea for stomach cancer.

Utero-Ovary Tea for uterine cancer.






Herbs for Miscellaneous Problems

Blood-in-Urine Tea for those who pass out blood in the urine.

Stomach Function Tea for those with gas or flatulence, feeling of fullness of the stomach, nausea, vomiting and acid regurgitation; for those who experience pains that change positions around the abdominal area.

Hiccup Tea is for those who suffer from unceasing hiccups.

Blood-in-Stool Tea is for those who pass out blood in the stools.

Jaundice Teas:
Jaundice Heat for jaundiced conditions with heatiness symptoms.

Jaundice Cold for jaundiced conditions with cold symptoms.

Art-Rhu Capsule is for those with general arthritic joint pains and rheumatism.

Menopause Capsule is for women who are going through menopause and experience menopausal symptoms like, hot flashes, insomnia, bodily discomfort and so forth.

PMS Capsule is for those who find themselves experience premenstrual symptoms such as being easily irritated and angry; bloated abdomen, tenderness of breasts, cravings for certain foods, etc.

Flu Teas:
Heat Flu is for those who are having flu, with hot breaths, feverish and produce yellow phlegm. Their urine is of a deeper yellow coloration.
Cold Flu is for those who are having flu, with aversion to cold. The urine is normally of very light coloration. The phlegm is normally white or colorless.

Insomnia Tea is for those who could not sleep at night.

PS Solution is an oil steeped with herbs, used to reduce swellings and pains. It is for external application only.






How to prepare the herbal teas?
Instructions and tips on how to prepare and take the herbal teas:


Tips for preparation:

You will need a cooking pot (glass, clay or stainless steel) for preparation of tea. Choose one that is big enough to prevent boiling over.

To save time spent in kitchen preparing the teas, you may boil more than one herbal tea at the same time. In this case you will need two or more pots and stoves. All teas must be boiled separately, strained and kept in separate thermos flasks.

The teas are to be taken separately, at separate times (preferably at least 1 -2 hours apart). Before the appropriate time to take the prepared herbal tea, pour out the tea into a cup to allow it to cool to a comfortable temperature for drinking.

Do not keep the tea overnight. It may turn sour.


Instructions for preparing various teas may differ. Please follow the instructions given at the top of the box. Below are some tips and general instructions for the preparation of the various herbs.


deTox Tea, C-Tea and LL-Tea


How to prepare: The amount of tea to use is stated on the label. Boil tea in 1 litre water. When water boils, lower flame and simmer for about 25 minutes. Turn off the flame and allow sediments to settle. Sieve tea into a thermos flask to keep for drinking.


We recommend that you drink 1 or 2 litres of tea per day. Drink tea throughout the day as drinking water. When you have finished the tea, you may drink water as usual.



Other Herbal Teas:

How to prepare: The amount of tea to use is stated on the label. Generally you need to use 6 Tablespoonfuls (heap) tea to 3 cups (1 cup about 230 – 250 ml) water in a cooking pot. Put to boil without covering the pot. Use medium flame when water starts boiling. Continue boiling until about 1 cup water is left. Strain the tea. You can discard the debris or reboil it to make another cup of tea to drink later. Allow tea to cool down (warm) before consuming.

Drink on type of at a time. Give an hour or two, before you take the next tea. If you find the taste in your mouth is unpleasand, munch a small piece of fruit after consuming tea. That will help, but do not take sweets or artificial sweeteners.



Pain Tea:

How to prepare: Add 3 Tablespoonful (heap) tea to 3 cups (1 cup about 230 – 250 ml) water in a cooking pot. Put to boil as described earlier.

Tips: Pain Tea can also be boiled with another herbal tea (e.g., Brain, Bone, Breast, Cervical, Lung, Liver P, Lymphoma, Prostate, Stomach, Utero-Ovary, Ascites, Abdominal Distension, etc.). This saves preparation time. In this case, use 3 Tablespoons of Pain Tea + 6 Tablespoons of any tea into 3 or 4 cups water and boil down to 1 cup. Note that only Pain Tea can be mixed with other teas. Other teas need to be boiled separately.



Example of preparation of herbal teas

Patient taking Breast M, Liver P, Ascites and 5 times of Pain Tea per day.

1. 6 Tablespoons Breast M + 3 Tablespoons of Pain Tea: Boil as described above.

2. 6 Tabolespoons of Liver P + 3 Tablespoons of Pain Tea: Boil as described above.

3. 6 Tablespoons of Ascites + 3 Tablespoons of Pain Tea: Boil as described above.

4. Patient needs to take 2 more doses of Pain Tea: Add 6 (3+3) Tablespoons Pain to 6 cups water and boil as described above. Boil until 2 cups. Take one cup of Pain Tea at a time.

More tips: Sometimes patient takes finds it difficult to drink too much teas. In such a situation, the teas can be concentrated by boiling longer to reduce the volume to ¾ or ½ a cup instead of 1 cup.






How to schedule the intake of herbal teas?


Take for example a patient who is prescribed:

1. Capsule A + B, 2 + 2 capsules three times a day. Note: Capsule A+B need to be taken with honey water. In this case use a half-teaspoon of honey in warm water and drink it together with the capsules. If you are only taking Capsule A, then it is not necessary to drink with honey water.

2. LL-tea, drink as drinking water.

3. Breast M tea, once a day.

4. Liver P tea, once a day.

5. Ascites tea, once a day.

6. Pain tea, 3 times a day.


You may plan your schedule as below:

Morning

Wake up: Take 2 cap A + 2 cap B with honey water, on empty stomach. If you have gastric problem, take capsules after breakfast. Honey is for medicinal purpose. Do not replace with sugar.

Mid-morning, ONE hours after breakfast. Take Breast M + Pain teas.

Afternoon

ONE HOUR before or after lunch: Take 2 cap A + 2 cap B with honey water.

Mid-afternoon: Ascites + Pain teas.

Evening

Late evening ONE hour before dinner. Liver P + Pain Teas.

Before going to bed: Take 2 cap A + 2 cap B with honey water.

The above schedule is just an example. You don't have to strictly follow the suggestion. Please make your own schedule that suits your circumstances.

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Healing Wonders of Herbs

The use of organic medicines has been an alternative healing practice for centuries. But until now, the practice is still relevant to many cultures, people and societies. Since the prices of manufactured drugs are getting higher these days, many people opt for herbal medicine and medicinal plants treatment. A study conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO) reveals that an estimated 80% of the world populatrion rely on herbal medicine or similar medicinal plants preparations.

Why is that so? Well, besides from the fact that these natural herbs and plants are cheaper and readily available in our gardens or backyards, these are also “organic.” This means that, unlike the conventional or manufactured medicine we buy in drugstores, herbal medicine is in its natural, purest form. But are there really such things as healing wonders of herbs?

Researchers around the world have proven the effectiveness of medicinal plants and have uncovered the healing wonders of herbs. Herbalists say that medicinal plants are very effetive herbal medicine. They claim that natural herbs can be practical remedies for common ailments.

Now, let us find out the healing wonders of herbs. Is this claim supported by scientific explanation?

If we are to talk about the healing wonders of herbs, we are to discover the healing elements in nature. It is also imperative to look into the role of medicinal plants in healing practices around the world. There is a lot of information regarding the history and many uses of herbs. The practice of herbal medicine has existed since prehistoric times. There are over 80,000 species of plants that are used for healing purposes. Herbal medicine, alongside acupuncture, is considered primary health practice in China. Herbalists and folk healers say that the healing wonders of herbs are very real. Each herb has specific healing properties. Herbalists use different parts of herbs and plants to to prevent, relieve, and treat illnesses.

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Herbs: Benefits

Benefits of Herbs

Patients uncomfortable or unsatisfied with synthetic pills and prescriptions may consider turning to herbal remedies. Extracted from plants, roots, seeds and fruits, herbal remedies have been used throughout human history. Recent medical evidence supports and clearly defines the benefits of herbal medicine. Many modern prescriptions contain herbal extracts or a synthesized equivalent.


Herbal medicines offer natural alternatives to people allergic to traditional medications such as penicillin or aspirin. Natural teas and herbs exist that perform the same essential functions as these basic remedies. Allergies to medications are serious and sometimes deadly. Herbal remedies allow a patient to treat their problems with less risk of adverse reaction.

Some modern medications or designer drugs are accompanied by long lists of side effects and complications. Physicians often choose to counter these side effects by prescribing more pills. Complex and expensive drug regimens bog down patients lives and deplete their finances. Any side effects from herbal medicine are usually far milder and well documented. Dosage cycles are strict and less taxing on finances and concentration. Combining herbal medicines is far less exhausting to your system than mixing prescription drugs.

For chronic conditions herbal medicines are a much better course of treatment than prescription drugs. Whether gastric discomfort, blood pressure or menstrual cramps, herbalists can find treatments safe and suitable for the problem. While more serious condition like cancer and other diseases require hospital treatment, their approach to common, daily ailments can result in drug dependence. These drugs attack the symptoms rather than the condition. Herbal medicines promote and enhance your body's performance and resistance, working with your system to fight the problem.

Herbal medicines also require no prescription and are readily available in most super markets as well as in specialty shops. While anyone seeking herbal care is strongly advised to research the effects of the herbs they take, a well informed patient can easily select and treat themselves with a preferred brand. Skilled and nature-savvy patients can even hunt down their own herbs and find easy instructions on how to properly harness the plant's medicinal properties.

Herbal medicines have a long and rich history of aiding people in pain. While the veracity of some miracle properties of herbs is suspicious, their long term health benefits have been documented and tested by today's medical institutions. Any patient suspicious or intolerant of pharmaceuticals should look into using herbal remedies.

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Health Benefits of Spices and Herbs

Spices and herbs have been used by our ancestors for centuries for their medicinal qualities as well as for their culinary enhancements. Researchers continue to study the healing properties that can be offered by these natural remedies.

Questions you may have include:

What are some of the medicinal qualities of spices?
How are they used to heal?
What are some good spices to use?
This lesson will answer those questions. There is a mini-quiz near the end of the lesson. Health Disclaimer

Favorite spices
Here are a few of my favorite spices with their benefits:

Cayenne pepper and Tabasco sauce
Cayenne pepper and Tabasco sauce can increase metabolism and fat-burning ability by up to 25%.

Ginger
Ginger speeds metabolic rate, plus it inhibits nausea and vomiting often caused by morning sickness or motion sickness.

Peppermint
Peppermint is used to treat gastric and digestive disorders, as well as tension and insomnia.

Mustard
Mustard is a stimulant that can be used to relieve respiratory complaints.

Horseradish
Horseradish is a relative of the mustard family that acts as a digestive stimulant.

Cinnamon
Cinnamon is often used as an antidote for diarrhea and stomach upset as well as a metabolism booster.

Allspice
Allspice is an aromatic stimulant that helps to relieve indigestion and gas.

Garlic
Regular consumption of garlic can decrease blood pressure and cholesterol levels. It also aids digestion and prevents flatulence. Recent research shows garlic to be beneficial in the treatment of diabetes.

Turmeric
Turmeric is an antioxidant that neutralizes free radicals and therefore protects against cancer.

Summary
Use these spices to spice up your health.

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The Natural Herbs For Healthy Hair

1. Sage: Excellent for weak hair.
2. Rosemary: Enhances dark hair
3. Chamomile: Promotes healthy hair growth.
4. Catnip: Promotes hair growth.
5. Burdock Root: Promotes hair growth and reduces hair from falling out

Hair Loss

Hair is a growth consisting of dead skin cells that are filled with a protein called keratin. (which is the main ingredient in your fingernails.) Each hair is encased and nourished by a follicle buried under the skin.

Loss or absence of hair, also known as alopecia is a hereditary and unavoidable condition. In some men it can be a side effect of medication, a dietary deficiency or hormonal imbalance.




You can help reduce the effects of hair loss from stress, trauma, shock or illness by increasing your intake of vitamin C found in fresh fruits and vegetables, particularly citrus fruit and juices, parsley, broccoli, green peppers and black currants.

Take a vitamin B complex everyday or brewers yeast. Increase your intake of protein found in meat, fish, liver, wheat germ, dried cooked beans and peas, tofu, cheese, milk and eggs.

The Chinese believe that hair is nourished by the blood, and therefore influenced by the kidney & liver. Treatment is aimed at these organs using fleeceflower root, wolfberry fruit or mulberry fruit. Here are some great shampoos you may want to make:

HERBAL SHAMPOO - great for dandruff

4 tablespoons dried thyme boiled for 10 minutes in 2 cups of water. Strain and let cool before massaging onto clean damp hair. Leave on for 1 hour then rinse in warm water.

Second recipe:

2 egg yolks beaten in a half cup of water, massage onto hair and scalp for 5 minutes. Rinse well with water and then rinse with a mixture of 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar and water.

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Acupuncture and Herbs For Hair Loss (Alopecia)

Hair loss is a condition that can start from a very young age, in one's 20's or even earlier. Male-pattern hair loss is extremely common. It can lead to partial or complete baldness. Female-pattern hair loss is ordinarily confined to thinning of the hair in the front and crown regions. Some causes of hair loss can be stress, thinking too much or family heredity. Feelings of anxiety and self-consciousness may be present.

Using acupuncture and herbs is a safe and effective way to help hair growth. I have had some success with hair loss cases in my clinic. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (T.C.M.), the differentiation mainly falls into two types: deficiency (blood and kidney) or damp heat stagnation. I combine acupuncture with herbs (both oral and external) and it works well for most clients.

The main acupuncture points are G5, 7,20, Du16, 19, Yi Ming, and St8. The treatment is given once a week or more often. Also at home everyday the client can use a seven star needle and tap the bald patch or scalp where the hair is thinning.

Many herbs can nourish the hair and help hair growth such as: He Shou Wu, Nu Zhen Zi, Han Lian Cao, Shuan Ye, Dang Gui, Shu Di Huang, etc... Herbal tea is made from the herbs and taken orally. I also make herbal tincture for topical application, especially for use with the seven star needle. The above treatment promotes scalp blood circulation. It not only helps hair growth but may also prevent graying of hair. New hair growth can be seen after two to three months of treatment.

Let me share a case study with you. C.C., male, 33 His initial visit was 10-24-96. He has had a hair loss problem for about 20 years. He had partial hair loss when he was a teenager. He had been taking steroid hormones both orally and topically. The condition was worsening during the past couple of years. His symptoms included partial hair loss and thinning of hair. For six months one bald patch, about egg size, was located on the right side of his temple. He was often nervous and suffered from headaches. His tongue was bigger than normal, slightly red in color with a white coat. His pulses were thin and weak. The differentiation was damp-heat stagnation and blood kidney deficiency. I made him herbal tea as a daily supplement, gave an herbal tincture for topical use and performed acupuncture. The office visit was scheduled for once a week. I first observed new hair growth in the bald patch at his 8th visit. The bald patch was getting smaller daily. Three months later the patch was completely filled with new hair. The new hair has remained well and is healthy. During the last five years he has been on a maintenance program and he is satisfied with the result.

So far Western medicine doesn't have a good method to treat hair loss. Some doctors will prescribe steroid hormones (both oral and local) to control the condition. It won't solve the problem, and you may experience bad side effects including weight gain, bone weakness, diabetes, etc. Long-term steroid use can cause medical problems and people should be careful about using them.

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The Natural Herbs for Constipation

There are two basic types of constipation - organic and functional. Organic constipation is a result of some physical change, obstruction, or distortion in your colon. This type of constipation needs immediate attention from a doctor.

This article only covers Functional Constipation. This type of constipation is a result of not following a proper diet, drinking enough fluids, having good emotional health and not having a good lifestyle - a lifestyle that promotes good movement of digested foods through the intestines and colon.

Even though there are many definitions for constipation, constipation is simply a condition where the fecal matter traveling through your colon remains too long in your colon before traveling out the rectum.

Constipation is a symptom and not a disease. It is a condition that tells you your colon is not working properly or that you have some underlying gastrointestinal disease you are not aware of.

Constipation may be a warning that your diet and lifestyle are causing an imbalance in your body. It is a symptom that many people ignore or that many people try to eliminate by using unnatural and oftentimes dangerous drugstore laxatives.

Drugstore laxatives should be avoided when you have constipation. They can become habit-forming, damage your colon, and have nasty side effects if used too long. They sometimes have the tendency of creating the problem you are trying relieve - constipation.

To keep your body in chemical balance, it is important to use only natural remedies for constipation. Natural remedies such as herbs and foods bring into the colon those nutrients that can build up your colon and reactivate your natural peristaltic action.

As you use natural remedies, keep in mind that one particular remedy may not work for you. You may have to try a different remedy or increase dosage of the one you are using. If you supply what your body needs by using a specific remedy, then you will get results from using that remedy.

Experimenting is part of finding out what remedy is best for you. There are many different natural remedies you can choose from. Look on the internet for "natural remedies for constipation" and you will find many listings.

Keep in mind that most remedies should be used only for a short time, two to four days and not longer than 2 weeks. They should only be used for the time needed to clear your constipation. This might be just 4 or 5 times or sometimes it may take several weeks.

There are some herbal combinations that can be used for longer duration. These combinations can improve your colon's health and get your bowels moving again.

If you have constipation, the natural balance and function of your colon has been affected. But, natural remedies can bring you colon back into balance. A number of herbs are used to ease constipation including liquorice, dandelion, ginger, and yellow dock. Just make a tea (infusion) of the herb and drink three to four cups each day.

A specific cleansing tea will help keep your bowel, small intestine and colon in good shape, and reduce the possibility of constipation. Most cleansing teas are taken regularly for a week or two, then drunk once every couple of days to keep in shape.

Prunes, raisins, apples and berries added to the diet will help.

In many cases just adding fibre and fluids to the diet will fix the problem. Both insoluble fibre found in wheat, and soluble found in fruit and vegetables will help keep the intestine working smoothly.

Too much fibre added to your diet to quickly can cause wind. Just add extra fibre gradually. Lots of fluids are important, and lack of sufficient fluids alone is enough to cause constipation.

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Herbs for constipation:Children's constipation

Keville suggests tea (recipe below); elderberry jam; catnip enema; ground psyllium seed in juice; and slippery elm gruel. For children's constipation, Susun Weed suggests violet flower syrup.

Slippery Elm gruel - for children (Kathi Keville, Herbs for Health and Healing, p 221)
1 tablespoon slippery elm powder
3/4 cup water
1 teaspoon lemon juice (optional)
Combine powder and water in saucepan and heat until warm, stirring the mixture to prevent clumping. Add optional lemon juice for flavor. Can also sweeten the gruel with child's favorite herbal or fruit based sweetener. Child can drink entire amount (for every 50 lbs of body weight). Drink before it cools - as gruel cools down, it thickens and the thicker it gets, the more likely your child will push it away.

Constipation Tea - for children (Kathi Keville, Herbs for Health and Healing, p.220)
1 cup boiling water
1/2 teaspoon licorice root
1/4 teaspoon ginger root (or fennel seeds)
1/4 cup apple juice (optional)
1/4 cup prune juice (optional)
Steep first 3 ingredients; strain; add juices. Recommended - 50 lb child, 1/4 cup every 2 hours "until a change for the better becomes apparent".

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Herbs for constipation:Recipes for relieving constipation

compiled from some popular herbal guides

Constipation tea/tincture (Deb Soule, The Roots of Healing, p92)
Dandelion root 2 parts
Yellow dock root 1 part
Angelica root 2 parts
Burdock root 1 part
Ginger root 1 part
Licorice root 1/2 part
Place 7 to 8 tablespoons of herbs in 1 quart of water and simmer, covered for 30 minutes. Drink warm as needed. As a tincture, take 25-50 drops as needed. For chronic constipation, take 3x a week for 1 to 3 weeks.

Laxative Tea (Michael Moore, Herb Formulas for Clinic and Home)
3 parts Psyllium seed
3 parts Licorice root
2 parts Rhubarb root (Rheum officinale)
2 parts Senna pods, crushed
2 parts Angelica root
Drink as a simple tea/infusion in the evening.

Herbal Laxative Syrup - for adults (Kathi Keville, Herbs for Health and Healing, p 84)
1 teaspoon honey (or barley syrup or some other natural liquid sweetener)
2 teaspoons cascara sagrada bark tincture
1 teaspoon licorice root tincture
1/2 teaspoon tincture of fennel, ginger, or peppermint
Warm honey enough to make it liquid. Combine it with the remaining ingredients and stir well. Take 1 teaspoon.

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