The Complete Herbal Guide: A Natural Approach to Healing the Body - Heal Your Body Naturally and Maintain Optimal Health Using Alternative Medicine, Herbals, Vitamins, Fruits and Vegetables (2 page)

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Herbal Medicine sometimes referred to as Herbalism or Botanical Medicine, is the use of herbs for their therapeutic or medical value. An herb is a plant or plant part valued for its medical, aromatic or savory qualities. Herb plants produce and contain a variety of chemical substances that act upon the body.

Herbal medicine has been used for centuries. In fact, there has been evidence showing that herbal remedies have been around since the Neanderthal period about 60,000 years ago. Other evidence of the use of herbs for medical purposes has appeared in cave paintings estimated to have been made between 13,000 and 25,000 BC. Most of the synthetic prescription drugs made today is based on naturally occurring substances and capabilities found in plants.

In fact, many of the familiar pharmaceutical medications we use today were originally created from natural ingredients. Drugs like opium (from poppies), aspirin (from willow bark), digitalis (from foxglove) and quinine (from the cinchona tree.)

Herbal Medicine can be broadly classified into various basic systems: Traditional Chinese Herbalism, which is part of Traditional Oriental Medicine, Ayurvedic Herbalism, which is derived from Ayurveda, and Western Herbalism, which originally came from Greece and Rome to Europe and then spread to North and South America.

Chinese and Ayurvedic Herbalism have developed into highly developed systems of diagnosis and treatment over the centuries. Western Herbalism is today for the most part a system of folk medicine.

Interest in herbals and natural alternatives has been growing worldwide in recent years from the reported success stories from the use of herbs. For example, St. John's Wort is widely used in the treatment of mild depression without the need for Prozac. St. John's Wort does not have the side effects such as that of Prozac. Some Ayurvedic herbs are very useful for reducing cholesterol, diabetes, etc. Similarly, the popularity of Ginseng and Ginkgo biloba (ginkgo) is rising due to its beneficial effects.

The Complete Herbal Guide:  A Natural Approach to Healing the Body is an essential reference book for anyone interested in maintaining optimal health and overcoming disease. The book contains concise and comprehensive listings of over 150 herbs and conditions. This book has quick and easy references to the all information you need to maintain excellent health the natural way.

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Acne is an extremely common skin condition with a prevalence of 80% in female and 90% in male teenagers. However, it can occur at any age. A growing number of adults are being diagnosed with adult acne.

For most people, acne is a bothersome condition characterized by occasional flare-ups of blackheads, pimples, and pustules. Most often, pimples develop on the face, neck, upper chest, and/or the back. More severe forms can result in inflamed nodules and cysts with scarring.

Hormones called androgens stimulate increased oil production. The oil is broken down into free fatty acids by bacterial enzymes, which causes skin inflammation and abnormal plugging of the oil glands and hair follicle.

Pimples eventually rupture.

Acne can sometimes be confused with these conditions:

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Rosacea

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Folliculitis

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Dermatitis

What can make acne worse?

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Menstrual cycle: 
acne often worsens premenstrual or mid-cycle

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Prescription medications:
certain birth control pills, steroids, and lithium

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Being overweight:
increased insulin production can signal the body to release extra male hormones called androgens, which are involved, which can cause pimple formation.

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Stress

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Pore-clogging
(comedogenic) cosmetics, sunscreens, moisturizers, greases, and oils

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Adolescence

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Poor diet: e
xcessive sugar, trans fats, fried, salt, and processed foods. In addition, insufficient intake of water, healthy oils, fruit and vegetables, and fiber can cause acne.

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Excessive intake of foods:
chocolate, caffeine, carbonated beverages, milk products, seafood and other iodine-rich foods can cause acne.

Tumors in the adrenal glands, polycystic ovarian syndrome (especially when adult acne occurs with irregular menstrual periods), and other health conditions can cause acne. Examination by your family physician is recommended to rule out these conditions.

Treatment:

Conventional treatments for acne are usually quite successful. They can include cleansing agents and lotions made with benzoyl peroxide, gels or creams made modified forms of vitamin A, and antibiotics applied to the skin or taken orally. The risk of scarring is an important factor when considering the type of treatment.

Diet
a diet based on whole, unprocessed foods may benefit people with acne. Try to eat at least five servings of vegetables per day and at least one serving of fruit per day. Avoid eating refined sugar. Fried foods and trans fats such as milk, milk products, margarine, shortening, and other hydrogenated vegetable oils should be eliminated. Foods containing healthy omega-3 oils such as ground flaxseeds and sardines should be increased. Some people find that chocolate, caffeine, carbonated beverages, iodized salt, shellfish, wheat and/or milk products aggravate acne.

Regular bowel movements are important. Drink at least eight glasses of day of water. Increase fiber intake. In addition to eating fresh vegetables and fruit, choose whole grains. Some people may benefit from a one- to four-week liver detox diet based on fresh vegetables and fruit.

Vitamins & Nutritional Supplements

Vitamin A

Vitamin A may help to reduce sebum production. However, high doses of vitamin A can carry a risk of decreased bone density, birth defects, headache, and muscle and joint pain. Like the modified vitamin A prescription drugs, vitamin A can cause birth defects. Sexually active women of childbearing age should not take more than 5,000 IU per day unless they are under the guidance of a professional
and they are using at least two reliable forms of birth control. Vitamin A supplementation may not be necessary if there is adequate intake of beta-carotene, vitamin E, and zinc, all necessary for vitamin A formation. Decreasing unhealthy fats such as margarine, hydrogenated oils, processed foods, and other sources of trans fats can also improve absorption.

Zinc

Zinc, especially in the form of zinc gluconate or zinc sulfate, can help prevent acne. Zinc helps heal blemishes, reduces inflammation, and reduces androgenic hormonal effects on the skin. Begin by increasing food sources of zinc. Two studies comparing zinc to the antibiotic tetracycline found zinc to be as effective as tetracycline. Another study found a mild yet definite effect of zinc.

Vitamin B6

Vitamin B6 may help premenstrual or mid-cycle acne. This vitamin is essential for the proper metabolism of steroid hormones and can reduce the sensitivity of skin to the effects of testosterone.

Herbs
an herbal blend that can help with acne consists of equal parts of the herbal extracts of sarsaparilla, yellow dock, burdock, and cleavers. These herbs are believed to be potent blood and lymph cleansers. Half a teaspoon per day of this blend can be taken three times per day combined with a healthy diet.

Tea tree oil
applied to acne lesions may help to eliminate bacteria and reduce inflammation.

Bodywork
Massage is often recommended for people with skin problems. It can help to increase circulation and lymphatic drainage and speed the healing of blemishes.

Stress Reduction
Techniques:

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Yoga

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Exercise

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Breathing techniques

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Biofeedback

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Massage

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Meditation

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What are allergies?

Allergies occur when the immune system overreacts to a normally harmless substance, such as pollen. Although there are many different types of allergies, including food and skin allergies, here we are talking specifically about allergies to airborne particles, known medically as allergic rhinitis. Pollen allergies are called hay fever. Approximately 20 percent of North Americans are affected.

Key Symptoms of Allergies

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Runny nose

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Nasal congestion

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Sneezing

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Itchy, watery eyes, nose or throat

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Coughing

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Skin itching or rash

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Fatigue

Allergy symptoms can range from mild to severe. The above symptoms are generally considered mild. See a doctor immediately if you begin wheezing or have difficulty breathing, which could be signs of an asthma attack.

Anaphylaxis is a potentially life-threatening allergic reaction.

Although it often begins with itching of the eyes or face, within minutes it can progress to such severe swelling that makes it difficult to breathe and swallow. Abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea may also occur. This is a medical emergency and requires immediate treatment.

How Diet Can Help

The foods you eat can boost your immune system and prevent symptoms. A Japanese study assessed the possible protective effect of the traditional Japanese diet on allergies. They looked at 1002 Japanese pregnant women, and found that calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus were associated with a decreased prevalence of allergies. The typical North American diet tends to be lower in magnesium and calcium:

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Food Sources of Magnesium

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Getting Enough Calcium in Your Diet

People with allergies may also have sensitivity to certain foods. For example, several studies have found that people allergic to grass pollens also react to tomatoes, peanuts, wheat, apple, carrot, celery, peach, melon, eggs and pork.

To find out which foods aggravate symptoms of allergies in a particular individual, an elimination-and-challenge diet is recommended. This diet involves the removal of suspected foods from the diet for at least a week followed by systematic re-introduction of those foods in order to isolate the foods that may aggravate certain symptoms. It should be done under the guidance of a health professional.

How Herbs and Supplements Can Help

Bromelain

Bromelain is an enzyme found naturally in the stem of the pineapple plant. When taken with food, bromelain aids digestion.

Precautions:

If it is taken with water between meals on an empty stomach (one hour prior to or two hours after a meal), bromelain is believed to have an anti-inflammatory effect, which can help to decrease mucus and other allergy symptoms.

Dosages:

A typical dose is 400 to 500 mg of bromelain (look for 1800 to 2000 m.c.u. on the label) one to three times a day. People who are sensitive to pineapples should not take bromelain. Side effects, while rare, may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abnormal menstrual bleeding.

Nettle Leaf (Urtica dioica)

Nettle leaf, also called stinging nettles, are a popular remedy for allergies. This herb is believed to have an anti-inflammatory effect. In a double blind, randomized study of 69 people, 58 percent rated a nettle extract effective in relieving symptoms after one week. In addition, 48 percent found it equally or more effective than previous medicine.