Garlic --Antiviral, Antibacterial and Antifungal

Garlic, one of my all time favorite herbs, can do it all. Its healing powers are always expanding as research continues.

Dr. Weil, a leading holilstic MD points out some of what garlic can do:

*Alters how cholesterol is metabolized in the body, making it less likely to oxidize

*Lowers blood pressure and decreased clot formation, thus reducing the risk of stroke and heart attack

*Combats respiratory infections such as common colds and sore throats

*Reduces fungal or yeast infections

And of course it's a natural antibiotic.

If you are using raw garlic, which is the best way to get the most benefits, just remember to let it sit out for 10 min before you add to food.

Herbs to Enhance Immune System

The holistic philosophy is that if you keep your system strong it will be able to resist whatever is going around. That's why I feed my family a daily cup of chicken soup from Oct - March. (Note add 6 cloves of garlic to chicken soup to enhance immune system.)

Here are some herbs that are known to enhance your immune system.


American Ginseng- supports adrenal glands. Also aids in digestion.

Amla- may prevent and treat connective tissue damage associated with rheumatoid arthritis and lupus

Astragalus - strengthens lungs and good for people with asthma

Cordyceps- helps regulate bloods pressure and strengthens heart

Eleuthero - increases energy, endurance and stamina, improves alertness and cognitive function

Natural Relief for Allergies

With allergy season in full bloom hereare some natural ways to live in peace with nature.


Green Tea

Green tea, which is full of a powerful antioxidant phytonutrient called epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), blocks histamine and immunoglobulin E (IgE). Both of these naturally-produced chemicals are linked with uncomfortable allergy-symptoms. Because EGCG blocks their production, allergy symptoms are reduced. Drink two to three cups of green tea daily for the best results.

Quercetin

Sources of this antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-histamine phytonutrient include:
apples
onions
berries
cabbage,
caauliflower
nuts
black, green or white tea


Pineapple Enzymee

Bromelain, which can be extracted from pineapple is anti-inflmmatory. It can help with sinusitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and other respiratory disorders.

Source of information above is the Healthy and Living Section on Card2.com http://www.care2.com/greenliving/7-ways-to-beat-allergies-naturally.html

Supplemental Use Goes Mainstream

Even I was surprised by this statistic from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Half of the U.S. population is using supplements. The supplements include vitamins, herbs and minerals.

An article on CNN reports that use of calcium, vitamin D and folic acid has risen in the past few years with 61% of women over the age of 60 take calcium, compared with only 28% in 1988-1994. Also, 56% of women in that age group take vitamin D supplements, compared with only 30% in 1988-1994.

The article quotes Dr. Orly Avitzur, medical adviser for Consumer Reports as saying that while supplements are important it is not a substitute for eating well. "It's a Band-Aid approach to think you can eat poorly and just take a vitamin and you'll be equal to another person who eats well and exercises and takes care of their health and gets regular checkups. There's no substitute for a healthy lifestyle."

And my holistic MD, David Brownstein would whole-heartedly agree with that.

Using Food To Fight Pain

When I saw this headline on AOL recently, it made sense as we all know the power of food to heal our bodies, but somehow when pain is concerned you become skeptical.

In an article by Neal D. Barnard, M.D. he spells out exactly which foods, vitamins and herbs help.

Looking at particular pains he recommends:
Digestive pain - rice or peppermint oil
Migraines - ginger,feverfew ( an herb),coffee
Arthritis pain - natural plant oils

And for back pain he points out that the same plaque blockage that occurs in the heart showed up in the the lumbar arteries of those with back pain which could lead to treating this the same way we do heart disease by improving diets.

He points out that Vitamin B-6 can even increase your pain resistance to pain.

The article goes on to list food triggers that cause migraines and arthritis pain so check out the full article.

Herbs For Respiratory Infections

Remember the old days when every time you had an infection you headed to the doctor? Well not there are some options and those include herbs.

Walk into any natural food store and there are a number of herbal combinations that address these infections. In fact, I remember a day when you had to know the name of the specific herb that was used for the condition. Now it's all labeled. My family takes a combination called Respiration ( Blend SP-d made by Solaray) and all of the good herbs are in there -- pelurisy root, slippery elm,horehound, mullein, chickweed, plantain and others.

Another one on the market is called Kold Kare and according to Mark Stengler, ND it may also prevent colds. It lowers fevers and enhances immunity so our bodies can fight bacterial and vial infections. The herb is Andrographis and is used in Ayurvedic, Indian and Chinese medicine.

These herbs and others follow the holistic principle that if your immune system is strong your body will resists infections, including respiratory infections.

Food, exercise and stress reduction are all part of the equation in keeping your body in top shape.

Has Holistic Health Gone Mainstream?

I think so and I'm not sure how I feel about it. Driving into work today I saw a sign for McDonalds that said Aroma Therapy. Now they were pushing the aromas of their coffee and I'm guessing a McMuffin, although I'm not sure what health benefits you can get from inhaling a fast food product.

What struck me as odd was that McDonald's is mainstream America, and the world in fact ,and they are assuming with this billboard that everyone knows what aromatherapy is and can associate it with positive health benefits.

I know in my heart that it's a good thing that those of us who have used this wonderful holistic health practice for years to be in the mainstream.
But I worry that by placing it next to a fast food product we are misleading people somehow.

So to do my part to keep up the education process here are few aromatherapy tricks I've learned.

Lavender is the most versatile of the essential oils and can be added directly to a number of things. For example, drop some in a bath and it's very relaxing and calming. Put some on a pillow (not where it can have contact with your eyes) and it helps people sleep. When my daughter was little I bought her a lavender-soaked Teddy Bear that helped her get to sleep.

I know nurses who spray lavender on their lab coats to help patients relax.

I know a women who sprays it from a mist bottle into her living room so that her family dealings are more peaceful.

I add it my my laundry, use lavender scented diswashing liquid ( all natural of course) place drops in the wet-wash vacuum cleaner and add to my spray bottle of my household cleaning fluid.

Rejuvenation In A Summer Garden

Want an easy way to just melt away stress, pressure and any negativity? Wander into a summer garden. The energy from the plants immediately put your system in a mellow mood.

I was in many such gardens on my recent trip to Montreal where they had a Floral exhibit. A variety of artists created gardens with themes from modern to whimsical and even gardens that recycled their own water to be used as an energy source.

As fate would have it I was particularly drawn to one garden and felt compelled to walk through it. I just had such a strong feeling that I must enter this garden. As it turned out it was a health garden full of the medicinal plants and herbs that I use on a daily basis! As soon as my foot touched the ground I could feel the peaceful healing effect. Not to mention the beauty. Seeing all of those healing plants in one compact location was something. I don't think I'll ever look at my echinacea the same way again.

Women's Intuition On Menopause?


It seems that the majority of women, over 50%, according to a study whose results appeared in the May/June issue of Menopause: The Journal of the North American Menopause Society, are now using soy supplements and other herbs to deal with menopause. ( Who knew they had such a journal?)


But I think we all know that many women are taking natural supplements to help them through menopause, which by the way is a natural condition and not a disease! The most common herbs used were gingko biloba, ginseng, St. John's wort, black cohosh and combination herbal remedies.

When asked why they used herbs, most women said they felt they were a safer alternative to hormone therapy and many wanted to use "natural" products.

I vote for women's intuition as why many women are turning to these natural methods. I think we would all rather use natural remedies for our bodies and we are now finally sharing among ourselves the remedies that generations before us used.

Do I Have to Wear Garlic Around My Neck?
Family Remedies for Holistic Healing
by Adrienne Selko



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Spice Up Your Life

Sorry, no romantic tips here ... at least not yet.

These spices work on improving your health:

Cinnamon - Improves glucose levels and lowers cholesterol (especially for people who have type 2 diabetes).

Chili powder -Capsaicin, found in chile peppers, helps lower one's appetite. Is an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant.

Rosemary - Carnolso and rosmarinic acid, found in rosemary has been shown to help fight breast, lung and skin cancer.

Curry powder - Reduces risk of Alzheimer's, psoriasis and arthritis.

Oregano - Antioxidant equivalent to a medium-sized apple.

Cumin - Protects again stomach ulcers by killing the H. pylori bacteria.