Tag Archives: herbs

Ayurvedic Treatment – How Does It Help You in Your Diet?

February 7, 2012

Ayurvedic treatment is composed of a variety of different practices. when these are used in concert they cleanse the body and purify the mind of the practitioner. the practices that will be discussed include Ayurvedic medicine, diet, lifestyle and exercise and massage therapy.

Ayurvedic medicines are derived from plants, ground minerals and animal products. the plant materials used include flowers, fruits, spices and flowers. the animal products that are used are animal fats, honey and beeswax. these plants are systematised according to three categories. That is their taste, their potency and their vipka or ripening effect. the formula for these different medicines is stringently laid out. Both the cultivation and harvest of the herbs used and how they are mixed is of equal importance.

Ayurvedic diet is also a key part of this healing tradition. Each of the foods has its own particular taste and corresponding essence as well as an associated element. it is important that each of the different tastes is taken in a moderate amount and that all of the six tastes are included in your diet. Preparation of the food is also highly important. If the herbs are not mixed in their right amount then the full nutritional value of the meal will not be gained. when strictly followed the diet can cure and heal a range of common ailments as well as more serious medical problems.

Lifestyle is another key part of Ayurvedic treatment. it is important that practitioners live in accordance with the seasons. Some of this is common sense. when the weather is cold eat warm food and wear warm clothes. when the weather is warm eat cool food and wear cool clothes. Ayurveda also teaches the importance of cleanliness and maintaining regular habits. it is also instructs it follower to mediates and give offerings to the Hindu gods. it also has a moral flavour to it as well. it teaches its followers to be kind and generous to others. it suggests that you should respect your elders and your teachers. it also says that natural behaviours should not be repressed. it really is about living in accordance with nature and your true nature.

Finally another important aspect of Ayurveda is exercise and massage therapy. Central amongst this is the practice of yoga. Yoga is vital for keeping the body supple and the muscles in good condition. it also helps concentration and makes the practitioner calmer and more centred. Massage is also another important part of this practice. This can be done either with hands or feet or by using heated linen pads. you may also employ different types of oils which either cool or warm the body. it also shares some similarities to acupuncture in that there are certain points of the body which if they are stimulated can have health boosting effect.

The practice of Ayurveda is a holistic one. it is not just about making single changes to certain aspects of your life, but instead about designing a lifestyle which has overall health benefits.

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What Are Natural Homeopathic Remedies?

November 14, 2011

For those of us who have been around natural medicine for a while the idea of using homeopathic remedies is well let’s say, a natural thing to do. on the other hand there are millions of people who either confuse homeopathy and herbal medicine (non diluted herbs and herbal remedies), know it by name only, or are just now hearing about the advantages of homeopathic remedies from a friend, co-worker or family member.

There also seems to be a surprising move underway where more and more doctors are becoming certified both in conventional and naturopathic medicine. in my view this is a very encouraging development since both pharmaceutical drugs and homeopathic remedies have areas of real strength and areas of profound weakness.

But the questions we are trying to answer here is what are homeopathic remedies. Let’s start with an example that will hit home with most aspiring chefs and cooks of all ages.

Let’s say you are making your favorite pasta sauce and it came time to chop a couple of onions. Chances are as you chopped and diced your eyes would start to water, your nose would run, and you might even sneeze once or twice. If you were really sensitive to the pungency of the onion your throat might even feel and little sore and itchy.

Homeopathy is the often described as like treating like so our onion would be used in homeopathic medicine in diluted potency to relieve the very same symptoms which we experienced while chopping and dicing our onion as they could be applied illnesses which presented similar symptoms. a couple of examples would be the common cold or allergies.

In some way you might even say that homeopathy is like getting a vaccination without the possibility of side effects ( a discussion for another day).

The like treating like strategy has been proven true time and time again. For example we know that children who live in virtual bubble away from germs tend to have weaker immune systems as they mature and are more vulnerable to illness than their peers. Another example has to do with peanut allergies. a recent study seems to suggest that children who weren’t exposed to peanuts or peanut butter at an early age tend to develop peanut allergies.

So homeopathy in essence is a way to stimulate the body’s own natural healing mechanism to overcome illnesses and symptoms of illnesses naturally.

There are two other major advantages to implementing homeopathic remedies. these are that they can be used as a complimentary treatment in conjunction with convention prescription medications and they are generally safe for use in all age groups.

In conclusion, natural homeopathic remedies are a safe and effective way to treat many illnesses and conditions. that said, they are not right for everyone and should not be substituted for a doctor prescribed medication without consulting your physician first.

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Aromatherapy And Its Uses

October 7, 2011

Aromatherapy has been a part of spiritual and medicinal practices from many centuries. It is a well grounded alternative health philosophy, grounded in science. Aromatherapy involves the use of natural oils extracted from bark, roots, flowers, herbs and other parts of aromatic plants mixed in carrier oil. the essential oils extracted from aromatic plants are used to stimulate olfactory system in order to treat symptoms of illness and create a harmonious balance between the body and the mind, which often becomes disrupted leading to a variety of ailments. there are innumerable uses of aromatherapy essential oils. other than its use in treatment of certain medical conditions, it is also used to prevent diseases and to manage wellbeing. Because of its medicinal properties, aromatherapy essential oil is widely used in wellness products and spa products. believe it or not, there exist more than hundred different types of aromatherapy oils, with each having unique benefits and properties.

Different cultures around the world including Egyptians, Chinese, Greeks and Indians have used aromatherapy oils since thousands of years to effectively treat different diseases. Chinese were most probably the first culture to promote and use aromatherapy to restore a balance between man and nature and bring harmony to the physical world. these oils are used as offerings to God as well as for medicinal purposes. during medieval age, these oils were used for different purposes like fighting off the plague.

Aromatherapy essential oils stimulate the sense of smell which in turn influences the brain helping it to send the right healing signals to the body. the type of oil that is used depends on the kind of result that is desired. Different essential oil’s have different results and different effect on brain and body.

These oils are manufactured and sold in various different forms like absolutes, essential oils, hydrosols and CO2s. while some essential oils can be inhaled, others can be directly applied on skin or can also be added to bathing water. In fact, these oils are often burned to calm the environment or to disinfect the air. a good example of this is burning of incense sticks.

Aromatherapy oils have a number of positive effects on both mind and soul. however, the amount of benefit received depends on the way you use aromatherapy oil. Inhaling these oils can stimulate both the body and mind. Sleeping disorders, ENT (ear, nose, throat) disorders like congestions and breathing problems can be successfully treated using aromatherapy. Diluted essential oil’s can also be applied on skin for pain relief, to calm body, to combat stress, to rejuvenate your-self or for any other health benefit.

Aromatherapy oils when not used correctly or as prescribed by the therapist can have certain side effects as well.. if it has to be applied on skin, it is important that it is diluted in a carrier oil like grape seed oil or almond oil. Incorrect use of essential oils may cause hyper-sensitivity. many people may also have allergic reactions that are painful, uncomfortable and sometimes life-threatening.

However, when used correctly aromatherapy essential oils have powerful and indomitable effect on body and can be used for a number of purposes.

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Snake oil not my cup of (herbal) tea

September 9, 2011

WELL knock me out and revive me with snake oil, herbal remedies are not dinky die!

Sorry, I do not mean die in the sense that they kill you, although tincture of obscure herb does not always cure cancer. but the Auditor-General reports complementary medicines on the market are not always checked to make sure they perform as promised.

Now essence of mallee root is not my idea of medicine, not while scotch stays off the prohibited goods list, but plenty of people still believe herbs and spices are the go. People who have forgotten the Therapeutic Goods Administration investigation that discovered syrup of shark (a supposedly sure-fire cure for fear of being eaten in the ocean) was light on for your actual noah’s ark. People who so believe in natural (that is, untouched by scientists’ hands) remedies that they are happy to collectively spend $1.2 billion on various pills and potions without worrying whether there is any evidence they actually work.

Granted, I know sod-all about medicine, but you have to wonder whether remedies that people in laboratories do not study for years before anybody ingests them are necessarily the go. I know science stuffs up, but have a look at the number of old and fat people around the place: the cholesterol and heart medications are obviously doing their stuff.

Of course, alternative-medicine advocates argue traditional medicines existed long before anybody realised cleanliness is next to surviving childhood. but there is one big flaw with that argument: what is now alternative medicine came about when the mainstream average life expectancy was about 30.

In any case, what’s the point of remedies that cure vague conditions in roundabout ways. "Since I started taking toad tablets my general disquiet about life is a lot better" is not the sort of endorsement nine out of 10 apothecaries endorse.

For complementary medicine to be credible requires it curing the sorts of problems big Pharma can’t. (The drug companies that is, not the Korean wrestler. all right, I just made him up.)

It comes down to what you trust: the output of giant companies spending a bomb on research and development; or remedies developed centuries ago when everybody was ignorant of antibiotics? me, I go with big Pharma.

Complementary medicine is not really my (and I do apologise for this) cup of herbal tea.

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Anyone out there make soap?

July 23, 2011

My directions on my box say to melt the soap, add color, put in scent, pour in molds, add any herbal things. But when I put them in the molds and I add my herbs the soap is either already getting a skin and it chunks or the herbs only want to stay floating on the top so it doesn't go through the entire bar. any ideas or tips so I can have smooth bars with herbs all throughout my soap? Thanks!

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Try Natural Bath Oils For Beautiful Skin For You and Your Family

July 7, 2011

Very often we buy things impulsively because of the catchy advertising, without really giving much thought in regards to the products’ value. If we really care for our own well being and that of our family, it’s high time that we seriously reexamine our buying habits and condition our minds to check the worthiness of the products we buy.

Let’s think about the difference between the regular bath soap that we often buy and natural bath oils. The ordinary bath soap is no different from a detergent bar or a laundry bar which is petroleum based. It may contain harsh chemicals that can cause skin irritation and dryness. another skin irritant is the free alkali that may remain in ordinary soap when passed through inferior processes. Natural bath oils on the other hand are a mixture of a variety of oil extracts from plants, herbs and leaves of trees with vegetable (carrier) oil and sometimes with a little alcohol from vodka or bourbon. A few drops or a teaspoon of the bath oil is mixed into the tub or may also be applied directly to the skin before and after a shower. Natural oil is the best for skin care because it does not contain any synthetic ingredients that are known to cause irritation or allergies.

Using natural bath oils is an ancient practice that dates back to the time of the pharaohs in Egypt where oil extracts from cedar wood, nutmeg, and cinnamon were used to embalm the dead. Evidence of this was found during the excavation of tombs where a whiff of pleasant fragrance was also discovered. The Greeks eventually learned from the Egyptians and became avid users of natural oils for bath and massage. The practice of using aromatic herbs and wood were evident in ancient China, India, Rome and Arabia. The use of natural oils was handed down from generation to generation until the term aromatherapy came out in the early part of the 20th century after pure lavender oil was found to heal burns.

Today, more and more people have learned to appreciate the healing value of using natural oils not only physically but mentally and emotionally as well. Lavender oil not only heals burns but it triggers the brain waves that stimulate relaxation, while Jasmine oil enhances alertness. A study made by a fragrance company in Japan showed that the sharp and refreshing lemon fragrance improved the alertness of keyboard operators by 54%. in Africa, the women extract oil or butter from the seeds of the karite fruit, which can be used as natural sunscreen and is effective in preventing stretch marks. The butter extract is also known to have anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects.

Because of the growing market for natural oils for bath and aromatherapy, there are so many products being sold out there that scream natural and therapeutic. Again, it is important to be more cautious and to check out the labels and sources of the product before you purchase them. go to trusted stores that sell brands whose quality has been tested through time.

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Abortion Methods – Learn 7 Different Types Of Abortion

June 28, 2011

Spontaneous, Herbal and Induced are the three general methods of abortion. although it is not that popular or necessary in this modern era but there is a method known as self-inflicted abortion also. most of the people do not consider self-inflicted abortion to be among the major methods.

In self-inflicted abortion a a sharp object such as a coat hanger is inserted into the cervix of the expecting mother. This method is known to be extremely dangerous or deadly and is not at all reliable.

One of the oldest method of abortion is herbal abortion which is also not considered very safe. The result of Herbal abortion is sometimes only a sick pregnant woman. It is not much different from the worse self-inflicted abortion. over hundreds of years, several herbs are used to carry on herbal abortion. these herbs use to be silphium, birthwort, black cohosh, pennyroyal, tansy etc. of which some are now extinct. It also include modern day herbs that some people use daily such as juniper, lavender, parsley, thyme, marjoram and dill. Such herbs are termed as abortifacient or simply the herbs that can cause abortion.

However, surgical methods are the most commonly used abortion methods these days. Doctor may initiate one of the three surgical procedures to initiate abortion at an early term. The three surgical procedures followed for abortion are:

1) Manual Vacuum Aspiration or MVA- in MVA method a syringe is used to suction out tissue which causes abortion

2) Electric Vacuum Aspiration or EVA- in an EVA method an electric pump is used to suction the tissue out.

3) Dilation and Curettage or D&C- Once the cervix of the pregnant woman has been opened, sharp curette is used to clean the uterus walls.

4) Dilation and Evacuation or D&E- in this method the uterus is cleaned by the use of instruments and suction once the cervix of the pregnant woman has been opened.

5) Hysterectomy Abortion- Hysterectomy Abortion is related to the cesarean section to terminate a pregnancy.

6) Controversial Intact Dilation and Extraction or IDX- IDX is also known as Partial Birth Abortion. in this method the cervix is diated by use of forceps to grasp and turn fetus in breech position. Then the fetus is withdrawn and only head of the fetus is left inside cervix. Then the head is collapsed by suction of brain matter from the skull. This is done through the small incision which is made at the base of the skull. IDX or Partial Birth Abortion is a banned abortion method under Partial Birth Abortion Ban law. This law was passed by Congress and came into effect when President George W Bush signed it in 2003. but this law does not provide any information in cases where abortion is necessary for woman’s health and is therefore examined by US Supreme Court for its legal validity.

7) Chemical Methods- Combination of drugs can effectively terminate or end pregnancy. Drugs such as mifepristone or methotrexate are used for abortion which is followed by prostaglandin. Prostaglandin comes in two types and its usage depends on the place where abortion is done. Gemeprost is used in Sweden, UK whereas in US misoprostol is used commonly for abortion.

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What Is an Aromatherapy Massage?

June 17, 2011

Aromatherapy massage is a method of massage therapy that uses certain essential oils and scented candles for the purpose of releasing stress with the use of beneficial scents. This practice dates back to the Ancient times where they use herbal extracts as ointments on patients as they believe that these certain herbs have healing properties when inhaled. Although unlike today where our modern massage therapists can use scented candles, the ancient people only have the herbal extracts applied as ointments on the body of the patient although there are studies indicating the burning of herbs.

How it is done

During an aromatherapy massage session, the room is lit with certain scented candles that aid on whatever purpose the massage therapist need. there are scented candles that help in calming, energizing, uplifting the patient and many more. The massage therapist also prepares the essential oils that he or she will be using on the patient throughout the whole duration of the massage therapy session. like any other massage therapy, an aromatherapy massage also requires the patient to take off his or her clothes and lie down on the padded massage bed. The massage therapist will then apply the prepared essential oil on the skin of the patient and slowly begins to massage as he or she conditions the body of the patient for the massage therapy. Various massage strokes will then be used on the body of the patient to relieve stress and muscle pain. after the session, the patient will put on his or her clothes and will be escorted as he or she exits the room.

Just like a Swedish massage therapy or any other type of massage method, the same preparation is made in order to enjoy and have a comfortable massage therapy session.

Eating a light meal or going to the spa on a half full stomach is the ideal thing to do if you are planning on having a wonderful experience at the spa.

Arriving earlier than the scheduled time should be made as you will need to fill out some forms or you can also use this time to know your massage therapist and get comfortable with him or her. Arriving late is a bad idea and should be avoided as you will definitely not enjoy your massage therapy session.

Do some research on herbs and essential oils so that you will know what you want for your aromatherapy session. you can always ask or suggest to your massage therapist your preferences for your session. Most of the spas allow their customers to select what scents and essential oils they want to use for their massage therapy.

Expect a revitalized and calmed new you after a good time of aromatherapy massage session. you will surely love the scent coming up your nostril which gives signal through your limbic system and in return influences your emotions and relieves your emotional stress. The massage therapy also is great as you can now say goodbye to your body pain.

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