Health Picks

Fighting Viral Invaders

If there’s one thing that the pain of shingles, the harsh cough of respiratory infections, and the body aches of seasonal viruses all have in common, it is a compromised immune system. Additionally, each of these conditions can be tough to treat conventionally. In any event, the side effects of conventional treatment leave a lot to be desired. Unfortunately, you see a big pharmaceutical media push for treatment for shingles, and every fall brings a new call for flu vaccines that are essentially worthless.

But there is good news. There are powerful natural ingredients that help you avoid the grip…• • • • More • • • •

Edema Can Be Associated With a Variety of Health Concerns

Edema is the retention of water to the extent that we can have swollen legs and ankles, swollen hands and even the accumulation of fluid in glaucoma and macular degeneration. Women, during their menstrual cycle, can retain as much as five to seven pounds of fluid during their period. 

A safe way to eliminate excess fluid from the body without disrupting all the other minerals is to ensure an adequate intake of vitamin B6 in its biologically active form commonly known as P-5-P. To ensure that the P-5-P is more effective, it’s best to include a source of magnesium. 

Research…• • • • More • • • •

Do You Experience Fatigue, Depression and a Lack of Zest for Life?

Here’s the case for supplementing with an herb that has a long folklore and traditional use. It has been used in China, Tibet, and Mongolia for thousands of years to increase energy levels, achieve peak mental and physical performance, lift moods, and reduce depression. 

Now science, with hundreds of studies, has proven that rhodiola, also known as Arctic root, has indeed reduced depression safely without side effects. It increases energy levels, and reduces fatigue and stress. This herb is truly designed to counter the effects of the American lifestyle. 

Many individuals are stressed out, depressed and experience chronic fatigue daily.…• • • • More • • • •

Bone spurs are not bone

Bone spurs can be easily dissolved because they are not truly bone but a collection of calcium and mineral crystals that attach to the smooth surface of bone or internally in the arteries as plaque. 

When the body becomes highly acidic, calcium, being an alkaline substance, is drawn out of the bone and soft tissue reserves to alkalize the body. The American diet is highly acidic, therefore, calcium is drawn out of these reserves for a long period of time eventually forming plaque in the arteries or bone spurs. 

To dissolve this plaque or bone spur, it is important to…• • • • More • • • •

Are You Stressed Out, Lack Energy, and Feel Depressed?

We know the B vitamins are very important for the nervous system. When our nerves are frayed, we experience stress and chronic fatigue more easily and we may even have depression. The commonly consumed B vitamins are very difficult to convert in the body to what is considered the biologically active form. Many people, particularly those who are type 1 and type 2 diabetics, cannot convert B vitamins in the liver to those that are used for various functions in the body.  Additionally, 30% of the population are also poor converters of B vitamins.

There are B vitamins available, particularly…• • • • More • • • •

Are You Exhausted or Do You Experience Chronic Fatigue? 

The adrenal glands are called into action every moment in a stressful situation. Once the stress is relieved, the adrenal glands return to normal function.  However, in our modern day living, it seems there is a never ending day of stress. Stressful situations are any one of those conditions that cause us to become stressed out. It can be worry over financial matters, loss of a job, loss of a loved one, trying to squeeze 24 hours into an 8-hour day, running from one appointment to another, and flying or driving in traffic that seems to be endless.

Any condition…• • • • More • • • •

Numbing and Tingling of Fingers and Toes, and Burning Feet

The title refers to a form of neuropathy that is commonly present in diabetics and alcoholics although anyone can experience neuropathy. Neuropathy is a common problem that occurs in the absence in a number of nutritional factors that support the nervous system.

In order to correct the function and structure of the nervous system it would be prudent to use a number of B vitamins with specific minerals to control blood sugar level, a powerful antioxidant such as lipoic acid, and the anti-inflammatory properties of boswellia. The American diet is essentially refined carbohydrates and simple sugars.

While these foods do…• • • • More • • • •

An Herbal Solution for Depression

Individuals who are persistently sad, anxious or experience an empty mood with feelings of hopelessness, loss of interest or pleasure in usual activities including sex, are candidates for treatment of depression. Depression also can include insomnia, or the opposite - excessive sleeping, agitation, decreased energy, fatigue or a sense of going through life in slow motion. They may also experience low self-esteem, feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt. They may experience difficulty in concentrating or remembering and making decisions. Severe cases may have recurrent thoughts of death or suicide, contemplate a suicide attempt or have a specific suicide…• • • • More • • • •

Bone Spurs Have Nothing to do With Our Bones

Bone spurs can disfigure our fingers and hands and, depending where they originate, can cause pain and disability. What we call bone spurs really have nothing to do with bone. They are a calcium deposit that collects on the bony formations as a collection of calcium crystals.

There are many ways to treat a bone spur. Some are surgically removed by a physician. Others can be gently massaged and broken apart. When we talk about a bone spur, it really is not an extension of the bone. It’s like a damming up of crystals in an area commonly injured which…• • • • More • • • •

Menopause Can Be a Breeze

Most women suffer the symptoms of menopause over a period of 5 to 10 years. The symptoms can range from hot flashes, night sweats, weight gain, mood swings and irritability.  The change of life can even have a greater effect on women due to bone loss which significantly increases the risk of osteoporosis.  Women have probably suffered these effects for hundreds of years if not thousands.  No drugs have been effective and many natural herbal products are no more effective than the drugs.

I think black cohosh can be a very useful tool for many women going through menopause. Black…• • • • More • • • •

Natural Flu Support

Now is the season to maintain a healthy immune system and build a protocol to prevent cold and flu.  My favorite three herbs for preventing a cold or the flu are pelargonium, andrographis, and echinacea.  Clinical studies support the use of these three herbs to reduce the severity and duration of a cold and flu.  With the season, bronchitis is a common occurrence. 

For any upper respiratory tract inflammation and infection, my favorite three herbs are boswellia, ivy, and thyme. 

For sinuses, oil of eucalyptus and oil of myrtle, taken together, prevent sinus congestion and headache. Nasal passages remain wide…• • • • More • • • •

Do You Spend Most of Your Day Looking for the Next Restroom?

If you have bladder issues, you are probably looking for the next bathroom.  Are you getting up several times a night, or afraid to go on a car trip, or even worse, to fly where everyone can notice how many times you make a trip to the bathroom.  Not only is this inconvenient and annoying, but bladder issues can get to a point where it wrecks the quality of your life. 

Men sometimes think they have a prostate disorder and get up several times through the night.  While this is partially true, it is also a bladder disorder which causes…• • • • More • • • •

Protect Your Heart

Cholesterol is not the problem.  Inflammation and the amino acid homocysteine are.  To prevent damage to the heart by homocysteine, the body requires B6, B12 and folate.  These three B vitamins convert homocysteine into a healthy amino acid methionine.  Excessive homocysteine is more harmful to the heart than cholesterol.

The Benefits of Elderberry Extract

Research regarding the benefits of elderberry have proven it to be effective for blocking viruses from entering the cellular level.  Traditionally, elderberry has been used for colds and flu, and now science has substantiated its traditional use. 

Elderberry, approximately 450 mg daily, can protect against virus invasion.  If the virus has already been activated in the body, 450 mg of elderberry can be taken every three or four hours.  Not only are viruses knocked out with elderberry, but it seems that most bacteria such as E.coli, salmonella and listeria are also eliminated with the intake of elderberry extract. 

Research was…• • • • More • • • •

Is It Advisable to Get a Flu Shot?

Well, that question is very difficult to answer and should be considered based on the individual’s health and age.  Before you make that decision I think it would be advisable to consult with your physician. However, there are some very excellent natural alternatives to support our immune system and strengthen our resistance against colds and flu. 

There are 2 clinically studied herbs that have a remarkable effect in shortening the duration and severity of a cold.  In most cases in the study, participants were able to reduce the cold and flu significantly within 24 to 48 hours.  The herbs that…• • • • More • • • •

The All-Natural Omega-3 Fatty Acids Formula

A formula that I make sure I include in my diet is an omega-3 fatty acid bound to phospholipids including the complex EPA/DHA with hydrolyzed peptides (fish proteins).  While every function in the body can improve with omega-3 fatty acids, it does have a pronounced effect on heart, brain and eye health.  The reason I like this formulation is due to the phospholipids acting as a superior carrier of DHA and EPA to the cellular level.

All fish oils are highly processed with heat, pressure and chemicals.  This processing denatures and alters the molecular structure of fish oil to the…• • • • More • • • •

How To Winterize Our Body Against Cold and Flu

The immune system is a powerful mechanism to fight foreign invasion and to protect our body against bacteria and viruses.  The stronger our immune system, the stronger protection against cold and flu. Stress, refined carbohydrates, sugar, soft drinks, grains in general, and excessive alcohol and tobacco compromise the health and strength of our immune system. 

I find by supplementing my diet with blackcurrant, elderberry, probiotics, zinc, and selenium that my immune system keeps me healthy.  If I ever feel a cold or flu coming on, I would take a formula containing plant oils of ravintsara, bay, laurel, and thyme.  Plant…• • • • More • • • •

Why do you need Iodine?

You’ve probably heard of iodine and may have wondered why you need it. The answer is: for just about everything. Unfortunately, iodine has been a sadly neglected mineral in our diets since the 1940s, and it was considered only necessary for preventing goiter.

But research shows that all tissues of the body require iodine.  It’s pretty well known that iodine helps fuel the thyroid – our metabolism’s ‘gas pedal’, but it’s less widely reported that iodine also protects breast tissue and prostate cells, helps regulate hormones, and detoxifies dangerous iodine competitors like chlorine, bromide, and fluoride – all common chemicals…• • • • More • • • •

Two Herbs That Are As Effective as Celebrex

A combination of super absorption curcumin and boswellia have been studied in patients with osteoarthritis and was found to be more effective than Celebrex without side effects. 

Approximately 350 mgs of curcumin combined with 150 mgs of boswellia was a clinically studied dosage that proves to be effective.  If you’re experiencing joint pain or arthritis, it makes sense to use a safe, effective, side effect free combination of herbs rather than a drug, but always check with your doctor.

Why Wait Until the New Year to Lose Weight

So many people have a New Year’s resolution to lose weight, while this resolution only lasts about 30 to 60 days.  Why not lose weight for a lifetime?  Being overweight or obese is a major factor in the foundation of many chronic diseases. 

Being overweight or obese is not only being unfit, but being unhealthy.  No pill or tablet is going to help people lose weight without including a healthy diet and exercise or at least increased activity.  I would suggest investigating the ketogenic diet, www.ketogenic-diet-resource.com or at least the paleo diet.