Herbal Cures For Mild Anxiety

Posted by in Herbal Anxiet on July 30, 2011

By Samson Muric

Herbal Cures For Mild AnxietyIn this article I will be going over some of the herbal cures used to alleviate anxiety and stress. But before that I want to briefly go over what anxiety disorder is and some of its symptoms. There are seven main types of anxiety and an individual may suffer from only one or a combination of all. These include a phobia of people, obsessive compulsive behaviour, panic attacks, generalized anxiety disorder and a host of other specific disorders. We all get a little anxious from time to time. When it comes to facing new challenges, or overcoming a facing a fear such as public speaking, we can all get a bit panic stricken! The reasons for anxiety will differ from person to person. Chronic anxiety, however is a disorder called ‘Anxiety Disorder’ and is much more sever and crippling. Anxiety disorder if not treated affects all aspects of the individuals life.

Anxiety Disorders can also be felt in different intensities from mild to chronic and debilitating, and the approaches to healing should be sort accordingly. Some of the approaches used to treat anxiety is; medication, cognitive-behavioural therapy, meditation, physical movement techniques, and herbal therapies. For the purpose of this article we will be looking into some of the herbal cures for anxiety, and just how effective they can be in treating the disorder. Herbal cures for anxiety can be very effective for mild anxiety, and should be included in the overall treatment of this disorder.

Stress relieving teas:

Green tea as well as chamomile tea both have very strong calming and sedative properties. Chamomile is a flowering plant which has been used for centuries in Europe and Asia for its medicinal properties. It has anti inflammatory properties and has been used for a wide range of problems, but one of its most important benefits is its tranquilizing effects. The active ingredient in Chamomile called Apigenin, is responsible for its sedative and anti-anxiety powers. Sipping chamomile tea has been clinically proven to have a significant effect on mild anxiety and stress.

Green tea is another plant which has gotten a lot of exposure over the years for its healing properties. It is packed with anti oxidants and other powerful properties. Green tea although it contains caffeine also has a very calming effect on those who drink it. Myself included! Although it has a calming for people suffering stress and mild anxiety it is not recommended for people with chronic anxiety.

Other powerful herbs:

Valerian and St. John’s Wort have been shown to have sedative, anti-anxiety and anti- depressant properties. St. John’s Wort is a herb which is primarily used in the treatment of depression, however studies indicate that it may also have an effect on general anxiety. Valerian is a perennial flowering plant which may affect the same brain pathways as anti-anxiety drugs like Xanax (known as benzodiazepines). When used together can both offer relief from mild anxiety and its symptoms.

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Herbal Medicine – Inexpensive and Effective Health care Alternatives

Posted by in Herbal Medicine on July 29, 2011

By Kathy Burns-Millyard

Herbal Medicine - Inexpensive and Effective Health care AlternativesHealth and medicine are common topics in the news every day. Prescription medications cost too much for many of us to afford in a good year, but with the economy having so many problems right now things are much worse than normal. Because of these problems, many people have been looking for alternative medicine options, and luckily for them there are plenty.

Alternative medicine is a phrase that covers a broad range of topics. There are specific herbal remedies, as well as alternative treatments such as acupuncture, hypnosis, and massage. Even in the realm of herbal remedies, there are Chinese herbs and customs, as well as Western herbs and customs. These tend to be different in some ways.

Using natural herbs and plants as medicine is a practice which has been around for thousands of years. There is actually plenty of evidence which has shown herbal remedies and plants being used as medicine as far back into the past as 60,000 years ago. Cave paintings have even been found which indicate herbs were used for medicine, and these cave paintings are believed to have been made sometime between 13,000 and 25,000 B.C. In fact, many of our modern day man-made prescription drugs have been based on the natural healing substances found in herbs and plants.

There are many people around the world, and particularly in the United States, who do not feel that using plants and herbs as an alternative to prescription medicine should be an option. The argument is that there is not enough scientific proof and there have not been enough actual studies to confirm what works and what doesn’t. The opposite school of thought comes from people who actually specialize in using herbal remedies to treat a variety of ailments and conditions. They know from experience how well certain herbs and alternative treatments actually work.

There are arguments which say the reason few studies have actually been done on herbal remedies is because there’s no money to be had. Drug companies and large pharmaceuticals cannot patent natural plants and herbs. And if they cannot put a patent on something, they cannot charge so much money for it.

There is also a problem due to lack of knowledge and information in mainstream society. Many people do not understand how to use plants and herbs to take care of a variety of simple health conditions. They also don’t understand what may be good or bad, or exactly how different herbs and medications can interact with each other. Some people even believe that if something is natural it must be safe no matter what you do with it. This of course is not how the world works, even with natural herbs and plants. There are many plants and other natural items found throughout the world which are extremely dangerous and even poisonous.

One example of this is a simple rhubarb plant. Rhubarb is a healthy vegetable that we can eat in a variety of ways, but if you try to eat the leaves from that plant or use them in some sort of medicine, you could go into convulsions and you might even die from it.

Just like prescription drugs, there are certain herbs and medicinal plants which have the potential to create problems for certain people. An herb known as goldenseal for example, can cause problems for diabetics and people who have hypoglycemia because it is a natural form of insulin. This herb is also excellent to use as a natural infection fighting antibiotic, but if someone with low blood sugar takes it, there could be severe side effects if their blood sugar levels drop too low.

Most people are aware that prescription drugs, or even over-the-counter medications, can interact with each other badly. What they don’t know however, is that the same thing can happen with herbal remedies, and medicinal plants. These herbs can also conflict with prescription medications too. For example, one herb which is popular to use for boosting your energy is ginseng. Many people don’t realize, that if they take ginseng and drink large amounts of caffeine at the same time, they run the risk of having heart out the patience or even more severe emergencies such as a heart attack. The same types of risks can apply if you’re taking certain prescription drugs along with ginseng too.

These examples are just a few, but they should stress the importance of how powerful herbal medicine can be. Whether you want to start using herbal medicine as an inexpensive alternative to modern drugs, or you simply want to start taking better care of yourself, you need to become fully educated on exactly what herbs you choose to use. Just as you need to be careful with prescription drugs or over-the-counter medications, you also need to be informed and aware of what herbal medications can and cannot do.

Herbal remedies can be an extremely powerful way to take care of many common health problems and ailments. They’re very inexpensive to use, and there are generally many less side effects than you might see from prescription drugs. These are all excellent reasons to start learning about herbal remedies and possibly find ways to reduce your own health care expenses naturally, and safely.

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Efficient Herbal Medicine For Diabetes

Posted by in Herbal Medicine on July 29, 2011

By Bhikoojee Deoraj

Efficient Herbal Medicine For DiabetesAlthough the use of insulin has been widely regarded as the top remedy for diabetic patients, herbal medicine for diabetes is also proven to be quite as beneficial. In fact, findings reveal that native people in some parts of the world who are plagued with diabetes, fully utilize certain herbs and plants to treat the said condition. The following reveals these herbs which are commonly used as an alternative to help cure diabetes.

Aloe Vera – is a cactus-like plant also popularly known as a ‘healing herb,’ and is usually located in dry, deserted countries. Not only is Aloe Vera widely used as treatment to burns, wounds, and also applied as an after-sun lotion, but the gel and sap derived from the leaves, aids in the treatment of diabetes. This household plant is even known to lessen rapidly increasing blood glucose levels.

Ginseng – is a plant or herb possessing medicinal elements, and other antioxidants known to treat certain conditions especially diabetes. Ginseng is also classified into various plant species like the Korean and Japanese ginseng, among others. However, further studies still need to be conducted to prove the effectiveness of ginseng in treating diabetic patients.

Coccinia indica – commonly found along the Indian subcontinent, Coccinia indica is known to contain elements which replicate the function of insulin and considered a good alternative in treating diabetes. Yet, more tests still need to be done to ensure the efficiency of this herb known as the ‘ivy gourd,’ according to experts.

Opuntia streptacantha – like the Aloe Vera, this herb also exists on dry regions such as the Mexican desert, and is popularly known as the prickly-pear cactus. Scientific studies conducted on animals reveal that the plant possesses properties equipped lessening levels in postprandial glucose as well as HbI1c. Again, more studies are still required to fully support claims on the herb’s anti-diabetic functions.

Allium sativum – widely known as garlic, allium sativum is known to contain lots of antioxidants that help decrease levels of blood glucose, quite similar to the effects of insulin. It is also considered to elevate the process of secretion as well decreasing the weakening of insulin. Previous results have been quite positive although further tests are required to solidly back up claims on its effectiveness.

Ficus carica – this herb known as a fig leaf, is popularly utilized in some parts of Europe to help cure diabetes as well as assist in the uptake of glucose. Still, the properties of Ficus carica are unknown, requiring more tests for it to be a credible remedy to patients with diabetes.

Trigonella foenum graecum – located in parts of the Mediterranean as well as North Africa and India, this special herb known as fenugreek is commonly used in cooking but also considered to be beneficial in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Thorough analysis is still needed to support its credibility.

Silibum marianum – considered to be a member of the aster family, this herb known as the milk thistle comprises of antioxidants as well as flavinoids, known to have a probable effect on the resistance to insulin. These are among various probable options to aid in diabetic treatment, and herbal medicine for diabetes. More studies are required.


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