Tag Archives: herbal

Frustrated insomniacs just need to stay cool

Posted on 24 July, 2009 by | Leave a comment

Have I mentioned before that I don’t always get a good night’s sleep? I tend to swear by Natrasleep which doesn’t knock you out but delivers a blissful slumber once you finally drift off. I usually wake up feeling refreshed and ready to face the day; and, of course, I like it because it is made from herbal products (valerian and hops) and it’s suitable for vegetarians and vegans.Insomnia - waiting for dawn

However, American scientists have found that a ‘cooling cap‘ can help insomniacs to sleep better, because it lowers activity in your prefrontal cortex, the part of your brain thought to help you switch off for a good night’s sleep. But British academics are not so excited. Professor Jim Horne, of Loughborough University, suggested a fan at night might help as much.

If, like me, you’re an insomniac you will probably have tried a lot of things already. And there are some great natural things to try. Some of us are better with teas and others with tablets. But it might interest you to know that the much talked about new kid on the block, acai berry, is thought to improve sleep as well. I haven’t tried this one yet. If you have, please post a review. It comes as a vegicap, a drink and a tea. It is also reported to be excellent to aid weight loss, to help fight stress, to improve digestion and to help maintain good skin! Wow, and all as I sleep?

According to one survey, one third of people in the UK have trouble sleeping  about three times a week so I’m not alone.

Here’s a list of things that I find useful when I’m trying to nod off.

  • Get up, do something downstairs, go back to bed when you feel tired.
  • Stay cool, but wear something to keep your chest warm.
  • Write down the things in your head onto a notepad – empty your mind.
  • Black out your windows.
  • Avoid chilli, bananas and cheese (or anything high in protein).
  • Exercise earlier in the day.
  • Change your bed sheets.
  • Use in-ear earphones to listen to the radio (they fall out when you turn over and then you can’t hear it anymore).
  • Drink some cocoa.

At the end of the day (or should that be in the early hours of the morning?) you just have to do what works for you…

Have I mentioned before that I don’t always get a good night’s sleep? I tend to swear by Natrasleep which doesn’t knock you out but delivers a blissful slumber once you finally drift off. I usually wake up feeling refreshed and ready to face the day; and, of course, I like it because it is made from herbal products (valerian and hops) and it’s suitable for vegetarians and vegans.

However, American scientists have found that a ‘cooling cap’ can help insomniacs to sleep better, because it lowers activity in your prefrontal cortex, the part of your brain thought to help you switch off for a good night’s sleep. But British academics are not so excited. Professor Jim Horne, of Loughborough University, suggested a fan at night might help as much.

If, like me, you’re an insomniac you will probably have tried a lot of things already. And there are some great natural things to try. Some of us are better with teas and others with tablets. But it might interest you to know that the much talked about new kid on the block, acai berry, is thought to improve sleep as well. I haven’t tried this one yet. If you have, please post a review. It comes as a vegicap, a drink and a tea. It is also reported to be excellent to aid weight loss, to help fight stress, to improve digestion and to help maintain good skin! Wow, and all as I sleep?

According to one survey, one third of people in the UK have trouble sleeping about three times a week so I’m not alone.

Here’s a list of things that I find useful when I’m trying to nod off.

Get up, do something downstairs, go back to bed when you feel tired.

Stay cool, but wear something to keep your chest warm.

Write down the things in your head onto a notepad – empty your mind.

Black out your windows.

Avoid chilli, bananas and cheese (or anything high in protein).

Exercise earlier in the day.

Change your bed sheets.

Use earphones to listen to the radio (they fall out when you turn over and then you can’t hear it anymore).

Drink some cocoa.

At the end of the day (or should that be in the early hours of the morning?) you just have to do what works for you…

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Winter Wonders!

Posted on 18 March, 2009 by | Leave a comment

Winter is one of the busiest times of the year, so it makes good sense to make sure that we’re as healthy as we can be. Tackle all kinds of winter health problems… the natural way.

Feeling it in your bones?

The phrase “feeling it in your bones” is not so stupid – in fact, changes in atmospheric pressure in the autumn and winter can aggravate bone conditions, increasing inflammation and swelling. As well as good old-fashioned high strength cod liver oil, there are plenty of more modern remedies to help keep joint problems at bay. Take glucosamine sulphate, for example. You can now get it as a tablet which you drop into water or you can use gel patches. If you are choosing a supplement, remember to take at least 1500mg daily in the first three months. This is the level which has been used in research. Long term, consider a bone formulation to nutritionally support joints health. These contain minerals, and vitamin D which are important for the bone matrix.
SAMe (S-adenosyl methionine) is another remedy which reduces pain, stiffness and swelling and green lipped mussel extract is also a popular anti-inflammatory, reducing joint tenderness and morning stiffness.

If you prefer herbal remedies, then there are plenty which are aimed at managing inflammation and swelling; willow, black cohosh and sarsaparilla are good examples, and there are some tailor-made herbal preparations you can try. Some even come in balm or rub-form, using strong essential oils such as the mints and ginger (which smell very Christmassy!) and soothing plant extracts like chamomile and calendula.

Strengthen Your Defences…

At this time of year, our immune systems are having to work overtime. The change towards damper weather, short sunlight hours and lethargy after nearly a full year at work can all take their toll. Coughs, colds, flu and general feelings of being under the weather can leave you feeling drained. But there are things that you can do to help…

Vitamin C, taken at 1000mg daily (sometimes recommended three times daily) will help to reduce duration of the common cold. If you have an established cold, high potency is the only way of getting research levels of nutrients, a recommended dose would be 1000mg vitamin C, with 40 to 50mg zinc. Support this with a general antioxidant formulation.

Echinacea is a highly popular remedy at this time of year. You can use it to improve the action of white blood cells – helping your body to manage any infection. At the same time, another popular remedy – ginseng – can be used to help the body adapt to physical, mental and emotional stress (prevalent at this time of the year).

Think holistically too – looking at your diet. Include more garlic (or take a supplement) as this herbs is naturally antimicrobial. Fortify your diet with dried fruits and vegetables, immune-strengthening shiitake mushrooms, no-caffeine drinks, green tea, fruit juices and other nonalcoholic drinks (some naturopaths argue that alcohol depresses the immune system’s ability to fight infection). If your diet is poor, take a high potency multinutrient, PLUS a combination formula of essential fatty acids omega 3 and 6for at least 3 months.

Don’t forget that stress affects immune function. Unwind using essential oils which are good for immune function and act as decongestants such as Eucalyptus, peppermint, cajuput.

Saving Face

With our immune systems being under pressure from stress, lack of antioxidant nutrients from fresh produce and a barrage of seasonal infections, it’s hardly surprising that some people become more susceptible to bad skin and cold sores. There are all kinds of lip balms that you can recommend for general lip (and mouth) health, preventing cracking and soreness, but to tackle cold sores head on, recommend one to three grams of lysine, a powerful antioxidant formulation, and plenty of products to manage stress, such as CDs, candles and essential oils (lavender, mandarin).

For general skin care, recommend a skin formula (including B vitamins, vitamin C) and a supplement of essential fatty acids including fish oils and evening primrose oil. Herbals which are good for the skin include: echinacea, ginkgo biloba, pine bark, milk thistle (there are many to choose from, so refer to a herbalist if the problem is very person-specific).

Tackle coughs and colds head on.

If you do get a cough or a cold, then herbal remedies are for you. There are all kinds of products which are tailor-made for various symptoms; marshmallow and slippery elm are mucilage and can soothe a sore throat, goldenseal (which contains berberine and canadine) is antimicrobial and has immune-stimulating components), and there are other herbs for tickly coughs, headaches, runny noses, blocked sinuses and barking coughs and phlegm.

Beating the Christmas Stodge

If there’s one time of year when digestive problems such as bloating, wind and acid indigestion are on the up, it’s Christmas. People tend to eat heavier foods, so a supplement of betaine hydrochloride (which adds stomach acid, assisting softening and breakdown of food in the stomach) can be useful to many. This is often found as an inherent part of a digestive enzyme supplement, most often made using plant-source enzymes to break down fats, carbohydrates and proteins (great when any rich, or hard-to digest food is eaten). Herbals are useful, including chamomile, fennel, peppermint, turmeric to calm the stomach, and artichoke, devil’s claw and boldo to stimulate the digestive system.

Senna, aloe vera and fruit cubes are great for constipation, which is common when a lot of refined foods are being eaten. Essential oils, applied using massage to the stomach can be great for crampy and bloated (windy) stomachs, using coriander, dill, clove or peppermint.

Natural Lifestyle © Natural Lifestyle in connection with Natural Health Week

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Zotrim Weight Loss Pill

Posted on 4 March, 2009 by | 10 Comments

National obesity has highlighted our UK wide problem; that we need all the help we can get to slim down a little. Zotrim may help us.

Zotrim is a unique herbal product designed to help weight loss.
This natural slimming aid has been developed by the Danish scientist Dr Lasse Hessel who uses 3 products from the Amazon Rainforests to help make you feel full between meals and so not want to eat as much at meal times and makes you feel full for longer. Zotrim is one of the few slimming aids to have supportive scientific evidence showing its effectiveness in helping to confront obesity.

How effective is Zotrim in aiding weight loss?

Dr Hessel took 19 years to develop this amazing aid to weight loss based on natural plant products. There is now much research to show that Zotrim has proved effective in aiding weight loss. A results of a clinical study carried out in 2001 show that after taking Zotrim for 45 days, people lost an average of 5kg (10lb); those on a placebo lost less than 0.5kg (1lb) over the same period. Those continuing for an even longer period on Zotrim successfully maintained their weight loss over a full 12 months. The results of the study were published in the Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics and the British Dietetic Association Jounal in June 2001.

What is Zotrim’s secret?

This weight loss aid is based on three South American plants: guarana, damiana and yerba mate. The combination of these herbs in the ratio they are found in Zotrim have the effect of slowing down the rate at which food leaves the stomach, making you feel fuller more quickly during a meal and you stay satisfied for longer, resulting in eating less overall.

Nutritionist Dr Anthony Leeds of King’s College London welcomed the findings: ‘At a time when overweight and obesity are rising, all possible approaches to weight reduction and maintenance need to be examined objectively.’

What are the exact ingredients of Zotrim?

Mate extract (27.5%), guarana extract (23.3%), damiana extract (9%), dicalcium phosphate, talc, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, magnesium stearate, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose. (Guarana contains caffeine.)

Recommended Dosage?

Take two Zotrim tablets with a full glass of water a few minutes before each of your 3 meals or before you feel a need to snack. 6 tablets per day are recommended.

As the study indicated Zotrim can be taken regularly and for lengthy periods of time to aid weight reduction to your target level.

Michael van Straten comments in Womens Magazine Aug 2004

“I’m usually suspicious of slimming pills, but Zotrim is different. It makes no claims to burn fat, stimulate metabolism or prevent absorption of food. Its action is simple – it increases the time needed for the stomach to empty and makes you feel fuller sooner, for longer. The pills contain three South American herbs: Guarana, Yerba Mate and Damiana. These are all used by rainforest tribes to prevent hunger and boost energy.

Zotrim Diet & Weight Loss Cautions

Anyone who is embarking on a slimming diet, especially if under the age of 18, pregnant, nursing, has a health problem, wants to lose more than 40 pounds (18 kilos) or more than 20% of their starting bodyweight, should consult their doctor before starting any weight reduction programme.

Guarana and yerba mate are sources of caffeine, which boosts the metabolism and may make you slightly jittery.

© GoodnessDirect 2005

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Pau d’arco – Boost your body’s defences

Posted on 28 January, 2009 by | 2 Comments

Of all the herbs used by the ancient Inca people, Pau d’Arco, or the ‘Tree of Life’ was one of the mainstays.

Also called ipe roxo or taheebo, and known in some parts of the world as Lapacho, Pau d’Arco is a rainforest remedy made from the inner bark of the large native South American tree known to botany as the genus Tabebuia. Several species have been used by the indigenous peoples of South America, including impetiginosa, heptahylla and avellanedae.

Tribes who live thousands of miles apart are documented as using Pau d’Arco for the same purposes for hundreds of years. South America indigenous tribes have traditionally drunk tea made from the shredded inner bark to boost the effectiveness of the body’s own immune defence mechanisms. As far back as 1882, one of Pau d’Arco’s constituents was isolated and identified as lapachol, an anti-microbial and potentially tumour-fighting chemical. Besides Lapachol, Pau d’Arco contains at least twenty other actives. Today, scientific evidence shows that extracts of Pau d’Arco can offer effective protection against a wide range of bacterial and fungal organisms, including Candida albicans and Thrush. It is also useful for Athletes foot and fungal nail infections.

Rainforest Indians have always valued Pau d’Arco as a powerful remedy for strengthening immunity and to protect them against gut parasites. In many parts of the world, physicians are recognising it as an aid to patients with immune-deficiency illnesses. For ME, chronic fatigue syndrome, Epstein-Barr virus, Pau d’Arco can be a great aid to recovery due to its positive effects on the immune system. Pau d’Arco is not recommended during pregnancy.

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Plants that Heal

Posted on 19 March, 2008 by | Leave a comment

Quick guide to different popular herbs and their uses.
Angus Castus
This lovely fragrant herd with a small lilac flower that can be found flowering in the summer months. Used widely by the ancient Greeks women healers used spicy seeds for this plant for a wide range of ailments.
Today this herb is used as a remedy for PMT and menstrual problems.
Recommended for balancing out female hormones helping with problems such as anxiety, tenderness, bloating, headache and fatigue can also help with irregular periods.
When using for Menopause symptoms it can help with night sweats, hot flushes and fatigue.

Aloe Vera
This is a green cactus like plant that is very easy to grow, it derives from the lily family. The interior of the chunky leaves are full of a gooey healing gel containing natural emollients, anti inflammatory compounds and magnesium lactate. It helps to calm wounds and promotes healing, for minor burns, sunburn minor cuts. It can also be helpful with major skin complaints such as acne, eczema, psoriasis. It call also be taken internally and has been thought to help with arthritis, diabetes and ulsters though none of the research has been confirmed on
these claims.

Arnica
This plant has a bright yellow daisy like flower and has lots of active ingredients including – helenalin and dihydrohelenalin which possesses a slight anti inflammatory and mild analgesic effect, most likely because
of the sesquicentennial lac tones. Arnica can be used externally as a treatment for acne, boils, bruises, rashes, sprains, pains, and other wounds.

Calendula
With a bright orange flower the Calendula plant is very distinctive also know as pot marigolds. Also known for its healing properties, can be used on minor wounds gum and tooth infections and consumed externally for bladder infections.

Chamomile
A small daisy like flower Chamomile is used medically against sore stomach and IBS as a gentle sleep aid. With its calming properties it can be used to aid stress ,nervousness and stress

Cranberry
This delicious tangy tasting berry with a rich red colour is well known for its healing property. It helps to keep infections at bay in particular the urinary tract.

Echinacea
This is one of the few remedies advertised in the BMJ with its purple cone shaped flower The plants have large showy heads of composite flowers, blooming from early to late summer. This can be used to combat cold and flu symptoms and to boost your immune system.

Evening Primrose
These small dainty yellow flowers open on a warm summer evening and release a wonderful calming aroma. Its rich in the omega & fatty acid gammalinolenic acid ( GLA ). many conditions seem to respond well to does of the oil. Premenstrual pain, eczema and arthritic pain. It can also help promote healthy skin, hair and nails.

Fever Few
This weed like small daisy flower is perennial and white. It has been popular for use with headaches, fevers and womb complaints.

Garlic
This strong smelling bulb like plant has been used in many counties for medicinal purposes throughout the ages. Can be used for fungal infections such as athletes foot, to help lower high blood pressure and cholesterol and will help fight off cold and flu symptoms.

Ginger
This spicy root can be found in 50% of herbal remedies found today. Helps to combat nausea and when chewed raw numbs the mouth from toothache. Why not try it in tea to combat bloating and flatulent problems.

Goldenseal
Also known as orange root this plant comes from the perennial daisy family, a looks like a small shooting star. Now an endangered species remedies are cultivated from cultivated plants.

Good for stomach complaints such as diarrhoea and stimulates the appetite has been used for eczema, canker sores infected wounds and inflammation. It contains an anti- inflammatory action that can reduce the congestion when suffering from flu and cold like symptoms.

Lavender
This sweet smelling purple or blue flower can been seen in most English gardens. Is known for its calming qualities good for anxiety and insomnia. Why not try lavender oil on those nasty head lice.

Licorice root
Do not confuse the herbal remedy licorice root with the licorice confectionery, which as a rule contains very little licorice. Can be used for coughs and a mild laxative

Milk Thistle
This pretty looking thistle has be used for many years as hangover cure for many years back to the ancient Roman times. Can be used as a vegetable it contains silymarin.

Peppermint
It is well know to be given mints after dinner as a digestive aid and to sweeten the breath. There are more than 30 specimens of mint but peppermint has the strongest flavour and smell. Its easy to grow and has a wonderful aroma it can also be used tfor insect bites, nettle rash.

St Johns Wort
This is a shrubby plant with yellow flowers you can find it growing wild in most countries. This small star shaped plant has be used to treat a number of conditions, most famous for those connected anxiety and depression. Also used in creams for sciatica, sprains and cramps.

Valerian
This amazing plant has a vibrant red flower head, with tall gangly stems. It has a distinctive smell often compared to dirty socks, were as we humans may turn up our noses animals love it and it has been know to bate traps. It is often referred to as natures tranquilliser it can also be used to stenghen the heart and reduce high blood pressure.

Witch Hazel
Hamamelis, commonly known as witch hazel, produces delicate blooms with intoxicating scent in the depths of winter. Ribbon petals are tucked in knobbly clusters of plump buds along naked branches, in a range of citrus shades. Can be used for bad breath, bruises and oily skin.

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Raspberry leaf tea

Posted on 5 November, 2007 by | Leave a comment

I get asked from time to time what Raspberry Leaf Tea is for? Or surely it must be good for you because it doesn’t taste of raspberries?

Raspberry leaf really is the leaves of the raspberries that grow in our gardens. The leaves have a stimulating effect on the uterus, both relaxing and soothing any muscle cramps in this area. Hence the traditional use of the leaves in herbal medicine – to aid pregnancy, ease labour and also help with menstrual cramps. But the men needn’t feel left out – they are great for sore throats, the men’s equivalent of labour pains! (Woooops apologies to my male readers, man flu is a girls joke). Also helps stop diarrhea.

The caution is that you shouldn’t really take raspberry leaf in the first 8 weeks or so of pregnancy, and maybe not until week 32, due to its stimulating effects on the uterus. If this is relevant for you here are more details of how and when is best to take raspberry leaf, plus details of currents trials. Raspberry Leaf is available as a tea, dried leaves for infusing – or a supplement.

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