Saturday, September 27, 2008

What are herbal medicines?

Safety should always come first this is especially true when you are buying medication, whether conventional drugs or an alternative herbal medicine. Read on for some important reminders to keep in mind when you shop for supplements.

What are herbal medicines?
The popularity of alternative herbal medicine is NOT rooted on the fact that they cost less than the drug medications. Most people prefer it because it comes from botanical sources, and is therefore considered natural. But you should also be wary of natural products because certain herbs may be toxic once it reacts to other substances present inside the body.

Basic tips
Here are just some of the basic considerations to keep inmind before you buy alternative herbal medicine:

1. SIDE EFFECTS.
The basic concern for anyone who will be using alternative medicine is the doable side effects that studies have already shown. For instance, ginseng has been found to cause side effects ranging from milder ones like headaches to more serious ones like vaginal bleeding and high or low blood pressure. Diarrhea seems to be the most common side effect in favourite alternative herbal medicine like chondroitin sulfate, echinacea, garlic, ginkgo biloba, and glucosamine. Ephedra, which used to be very known in its ability to heal, can cause stroke, heart attack, seizures, and uneven heartbeats.

2. APPROPRIATENESS.

An important thing to remember when deciding to use alternative herbal medicine is the ailment you wish to address. The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) said that you should consult a doctor when using herbs to treat: thyroid problems, stroke, cancer, blood clotting, liver problems, Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, enlarged prostrate gland, psychiatric problems, epilepsy, heart disease, glaucoma, high blood pressure, and immune system problems.
As alternative herbal medicine act like drugs by reacting on other substances present in the system, the AAFP also recommended that caution should be exercised in the use of both herbs and drug medications to the following sickness: psychiatric concerns, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, seizure, blood clotting, and blood pressure.

3. MANUFACTURER REPUTATION.

Bear in mind that dietary supplements like alternative herbal medicine are not regulated by the U. S. Food and Drugs Administration (FDA). This means that these products are not subject to government testing before they can be offered to consumers (unlike other drug medications). Thus, it is very important to buy from a company that you trust, such as pharmaceutical GMP-compliant manufacturers. These manufacturers have passed very strict standards, so you can be sure that their products are of high quality.

Biomedical Autism Treatment - Diet Helps Autistic Kids Get & Stay Healthy

If your child seems to develop an illness quite frequently, their immune system is likely in a weakened state. The way to accomplish this is through a strong immune system, and diet can play a big role in strengthening immune resistance to bacteria and viruses.

The following is a list of considerations to apply biomedical autism treatment to help support a health body and immune system for autism-spectrum children (ASD):

Whole Foods Diet - A whole foods diet contains quality sources of protein (poultry, fish, eggs, lean meats, beans, nuts, nut butters) lots of fresh fruits and veggies, nuts and seeds and high quality fats and oils such as flax oil, olive oil and coconut oil. You want to eliminate as many processed foods as possible - foods that are processed with chemicals, preservatives, additives, flavor enhancers, artificial colors and sweeteners, added sugar and hydrogenated oils.

If your child is eating high sugar foods regularly throughout the day - candy, cookies, doughnuts, ice cream, soda, sugary cereals, and products with corn syrup or high fructose corn syrup - their immune system is likely censored all the time. Eliminate Dairy Products - Cow's milk dairy foodstuffs can be mucous forming foods. Many children on the autism-spectrum have a history of chronic ear and respiratory infections. There are two types of essential fatty acids (EFAs) - omega 6 and omega 3. Sources high in omega 3 EFAs include fish oil, flax oil, krill oil and cod liver oil. EFAs are important for the immune system and aid to regulate activity of white blood cells (T-cells and B-cells) that fight off infections.
Include Probiotics - Probiotics are beneficial bacteria. The mucosa of the mouth, respiratory and intestinal tracts are considered to be our first line immune defense. Probiotics help to enhance the effectiveness of our mucosal immune system.

Whole Food Nutritional Supplement - A great way to obtain a wide variety of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, enzymes, etc. is to use powdered greens. 1-2 tablespoons flax oil or fish oil
1-2 tablespoons partially ground flax seeds
1-2 tablespoons powdered greens
Mix well in blender.

Friday, September 26, 2008

HERBAL MEDICINE

Herbs are often used for medicines and medical related purposes. They are admired because they offer relief, they are cheaper than over the counter and prescription drugs, and they don't have dangerous side effects. Those who use herbal medicine believe they have amazing healing powers. Herbal medicine is the oldest form of health care known. It has been used by all cultures throughout history. Over 4 billion people around the world use herbal medicine on a regular basis.
If you are taking recommendation drugs it is important to check with your doctor before switching to herbal medicine. You should also consult your doctor if you are preparation to take herbal medicine in conjunction with a instruction medication as the herbal medicine can render the prescription medication ineffective. Herbal medicine is also referred to as alternative medicine.
Herbal medicine is used for many ailments including treating heart disease, high blood pressure, pain, asthma, and many other problems.
Most herbal medicines are secure. However, you must be careful. For example the herb ephedrine was very popular for effective weight loss. However, it has been known to cause heart problems and resulted in death in some cases.
The Foxglove has been used since 1975 for patients with heart problems. It helps circulate the blood so the heart doesn't have to work as hard. St. John's Wart is another very popular herb used for medicine. It is effective for treating depression without the side effects most prescription drugs including Prozac come with The Natural Center of Complementary and Alternative Medicine conducts its own tests and experiments with herbs as medicine. They provide unbiased information based on the results of these tests and experiments. This is a great place to get quality information about any herbs you are considering using for medical reasons.

The use of herbal medicine has been around since the beginning of time.