The need for sleep varies from person to person. Some people seem to have trouble going to sleep or staying asleep while others can drop off to sleep quite easily and do not wake for 7 hours. It is a great feeling to be able to sleep soundly for 7 or 8 hours then wake up naturally and bound out of bed feeling refreshed and renewed. However there are many people with varying degrees of insomnia who have to resort to sleeping pills to enable them to get a decent nights sleep. Many people prefer natural health remedies to help sleep problems to avoid the unpleasant side effects and dependancy on drugs.

Insomnia is a serious disorder that can lead to symptoms such as irritability, impaired reaction time and trouble concentrating. Sleep problems have been linked to the risk of developing heart problems, diabetes, premature aging and cancer at its worst. Most often insomnia is brought on by mental and physical anxiety and stress in our lives. It can be caused by existing heath conditions of the mind and body, certain medications or changes in environment that make us feel uncomfortable or anxious.

Diet changes

Very often changing your diet and getting some regular exercise is all that is needed to start getting a decent night’s sleep. Caffeine intake can be one big cause of insomnia. You might not think that just one cup of coffee in the morning or a couple of caffeinated drinks could prevent you going to sleep but it could make all the difference.

Although alcohol may help you get to sleep it can cause you to wake in the night. Your stomach should not be too full or too empty at night. Hunger can cause you to wake. Avoiding fatty and very spicy food at night.

Resolving insomnia can be a frustrating process. Trial and error can leave you feeling more irritable and stressed out than the sleep problem alone. So what can you do?

Natural Remedies

Natural Herbal remedies are a way of approaching the problem without risking negative side effects of prescription drugs like dependency. They are also much cheaper to use and easier to get than most prescription sleep aides. Herbal treatments are most commonly available in the form of supplements, teas, tinctures and Aromatherapy essential oils.

Here are some herbs that have been found effective for sleep problems:

Valerian

This herb acts in much the same way that Valium does and can be affective for treatment of even chronic insomnia. However, it shouldn’t be used by those who have high or low blood pressure or liver damage or those who could become pregnant or are already pregnant.

Kava Kava

This herb is especially effective in those who suffer from anxiety; it relaxes the mind and body making it easier to rest. It has been suggested that it may cause liver damage for some so caution is advised.

Chamomile

This herb is especially mild and can be used by children as well as adults. It is most commonly found as a tea and blends well with other sedative herbs such as hops. 5 – 6 drops of Chamomile essential oil can also be put in bath water to relax you before you go to be.

Lavender

Lavender is the most readily available of all herbs used to treat insomnia. You will find it in the form of lotions, soaps, shampoos, perfumes and bath additives like bubble bath and salts.

A few drops of lavender in a bath can also be helpful, especially when used in connection with several drops of the oil on a tissue under your pillow. Just be careful not to get the oils in your eyes. Special pillows made of equal parts of hops, lavender, and chamomile are available from health stores and can help promote better sleep.

Passion Flower

Passion flower is consider by herbalists to be an important herb for insomnia caused by mental worry, overwork, or nervous exhaustion. It is often combined with other herbs in herbal sleep supplements. It has no known side effects even when used in large doses.

The final solution for your sleep problems is often a matter of working out the underlying reasons why you are having trouble sleeping. Have a look at personal issues. work conditions, your general health and sleeping environment.

For a special 10 page report outlining the 5 most common causes of insomnia and what you can do to overcome your sleepless nights starting now Click Here

It is estimated that 90% of women have had cellulite at some time in their lives. Cellulite is that horrible, unsightly dimpled orange peel look you get on the skin on your thighs and buttocks but you can get it in others areas such as the abdomen and upper arms. Women everywhere want to know the secrets of how to get rid of cellulite.

It is much more common in women although men can get it too. It is believed to be due to a combination of factors including, poor circulation and lymph drainage resulting in toxin accumulation, poor diet and digestion, poor liver function, lack of exercise, and excess estrogen, smoking, and too much alcohol. Excess estrogen probably plays a big part in it and that is why it is more common in women.

The hormone estrogen is blamed for the breakdown of connective tissue in the areas that are genetically programmed to store fat – tum, bum and thighs. The fat deposits in these cells just below the skin surface then appear more pronounced giving it that dimpled look.

Other hormones such as insulin, thyroid and adrenal hormones may also be involved. You might think that it’s a condition that affects overweight people but thin people get it too.

So with all these factors involved where do you begin to get rid of the unsightly condition? There are many expensive creams and treatments that can help on a superficial level but don’t do anything for the root causes. There is no doubt that the natural remedies of healthy eating combined with exercise are the fastest route to smooth thighs and buttocks.

Here is a natural remedy plan to help you get rid of cellulite

Diet

A good diet is important for any health problem. Avoid foods that are high in sugar, fat, salt, caffeine and alcohol. Eat plenty of fresh cleansing vegetables and fruit and drink 1½ liters filtered water a day to help flush out toxins. Try adding 1 -2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice to a glass of water first thing in the morning.

Eat liver cleansing foods such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, cabbage, artichoke, garlic, beet (beetroot), and bitter leaves like dandelion, chicory and endive which can be added to salads. Sprinkle some seaweed flakes like Seagreens onto your salads for added minerals and iodine that is needed for good thyroid function.

Eat whole grains like brown rice, oats, millet and quinoa to provide more fiber to make sure your bowels move well every day. The liver detoxes excess estrogen this way and it can get reabsorbed if you are not eliminating it.

A handful of fresh nuts and seeds and the use of a little flaxseed oil and olive oil on vegetables or salads will provide essential fatty acids to help repair the cell according to Dr Murad an authority on cellulite.

Give up smoking

Smoking constricts the blood vessels impairing the circulation and is thought to damage the connective tissue in your body. This causes the dimpled effect in cellulite. Caffeine can have the same effect.

Balance your hormones

Avoid the contraceptive pill which is known to contribute cellulite. The liver detoxifies excess estrogen so good liver function is essential. Cleansing the liver can help. Avoid environmental estrogens – avoid heating foods in plastic containers, use natural household cleansers and personal care products and perfume. Buy hormone free meat and dairy products.

Exercise

Exercise will help stimulate the circulation and burn fat. Anaerobic exercises that target specific areas like the thighs, buttocks or arms are proven to help reduce cellulite. Anaerobic simply means exercise that where the cells do not burn oxygen. Consistently doing squats and leg curls or arm lifts can help shift ugly cellulite.

Aerobic activities such as running, jogging, walking, and/or swimming are great ways to get the blood and lymphatic circulation moving. Step-by-step instructions for how to do specific exercises for cellulite is just one of the things you can find in can be found in
Banish CelluliteOnce And For All

Yoga, according to one study at the Mind Body Institute is the best exercise. Yoga boosts lymph activity helping to eliminate toxins and fluid retention, improves digestion and elimination and tones the muscles all of which can improve your cellulite.

Skin Brushing

Dry skin brushing also stimulates the lymph circulation to remove the trapped toxins.Use a natural long handled bristle brush and brush your entire body working in long sweeping strokes from your toes always towards your heart. Do it lightly at first and increase the pressure as your skin becomes used to it. Brush before you shower every morning.

Reduce Stress

As stress hormones are suspected to contribute to cellulite take steps to try to reduce and avoid stress. Yoga and meditation can help here too. exercise helps to reduce stress hormones.

More Secrets To Banishing Cellulite

To discover more more about the role of proper breathing; skin brushing, massage, natural remedies, and a detoxifying diet in how to get rid of cellulite once and for all Click Here

The fact that the frequent intake of fresh fruit and vegetable juices with a healthy diet can lower blood pressure has been known for a long time but a recent experiment showed that celery juice is a natural cure for high blood pressure.

Blood pressure is the force exerted by the blood pushing against the walls of the arteries as the heart pumps out blood. If the pressure rises above normal it can over time cause a lot of damage to your body. It can triple your risk of heart attack, increase your risk of stroke and can damage your kidneys and eyes.

Although various types of drugs can be used to lower blood pressure they have a variety of side effects such as fatigue, weakness, insomnia, cold hands and feet, chronic cough, dizziness, constipation , headache, dry mouth and many more that some people are not willing to tolerate. They turn instead to natural health remedies or natural cures.

Doctor’s experiment proves celery juice can lower blood pressure

The ability of celery to reduce high blood pressure has long been recognized by Chinese medicine. Some studies have shown that drinking celery juice every day for 1 week can help lower blood pressure. In a recent experiment using celery juice, a doctor from a well known alternative center in the USA resulted in her father’s systolic blood pressure (the top figure) reducing from 148 to 128 and her own from 120 to 105.

They both drank celery juice from one bunch of celery mixed with a little orange juice to counteract the bitterness that celery juice sometimes has, every day for a month. The fact that the frequent intake of fresh fruit and vegetable juices can lower blood pressure has been known for a long time but it was always presumed that it was the high intake of potassium, other minerals and antioxidants in the juices that did it.

Celery contains the compound 3-n-butyl-phthalide which relaxes the muscles in the walls of the arteries which widens them and allows the blood to fow more freely thorugh them. Pthalides also reduce stress hormones which can cause blood vessels to constrict.

In a previous post I wrote about the research that showed that beet juice is also effective for lowering blood pressure through the formation of nitrite which dilates blood vessels. So instead of sweetening the celery juice with orange juice why not try beet juice. The two make an ideal combination.

Other diet and lifestyle changes can help reduce high blood pressure:

• Increase fruit and vegetables and whole grains

• Reduce and preferable eliminate sugar and salt

• Restrict animal fat

• Eat more low mercury oily fish or take some Omega 3 capsules

• Limit alcohol to one drink a day

• Lose weight if overweight

• Increase exercise – walking, swimming and cycling are good

• Reduce stress – try yoga or meditation

• Give up smoking

Although you would probably never think that celery juice is a natural cure for blood high pressure it seems that in combination with a health diet and lifestyle it can improve your health no end.

For more information about drug free ways to lower your blood pressure
CLICK HERE

With so many opinions and stories about the origins and degree of threat of Swine Flu in the media and on the internet it is hard to know what to believe but the fact remains that it is your immune system that has to be effective if you catch this or any other infection. So, many health conscious people are asking if there are any Natural Remedies or ways to boost or improve their immune systems against Swine Flu.

The fact is, because this is a new virus that you have never been exposed to you will have no immunity too it. That does not mean that you cannot do things to protect yourself against it nor take steps to improve your immune system. And if you are unlucky enough to get Swine flu there are a number of Natural Health Remedies that you can take that can help. I have already posted one article on my Detox Specialist Blog.

I see this pandemic threat as a wake up call to us all to take a look at our immune systems and see if there are ways to improve it. The only people that have died so far from the Swine flu are poor people in Mexico City, one of the most polluted cities in the world. There is no doubt that toxins that get into your body will weaken the immune system and lower your resistance to infection.

Your immune system acts as a waste disposal service, clearing up all the unwanted rubbish. It is part of your body’s detox system. You are bombarded with toxins from food, water and air and things that you put on your skin which accumulate in your body placing an enormous stress on your immune and detox systems.

Your resistance can become compromised by many other reasons such as:

• A diet low in nutrients – you need certain nutrients for your immune system to function such as Vitamins A,C and D, the minerals zinc, selenium and iron, sufficient protein and essential fatty acids (Omega 3 & 6).

• Too much sugar in your diet – Sugar or foods containing it especially between meals is a real killer of the immune system.

• Food allergies- eating foods you are allergic or sensitive to puts a stress on the immune system.

• Too much alcohol – 3 or more drinks can damage the immune system.

• A toxic bowel – a large percentage of the immune system is in the bowel so cleanse & take probiotics.

• Lack of sleep – growth hormone is released during sleep which stimulates the thymus gland repairing and renewing your cells.

• Lack of exercise – transportation of the immune cells throughout the body needs movement of the lymph which in turn depends on adequate exercise.

• Low thyroid function – the thyroid gland plays a crucial role in maintaining the body’s defense system.

• Emotional and physical stress – cortisol produced by the adrenal glands in response to stress suppresses the immune system.

If you think you are developing Swine flu or any viral infection here are few simple things you can do:

• It helps to reduce food intake, get more rest than usual, reduce stress, stay warm and temporarily stop exercise.

• Fasting on liquids for 1 or 2 days is a good way to divert the energy that usually goes into food digestion to fighting the virus. You can drink herbal teas, vegetable juices, and vegetable broths.

• Take Vitamin C to bowel tolerance. 5 – 6 grams or more a day in divided doses can cut short a cold or flu.

• Take Vitamin A 100,000 IU (approx 34mg) for 5 days.

• Suck a Zinc lozenge every hour for 2 days but do not take more than 150mg zinc in 24 hours.

• Eat a clove of fresh garlic three times a day or take garlic capsules. Take 2,400 – 3, 200 every day. Experts believe that a mega dose of garlic at the first sign of flu can reduce its severity.

There are so many natural antiviral remedies available that we are spoilt for choice.

Here are a few effective ones:

• Licorice root is an effective antiviral herb. Take 1,500 mg 3 times a day. More than 3 grams a day taken for more than 6 weeks can increase blood pressure in some sensitive people.

• Olive leaf is an effective killer of viruses. Take 2000mg a day. Some practitioners recommend starting on a low dose of 500mg and increasing gradually as olive leaf can kill off yeast overgrowth as well causing temporary die off reactions.

• Oil of oregano extract is the best form to take this powerful herb. A dose of 3 drops 3 times a day can help figh off the flu.

By eating and drinking wisely, getting enough exercise, sleep and relaxation, doing regular bowel cleanses and sessions of detox, avoiding as many toxins as possible in your personal care products, your home and garden you can improve your immune system against Swine Flu.

While many of us look forward to the warmer spring weather hay fever sufferers are dreading it. Distressing symptoms such as explosive sneezing, intensely itchy and watery eyes and nose, congestion, headaches and fatigue are caused by excessive allergic reactions to tree or grass pollen, molds, spores and fumes. Although many people rely on antihistamines and other over the counter remedies to ease the symptoms many people prefer natural health remedies. There is evidence that your diet may hold they key in considerably easing the symptoms.

Some nutritional doctors have pointed out that there was an association between the increase in sugar consumption in the more affluent classes from the middle of the 19th Century and an increase in hay fever. Although it may just be coincidence sugar and grass pollen, the commonest trigger of hay fever, are both in the same botanical family. Interestingly, wheat a common food allergy is also in the same family.

The Food Allergy Connection

There is no doubt that people with hay fever who are allergic or intolerant to some foods will benefit from excluding them from their diets. This has often worked for people who don’t respond to other treatments. By reducing the some of the load on your immune system your tolerance to pollen and other hay fever triggers may be increased.

While this may not produce results in the short term the long term effects of excluding reactive foods together with following a healthy diet free of refined carbohydrates and food additives and the correction of any nutritional deficiencies often brings about considerable reduction in symptoms the following year.

Natural Yogurt & the Immune System

Although many naturopaths recommend excluding cow’s milk products to lessen mucus and congestion eating live yogurt for 3 months prior to the pollen season has lessened hayfever for some. A lot of research has shown that the good bacteria in your bowel play an important part in how your immune system functions. Hay fever occurs when the immune system reacts excessively to certain substances releasing histamine which causes the majority of the symptoms.

Vitamin C and Bioflavanoids – Nature’s Antihistamines
Some recent studies have shown that Vitamin C can act as a natural antihistamine remedy. Adults who took 2 grams of Vitamin C a day reduced their blood histamine levels by 40% . Citrus fruits, peppers, new potatoes, green leafy vegetables, and tomatoes are high in vitamin C so it makes sense to eat more of these foods.

In fact Greek children who ate a lot of oranges, grapes, apples and tomatoes were less likely to get hay fever. The high levels of bioflavanoids in these foods help prevent the release of histamine from cells.

Quercetin, a natural plant chemical is another natural anti-histamine as well as an antioxidant and inti-inflammatory. Eat more citrus fruit (only if not allergic to them), apples, grapes, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, strawberries and onions to get more quercetin.

Carotenoids and Vitamin A

Carotenoids, the substances in plants that give them the wonderful red, orange and yellow colors, can be converted in your body to Vitamin A an essential nutrient for the health of the respiratory system. They are also found in spinach, kale, and collard greens. A group of people with the highest intake of carotenoids had the lowest rates of hay fever. Eat plenty of carrots, sweet potatoes, squash, tomatoes, apricots, mangoes and green leafy veg.

Omega-3 a Natural Remedy for Inflammation
Omega-3 fatty acids can benefit hay fever sufferers as they have an anti-inflammatory effect. Good sources of these essential fats are oily fish (make sure its low in mercury), walnuts and flax seeds.

Making an early start on including all these healthy foods in your diet could provide you with a natural health remedy for hay fever this season.

Childhood asthma seems to be on the increase and there are several theories about the reason why. A severe asthma attack is very frightening for both the child and the parents and puts a tremendous burden on the family. But the good news is that it can be reversible or controllable with a natural health remedy approach.

Reasons for childhood asthma

The airways and lungs are made of very delicate tissue and they are assaulted every day with environmental pollutants and toxic chemicals. Some recent research has found that children whose mothers had been exposed to high traffic pollution while pregnant may have genetic changes that increase the risk of developing childhood asthma. 80 % of children have asthma that is caused by coming into contact with substances in their environment but it can also be triggered by a viral or other infection.

Antibiotic use in early life may increase risk for childhood asthma. The use of some natural health remedies is always preferable to antibiotics where possible. Babies respond very well to homeopathic remedies. Some experts believe the diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough (DTP) vaccinations might provoke response from the immune system which predisposes the child to asthma. But doctors have found that delaying the jab by 2 months can dramatically reduce the risk. Breast feeding protects against asthma.

Bad fats trigger inflammation

Another reason put forward for the huge increase in childhood asthma is the increase in the use of polyunsaturated fats in childrens diets. Asthma is an inflammatory condition triggered by many different things such as infections, allergies such as pollen, dust mites, animal dander, certain foods, and environmental irritants.

Polyunsaturated oils increase levels of Omega 6 fatty acids which promote inflammation. A large study showed that children whose diets were high in margarine spread on bread and foods fried in vegetable oils had double the risk of asthma. Omega 3 fatty acids that are found in fish inhibit inflammation.

But increasing ocean fish in the diet is not the answer as oily fish which contain high levels of Omega 3 oils also contain mercury which is toxic to the nervous system and can cause developmental problems in children. Children may get most of their mercury from canned tuna so should be limited. You can find out how much mercury there is in fish by visiting www.gotmercury.com or read the information on the seafood selector.

Diet to prevent asthma

The best diet is low in sugar, additives, processed foods, transfats, hydrogenated fats, cooking oils and margarines or other polyunsaturated spreads and high in fresh fruit and vegetables, whole grains and grass fed free range meat and mercury free fish. Any known allergic foods should be excluded.

The natural health remedy approach to asthma

• Find a good homeopath who will take your child’s history to determine a constitutional remedy. In one study of 182 children between 2 and 8 years the homeopathic remedy Poumon Histamine reduced the number of severe asthma attacks.

• Lobelia extract can relax the muscles of the airways making it easier for the child to breathe what ever the trigger. It is often included in a cough syrup. Napiers lobelia cough syrup is one example.

• Oralmat, a natural remedy, developed in Australia from rye grass can help reduce asthma attacks. The extract can help modulate the immune system and reduce inflammation.

• Magnesium relaxes muscles and numerous studies show that people with asthma have lower levels of the mineral magnesium in their cells. The dose for children is usually about 3 or 4 mg of magnesium per pound of body weight but you are best to consult a nutritionist or nutritional doctor.

• Vitamin C 1000 mg a day given for 2 weeks to children with asthma reduced the number of attacks by 25%. It reduces the tendency of the bronchial passages to go into spasm.

• Vitamin E can lower rates of asthma. It helps to heal the mucus membranes. 20 mg daily for ages 3-6.

• Omega 3 oil can reduce reactions to allergens that trigger asthma attacks in some children. The intake of fish oil or flaxseed oil has anti-inflammatory effects and helps to balance the immune system. If you buy a fish oil supplement for your child make sure it is guaranteed free from pollutants.

• Probiotics. Always supplement with a high potency probiotic if your child has to have antibiotics. They help modulate the immune system.

With a good healthy diet, a good balance of healthy oils together with some natural health remedies many parents have successfully been able to reverse their child’s asthma.

While many doctors believe that the only cure for ovarian cysts that do not disappear by themselves is to remove them surgically many women are now turning to natural health remedies and natural treatments instead. The fact is that just removing them is not solving the underlying problem of why they formed in the first place.

Ovarian cysts are caused by a number of factors but a hormonal imbalance is a major cause. Environmental estrogens (xenoestrogens) are now thought to contribute to them as they interfere with the delicate hormone balance. These are chemicals found in the environment in that enter the body and act like estrogen. They are also known as estrogen mimics or endocrine disrupters.

Ovarian cysts are produced when the release of the egg from the ovary fails and the egg follicle swells with fluid causing a cyst. Even if the egg is released the resulting hole may seal off leaving tissue and fluid accumulating inside and the area which expands into a cyst. The cyst usually disappears on its own in a few weeks, but it can grow to almost 4 inches in diameter and can bleed into itself or twist the ovary causing pain and menstrual changes.

When there are a large number of small cysts in the ovaries which is again accompanied by hormonal imbalance it is known as Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) Technically they are not cysts but numerous very small egg follicles. Rarely an ovarian cyst can be cancerous so it is important to get a proper diagnosis before deciding on the treatment.

Factors contributing to ovarian cysts that are the focus of natural treatments are a weak immune system, poor diet, insulin resistance, hormone imbalance, inability of the liver to break down excess hormones. So you can see that it is not a quick fix. Simply surgically removing the cysts will not rectify these underlying causes and they can recur.

Natural Health Remedies for ovarian cysts include:

1. Diet.

A high fat and carbohydrate diet results in weight gain which raises estrogen levels. Alcohol and caffeine intake from coffee, tea, soft drinks and chocolate is associated with higher estrogen levels. A processed and junk food diet is low in nutrients and fiber that are needed for a strong immune system, for liver clearance of excess estrogen and elimination from the body through the bowel.

A whole food diet that focuses on a variety of organic fresh vegetables, fruit, whole grains, nuts and seeds with lean organic or free range meat and poultry is best. Dr Ralph Golan recommends avoiding milk products. Non organic ones are more likely to contain xenoestrogens.

2. Avoid Xenoestrogens

These hormone disrupting chemicals are found everywhere but it is possible to reduce your exposure. Drink filtered water and avoid drinking it from plastic bottles. Avoid all chemical based household products and personal care products and replace them with natural ones. Avoid buying, heating and storing food in plastic containers or wrapping. Reduce exposure to glues, paints, varnishes and cleaning fluids that contain solvents. They can be inhaled or absorbed through the skin and may be estrogenic.

3.Improve liver detox of both xenoestrogens and body produced estrogen.

The ways estrogens are metabolized in our bodies depends on lifestyle, diet and bowel habits. Cruciferous vegetables which include broccoli, cabbage, kale, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts contain substance that help the liver process
estrogen. Chlorophyll rich and bitter greens are also good detoxifiers. Try lettuce, cucumber, dandelion greens, arugula (rocket), chard, watercress and mung beans.

The addition of a good nutritional supplement that includes important nutrients for liver detox of estrogen such as magnesium, zinc, copper, vitamin C and B vitamins will help.

A Complete Program

A complete 3 step natural treatment plan that really works has been put together by nutritionist Mary Parker. She has compiled an “Ovarian Cyst Bible”. Thousands of women have completely cured their ovarian cysts naturally, without drugs, surgery or “magic potions”, simply by using her proven, step by step method in this ovarian cysts freedom guidebook.

“Ovarian Cysts No More” shows you exactly why you should fix the internal problem that’s causing your ovarian cysts, and why you should not just treat the symptoms. It then goes on to show you exactly how to do it.

The internet is flooded with quick cures for ovarian cysts but “Ovarian Cysts No More” thoroughly discusses the lies, myths and fallacies surrounding a very confusing subject. It is simply the most detailed book about Ovarian Cysts and
holistic health ever written.

With 150 pages of rock solid content nothing is held back. It focuses on a 100% natural 3 step system for ovarian cysts treatment. Mary gives a detailed overview of each step, and then dives into the specifics in a perfect chronological order. It contains charts and checklists which make it very easy to know where you are in the program and to follow it.

The Ovarian Cysts No More program is not a quick fix cure but a complete holistic solution aimed at eliminating the root cause of ovarian cysts and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome(regardless of their severity)to ensure you will be permanently free of the troublesome cysts. It takes persistence and determination to complete but has been followed by thousands of women in over 127 countries.

So if you want the truth about ovarian cysts and alternative medicine and are willing to make the diet and lifestyle changes necessary to be free of them then Mary Parker’s eBook will be the best investment you ever made. To learn more about “Ovarian Cysts No More” Click Here.

There’s a good reason it’s called the common cold, ‘cause it’s one of the most common illnesses around. And the worst part is that it has no cure. So if you have a cold, the best you can do is take adequate rest, dose up with warm liquids, and wait it out.

There are some doctors who may prescribe antibiotics to make sure you don’t catch other diseases when your immune system is down and others who give you cough syrups and lozenges to help you sleep better. But there’s nothing that beats the benefits of natural health remedies and concoctions to help soothe you and bring relief from runny noses and scratchy throats. The next time you catch a cold, here’s what you can do before running to the drug store:

• Make yourself some ginger tea: Ginger has soothing properties – it raises your body temperature and helps bring down the severity of your cold. It contains various compounds that help fight against the virus that causes the cold.

• Drink some elderberry juice: Or eat a slice of bread slathered with elderberry jam if you can summon up the appetite to eat. Elderberry is one fruit that contains active compounds that help reduce the symptoms of your cold as well as fight the cold and influenza virus.

• Inhale peppermint oil or drink peppermint-flavored tea: Peppermint has properties that come in handy if you’re running a fever – it helps break the fever by making you sweat.

• Use a cinnamon stick to stir your tea: Cinnamon is a spice that provides flavor and adds to the taste of your herbal tea. It also helps reduce inflammation and nasal congestion.

• Gargle frequently: A solution of just salt and warm water can work wonders for an achy throat. Gargle at least thrice a day, before meals so that the salt doesn’t make you throw up.

• Drink warm liquids: Hot drinks help soothe your throat and relieve nasal congestion. They also keep you warm if you’re running a fever.

• Use a menthol salve: A dab of liniment can help you breathe easier and prevent sneezing continuously.

A cold may be common, but it’s nothing to sneeze at (pun unintended). It can drain you of all your energy and put you out of action for a while. So make sure you get plenty of rest, seek the help of natural health remedies, keep a box of tissues handy so that you’re up and about on your feet in no time.

This post was contributed by Kelly Kilpatrick, who writes on the subject of medical coding online training. She invites your feedback at kellykilpatrick24 at gmail dot com

Recent Worldwide Newspaper headlines claimed that a study showing high doses of Vitamin C given intravenously could destroy cancer cells was a “breakthrough discovery”. This infuriated many doctors who have been using IV Vitamin C since the 1970′s as part of natural health remedy treatments for cancer. Dr Robert Cathcart has been using IV Vitamin C for many diverse conditions including cancer for over 30 years.

Other sensational media headlines in 1998 claimed that Vitamin C causes cancer. Journalists reported on a study that showed 500mg Vitamin C daily (a dose taken as a natural health remedy by many people) caused damage to DNA which sometimes leads to cancer.

But all of the headlines could just as well have stated that Vitamin C supplements prevented DNA damage. That’s because the same study also found that Vitamin C did that as well. Even the lead author of the study said that the results were being over-interpreted. One eminent scientist dismissed it bluntly as “bad science.”

Bruce N. Ames, Professor of Biochemistry at the University of California, Berkeley, has often pointed out that about half of all chemicals, natural and synthetic, cause DNA damage. He says that naturally occurring compounds in alfalfa sprouts (canavanine), broccoli (isothiocyanate), potato (solanine), celery (psoralen), and onion (quercetin), and most fruits and vegetables cause DNA damage. (Jack Challem, The Nutrition Reporter ©1998.)

So is Vitamin C good or bad?

There is a wealth of scientific evidence that supports the view that relatively high levels of Vitamin C are good for health and relatively low levels are bad for health. Practitioners of Natural Medicine have known since the 1960′s that Vitamin C is an anti-cancer agent.

The late Dr Linus Pauling, known as the “Father of Vitamin C” said that large intakes of up to 10 grams of Vitamin C each day aids anti-cancer activity within the body. He regularly took high oral doses of the vitamin himself and pioneered research into it’s power to treat heart disease.

Dr Mark Levine one of the authors of the study claimed that intravenous Vitamin C is the only form that is effective in fighting cancer due to the body tightly controlling the levels in the blood. But two doctors of the Alliance of Natural Health’s Scientific Expert committee stated that this is not true. Doses of Vitamin C taken by mouth are effective in attaining consistently high blood levels.

The researchers found that intravenous Vitamin C produced hydrogen peroxide, which was able to reduce cancerous tumors of ovaries, pancreas and brain in mice by 43 percent to 51 percent. Normal cells are not harmed.

How much should you take?

Dr Pauling recommended taking vitamin C to bowel tolerance if you want the best of health. This means that you take Vitamin C in 2 or 3 doses over the day and gradually increase the dose until you get a significant looseness of the bowels.

Vitamin C functions as an antioxidant and is needed for many enzyme reactions in the body. It is needed for the formation of collagen to hold the cells together and for healthy teeth, gums and blood vessels. It improves iron absorption and resistance to infection.

It is found in fresh vegetables and fruits, such as broccoli, green and red peppers, collard greens, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, lemon, cabbage, pineapples, strawberries, citrus fruits. Eating 5 – 9 portions of fruit and vegetables a day have been shown in many studies to prevent cancer.

Natural Health Remedies for Cancer that Work

There are a wide range of natural health remedies that have been used for cancer. If you are looking for information about natural health remedies for cancer Karon Beattie describes 350 existing natural and alternative cancer treatments in her ebook Natural Cancer Treatments That Work. People have used these gentle and non-toxic treatments instead of or alongside conventional treatment, or after conventional treatment has failed to aid their recovery.

Athletes foot is caused by a fungal skin infection. The fungi that cause it feed on dead skin cells and are usually harmless but can get out of control in warm, moist conditions. Antifungal creams are often prescribed as treatment but it can come back if the underlying conditions are not improved. Fortunately there are many natural health remedies that will cure athlete’s foot.

Athlete’s foot is a common condition in young people and adults. The symptoms of athlete’s foot vary, but generally include peeling, cracking, redness, itching, and burning. The fungi love warm, moist places with the result they are primarily a problem for people who wear tight-fitting trainers or don’t dry their feet properly.

So the first thing is to make sure you dry your feet really well and wear clean socks every day that are made from natural fibers such as cotton that allow the feet to breathe. Avoiding plastic shoes and changing foot wear regularly can help too.

Suzanne Levine, a clinical assistant podiatrist at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City recommends applying a paste of baking soda on the infected areas to cure athlete’s foot naturally. Add some luke warm water to 1 tablespoon of baking soda. Rub the paste onto the site of your fungus, then rinse and dry thoroughly. You can finish off by sprinkling some baking soda on your feet before putting on your socks.

Athletes foot can be a problem when the immune system is low. A course of antibiotics can upset the balance of bacteria in the bowel and on the skin as they kill some of the good bacteria as well as the bacteria causing the infection. The bowel bacteria have a profound effect on the immune immune system. Take a good high potency probiotic to replenish the good bowel bacteria.

Diets high in sugar will suppress the immune system and yeasts and fungi feed on it. Cutting down on high sugar foods, highly processed carbohydrate foods and alcohol can help change the conditions that the fungi thrives on.

There are a huge number of herbal cures for athlete’s foot but here are the major ones.

Neem

Neem has anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-viral properties. It is used for a number of conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, acne, cold sores, dandruff, ulcers, ringworm, and gingivitis as well as athlete’s foot. Mix 1 tablespoon of Neem oil with 1/2 cup of a carrier oil, such as olive or almond, and apply to the affected area twice a day. Use it more dilute if you have very sensitive skin.

Tee Tree

Tea tree oil is antifungal and antibacterial. You can use a few drops neat on the affected area or apply with a cotton ball several times a day. Alternatively add some tee tree oil to a little Calendula cream and rub into the affected area before bed. Keep on with the treatment for at least a week after the symptoms have gone.

Thyme Oil

Thyme oil Is a powerful anti-fungal. Use it the same as tee tree.

Olive leaf extract

Olive leaves have been shown to have significant antifungal action and are effective against many strong strains of fungi. Taking liquid Olive leaf extract or one to three capsules two times per day with meals can help improve the immune system as well as cure the athlete’s foot.

Scott Young lived painfully with Athlete’s foot for seven years. It defied all over-the-counter products, ongoing anti-fungal treatments and expensive prescriptions. Treatments only removed the symptoms for a couple days then the fungus came back even stronger than ever.

Fortunately he stumbled on a something that cured his athlete’s foot naturally and for good in just 7 days.
Read more here – Cure Athlete’s Foot in 7 days

A new major study confirms that women who use hormone replacement therapy for symptoms of the menopause have a higher risk of cancer long after they stop the treatment. Three years after they have stopped using the hormones the risk of breast cancer is still 27% higher compared to the women who have never taken it.

The original US study which hit the headlines in 2002 caused millions of women to stop taking ERT (HRT). Many turned to natural health remedies to try to ease their symptoms. Some women have quite severe symptoms coming up to and after the menopause.

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Hyperactivity in babies and children can be caused by additives in some popular well known brands of medicines for children. A recent report revealed that researchers found that a high percentage of over the counter and some prescription medicines for antibiotics, cough syrups and pain relievers contained one or more of 7 additives known to trigger hyperactivity.

Many parents routinely give paracetamol (acetaminophen) based medicines to their children to help prevent high temperatures and fever when their children have colds or coughs. Even some medicines suitable for the under threes contained these additives.

Researchers have found that the additives could make any child hyperactive even if he or she was not normally so. According to manufacturers the additives which are mainly preservatives and colours do not cause problems so are reluctant to remove them.

With more publicity and evidence about the harmful effects of colourings such as tartrazine, quinoline yellow, sunset yellow, ponceau, carmoisine, allura red and the preservartive sodium benzoate food manufacturers have been removing them from children’s drinks and foods and finding natural alternatives. So why can’t the medicine manufacturers do the same?

But with many safe Natural Health Remedies available for children who wants to risk the damage that paracetamol (acetaminophen) can do to the immature livers and kidneys of their babies?

Natural remedies have been used in traditional medicine for thousands of years to counteract immune problems in children. Recent research has confirmed that a wide range of herbs can support the immature immune systems of children and shorten recovery time if they do get an infection.

When children spend time in nurseries, daycare, or preschool, they are particularly prone to picking up viruses and bugs. To help protect their immune systems a 100% natural herbal remedy KiddieBoost has been specifically formulated to strengthen child’s immune system. KiddieBoost comes in a convenient drop formula that is easy to administer to children from the age of 12 months.

So if you are concerned about the side effects of the additives in children’s medicines and antibiotics try supporting your child’s immune system with KiddieBoost a safe natural health remedy.