Though complementary remedies aren’t backed by a wealth of research, it doesn’t mean that you have to dismiss all of them as ineffective. There are some holistic treatments that work extremely well for a variety of women’s health concerns. These four remedies can help you fend off diseases and stay on top of your game. The first of these is glucosamine and chondroitin which can be used to cure joint pain, although it should be stated that they do not cure arthritis. In a study of 1583 knee osteoarthritis patients, many who took glucosamine and chondroitin found that it offered moderate pain relief and alleviated some of their symptoms. Osteoarthritis develops when wear and tear breaks down the cartilage in the joints, and it can develop over age – particularly in women. Most studies recommend a dosage of 1500mg a day of glucosamine and 1200mg of chondroitin. Researchers are unsure how this works, but if you’re suffering with joint pain on a regular basis these two supplements could offer some relief.
Vitamin C has been touted as a cold remedy for many years, and some studies support this claim whilst others dismiss it. According to the latest studies, vitamin C can’t actually help defend your body from the common cold but it can help to cut the number of colds you get when your body is under extreme stress, such as soldiers or marathon runners. It’s not the miracle cure that we once thought it to be, but it can make colds milder and helps to defend your immune system in the long run. Experts advise that you take a 500mg dose of vitamin C up to four times a day, from the moment you feel the cold coming on to whenever you feel more like yourself again. Echinacea is another cold-fighting remedy that seems to have been up for debate of late. It seems that this daisylike flower could help to reduce the symptoms of a cold and speed up your recovery as well. It can reduce your risk of catching a cold by as much as 58 percent and shortens the duration of it lingering in your body. Experts state that more studies need to take place before a definitive result can be published, but they admit that standardised tests look promising. However, there are 200 strains of cold virus, so much more research needs to take place to decipher which ones echinacea works against. It also doesn’t appear to work on the symptoms of children. You can take this herb in tea or in a capsule form a few times a day when you feel your cold developing. Follow the instructions on the packet, as doses vary depending on what form you’re taking.
St John’s Wort can be extremely effective in fighting depression when it is still in a mild or moderate form. Some studies even suggest that it can stand up to prescription drugs such as Prozac. It also offers fewer side effects than such medications, such as upset stomach, fatigue, anxiety and sexual dysfunction. In participants taking St John’s Wort, only 8 percent stated that felt any of these side effects, and the majority only complained of an upset stomach. Naturally, if you worry that you’re suffering with depression you should seek medical advice before taking anything – your GP will then be able to assess the severity of your condition and prescribe accordingly. However, if they state that it is safe, most people begin with a 900mg dose of the herb each day.
