Women"s Health 101: 3 Unique Ways to Ensure You Have a Healthy Pregnancy

 

Pregnancy is a joyous time, but it can also be stressful. When you are pregnant, your body changes in many ways, not all of them comfortable. You want to do everything possible to ensure that you and your baby are healthy. The following three tips will help to make your pregnancy proceed as smoothly as possible.

 

Take Good Care of Your Feet

Swollen feet are a common symptom of pregnancy. This can be a painful condition that can cause you pain when you are walking around and even while you’re stationary. Resting your feet and going barefoot as much as possible is one way to reduce this symptom. Soaking your feet in both hot and cold water is one of the best ways to relieve this problem. The trick is to alternate between hot and cold treatments. You can do this if you have two foot baths or basins, one for hot water and one for cold. Keep the temperatures comfortable; you don’t want to shock your body with scalding hot or freezing cold water.

 

Use Healing Herbs

Herbs have been used for many centuries to help a variety of conditions. There are certain herbs that are especially good for pregnancy. Some Chinese herbs, which can be found on websites like Radiant Wonder, are good for promoting fertility. Other herbs can help to control various symptoms associated with pregnancy. You should use herbs cautiously when you’re pregnant. If you aren’t sure if a certain herb is safe, ask your doctor or an expert. Many herbs, however, are perfectly safe. Chamomile, for example, is effective for relaxation and may help you sleep better. Ginger can help to alleviate nausea, but should be used in moderation.

 

Increase Your Intake of Fiber

Many women experience constipation during pregnancy. While this is a normal and common symptom, it can be relieved by eating more fiber-rich foods. Fiber can be found in many foods, such as whole grain breads, beans, cereals, oats and other grains. You can also find supplements to increase your intake of fiber, such as flaxseed oil and psyllium husks. Leafy vegetables are also a good source of fiber.

 

You have to pay extra attention to your diet and lifestyle habits when you’re pregnant. In addition to following your doctor’s advice, you can keep the above tips in mind to reduce or relieve some of the common problems associated with pregnancy. This can help you focus on the joyful aspects of giving birth.

 

Categories: common symptom, Feet, fiber, foot care, healing herbs, healthy pregnancy, herbs, nbsp, pregnancy, women's health

Women"s Health 101: 3 Unique Ways to Ensure You Have a Healthy Pregnancy

 

Pregnancy is a joyous time, but it can also be stressful. When you are pregnant, your body changes in many ways, not all of them comfortable. You want to do everything possible to ensure that you and your baby are healthy. The following three tips will help to make your pregnancy proceed as smoothly as possible.

Take Good Care of Your Feet

Swollen feet are a common symptom of pregnancy. This can be a painful condition that can cause you pain when you are walking around and even while you’re stationary. Resting your feet and going barefoot as much as possible is one way to reduce this symptom. Soaking your feet in both hot and cold water is one of the best ways to relieve this problem. The trick is to alternate between hot and cold treatments. You can do this if you have two foot baths or basins, one for hot water and one for cold. Keep the temperatures comfortable; you don’t want to shock your body with scalding hot or freezing cold water.

Use Healing Herbs

Herbs have been used for many centuries to help a variety of conditions. There are certain herbs that are especially good for pregnancy. Some Chinese herbs, which can be found on websites like Radiant Wonder, are good for promoting fertility. Other herbs can help to control various symptoms associated with pregnancy. You should use herbs cautiously when you’re pregnant. If you aren’t sure if a certain herb is safe, ask your doctor or an expert. Many herbs, however, are perfectly safe. Chamomile, for example, is effective for relaxation and may help you sleep better. Ginger can help to alleviate nausea, but should be used in moderation.

Increase Your Intake of Fiber

Many women experience constipation during pregnancy. While this is a normal and common symptom, it can be relieved by eating more fiber-rich foods. Fiber can be found in many foods, such as whole grain breads, beans, cereals, oats and other grains. You can also find supplements to increase your intake of fiber, such as flaxseed oil and psyllium husks. Leafy vegetables are also a good source of fiber.

You have to pay extra attention to your diet and lifestyle habits when you’re pregnant. In addition to following your doctor’s advice, you can keep the above tips in mind to reduce or relieve some of the common problems associated with pregnancy. This can help you focus on the joyful aspects of giving birth.

 

Categories: common symptom, Feet, fiber, herbs, pregnancy, symptom

Making the Most of Herbs

 

Written by Jenny Catton

 

Herbs are a cook’s best friend – an essential ingredient for adding flavour and interest to a whole host of savoury dishes, drinks and even desserts. Even if you don’t have a garden, you can still create your own kitchen herb garden on a sunny windowsill. Alternatively, you could grow different herbs in pots around your back door – making it really easy to grab a handful of a particular herb whilst you are cooking.

 

Many different herbs will grow successfully on a kitchen windowsill so experiment with different varieties. You could try basil and rosemary for Mediterranean dishes whilst mint will add zing to a potato salad or lamb dish, and then there’s the great all-rounder – parsley which is particularly good with fish dishes.

 

Of course, if you don’t have the time or patience to wait for your own herbs to grow – a wide selection can be found in most large supermarkets. These can be expensive though so you’ll want to make them last as long as possible. One clever way to make your herbs last longer is by freezing them. Simply take a few leaves from each herb and pop into an ice-cube tray – then add water and freeze. When you next need a particular herb in a sauce, casserole or soup, just pop the ice cube straight into the hot dish.

 

An alternative way to preserve fresh herbs is by drying them. The process is simple – just take a bunch of your herb and tie a piece of string or kitchen twine around it to create a loop. Then hang the herb bunch upside down in a spot that’s cool and dry. Within ten days, the herbs should be dry and crisp. You can now pick the leaves from the stems and place in a jar. Seal tightly and remember to add a label with the name of the herb and the date. If kept in a cool, dark place, your dried herbs should keep their flavour for around six months. You will find that less delicate herbs such as thyme, oregano, sage and rosemary are particularly well suited to drying.

 

If you find you have an abundance of a particular herb, you might want to find new ways to use it other than in your cooking. Well, many kitchen herbs are also known for their medicinal properties. Basil for example is said to have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, mint can be used to aid digestion, whilst rosemary is thought to be a great anti-oxidant.

 

You could also use herbs to fragrance your kitchen – rosemary and mint are both strongly scented so will add a beautiful smell to your room.

 

If you enjoy flavoured olive oils – why not have a go at making your own. Simply place a few sprigs of your herb into a bottle of oil – thyme and rosemary work particularly well. Over time the oil will absorb the flavour of the herb.

 

For a refreshing and cheap alternative to traditional tea – try putting a few mint leaves in a teapot – cover with boiling water and leave to infuse for a few minutes before enjoying a delicious cup of mint tea.

 

For more advice about growing herbs in your kitchen, visit: www.rhs.org.uk

Categories: herb, herbs, ice cube, kitchen, mint, nbsp, rosemary

5 Things About Chinese Herbal Medicine That Will Impress You

Are you intrigued by Chinese medicine’s profound philosophy, but don’t have much of a grasp on what it’s all about? Here’s a quick guide to what lies behind one major aspects of Chinese medicine: Chinese herbal medicine.

What is Chinese herbal medicine? Just herbs?

 

As the name suggests, herbs are the main ingredient in Chinese herbal medicine. Indeed, Chinese herbology recognizes more than 3,200 different types of herbs. Some prominent examples are ginseng and astragalus (root is used).

But that’s not all. Chinese herbal medicine also utilizes a slightly less mind-numbing 300 different minerals, insects, sea-creatures, and animal extracts. Cinnabar (ore of mercury), silkworm, seahorse, and rhinoceros horn, are some examples.

The different herb and non-herb ingredients are often combined as formulas, of which there are more than 400 widely known permutations.

So it’s the chemical properties of the herbs that are important, right?

Like Western medication and vitamins, Chinese herbs are chemical agents with illness-treating properties.

But the chemical component of Chinese herbs is not the sole consideration for an effective treatment. Rather, the level of energy output of each formula that goes toward restoring the body’s yin-yang balance is the key determinant.

With so many herbs and ingredients, how do they know which to combine?

In most cases, four types of herbs are included in the formula, categorized as: “emperor,” “minister,” “assistant,” and “ambassador.” There can be more than one of herb of each type.

These herbs are not casually termed. The “emperor” targets an illness’ main symptoms and underlying causes, while the “minister” treats the accompanying symptoms and their underlying causes. The “assistant” harmonizes the formula and eliminates possible toxins and side effects. Finally, the “ambassador” is there to get the formula to the afflicted meridians and organs.

Before being administered to a patient, these four herb types are made into a decoction (medicinal liquid) or capsule and pill variant. After that, like a proper, functioning bureaucracy, these herbs perform their own roles, and combine for efficient “governance” of illnesses.

 

 

Categories: chinese, chinese herbal, Chinese Herbs, Chinese medicine, formula, herbal, herbal medicine, herbs, medicine

Chinese Medicine: Could It Be The Secret To Great Health?

Chinese medicine conjures images of acupuncture and herb-based concoctions, and while this isn’t incorrect, it isn’t the whole story. There’s so much more to Chinese medicine than people think, and now that it’s increasing in popularity it’s getting a more in-depth study from people who are curious about what it can do for their health. Chinese medicine is a holistic system which includes cupping, moxibustion, dietary and lifestyle advice, exercises such as qi gong and the treatments we associate with it, such as needles and herbs. It can be used as an addition to conventional medicine too, so it can be both an alternative and complementary therapy which many people don’t realise. A system of treatments which have been developed over the past 2,000 years, it is now one of the most respected and effective forms of medicinal therapy known to humankind. Unlike the type of medications we’re used to, Chinese medicine seeks to find and resolve the causes of an illness, rather than simply remove the symptoms. For example, if you suffer regularly with headaches, you may take painkillers to remove the painful symptoms – in Chinese medicine, however, a therapist may help you by looking at your lifestyle, diet and family history to get to the root of the issue. They can then help you to treat that problem, to prevent future headaches rather than simply help you treat the one you have at the moment. Chinese medicine looks at so many aspects of a condition, as well as sleep, thirst, appetite and digestion. What many people may see as unconnected and different symptoms may well be part of the same illness, and a Chinese medical professional may see that more easily than conventional practitioners will. That said, we shouldn’t immediately dismiss the benefits of conventional medicine. There are conditions for which Chinese medicine isn’t necessarily the best option for.

 

There are strengths and weaknesses with Chinese medicine, as with any form of treatment. Because of this, conventional medicine is often more precise in diagnosing and treating ailments, and modern surgery can be instantly lifesaving. There are some problems with long-term medications, which is where Chinese therapies can help as a complementary medicine to be used alongside more traditional treatments to solve a number of conditions. If you’re suffering from a condition such as IBS, stress-related conditions and arthritis, Chinese medicine can be really helpful in treating these types of problems. The main aim of these therapies is to get the body functioning at its best, and addressing all aspects of a health complaint, which will improve your wellbeing. Fertility issues have been the biggest draw for people to Chinese medicine, as it’s a condition that can’t always been resolved instantly with conventional medicine so people feel more open to the idea of experimenting with treatments which have had previously worked for other couples. Chinese medicine can be effective in regulating your hormones and increasing fertility in both males and females. Chinese medicine has been increasing in popularity significantly in recent years and can work really well to support traditional therapies – it’s a gentle way of treating some of the persistent conditions we deal with every day. Of course, if you are feeling unwell or have noticed a condition developing, you should still seek advice from your GP who can advise you whether you need treatment – you can then supplement this with Chinese medicine if you so choose to.

Categories: chinese, Chinese medicine, condition, conventional, conventional medicine, health chinese, herbs, medicine, people

Improve Your Wellness With These Simple, Herbal Remedies

Many people dismiss complementary therapies as mere quackery, ignoring the well-established benefits that many of them have for one’s wellness and wellbeing. The use of botanicals is actually very well rooted in medical practice. Going back to ancient times, doctors would collect information about herbs and collate detailed books about how to treat various ailments. Flash forward to modern times, and over a quarter of all drugs used in medicine contain active ingredients which have been derived from the same ancient plant.

 

It is thought that around 80 percent of the world’s population uses herbs in some area of their health care. In the United States alone, over 1,500 different types of botanicals are sold in the form of dietary supplements. The top-selling of these are herbs and supplements, including garlic, Echinacea, goldenseal, ginkgo, ginseng, aloe, saw palmetto, ephedra, cranberry and Siberian ginseng.

 

Before using any herb or supplement, however, you should consult a healthcare provider, to make sure that this is the most appropriate one for you to take, and that there are no interactions with other medications that you may be taking.

 

Chamomile is one of the most popular herbal remedies, frequently used to treat anxiety, muscle pain and cramping. It is usually ingested in the form of tea but is also used in combination with other herbs, too.

 

Echinacea is also commonly used, as it is believed to have properties that can help to fight off colds. People take Echinacea in the winter time, to help them boost their immune systems.

 

Ginkgo, also known as ginkgo biloba, is also commonly taken, as it is believed to improve the circulation and boost brain activity.

 

Those looking for a natural energy boost often turn to Ginseng. This herb has gained popularity in recent years.

 

Finally, the levels of use for St. John’s Wort remain high, as people use it to help treat their anxiety and depression.

Categories: Echinacea, ginkgo, herbal, herbal remedies, herbs, nbsp, remedies, treat

What Are the Best Herbs to Help Boost Your Immunity?

Herbs can be part of a healthy diet and using them wisely can boost your wellness and wellbeing. If you are aware of your nutrition (including the use of herbs) you should find yourself having to make less visits to the GP than you otherwise would, as your immune system will be boosted and healthy.

 

Echinacea is one of the well-known ones, and is great for boosting your immune system. You can either take Echinacea tablets or there is a tea that you can drink, as well as tea blends.

 

Oregano works as a strong, natural antibiotic, antiviral and anti-fungal agent, and so is considered one of the most powerful herbs. You can cook with oregano, of course (spaghetti Bolognese is always nicer with a sprinkle of oregano) but you can also put a drop of oregano essential oil into a foot spa every day (unless you are pregnant or breast feeding).

 

Garlic can be used in all kinds of different dishes, and it has a really strong ability to enhance your immune system. Recent studies have shown that garlic also has benefits for the heart, and contains anti-microbial and antineoplastic properties which make it well worth ingesting on a regular basis.

 

Bright yellow turmeric is an anti-inflammatory, and it contains curcumin which is a powerful antioxidant. It also has stomach soothing and antibacterial properties. You can try taking turmeric capsules or drinking turmeric tea or turmeric milk, or of course you can cook with the spice.

 

Reishi mushroom is an oriental herb, well known for its anti-inflammatory properties. It can also help to strengthen your immune system and has even been known to fight against cancer. Some people think of this as the ‘elixir of immortality’ as it is thought to protect your immune system from bacteria, viruses, pollution, chemicals, toxicity and molds, all at the same time.

Categories: anti, anti-inflammatory, Boost, herb, herbs, immune, nbsp, turmeric

How to Use Traditional Chinese Medicine to Heal Yourself

Traditional Chinese Medicine is a complementary form of medical treatment that is quite different to Western medicine. In Western medicine, any problems with your wellness and wellbeing are typically treated with prescription medication, with perhaps a healthy dose of chicken noodle soup on the side, whereas in traditional Chinese medicine, a treatment plan can include various therapies including qi gong, massage therapy and moxibustion.

 

The most common type of treatment plan is a combination of herbal medicine and acupuncture, and this is used to treat a very wide variety of ailments.

 

Traditional Chinese Medicine, like Western medicine, covers every different aspect of health, with anything from allergic reactions, to insomnia to a common cold being covered by the wide range of treatment options. If you are interested in trying Chinese medicine, however, you would be well advised to go and see a Chinese healthcare practitioner. Medical advice found in articles on the internet cannot be a safe substitution for the guidance of an educated and experienced professional.

 

Many people who suffer with allergies turn to traditional Chinese medicine. These allergies can be to anything at all in the environment, from animal hair to peanuts, and some experts in Chinese medicine claim that the therapies can cure these sensitivities.

 

Arthritis is another one that is a prime target for Chinese medicine. Whilst Western treatments tend to focus on dulling the symptoms of this painful disease, Chinese medicine claims to offer a cure, by eliminating the actual cause of the arthritis.

 

Even the common cold isn’t left out when it comes to traditional Chinese medicine. Instead of chicken noodle soup, however, the Chinese turn to foods such as miso soup with ginger and spring onions to help cure this ailment and get you back to full strength.

Categories: chicken noodle, chinese, Chinese medicine, herbs, medicine, nbsp, noodle soup, traditional, traditional chinese, western medicine

Warning: Could Chinese Herbs be Damaging for your Health?

For many years, there have been concerns that the levels of pesticides in traditional, complementary Chinese medicine, and the World Health Organisation has reported that the herbs could actually do damage to our wellness and wellbeing. The American Herbal products association and the American Botanical Council have been involved over the past couple of years and have identified where the problems of contamination are occurring. Many of the cases of contamination seem to occur in India and China, possibly due to the environmental safety laws being far more lax.

 

A new study has now been published, called Chinese Herbs: Elixir of Health or Pesticide Cocktail and it investigates further the effects that these traditional Chinese herbs could have on our health. The report was sponsored by the environmental group, Greenpeace, and it exposes many cases of unsafe practice when it comes to the use of pesticides. This includes using pesticides that have been banned, or using pesticides that have high levels of toxic agents. This report could do huge damage to the Chinese herb trade, which has previously come under a lot of scrutiny due to concerns about contamination.

 

China is the world’s largest supplier of herbs, and so stands to lose a lot from the damaging effect that this report could have. Chinese herbal exports bring in a total revenue of hundreds of millions of US dollars, and Chinese people also rely very heavily on herbs for their health. Not only is this potentially a huge financial problem, it is also possibly a huge medical problem for China, as more and more people’s health could be affected by the poisons that they are ingesting in their daily natural medicines.

 

The study found pesticides in 48 samples out of a total of 65 sample batches that they investigated. Many of these were heavily contaminated.

Categories: china, chinese, Chinese Herbs, health, herbs, Pesticides

Rising Healthcare Costs Puts Spotlight on Herbal Cures

With the rising costs of healthcare, people are being forced to turn away from traditional medicine and look towards vitamins, minerals and supplements to treat conditions that are affecting their wellness and wellbeing.

 

In the States, a trip to the doctor for something as minor as the common cold can cost you an average of $740, before you take into account insurance deductions. Analysts predict that the costs of health care will continue to rise and that the Affordable Care Act reforms could actually mean that an increase in health costs of around 32 percent for all families.

 

In order to help cut costs, families are turning their attentions to natural remedies, and this is proving to be a huge boost for the alternative medicine sector.

 

Maria Grovers is a Clinical Herbalist who lives in Allenstown N.H. and she now teaches families how they can use home grown herbs to help improve their day to day wellness. She says that more people than ever before are interested in how they can use herbs to sort out their daily problems.

 

The idea of families taking their own ability to cure themselves of minor ailments is an important one, as it helps them to take care of their families in the long term without incurring insurmountable costs. Herbs have a long history of being used to cure these types of minor illnesses.

 

Some even believe that herbs are more effective than any over the counter remedies, as the over the counter remedies tend to focus on masking symptoms and can actually contribute to supressing the immune system, so whilst they make you feel better in the short run, in the long run they can actually make things worse. Herbs on the other hand are both safe and effective, and can be used on adults and children, as well as more elderly members of the family.

Categories: Costs, counter remedies, Families, herbs, long, minor, nbsp, remedies

What Can Acupuncture And Chinese Herbs Do To Cure Insomnia?

You’ve probably heard of acupuncture, it is undoubtedly one of the most famous of the Chinese medical practices that have made their way into mainstream Western society. Of course you may never have used it or have any idea what it might be for. But the truth is that what it for depends on who you ask. For many people, acupuncture is a cure-all. It can be used to remedy all sorts of illnesses and conditions, and that’s because it supposedly targets the energies of the body rather than the physical aspect. Of course for many others acupuncture is nothing more than a scam that has no actual medicinal value aside from providing a placebo for the gullible.

 

The first thing to remember about acupuncture is that if you have an aversion to needles, this probably is not a treatment that is going to do wonders for you. Hundreds of needles are pricked into the skin often with little rituals done beforehand including such things as dousing them in certain oils or placing herbs on top of them and setting them alight, before they are pushed in. Smoke and fire are also a big part of the practice in the sense of incense and other procedures such as suction.  The sessions can often be uncomfortable but people who use acupuncture often speak of it feeling like a fairly calming sensation that is actually generally very enjoyable.

 

One of the most important aspects of it is that you must choose a practitioner who you are happy to work with. It can be too easy simply to go for the first acupuncturist that you see, but you wouldn’t do this in any other aspect of your life. Put plenty of research into finding out their specialities and different forms of acupuncture that they might practice. This may ultimate make a big difference to you and your health.

 

One thing that acupuncture is reportedly able to help with is insomnia. Insomnia is a condition that sees you being unable to sleep properly. It’s more than just not being able to fall asleep but rather a situation where you find yourself constantly tired but unable to feel rested by the little sleep that you do eventually get. It can be a real burden on the lives of thousands of people and can be a real trouble to your wellness and wellbeing if it is something that you suffer from.

 

The trouble is that insomnia has many different forms and can just as often be a symptom rather than a condition within itself. Therefore trying to deal with it is not always as simple as going to the chemist and picking up a pill (although sleeping pills can give mild relief). In fact, most of the time the problem is highly complex, but when it can cause things as serious as hallucinations, depression and even eventually a greater risk of death, it’s no surprise that people look for a cure for it.

 

So can acupuncture and other Chinese medical practices be used as a way to fight it? Well, there is no reason why this can’t be tried but it is highly likely that any benefit the patient receives will be due to the placebo effect of believing that something is helping them. There has never been any scientific proof that acupuncture is able to do anything to you that helps you specifically. It’s always best to talk to your doctor about what is best for you rather than relying on such ideas as acupuncture to help you sleep better.

Categories: acupuncture, chinese, chinese medical, herbs, insomnia, medical practices, nbsp, people

Want to Discover Complementary Health? Visit Hong Kong

Complementary wellness has its roots in many areas of the world, but they are deeply engrained in the social and cultural fabric of Hong Kong. Here, wellbeing is intrinsically linked to natural herbal products, with them making up as essential a part of wellness as the air you breathe and the food you eat. When dining in central Hong Kong, you will find that without any thought really going into it, the soup that you eat will have a bit of added ginger root to help you digest it, and a bit of lemongrass for maintaining your natural mental balance. The soup will also have added shitake mushrooms to help boost your immune system.

 

Stopping off after lunch at a tea stall in central Hong Kong, you will find that the menu has a plethora of different options. You can choose from a vast range of teas, from umeboshi plum to five-flavour tea to cinnamon tea. Some of them contain properties to help relieve stress, some have products to boost the immune system and others are simply flavourful and delicious.

 

Green tea is also used for its cancer-fighting free radicals, and also its reputed ability to help guard against a variety of heart conditions. It can be blended or flavoured with other elements, such as chrysanthemum, which is used to fight against colds and fevers.

 

Herbs in Hong Kong may be used like medicine but they certainly do not come in capsule form like western medicine at all – it’s not a case of taking some herbs in the same way that you would take an aspirin. Instead, they are mixed in with food and drinks and are used both as a prevention for common illnesses and as a cure for many different ailments.

Categories: central hong, health, herbs, hong, hong kong, kong, nbsp, products

4 Reasons You Should Be Incorporating More Herbs in Your Diet

 

When people think of modifying their lifestyle, they mostly think about food and exercise as their ticket to health. Many experts believe there is more to a healthy lifestyle; these experts think that a well-rounded person needs to include a variety of herbs and spices in their diet.

 

How can you benefit from incorporating more herbs?

 

Nutrition

Like fruits and vegetables, herbs are really good for you. Ounce for ounce, fresh herbs like parsley, oregano and basil are more nutritious than any vegetable. Compared to the same amount of lettuce, parsley provides you with three times more vitamin A, five times more iron as well as four times the calcium.

 

Sure, you probably won’t eat a cup of parsley, but you get the idea; herbs are concentrated sources of both flavor and nutrition.

 

Cut Back On Fat, Calories and Salt

Liberally seasoning your food with herbs and spices makes it taste better; when you use herbs, you don’t need to add as much fat or salt to your food. Using herbs naturally brings out the taste of food without adding a significant amount of calories.

 

When you use herbs, you eat healthy without sacrificing taste. When your food tastes good, you feel more satisfied after a meal. The more satisfied you are, the less likely it is that you will overeat throughout the day.

 

Natural Remedies

There’s been a lot of research done on how herbs fight disease; herbs can increase brain power, lower blood pressure and help with many ailments. When you consume a lot of herbs, you help your body fight illness naturally. If you have a condition like vertigo, you can try a natural vertigo remedy by Native Remedies. The possibilities with herbs and fighting sickness are endless.

 

Boost Your Antioxidants

Herbs found in health food stores contain high levels of antioxidants and phytonutrients; these substances are necessary for optimum health. The more of these substances you have in your body, the healthier you are likely to be.

 

There have been tons of studies done on herbs, and these studies all show that herbs offer long-term health benefits. Not only do they taste great, but they are great for you.

 

Herbs and spices can transform a bland meal; the aromatic flavorings make healthy foods taste great without adding extra fat, sodium or calories. Delicious herbs pack a surprising nutritional punch; adding them to your diet can lead to many health benefits.

Categories: diet, diet nbsp, Food, health, Health Benefits, herbs, lifestyle, nbsp, taste

How to Use Herbal Remedies to Help You Lose Weight

When you are trying to lose weight, you are likely to try all the traditional methods and then when those don’t do anything to improve your wellness and wellbeing, turn to the complementary methods.

There are various times in your life when you are likely to gain weight, and one of those is when you start at college. Often when people are away from home for the first time, catering for themselves, and perhaps drinking a lot, they gain extra pounds. Then, when leaving college, weight gain is also a likelihood as you go through the stress of job hunting and job interviews.

If you find yourself in this position, the first thing you should do is pay a visit to your local nutrition or herbal store, and ask them about the best complementary ways to lose weight. You should bear in mind that there are three herbs that are the best ones to help you lose weight, and they are uva ursi, hoodia and fennel.

Uva ursi is a herb that helps to improve water retention. Taking in too much salt can cause the body to hold onto water, and this herb helps you to flush it all out again. It fights bacteria and strengthens heart muscles by flushing excess fluids out of the body.

Hoodia is an African herb that helps to boost your energy levels and to metabolise the sugar levels. It also supresses your appetite. It’s been used by tribesmen in Africa for over a thousand years.

Fennel is a plant that grows wild in the Asia Minor and in the Mediterranean, and it is often used as an appetite suppressant. You can use either the root or the seed of the plant to help to promote the health of the digestive system and to suppress the appetite. It can also help the kidneys, liver and spleen to function properly and can clear the lungs.

Categories: appetite, gain, herb, herbs, Lose, Lose weight, loss, uva ursi, weight

What Are the Best Herbs to Help You Get Some Sleep?

A lot of people have trouble sleeping, and ongoing sleep shortage can be really damaging to your wellness and wellbeing. What many people don’t know, however, is that lack of sleep can be directly improved by correct diet and nutrition.

 

There are a lot of reasons for lack of sleep, including changes in routine, having anxiety or depression and travel, but whatever the reason, getting enough sleep is really important for your health – both physically and emotionally. When you sleep, your body relaxes and heals. Your immune system is also boosted when you get a good night’s sleep, and so you can find that you fall ill more often if you are not getting enough sleep.

 

If your lack of sleep is a once off, you can try an over-the-counter medicine, but it is important not to use conventional medicines for sleep on a long-term basis. Instead, you can opt for herbal remedies that you add to your diet to help improve your sleep.

 

Kava is one such herbal remedy, and it’s great for those whose sleepless nights are being caused by anxiety. Kava should be used with caution, however, as there are some links to adverse effects on the liver. If you have any kind of liver problems, steer well clear of this remedy. Take only the amount that is recommended, and never use it alongside alcohol. It helps you to sleep deeply and release anxiety, and it is also rumoured to enhance and help you to remember your dreams.

 

Valerian is another popular herbal remedy for sleep. It promotes deep relaxation and has been widely researched. It has been proved to be safe and effective so you can take it safe in the knowledge that it will help you sleep and that it does not cause any negative side effects.

Categories: anxiety, herbal, herbal remedy, herbs, nbsp, remedies, remedy, sleep, sleep nbsp

No Excuses: Gardening in Containers Gives Nutrition to All

Growing your own food is a great way to ensure you know exactly what nutrition you’re putting into your body, and to protect family wellness from pesticides and other chemicals. You may not have a garden, but you shouldn’t let that be a dampener on your wellbeing; one of the best ways to start growing your own food is in containers.

 

All you need is a few containers, a small amount of potting soil (which you can get at any garden centre), and some seedlings. This way of gardening is so convenient and simple to achieve, and – as opposed to growing food in a garden – it only takes a few hours to get started. Growing food in containers gives you instant soil fertility, as potting soil is specially designed for optimal fertility, aeration and drainage. Another great thing about container gardening is that it almost completely protects your plants from pests. Plus, it’s super efficient as you can utilise very small spaces, use a minimal amount of water and spend very little time on maintenance.

 

You can make your own container from raw materials, use an old container that you’d otherwise throw away or purchase containers from the garden centre or online. This means there’s a container to suit anyone’s budget, time availability and inclination, so you really have no excuse not to give it a try! Growing food in containers is ideal if you rent your home, as you don’t need a garden and can bring your containers along with you if and when you move. This mobility is also great for getting the upper hand on the weather, as you can simply move the container during harsh conditions that might otherwise kill your plants, or to sunnier areas during the short days of winter.

 

The best plants to start with are herbs parsley, coriander, basil, dill, thyme, oregano, mint, chives, and others – but you can grow almost any plant you want. The reason these herbs are best for growing is that they give you the best bang for your buck, improving your cooking no-end. You can use the herbs whenever you need them, in whatever amount you need, and you can’t beat them for freshness and flavour. Buying herbs in the supermarket means all that nasty, plastic packaging, but you can grow your own from seedlings at half the price, and with unbeatable longevity. While the herbs you buy in a shop have a minimal shelf-life, many herbs are biannual and perennials, meaning they grow for two or more years.

 

When it comes to veggies, salad greens are also great to grow in containers. Lettuce, spinach, mustard leaves, baby beetroot leaves, and other leafy greens are ideal for our cool winter, and the more you pick from them, the more they produce! It’s a good idea to have at least two to three containers on-the-go, so you always have one to “mow” for a fresh salad. Other great winter vegetables to plant in containers include broccoli, Swiss chard, leeks and baby carrots (regular carrots won’t grow very well in containers). Good spring and summer crops for containers include tomatoes, aubergine, peppers, strawberries, cucumbers, squash, beans, peas, and cucumbers to name just a few.

 

Certain product isn’t recommended for growing in containers, as these don’t give you a great yield per plant. Cabbage and cauliflower, for example, only give one head, which isn’t a lot of food considering you’ve been using that container for three to four months. Likewise, corn gives two to three cobs at best, and so it’s not worth the bother. Plus, as corn is very tall, it can fall over even in a light wind if it doesn’t have a very big container. Stick to the herbs, leafy green salad plants and brocoli, where you can cut and recut until your heart’s content.

Categories: Container Gardening, containers, containers include, garden centre, growing food, herbs, potting soil, vegetables

Migraine Misery: Eight Simple Steps to a Pain-Free Mind

Migraine is a big health concern for those whose wellness is afflicted by it, causing extreme headaches, nausea, vomiting and visual, sensory or motor irregularities. Scientists believe that migraine has some connection with a change in the brain chemicals, nerve pathways, brain tissues or blood flow to the brain, and multiple lifestyle triggers can set it off. However, you can find relief from your pain using eight simple and natural remedies.

 

1. Stop stress. Anxiety and stress can severely aggravate your migraine so try to find a stress-reducing technique that works for you. This may include having a relaxing bath with a few drops of essential oil added to it, using lavender candles, listening to soft music or having a aromatic body massage.

 

2. Breathe better. You may tend to take shallow breaths when your pain is at its peak, but deep slow breaths will help you relax, and so overthrow your migraine.

 

3. Secure your sleep pattern. Nothing helps your wellness quite like a good night’s sleep, so make sure you go to bed early enough and get your regular eight hours. Having a regular, healthy sleep pattern will help you to feel more fit, fresh and energised.

 

4.  Enjoy exercise. Not only does exercise help to reduce stress, but it also gets the blood pumping round your brain. However, after a bad migraine attack, something too strenuous could negatively affect your well-being, so go for walking or yoga.

 

5. Make time for a massage. Getting someone to massage your head with up and out strokes helps to boost your blood circulation in the brain and ward off migraine. Tell your masseur to start at the back of your neck, move up towards the base of your skull, and pull downwards again. This should be followed by pressure on the side of your head.

 

6. Fear the food triggers. If you’re going through a particularly bad spell of migraines, try to avoid foods that will set you off. This means eliminating chocolate, processed foods, carbonated and/or caffeinated drinks and foods high in additives.

 

7. Dream of darkness. A dark, quite environment can be a major help when you’re suffering a migraine, so switch off the lights, place an ice pack on your forehead and lie down. This will help to lessen the inflammation of veins in your forehead.

 

8. Have hope in herbs. Certain herbs can improve the blood circulation in your brain, so try yarrow, ginkgo, cayenne, dong quai and tindel flowers.

Categories: blood circulation, Brain, Food Triggers, herbs, migraine, nbsp, sleep pattern

Warning: Some Chinese Herbs Could be Tainted with Pesticides

Chinese herbal medicine is a popular and well-known form of complementary healing. Now, however, environmental group Greenpeace claims that these very herbs could actually have a dangerous and damaging effect on your wellness. The group claims that herbs purchased from stores in Hong Kong and China could contain very high levels of some types of harmful pesticide.

The group cites in particular a sample they took from a herb called the San Qi flower, which they purchased from Tong Ren Tang, a popular chain in Beijing. When tested for potential negative effects on human wellbeing, it was found that the herb contained more than 500 times the European Union’s recommended safety limit for a type of restricted pesticide. Another herb tested by the group was 100 times over this limit. The Beijing Tong Ren Tang chain refused to comment on the situation.

In total, Greenpeace sampled 65 different herbs and found that 51 of these were contaminated with pesticides. Out of that 51, 26 were contaminated with chemicals that have previously been classified as ‘extremely or highly hazardous’ by the World Health Organisation. Jin Wang, a project leader with Greenpeace says that this unequivocally means that these herbs are of a very doubtful quality and are not safe for human consumption.

The pesticides found on the herbs not only post a risk to the consumers who purchase them, but to the farmers who are coming into contact with them. The charity claims that some of the pesticides they found were even very old and obsolete, and were highly dangerous, meaning that just one small dose could cause toxicity or sickness in the human body. Other pesticides found could affect the human immune system in a variety of negative ways, whilst others still are thought to have a harmful effect on the development of children’s brains.

Categories: chinese, herbs, Pesticides

How Safe are Chinese Herbs for your Health?

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has reported problems for years over the levels of pesticides and industrial contaminants, claiming that they are too high where certain herbs are concerned. In recent years, the American Botanical Council and the American Herbal Products Associated have discovered ongoing problems with this issue, with much of the problems lying with herbs sourced from India and China where the levels of contamination are found to be shockingly high. A new study has found that the unsafe practices surrounding the overuse of pesticides and toxic agents in Chinese herbs could be a cause for concern. The report stands to damage the trade of Chinese herbs which have repeatedly been under fire for the concerns of contamination.

 

China remains the worlds largest supplier of herbs, meaning that it has a lot to lose in terms of business. The revenues from Chinese herbal export total hundreds of millions of dollars – furthermore, Chinese people rely enormously on these herbs for their health. As such, the Chinese population has a lot at risk in terms of significant health problems which could arise from toxic elements in their natural medicines. TCM, or Traditional Chinese Medicine, is one of the most ancient forms of health care in the world. Some texts of TCM date back to more than 3,000 years ago! At the root of this form of medicine lies around 11,000 herbs – these are boiled in teas, and generally there is a combination of several types of herbs to make one form of medicine. Greenpeace studied around 65 batches of herbs, with residues of pesticides found in 48 samples. One of the more widely used herbs known as Sanqi flower had residues of 39 pesticides, and Goji contained 25. This is commonly referred to as a superfood and eaten as a snack, but with so many toxic agents it quickly becomes a rather unhealthy addition to anyone’s diet.

 

In recent years, the country has been under scrutiny for a number of food-related scandals, such as melanine poisoned-milk and toxic levels of pesticides found in ginseng. It’s also been noted that pesticides often run into the water supplies in China, through the rivers and lakes. The country has also been known to have poisoning problems with ginger, gives and cowpeas, as well. People are seeking natural methods for ailments more and more now, so herbal medicine usage is at an all time high. However, the levels of toxic agents could put an end to this, leading to anxiety and concern amongst users of Chinese medicine.

Categories: Chinese medicine, herbs, Pesticides

How Can Growing Your Own Herbs Help to Improve Your Health?

The idea of a herb garden may appeal as a way of enhancing your dinner dishes, but what about your wellbeing? Herbs are often used as part of complementary wellness methods, so how can you use herbs and gardening to help improve your health?

Firstly, herbs contain lots of vitamins and minerals, which can have numerous benefits to your wellness. Certain herbs can help to increase your circulation, improve your digestion, supply your body with rich antioxidants, and also have astringent and antiseptic properties. As different herbs do different things, you need to use a variety to ensure sure you get all the benefits, but that doesn’t mean you have to ingest all of them. You can also use herbs, such as lavender, as part of aromatherapy to help you de-stress and increase relaxation.

If you have your own herb garden, you’ll always have free, fresh herbs on hand rather than artificial flavours or dried seasonings. Fresh herbs are more potent and flavourful, and more full of nutrients as they haven’t gone through processing and packaging. You can grow them outside or inside, but if you can start your own herb garden outside then your herbs will be even more beneficial. Gardening helps you to get some exercise, as well as getting you outdoors so you can soak up your daily dose of vitamin D from the sunshine.

However, even if you can only manage a small herb garden in your window, tending this can be therapeutic and help relieve stress, as well as helping to cleanse the air and increase your home’s oxygen levels. When it comes to using your herbs, you may think that you’ll only need a small amount, and end up wasting lots of the plant. However, if you can’t use an herb now, you can store it for later! Freezing or drying your herbs will help them to keep for future use. You can freeze some herb leaves in ice cube trays, and this is better than drying the herbs as they will retain more of their just-picked flavour. If you still have too many herbs to use or store, share the love and give your leftovers to a friend!

How Can Growing Your Own Herbs Help to Improve Your Health?

Categories: fresh, herbs, home-grown