The Mayo Clinic is a source of very reliable, scientific study based information about mainstream medicine; and in a recent article, they have highlighted information about alternative remedies / supplements for treating anxiety.
Although it is not fully understood how these herbal supplements work to reduce feelings of anxiety and also side effects and varying degrees of efficacy on different people, the following supplements are seen to relieve symptoms of anxiety:
Kava: This herb is known to aid feelings of relaxation without sedation or engendering feelings of drowsiness. Those with liver problems should use this supplement will caution however, or if you drink alcohol each day or if you are on certain medications that impact the liver.
Valerian: This supplement is known to aid sleep and have a sedative effect. It is also used to treat anxiety though its efficacy in this respect is not fully established.
B Vitamins: B vitamins are essential for a number of bodily processes, and in particular the B vitamin inositol, is known to impact the production of certain brain chemicals (neurotransmitters) and thereby help in curbing feelings of anxiety.
All supplements should be cleared with a doctor and one should make sure that they are safe and won’t cause any reaction with other medications.
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sâmbătă, 3 iulie 2010
vineri, 26 februarie 2010
What Is Goji Berry And What Are Its Health Benefits?
The Goji Berry, also known as the Wolfberry is said to be one of the most nutrient dense food available and is also said to have many curative and medicinal properties.
It is said that Chinese medicine has long relied on the Goji berry to cure a variety of ailments such as kidney, liver or eye diseases.
It is rich in Vitamin C and beta-carotene, also making it very useful for general health and wellbeing.
Available in a variety of forms such as dried berries, berry juice, or in the form of herbal tea, this is a popular diet supplement or even used as an ingredient in some dishes.
Goji Berry claims to have many benefits: It is said to have all kinds of benefits from helping you see better to protecting you from cancer, and even helping to recover from cancer.
It is also said to increase stamina and vitality while enhancing sexual prowess and reducing problems related to erectile dysfuntion. There also are claims that the toxic effects of chemotherapy and radiation can be ameliorated by the goji berry.
To this end, the goji berry in its various different forms has become very popular, and is to be found in a variety of products that are usually marketed through multilayered marketing strategies.
Are those claims accurate? When one looks around the internet to find out more about the goji berry, chances are you will be led to one or more of the sites that sell the various formulation of the berry.
Typically, you will also see rather tall sounding claims made: “I added 20 years to my life with the goji berry” “it is a gift of life” and so on. It is routinely referred to as a ‘super food’.
The various goji berry products, the juice in particular, are also fairly expensive. So do benefits actually justify the many rather embellished claims made about this berry?
Studies conducted have not managed to substantiate any of the really tall claims made by the marketers. Goji extracts may prevent the growth of cancer cells, reduce blood glucose, and lower cholesterol levels, in controlled experiments, however it does not follow that Goji juice will have the same beneficial effect.
Goji berries are healthy to eat, no doubt, and their antioxidant and other nutritional factors are certainly beneficial, but to say that is this super food may be a bit of a stretch.
The goji berry is a good source of nutrition, insofar as a lot of berries are packed with nutrients, but to say that it is miracle food; well one would do well to be skeptical.
It is said that Chinese medicine has long relied on the Goji berry to cure a variety of ailments such as kidney, liver or eye diseases.
It is rich in Vitamin C and beta-carotene, also making it very useful for general health and wellbeing.
Available in a variety of forms such as dried berries, berry juice, or in the form of herbal tea, this is a popular diet supplement or even used as an ingredient in some dishes.
Goji Berry claims to have many benefits: It is said to have all kinds of benefits from helping you see better to protecting you from cancer, and even helping to recover from cancer.
It is also said to increase stamina and vitality while enhancing sexual prowess and reducing problems related to erectile dysfuntion. There also are claims that the toxic effects of chemotherapy and radiation can be ameliorated by the goji berry.
To this end, the goji berry in its various different forms has become very popular, and is to be found in a variety of products that are usually marketed through multilayered marketing strategies.
Are those claims accurate? When one looks around the internet to find out more about the goji berry, chances are you will be led to one or more of the sites that sell the various formulation of the berry.
Typically, you will also see rather tall sounding claims made: “I added 20 years to my life with the goji berry” “it is a gift of life” and so on. It is routinely referred to as a ‘super food’.
The various goji berry products, the juice in particular, are also fairly expensive. So do benefits actually justify the many rather embellished claims made about this berry?
Studies conducted have not managed to substantiate any of the really tall claims made by the marketers. Goji extracts may prevent the growth of cancer cells, reduce blood glucose, and lower cholesterol levels, in controlled experiments, however it does not follow that Goji juice will have the same beneficial effect.
Goji berries are healthy to eat, no doubt, and their antioxidant and other nutritional factors are certainly beneficial, but to say that is this super food may be a bit of a stretch.
The goji berry is a good source of nutrition, insofar as a lot of berries are packed with nutrients, but to say that it is miracle food; well one would do well to be skeptical.
joi, 11 februarie 2010
5 Alternatives To Conventional Medications To Keep Your Blood Pressure In Check
Here are a few holistic methods to keep one’s blood pressure in check:
1.Eat healthy, keep weight in check: This one is a no bariner that can be recommended for pretty much any ailment!
2.Beat that Stress: Learn relaxation techniques such as Yoga, meditation, massage, music therapy, which could all be useful.
3.Magnet therapy: Copper and iron bracelets have been seen to keep BP in check and there are no known side effects.
4.Chiropractic treatment or Acupuncture: While the former can help restore body balance, the latter can help to ease the strain that is being put on the heart. They are both helpful in controlling stress as well.
5.Vitamins and herbs: Calcium, potassium and magnesium are available in supplement form, however increasing the proportion of fresh fruit and veggies in the diet can also help a great deal.
1.Eat healthy, keep weight in check: This one is a no bariner that can be recommended for pretty much any ailment!
2.Beat that Stress: Learn relaxation techniques such as Yoga, meditation, massage, music therapy, which could all be useful.
3.Magnet therapy: Copper and iron bracelets have been seen to keep BP in check and there are no known side effects.
4.Chiropractic treatment or Acupuncture: While the former can help restore body balance, the latter can help to ease the strain that is being put on the heart. They are both helpful in controlling stress as well.
5.Vitamins and herbs: Calcium, potassium and magnesium are available in supplement form, however increasing the proportion of fresh fruit and veggies in the diet can also help a great deal.
vineri, 5 februarie 2010
The Benefits Of Using Asian/Chinese Ginseng
Alternative medicines can be found throughout the globe, originating from ancient remedies and rituals.
Very often China is the source of a lot of herbs widely used instead of manufactured drugs.
Asian ginseng, also known as Chinese ginseng attracts numerous claims over the benefits it can provide.
Much like a multi-vitamin, it is said to improve a person’s general well being especially those recovering from a long term illness.
The chemical part of the ginseng root is called ginsenosides and is the reason why it has strong healing properties. Manufacturers dry the plant’s root and it is subsequently made into tablets and capsules for internal use. Creams and various external preparations are also produced for sale.
As you can imagine anything which has so many beneficial claims made about it attracts a lot of research programs. Unfortunately, most of these have been relatively small and therefore science has not got much to say about ginseng as yet.
Scientists are prepared to agree that there are potential health benefits but it is left to the purveyors of alternative medicine to espouse its advantages.
Like most drugs, some side effects can be experienced and sufferers of diabetes should avoid its use because of the dangers of lowering blood sugar levels. Claims include the treatment of erectile dysfunction, hepatitis C and problems in menopause.
Hopefully further research in the future will result in a better understanding of this herb and its benefits will come into more mainstream use. Until then it is readily available from all good health stores.
Very often China is the source of a lot of herbs widely used instead of manufactured drugs.
Asian ginseng, also known as Chinese ginseng attracts numerous claims over the benefits it can provide.
Much like a multi-vitamin, it is said to improve a person’s general well being especially those recovering from a long term illness.
The chemical part of the ginseng root is called ginsenosides and is the reason why it has strong healing properties. Manufacturers dry the plant’s root and it is subsequently made into tablets and capsules for internal use. Creams and various external preparations are also produced for sale.
As you can imagine anything which has so many beneficial claims made about it attracts a lot of research programs. Unfortunately, most of these have been relatively small and therefore science has not got much to say about ginseng as yet.
Scientists are prepared to agree that there are potential health benefits but it is left to the purveyors of alternative medicine to espouse its advantages.
Like most drugs, some side effects can be experienced and sufferers of diabetes should avoid its use because of the dangers of lowering blood sugar levels. Claims include the treatment of erectile dysfunction, hepatitis C and problems in menopause.
Hopefully further research in the future will result in a better understanding of this herb and its benefits will come into more mainstream use. Until then it is readily available from all good health stores.
luni, 19 octombrie 2009
About 1 In 9 US Kids Use Alternative Medicine
Just like their parents, kids are taking herbal supplements from fish oil to ginseng, a sign of just how mainstream alternative medicine has become.
More than one in nine children and teens try those remedies and other nontraditional options, the government said in its first national study of young people’s use of these mostly unproven treatments.
Given that children are generally pretty healthy, the finding that so many use alternative medicine is “pretty amazing,” said one of the study’s authors, Richard Nahin of the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. The sweeping study suggests about 2.8 million young people use supplements.
Their parents’ practices played a big role. Kids were five times more likely to use alternative therapies if a parent or other relative did.
The same study showed that more than a third of adults use alternative treatments, roughly the same as in a 2002 survey.
The researchers used a big umbrella in defining alternative medicine: Acupuncture, homeopathy, chiropractic, traditional healing, yoga, Pilates, deep breathing, massage and even dieting were included.
Vitamin and mineral supplements are not considered alternative medicine, nor are prayer or folk medicine practices.
Herbal remedies were the leading type of alternative therapy for both adults and those under 18. Among kids, such therapies were most often given for head or neck pain, colds and anxiety.
More than one in nine children and teens try those remedies and other nontraditional options, the government said in its first national study of young people’s use of these mostly unproven treatments.
Given that children are generally pretty healthy, the finding that so many use alternative medicine is “pretty amazing,” said one of the study’s authors, Richard Nahin of the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. The sweeping study suggests about 2.8 million young people use supplements.
Their parents’ practices played a big role. Kids were five times more likely to use alternative therapies if a parent or other relative did.
The same study showed that more than a third of adults use alternative treatments, roughly the same as in a 2002 survey.
The researchers used a big umbrella in defining alternative medicine: Acupuncture, homeopathy, chiropractic, traditional healing, yoga, Pilates, deep breathing, massage and even dieting were included.
Vitamin and mineral supplements are not considered alternative medicine, nor are prayer or folk medicine practices.
Herbal remedies were the leading type of alternative therapy for both adults and those under 18. Among kids, such therapies were most often given for head or neck pain, colds and anxiety.
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