Acidity: From 1 Different Sources
Heartburn, with acid eructations and a sensation of distress in the stomach, chiefly associated with peptic ulcer (duodenal) or gastritis.
Symptoms: local tenderness and stomach gas. The terms hyperacidity and hyperchlorhydria refer to excessive production of hydrochloric acid in the stomach.
Alternatives. For preparation and dosage see remedy entry.
Teas: Agrimony, Balm, Black Horehound, Caraway, Catnep, Celery seeds, Centuary, Chamomile, Dandelion root coffee, Fennel, Irish Moss, Liquorice root, Meadowsweet, Parsley, Quassia, Red Sage. Tablets/capsules. Dandelion, Papaya, Goldenseal. Dosage as on bottle.
Powders: equal parts, Slippery Elm, White Poplar, Meadowsweet. Mix. 500mg (two 00 capsules or one- third teaspoon) thrice daily and when necessary.
Tinctures. Formula: Dandelion 1; Meadowsweet 1; Nettles 1; Goldenseal quarter. Dose: 1-2 teaspoons in water thrice daily before meals.
Practitioner prescription. Dec Jam Sarsae Co conc (BPC 1949) 1 fl oz (30ml); Liquid Extract Filipendula 1 fl oz (30ml); Liquid Extract Taraxacum off. Half a fl oz (15ml); Ess Menth Pip 0.05ml. Aqua to 8oz (240ml). Sig: one dessertspoon (8ml) in warm water before meals. (Barker).
Diet: lacto-vegetarian. Garlic. Celery. Dried raw oats. Regular raw food days. Low fat. Powdered kelp in place of salt. Paw paw fruit. Regulate bowels.
Note: In view of the finding of gastric carcinoid tumours in rodents subjected to long-term anti-secretory agents, caution needs to be exercised over the long-term use of antacids that powerfully suppress the gastric juices.
The potential of hydrogen. A “neutral” pH is expressed as 7.0 (water), with greater being alkaline and lesser being acidic. Expressed logarithmically like the Richter’s Scale, 6.9 pH is twice as acidic as 7.0. 9.0 is ten times as alkaline as 8.0, etc., all based on the presumed amount of hydrogen ion (acidity) present. This is a chemical literality, not to be confused with the vitalist and cyto-hologrammic implications of Acid and Alkaline metabolism or foods. A complex protein has a literal pH close to neutral. Run it through your body and it gets broken down into an incredible array of amino acids, ending up as nitrogenous acid waste products. The more rapid the metabolism, the more acids are produced...the ashes of life are acids. The literal pH of the life media, such as blood, lymph and cytoplasm...and most food, is alkaline. This acid/alkaline is a concept only applicable “in vivo”; pH defines acid/alkaline “in vitro”.... ph
Andrographis paniculataAcanthaceaeSan: Bhunimbah, KiratatiktahHin: Kakamegh, Kalpanath
Ben: Kalmegh
Mal: Nilaveppu, Kiriyattu Tam: Nilavempu Kan: KreataImportance: Kalmegh, the Great or Green Chiretta is a branched annual herb. It is useful in hyperdipsia, burning sensation, wounds, ulcers, chronic fever, malarial and intermittent fevers, inflammations, cough, bronchitis, skin diseases, leprosy, pruritis, intestinal worms, dyspepsia, flatulence, colic, diarrhoea, dysentery, haemorrhoids and vitiated conditions of pitta (Warrier et al, 1993). It is used to overcome sannipata type of fever, difficulty in breathing, hemopathy due to the morbidity of kapha and pitta, burning sensation, cough, oedema, thirst, skin diseases, fever, ulcer and worms. It is also useful in acidity and liver complaints (Aiyer and Kolammal, 1962). The important preparations using the drug are Tiktakagheta, Gorocandi gulika, Candanasava, Panchatiktam kasaya, etc. (Sivarajan et al, 1994). A preparation called “Alui” is prepared by mixing powdered cumin (Cuminium cyminum) and large cardamom (Amomum subulatum) in the juice of this plant and administered for the treatment of malaria (Thakur et al, 1989). It is also a rich source of minerals.Distribution: The plant is distributed throughout the tropics. It is found in the plains of India from U.P to Assam, M.P., A.P, Tamil Nadu and Kerala, also cultivated in gardens.Botany: Andrographis paniculata (Burm.f.) Wall ex.Nees belongs to the family Acanthaceae. It is an erect branched annual herb, 0.3-0.9m in height with quadrangular branches. Leaves are simple, lanceolate, acute at both ends, glabrous, with 4-6 pairs of main nerves. Flowers are small, pale but blotched and spotted with brown and purple distant in lax spreading axillary and terminal racemes or panicles. Calyx-lobes are glandular pubescent with anthers bearded at the base. Fruits are linear capsules and acute at both ends. Seeds are numerous, yellowish brown and sub-quadrate (Warrier et al,1993).Another species of Andrographis is A. echioides (Linn.) Nees. It is found in the warmer parts of India. The plant is a febrifuge and diuretic. It contains flavone-echiodinin and its glucoside-echioidin (Husain et al, 1992).Agrotechnology: The best season of planting Andrographis is May-June. The field is to be ploughed well, mixed with compost or dried cowdung and seedbeds of length 3m, breadth 1/2m and 15cm height are to be taken at a distance of 3m. The plant is seed propagated. Seeds are to be soaked in water for 6 hours before sowing. Sowing is to be done at a spacing of 20cm. Seeds may germinate within 15-20 days. Two weedings, first at one month after planting and the second at 2 month after planting are to be carried out. Irrigation during summer months is beneficial. The plant is not attacked by any serious pests or diseases. Flowering commences from third month onwards. At this stage, plant are to be collected, tied into small bundles and sun-dried for 4-5 days. Whole plant is the economic part and the yield is about 1.25t dried plants/ha (Prasad et al, 1997).Properties and activity: Leaves contain two bitter substances lactone “andrographolid” and “kalmeghin”. The ash contains sodium chloride and potassium salts. Plant is very rich in chlorophyte. Kalmeghin is the active principle that contains 0.6% alkaloid of the crude plant. The plant contains diterpenoids, andrographolide, 14-deoxy-11-oxo-andrographolide, 14-deoxy-11,12-dihydroandrographolide, 14-deoxy andrographolide and neoandrographolide (Allison et al, 1968). The roots give flavones-apigenin-7,4-dio-O-methyl ether, 5-hydroxy-7,8,2’,3’- tetramethoxyflavone, andrographin and panicolin and -sitosterol (Ali et al, 1972; Govindachari et al, 1969). Leaves contain homoandrographolide, andrographosterol and andrographone.The plant is vulnerary, antipyretic, antiperiodic, anti-inflammatory, expectorant, depurative, sudorific, anthelmintic, digestive, stomachic, tonic, febrifuge and cholagogue. The plant is antifungal, antityphoid, hepatoprotective, antidiabetic and cholinergic. Shoot is antibacterial and leaf is hypotensive(Garcia et al, 1980). This is used for the inflammation of the respiratory tract. In China, researchers have isolated the andrographolide from which soluble derivative such as 14-deoxy-11, 12-dehydro-andrographolide which forms the subject of current pharmacological and clinical studies. Apigenin 7,4’-O-dimethyl ether isolated from A. paniculata exhibits dose dependent, antiulcer activity in shay rat, histamine induced ulcer in guinea pigs and aspirin induced ulcers in rats. A crude substance isolated from methanolic extract of leaves has shown hypotensive activity. Pre-treatment of rats with leaf (500mg/kg) or andrographolide (5mg/kg) orally prevented the carbon tetrachloride induced increase of blood serum levels of glutamate-oxaloacetate transaminase in liver and prevented hepatocellular membrane.... green chiretta
Counteracting excessive acidity in the urine... antiuric
Meadowsweet tea is one of the many herbal teas with plenty of health benefits. It is made from the meadowsweet herb, which can be found in Europe and Western Asia. The plant, as well as the tea, helps you stay healthy. Find out more information about meadowsweet tea!
About Meadowsweet Tea
Meadowsweet tea’s main ingredient is meadowsweet, a perennial herb that grows in moist meadows. It is found in Europe and Western Asia; it has also been introduced and naturalized in North America. The stems are 1-2m tall, with dark-green leaves and delicate, white flowers called cymes, which grow in clusters. The flowers bloom from June to early September, and have a strong, sweet smell.
The plant has a rich history. The flowers of the plant were found in a Bronze Age cairn in Carmarthenshire, along with the cremated remains of three people. They were also found inside a Beaker from Ashgrove, Fife, and a vessel from North Mains, Strathallan. In Chaucer’s “The Knight’s tale”, it is called Meadwort, representing one of the ingredients for a drink called “save”. Also, during the 16th century, it was Queen Elizabeth I’s favorite herb for strewing the floors in her chambers.
The plant can be used as a strewing herb, thanks to its strong, pleasant aroma, as well as to flavor wine, beer, and other vinegars. The flowers are used with jams, to give them a subtle almond flavor.
How to prepare Meadowsweet Tea
It isn’t difficult to make a cup of meadowsweet tea. Just add one teaspoon of dried meadowsweet herbs (usually the leaves of the plant) to a cup of boiling water and let it steep for about 10 minutes. Once the steeping time is done, strain to remove the herbs. You can add lemon and/or honey, based on your taste.
Health Benefits of Meadowsweet Tea
The meadowsweet tea comes with many health benefits, thanks to its main ingredient, the meadowsweet herb. The herb is known to include, among other substances, salicylic acid, essential oils, and tannins. The plant also contains the chemicals necessary to make aspirin, and from its roots you can obtain a natural black dye.
The health benefits of the meadowsweet tea are just as important. First of all, it helps you with digestion. It protects the mucous membranes of the digestive tract by reducing excess acidity and easing nausea. It also helps with diarrhea.
Meadowsweet teais often recommended when dealing with colds and the flu. It helps reduce the fever, as well as with headaches; it also treats coughs.
Meadowsweet tea is used to treat heartburn, gastritis, peptic ulceration, and hyperacidity. It also helps relieve rheumatism-induced pain in muscles and joints.
Side-effects of Meadowsweet Tea
If you know that aspirin is not good for your health, be careful when drinking meadowsweet tea. As meadowsweet is one of the ingredients of aspirin, it might affect you to some extent. For example, in the case of about one out of five persons suffering from asthma, aspirin induced asthma symptoms. Those suffering from asthma need to keep in mind the fact that meadowsweet teamay induce asthma symptoms, as well.
Meadowsweet tea might not be good for you if you’ve got internal bleeding problems. The herb might cancel the effects of prescribed blood thinners, therefore causing more harm than helping you. Also, don’t drink meadowsweet tea if you’re pregnant, as it might cause miscarriages.
If you drink too much meadowsweet tea, you might get the following symptoms: blood in the stool, vomiting, or ringing in the ears; it might even lead to kidney problems. Plus, it is not recommended to drink more than six cups of tea a day, no matter the tea. If you drink too much, you’ll get headaches, dizziness, insomnia, irregular heartbeats, vomiting, diarrhea and loss of appetite.
Meadowsweet tea is definitely good for your body! Having all these health benefits, you won’t regret including it in your daily diet. If you’re sure you won’t get any side effects, then you’re free to enjoy a cup of aromatic tea!... benefits of meadowsweet tea
Nutritional Profile
Energy value (calories per serving): Low
Protein: Trace
Fat: Trace
Saturated fat: None Cholesterol: None Carbohydrates: Trace Fiber: Trace
Sodium: Low
Major vitamin contribution: None
Major mineral contribution: None
About the Nutrients in This Food
Coffee beans are roasted seeds from the fruit of the evergreen coffee tree. Like other nuts and seeds, they are high in proteins (11 percent), sucrose and other sugars (8 percent), oils (10 to 15 percent), assorted organic acids (6 percent), B vitamins, iron, and the central nervous system stimulant caffeine (1 to 2 percent). With the exceptions of caffeine, none of these nutrients is found in coffee.
Like spinach, rhubarb, and tea, coffee contains oxalic acid (which binds calcium ions into insoluble compounds your body cannot absorb), but this is of no nutritional consequence as long as your diet contains adequate amounts of calcium-rich foods.
Coffee’s best known constituent is the methylxanthine central ner- vous system stimulant caffeine. How much caffeine you get in a cup of coffee depends on how the coffee was processed and brewed. Caffeine is
Caffeine Content/Coffee Servings Brewed coffee 60 mg/five-ounce cup Brewed/decaffeinated 5 mg/five-ounce cup
Espresso 64 mg/one-ounce serving
Instant 47 mg/rounded teaspoon
The Most Nutritious Way to Serve This Food
In moderation, with high-calcium foods. Like spinach, rhubarb, and tea, coffee has oxalic acid, which binds calcium into insoluble compounds. This will have no important effect as long as you keep your consumption moderate (two to four cups of coffee a day) and your calcium consumption high.
Diets That May Restrict or Exclude This Food
Bland diet
Gout diet
Diet for people with heart disease (regular coffee)
Buying This Food
Look for: Ground coffee and coffee beans in tightly sealed, air- and moisture-proof containers.
Avoid: Bulk coffees or coffee beans stored in open bins. When coffee is exposed to air, the volatile molecules that give it its distinctive flavor and richness escape, leaving the coffee flavorless and/or bitter.
Storing This Food
Store unopened vacuum-packed cans of ground coffee or coffee beans in a cool, dark cabinet—where they will stay fresh for six months to a year. They will lose some flavor in storage, though, because it is impossible to can coffee without trapping some flavor- destroying air inside the can.
Once the can or paper sack has been opened, the coffee or beans should be sealed as tight as possible and stored in the refrigerator. Tightly wrapped, refrigerated ground coffee will hold its freshness and flavor for about a week, whole beans for about three weeks. For longer storage, freeze the coffee or beans in an air- and moistureproof container. ( You can brew coffee directly from frozen ground coffee and you can grind frozen beans without thawing them.)
Preparing This Food
If you make your coffee with tap water, let the water run for a while to add oxygen. Soft water makes “cleaner”-tasting coffee than mineral-rich hard water. Coffee made with chlorinated water will taste better if you refrigerate the water overnight in a glass (not plastic) bottle so that the chlorine evaporates.
Never make coffee with hot tap water or water that has been boiled. Both lack oxygen, which means that your coffee will taste flat.
Always brew coffee in a scrupulously clean pot. Each time you make coffee, oils are left on the inside of the pot. If you don’t scrub them off, they will turn rancid and the next pot of coffee you brew will taste bitter. To clean a coffee pot, wash it with detergent, rinse it with water in which you have dissolved a few teaspoons of baking soda, then rinse one more time with boiling water.
What Happens When You Cook This Food
In making coffee, your aim is to extract flavorful solids (including coffee oils and sucrose and other sugars) from the ground beans without pulling bitter, astringent tannins along with them. How long you brew the coffee determines how much solid material you extract and how the coffee tastes. The longer the brewing time, the greater the amount of solids extracted. If you brew the coffee long enough to extract more than 30 percent of its solids, you will get bitter compounds along with the flavorful ones. (These will also develop by let- ting coffee sit for a long time after brewing it.)
Ordinarily, drip coffee tastes less bitter than percolator coffee because the water in a drip coffeemaker goes through the coffee only once, while the water in the percolator pot is circulated through the coffee several times. To make strong but not bitter coffee, increase the amount of coffee—not the brewing time.
How Other Kinds of Processing Affect This Food
Drying. Soluble coffees (freeze-dried, instant) are made by dehydrating concentrated brewed coffee. These coffees are often lower in caffeine than regular ground coffees because caffeine, which dissolves in water, is lost when the coffee is dehydrated.
Decaffeinating. Decaffeinated coffee is made with beans from which the caffeine has been extracted, either with an organic solvent (methylene chloride) or with water. How the coffee is decaffeinated has no effect on its taste, but many people prefer water-processed decaf- feinated coffee because it is not a chemically treated food. (Methylene chloride is an animal carcinogen, but the amounts that remain in coffees decaffeinated with methylene chloride are so small that the FDA does not consider them hazardous. The carcinogenic organic sol- vent trichloroethylene [TCE], a chemical that causes liver cancer in laboratory animals, is no longer used to decaffeinate coffee.)
Medical Uses and/or Benefits
As a stimulant and mood elevator. Caffeine is a stimulant. It increases alertness and concentra- tion, intensifies muscle responses, quickens heartbeat, and elevates mood. Its effects derive
from the fact that its molecular structure is similar to that of adenosine, a natural chemical by-product of normal cell activity. Adenosine is a regular chemical that keeps nerve cell activ- ity within safe limits. When caffeine molecules hook up to sites in the brain when adenosine molecules normally dock, nerve cells continue to fire indiscriminately, producing the jangly feeling sometimes associated with drinking coffee, tea, and other caffeine products.
As a rule, it takes five to six hours to metabolize and excrete caffeine from the body. During that time, its effects may vary widely from person to person. Some find its stimu- lation pleasant, even relaxing; others experience restlessness, nervousness, hyperactivity, insomnia, flushing, and upset stomach after as little as one cup a day. It is possible to develop a tolerance for caffeine, so people who drink coffee every day are likely to find it less imme- diately stimulating than those who drink it only once in a while.
Changes in blood vessels. Caffeine’s effects on blood vessels depend on site: It dilates coronary and gastrointestinal vessels but constricts blood vessels in your head and may relieve headache, such as migraine, which symptoms include swollen cranial blood vessels. It may also increase pain-free exercise time in patients with angina. However, because it speeds up heartbeat, doc- tors often advise patients with heart disease to avoid caffeinated beverages entirely.
As a diuretic. Caffeine is a mild diuretic sometimes included in over-the-counter remedies for premenstrual tension or menstrual discomfort.
Adverse Effects Associated with This Food
Stimulation of acid secretion in the stomach. Both regular and decaffeinated coffees increase the secretion of stomach acid, which suggests that the culprit is the oil in coffee, not its caffeine.
Elevated blood levels of cholesterol and homocysteine. In the mid-1990s, several studies in the Netherlands and Norway suggested that drinking even moderate amounts of coffee (five cups a day or less) might raise blood levels of cholesterol and homocysteine (by-product of protein metabolism considered an independent risk factor for heart disease), thus increas- ing the risk of cardiovascular disease. Follow-up studies, however, showed the risk limited to drinking unfiltered coffees such as coffee made in a coffee press, or boiled coffees such as Greek, Turkish, or espresso coffee. The unfiltered coffees contain problematic amounts of cafestol and kahweol, two members of a chemical family called diterpenes, which are believed to affect cholesterol and homocysteine levels. Diterpenes are removed by filtering coffee, as in a drip-brew pot.
Possible increased risk of miscarriage. Two studies released in 2008 arrived at different conclusions regarding a link between coffee consumption and an increased risk of miscar- riage. The first, at Kaiser Permanente (California), found a higher risk of miscarriage among women consuming even two eight-ounce cups of coffee a day. The second, at Mt. Sinai School of Medicine (New York), found no such link. However, although the authors of the Kaiser Permanente study described it as a “prospective study” (a study in which the research- ers report results that occur after the study begins), in fact nearly two-thirds of the women who suffered a miscarriage miscarried before the study began, thus confusing the results.
Increased risk of heartburn /acid reflux. The natural oils in both regular and decaffeinated coffees loosen the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), a muscular valve between the esopha- gus and the stomach. When food is swallowed, the valve opens to let food into the stomach, then closes tightly to keep acidic stomach contents from refluxing (flowing backwards) into the esophagus. If the LES does not close efficiently, the stomach contents reflux and cause heartburn, a burning sensation. Repeated reflux is a risk factor for esophageal cancer.
Masking of sleep disorders. Sleep deprivation is a serious problem associated not only with automobile accidents but also with health conditions such as depression and high blood pres- sure. People who rely on the caffeine in a morning cup of coffee to compensate for lack of sleep may put themselves at risk for these disorders.
Withdrawal symptoms. Caffeine is a drug for which you develop a tolerance; the more often you use it, the more likely you are to require a larger dose to produce the same effects and the more likely you are to experience withdrawal symptoms (headache, irritation) if you stop using it. The symptoms of coffee-withdrawal can be relieved immediately by drinking a cup of coffee.
Food/Drug Interactions
Drugs that make it harder to metabolize caffeine. Some medical drugs slow the body’s metabolism of caffeine, thus increasing its stimulating effect. The list of such drugs includes cimetidine (Tagamet), disulfiram (Antabuse), estrogens, fluoroquinolone antibiotics (e.g., ciprofloxacin, enoxacin, norfloxacin), fluconazole (Diflucan), fluvoxamine (Luvox), mexi- letine (Mexitil), riluzole (R ilutek), terbinafine (Lamisil), and verapamil (Calan). If you are taking one of these medicines, check with your doctor regarding your consumption of caf- feinated beverages.
Drugs whose adverse effects increase due to consumption of large amounts of caffeine.
This list includes such drugs as metaproterenol (Alupent), clozapine (Clozaril), ephedrine, epinephrine, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, phenylpropanolamine, and theophylline. In addition, suddenly decreasing your caffeine intake may increase blood levels of lithium, a drug used to control mood swings. If you are taking one of these medicines, check with your doctor regarding your consumption of caffeinated beverages.
Allopurinol. Coffee and other beverages containing methylxanthine stimulants (caffeine, theophylline, and theobromine) reduce the effectiveness of the antigout drug allopurinol, which is designed to inhibit xanthines.
Analgesics. Caffeine strengthens over-the-counter painkillers (acetaminophen, aspirin, and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories [NSAIDS] such as ibuprofen and naproxen). But it also makes it more likely that NSAIDS will irritate your stomach lining.
Antibiotics. Coffee increases stomach acidity, which reduces the rate at which ampicillin, erythromycin, griseofulvin, penicillin, and tetracyclines are absorbed when they are taken by mouth. (There is no effect when the drugs are administered by injection.)
Antiulcer medication. Coffee increases stomach acidity and reduces the effectiveness of nor- mal doses of cimetidine and other antiulcer medication.
False-positive test for pheochromocytoma. Pheochromocytoma, a tumor of the adrenal glands, secretes adrenalin, which is converted to VM A (vanillylmandelic acid) by the body and excreted in the urine. Until recently, the test for this tumor measured the levels of VM A in the patient’s urine and coffee, which contains VM A, was eliminated from patients’ diets lest it elevate the level of VM A in the urine, producing a false-positive test result. Today, more finely drawn tests make this unnecessary.
Iron supplements. Caffeine binds with iron to form insoluble compounds your body cannot absorb. Ideally, iron supplements and coffee should be taken at least two hours apart.
Birth control pills. Using oral contraceptives appears to double the time it takes to eliminate caffeine from the body. Instead of five to six hours, the stimulation of one cup of coffee may last as long as 12 hours.
Monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors. Monoamine oxidase inhibitors are drugs used to treat depression. They inactivate naturally occurring enzymes in your body that metabolize tyra- mine, a substance found in many fermented or aged foods. Tyramine constricts blood vessels and increases blood pressure. Caffeine is a substance similar to tyramine. If you consume excessive amounts of a caffeinated beverage such as coffee while you are taking an M AO inhibitor, the result may be a hypertensive crisis.
Nonprescription drugs containing caffeine. The caffeine in coffee may add to the stimulant effects of the caffeine in over-the-counter cold remedies, diuretics, pain relievers, stimulants, and weight-control products containing caffeine. Some cold pills contain 30 mg caffeine, some pain relievers 130 mg, and some weight-control products as much as 280 mg caffeine. There are 110 –150 mg caffeine in a five-ounce cup of drip-brewed coffee.
Sedatives. The caffeine in coffee may counteract the drowsiness caused by sedative drugs; this may be a boon to people who get sleepy when they take antihistamines. Coffee will not, however, “sober up” people who are experiencing the inebriating effects of alcoholic beverages.
Theophylline. Caffeine relaxes the smooth muscle of the bronchi and may intensif y the effects (and/or increase the risk of side effects) of this antiasthmatic drug.... coffee
An osmotic laxative (see OSMOSIS; LAXATIVES), lactulose is a semisynthetic disaccharide – a type of carbohydrate – which is not absorbed from the GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT. It reduces the acidity of FAECES.... lactulose
Litmus, which is prepared from several lichens, is a vegetable dye-substance, which on contact with alkaline ?uids becomes blue, and on contact with acid ?uids, red. Slips of paper, impregnated with litmus, form a valuable test for the acidity of the secretions and discharges.... litmus
Salts of phosphoric acid. As this substance is contained in many articles of food as well as in bone, the nuclei of cells, and the nervous system, phosphates are constantly excreted in the URINE. The continued use of an excess of food containing alkalis, such as green vegetables, and still more the presence in the urine of bacteria which lead to its decomposition, produce the necessary change from the natural mild acidity to alkalinity, and lead to the deposit of phosphates and to their collection into stones.... phosphates
Asparagus racemosusLiliaceaeSan, Mar, Hin, Mal: Satavari;Ben: Shatamuli,Guj: Ekalkanto,Tel: Pilligadalu, PhilithagaTam: Ammaikodi, Kilwari,Kan: Aheruballi, Ori: ManajoloImportance: Asparagus is a climbing undershrub with widespread applications as diuretic, cooling agent and an excellent safe herbal medicine for ante-natal care. It is useful in nervous disorders, dyspepsia, diarrhoea, tumours, inflammations, vitiated conditions of vata and pitta, burning sensation, hyperdipsia, ophthalmopathy, nephropathy, hepatopathy, strangury, scalding of urine, throat infections, tuberculosis, cough, bronchitis, gleet, gonorrhoea, leucorrhoea, leprosy, epilepsy, fatigue, hyperacidity, colic haemorrhoids, hypertension, abortion, agalactia, cardiac and general debility (Warrier et al, 1993).Shatavari is described in Rigveda and Atharvaveda. In Ayurvedic classics it is prescribed as a cooling agent and uterine tonic. It is the main ingredient in ayurvedic medicines like shatavari gulam and shatavari ghrtam. Besides quenching thirst, its root juice helps in cooling down the body from summer heat, curing hyper-acidity and peptic ulcer. It contains good amount of mucilage which soothes the inner cavity of stomach. It relieves burning sensation while passing urine and is used in urinary tract infections. It contains an anticancer agent asparagin which is useful against leukaemia. It also contains active antioxytocic saponins which have got antispasmodic effect and specific action on uterine musculature. It is very good relaxant to uterine muscles, especially during pregnancy and is used to prevent abortion and pre-term labour on the place of progesterone preparations. Its powder boiled with milk is generally used to prevent abortion. It increases milk production in cows and buffaloes. Its preparations in milk helps in increasing breast milk in lactating women. Its proper use helps in avoiding excessive blood loss during periods. It clears out infections and abnormalities of uterine cavity and hence it is used to rectify infertility in women. The leaves are used to prepare toilet soaps. The plant has also ornamental value both for indoor and out door decorations (Syamala, 1997).Distribution: The plant is found wild in tropical and subtropical India including Andaman and Nicobar Islands. It is distributed from mean sea level upto 1500m in the Himalayas from Kashmi r eastwards. The crop is cultivated in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Predesh and northern states in India. However, most of the requirement of the industry is met through wild collections from forests. It is also grown in gardens.Botany: Satavari, Asparagus racemosus Willd. belongs to the lily family, Liliaceae. Asparagus adscendens Roxb., A. filicinus Lam., A. gonoclados Baker, A. officinalis Linn. and A. sarmentosus Willd. are the other important medicinal plant species of the genus. A. racemosus Willd. is an armed climbing undershrub with woody terete stems and recurved or rarely straight spines. The tuberous succulent roots are 30cm to 100cm or more in length, fascicled at the stem base, smooth tapering at both ends. Young stems are very delicate, brittle and smooth. Leaves are reduced to minute chaffy scales and spines; cladodes triquetrous, curved in tufts of 2-6. Flowers are white fragrant in simple or branched recemes on the naked nodes of the main shoots or in the axils of the thorns. Fruits are globular or obscurely 3-lobed, pulpy berries, purplish black when ripe; seeds with hard and brittle testa.Agrotechnology: The plant comes up well under a wide range of tropical and subtropical climate. Fertile moist sandy loam soils are ideal for its cultivation though it grows in a wide range of soils. Better root development is observed in soils in increased proportion of sand. However, a decline in the yield of the crop is noticed in soils containing previous year’s residue of the roots. Asparagus plant is best grown from its tuberous roots even though it can be successfully propagated through seeds. Since root tubers are of commercial value seed propagation provides economic advantage to the farmers. Seeds usually start germinating after 40 days and average germination is 70% (Tewari and Misra, 1996).For the cultivation of the crop, the land is ploughed well with pre-monsoon showers and seed nurseries are raised on seed beds of approximately 1m width, 15cm height and suitable length. Seed nursery should be irrigated regularly and kept weed free. With the onset of monsoon in June-July the main field is ploughed thoroughly and pits of size 30cm cube are dug at a spacing of 60-100cm. Tiwari and Misra (1996) have reported that irrespective of more number of roots and higher fresh weight per plant under wider spacings, the per hectare yields were highest in the closer spacing of 30cm x 30cm. The pit is filled with a mixture of top soil and well decomposed FYM or compost applied at 10 - 15 t/ha and the seedlings are transplanted. Application of N, P2O5 and K2O at 60:30:30 kg/ha increases the root yield. Regular irrigation and weeding are required to realize higher yields. Standards are to be provided for training the plant (Sharma et al, 1992). Few pests and diseases are observed on this crop. Harvesting the crop after two years provided higher root yield than annual harvests in pots as well as in field experiments. Irrigating the field prior to harvest enables easy harvesting of the root tubers. The average yield is 10 - 15 t/ha of fresh root tubers though yields over 60t/ha have been reported.Properties and activity: Asparagus roots contain protein 22%, fat 6.2%, Carbohydrate 3.2%, Vitamin B 0.36%, Vitamin C 0.04% and traces of Vitamin A. It contains several alkaloids. Alcoholic extract yields asparagin- an anticancer agent. It also contains a number of antioxytocic saponins, viz. Shatavarisn - I to IV (Syamala, 1997). Leaves contain rutin, diosgenin and a flavonoid glycoside identified as quercetin - 3 - glucuronide. Flowers contain quercetin hyperoside and rutin. Fruits contain glycosides of quercetin, rutin and hyperoside while fully ripe fruits contain cyanidin - 3 - galactoside and cyanidin - 3 - glucorhamnoside.Root is demulcent, diuretic, aphrodisiac, tonic, alterative, antiseptic, antidiarrhoeal, glalctogogue and antispasmodic. Aerial part is spasmolytic, antiarrhythmic and anticancer. Bark is antibacterial and antifungal.... asparagus
A bitter-tasting substance or formula used to increase a deficient appetite, improve the acidity of stomach secretions and protein digestion, and slightly speed up the orderly emptying of the stomach. A good bitter tonic should possess little, if any, drug effect, only acting on oral and stomach functions and secretions. Dry mouth, bad gums, teeth problems with bad breath in the morning, and weak digestion, often with constipation, are the main deficiency symptoms. A bitter tonic has little effect in normal digestion. Example: Gentiana... bitter tonic
(Linn.) Burm.f.
Family: Rutaceae.
Habitat: Cultivated all over India.
English: Lemon.
Ayurvedic: Jambira, Jambh, Jambhir, Jaamphal, Nimbu, Nimbuka, Naaranga, Limpaka, Dantashatha, Airaavata, Neebu (bigger var.).
Unani: Utraj.
Siddha/Tamil: Periya elumuchhai.
Action: Fruit—antiscorbutic, carminative, stomachic, antihistaminic, antibacterial. Used during coughs, colds, influenza and onset of fever (juice of roasted lemon), hiccoughs, biliousness. Fruit juice—used externally for ringworm (mixed with salt), erysipelas, also in the treatment of leprosy and white spots. Leaves and stems—antibacterial.
All parts of the plants of citrus sp. contain coumarins and psoralins. The fruits contain flavonoids and li- monoids. The flavonoids comprise three main groups—flavanones, fla- vones and 3-hydroxyflavylium (antho- cyanins); flavanones being predominantly followed by flavones and antho- cyanins. Bitter flavonoids do not occur in lemon and lime.Lemon juice is a richer source of antiscorbutic vitamin (contains 4050 mg/100 g of vitamin C) than lime, and a fair source of carotene and vitamin B1. Volatile oil (about 2.5% of the peel) consists of about 75% limonene, alpha-and beta-pinenes, alpha-ter- pinene and citral. The fruit juice also contains coumarins and bioflavonoids.The acid content of the fruit, once digested, provides an alkaline effect within the body and is found useful in conditions where acidity is a contributory factor (as in case of rheumatic conditions). The bioflavonoids strengthen the inner lining of blood vessels, especially veins and capillaries, and help counter varicose veins, arteriosclerosis, circulatory disorders and infections of liver, stomach and intestines.Major flavonoid glycosides, isolated from citrus peels and juices, include hesperidin (with properties of vitamin P). Rutin and other flavanones, isolated from citrus fruits, form the principal components of vitamin P. Flavanone glycosides contained in lemon and lime juices are eriocitrin 47 and 94; hesperidin 84 and 196 mg/l, respectively.The composition of cold pressed lime oil is quite similar to lemon oil, but citral content of lime oil is higher.Monoterpene alcohols and their esters, aldehydes—geraniol, geranial and neral, contribute to the characteristic aroma of lemon and lime.
Dosage: Fruit—6-12 g (Juice—5- 10 ml). (API Vol. IV.)... citrus limon
Linn.
Family: Papilionaceae; Fabaceae.
Habitat: Throughout India in tropical areas; also cultivated in hedges.
English: Butterfly Pea, Winged- leaved Clitoria, Mezereon.
Ayurvedic: Girikarnikaa, Aparaa- jitaa, Aasphota, Girimallikaa, Girikanyaa, Kokilaa,Yonipushpaa, Vishnukraantaa. (Evolvulus alsi- noides Linn. is also known as Vishnukraantaa, Vishnukranti). Used as Shankhapushpi in the South.
Unani: Mezereon Hindi.
Siddha/Tamil: Kakkanam.
Folk: Koyal (Punjab).
Action: Root—cathartic like jalap. Roots cause gripe and tenesmus, hence not recommended as purgative. Used in ascites. Root bark—diuretic (infusion used in irritation of bladder and urethra). Root juice—given in cold milk to liquefy phlegm in chronic bronchitis. The root, bark, seeds and leaves—used for gastric acidity. The root is administered with honey as a general tonic to children for improving mental faculty.
The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India recommends the dried leaf in migraine, psychoneurosis and mania.An alcoholic extract of the plant showed sedative and hypothermic effect in rodents.Rats, fed with ethanol extract of flowers, showed a significantly lowered serum sugar level in experimentally induced diabetes.The seeds contain a nucleoprotein with its amino acid sequence similar to insulin, but for the absence of his- tidine, threonine, proline and crystine.Seeds gave cinnamic acid, flavonol gly- coside. Leaves contain glycosides of kaempferol.In South India, the seeds and roots constitute the drug Shankhapushpi, used as a nervine tonic. In other regions, Canscora decussata, Convolvulus pluricaulis, Evolvulus alsinoides and Lavendula bipinnata are used as Shan- khapushpi.
Dosage: Root—1-3 g powder (API Vol. II); dried leaf—2-5 g; seed—1- 3 g. (API Vol. IV.)... clitoria ternatea
The operation of cutting the ?bres of the VAGUS nerve to the stomach. It was once part of the routine surgical treatment of DUODENAL ULCER, the aim being to reduce the ?ow or acidity of the gastric juice. The operation is now performed on those patients who fail to respond to drug treatment. (See also STOMACH, DISEASES OF – Gastric ulcer).... vagotomy
Also called pyrosis. A symptom of indigestion; during the course of DIGESTION, the mouth ?lls with tasteless or sour ?uid, which is generally saliva, but is sometimes brought up from the stomach. This is accompanied by a burning pain often felt at the pit of the stomach or in the chest. The condition is a symptom of excessive acidity of the stomach contents, due sometimes to an injudicious diet, and often characteristic of a DUODENAL ULCER. (See also DYSPEPSIA.)... waterbrash
n. abnormally high blood acidity. This condition may result from an increase in the concentration of acidic substances and/or a decrease in the level of alkaline substances in the blood. See also acidosis. Compare alkalaemia.... acidaemia
n. a condition in which the acidity of body fluids and tissues is abnormally high. This arises because of a failure of the mechanisms responsible for maintaining a balance between acids and alkalis in the blood (see acid-base balance). In gaseous acidosis more than the normal amount of carbon dioxide is retained in the body, as in drowning. Patients with diabetes mellitus suffer from *diabetic ketoacidosis, in which sodium, potassium, and *ketone bodies are lost in the urine. See also lactic acidosis; renal tubular acidosis.... acidosis
n. an H2-receptor antagonist (see antihistamine) that reduces gastric acidity and is used to treat gastro-oesophageal reflux and peptic ulcers. Side-effects include rashes, dizziness, diarrhoea, and muscular pains.... cimetidine
the liquid secreted by the *gastric glands of the stomach. Its main digestive constituents are hydrochloric acid, mucin, *rennin, and pepsinogen. The acid acts on pepsinogen to produce *pepsin, which functions best in an acid medium. The acidity of the stomach contents also kills unwanted bacteria and other organisms that have been ingested with the food. Gastric juice also contains *intrinsic factor, which is necessary for the absorption of vitamin B12.... gastric juice
n. any *receptor organ composed of sensory nerve cells that respond to and monitor changes within the body, such as the stretching of muscles or the acidity of the blood.... interoceptor
excessive plasma acidity due to an accumulation of lactic acid. This may be caused by a variety of illnesses, including heart failure or severe dehydration. It can also be caused by the accumulation of *biguanide drugs used for treating type 2 *diabetes mellitus, particularly when kidney failure is present. Biguanides (see metformin) should therefore not be used to treat patients who have established kidney disease or heart failure or who are dehydrated.... lactic acidosis
the digestive juice secreted by the *pancreas. Its production is stimulated by hormones secreted by the duodenum, which in turn is stimulated by contact with food from the stomach. If the duodenum produces the hormone *secretin the pancreatic juice contains a large amount of sodium bicarbonate, which neutralizes the acidity of the stomach contents. Another hormone (see cholecystokinin) stimulates the production of a juice rich in digestive enzymes, including trypsinogen and chymotrypsinogen (which are converted to *trypsin and *chymotrypsin in the duodenum), *amylase, *lipase, and *maltase.... pancreatic juice
The daily requirement of iron for an adult is 12 mg, and 15–20 mg for an adult woman during pregnancy. This is well covered by an ordinary diet, so that by itself it is not a common cause. But if there is a steady loss of blood, as a result of heavy menstrual loss or ‘bleeding piles’, the intake of iron in the diet may not be su?cient to maintain adequate formation of haemoglobin.
Symptoms These depend upon whether the anaemia is sudden in onset, as in severe haemorrhage, or gradual. In all cases, however, the striking sign is pallor, the depth of which depends upon the severity of the anaemia. The colour of the skin may be misleading, except in cases due to severe haemorrhage, as the skin of many Caucasian people is normally pale. The best guide is the colour of the internal lining of the eyelid. When the onset of the anaemia is sudden, the patient complains of weakness and giddiness, and loses consciousness if he or she tries to stand or sit up. The breathing is rapid and distressed, the pulse is rapid and the blood pressure is low. In chronic cases the tongue is often sore (GLOSSITIS), and the nails of the ?ngers may be brittle and concave instead of convex (koilonychia). In some cases, particularly in women, the Plummer-Vinson syndrome is present: this consists of di?culty in swallowing and may be accompanied by huskiness; in these cases glossitis is also present. There may be slight enlargement of the SPLEEN, and there is usually some diminution in gastric acidity.
CHANGES IN THE BLOOD The characteristic change is a diminution in both the haemoglobin and the red cell content of the blood. There is a relatively greater fall in the haemoglobin than in the red cell count. If the blood is examined under a microscope, the red cells are seen to be paler and smaller than normal. These small red cells are known as microcytes.
Treatment consists primarily of giving suf?cient iron by mouth to restore, and then maintain, a normal blood picture. The main iron preparation now used is ferrous sulphate, 200 mg, thrice daily after meals. When the blood picture has become normal, the dosage is gradually reduced. A preparation of iron is available which can be given intravenously, but this is only used in cases which do not respond to iron given by mouth, or in cases in which it is essential to obtain a quick response.
If, of course, there is haemorrhage, this must be arrested, and if the loss of blood has been severe it may be necessary to give a blood transfusion (see TRANSFUSION – Transfusion of blood). Care must be taken to ensure that the patient is having an adequate diet. If there is any underlying metabolic, oncological, toxic or infective condition, this, of course, must be adequately treated after appropriate investigations.
Megaloblastic hyperchromic anaemia There are various forms of anaemia of this type, such as those due to nutritional de?ciencies, but the most important is that known as pernicious anaemia.
PERNICIOUS ANAEMIA An autoimmune disease in which sensitised lymphocytes (see LYMPHOCYTE) destroy the PARIETAL cells of the stomach. These cells normally produce INTRINSIC FACTOR, the carrier protein for vitamin B12 (see APPENDIX 5: VITAMINS) that permits its absorption in the terminal part of the ILEUM. Lack of the factor prevents vitamin B12 absorption and this causes macrocytic (or megaloblastic) anaemia. The disorder can affect men and women, usually those over the age of 40; onset is insidious so it may be well advanced before medical advice is sought. The skin and MUCOSA become pale, the tongue is smooth and atrophic and is accompanied by CHEILOSIS. Peripheral NEUROPATHY is often present, resulting in PARAESTHESIA and numbness and sometimes ATAXIA. A rare complication is subacute combined degeneration of the SPINAL CORD.
In 1926 two Americans, G R Minot and W P Murphy, discovered that pernicious anaemia, a previously fatal condition, responded to treatment with liver which provides the absent intrinsic factor. Normal development requires a substance known as extrinsic factor, and this depends on the presence of intrinsic factor for its absorption from the gut. The disease is characterised in the blood by abnormally large red cells (macrocytes) which vary in shape and size, while the number of white cells (LEUCOCYTES) diminishes. A key diagnostic ?nd is the presence of cells in the BONE MARROW.
Treatment consists of injections of vitamin B12 in the form of hydroxocobalamin which must be continued for life.
Aplastic anaemia is a disease in which the red blood corpuscles are very greatly reduced, and in which no attempt appears to be made in the bone marrow towards their regeneration. It is more accurately called hypoplastic anaemia as the degree of impairment of bone-marrow function is rarely complete. The cause in many cases is not known, but in rather less than half the cases the condition is due to some toxic substance, such as benzol or certain drugs, or ionising radiations. The patient becomes very pale, with a tendency to haemorrhages under the skin and mucous membranes, and the temperature may at times be raised. The red blood corpuscles diminish steadily in numbers. Treatment consists primarily of regular blood transfusions. Although the disease is often fatal, the outlook has improved in recent years: around 25 per cent of patients recover when adequately treated, and others survive for several years. In severe cases promising results are being reported from the use of bone-marrow transplantation.
Haemolytic anaemia results from the excessive destruction, or HAEMOLYSIS, of the red blood cells. This may be the result of undue fragility of the red blood cells, when the condition is known as congenital haemolytic anaemia, or of acholuric JAUNDICE.
Sickle-cell anaemia A form of anaemia characteristically found in people of African descent, so-called because of the sickle shape of the red blood cells. It is caused by the presence of the abnormal HAEMOGLOBIN, haemoglobin S, due to AMINO ACID substitutions in their polypeptide chains, re?ecting a genetic mutation. Deoxygenation of haemoglobin S leads to sickling, which increases the blood viscosity and tends to obstruct ?ow, thereby increasing the sickling of other cells. THROMBOSIS and areas of tissue INFARCTION may follow, causing severe pain, swelling and tenderness. The resulting sickle cells are more fragile than normal red blood cells, and have a shorter life span, hence the anaemia. Advice is obtainable from the Sickle Cell Society.... inadequate intake of iron
n. the misleading appearance of clumping that occurs during an antiserum-antigen test as a result of incorrect temperature or acidity of the solutions used.... pseudoagglutination
n. the alkaline liquid secreted by the *salivary glands and the mucous membrane of the mouth. Its principal constituents are water, mucus, buffers, and enzymes (e.g. amylase). The functions of saliva are to keep the mouth moist, to aid swallowing of food, to minimize changes of acidity in the mouth, and to digest starch. See also dry mouth. —salivary adj.... saliva
Keemun tea is a popular Chinese black tea produced in Qimen County in the Anhui Province of China. It is classified as being a top quality black tea around the globe, especially in the British market whereKeemun tea is considered a delicacy. The tea gained popularity very quickly in England where it has become an important ingredient in English Breakfast tea blends.
Keemun tea comes from a sub-variety of the Chinese tea plant
Camellia Sinensis, named Zhu-ye-zhing which grows in a mountainous area covered by forest in Anhui Province. In that area, the lack of sun, high humidity and low temperature allow the growth of perfect thin black tea leaves which are withered, rubbed, twirled and then baked dry.
There are many Keemun tea varieties such as:
- Keemun Gongfu or Congou which has thin, dark and tight shaped leaves.
- Keemun Mao Feng which has slightly twisted leaf buds and a smoother flavor. For a proper taste, it is recommended to brew a smaller quantity of this type of tea and let it steep for 7 minutes.
- Keemun Xin Ya - a type of tea with a less bitter taste.
- Keemun Hao Ya
Keemun Tea brewing
If it is properly brewed, you will obtain a clear red color cup of
Keemun tea with a fruity, exotic and floral (but not as floral as
Darjeeling tea ) aroma. To get a perfect cup of tea, add 1-2 teaspoons of tea leaves per 8 oz cup into the teapot. Boil the water, pour it over the tea leaves and let it steep between 2 - 3 minutes.
In China, people drink Keemun tea without any kind of sweetener or milk.
Keemun tea benefits
Keemun tea has many benefits even though it does not contain as many antioxidants as green or white tea. The caffeine in the Keemun tea helps enhancing your memory and gives you energy during the day. Since this tea is a type of black tea, it has many benefits for the human body:
- Accelerates your metabolism and allows you to burn fat much easier and faster. With a balanced diet and regular exercise,Keemun tea is a strong allied in the process of weight loss.
- Keemun tea can be a good alternative for coffee. The caffeine in the black tea will give you the energy that you need in the morning and will make you feel full of energy all day long.
- Improves your digestion by dissolving the excess acidity.
- Inhibits the growth of cancer cells and the development of rheumatoid arthritis.
Keemun tea side effects
Being a black tea, Keemun tea has a significant amount of caffeine which can cause anxiety, insomnia or irritability if you drink it before bed.
Pregnant women are not advised to drink black tea during the pregnancy since it has been related to spontaneous abortions and birth defects. Also, if you are breastfeeding you should consider reducing the amount of black tea.
People who suffer from anemia are strongly recommended not to drink Keemun tea since it can cause dizziness, blurred vision or headaches.
It is often said that
Keemun tea has an orchid fragrance that leaves a lasting impression in people`s memory. It has a reputation for being a truly exquisite tea with its fruity and wine-like flavor that, combined with the wonderful health benefits, make the tea drinking a delightful experience.... keemun tea - the black tea with an orchid fragrance
a salt of sodium that neutralizes acid and is used to treat metabolic acidosis (particularly *renal tubular acidosis) and to reduce the acidity of the urine in mild urinary-tract infections. Sodium bicarbonate is also an ingredient of many *antacid preparations and is used in the form of drops to soften earwax.... sodium bicarbonate
Deadly nightshade. Atropa belladonna L. German: Amaryllis. French: Belladonne d’Automne. Spanish: Belladonna. Italian: Amarilli a fiori rosei. Indian: Suchi.
Action. Antispasmodic, antasthmatic, anti-sweat, sedative, lactifuge.
For use by qualified practitioner only.
Uses: Spasmodic asthma; colic of intestines, gall bladder or kidney; spasm of bladder and ureters. Whooping cough, excessive perspiration (night sweats, etc), spermatorrhoea, bed-wetting (dose afternoon and at bedtime), dribbling of saliva in Parkinsonism. The common cold, hay fever, acidity – to inhibit secretion of stomach acid.
Contra-indications. Glaucoma, rapid heart, pregnancy, enlarged prostate. Side-effects – dry mouth, dilated pupils, mental disorientation. Used for a millennia in China as an anaesthetic (Kiangsu – 1719)
Widely used in homoeopathic medicine.
Preparations: Unless otherwise prescribed – up to thrice daily. Dried herb, 50mg in infusion. Tincture, BHC (vol 1). 1:10, 70 per cent ethanol, 0.5ml.
Initial dose recommended per week by British Herbal Compendium, Vol 1; dried leaf, 200mg (max 1g); tincture, 2ml (max 10ml).
A weaker solution may sometimes be used with good effect: 5 drops tincture to 100ml water – 1 teaspoon hourly. (Dr Finlay Ellingwood)
Pharmacy only sale ... belladonna
If you’re experiencing abdominal pain and you’re sure it’s not a digestive tract ailment, it’s very possible that you’re suffering from a kidney disorder.
The same if the pain is localized in the back or on one side of your body. Usually, kidney problems appear when there’s something wrong with your urinary tract and not only.
Overexposing your body to low temperatures may cause urinary infections, impurity accumulations lead to kidney stones. Also, kidney problems can be caused by other health complaints, such as pulmonary edema and cancers.
However, it’s best to schedule an appointment with your doctor in order to find out what’s actually going on with your body.
How a Tea for Kidney Problems Works
A Tea for Kidney Problems’ main goal is to purify your body by triggering a positive response from it.
Once the main substances of these teas reach the affected areas, your organism produces enough endorphins (which are cells specialized in making you feel a lot better by bringing relief to your wounds) and antibodies to reconstruct the damaged tissue.
Efficient Tea for Kidney Problems
In order to work properly, a Tea for Kidney Problems needs to be both efficient and one hundred percent safe. Also, it must contain the right amount of nutrients, natural enzymes, volatile oils, antioxidants and minerals (sodium, magnesium, iron and manganese).
This way, that tea will make your body eliminate the unwanted impurities and improve your kidney function. If you don’t know which teas would be appropriate for your condition, here’s a list to choose from:
- Dandelion Tea – can be prepared from dandelion roots and it’s also a great adjuvant in diarrhea and urinary infection cases. This Tea for Kidney Problems has a bitter taste, but you can add ginger, lemon, mint or honey in order to make it more adequate for you.
Avoid it at all costs if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding: due to its strong purgative and diuretic properties, Dandelion Tea can cause uterine contractions which may lead to miscarriages.
- Marshmallow Root Tea – this lovely tea with a hint of Christmas is useful for a large variety of problems, from infertility to gastrointestinal and digestive complaints. Take a sip at every 5 minutes for an hour and enjoy the wonderful health benefits!
- Buchu Tea – contains antioxidants and antibacterial agents, being a great help in cases of cystitis, urethritis and kidney failure. This Tea for Kidney acts like a natural diuretic and should not be taken by pregnant women.
- Green Tea – as the scientists have proved, this decoction contains all the ingredients necessary to sustain life, so it’s useful for many problems, not just kidney disorders. However, don’t take it if you’re experiencing menstrual and menopausal symptoms (it can cause uterine contractions and stomach acidity).
Tea for Kidney Problems Side Effects
When taken properly, these teas are generally safe. However, exceeding the number of cups recommended per day might lead to a number of health problems such as miscarriages, hallucinations, headaches and skin rash.
If you’ve been taking one of these teas and something doesn’t feel quite right, talk to your doctor as soon as possible. Don’t take a Tea for Kidney Problems if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, on blood thinners or anticoagulants. The same advice if you’re preparing for a surgery.
If you have the medical approval and there’s nothing that could interfere with your treatment, choose a Tea for Kidney problems that fits best your needs and give it a try today!
... tea for kidney problems
“Liverishness”. A common term used to describe sick headache, nausea and sour belching due to liver disorder. May also be associated with kidney disease, acidity, constipation or appendicitis. Most likely due to dietetic indiscretions, alcohol, fatty foods.
Alternatives:– Tea. Mixture. Equal parts, Black Horehound and Wood Betony. 1-2 teaspoons to each cup boiling water infused 5-15 minutes. Drink freely.
Decoction. Mixture. Parts: Fringe Tree bark 2; Parsley root 1; Dandelion root 1. One teaspoon to each cup water gently simmered 20 minutes. Half a cup 3 times daily before meals.
Tablets/capsules. Devil’s Claw, Milk Thistle, Blue Flag, Wild Yam.
Powders. Formula. Equal parts: Milk Thistle and Peppermint. Dose: 750mg (three 00 capsules or half a teaspoon) thrice daily.
Tinctures. Formula. Equal parts: Wahoo and Barberry. 30-60 drops every 2 hours in water.
Barberry bark. One teaspoon shredded Barberry bark to each cup cold water allowed to infuse overnight. Half-1 cup twice daily.
Arthur Barker. Liquid Extract Black root 30ml; Liquid Extract Meadowsweet 30ml; Liquid Extract Agrimony 15ml; Emulsion Peppermint water (1 in 60) 2ml (optional). Water to 240ml (8oz). Dose: 2 teaspoons in water 3 times daily.
Prevention. Weekly dose Epsom’s salts.
Milk Thistle. Acquires a reputation for the complaint.
Diet. Low fat, Dandelion coffee, artichokes. Reject alcohol and strong caffeine drinks.
See also: ACIDOSIS. LIVER. ... bilousness
Liver problems appear as a sign of weakness shown by your organism after a prolonged consumption of alcohol, drugs or medicines.
The main characteristic of these affections is that they are due to system intoxication and need to be repaired as quickly as possible. The liver is the organ responsible for our molecular exhaustion.
All the toxins in our body go straight to the liver in order to clear the blood and detoxify the entire mechanism.
When the liver is not functioning well, the main symptoms are: fatigue, stress, vascular malfunction and irradiated pain from the liver area to the entire body. Unsolved liver problems may lead to kidney failure and then to pulmonary edema or other respiratory disorder.
How Tea for Liver Works
A Tea for Liver is a natural supplement that can calm your localized pain and bring relief to those suffering from this affection. The main ingredients of these teas are based on a great amount of nourishing substances that can reconstruct the damaged liver cells or at least increase their action.
However, these teas are not recommended for severe liver problems. If the pain is unbearable, a tea is most likely to calm it for a while and then lose its positive effect on your body. If that is the case, you should see a doctor immediately.
Efficient Tea for Liver
When choosing a Tea for Liver, you must keep in mind the fact that it must be safe and nourishing. You don’t need a tea that is rich in volatile oils or other substances that slow the liver cells’ action. If you are not sure about your abilities to choose the right tea, here are some suggestions:
- Green Tea – has all the necessary ingredients to sustain life. Also, its action includes nourishing the coronary system and the arteries, in order to enhance the blood flow through your organs
- Black Tea – more powerful than the Green Tea, the Black Tea is very effective, but more dangerous. If you’re also on your period or menopause, it’s best not to take it: it may cause abdominal acidity and discomfort.
- Yerba Mate Tea – or the new green tea, how the specialists are calling it. Yerba Mate Tea can be used as a cure in order to rejuvenate the liver, but also as a treatment in cases of low blood pressure or digestive tract infections. Pay attention, though: more than 2 cups of Yerba Mate Tea per day may lead to a series of nervous system complications and even death!
Teas you should avoid
If you are suffering from liver problems, it’s best to avoid taking a tea with an elevated level of vitamins or acids. Although vitamins get directly to your blood and none of them reaches the liver, they have a tendency to enhance your body’s action towards other affected areas.
In other words, they make your antibodies be more preoccupied with a random scratch than with your liver problems. A Tea for Liver needs to be specialized in internal affections and only attract antibodies to the most important damages.
Tea for Liver contraindications
When taken properly, any Tea for Liver is safe. However, high dosage may lead to a number of complications, such as diarrhea, nausea and even death.
If you’re not very sure about starting a treatment based on one of these teas, talk to a specialist in order to gather more information.
If there’s nothing that could interfere with your treatment, choose a Tea for Liver and enjoy its wonderful benefits responsibly!... tea for liver
Acute or chronic inflammation of the stomach mucosa.
Causes: acidity, vitamin or mineral deficiencies, nervous disorders, excess smoking, alcohol, drugs, bad teeth, infected tonsils, stress. May follow acute infective diseases: dysentery, sepsis, typhoid.
Symptoms. Nausea, vomiting, impaired appetite, pain.
Alternatives. BHP (1983) recommends: Calamus, Cinnamon, Fenugreek seeds, Goldenseal, Ground Ivy, Iceland Moss, Carragheen Moss, Liquorice, Marshmallow, Mountain Grape, Rose Hips, Slippery Elm, Sundew, Thyme (garden).
Teas. Fenugreek seeds, 2 teaspoons to each cup of water simmered gently 15 minutes. 1 cup freely. German Chamomile. Meadowsweet.
Traditional – Provence, France. Equal parts, Balm, Fennel, Peppermint. 1 heaped teaspoon to each cup boiling water: 1 cup freely.
Decoction. Combine: equal parts; Marshmallow root, Meadowsweet; 2 teaspoons to each cup of water simmered gently 10 minutes. 1 cup freely. Pinch of Cinnamon improves.
Carragheen Moss. 2 teaspoons to each cup water simmered 20 minutes. Do not strain. Eat from a spoon with honey.
Tablets/capsules. Goldenseal, Calamus, Fenugreek. Iceland Moss. Slippery Elm.
Powders. Combine: Carragheen Moss 2; Goldenseal 1. Dose: 750mg (three 00 capsules or half a teaspoon) thrice daily.
Captain Frank Roberts: equal parts – Tinctures: Agrimony, Oats, Comfrey and Goldenseal. 40 drops in half a cup warm water 3-4 times daily, after meals.
Dr Alfred Vogel recommends: Combination – Centuary, Bitter Orange, Myrrh, Frankincense, Silverweed, Yellow Gentian.
Rudolf F. Weiss MD. Equal parts: Fennel seed, Peppermint leaves and Calamus root. 1 teaspoon to cup boiling water; infuse 10 minutes. Drink warm, in sips, 2-3 times daily.
Aloe Vera juice or gel.
Tinctures. Combine equal parts Goldenseal, Myrrh. 5-10 drops in water before meals thrice daily.
For gastric weakness or old age and to promote acid production: Cider vinegar: 2 teaspoons to glass of water, freely.
Diet. Slippery Elm powder drinks. Papaya fruit.
Supplementation. B-complex, especially B6 and B12. Folic acid, Evening Primrose for linoleic acid. Dessicated liver, brewer’s yeast and molasses for iron. Vegetable charcoal biscuits. ... gastritis
Morning Sickness is not particularly a disease, but a symptom of pregnancy.
If you feel that the room is spinning around and that all scents are too strong, it is possible that you’re pregnant.
However, morning sickness usually consists of vomiting, nausea, headaches, back pains and, at times, fever.
This affection looks a lot like food intoxication. But just to be sure, schedule an appointment with your gynecologist.
How Tea for Morning Sickness Works
A Tea for Morning Sickness’ main goal is to ameliorate your weakness and restore your general health. Thanks to the active ingredients in these teas, your abdominal muscles will stop their negative response, while nourishing the nervous system.
Also, morning sickness has a lot to do with your hormones, so you may want to try a tea with an elevated estrogen level or at least one that could stop your hormone level from growing.
Efficient Tea for Morning Sickness
In order to be efficient, a Tea for Morning Sickness needs to have the right amount of nutrients, enzymes, volatile oils and minerals (a tea rich in manganese, iron, magnesium is the best choice for your condition).
You may want to avoid the ones with a high acids level, since they cause stomach acidity and, at times, even uterine contractions which might lead to miscarriage. If you don’t know which teas are best for your problem, here’s a list to help you out:
- Peppermint Tea – this Tea for Morning Sickness is well known as a stomach soothing decoction, with various uses which spread on many areas of interest, from cosmetic industry to pharmaceutical remedies. This tea could lower your hormone level and induce a state of calmness to your abdominal area. You can also use it to treat diarrhea, sore throats, nausea and even headaches. Peppermint Tea is one hundred percent safe and you can take as much as you want.
- Ginger Tea – although Ginger Tea is a great nausea reliever, practitioners around the world are concerned when it comes to administrating it to pregnant women. Even if this Tea for Morning Sickness is very efficient for nausea, using too much herb will cause uterine contractions due to its acid compounds. The best thing you can do is ask your doctor’s advice before taking this tea.
- Raspberry Leaf Tea – also a great remedy for infertility, anemia, asthenia and other problems, this tea has a sweet taste and a pleasant smell. Practitioners around the world have discovered that this Tea for Morning Sickness could take your pain away in no time thanks to its active constituents, which include tannins, manganese and iron. And let’s not forget the vitamin C, which will energize your entire body.
Tea for Morning Sickness Side Effects
When taken properly, these teas are generally safe. However, exceeding the number of cups recommended per day may lead to other affection such as constipation, migraines or stomach irritations.
Talk to an herbalist or to your doctor before starting any kind of herbal treatment and make sure that everything will be ok. However, if you’ve been taking one of these teas and you’re noticing some unusual responses from your body, ask for medical assistance immediately!
If you have the medical approval and there’s nothing that could interfere with your treatment, choose a Tea for Morning Sickness that fits best your needs and give it a try!... tea for morning sickness
Beverage and medicine. Whilst not a herb, honey is processed by bees from the nectar of flowers and has an ethereal quality that enhances its healing properties. A source of vitamins and minerals.
Action. Many bacteria cannot live in the presence of honey since honey draws from them the moisture essential to their existence. It is a potent inhibitor of the growth of bacteria: salmonella, shigella and E. coli. Taken internally and externally, hastens granulation and arrests necrotic tissue. A natural bacteriostatic and bactericide.
Of an alkaline action, honey assists digestion, decreasing acidity. It has been used with success for burns, frostbite, colic, dry cough, inflammations, involuntary twitching of eyes and mouth; to keep a singer’s throat in condition. Some cases of tuberculosis have found it a life-preserver.
A cooling analgesic: dressings smeared with honey and left on after pain has subsided to prevent swelling – for cuts, scratches, fistula, boils, felon, animal bites; stings of mosquitoes, wasps, bees, fleas, etc. May be applied to any kind of wound: dip gauze strips in pure honey and bind infected area; leave 24 hours.
Insomnia: 2 teaspoons to glass of hot milk at bedtime.
Arterio-sclerosis: with pollen, is said to arrest thickening of the arteries.
2, 3 or more teaspoons daily to prevent colds and influenza.
2 teaspoons in water or tea for renewed vitality when tired.
Rheumatism and arthritis: 2 teaspoons honey and 2 teaspoons Cider vinegar in water 2-3 times daily.
“The taking of honey each day is advised in order to keep the lymph flowing at its normal tempo and thus avoid degenerative disease which shortens life. The real value of honey is to maintain a normal flow of the tissue fluid called lymph. When this flow-rate slows down, then calcium and iron are precipitated as sediment. When the lymph flow is stagnant, then harmful micro-organisms invade the body and sickness appears.” (D.C. Jarvis MD)
Where sweetening is required to ensure patient compliance, honey is better than sugar. Its virtues deteriorate in open sunlight. Should not be heated above 40°C. ... honey
Ulcers are a medical condition, characterized by an inflammation on the lining of the digestive tract.
The disease is associated with a constant upper abdominal pain, which may disappear after eating. Hunger is more intensively felt by a person with ulcers, because the protective mucus is destroyed and the stomach is not protected enough against its acids.
There are different types of ulcers, depending on what part of the digestive tract is affected: peptic, gastric and duodenal ulcers.
The external factors leading to ulcers are still the subject of studies. However, it has been scientifically proven that excessive smoking and drinking, a wrong diet and a stressful lifestyle, together with the abuse of painkillers may cause this disease. There were instances when a bacteria had led to the occurance of ulcers. Family history could also be responsible for developing this medical condition.
Efficient Teas for treating Ulcers
In case of ulcers, patients should look for teas with anti-inflammatory properties, which calm the sore and soothe the digestive tract.
Chamomile tea , Calamus tea and Slippery elm bark tea are natural remedies which alleviate the unpleasant feeling caused by ulcers.
Chamomile is a medicinal plant, successfully used to treat a large array of health issues. Due to its efficiency, the plant is known as a “cure-all” treatment.
Chamomile tea has a long curative history, being used by ancient Egyptians and modern people as well.
It is best known as a treatment for muscle and menstrual cramps, back pain and rheumatism. It acts as an immunity enhancer, boosting the body’s ability to fight against viruses and bacteria. Also, patients suffering from less severe ailments of the liver claim its beneficial effects for improving the function of this organ.
To prepare Chamomile tea as Tea for Ulcers, add 2 tablespoons of the dried plant in a cup of hot water. Steep it for 8 to 10 minutes and strain it. Drink it warm, with no sugar (sweets may cause a feeling of burning in a stomach affected by ulcers).
Calamus was used by ancient Chinese to restrain stress and to melt phlegm. Nowadays, due to this plant’s scent, it is an important ingredient in the perfume industry.
Calamus tea may reduce the pain caused by ulcers, soothing the digestive tract. Also, it may relieve flatulence as well as chest congestion. When trying to give up smoking, Calamus brewing can help the process, by reducing the need for tobacco.
To prepare Calamus tea, add a cup of boiling water on 2 tablespoons of the plant’s roots and leaves. Steep it for 15 minutes, strain it. Drink it before you eat.
Slippery elmis a plant originating from the Unites States and Canada, used at first by Native Americans as a wound bandage.
It has anti-inflammatory properties which help in the treatment of the urinary tract, the skin and the digestive system. It soothes the stomach and counters its acidity.
To prepare Slippery elm bark tea, add 2 tablespoons of ground slippery elm bark in a mug of hot water. Steep it for 11-12 minutes and strain it. Drink it before eating.
Tea for Ulcers: possible side effects
Before consuming Tea for Ulcers, bear in mind to ask your doctor about its safe use for your medical condition.
Rarely, when taken in large doses, Tea for Ulcers may lead to diarrhea and vomiting.
Tea for Ulcers is a natural way to mitigate or even to treat the painful symptoms of this disease. Also, it is important that people reconsider their diet and bad habits to prevent ulcers.... tea for ulcers
Aside from its social meaning, menopause brings changes to your body which need to be embraced with both maturity and responsibility.
First of all, pay attention to how your body reacts and use the treatment that fits you best. If you’re tired of all the traditional drugs, give Teas for Menopause a try.
Not only that they don’t have the side effects that a regular drug has, but they also contain the right amount of active ingredients.
If that is the case, the most recommended treatments involve the use of:
- raspberry leaf tea
- ginseng tea
- chasteberry tea.
However, choose one tea and don’t use a mixture of teas. Their main property is that they can bring relief to your pain and also normalize your hormone level when taken individualy.
How Teas for Menopause Work
These Teas for Menopause have almost the same effects that Teas for Menstrual Pain have on your body. The only exception is that when it comes to menopause, we’re talking about a series of symptoms and not just one localized pain .
In order to be able to treat that, you need to search for a tea that is rich in natural enzymes and has an elevated level of tannis and volatile oils.The action of these Teas for Menopause involve shutting down all pain triggers and bringing relief to your affected areas by helping your body produce the necessary amount of hormones and antibodies.
Efficient Teas for Menopause
If you have reached your menopause or you’re just experiencing some pre-menopausal symptoms, you may want to give these Teas for Menopause a try:
- Raspberry Leaf Tea – also a great help when it comes to menstrual pain, Raspberry Leaf Tea is one of the most common fruity teas, with a good vitamin C level which can increase your immune system action.
- Sage Tea – in Latin, sage means “to heal”. Well, that’s a good resume that this tea has. Its main purpose is to heal the affected areas, by increasing the estrogen level and reducing the sweat glands’ secretion.
- Valerian Tea – also used as a powerful sedative in cases of insomnia, this tea has gained its popularity since ancient times, when Romans used it for a good night sleep and anxiety issues.
- St. John’s Wort Tea – not only that this tea has great benefits concerning menopause, but it’s also a great help when it comes to depression. Teas for Menopause have the ability to treat both the physical and the mental problems that menopause brings.
Teas you should avoid during Menopause
When choosing Teas for Menopause, you may want to avoid those teas that have a high level of acidity and could upset your stomach, such as green tea or black tea.
Teas for Menopause Side Effects
When taken properly, these teas are generally safe. However, high dosages may lead to a series of complications, such as nausea, digestive tract ailments, nervous system affections. If you’ve been taking one of these Teas for Menopause and you’re experiencing some negative reactions, talk to your doctor as soon as possible.
But if your general health is good and you have your doctor’s approval, give these Teas for Menopause a try and enjoy their benefits wisely!... teas for menopause
The science which deals with the source, origin, distribution, composition, preparation and action of medicinal plants used in herbalism. Although the modern herbalist no longer forages his own herbs from fields and hedgerows, a knowledge of materia medica is important.
“Crudes” are mostly imported from abroad, cut fine, and sold by skilled suppliers or druggists to herb shops for sale in their native state or for compounding into preparations by practitioners.
The art of preparing medicines is known as pharmacy; that of herbal medicine is often referred to as biopharmacy or “green pharmacy”. There are certain disadvantages of buying crude material from other than specialist sources; the risk of stale or otherwise inactive material is one.
An accredited manufacturer will compound materials according to a fixed formula published in an official pharmacopoeia. A practitioner writes his prescription which he compounds himself or gives it to an assistant who acts as a dispenser. This art of dispensing evolves as Herbal Pharmacy.
The traditional herbalist will endeavour to relieve a condition by giving a remedy which produces an opposite effect. For instance, a loose condition of the bowels, as in colitis, would be reversed by astringents; a ‘tight’ colon, as in some forms of constipation, would be relaxed by laxatives. They thus work to a system of cure known as contraria contraribus curantur.
Rational herbalism has evolved from a knowledge of the behaviour of disease patterns and an understanding of remedies used to combat them. Periwinkle (Vinca), for instance, kills off white blood cells over-produced in leukaemia without harming the body. Treatment of leukaemia with Vinca in the form of Vinplastine or other derivatives is therefore rational.
It is well-known that alkalies inhibit secretion of gastric juice. Hyper-acidity (over-secretion of acid) is the common cause of many forms of indigestion. A herbal pharmacopoeia describes effective plants with a positive alkaline action. Herbal alkalies are therefore rationally indicated.
Plant medicines obtain their objective by chemical means. During its life, a plant will take up from the soil various minerals from which it synthesises alkaloids, glycosides, saponins, etc, that are the real activators. Their strength depends upon the quality of soil on which they are grown. ... materia medica
Menstrual pain is known for its acute and localized action on the abdominal area. However, not all women suffer from this affection.The good thing about menstrual pain, however, is that this is not a chronic disease and that it can go away as quickly as it came to you.
All you have to do is treat it properly and wait for your body to respond. If the pain is very powerful and you need to put a stop to it, you may want to try taking an herbal treatment, in which case Raspberry leaf tea, Corn silk tea and Wild yam tea could be the answer.
How Teas for Menstrual Pain Work
Most of these Teas for Menstrual Pain involve helping your body release the right amount of endorphins in order to fight localized pain. Although menstrual pain is probably the most popular cause of distress for women around the world, alternative medicine found new ways to fight it alongside with traditional medicine.
However, choosing one of these Teas for Menstrual Pain will only make your system healthier, without having to worry for possible side effects. The main characteristic of these Teas for Menstrual Pains is that they have a pleasant taste and fragrance and that they are generally safe, unlike traditional medicines.
A cup of raspberry leaf tea brings relief to your abdominal area, by calming the muscles and increasing the uterus action.
Efficient Teas for Menstrual Pain
If you have a heavy menstrual flow or a severe pain crisis during periods, you may find out that the following Teas for Menstrual Pain could be the right answer to your problems:
- Cramp Bark Tea – thanks to its antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory properties, Cramp Bark Tea is one of the best Teas for Menstrual Pain there is! Unfortunately, it’s rather inaccessible to the European public.
However, if you find a shop that specializes in Cramp Bark products, hold on to it! Cramp Bark Tea can also be used as a detoxifier and a good face cleanser; when used topically, it may bring relief to your skin sores.
- Raspberry Leaf Tea – this is a tea that may also come in hand in case you want to perform natural cosmetic procedures at home. Just soak a compress in Raspberry Leaf Tea and apply it on your face for 5 minutes to open and clean your pores. However, a cup of Raspberry Tea per day will improve your general health, bringing relief to those of you who are suffering from severe menstrual pain.
- Corn Silk Tea – on this Teas for Menstrual Pain list, Corn silk Tea use needs extra caution. It is true that it can calm your menstrual pain, but you also need to measure the amount of tea you drink in order to avoid other complications: Corn Silk Tea is a very powerful urinary stimulant.
- Wild Yam Tea – one of the most dangerous Teas for Menstrual Pain, Wild Yam Tea can bring relief to all kinds of pain, starting with menstrual pain, stomach pain and ending with migraines and severe headaches. However, don’t take this tea if you have protein S deficiency or a hormone-sensitive condition, such as breast cancer, uterine fibroids or endometriosis.
Teas you should avoid
During menstruation, you may want to avoid all teas based on a high level of acids, such as green or black teas . They will only make your pain insufferable, by increasing your stomach acidity and also your heart beat.
Teas for Menstrual Pain Side Effects
When taken according to specifications, these Teas for Menstrual Pain are rarely dangerous.
However, if you’ve been taking one of them for a while and you’re experiencing some unusual reactions from your body, talk to a doctor as soon as possible. In high dosages, these teas may cause urinary dysfunctions, nausea, headaches and vomiting.
First, make sure you’re not allergic to the tea you’re about to take in order to avoid other health complications. Once you have the green light from your doctor, give these Teas for Menstrual Pain a try and enjoy their wonderful benefits wisely!... teas for menstrual pain
Triphala Tea is one of the most popular remedies for digestive track conditions, such as constipation, irritable bowel movement, gastritis or ulcers. Triphala is very important for the Ayurvedic medicine through which Indians cure almost any affection of the body using only herbs.
Since the most common health problems in the world involve the digestive system, Triphala Tea became quite popular among both doctors and patients suffering from one of the diseases mentioned above. Triphala is a mixtue of three main ingredients (triphala means “three fruits”): Emblica officinalis, Terminalia chebula and Terminalia bellerica which is a hypoglycemic agent.
Triphala Tea Properties
The main property of Triphala Tea is that is made from a mixture of three fruits, so it can simultaneously treat more than one condition at a time. Triphala Tea has been used in Ayurvedic medicine as a panacea, thanks to its ability to strengthen and detoxify the body. Each ingredient of Triphala mixture contributes to your health in a unique way:
- Emblica officinalis is a tonic used for its rejuvenating and cooling action.
- Terminalia chebula is known as a good remedy for coughs, sore throats and it can also help removing your kidney stones or your lung mucus.
- Terminalia bellerica has proven its importance when treating conditions of the nervous system and other localized affections: gas, muscular rheumatism and itching. Bringing them together is a good idea because it’s like treating all your health problems with just a cup of tea!
Triphala Tea Benefits
The great benefit of Triphala Tea is that it represents more than just a tea: it’s a herbal panacea that can help you with your digestion and heart problems. Triphala Tea lowers your digestive track acidity, helping your food get faster through your stomach and eliminating harmful gases from your body. By inhibiting cholesterol accumulations in your blood veins, Triphala Tea also give you a hand if you have arteriosclerosis. Not only that, but it will also lessens your muscle spasms and increase your blood flow.
Some say that this wonderful tea can be a real help if you’re trying to lose weight in a natural way, by lowering your fat. Triphala Tea also enhances your vitality. In fact, triphala is one of the main ingredients in many energy drinks all over the world. A cup of this tea could easily reduce your stress and improve your general health.
How to make Triphala Tea
When preparing Triphala Tea, you need to be careful about one thing: only buy the ingredients from a trusted provider. There are a lot of fake powders sold as Triphala. It’s better to use powders because the amount of each fruit has already been measured and adapted, so you don’t need to worry about how much of this or that you should use.
However, if you’re brave enough to make your own mixture at home, make sure you’re well informed before doing anything. Put a teaspoon of powder or mixture and add boiling water. Wait for 5 minutes if you’re using powder and 10 minutes if you’re using the mixture and drink it.
Triphala Tea Side Effects
When taken properly, Triphala Tea has no side effects at all. However, high dosages may cause stomach problems, gas and diarrhea.
Triphala Tea Contraindications
Do not take Triphala Tea if you are pregnant or breastfeeding in order to avoid unwanted bowel movement. If you haven’t taken it before and are unsure about starting a treatment based on it, it’s best to talk to a herbalist or to your doctor before. Triphala Tea is a great remedy in case you suffer from constipation, gas, arteriosclerosis or other heart condition.
If there’s nothing that could possibly interfere with it, add Triphala Tea to your shopping list next time you’re looking for organic remedies!... triphala tea treats constipation
Wormwood Tea has been known for centuries as a great herbal treatment. Greeks used it as a treatment for many diseases, mostly concerning the digestive system problems or nervous system affections.
Wormwood is a perennial herb that grows mainly in areas like Europe, Asia and Africa. It has speared-like green leaves, bright yellow flowers and its roots resemble to a rhizome.
Also known as artemisia absinthus, wormwood has hallucinogenic and psychoactive properties. Wormwood is widely known as absinthe and it is said that great artists like Van Gogh and Hemingway owe a lot of their creation to wormwood consumption.
Wormwood Tea Properties
Aside from its hallucinogenic properties, Wormwood Tea turns out to be quite a help when it comes to treating certain health problems. Wormwood Tea is one of the bitterest teas on Earth so only take it combined with honey, ginger or lemon.
Wormwood is the main ingredient of absinthe liquor and it’s also used as an important additive for wines, vinegar and vermouth. The active substances of this tea are thujone (absinthol or tenacetone), thujyl alcohol, acids, absinthin, tannins, resin, potash, and starch.
Wormwood Tea Benefits
Wormwood Tea has been used since ancient times as a hallucinogen in many rituals around the world. Africans believed that Wormwood Tea contained the secret to an absolute freedom of mind and that by taking it you could have reached the peak of human creativity. As crazy as these theories may sound, there are still many cults today that base their entire philosophy on Wormwood Tea consumption.
Back to the real world, alternative medicine, by its practitioners, found the real medical benefits of this treatment. Wormwood Tea may come in hand if you are suffering from one of the following conditions:
- Indigestion, by inhibiting gastric bacterial and by lowering the microbial risk to infections.
- Gastric pains, by decreasing the gastric acidity level.
- Loss of appetite, by stimulating intestinal actions and stomach functions.
- Worms and other parasites of the digestive system, by flushing them away thanks to an active substance called absinthin.
- Immune system deficiencies, by increasing the number of antibodies and by redirecting them to the affected areas.
How to make Wormwood Tea Infusion
When preparing Wormwood Tea infusion, first you need to make sure that the plants you are about to use are exactly what the label says they are. Only buy Wormwood Tea from trusted providers! Second of all, only use a teaspoon of herbs for every two cups of tea you want to make: the wormwood is a very concentrated herb and you need to be careful when dosing the ingredients.
Put the dried herbs in a teapot and add boiling water. Wait for 15 or 20 minutes and drink it hot or cold. However, don’t drink more than a cup of tea per day or you’ll poison your entire nervous system!
Wormwood Tea Side Effects
When taken according to instructions and under supervised care, Wormwood Tea is safe. However, high dosages may lead to hallucinations, paranoia and other severe conditions of the nervous system. If you’ve been taking Wormwood Tea for a more than three weeks and you’ve noticed some unusual changes in your body reaction, talk to a specialist as soon as possible and don’t try to treat it at home!
Wormwood Tea Contraindications
Wormwood Tea is not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women, children, patients suffering from mental deviations or other serious conditions that imply the use of blood thinners and anti-coagulants. The best thing you can do when it comes to Wormwood Tea consumption is to talk to a herbalist or to your doctor in order to find out more about the ups and downs of this very controversial tea.
If you get a specialized approval and you feel very confident about this treatment, give it a try and enjoy the benefits of Wormwood Tea responsibly!... wormwood tea benefits and side effects
An epileptic fit is a temporary spasmodic disturbance in the brain of sudden onset caused by a spurious discharge of electrical energy by brain cells. Can be sparked off by an excess of zinc. Loss of consciousness signalled by an aura and a fall to the ground with a cry. Breathing is noisy, eyes upturned. General causes: hereditary, severe head injury (even before birth), chronic disease, stroke, tumour, hardening of the arteries, drugs, lack of oxygen. An attack may be triggered by the flickering of a television or computer screen. Screen-addicted children may develop photosensitive epilepsy, suffering fits while using electronic games.
Three forms: major (grand mal); temporal lobe; and minor (petit mal). In petit mal the period of unconsciousness consists of brief absences lasting less than 15 seconds.
Treatment. Orthodox medical: Carbamazepine, phenytoin and many other drugs.
Alternatives. BHP (1983) recommends: Grand mal: Passion flower, Skullcap, Verbena. Petit mal: Hyssop. Standard central nervous system relaxants are Hops, Lobelia, Passion flower, Vervain, Valerian, Skullcap. Wm Boericke used Mugwort. Peony leaf tea had a long traditional use. In nearly all epileptics there is functional heart disturbance (Hawthorn, Lily of the Valley, Motherwort). Mistletoe can help in the struggle to control seizures and improve the quality of life.
Two important remedies are Skullcap and Passion flower. Both work quickly without risk of respiratory arrest. If dose by mouth is not possible insert gelatin capsules containing powders, per rectum, child or adult lying prone. This method is particularly suitable for feverish convulsions or Grand mal.
Repeat after 5 minutes if patient continues in convulsion. Where neither of these powders are available, Chamomile, Valerian or Mistletoe may be used.
“The remedy I have relied on most,” writes C.I. Reid, MD (Ellingwood’s Journal) “is Passion flower. Use this alone or in combination with Gelsemium – more often alone. I cannot say I obtain an absolutely curative effect, but the spasms disappear and do not return while the remedy is continued. It has none of the unpleasant effects of other medicines. I give the liquid extract in doses from 25-30 drops, 3-4 times daily, for continued use. It may be given more frequently for convulsions.”
Alfred Dawes, MNIMH. Green tincture of Mistletoe, 3-5 drops. Or, combine equal parts: Liquid Extract Skullcap, Valerian and Black Horehound.
Finlay Ellingwood MD combines White Bryony, Prickly Ash, Skullcap and St John’s Wort.
Samuel Thomson MD. Lobelia 2; Cayenne 1; (antispasmodic drops) given at the premonitary stage. 1-2 teaspoons.
Edgar Cayce. Passion flower tea. Hot Castor oil packs.
Excess acidity and intestinal toxaemia. There is considerable opinion that these trigger an attack. Combination: Liquid Extracts – Skullcap 15ml; Mistletoe 10ml; Meadowsweet 10ml; Elderflowers 10ml. Two 5ml teaspoons in water thrice daily.
West African Black Pepper. (Piper guineense) is used by traditional Nigerian healers to good effect. Associated with imperfect menstruation. Liquid Extracts, single or in combination: Black Cohosh, Life root, Lobelia. Dose: 5-15 drops thrice daily.
Associated with mental weakness. Liquid Extract Oats (avena sativa). 2-3 teaspoons in water thrice daily.
Aromatherapy. (Complex partial seizures) Massage with essential oils found to be beneficial. (The Lancet, 1990, 336 (8723) 1120)
Diet. Salt-free lacto-vegetarian. Oatmeal porridge. A cleansing 8-day grape juice fast has its advocates. Vitamin E. In 24 epileptic children refractory to anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) with generalised tonic- clonic and other types of seizures, addition of Vitamin E 400iu daily to existing AEDs was accompanied by a significant reduction in 10 of 12 cases. (Epilepsy 1989; 30(1): 84-89)
Supportives: osteopathic or chiropractic adjustments.
Note: A number of Italian physicians linked a salt-rich diet with epileptic fits. Number and violence diminished when discontinued and did not recur for weeks. Dr W.P. Best found that, in children, circumcism made a valuable contribution.
Drug-dependency. Herbal medication may offer a supportive role to primary medical treatment. Under no circumstances should sufferers discontinue basic orthodox treatments except upon the advice of a physician.
Information. British Epilepsy Association, 40 Hanover Square, Leeds LS3 1BE, UK. Send SAE.
To be treated by or in liaison with a qualified medical practitioner. ... epilepsy
Acute gouty arthritis. A disturbance of protein metabolism in which production of uric acid is increased, resulting in deposits of uric acid crystals around joints, especially fingers and toes. Uric acid is a breakdown product of nucleic acid and found in all living tissue. Excess amounts are usually excreted in the urine but any hold-up may cause crystals to be formed. Untreated, it affects the arterial system. Male preponderance 20-1.
Etiology. May be hereditary. Excess alcohol, meat or starchy foods without adequate fresh vegetables and fruit. Alcohol increases synthesis of urates and inhibits secretion. High beer intake. There is a link between gout and the good life.
Symptoms. Joints hot, painful, inflamed, shiny and swollen. Temperature rises in acute cases. Urine strong-smelling, but little passed. Urate deposits (tophi) present a ready diagnostic sign on elbows or lobes of ears. Swollen big toe common. Joints normal between attacks.
Autumn Crocus (Colchicum) is the oldest and still one of the most effective plant medicines for relief and appears to act by inhibiting prostaglandin activity.
The symptoms of pseudo-gout are similar, focus of pain mostly in the knee. Instead of uric acid, pyrophosphoric acid crystals are laid down and calcium salts deposited in cartilages. For this, Colchicum is of little value, though reportedly good results follow use of White Willow.
Influenza vaccination injections may trigger acute gout in some patients.
Alternatives. Autumn Crocus (Colchicum), Black Cohosh, Boldo, Burdock root, Celery seeds, Gravel root, Guaiacum, Meadowsweet, Sarsaparilla, Valerian, White Willow, Wild Lettuce, Yarrow, Devil’s Claw.
Alternatives for acute conditions:– Tea. Equal parts: Boldo, Celery seeds, Meadowsweet. Mix. 1-2 teaspoons to each cup boiling water; infuse 15 minutes. 1 cup every 2 hours.
Decoction. Black Cohosh 1; Gravel root 1; White Willow 2. Mix. 1-2 teaspoons in 2 cupfuls water gently simmered 20 minutes. Half a cup every 2 hours.
Tablets/capsules. Boldo, Black Cohosh, Celery, Garlic, White Willow, Devil’s Claw, Prickly Ash. Colchicine USP, one 0.5mg tablet every 2 hours.
Powders. Formula. Black Cohosh 1; White Willow 3. Guaiacum quarter. Dose: 500mg (two 00 capsules or one-third teaspoon) every 2 hours.
Tinctures. Formula. White Willow 2; Celery 1; Black Cohosh quarter; Guaiacum quarter; Liquorice quarter. Dose: 1-2 teaspoons every 2 hours in water.
Cider vinegar. Traditional. (Vermont, USA)
Colchicum. Extract Colchici Liquid, dose: 2-5 drops. Tincture Colchici; 5-15 drops. In water as prescribed by a practitioner.
Topical. Cider vinegar as a lotion. Warm potato poultice for pain. Lotion: 1 part Oil of Sassafras to 20 parts Safflower seed oil. Slippery Elm poultice: mix well 2-3 teaspoons powdered Slippery Elm into 1 pint (500ml) equal parts Cider vinegar and water. Epsom salts bath. Comfrey ointment. Chamomile soaks. Aromatherapy. Wipe affected parts with any one diluted oil: Sage, Burdock, Bryony, Rosemary, St John’s Wort.
Diet. Low protein, fat, salt. Nettle tea. Plenty of water. No tea, coffee or alcohol. Reject: purine foods – organ meats, kidney, liver, brain, sweet-bread, red meat, meat extracts. Accept: bananas for potassium – 3 daily, and oily fish. For gout, a vegetarian diet has much to commend it.
Supplements. Daily. Bromelain 200mg. Folic acid 30mg. Vitamin C 3g. Vitamin E 200iu. Iron – Floradix. Magnesium.
General. Reduce acidity. Gout is a rewarding condition for the phytotherapist. Rest affected parts. Good responses with Guaiacum. For kidney involvement add Wild Carrot. For prevention, an older generation of physicians advised quarter to half a teaspoon Glauber Salts in breakfast tea, or cup of Nettle tea. Cradle affected joint against pressure from shoes or bedclothes. ... gout
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