Many familiar medications of the twentieth century were developed from ancient healing traditions that treated health problems with specific plants. Today, science has isolated the medicinal properties of a large number of botanicals, and their healing components have been extracted and analyzed.

Many plant components are now synthesized in large laboratories for use in pharmaceutical preparations. For example, vincristine (an antitumor drug), digitalis (a heart regulator), and ephedrine (a bronchodilator used to decrease respiratory congestion) were all originally discovered through research on plants.

The History of Herbal Medicine

The history of herbology is inextricably intertwined with that of modern medicine. Many drugs listed as conventional medications were originally derived from plants. Salicylic acid, a precursor of aspirin, was originally derived from white willow bark and the meadowsweet plant. Cinchona bark is the source of malaria-fighting quinine.

Vincristine, used to treat certain types of cancer, comes from periwinkle. The opium poppy yields morphine, codeine, and paregoric, a treatment for diarrhea Laudanum, a tincture of the opium poppy, was the favored tranquilizer in Victorian times. Even today, morphine-the most important alkaloid of the opium poppy-remains the standard against which new synthetic pain relieves are measured.

Prior to the discovery and subsequent synthesis of antibiotics, the herb echinacea (which comes from the plant commonly known as purple coneflower) was one of the most widely prescribed medicines in the United States. For centuries, herbalists prescribed echinacea to fight infection. Today, research confirms that the herb boosts the immune system by stimulating the production of disease-fighting white blood cells.

The use of plants as medicine is older than recorded history. As mute witness to this fact, marshmallow root, hyacinth, and yarrow have been found carefully tucked around the bones of a Stone Age man in Iraq. These three medicinal herbs continue to be used today. Marshmallow root is a demulcent herb, soothing to inflamed or irritated mucous membranes, such as a sore throat or irritated digestive tract.

Hyacinth is a diuretic that encourages tissues to give up excess water. Yarrow is a time-honored cold and fever remedy that may once have been used much as aspirin is today. In 2735 B.C., the Chinese emperor Shen Nung wrote an authoritative treatise on herbs that is still in use today. Shen Nung recommended the use of ma huang (known as ephedra in the Western world), for example, against respiratory distress.

Ephedrine, extracted from ephedra, is widely used as a decongestant. You’ll find it in its synthetic form, pseudoephedrine, in many allergy, sinus, and cold-relief medications produced by large pharmaceutical companies. The records of King Hammurabi of Babylon (c. 1800 B.C.) include instructions for using medicinal plants. Hammurabi prescribed the use of mint for digestive disorders.

Modern research has confirmed that peppermint does indeed relieve nausea and vomiting by mildly anesthetizing the lining of the stomach. The entire Middle East has a rich history of herbal healing. There are texts surviving from the ancient cultures of Mesopotamia, Egypt, and India that describe and illustrate the use of many medicinal plant products, including castor oil, linseed oil, and white poppies. In the scriptural book of Ezekiel, which dates from the sixth century B.C., we find this admonition regarding plant life: “. . . and the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and leaf thereof for medicine.”

Egyptian hieroglyphs show physicians of the first and second centuries A.D. treating constipation with senna pods, and using caraway and peppermint to relieve digestive upsets. Throughout the Middle Ages, home-grown botanicals were the only medicines readily available, and for centuries, no self-respecting household would be without a carefully tended and extensively used herb garden. For the most part, herbal healing lore was passed from generation to generation by word of mouth. Mother taught daughter; the village herbalist taught a promising apprentice.

By the seventeenth century, the knowledge of herbal medicine was widely disseminated throughout Europe. In 1649, Nicholas Culpeper wrote A Physical Directory, and a few years later produced The English Physician. This respected herbal pharmacopeia was one of the first manuals that the layperson could use for health care, and it is still widely referred to and quoted today.

Culpeper had studied at Cambridge University and was meant to become a great doctor, in the academic sense of the word. Instead, he chose to apprentice to an apothecary and eventually set up his own shop. He served the poor people of London and became known as their neighborhood doctor.

The herbal he created was meant for the layperson. The first U.S. Pharmacopeia was published in 1820. This volume included an authoritative listing of herbal drugs, with descriptions of their properties, uses, dosages, and tests of purity. It was periodically revised and became the legal standard for medical compounds in 1906.

But as Western medicine evolved from an art to a science in the nineteenth century, information that had at one time been widely available became the domain of comparatively few. Once scientific methods were developed to extract and synthesize the active ingredients in plants, pharmaceutical laboratories took over from providers of medicinal herbs as the producers of drugs.

The use of herbs, which for most of history had been mainstream medical practice, began to be considered unscientific, or at least unconventional, and to fall into relative obscurity.

Herbal Medicine Today

Today, the U.S. Pharmacopoeia, with its reliance on herbal compounds, has been all but forgotten. Most modern physicians rely on the Physician’s Desk Reference, an extensive listing of chemically manufactured drugs.

It is important to note that each entry in this enormous volume, in addition to specifying the chemical compound and actions of a particular drug, also includes an extensive list of contraindications and possible side effects. Rather than using a whole plant, pharmacologists identify, isolate, extract, and synthesize individual components, thus capturing the active properties.

This can create problems, however. In addition to active ingredients, plants contain minerals, vitamins, volatile oils, glycosides, alkaloids, bioflavanoids, and other substances that are important in supporting a particular herb’s medicinal properties.

These elements also provide an important natural safeguard Isolated or synthesized active compounds can become toxic in relatively small doses; it usually takes a much greater amount of a whole herb, with all of its components, to reach a toxic level. Herbs are medicines, however, and they can have powerful effects. They should not be taken lightly.

The suggestions for herbal treatments are not intended to substitute for consultation with a qualified health care practitioner, but rather to support and assist you in understanding and working with your physician’s advice.

There are over 750,000 plants on earth. Relatively speaking, only a very few of the healing herbs have been studied scientifically. And because modern pharmacology looks for one active ingredient and seeks to isolate it to the exclusion of all the others, most of the research that is done on plants continues to focus on identifying and isolating active ingredients, rather than studying the medicinal properties of whole plants.

Herbalists, however, consider that the power of a plant lies in the interaction of all its ingredients. Plants used as medicines offer synergistic interactions between ingredients both known and unknown. The efficacy of many medicinal plants has been validated by scientists abroad, from Europe to the Orient.

Thanks to modern technology, science can now identify some of the specific properties and interactions of botanical constituents. With this scientific documentation, we now know why certain herbs are effective against certain conditions. However, almost all of the current research validating herbal medicine has been done in Germany, Japan, China, Taiwan, and Russia.

And for the most part, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which is responsible for licensing all new drugs (or any substances for which medicinal properties are claimed) for use in the United States, does not recognize or accept findings from across the sea. Doctors and government agencies want to see American scientific studies before recognizing the effectiveness of a plant as medicine.

Yet even though substantial research is being done in other countries, drug companies and laboratories in the United States so far have not chosen to put much money or resources into botanical research. The result is that herbal medicine does not have the same place of importance or level of acceptance in this country as it does in other countries.

Working With an Herbalist

As of this writing, there is no national licensing or certification for herbalists in the United States. If you wish to locate a qualified herbalist, the best place to start is probably in your local herb shop or health food store. They may be able to refer you to a knowledgeable herbalist who can advise you.

If you are unable to locate an herbalist this way, you may wish to contact the Herb Research Foundation, located at 1007 Pearl Street, Boulder, Colorado 80302 (telephone 303-440-2265) for suggestions. An herbalist may assess your child’s health needs in a variety of ways.

Along with taking your child’s history, methods of observation used by herbalists include pulse and tongue diagnosis, abdominal diagnosis, and iridology, which involves the correlation of minute markings on the iris with specific parts of the body.

After making an evaluation of your child, an herbalist can be expected to suggest individual herbs or herbal combinations known to be beneficial for your child’s particular condition. An herbalist will often recommend herbs or herbal combinations to both strengthen the underlying system or organ and to relieve symptoms.

Ask your herbalist when the preparation can be expected to effect an improvement in your child’s condition. When you administer an herbal prescription, observe how the preparation makes your child feel. Promptly report improvement, lack of improvement, or any side effects to your herbalist.

If the specified amount of time passes without any change in your child’s symptoms, it is important to report this, too. A change in prescription may be indicated.

Treating Your Child With Herbs

The power and potency of the healing herbs are very real. Every herbal treatment suggested in this book has specific healing properties, carefully balanced to create a particular action within your child’s body. Natural medicines are not like manufactured drugs. Herbal preparations work gently, so they take time to act internally.

When you give your child an herbal preparation, begin with a small amount. Watch closely for signs that symptoms are easing. Observe how the preparation makes your child feel. Using herbal treatment requires observation, coupled with good judgment. Natural herbal preparations are generally well tolerated by children.

Most herbs are nontoxic, with few, if any, harmful side effects. However, it is important to know the action and possible side effects of an herb before you give it. Although it is very unusual, some children may show signs of sensitivity to a particular herb. Reactions can include a headache, an upset stomach, or a rash.

If your child has a reaction, discontinue use of the herb. If your child is responding favorably to the herb, but the reaction is too intense, either decrease the dosage or discontinue use of the herb. For example, say your child is constipated and you administer a laxative herb. If your child begins having diarrhea, you have obviously achieved relief of constipation. It’s the right idea, but the reaction is too intense.

Use your judgment and discontinue the herb. Likewise, if you are giving an herb with expectorant properties and your child begins coughing up large quantities of mucus, you should consider decreasing the dose so expectoration is manageable. Herbal treatment is useful for both acute and chronic conditions.

It is also valuable in maintaining health and preventing illness. Many of the herbal preparations recommended in this book will help boost the immune response and help arm your child against recurrent infections.

Common Herbs and Herbal Preparations

Herbs are available in a variety of forms, including fresh, dried, in tablets or capsules, or bottled in liquid form. You can buy them individually or in mixtures formulated for specific conditions. Whatever type of product you choose, the quality of an herbal preparation-be it in capsule, tablet, tea, tincture, bath, compress, poultice, or ointment form-is only as good as the quality of the raw herb from which it was made.

Generally, herbs fall into two categories: wild-grown and farm-grown. A wild-grown herb is one that grows naturally, without human intervention. As a result of natural selection, plants tend to be found in places with conditions that optimize their growth.

For example, horsetail grows best in moist, swampy areas, while arnica thrives at high altitudes in alpine meadows. The process of gathering herbs from their natural habitats is called wildcrafting. The disadvantage of wild-grown herbs is that there is no guarantee the plants haven’t been exposed to chemicals and pesticides.

Herbs harvested from a meadow, for example, may have been exposed to chemical drift from a crop-dusted farm nearby. Exhaust fumes from passing traffic may have settled invisibly on plants growing near a country road. Water-loving plants, like horsetail, may be rooted in the bank of a polluted stream.

Because of the possibility of contamination, unless you are very sure of the source of wildcrafted herbs, organic herbs grown commercially may be a better choice. Organic farm-grown herbs are becoming increasingly available, as more and more herb farms are being established.

With careful management, organic herb farms can provide a steady supply of quality herbs to the consumer. To produce top-quality products, herb farmers require a great deal of specialized knowledge. For maximum potency, it is important that particular herbs be harvested at the optimum moment.

For example, echinacea is gathered in the spring, winter, and fall, but not in summer, when the plant’s energies are concentrated on growth and flowering. Responsible farmers use compost and organic matter to fertilize and replenish the health of the soil. For obvious reasons, we favor the use of certified organically grown herbs, produced without the use of synthetic fertilizers or chemical pesticides.

As of this writing, not all states have agencies inspecting and certifying organic growers, so to be sure you are getting pure, pesticide-free herbs grown without chemical contamination, check the label for the words “certified organic” before you make a purchase.

The name of the certifying agency should be specified on the label. Two reliable organizations that certify organic products are the Organic Growers and Buyers Association and California Certified Organic Farmers.

Organic products grown in the states of Washington and Texas should be certified organic by the Department of Agriculture of the relevant state. As of this writing, federal legislation on requirements for labeling a product “organic” has been passed, but is not yet being fully implemented.

Once it is, it should be easier to be sure that you are buying a genuine organic product. Hopefully this will take place in the next few years. The herbal treatments recommended here include teas, baths, compresses, poultices, oils, and ointments.

In some instances, you will be starting from scratch and preparing herbal treatments for your child. Some of the most commonly used herbal treatments and their applications are reviewed in the following table

Administering Herbal Treatment

Herbs and prepared herbal compounds are available in different forms, each of which has its own particular characteristics. Your health food store will have individual herbs as well as complex herbal formulations, including raw herbs, tinctures, extracts, capsules, tablets, lozenges, and ointments. Here’s a look at what’s available.

Tinctures

If the label says tincture, the preparation contains alcohol. In a tincture, alcohol is employed to extract and concentrate the active properties of the herb. Alcohol is also a very effective natural preservative. Because a tincture is easily assimilated by the body, it is a very effective way to administer herbal compounds.

Tinctures are concentrated and cost-effective. However, the full taste of the herb comes through very strongly in a tincture. Children-and adults, too-may find the taste of some herbs unpleasant. Goldenseal, for example, is bitter-tasting. Another concern when using tinctures is the presence of the alcohol.

If you wish to lessen the amount of alcohol in a tincture before giving it to your child, mix the appropriate dose with one-quarter cup of very hot water. After about five minutes, most of the taste of the alcohol will have evaporated away, and the mixture should be cool enough to drink.

Extracts

Extracts can be made with alcohol, like tinctures, or the essence of the herb can be leached out with water. When purchasing a liquid extract of an herb, the only way to be certain of the extraction process (alcohol or water) is to read the label.

Extracts offer essentially the same advantages and disadvantages that tinctures do. They are the most concentrated form of herbal treatment and therefore the most cost-effective. They are easy to administer, but have a strong herbal taste.

Capsules and Tablets

Capsules and tablets contain a ground or powdered form of raw herb. In general, there seems to be little difference between the two in terms of clinical results. Because finely milled herbs degrade quickly, it is important that herbs be freshly ground and then promptly encapsulated or tabeleted, within twenty-four hours of being powdered.

When making your selection, read the label to make sure fresh herbs have been used in the product. With the exception of certain herbal concentrates in capsule form, both capsules and tablets tend to be much less strong and potent than tinctures and extracts.

Teas

There are many delicious blends of herbal teas on the shelves of your health food store; they need no introduction here. You’ll find loose herbs ready for steeping, herbal formulations aimed at specific conditions, and convenient pre-bagged teas. Some are just for sipping; some are medicinal.

When your child is ill, a comforting cup of herbal tea (medicinal or not) is a wonderful way to give additional liquids.

Lozenges

Herbal-based, nutrient-rich, naturally sweetened lozenges are readily available in most health food shops. You’ll find cold-fighting formulas, natural cough suppressants, some with decongestant properties. Many are boosted with natural vitamin C. Choose lozenges made without refined sugar.

Ointments, Salves, and Rubs

From calendula ointment (for broken skin and wounds) to goldenseal (for infections, rashes, and skin irritations) to aloe vera gel (to cool and speed the healing of minor burns, including sunburn) to heat-producing herbs (for muscle aches and strains), there’s a wealth of topical herbal-based products on the market. Your selection will depend on the condition you are treating.

When administering herbal treatment, you can follow the same basic suggestions that you would for administering conventional medications. If the taste of an herb is too strong, dilute the appropriate dosage in a little juice or water.

Tableted herbs or capsules can be mixed with a spoonful of cream-style cereal or applesauce, or dissolved in sweet fruit juice. For older children, herbal teas can tee sweetened with honey (a child under eighteen months old should never be allowed to take honey because there is a risk of infant botulism, which can be fatal).

For an infant, the herbal tea can be mixed with mother’s milk or formula and put into a bottle, an eyedropper, or empty syringe (without the needle), and gently squirted inside the child’s mouth. A nursing mother can also take an adult dose of an herbal remedy, and the effect will be transmitted by her breast milk.

When treating your child with herbal remedies, use your judgment and common sense. The herbal treatments recommended in this book are gentle and have been especially selected for use on children.

It is still possible, however, for any herb to cause adverse reactions in some children. If your child develops a rash, a stomachache, a headache, or any other new symptom after treatment with an herbal remedy, discontinue using the herb and consult with your health care provider.

Adverse reactions are unusual if herbal remedies are used in recommended doses. Problems are more likely to occur if an herb is overused-if the dosage is too high or if the herb is given continuously for too long. Chamomile, for example, may cause a child to develop an allergy to ragweed if given on a daily basis for too long; the prolonged use of licorice can lead to high blood pressure.

This is why, even if an herb is beneficial for a chronic condition, it is not usually recommended that an herbal remedy be given on an ongoing basis, but rather that it be used for set periods of time, or alternated with another remedy or remedies. When using herbal treatment-as with most other aspects of a healthy life-moderation is the key.

If you have any question about the use of a particular herb, consult with a qualified herbalist or health care professional. Herbal medicine has a long history, and a time-tested, valuable place in the treatment of many common health problems.

Because they act gently, herbs are particularly suitable for treating children. When using herbs to treat an illness, often you not only help to alleviate symptoms, but also to address an underlying problem and strengthen the overall functioning of a particular organ or system.

Herbs are readily available-they can even be grown in your own back yard. To be sure you are getting the best and purest product possible, however, we recommend that you use certified organically grown herbs.

The more you use herbs, the more comfortable you will become with this gentle, effective form of health care.

The thyroid produces hormones, commonly called T3 and T4 that maintain the rate of metabolism. The pituitary gland in the brain acts as a thermostat and regulates production of TSH (thyroid stimulating hormones), which act as a signal to the thyroid to produce hormones as per the needs of the body. The pituitary gland, in turn is controlled by the hypothalamus. This is a very complicated and fragile system that is extremely necessary for a healthy body. Any disturbance in this delicate system of hormonal balances result in increase or decrease in production of hormones by the thyroid.

Hypothyroidism is a condition where the thyroid does not produce enough thyroid hormone. By obvious conclusion, anything that affects the thyroid has the potential of affecting the entire endocrine system. As such, hypothyroidism can have major repercussions if is not attended to with proper thyroid treatment.

Some of the major symptoms of hypothyroidism are:

* Fatigue
* Weakness
* Weight gain or difficulty in losing weight
* Coarse, dry hair
* Dry, rough pale skin
* Hair loss
* Cold intolerance
* Muscle cramps and muscle aches
* Constipation
* Depression
* Irritability
* Memory loss
* Abnormal menstrual cycles
* Decreased libido

However, there is a major disagreement on the subject of managing this condition and it is highly advisable that you become your own advocate by studying the condition after research and go for thyroid medications that you think will be good for you. As far as hypothyroidism is concerned, it is a matter of which medication suits you the best as different medications give varying results in each individual. This is mainly because symptoms of hypothyroidism, like any other thyroid malfunctioning, are general in nature and may relate to other conditions as well.

A complete thyroid panel blood test including all T3, T4, and TSH helps a lot in a diagnosis but does not indicate the proper level of treatment required. Even “normal” thyroid hormone levels in the blood have a fairly large range, so even if you are in the “normal” range, it may not be the normal level for you. In a lot many cases of hypothyroidism, some form of natural thyroid medication may result in bringing back the hormone levels to normal.

Hypothyroidism is mainly treated with drugs that replenish the decreased hormonal levels. Thyroid hormone pills of varying potencies are administered depending upon individual requirements. However, a continuous monitoring is mandatory, lest the levels increase to cause hyperthyroidism, which is the exact opposite of hypothyroidism.

Hypothyroidism may be easy to treat but it can potentially affect the rest of the body and it is highly advisable that you keep in constant contact with your physician. In many cases, taking recourse to alternative thyroid treatments proves to be as effective, if not better than traditional medications. Whatever therapy you choose it requires regular follow up due to the ambiguous nature of its symptoms.

Angelica — Herb Seeds Roots — Cough, Cold, Fever, Flatulence, Indigestion.

Aniseed — Herb Seed Pod — Indigestion, Coughs, Bronchitis, Catarrh.

Apricot — Kernel- Oil — From the kernel premature skin aging, inflammation, dryness use 100% minerals and vitamins.

Avocado Pear Oil — From the fruit dry skin, eczema Add 10% to base oil vitamins, protein, lecithin, fatty acids.

Basil Herb:- Whole Plant — Bronchitis, Fatigue, Colds, Loss of concentration, Migraine, gout, Aches & Pains, Depression, Fainting, Mental Fatigue, Migraine, Nausea, Nervous Tension, Stimulating.

Bay — Tree, Leaves — Sprains, Colds Flu, Insomnia, Rheumatism, Antiseptic, Decongestant, Tonic.

Benzoin- Tree, Trunk — Coughs, Itching, Arthritis, Colds, Sedative.

Bergamot — Peel of fruit — Fevers, Acne, Tension, Wounds, Coughs, Stress, Anti-depressant, Uplifting.

Birch — Tree, Bark — Gout, Rheumatism, Eczema, Ulcers.

Black Pepper- Vine, Berries — Colds, Aches, Influence, Flatulence, Rheumatism.

Bois de Rose — Tree, Wood — Tonic, Coughs, Headaches, antidepressant.

Borage — Seed, Oil — PMT, MS, Menopause, Heart disease, Psoriasis, Eczema, premature aging, regenerates skin, 10% dilution gamma acid, vitamins, minerals.

Cajeput -Tree — Antiseptic, Pain Reliever, Lung Congestion, Neuralgia, Acne.

Carrot — Root — Seeds — Gout, Ulcers, Flatulence, Eczema, Psoriasis, Diuretic.

Carrot Oil — Carrots — Premature Aging, itching dryness, psoriasis, 10% in base oil vitamins, minerals, beta-carotene.

Cedarwood — Tree, Wood — Bronchitis, Catarrh, Acne, Arthritis, Diuretic Lung Congestion, Eczema, Encourages Sexual Response.

Chamomile — Nervous conditions, Insomnia, antibacterial, disinfectant, anti-inflammatory, teething, sunburn, psoriasis, eczema, asthma, hay fever, diarrhea, sprains, nausea, fever, depression, Contain azulene, (Uplifting), Toning.

Chamomile Mataricaria — Chamomile Herb, Flowers, Leaves — Nerves, Migraine, Acne, Inflammation, Insomnia, Menstrual Problems, Dermatitis Eczema, Psoriasis, Inflammatory Diseases, Burns, Nervous Tension, Neuralgia, Insomnia, Contains Azulene.

Chamomile Roman — Athemis Nobilis Herb Flowers Leaves — Nerves, Migraine, Acne, Inflammation, Insomnia, Menstrual Problems, Dermatitis.

Champhor — Tree, Wood — Coughs, Colds, Fevers, Rheumatism, Arthritis, Stimulating .

Cinnamon — Anti-viral, Antiseptic, Circulatory, Heart, Digestive, Respiratory Stimulant. Antispasmodic, Aphrodisiac, anti-venom eugenol –antiseptic.

Cinnamon — Tree, Twigs Leaves Flu, Rheumatism, Warts, Coughs, Colds, Viral infections

Citronella — Grass, Insecticide, Deodorant, Tonic, Stimulant.

Clary-sage — Herb, Flowering Tops — Depression, Nerves, Sore Throat, Aches and Pains, Debility, Sedative Uplifting.

Clove — antibacterial, antiseptic, analgesic, toothache, digestive problems, muscular disorders, asthma, nausea, sinusitis, sedative, nerve tension, general weakness, Antispasmodic do not use undiluted on skin.

Clove Tree – Flower, Buds — Nausea, Flatulence, Bronchitis, Arthritis, Rheumatism, Toothache, Diarrhea, Infections, Analgesic, Antiseptic.

Coriander Herb – Seeds of ripe fruit, leaves — Indigestion, influenza, Fatigue, rheumatism, Flatulence, Nervousness, Analgesic.

Corn Oil — Corn — Soothing on all skins 100% protein, vitamins, minerals.

Cumin Herb – Seeds, Fruit — Indigestion, Headache, Liver Problems, Stimulant.

Cypress — Leaves & Shoots — anti-viral, Astringent, antispasmodic, Coughs, rheumatism, Flu, Wounds, Muscle, Nerve, Tens Veins.

Cypress — Tree, Leaves Twig — Menopausal Problems, circulatory Conditions, Rheumatism, Colds, Whooping Cough, Nervous Tension, Hemorrhoids, Wounds, Astringent.

Dill Herb – Seeds, Fruit — Flatulence, Indigestion, Constipation, Nervousness, Gastric Upsets, Headaches.

Eucalyptus — distilled Cooling, protecting, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antibiotic, diuretic, analgesic, deodorizing, coughs, cystitis, candida, diabetes, sunburn.

Eucalyptus — Tree,Leaves, Twigs — Sore Throats, Coughs, Bronchitis, Sinusitis, Skin Infections, Ulcers, Sores, Rheumatism, Aches & Pains, Antiseptic, Anti-inflammatory .

Eucalyptus Lemon — Tree, Leaves, Twigs — Dandruff, Scabs, Sores, Candida, Asthma, Fever, Fungal infections, Skin Infections, Sore Throats.

Eucalyptus Peppermint — Tree,Leaves, Twigs — Ulcers, Sores, Coughs, Colds, Fever, Respiratory Problems, Viral Infections, Headaches, Flu, Rheumatism, Arthritis.

Eucalyptus Radiata — Tree, Leaves,Twigs — Viral Infections, Colds, Coughs, Bronchitis, Whooping Cough, Rheumatism, Muscular Strains. Antiseptic.

Evening Primrose Oil — PMT, MS, menopausal problems, heart disease, psoriasis, eczema, prevents premature aging 10% gamma lineolenic acid, vitamins, minerals.

Fennel Herb – Seeds — Digestive Problems, Menopausal Problems, Obesity, Constipation, Kidney Stones, Nausea, Diuretic.

Frankincense — Tree, Bark — Sores, Wounds, Fevers, Coughs, Colds, Stress, Bronchitis, Laryngitis, Nervous Conditions.

Geranium — -chilblains, cosmetic, endometriosis, menopause, diabetes, throat infections, nerve tonic, sedative, uterine & breast cancer, frostbite, infertility, antiseptic, astringent, skin Skin toner, Adrenal, Hormones, Relaxing, Uplifting, Moisturizing, Toning.

Ginger — Root — Stimulating, Rheumatism, Muscular Aches, Pains, Sprains, Broken Bones, Colds, Nausea, Diarrhea, Alcoholism, Digestive Disorders.

Grapefruit — Tree — Rind Lethargy, Tonic, Obesity, Kidney & Liver Problems, Migraine, Antidepressant, Aid in Drug Withdrawal Treatment .

Grapeseed Oil — all skins 100% base oil vitamins, minerals, protein.

Hazelnut Oil — from the kernel — slight astringent base oil 100% vitamins, minerals, protein.

Hops Plant — Buds & Flowers — Neuralgia, Bruising, Menstrual & Menopausal Problems, Rheumatism, Nerves, Diuretic, Sedative Analgesic.

Hyssop Herb – leaves & Flowering Tops — Bruises, Rheumatism, Arthritis, Coughs, Colds, Sore Throats, Viruses, Blood Pressure Circulation, Nervous Tension, Asthma, Tonic.

Immortelle Flower – Flowering Tops — Bacterial Infections, Rheumatism, Muscle Aches, Weakness, Lethargy, Depression, Respiration, Colds, Flu, Fever, Fungicide.

Inula odorata — anti-viral.

Jasmine — Bush, Flowers — Nervous Tension, Depression, Menstrual Problems, Laryngitis, Anxiety, Lethargy, Relaxant.

Jojoba Oil — from the bean — inflammation, psoriases, eczema, acne, hair care, penetrates 10% protein, minerals, waxy collagen like substance.

Juniper Tree/Bush – Berries — Tonic for nervous system, digestive stimulant, Diuretic, Acne, Coughs, Ulcers, Fatigue, Rheumatism, Sores, Urinary Infections.

Lavender — Burns, prevents scarring, antibiotic, antidepressant, sedative, immunoactive, Wounds, relaxing, Moisturizing, Antiseptic, Toning, Eczema, Tension, Insomnia, Asthma, Rheumatism, Arthritis, Bacterial Conditions, Headaches, Dermatitis, Fainting.

Lemon Grass — Grass, Whole Plant, Antiseptic, Infections, Headaches, Sore Throats, Respiration, Fevers, Tonic, Insect Repellent .

Lemon Oil — Tree,Rind of Fruit — water purifier, antiseptic, antibacterial oil, verrucas, insect bites, tension headaches, lymphatic tonic, digestive stimulant, disperse cellulite, slimming, anti wrinkle, Diuretic, Stimulating, Anxiety, Astringent, Antiseptic, BP Vitamin C, Carotene (A) Bioflavonoids.

Lime — Tree,Rind — Fevers, Rheumatism, Sore Throats, Headaches, Anorexia, Alcoholism, Depression, Anxiety Astringent, Tonic.

Mace Tree – Peel of Fruit — Indigestion, Weakness, Bacterial Infections, Gout, Rheumatism, Arthritis, Circulation.

Mandarin — Tree, Rind — Insomnia, Nervousness, Liver Problems, Digestion, Anxiety, Tonic, Tranquilizer.

Marjoram Herb — Flowering Tops — Relaxing, Sprains, Bruises, Colds, Rheumatism, Intestinal, Cramps, Menstrual Problems Anxiety, Asthma, Bronchitis, Insomnia, Circulation, Muscular Disorders.

Melissa — Herb,Leaves — Relaxing, Nervousness, Bacterial & Fungal Infections, Diarrhea, Eczema, Sedative, Cardiac Tonic.

Myrrh — Tree, Bark/Resin — Antiseptic, Astringent, Tonic, Healing Agent, Dermatitis Coughs, Mouth and skin ulcers, Bacterial & Fungal Infections.

Neroli — Blossoms –Bitter Orange Tree — Antidepressant, Aphrodisiac,Antiseptic, Digestive Aid, Sedative, Bacterial Infections, Bronchitis, Diarrhea, Fungicide, Insomnia, Relaxing, Moisturizing.

Niaouli — Leaves and stems- Melaeleuca Tree Antiseptic, Soothing Agents,Pain Reliever, Decongestant

Gomenol Bush – Leaves, Twigs, Anti-viral, Wounds, Infections, Bacterial Disease, Sore Throats, Burns, Respiration, Acne.

Nutmeg — Tree,Seed — Nausea, Vomiting, Muscle Aches, Rheumatism, Arthritis, Nervousness, Insomnia, Cardio Stimulant.

Olive Oil — rheumatic conditions, hair care, soothes 10% protein, minerals, vitamins.

Orange Tree – Rind of Fruit — Depression, Anxiety, Constipation, NervousConditions, Muscular Spasm, Tonic, Sedative Antiseptic.

Oregano — Herb,Leaves & Flowering Tops — Anti-viral, Bronchitis,Rheumatism, Respiration, Muscle Pain, Digestion.

Palma Rosa — Grass — Skin infections, Anorexia, Tonic.

Parsley — Herb, seeds — Nervous Conditions, Kidney Problems, Menstrual and Menopausal Problems, Sedative, Diuretic.

Patchouli — Plant — Antidepressant, Sedative, Aphrodisiac Anxiety, Acne, Eczema, Herpes, Ulcers (Skin) “Tired Skin” .

Patchouli — Plant,Leaves — Skin Inflammations, Fungal infections, Acne,Eczema, Dandruff, Antiseptic, Diuretic Insecticide.

Peanut Oil 100% base oil protein, vitamins, minerals.

Peppermint — Herb, Whole Plant — Inflammation, Nausea, Indigestion, Fevers, Flatulence, Headaches Migraine, Liver Problems, Arthritis, Stimulant.

Peppermint — digestive, respiration, circulation, anti-inflammatiory,antiseptic, gas, flu, migraine, Fatigue, Migraine, Asthma, Bronchitis,Stimulating.

Petitgrain — Tree,Leaves, Twigs — Anxiety, Insomnia, Depression, Antiseptic, Tonic, Aids Convalescence.

Pimento — Tree,Berries, Twigs — Flatulence, Indigestion, Cramps, Intestinal Problems, Colds, Rheumatism, Muscular Strains, Depression, Tonic, Tranquilizer.

Pine — Needles, Bark, Berries — Antiseptic, Diuretic, Stimulant adrenal glands, Bladder, Kidney, Chest infections, Infections, Fatigue, Rheumatism, Gout, Flu, Bronchitis, Muscle Pain, Diuretic, Respiration Sore Throats,Colds, Circulation, Muscle pain, Turpentine.

Ravensara — Bush, Leaves — Viral Infections, Liver Infections, Lung Infections, Respiratory Problems, Antiseptic.

Red thyme — anti-viral.

Rose — Flower –Depression, aphrodisiac, Female organ regulator, astringent,Sedative, Heart tonic, Stomach Liver, Uterus, Nausea, Headache, Insomnia, Skin Care, Relaxing, Toning Moisturizing, Antiseptic.

Rose Bulger (Bulgarian) Bush – Flowers Petals, Anxiety, Depression, Circulatory Problems, Menopausal Problems, Antiseptic, Tonic.

Rose Maroc (Morocco) – Bush, Flowers, Petals — Menstrual Disorders, Depression, Stress, Tension, Circulatory Conditions, Tonic, Sedative.

Rosemary — Herb — Physical & Mental stimulant, muscular conditions, antiseptic, sprains, arthritis rheumatism, depression, fatigue, memory loss, migraine, flu, diabetes, hair care, Antiseptic, Stimulating, Toning.

Sage — Herb,Plant — Tonic, Antiseptic, Diuretic, Blood Pressure, Female Reproductive System, Sores, Fatigue, Nervousness, Asthma, Bronchitis, Low Blood Pressure, Bacterial Infections, Rheumatism, Arthritis, Sprains, Fibrosis, Astringent.

Sandalwood — Tree — Antiseptic, Tonic, Aphrodisiac, Fatigue, Impotence, Relaxing, Uplifting, Acne, Cystitis, Moisturizing, Menstrual Problems, Skin Infections, Fungal & Bacterial Infections, Sedative.

Sesame Oil — psoriasis, eczema, rheumatism, arthritis 10 % dilution vitamins, minerals, proteins, lecithin, amino acids.

Soya Bean Oil — 100 % base oil protein, minerals, vitamins.

Spearmint — Herb,Leaves, Flowering Tops — Flatulence, Indigestion, Intestinal Cramps, Fevers, Nausea, Colic, Hemorrhoids.

Sunflower Oil — base oil 100 % vitamins, minerals.

Sweet Almond oil — From the kernel — itching, soreness, dryness, inflammation use 100% Glucosides, minerals, vitamins, protein.

Tagetes — Plant,Flowers — Fungal Infections, Skin Infections, Cuts, Sprains, Strains, Wounds, Circulation Antiseptic.

Tangerine — Uplifting.

Tea Tree — Tree, Leaves, Twigs — anti-viral, anti-fungal, antibacterial, Antiseptic, Colds, Influenza, Cold Sores, Warts, Verrucas, Inflammation, Acne, Burns, Candida, Shock, Hysteria.

Thyme Red (Vulgaris) — Herb, Leaves, Flowering Tops — Bacterial Infections,Urinary Infections, Rheumatism, Lethargy, Sores, Wounds, Stimulant Tonic, Raises Immunity.

Thyme Red (Vulgaris) — Thyme linalol anti-viral, eliminates toxic wastes, whooping cough, warts, neuralgia, fatigue, acne, Hair & skin care, cooking, antiseptic powders, Fatigue, Skin Inflammation, Antiseptic, Only diluted, overuse causes thyroid problems.

Valerian Plant – Roots — Sedative, Calming, Nervous Conditions, Trembling, Neuralgia, Insomnia, Palpitations, Sedative, Tranquilizer .

Vetiver — Roots of Grass — Calming, Anxiety, Nervous Tension, Insomnia, Rheumatism, Muscle Relaxant, Antiseptic, Tonic.

Violet — Leaves, Plant – Inflammations, Kidney Problems, Obesity, SkinInfections, Fibrosis, Rheumatism, Analgesic and Liver Decongestant.

Wheat germ Oil — eczema, psoriasis, premature aging, 10% dilution protein, minerals, vitamins.

Wintergreen — Herb – Stimulating.

Yarrow — Herb,Leaves, Flowering Tops — Inflammations, Cramps, Constipation,Circulation, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Menstrual Problems, Astringent.

Ylang-Ylang — Tree,Flowers — Sedative, Antiseptic, Aphrodisiac, High Blood Pressure, Intestinal Infections, Impotence, Uplifting, Moisturizing, Anxiety, Depression, Sedative, Tonic.

If you wish to reduce your cholesterol levels safely and without negative side effects you must address the problem in six ways:

These are…

1. Reduce the production of cholesterol in your body
2. Reduce the absorption of cholesterol in your gut
3. Decrease circulating blood fats and dissolve cholesterol particles
4. Prevent cholesterol from hardening in your arteries
5. Increase the excretion of cholesterol carrying bile acid, and
6. Reduce the oxidation of cholesterol.

Cholest-Natural is our third generation formula using the latest knowledge in science and technology. It may help you safely and naturally address all the above AND also help to reduce triglycerides.

Our new generation Cholest-Natural:

* Has been extensively researched by one of the world’s top bio-scientists
* Contains all-natural ingredients… NO additives
* Includes synergistic ingredients examined at molecular level for efficacy
* Is supported by multiple clinical studies.

Overwhelming evidence continues to support natural therapy using Cholest-Natural as an effective method to help balance cholesterol levels.

Benefits of Cholest-Natural

The benefits from Cholest-Natural are measurable…

* Lower levels of LDL or oxidized cholesterol
* Higher levels of HDL. For a better understanding of the role of LDL and HDL cholesterol please click here.
* Lower levels of triglycerides

Most people will see the benefits through their blood test results within 30 – 60 days of commencing the Cholest-Natural protocol. Other people may take 90 – 120 days. Take care to measure the benefits based on your HDL and LDL levels, not your total cholesterol. This is because if your HDL goes up, which is good, even though your LDL may have gone down, your total cholesterol, may go up.

Some useful advice: Sometimes customers experience a significant drop in their triglycerides with Cholest-Natural, particularly when they combine it with our Omega 3 DHA / Esters…and this is good!

However, because LDL, unlike HDL is usually determined theoretically using the Friedewald formula which measures the relationship of HDL and triglyceride levels, sometime a distorted reading will result. Contact us or your physician for more info if this occurs.

Although one of the main ingredients in Cholest-Natural is policosanol, a natural extract of sugar cane, it will not raise your blood sugar levels.

If you review the customer comments for Cholest-Natural you will see a random sampling of the benefits that thousands of users of this product have received.

The facts about Cholest-Natural

It is important that you know not only the facts about this product by reviewing the ingredients and the recommended protocols, but also the facts about cholesterol itself.

We know that elevated cholesterol levels are potentially dangerous, but it is important to realize that unnaturally low levels are dangerous too!

Cholesterol, despite its bad publicity, is an essential substance your body needs to survive. It is important for normal hormonal function and brain health, so you do not want to rid your body of to much cholesterol, but rather balance the ‘good’ against the ‘bad’

We have put together some information on cholesterol and different options in dealing with it.

A caution: If you are currently on a statin drug and wish to come off it, you should do so in conjunction with your physician. You cannot just stop a statin drug ‘cold turkey’ as your cholesterol levels will spike.

Cholesterol… Problems and Solutions…

We are constantly being ‘bombarded’ with the need to lower our cholesterol and given warnings that if we don’t, we could face dire consequences! If you feel your cholesterol is too high or you are currently on a statin drug then, it will be in your best interest to read today’s newsletter.

I am sure you know this but there are two common forms of cholesterol. One of which is considered good, and that is called HDL and the other which is considered bad and is called LDL.

HDL cholesterol travels around in your bloodstream picking up excess cholesterol including LDL cholesterol and taking it back to your liver for reprocessing. Sort of like a garbage collector! Your HDL cholesterol must be as high as possible to ensure adequate ‘housekeeping’.

LDL cholesterol may attach itself to your artery wall and create ‘plaque’ which can ultimately accumulate and create a blockage in your arteries resulting in a heart attack. Or it can cause a stroke if some of the capillaries in your brain become blocked and parts of your brain are starved for blood.

It is generally accepted that your LDL cholesterol needs to be as low as possible, but this message tends to be oversimplified and there is a tendency to look at total cholesterol which can sometimes be misleading.

But how low, is low?

The goal posts for cholesterol levels have been shifted at least twice over the last few years. The last time, just weeks ago! Are the new aggressively promoted levels warranted? Many Doctors and experts certainly don’t think so. In fact there is a great deal of concern being raised by independent researchers and physicians that these new levels may actually be dangerous… for many reasons.

Cholesterol is a very important substance and is an essential precursor to your hormonal cascade and particularly your sex hormones. It can have a negative impact on your general health if levels are pushed artificially low. Excessively low levels of cholesterol are certainly proven to weaken your immune system and increase your chances of dying from an infectious disease.

So, if there are dangers associated with cholesterol levels being too low why are they being pushed so aggressively? I addressed one possible reason in our 30th July issue of Xtend-15sec-News. (You can find it in the archives). At that time we revealed that 6 of the 9 members of the USA National Cholesterol Panel has financial ties to the drug industry that is enjoying an unprecedented bonanza thanks to statin drugs which are being used to lower cholesterol. (More about these later.)

Are the drug companies behind the push for artificially low levels of cholesterol, even in individuals that were previously considered healthy? You must be your own judge on that question!

What about Triglycerides?

Ah… you don’t hear so much about these, or homocysteine, or C-Reactive Protein! Nonetheless, elevated levels of any of these three substances are just as good an indicator of a potential heart ‘event’ as is high cholesterol. Excess levels of any one of these four indicators (the preceding three plus cholesterol) although serious and need to be addressed, don’t necessarily mean that you are in a danger area.

However, combine high triglycerides with high cholesterol and you are a walking ‘time bomb’! You may then ask yourself why is there not as much emphasis put on reducing triglycerides as there is with cholesterol, given that for many people a simple reduction in triglycerides is all that is needed to take them out of the danger zone?
Now, this is a question that I can easily answer without fear of contradiction. There is not an effective drug to reduce triglycerides, and so it tends to be ignored! However, triglycerides, unlike cholesterol, (80% of cholesterol is manufactured by your body) is easily controlled through diet. Rather than making an effort to advise the general public what to do in order to reduce this risk, the medical ‘industry’ has a tendency to take the easy route and write a prescription for a statin drug.

What is a statin drug?

Many of our readers will know the answer to this, and I know many readers are currently taking the drug. I know this because we have many emails daily from people suffering the side effects of statin drugs and who are desperately seeking a natural alternative.

Very briefly a statin drug works on reducing the production of cholesterol in your body by blocking the action of an enzyme in your liver essential for the manufacturing process to take place. This process is fraught with dangers and it may excessively block an important natural bodily function!

A statin drug can force your cholesterol down to very low… and potentially dangerous levels. In fact, the new guidelines for LDL of 70 recommended by the ‘US National Cholesterol Panel’ can generally only be achieved though the use of statins because the body will not do it naturally as it will resist such a low level. This is why it is now being argued that healthy individuals should now be put on a statin drug so this low level can be achieved!

I won’t go on any more about these drugs because it makes me mad as I can see millions of people suffering needlessly from the side effects. But… don’t just take my word on this. Read an article by an investigative medical journalist about the truth of statins and then make up your own mind. You can access it by clicking here.

What are the natural alternatives to a statin?

There are a number of natural substances that have been proven effective in lowering cholesterol naturally. Some have been proven in double blind placebo clinical studies to be as effective as statin drugs but without the side effects and the depletion of the body’s CoQ10 reserves.

For the last couple of years we have been manufacturing a natural cholesterol lowering product of which the main ingredient was Policosanol. This is an extract from sugar cane. (Doesn’t affect blood sugar levels.) The results were spectacular on some people, good on others, mediocre on yet others and for some people it didn’t work at all which is understandable. After all even the statins don’t work on everyone!

Although it was an excellent product it was not one of our main ones. However, last year as the use of statins continued to increase we decided that it was time to develop a formula that could effectively compete with a statin drug but have none of the negative side effects and risks.

So, Prof. Dr. A. Munem got to work on developing a formula that would do just that. (For our recent subscribers who are not familiar with Dr Munem he is one of the top bio-scientists in the world).

As Dr Munem pointed out… in order to have an effective and safe natural remedy you must be able to tackle the cholesterol problem from six different directions:

1. By reducing the production of cholesterol in the body.
2. By reducing the absorption of cholesterol in the gastrointestinal tract.
3. By reducing circulating blood fats and dissolving cholesterol particles.
4. By preventing cholesterol from hardening in the arteries.
5. By increasing the excretion of bile acid which carries cholesterol.
6. By reducing the oxidation of the cholesterol.

The bottom line is that after many months of research we have developed cholest-natural what is undoubtedly the world’s most advanced natural cholesterol lowering product.

What’s more, it seems that it may only need to be taken for 12 months and thereafter only intermittently, as it will normalize the body’s production of cholesterol. What’s more it won’t artificially force levels down to less than what your body needs.

One final note… if your cholesterol is only slightly elevated you may find that just our Total Balance on its own is sufficient to help balance it out. It does contain policosanol but at much lower levels than the new cholesterol lowering formula.

Facts About Cholesterol

We have prepared a simple document that explains what cholesterol is and what an important role it plays in your body.

General description of cholesterol

Cholesterol (a lipid) serves as the structural basis of bile salts, steroid hormones, vitamin D and (cell) plasma membranes. It is also part of a molecule that helps direct embryonic development.

20% of cholesterol comes from our diet, while 80% is made from Acetyl Co-enzyme A by the liver, intestinal cells and other body cells. Cholesterol is secreted in bile salts and excreted from the body through the feces.

Triglycerides and cholesterol are transported to and from our tissue cells bound to lipoproteins (lipid protein complexes). These lipoproteins vary in their fat-protein composition, but they all contain triglycerides, lipids, phospholipids, cholesterol and proteins. The higher the amount of lipids in the lipoprotein the lower its density, and the greater the amount of proteins in the lipoproteins the higher its density. This is why there are high-density lipoproteins (HDLs), low-density lipoproteins (LDLs) and very low-density lipoproteins (VLDLs).

The VLDLs transport triglycerides from the liver to the peripheral tissues, mostly adipose (fat) tissue.

The LDLs transport cholesterol to peripheral tissues for membrane or hormone synthesis and storage. They also regulate cholesterol synthesis in tissue cells.

The HDLs transport excess cholesterol from peripheral tissue to the liver, where it is broken down and becomes part of bile. The process goes like this: protein “envelopes” from HDLs are made by the liver and launched into the bloodstream and are filled with cholesterol from tissue cells and the artery walls. The HDLs also take cholesterol to the steroid (sex) hormone producing organs: the ovaries and the adrenal glands.

This explains why HDL is also called “good” cholesterol, it transports cholesterol destined for degradation. An HDL level of 35 – 60 is considered OK, but levels above 60 are thought to protect against heart disease.

LDL is considered “bad” at 160 or above, because excessive LDL can potentially cause cholesterol deposits in the artery walls. However LDL does not easily stick to artery walls, unlike one variety of LDL that is particularly “bad”, lipoprotein (a).

This LDL seems to promote plaque formation that thickens and stiffens the artery walls. Lipoprotein (a) levels are hard to influence by diet, exercise and substances. Elevated lipoprotein (a) levels are an independent risk factor for heart disease, especially in people with elevated LDL cholesterol levels. A high LDL cholesterol level carries less risk than a normal or even low LDL cholesterol level with high lipoprotein (a) level.

The ratio of total cholesterol to HDL and the ratio of LDL to HDL are referred to as the cardiac risk factor ratios because they reflect whether cholesterol is possibly being deposited into tissues or broken down and excreted. The total cholesterol-to-HDL ratio should be no higher than 4. The LDL-to-HDL ratio should be no higher than 2.5.

Factors regulating cholesterol levels:

* Hydrogenated oils: Unsaturated fats that have been hardened by hydrogenation to make them more solid (e.g. margarine) play a role in raising cholesterol levels. The hydrogenation process changes fatty acids into trans-fatty acids, causing an increase in LDLs and a reduction in HDLs. Omega-3 fatty acids (from cold water fish) lower proportions of triglyceride and cholesterol levels.
* Mental stress: Cigarette smoking, coffee drinking and changes to body weight may change cholesterol levels.
* Regular aerobic exercise (which speeds up the heart rate) lowers LDL and increases HDL levels.
* Body shape provides clues to higher cholesterol levels. People who have an “apple” shape, with upper body and abdominal fat distribution (often men), tend to have higher cholesterol levels, especially LDL. People who have a “pear” shape with fat distribution in the hips and thighs (often women), tend to have lower cholesterol levels, particularly LDL.

The dangers of too low a level of cholesterol

Studies have indicated that total cholesterol levels below 190 for males and 178 for females may enhance the risk of “bleeding” strokes and death from cerebral hemorrhage.

* Cholesterol may affect the metabolism of serotonin, a substance involved in the regulation of mood, as research has shown that serotonin levels are reduced in men with low levels of cholesterol. There may be an association between suicide and low serum cholesterol levels in people suffering from panic disorder. Total serum cholesterol and LDL levels were found to be lower in a para suicidal population at statistically significant levels.
* Studies among patients suffering from major depression showed an association between low cholesterol and major depression. Some trials showed that clinical recovery may be associated with a significant increase of total cholesterol. Some studies show that low cholesterol is associated with increased subsequent criminal violence.

It has been found that relatively low cholesterol levels have been associated with increased mortality from cancer and non-atherosclerotic causes of death. Hypo-cholesterolemic men had differences in immune system compared to men with high cholesterol levels. They had significantly fewer circulating lymphocytes, fewer total T cells and fewer CD8+ cells.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cholest-Natural really ‘all-natural’?

Yes. Cholest-Natural contains no pharmaceutical ingredients and so does not require a prescription. It is formulated from 100% quality natural ingredients, each using a specific combination and dosage for optimal efficacy. All ingredients undergo vigorous studies at molecular level to ensure their compatibility to provide maximum beneficial effect.

What our customers say about Cholest-Natural

All customer comments are authentic. Original copies of customer feedback are on file at our HQ. Should you wish to verify any comments by contacting the customer concerned please Contact Us.

“I just wanted to let you know how happy I am with your products. I started taking your Cholest-Natural, Omega 3/DHA Fish Oil Esters and Total Balance approximately a year ago. My cholesterol at that time was 279, my triglycerides were 600.

After 6 months I had lowered my cholesterol to 259 and triglycerides to 300.

I went in last week for another blood test and my cholesterol is down to 196 and triglycerides are down to 122.

I do watch what I eat, but have not changed anything drastically. I also have not exercised like I should, so I can honestly say that my results have been attributed to your products. I still need to work on my good and bad cholesterol as my bad is 143 and my good is 28. High cholesterol runs in my family as my mother and sister are both on statins, but I refuse to go on them.” Teri, US

“In reply to this months newsletter concerning Cholest-Natural, I have these results…

In the summer of 2005 my reading was 178. My next 2 readings in the fall were 214 and 217. I informed my doctor that I did not want to be put on medication. I began taking your Omega 3 / DHA Fish Oil Esters and Cholest-Natural formulas and took them for two months. I then continued taking Omega 3 / DHA together with Total Balance Mens Plus. Last week I gave blood for my cholesterol check and my new reading is 174! I have read so many other statements here that also confirm a major drop in cholesterol readings and I can proudly say that it works for me too! Thank you Xtend-Life staff for your research and commitment to your products and your customers.” Bruce, USA

“This is fantastic. My results with the old formula were stunning. Cholest-Natural works better than Lipitor.” Joe B, USA

Over a relatively short period of time a person becomes both physically addicted to nicotine and emotionally addicted as well. In order to quit, studies have shown that smokers must deal with both aspects of their addiction, the physical and emotional.

But the rewards of quitting are great. Within 12 hours carbon monoxide levels in the blood drop to normal and increase the amount of oxygen that is delivered to the cells. Within two weeks to three months circulation improves in lung function also increases and within one year the excessive risk of coronary artery disease is cut in half! These are all really good reasons to quit smoking. Unfortunately, the reason people are not successful. Surely attached to their motivation or their lack of understanding about why they should quit, but rather the addiction to nicotine itself.

Nicotine patches uses a theory called nicotine replacement therapy. Using this process can reduce the unpleasant physical symptoms of person will experience as they try to quit smoking. This leaves them with dealing with the emotional aspects of their addiction and not trying to deal with both the physical and emotional at the same time. Nicotine replacement therapy can be delivered in a variety of forms but the most common are the nicotine patches.

While naked teen is a harmful chemicals of the body is not as harmful as the 2000 other chemicals and over 40 different carcinogens in tobacco. It is also a process that is use short-term in order to relieve some of the withdrawal symptoms and not a way of delivering a nicotine to the body over a long period of time.

Interestingly, cravings and symptoms of nicotine withdrawal are cited by 70% to 90% of smokers who say is their only reason for not giving up cigarettes. While many people are able to quit smoking without nicotine replacement therapy most do not do it on their first try.

Nicotine replacement therapy should be combined with other smoking cessation methods in order to help an individual over the emotional and habitual addiction to smoking. Most studies have shown that this particular type of approach, paring nicotine replacement with the support of program that helps to change behavior, will double your chances of being successful.

Because these nicotine replacement therapy patches will deliver a nicotine to the body many physicians are leery of using them with individuals who have other underlying medical conditions that make the administration of nicotine more risky, such as cardiovascular disease or pregnancy. However, there have been some significant studies which show that the benefits of quitting will outweigh the potential health risks and must be weighed on an individual basis.

It is not safe to take a nicotine replacement therapy patch at the same time that you are smoking. Research is still being done with smokers who are using nicotine replacement while smoking but it is too early to tell how dangerous the additional nicotine to the body will be. To put this into perspective you should know that nicotine is more dangerous than strychnine and three times more potent than arsenic. There is actually enough nicotine in four to five cigarettes to kill a person immediately if they were to keep the tobacco. However, when an individual smokes a cigarette they receive only a small portion of the nicotine and the rest is either burned away or caught in the filter.

By adding nicotine to the body through a nicotine replacement therapy patch plus smoking, researchers are concerned that this additional nicotine will cause significant health risks.

Nicotine replacement therapy patches should be started on the first day then an individual tries to quit. This method gives them the greatest chance of success with the physical addiction, although the emotional and psychological addiction must be addressed through other supportive means.

At this time research has not supported the use of nicotine replacement patches with individuals who smoke less than 10 cigarettes a day. If you smoke less than half a pack a day but still believe you may need the additional support for physical withdrawal speak with your primary care physician about a lower dose of nicotine replacement in order to assist you.

The dosage of nicotine replacement will be based on the type of smoker you are but there is no formal grouping that defines a light, average or heavy smoker. However, it is believed that a white smoker is someone who smokes less than 10 cigarettes per day, and a pack a day or more is a heavy smoker. An average smoker falls in between.

The nicotine patches aren’t transdermal nicotine system which means that the drug is administered through the skin. The individual switches to a lower dose patch over the course of a couple of weeks in order to slowly wean themselves off of nicotine. Patches can actually be purchased with or without prescription and there are a variety of different strengths and types available.

Side effects of the nicotine patch are related to the dose of nicotine is being delivered, the brand of the patch, how long the past is going to be used and how it’s applied. The individual may find that there’s some skin irritation around the patch sites, dizziness related to the administration of nicotine, racing heartbeat, sleep problems, headache, nausea, vomiting or muscle aches and stiffness.

Side effects can be reduced by not smoking while using the patch or trying a different patches to skin becomes irritated. Individuals can also reduce the amount of nicotine being delivered by using a lower dose patch. Some of the sleep problems can be short-term and might go away within three to four days. If not, and you are using a 24-hour patch, try switching to a patch that delivers nicotine over 16 hours only. If the side effects did not go away then try switching from a nicotine patch to another form of nicotine replacement therapy.

Related Natural Product

The Non-Smoker’s Edge – Quitting smoking is tough, but The Non-Smoker’s Edge is tougher. This extensive 7-CD audio hypnosis program combines eight full sessions of smoking-cessation hypnosis with one session of behavior modification strategies and one session of smoking aversion therapy. Research shows these tools can improve your chance of success from less than 5% to more than 66%. Learn more about The Non-Smoker’s Edge now!

Those who suffer from fibromyalgia for several of the symptoms such as muscle aches, chronic migraines and general body aches and pains use over-the-counter medications. A prescription is not needed for over-the-counter-medications but patients should still let the doctor know that they are taking them because there could be inter-reactions between prescription medications and over-the-counter medications and the doctor should know you are taking them.

Analgesics are given to dull the pain, which is one of the major symptoms of fibromyalgia. Over-the-counter analgesics do not provide good, long-term pain relief. They are fine at providing temporary pain relief, and can reduce the pain of chronic headaches and migraines, but are not effective when it comes to maximum pain relief.

The fibromyalgia medications include anti-depressants, benzodiazepines, growth hormone therapy, Mirapex, COAT, Opiods, and Over-the-counter medications.

What are NSAIDS?

NSAIDS are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. It is a medication that is sold over-the-counter and prescription and is designed to relieve both inflammation and pain. There are many popular over-the-counter NSAID pain relievers such as aspirin, ketoprofen, ibuprofen, and naproxen. They relieve both pain and inflammation. Some people have side effects such as constipation, headache, diarrhea, and skin rash.

Anti-depressants are used to help relieve the symptoms of depression, which is a common symptom of fibromyalgia. They can also relieve other symptoms of fibromyalgia such as sleeping problems.

There are different antidepressants such as tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). TCAs work on the chemicals in the brain that transmit messages about pain and emotion. Taking these can reduce pain and give restful sleep. SSRIs are effective in treating symptoms of anxiety and depression.

Benzodiazepines are in the depressant family of drugs. They are used to reduce the symptoms of stress and anxiety. They can also be used to treat sleep disorders and pain.

Some individuals believe that low growth hormone production is a possible cause for fibromyalgia. Our bodies produce a natural human growth hormone (GH). The body naturally makes less as we age and no longer require our bodies to grow. Lack of this growth hormone can lead to symptoms such as muscle weakness, fatigue, chronic pain and hypersensitivity to the cold.

It is felt that growth hormones can relieve the fibromyalgia symptoms including chronic and severe pain, muscle weakness, and fatigue.

Mirapex is a new drug that normally is being used to treat Parkinson’s disease. Researchers believe that it can reduce muscle pain and muscle spasms.

FibroFree Complex is a safe, non-addictive, FDA-registered natural remedy containing 100% homeopathic ingredients selected to relieve localized muscle pain, tender ligaments, sore tendons and tender spots on the body. FibroFree Complex may be taken at the first sign of tenderness as it works quickly to soothe body aches, cramps and pains, as well as alleviate facial pain and headaches.

This remedy contains a selection of homeopathic ingredients known to relieve fatigue and promote energy levels, mood and mental clarity (reducing the feeling of ‘brain fog’), without side effects. FibroFree Complex is taken internally and presented in a convenient, concentrated tincture formula. It is easy to ingest and hassle–free with no artificial colors or preservatives. It is safe for all ages, including pregnant women or those who may be breastfeeding.

The basic difference between the cold and the flu is that they are caused by different viruses.  The flu is always caused by a strain of either influenza A or B.  The common cold, on the other hand, can be caused by hundreds of different viruses.

To those of us outside the medical profession, however, this explanation doesn’t mean much.  The easiest way to know whether you have a cold or the flu is to analyze the symptoms.  Here is a quick list for each illness:

Cold

* A cough is usually present, and in most cases it is productive.
* Sneezing, stuffy nose and sore throat are common.
* Fever usually does not occur, and if it does it is not high.
* Symptoms usually come on slowly, often over the course of a few days.

Flu

* A high fever, usually between 100 and 104 degrees Fahrenheit, is usually present, and may be accompanied by chills.
* The cough is dry and unproductive.
* Fatigue and muscle aches are usually present, and are often severe.
* Headache and chest discomfort often occur.
* Symptoms set in quickly, usually within a few hours.

Treatment of the Cold and Flu

There is no cure for the common cold.  Aside from prevention, the best treatments are rest and over-the-counter medications for bothersome symptoms.  The cold should go away on its own within 10 days.  If symptoms persist for more than 14 days, it’s a good idea to see a doctor to determine whether a bacterial infection is present.

Doctors can quickly determine whether or not you have the flu with a simple test.  If caught early, it can be treated with prescription medications that may reduce its severity and duration.  Whether flu medicine is used or not, it is important to get plenty of rest and drink lots of fluids until you’re feeling better, usually within a week or two without antiviral treatment.  The flu can result in pneumonia and other infections, so it is very important to follow your doctor’s advice.

Flu vaccines can help prevent the flu, but they are not always effective.  They only contain selected strains of the flu, and if you are subjected to a different strain, you could still catch it.  If you choose not to get the flu shot, staying as healthy as possible will help reduce your chances of becoming infected.  And if someone in your household gets the flu, you can ask your doctor for antiviral medication to help keep you from getting it.

While having a cold is unpleasant, having the flu is usually much worse.  Knowing the symptoms can help you decide when you need medical attention and when you can successfully treat yourself.  But if you are in doubt, it’s better to visit the doctor just to be sure.

Related Natural Product

FluGo is a safe, non-addictive, FDA-registered homeopathic remedy containing ingredients especially selected to temporarily relieve symptoms of the flu or cold like cough, runny nose, fever, sore throat and fatigue. FluGo should be taken at the first sign of a blocked nose, sneezing or sore throat to decrease the severity of flu or cold symptoms.

This natural remedy works quickly to support the immune system and assist the body in its task of fighting invading germs. FluGo is a natural flu remedy taken internally and presented in small dissolving tablets. It is easy to ingest and hassle-free with no artificial colors or preservatives. As a result, FluGo can make all the difference, without compromising health.

Camphor is a white transparent waxy crystalline solid with a strong penetrating pungent aromatic odor. As an antimicrobial substance, camphor is readily absorbed through the skin and produces a feeling of cooling similar to that of menthol and acts as slight local anesthetic. In larger quantities, it is poisonous when ingested and can cause seizures, confusion, irritability, and neuromuscular hyperactivity.

Eucalyptus is a pungent woody and spicy oil helps to stimulate circulation. Eucalyptus oil is often used in a steam inhalation to help clear nasal and sinus congestion. It is said to function in a fashion similar to that of menthol by acting on receptors in the nasal mucosa, leading to a reduction in the symptoms of, for example, nasal congestion.

Ginger is an incredible warming oil has a spicy scent and is very therapeutic.

Lavender oil is an amazing therapeutic oil. Stimulates new cell growth, lifts depression, calms nerves, fights infection, reduces inflammation, and eases congestion. Relieves pain and muscle spasm. Lowers blood pressure.

Menthol is actually a compound obtained from peppermint oil or other mint oils or made synthetically. Menthol has local anesthetic and counte rirritant qualities. It is contained in nonprescription products for short-term relief of minor sore throat and minor mouth or throat irritation. Menthol is also contained in combination products used for relief of muscle aches, sprains, and similar conditions. Menthol is often used with other ingredients such as camphor and eucalyptus for pain relief. Menthol is considered an antidote for many homeopathic compounds and should be avoided by people taking them.

Myrrh resin has been shown to kill various microbes and to stimulate macrophages (a type of white blood cell). Usnea has a traditional reputation as an antiseptic and was sometimes used for people with common colds.

Peppermint relieves pain, muscle spasm, reduces inflammation, fights infection, clears congestion, helps in digestion, and promotes good nerve health.

FluGo is a safe, non-addictive, FDA-registered homeopathic remedy containing ingredients especially selected to temporarily relieve symptoms of the flu or cold like cough, runny nose, fever, sore throat and fatigue. FluGo should be taken at the first sign of a blocked nose, sneezing or sore throat to decrease the severity of flu or cold symptoms.

This natural remedy works quickly to support the immune system and assist the body in its task of fighting invading germs. FluGo is a natural flu remedy taken internally and presented in small dissolving tablets. It is easy to ingest and hassle-free with no artificial colors or preservatives. As a result, FluGo can make all the difference, without compromising health. Formulated by a clinical psychologist, FluGo is pharmaceutically manufactured to the highest standards.

There are 14 primary meridian or channels in which qi flows through the body and acupressure removes blockages in these meridians. This pressure stimulates a natural healing process within the body.

When the different points are pressed muscular tension is released and this promotes better circulation of blood and other life’s forces, which will then aid in healing.

Acupressure is safe to do on oneself as well as to have a professional person who uses acupressure may apply the pressure. The best part is that there is no equipment needed, only your hands.

Acupressure can relieve arthritis, backaches eyestrain, headaches, neck pain, muscle aches, and tension aches as well as constipation, indigestion, menstrual cramping, and the pain from ulcers. Applying acupressure can also help you to sleep better at night.

Acupressure can help to balance your body and maintain good health by reducing tension; increasing your circulation and allowing your re learn how to relax deeply. Using acupressure can strengthen your resistance to illnesses and help to promote wellness.

A professional person who practices acupressure may use acupressure and also deep breathing exercises, range-of-motion exercises, and relaxation techniques to help individuals improve their health.

When faced with severe neck pain from arthritis, using acupressure an individual can experience increased mobility and decreased pain.

Acupressure is not only helpful for relieving pain it can also rebalance the body by getting rid of the stresses and tension build up and thus keep your body functioning better and increasing the effectiveness of the immune system so the individual can resist disease.

When an individual catches a cold or the flu the body goes into protective mode by increasing the mucous membranes in the nose in order to flush out the virus that causes the cold or flu. Acupressure cannot cure a cold or flu, but by putting pressure on appropriate points the body can be stimulated to expel the virus more quickly so you feel better faster.

Acupressure is not a substitute for professional medical care but an alternative medicine that helps to relieve symptoms and helps the body to heal itself.

Certain points like the tonic point must not be used during pregnancy so it is vital that those who are pregnant receive acupressure from someone trained in the techniques of acupressure.

* Pour 15-20 drops of Eucalyptus oil into a bowl of steaming hot water. Cover your head with a towel and inhale the vapors.
* A personal steam vaporizer inhaler can also be used with smaller amounts of oil and water used.
* Sprinkle a few drops onto a hankerchief and inhale to help clear the nasal passages.
* Place a few drops on the washcloth when showering to allow the hot water to release the vapors.
* Make an atomizer sprayer by mixing 1 part oil to 100 parts water in a fine mist spray bottle (eg. 1 teaspoon eucalyptus oil to 1 pint of water).(An old clean household spray bottle can be used).
* Mix equal parts oil with Baby oil and gently massage the chest, neck and back to help relieve chest congestion.
* Mix a few drops with VICKS VAPORUB (R) to rub on chest or under the nose.
* Add 1-2 teaspoons of oil to a hot water vaporizer or cold air humidifier to help assist breathing.
* Add 1-2 teaspoons to a plastic water trough placed above a circulating hot water or forced air heating system to allow the vapors to fill the air.

SORE THROATS

* A Gargle with warm Salt Water and a drop or two of Eucalytptus Oil will help ease the pain of a sore throat.
* a few drops in a glass of water can also be used as a mouthwash and rinse (avoid swallowing).

MUSCLE ACHES AND PAINS

* Eucalyptus oil can be used mixed with other oils such as Baby Oil, Almond Oil or Jojoba Oil to use as a massaging liniment to relieve aches and pains of muscle stiffness, soreness or cramping.
* The same mix can be used on joints, tendons, and ligaments to help relieve symptoms of arthritis, rheumatism, fibrositis, and sore tendons.
* The same oil mix can be used as a muscle toner to massage the muscles before a workout or jog.

AROMATHERAPY BATHS, SPAS, HOT TUBS and JACUZZIS

* Add 1-2 teaspoons to the Bath, Jacuzzi, Spa or Hot Tub water to enjoy a fresh invigorating aromatic experience. The gently fine champagne like bubbles will fill the air with an invigorating aroma that will relax and revitalize the senses. *The oil will help moisturize the skin.

SAUNAS

* Eucalyptus oil can be used in either wet or dry saunas and steam room to provide an invigorating aromatic experience. A word of CAUTION the oil should not be applied directly to hot coals or stones as it is flammable. Dilute 1 part oil to 100 parts water and use in a spray bottle as described. Spray onto the walls and into the air not on the hot coals.
* The eucalyptus/water mix can be placed in the water trough over the hot stones to allow for vaporization.

HOME AIR FRESHENER

Glade

* Add equal parts water and oil to refill a used Plug-in GLADE(R) or WIZARD (R) Brand Scented Oil Air Freshener. Plug the unit into a household socket and adjust the vent to allow for vapor dispersement.
*Add the same mix to a candle based aroma or incense vase. (Do not apply any direct flame as the oil is flammable.)
* Add 1 -2 teaspoons to water of Vaporizer or Humidifier when in use during Winter months.
* Soak used Airfreshener wicks with Eucalytpus oil to reuse as air fresheners in the bathroom etc.

FOOT BATHS

* Foot Baths can be prepared by adding 1 teaspoon to the warm water of a foot bath to provide excellent relief to tired aching feet.

SCALP MASSAGE AND HAIR TREATMENT

* A few drops of eucalyptus oil either applied directly to the scalp or
* mixed with shampoo can be used to stimulate the blood flow to the hair and help revitalize dull or shedding hair.

FACE AND BODY CARE

* A few drops of Eucalyptus Oil can be added to your favorite Skin Cleansing Cream , Soap Cleanser, Facial scrub, Skin Moisturizer etc.

CUTS, SCRAPES and BRUISES

* Dilute Essential oils including Eucalyptus and Tea Tree Oil are good at cleaning, relieving pain and preventing infection to help promote healing of cuts and scrapes. A good solution of 10 drops Eucalyptus oil, 20 drops of tea tree oil mixed in 100 ml of water placed in a spritzer bottle an be used to clean affected skin areas, ease the pain and promote healing.

INSECT BITES AND REPELLENT

* Eucalyptus oil provides quick relief from the pain of insect bites from mosquitoes, noseeums, fleas, sand flies and other biting bugs. Just rub a small amount of the pure oil onto the swollen area of the bite.
* Neat or mixed with Canola oil, Eucalyptus oil can be used as a insect repellent. Blend into 100ml canola oil with 30 drops eucalyptus oil,10 drops of basil oil and 10 drops of citronella oil. Rub over exposed area. .
* A few drops sprinkled on a cloth and placed on the floor may help keep bugs away from food or refrigerators.
* As Eucalyptus oil burns like kerosene it can be used in Kerosene lamps neat or mixed with kerosene to keep flying insects away.
* Eucalyptus oil added to hair shampoos can help prevent head lice.
*Sprayed inside leggings od waders to ward off leeches.

GARDEN SPRAY and USE

* Eucalytptus Garden spray is safe natural and non residual ideal to keep bugs off plants. Mix 1 teaspoonful with 1/2 teaspoon of Dishwashing liquid and mix with 2 large cups of water. (500ml). Spray around seedlings and base of the plants to prevent slugs and snails and onto leaves to keep bugs away
* Soak a length of string in Eucalyptus Oil and wind around the stem of the plant.
* For Garden Pond add a few drops of Eucalyptus oil to a floating artificial flower or lily.

LAUNDRY USES

* Clean and freshen your laundry by adding 1-2 teaspoonfuls of Eucalyptus Oil to each load of wash.
* A popular wool wash recipe used to keep woolens soft and fluffy. Mix 300 grams Pure Soap Flakes with 200ml methylated spirits then add 50ml Eucalyptus oil. Store in a screw capped glass jar. Use 1 tablespoon of the mix per garment to be washed. Dissolve first the amount in warm water then add to wash water. Hand wash or machine wash on the wool cycle. Squeeze and roll in a towel to remove excess water. Keep garment in shape while drying.
* Soak stains, grass, grease, ink etc with diluted eucalyptus about 1 hour before washing.
* You can quickly remove Chewing Gum, paint, oil, grease,ballpoint ink marks from clothes and , shoes using the pure oil.

BATHROOM , KITCHEN CLEANER

* Use the washing machine recipe 2-3 tablespoons per gallon of hot water or
* add 1-2 teaspoons of Eucalyptus oil to the diluted deodorizing cleaning solutions such a LYSOL, PINESOL, MR CLEAN etc. to use as a Bathroom/Kitchen cleaner. The Oil helps deodorize, disinfect and clean the tile, sinks and porcelin areas of the bathroom and kitchen.eg Add 1 teaspoon Eucalyptus Oil, 1/2 cap PINESOL to 600 ml spray bottle to spray and wipe skins, baths and toilets.
* Add this mix or small amount of eucalyptus oil directly to toilet water in the bowl to assist in disinfection.

MOLD AND MILDEW

* The above recipes can also be used in areas of the house where mold and mildew may build up.
* Shoes can be wiped with a damp cloth mixed with a few drops of eucalyptus oil.
* Mildew smelling clothes and linens can be washed by adding 1-2 teaspoons to the wash water.

EUCALYPTUS SPRAY

* A Spray mix can be made-up by adding 1 teaspoons (5ml) to 500 ml of water placed in a spray bottle (a used plastic spray bottle). Use the spray as a general spray for dusting, deodorizing, cleaning to leave a good clean fresh smell. Simply spray and wipe all dust collecting areas with a damp cloth.
* Use the spray on the mattress, bed sheets, pillows and carpet in the bedroom.
* Spray closets and storage areas to ward off bugs and deodorize.
* Spray tables, countertops and benches with this or the cleaning solution. Use spray in the car, boat or campers in addition.
* Spray on glass, mirrors windows etc to use as a degreaser. Wipe with dry or moist towel.
* Many other uses include cleaning telephones, furnishings, shoes, leather goods of stains and odors.

CARPET FRESHNER

* A reported recipe for a Carpet Freshener is to mix 25ml Euclytptus oil with 500 grams of Sodium Bicarbonate. (Baking Soda). Sprinkle on, leave an 1 hour and vacuum. This helps control fleas in the carpet.

AIR CONDITIONERS

* Wash Air Conditioner Filters in soapy water with 1 teaspoon of eucalyptus oil added.
* Spray Eucalyptus Spray into the intake vent when AC is working.

CARS, BOATS, CAMPERS AND RV’s

Many of the above listed uses can be applied to cleaning , deodorizing and freshing the air inside cars, boats, campers and RV’s.

* Soak a used hanging car freshener with a capfull of Eucalyptus oil and reinstall.
* Replace used wick or plastic clip fresheners with pure eucalyptus oil.

PET CARE.

Since dogs and cats have a much higher sense of smell use minimal amounts.

* For Flea control add 1/2 teaspoon to the wash water or a few drops to the pets shampoo. a dry bath using 2 cups of warm water, 4 drops of Eucalyptus oil and 2 drops of cedarwood oil and use a brush on the coat. Wash the bedding with warm soapy water and a few drops of eucalytptus oil. Rinse well. Spray around the sleeping quarters to sanitize and deodorize.
* Liniment rubs for muscle and joints. (use 1/2 strength of human mix.).
* Cuts and scratches can be bathed in dilute oil and water.
* Inhalation therapy using a vaporizer can be used for pets with respiratory problems and lung congestion.

Check, if in doubt, with your Veterinarian if use is applicable.

The result is the production of mucus in the lungs and a persistent cough that may last several days or weeks.

Bronchitis also may cause wheezing a whistling or squeaky sound when you breathe, chest pain or discomfort, a low fever, and shortness of breath.

Read the rest of this article here: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment of Bronchitis

Premenstrual Syndrome, commonly known as PMS, affects women hormonally and causes many annoying symptoms in the week or two prior to the onset of the menstrual cycle.

The symptoms leave nothing to spare they come at you physically, emotionally and psychologically. Some of the more obvious ones are bloating, crying, fatigue, depression, tender breasts, mood swings and headaches.

Not all women suffer with PMS but it affects approximately eighty percent of them. The highest occurence is in women in their late twenties and early forties. Most of the time women only experience minor symptoms that last just a couple days.

In these cases, the symptoms are easily treatable. A small number of these cases pose severe symptoms that can easily disrupt the victims’ social and work life for up to 2 weeks.

In almost all cases, the beginning of menstruation marks the end of the symptoms. There is a more serious form of PMS called Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder, or PMDD, that causes severe problems both emotionally and physically. PMDD causes severe depression, anxiety, heavy tension and mood swings. Only about five to seven percent of women are ever diagnosed with PMDD and it typically calls for prescription medication to treat the anxiety and depression.

There is no real way to actually diagnose premenstrual syndrome. One thing you can do on your own is to keep a diary of the different signs and symptoms that you notice in the weeks leading up to your menstrual cycle. This will allow you to find a pattern and know what to expect from month to month.

No two women experience the exact same problems in the same way. Some womens symptoms are barely noticable while others find their lives completely disrupted for the duration. Some of the most common symptoms include: Bloating in the abdomen, weepiness, weight gain, anxiety, tender breasts, tension, backache, tension, joint pain, depression, muscle aches, anger, fatigue, irritability, insomnia, mood swings, acne breakouts, changes in appetite and food cravings.

If you are leery about the side effects that prescription drugs pose then there are several herbs that can help you get through your time of the month. Don Quai is well known for it’s ability to stabilize the hormones and will help to keep your reproductive system in good working order. Fennel, Melissa and Pulsatilla can all help to suppress the symptoms of PMS and are good for your body in many other ways.

Simple changes in your lifestyle can also make a big difference. Make sure that you are eating a quality diet, getting plenty of exercise and sleeping plenty at night.

Femalite is a natural, safe and effective liquid herbal formula especially for women and the effective treatment of the symptoms of Pre-menstrual Syndrome (PMS). It contains three powerful ingredients – Fennel, Pulsatilla and Melissa – to treat the most troublesome symptoms of PMS.

Use Femalite for a few days before your period and say goodbye to bloating, sore breasts, menstrual cramps and mean mood swings! Created by a clinical psychologist, Femalite is pharmaceutically manufactured to the highest standards.

Anxiety disorders are the most common of all mental health disorders and affect the lives of millions of people every year, including approximately 19 million in the U.S. alone.

If you are one of them, you may wonder if your symptoms are are some of the tell-tale symptoms of anxiety disorder, and if there are behavioral and medical treatments that might be effective for you.

Anxiety is caused by a normal response that the body has to either a threat or danger. When confronted with a situation the brain searches for a similar event so that it can decide how to react. If there is no such event in storage then your body must react chemically.

At this point you would enter what is called a fight of flight mode. When a fight or flight mode is entered then you will likely experience symptoms such as sweaty palms or a racing heart. You will then either become aggressive and stand up for yourself or run like the wind.

Feeling fear and anxiety actually helps us to cope and accurately respond to stressful situations.  However, people with anxiety disorders feel stress even if there is no trigger there to set it off.  This can cause problems with their mental health, personal relationships, jobs, and physical health.

Not all anxiety disorders are the same; there are actually several different classes.  Plus, just because someone has one disorder doesn’t mean they can’t have another, or at least have some overlapping symptoms.   Here’s a basic overview of the broad types of anxiety disorders and their tell-tale symptoms.

Generalized anxiety disorder – While its normal for people to worry occasionally about things when there are lots of stressors, people with generalized anxiety disorder tend to never stop worrying.  They may be worried about finances even if they’re not tight, or constantly expecting bad things to happen even when they don’t.  This constant stress can also lead to physical symptoms like fatigue, headaches, muscle aches, trembling, twitching, hot flashes, sweating, and difficulty swallowing.

Panic disorder – Unlike generalized anxiety disorder, people with panic disorder don’t have anxiety all the time.  Anxiety attacks hit suddenly and without warning or cause.  A anxiety or panic attack is characterized by tight, pounding chest, terror, difficulty breathings, dizziness, shaking, nausea, numbness is extremities, chills or hot flashes, and a fear of losing control.

Social anxiety disorder – This is also known as social phobia and is an extreme fear of social interaction.  People with this disorder are constantly worried about people judging them or about being embarrassed in front of people.  For some people, the disorder is so severe they don’t participate in normal socializing activities and some are even mute in certain situations. 

Post traumatic stress disorder – This diagnosis has become much more prevalent in the past few years.  Often, people become ridden with anxiety after a traumatic event and constantly worry about similar situations happening again.  For more severe cases, the person can be left unable to live their normal life again.  While stressful events trigger the symptoms, not everyone in a similar situation will develop PTSD.

Obsessive compulsive disorder – This is an anxiety disorder that includes persistent unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and behaviors (compulsions).  Someone may obsess over germs and then compulsively clean and sanitize.  Compulsive behavior often includes rituals that must be done before a person can go on with their daily lives and activities.

The problem with some anxiety disorders is that many people don’t even realize they have them.  If they’ve had the problem their whole life, it’s something they simply see as a normal part of life.  Others will likely just see them as overprotective or simply a worry wart and just write it off.  While it may just seem like an inconvenience, it can build into a real problem.

The good news is that these disorders and their tell-tales symptoms are treatable.  There are many new medications and therapies that can help you live a normal, healthy life.

We Recommend:

PureCalm is a natural, safe and effective liquid herbal formula that works quickly to eliminate symptoms of tension, anxiety, stress, panic attacks and irritability.

Created by a clinical psychologist, this remedy is pharmaceutically manufactured to the highest standards, combining the soothing properties of Lemon Balm with those of Lavender and Passion Flower, to bring you relief within minutes!

For those who suffer from chronic anxiety and severe panic attacks, combine Purecalm with MindSoothe for effective long-term reduction of your symptoms.

When you get a fever, it usually doesn’t come alone.  It can be accompanied by head and muscle aches, chills, lack of interest in food, nausea, vomiting, digestive issues, and a host of other problems.  That’s because fever often isn’t the problem; it’s usually just one symptom of a bigger problem, and the other symptoms will depend on what that cause is.  A sustained fever is generally the sign of an infection, but can also be caused by sun exposure, allergic reaction, hot weather, or as a reaction to an immunization.

Fever is the body’s natural way to get rid of problems.  That’s why the normal treatment is to simply wait it out.  While this is a good idea in theory, in actuality it can be painful and uncomfortable.  However, there are some things you can do to lower your fever and make yourself more comfortable.

You should monitor someone with a fever closely and regularly take their temperature to make sure their fever isn’t getting worse. 

Be sure to keep them hydrated.  While they may not want to drink anything due to an upset stomach, keeping fluids in the body will help the body work better and more efficiently regulate temperature so the person will get better faster.  You should take extra care to replace fluids if the person is experiencing vomiting or diarrhea.  If they can’t drink water, try flattened soda like 7up or Sprite.

To help reduce fever and decrease some of the aches and pains associated with it, take acetaminophen.  Never give anyone with a fever aspirin, especially kids.

When someone has a fever, they probably want to be wrapped in blankets to help prevent chills.  The problem with this is that the blanket keeps the heat from escaping and traps it close to the body.  This will not only prevent the fever from going down, it may actually raise body temperature.  Do your best to keep them comfortable while allowing their body to cool.  You can keep them in a cool room with light clothing, or give them a bath or sponge bath in lukewarm water. 

While most fevers can be treated at home, there are cases where you may need medical help.  You should see a doctor if your fever is very high (over 104 degrees), or is sustained for several days.  You should also see a doctor if you have additional symptoms including:  confusion, rash, painful urination, convulsions, stiff neck, trouble breathing, or severe vomiting or diarrhea.

Many people live with joint pain on a regular basis and just assume they’re getting arthritis, but not all joint pain is caused by arthritis, and not all joint pain (or arthritis) is treated in the same way. That’s why it’s important to recognize the symptoms so your doctor can correctly identify and treat what is wrong with you, rather than treat you incorrectly and find the correct diagnosis later.

Joint pain is the most common known symptom of arthritis. The pain can be mild to severe, and is generally persistent. While it may be worse when you stand, walk, run or perform other activities, this doesn’t mean it goes away when you’re resting. In addition to being painful, arthritic joints tend to become swollen, red and inflamed. While the pain and swelling are generally just an inconvenience to begin with, if arthritis is not treated they can become severe and severely limit your physical activity.

Some arthritis causes bones to actually build up. This causes pain, but will also begin to deform your joints, particularly if it’s in the fingers and hands. You may notice hard lumps start to grow on the sides of fingers or other affected joints.

Another common symptom of arthritis is the loss of range of motion. You may not be able to bend a joint as far as you used to because of pain or swelling. While minor loss of range of motion can be mildly annoying, if they symptoms get worse it can begin to affect your daily life and activities.

There are other less common symptoms associated with arthritis that have little to nothing to do with the joints themselves. People with certain types of arthritis can experience fever, fatigue, mood problems and weight loss.

Most people are surprised to find out there are over 100 different types of arthritis. Plus, even if two people have the same kind, they will probably have somewhat different symptoms. For proper arthritis diagnosis, you should always see your doctor.

When you visit your doctor, she will likely take a history of your symptoms, perform a physical exam, and perform x-rays and other tests to confirm the diagnosis, but also to rule out other conditions that could be causing your symptoms.

While many people can treat minor arthritis with over-the-counter medication, you should still see a physician to make sure it isn’t something more serious. They can also help recommend what kind of medication or other therapy would be best for your specific case.

Simply living with arthritis is not something you have to do. While arthritis is not curable, there are many treatments to manage the pain, as well as slow progression and treat the underlying cause of the problem.

There are also some natural remedies which can help arthritis pain:

Ginger Liniment

This healing massage oil is great for muscle aches and stiff joints.

* 2-inch piece fresh Ginger

* 1/2 cup Almond oil

Grate Ginger and combine with oil in a small, nonmetallic saucepan. Cover and simmer over low heat for 1 hour. Remove from heat and steep for another hour. Strain oil to remove bits of Ginger. Using a nonmetallic funnel, pour liniment into a four-ounce glass bottle with a tight-fitting screw top. Attach the following instructions on a gift tag:

To use, gently massage the oil into affected area twice a day until symptoms have disappeared.

Mustard Plaster for Arthritis Pain

Here’s an old fashioned remedy that I use to relieve my Arthritis pains. I make what you call a Mustard plaster.

To do this you need to mix together 2 parts flour with 1 part Mustard powder, then add some water to make a paste. Spread it on a clean cloth of some sort, fold it in half and press against the skin. Don’t put the salve directly on the skin since it can burn.

You can also use this to loosen phlegm or for sore muscles

Arthritis and Gout Oil

* 1 Tablespoon fresh crushed Rosemary
* 3 teaspoons Celery seeds crushed
* 1 large Chilli crushed
* 250 ml oil any Carrier Oil but canola

Sterilize jar, place oil and other ingredients [make sure it covers] close, shake place in sunny spot for 10 days shaking every day strain into dark sterilized jars.

FANTASTIC for gout, Arthritis or aches and pains

Dee Braun, a single mom of 6, is a Certified Aromatherapist, Dr. of Reflexology and natural health practitioner. Click now to visit Health or High Water at http://www.healthorhighwater.com/ where you’ll find info on ways to improve your health using nutritional supplements to help battle the ravages of time, poor nutrition, toxins & arthritis.

by D.S. Braun

Most natural moist hot and cold pads on the market are made of corn or rice – and while these two fillers can be adequate, I believe that pure, natural flax simply beats either of these two materials hands down. Flax is the superior choice due to heat retention, long-lasting heat use after use, neutral smell, high moisture content and in how it contours to your body, unlike the inferior alternative fillings.

Additionally, the  moist heating and cold pads on the market today seem to be using a ‘shotgun’ approach. This means that they have combined a dozen or more herbs and put them in with their pad filler and expect these herbs to effectively treat many conditions.

The simple fact of the matter is that several of the herbs they include in their moist heating pads have NO therapeutic effect whatsoever when delivered through an herbal hot and cold pad simply because they are either bark or root and need the process of decocting in order to provide the most benefit. I use varying combinations of 3 herbal flowers  that have proven therapeutic qualities through their aromas, and several oils which also have proven health benefits to mind and body via the sense of smell.

These moist hot and cold pads can be used for a wide variety of complaints and conditions including: pain, swelling, elevated temperature, stress, insomnia, cramping, muscle aches & pains, head pain, arthritis, rheumatism, gout,  anxiety, and many others.

Here are my four main suggestions for making an *effective* herbal pillow or moist heating pad or cold pad:

1) Use a small combination of herbs (3 or less) that pertain to what you would like the pillow for.

2) Add appropriate oils to the herbs (no more than 3 or 4 different oils – sprinkle 30 drops TOTAL over the herbs) – this strengthens both the aroma and the therapeutic effects.

3) Make your herbal pillow in the size and shape you need – there really is no limitation here. Use materials such as cotton and flannel – and I always make them in two layers if using cotton. Also, those decorative quilting and pillow squares make *unbelievably* beautiful herbal pillows. Simply make a cotton herbal pillow and then ‘cover’ with a sewn quilting square for the front and flannel for the back of the pillow.

4) Use flax as a base – especially if you’re going to heat the pillows and use them as treatment pillows.

Why Flax?

Well, this one is pretty easy to answer. If you’ve ever had a corn heating pad you know that they are bulky, heavy and sometimes downright uncomfortable to use on a part of your body that is already in pain. The rice heating pads are a little easier on the sore spots, but flax has them both beat, by a long shot.

The benefits of flax are:

Comfort – Flax is a very very small, smooth seed. This means that when used as a filler in a natural heating pad it will conform to any body part smoothly and easily. The difference in the very feel of a flax pad compared to corn or rice is beyond description. Flax is more comfortable, it conforms easily to odd-shaped areas you may need the heat or cold therapy and it has no sharp ends or parts to poke and prod your body.

Moisture – Because of flax’s high oil content, it simply retains moisture better than most any other natural pad filler including hulls, corn and rice. Flax also has a porous shell, unlike rice or corn – therefore it has superior moisture absorption qualities.

Heat – Flax will continue to provide moist, long-lasting heat use after use, without drying out and burning the filler of the same bulk and weight. Flax has a 40 percent oil content compared to about 15 percent for rice and 4 percent or less for corn.

Smell – Flax will not have that ‘cooked food’ smell to interfere with the benefits of aromatherapy in the pads. Although it is possible to burn flax seed, with normal use it will have a neutral smell, which allows the herbs and oils present in the pads to do their work unhindered.

Five basic blends to use in your natural heating pad for common ailments:

Headache/Migraine Blend

Blend of pure flax , organic lavender and chamomile flowers; with lavender, chamomile and rosemary oils. Used hot or cold, the herbs and oils in these pads will help ease headache and migraine pain, as well as relax and soothe both mind and body. Don’t let the name fool you, this blend is good for all types of body pain!

Tension/Stress Blend

This blend was formulated with relaxation and stress reduction in mind. It contains a blend of pure flax, organic lavender and chamomile flowers; as well as ylang ylang, chamomile and lavender oils – all herbs which help quiet the mind and relax the body to help you unwind and achieve a state of calm after a tension-filled day.

Muscle/Joint Aches & Pains Blend

Using a blend of pure flax, organic lavender flowers; clary sage, cinnamon, lemongrass and chamomile oils, this blend is optimal for helping to relieve those aching strained muscles, arthritis and gout pain, or any other type of muscular/skeletal ache.

Cold & Flu Blend

An herbal pillow can be a great additional treatment to help you beat that nasty cold or flu. A blend of pure flax, organic lavender flowers; frankincense, thyme, lavender and eucalyptus oils will help ease congestion and coughs as well as help you relax so you can get the rest you need to recover from the bug that has bitten you.

Insomnia Blend

We all know that a good night’s rest is essential to good health and an Insomnia Blend herbal pillow can help you more easily attain that restful sleep we all require. A relaxing blend of pure flax, organic lavender, hops and chamomile flowers; ylang ylang, lavender, chamomile and clary sage oils produces a calming, soothing aroma to help you fall asleep more quickly.

Using and caring for your herbal pillow:

Use as a heating pad for conditions including: Fibromyalgia, head pain, ear pain, joint pain, Cramps, Asthma, Body Warmth, Tension, Anxiety, sleep problems, Congestion, Coughs,

Use as a cold pad for conditions including: Eye strain, Sprains & Strains, head pain, Black Eyes, Nerve Pain, Fever, Bruises, Post Op Healing, Swelling

To use hot: Simply heat in a microwave for 2-4 minutes – depending on your microwave. Use caution when handling a hot Herbillow. Do not overheat. To help keep your herbal pillow fresh and last even longer, lightly spritz with water before heating.

To use cold: Simply place your herbal pillow in a freezer container or ziplock bag and place in the freezer for 1-2 hours – or, leave an extra herbal pillow in your freezer for those unexpected emergencies!

To clean: Simply wipe the surface of your herbal pillow with a damp cloth. You can also make a removable cover for your herbal pillow which can be machine washed. Do not immerse or machine wash the inner bag. If an herbal pillow which doesn’t have a removable, washable cover truly needs a thorough cleaning, put it in the top rack of your dishwasher and run the lightest cycle (WITHOUT detergent). Air dry.

Don’t have time to make your own moist heating pad?

Now you can have the ability to use hot and cold therapy with these special soothing hot pack and cold pack herbal treatment products.  You can even control the hot pack moisture to suit your preference.  All of these hot and cold therapy treatment pads can be put in a microwave for hot therapy or put in a freezer for cold therapy.  They do not contain rice as a filler, but rather natural flax seed and barley beads and 13 different healing herbs to help relieve stress, tension, and soothe those tired and achy muscles and joints. These hot packs are microwavable and are heated in just 1-2 minutes, making them very convenient and easy to use.  Adding a little bit of water to the microwavable hot pack before heating it will give it a steamy moist thermal effect. We know you will love them, but we offer a 30 day money back guarantee on these products! Learn more about our Herbal Healing Pads now!

Why not learn how to make your own Aromatherapy blends?

If you would like to learn Reflexology, Color Therapy, Reiki, Holistic Beauty Therapy, Anatomy & Physiology, Crystal Therapy, Crystal Reflexology or Aromatherapy at your own pace in your own home, please check out Alternative Healing Academy’s Home Study Courses.

We offer a wide range of comprehensive holistic health courses at affordable prices. Take a minute to read our FAQ and our Testimonials – you’ll be glad you did! The Alternative Healing Academy even offers payment plans! You are also welcome to contact us with any questions.

The flu is an illness which is caused by a virus. This virus resides and multiplies in both the nodes in the back of the throat. Although the mechanism of transmission and the places in which the virus grows are the same, the flu is not the same as the common cold. This is because the viruses are different. The common cold will have milder, yet similar, symptoms to the flu and cold is less likely to cause serious complications.

The flu is a contagious respiratory illness that is caused by a virus and can cause mild to severe effects in the body. Sometimes the illness can be fatal. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention the best way to prevent getting seasonal flu is to get a vaccination each and every year. According to the CDC statistics between five and 20% of the population gets the flu on an annual basis and more than 200,000 people are hospitalized. Each year approximately 36000 people die from flu related causes. The majority of these individuals who suffer mortality are children, older individuals and people who have health conditions which negatively impact their immune system, such as asthma, diabetes or heart disease.

Fortunately, research continues to go on about the methods of transmission and the growth process of the virus inside the body. New information is reaching the public through media coverage about the types of different natural products which can be used in order to prevent or treat the symptoms of flu.

Individuals who have the flu will suffer from high fevers, headache, extreme tiredness, dry cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose and muscle aches. Other symptoms, such as stomach aches, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, can also occur are more common in children than in adults. Individuals who suffer from a severe form of the disease can also suffer from complications which include bacterial pneumonia, ear infections, sinus infections and dehydration.

The fluid gets its name from the virus which causes the illness, influenza. These respiratory diseases are caused by influenza A. or influenza B. viruses and are frequently more active in the winter and early spring. Scientists have recognized this pattern of activity and pinpointed other means of prevention and treatment based on the activities of individuals. For instance, recent research has indicated that individuals who receive high amounts of vitamin D through sunshine exposure during the winter and early spring will significantly reduce their risk of contracting the influence of virus even if exposed.

Although the symptoms of a cold and the flu are similar the symptoms of the flu are much worse. While a cold may make you feel dragged down the flu will make it almost impossible for you to get out of bed. There are more than a hundred different types of cold viruses that are known to researchers today and very new strains of the flu installs every few years. This is why the flu vaccine must change every few years in order to keep up with the new strains that are developing. Unfortunately, scientists are unable to anticipate the genetic mutations which the flu virus undergoes and must vaccinate individuals based on the influenza virus from the previous year’s season.

The flu virus is spread from person to person through respiratory secretions. This means that any fluid which comes from the mouth or nose through a sneeze or cough can transmit the influenza virus to another person. Because of the ease of transmission individuals who are a part of day care facilities, school classrooms, college dormitories, nursing homes and offices are at higher risk for contracting the illness when someone in their midst also has it.

Once an individual coughs into their hands, sneezes onto a doorknob or uses a telephone the influenza virus can be transmitted to the next person. Symptoms usually develop one to four days after the individual has becoming infected with the virus. The infection happens through hand to nose or mouth contact. In other words, if you touch a door handle which has the flu virus and then rub your eyes or brush your nose you are inoculating yourself with the influence of virus.

For most people the flu virus lasts approximately a week, sometimes two. Treatment is supportive. In other words individuals will find that their body heal on its own when given enough fluids, Rest and support through fever as well as proper nutrition. The old wives tale of feed a cold, starve a fever has no basis in nutrition. The body requires adequate amounts of calories, vitamins and minerals in order to be able to fight off the influenza virus.

Did you know that essential oils are great for not only helping your environment smell wonderful, but also to help improve your health? There are literally hundreds of different kinds of essential oils that you can buy. These are made from natural plant materials that are pressed or steamed to create the oil. Most essential oils are made from various parts of different plants, including the petal, bark, root or leaves. Some grasses, fruits and even seeds and seed pods are used to make essential oils, too. Each of these oils are unique in that they do have healing properties. This makes it easy to find an essential oil to suit all of your health needs.

Do you have joint, muscle or ligament pain? You can use several different kinds of oils in aromatherapy to help ease the hurt muscles. You can also use the oils with a carrier and rub it on the affected area. A  few essential oils you can use for this purpose include lavender (great in a warm bath with Epsom salts), chamomile, rosemary and wintergreen. These will really help ease the pain of all sorts of muscle aches and pains.

Using some well-chosen essential oils for your first aid kit is also a great idea. Did you know that tea tree oil can help a whole host of problems? Tea tree oil is THE essential oil to add to your medicine cabinet. Not only can it serve as a disinfectant, but it can also help ease the pain from sunburns, and other skin irritations. Rub some diluted tea tree oil on scraps and minor scratches and it can help heal quickly. If you have been stung or bitten by an insect, then tea tree oil can help take the inflammation and swelling down quickly and naturally.

You can also use a variety of essential oils to aid your digestion. If you are having problems with your digestion system, then the right oil can certainly help you. Ginger can help you. You have probably heard that ginger ale and even ginger cookies can help a tummy when it is feeling sick. It makes sense that ginger essential oil can also do the same thing. Black pepper oil and basil are also tops for easing the digestion system.

When you want to help your body the natural way, then look no further than these great essential oils. Why use expensive medications when you can try to heal your body naturally. Most of these oils are safe for all people and works quickly and effectively.

1. Diagnosis of Anxiety Disorders

When anxiety becomes so chronic or intense that it affects the person’s day to day functioning and hampers performance, we will usually diagnose an Anxiety Disorder. Some people have what is called a Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). This means that their anxiety does not have a specific focus like, for example, a phobia, but ismore ‘free floating’ and forms part of their everyday functioning and response to life. Symptoms of GAD include motor tension (edginess, jumpiness, trembling, restlessness, twitching, muscle aches, easily startled, furrowed brow, inability to relax), autonomic activity (sweating, heart palpitations, dry mouth, dizziness, tingling in hands and feet, upset stomach, shortness of breath, frequent urination), apprehensive expectation (anxiety, fear, worry, and persistent thoughts of potential misfortune), vigilance and scanning (constantly on the alert for danger, failure or disaster, resulting in difficulties in concentration, irritability, impotence and insomnia). GAD is diagnosed if these symptoms have been present continuously for more than one month.

Other sufferers of anxiety are diagnosed with Panic Disorder, Phobic Disorders, or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.

A Panic Disorder will be diagnosed if there are at least three panic attacks within a three-week period in reaction to situations that are not life threatening and which are not associated with physical exertion. Symptoms include shortness of breath or choking sensations, heart palpitations, chest pain, dizziness or faintness, tingling in hands or feet, hot and cold flashes, sweating, trembling, fear of dying or heart attack,and a feeling of unreality or danger.

Phobic Disorders include a persistent fear and compelling desire to avoid an object or situation to the extent that the person’s life, functioning, and relationships are significantly impaired. Examples of phobic events include Social Phobia (fear of embarrassment in social situations) and Agoraphobia (fear of public places), fear of heights, flying, etc. Phobic objects may include anything from animals and insectsto numbers or colors.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) may take the form of excessive and intrusive obsessive thoughts, images or impulses that are almost impossible to ignore or stop, even if the individual understands that they are senseless or unfounded. The disorder may also include repetitive and often purposeless behaviors that are often performed according to certain rules and which are sometimes believed to prevent or produce some future situation or event. The person does not find the activity pleasurable but does experience a sense of relief from tension when performing it. The obsessive thoughts, behaviors or impulses usually interfere significantly with functioning.

2. Causes of Anxiety Disorders

There are many different theories about the causes of anxiety disorders. Some theories say that they are genetic and are purely chemical in nature. There is some evidence for this, as anxiety disorders very often tend to run in families, even when children have been adopted at birth and never meet their biological parents. Other theorists say that extreme anxiety is learned from an overly anxious parent or that it originates from some trauma during early childhood or from overly punitive parenting. It is very likely that there is usually a combination of these potential causes and each case must be viewed as a unique one and well investigated before any pronouncements are made about the causes.

3. Differential Diagnosis

When we speak about differential diagnosis, we speak about ruling out the possibility that the anxiety symptoms may be caused by something other than an Anxiety Disorder. Anybody who experiences clusters of symptoms similar to those discussed above should always have a thorough medical examination. Symptoms similar to those above may be attributable to thyroid problems, heart problems (particularly mitral valve), reactions to certain prescription or recreational drugs, and even ear infections or allergies. If these are ruled out, the likelihood is that the person is suffering from an anxiety disorder. It makes little sense to keep treating someone for anxiety when that is not the real problem and it is surprising how often that actually happens!

4. Treatment

Different therapists treat anxiety in different ways and this depends largely on their particular training, experience, and outlook. Also some clients respond better to one form of treatment than others and it is important for the therapist to do a thorough assessment and get to know his client before deciding on treatment.

Some therapists treat their clients with prescription drugs like anxiolytics, beta blockers, or even antidepressants. This means that they are treating the symptoms of the anxiety. Anxiety symptoms or OCD can often be successfully controlled by the careful use of prescription drugs. Unfortunately many of them can be addictive or produce side effects and the person often builds up a tolerance to them, needing to take more and more to achieve a similar effect. Another criticism is that no attention is paid to the causes of the anxiety or to helping the person learn ways of controlling or managing the anxiety without drugs.

Many therapists use techniques like progressive relaxation or meditation to help the client learn how to access his own calming response (everybody has one!) and to lower anxiety levels to more comfortable states.This is often combined with psychotherapy to help improve self-esteem and understand the causes of the anxiety, cognitive therapy to ‘reprogram’ the negative thoughts underlying the anxiety, or desensitization aimed at eliminating phobias.

There are also many natural products which help and may be used alone or in combination with therapy. It is usually best to speak to your pharmacist, health store owner, or health care professional to find out what is best for you and how to take it, but some common herbs are Passiflora, Pasque Flower, St Johns Wort, Melissa, Chamomile and Kava Kava. For more information go to Native Remedies

It is important to note that most anxiety disorders respond well to treatment and I would encourage anyone who suffers from anxiety to go for help. It can make all the difference to your life!

5. Self Help

There are many things that will help with anxiety.

If you are experiencing stress at work, in your relationships or anywhere else, look and see what changes need to be made. Get help if you feel you are unable to do this yourself.

Regular exercise is one of the most beneficial things one can do and has been shown to have a significant effect on lowering anxiety symptoms and improving well being. At least 45 minutes 3 – 5 times a week will make all the difference!

Make sure that you eat regularly to avoid fluctuations in blood sugar level and have at least 7 to 8 hours of sleep a night! Sleep deprivation can cause symptoms of anxiety.

Avoid stimulants like coffee, tea (except herbal teas), sugary foods, chocolate or carbonated drinks, particularly the cola variety. People who suffer from anxiety, who are at greater risk for dependence, should never take alcohol and most recreational drugs. These substances can also worsen the anxiety symptoms.

Include oats, bananas, avocado pears, whole-wheat pasta, bread and brown rice in your diet.

Set aside at least15 minutes twice a day to sit in a quiet spot, close your eyes and practice deep breathing. Listen to soothing music or a relaxation tape or CD.

If there is something specific that is causing anxiety (like shyness or fear of animals) see if you can’t gradually become accustomed to it, little by little. This will also improve your confidence and self esteem.

Talk to people about how you feel! Try and socialize, start a hobby, take up a sport or develop new interests! Perhaps think about offering your services as a volunteer to help others. Anything which takes your mind off yourself and keeps you interested will help!

Read as much as you can about anxiety and how to help yourself.

6. Conclusion

As we have discussed, anxiety can take many different forms and can be treated in many different ways. There are also many things which one can do oneself to control or significantly reduce the symptoms of anxiety. Most of these take some work and persistence, but then so does an Anxiety Disorder! Believe in yourself and spend time getting to know what works for you and then persevere with it. You will be surprised how much you can help yourself.

Good luck and be well!

Michele Carelse is a Registered Clinical Psychologist and Licensed Counselor with more than 15 years experience running her own private practice.

* 2-inch piece fresh ginger
* 1/2 cup almond oil

Grate ginger and combine with oil in a small, nonmetallic saucepan. Cover and simmer over low heat for 1 hour. Remove from heat and steep for another hour. Strain oil to remove bits of ginger. Using a nonmetallic funnel, pour liniment into a four-ounce glass bottle with a tight-fitting screw top. Attach the following instructions on a gift tag:

To use, gently massage the oil into affected area twice a day until symptoms have disappeared.

Bergamot (SS, S)
Great for nervous/depressed emotions…. antiseptic for skin conditions… regulates appetite…assists convalescence

Cedar, Himalayan (P, SS)
A very calming oil…eases bronchitis and respiratory ailments…combats cellulite

Chamomile, Roman
Aids skin conditions… eases migraines…relieves insomnia..soothing..anti-inflammatory use as a compress for ear-aches

Clary Sage (P)
Avoid if epileptic avoid alcohol, it may exaggerate the effects Produces vivid dreams …eases migraines balances female hormones….eases menstrual discomfort /PMS/ menopause… retards excessive perspiration

Eucalyptus (P)
Stimulating…anti-viral.. eases respiratory ailments…soothes sore muscles and sunburn pain… anti-bacterial properties inhibit spread of infection when used in a diffuser

Frankincense
Meditative.. tightens and tones skin… anti-aging.. stimulates cell regeneration… sooths and calms nerves… treats urinary tract infection.. anti-bacterial

Geranium, Rose
Regenerates and rejujinates skin cells and tissue.. anti-cellulite….eases stress.. balances hormone problems during menopause..relieves PMS

Ginger (SS)
Relief from arthritis pain, sprians, muscle aches and pains… keeps sport muscles supple… eases motion sickness, hangovers, jet lag… sexual tonic

Grapefruit (S)
Reduces cellulite & water retention … helps obesity…. relieves hot flashes and PMS …antidepressant

Jasmine Absolute (P)
Aphrodisiac.. long-lasting scent.. elevates spirits.. decreases depression/nervous tension.. strengthens male reproductive system … aids impotency… physically/ emotionally relaxing

Lavender
treats insomnia… anti-bacterial for skin rashes and burns.. eases pain of insect bites and stings… relieves headaches and migraines.. calming .. mild enough for children

Lemon (S)
refreshing stimulant.. astringent and anti-septic.. tonic to the lymphatic and digestive systems… conditions skin and nails… anti-aging agent

Lemongrass (SS)
energizes… great for exhaustion.. beneficial in treating digestion and stomach gas.. good for stimulating, deoderizing foot baths .. insect repellant

Neroli
anti-anxiety.. antidepressant… gentle sedative for insomnia… eases palpitaions …hypnotic/ euphoric.. smooths skin, stretch marks and scar tissue.. anti wrinkle… anti-spasmotic

Orange (SS, S)
mild sedative for anxiety and depression… plumps up aging and dry skin.. calming to overcome sadness…

Patchouli
sensual rejuvinator.. prevents wrinles and chapped skin .. anti-aging..curbs
appetite ..anti-bacterial

Peppermint (P, SS)
do not use before bedtime very awakening and stimulating… treats nasea and indigestion … eases travel sickness

Rose Absolute
heart warming aphrodisiac… relieves sexual debilities.. frigidity/impotency.. treats anorexia.. elevating to the mind.. confidence improving.. creates a sense of peaceful well-being

Rosemary
increases sensitivity…increases creativity.. lifts exhaustion… awakens your heart

Sandalwood
aphrodisiac… aids awareness and meditation… peaceful and inspiring

Tea tree (SS)
strengthens the immune system… powerful anti-viral.. anti-bacterial.. anti-fungal

Vetiver
good for stress and nervous tension… calming and balancing… treats dry, mature, irritated skin… aids in rheumatism.. circulation tonic

Ylang Ylang (SS)
most euphoric aphrodisiac..sexual energy .. relaxes body, mind and spirit…
aniti-depressant… relieves palpitations and anxiety

Key to symbols:
* P – avoid during pregnancy
* S – may iritate sun-exposed skin
* SS – may irritate sensitive skin

Pregnancy, labor and childbirth all put a strain on your body and general physical condition. Your body has gone through numerous changes in the last several months and needs to recover from the trauma of childbirth. It will gradually regain its pre-pregnancy state over approximately 6 weeks following delivery. This period is called the “postpartum period”.

Women who have had a normal vaginal delivery may be up and about after a few days, although their bodies will take several weeks to complete the healing process. For those who have had a Caesarean birth, recovery will take longer due to the after-effects of surgery and the wound-healing process.

Pain after childbirth may take the form of sharp, contraction-like ‘after-pains’ as the uterus shrinks to its normal size, sore muscles, pain, discomfort or numbness in the vaginal area, difficulty with urination and bowel movements and in some cases, pelvic and hip pain due to movement and destabilization of the bones.

While rest and time are the best healers, a little natural help can go a long way to provide relief and speed up the healing process!

What are Natural Eco‘s Birth-Heal Tablets and how can they help me?

NaturalEco Birth-Heal tablets are specially formulated to relieve the pain and discomfort experienced after labor, childbirth or a Caesarean section, increase the rate of healing, ease digestive problems and calm frazzled nerves.

Birth-Heal Tablets are a 100% natural remedy containing herbal, homeopathic and tissue salt ingredients for promoting quick and easy recovery from childbirth. Due to their specially chosen ingredients and unique manufacturing method, Birth-Heal tablets are safe to use by nursing mothers.

Use NaturalEco‘s Birth-Heal Tablets to:

* Speed up recovery from labor and childbirth
* Promote healing of perineal damage from the inside out
* Relieve the aches and pains experienced after labor
* Assist with healing after a Caesarean birth
* Relieve digestive discomfort and prevent constipation
* Impart a sense of calm and relaxation

Birth-Heal lactose tablets contain the following proven ingredients:

Silica is essential in the maintenance of healthy and strong skin and connective tissue. Used by the body for rebuilding damaged tissue it also stimulates cell metabolism, improving elasticity and reducing scarring.

Arnica (6C) is a healing homeopathic preparation used widely to treat sprains, muscle aches, bruising, inflammation and other conditions related to surgery, trauma or overexertion.

Mag. phos. is a biochemic tissue salt that acts as an antispasmodic and pain-reliever which is especially useful for afterpains and will also effectively treat digestive discomfort including cramps, flatulence and hiccups. Mag Phos also prevents constipation- a common postpartum complaint.

Passiflora incarnata also called Passion Flower, can relieve anxiety and induce a sense of calm and tranquility as well as reduce the pain experienced after childbirth. Passiflora is also valuable for its balancing effects on blood pressure.

Angelica sinensis (Don Quai) acts as a hormone regulator and is indispensable in bringing the hormones into balance after pregnancy and childbirth. This herb is highly respected in Traditional Chinese Medicine. It acts as a tonic herb for the reproductive system, addressing the overall health of your reproductive organs. Don Quai also helps to treat PCOS, irregular periods and the symptoms of estrogen dominance.

Lactose (inactive ingredient)

Testimonials

‘I can’t believe how quickly I was up and about after the birth of my daughter! I really think that Birth-Heal Tablets are the reason I bounced back so quickly after a long and traumatic labor. It was great to be able to really enjoy my little ones first few days of life feeling so well! As usual your products don’t disappoint!!!’ Laurie, VT

‘I just wanted to let you know how wonderfully effective I found your Birth-Heal Tablets for my recovery from childbirth. I had a third degree tear which I was assured would keep me in pain and out of action for at least a month. I also heard of all the ghastly complications and became very apprehensive. I used your NaturalEco Birth-Heal Tablets and the Easiotomy Cream, and I must say that the doctors were amazed at how well I healed and recovered. I am so grateful that I didn’t have to go through the seemingly-endless pain and inconvenience that everyone else expected. Thank you so much for a wonderful natural remedy that really works!’ Joy T., UK

‘I recovered so quickly after my caesarian that my husband thought I was being brave when actually I felt good and ready for action after about a week! I heard about arnica helping to heal after operations and I was so glad to find a product that was especially for pregnancy and a caesarian when I searched on the internet. This has really helped me so much I wanted to write and tell you, so thanks for giving me this opportunity. I know I will be using more of your remedies next time round as I did not know about them before during my pregnancy unfortunately. My sister has just found out that she is pregnant and I was happy to tell her about your remedies. She is thrilled because she likes the natural options. Thank you again!’ Miralda

How do I use Birth-Heal Tablets?

Suck two tablets in a clean mouth every two hours after the birth. Thereafter suck 4 tablets in a clean mouth three times a day for 5 days.

Caution: Not for use during pregnancy, prior to giving birth or before surgery.

Tip: Use together with our Easiotomy Cream for superior postnatal healing.

What else can help?

Every woman’s experience of childbirth is different and the recovery period will vary depending on a number of factors. The most important things that can affect recovery after childbirth are mode of delivery- vaginal or Caesarean section, episiotomies and tears and general physical health before delivery.

One of the most important things to aid your recovery is rest. This may seem ironic as you have never had less time to do just that in your life!

Try to rest whenever the baby has a nap or when your partner or other family member is around to watch the baby for awhile. Your body and mind will use the time you spend resting to repair and rejuvenate itself, allowing you to recover quickly.

Although it is vital to rest, it is also important to get up and about as soon as you can. Apart from the activities that are part and parcel of having a new baby (like pushing a stroller and carrying your baby around the house) you should also aim to do some gentle stretching. Swimming and walking are also excellent – but don’t overdo it!

The time after you have had your new baby is filled with family and friends visiting and coming to meet the new addition to the family. Although they are showing their love and concern for you, this can become a burden if you are not prepared for it.

When your loved ones come around, get them to help you by doing small tasks or errands or ask them to watch the baby while you do the things you don’t usually get a chance to do.

This is not the time to try and play the perfect hostess as your own health, well-being and sanity will suffer and it is vital that you look after yourself as well as your new little one at this special time.

Birth-Heal Tablets are manufactured according to the highest pharmaceutical standards. Individual ingredients are well-researched, natural, safe and effective.

Birth-Heal Tablets are backed by our 60-day money-back guarantee so you can experience relief risk-free.