Herb Consults

I found this question on Yahoo Answers while browsing the other day and thought you might find it interesting. It’s currently closed, but I would have answered it differently. I’ve included my answer at the end of this post.

My father has colon cancer and has been fighting it for 5 years. He is taking strong chemotherapy treatments but they really take a toll on him. I recently watched a movie in my Medical Anthropology class about ancient Chinese herbal treatments that could help along with the chemotherapy. After researching I couldn’t find any straight foreword recipes that I could make for him. Help please?

Truthseeker says: The Chinese herbal remedy successfully used together with chemotherapy is called Chung Kuo Chung Hsi Chieh Ho Tsa Chih. Do more research now when you have the name.

Panda says: There are no herbal recipes that can ‘help’ with cancer . . if there were than they would not be considered ‘alternatives’ . . they would be used. The modern day Chinese still get just as much cancer and die from it as the rest of the world. There is no magic online hidden ‘recipe’ for cancer . . but there are plenty of websites and people willing to exploit your interest to their financial advantage. I have known many cancer patients . .most had a rare type of cancer with few treatment options . . they tried out many of those ‘alternatives’ . . their cancers progressed .. not one patient I’ve known who tried ‘herbal’ supplements or diets has ever survived.  Read more... (735 words, estimated 2:56 mins reading time)

The market is awash with a whole slew of weight loss options, but herbal weight loss can be considered as the best of the rest. It is mainly due to the increasing awareness in terms of benefits without any apparent side-effects associated with the usage of herbal products that make people to get more inclined day by day for using herbal weight loss remedy. Herbal products ensure loosing the extra weight by following a time consuming but effective procedure.

Overview of herbal remedies

In the fast paced world, we hardly get the time for ourselves during which we take a great care of us. Different daily hassles, hard competition and life style affect our diet very profoundly, which results our dependency over fast foods, snack and junk foods. The ultimate outcome leads to experiencing obesity, increasing blood cholesterol level, cardiac problems and other difficulties.

Apart from the health issue, obesity is directly linked up with social stigma. It affects everyone, especially women. Its effect is so profuse in one’s life, that an individual suffering from obesity may take any drastic step to reduce her weight. It may range from having hotchpotch diet to non-verifiable artificial weight loss supplements as well. This may, in turn, result to severe side-effects by disputing metabolic system, while apparently resulting in temporary weight loss.  Read more... (802 words, estimated 3:12 mins reading time)

AIDS has been around since the early 1980’s and now we have this new and terrible disease to a cure. As research continues into AZT therapy and antiretrovirals (since the immune system by an affected viral route AIDS),people continue to die from this disease.

Worldwide, an estimated 88.2 people with this disease have been infected. With such a large number it is essential that a solution be found.

There are some natural cures that seem to help.

Multiple vitamins have shown promise in several studies, focusing on early symptoms in patients. These studies looked at Vitamin B, C and E and their role in helping the immune system function better. Although these additions don’t cure the disease, it offers hope for AIDS patients, in that you could maintain a better quality of life in this battle.

Another new study that may keep your infection at bay is selenium. Selenium seems to “tame” the Virus while strengthening the immune system.

David Pauza at the Institute, of Virology in Baltimore recommended that patients add Selenium as an additional part of their daily vitamin supplements.

In a study at the University of Miami 262 patients were divided into two groups, one was given 200 micrograms of selenium daily and the control group was given a sugar pill or placebo. After 9 months the two groups had a significant difference which the selenium group reporting better health than the placebo group.  Read more... (337 words, estimated 1:21 mins reading time)

Even though conventional multivitamins and other dietary supplements are affordable and abound in drugstores and other retail, herbal supplements are well loved among many consumers not only in the East — the stronghold of herbal medicine — but all over the world.

One of the reasons for this would probably be because of the recognition that herbs have been used for healing and wellness purposes throughout time, and that the medical community is open to exploring the viability of various methods of natural medicine in preventing and treating diseases.

It has been said that even if you eat healthy foods and take basic vitamin supplements, it would not do you if a lot of excellent if your body is unable to absorb and digest the nutrients you’re taking in. An herbal supplement would aid in nutritional absorption because it nourishes the cells, promotes cellular communication, and enables them to function more effectively. It would also promote cell growth and repair.

Botanical products such as herbs are very vital nowadays because they help detoxify and cleanse our bodies, which are exposed to countless numbers of pollutants and other toxic substances in what we eat, drink, and breathe.

Some supplements are being marketed for their anti-aging effects, and with the increasing number of baby boomers, these are in high demand. This is not to say that they would keep a person eternally young; rather, they can mitigate some of the most common effects of aging. For instance, studies have shown that bilberry extract can prevent eye problems such as glaucoma and cataracts; guggulipid extract can help relieve arthritis symptoms; hawthorne berry extract is beneficial for both hypertension and hypotension; and turmeric extract can help with symptoms of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and atherosclerosis.  Read more... (738 words, estimated 2:57 mins reading time)

How can anyone looking for hemorrhoid relief tell the difference between an alternative medication that might actually help and a total waste of time, money, and suffering?

The oldest and probably most efficacious form of alternative medicine is herbal treatment. Most of the prescription medications we use today have their roots in plants. In fact, plants are such a good source of new medications that there is an entire branch of pharmaceutical education and research devoted to it, called pharmocognosy.

Herbal remedies effective for hemorrhoid relief include witch hazel cream, ointment or extract, aloe vera gel or cream, horse chestnut tea, butcher’s broom tea, and Japanese Pagoda Tree extract.

Be aware that herbs are just another form of medication. Some of these, horse chestnut and butcher’s broom in particular, affect the entire circulatory system and may interact with your current health conditions or any current medication regime.

In addition, find a reputable supplier for any herbal medications. Herbal supplements are not governed or tested under the same rules and supervision as medications, so checking for quality becomes much more important. A board-certified herbalist will be able to recommend GMP herbs, and herbal formulas.

Herbs grown under sub-standard conditions, such as next to a road or with polluted water, can actually do more harm as they carry detrimental chemicals into your body.  Read more... (446 words, estimated 1:47 mins reading time)