Green tea has of late been credited with a number of seemingly miraculous cures and treatments, literally from ulcer to cancer!

And when the talk show icon Oprah Winfrey announced to the world, that green tea could help in weight loss, well that seemed to be enough to send everyone into paroxysm at the mention of green tea.

So what is green tea really all about, and how, if at all, can it help with detoxification of the body? One may well be skeptical about the various claims that green tea marketers make, but the following health benefits of green tea are fairly well settled:

Antioxidant properties: Though made from the same actual plant, the method of green tea making is what sets it apart from black and other kinds of tea.

Green tea is the least fermented of all teas and this retains more of its antioxidant polyphenols intact. This also ensures that green tea has the lowest of all caffeine levels found in tea.

For Detox: It is generally accepted that free radicals attacking our body all the time makes it vulnerable to aging and a number of problems. Green tea is known to limit this damage from free radicals and thereby can limit cell damage.

A report published in a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research has gone on to suggest that by using green tea concentrate some people find help with shoring up their metabolic defense against the sort of toxins that cause cancer and in this sense green tea can be seen as helping in detoxification.

One study demonstrated that Green tea cathechins found in green tea concentrate, when taken in prescribed quantities, were able to boost production of certain enzymes, belonging to the glutathione S-transferase (GST) family that aided in this process.

It is these enzymes that are thought to strengthen the body’s defense mechanism that helps protect against environmental toxins that are responsible for causing cancer and the chemicals that increase toxicity in the body.

Those substances that would otherwise cause damage to human DNA and consequently cause cancer are rendered ineffective.

The study published was able to demonstrate that constituents of green tea were able to convert known carcinogens to non-toxic chemicals, and that there exists a correlation between deficient expression of these enzymes and increased risk of developing some cancers. The researchers were therefore able to conclude that chemicals in green tea can increase detoxification enzymes in humans.

Chinese researchers have stumbled upon a new, natural antidote to cancer. We have known for a while the healing properties of chrysanthemum and now it may just be good for yet another.

This commonly grown flower has shown “antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, immunodulatory, and neuroprotective effects,” according to the Chinese research which found some success in treating certain types of cancer using this extract along with other traditional Chinese medicines.

Chrysanthemum extract works against malignant cells and stops the spread of those cancerous cells in the body. It is able to do this without harming healthy tissue in the body and therefore holds out great promise for the future.

There is a valuable shift in popular perception towards alternative medication with more and more physicians using them as a principal or supplementary treatment for a number of disorders and treatments.

This brings us closer to natural medication which is free from side effects.

However, the entrenchment of western medicine is not to be underestimated and as such it is important not to mix certain herbal medications with a number of main stream medications. Arshad Jahangir, M.D., Professor of Medicine and Consultant Cardiologist, Mayo Clinic Arizona has opined that poplar herbal meds such as Ginkgo and St John’s Wort and garlic do not make a safe mix with cardiovascular medications.

He expressed concern that since herbal medications are natural people often do not consider their negative repercussion when taking in conjunction with western medications and people often don’t tell their doctors when they are taking herbal supplements. It is advisable that:

• Health care workers familiarize themselves with the effect of combinations of herbal and conventional medications and
• Patients disclose to their physicians any and all medication they are on.

Pain relief has long been a subject of research and medical study. It is used to be second nature for people suffering from pain in various parts of the body to reach for that bottle of aspirin or ibuprofen to ease their pain.

When pain became too difficult for them to manage on their own, pain sufferers would troop to the emergency room of the nearest hospital and ask for stronger pain medication.

Synthetic pain medicine is effective and works almost immediately, however, side effects often abound, even with the correct dosage. Pain sufferers are now looking at herbal medicine as an alternative to synthetic pain medicine.

Herbal painkillers can work just as quickly and effectively, but may offer less of the unpleasant side effects. The following are three of the most common herbal painkillers in use today:

Devil’s claw is a shrub native to southern Africa; it has red flowers, lush foliage, and fruits covered by miniature hooks (hence the name). Its dried roots have been used since the early 20th century to reduce pain and inflammation in degenerative joint diseases such as arthritis.

Scientific studies have shown devil’s claw to be as effective in reducing pain and inflammation as commercially available anti-inflammatory drugs, with fewer side effects.

Osteoarthritis patients taking devil’s claw have also shown significant improvement in physical functioning.

Taking devil’s claw also reduces lower back and neck pains, headaches and fever. Devil’s claw comes in dried or fresh root supplements, in capsule, tablet and liquid extract form, or as topical ointment and infusion (tea). It is non-toxic and safe to use at the recommended dosage for short periods of time.

White willow tree bark is one of the most common alternatives to synthetic medicine for pain relief. It is considered to be the “herbal aspirin”, since its main active component, salicin is chemically similar to the active ingredient in commercial aspirin.

White willow tree bark also has anti-inflammatory properties; it is known to work effectively on pain associated with arthritis and fever. It is available as dried herbs for making tea, powdered herb in capsule or liquid form, or as a tincture. White willow bark takes a longer time than commercial aspirin to take effect, but effects last longer.

Feverfew is a flowering plant belonging to the sunflower family; its name is adapted from a Latin word that means “fever reducer”. It has been in use as a pain remedy for centuries, particularly in southeastern Europe; today its use has spread all over Europe, North America and Australia. It is known to stop migraines and headaches from developing.

Feverfew contains parthenolide, a compound known to help relieve muscle spasms, inhibit the compounds that cause inflammation, and prevent blood vessels in the brain from constricting.

Feverfew leaves are the main sources of the supplement, they are available fresh, dried, or freeze-dried, in capsule, tablet, or liquid extract forms.

As with all painkillers, herbal or synthetic, these three common herbal pain remedies do have side effects, but the intensity of the effect is milder with herbal painkillers than with synthetic pain remedies. They can cause stomach irritation, indigestion, or abdominal pain; they can also increase the tendency to bleed.

Allergic reactions are also common to users of these herbal painkillers. It is therefore best to consult a medical practitioner who is knowledgeable about herbal medicines and their properties before self-medicating. This will reduce the risk of adverse reactions of the patient’s system to the components of the herbal painkiller.

Pain relief has long been a subject of research and medical study. It is used to be second nature for people suffering from pain in various parts of the body to reach for that bottle of aspirin or ibuprofen to ease their pain.

When pain became too difficult for them to manage on their own, pain sufferers would troop to the emergency room of the nearest hospital and ask for stronger pain medication.

Synthetic pain medicine is effective and works almost immediately, however, side effects often abound, even with the correct dosage. Pain sufferers are now looking at herbal medicine as an alternative to synthetic pain medicine.

Herbal painkillers can work just as quickly and effectively, but may offer less of the unpleasant side effects. The following are three of the most common herbal painkillers in use today:

Devil’s claw is a shrub native to southern Africa; it has red flowers, lush foliage, and fruits covered by miniature hooks (hence the name). Its dried roots have been used since the early 20th century to reduce pain and inflammation in degenerative joint diseases such as arthritis.

Scientific studies have shown devil’s claw to be as effective in reducing pain and inflammation as commercially available anti-inflammatory drugs, with fewer side effects.

Osteoarthritis patients taking devil’s claw have also shown significant improvement in physical functioning.

Taking devil’s claw also reduces lower back and neck pains, headaches and fever. Devil’s claw comes in dried or fresh root supplements, in capsule, tablet and liquid extract form, or as topical ointment and infusion (tea). It is non-toxic and safe to use at the recommended dosage for short periods of time.

White willow tree bark is one of the most common alternatives to synthetic medicine for pain relief. It is considered to be the “herbal aspirin”, since its main active component, salicin is chemically similar to the active ingredient in commercial aspirin.

White willow tree bark also has anti-inflammatory properties; it is known to work effectively on pain associated with arthritis and fever. It is available as dried herbs for making tea, powdered herb in capsule or liquid form, or as a tincture. White willow bark takes a longer time than commercial aspirin to take effect, but effects last longer.

Feverfew is a flowering plant belonging to the sunflower family; its name is adapted from a Latin word that means “fever reducer”. It has been in use as a pain remedy for centuries, particularly in southeastern Europe; today its use has spread all over Europe, North America and Australia. It is known to stop migraines and headaches from developing.

Feverfew contains parthenolide, a compound known to help relieve muscle spasms, inhibit the compounds that cause inflammation, and prevent blood vessels in the brain from constricting.

Feverfew leaves are the main sources of the supplement, they are available fresh, dried, or freeze-dried, in capsule, tablet, or liquid extract forms.

As with all painkillers, herbal or synthetic, these three common herbal pain remedies do have side effects, but the intensity of the effect is milder with herbal painkillers than with synthetic pain remedies. They can cause stomach irritation, indigestion, or abdominal pain; they can also increase the tendency to bleed.

Allergic reactions are also common to users of these herbal painkillers. It is therefore best to consult a medical practitioner who is knowledgeable about herbal medicines and their properties before self-medicating. This will reduce the risk of adverse reactions of the patient’s system to the components of the herbal painkiller.

Sage is found in most kitchens as it is a favorite herb especially when cooking poultry.

It is a useful herb that not only adds aroma and flavor to your food but is also of medicinal use.

It has been used since the ancient times as an antiseptic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, astringent and anti-ageing herb.

Sage is a natural antiseptic herb that can be used to treat a number of conditions. A Sage compress helps heal cuts, wounds and bruises. It can also be applied to clean sores and ulcers. The antiseptic properties help stem bleeding and speed up the healing process.

Sage tea can be used as a mouthwash and also to gargle. It is a great healer of oral and throat disorders. Its antiseptic properties have proven to be useful in treating infected, sore or bleeding gums, oral ulcers, sore throats, throat infection and tonsillitis.

This great medicinal herb can also be used to treat respiratory and intestinal infections. It can also be used to disinfect sick rooms. All that needs to be done is to use its essential oil in a vaporizer. The vapors will disinfect the sick room.

This natural antiseptic has been used in ancient medicines and now is being rediscovered by the modern world weary of prescription drugs.

According to a new research review, Chinese herbs may help people at high risk of diabetes. The research review examined 16 clinical trials of 15 herbal formulations and found that herbal medicine helped lower glucose  levels in people with pre-diabetes. Pre-diabetes is a condition with impaired blood sugar control and can progress to full blown type 2 diabetes.

Researchers found from the studies that adding herbs to lifestyle changes doubled the likelihood of patients’ blood sugar levels returning to normal.

People who used herbal remedies were two-thirds less likely to progress to diabetes during the studies, which ran for an average of 9 months.

Source: Reuters

One of the best ways to avoid getting sick is to have a healthy immune system. In most healthy adults, the immune system works without any problem. Add in the pressures of every day life, however—stress, anxiety, poor nutrition, not enough exercise, not enough sleep, etc. and the immune system could use [...]

A new study shows that ‘thunder god vine’ an ancient Chinese herbal remedy helps to reduce inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis patients. The herb is an extract of medicinal plant Tripterygium wilfordi Hook F that has been used for centuries to treat variety of infections and inflammatory diseases. Rheumatoid arthritis causes chronic and painful inflammation of the joints [...]