Health Herbs

Side effects are undesirable but natural and expected consequences of taking a particular drug. They are sometimes quite minor such as having a dry mouth or constipation while taking belladonna. A serious side effect may include excessive bleeding caused by the use of an anticoagulant to reduce the clotting capacity of the blood. Such drugs are usually prescribed to avoid the risk of developing clots in the lower limbs.

A step further from side effects is an adverse reaction. An adverse reaction is an unusual and unexpected reaction and it can be minor, major or dangerous. A drug induced allergic reaction, for example, is one type of adverse reaction. An example of minor adverse reaction is hives caused by taking penicillin. This same drug can also lead to a life threatening shock reaction.

Some of the drugs and the side effects/adverse reactions attributed to them are:

Type of drug                 -           Side/Adverse effects

• Analgesics, anti inflammatory – Heartburn, nausea, abdominal pain, vomiting, stomach or intestinal bleeding, constipation, diarrhea, headache, drowsiness, dizziness, skin rash, hives, itching
• Antibiotics
  • Cephalosporins – Secondary infections, which may result in rectal and vaginal itching; diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, skin rash, itching, hives
  • Erythromycins – Secondary infections, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and rarely, skin rash or irritation
  • Tetracyclines – Secondary infections, skin rash, photosensitivity, appetite loss, vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, sore tongue, mouth or throat, damage to teeth in infancy
  • Anticonvulsants (epileptic seizures) – Staggering, confusion, slurred speech, vision changes, skin rash, swollen gums, nausea, vomiting, constipation, hepatitis
  • Antidiabetics  (Oral) – Skin rash, heartburn, jaundice, bone marrow depression; overdose may even result in abnormally low blood sugar
  • Antihistamines – Drowsiness, fatigue, weakness, dry nose, mouth or throat, headache, nervous agitation, double vision, reduced appetite, nausea, vomiting, reduced tolerance for contact lenses
  • Antihypertensives – Low blood pressure, impotence, fainting or lightheadedness in general. As there are a lot of different hypertensive drugs, their side effects are also varied
  • Beta blockers (for high BP) – Fatigue, cold hands and feet, dizziness, skin rash, appetite loss, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, indigestion, vivid dreams, hallucinations, depression, wheezing, heart failure
  • Diuretics (for increased urination) – Lightheadedness, dizziness, increased blood sugar and uric acid levels, muscle weakness and cramps, skin rash, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, jaundice and, rarely, bone marrow depression
  • Anti Ulcer medications – Dizziness, headache, skin rash, diarrhea, muscle pain, tremors, irregular heartbeat, breast swelling and tenderness in men and rarely, lowered white blood cell count
  • Thyroid hormones – Overdose may cause heat sensitivity, excessive sweating, skin rash, menstrual problems, tremors, irritability, insomnia, rapid and irregular heartbeat, chest pain, diarrhea, weight loss
  • Tranquillizers – Drowsiness, lethargy, confusion, unsteadiness, fainting, skin rash, blurry vision, slurred speech, nausea, changes in libido
  • Xanthine bronchodilators – nervousness, irritability, insomnia, headache, skin rash, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, diarrhea, rapid and irregular heartbeat, excitability, muscle spasms, convulsions

The reason for these side effects is that most of these drugs have chemicals that have certain toxic properties. These conventional drugs are made from one isolated or synthesized active ingredient so each one does only one job and this generally causes side effects. This is why there have been so many prescription drugs that got pulled from the market after enjoying several years of FDA approval.

The sad thing is that very few doctors nowadays bother to inform patients about possible side effects due to close and cozy relationships with the pharmaceutical industries.

Half of the truth is that pharmaceutical companies will only tell doctors as much as they want to and not reveal the complete picture. Therefore, the doctors are not completely to blame because they cannot warn patients against side effects of chemicals they are not aware of.

The trouble is that the business is so profitable is that these medicine manufacturers are more concerned with profits and FDA approval rather than the overall effect on the patients.

This is one reason why several doctors are now beginning to recommend complementary alternative treatments, like herbal therapies and medicines.

In fact, the number of herbal remedies available for different ailments equals (if not exceeds) the number of regular drug treatments provided by pharmaceutical companies. The point is that prevention always was and always will be better than any cure, mainstream or alternative.

The advantage of herbal remedies is that they move an individual towards a lifestyle more geared toward prevention and cure in the early stages of any affliction. Herbalists use the whole herb, because the dominant ingredient seems to work more effectively, without side-effects, and for the benefit of the whole body. This is known as synergy.

Pharmaceutical drugs work only after the problem has development, they do not try to prevent problems because then the manufacturing companies would go into a loss. This is where herbal remedies leave the mainstream drugs behind. This is also the reason why so many people are daily turning to herbal therapies.

Herbal remedies treat the cause of the disease and not the symptoms (like conventional drugs).

What is good to know about natural herbal remedies is that they are much more well-tolerated than clinical drugs, hence causing fewer side effects. If you are prone to experiencing side effects when you take conventional drugs, natural herbal remedies may just be the solution that you seek.

Natural herbal remedies also tend to be much cheaper than drug remedies as they are grown and not cultivated inside a laboratory.

Stress is a physiological response to the pressures of daily living. Yet, it is vital to effective living.

There are many stressors – sources of stress such as internal or external pressure to succeed, success itself, conflicts with children or mates, unrealistic expectations, too many people to please, too little sleep, money worries, lack of self-confidence, a conflict in values, lack of goals. Things which stress one person may not stress another, and things which cause stress at one point in a person’s life may not at another point.

To one man, a job involving tight deadline may cause uncomfortable stress, while another thrives under deadline pressure.

A stressor is neutral. Our reactions to it – based on personal beliefs and values – are what give it positive or negative power over our lives.

Imagine waking up & glancing at your clock reading 8.45 a.m. This information means nothing until you realize that it is a week day and you need to be ready by 9. 45 then becomes a negative stressor. If it is a Saturday, your perception of 8.45 may result in a feeling of luxurious anticipation of a lazy day. The information in both cases was the same. Your perception of it determined your response.

stress

The way out

Reorganize yourself – Take control of the way you spend your time; learn to avoid using $100 worth of energy on a $10 problem. Isolate goals, and then draw up a plan – for the next 5 years, year, month and day – listing specific actions to achieve those goals.

Change the scene – Control the environment with the aid of scene-changing skills. These include fight, flight (the art of retreat to find or create another setting more conducive to your inner peace), and listening.

Change your mind – You can manage stress by taking control of your attitude, too, particularly through techniques like re-labelling, whispering and imagination.  Re-labelling, “the art of seeing a promise in every problem,” allows you to relax when someone, like your spouse, challenges your authority. Instead of seeing his/her rebellion as a lack of respect for you, you may learn to see it as a sign of his/her growing independence.

Whispering, “the art of giving yourself positive messages when things go wrong” is a mind-changing skill. For example, a wife & mother

Pls read further here http://www.healthherbsandnutrition.com/remedies/s/stress.htm

The number of headache sufferers is increasing by the day – probably due to the huge increment in environment stress. There is environmental stress in everyday dealing with other people and situations – at work, at home, everywhere. Paradoxically, it is when stress stops that headaches hit many individuals like after a hard days work, sexual intercourse or vigorous sports such as tennis.

This is probably due to the alterations in the blood flow. The head contains the body’s greatest number of pain-sensitive nerve endings and chemical transmitters. It also has the greatest amount of blood supply. During periods of relaxation, there is decrease in blood flow. This happens to everyone, but not everyone has severe headaches.

There is an opinion that the “neurovascular bed” – the parts of the nervous system containing nerves that control the size of blood vessels leading to the head – is different in patients who have chronic, recurrent headaches. When the blood fails to supply enough oxygen to the head, a headache can result. This vascular flow type of headache is the most common type of disabling headache.

Natural remedies like herbal & homeopathic ones can be safely – the keyword here is safely – reduce the occurrence & severity of these headaches & migraines.

Different types of headache

Migraine – The attack can be on either side; is throbbing and increases in severity; patient being usually sensitive to light. It can typically last from several hours to 3 days. At least 10 to 20 percent of the world’s population is afflicted. There are hormonal factors involved, but we do not know how exactly they work. More details on Migraine headaches can be had on this separate article here.

Stress headaches – As discussed above, stress headaches once you relax after a strenuous activity like playing a physical sport such as tennis, or after a hard days work (Haven’t you heard of weekend headaches before?). Emotional stress, depression, anger and anxiety escalate the severity & occurrence of headaches.

Sinus headaches – Sinus headaches or “barometric headaches” are really caused by changes in air pressure. They usually occur in the region of the eye, cheek or forehead. They are frequently worse in the morning upon rising, and often get better if you taka a hot shower.

Cluster headaches – This painful kind of headache is predominant in men and is called so because a person can get it every day for three weeks or three months, and then it stops. It almost always involves the region of one eye. The pain lasts from 15 minutes to about an hour and is associated with redness of the eye and a dripping nose. It may be excruciating.

Allergic headaches – Foods high in the amino acid tyramine can cause so called “dietary headaches”. Tyramine is especially found in cheese, nuts, pork and fish. Chocolate, caffeine, dairy products, food additives like nitrates, nitrites and monosodium glutamate are other well-known headache triggers.

Alcohol induced headaches – A common cause is mixing drinks. If you consume different types of alcohol like whiskey and rum or red wine in one single sitting, you are guaranteed a headache. Champagne almost always gives you a headache. There is something chemical about the fermentation process that affects the nervous system.

Now, what to do to do away with these headaches

Headaches are more common among younger people. Aspirin is the drug of choice for common headaches. But even with aspirin, you must be careful. Taking too much can cause gastro-intestinal bleeding and other serious complications.

Other over-the-counter medications include Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID’s) such as ibuprofen, ketoprofen, and naproxen. All have similar side effects.

Then there is this huge risk of getting addicted to these drugs. If you respond to a certain type of medication and you are fearful of getting a headache, you might take the drug to ward off the attack.

Natural herbal & homeopathic remedies to thwart off headaches & migraines

Natural and alternative therapies can be used to help manage headaches safely, without the risk of addiction. Herbal and homeopathic remedies can offer an effective natural solution and can be of assistance in alleviating the painful and discomforting symptoms of a headache.

Homeopathic remedies like China, Nux vom, Chamomilla, Kali phos & Mag phos:

• Relieve acute headaches associated with stress, tension and fatigue
• Alleviate a ‘heavy’ feeling in the head
• Reduce common pounding sensations
• Support blood circulation and oxygenation for brain and nervous system health
• Are generally safe for all ages, including pregnant women or those who may be breastfeeding
• Suit those who have sudden and acute head pain that improves from applying firm pressure to the painful area but are worse with light touch, such as combing the hair
• Can be used to address head pain that may be brought on by anger and irritability or overindulgence of certain foods, alcohol, and coffee.
• Help to calm and uplift the spirit and soothe common nervous tension and everyday stress
• Can be used as a natural anti-spasmodic and a nerve and muscle relaxant and is also frequently recommended for stress headaches

More info on these homeopathic ingredients and their respective positive effect on different types of headache can be had here

In case of cluster headaches and migraines, herbal ingredients like Feverfew, Milk Thistle & Passionflower:

• Prevent migraines and chronic headaches, including cluster headaches
• Support the body in it’s natural ability to maintain equilibrium in the mind and nervous system
• Stop tension headaches before they start
• Promote routine muscle health and discourage common tension
• Encourage easy movement of joints and muscles, relieves symptoms of arthritis
• Support liver functioning and the routine elimination of waste from the body
• Help the body to ‘unwind’ and relax, and reduce anxiety and tension
• Prevent menstrual cramps

There are many clinical studies to support the effectiveness of Feverfew in significantly reducing or completely eliminating the occurrence and the severity of chronic headaches and migraines.

You may get more info on these migraine & cluster headaches herbal remedies over here

Your dizziness could be due related to some hearing problems that you are experiencing depending on the type of dizziness. Most doctors distinguish between lightheadedness, in which the patient feels faint or woozy, and vertigo, in which the patient feels that the room is spinning around him.

The causes of dizziness or lightheadedness can range from psychosomatic factors to a minor fluctuation in the brain’s blood supply to severe cardiovascular problems. Vertigo, on the other hand, is often related to problems in the inner ear, where the balance centers are located. A viral infection, for example, can cause vertigo and impair hearing if not treated promptly. Vertigo can also occur as a side effect of some medications.

Persistent attacks of severe vertigo, which may strike without warning, can be symptoms of Ménière’s Disease, a condition in which excessive fluid plugs the inner ear, destroying the sense of balance. A variety of drugs and, if necessary, surgical techniques are used to treat Ménière’s.

There are various very simple kitchen home remedies, some extremely effective clinically proven homeopathic remedies as well as some extremely innovative & intriguing exercise regimes that can help you in getting over your giddiness, dizziness and other vertigo symptoms. Read more to know about them.

Some most effective home remedies for treating vertigo and dizziness

• Lemon: If giddiness of the head has been caused by the disorders of the liver or flatulence, taking warm lemon water will be beneficial. Mix 1 ½ tsp. of lemon juice in a cup of warm water.
• Soak cumin seeds in lime juice overnight. Keep the mixture under the sun till completely dry. Bottle it, Chew ½ teaspoon of this mixture and drink with a glass of warm water. It is extremely effective for general giddiness.
• Coriander: Boil 4 tsp. of coriander powder in a glass of water, strain it, add sugar candy and drink it. It is quite beneficial in vertigo. Alternatively, chew 2 tsp. of coriander powder mixed with 2 tsp. of sugar. This is also quite beneficial.
• Basil: Taking the juice of basil leave mixed with sugar relieves vertigo.
• Mix 8 almonds with 8 kernels of pumpkin seeds, 1 tsp. poppy seeds and 3 tsp. wheat. Soak in water overnight. Next morning, remove the outer skin of the almonds and grind together into a fine paste. Heat separately 2 teaspoons clarified butter and fry ½ tsp. cloves. Add the paste to it along with some milk and boil the whole mixture. Sweeten with sugar and drink every day for few days.

Highly recommended homeopathic medicines for relieving vertigo & dizziness

Natural homeopathic remedies can also provide symptomatic relief of dizziness and nausea associated with vertigo and improves inner ear balance. Herbal remedies containing homeopathic ingredients may be taken at the first sign of symptoms and are safe to use for people of all ages.

Homeopathic ingredients such as Cocculus indicus, Lobelia inflate, Bryonia alba, and Gelsemium can together relieve symptoms like dizziness, nausea, sweating and vomiting; reduce ringing, roaring or whooshing sensations related to dizziness; alleviate disorientation and sensations of spinning or swaying; balance fluid levels in the inner ear; and improve normal auditory function across all frequencies.

You may get more info in details on these natural homeopathic vertigo remedies here

Exercises that can effectively take care of vertigo

There are some simple exercises that can loosen up the muscles around the balance system in the ears and deals with one common cause for dizziness: tense jaw muscles.

One such exercise goes like this. Simply close your mouth and act like you are chewing gum. Chew like this for a minute or so at a time. To do the exercise right make sure your molars on both sides move apart a little, and then touch lightly again. Also notice that your lips are supposed to be closed the whole time.

This exercise is pretty easy on your jaw because you are not actually chewing anything, but you might still feel a little bit sore in the beginning. Just take it easy – maybe chew for only a few seconds in the beginning and then increase the time you exercise.

You can make an “mmm” sound as you chew. This will open the throat better. Making an “mmm” sound is not necessary, it will just give the exercise extra boost.

The Reason WHY These Exercises Work is because they’re directly aimed at loosening up and strengthening your “weaker muscles,” which are causing you problem – instead of desensitizing you (like medications do).

You may get more info on such exercises for relieving vertigo & dizziness here

Patchy forgetfulness, when you can’t remember where you put your keys or glasses, or you forget names, the last book that you read or whether you have taken your morning pills, can be disconcerting. While forgetfulness isn’t necessarily a sign that something’s wrong, it can be frustrating.

Aging is the main culprit. As we get older, there are changes in the way the brain stores information, making it harder to recall facts. Physical problems, including thyroid disorders, can affect memory, as can medications, including those for high blood pressure and anxiety.

Natural herbal memory boosters and simple mental & physical exercises can help to sharpen your memory, increase brain power and improve your concentration in general.

The key to this article is the fact that brain cells deprived of sufficient oxygen do not perform their work efficiently, and that intellect and reasoning powers fade as a result. Conversely, mental alertness improves when larger amount of pure oxygen are delivered to the brain cells.

Now, experiments have proven that PHYSICAL as well as MENTAL EXERCISE increases oxygen-transport capacity along with the above observation that oxygen wakes up senile brains. In short, a program of regular exercise increases oxygen transport to the brain significantly, to the extent that it improves mental performance. Nobody recommends exercise as a cure-all for poor circulation in the brain, but exercise in the broadest sense of physical activity, is essential for mental health, especially in the acquisition of new skills, in co-operative adventures with other people and in competition.

Structure of the brain

The number of neurons – cells that are the fundamental functional units of nervous tissue – in the human brain is set at birth; an estimated 10 billion. But these cells must still mature, and the tens of thousands of millions of connective glia cells that support and feed the neurons increase as the brain matures. Stimulating environment can clearly affect the growth of brain cells.

Hence, the current view is that while the number of neurons may be fixed at birth, their rate of maturation may be influenced, even appreciably modified, by outside means all through life. But the brain’s capacity can be modified unfavorably as well as favorably. Unhappily, too many of us choose a life style that may lead to unfavorable changes.

For example, heavy alcohol consumption, sedentary life-style, cerebral vascular disease (narrowing of the brain’s blood vessels), consumption of fatty acids with high quantities of cholesterol, tension, aggression can all be modified to bring about favorable changes in brain development.

What specific exercises will help stimulate the brain?

You don’t need to work or exercise very hard. Even a brisk 15 minutes walk is supposed to reduce neuro-muscular tension more effectively than 400 mg of a tranquiller. Just about any exercise that stimulates the body, but variety and a real attempt to improve performance – not just routine repetition – may be aspects of exercise with special importance for the brain. Purely mental exercises are helpful, too, especially those that make new demands – such as learning a new language, taking up guitar, meeting new people. The ideal program will include both mental as well as physical exercise.

Some tricks include using your ‘wrong’ hand to do an everyday task several times a day. For example, if you brush your teeth with your right hand, start using the left one. The brain ‘knows’ when you’re using the wrong hand, because of the sensory and motor information it receives from the hand. It’s that confusion that stimulates new brain circuits, as the brain struggles to master a new task.

Natural herbal remedies for boosting brain power, improving concentration and helping in developing memory skills.

There are also many herbal and homeopathic remedies which can help maintain harmony, health, and systemic balance in the brain and nervous system, without side effects or sedation. These products are known for their supportive function in maintaining brain, nervous system, and circulatory health, as well as overall well-being.

There are many ways how to improve memory through natural remedies, many of which aim to improve blood flow and circulation. These thereby providing the brain with the precious oxygen it needs to perform at its peak ability. By providing the brain with the oxygen it needs, you’ll be providing your memory with the vital power it requires to stay strong.

Taking these preventative measures may also help ward off more serious memory problems later in life.

a)      For natural & herbal support for brain and memory health in mature adults – The herbs Ginkgo Biloba, Rosemary and Salvia Officinalis naturally assist the brain with cognitive tasks and functions to promote mental health, support the natural ability of the healthy brain and nervous system to readily store and recall information, support the nervous system by maintaining the natural flow of blood through arteries, maintain healthy vascular circulation and oxygen-rich blood flow in the body, & reduce common memory problems and absentmindedness commonly associated with aging. You may know more on these remedies here  

b)      Natural Homeopathic remedies to support brain health and maintain healthy concentration, memory and balanced mood in all ages – The three biochemic tissue salts Kalium phosphate, Natrium muriaticum & Calcium phosphate support the brain and nervous system by promoting equilibrium at a cellular level; lessen feelings of being ‘on edge’ and promote a healthy, balanced mood; maintain routine balance of cell salts in the body; enhance the therapeutic effects of other remedies by promoting brain efficiency and mental focus; & are safe for use during pregnancy and nursing (safe even for children of all ages, including babies). You may get more info on these biochemic tissue salts here

Herb for promoting brain health, healthy concentration, mental alertness, memory function and as a study aid – The herb Centella asiatica (Gotu cola) supports mental alertness and clarity for best study habits and academic performance; maintains overall brain and nervous system health; supports all brain functions including memory, concentration and optimum performance; supports all cognitive functions such as alertness, mental processing and organizing of facts learned; supports alertness and endurance during long study sessions; & maintains a calm approach to your work, despite a heavy workload. You may get more info on Gotu Cola over here