How to Take Echinacea
To battle a cold or the flu, take Echinacea at the first sign of symptoms.  To duplicate the German flu study, you can take about a teaspoonful of alcohol based tincture a day.
A tea made from Echinacea provides a tasty but somewhat less potent alternative.  To make a tea, pour boiling water over two to three tablespoons of dried, fresh, or powdered herb and steep for five minutes.  Sip over a period of 30 to 90 minutes, and repeat six to eight hours later.

Make Sure it’s the Real Thing
The lack of standardization in American herbal products makes it hard to guarantee even an approximate dosage of a particular compound.  There have also been reports of Echinacea products being adulterated with other herbs.  Therefore, only purchase herbal products from well-established, reputable suppliers.  Echinacea is generally considered safe, although an allergic reaction is always a possibility.   Discontinue use if you experience any adverse effects.

We recommend visiting Native Remedies, they have a wide variety of echinacea products. Click the following link to take advantage of a special offer (Buy two get one free) from Native Remedies…

The natural home remedies that work well on humans also, in many cases, work well on family pets.  These treatments can often be safer and more effective, (not to mention less expensive than a visit to the vet) than pharmaceutical medications.  In addition, pharmaceuticals often create negative and even debilitating side effects.

The best treatments for your pets should be a combination of traditional medicine–vets still serve a good purpose in caring for your pets—and careful use of herbal or homeopathic remedies.  And similar to humans, healthy eating, sleeping, and exercise habits are critical to a healthy and happy pet.

A holistic approach should be applied when treating your pets, meaning you should examine all factors that influence your pet’s well being.  Following are a couple of examples of herbal solutions to some common pet ailments…

• Itching Ears can be caused by ear infection, mites, or other skin/ear problems– Product Recommendation: Dr. Ear

• Dr. Ear, ear drops for dogs and cats, contains a number of herbs that are widely used for skin health and ear health including, Tea Tree Oil, Rosemary, Calendula, and Verbascum Thapsus

• Tear Stains can sometimes be caused by a bacterial or yeast infection– Product Recommendations: i-Clenz

• I-Clenz is a cleansing wash that contains natural herbal ingredient that will effectively cleanse unsightly tear stains and support healthy eyes.  Some of the herbs included are Dandelion and German Chamomile.

To find more herbal remedies for your pet, we recommend visiting PetAlive.com.  They have a huge selection of natural, homeopathic pet products at excellent prices!

In the 1970s, the dried paste was sold in tablet form under the name “Zoom”.  One tablet containing the whopping equivalent of four to five tablets of No-Doze!

Guarana, being rich in caffeine has shown positive effects on cognition.  In rats, it increased memory retention and physical endurance when compared with a placebo.  In a human study in 2007, alertness, mood, and memory were increased with used of Guarana.

Some other interesting studies are being conducted in the areas of Heart Attack Prevention, Antioxidant and Antibacterial effects and in Fat Cell Reduction from intake of Guarana.   One study has shown positive effects on weight loss, while one was inconclusive, so a final determination is not available.  However, there are some promising diet products available that contain Guarana plus a mixture of other herbs.  One such product is Diet Turbo Tea – this product has promising reviews from customers.  The best price for the tea can be found here.

As with any caffeine containing products, it is best used in moderation, especially at first when determining how your body will react.  You wouldn’t want to have the jitters all day!

To kill the herpes virus, you need to apply the lemon balm extract or concentrate externally.  Drinking a lemon balm tea will not do the trick.  Lemon balm teas, or homemade brews from the leaves will not be strong enough to be effective.  A good choice would be to go with a concentrated extract—you can find such an extract here for an excellent price.  (The price may seem high, but keep in mind, extracts are highly concentrated from many pounds of leaves).

Here is a very easy recipe for making a cold sore prevention and healing lip balm.

COLD SORE Be-Gone Lipbalm

Ingredients

• 2 tsp organic beeswax
• 4 tsp organic coconut oil
• 1 vitamin E capsule (optional)
• 2-3 drops lemon balm extract

Directions:  Melt Beeswax and Coconut Oil together (I usually just do this in a glass dish in microwave, then let cool for a bit and add vitamin E and lemon balm extract.  Pour into lip balm tubes or a small lip balm pot.

Note: The softness or hardness of the lip balm can be adjusted by adding more or less beeswax. Also, the best way to clean out the dishes and utensils used in preparation is to wipe thoroughly with paper towels prior to get all the oil and wax off prior to washing.
Enjoy your cold sore free future!

GAspari Nutrition Cytolean–What is in it and what do all those ingredients really do?

Glucuronolactone Green Tea Extract

• Glucuronolactone is a naturally occurring chemical produced by the metabolism of glucose in the human liver. It is an important structural component of nearly all connective tissues.[1] Glucuronolactone is also found in many plant gums.  Blucuronolactone is presnt in many enegy drinks and it is also used as a detoxicant.

• Green Tea - Green tea is a type of tea made solely with the leaves of Camellia sinensis, that has undergone minimal oxidation during processing. Green tea originates from China and has become associated with many cultures in Asia from Japan to the Middle East. Recently, it has become more widespread in the West, where black tea is traditionally consumed. Many varieties of green tea have been created in countries where it is grown. These varieties can differ substantially due to variable growing conditions, processing and harvesting time.

• Over the last few decades green tea has been subjected to many scientific and medical studies to determine the extent of its long-purported health benefits, with some evidence suggesting regular green tea drinkers may have lower chances of heart disease and developing certain types of cancer.  Green tea has also been claimed useful for weight loss management.

• Gingko Biloba Extract - Extracts of Ginkgo leaves contain flavonoid glycosides and terpenoids (ginkgolides, bilobalides) and have been used pharmaceutically. Ginkgo supplements are usually taken in the range of 40–200 mg per day.  Out of the many conflicting research results, Ginkgo extract may have three effects on the human body: improvement in blood flow (including microcirculation in small capillaries) to most tissues and organs; protection against oxidative cell damage from free radicals; and blockage of many of the effects of platelet-activating factor (platelet aggregation, blood clotting) that have been related to the development of a number of cardiovascular, renal, respiratory and central nervous system disorders. Ginkgo can be used for intermittent claudication.

• Some studies suggest a link between ginkgo and the easing of the symptoms of tinnitus.

• A study conducted in 2003 by the Department of Dermatology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research in Chandigarh, India concluded that Ginkgo is an effective treatment for arresting the development of vitiligo

• Phenylalanine is an essential ?-amino acid with which is found naturally in the breast milk of mammals and manufactured for food and drink products and are also sold as nutritional supplements for their reputed analgesic and antidepressant effects. Phenylalanine is structurally closely related to dopamine, epinephrine (adrenaline) and tyrosine.

• Tyrosine (abbreviated as Tyr or Y) or 4-hydroxyphenylalanine, is one of the 20 amino acids that are used by cells to synthesize proteins. This is a non-essential amino acid and it is found in casein. Tyrosine has a polar side group. The word “tyrosine” is from the Greek tyros, meaning cheese, as it was first discovered in 1846 by German chemist Justus von Liebig in the protein casein from cheese.  Tyrosine, which can be synthesized in the body from phenylalanine, is also found in many high protein food products such as soy products, chicken, turkey, fish, peanuts, almonds, avocados, bananas, milk, cheese, yogurt, cottage cheese, lima beans, pumpkin seeds, and sesame seeds. Tyrosine can also be obtained through supplementation.

• Beta Phenethylamine, Phenethylamine is a natural compound biosynthesized from the amino acid phenylalanine by enzymatic decarboxylation. It is also found in many foods such as chocolate, especially after microbial fermentation.

• Evodia Rutaecarpa - is a chemical which is extracted from the Evodia spp family of plants which has been shown to reduce fat uptake in mouse studies. Its method is believed to be similar to capsaicin, but retains none of the “hot” taste.

• Hordenine - is a alkaloid with antibacterial and antibiotic properties. It stimulates the release of norepinephrine ( a neurotransmitter that affects parts of the brain where attention and responding actions are controlled).  It is produced in nature by several varieties of plants in the family Cactaceae and by some in Acacia. For example, barley seeds contain hordenine as the main alkaloid in their roots.

Gaspari Cytolean fatburner

You can help banish your acne blemishes with a cleanser that contains salicylic acid.  You should choose one that has non-drying properties that will exfoliate gently without stripping your complexion.   Other great ingredients are aloe vera and green tea which will help sooth and heal your skin.    You can find an excellent product at a fantastic price at DHC – Salicylic Acne Wash.

Below is a money saving coupon for DHC.  (DHC is  sells cosmetics and skincare products from one of Japan’s top beauty companies).

DHC Care Coupon

The late twentieth century saw the benefits of herbal remedies and the use of herb-based medicines increased dramatically.  Now more and more hospitals are starting to offer herbal remedies as an alternative to conventional medicines.  With the popularity of herb medicine, it has become imperative to conduct studies to help medical science understand how herbal medicine works in our body.

Just like conventional medicine, herbal medicine produce side effects also.  It is important to remember that plants contain certain chemicals that product toxicity.  Also, while herbal medicine are usually safe they can be abused.  The chemicals in herbal medicines can create residues in the body and over a long time the toxicity can lead to sickness or even death.

Another factor to consider when using herbal medicine is the fact that it is very risky to mix them with other medications.  Herbal medicine should never be mixed with other herbs and medications.  For this reason, it should never be mixed and match at home.  It is best to consult with your doctor before trying to mix it at home.  There are sources on the internet to learn more on what herb to mix and which one not to.  Remember to carefully check the source of the information before attempting to follow it since the internet is filled with a lot of misleading information.

Furthermore, it is impossible to know how much herbal mixture is safe unless you know precisely the exact contents of the mixture along with the numbers of herbs and the proportional content of each herb.  We know a lot of things on herbal medicine through history, but one thing still remain unsolved is how herbal medicine works.  For this reason, the mixture in the medicine should be taken seriously or the result will be fatal because of certain toxic effects of the chemicals in herbal medicines.

All this information should not deter you from looking at herbal medicine.  If you are interested in it, it is best to leave it to a professional who has the expertise on herbal medicine.  With this type of medicine, you can rest assure that your body will not have any dangerous chemicals going into your body like conventional medicines.

The most common form of allergies are seasonal allergies.  This allergies is known to affect more than 5 million people yearly.  In the spring and fall season is when allergies symptom are worse.  While there are many conventional medication on the market, using herbal remedies should be considered first.  Unlike conventional medicines, herbal remedies do not have drugs in them that can make you feel drowsy.  Sometimes, herbal remedies have their limit and if the allergies do not lessen or go away, its advised that you seek medical attention.  Your doctor will be able to assist you on the type of allergies you have and may be able to prescribe you a stronger medication to combat your allergies.

Here are some herbal remedies and tips that you should consider to help ease the your allergies.  They can be taken in the form of a pill or made into a tea.  Herbs in their natural state will have no taste or taste bitter.  Use peppermint leaves to enhance the flavor or if you prefer to sweeten it, use honey, instead of sugar.  Like any medicine, it is wise to consult with your doctor first.

Green Tea Extract: Green tea has many benefits for the body.  This medicine can be used to treat digestion related problems.  Also, it can be used to improve the a person’s mental function.  With their anti bacterial properties, it is used to reduce blood sugar and cholesterol.

Licorice root: Another great herbal remedies for treating allergies.  The roots has anti arthritic and anti allergic properties that are useful for treating allergies.  This herbal remedies can also be used to prevent skin inflammations.

Vitamin C:  A popular vitamin known to prevent a person from catching a cold.  The production of histamine in a body is what causes the person to become sick.  Vitamin C helps by reducing the amount of histamine that is produced.  Taking Vitamin C on a daily basis will ensure the body is in good health to protect you from catching a cold.

Allergies is not what people want, but it happens to many people.  The only way to help relieve allergies is using some form of medicine.  Using herbal remedies will help relieve allergies or even prevent it from happening.  There are many different types of allergies out there and the best way to know which herbal remedies work is to do some research on it.

The reason for the slow result is that these remedies depend on the body’s capacity to metabolize carbohydrates and fats.  The process that herbal remedies cure acne is through the lymphatic system.

Like most herbal remedies these herbal acne cures are also best when combined with other herbs.  The most frequent used combination of herbs are Echinacea, yellow dock, blue flag, and burdock.  To prepare this herbal remedies, just mix the herbs together using hot water.  For most people, the easiest way is to go to the store and buy each herb separately because it is already prepackaged and mix all the bags together when ready for use.  Drink a cup about three times daily.  If the drink is not sweet enough, do not use sugar, instead, use honey.

There are other combination of herbs that you can also try.  Another great combination of herbs are dandelion, sarsaparilla, and burdock.  It is best to mix them together when they are dry herbs.  Prepare them with hot water and have three cups a day.

Beside using them as drinks, herbal acne remedies are also available for topical use.  The most popular herb to use are the oil from a tea tree.  This oil can be a bit strong so if you have sensitive skin just mix it with water and apply it to the acne-affected area.  Fresh cabbage juice makes another great topical herbal cure for acne.  For people who have sensitive skin or cannot stand tea tree oil, this is a better choice to use.

These are just a few cases of how herbal remedies can help with acne problem.  There are many more herbal remedies out there.  The best way to find out more herbal remedies for acne is to do some research online.  Using herbal remedies will give you a better and healthier looking skin than over the counter acne drugs.

Organic skin care products uses many different types of plants, herbs, natural oils, and extracts.  With the products being entirely from natural sources, it does not contain any toxic and full of essential nutrients for the skin.  These products nourish the skin and rejuvenate them gently.  Some of the problems it can cure are pimples, dark circles, and wrinkles.  Having only organic ingredients in these products produce an overall effect of a younger and healthier looking skin.

On the market right now, there are different organic skin care products available for use.  Some products are made just for the face, while others are for other parts of the body.  Since the skin structure is different on each part of the body, it is important to choose the correct skin care product.  Most of the products will have details on the label explaining which part of the body it can be applied on.  If the product state that it should only be used on the arms, do not attempt to use it on the face because the skin is much more sensitive than on the arms, and the product will more than likely have harsher ingredients.

Beside from rejuvenating the skin, organic skin care products can help sooth and heal the body.  Some of the products have ingredients in them that have a calming effect to help relax the body and even the mind.  In addition, it can help release muscle tension and help the blood circulate more freely throughout the body.  By using the organic skin care products, not only does it help nourish the skin, but also make you feel relaxed and refresh.

As the technology in medicine advance, newer products do not rely heavily on plants and flowers anymore.  Some of the products have started to use the special qualities of herbs and herbal extracts.  Also vera, lavender, olive oil and rosemary extract are now regular ingredients in many organic products.  Some of these products include soaps, laundry detergents, lotions, and drinks.

Using organic skin care products on a daily basis is not just good for your skin, but will ensure that your skin has no pimples, blemishes, or allergies.  These products also keep the skin soft and supple.  A healthy skin will produce fewer wrinkles because of its firmness.