Herbal Supplements 4 Your Health

Herbal Remedies - Alternative Medicine for Bacterial Infections

The application of antimicrobials in the context of patient health care has grown extensively over the years given the more than 500 million reported users of antibiotics in the United States. Sadly, matching this prevalence is a global trend of antibacterial resistance by human pathogens as the use of antibacterial medications has become likely far-fetched. People nowadays are quick to self-medicate on non-prescription antibiotics even for diseases such as flu and colds that might have just been viral in nature. The issue of increasing resistance and disease recurrence has prompted users to seek alternative treatments for bacterial infections. The search likely leads them to herbal and homeopathic ingredients that have been used as alternative medicine for bacterial infections.

Among the herbs and related natural treatments recognized for their antibacterial compounds includes the Uva Ursi (Bearberry) which is commonly administered to treat bladder infections. Extracts of its leaves contain Glycoside Arbutin compounds that have been confirmed to effectively inhibit the growth of E-Coli bacteria and yeasts, particularly Candida Albicans. Used traditionally for its diuretic, antiseptic and astringent benefits, an herbal remedy formulation of the Bearberry likewise tones the liver, pancreas and kidneys.

The Echinacea is another bacteria busting herbal remedy known to effectively soothe the symptoms of infections. However, unlike the direct antibacterial action of the Bearberry, the Echinacea fights bacteria in a roundabout way by reinforcing the body’s immune defenses that makes cellular components more resilient to human pathogens. It is the flowery segment of the herb containing phenols that is prepared as remedy and administered for the prevention and treatment of common colds.

The Tee Tree Oil is a popular component of cosmetic products. Obtained from the extracts of the Maleuca tree, the remedy is a known anti-fungal, antiseptic and antibacterial agent. Scientists however recommend the use of higher concentrations of the oil since lower concentrations have been observed to induce antibacterial resistance in the E-Coli, Salmonella and MRSA. Other essential oils like the Lavender Oil and the herbs Eucalyptus and Lemon Grass also contain medicinal compounds that produce antibacterial effects when formulated as a remedy.

Alternative medicine has brought to the fore an assortment of medicinal herbs and other natural substances containing compounds that have been clinically observed and tested to produce antimicrobial and antibacterial effects on human pathogens such as bacteria and yeast. Traditional herbal practices utilized particular sections of the herbs purported to contain an active ingredient, to create medicinal tea infusions and tinctures. Meanwhile, the practice of phytotherapy expertly isolated the therapeutic compounds from the extracts and integrated them with other naturally-occurring compounds under specified concentrations to produce standardized herbal remedies or herbal supplements intended to effectively inhibit the attack of infectious bacteria in various medical conditions, apart from strengthening the body’s immune defenses to this end.

Flax Seed and Breast Cancer

The 1990s saw the discovery of its heart healthy properties which earned for flax seed the status of a wonder grain. Since then, numerous other studies have been conducted on the grain to determine the extent of its health benefits on the circulatory system, as fueled by enduring user interest on flax seed as plant substitute for the well-regarded essential fatty acid called Omega 3. Rich traces of the nutrient was once available only with fish and fish oils and the concept of a cheaper, plant based source was enough to persuade many to start grinding the kernels in order to sample its Omega 3.

Nonetheless, the story of this grain does not conclude with its essential fatty acid constituent. Its cancer preventing properties has in fact been adrift in the mainstream for quite some time as evidenced by the abundant supply of lignans on its oil, a phytochemical known to protect bodily cells from the harmful effects of oxygen free radicals. This antioxidant property purportedly heightens the body’s resistance against the formation of tumors, cancerous cells and even diabetes mellitus. In fact, a study conducted in May 2005 floated the potential of flax seed to inhibit the further growth of tumors with breast cancer patients.

In a related development, the public health department of the University of Massachusetts is reportedly set to conduct a 2 month study intended to determine the effects of flax seed on the health of postmenopausal women, particularly on the subject of excess estrogen production that is the purported precursor of breast cancers and tumors in women of this age group. According to its proponents, flax seed contains constituents that inhibit the conversion of androgen to estrogen to which a regular flax diet can most likely prevent the development of breast cancers in postmenopausal women. If the study returns with conclusive findings that would support this claimed health benefit, expect to find flax seed to be extensively endorsed as a dietary supplement in the conduct of women’s health.

In the meantime, the Omega 3 content of flax seed along with the presence of dietary fibers and lignans is reason enough to sustain a daily supplementation of milled flax kernels. For women who are looking out to reduce body weight, the dietary fibers found on its husk will help provide an instantly full feeling on the stomach which prevents one from taking more servings while Omega 3 nutrients can help stimulate hormonal production and metabolic functions or physiological processes that are vital in the context of healthy body weight. Of course, the presence of lignans serves as a promise of greater health benefits that are just waiting to be discovered!

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Alternative Medicine Options to Regulate the Numbers

It is endemic for people to dread the conduct of a routine physical exam or any form of clinical test for that matter, particularly those suspecting the onslaught of elevated blood sugar or cholesterol levels in their system or perhaps already aware of the numbers from earlier tests. In fact, a few of those diagnosed with borderline BPs and blood sugar levels go through a period of self-denial and avoid the need for treatment until such time that they come to terms with the urgent need to fend for their health or simply become terminally ill with cardiovascular diseases or diabetes mellitus due to the absolute disregard for their condition.

So in case you have an intuition that the numbers now exceed the normal range or perhaps the symptoms of pre-diabetes or pre-hypertension are beginning to manifest, know that you can’t completely entrust the conduct of your health to a maintenance of statin medicines and insulin sensitizer drugs. Herbs have been used for many centuries in the practice of alternative medicine to regulate blood pressure and control the spike of blood sugar. Incidentally, the medicinal compounds of these herbs have been extracted and combined in concentrated format to produce standardized herbal supplements intended to control the numbers.

Alternative Medicine for High Blood Pressure

If you are looking for an alternative treatment to supplement your prescriptions or perhaps finding statin medications to be adversely affecting your overall health, the use of herbal remedies is a likely option for you. The herb Red Yeast Rice contains natural statin constituents or substances that lower LDL in the body. Inversely, the antioxidant property of the herb Gugulipid produces a positive benefit on HDL levels. Nonetheless, a blood pressure herbal supplement such as Cholesto-Rite will trigger a regulating effect on body cholesterol (whether HDL or LDL) while toning the cardiovascular system and subduing harmful free radicals.

Alternative Medicine for High Blood Sugar

Now if you are scouting for an alternative to the expensive insulin sensitizers that trigger side effects in its long term intake, the herbs Gymnema Sylvestre has been observed to help sustain normal blood glucose levels while another herbal remedy called the Goat's Rue has been purported to support pancreatic health and retain healthy insulin levels, based on pertinent clinical studies. But then if you prefer these multiple benefits to be readily available in a single herbal treatment, herbal supplements such as Insulate Plus have likewise been formulated for the purpose of stimulating pancreatic and liver health while tempering the unhealthy spike of blood sugar in the bloodstream.

There are many reasons why patients are afraid to deal with these vital numbers. For one, the prospect of an immediate cutback on dietary preferences and lifestyle habits is an imminent threat to carefree living. On the other hand, no one in his right mind would look kindly on the costs and inconveniences of taking medications just to regulate cholesterol and sugar levels that may be leaping out of bounds. But then knowing that you have treatment options for the numbers makes the scenario of disease treatment less stingy.

The ‘Herbal’ Viagra Controversy

There has been much commotion on the subject of an ‘herbal’ Viagra lately and much of this has to do with the so called ‘shady’ pharmaceuticals confiscated by a team of Dutch public health scientists. Categorized as herbal erection pills, said products purportedly contained chemical ingredients that are similar to those formulated with the Viagra or the Levitra. Kudos to the scientists who detected this anomaly! Indeed, when a health product is labeled as herbal, natural or organic, in the case of herbal supplements or homeopathic remedies, even mild traces of unnatural compounds should not be constituted into its formula.

This sure looks like another false advertising scheme perpetuated by unscrupulous manufacturers. While this scam would hardly affect the sales of Viagra or Levitra, it could however impinge on the mainstream impression for natural remedies and dietary supplements, given that the erection pills are popularly referred to as ‘herbal’ in terms of ingredients. Nonetheless, these unlikely incidents should not inhibit the demand for herbal sex tonics, herbal erection pills or herbal ED, particularly among men on the lookout for an alternative medicine for erectile dysfunction. Legitimate herbal manufacturers still operate the healthcare mainstream to distribute bona fide, standardized herbal supplement products and it is generally up to the user to determine which of these herbal products are legit.

If you’re thinking about using an ED herbal supplement today, it would be to your advantage to initially inspect the product you intend to purchase. It is necessary for the product to have a bundled literature that would enumerate its natural ingredients. Herbal sex tonics such as Ikawe or Fertile XY would most likely contain compounds that help boost testosterone production and libido. Extracts of the Horny Goat Weed are purported to provide that medicinal benefit while the Sarsaparilla and Licorice are recognized hormone boosters. Likewise natural sexual enhancers may be formulated with active substances coming from the extracts of the Gotu Kola, Gokshura and the Kola Vera–herbs that are known to support increased semen production, to reinforce tissue and blood vessel walls, and improve physical stamina as well. Meanwhile, the flavonoid and terpenoid compounds of Gingko Biloba extracts are popularly constituted with herbal sex tonics to increase blood flow to the penis and stimulate strong and healthy erections.

In case the product does not come with any form of literature or perhaps confusing in the disclosure of its ingredients, then that should deter you from continuing the purchase. Moreover, a ‘USP Dietary Supplement Verified’ seal on its label are just among the other indicators that you should be on the lookout for when shopping for standardized herbal supplement products. This way you can be assured that the product is foolproof natural—to contain only concentrated herbal extracts, tissue salts or plant chemicals, while averting you from potential health risks in case the supplement contains harmful ingredients.

Sometimes the label ‘herbal’ Viagra makes sense! The term might just hold hints over its true formulation that happens to be part herbal and part chemical in nature. But if you want an all natural and safe alternative medicine for erectile dysfunction, then better use only standardized and FDA-approved herbal products.