A Guide to Common Herbs

Herbs are nutritional foundation nutrients and good alternative medicine to nourish the body's deepest and most basic elements. Medicinal herbs have been used safely and effectively since the time of recorded history for an endless list of reasons from health, healing, weight loss/gain/maintenance, to survival and more. Herbs can offer the body nutrients it does not always receive, either from a poor diet, or environmental deficiencies in the soil and air. They are great body balancers that help regulate body functions.

The benefits of herbs are many and varied. Even the once skeptical traditional medical community is starting to embrace alternative medicine practices using herbal remedies and healing philosophies and practices incorporating herbal medicine and medicinal herbs. Chinese herbs have been used by the Chinese for over 4,000 years to promote health and as healing agents.

Chinese Herbs are taken as tonics to enhance physical and mental well being. Since the dawn of man, herbs have been used for healing purposes and to promote wellness. Today, herbs are still the alternative medicine and primary source of health care for 80% of the world.

Here are some of the more well-known herbs and plant products and their modern uses.

Herbs Modern Uses

• Bilberry Fruit Extract, Vaccinium myrtillus Various microcirculatory conditions. Night blindness and poor ability to adapt to bright light.
• Cascara Sagrada Aged Bark, Rhamnus purshiana Constipation.
• Cayenne Pepper Fruit, Capsicum annuum Carminative, diaphoretic, counter-irritant.
• Cranberry Fruit, Vaccinium macrocarpon Prevention of urinary tract infections.
• Dong Quai Root, Angelica sinensis Various menstrual disorders.
• Echinacea Herb, Echinacea purpurea As supportive therapy for colds and chronic infections of the respiratory tract.
• Evening Primrose Oil, Oenothera biennis Conditions related to deficiency of essential fatty acids (e.g., chronic fatigue syndrome) and alcoholism.
• Feverfew Leaf, Tanacetum parthenium Treatment of migraines, fever, menstrual disorders.
• Garlic Cloves, Allium sativum Elevated levels of cholesterol in blood and as a preventative measure for age dependent vascular changes.
• Ginger Root, Zingiber officinale Modern Use: Prevention of the nausea and vomiting of motion sickness, dyspepsia, stomachic.
• Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Ginkgo biloba Memory deficits, dementia syndromes. Improvement of distance and pain-free walking in peripheral arterial occlusive disease. Vertigo and tinnitus.
• Asian Ginseng Root, Panax ginseng Tonic for invigoration and fortification in times of fatigue and debility, physical or mental exhaustion, stress, inadequate resistance to infections.
• Siberian Ginseng Root, Eleutherococcus senticosus Tonic for invigoration and fortification in times of fatigue and debility, also during convalescence.
• Goldenseal Root, Hydrastis canadensis Catarrhal conditions of the upper respiratory tract associated with colds and flus. Mucosal inflammations.
• Gotu Kola Herb, Centella asiatica Improved memory. Venous insufficiency.
• Grape Seed Extract, Vitis vinifera Microcirculatory maldistribution of blood flow. Altered capillary fragility and permeability. Anti-inflammatory.
• Green Tea Leaf Extract, Camellia sinensis Chemopreventative. Hypercholesterolemia.
• Kava Kava Root Extract, Piper methysticum Conditions of nervous anxiety, stress, and restlessness. Sedative and sleep enhancement.
• Licorice Root, Glycyrrhiza glabra For catarrhal conditions of the upper respiratory tract and gastric/duodenal ulcers. Bronchitis. Adrenocorticoid insufficiency.
• Milk Thistle Seed Extract, Silybum marianum Toxic liver damage, and for supportive treatment in chronic inflammatory liver disease and hepatic cirrhosis.
• Saw Palmetto Berry Extract, Serenoa repens Urination problems in benign prostate hyperplasia stages 1 and 2.
• St. John's Wort Herb Extract, Hypericum perforatum Mild to moderate depressive states.
• Valerian Root, Valeriana officinalis Restlessness, sleeping disorders based on nervous conditions.

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Can Your Doctor Help You Lose Weight?

Starting a diet plan to lose weight? First determine if you should see your doctor and learn how medical guidance may help your long-term success.

You’ve studied the health hazards associated with obesity and being overweight and now you’ve decided to lose weight. You’ve even come up with a plan. But before you get started, should you see a doctor?
That depends. “For some people, a registered dietitian can be very helpful,” says longtime obesity expert Cathy Nonas, who is director of the New York City Health Department’s Physical Activity and Nutrition Program. “For others, joining a well-established, scientifically sound program, such as Weight Watchers, will work. And some people are able to do it on their own.”
Plenty of people lose weight effectively without their doctor’s help and advice. If you have chosen a balanced diet plan, especially if you plan to lose no more than 25 pounds at a rate of 1 percent of body weight per week, you are generally safe to go it on your own.
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Know the limitations of weight loss drugs

Have you ever used prescription drugs for weight loss or considered asking your primary care provider to write you a prescription for medication to help you lose weight?

If you have, you're not alone. Between 1996 and 1998 it is estimated that 4.5 million U.S. adults were prescribed a weight loss drug to promote weight loss.

For those of you who have joined the ranks of the millions of fellow Americans using prescription meds for weight loss, and more importantly for the group who are considering taking pills to reduce your waist line, I ask you to consider the following information.

First, it is important to know who should be using drugs for weight loss; there are some basic criteria that need to be met before you are considered to receive a prescription. Your Body Mass Index (BMI) should be at or above 30. This number drops to 27 if you have a co-morbidity such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, heart disease or sleep apnea.

An example would involve a person who is 5-foot, 5-inches tall: a BMI of 30 means this person would need to weigh 180 pounds, or if they have any of the above health problems a BMI of 27 represents 162 pounds. For people who do not meet these criteria, the risks of taking a drug for weight loss often outweigh the benefits.

Second, there has yet to be found a magic bullet that works for everyone. Keeping that in mind, it is important to know that anything used to achieve weight loss is simply a tool. Pills, diets and sports equipment only work if you understand what you're doing and use them properly. And once you stop using them, unless you have learned to change your behavior toward food, they stop working. This is the primary reason people regain weight after they finish their diet regimen.

Third, consider the benefits verses the risks of taking a drug for weight loss. While some weight loss drugs simply suppress the appetite, others interfere with nutrient absorption and brain chemicals to aid in weight loss. Take the time to research all aspects of a drug before you consider taking it. Asking about the long-term effects, common side-effects and knowing how long the drug can be safely taken will help you make an informed decision.

Finally, don't just rely on a weight loss drug to produce long-term weight loss all by itself. Incorporating a lifetime goal of healthy eating and exercise is the only way to ensure weight loss success.

Remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is! Read More!

Acai Berry & Weight Loss

Acai Berry and Weight Loss. When I first heard about the health properties available in acai berry I was initially a bit sceptical. I have tried a few organic supplements in the past and had experienced only minimal weight loss results.

However after reading through Pure Acai Berry’s accreditations, trials and other customer success stories, I decided to give it a try.

3 months on I have lost over 2 stone and feel incredible.

Andrea Lewis case study

Working as a temp for an administrative firm, my hours were often unsociable. Getting home at 7.30pm to 8pm every night, I simply wasn’t motivated enough to cook, so most of the time I would simply shove a ready meal into the oven and settle in the front of the TV.

In a year I had put on 3 stone, and felt awful. I was constantly tired, and found myself struggling to concentrate at work. That was when I first started to try weight loss supplements. Yet after wasting over £100 on 3 different dietary pills and losing only 3lbs, I was nearly at breaking point.

Despite doing everything they said: eating more fruit and vegetables, reducing my carbohydrate intake and exercising more, nothing really changed.

Luckily, I heard about Pure Acai Berry from my friend Michelle at work. After taking these supplements for a week she had lost 4lbs, had noticed a significant improvement in her complexion and felt more energetic.

I did a little research and was really impressed with what Pure Acai Berry had to offer, so I gave it a try. The results were incredible. Every week I lost on average 3-5lbs and the difference it made to me as a whole was instant.

I have always had a problem with ache, but after trying Pure Acai Berry for 2 weeks I noticed a significant difference in my appearance. My complexion was smoother, I felt healthier and to be honest I felt completely re-energised. Going to the swimming baths was no longer a problem, if anything I was eager to go.

One of the best elements to acai was its freedom from side effects. It was refreshing to be able to take this supplement and I know that I could safely go to work without having to worry about any embarrassing accidents.

It has been 3 months now and my weight loss is still going strong. In fact, after visiting my GP he told me my cholesterols levels had returned to normal, which was great news for me as in April I was at the point of being put on medication.

I have still got over a stone to go, but with acai berry I am confident that I can reach my target weight loss. It is certainly a supplement I would recommend to friends.

For more information about Pure Acai Berry, visit www.pureacaiberry.com Read More!