Natural cures for better health

Garlic is a herbal superhero. It prevents, relieves and cures multiple diseases. There are two main medical ingredients which produce garlic’s health benefits: allicin and diallyl sulphides. Recent studies indicate that garlic helps to prevent cancer. According to the National Cancer Institute, people who ate the greatest amount of onions and garlic had the lowest incidence of stomach, intestinal and colorectal cancers. Garlic oil is composed of sulfur-containing compounds that are powerful cancer-inhibitors. They prevent cells from turning cancerous. Garlic also prevents certain tumors from growing larger and reduces the size of certain tumors. Clinical trials have proven that garlic lowers blood pressure and LDL Cholesterol (“bad cholesterol”). It helps to reduce atherosclerotic build-up (plaque) within the arterial system. Garlic helps to regulate blood sugar. It helps preventing blood clots from forming, and reduces the possibility of strokes and thromboses (don’t use garlic if you have Hemophilia). Raw garlic is a natural antibiotic that works in a different way than modern antibiotics – it kills some strains of bacteria, like staph, that have become immune or resistant to modern antibiotics. Garlic has anti-fungal and anti-viral properties. It’s regarded as a preventative for colds, flu and other infectious diseases. Garlic reduces yeast infections due to Candida species. Garlic has anti-oxidant properties. Garlic is a source of selenium.

Medical uses

St John’s wort is known as a herbal treatment for mild to moderate depression. Based on clinical trials conducted by Cochrane Collaboration St John’s wort had similar efficiacy to standard antidepressants. St John’s wort is especially popular in Germany, where doctors prescribe it for mild to moderate depression.

Externally it is used for healing wounds, first-degree burns and Myalgia.

St. John’s wort has other potential uses that have not been researched yet. It is believed to alleviate the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome and obsessive-compulsive disorder, menopause, fatigue, seasonal affective disorder, pediatric nocturnal incontinence and relieve the symptoms of hangover.

How to take it

St. John’s wort can be obtained in many forms:  tablets, capsules, tinctures, teas, and oil-based skin lotions.

Chopped or powdered forms of the dried herb are also available. Chopped forms of St John’s wort are best for making tea. Most products are standardized to contain 0.3% hypericin.

Tea: Pour one cup of boiling water over 2 tsp of dried St. John’s wort and steep for 10 minutes. Drink up to 3 cups per day for 4 – 6 weeks.

Liquid extract (1:1): 40 – 60 drops, two times per day.

Oil or cream: To treat inflammation, as in wounds, burns or hemorrhoids, an oil-based preparation of St. John’s wort can be applied topically.

It may take 3 – 4 weeks to feel any effects from St. John’s wort.

Side effects and warnings

Do not take St. John’s wort if you have bipolar disorder.

Don’t take St John’s wort if you are pregnant, trying to become pregnant, or breastfeeding.

Don’t take St John’s wort in combination with any pharmaceutical antidepressants unless under professional guidance.

Photosensitization (redness of the skin caused by exposure to sunlight or other ultraviolet radiation) especially in fair-skinned individuals, may occur with excessive dosages (1,800 mg/day), but this reaction is relatively rare.

Legend

The legend says that when the head of John the Baptist was brought to Salome, the daughter of Herodias, drops of blood from the head fell to the ground. Out of this soil grew St John’s wort.

The other story says that the plant’s name originated from St John’s Day (24-th of June) because it is often in full bloom around that time. At the old days it was believed to have the strongest curative property when harvested at the night of St John’s day.

Famous Greek physician, Hippocrates, documented the therapeutical uses of St John’s wort in the 5th century B.C.

Plant Description

St. John’s wort is a shrubby plant with clusters of yellow flowers that have oval, elongate petals.

It is believed to be native to Europe and Asia, but is now found throughout the world, often growing alongside the road or near freshwater bodies.

Both the flowers and leaves are used for medicinal purposes. St. John’s wort is quite a common herb in alternative medicine, and it is gathered during the flowering season.

Chemistry

The main components of St. John’s wort are hypericin and hyperforin. It also contains many other common plant constituents (e.g., flavonoids and flavonoid derivatives, xanthone derivatives, amentoflavone, biapigenin, volatile oil) that may have antidepressant effects.
Complete chemistry St John’s wort contains 6.5–15% catechin-type tannins and condensedtype proanthocyanidins (catechin, epicatechin, leucocyanidin); 2–5% flavonoids, mostly 0.5–2% hyperoside, 0.3–1.6% rutin, 0.3% quercitrin, 0.3% isoquercitrin, quercetin, and kaempferol; bioflavonoids (about 0.26% biapigenin), phloroglucinol derivatives (up to 4% hyperforin); phenolic acids (caffeic, chlorogenic, ferulic); 0.05–1.0% volatile oils, mainly higher n-alkanes, 0.05–0.15% naphthodianthrones (hypericin and pseudohypericin); sterols (sitosterol); vitamins C and A, up to 10 ppm xanthones; and choline (Bruneton, 1999; ESCOP, 1996; Leung and Foster, 1996; Newall et al., 1996; Upton, 1997;).

Bruneton, J. Pharmacognosy, Phytochemistry, Medicinal Plants, 2nd ed. Paris, France: Lavoisier Publishing; 1999.
ESCOP. See: European Scientific Cooperative on Phytotherapy.
Newall C, Anderson L, Phillipson J. Herbal Medicines: A Guide for Health-Care Professionals. London: The Pharmaceutical Press; 1996.
Upton R (ed.). St. John’s Wort: Hypericum perforatum. HerbalGram 1997

Hawthorn berry has been known in alternative medicine as a natural heart tonic for centuries and has even been called “food for the heart.” Hawthorn remains one of the the most popular botanical medicines for heart conditions throughout Europe, particularly in Germany and Switzerland. European studies have demonstrated that use of hawthorn can support overall heart health by:

- relaxing and dilating arteries
- increasing the flow of blood and oxygen to and from the heart
- supporting healthy circulation
- increasing endurance
- maintaining healthy blood pressure
- maintaining healthy blood vessels

Products available in the United States include hawthorn leaves, hawthorn berries and flowers, sometimes in combination.

In addition to bioflavinoids, hawthorn contains cardiotonic amines, polyphenols, and is a source of Vitamin C, the B vitamins, and many other nutrients.

And as it is not enough – hawthorn berries can also be used in cooking much like other fruits for berry pie or jelly.

Over the years herbalists have used the herb hawthorn as a cardiac tonic and considered it valuable for improvement of cardiac weakness, angina, arrhythmias, an enlarged heart, edema, hardening of the arteries, irregular heartbeat, heart palpitations, heart valve murmurs, unexplained chronic fatigue and nerve depression.

Hawthorn, a small tree or shrub, grows throughout the northern hemisphere. The fruits, flowers, and leaves are processed into tinctures and other kinds of extracts available in capsules or tablets in the U.S. and other parts of the world.

Scientists have discovered that hawthorn does increase coronary blood flow and improves myocardial metabolism allowing the heart to function with less oxygen. It also acts directly on the heart muscle to help a damaged heart work more efficiently.

Hawthorn has the ability to increase oxygen utilization by the heart. It increases enzyme metabolism by the heart and it acts as a very mild dilator for coronary vessels and serves as a peripheral vasodilator which lowers blood pressure and reduces the burden placed on the heart.

Studies in past years have also shown that hawthorn is excellent for both the prevention and treatment of coronary heart disease when used on a regular basis. Results usually can be seen in a few months time.

Hawthorn is also very effective in relieving restlessness and insomnia.

Today, hawthorn is an official drug in the Pharmacopoeias of Brazil, China, Czech Republic, Slovakia, France, Germany, Hungary, Russia, and Switzerland. As a measure of its incredible popularity, it is an ingredient of 213 commercial European herbal formulas, mostly for the cardiovascular system.