Herbs

Using Pau D'Arco to Fight off Candida

Candidiasis is an overgrowth of the common fungus known as candida. When candida overgrowth occurrs, getting rid of it can be challenging and time consuming. Although there are drug therapies for eliminating candida, many of them are beginning to lose their effectiveness to drug resistant strains of the fungus. There are many plant-based treatment options available, including pau d'arco, but using them effectively takes some perserverance and an understanding of how to use them. 

Heart Palpitations: Top 6 Herbs According To A Herbalist

Heart palpitations can be very uncomfortable. Effective treatments are hard to find and often involve harsh pharmaceuticals (like beta-blockers) or surgically cauterizing the heart. There are, however, a few excellent herbal options you can employ for managing heart palpitations.

Guide to Using Elder For Influenza Virus

Elder has been used to treat upper respiratory tract infections for hundreds of years. Only in recent times, however, have we really begun investigating the mechanisms of how elder works so well for treating these conditions. Here, we have a look at the phytochemical makeup of elder, and how it has such a strong inhibitory effect on the influenza virus. 

How To Improve Irritable Bowel Syndrome With Herbs.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is one of those conditions we still remain fairly uncertain of. It is more of a set of complex symptoms than it is a real diagnosis, yet it is incredibly common. What we do know about IBS is that it tends to have certain patterns in the lifestyles of those affected. Knowing these patterns, and understanding the mechanism of many of the symptoms, we can find ways to either stop them altogether or reduce the severity and and duration of outbreaks. 

The Tea Plant (Camellia sinensis) #infographic

Justin Cooke @JuzzieCooke

The Sunlight Experiment @TheSunlightExp

How Stress Can Make You Sick

It is well understood that stress eventually leads to illness. In this article we will look at a few ways this happens, and relate it to the age old concept of vitality, which is still used today. Vitality can be linked to our genetic predispositions and developmental influences that act to resist the effects of stress in our bodies in various ways. 

Managing Osteo-Arthritis Naturally

Osteo-Arthritis affects more than 50% of people over the age of 65 [1]. It is characterized by low-grade inflammation and eventual degradation of the joint (especially the cartilage). This will ultimately lead to reduced movement, and pain in the joint. Interestingly, 

Adaptogens: A guide to Improving Your Stress Defense

Adaptogens are substances that improve the bodies ability to resist and recover from stress. Stress can come in many forms, but is basically anything that pushes the body away from homeostasis. There has been a significant amount of research regarding adaptogens in the past few decades following the publicized use of these substances by successful olympic atheletes.  Only recently are we beginning to really understand their mechanisms. 

Cat’s Claw & Cancer: Current Research & Understanding

Cat's Claw is a common herb used alongside conventional cancer treatments to improve the outcome of the treatment overall. It combines well with conventional treatments both for reducing the side effects of chemotherapy, and increasing the tolerance for chemotherapies limiting factors... the neutrophils.