Herbal Remedies For Athletes Foot

Athletes Foot is a fungal infection that usually starts between toes three and four, and four and five. the moist environment in the area creates just the right setting for some nice fungus to settle in and make them selves at home.

The biggest problem is that if  you let it go untreated then it can get into the toe nails and that is very difficult to get rid of.

Applying tea tree oil directly to the infected are is extremely helpful. Use soothing herbs for the skin that also have anti fungal properties like calendula and alo vera. Chamomile cream can be used to relieve redness, itching and irritation.

The most important factor is consistence. Apply a cream or salve with any of the above mentioned herb several times a day until your feet are fully fungus free. 

So I wrote this post a few years ago and going through it now I feel that I have a lot to add.

This is a condition that I personally suffer from and over the past few years I have been successful in getting it somewhat under control.

The most effective change that I have found is to wear sandals as much as possible. The use of medication and herbal powders when wearing closed shoes has been a big help as well. 

Washing the feet with a herbal tea made with herbs such as Chamomile, mint, lavender, oregano and any other soothing herb can be helpful to relieve itching.

It is really funny to me that I give such suggestions all the time but so rarely do them myself. 

Just a side thought.

Also fresh Aloe Vera and Aloe creams can be great. 

This I actually have done in the past. 

My wife thinks that going to the beach is the best answer for any problem and when treating athlete's foot, she may very well be correct. 

Right actually she is always correct, never mind.

But sea salt has been found to be very effective in treating athlete's foot, so just go to the beach and soak your feet in the waves. 

You can also try soaking your feet in four thieves' vinegar, that should kill it off.

Just another one that I have not tried myself yet. 

Herbal Remedies For Poor Appetite

What herbs can be taken to improve appetite?
So before I start to get into the why and how here is a quick list for you to start with.
Ginger
Artichoke leaf
Hops strobiles
Wild lettuce
Now the question of what is the cause and how do we approach poor appetite or anorexia. This can be caused by a large number of things such as stress and weak digestion but if this lasts for a long time, I would say more than a week You should see your doctor.
Now the way that herbs can help with a loss of appetite is by stimulating the digestive system. The four herbs I mentioned above are digestive and bitter herbs. You can start by simmering a tablespoon of each herb in two cups of water for a half hour and drinking one cup two times a day a half hour before meals. Also a good bitter formula can be taken a half hour before meals.
If you feel the problem is stress related try calming bitter herbs like Chamomile and yarrow.
Drinking a good cup of chai tea or ginger lemon and honey tea can be a nice and tasty way to improve appetite.

Vocabulary Of Herbal Effects On The Body

Adaptogen – herbs that improve the body ability to withstand both physically and emotional stress.
Alterative (Depurative) – herbs that help the body cleanse itself of waist materials.
Analgesic (anodyne) – herbs that reduce pain
Anthelmintic – herbs that treat intestinal parasites by preventing their reproduction and removing them from intestinal walls.
Anti-catarrhal – herbs the reduce mucus secretion
Anti-depressant – reduce feelings of depression by activating the central nervous system.
Anti-diarrhoel – herbs that stop diarrhea.
Anti-inflammatory – reduce inflammation.
Anti-microbial (bacteriostatic/antiseptic) – herbs which act against micro – organisms that cousin diseases.
Anti-spasmodic – herbs that decrease muscle contraction by either acting on the muscle or nerves and reduce pain and stress.
Anti-pyretic (febrifuge) – herbs that lower fever
Anti-viral – herbs that prevent reproduction of different viruses
Astringent – herbs that draw together and constrict body tissues. They are helpful in treating bleeding and diarrhea.
Bitters – bitter herbs cause secretion of digestion juices and increase appetite.
Carminative – reduce digestive gas.
Cholagogue – herbs that awaken proper flow of bile from the liver and gale bladder.
Choleretic – herbs that improve production and secretion of bile in the liver.
Demulcent – herbs rich in mucilage which can help sooth and protect irritated tissue.
Diaphoretic – herb that help cause the body to sweat.
Diuretic – herbs that increase urination.
Emmenagogue – herbs that help to regulate a women’s menstrual cycle.
Estrogenic – herbs containing phetoestrogen.
Expectorant (anti-tussive) – herbs which promote the extraction of mucus from the lungs.
Hypotensive – herbs which help to lower high blood pressure.
Immunostimulant – herbs that strengthen the immune system.
Laxative – herbs that cause diarrhea.
Nervine – herbs that strengthen the nervous system.
Sedative – herbs that calm the nervous system.
Vulnerary – herbs that help to heal wounds.

Cupping & Olympic Swimmers

Old practice – New fad
This years summer Olympic games brought a whole new life to a medical practice that has been around since 3000 B.C.
People were questioning the circular bruises of the swimmers in this year summer Olympic games. It turns out that Olympic swimmers have discovered the ancient medical practice of cupping to be helpful in speeding up muscle repair.
Traditional cupping is done by using a flame to create a vacuum in a glass cup and quickly attaching the vacuum to the body. The vacuum then lifts the skin and other tissues increasing blood flow to the area. This added blood flow help to repair muscles faster.
In addition to the effects on muscle tissue cupping is a useful practice for other symptoms. Cupping helps to relax people and reduce stress. It is useful in treating skin diseases of different kinds. Cupping can be used to help treat digestive disorders like irritated bowl syndrome. Cupping can also be used to treat respiratory issues and colds

Herbal Remedies For Ear Infections

As a father of four I have had extensive experience with ear infections. From what I have learned most times ear infections are proceeded by some form of a cold symptom like a stuffed nose. The first thing I always do for a ear infection is I make a quick garlic oil and apply it to both ear as often as possible.
Cut up or crush a few cloves of garlic and heat them in olive oil over a low flame. I use a small frying pan for this but any small pan will do. Be careful not to burn the garlic, that would harm the active ingredients that we need.
Heat the garlic in the olive oil for about three or four minutes and let cool before use.
In addition I always use herbs that are effective in treating respiratory tract problems.
My five best herbs for this are:
Yarrow
Chamomile
Linden
Catnip
Elder (flowers and berries)
Use equal parts of each herb and make a cup of strong tea with one heaping table spoon per cup of boiling water. Let the herbs steep for ten minutes. Drink three cups of this tea per day.

Herbal Remedies For Eczema

Eczema is a drying and information of the skin some times with clear puss and bleeding.
What happens is that for some reason the lipid layer which covers the outer cells of the skin surface is broken down and this causes moisture to escape creating the drying of the skin. Then once the skin is dried out it tends to brake is more easily effected irritants such as bacteria.
Having a strong digestion is the first step in treating eczema. In addition one of the most important supplements to take if you have eczema is omega 3. Omega 3 helps to reduce inflammation and strengthen the skin.
Try a formula of cleansing and anti inflammatory herbs along with herbs for strengthening the digestive system.
Cleansing herbs:
Dandelion root
Burdock root
Yellow dock root
Oregon grape root
Anti inflammatory herbs:
Echinacea leaf and root
Sarsaparilla root
Red clover flowers
Licorice root
Herbs for strengthening the digestive system:
Ginger root
Bitter lettuce
Cardamon seed
Artichoke leaf
Gentian root

Herbal Remedies For Fibrocystic Breast

Fibrocystic breast is when there are cysts and lumpiness in the breast. Whenever you are uncertain about a lump in the breast you should seek a diagnosis from a physician.
Breast lumps can occur from stagnation in the lymphatic tissue.
Use calendula flowers, mullein leaf, nettle leaf and cleavers herb to help to cleanse and stimulate the lymphatic system. You can also use a compress from the tea of any of these herbs.
Also try using herbs that help to dissolve mucus and phlegm. This is because this condition is viewed by herbalists as a stagnation of phlegm and mucus. Use herbs such as fennel seed, anise seed, licorice root and blood root. Remember that blood root is very strong and should only be taken when diluted.
Herbal formula for fibrocystic breast.
Simmer one teaspoon of each echinacea root, mullein leaf and red clover flowers in three cups of water for twenty minutes. Add one teaspoon of fennel seed and let steep for fifteen minutes. Drink one cup of the tea three times a day.
Also you can apply Castro oil to the cyst morning and evening.

Herbal Remedies For Fevers

Treating a fever with herbal remedies
A fever is a natural part of the body’s immune response to a bacterial or viral infection. Natural medicine recommends taking diaphoretic herbs to help the body get rid of waste materials and lower the fever instead of taking n.s.a.i.d’s such as aspirin or acetaminophen.
Drinking teas from calendula flowers, chamomile flowers, elder flowers, yarrow herb, chrysanthemum flowers, lemon balm herb, feverfew herb, meadowsweet, white willow bark can help to naturally work with the body to bring down a fever.
Try this formula to naturally bring down a fever.
Add one table spoon of peppermint leaf, yarrow flowers and elder flowers to three cups of boiling water and let steep for twenty minutes. Drink one cup of the tea three times a day.
Remember that a fever is also the body’s way of telling us that it need to relax and recover, so try not to just take a pill and keep on running. Listen to your body and give it the time that it needs.

Herbal Remedies For Periodontal Disease (gum problems)

Try to find a toothpast or a mouthwash with bloodroot in it. This will help to protect your gums and teeth against bacteria. Also myrrh gum can help to tighten the gums.
Add a drop of myrrh gum tincture, diluted bloodroot tincture and a drop of peppermint oil to your toothpast before brushing your teeth.
Also keeping a strong immune system helps.

Herbal Remedies For Hepatitis

Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver which can be caused by a number of things such as viral infection and alcohol abuse.
Symptoms of hepatitis
•\\tAbdominal pain
•\\tDark urine
•\\tFever
•\\tJoint pain
•\\tLoss of appetite
•\\tNausea and vomiting
•\\tWeakness and fatigue
•\\tYellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes
If you have symptoms of hepatitis you should see a doctor.
For hepatitis one should take liver protecting herbs like milk thistle and schisandrea. To help with the inflammation use tumeric and St. John’s wort, which are anti inflammatory herbs. Also immune enhancing herbs like shittake mushrooms.
Herbal formula for hepatitis
Mix one teas of each dandelion root, artichoke leaf, Oregon grape root, one half teaspoon of tumeric, ginger rhizomes and gentian root in four cups of water. Bring herbs to a boil and simmer for twenty minutes. Drink one cup of tea three times a day.

Herbal Remedies For Genital Herpes

There are several types of the herpes virus that can sit dormant on nerve centers and cause outbreaks during time that the immune system is down.
Taking cooling herbs that clear heat from the bowls can help in times of a breakout. Try herbs like Oregon grape and yellow dock root. For prevention drinking tea made from lemon balm leaf can be helpful.
Add fresh garlic to your diet to keep the immune system strong.
During an outbreak you can apply a lemon balm cream to the sores to speed healing

Herbal Remedies For High Blood pressure

Herbal Remedies For High Blood pressure
High blood pressure or mild hypertension is clinically defined as a systolic pressure of more then 140mm/hg and a diastolic pressure of more then 90mm/hg.
Systolic pressure is when the heart is contracted and diastolic pressure is when it is relaxed.
High blood pressure can be caused by stress, diet and heredity. Blood pressure natural goes up with age.
Taking herbs that are considered to be cardio tonic herbs, is strongly recommended. Such herbs are shepherds purse, Alfalfa, hawthorn and garlic.
Also relaxing herbs like passion flower, California poppy, yarrow and linden.
Herbal formula for high blood pressure
Make a strong tea by steeping one tablespoon of each hawthorn leaves and flowers, shepherds purse and one teaspoon of celery seed and yarrow in three cups of boiling water for twenty minutes. Drink an entire cup three times a day.

Herbal Remedies For Lice (head and pubic)

Lice are small wingless parasitic insects that can live in the hair and feed off blood that they sick from the scalp.
You can use a strong tea made from rosemary, quassia bark, and horsetail herb to wash the effected area. You can also add twenty drops of tea tree and rosemary essential oil to two ounces of almond oil or olive oil and massage into the scalp. Make sure none of it gets into the eyes and shampoo it out after an hour.
Herbal formula for lice
Add one tablespoon of each quassia bark, rosemary and horsetail tincture to a half cup of water and a half cup of vinegar and rinse your scalp or pubic area with it several times a day.

Herbal Remedies For Menstrual Cramps

The tightening of the uterine muscle during menses is a natural part of the feminine reproductive cycle. Pain and discomfort during this period can be reduced by healthy habits and stress control.
Herbs that can help reduce and even perhaps relieve the pain of menstrual cramps are cramp bark, valerian root, and skull cap herb. Mix one teaspoon of each herb in four cups of water and simmer for twenty minutes. Drink one cup of the tea three times a day.
If you prefer add one teaspoon of each tincture to one cup of water and drink one half cup twice a day.

Herbal Remedies For Poor Memory

If we don’t lead a healthy lifestyle than as we get older our brains can get weaker due to insufficient oxygen supply because of unhealthy blood vessels. Also our brain is like a muscle and needs exercise in order to stay strong.
Herbs that can help to improve memory mainly do so by improving blood flow to the brain. Other herbs help improve the brains abilities by providing nutrients that are essential for the cells of the nervous system.
Herbs that can help to improve memory include ginkgo, rosemary, gotu kola, and wild oats.
Herbal formula for poor memory
Simmer one teaspoon of ginseng root in four cups of water for twenty minutes. Add one teaspoon of each ginkgo, gotu kola, wild oats and nettle leaf and let steep for twenty minutes. Drink one cup of the tea three times a day.
If you prefer add one teaspoon of each tincture to one cup of water and drink one half cup twice a day.

Herbal Remedies For Morning Sickness

Morning sickness is usually only during the first three months of pregnancy but I have known women that have suffered bad morning sickness during their entire pregnancy.
In short, use ginger to help with the nausea of morning sickness.
There are allot of ginger capsules that are effective. The best thing is to use fresh ginger and make good strong tea.
There are those of the opinion that morning sickness is a way for the body to cleans itself in order to protect the fetus. This may be true because women who cleans before becoming pregnant report experiencing less morning sickness.
Besides for ginger other herbs that can help with nausea are lavender, peach leaf, wild yam root, and peppermint. Some herbalists don't recommend using mint during pregnancy but I think that drank as a tea even once a day is not a problem at all.

Herbal Remedies For Nausea

If you feel like you are about to throw up, you have nausea. Now this can be from a number of causes. Usually eating bad foods or eating too much are the culprit but also infection and various metabolic disorders can be the cause. If you are experiencing nausea for a extended period you should see a doctor.
Drinking teas from herbs such as ginger, mints, lavender, wild yam and cinnamon can be very helpful.
Herbal formula for nausea
Take one capsule of each cinnamon, ginger, cayenne and goldenseal. If you can buy Chinese medicine “Curing Pills” they are a prefect fix for nausea also.
If you suffer from nausea and weak digestion giving yourself a abdominal massage daily can be very helpful.

Herbal Remedies For Hangover

When you drink too much alcoholic beverages your body produces a lot of chemical by-products in addition to the alcohol which effect the entire body.
The most important thing to do when suffering through the aftermath of a long night out on the town is to make sure you drink lots of water.
Help your body cleanse from all that booze with detoxifying herbs like dandelion leaf and root, yellow dock root, chicory root and gentian root. If you are suffering from heart burn you can drink meadowsweet tea to help.
When drinking take milk thistle regularly.
Use ginseng root to regulate and balance your digestion and energy.
Herbal formula for hangover
Simmer one tablespoon of dandelion root and ginger root in three cups of water for twenty minutes and then add one tablespoon of dandelion leaf and meadowsweet herb and let steep for fifteen minutes. Let the tea cool and drink three cups a day.

Herbal Remedies For Migraines

Migraines are something that I know allot about. Fortunately I don't suffer from migraines but unfortunately my wife does.
From my experience with treating my wife's migraines there is allot that can be done using herbs and natural medicine to treat migraines.
But there is saying that comes from Chinese medicine that goes as follows.
“treating disease once you are sick is like digging for water once you are thirsty”
This is especially true when treating migraines. I can’t think of any herbal ore natural cure that can treat the symptoms of a debilitating migraine once it's in full throttle. Truth be told I don’t believe there is anything in conventional medicine that can do that.
What I would suggest is to take some valerian root and use warm compresses with peppermint oil on the head.
What can be done is to treat migraines before you are having one.
Herbs like feverfew, skullcap, ginkgo and ginger can help improve blood flow to the brain and ease or even prevent migraines.
Allot of the time with woman migraines are more frequent during times of hormonal imbalance Like menses and should in that case be treated together.
Herbal formula for migraines
Simmer one teaspoon of ginger in four cups of water for twenty. Then add one teaspoon of each feverfew, periwinkle, and skullcap and let steep for twenty minutes.
Drink one cup of the tea three times a day.
This needs to be done on a consistent bases for a few months before you start to see results. If the teas are hard for you to stick with buy feverfew capsules and take them as directed.
Also I have found that taking a multivitamin with a high concentration of B-complex vitamins can be helpful to reduce migraines.

Herbal Remedies For Motion Sickness

Now this is something that I have always suffered from. For some reason I am slightly embarrassed by the fact that I still get nausea in the car. The funny thing is that if I am driving then everything is fine. It's only when I am the passenger.
Years ago when I first started learning to use herbs I started to eat ginger candy to help when I had to take busses and it really helps.
Another great option is to get some real ginger ale from a health food store and drink or during the drive. Also you can take ginger capsules before and during the drive.

Healthy Habits For Busy People

​Healthy habits for busy people
Even the most busy of us can find some simple habits that can increase our over health and wellness.
By incorporating just a few new healthy habits into our daily routine we can greatly increase our energy, productivity and happiness.
Here are just a few of the best healthy habits that I believe anyone can and should start with.
Eat more fresh fruits and vegetables
Drink more water
Get more exercise
Start taking a multivitamin or super food supplement
Take a herbal tonic 
Start doing deep breathing exercises every day
Eat more fresh fruits and vegetables
This is so important that it is the number one healthy habit.
Fresh fruits and vegetables are packed with vitamins and minerals.
Fresh fruits and vegetables have phytochemicals that help the body to fight off diseases and cancer, keep our cells safe from free radicals, and have numerous other health benefits.
Fresh fruits and vegetables contain high amounts of water in its purist and most absorbable form.
Drink more water
The recommended minimum amount of water that you should be drinking every day is eight cups of water.
The reason I mentioned the word water twice in this last sentence is to stress the point that when I say “water” I mean water and not any other form of drink.
Eight cups of water means 2,000 ml of water.
I have treated so many people that were suffering from nothing more than a case of mild chronic dehydration.
This is a very serious issue because it creates stress on the kidneys that can be very damaging.  
Water is needed for the body to carry out all the chemical reactions that contribute to the sustaining of life.
Get more exercise
Exercise is important in the maintenance of overall health in the entire body.
Exercise is important for mental health as well as the physical health of the body.
When we more our body and bring up our heart rate we help the whole system to more efficiently distribute all the nutrients to the furthest reaches of the body.    
Also when we increase the blood flow in the body we also speed up the disposal of waste materials that need to be transported through the blood.
Oh and of course it will help you look better when you are at the beach.
Start taking a multi vitamin or super food supplement
For anyone who is working hard and is under stress I recommend taking a multi vitamin with a high concentration of b-complex vitamins. Even if you eat a really healthy diet you can’t be too sure in today’s age when a lot of our produce is grown in mineral depleted soil and may not contain the amount of vitamins and minerals that it should.
Also because of high stress levels and exposure to high levels of toxic chemicals its important to have those extra anti-oxidants like vitamin C and E to help protect the cells of the body.
If you want to go the even more natural route and get a supper food supplement, such as wheat grass, kelp, barley grass or any other green drink that has h high amount of anti-oxidants and b-complex more power to you.
b-complex vitamins are so important because they are essential for the production of energy at the cellular level.
Take an herbal tonic
Herbal tonics are herbs that can be taken daily for many months at a time.
Tonic herbs support and nourish the body’s cells, organs and tissues.
One of my favorite herbal tonics is ginger root. Beside for tasting great it’s also strengthens digestion and circulation.
Deep breathing exercises
Deep breathing is a great way to oxidize your blood for added energy and help disperse toxins from the body. Also deep breathing exercises help to cleanse the lymphatic system.
No matter how busy you think you are you need to put the time and effort into maintaining your health because if you are not healthy and strong you can’t be productive at your full potential. 

Herbal Anti-inflammatories

Herbal anti-inflammatories and how they work
The use of NSAID’s (Non steroid anti-inflammatory drugs) is so huge in the pharmaceutical world. Advil, tylenol and all of their cousins are common in every home across the modern world.


We all use them because they work so well and so fast. Head aches, fever and pain caused by a million and one things are gone in fifteen minutes once we take them.


I cant wont tell you that I don’t use them myself because I do. When my children are suffering because of a high fever I try many alternative ways to help them be comfortable but many times I will give them one form or another of these chemicals because I cant bare to see them in pain.


But it there a natural alternative to these seemingly magical chemicals?


Perhaps after this article is finished we can all have a pure natural way to relieve pain, fever and inflammation.


So lets take a look at the mechanism of inflammation and pain in our bodies so we can better understand how this all works.


So our story of inflammation starts with the MAST CELL and ends (for the purpose of this article) with the PROSTAGLANDINS.


The prostaglandins are the guys responsible for the pain and inflammation.


Mast cells are stimulated in one of three ways:
1.\tPhysical injury
2.\tChemical agents
3.\tImmunological means – such as allergies or fighting off a disease


The mast cell when stimulated releases a lot of Different materials that activate our bodies defense or immune system.


Amongst all of the cells that are thrown into action by the mast cell are these prostaglandins.


Other cells that are called to the cite of activity are white blood cells of different sorts to fight off bacteria and clean up the mess.


Prostaglandins are not just released but they need to be synthesized or created.


What a lot of these NSAID’s do is they stop the process of synthesizing the prostaglandins, which then reduces pain and inflammation in the body.


Prostaglandins also increase blood clotting and protect the stomach.


This is why NSAID’s can be used as blood thinners but can also cause peptic ulcers.


Aspirin as well and most other NSAID’s inhibit cyclooxygenase, which is one of the key enzymes in the synthesis of prostaglandins. This is how they work to reduce inflammation and pain.


White willow bark contains a phytochemical salicylic acid which the body can make into an active form of a substance the works just like aspirin but does not irritate the stomach.


Other plants that have these same phytochemicals which are categorized as salicylates are cowslip and meadowsweet.


Because of the unknown concentration of the active ingredients in these plants and the need for the body to process them into their active form, it is difficult to get the same result from them as we do chemical medications.


Today we have herbal extracts that are produced with known amounts of these phytochemicals. These are called standardized herbal extracts which make the best of modern science and herbal medicine.


Try these natural anti-inflammatories and enjoy the best of both worlds.

Magic Herbal Formula for Treating Runny Nose

The Magical Herbal Formula


This is the number one, time tested herbal combination for parents who want to get their kids through the winter with out a runny nose.


Read on and I will tell you everything you need to know to use this formula.


I will tell you what the six herbs are and give you a eight step process on how to use them.


Here are the six herbs that make up the magical formula.
1.\tElder flower
2.\tElder berry
3.\tYarrow
4.\tLinden
5.\tChamomile
6.\tCatnip
Eight steps how to use the formula


Sep 1: Buy the herbs
Buy equal amounts of all the herbs listed.


I suggest buying 50 grams or about that amount in ounces.


Step 2: Mix the herbs


This is why its important to buy equal amounts of all the herbs. If you didn’t then you will need a scale for this step.


Mix the herbs well so that there is equal distribution.


Step 3: Heat the water


Heat two cups of water until boiling, and then remove from the stove.


Step 4: Add the herbs to the water


Add four heaping table spoons of the herbal mixture to the water while still boiling hot.


Step 5: Wait


Let the herbs steep in the boiling hot water for fifteen to twenty minutes while covered.


Step 6: Strain out the herbs


Strain out the herbs and save the liquid tea.


Step 7: Drink


For an adult you will need to drink one cup twice a day if you have a cold that you are trying to get rid of.


For children two to nine years old reduce by half that amount.


For children one to two years old one half a cup of tea a day should be given.


For infants six to twelve months one hundred ml per day.


These are the dosages for treatment. To use this formula for prevention just cut the dosage in half.


Step 8: Repeat daily


This may be the most important step if you want to see results.

Top ten supplements to help improve focus and productivity

 Top ten supplements to help improve focus and productivity


The class of these supplements are called Nootropics.


They help to improve the function of the brain both for the short term and the long term.


In order to really obtain healthy brain function we cant just take a pill or herb. We need to live a healthy life style and eat proper nutrition so that our mind will be working at its optimal potential.


A healthy life style includes proper exercise for body, mind and emotions.


This is the health and wellness triangle of mind body and emotions (I call them emotion but also mean this as soul).


I will be touching on these in future posts.


For now we are going to talk about the top ten supplements that help to strengthen chemically the functioning of the brain cells.


Here are the top ten supplements:
1.\tCiticoline
2.\tPhosphatidylserine
3.\tBacopa Monnieri
4.\tLions mane mushroom
5.\tPterostilbene
6.\tTyrosine
7.\tL-theanine
8.\tRhodiola rosea
9.\tVinpocetine
10.\tB-complex vitamins


These all together help to strengthen the brain cells. In the future as I do more research into how they work and clinical research on each I will link more information to this post.


For now you can use this list while searching for a product to buy.

Understanding mental function and how it can be improved

When we speak about increasing our ability to focus and think clearly it is important to understand the way in which our brain works.

The most basic concepts which we need to understand is the workings of the brain cell which is called a neuron.

For our discussion right now the only part of the neuron which is going to be focused on is the synaptic gap. This is the bridge between one neuron and the next.


What I am going to explain is the acute or short term increase in focus and concentration like that which is caused by pharmaceuticals such as Adderall and Ritalin.


Long term brain health is a very different topic which I will talk about in a different post.


But for right now our main focus (no pun intended) is going to be the synaptic gap and the neurotransmitter acetylcholine.


In the brain, acetylcholine functions as a neurotransmitter and as a neuromodulator. The brain contains a number of cholinergic areas, each with distinct functions. They play an important role in arousal, attention, memory and motivation.

The way that these drugs work to improve our ability to concentrate is they do two things.


1-\tThey increase the secretion of acetylcholine
2-\tThey inhibit (stop) the reuptake of acetylcholine


In this way the concentration and duration of acetylcholine in the synaptic gap is increased.


This in term increases the ability to focus.


Natural supplements that also perform the same way are:


•\tCiticoline – our body is able to transform citicoline into phosphatidylcholine which is a precursor of acetylcholine.
•\tBacopa monnieri herb – inhibits acetylcholinestrase which is an enzyme that brakes down acetylcholine in the synaptic gap.


I would suggest that any supplement that you are thinking about taking to improve mental focus should have these two in it.

Treating The Big Bug

In the past I have come across that one bug, maybe a bacterial or viral infection, that I just thought there was no choice but to give anti-beotics.


Just this past week I came in contact with one such bug.


This is a true story that just happened this past week, and as a matter of fact is still going on.


My youngest son is in a day care. If you are a parent and have already been through the day care system you will know exactly what I am talking about, and if you don’t know what I am talking about then now you will be prepared.


Most of these kids walk around all winter long with a runny nose. I really don’t want to get to in detail but it could be kind of gross.


To my great satisfaction I have been successful in treating the runny nose and it turns out that by treating runny nose I was able to successfully treat the big bug.


So last week half of my youngest son’s day care was home sick. Now this wasn’t just the runny nose but bad cough and fever. My son was still fine but then he started to get this cough.


Over the weekend he got the fever though and that’s when I said “oh s!@t”, it’s the big bug.


Now at this point I added garlic an essential oil rub to the regular herbal formula that I give my kids to treat the runny nose, and I also increased the dose of the herbal formula.


The essential oil rub that I used was a very simple one.


10 drops eucalyptus oil
10 drops lavender oil
2 table spoons olive oil


This I Rubbed on my three year olds back and chest about three times a day. In addition I would add the same oils to his bath with a spill of apple cider vinegar.


After the weekend my kid was good to go but then my oldest who is eleven called home from school.


In short my eleven year old is home sick but the thing is he never takes the runny nose herbs because he hates the taste.


Now I am going to start to treat my oldest and I will let you all know how it goes.


What needs to be taken from this story is what I have said time and time again, the most important part in treatment, is prevention.


If my oldest would have been taking the runny nose herbs the whole time he probably would not have gotten sick, but hind sight is always 20/20 right?

Understanding Alkaloids In Plant Medicine

So I have written in the past about the importance of understanding the chemistry behind plant medicines.


I really think that if we fully understand the workings of the body and how the phytochemicals in the plants effect them, plant medicine can be effective just as much as modern pharmaceuticals.


I have been really trying to study the chemistry behind plant medicines and to tell you the truth really enjoying it.


I have started to think I might go back to school to study biochemistry. But that will need to wait until I get this website up and running at 100%.


Any how here is what I have t say about Alkaloids.


Alkaloids are the largest category of secondary metabolites. The reason for this is very simple, any nitrogen containing compound that does not fall into another category is currently classified as an alkaloid.


Right along with this goes the fact that we can find alkaloids that effect all most every area of the body.


Alkaloids can be used by plants to deter animals from eating them and to store carbon for later use when needed by the plant.


Because of the size of the group there is no one best used solvent for alkaloids. Some are better dissolved in water some in alcohol and others oils.


Many alkaloids have a stimulating effect on the nervous system. The best know and widely used alkaloid is caffeine.


Many alkaloids have been researched in great depth and are now used in modern medicines but many we still know nothing about.

Healthy Tips For Using Stimulants

Healthy Tips For Using Stimulants

Do you drink coffee in the morning?

Do you have a second cup in the afternoon?

Well I sure do, and because I understand that my body gets used to the caffeine in the coffee I also use those other gifts of nature to try and get more done in the day.

For most of us that are trying to do our best to get ahead in life, using one or more of natures boost plants is just part of the game. You cant make the day longer no matter how hard you try but you could sleep less and then have more time to get things done.

That’s the way that I look at it and probably you do as well or you wouldn’t still be reading this.

Yerba matte, tea in all of its wonderful colors, cola nut, and of course chocolate. All of these contain stimulating compounds which work like caffeine, but have a slightly different chemical make up.

Which could be my first healthy tip for using stimulants.

Tip number one: variation

I just went with this one as my first tip because really its not a health tip but a get better results tip.

What happens is we build up a tolerance to the coffee and then we try to just drink more of it. But how many cups of joe can you have in a day?

So instead we need to alternate our uppers or stimulants if you like in order to continue to get the best results.

It is important for me to mention that this sort of thing is very unhealthy if we don’t give our bod a time to recuperate.

The way to live this kind of jacked lifestyle is to make sure to take a cleansing vacation at least a few times a year and lay off the caffeine for a bit.

Tip number two: Drink lots of water

This can also go right along as a get better results tip but even more importantly for your health.

Drinking lots of water is super important for over all health at all times but even more so when using stimulants such as caffeine.

Because these substances also increase your kidney functions they cause an increased release of fluids from the body. If we are not carful to replenish our bodies water supply we run the risk of dehydration, and just think about how bad that could be for your productivity.

Also when we are properly hydrated everything in our body flows better.

Pun intended.

Our blood flows better, our absorption of nutrients is better, and its easier for our bodies to eliminate waste.

So drink up!

Tip number three: Protect the stomach

As I go through these it seems that they are all not just help tips, but also get better results tips.

Now these stimulants also increase the acid levels in the stomach so if you don’t have something in the stomach for the acids to brake up they could start to damage the stomach lining. This could end up causing stomach ulcers.

Once again not good for productivity.

When I first started studying nutrition I would use carbohydrates to get even more of a boost out of caffeine, now I have learnt that using proteins gives me a longer lasting and more balanced energy.

Eat healthy proteins such as nuts and seeds to protect your stomach and also provide even more energy for the body.

Tip number five: Take B-complex plus C vitamins

Now this is the super boost to go along with your coffee. B-complex vitamins and vitamin C are what helps the cells to produce energy.

By taking a solid B-complex plus C formula you can really boost your energy levels in a balanced and healthy way, together with some good old Joe.

Now these are my top four tips for using stimulants. Please let me make it clear that using too much stimulants is not good for your over all health.

To really have the most energy in your life you need to be healthy in all ways both mind and body.

And to be most productive you need to make sure to just get things done.

Otzi The Iceman And His Natural Antibiotics

In 1991 the well preserved remains of a man were found in the melting ice of an alpine glacier.

This discovery was of great importance for archeologists because he is the oldest human mummy found in the area.

There are a lot of interesting things about the remains of Otzi.

There was a legal dispute over who actually was going to claim ownership of his remains, which interested me a bit. 

Then there was talk about a curse related to his remains, this interested me a lot more.

There have been seven people who were involved with the discovery of Otzi that have died some what untimely deaths. Some believe that he was killed in a ritual sacrifice and there for his remains are cursed to this day.

But what really interested me was the fungus that was found with his remains that he was using to treat a case of intestinal parasites that he was suffering from.

Found with Otzi’s remains was two pieces of organic material, that was something between cork and leather in its consistency.

At first this was believed to be tinder for starting fires (not the tinder for starting fires that single people use today), but was later found to be the fungus piptoporus betulinus, which can be found on the birch tree in cold climates.

The fungus contains chemicals that are toxic to certain parasites and when taken by humans can cause diarrhea.

An autopsie of Otzi’s intestines found eggs of the parasite trichuris trichiura, and it is believed that he was trying to treat the condition using the fungus.

Today there is research into new antibiotics that have been found in the piptoporus fungus.

Also very interesting is that Otzi had tattoos in the areas of his body where he was found to be suffering from arthritis. This may have been a form of pain relief similar to that of acupuncture.    

Otzi is estimated to have lived about five thousand years ago. I thinks its amazing to see that people had the ability to diagnose and treat disease with out the use of any of the modern sciences. 

But if you are thinking to your self “where can I get some Birch fungus extract”, you are out of luck. It has not made it to the health food stores yet.

It seems that it will be turned into a new anti biotic or even a cancer fighting medicine first.

But if you are looking for a strong natural anti biotic, you can try oregano oil.

There are a good number of studies showing it to be use full at killing viruses, parasites, and bacteria.

Flaxseed – Good For The Bowls And Good Your Brains

The main category for flaxseed in plant medicine is as a bulk laxative.

The truth is that flaxseed works in two ways as a laxative.
1.    High fiber content creates bulk laxative
2.    Oils in the seed help to add a lubricating and emulcent effect
The oils from flaxseed also contain a high concentration of omega 3 oils.
The fatty coting that covers the dentraite part of neurons is made up of omega 3 fatty acids. This fatty layer help the nerve signals to move faster. This is one of the reasons that omega 3 is known to improve memory and brain function.

Omega 3 is essential fatty acid, which means we cannot produce it in our bodies and must obtain it from our nutrition.

Omega 3 has also been found to have anti-inflammatory activities.

But keep in mind that most of the research done on omega 3 has been done on fish oils which contain EPA and DHA form of omega 3.

ALA is the form of omega 3 found id flaxseeds and can be turned into the EPA and DHA forms.
 
Just for a bit history:

Fax seed has also been used for making linen even by Neanderthal man.

Flax seed oil is a great source of omega 3 for vegans

But omega 3 from fish oils is still more effective for increasing brain functions.

Multivitamin Review Number One

​As I have mentioned many times, I am a very strong believer in the importance of taking a good multivitamin.

Once again I find that just the first thing I write needs its own blog post or webpage as in “Why should you take a multivitamin”.

Now I have been taking GNC MEGA MEN multivitamin for a very long time now, about nine years, and I am very happy with it.

My wife has been taking GNC WOMEN’S ULTRA MEGA also for about nine years. She is very happy with the GNC multivitamin, but I recently switched her to Pure Synergy Multi for women, and I will tell you why.

There are two very important things that I take into consideration when I am buying a multivitamin. Now this is for me and my wife who lives the same life style and has the same budget. If I was recommending a multi to a client or a friend then I would change my approach according to their needs.
The two things that I look at are:
How much B-complex vitamins does it have
What is the herbal formula that it includes, if it has none then I will not buy it
B-complex vitamins

What did you say? You don’t know what B-complex vitamins are good for. No problem, I will explain it to you real simple and fast.

B-complex vitamins are essential for our body to be able to produce energy on the cellular level. In my opinion and from my experience, the recommended daily amounts for all B-complex vitamins is very low and should be changed, but I am not there yet to change them. But really the recommended daily amounts of B-complex vitamins may be enough to survive, but not enough to be totally pumped.
So I am looking for something that has at least 200% of the recommended daily value of B-complex vitamins.

Now the GNC vitamins have a much higher level of B-complex Vitamins then the pure synergy ones, but the pure synergy vitamins have a much better herbal formula.

This brings me to my second decision making aspect of a multivitamin, the herbal formula. All good quality multivitamins today have an herbal formula packed with a bunch of those super herbs that everyone should just be taking.

The GNC multivitamins have a very nice herbal formula but in my opinion the pure synergy multivitamins have a better one.

Also the pure synergy vitamins are much more natural; this means that the vitamins and minerals they contain are taken from all natural sources. Making them more fit for absorption by the human body.

Probably the next time I purchase a multivitamin I am going to try the pure synergy multi for men.


In the end they are both good quality multi vitamin that have noticeable effects on overall health.

My Home Garden

Here is just a quick picture that I got this past Friday while getting some of the things that my wife needed for our Friday night dinner.


The real beauty in this garden of ours is in the fact that it doesn’t need any up keep. The sad part is that I don’t take care of it.


What a double edged sword right?


But the real truth is that if I just put a little bit of TLC into this garden it could really be a breathtaking place.


When I do I am going to take some good pictures and share them with you.


But what you can learn from my neglected garden is what useful herbs can grow well with minimal care.


The plants that I have in this garden are rosemary, sage, aloe, and after the winter fresh onions.


All of these just need a good soil and a bit of water and sunshine and they will grow just great.


I hope that the next time I write about this garden it will be a natural medicine garden.

Hot Peppers And Red Onions

So this is just a bit about what I like to eat.

Really I was just putting a salad together and there was just something about the way the sunlight was shining down on the red onion that I thought it would make a great picture. 
 And hey what is some good pictures without at least a bit of words explaining them.
 So yes red onions and hot peppers.

When I was studying nutrition I remember one of my teachers saying that perhaps one of the reasons that some of the third world countries, such as India and Mexico, eat so much spicy foods is because of the anti bacterial aspects of these strong spices. 

I think that this is one of the reasons that I don’t get sick very often, because I eat such spicy foods all the time. 

Reflexology – More Than A Manual Therapy

I love reflexology and in the past I have seen great results using it for a wide range of ailments. 

What is reflexology? 

The way that reflexology works is that by working on reflex points in the feet, you are able to treat the entire body. To tell you the truth, if I hadn't seen for myself that it really works I would never believed in it. There is no science or psychology backing it up, it kind of like an proven theory. 

But still the fact of the matter is it works. 

When someone comes in with pain in any part of their body, I can find the tender area in the corresponding points in their feet. And very often when working on those points they can feel it though out their bodies. 

This is all really cool but what I wanted to talk about is the more holistic aspect of reflexology. 
 Holistically we understand that all of our physical ailments have an emotional cause. Much of the problem with western medicine is the lack of focus on this. We like to think of our bodies like we think of our cars, but our bodies are the house of our soul and are effected by the emotions in way that science is yet to understand. 

There are two ways to look at the emotional work in reflexology.

The one that I will explain is the four element approach. 

The foot is separated into for zones for the four elements, from top to bottom in the following order. 
•    Air
•    Fire
•    Water
•    Earth
Her is a picture of how it looks on the foot. 

 Each elemental zone corresponds to the emotions of that element. When working on the elements in reflexology we are trying to bring them into balance. 

Air 
Air is connected to thought and also our connection to the realm of the spiritual. 

Air is light and with out tangible substance, but is still the source of all life. 

When air is in balance we are able to think clearly, stay focused and control or thoughts. 

Fire
Fire is energy and action, it is also love, hate and anger. 

Fire can be a burning desire or a hot temper. 

Water
Water is the emotions of feeling, in a way water is the emotion of emotion. 

Water is the emotional way we process or life, and the way we process or emotions. 

It is also our ability to be flexible and adapt to change in our lives. 

Earth
Earth is connected to stability but also to sadness. It's our ability to create good boundaries and stand firm, but it can make us stuck and heavy. 

It can be an earthen vessel or quick sand. 

In the end what we need is balance. 

Five Tips To Stay Slim This Winter

It feels like we just all gain more weight in the winter time. Some people think it's a way that our bodies insulate to stay warm. In some ways that's true, one of the functions of fatty tissue is insulation. 

It could also be because we want to hibernate like bears do.

But in my opinion neither of these are the case, and even if they are true, here are five tips that may help you to stay trim through the winter this year. 

In my opinion the reasons people gain weight during the winter are very simple. 

We eat more, and we move less. 

Obviously, right?

That's always why we gain weight. 

But here are a few points that you may not have thought about in the past. 

Who knows, maybe this will help you keep those extra pounds off when it’s to cold outside to go for your daily run. 

Drink more water

Drinking more water is always a good idea. That's why drinking more water is one of my seven healthy habits for staying healthy and fit. 

The thing is that in the winter time we drink less water because we don’t feel hit like we do when is warm outside. 

Water helps us to feel full while not adding any calories to our diet. So if you don't drink as much water you may feel hungry more often. 

Just make sure to drink at least eight chips of water a day, and at least that part of the problem will be solved. 

Eat fresh vegetables and less/no fried foods.

When it's cold outside we tend to prefer hot foods. The thing we have to watch out for its not to choose warm foods that are high in calories and law in fiber. 

Also people tend to eat less fresh fruits and vegetables during the winter for the same reason. The problem is that fresh fruits and vegetables contain enzymes that aid in good digestion. 

Good digestion means a more efficient brake down of foods and less unnecessary storing of calories as fast cells. 

Increase your indoor exercises

Yes, when it’s cold, rainy and snowing out, you can't go jogging. 

So what I say is make sure you are doing more pushups and sit ups. Or get a treadmill, and whatever works for you. 

What's important is to make sure that you are getting that extra indoor exercise to make up for what your not doing outside. 

Take advantage of good weather days

Of course we all take advantage of good weather. The question is do you do that by getting out there for a two hour jog, or to go fishing? 

You can go fishing, just make sure to run before hand. Better yet, find a great fishing spot that you need to hike a few miles to get to. 

Whatever it is, make sure to get more outdoor exercise in when you are blessed with those nice days in the middle of the winter. 

Also, when you do get the chance do more than you would in the summer because you need to make up for all those snow days. 

The fresh air and sunshine will do you good also. 

Speaking about sunlight, the lack of sunlight during the winter months causes some people to suffer from winter depression. And this can cause people to eat more. 

Which brings me too my fifth and final tip. 

Use herbs that help to decrease depression.

You may not feel depressed, but there is a good chance that we are all not as happy in the winter. 

This is probably because of the longer nights and shorter days. 

Like I said less sun less happy, at least for most of us. 

And when we are feeling unhappy we tend to eat more. 

By taking herbs that improve our mood, we can perhaps stop ourselves from eating that extra piece of cake. 

So these are my five Tips. It's not a magic formula or top secret plan, but some times it’s the little changes that can make the big difference. 

Oregano – In Chinese Medicine

When I was studying naturopathy we needed to take two semesters of Chinese medicine. 

The fact that the entire way that they view the world is so different from how we see things in the west was amazing to me. I must admit that I am sorry that I haven't done much to preserve that knowledge, and I don't remember it well. 

Just recently I started going through a book called “the energetics of western herbs”. Actually it is a two book series explaining the Chinese way of seeing the medicinal functions of western herbal medicines. 

I am sure that I will find a lot more to share with you from these books but today I feel it appropriate to start with oregano. 

First off, oregano is a great therapeutic herb that most of us already have in our house. 

An important note
I never use dry oregano spice for medicinal purposes, I will always at least use a fresh herb if I am not buying medicinal grade oregano. But with that said even what you have in your spice cabinet can be used medicinally. 

What is very interesting is that oregano is classified in Chinese medicine as a draining herb. 

From what I understood, the idea of a draining is that it causes the movement of Qi. 

More specifically oregano is right to promote the circulation of lung Qi and help to open the chest. This goes in accordance with what we know from Western herbal medicine that oregano, more specifically oregano oil is helpful in the treatment of upper respiratory tract issues. 

In the east, they would say that you can use oregano to treat lung Qi constraint, and cold and dampness (phlegm) in the lungs. 

The way that they see it is, good health is the balanced flow of Qi in the body. Pain, inflammation and infection are caused by a stagnation of the Qi in the body. 

If you don't understand what Qi is then you should just watch stare wars. Qi is the eastern understanding of the FORCE.

At least that's the way that I see it. 

In western herbal medicine oregano oil is very popular for the treatment of intestinal parasites. But because the herb contains a high percentage of essential oils (about 2%) the use of the herb itself could be useful as well. 

Also because of the high level of essential oils oregano should be very effective for helping to clear the lung while working as an expectorant. 

The antimicrobial effects of oregano are one of the reasons it is one of the herbs used in the four thieves vinegar. 

Natural Brain Boosts – That Work Now

Hours of studying can make a person hungry. Add to that a few cups of coffee and a bunch more to study, new we are talking about a need for real motivation. 

But there must be some kind of natural solutions for this problem. 

This is what just happened to me. I was pouring over set theory mathematics for over two hours when I got hungry. 

I ate a full avocado plain with a spoon. Now if you look around the Internet you can find that avocados are a real brain food, but are they going to do the trick for me right now? 

Probably not. 

Allot of the so called brain foods are things that are only going to help you out if you make them part of your diet for some time. 

But what natural medicine can you use to help you get the job done right now? 

That's exactly the question I was asking myself when I swallowed the last spoonful of avocado this evening. 

There are a number of supplements that are made to help boost your brain power right away, but that's not what I was looking for, my thought was what plant can I get my hands on now that will help me finish this up. 

None of this was new to me, it's just that times you need to ask yourself the question in order to get the answer. 

And without getting into details I am just going to give you a list of four plants that you can use to boost your brain power now. 

Teas that can boost brain power right away:

•    Green tea
•    Gotu Kola
•    Rosemary
And then I have one more for you, but because it's expensive and really needs to be cooked, I’ll put it separately. 

•    Panax Ginseng

Now the great thing about all these is they can help you out right away. 

But in the end the best natural medicine for concentration, is motivation.

I really like that one! 

The best natural medicine for concentration is motivation. 

Get Ready For The Winter – Natural Medicine Checklist

I have written about different things that can be used to stay healthy in the winter. 

What I want to try to do here is to create a compilation of all the different ways we can use natural medicine to help avoid and treat common winter illnesses. 

I am not going to try and explain the different causes of increases of specific ailments in the winter months, but just give you a overview of what can be done to treat them. 

Let us start with the basic runny nose. 

It is my belief that if you start to treat at the first signs of a runny nose, you may very well avoid the bigger problems like sinusitis and bronchitis. 

The first things we want to concentrate on are:

•    Strengthening the immune system
•    Regulation of mucus secretion

When we speak about strengthening the immune system we need to be a bit more specific and point out that what we want to do is regulate the immune system just in case the runny nose is being caused by allergies, which is an over stimulation of the immune system. 

Instead of getting all technical let me just tell you the things I do. 

To strengthen the immune system, this is what I do. 

•    I eat lots of fresh garlic
•    I drink lots of fresh squeezed lemon juice
•    Make sure I am drinking lots of water (this is important because a lot of us tend to drink less water in the winter time)
•    Eat fresh onions
•    Take a good solid multi vitamin that has lots of vitamin C
•    Immune Strengthening Herbs Such As: Elder, chamomile, ginger, sage, cinnamon
•    Avoid over eating
•    Avoid dairy foods

Eating garlic is one of my favorites because it also helps to regulate mucus secretion. 

I want to mention again the importance of treating symptoms as early on as possible. If you wait until you need antibiotics, then it will be difficult to treat with natural medicine. 

So start using these things as soon as you stay getting a runny nose or start feeling nasal congestion. 

Oh and I almost forgot about essential oils. 

Lavender and eucalyptus oils are great for helping treat nasal congestion and also coughs. 

Simply put a few drops in your hands, rub then together and inhale the oils through your nose. 

If you can do steam inhalation even better. 

All you need is a bowl of streaming water, a towel, and the oils. 

Put a few drops of oil in the water, put your face over the bowl, cover your head and the bowl with the towel and inhale deeply. 

Be careful though eucalyptus oil is very strong. 

If you are already congested to the point where you can't breath through your nose, try using horseradish along with everything else to try and open things up. 

I have had great success using Wasabi, just because I can't always get fresh horseradish in the supermarket. 

As I said this is also good for treating coughs, so let's get right into coughs while we are on the topic. 

First of start with everything I mentioned for strengthening the immune system. 

Now we need to get into what kind of cough you have and see how we go about treating it. 

Dry hacking coughs need to be treated with anti spasmodic herbs like sage, linden, chamomile, yarrow, catnip, lavender. 

Also you want to take herbs that with increase mucus so that the lungs can clean themselves out. 

Here are just a bunch of herbs that can be great for treating dry coughs:

•    Elder
•    Slippery elm
•    Plantago
•    Flaxseed
•    Catnip
•    Chamomile
•    Ginger
•    Lavender
•    Cinnamon
•    Lemon balm
•    Sage
Also make sure you are drinking enough water and that you are not breathing dry air all the time. 

Sleeping with a humidifier is also great when treating dry coughs. 

Very wet coughs should be treated with expectorant herbs like garlic, cinnamon and eucalyptus. 

Elder is said to be a lung tonic herb and is great for all kinds of coughs. 

The last thing I would put on my list would be ear infections. 

I feel like only kids get ear infections but I know that that's not true. 

The bottom line is that ear infections are just another outcome of an infection of the upper respiratory tract. 

But most of the time from what I have seen ear infections are the result of not treating other symptoms earlier on.

Here is a simple but very effective formula for treating all of the above winter ailments including ear infections. 

Use equal parts of the following herbs:
•    Chamomile
•    Elder flower
•    Elder berries
•    Yarrow
•    Linden herb
•    Catnip

Make a strong tea and drink five times a day. 

For ear infections you can also use garlic oil, and apply it typically to the inside of the ear. 

To make a garlic oil simply heat up some fresh crushed garlic in olive oil, but make sure not to fry it.

Let it cool and use a q tip to apply to the inside of the ear. 

I almost forgot about strep throat. 

Strengthen the immune system and use herbal candies like Ricolas.

Also mint teas are great for soothing a sore and itchy throat. 

The second that I start to feel an itch in my throat I start to treat it like a strep.

I think that covers it all, did I miss anything? 

Herbal tobacco supplement

Smoking is bad for your health, no matter what it is that you are smoking.

With that said, I know that a lot of people have a tuff time quitting and for some nicotine free herbal smoking blends are a great help. 

I would never suggest them as a full time smoking solution but as a step towards quitting. 

A good friend of mine changed to one of those new electronic cigarettes, and grew swears by them. He was able to go from two packs a day to nothing more than the electric cigarettes. 

The question if the electric cigarette is really healthier is in my opinion a no brainer, but lots of people don't agree. 

Webmd.com is a reliable source of medical information on the Web and what they say about e-cigarette smoking is supportive to my opinion. 

https://www.webmd.com/smoking-cessation/features/vape-debate-electronic-cigarettes

I would even say that they are a better choice than a herbal smoking blend. 

But for some people the feel of real fire at you dinner tips is hard to give up. 

So for those of you who want to kick the nicotine habit but can't get away from the real smoke, here is a simple herbal blend that makes a enjoyable nicotine free smoke. 

Simply mix equal parts of sage (Salvia officinalis) and Damiana (Turnera diffusa)

Herbal formula to stop bleeding

Small cuts and scrapes happen all the time. For the must part they don't require any treatment arty all. Just make sure to clean them well and bandage so that they don't get infected, and you should be just fine. 

But if you want to help stop the bleeding and prevent infections from happening, you have a number of natural choices to help with just that. 

The most common choice is lavender oil. You can pick up a bottle at any pharmacy. 

You can put the oil directly on an open cut. 

Another choice you can use is aloe Vera. Aloe is a super easy to grow cactus, and it's sticky juice is great for almost all skin problems. 

Just break off a thick leaf and apply the juice to the cut. 

Here is a great first aid herbal formula to help stop bleeding. 

Grind into a powder equal part of the following herbs: yarrow leaf, calendula petals,  and echinacea leaf. When needed sprinkle the powder directly on the open wound to help stop the bleeding.  Obviously this shouldn’t be your plan for serious bleeding but it’s a great fix for all basic cuts.