Natural Home Remedies

Stop The Clock With Vitamins And Minerals

Hormonal changes over the years cause aging by turning down our internal "thermostat". If we could return hormone levels to a young adult level, we could turn back the clock and achieve that vitality of our youth. Using natural products to rejuvenate receptor sensitizers in our brain can stoke up that thermostat.

An imbalance between estrogen and progesterone can lead to depression, fatigue, mood swings, memory loss and unexplained weight loss. Women have several options of over the counter natural products to increase hormone levels. Soy products can be ingested or creams applied that provide extra hormones through skin absorption.

Free radicals can be useful in the body enabling you to fight inflammation, kill bacteria, and control the tone of smooth muscles that regulate your internal organs. However, as these unstable oxygen molecules collide with particles and tissues trying to combine for stability, they cause a burst of light and may begin attacking healthy parts as well as unhealthy parts of the body. This leads to heart disease and cancer.

Antioxidants provide an electron to these free radicals converting them to harmless molecules. By intercepting these free radicals, the antioxidants prevent them from damaging blood vessel membranes maintaining a healthy flow of blood to the heart and brain, which prevents damage that leads to cancer. The best source of antioxidant vitamins and minerals are fruits, vegetables and grains.

An important amino acid, carnosine can be found in high concentrations in the brain, lens of the eye, and muscle tissue. Protecting cell membranes and structures, it is effective in preventing muscle fatigue, reducing stress and hyperactivity, and helping sleep patterns.

Lycopene has received a great deal of attention, lately. This antioxidant found in tomatoes and tomato products can protect against cancer in the digestive tract, adrenal glands, prostate, liver, colon and testes.

Lypoic acid, called a "universal" antioxidant because it is both water and fat soluble, is one of the most important antioxidants. Breaking down sugars into energy, lypoic acid can eliminate free radicals in the water components of cells.

Xanthones can work as antioxidants while leaving you with agreeable or even delightful feelings. Releasing dopamine from the pleasure centers of the brain, it reduces appetites and obsessions and can relieve depression. It is the release of dopamine, an energizing transmitter, that activates the pituitary gland to release growth hormone, which improves immune response. Blueberries play a large role in reversing motor dysfunction associated with age and dopamine deficiency.

Common Herbs And Some Specific Uses

Constipation

One to three tablespoons of whole or crushed Flaxseed two or three times a day will help with chronic constipation. Be sure you get at least eight glasses of water a day to keep the bulk moving through the digestive system.

Coughing

Slice a large onion into rings. Place in deep bowl. Cover the slices with organic honey. Allow to stand overnight. In the morning strain the liquid creating a simple cough elixir.

Dandruff

Create an herbal scalp rinse:

Add one teaspoon of Potassium Chloride (find in salt section at the supermarket) into 6 cups of water. Heat until the Potassium Chloride dissolves. Chop four ounces of fresh Celandine (if fresh is not available use a half cup of the dried herb instead).Add Celandine to the solution. Allow to stand for two hours. Then boil slowly for 20 minutes. Strain out the plant material, and simmer reducing to one and one half cups. Add eight ounces of glycerin and continue simmering reducing the liquid slowly to two cups. Strain the result and bottle it. Store in cool place. Use once or twice a day as a hair rinse.

Depression

Persistent depression is a serious disorder and you should see your doctor for treatment. In the meantime you might like to try a Licorice tea. Simply add some to any of your favorite herbal teas. Using up to approximately 3 cups of tea a day or more or ingesting larger amounts can produce headache, lethargy, sodium and water retention, loss of potassium and high blood pressure. At least eight Licorice compounds are monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors which are compounds capable of potent antidepressant action.