Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Herbal Medicine - The Original Medicines

Can you imagine a world without bottles of aspirin and antibiotics? How would you feel if your doctor had no drugs to prescribe for serious illnesses? This was the world of our not-so-distant ancestors and, what’s more, it still exists today in Third World countries. Yet it is precisely this primitive world that we owe for all the benefits of modern medicine we enjoy.

The pharmaceutical industry has learned to harness the power of many natural substances, producing synthetic versions which have become our prescription and over-the-counter drugs. These have brought undoubted advances, but often at the cost of debilitating side effects and complications.

Meanwhile, more and more scientific research is serving to remind us of nature’s own safer, gentler packages of healing power which lie behind so many of today’s drugs. The truth is that remedies like Grandma’s elder berry wine and the Chickasaw Indians’ infusion of willow root are scientifically proven! As more and more natural remedies are tested and refined, the apparent need for expensive drugs with dangerous side effects declines. Science is showing real medical advances are in store as we learn to combine old wisdom with new.

Sunday, March 07, 2010

Does Garlic Really Work with High Blood Pressure?














Does Garlic Really Work with High Blood Pressure?


Garlic has been known to help in lowering high blood pressure but many are confused if this simple bulb can really work with your BP.
Research shows that garlic may in fact reduce diastolic and systolic blood pressure!

“In a study, when people with high blood pressure were given one clove of garlic a day for 12 weeks, their diastolic blood pressure and cholesterol levels were significantly reduced. Eating quantities as small as one clove of garlic a day was found to have beneficial effects on managing hypertension.” http://www.netscape.com/fact sheet high blood pressure treatment with garlic

How does garlic work?

“Garlic dilates the muscles of blood vessels, which helps in lowering blood pressure. It consists of a compound called adenosine, which helps in vasodilation and is also a muscle relaxant. Although, both raw and cooked garlic can benefit blood pressure, raw garlic is more potent and benefits faster. Garlic also interferes with the formation of blood clots and helps in reducing cholesterol. It not only helps lower the risk of colon, gastro intestinal tract and stomach cancers but also improves immunity and prevents gas formation.” http://www.indianfoodforever.com/food-guide/hypertension.html

“It appears, according to research that the beneficial effects of garlic on blood pressure come more from the garlic sulphides than from allicin. Unlike allicin, garlic sulphides are not destroyed by cooking.” http://www.aafp.org/afp/20050701/103.html

To give a hint about high blood pressure; high blood pressure is a condition that is treated with a combination of prescription drugs, diet, daily exercise, avoiding caffeine, managing stress and, if you are willing garlic. Below is a quick definition along with a list of symptoms of high blood pressure:
“High BP, or hypertension, means a pressure above 140/90 mmHg. High blood pressure symptoms are usually absent unless hypertension is elevated above 240/120 mmHg.
Hypertension symptoms may be a combination of:
• headache, often upon awakening
• blurred vision
• ringing in the ears
• dizziness
• facial redness
• nosebleeds
• fatigue
• heart attack”

Garlic alone cannot help with your high blood pressures. You also have to maintain a healthy lifestyle and a healthy-natural-diet to prevent yourself from getting sick.