Natural Remedies

Bladder/Urinary Tract Infections

According to Steven Foster, Herbalist, "the best-researched and most widely accepted natural remedy is cranberry juice. But you don't have to guzzle gallons of cranberry juice (which is full of sugar) to get its benefits. Concentrated cranberry juice extracts are now available in capsule and tablet form.

You'll find dried fruit, fruit concentrates, and juice concentrate n health food stores. The powdered fruit capsules often contain 480-500 mg of dried fruit, with recommendations of taking up to 15 capsules a day. Concentrated products will require smaller daily doses. Be sure to drink plenty of water when taking a cranberry extract product. Follow label instructions or practitioner recommendations. Talk to a pharmacist, physician, or trusted health food store owner for recommendations on specific products.

The most useful herb to combat most bladder infections is bearberry or uva ursi leaves (Arctostaphylos uva ursi). However, to be effective, the patient's urine must be alkaline, which can be achieved by adding a couple of teaspoons of sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) in a glass of water each day. A vegetarian diet can also help to produce alkaline urine. Bearberry may cause stomachache or nausea due to its high tannin content and is not recommended for use by children. Use for only one week, unless under a physician's direction.

If you suspect a urinary tract infection, the best advice is to see your physician. If left untreated, the infection can progress to the kidneys."

Homeopath Dana Ullman, M.P.H., offers some additional input. "Most physicians prescribe antibiotics for a bladder infection, which may provide temporary relief to some women. But there is a growing concern that antibiotic therapy actually promotes recurrent bladder infections by enabling antibiotic-resistant strains of E. coli to develop.

The good news is that homeopathic medicines provide an alternative. However, there is no one remedy that works for everyone. Homeopathic medicines work best when they are prescribed to an individual, not a disease. A homeopath will attempt to attribute each person's unique symptoms to specific infections and stresses.

The following are the most common homeopathic medicines prescribed to women suffering from bladder infections:

Cantharis (Spanish Fly): For strong and frequent urges to urinate, and great burning before, during, and after urination. Usually only drops of urine are passed at a time. The severe pain often causes restlessness.

Staphysagria (Stavesacre): For bladder infections that develop shortly after having sex. Also used when a woman experiences physical or emotional abuse or some type of great embarrassment.

Sarsaparilla (Smilax): For severe pain at the end of urination, or if you experience less pain urinating while standing.

Apis mellifica (Honeybee): For burning and stinging pains that are aggravated by heat and relieved by cold. Also for heightened pain at night and bloating.

It is generally recommended to use the 12th potency of the indicated remedy. Administer every other hour during intense symptoms, and every four hours for mild symptoms. If there is no improvement after 12 hours, or a night's rest, see your health-care practitioner or consider another remedy."
Source: Women.com Web Site: Healthy Living => Nature's Rx

FMS (Fibromyalgia Syndrome)

Malic acid and magnesium: these two substances are key players in the body's production of energy. Magnesium also is a muscle relaxant and malic acid enhances its absorption, so they work well in tandem. Various reports reveal that FMS sufferers have low magnesium levels. In a study reported in the "Journal of Rheumatology," FMS patients taking malic acid and magnesium supplements for six months had significant reductions in pain.

Serotonin boosters: People with FMS tend to have decreased serotonin levels. St. John's wort and 5-HTP are known to raise serotonin levels, which can improve sleep quality and relieve pain. In one study, FMS patients reported significant improvements in pain, morning stiffness, sleep patterns, anxiety and fatigue after taking 100 milligrams of 5-HTP three times a day.

Mind-body techniques: After evaluating research on complementary therapies commonly used in FMS management, scientists at the Univ. of Maryland found the most support for mind-body techniques, such as biofeedback, hypnosis, and cognitive behavioral therapy. Another well-designed study, published in the journal "Alternative Therapies," showed that meditation and "Qigong," a Chinese movement therapy, helped reduce pain and fatigue and improve sleep, mood, and overall quality of life in FMS patients.

Acupuncture: The University of Maryland team also found evidence to support the use of acupuncture, although the results were mixed. In some cases, acupuncture appeared to exacerbate symptoms, while in others it reduced pain. Other reports, however, have shown acupuncture to be effective in reducing pain.

Exercise: This has been subjected to more scientific scrutiny than any other non-drug intervention for FMS. The results differ, but plenty of research supports it. One reason is that atrophied muscles don't use energy efficiently, resulting in fatigue and pain.

Source: crystal_nature_health e-mail discussion list

Headaches

There are many plants that might be considered specific "headache" herbs, including rosemary, cayenne, chamomile, skullcap, elder flower, thyme, Jamaican dogwood, valerian, lavender, marjoram, wormwood, and peppermint. Unfortunately, they don't always work for all people! If a clear-cut underlying pathology exists, that should be the focus of treatment. If none has been found, herbs should be selected that will ensure good elimination, support liver function, and address any specific health needs the patient might have.

There are many essential oils which can be used to relieve headaches. Particularly effective oils are lavender, rosemary, and peppermint, either separately or in combination. Lavender can be rubbed on the temples or made into a cold compress and applied to the temples, forehead, or back of the neck. Equal parts of lavender and peppermint may be even more effective, for lavender has the ability to enhance the action of other oils when it is used in blends. It is also worth noting that, while lavender is a sedative, peppermint is a stimulant. Many commercial headache remedies combine a stimulant (usually caffeine) with one or more analgesics. This is because many of the pain-killing drugs have a slightly sedative and sometimes even a depressant effect, and the caffeine is included to counteract this. By using lavender and peppermint a similar effect is produced without the dangers inherent in synthetic drugs.

If the headache is caused by catarrh or sinus infection, inhalations with lavender, peppermint, rosemary, or eucalyptus will usually be very effective in both relieving the headache and clearing the congestion that is causing it. All these oils are antiseptic and will combat the nasal infection as well as giving immediate relief of symptoms.

Migraine headaches stem from several sources. Possible causes include food sensitivity (dairy products, chocolate, eggs, wheat, peanuts, citrus fruits, red meat, shellfish, tomatoes, and alcohol are common triggers), stress and fatigue, general "toxicity" (exhibited by constipation, liver problems, or general "congestion"), hormone levels (changes usually related to menstrual cycles or drugs containing estrogen), and cranial or spinal misalignments.
One possible prescription is to take 125 mg. of dried feverfew (herb) once a day. Also massage lavender oil into your temples at the first sign of an attack. In addition, if the migraine is associated with stress and hypertension, you might want to use hawthorn, linden, wood betony, skullcap, and cramp bark in equal parts to 2.5 ml. three times a day. Many British herbalists focus upon supporting the liver in migraine treatments. As an example consider the following mixture suggested by Mrs. Nalda Gosling F.N.I.M.H., one of Britain's best herbal clinicians: "Mix motherwort, vervain, dandelion root, centaury, and wild carrot together in equal parts and simmer 25g. of this mixture for 15 minutes in 0.5l of water. A wine glass of this should be drunk 3 times a day."

Source: www.healthy.net, via crystal_nature_health e-mail discussion list




Allergies

Gem Elixirs and Vibrations Healing

• Clay: Make a salve and an elixir for your bath.
• Jasper (Picture Brown): Wear at your heart, throat, or ear lobes.
• Silver: Eat in walnuts.

Source: Gem Elixirs and Vibrations Healing, Volume 1 by Gurudas, via crystal_nature_health e-mail discussion list

Arthritis

Gem Elixirs and Vibrations Healing

• Azurite: Wear at your solar plexis. Make an elixir for salve.
• Brass: Wear at your solar plexus or medulla oblongata.
• Chrysoite: Wear at your throat.
• Clay: Make an elixir for your bath and a salve.
• Copper: Wear anywhere. Eat in oats, raisin, dandelion, garlic, almonds, beets, etc.
• Fluorite: Wear at your ear or medulla oblongata. Make an elixir for your bath.
• Gold: Eat in beet greens, chamomile, and dandelion.
• Kunzite: Wear at your heart.
• Sulfur: Eat in Brussel sprouts, eggs, garlic, onions. Make an elixir for your bath and a salve to apply on your lymph nodes.

Source: Gem Elixirs and Vibrations Healing, Volume 1 by Gurudas, via crystal_nature_health e-mail discussion list

Immune System Deficiency

Gem Elixirs and Vibrations Healing

• Emerald: Make an elixir and put seven drops in your bath. Wear by your heart thymus and close to your nasal passages.
• Gold: Eat in beat greens, chamomile, dandelion, kelp, seaweed, and wheat.
• Jade: Wear by the base of your spine. Make an elixir mixed with peanut oil for salve and put seven drops in your bath with epsom salts or baking soda.
• Jasper: Put an elixir in your bath, but first place seven drops in two fluid ounces of distilled water and then place in bath water. Keep the water at body temperature. There is no critical point of focus when wearing jasper, but there is some enhancement if it is worn close to the thyroid.
• Jasper (Picture-Brown): Wear by your heart, throat, and ear lobes. The elixir should not be mixed with any oils or used in an atomizer. The elixir can be appied directly to the thyroid and pituitary glands.
• Lazulilte: Wear on the middle finger of your right hand or by the heart chakra.
• Quartz (Amethyst): Wear anywhere. Mix an elixir with lotus oil and apply it to your brow chakra once daily in the morning for awhile and add it to your bath.
• Quartz (Blue): Wear it on your index finger.
• Quartz (Citrine): Put an elixir in an atomizer. Wear it anywhere but with direct skin contact.
• Quartz (Rutilated): Add eight drops of elixir to one quart of distilled water and then add that to normal bathing water.
• Ruby: Wear by your heart, thymus, medulla oblongata, coccyx, heart chakra, or meridian points associated with the heart.
• Sulfur: Wear by your lymph nodes. Place seven drops of elixir into three fluid ounces of distilled water and add to your bath.
• Tourmaline: Mix an elixir with castor, clove, coconut, or jojoba oils for ointment. Place it along the spine to strengthen that part of your body.

Source: Gem Elixirs and Vibrations Healing, Volume 1 by Gurudas, via crystal_nature_health e-mail discussion list

Digestive Ills

Gem Elixirs and Vibrations Healing

• Agate (Botswana): Aligns the throat chakra. Use in your bath.
• Agate (Carnelian): Apply externally by massage with castor and peanut oils.
• Agate (Fire): Wear close to your brow chakra. Use for your bath and salve.
• Agate (Moss): Wear close to your brow chakra. Use for your bath and salve.
• Agate (Picture): Use for your bath. Wear by your heart, throat, ear lobes, medulla oblongata, and solar plexus.
• Clay: Use an elixir for your bath and salve.
• Copper: Eat in broccoli, dandelion, garlic, mushroom, almonds, beets. Wear anywhere.
• Coral: Wear by your brow chakra. Use in your bath.
• Emerald: Use in your bath. Wear by your heart, thymus, or close to the nasal passages.
• Gallium: Use an elixir externally with an atomizer.
• Gold: Eat in beet greens, chamomile, dandelion.
• Graphite: Wear at your throat.
• Halite (Salt): Use in your bath. Wear on the palm of the hands.
• Jasper (Green): Wear anywhere with skin contact. Use as a massage oil.
• Jasper (Idar-oberstein): Use in your bath. Wear by your thyroid.
• Jasper (Picture-brown): Wear by your heart, throat, and ear lobes. Use for a salve.
• Jasper (Yellow): Wear by your thymus, nasal passages, third eye, and medulla oblongata.
• Kunzite: Wear at your heart.
• Malachite: Use for a salve.
• Pearl: Wear near your abdomen, navel.
• Pyrite: Use in your bath. Wear by your throat chakra.
• Quartz (Rock): Use in your bath. Wear anywhere.
• Ruby: Wear near your heart, medulla oblongata, thymus, coccyx.
• Sapphire: Wear anywhere with direct skin contact.
• Silver: Eat in walnuts.
• Star Sapphire: Wear near your brow, finger, solar plexus.
• Sulfur: Eat in Brussel sprouts, eggs, garlic, onions. Use for your bath and as salve on your lymph nodes.

Source: Gem Elixirs and Vibrations Healing, Volume 1 by Gurudas, via crystal_nature_health e-mail discussion list

Hypoglycemia

Gem Elixirs and Vibrations Healing

• Moss agate: Use 1/4 ounce elixir to 25 gallons of water with either salt or clay in your bath. Use sea salt to enhance the effect.
• Quartz (Amethyst): Wear anywhere. Use for salve on your brow chakra once a day.

Source: Gem Elixirs and Vibrations Healing, Volume 1 by Gurudas, via crystal_nature_health e-mail discussion list