It’s Entirely Natural - Articles

Far Eastern cultures have been using alternative treatments for thousands of years and still do so today. Even people in the most technically advanced countries, like China and Japan, appreciate the effectiveness and simplicity of natural medicine.

There are many reasons for this. One reason is because natural treatments work. Another reason is that there are virtually no side effects. Unlike the latest technology, with its magical pills and promised cure-alls, there are better options out there, like reflexology. As long as you have two hands and two feet, you can self-treat your medical problems, as many have done for centuries before us.

Reflexology is safe for everyone, and it’s been proven effective. Reflexology is the practice of strategically applying pressure to reflexes of the feet and hands as they correspond with specific body organs. This stems from the ancient belief that the nerves in the feet are channels to the rest of the body. By stimulating nerves on specific areas of the feet and hands, we can stimulate blood flow, reduce stress and eliminate toxin buildup in the corresponding organs and systems of the body. With this, many forms of sickness and disease can be reversed. At the very least, the symptoms can be effectively treated for a period of time.

Although reflexologists cannot diagnose or cure a sickness or disease, they can nevertheless improve one’s feeling of well-being. That ability to calm a person and reduce pain makes reflexology one of the fastest-growing alternative therapies today. In fact, celebrities pay an arm and a leg for just a few minutes of reflexology.

Not only is it beneficial as a tool for relaxation and stress relief, but reflexology is also an effective tool for improving circulation; relieving pain, and stimulating the immune and nervous systems. It has a beneficial effect on many illnesses and conditions, including allergies; chronic sinus problems; acid reflux; acne; migraines; PMS; menopause; insomnia; fertility problems and even arthritis. Many who suffer from these problems have been helped tremendously by reflexology treatments.

Children can benefit from reflexology in many ways as well. Some of the most common complaints treated by doctors include ear infections, constipation, colic and bed-wetting. Reflexology has been shown to dramatically improve these problems as well as other issues that effect children.

Research has even shown that children with cerebral palsy who received reflexology experienced an increased growth rate over the kids who did not receive therapy. Elderly patients who routinely get reflexology treatment have been able to reduce cholesterol, lower and maintain blood pressure and treat painful digestion better than drugs. Elderly patients who have reflexology mats in their homes experience less pain and a greater sense of control when walking.

Reflexology has made its mark in the world of alternative therapies because it works. If you doubt that reflexology works, try it and see the results for yourself. Once you try it you will be a believer and most importantly, you will be hooked for life. Find yourself a good reflexologist, or better yet, learn the techniques for yourself. Having the knowledge to treat yourself and your family is one of the smartest things you can do.

---

Scott Meyers is a staff writer for It’s Entirely Natural, a resource for helping you achieve a naturally healthy body, mind, and spirit. You may contact our writers through the web site. Follow this link for more information on Reflexology.

---

Tags: blood flow, blood pressure, cholesterol, constipation, digestion, Fertility, Menopause, Reflexology, stress

Reflexology is the practice of strategically applying pressure to areas of the feet and hands. Many studies have been done in relation to the effectiveness of reflexology. This paper will review the practice of reflexology, and the results of studies on the practice of this art.

First, what is reflexology? Reflexology is the practice of strategically applying pressure to areas of the feet and hands as they correspond with specific body organs. By stimulating nerves on specific areas of the feet and hands, we can stimulate blood flow and eliminate toxin build-up in the corresponding organs and systems of the body. Reflexology is safe and effective for everyone. Furthermore, it can be used throughout one’s lifetime.

So how can reflexology really help you? Research has found that not only is it beneficial as a tool for relaxation and stress relief, but it is also an effective tool for improving circulation; relieving pain, detoxification, recovering from surgery, and as an immune and nervous system stimulator. In fact, many people with illnesses such as allergies; chronic sinus problems; acid reflux; migraines; PMS; menopause; insomnia; fertility problems and even arthritis have been helped tremendously by reflexology treatments.

Because reflexology works to put the body in a state of well-being, it is beneficial to every system in the body. Reflexology has been shown to relieve many common pregnancy complaints including headache, nausea, backache, stress and anxiety, sleeplessness, fatigue, constipation, swollen ankles and digestive problems. Furthermore, in one study, women that had at least 10 reflexology sessions showed reduced labor times during delivery, and fewer complications of childbirth when compared to women who did not have the treatments.

Children can benefit from reflexology in many ways as well. A few of the most common reasons for conventional medical treatment today are ear infections, constipation, colic and bed-wetting. Reflexology has been shown to dramatically improve these problems. Research has shown that children with cerebral palsy who received reflexology work actually had increased growth rate over the kids who did not receive therapy. There are many additional benefits for children of the practice of this art.

In a society that relies on chemically-laden prescription drugs to cure the sick, especially in the elderly, reflexology provides success stories worth examining. Did you know that elderly patients that routinely get reflexology treatment reduce their levels of cholesterol, reduce and maintain lower blood pressure and treat painful digestion better than drugs? Elderly patients who have reflexology mats in their homes experience less pain and a greater sense of control when walking.

And this is just the tip of the iceberg. For patients recovering from surgery, reflexology can be a dream come true. Studies have shown that patients that received reflexology treatment after surgery experienced far less pain than the patients that received painkillers alone. Moreover, reflexology was shown to be more effective than catheterization in patients with retention of urine after surgery.

Reflexology has made its mark in the world of alternative therapies because it works. Try it and see the results for yourself. Once you try it, you too will become a believer. Find yourself a good reflexologist, or better yet, learn the techniques for yourself. Having the knowledge to treat yourself and your family is one of the smartest things you can do.

---

Scott Meyers is a staff writer for It’s Entirely Natural, a resource for helping you achieve a naturally healthy body, mind, and spirit. You may contact our writers through the web site. Follow this link for more information on Reflexology.

---

Tags: anxiety, blood flow, blood pressure, cholesterol, colic, constipation, Detoxification, digestion, fatigue, Fertility, Menopause, Reflexology, sleep, stress

Fatty acids are one of the essential ingredients in your nutrition. While fatty acids may seem to be unhealthy, there are certain types of fatty acids that can be essential in helping you to gain the proper nutrients and to stay healthy. By knowing which fatty acids to consume, as well as which types to use and which to avoid, you can easily change your eating habits to stay healthier.

Fatty acids can serve several parts of the body. They mainly do their best functioning in the muscles and heart. They are also used to be building blocks for cell membranes and storing energy that the body may need at certain times. Once the body has used enough of the fatty acids and doesn’t need any more energy from them, it will store the rest in the liver. The liver then converts these fatty acids which are not needed at the moment into fat.

There are several different types of fatty acids that are useful to your body. The first types are known as saturated fatty acids. These are typically found in thicker substances, such as butter, lard, whole milk and eggs. It is good to have some saturated fatty acids in your system. Too much of this fat, however, can cause a rise in blood pressure. The second type of fatty acid is known as monounsaturated fatty acids. Some types of foods in this type of fatty acid include avocados, nuts and lighter types of oils. Monounsaturated fatty acids are known to lower cholesterol.

There are several different types of fatty acids that your body needs in order to produce energy as well as to create blocks for cell membranes. These types of fatty acids are also helpful with metabolism. These types of fatty acids are essential to take in through foods, as your body is not capable of reproducing them without the food intake.

The major type of fatty acid that is known to be particularly helpful to your health is called omega 3 fatty acid. This is typically found in different types of fish, flaxseed oil and canola oil. It is known that these types of fatty acids can help with cholesterol levels as well as blood flow. This will eventually reduce the possibility of cardiac problems and heart failure.

One of the most important factors to consider with fatty acids is what types to use, especially if you are using oil. Anything that contains the omega 3 or 6 fatty acids is typically better for your use. This includes the oils of corn, safflower, sunflower, soybean and cottonseed oil. Butters and harder types of fatty acids are more likely to cause problems in your system instead of helping to produce the right types of energies for your daily activities.

It can be seen from these different observations of fatty acids that there are particular types of fatty acids that are better for your well being, while others will cause problems with your bodies regular functioning. By knowing what types of fatty acids to use, you can better balance your diet as well as create more energy for you to be able to use during the day, without storing too much extra fat.

---

Scott Meyers is a staff writer for It’s Entirely Natural, a resource for helping you achieve a naturally healthy body, mind, and spirit. You may contact our writers through the web site. Follow this link for more information on Nutrition & Health.

---

Tags: avocados, blood pressure, cholesterol, diet, flaxseed oil, metabolism, Nutrition & Health, omega 3 fatty acid, whole milk

People tend to talk about chocolate and its nutritional facets and in the end, people tend to conclude that because of its many ingredients that are not considered healthy, chocolate then is also not nutritious. However, this popular notion may not be entirely true.

Chocolate, according to some, contains certain nutrients. These nutrients are good for the body provided that they are eaten in small amounts only. After all, anything taken excessively is not always ideal. Excessive amounts of chocolate in your system can be harmful to your health and can even cause the build up of cholesterol and fats and this, as we all know, cause weight gain. Bear in mind, that if you must eat large amounts of chocolate, you have to “balance it out” with other food.

Chocolate contains stearic acid, a type of saturated fat that is commonly found in cocoa butter. Of course, saturated fat is not healthy. However, compared to other types of fat, stearic acid does not increase your blood cholesterol as rapidly. In fact, stearic acid may even help your heart.

The protein in chocolate is another reason as to why this sweet stuff can be healthy for a person. Generally, chocolate bars contain three to four grams of protein and we know that protein is helpful to the human body.

The antioxidants found in chocolates (flavanoids) are also found to prevent cancer as well as thwart age-related diseases. Flavanoids can also accordingly lower blood cholesterol levels and help keep the blood levels at normal rates.

Did you know chocolates also have copper, calcium and magnesium? Most, if not all, people probably do not know that chocolate has these ingredients!

One has to familiarize him or herself with the various types of chocolates, to know what’s good and what’s not. Compared to other types of chocolate that have too much saturated fat, dark chocolate is popularly known to contain the “ideal ingredients”.

Given these facts, people’s outlook on chocolates has changed. Instead of labeling it as purely junk food, chocolate may now be considered as health food. This is because of the ingredients of chocolate that actually carry good results for the human body. These ingredients can help with heart problems, blood pressure and other health-related concerns.

Hence, to partake of chocolates is not bad after all! Health junkies need not stay away from them and people with that sweet tooth need not give them up. Chocolates can be healthy. Just remember to eat them in moderation.

---

Scott Meyers is a staff writer for It’s Entirely Natural, a resource for helping you achieve a naturally healthy body, mind, and spirit. You may contact our writers through the web site. Follow this link for more information on Nutrition & Health.

---

Tags: antioxidants, blood pressure, cholesterol, cocoa butter, dark chocolate, flavanoids, magnesium, Nutrition & Health

The Aloe plant (scientific name Aloe vera) is a succulent originally from Africa. In the 16th century, Aloe Vera reached the West Indies, where farmers began the job of massive propagation. In modern times, it is one of the most available herbal remedies. It can easily be grown as an indoor plant, thus giving you the joy of its presence along with its curative properties. The character of Aloe Vera plant parts have been described in many ways. Its leaves are often described as hot, bitter and moist. Its gel is described as salty, bitter, cool and moist. Some products made from Aloe may not be suitable for pregnant or nursing women.

Because of its usefulness in treating many conditions, Aloe Vera is now propagated and used worldwide. Many herbal remedies contain extracts as an ingredient. Extracts and synthetic chemicals based on those found naturally in this plant are also included in many conventional lotions, shampoos, and soaps. Aloe Vera has been known to promote bile flow, heal wounds, stop bleeding, expel worms, and reduce blood sugar and cholesterol levels. This succulent has also been known for its purgative, laxative, rejuvenating and anti-aging properties.

Testament of attributes comes to us across time and from all points on the globe. It is believed that related species of the Aloe Vera were used by tribal people as an antidote to the poisons used in arrows, and also to help the wound heal itself. We know that the Greeks and Romans made a gel from this plant to treat battle wounds. This succulent is also widely used in traditional Chinese medicine. In India, the gel from this plant has a longstanding reputation for its use as a cooling tonic. In traditional Indian Ayruveda medicine, Aloe Vera gel is used as a tonic for excess pitta (fire element).

The most common way to prepare the Aloe Vera plant is to use the gel. The gel is thick and mucilaginous. Many herbalists recommend that it be used as a first-aid cure for wounds, burns, and sunburn. This gel can help heal extremely dry skin, and is used in many commercial lotions. It can also be used to treat fungal infections such as ringworm. Gel extracts of the Aloe Vera plant have been successfully used to treat mouth ulcers. Steam inhalation of the gel has also been known to treat bronchial congestion. Recent research has also shown that Aloe Vera gel may be helpful in treating breast and liver cancers, as well as HIV.

The leaves of Aloe Vera, although much less commonly used, can also be helpful for several conditions. The purgative properties of the leaves have been taken advantage of for centuries. Yellow juice collected from the bottom of the leaves can also be prepared and used to treat chronic and stubborn constipation. It is also believed that the leaves of the Aloe Vera plant can be used to stimulate bile flow and to aid digestion. A tincture made from this succulent’s leaves can be taken as an appetite stimulant.

here are several practical applications for different parts of the Aloe Vera plant. The gel can be applied directly to burns, wounds, fungal infections, insect bites, and areas of dry skin. If you decide to grow Aloe Vera, you will have it on hand whenever you need to use it. You can simply split a leaf open and apply the gel directly. You can also collect the gel from several split leaves to make an ointment.

---

Scott Meyers is a staff writer for It’s Entirely Natural, a resource for helping you achieve a naturally healthy body, mind, and spirit. You may contact our writers through the web site. Follow this link for more information on Herbal Remedies.

---

Tags: aloe vera, cholesterol, constipation, Herbal Remedies, laxative, Traditional Chinese Medicine

Living a balanced life and having a balanced diet is critical to maintaining sufficient energy levels. However, every individual needs something different. Several of these needs are based on the person’s physiological characteristics. There are several different ways to find out what you should eat, and how much you should work out, as well as where the concentration should be. By understanding your physiological make-up, your nutrition needs can be more effectively met. The place to begin is your doctor’s office. You will need to have some tests to create the foundation of your diet and exercise plan.

One important measurement is your BMI - or Body Mass Index. It is a ratio derived by comparing your weight to your height. The results indicate how much of your body is comprised of fatty tissue. As may be expected, there is an optimal range for your BMI that depends on your height and weight.

Another important measurement is the RMR, or Resting Metabolic Rate. This measurement determines how many calories you burn while at rest. As with the BMI, there is an optimal level. Once you know these two numbers, you can get some good ideas about how to modify your diet and lifestyle.

Finally, you will need to know your cholesterol, fasting blood sugar, and blood pressure levels. Any one of these can limit the amount of exercise or type of exercise you can pursue, as well as the foods and diets you can try.

When it comes to calories, the three main items measured in nutrition studies are carbohydrates, proteins and fats. A complete analysis also evaluates for vitamins and minerals. All of these factors should be arranged in your diet in such a way that you get all of the recommended daily allowances of nutrients without having to resort to vitamins. Your diet plan should also take into account your level of exercise.

Other things that you should consider are dietary elements that can cause negative impacts on specific symptoms. As an example, beef is the only meat that offers every protein your body needs. At the same time, it is high in cholesterol. When you are changing your diet, therefore, it is important to keep track of your cholesterol levels, so that you can learn how your body is metabolizing certain foods.

Many times people seek diet and exercise programs because they found out their blood pressure may be too high or too low. Like high cholesterol, high blood pressure can lead to serious problems later in life. Both diet and exercise programs can serve to lower the blood pressure, as well as cholesterol levels. Some people, however, will need the help of medications or herbal supplements.

Once you have had your basic tests, and have decided on your exercise plan, you can begin to formulate your diet plan. This is not especially complicated. Basically, what you put in your body will have predictable results on how healthy you look and feel. There is a bit of effort to researching, and then measuring all of the nutritional values you will need to keep track of. In addition, you will need to do some tweaking and refining as you go along to adapt the basic diet and exercise plans to your individual body.

Knowing your unique physiological profile is an important part of developing and maintaining good diet and exercise habits. It will also help you to be able to find the right solutions to your nutrition needs. With some basic information and a sound plan, you will easily be able to control your weight, maintain your fitness goals, and have plenty of energy.

---

Scott Meyers is a staff writer for It’s Entirely Natural, a resource for helping you achieve a naturally healthy body, mind, and spirit. You may contact our writers through the web site. Follow this link for more information on Nutrition & Health.

---

Tags: blood pressure, bmi, cholesterol, diet, exercise, Nutrition & Health

Herbs are often used to help lower and control blood pressure levels in high-risk individuals. A variety of herbs can be taken as herbal supplements made into a tea or even added as ingredients to a soup. This article will take a closer look at the effect of herbs on lowering blood pressure.

To begin our look at blood pressure, we start with coenzyme Q10 (which is also referred to as Co Q10). A study that looked at 59 males who were taking medication for high blood pressure yielded the result that 120 mg of coenzyme Q10 on a daily basis taken for a period of eight weeks was able to reduce high blood pressure by approximately 9 percent. This was compared to a placebo group, which had no benefit on their cholesterol level. In order to be of benefit to an individual, a typical dose of Co Q10 is 30 to 100 mg of the herb three times per day. Although it is generally safe to take, Co Q10 is believed to interact negatively with the drug Coumadin (warfarin), and is therefore contraindicated for patients on this or other blood thinners.

Garlic is also an herb that is particularly helpful in reducing blood pressure. Garlic (allium sativum) has been shown to have several beneficial effects on the circulatory system, including normalizing blood pressure and lowering cholesterol. Garlic can reduce inflammation, which is thought to be a major cause of ‘sudden,’ or ‘silent’ heart attacks. It is also a good preventative of strokes. Studies have shown that garlic can start its protective effects in a short period of time. One clove of garlic a day is recommended for best health benefits. You can easily add garlic to salad, soups, casseroles and other recipes. If you have not acquired a taste for garlic, consider taking a garlic capsule.

Other herbs that are excellent for decreasing blood pressure include valerian, kudzu and celery. Each of these contains a substance called gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA) that helps to maintain normal levels of blood pressure.

The herb valerian (valeriana officinalis) is composed of a substance known as valerenic acid that serves to inhibit a particular enzyme that breaks GABA down in the body. Consuming valerian helps to reduce blood pressure and maintain higher levels of GABA in the system. Valerian is also an herb that is commonly prescribed by herbal practitioners to patients for sleep difficulties. It acts as a sedative, which in turn also brings about a reduction of blood pressure.

Kudzu (pueraria lobata) is a “weedy vine” that Chinese herbalists have long been recommending to patients to help maintain normal blood pressure. The chemical pueraria is believed to have over 100 times the antioxidant capabilities of vitamin C and it is known to help fight cancer and heart disease as well.

Our last herbs blood pressure is celery. Celery (apium graveolens) is a well-known remedy in Chinese traditional medicine for lowering blood pressure levels. Celery is a very versatile vegetable that can be eater alone or used in a variety of recipes. It is believed that consuming four celery stalks per day can have a positive impact on blood pressure.

---

Scott Meyers is a staff writer for It’s Entirely Natural, a resource for helping you achieve a naturally healthy body, mind, and spirit. You may contact our writers through the web site. Follow this link for more information on Herbal Remedies.

---

Tags: blood pressure, cholesterol, coenzyme q10, garlic, Herbal Remedies, sleep

Consider becoming a vegetarian. By eliminating meat from your diet, and reducing the amount of other animal products that you consume, you can improve you overall health.

A vegetarian diet offers you the potential to reduce blood pressure, lower cholesterol and improve cardiovascular health. You can also enjoy a more efficient digestive system and achieve a healthier weight. These benefits are possible on a vegetarian diet if you eat correctly.

If you are interested in the benefits available from a vegetarian diet but you are unsure about the right way to go about eliminating meat from your diet, there are a few helpful steps included here. You will have a more comfortable transition if you make the switch gradually.

1. Evaluate your Current Diet

If you are considering significantly changing your diet, it is helpful to first understand how you are currently eating. If, for example, you are eating large amounts of protein currently, you will need to take that into account as you switch to a vegetarian regime. Be aware of that it can be more difficult to get protein from a vegetarian diet than from a diet that includes a significant amount of meat. If you eat three or more servings of meat per day, you may need to start out your vegetarian diet by eating three or more servings of other protein every day. If you were to simply cut the meat from your diet, your body could suffer from an abrupt transition. It could be shocked by its sudden lack in resources to which it become accustomed.

2. Talk to Your Doctor

It is a good idea to discuss your diet change with your personal physician. Talk to him about your current eating style and ask about the best replacement proteins available within a healthy vegetarian diet. Some examples of direct replacements include veggie burgers for hamburgers and soy hot dogs for meat franks. These things are not in themselves sufficient to fill out your diet. Your doctor will be able to explain how to ensure that you are choosing complete protein foods. Beans, nuts and seafood are all good foods to replace meats.

3. Start the Cooking Crossover

Before you completely eliminate meat from your diet, start replacing one meal a day with a vegetarian dish. This way you will learn the art of vegetarian cooking gradually. Once you have a strong base in meals that you enjoy, you can start replacing more animal products with plant products. While you may feel impatient with the slow start to your new diet, soon you will be eating vegetarian foods all the time. The important thing to keep in mind is the gradual shift so as not to shock your system.

Becoming a vegetarian is a good idea for many people who are concerned with their health. Not everyone is satisfied with meat alternatives, though. By gradually switching from a meat diet to a vegetarian diet you will increase your chances for success. You will also be able to take your time in getting used to a whole new world of food.

---

Scott Meyers is a staff writer for It’s Entirely Natural, a resource for helping you achieve a naturally healthy body, mind, and spirit. You may contact our writers through the web site. Follow this link for more information on Nutrition & Health.

---

Tags: blood pressure, cholesterol, Nutrition & Health, Vegetarian

If every person had the exact same body type and exact same body chemistry, then it would be very easy to have one diet plan that would fit all people. Indeed, it would seem no diets would be needed at all. Because each person is different, not every diet is beneficial to every person. Food allergies, existing health problems, and other conditions all help predetermine what diets will work and what diets should be avoided. This also applies to low carb diets. There are many variations of low carb diets available, but they all have the same target of reducing carbohydrate intake.

In order to determine if the low carb approach is safe for you, it is best to see your doctor. If the doctor you see does not have your family health history and yours, then you will need to collect as much information as possible before going to your visit. Your doctor will make his/her assessment based on your past health condition, and also the conditions that your family is predisposed to having.

Surprisingly enough, you inherit some of your carbohydrate utilization and storage tendencies, along with many other health traits. When you are collecting family history, you will want to start with your immediate family. Every disease and surgery should be recorded, as well as any chronic diseases. If there is a personal or family history of diabetes, this should be very carefully noted. Diabetes affects more than 15 million Americans and can be very dangerous in combination with a low carb diet.

Once you have collected health history information about your immediate family, then move on to extended family, like aunts, uncles, and grandparents. The more information that you provide to your family doctor the better he or she will be able to determine if a low carb diet is safe for you.

In order to further determine the safety of a low carb diet for you, your doctor will want to run some basic tests. These include checking your blood pressure, fasting blood sugar, triglycerides, and cholesterol levels (both HDL and LDL). Since different people metabolize carbohydrates in different ways, what may be a safe level for you (and therefore not need changing at all), may need curbing in someone else.

As effective a tool as low carb diets are in the weight loss arsenal, they are not suited for every person. Certain people have personal or genetic health factors that would make trying low carb diets dangerous. Therefore, you will need to see your doctor before starting this type of diet. You will also need to learn as much as you can about your family health history, and assemble a profile of your past and current health conditions.

---

Scott Meyers is a staff writer for It’s Entirely Natural, a resource for helping you achieve a naturally healthy body, mind, and spirit. You may contact our writers through the web site. Follow this link for more information on Nutrition & Health.

---

Tags: Anger, blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, diet, low carb diets, Nutrition & Health

For over 5,000 years, garlic has been thought of as the king of the healing herbs. The most useful part of the garlic plant is the bulb, which develops a series of partitions, or cloves. Although we think of garlic mainly as a food seasoning, many other cultures used it to cure everything from warts to witchcraft. In modern times, researchers are finding that the chemicals in garlic can, indeed, treat a wide variety of ailments. As an example, there is exciting new research that indicates garlic may be able to prevent certain cancers. Garlic has been known to have positive effects on the cardiovascular and digestive systems. It is also a powerful antibiotic that can cure yeast infections wherever they occur on the body.

While many people cannot tolerate the smell of garlic, it is this odor which gives away some of its most powerful ingredients - sulfur compounds. Many of the first antibiotics were based on sulfur, and are still in use today. Thus, it should come as no surprise that garlic can heal many infections. It works well for any infection that is bacterial or fungal in origin. This includes yeast infections and chest infections. For the most part, garlic is a safe remedy for a wide range of illnesses. However, garlic can interfere with anti-coagulants. It is also not recommended at therapeutic levels for pregnant women and those that are breastfeeding.

As with most other herbs, garlic is best used when fresh. It has been shown that ‘deodorized’ or “pearl capsules” have less healing potential than the natural form. Garlic cloves can be applied topically to treat a variety of skin disorders, including acne. For the treatment of skin infections, corns, warts, or acne, mash fresh garlic cloves and apply to the afflicted area. Eating garlic cloves regularly is also recommended for protecting against any number of infections.

Garlic cloves have also been successfully used as a viable long-term treatment for cardiovascular problems. This herb has been shown to effectively reduce cholesterol, and the plaques which cause atherosclerosis. Garlic has also been shown to dilate peripheral blood vessels, lower blood pressure, and reduce the risk of thrombosis. Recent clinical trials have shown that 2 grams of garlic powder taken daily can prevent heart attacks in individuals who have already suffered one.

Garlic cloves have also been shown to regulate blood sugar levels, and may prove particularly effective in the treatment of adult-onset diabetes. While garlic can solve numerous digestive problems, it can irritate sensitive stomachs. For the treatment of severe digestive disorders, including dysentery, worms, and gastroenteritis, the consumption of 3-6 crushed cloves daily is recommended. For the treatment of intestinal parasites, maceration is recommended. Simply seep 3-4 garlic cloves in water or milk overnight and drink the next day. Garlic can also be easily consumed in capsule form; however, the powdered versions seem to work better.

some people think of garlic as a simple bulb that may smell bad when being cooked, but do wonderful things for the flavoring of food dishes. Other people may have noticed dietary supplements, or garlic capsules, and tried them to see if they would do any good. Across time, Garlic has proven its title as the “King of Herbs” because of its efficacy in treating a wide range of diseases safely and effectively.

---

Scott Meyers is a staff writer for It’s Entirely Natural, a resource for helping you achieve a naturally healthy body, mind, and spirit. You may contact our writers through the web site. Follow this link for more information on Herbal Remedies.

---

Tags: antibiotic, blood pressure, cholesterol, garlic, Herbal Remedies