Health benefits of elderberry

Elderberry trees are native to Europe, but have been naturalized to the Americas, and have a long history of medicinal use. Elderberry (Sambucus nigra), also called elder flower or Elder, is a tree that bears cream-colored flowers followed by dark purple berries in autumn. Elderberries have been used as an herbal remedy for centuries. Widely used in North America, Europe, Western Asia and North Africa. Elderberry is used for its antioxidant activity to boost the immune system. Classical Greek healers considered the elderberry as one of the best known healing plants found in the world, this has now been proven by researchers as well. Hippocrates referred to this plant as the “medicine chest” and recently various researches have proven the health and medicinal benefits of the Elderberry. Elderberries immune-boosting properties is one of it’s major health benefits.



Its immune-boosting properties provide relief in conditions such as colds, flu, bacterial, viral infections, nasal and chest congestion, herpes simplex and yeast infections. People with the flu who took Elderberry juice reported less severe symptoms and felt better much faster than those who did not. In 1995(1) in Panama, Elderberry juice was used to treat a flu epidemic. A study done in2009 (2) showed that "Elderberry extract inhibited Human Influenza A (H1N1) infection. Flaonoids from Elderberry extract bind to H1N1 virions and, when bound, block the ability of the viruses to infect host cells" (3).

This great immune-boosting property of the Elderberry has even led scientists to use it in the treatment of life-threatening illnesses such as cancer and AIDS. Elderberries contain organic pigments, tannin, amino acids, carotenoids, flavonoids, rutin, viburnic acid, vitaman A and B and a large amount of vitamin C. The anthocyanins found in Elderberries possess more antioxidant capacity than either vitamin E or vitamin C. Flavonoids, including quercetin, are believed to account for the therapeutic actions of the Elderberry flowers and berries



The benefits of Elderberry also include positive effects for chronic conditions such as asthma and diabetes Elderberry extract has been found to reduce the oxidation of LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol), helping in preventing or reducing cardiovascular diseases. The flavonoids found in this berry include anthocyanins, which has been considered the most powerful antioxidants known to mankind for preventing cell damage caused by poor diet, environmental pollution and stress (4). Drinking Elderberry juice also helps improve vision, especially night vision.

You can reap some of the benefits of Elderberry by drinking Elderberry juice daily. Elderberry juice can be found at your local health food store. Drink Elderberry juice with care. Drinking 10 ounces of the juice daily is good to help you get the health benefits of the Elderberry. Large doses can cause diarrhea.

Elderberry extracts can also be found in health food stores, you can drink them straight from the dropper or mix them in water. Another way to consume Elderberries is buying them dry at your local herb store and making a tea. You can also cook the Elderberries and use them as flavoring for food. Some herb specialist warn never eat uncooked Elderberries because they contain toxins that can cause nausea and vomiting. They also warn to avoid the red Elderberries and only use purple, black, and blue Elderberries. I love drinking Elderberry tea or the extract when I feel a cold coming on. I found it does help reduce the duration of the cold and the tea taste great!

Recipe for Elderberry SyrupMakes 1 quart
Make sure the cookware you're using is made of stainless steel and your clothes are stain-friendly.

• 2-pounds elderberries rinsed, woody stems removed
• 4 cups water
• 1½ cup Agave Nector
• 1tsp. freshly-squeezed lemon juice

Put the elderberries in a large, stainless steel pot with the water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a low boil and cook for 15-20 minutes, until tender and soft.
Pass through a food mill, then discard the skins.
Pour the juice back into the pot (use a fine-mesh strainer), add agave nector, and cook at a low boil over moderate heat for 15 minutes, until the syrup has thickened. Add a spritz of lemon juice. Cool completely.
Pour into a bottle or jar and store in the refrigerator.
Elderberry Syrup is delicious used over pancakes, waffles, French toast or added to plain yogurt.
Warning: Some varieties of elderberries are not meant for consumption and none should be eaten raw, especially the leaves.

Note: The information in this article is intended for educational purpose only. It is not intended directly or indirectly to give medical advice, diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Consult your medical practitioner before taking any dietary supplement.

Resources: http://www.medicinehunter.com/elderberry2.htm, http://www.herbwisdom.com/herb-elderberry.html , http://www.bulkherbbenefits.com/benefits-of-the-elderberry-herb/ 1 J. Alt Compl Mod 1995: 1:361-69. 2-3 Phytochemistry. 2009 Jul; 70 (10):1255-61. Epub 2009 Aug 12. Elderberry flavonoids bind to and prevent H1N1 infection invitro. 4. Youdim KA, Martin A Joseph JA. Incorporation of the Elderberry anthocyanins by endothelial cells increases protection against oxidative stress.

Stress reducing nutrients and techniques

Most doctors will tell you that many of today’s ailments are caused not by viruses or bacteria, but stress. Everyday people are becoming more stressed out and are not doing anything to minimize stress on the body, mind and spirit. Whether it’s with nutrients or stress relieving techniques, reducing stress will help you live a healthier life.

There are many healthy and unhealthy ways of dealing with stress. Unhealthy ways of dealing with stress may temporarily reduce stress, but in the long run they be detrimental to your health.

Below is a list of unhealthy ways of dealing with stress that can damage your health and eventually ruin your life.

• Drinking alcohol


• Using pills (prescription/over the counter), or illegal drugs to relax


• Smoking


• Withdrawing from others


• Over eating or under eating


• Taking your stress out on others through angry verbal out burst or physical violence.


• Avoiding your problems instead of dealing with them.
  

Here are a few stress busting nutrients and techniques that you can use on a daily basis to help you reduce stress before it reaches a high level that may affect you’re your life, health and well-being.

• Pantothenic Acid – Helps control the action of the adrenal glands. The adrenal glands play a crucial part in stress response. Some foods enriched in Pantothenic acid are cereal grains, legumes, lamb, chicory greens, endive and mushrooms.


• Vitamin C – During stressful times vitamin C is depleted quickly. Vitamin C deficiency can worsen anxiety and irritability and can lower your immune system. Be sure to load up on vitamin C during stressful times to help give you the extra boost you and your immune system needs. Some of the foods that contain vitamin C are kiwi, oranges, broccoli, sweet bell peppers and raspberries are just of few that are enriched with vitamin C.


• Zinc – Zinc is crucial to your well-being. It plays a role in at least 80 different enzyme reactions and is a brain neurotransmitter. Some of the foods that contain Zinc are poultry, whole grains, oysters and nuts.


• Magnesium – helps reduce stress and it helps reduce homoscysteine levels which lowers your risk of stroke, heart disease, cancer, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's disease, and many degenerative diseases. Some good sources of Magnesium are brown rice, orka, swiss chard, spinach and almonds.


• Essential fatty acids (EFA’s) - Every cell in your body is made of these specialized fats, and these cells need a continuous supply of these fatty acids in order to function at its peak. The body uses EFA’s to repair membranes and cells as well as absorb nutrients and get rid of harmful waste from the body. Reduce inflammation throughout your body, increase the activity of another chemical derived from endothelial cells (endothelium-derived nitric oxide), which causes arteries to relax and dilate. EFA’s also reduce the production of messenger chemicals called cytokines, which are involved in the inflammatory response associated with atherosclerosis. Needless to say EFA’s are essential in maintaining your health and well-being. EFA’s are found in foods like salmon, mackeral, sardines, flax seeds, walnuts, leafy green veggies, olive oil and avocados are just a few of the many healthy foods enriched with EFA’s.


• St. John’s Wort and Valerian – Both are herbs that have a calming effect and helps take the edge off. These herbs help relax you so your stress level can reduce. Either one is good to help relieve stress. Do Not take Valerian or St. Johns Wort together.


• Meditation – Meditation is a powerful antidote to stress. Relaxation techniques such as visualization, progressive muscle relaxation, deep breathing, meditation, and yoga can help you activate the body’s natural relaxation response. When practiced regularly, these relaxation techniques lead to a reduction in your everyday stress levels. These techniques also help you to stay calm and collected in the face of life’s unexpected twist and turns. A soothing massage can help you unwind and relieve stress.


• Massage - can relieve tension in your muscles, and it’s a great way to you relax, relieve stress and anxiety, and reduce muscle soreness. A massage can also cause your body to release natural painkillers, and boost your immune system. There are few sensual experiences that I know that can rival a full body massage for stress relief.


• Talking with a friend or counselor – When we are stress over life’s up’s and downs something a good way to get relief is talking with a friend or counselor to help vent your feelings and problems that may be causing you stress.

All the nutrients I mentioned above can be taken in supplement form with your food as well, you will get more benefit from them when added to your daily diet. You also need to avoid high acid foods which may raise your PH levels and processed foods. Nourish your body, mind and spirit everyday and you will be better able to reduce stress and live a happier and healthier life.

Menopause and natural treatments

In today’s day and age more women are looking at natural alternative ways to treat menopause. One of the biggest reason most women today opt for integrative therapies to control menopause is because most women experience unpleasant side effects from conventional Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT). HRT is the use of synthetic estrogen and progesterone that can also cause some health problems such as breast cancer, heart disease or increased blood clots. Some women may also experience side effects such as headaches, vaginal bleeding and nausea.


Menopause usually starts around the age of 52. Many women may start menopause at the early age of 30 or sometimes closer to the age of 60. Menopause is the permanent ending of menstruation in women and marks the end of a woman’s natural ability to bear children. At menopause a woman’s ovary stops producing estrogen and progesterone which are both hormones. Some of the symptoms a woman may experience during menopause are hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, and mood swings.


Nutrition is an important part of helping control some of your menopausal symptoms. Eating foods like brown rice, tofu, grains, soy, almonds, wheat, oats and fresh fruits and veggies are all good and healthy for you. Women should avoid drinking and eating foods high in caffeine, meats, carbonated drinks and foods with high saturated fats. Also avoid excessive sugar which impairs your immune system and limits the liver’s ability to metabolize estrogen. Taking probiotics are good for women but especially during menopause to help with the utilization of estrogen and they help your metabolism. Probiotics are also helpful in reducing yeast infections.

Certain vitamins may help with menopausal symptoms as well. Here are just a few of the many vitamin supplements that can help ease some of your menopausal symptoms.

• Vitamin A – Helps with vaginal dryness.


• Calcium – About 1500 mg daily try to get Calcium citrate. Calcium carbonate may not be fully absorbed. Calcium helps with Osteoporosis


• Vitamin C – Good for the immune system.


• Vitamin E – Helps reduce hot flashes and night sweats. Can be taken in suppositories for vaginal dryness.


• Magnesium – Helps with the absorption of Calcium


• Isoflavones - Acts as estrogen in the body. The estrogen effects of isoflavones are much less powerful than the estrogen hormones.

Some herbal treatments work by stimulating glands to produce natural hormones effectively than restoring them with artificial hormones. Some women prefer to use different types of herbs to help alleviate menopausal symptoms. Here is a list of some that may work for you.

• Black Cohosh – One of the more popular used herbs for menopausal symptoms. Helps alleviate hot flashes, treats vaginal dryness, depression and mood swings cause by menopause. When taken in a high dose black cohosh can cause headaches. Believed to contain phytoestrogens.


• Dong Quai – Helps alleviate hot flashes.


• Chaste Berry – Helps stimulate the production of progesterone and helps alleviate a range of menopausal symptoms.


• Flaxseed – Ground in grinder can be put in salads and cereals. Good for your heart, constipation, inflammation and vaginal dryness.


• Hops – Can be used for insomnia caused by menopause and hot flashes. Do not use this herb if you have severe depression.


• Lemon Balm – Great as a tea. Has a calming effect, helps relieve stress, tension and depression.


• Lavender - Has a soothing and calming effect and helps reduce depression and is helpful in treating headaches.


• Peruvian Maca – Increases energy and helps with mood swings, depression, reduced libido, breast tenderness and anxiety associated with menopause. It is believed to work by stimulating the glands to produce its own estrogen and testosterone.


• Primrose oil – Good for the heart, helps relieve vaginal dryness, and helps promote healthy skin.


• Siberian Ginseng – Increases stamina


• Valerian - Can be taken in tablet, capsule or tea. Helps to relieve night sweats and helps you relax so you can sleep better.

If you are confused as to what natural treatments you should take there is a great site on-line that helps educate women who are in menopause find what simple natural treatments are available. They even assign a nurse who will call you and guide you during this transitional phase in your life. The name of this site is “Women to Women” www.womentowomen.com they help educate you and find alternative ways to deal with all your menopausal symptoms.


Remember that each of us has our own bio-individuality. So what works for your friend may not work for you. Before taking any herbs or supplements you should consult with a certified natural practitioner who can guide you. If you are taking prescription medications you should also consult your doctor. Some herbs may interact with prescription drugs.

Probiotics and their health benefits

Probiotics aren’t just for people who are ill, they are also good for people who are also healthy and want to remain healthy. Probiotics provide some health benefits when taken daily as a supplement and for certain conditons. Probiotics are dietary supplements or foods that contain beneficial or good bacteria that are similar to those normally found in our body. Probiotics can be found in foods such as yogurt, miso and soy drinks and some juices. Activia yogurt by Dannon is one example of a probiotic food. These bacteria and yeasts have been used for thousands of years to ferment foods. Certain yogurts and other cultured dairy products contain such helpful bacteria, particularly specific strains of Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli.

Some scientific evidence has suggested that you can prevent or treat some illnesses with foods and supplements that contain certain kinds of live bacteria. Probiotics are responsible for 80% of our immune system function. They also have a big impact on our digestive health and our overall total health. Doctors have recommended probiotics for certain types of digestive disorders such as (IBS) irritable bowel syndrome. Probiotics surround and destroy dangerous pathogens, they line your intestinal walls, make B vitamins that your body needs and prevent toxins from leaking into your bloodstream. Probiotics also help lower your risk of heart disease and keep cholesterol low. They also keep the microbes in your digestive system balanced, they enhance your digestive and overall health as well as make your immune system strong.

Probiotics may help with these conditions:

• Diarrhea


• Prevent and treat vaginal yeast infections


• Shorten the duration of intestinal infections


• Treat the recurrence of pouchitis


• Crohn’s disease


• Irritable bowel syndrone (IBS)

Some doctors believe that probiotics may help improve general health when taken everyday. Probiotics are usually considered safe because they are already present in our digestive system. Most probiotics are sold as a dietary supplement so you can find them in most shops where vitamins and supplements are sold. You may want to consult your medical or health practitioner who is familiar with probiotics when taking them for a condition. Most health benefits of probiotics are strain specific, and not all strains are necessary or useful depending on your condition.

Tea tree oil: Nature's natural healing oil.

Tea Tree Oil (Melaleuca Alternifolia) is a natural antibacterial disinfectant. It is grown in the islands of the south Pacific and Australia. Tea Tree Oil has wonderful healing properties that makes it a popular natural agent for curing infectious organisms such as fungus, bacteria, and virus. It is known to effectively fight a number of infections that are resistant to some antibiotics.(1) Which makes Tea tree oil an excellent natural remedy for hundreds of bacterial and fungal skin ailments such as abscess, boils, oily skin, blisters, sun burns, warts, herpes, insect bites, rashes and other minor wounds and irritations.


Tea tree oil is also used for the following conditions:
Acne
Athlete's foot
As an antiseptic
Cold sores
Dandruff
Eczema
Lice
Periodontal disease
Psoriasis
Thrush
Yeast infection
Sore throat & congestion
Fever blisters

Tea tree oil was commonly used as a general antiseptic by aborigine tribes for centuries. The Aborigines used the tea tree leaves to relieve their colds by breathing in the steam off of the leaves and twigs in hot water. Tea tree oil contains chemicals known as terpenoids which are believed to be responsible for most of tea tree oil's antimicrobial activity.

Tea tree oil is effective against:

Gram positive bacteria: such as Staphyloccus aureus, Staphyloccus epidermidis, Staphyloccus pneumoniae, Staphyloccus faecalis, Staphyloccus pyrogenes, Staphyloccus agalactiae, Propioni-bacterium acnes, Betahaemolytic streptococcus.

Gram Negative bacteria: Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniac, Citrobactor ssp, Shigella sonnei, Proteus mirabilis, Legionella ssp, Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Fungi: Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Trichophyton rubrum, Aspergillus niger,, Aspergillus flavus, Candida albicans, Microsporum canis, Microsporum gypseum, Thermoactinomycetes vulgaris.

According to Naturopathic and Homeopathic Doctor Asa Hershoff, of Los Angeles and San Francisco, tea tree oil has antibacterial, anti-fungal, and antiviral properties and it stimulates the immune system (1). Asa Hershoff, author of Homeopathic Remedies: A Quick and Easy Guide to Common Disorders and Their Homeopathic Treatments. says "There just aren't that many substances that have all the therapeutic applications that tea tree oil does."(2)

Some lab studies have been showed promise, but more research needs to be done. Laboratory studies have found that tea tree oil may be effective against certain viruses. (3) In a lab study for acne, a solution of 5% tea tree oil treated acne just as well as 5% benzoyl peroxide.(4) Studies have shown that this amazing oil also treats respiratory problems that range for a simple cough or sore throat to a more severe condition such as bronchitis, or asthma. The anti-viral agents in tea tree oil also help fight common infectious disease such as shingles, flu, chicken pox, measles and it also helps to strengthen the immune system. (5) Always follow the instructions on the label or get advice from your doctor or Homeopath.

Tea tree oil should never be swallowed. Even a small amount of tea tree oil has been reported to cause severe reactions, such as nausea, severe rash, confusion and falling into a coma. Tea tree oil should not be use in ears because it may cause damage to the inner ear. It is not recommended for use on children and pregnant women and women who breast feed. Most homeopathic and experts consider tea tree oil to be safe as a topical treatment, however; some people can develop a rash from it. Before using it, try it on a small patch of your skin to see if you are allergic. You can also dilute tea tree oil with olive oil, almond oil and vegetable oil.

This medicinal potion is so effective in helping treat a plethora of conditions every medicine cabinet in everyone's home should keep stock of this natual healing oil.




Resources: 1- Medical Journal, JohnMorgan,MD, 2, 3-Asa Hershoff, DC, author, Homeopathic Remedies: A Quick and Easy Guide to Common Disorders and Their Homeopathic Treatments, 4- Arweiler NB, Donos N, Netuschil L, et al. Clinical and antibacterial effect of tea tree oil--a pilot study. Clin Oral Investig 2000 5-1990 Medical Journal of Australia, Enshaieh S, Jooya A, Siadat AH, et al. The efficacy of 5% topical tea tree oil gel in mild to moderate acne vulgaris: a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled study. Indian J Medical journal, Jon Morgan, MDDermatol Venereol Leprol 2007.