Trouble Sleeping?

Trouble Sleeping? Sleep is important because it affects our health and our moods, energy, behaviors, and emotions. Although, there is no real “normal” amount of sleep it is important to get about seven to eight hours sleep.

With lack of sleep you can feel fatigued, and your immune system is not able to defend the body against disease. But there are some natural remedies can help.

Try snacking on a banana or crackers before bed as the level in “serotonin” the hormone that reduces anxiety will help. Melatonin supplements can help you get into a healthy sleep cycle and taking these supplements can actually help improve your sleep.

Valerian can be taken, but the taste is bitter so it is best to put it into some juice or tea.

Try the “super supplements” ginseng and nutrient rich alfalfa and royal jelly.

Chamomile flower, Hops, or Skullcap herbal tea will  help you relax before going to bed.

Avoid stress, when possible, alcohol, nicotine, caffeine, pain relievers and over the counter decongestants.

As always, check with your doctor before taking any supplements

Treating The shingles Virus

Shingle Vaccine

Treating The Shingles Virus

The shingles virus is an infection of the nerve endings in the skin, it is a painful condition and is caused by the herpes “zoster virus”- the same virus that causes chicken pox.

Shingles attacks the nerve endings in the trunk area of the body and especially around the rib cage and waist. But the blisters that occur can appear on any part of the body, even on the head and the eyes.

The first symptom is a burning or tingling, pain and usually it is in the trunk area and around the waist. Headaches, fever, and fatigue along with the pain of clothing that touches the skin.

Shingles are usually treated with antiviral drugs, anti-inflammatory and herbs. Natural herbs can help boost the immune system and help with the healing and pain.

Lemon balm is an effective anti-viral herb. Its essential oil is helpful when it is applied to the skin, the oil will help guard against the blisters becoming infected and helps with the pain and itching.

For itching, try soaking a compress in chamomile, licorice, witch hazel, St Johns herbs. Any combination will work, let the boiling water cool then apply to the blistered areas.

Does Red Wine Fight Cancer?

Does red wine fight cancer?

Yesterday I wrote about a diet that was developed by a Dutch doctor called Cornelis Moerman. His theory was developed by researching areas of regions where people who drank red wine on a daily basis had lower cases of cancer.

The Moerman diet is an addition to medical treatment for cancer.It includes a lactovegtian diet along with supplements of eight essential nutrients. Vitamins A, B, C, complex and E and iodine, sulfur, and citric acid.

The doctor's goal was to fight cancer with diet be providing important nutrients and acids by including whole food diet that may fight cancer, it does eliminate refined and processed foods which have no dietary value.

By eating whole foods you are benefiting by the nutritional intake of antioxidants, which help to reduce the damage caused by free radicals which are harmful and help support the immune system.

This diet has been offered to cancer patients the Netherlands and Belgium  but it is not recognized nor popular with western medicine, fearing that people will give up medical treatment in favor of this unimproved doctors diet.

The Moerman diet has not had any scientific study or proof to determine the effectiveness of the diets claim to treat or prevent cancer. As always, talk to your doctor before trying any medical treatment.