Get medical health care information about various diseases like diabetes

As a rule, it will be necessary to stimulate the kidneys, since in such cases they are usually weak. If the patient takes, in addition, the special remedies for the veins as they are included in Aesculaforce, a complex made from horse chestnut, witch hazel, arnica and yellow melilot, as well as a course of biological calcium com-

plex Urticalcin, do not be surprised if the ulcer breaks open again. Neither should you be surprised if the patient begins to feel much better. This treatment is designed to attack the problem from inside, to purify and vitalise the system by acting on the kidneys and veins. As a result, the internal condition will be improved and the ulcers will soon heal up outside without any fear of further disturbance to the patient’s general well-being.

If the patient is constipated, prompt action should be taken to relieve this condition. In less stubborn cases psyllium seed will help, as will soaked prunes or figs.

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Blood Pressure, High and Low

Hawthorn, Cayenne and Garlic are well known for their effectiveness in treating both high and low blood pressure. Taken regularly for extended periods, they function as heart and circulation tonics, and will tend to stabilize blood pressure closer to normal.

6 parts Hawthorn berries

1 part Cayenne Pepper

8 parts Garlic cloves

Tincture: 2-4 ml (1/2-l teaspoon) in a small glass of water 3 times per day — may be continued for an extended period with suitable breaks in treatment

Note, however, that heart and circulation disorders are matters for which professional advice should be sought.

Chilblains

For unbroken chilblains:

Cayenne Pepper (powdered)

Poultice, compress or ointment: apply directly to affected areas

Essential oils with warming/analgesic properties such as Peppermint, Rosemary and Thyme are also used, a few drops mixed with a small teaspoon of olive oil and gently applied to the affected areas.

For ulcerated or broken chilblains:

Mullein leaves

Oil: apply directly to affected areas

1 part Witch Hazel leaves

1 part Plantain leaves

1 part Marigold flowers

1 part St John’s Wort herb

1 part Comfrey root

Ointment or oil: apply locally, renewing several times per day

Marigold flowers

Poultice, compress, ointment or oil: apply locally as required

Chilblains usually only develop where poor circulation is found.

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Hamamelis virginiana

Action: Astringent, haemostatic.

Systems Affected: Skin, stomach, intestines.

Preparation and Dosage (thrice daily): Dried leaves, bark or flowering twigs, dose 1-4 grams by infusion. Distilled Witch Hazel (Hamamelis Water) recommended for general external use.

Native to North America, Witch Hazel was greatly revered by the Indians for its healing properties. Used by the American settlers, Europeans and others since, it is official in various national pharmacopoeias. A small tree or spreading shrub growing up to 2 meters or so in height, it is now widely cultivated as a garden ornamental.

Witch Hazel is mostly used externally for its astringent and haemostatic properties. It is applied as a soothing and healing lotion to varicose veins, haemorrhoids, insect bites, bruises, sprains and burns, and as a cleansing haemostatic to stop bleeding from cuts and wounds. It is useful as a mouthwash for inflamed gums and as a gargle for sore throats. Well diluted, it is soothing to tired and inflamed eyes. It is also used internally to help stop bleeding from the lungs, uterus and other organs, and in the treatment of diarrhoea, dysentery and mucous discharge.

The flowering twigs, leaves and bark of the plant are used to make various preparations, several of which are commercially available (from chemists, health food stores, etc.). Distilled Witch Hazel (also known as Hamamelis Water) is a highly-favoured form of preparation for general household use. The ointment has particular use as a local application to haemorrhoids.

Cautionary Notes: Witch Hazel is extremely astringent and should be used with care. When applied to sensitive or inflamed areas (as in sunburn etc.) it should be diluted 50/50 with water before use. Only very diluted Witch Hazel should be used in eye lotions. Distilled Witch Hazel should not be confused with a tincture made from the bark or leaves. The latter can be extremely astringent and may cause disfigurement to the skin unless diluted before use.

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Verbascum thapsus

Action: Pectoral, demulcent, astringent, expectorant, alterative, sedative, analgesic, antispasmodic, antiseptic, diuretic.

Systems Affected: Lungs, glands and lymphatic system, nerves.

Preparation and Dosage (thrice daily): Dried leaves and flowers, dose 2-5 grams by infusion.

Mullein is a Eurasian native now naturalized in some temperate zones. In the first year’s growth there appears a rosette of large leaves somewhat like those of foxglove. In the following year the plant develops a tall spire-like flowering stem clustered with yellow flowers often reaching 2 meters or more in height.

Both in Europe and Asia the power of driving off evil spirits was ascribed to Mullein, and according to the classics it was the plant which Ulysses took to protect himself against the wiles of Circe. The Romans used the dried stem dipped in tallow as a torch.

Mullein has a special affinity for the lungs and is regarded as one of the outstanding pectoral herbs. It is useful in all pulmonary complaints, especially those characterized by lung weakness and/or congestion. It has a long history as a specific treatment for tuberculosis, for which purpose it is often combined with Garlic and Comfrey.

It is prescribed for pneumonia, pleurisy, bronchitis, colds, asthma and dry coughs, its action being demulcent, astringent, antiseptic, expectorant, tonic and sedative (slightly narcotic in effect, it allays pain and calms the nervous system but without any adverse or toxic effects).

The dried leaves are sometimes smoked as a cigarette to relieve lung congestion, asthma and spasmodic coughs. An infusion of the leaves prepared as an inhalant in a bowl of water (keeping the head beneath a towel) is effective for asthma, hayfever and sinus congestion; as a gargle it is useful for throat complaints, especially laryngitis.

The herb exerts a beneficial effect on the glands and lymphatic system. A poultice or compress is applied locally for treating lymphatic congestion, mumps and swollen glands.

A strong infusion of the leaves is used as a remedy for bleeding from the nose, mouth, lungs, bowels and urinary organs. Its diuretic action is tonic to the kidneys, and is useful in fluid retention, especially when combined with local application of the herb as a compress to dropsied limbs.

The demulcent and astringent action of Mullein is useful in diarrhoea and dysentery. In diarrhoea the ordinary infusion is given, but where any bleeding of the bowels is present, a decoction prepared with milk is preferred, taken in small frequent doses.

Mullein oil is produced by placing 50 grams or so of the dried leaves in a wide-mouthed jar with enough olive oil to cover. Seal the jar and keep in a warm place for a fortnight or so, shaking daily. Strained and bottled for storage, it is used as local application to haemorrhoids, frost bite, bruises and nappy rash. In Europe it is valued as one of the best possible remedies for all ear complaints, a few drops placed in the ear overnight.

For rheumatism and painful, stiff or swollen joints, place 50 to 60 grams of dried leaves in 500 ml of vinegar, cover and simmer slowly for half an hour. Applied directly as a compress it will ease the pain and, in almost every case, reduce the swelling.

Concerning storage and preparation: the flowers must be dried in a dark place and stored in tins or light-proof containers. They turn a dark brown/black in a bright light once they have been removed from the plant, and should not be used if they are in this condition. The infusion should always be strained before use through a filter of fine cloth or cotton wool to eliminate the fine hairs which cover the whole plant and which otherwise would irritate the throat.

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Symphytum officinale

Action: Vulnerary, cell-proliferant, demulcent, emollient, astringent, anti-haemorrhagic.

Systems Affected: Bones, muscles, lungs, digestive system, general effects on the whole body. Preparation and Dosage (thrice daily): Dried roots or leaves, dose 2-5 grams by decoction. Fresh or dried roots and leaves used externally.

Comfrey is native to Europe and Asia, and has been introduced and naturalized elsewhere. As an ornamental, the plant is often introduced into gardens, from which it is difficult to eradicate once established, as a new plant develops from any severed portion of the root.

Comfrey is known for its healing properties and the herb has several uses:

For internal haemorrhage, whether from the lungs, stomach, bowels, bladder or haemorrhoids, a strong decoction of the root is taken every two hours until the bleeding ceases.

The plant has the highest mucilage content of any herb and its demulcent action, similar to that of Marshmallow root, is utilized for digestive problems such as gastric and duodenal ulcers, colitis, diarrhoea and dysentery.

The plant is also employed in respiratory conditions (particularly for those complaints which benefit from an astringent mucilage): coughs, pleurisy, bronchitis, lung congestion and bleeding, quinsy and whooping cough. The root is more effective than the leaf and is the part usually employed for coughs.

Comfrey is used externally to reduce pain and inflammation and for its vulnerary action. The plant contains allantoin, a cell-proliferant which promotes rapid healing of wounds.

For bruises, inflammation, sprains, burns, cuts and wounds, to promote suppuration of boils and abscesses, and for skin complaints in general, the fresh leaves or macerated roots are applied as a poultice, compress or ointment.

The whole plant, pounded and applied hot as a poultice, has been used traditionally to soothe pain in any tender, inflamed or suppurating part. It is considered of benefit in neuralgia and rheumatism, and is sometimes used for the treatment of varicose veins.

Comfrey has a long history of use in treating fractures, sprains and hernias — hence one of its old names, Knitbone. The fresh root pounded to a mucilaginous mass and applied as a poultice, compress or ointment, promotes rapid healing of fractured bones and torn muscles or ligaments.

Cautionary Notes: Some research findings have indicated possible adverse effects from the internal use of Comfrey in prolonged high doses. For this reason it is suggested that general use of the herb is best confined to external application.

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A tincture is a concentrated herbal extract prepared with alcohol which can be kept for long periods of time. The alcohol acts as a preservative, and its final concentration in the tincture should not be less than about 30% — hence, for home preparation, spirits such as brandy, vodka, gin or rum are normally employed. Because of its concentrated strength only small doses of a tincture are required, and it is a particularly useful form of preparation where herbs are to be taken over an extended period of time.

A tincture is prepared by combining 100 grams of powdered or finely cut dried herbs with 500 ml of alcohol such as brandy, vodka, gin or rum. Kept in a sealed bottle and shaken daily, the herbs are left to extract for about two weeks. The mixture is then strained through a fine cloth or filter. The herbal residue is discarded and the liquid bottled, preferably in dark glass.

The amount of tincture to be taken in a single dose varies from just a few drops to around two teaspoons. Generally speaking, where the dose for dried herbs prepared as an infusion or decoction is given as, say, ’2-5 grams’, the equivalent dose for a tincture would be 2-5 ml (a half to one teaspoonful). In other words the dose for dried herbs in grams is converted to milliliters for a tincture.

The amount of alcohol consumed in this way is quite small and does not present a problem to most people. But if the use of alcohol must be restricted even at this level, the extract may be prepared with vinegar instead.

Tinctures normally have a storage life of several years. Administered orally, they are usually taken in diluted form, the required dose added to a small glass of water. Sometimes used externally, they may be diluted to form a mouthwash, skin lotion or compress.

Tinctures should not be confused with fluid extracts. These are highly concentrated commercial preparations requiring precise dosage and are several times more potent than tinctures.

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Creative imagery consists of making mental pictures and reinforcing them with silent but strongly positive autogenic phrases or suggestions. By using visual symbols plus verbal affirmations, we create an inner dialog that is immediately understood by both the verbally oriented left brain and the visually oriented right brain. Our symbols and suggestions are fed through these twin brain hemispheres into the subconscious. Since the subconscious uncritically accepts all symbols and suggestions fed into it, our instructions are immediately relayed to the autonomic nervous system (ANS) to be carried out.

ANS pathways parallel all arterial blood vessels and they control blood vessel diameter. They also control all involuntary body functions from blood pressure to heartbeat and breathing rates, kidney function, immunocompetence, digestion, and production of enzymes and hormones.

By learning to speak the language of the right brain— using symbols and imagery instead of words—our blueprint for wellness is communicated directly through the ANS to the involuntary controls of most bodily functions. And whatever we have visualized and suggested gradually becomes a reality.

Once you have learned deep relaxation, creative imagery is easy to learn and results often come swiftly. At the UCLA Medical School, headache pain was relieved in 60 percent of sufferers the first time they used creative imagery.

Nor do we have to tell the body what to do to relieve headache pain. All we need do is visualize ourselves free of headache, in perfect health, and able to do everything that headaches normally prevent. You don’t need to tell the mind how to achieve headache freedom. The subconscious will figure that out at the subclinical level.

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Before the discovery of aspirin in 1889, the application of heat or cold ranked among the most effective means of treating headaches. While it does take more time and effort than popping a pill, such modern aids as gel packs, heating pads and hot and cold showers have made temperature therapy even more effective today.

Temperature therapy works on three levels. First, neat is used to dilate arteries during the Stage 2 constriction phase in the headache process, while cold is used to constrict arteries during the Stage 3 dilation phase. Second, heat relaxes tense neck and shoulder muscles that initiate tension headaches. Heat followed by a short period of cold is an even more effective muscle relaxant.

Third, applying heat or cold to any part of the body creates what is known as a counterstimulation effect. For example, if we apply the heat to our hands, our awareness shifts from the headache to the sensation of warmth in the hands. In the process, pain impulses from the headache are short-circuited and we become less sensitive to the headache pain.

Never expose your skin or scalp to any temperature that is obviously too hot or too cold for comfort. If you feel uncomfortable, adjust the temperature immediately. And avoid standing under a shower cold enough to shock or cause shivering. A cool, brisk shower is just as effective. Temperature therapy should be pleasant, comfortable and relaxing at all times.

Elderly ðåîðlå, in particular, are advised to avoid exposure to extremes of temperature. And those with diabetes, or other dysfunctions that distort temperature awareness, should have their physician’s approval before using temperature therapy. In fact unless you are obviously fit, hardy and in perfect health, you should check with your physician before adopting any temperature therapy. Naturally, if you are taking a prescription medication or are under medical treatment for any reason, you should have your doctor’s approval before using temperature therapy.

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The trick now is to liberate the tryptophan from the protein in these foods and make it accessible to the brain.

You do that by eating a late-night snack consisting solely of complex carbohydrates. Although the actual mechanism by which a vegetarian snack provides tryptophan with priority transportation to the brain remains a mystery, its effectiveness has been amply demonstrated by numerous insomnia researchers.

Serotonin also promotes sleep. And sleep clinics use this same nutritional technique to get tryptophan through the blood-brain barrier of their insomnia patients late in the day.

Either sweet or starchy complex carbohydrates will release tryptophan and speed it to the brain. Among sweet carbohydrates are apples, bananas, dates, pears, raisins or melons. Starchy carbohydrates that work well include beans, com, oatmeal, parsnips, peas, potatoes, brown rice, sweet potatoes, whole grains (including bread) and winter squash.

For example, dinner might include baked cod with steamed potatoes, com and brown rice together with a slice of whole grain bread spread with son avocado and eaten with a small cup of plain nonfat yogurt. For a late night-snack, you might try a sandwich of whole-grain bread spread with avocado, using a banana as filler. The bread should be 100 percent whole-grain and free of oils, fats or sweeteners. Most health food stores carry such breads. Or you could use pita bread made exclusively of whole-grain flour. (Be warned that most “whole-grain” breads on supermarket shelves are made “with” not “exclusively of” whole grains, and the majority are made with fats, oils or sweeteners.)

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Clusters are almost always limited to males 20 to SO years of age. Many have a long history of excessive cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption. A combination of smoking, shallow breathing, a slouching posture, and lack of exercise results in a chronically low level of oxygen intake.

An immediate result of Stage 2 artery constriction is release of the biochemical histamine. The histamine immediately dilates the internal carotid artery. Surrounding this artery is a network of parasympathetic nerves that cause the eye and nose to relax. Pressure from the swollen carotid artery stimulates these nerves. In turn, the nerves dilate arteries in the eye and nose area.

The role of the parasympathetic nervous system is to turn on relaxation. Almost at once, the eye and nose begin to relax. The eyelid droops and the pupil contracts, while the nostril becomes congested on the afflicted side of the face. Meanwhile, blood flow to the face increases and the facial temperature rises. Simultaneously, in a last-ditch effort to restore oxygen levels, blood vessels in the scalp and brain commence a vigorous dilation.

The pain begins without warning and ceases without warning 10 to 30 minutes later. The headache develops around and behind one eye and may radiate to the forehead, temple or nose. The pain is usually on one side only and usually continues to occur on that same side.

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