Natural Cures; Herbal Supplements

I have been reading this book "New Choices in Natural Healing" edited by Bill Gottlieb, and cannot seem to put it down. Drug companies seem to be pushing medication more than ever, and Americans are buying into it. According to "New York," Pfizer Pharmaceuticals made 12.9 billion dollars in profit last year. (BILLION!) Now, when I went on Pfizer's web site http://www.pfizer.com/products/ this is what I read: "we help to treat and prevent many of the most common, and most challenging, conditions of our time. " Notice the word common. People are emptying their wallets, and putting all their hope in pharmaceuticals, and most of them don't realize that they don't have to.

Natural healing seems to be a study of the past, making us imagine scenes from "Little House on the Prairie." But, instead putting something into your body that was created in a lab, try something that wasn't made, but exists naturally. Not only is it a better option than medications, but is mostly quite safe and effective.

So next time you go to pop some acetaminophen, or use wash your face in chemicals, try some of these ideas from excerpts from "New Choices in Natural Healing" :

HEADACHE: Food Therapy: " Try having a cup of coffee, " advises Fred Sceftell, " Caffeine constricts blood vessels and is an ingredient in may pain relievers."
Hydrotherapy: "Water treatments for (sinus and tension) headaches use a combination of heat and cold to draw blood away from the affected area. Try soaking your feet and ankles in a hot foot bath while applying an ice pack or cold cloth to the forehead and temples," says Tori Huddson, N.D. "When using an ice pack, many experts suggest wrapping it in a plastic bag and placing it over a towel on the skin. And also to limit cold treatment to 2o minutes, prolonged exposure could damage skin."
Massage: A good example on how to massage away a headache could be found at http://www.videojug.com/film/how-to-massage-away-a-headache. In addition to this, I would recommend after massaging the scalp take small amount of hair in one hand and gently lift the hair away from the scalp and twist it slightly. "This will stimulate the scalp," says Elliot Greene. " And will help relieve tension."

HEARTBURN: Herbal Therapy: "For immediate relief of heartburn, make yourself a cup of ginger tea," says Mary Bove, L.M., N.D. "Put 1/2 teaspoon of shredded fresh ginger in a cup of boiling water. Then let the ginger steep for about 10 minutes, strain the tea so that no ginger remains, cool to drinkable temp and drink."

ACNE: Herbal Therapy: "Take black currant seed oil or evening primrose oil, both of which are available in capsule form in most health food store," says Rosemary Gladstar. "The standard adult dosage for both herbs is three 50o-milligram capsules a day, everyday for three months or until acne clears up."
Food Therapy: "Acne may be caused by consuming the wrong foods," says Elson Haas, M.D. "For some people, acne may be triggered because they are sensitive to sugar, wheat, chocolate, food that are more acid irritating in the body. What happens in these foods can cause more mucus and pus in the hair follicles, clogging up pores. Other times, acne may be the result of intestinal yeast, and when you give up cheeses, baked goods, sugar and other yeast-producing foods, the skin clears up." In the book, it also mentions eating foods high in beta-carotene, such as carrots, pumpkin, cantaloupe and other yellow-orange fruits and vegetables.

Overall, the book is very informative, and the suggestions actually work. As I read more I will make sure to post any other interesting remedies. I also suggest picking up a copy of this book. You could find it on line I am sure, but it is quite pricey. I found mine at a local yard sale. Just keep an eye out.