4 Effective and Safe Herbal Treatments for Asthma

Herbs have been used by our ancestors to cure various illnesses including asthma. Although anywhere you might ask, doctors and clinicians will always warn you of the possible dangers that herbs can have and for some this might be true, the fact that some herbal treatments have already been proven safe and effective for asthma cannot be denied.

Using the right combination of herbal remedies can prove beneficial not only for your asthma but also for your total wellbeing since herbs have been known to aid the body’s immunity making you more resilient to any underlying causes that might worsen the condition. If you are looking for alternative safe herbal asthma treatments here are a few that you can start with:

Chamomile: Chamomile extract contains terpenoids that acts as anti-inflammatory, and anti spasmodic preventing onset of attacks. Not only that, chamomile also contains anti-oxidants that prevent oxygen free-radicals from accumulating inside the body causing the condition to worsen. Usually bought in tea form, chamomile is one of the easiest, cheapest and safest herbal treatments for asthma. For those who are taking warfarin though, avoid chamomile at all costs as it may have contradicting effects.

Ginger: Not only a food ingredient, ginger is one of the most common and readily available herbal treatments for asthma. A tropical perennial plant growing mostly in some parts of Asia, more and more people are discovering the benefits of this humble plant to care for their condition. Serving mostly as an expectorant in short term use, the natural chemicals contained in ginger breaks up mucus making it easier to expel. Long term use of ginger has been shown to ease dyspneic attacks and nocturnal coughing in patients. Found in many forms, including dried, fresh and powdered, ginger can prove to be one of your best weapon against asthma.

Nettle: Urtica Dioica in particular has been used to treat many  illnesses aside from asthma. Taking nettle in tea form can be very beneficial for the whole system as it contains high amounts of iron, chlorophyll and vitamin C. Preparation of nettle root can also be beneficial since it can stimulate production of T-Cells within the body, increasing immunity to allergic reactions.

Ephedra: Ephedra has been used for centuries even before the advent of conventional and more advanced asthma medication. Ephedra has been recently under fire due the various side effects that may arise from its ingestion. One reason for this may be because of improper preparation and experimentation with other chemicals. Traditional preparations for ephedra have been very effective and only a few isolated cases of side effects have been reported. This plant contains ephedrine which helps the lungs in opening the airways by stimulating the release of norepinephrine.

As always, before trying anything out be sure that you ask for expert help from herbalists which will be able to help you with preparations and thereby maximize the concoctions effectivity and assure safety.

Article written by Tomato on December 29th, 2009
Article Source: Allergy-remedy.org

Acid Reflux – What to Drink

There are a number of drinks you may want to try for acid reflux. Most fall under the category of folk remedy, but many people get relief with them. This information is for educational purposes only, of course. Please seek advice from your physician before drinking any of these.

1. Slippery Elm Bark Tea: Health food stores usually have slippery elm bark tea. Drink the bark tea with your meal to avoid acid reflux. Bark tea coats the esophagus lining, reducing its sensitivity to acid. If you want to make the tea at home, try to purchase the shredded bark. Use the inner part of the bark, and steep it in hot water for your acid reflux tea. This makes a thick beverage, with a consistency similar to runny gelatin. If it is too thick for you, simply add more hot water.

2. Ginger Tea: Ginger tea also is available in health food stores, and is helpful for acid reflux when used either with the meal or immediately following the meal. It is easily made at home. Use 1 teaspoon of freshly grated ginger root, or 1,000 mg of ginger powder. If neither is available, use ground ginger from the spice rack. Steep the ginger in 1 cup boiling water for 5 minutes, and then sip. Ginger is helpful for indigestion and acid reflux, especially if caused by spicy foods.
3. Licorice Tea: Licorice tea is also effective in the battle against acid reflux. Purchase your tea, or make it by placing 1 teaspoon of licorice root in 1 1/4 cups of boiling water. Turn the heat low, and simmer the tea for 10 to 15 minutes in a covered pan. Remove from heat, and stir in 2 teaspoons of dried chamomile. Cover and allow your acid reflux tea to steep for 10 minutes. Strain it before drinking.

CAUTION: NEVER use licorice tea for acid reflux if you have high blood pressure (hypertension).

4. Clove-Ade: If you prefer a cold drink rather than tea, you may get relief from acid reflux by drinking a glass of clove-ade. Simply add a few drops of clove oil to a glass of cold water. Stir, and sip the clove-ade slowly to offset acid reflux.

5. Banana Milk-less Smoothies: Bananas seem to be very effective as an acid reflux fighter. Bananas become a natural antacid in the body. Banana milk-less smoothies are a cool way to use the banana’s ability to fight acid reflux. Start smoothies the night before by placing 1 banana, peeled and cut in pieces, into a freezer container. The next day, put the frozen banana chunks in a blender with 3 cups of soy milk, 1 cup of frozen strawberries, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract. Add sugar or other sweetener to taste, and blend until smooth. Sip slowly to relieve acid reflux.

Heartburn, acid reflux, GERD, or indigestion: people have found relief for all of them by abstaining from drinking certain beverages, making a point of drinking other beverages.

Article written by Anna Hart. To view the article source, click here