Why All Diabetics Should Know About Turmeric

Many diabetics already know about the benefits of a low-glycemic diet, but why haven’t they heard about turmeric, one of the world’s most extensively researched anti-diabetic plants?

A literature review published in the International Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism titled, “Anti-Hyperglycemic Effect and Insulin Sensitizing Effects of Turmeric and Its Principle Constituent Curcumin,” adds promising new support to the notion that the ancient Indian spice turmeric may provide an ideal drug alternative to treating and perhaps even preventing type 2 diabetes, which has become of the world’s most prevalent diagnoses.

The study reviewed research published between 1998 to 2013 that indicates the active polyphenol in turmeric known as curcumin may provide an ideal intervention for type 2 diabetes, capable of mitigating characteristic pathophysiological hallmarks of the disease such as elevated blood sugar (hyperglycemia) and insulin resistance.

Nineteen of the studies reviewed were cell (in vitro) and animal (in vivo), all which showed beneficial effects.  Five of the studies were human clinical trials using turmeric or curcumin, three of which were performed in those with either diabetes or prediabetes.

Amazingly, the animal and cell research literature review concluded that curcumin could improve the type 2 diabetic state through 10 distinctly different mechanisms, such as:

• Reduction in liver glucose production


• Reduction in liver glycogen production


• Stimulation of increased glucose uptake (by increasing GLUT4, GLUT2 and GLUT3 gene expressions)


• Increasing the activation of AMP kinase


• Promoting PPAR γ ligand- binding activity


• Suppressing hyperglycemia-induced inflammatory state


• Stimulating insulin secretion from pancreatic tissues


• Improvement in pancreatic cell function,


• Increasing phosphorylation of AKT


• Increasing insulin receptor β and reduction of insulin resistance

The human clinical research conducted on diabetic and pre-diabetic patients revealed that curcumin had the following beneficial effects:

• Glucose lowering effect


• Improved beta cell function


• Improved fatty acid oxidation and utilization

One of these studies is especially worth highlighting, as it found a turmeric extract was highly effective in preventing the development of diabetes within pre-diabetic subjects. The study published in 2012, in the American Diabetic Association’s own journal, Diabetes Care, and titled, “Curcumin extract for the prevention of type 2 diabetes,” found that the administration of six capsules containing 250 mg of curcumin daily for 9 months was 100% effective at preventing the development of type 2 diabetes in prediabetics; more specifically: “16.4% of the subjects in the placebo group were diagnosed with T2DM, whereas none were diagnosed with T2DM.”

Observed effects like these are extremely promising when viewed within the context of the highly dismal pharmaceutically-based standard of care. For instance, oral anti-diabetic drugs like metformin are notorious for their serious side effects. They often lower blood sugar, generating the surface appearance of physiological normality, e.g. blood sugar within range, but actually increase morbidity and mortality. With the possibility of deadly side effects, we need natural, safe, affordable and easily accessible alternatives like turmeric now more than ever.

Moreover, despite the well known problem of insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes, recombinant or genetically modified insulin is often used in these patients – a highly illogical and irresponsible approach, and which is endemic to a medical paradigm that does not seek to identity for resolve root causes of disease. A small, but highly concerning recent clinical study found that insulin accelerated the progression of type 2 diabetes, as well as caused type 1 diabetes, or “double diabetes.”

Diabetes is, of course, driven by a dietary pattern that reflects evolutionary mismatch, i.e. the Western diet is a lethal disease vector that has no resemblance to the traditional diet humans consumed for thousands of years, and upon which it still depends for good health. Turmeric, therefore, while an amazing alternative to diabetic drugs, should not be considered a “natural cure”; rather, it is something of a palliative counter-balance to a biologically inappropriate diet, which while far better than pharmaceuticals (learn more by reading: Science Confirms Turmeric As Effective As 14 Drugs), still needs to be part of a broader, more holistic plan that takes into account diet, exercise, toxicant exposure, and mind-body/emotional factors that underpin well-being and contribute significantly to most dis-eases.

For more information on the therapeutic value of turmeric/curcumin diabetes, read our previous articles on the topic:

• Turmeric Extract May Prevent, Even Reverse Diabetes (Type 1 and 2)


• Turmeric May Repair and Regenerate Diabetic Liver Function


• Turmeric’s Heart-Saving Properties Confirmed In New Diabetes Study


• Is The Cure for Diabetes A Humble Root?


• Reverse Insulin Resistance With These 8 Foods

Learn even more by viewing the firsthand research on the anti-type 2 diabetic effects of turmeric by viewing these 23 studies, as well as visiting our Blood Sugar Disorder research page, which covers natural health information on both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

The post Why All Diabetics Should Know About Turmeric appeared first on The Sleuth Journal.

Curtailing Cures?

For more than 25 years, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has relied on established clear and enforceable standards for the manufacture and sale of homeopathic medicines in the U.S.

Now the FDA wants to withdraw this standard and replace it with a vague enforcement policy. Without clear guidance on what is legal, regulatory enforcement quickly becomes arbitrary and capricious.

Why is the FDA taking this step? We’re not sure. All the FDA says is that there has been a significant increase in products labeled as homeopathic.

Homeopathic medicines are used by millions of Americans and their kids. These remedies gently stimulate the body to heal itself, and are safe, natural and without side effects.

In an era where the U.S. healthcare system ranks dead last among industrialized nations, based on things like quality of care, access to doctors and equity throughout the country, consumer choice is more important than ever.

Could the FDA be trying to limit access to homeopathic medicines in favor of protecting the $446-billion pharmaceutical industry?

TAKE ACTION: Don’t Let FDA Needlessly Restrict Your Access to Homeopathic Remedies!

h/t: The Organic Consumers Association

The post Curtailing Cures? appeared first on The Sleuth Journal.

25 Natural Remedies For Diabetes

A few weeks ago I read an email from a reader that made me sad.  In it, she said that given her daughter’s reliance on insulin, she had come to terms with the fact that in a true SHTF scenario, her daughter would die. Those of you that have read William Forstchen’s book, One Second After may recall that the main character’s daughter was a diabetic and died because of a lack of insulin.

I really had no words of wisdom to pass on to this reader.  I am, after all, not a healthcare or medical professional.  On the other hand, I did know that Backdoor Survival featured contributor Joe Alton, a medical doctor, has written extensively about diabetes in a survival situation.  When I reached out to him for advice, he graciously agreed to address this topic in a newly refreshed article just for us.

If you, or someone you know has diabetes, you will find this article interesting.  Just be aware that there has not been a lot of scientific studies proving that one remedy or another will be beneficial.  Then again, the same applies to essential oils and we all know how well they work!

As you read though this list of natural remedies for diabetes, take special note of Joe’s last paragraph; it might surprise you.

Natural Remedies for Diabetes

One of the most difficult issues that the medic will encounter in a survival setting is that of chronic illness. Of these, diabetes is perhaps the most problematic. In the U.S., more than 29 million cases of diabetes were identified with more than 1 million requiring insulin therapy (type 1 diabetes). Diabetes causes damage to the heart, kidneys, eyes, extremities, and more. It is the 7^th leading cause of death in the country, and that’s in normal times.

What is diabetes? To understand this, you should know a little about how your body works to process food into energy. When you eat, food is turned into glucose, sometimes referred to as “sugar”. An organ in the body called the pancreas releases a substance called insulin in response. Insulin allows glucose to be used for energy.

In diabetes, this process doesn’t work due to various reasons. The pancreas may not produce enough insulin or certain factors may cause the body to be resistant to its effects (Type 2 diabetes).

We’ve discussed diabetes and survival in detail in a series of five articles some time ago; here’s a link to Part 1: Diabetes in a Collapse Situation.

In today’s article, we’ll explore some of the natural substances that may have a beneficial effect on diabetes. Alternative therapies encompass a variety of disciplines that include everything from diet, exercise, and lifestyle changes to herbal remedies, acupuncture, yoga, hypnosis, biofeedback, aromatherapy, and others.

It should be noted that a honest conversation with your medical caregiver is important before embarking on a new course of therapy. It’s also important to realize that it’s much more difficult to control type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes than the much more common type 2 (non-insulin dependent) with either conventional or alternative strategies.

Having said that, there are quite a few natural substances that have been put forth as being helpful in the control of diabetes . Most of these are thought to have effects on type 2 diabetics only. Unfortunately, there is a lack of hard scientific data on many, and variability exists in terms of effect on each individual.

Here are some natural substances, taken alphabetically, that may have a beneficial effect on glucose control:

Aloe Vera

Aloe may lower blood glucose in type 2 diabetics, especially when used in conjunction with some conventional oral drugs.

Alpha-Lipoic Acid

Alpha-lipoic acid is an antioxidant that helps decrease insulin resistance and the effects of kidney and nerve damage due to diabetes.

Basil

The leaf and seed of some types of Basil may help people with type 2 diabetes control their blood sugar levels. The seed may work by providing fiber which slows the elevation of blood sugar levels after meals.

Bilberry

Bilberry contains substances called anthocyanosides which improve blood flow which may prevent vessel damage caused by type 2 diabetes.

Bitter Melon

Bitter melon contains several substances, including some insulin-like compounds, that may lower blood sugars in type 2 diabetics.

Cayenne

Cayenne contains capsaicin, something we’ve talked about before as a form of natural pain relief. Indeed, capsaicin creams may improve pain due to damaged nerves in diabetics.

Gaye’s Note:  See Make an Awesome Cayenne Salve for Pain Relief

Chromium

Chromium supplements improve sensitivity to insulin in those resistant to it. It’s thought to be helpful in those who are pre-diabetic and in women with pregnancy-related diabetes.

Cinnamon

Research suggests that regular intake of cinnamon may help reduce levels of blood glucose by augmenting the action of insulin.

Coenzyme Q10

Coenzyme Q10 (Co-Q10) is needed for normal blood sugar metabolism. Type 2 diabetics have been shown to have lower Co-Q10 levels than non-diabetics, suggesting that supplementation may be helpful in control.

Evening Primrose Oil

Studies have shown that 4 grams of evening primrose oil per day improves, over time, the pain associated with diabetic nerve damage.

Fenugreek

Fenugreek may improve glucose control in both type 1 and type 2 diabetics. It may even lower cholesterol in those with coronary artery disease.

Ginseng

Studies have shown that American Ginseng (there are several kinds) gives some sugar-lowering effects as well as a decrease in A1c levels (Hemoglobin A1C is a blood tests that measures long-term glucose control).

Glucomannan

Glucomannan is fiber derived from konjac root (Amorphophallus konjac). It delays stomach emptying, which leads to slower absorption of dietary sugars which results in lower glucose levels after eating.

Gymnema

Gymnema leaves were documented in studies to raise insulin levels in healthy volunteers.

L-Carnitine

L-carnitine helps you utilize fat to produce energy. When people with diabetes were given L-carnitine, high blood levels of fats decreased, including triglycerides and cholesterol.

Magnesium

Type 2 diabetics often have low magnesium levels. Magnesium supplements are thought to increase insulin production in older people with type 2 diabetes.

Mistletoe

Animal studies suggest that mistletoe can stimulate insulin secretion from pancreatic cells, which might decrease glucose levels in people with type 2 diabetes.

Onion

Onion contains allyl-propyl-disulphide (APDS), and certain flavonoids, such as quercetin (see below). APDS has been shown to prolong the effect of insulin and stimulate insulin production as well, thereby improving glucose control.

Psyllium

The fiber in psyllium may improve blood glucose in some diabetics.

Quercetin

Quercetin can help diabetics by reducing levels of sorbitol—a sugar that accumulates in nerves, kidneys and eyes of type 2 diabetics.

Vanadium

Vanadium is an element that, in preliminary studies, helped improve blood glucose levels in diabetic animals. When humans with type 2 diabetes were given Vanadium, a decrease in insulin resistance was noted.

Vitamin B1, B6, B7, B12

These vitamins are thought to be deficient in diabetics with neuropathy (nerve damage). Supplementation has been associated with improvement in related pain.

Taking Vitamin B7, also called Biotin, for two months dropped fasting glucose levels significantly in some patients.

Vitamin C

Like Quercetin, vitamin C may reduce levels of sorbitol (see above). Also, 500 mg of Vitamin C twice a day decreases loss of protein in the urine in diabetics. High levels of protein in the urine are associated with poor outcomes among those with glucose issues.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D is needed to maintain normal blood levels of insulin. The cells that produce insulin in the pancreas have receptors that accept vitamin D, suggesting that supplements might help improve sugar control.

Zinc

People with type 2 diabetes are often zinc-deficient; adding some through the diet or supplements may correct the deficit.

The above list doesn’t take into account some techniques that aren’t associated with ingesting a substance, such as yoga and acupuncture. These methods are valid options, as is strict attention to diet, exercise, and lifestyle. All these can be incorporated as a component of a holistic approach to diabetes. Again, you can expect the effectiveness of alternative modalities to vary greatly from person to person.

You might be surprised to hear my belief that, in a true survival scenario, the condition of some type 2 diabetics may not worsen and, indeed, might even improve. The restrictions that we’ll see in our diet and the increased physical exertion necessary for activities of daily survival may have a positive effect, at least from a glucose standpoint.

By Joe Alton, MD, of www.doomandbloom.net

Co-Author, The Survival Medicine Handbook

Joe and Amy Alton are the authors of the 3 category #1 Amazon Bestseller “The Survival Medicine Handbook“.  See their articles in Backwoods Home, Survival Quarterly, and other great magazines. For over 600 articles on medical preparedness in wilderness, disaster, or other austere settings, go to their website at www.doomandbloom.net. The opinions voiced by Joe Alton, M.D., and Amy Alton, A.R.N.P. are their own and are not meant to take the place of seeking medical help from a qualified healthcare provider.

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Final Word

Diabetes is often referred to as the silent killer because the symptoms can mimic other ailments or simply be ignored.  My recommendation is that you educate yourself relative to those symptoms and of necessary, have your health care provider perform a simple blood sugar test.  If diagnosed, consider incorporating some of these natural remedies into your daily routine and continue to monitor your progress.

As I like to say, knowledge is power, and knowing how to control diabetes with natural remedies  could become a lifesaver down the road.  Thinking out loud, many of the remedies listed above are quite commonplace; it simply makes sense to stockpile a few for the long term.

Enjoy your next adventure through common sense and thoughtful preparation!

The post 25 Natural Remedies For Diabetes appeared first on The Sleuth Journal.

Royal Jelly: Anti-Diabetic Healing Gift FromThe Bee Hive

 

You have probably heard, if the bees die, they are taking us with them. So many of the crops we depend on for our subsistence, thanks to the busy work of these remarkable creatures — specifically, their inadvertent pollination of angiosperms, the plants that most of modern human civilization depend on for their daily nourishment — depend on bees for their prolific food productivity. All the more reason to appreciate what they provide to us. Honey, propolis, beeswax, and even their venom, we now know provide life-saving health benefits. But have you heard about the amazing health benefits of royal jelly?

Royal jelly is an amazing healing compound secreted by bees as both a form of nourishment for the entire hive and an epigenetic control system used to direct the development of larvae into queen bees. This amazing substance has been extensively researched and demonstrated in the peer-reviewed published research to have over three dozen health benefits. You can access the first-hand citations on our database here: Royal Jelly Health Benefits.

An exciting new study was just published in the Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine titled, “Effects of royal jelly supplementation on glycemic control and oxidative stress factors in type 2 diabetic female: a randomized clinical trial,” and explored the healing effects of royal jelly in women with type 2 diabetes.

The researchers sought to confirm royal jelly’s health benefits as both an antioxidant and blood sugar lowering agent, as has been previously reported in preclinical research.

The pilot study involved 50 female subjects with type 2 diabetes who were randomly allocated to receive either a 1,000 mg royal jelly soft gel supplement (25 women) or a placebo (25 women), for 8 weeks.

The women’s blood sugar control indices, antioxidant and oxidative stress factors were measured before and after the intervention with the following results:

“After royal jelly supplementation, the mean fasting blood glucose decreased remarkably (163.05±42.51 mg/dL vs. 149.68±42.7 mg/dL). Royal jelly supplementation resulted in significant reduction in the mean serum glycosylated hemoglobin levels (8.67%±2.24% vs. 7.05%±1.45%, P=0.001) and significant elevation in the mean insulin concentration (70.28±29.16 pmol/L vs. 86.46±27.50 pmol/L, P=0.01). Supplementation significantly increased erythrocyte superoxidase dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities and decreased malondialdehyde levels (P<0.05). At the end of study, the mean total antioxidant capacity elevated insignificantly in both groups.”

The authors described the effectiveness of royal jelly had in reducing fasting blood sugar (FBG) as “remarkable,” concluding that “supplementation with RJ may be beneficial for diabetic patients.”

They also discovered an insulin-like property to the royal jelly, which they could not determine was due to the stimulation of new insulin production by the beta cells in the pancreases of the test subjects, or the presence of an insulin-like component within the royal jelly itself.

This is the not the first study to identify an anti-diabetic property to royal jelly. In 2008, a study was published in Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin describing the amelioration of insulin resistance in fructose-fed rats, finding that “Royal Jelly could be an effective functional food to prevent insulin resistance associated with the development of hypertension.”[i]

Also, in 2007, a study published in the Journal of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan found that royal jelly significantly decreased systolic blood pressure and serum levels of insulin in insulin resistant rats.[ii]

The evidence – now from both human  and animal studies – indicates that royal jelly may provide a natural alternative for ameliorating type 2 diabetes. There will never be enough royal jelly, however, to provide sufficient ‘remedy’ to the hundreds of millions who are suffering from type 2 diabetes as a result of a biologically inappropriate diet and incessant chemical exposures, as it is a precious commodity produced by a species of insect that is collapsing under the weight of post-industrial civilization’s toxic fallout.

Royal jelly, while amazing, is only the tip of the honey-coated iceberg. We have dedicated a good amount of time on our database to indexing all the virtues of bee products. To peruse the vast amount of literature on the subject of the health benefits of bee products, take a look at our section: The Health Benefits of Bee Products

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[i] Yoshito Zamami, Shingo Takatori, Mitsuhiro Goda, Toshihiro Koyama, Yukiko Iwatani, Xin Jin, Shima Takai-Doi, Hiromu Kawasaki. Royal jelly ameliorates insulin resistance in fructose-drinking rats. Biol Pharm Bull. 2008 Nov;31(11):2103-7 PMID: 18981581

[ii] Masataka Nomura, Naomi Maruo, Yoshito Zamami, Shingo Takatori, Shima Doi, Hiromu Kawasaki. [Effect of long-term treatment with royal jelly on insulin resistance in Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) rats]. Yakugaku Zasshi. 2007 Nov ;127(11):1877-82. PMID: 17978564

 

© March 18, 2018 GreenMedInfo LLC. This work is reproduced and distributed with the permission of GreenMedInfo LLC. Want to learn more from GreenMedInfo? Sign up for the newsletter here http://www.greenmedinfo.com/greenmed/newsletter.

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The 9 Best Essential Oils For Your Survival Kit

There are many reasons why learning about essential oils is useful for preppers.  Not the least of those reasons is to lessen the reliance on expensive and often ineffective and toxic pharmaceuticals.  How often have you filled an expensive prescription only to have side effects or find that the drug simply did not work.  Other than add these meds to your SHTF barter kit, you are out of luck.

On the other hand, most essential oils are quite inexpensive and have the added bonus that a prescription is not required.  With essential oils you have the freedom of where to shop, how much to pay, and how to use them.  You can dilute essential oils in a carrier oil or salve, use them in a compress, or diffuse them, or use them in a myriad of other ways suitable to your situation.

With that in mind, today I want to answer one of the most frequently asked questions I get regarding essential oils: what are the best essential oils to set aside for my survival kit?   In other words, what are the specific “set it and forget it” oils that are on par with emergency food and water storage?

Nine Essential Oils for the Long Term Survival Kit

There are many factors that have gone into my choices, including an oil’s versatility and its ability to resolve multiple woes.  I have also taken into consideration price and shelf life.  More about that in bit, but first, here my own list of the nine best essential oils for the long term survival kit along with my top 4 uses for each of them.

1.  Lavender

Treats cuts, scrapes, and burns and works to promote healing

Induces calm, relieves anxiety and stress, promotes sleep

Eliminates the sting of bug bites

Relieves pain and soreness caused by sprains and muscle aches

For more uses: The Miracle of Lavender Oil: 25 Amazing Uses for Survival

Resource:  Lavender Essential Oil

2.  Peppermint

Relieves headache pain

Topical treatment of allergies

Repels ants, spiders, mice and other pests from home and garden

Treats digestive disorders such as heartburn, bloating, indigestion, and constipation

For more uses:  The Miracle of Peppermint Oil: 20 Practical Uses for Survival

Resource:  Peppermint Essential Oil

3.  Melaleuca (Tea Tree)

Use as an antiseptic, antiviral, antibacterial and fungicide.  Kills germs and prevents infection!

Eliminate mold and mildew

Fights colds, sinus infections, respiratory ailments and bronchitis

Treats wounds

For more uses:  The Miracle of Tea Tree Oil: 80 Amazing Uses for Survival

Resource: Melaleuca (Tea Tree) Essential Oil

4.  Rosemary

Improve concentration and memory plus provide increased mental and physical stimulation

Relive anxiety and stress by calming and relaxing the nerves

Sooth and heal skin disorders by reduce itching, dryness and irritation

Treat respiratory problems and congestion through inhalation

For more uses: The Powerful Healing Qualities of Rosemary Essential Oil

Resource:  Rosemary Essential Oil

5. Frankincense

Reduce inflammation and relieve conditions where pain and inflammation are present

Heal wounds from cuts, scrapes, and burns

Mitigate depression and feelings of helplessness

Boost and supercharge the effectiveness of other essential oils when used in tandem or layered on top of other oils

For more uses:  22 Powerful Uses of Frankincense Essential Oil

Resource:  Frankincense Essential Oil

6. Clove

Relieve toothaches and reduce the pain of canker sores and gum irritation

Disinfect hard surfaces and utensils

Freshen foul or stale air

Treat wounds, cuts, scabies, athlete’s foot, fungal infections, bruises, prickly heat, insect bites and stings.

For more uses:  20 Ways To Benefit from Clove Essential Oil

Resource:  Clove Bud Essential Oil

7. Lemongrass

Provide immediate relief to “clenched” and knotted tendons and muscles

Reduce fevers

Eliminate body odor and other foul smells

Reduce bacterial around the home by using it in DIY cleaning products

For more uses:  23 Awesome Uses for Lemongrass Essential Oil

Resource:  Lemongrass Essential Oil

8. Roman Chamomile

Promote sound sleep (especially when nothing else works!)

Create a sense of well-being by reducing stress, anxiety, and fearfulness

Heal skin conditions such as dermatitis and eczema

Treat nausea, vomiting, heartburn, and gas

Resource:  Roman Chamomile Essential Oil

9. Shield Protective Blend or other “Robber’s Blend”

Use as an effective hand sanitizer

Blend into DIY cleaning products for extra disinfecting power

Create an anti-viral spray to eliminate both airborne and surface micro-organisms

Prevent or relieve the symptoms of colds and flu

Note:  “Robber’s Blend” can go by many names, including Shield, Thieves or simply “Protective Blend”.  The components are similar and include various amounts of clove bug, lemon, cinnamon, eucalyptus, and rosemary oil.  Although you could make it yourself, having it ready-to-go in your survival kit will save you time and eliminate the need to store the variety of oils needed.

Resource:  Shield Protective Blend

What About Shelf Life?

Something that preppers struggle with is shelf life, especially under climate conditions that are widely variable.  This not only applies to food storage, but also to essential oils.  That being said, essential oils have been known to stay viable for years, even when kept at room temperatures.

The issue, so it seems, is that once opened, if not tightly sealed, they may evaporate or oxidize.  Certain oils, and especially citrus oils and some coniferous essential oils, are rich in a hydrocarbon class called “terpenes” tend to deteriorate more quickly.

The thing to remember is that in a survival situation, storage conditions will not be optimal.  Besides evaporation, signs that your oils have degraded include a drastic change in aroma, intense thickening, and cloudiness.  I personally have not had this occur with any of my oils, many of which are over five years old.  In addition, I keep a bottle of lavender oil in my vehicle and even after sitting outside in the sun for the past six months, it smells as fresh as the day it was initially opened.

For more information on the shelf life of essential oils, there is a balanced discussion in this article on the AromaWeb website:  Essential Oil Shelf Life.

A Word About Essential Oils

After a significant amount of research, for health, first-aid, and wellness purposes I use essential oils from Spark Naturals.  There are a lot reasons, the most important being their commitment to both quality and value.  I am satisfied that the raw materials used in Spark Naturals products are tested and authenticated to be of pharmaceutical grade purity.

In addition, the Spark Naturals commitment to customer service is unsurpassed.  They take care of their customers, period.  If you decide to make a purchase from Spark Naturals, please know that you will enjoy a 10% discount on your order when you use the code BACKDOORSURVIVAL at checkout. (Note:  I do receive a small commission on your purchase and for that I extremely appreciative.)  

The Final Word

This article is in response to the many comments and emails I have received asking which oils I personally stockpile for the long term.  This is that list; a list I like to call my “ultimate essential oil survival kit”.  In my experience, all of these oils have proven themselves over and over again in my own use, and, with the exception of Frankincense, are reasonably priced if not downright cheap.

My recommendation?  When one of these oils goes on sale, purchase two or three and set them aside for the long term.  If the stuff hits the fan, not only will food become scarce, so will medications and essential oils.  In my own household, we are stockpiling both, with a heavy emphasis on essential oils.  We do this with the blessing of our personal health care provider who is tracking our progress and weaning us from pharmaceuticals when practical.

As with all things related to survival first aid and healthcare, your mileage may vary.  The best you can do is learn is much as you can now to determine what works best for you and your family.  Something that works well on one person, may work differently on someone else.  Use essential oils neat, in a diffuser, or diluted with a carrier oil or simple salve.  Have fun with them and embrace the use of plant-based oils to foster good health!

Enjoy your next adventure through common sense and thoughtful preparation!

The post The 9 Best Essential Oils For Your Survival Kit appeared first on The Sleuth Journal.

Black Seed Oil Puts Deadly Asthma Meds To Shame

The powerful black seed known as nigella sativa strikes again! This time proving that food can be a powerful asthma medication alternative. 

A new study published in the journal Phytotherapeutic Research reveals that a powerful little black seed known as nigella sativa — once referred to as ‘the remedy for everything but death’ — may provide a powerful alternative to pharmaceutical medicine in the treatment of asthma. This is extremely promising for the millions of chronic asthma sufferers who are still taking medications like long-acting beta agonist which the FDA warned back in 2006 actually increased the risk of dying from asthma.

The new study entitled, “Nigella sativa Supplementation Improves Asthma Control and Biomarkers: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial,” was a placebo-controlled RCT performed on 80 asthmatics, with 40 patients in each treatment and placebo groups. The researchers pointed out that “Nigella sativa oil (NSO) is used traditionally for many inflammatory conditions such as asthma.” NSO capsules were administered 500 mg twice daily for 4 weeks. The placebo group received an equal dose of olive oil.

The patients were monitored and measured for the following outcomes:

“The primary outcome was Asthma Control Test score. The secondary outcomes were pulmonary function test, blood eosinophils and total serum Immunoglobulin E.”

After 4 weeks, ten patients had withdrawn from each group, leaving 30 remaining in each group.

The results were reported as follows:

“Compared with placebo, NSO group showed a significant improvement in mean Asthma Control Test score 21.1 (standard deviation = 2.6) versus 19.6 (standard deviation = 3.7) (p = 0.044) and a significant reduction in blood eosinophils by -50 (-155 to -1) versus 15 (-60 to 87) cells/μL (p = 0.013). NSO improved forced expiratory volume in 1 second as percentage of predicted value by 4 (-1.25 to 8.75) versus 1 (-2 to 5) but non-significant (p = 0.170).” [emphasis added]

The conclusion of the study was reported as follows:

“This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial demonstrated that NSO supplementation improves asthma control with a trend in pulmonary function improvement. This was associated with a remarkable normalization of blood eosinophlia. Future studies should follow asthmatics for longer periods in a multicentre trial.” [emphasis added]

The study provides insight into why nutritionally-based interventions are superior to conventional drug-based ones. With the 2006 discovery by asthma drug manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline that asthma medications actually increase the risk of death from the very condition being treated, the need for safer and more effective asthma solutions has never been clearer.

One of the primary criticisms of monotherapy with long-acting beta agonists is that they do not address the underlying inflammation that is closer to the root cause of asthma. This is why conventional approaches now default to combining corticosteroids with beta-agonists. Corticosteroids, however, have a wide range of adverse health effects, including immunosuppression and even severe psychiatric side effects. The fact that black seed oil extract can improve overall clinical parameters of asthma, as well as significantly reduce blood eosinophil levels (the target of steroid drugs) to the point of “normalization,” is amazing.

Food, of course, is several orders of magnitude safer and more affordable than prescription drugs, and unlike the dozens of known side effects that occur with virtually all FDA-approved pharmaceuticals, foods like black seed have dozens of side benefits. To take a look at the robust body of research on the potential health benefits of black seed oil in over 100 different conditions, visit our nigella sativa research portal. Additionally, GreenMedInfo.com contains a vast storehouse of research on natural interventions for asthma prevention and treatment which you can peruse at our Asthma Research portal.

In 2014, the Global Asthma Report estimated that about 334 million people worldwide are afflicted with asthma and that it is therefore becoming a global health priority. Please help alleviate unnecessary suffering by sharing this article and our research far and wide. Please consider becoming a member to support our entirely user-funded research and advocacy platform. A friend membership starts as low as 21 cents a day.

©  March 1, 2018 GreenMedInfo LLC. This work is reproduced and distributed with the permission of GreenMedInfo LLC. Want to learn more from GreenMedInfo? Sign up for the newsletter here http://www.greenmedinfo.com/greenmed/newsletter.

The post Black Seed Oil Puts Deadly Asthma Meds To Shame appeared first on The Sleuth Journal.

How To Make Lavender Lemonade To Get Rid Headaches And Anxiety

So many people suffer from anxiety and headaches these days. I believe this to be a mixture of our lifestyles and many of the changes that are taking place in our world that are pushing people to question what we’ve been doing as a society repetitively for many years. You know what I mean… that feeling that there is something more than just going to work, making money, coming home, eating and repeating it all. It may sound cliche, but it’s evident.

Deep down we can feel it, that something isn’t quite “right” with our world anymore and there’s a certain sense of freedom from it all that is calling us from deep within ourselves. Not knowing what that feeling is exactly or what to do, we sometimes will feel anxiety or overwhelm as we look at our lives. How do we deal with these things? There are a number of actions we can take to address the core issue which you can explore here. But I also wanted to share something simple that can aid us while we are making the more long-term adjustments.

Lavender Lemonade

Pure lavender oil is an incredible essential oil to use for your own health and wellness. It’s among the gentlest of essential oils, but also one of the most powerful, making it a favorite of households for the healing properties and uses of lavender essential oil. Lavender oil  has a chemically complex structure with over 150 active constituents, which explains its effectiveness at helping with a lot of health ailments. Lavender oil possesses amazing anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, antidepressant, antiseptic, antibacterial, antimicrobial, antispasmodic, analgesic, detoxifier, hypotensive, and sedative properties.

Florida researchers have found that lavender oil benefits include reducing anxiety and lowering pulse rates in nursing students taking stressful tests. And in hospital settings, lavender aromatherapy has been demonstrated to decrease pre-surgery distress and to be more relaxing than massage or merely resting.(1)

Lavender essential oil has medicinal properties as well. It has been shown to reduce depression, improve insomnia and ease labor pains. And anecdotal evidence suggests that lavender oil benefits those with headaches, hangovers, sinus congestion and pain relief.

“Much prior research on lavender has focused on the administration of lavender via an olfactory route. The anxiolytic activity of lavender olfaction has been demonstrated in several small and medium-sized clinical trials.^46-53 The efficacy of aromatherapy of lavender is thought to be due to the psychological effects of the fragrance combined with physiological effects of volatile oils in the limbic system.⁵⁴ These calming effects of lavender oil and single constituents may be the origin of the traditional use of lavender. Lavender oil olfaction has been shown to decrease anxiety, as measured by the Hamilton rating scale,51 and can increase mood scores.

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The following are selected examples of clinical trials on lavender aromatherapy:

• Dunn and colleagues demonstrated anxiolytic activity of lavender oil aromatherapy in patients in intensive care units. Subjects received at least 1 session of aromatherapy with 1% lavender essential oil. Significant anxiolytic effects were noted in the 1st treatment, though 2nd and 3rd treatments did not appear to be as effective.⁴⁷


• Alaoui-Ismaili and colleagues found that the aroma of lavender is considered by subjects to be very pleasant and is correlated with changes in the autonomic nervous system.⁵⁶


• Tysoe and colleagues conducted a study of lavender oil in burner use on staff mood and stress in a hospital setting. A significant number of respondents (85%) believed that lavender aroma improved the work environment following the use of the lavender oil burners.⁵⁷


• Diego and colleagues demonstrated that people receiving lavender oil (10%) olfaction for 3 minutes felt significantly more relaxed and had decreased anxiety scores, improved mood and increased scores of alpha power on EEG (an indicator of alertness), and increased speed of mathematical calculations.⁵⁸


• Lewith and colleagues investigated the effects of lavender aromatherapy on depressed mood and anxiety in female patients being treated with chronic hemodialysis.⁵⁹ The effects of aromatherapy were measured using the Hamilton rating scale for depression (HAMD) and the Hamilton rating scale for anxiety (HAMA). Lavender aroma significantly decreased the mean scores of HAMA, suggesting an effective, noninvasive means for the treatment of anxiety in hemodialysis patients.


• Lavender aromatherapy, with or without massage, may also reduce the perception of pain and the need for conventional analgesics in adults and children, though more rigorously controlled trials are needed.^{60″ (2)}

DIY Lavender Lemonade with Lavender Essential Oil

Ingredients

• 1 cup raw honey


• 12 cups pure water


• 1 drop lavender essential oil


• 6 lemons, peeled and juiced


• Lavender sprigs for garnish

Directions

Mix all ingredients together and chill. Add more water or raw honey if needed.

Other ways you can use Lavender Oil for Anxiety and Headaches

• Mix 5 to 6 drops of Lavender essential oil to your bath water if you have dry skin.


• Diffuse 10 to 12 drops of Lavender into the air during your workday for natural stress relief.


• Add 2 drops of Lavender per ounce of your favorite lightly scented, unrefined organic oil (like almond oil or olive oil) for a body oil with all the benefits of lavender for improving your skin, relaxing your mind, warding off insects or helping you sleep.

Sources:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22517298

1. Wittchen HU, Hoyer J. Generalized anxiety disorder: nature and course. J Clin Psychiatry. 2001;62 Suppl 11:15-19; discussion 20-21.

2. Ohayon MM, Shapiro CM, Kennedy SH. Differentiating DSM-IV anxiety and depressive disorders in the general population: comorbidity and treatment consequences. Can J Psychiatry 2000;45:166-172.

3. Lawrence AE, Brown TA. Differentiating generalized anxiety disorder from anxiety disorder not otherwise specified. J Nerv Ment Dis. 2009;197:879-886.

4. Bandelow B, Zohar J, Hollander E, et al. World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry (WFSBP) guidelines for the pharmacological treatment of anxiety, obsessive-compulsive and posttraumatic stress disorders-first revision. World J Biol Psychiatry. 2008;9:248-312.

5. Longo LP, Johnson B. Addiction: Part I. Benzodiazepines—side effects, abuse risk and alternatives. Am Fam Physician. 2000;61:2121-2128.

6. Preskorn SH . Comparison of the tolerability of bupropion, fluoxetine, imipramine, nefazodone, paroxetine, sertraline, and venlafaxine. J Clin Psychiatry. 5;56 (Suppl 6):12-21.

7. Trindade E, Menon D, Topfer LA, Coloma C. Adverse effects associated with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and tricyclic antidepressants: a meta-analysis. CMAJ. 1998;159:1245-1252.

8. Andrews G, Carter GL. What people say about their general practitioners’ treatment of anxiety and depression. Med J Aust. 2001;175 (Suppl):S48-S51.

H/T: Complete Health & Happiness

The post How To Make Lavender Lemonade To Get Rid Headaches And Anxiety appeared first on The Sleuth Journal.

7 Herbal Remedies You Should Have In Your Arsenal

It is time to begin to focus upon building up an arsenal of remedies to get us through the cold and flu season.  Not surprisingly, these are not traditional over the counter meds but rather a variety of herbal remedies that you can concoct yourself from inexpensive ingredients not the least of which are herbs that may be growing in your yard or in the surrounding locale.

For preppers, the importance of learning to use herbal remedies is that if the time ever came when traditional medicines were not available, sickness would spread and we would be left on our own to treat even the most common viral and bacterial infections.

What are these herbs and how do you use them?

In today’s article I call upon the expertise of Sally Thomas who has compiled a list of her favorite herbal remedies along with how to make them as well as special applications for children.  In this exclusive article for Backdoor Survival. Sally will list 7 herbal remedies – all of which will stop a cold or flu in its tracks before it takes hold.

Stop A Cold (or Flu) in its Tracks Before It Takes Hold

Want to know how to annihilate your cold or flu before it sends you into a deep pit for a week or more?  You will be happy to know that there are several herbal remedies that can totally wipe out your viral or bacterial infection before it grabs hold of you. The key here is – BEFORE IT GRABS HOLD OF YOU!

But even if you aren’t able to stop the sickness in time, using these remedies can help shorten your cold or flu and make the symptoms more bearable (which is good too).

First of all, you need to begin listening to your body’s signals in order to catch your cold or flu virus BEFORE it gets a running start. For this, you need to be very aware of your symptoms and what they mean.

Symptoms That Sickness is Coming On:

• Are you extra tired, especially for no known reason?

• Is your throat scratchy or sore?

• Do you feel extra phlegm when you swallow?

• Are you sneezing or coughing?

Many of us don’t take these early symptoms seriously enough, but this is the key to fighting off a bug before it has you out of commission for a week or more.

Secondly, you need to give your body extra assistance in fighting the symptoms. You see, the symptoms you’re experiencing indicate that your body is beginning to fight off the germs that have invaded. If you work with your body’s own immune system by supplementing with certain herbal remedies, you can potentially ward off the sickness altogether.

Along with lots of fluids like water, herbal teas, and fresh juices as well as plenty of rest and daily sunshine, these remedies will either prevent a full-blown cold or flu attack or they will greatly shorten and reduce the misery. Either way, you need to learn how to prepare them and keep the ingredients on hand now so that they become familiar to you during.

7 Herbal Remedies You Should Have In Your Arsenal

1.  Oregano

The first and most powerful herb I can wholeheartedly recommend is oregano.

Oregano is a powerful antibiotic and antibacterial – perfect for fighting tough viruses and bacteria. I have taken 5 drops of oregano oil at first sign of symptoms and woken up completely well in the morning.

This herb is only recommended for adults and children who can comfortably take capsules, as oregano is a very spicy, strong-tasting herb. My 6-year-old son is able to take it without problem, as he is able to take a few drops in capsule form without trouble. If your child is about 5 or older and able to swallow capsules without a problem, this herb will be a very beneficial herb in your arsenal.

Taking 2-5 drops in a capsule (depending on the severity of the symptoms) can knock out a cold or flu virus overnight. Make sure to take with food, as it can irritate an empty stomach.

HOW TO USE: Add 2-5 drops to an empty capsule. Take with food. You can also grow and cook with fresh oregano. It won’t likely pack the same powerful punch when symptoms start, but it will surely keep you more consistently healthy. When first taking, add only 1-2 drops until you know how your body reacts to the oil.

HOW TO STORE: Purchase therapeutic quality oregano oil, which should stay fresh for years. Store in a cool, dark place for best results.

PRECAUTIONS: Oregano is a “hot” oil and should be handled with caution. Can burn skin at full strength. Use with a carrier oil if using externally. Not to be used during pregnancy or for very young children who cannot take capsules. Check with your health care provider if you have adverse reactions that concern you.

Note: It has just recently come to my attention that oregano essential oil and oil of oregano are different. The essential oil is much more concentrated (and is the form I have been using). If you are using the oil of oregano, please be aware that it is not as potent when using as I have advised above, but may be more suitable for external applications. Check your label if unsure to see if any other ingredients are added (such as another oil).

Gaye’s Note:  For more information on Oregano Oil, read 25 Ways to Use Oregano Essential Oil for Health and Wellness.

2.  Garlic

A close second in my cold and flu arsenal is garlic. Garlic is a wonderful antiviral/antibacterial herb that I happen to love in my cooking. My first tip is to use fresh garlic as much as possible in your cooking, especially during the winter months. If you like to make soups or sauces, and garlic is a pleasing flavor to you, all the better!If you feel extra tired or your throat feels scratchy or sore, you can chew on a garlic bulb and wash it down with your favorite beverage (I usually just simply use water). Garlic is very spicy and hot, but even if you don’t particularly like the flavor it’s worth it to know that it’s “medicine” as well.

An extra by-product when consuming a lot of garlic is that it will make you smell like pizza to strangers that you pass (especially, I suppose, if you’re also taking oregano).

I make a special syrup mixture each year that was passed on to me from an elderly friend of mine. She called it “garlic potion,” so I do as well. I concoct this remedy mainly for my children as well as for my husband and me. It’s especially good for coughs that get into the lungs, as it helps break up the cough to make it more productive. It’s also great for prevention when you experience the first signs of sickness coming on and is a good companion to either elderberry or oregano.

It is very potent and strong, so beware. However, my children don’t seem to taste the strong garlic flavor – all they seem to notice is the honey (strange!) Make sure that your children are at least one year of age before giving them this remedy, as honey is said to be unsafe for those under one year.

Here’s the simple recipe for the garlic potion syrup. All ingredients offer antiviral/antibacterial properties to help your immune system.

GARLIC POTION SYRUP

What You Need:

• Fresh garlic bulbs

• Raw apple cider vinegar with the “mother” (I use Bragg’s brand)

• Raw local honey

• Two clean quart jars

• small tea strainer

• knife for peeling garlic cloves

First, peel the individual garlic cloves and place them in the empty jar. You are removing all the skin on each clove, therefore allowing the garlic properties to be released into the vinegar solution.

Next, you will add the vinegar. Add just enough to cover the garlic. I highly recommend raw, unfiltered, organic vinegar and consider Bragg’s to be the best. Let the garlic and vinegar mixture sit in a cool, dark place for 5 days, shaking gently each day.

After 5 days, the garlic will have some bluish tint to it, which is normal. You will now filter the garlic cloves with a tea strainer (make note of the level where the vinegar liquid came to). This will leave you with liquid in the jar that is a little less than half of the quantity you started with. You can discard the garlic cloves or use them in vegetable broth, compost them, or feed them to your chickens (mine loved them). If used in vegetable broth, be aware that it does leave a fairly strong vinegar flavor in the finished broth.

Next, you will add raw, unfiltered, local honey to the liquid. Add to the level where the vinegar reached. Shake briskly for 5-10 minutes, or until fully combined. Let sit on a counter top overnight or 12 hours and then refrigerate. Will keep indefinitely, but it’s best to use up within one year. At the first sign of a cold or infection, take 1-2 tablespoons throughout the day, depending on how forcefully you feel the virus coming on. The more vigorously you dose yourself early on, the more likely you will overcome the illness before you are affected in a significant way.

HOW TO USE: As above.

HOW TO STORE: Can be stored for a year or more in the refrigerator. I simply make enough for one season, and it’s usually gone by the end of the winter months. I’m not sure if it can be canned or frozen, as I haven’t tried these methods.

3. Elderberry

Elderberry is especially effective for preventing flu viruses. Before I moved to my current location, I purchased the ready-made syrup, but since I have moved to an area with abundant elderberries growing in the wild, I am able to pick as much as I need (and no one seems to know that these wonderful berries are so valuable!).

I live in Zone 5, and elderberries are very prolific here. Check to see if you have them in your area. They tend to be ready in late summer and early fall. You can keep an eye on them from spring through summer so you know where to pick when they’re ready. They grow on tall bushes along roadsides or along water areas. The flowers bloom in spring and are an off-white in large clusters that somewhat droop.

For the syrup and frozen blocks, first place the berries, stems and all, in the freezer for an hour or two. I had read that this would make the berries easier to remove from the stems, and indeed it worked well. I had my young sons help me pluck the berries, which they were happy to do.

After plucking them off, I then washed them thoroughly in a colander. Then I just covered with water in a saucepan and brought the water to a boil on medium heat. I cooked them, simmering lightly, until they were soft and the liquid turned very dark purple (almost black). I then strained the berries from the liquid and set the liquid aside to cool. For the amount not used right away, you can either pressure can or refrigerate for up to two weeks. The liquid can also be frozen in ice cube trays for single servings.

HOW TO USE: Use as hot tea with honey added, or add honey to make a syrup and take by the spoonful in about 1:1 ratio.

HOW TO STORE: I store some of my berries whole in the freezer, but I also make up some of the syrup and can it in small jars. If you freeze the berries, you can simply remove the amount desired and cook up a batch of the syrup when needed.

PRECAUTIONS: Don’t consume the seeds, as they’re said to be toxic. Some also say the stems are toxic. It’s easy to avoid both with the above methods. Make sure to pick only the dark purple, almost-black berries, as the red variety is said to be toxic.

4.  Rose Hips

I like to gather my own rose hips in the fall of the year when the temperatures begin to drop and the rose hips are bright red on the bushes. Make sure to collect rose hips that haven’t been sprayed. Rose hips are full of vitamin C that helps prevent colds and flu and also helps your body fight off the germs once they produce a full-blown sickness.

I make frozen rose hip juice blocks to add to hot tea. This is especially good for children, as the frozen block cools down their tea nicely so they can drink it more quickly. Along with the nutritional benefits, rose hip tea has a very delicious, light flavor and can be mixed with other herbal teas easily if desired. My two boys (currently ages 4 and 6) truly enjoy their frequent rose hip tea in the wintertime. Provide remedies early on for your kids, and even let them help you make them, and they will utilize them readily without complaint.

No one else seems to know how rich rose hips are in nutrients, or perhaps they simply don’t want to bother to do the work involved with picking and processing their own rose hips for the vitamin C benefits. I thoroughly enjoy the whole process. But if you don’t, or if you don’t have access to wild rose hips in your area (or hips that have not been sprayed with pesticides), you can instead purchase dried rose hips for processing.

Make sure that you pick rose hips only from areas that you’re certain have not been sprayed with chemical pesticides or herbicides. I pick mine in fairly remote, wild areas from wild rose bushes.

Make sure to pick the hips when they are red but not shriveled. This would be in late summer, early fall when temperatures are cooling somewhat but no hard freeze has occurred. I picked mine in late August in the Northwest US.

Making Rose Hip “Juice”

The next thing you want to do after harvesting is to remove the blossom ends and stems of all the rose hips. The blossom end is the leafy-looking end where the bloom once was. Be aware that your fingers may get a little stained during this process, so you may want to wear gloves. After rinsing, I put them in a medium-sized saucepan and add enough water to just cover.

Bring the pan to a simmer over medium heat, pressing the hips gently with a spoon. Once the hips soften and begin to break apart and the liquid is a nice rich amber color, you can begin to scoop out the liquid. Be aware that you may see some worms among the rose hips You will also see seeds from the insides of the hips. They are both white, but the worm is long and thin and the seed more rounded. No need to worry with either. You can scoop them out as you see them, but you will also be filtering the liquid through a strainer before use.

As you begin to scoop out the liquid, place a tea strainer over a quart-size jar and pour the liquid through to catch any particles. As you remove the liquid, squeeze the measuring cup or spoon down into the rose hip mixture in the pan. Then add more water and continue to simmer, stir, and gently press the mixture. Once you have a jar full, let it cool to room temperature before proceeding to freeze into blocks. Then, I like to pour a small amount at a time into a measuring cup or other container with a spout for easier pouring into the ice cube trays.

Once the blocks are frozen, remove them and place in a freezer bag or other freezer-proof container.

When ready for use, simply drop a block in a mug and pour boiling water over it. This makes the tea a perfect temperature for a child to drink fairly quickly. I like to add raw, local honey to sweeten. The flavor is mild, so it blends readily with other flavored teas as well.

HOW TO USE: Rose hips can be used as above, or you can dehydrate them after removing the blossom end and washing. The dried rose hips can be made into tea by pouring boiling water over them or you can make the juice above from the dried hips.

HOW TO STORE: Rose hip blocks would be stored in the freezer, or you can dry the rose hips and store them in an air-tight container in a cool, dry place. You could likely can the rose hip juice the same way you would can other juices, but I haven’t tried it myself.

5.  Echinacea

Echinacea, also called “purple coneflower” due to its color and the cone-like center of the flowers, is a worthy herb to have around to help fight off colds and allergies.

It is advised to not use Echinacea for more than two weeks at a time. Gather in the wild when you can, or grown your own, but don’t take it all so it can re-seed for the next year. My favorite use of Echinacea is for tea. Simply crush the flower heads and add to a tea strainer to make hot tea. Blends well with mint varieties.

HOW TO USE: As a tea.

HOW TO STORE: Store dry flower heads in an air-tight container in a cool, dry place.

PRECAUTIONS: Don’t use for more than 2 weeks at a time. If pregnant or nursing, consult with your health care provider.

6.  Mullein

Mullein grows in the wild with gusto where I live in zone 5. It’s quite an unsightly “weed” some might say, but it’s a very beneficial herb, especially for lung issues and earaches.

Pick the leaves when the plant is flowering in late summer and early autumn. Pick green healthy-looking leaves and flower heads. Dry the leaves and flower heads and pack in an air-tight container (I use a quart jar).

When using for tea, make sure to filter through a coffee filter, as there are “hairs” on the leaves that can get into the tea and just ruin the mouth feel of the tea. Add honey to taste. Mullein can also be made into an infused oil that is very powerful for earaches (especially prevalent in young children).

HOW TO USE: Use as tea or infuse in oil for earaches You can purchase the dried leaves or you can purchase mullein essential oil to use if you don’t have access to wild mullein in your area.

HOW TO STORE: Store the dried leaves and flower heads in an air-tight container in a cool, dark place.

7.  Cayenne

Any kind of hot foods are great for preventing and getting rid of sickness. Cayenne is no exception, and it’s easily stored in its powder form for use when needed.

Along with adding it to foods and soups for spiciness and flavor, you can also add it directly to chicken broth along with some chopped up fresh garlic as a soothing remedy for congestion and overall yuckiness. The broth is nourishing when you don’t feel like eating much, and the spiciness of the cayenne and garlic will zap those germs and aid your body in getting well.

HOW TO USE: Add to foods and/or broths, adding as much as you can tolerate.

HOW TO STORE: Store powder in an air-tight container in a cool, dry place.  

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Other Home Remedies

In addition to these 7 herbal remedies, I have a few additional tried and true home remedies to share with you.

Vinegar Tea (for sore throat)

1-2 tablespoons of raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar (with the “mother” – I use Bragg’s) added to a cup of hot water. Drink as hot as you can take it without burning your tongue. Will help soothe and heal a sore throat as well as aid in germ-fighting (vinegar has antibiotic properties as well).

Lemon & Honey (for sore throat)

Use fresh-squeezed lemon juice if possible and raw local honey. Add the juice of one lemon along with a tablespoon of honey to warm water, stirring until dissolved. You can also use this without water as a syrup by the spoonful. My mom gave this to me as a child, and I thought it was very tasty.

Prune Juice (for constipation)

Prune juice is a fairly common constipation remedy for occasional irregularity. Strong doses of vitamin C can also provide the same effect.

You don’t want to be all clogged up when you’re sick or your body is fighting off a cold, as the germs are more likely to build up in your body and you’ll have a harder time fighting it off. Get yourself cleaned out regularly, and this will go a long way toward staying well and fighting off sickness once it takes hold.

Zinc Lozenges

Zinc lozenges (while not exactly an herbal remedy) are also good to have around for soothing a sore throat and shortening a cold. Zinc is very beneficial for strengthening your immune system.

Gaye’s Note:  You might also be interested in the following articles:

DIY Cold and Flu Bomb

DIY Healing Vapor Rub for Coughs & Congestion

Using Natures Remedies for Health and Wellness

Conclusion

With each of the above herbal & natural remedies, make sure to use caution until you know how your body will react. Discontinue use if any troublesome symptoms occur and seek medical attention.

Let me know down below in the comments  you are using any of these remedies currently or have others to share. And be aware that this is definitely NOT an exhaustive list.

About Sally Thomas

I first connected with Sally over a year ago after she reached out to tell me about her book, Frugal Cooking With Beans: Over 40 Deliciously Simple Bean Recipes Using Dry & Canned Beans.  I was impressed enough to keep in touch and extended an offer to have her share he vast knowledge with my readers here on the blog.

Sally is a “Do It Yourselfer”  loves to get creative in the kitchen and utilize herbal remedies as much as possible to help keep her family healthy. She has been an avid prepper since 2008 with a particular devotion to foraging, food storage, and herbal remedies. She shares her knowledge and experience on her blog at ThePantryPrepper.com where you can sign up for her free e-course “Jump-Start Your Food Storage in 30 Days.”

The Final Word

During a grid-down emergency or disruptive event, getting sick from a viral or bacterial infection can be serious and even deadly. None of us wants that, so learning how to prevent and remedy these seemingly innocent “bugs” now, and stocking up on the ingredients to stop them seems prudent.

I don’t know about you, but I now reach for herbal remedies or essential oils before I consider taking pharmaceuticals.  I firmly believe that making natural remedies a habit now will go a long way toward keeping you and your family healthy and safe when an emergency does strike.

To me, it just makes good sense.

Enjoy your next adventure through common sense and thoughtful preparation!

The post 7 Herbal Remedies You Should Have In Your Arsenal appeared first on The Sleuth Journal.

Spicing Up Your Hormones Without Hormone Replacement

One of the insurmountable problems with hormone replacement therapy is that when you replace a hormone you risk feeding the underlying glandular deficiency.  In the exuberance associated with the idea of overcoming age-associated declines in sexual, cognitive, skeletal, cardiovascular, etc. function, with both synthetic and bioidentical hormones, the hormone replacement advocates have often neglected to educate their patients to several unintended, adverse effects of hormone replacement therapy (HRT): 1) the endocrine system has a negative feedback loop which guarantees that with time the body’s ability to produce adequate quantities of the very hormones being targeted for replacement will decline, resulting in the development of biological dependency on an external source of hormones — not exactly a picture of empowerment. 2) increasing levels of the target hormones will also result in increased production and possible accumulation of hormone metabolites with potentially toxic, as well as carcinogenic effects, e.g. estradiol turns to 16-hyroxylestrone, a potential carcinogen. While these risks may be outweighed by the benefits, and many of these risks can be reduced through dietary and supplemental regimes and plenty of vigilant clinical surveillance, the point is that HRT is not without its problems and limitations. Which brings us to an entirely different approach (one, no doubt, used for thousands of years), using foods and spices as our medicine….

Cumin Is As Potent As Estrogen In Preserving Bone Health

The human fascination with spices is as old as cultural time itself. There is an obvious beauty to the various aromas and flavors these plant extracts express (have you smelled cumin lately?), and undoubtedly these qualities first drew us closer to them. But, our primordial relationship with them involves much more than aesthetic infatuation.  Spices are the original food-medicines that were worth their weight (or more) in gold because they were capable of both improving the quality, and prolonging the length of human life.

Cumin, like most spices, has a wide range of potential health benefits. Thirty of these, in fact, can be viewed on our cumin research page. But cumin’s hormone-modulating properties have only recently been confirmed through scientific research. In 2008, a study was published in the journal Experimental Biology and Medicine demonstrated that cumin seeds were capable of inhibiting loss of bone density and strength as effectively as estrogen in a female rat model of age-associated osteoporosis. Moreover, they found that the cumin seeds did not have estrogen’s weight-promoting and possibly carcinogenic side effect on the uterus.[1]

Cumin seeds are actually indehiscent fruits (i.e. these fruits do not dehisce, or “burst open” at maturity) of the archene class; which means that what we think of as the cumin “seed” is actually a fruit containing a seed. It only appears like a seed because the wall of the seed-vessel hardens and encloses the seed so tightly as to appear like an outer seed coat.

The Farmacy of HRT Alternatives

As discussed in a previous article on pomegranate, which is the fruiting ovary of the pomegranate plant, nature provides mammals with hormone-like or hormone-eliciting compounds which make hormone replacement therapy unnecessary. In the animal experimental model, the removal of the female ovary (ovariectomy) results in rapid onset of menopausal-type changes, e.g. loss of bone mineral density and strength, depression, midsection weight gain, etc. Pomegranate and cumin are two plant ovary-produced fruits (the first is technically classified as a berry) which may enable women to undergo the hormonal transition that attends the natural (or accelerated) tapering off of ovarian hormone production gracefully.

Other substances which have been demonstrated to have these valuable hormone-modulating properties include:

1. Anthocyanins: Reduces ovariectomy-induced learning and memory problems.


2. Blueberries: Reduces ovariectomy-induced cellular aging (senescence) and bone loss.


3. Beans (especially soybean): Reduces ovariectomy-induced bone mineral loss.


4. Ginger (Curcuma comosa): Reduces ovariectomy-induced spatial memory loss.


5. EGCG (green tea polyphenol): Reduces ovariectomy-induced bone loss.


6. Fennel: Reduces ovariectomy-induced bone loss.


7. Genistein (found in cultured soy, coffee, red clover): Superior to bone drugs Fosomax, Evista and Estradiol in reducing loss of bone strength and quality in ovariectomized animals.


8. Royal Jelly: Reduces ovariectomy-induced changes in collagen production in rat skin.


9. Whey: Reduces ovariectomy-induced bone loss in rats.


10. Coconut water: Reduces ovariectomy-induced neurodegeneration.


11. Plums: Reduces postmenopausal and ovariectomy-induced bone loss.


12. Blackberry: Prevents ovariectomy-induced bone loss.


13. Black Tea: Prevents ovariectomy-induced bone loss.

Other relevant food/spice research on our database associated with hormone modulation can be found at the following sections:

• Progesterone: Low (14 studies)


• Testosterone: Too Low (74 studies)


• Estrogen Deficiency (14 studies)


• Low Human Growth Hormone  (7 studies)


• Secretagogues (38 studies)


• Adrenal Insufficiency (18 studies)


• Hypothyroidism (79 studies)

We have also taken several dozen of the most commonly used culinary herbs and spices on our database and have provided a list of their composite therapeutic value for over 500 diseases. You can view the research, which took years to index, on our Culinary Herbs and Spices page.

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[1] Methanolic extract of Cuminum cyminum inhibits ovariectomy-induced bone loss in rats. Exp Biol Med (Maywood). 2008 Sep 29. PMID: 18824723

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