Natural Health

vanity ^ | March 19 2019 | little jeremiah

[little jeremiah]

Many FReepers have knowledge to share about improving and maintaining health and would like to share it and learn from others; and others may not know much yet but want to learn. Some of us don't have much money for good insurance or doctors, some want to try other methods besides prescription meds, and some have experience in treating and solving health problems.

More and more "regular" doctors have accepted treatment methods such as the benefits of acupuncture, massage for many conditions, better diet, use of herbs and so on. There are limits, and often side effects, to some standard medical efforts.

My field is Ayurvedic herbalism and related measures, and have a lot of information I can post when I have time. I have seen herbs and sometimes dietary changes help people (including myself) with issues such as rheumatoid arthritis, high BP, gallstones, kidneystones, repeated boils, UTIs, prostate problems, insomnia, allergies, urinary incontinence, and many more. I hope to learn a lot from others with their knowledge and experience.

There are many "old fashioned" home care methods that were in common use a few generations ago that actually work and are cheap, such as castor oil packs, fomentations using alternating hot and cold water, and the like, which are easy to do. I am sure there is a lot of knowledge here on Free Republic that can be shared.

I would like this thread to stay civil without distruption, so my request is that people who think natural health methods are bunkum, make your own thread.

[AZLiberty]

Is there a not-exhaustively-tedious-way that we could compile, archive the meaty info posts in this thread as a kind of reference work?

Walt, I did it the exhaustively tedious way. I've gone through all 700+ messages on this thread and (imperfectly) catalogued them by topic. See my next message for my first attempt at an html index of the Natural Health thread.

[AZLiberty]

Here's a draft index for the Natural Health thread. Much thanks to lj and others for the content, and to Walt for the suggestion of an index. I have usually indexed the "treatment" (e.g., Collagen) rather than the "condition" of interest, but there are some of the later (such as Cholesterol). If you have suggestions for additional index entries, let me know.

Arjuna 52 597
Ayurveda 232 716
Bacopa 157
Blood Pressure 72 212 392
Blood Sugar 554
Books 284 360 362
Borax/Arthritis 543
Breathing 316 322 332 334 335 337 339 341
Burns 481 484 485 486
C-60 for Macular Generation 718
Castor Oil 365 368 372 373 378 495
Cautions 440
Cayenne 528
Cholesterol 350 352
Clay 680 681 682 690
Cold/Flu 664 667 672 673
Collagen 174 175
Colloidal Silver 693
Copper 163
Coronavirus Prevention 720
Curcumin (with Fenugreek) 51 59 115 117 123 229 262
Dementia/Vitamin B 498 499 530 531
Essential Oils 171 354 355 704 706
Essiac/Cancer 432 644
Fasting 482
Fiber 204
Hawthorne Berry 600
Hyperparathyroidism 139
insomnia 16 80 233
Iodine 8 15 127 165 185 202
Jatamansi 622
Kanchanar Guggulu 379 386 595
Keto 45 61 170 287
Lemons and Artichokes 576
Liposomal Vitamin C 467 468 469 471 474 475
Medicated Milk 323 423 425
Meditation 708 709 710
Misdiagnoses 445
Monolaurin/Epstein-Barr 132 167 179
Moringa 574
Natto 56 130
Nervous System Herbs 389 392 396 397 398 404 422 442 521 714 717 718
Niacin/Anxiety 120
Pesticides on Produce 540
Shilajit 358 359
Sinus 419 420 424 479 480
Sources 599
Spirochetes/Alzheimers 483
Sugar Cravings 30
Teeth 502 508 509
Thyroid 602 605 623 624
Urinary 617
Water in Ear 547
Yogaraj Guggulu 448

[JCL3]

Please add me to the ping list.
My Grandmother got us into natural remedies in the early 1960’s when I was a very young boy, been experimenting since.
Thanks!

[AZLiberty]

“later” should be “latter”.

[little jeremiah]

WOW~ I am amazed, thank you VERY much. Maybe I should copy that (if you can freepmail me with html) to my profile page.

That is amazing.

[little jeremiah]

I will add you and I to FIND my ping list....

[little jeremiah]

Found my ping list! Today I will post some more brain/nervous system/mind herbs and I’ll ping people.

AZ - thank you for your contributions to this thread.

WaltStuart got banned, sadly. Maybe he can still read this though.

[little jeremiah]

I haven’t pinged the list for quite some time. I have a lot of info especially about individual herbs I want to share, started a couple of days ago. Currently I’m posting about herbs for the brain, nervous system and mind; of course they have other uses as well. I use a lot of these herbs in blends to help with sleeping issues, pain, anxiety or depression, and heart problems. If anyone has questions, I’ll answer if I know and look up if I don’t. Freepmail me to get on/off this ping list. Click the link to see AZLiberty’s great contribution - an index with links.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/bloggers/3735908/posts?page=722#722

Valerian - Two varieties – Valeriana officinalis and Valeriana wallichii (Tagar in Ayurveda)

Tissues: nerve, plasma, muscle, marrow,
Systems: nervous, digestive, respiratory, circulatory
Properties: nervine, sedative, antispasmodic, analgesic, carminative, hypotensive, anticonvulsant

Dose: Depends on if taking for insomnia or other uses; 1/2- 1 or more teaspoons powder.

Uses: Insomnia, exhaustion, restlessness, pain, neuralgia, ADHD, heart arrhythma, palpitations, anxiety, hysteria, epilepsy, vertigo, migraines and headaches, colic, shingles, tinnitus, nervous tension and stress, muscle relaxant, flatulence.

Valerian is famous as a sedative and antispasmodic herb, which has a direct effect on the muscles and nervous system, used in Eastern and Western herbal medicine. The Asian variety, Valeriana wallichii, is considered to be superior and it is the kind I use; it is said to be less dulling to the mind, with the same calming and sedative uses. I use Valerian combined with other herbs which is a good way to use it; although it is effective for various conditions by itself, especially for insomnia, muscle tension and anxiety. It has powerful antispasmodic properties, and relaxes tight muscles, nervous tension, and calms the mind.

Valerian can help relieve cramping of all kinds both muscles and intestinal, headaches, nerve pain. Its antispasmodic properties can help relieve muscle spasms, tics, tremors, spasms, and can help with epilepsy. It is famous for insomnia, and works well for most people,although not everyone is affected in the same way (that is why I use it with other herbs as well). It aids in removing undigested toxins (called ama in Ayurveda) from blood, joints, nerves as well as colon, and helps relieve gas, bloating and fermentation in the GI tract. It is calming to the mind and helps with feelings of anxiety, restlessness, and emotional excess. It can be taken with other herbs in the category of brain/nervous system/mind.

[aMorePerfectUnion]

Thank you LJ!

[thinden]

Thank you

[etabeta]

Thank you very much, lj, for sharing your knowledge with us.

[little jeremiah]

I made Tooth Powder yesterday, have made my own for years. Here is my current, and flexible, version. I added more clay as I went along, that’s why the amount is sort of approximate.

Tooth Powder
French Green Clay Powder 4 – 4 1/2 cups
Baking soda 1 cup
Calcium carbonate powder 3 T
Trikatu 2 T
Lemon Peel 2 T
Peppermint 2 T
Neem 1 T.
Approximately 15-20 drops Peppermint EO

Whisk it well, and then put through fine strainer. I change it every time, sometimes use other powdered herbs like clove, fennel, cardamom, and then appropriate EOs. I always use the Trikatu and Neem and usually Lemon peel since Ayurvedic tooth powder is supposed to have hot spicy taste and bitter for tooth/gum health. This is the first time I used the calcium.

[Rusty0604]

Thank you.

[little jeremiah]

Pinging to some info about an herb, Arjuna, helps with blood, circulation etc.

[little jeremiah]

Calamus - Acorus calamus - Ayurvedic Vacha

Tissues: nerve, plasma, muscle, marrow, fat, reproductive
Systems: nervous, respiratory, circulatory, digestive

Properties: nervine, mental stimulant, antispasmodic, carminative, rasayana (invigorator, rejuvenative), carminative, decongestant

Uses: loss of memory, shock, neuralgia, epilepsy, seizures, coma, deafness, hysteria, asthma, sinus headaches, increases mental cognition, neuralgia, asthma, nasal polyps, digestion issues

Dose – 1 to 4 grams a day, do not over use, about 1/3 teaspoon to a heaping teaspoon. The larger dose should be broken up into smaller doses several times a day, and preferably used with other herbs as large doses can be emetic

Calamus is a major herb for the mind and brain It is a rejuvenative for the brain and nervous system, which it purifies and revitalizes. It clears the subtle channels of obstructions and toxins, promote cerebral circulation and is considered to balance both hemispheres of the brain. It sharpens memory and awareness and increases communications ability and expression. In Sanskrit “Vacha” means speech. For balancing the brain and mental function, general use, or in epileptic conditions, it is often taken with Gotu Kola. A small amount of Ginger is often added.

It has been effectively used in attention deficit disorders, especially in combination with Bacopa, Jatamansi, Shankpushpi and Licorice. I use it commonly in herb blends for helping the nervous system, brain function and mental acuity.

It is also commonly used, traditionally in Europe, for many stomach and lung complaints, for cough it can be taken with licorice (avoid licorice if hypertensive). It is traditionally used for gas, bloating, poor appetite, and excess mucus in stomach and intestines. [I have never used it for these purposes, and would recommend using a small dose, with ginger or ginger tea.] For nasal polyps, or conditions of shock or hysteria, a small amount can be placed on the finger and used like snuff – inhale into each nostril. Burns for a moment only. This can help with instant results.

It is considered useful for people who have difficulty expressing themselves, or with speech impediments. For headaches, a paste of Calamus and water can be applied to the head, or for nerve pain, the paste can be applied to the feet or joints.

Note: The FDA has labeled Calamus “not for human consumption” which I ignore. The essential oil contains some constituents that can cause liver damage in large amounts. But Calamas has been used in countries all over the world for countless centuries, with no ill effects. It is most often used in herb blends. So if you buy it, it will say something like “for external use only”. I buy the kind from India which has more of the nervine qualities, easily ordered.

[nclaurel]

Thanks for making it simpler to look up info. Great job.

[little jeremiah]

I always have fun posting on this thread. I know a fair amount that may be useful for others, I can look up in books for details, and I forget for a while all the crap happening.... This herb, Jatamansi has so many uses, when I get down to one pound I order a few more. It is hard to find so, if anyone is interested in getting some, let me know and I will post where I get it. I use it primarily in herb blends for insomnia, heart and circulation problems and herbs for the mind.

Jatamansi Nardostachys jatamansi

Tissues: plasma, blood, muscle, nerve and marrow

Systems: nervous, circulatory, urinary, digestive, respiratory

Properties: nervine, relaxant, antispasmodic, vasodilator, anti-inflammatory, alterative, bitter tonic, diuretic, anticonvulsant

Uses: anxiety, depression, spasms, convulsions, epilepsy, hypertension AND hypotension, palpitations, arrhythmia, poor appetite, motion sickness, jetlag, hepatitis, thrombophlebitis, memory loss, hysteria, PMS, insomnia

Dose: 3-9 grams per day (1 to 3 teaspoons)

Jatamansi is one of my very favorite herbs as it is extremely powerful and helps many different conditions. It revujenates the nervous system that is similar in calming qualities to Valerian, which it is related to, but without creating any dullness of body or mind. It assists the functioning of the mind, nerves, muscles, heart, liver and GI tract. It is especially effective in the treatment of anxiety and depression, restlessness, spasms and tremors, convulsions and epilepsy.

It helps to cool and pacify the mind while at the same time improving focus, concentration and memory, enhancing awareness in generall. It is one of the best herbs for hyperactivity and difficulty in focusing so is good for attention deficit problems, especially in combination with other herbs such as Ashwagandha, Shankpushpi, Gingko, Bacopa and Calamus (Vacha).

It helps the functioning of the heart muscles, is a mild vasodilator and can help balance blood pressure whether too high or too low. It works on the prana vayu – vital breath – which directly helps the heart and thus helps with blood circulation. It is used for arrhythmia,and heart palpitations, especially when used with Ashwaganda.

Due to Jatamansi’s antispasmodic action, it can relieve premenstrual tension and generalized nerve and muscle tension, tightness and pain. It is known also to help with various menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, mood swings, insomnia, and general aches and pains, especially when used with Shatavari. It also can be used for treating liver problems such as hepatitis, especially when used with other herbs specifically targeting the liver such as Milk Thistle, Dandelion, Kutki, Guduchi, Neem and Shankpushpi.

[little jeremiah]

You might want to read about the last 3 or so herbs I’ve posted about.

[little jeremiah]

A few people had some interest in herbs that help clear blood and lymphatic systems. Normally I like to post a lot more info about each herb, but for this list I am posting a lot of herbs with very brief descriptions.

If anyone has particular interest in any of these herbs, I will put longer descriptions as time allows, as most herbs including these, have a wide range of uses. Many of these herbs will work well together.

(If anyone wants on/off this ping list freepmail me.)

* means I consider the herb particularly useful for blood cleansing/circulation.

*Arjuna (complete info #597)
Vasodilator, heart and blood tonic, helps arteries function, arteriorsclerosis, all heart issues

Barberry
Plasma and blood detoxifying and cleansing, may help lymphatic system

*Burdock
Cleanses lymphatic system and blood cleanser, powerful yet very safe

*Echinacea
For toxic blood conditions or infections, cleanses blood and lymphatic system, best to use tincture

*Gingko
Helps with circulation, blood clots, heart tonic, vasodilator, strenghtens arterial walls
Good with Arjuna

*Hawthorne
for all heart disorders, arteriosclerosis, blood circulation, BP issues, blood clots, is a vasodilator

Hibiscus
blood cleanswer, normalizes BP, overall heart health, detoxifying (nice tasting tea)

Jatamansi (more info at #622)
Normalizes BP, for thrombophlebitis - helps with blood clots

*Motherwort
Works on plasma, blood, circulatory system, is a cardiac tonic and vasodilator, artery function (ateriosclerosis), blood clots

Neem
blood detoxifier, anti-inflammatory

Turmeric (you cannot go wrong with Turmeric!)
Strong anti-inflammatory, purifies blood and lymph systems, promotes circulation, helps build new healthy blood tissues

Yellow Dock
cleanses blood and lymphatic system, good for toxic conditions of circulatory system

[Califreak]

Thank you for the ping.

Maybe make some hibiscus iced tea soon!