Licorice Root: A Sweet Choice

Licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra) is a wonderful herb that is sweet to the taste and that helps balance the blood sugar level. This herb also has been called “The Great Harmonizer” and tends to live up to its name: It has helped me steady my hypoglycemia, and I have seen it work the same for many others. Take a couple of capsules between each meal to keep the blood sugar balanced and your energy level even keel.
Licorice root is considered a tonic for the adrenal glands and will help produce adrenal hormones such as cortisone when your body calls for it. Hypoglycemia can be brought on by adrenal stress which, in turn, is brought on by poor nutrition, vigorous physical work, and mental and emotional stress. Licorice’s harmonizing effects eliminate that three o’clock down-time—sometimes called the “afternoon blahs”—that you may experience, whether hypoglycemic or not. Licorice root also soothes mucus membranes, making it a good cough remedy. It helps lower allergic responses and is also useful to bring down high cholesterol levels. By supporting the adrenal glands, licorice also provides energy—so revered an herb it is that it was buried alongside King Tut in his Egyptian tomb! In addition, licorice root is used commercially as an additive to chewing tobacco and is added as a flavoring in Guinness beer. This does not give the hypoglycemic an excuse to drink beer, however; alcohol is detrimental for low blood sugar. (Go ahead, call me a party pooper.)

Dieting for the Hypoglycemic

With hypoglycemia, it’s important to manage your diet well and always make sure that you have some type of food source handy.
Avoid caffeine, which will lower your blood sugar. Also avoid sugar, which can put your own blood sugar (glucose) on a roller coaster ride and make you crash harder and faster than if you didn’t eat it in the first place. If you must eat sweets, do not eat them on an empty stomach; eat sweets after a regular meal.
Other tips to manage hypoglycemia:

• Eat a high-fiber diet to slow digestion of foods.
• Eat small meals frequently to maintain blood sugar.
• Watch out for fruits and fruit juices. These are high in sugar content and can cause a crash just like refined sugar can.
• If you tend to wake up in the middle of the night, this could be an indication of your blood sugar dipping. To correct this, try a handful of cashews or other protein just before bed. Protein digests slowly through the system and will help keep you steady through the night.
• Eat some protein every morning—some examples for breakfast can be yogurt, a protein smoothie, or peanut butter on an apple. You can also take three capsules of the herb spirulina, which is rich in protein. It will help carry you through the day.
• Watch what you eat, and note any food allergies that may be triggering a problem.
• Take your supplements. The following have all been helpful in the correction or management of hypoglycemia: GTF chromium (GTF stands for “glucose tolerance factor”) is a mineral that helps steady your blood sugar.

L-glutamine is an amino acid useful in sugar metabolism. A combination of licorice root, safflowers, dandelion, and horseradish is helpful to the glands and digestion. Spirulina taken between meals is a rich source of protein that can help keep you nourished.

Hypoglycemia: A Sweet Solution

Hypoglycemia is a condition in which a person has low blood sugar. The opposite of low blood sugar is hyperglycemia, otherwise known as diabetes. Our pancreas and adrenal glands are mostly responsible for helping the blood sugar level stay balanced. When our blood sugar drops, it signals our hunger button and prompts us to eat. Almost every symptom you can think of can be related to hypoglycemia, which is what makes it difficult to pinpoint. Large fluctuations in blood sugar can make us feel depressed, anxious, and fatigued. Since hypoglycemia affects your brain, muscles, digestion, and glands, symptoms may also include: sleepiness, lack of concentration, memory problems, mood swings, irritability, insomnia, nightmares, blurred vision, and heart palpitations.
If a hypoglycemic gets hungry and ignores the signal to eat right away, he may experience these symptoms:
➤ Grumpiness
➤ Headaches
➤ Nausea
➤ Shakiness
➤ Sweating
➤ A spaced-out feeling
➤ Shortness of breath
Because blood sugar is the primary food for the brain, severe hypoglycemic attacks can cause a person to pass out. In some cases, an attack may even be damaging to the brain.
Hypoglycemia can usually be controlled by diet. I have managed to overcome my own systemic hypoglycemia after being properly diagnosed. I then was able to investigate the disorder thoroughly and understood what exactly was happening. As with many physical problems, hypoglycemia forces you to become more aware of your body’s communication with you.
Blood sugar fluctuates with the foods we eat. Learning to become conscious of the process will become routine once you understand some simple things you can do to manage the problem. Diet and herbs helped free me from attacks, and I am now able to recognize the symptoms associated with this ailment, which I’ll share with you here.

Kava Kava: A Quick Fix

Kava kava (Piper methysticum) is a plant from the South Pacific that’s useful in promoting relaxation, sleep, and a mild feeling of euphoria. In Greek, kava means “intoxicating beverage,” and kava kava lives up to that name: In small doses, it can calm hyperactivity, relax tensed muscles, and ease anxiety. Many people report that they remember having vivid dreams or recalling their dreams more often the next day when taking kava before bed.
Kava kava also has some pain-killing effects: Chewing on the leaves from this plant can ease pain from a toothache. In addition, the Chinese believe that this herb opens areas of blocked energy and restores better circulation and energy flow throughout the body.

Cure for Hyperactivity

Hyperactivity, also known as attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD), seems to be more and more of a problem. This problem usually is first recognized in children but can be carried into adulthood as well. Hyperactivity is characterized by a wide range of disorders affecting behavior, communication, and learning ability and can include an inability to be still, outbursts of emotions, and an inability to focus.
Many factors have been linked to hyperactivity in both children and adults. In children, many experts say that a need for discipline is the main problem; others believe the real cause is a chemical reaction to food additives. Some chemicals in foods used as colorings, preservatives, and flavor enhancers cause strong reactions in certain people. If you are experiencing hyperactivity, or if your child seems uncontrollable, take a good look at the foods he or she is eating..
Eliminate stimulants such as caffeine and sugar from the diet. A good combination that has been used successful for children includes valerian, anise, black walnut, desert tea, ginger, and licorice. Other nutrients that feed the nervous system include B-complex vitamins, calcium, and magnesium.

Olive Leaf, for Olive Your Liver Problems

Another special mention needs to be given to olive leaf extract as a natural herbal remedy good for fighting any form of hepatitis. In fact, olive leaf may be better for actually killing a hepatitis infection whereas dandelion is better used preventatively. Olive leaf has now been proven to be highly effective against numerous bacteria, viruses, yeast, and parasite infections. A compound called oleuropein contains the most medicinal part of this plant. Studies show it has the ability to inhibit growth of many types of bacteria and prevent viruses from replicating in the body. This herb is now being used to treat AIDS, arthritis, candida, colds, diabetes, Epstein-Barr, fungal infections (including toe fungus), hepatitis, high blood pressure, infections, shingles, herpes (both types), and worms.

Dandelion: Just Dandy for Your Liver

Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) seems to spring up everywhere when you start talking about herbs. And if you happen to be one of those green lawn-loving types, you probably have met the dandelion personally a few times! Well, I am here to be the mediator between you and the dandelion to personally introduce you to this herb and its wide variety of uses. Maybe when you get to know the dandelion and see all the value it can bring to your life, you might not try to poison it again! The root of the dandelion has been used for years as a tonic for the liver and to aid with hepatitis, jaundice, and gallbladder problems.
You can pick and wash bitter leaves and eat them in a salad. The leaves are used as a blood purifier and kidney tonic and help stimulate digestion. Dandelion also contains several minerals and has been helpful in treating gout and other structural problems, such as arthritis and rheumatism. The flowers have been used to make wine and beer, and the roots can be roasted and made into a coffee. Wow—and you thought you were versatile! If I had only one herb to use, I would use the dandelion root to protect my liver from hepatitis. Of course, you will be seeing your doctor for help with this illness, but you can tell him that you plan to support your liver with some home remedies that will help your progress.
If you can’t get to a doc, some herbs may help until you can get to see one. A mixture for the liver you can take include rose hips (for vitamin C), barberry and dandelion (both good for the liver), fennel, red beet, horseradish, and parsley. Milk thistle added to this program is especially helpful when recovering from hepatitis because it will help rebuild damaged liver cells. These are all listed in the table in the end of the chapter.

The ABCs of Hepatitis Prevention

As you can see, prevention is definitely the best medicine for hepatitis. Here are some simple prevention tips:

• If you feel uncomfortable about the cleanliness of a restaurant, choose a different one.
• Make sure you wash your hands thoroughly before eating—and always after using the toilet.
• Stay away from any sources of contamination, such as blood-soiled products, hypodermic needles, tattoo needles, and intimate contact with infected persons.
• Always keep your immune system strong and your liver supported with herbs and nutrition. Eat fruits and vegetables rich in organic iron to feed your liver.

These foods are generally dark in color and include dark green vegetables such as spinach, beets, and black cherries. Pesticides must be filtered through the liver, so eating organic fruits and vegetables will keep your liver from having to work so hard. When dealing with any liver affliction, add vitamin C, lecithin, vitamin E, and barley juice to your program.

Cure for Hepatitis

Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver usually due to a virus or a toxic substance, but sometimes also a result of an immunological abnormality. Hepatitis A is transmitted by contaminated food or drink and occurs as a result of poor hygienic practices. Symptoms include fever, yellow discoloration of the skin, and an ill feeling. The illness usually lasts about three weeks, and an infected person may be contagious during this time. The good news is that if you are infected once, your body builds a natural immunity to the disease so that you should be resistant to infection if exposed again.
Hepatitis B is transmitted via an infected person’s blood or blood-soiled products, contaminated hypodermic needles, or sexual contact with an infected person. Symptoms include headache, fever, chills, general weakness, and yellowing of the skin. Some people can die from this infection.

Gallbladder Flush Program

Plan to have some time at home during this flush, as you will spend a lot of time in the bathroom!

Day One: Throughout the day, drink one quart (32 ounces) of unsweetened pear or apple juice, or a mixture of the two. Eat at least two cups of applesauce throughout the day. Optionally, you can add pears, apples, figs, or prunes, but do not eat any fats. For best effects, eat only fruits. If this makes you too weak, take some yogurt, soup, or brown rice to get you through.
Take the following herbs at lunch, dinner, and bedtime:
Psyllium hulls: 3 (totaling 9 daily)
Cascara sagrada: 1 (totaling 3 daily)
Hydrangea: 2 (totaling 6 daily)
Lecithin: 4 (totaling 12 daily)

Day Two: Repeat the same regimen as for Day One, but at bedtime drink four ounces of olive oil mixed with four ounces of fresh-squeezed lemon juice.

Day Three: By mid-morning, you should have passed little green balls known as gallstones. You can facilitate this process by giving yourself an enema.

After a cleanse or any fast, it is always wise to start back slowly into eating solid foods. If you ate only fruit for the first two days, you should eat only soup, fruit, and yogurt on the third day to ease your body back into digesting.
For occasional heartburn, an herb with a “cool, wet” energetic should be used first. The herb marshmallow (Althea officinalis) fits great into this category. This pretty little white flowering herb grows in marshy lands and is sweet to the taste. As you might guess, marshmallow was originally used to make those white, pillowish-looking candies we see around the campfires. As an herb, it has a soothing effect on body tissues and can be used instead of other herbs with the same qualities, such as slippery elm and aloe vera. If we strengthen digestion, heartburn usually ceases to be a problem. Pepsin, food enzymes, papaya, peppermint, catnip, and aloe vera all help to support digestion and will help get to the root cause of your problem.
The clinical studies of Dr. F. Batmanghelidj, M.D., suggest that heartburn is a symptom of dehydration. A special mucus lining serves to protect the inner walls of our stomach and small intestines from the damage of stomach acid. Lots of water is required in order for our body to produce this special mucus; when we don’t have enough water, we cannot create this protective barrier. Try drinking two glasses of water about 20 minutes before each meal, along with some marshmallow or food enzyme tablets. The marshmallow will help your body retain some moisture, and the enzymes will help you break down your food.

Heartburn: Putting Out the Fire with Marshmallow

Anyone who has experienced bad heartburn knows that the word “heartburn” sounds just like it feels: like a hot coal burning through your chest cavity. But heartburn is just a sign of indigestion somewhere along your digestive tract. Heartburn can indicate other more serious troubles and should be checked by your physician if it persists. About 50 percent of the population who suffer with heartburn can track the condition to a hiatal hernia, a condition where the stomach is pushed up toward the esophagus, causing a “kink” that allows stomach acid into the esophagus causing heartburn. If you have think you have a hiatal hernia, soothing herbs such as marshmallow will serve as an excellent remedy, but you will also need to consider herbs that relax the nervous system, too (see “S-T-R-E-S-S:
That’s the Way We Spell Success,”, “R and S: Remarkable Recoveries and Super Solutions”), wear loose pants, and sip on warm herbal teas to help bring the stomach back to place. Sometimes your chiropractor will be able to mechanically “adjust” the area to bring temporary relief until the problem is healed.
Sometimes heartburn can indicate gallbladder trouble or gallstones. If you eat lots of fatty foods, tend to be constipated or don’t eat enough fiber, or have a family history of gallbladder or liver trouble, you may be a good candidate for a gallbladder flush. This technique is designed to break down gallstones so your body can pass them out of the bowel. This is a three-day cleanse, but you can condense it to a single day by taking oil and lemon juice on the evening of the first day. This cleanse is for those who are not in a weakened or debilitated condition, where a cleanse would not be appropriate.

White Willow Bark: Worse Than Its Bite

As you are pinpointing the cause of your headaches, a couple of white willow bark (Salix alba) capsules will ease your head pain. The bark of the white willow tree is used as an anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, and pain reliever. As you may remember, we talked about white willow bark originally being used to make aspirin. White willow also eases rheumatism pains and can help lower fevers in adults. Respect this herb as you would an over-the counter aspirin, and do not exceed over 60 mg daily. Ask your physician before giving white willow to a child suffering with Reye’s syndrome, since this herb is a salicylate, as is aspirin.
A combination of white willow, valerian, and wild lettuce makes an excellent remedy for a stress or tension headache. (Valerian and wild lettuce both help relax the nervous system.) A pinch of capsicum may be added as a catalyst to this remedy to speed the pain-relieving effect.
An excellent headache remedy using essential oils was brought to my attention by a client. I have used this remedy because I like the effect it promotes, stimulating and calming at the same time.
Plus it smells terrific! Here’s all you need:

6 drops pure essential oil of lavender
4 drops pure essential oil of peppermint

Drop each into the palm of your hand. Mix together with your finger using a clockwise motion. Dab a few drops on each temple and massage in gently. Rub your hands together briskly and run your fingers through your hair while massaging rest of solution into scalp. You’ll be glad you tried this one!

Oh, My Aching Head

So how do you determine which factor is giving you a headache? Let’s start with the easiest first and then go to the more complicated:

• Many headaches are due to dehydration. Try drinking two full glasses of pure water; this should help right away.
• The most typical cause of headaches are from constipation.
• For headaches that may be caused by poor posture, try ergonomically designed furniture to help you with correct posture and your comfort at work. Also see your chiropractor for a spinal adjustment. Your chiropractor can offer some suggestions or inexpensive supports to add to the back of your chair or neck if you can’t afford better furniture.
• Stress and tension can block your body’s energy flow, or “chi.” If this is the cause of your headaches, try acupuncture, acupressure, or reflexology to restore your flow.
• If your headache seems to be in the back of your head, get your eyesight checked. Your eyes could be strained, and you may need glasses or a prescription change.

Headaches: It’s All in Your Head

Headaches are the body’s way of letting you know something is wrong. A headache will let you know if you drank too much; ate too much; are constipated, stressed, tired, or thirsty; need to get your eyesight checked, or that your hormones are out of balance, just to name a few! All in all, we should be grateful for a headache because it serves as our alarm to pay attention and do something about it! In a pinch, (so to speak) you can use the reflexology or acupressure point to rid yourself of a headache temporarily. Here’s how to find the spot:

• Spread your hand out in front of you, palm facing down (either hand is fine).
• Locate the V between your pointer finger and thumb.
• Follow that V down almost to the wrist, where you can feel the two bones and muscles come together.
• With your other hand, place your thumb on top of your hand on the point, and place the pointer finger of your other hand on the palm side of the point. Now squeeze!

This point is usually tender if you have a headache. Hold the point firmly, as deeply as you can tolerate. The headache usually disappears within a few minutes or less. The following illustrations show you how to find the right point.
The reflex point for easing a headache shown on front and back of hand: Use your other hand to squeeze this spot, and hold until your headache subsides. You can use either hand to stimulate this area.

Gout to Get More Herbs

You will need more than just safflowers to change your gout condition. Other herbs that help the kidneys excrete uric acid include juniper berries, parsley, uva ursi, dandelion, and chamomile.
Make sure you take some type of food enzyme supplement unless your diet is at least 80 percent whole, raw foods to help your body break down your foods (especially proteins) more efficiently. Your diet should consist of fewer protein foods (such as meat and beans) and more vegetables—especially greens. Add the herb ginger to also help stimulate proper digestion.
In chemistry, one acid can neutralize another acid. Therefore, neutralize the excess acid floating around in your gout-ridden body with natural sources of sodium. Sodium-rich foods include celery, strawberries, and parsley (see the table at the end of the chapter for more). Goat’s whey is also an excellent supplementary food that is great for over-acidic conditions of the body.

Gout of Your Mind with Acid Build-Up

Gout is a build-up of uric acid in the blood stream and the joints that causes damage to the joints and the kidneys. Many times there is a specific inflammation and swelling in the big toe. Stones may form in the kidneys. Deposits also may build in the skin and ears.
Native to India and Iran, the yellowish-orange flowers of the herb known as safflowers (carthamus tinctorius) have been used historically as a remedy for digestive problems, kidney problems, and problems of the pancreas. Safflowers have the ability to neutralize and eliminate uric acid from the body, which makes them a useful herbal remedy for gout.
Safflowers are taken (usually in pill form) internally to aid digestion of oils and will help to eliminate not only uric acid, but also cholesterol from the blood. This herb is rich in potassium and sodium, both minerals needed for proper water balance in the body.

A Poultice for a Swell Time

External applications such as an herbal poultice or compress can sometimes work immediately to shrink swollen glands, bring boils to a head, and pull toxins from the skin.
Here’s what you’ll need:
If your glands stay swollen after you fight off any infection, you might want to seek
out a massage therapist who specializes in lymphatic drainage, which will force your
glands to drain and usually will reduce glandular swelling. Be sure to drink plenty of water to help you flush!
2 parts white oak bark powder
1 part lobelia tincture or fluid
1 part mullein
1 part grapefruit extract
Bentonite clay (as needed to create stiff mixture)

Mix all ingredients together; add water if using all dried herbs. The clay should cause the mixture to coagulate. Pack the mixture around swollen glands to help pull out the infection, reduce swelling, and soothe tissues. Let dry, and remove by splashing the area with cold water. If desired, add a heat source, such as a hot water bottle, to help the mixture seep into the glands. Remove heat source and let poultice dry before removing it.

Fighting the Infection with Herbs and Other Nutrients

As I’ve said, swollen glands are usually associated with some type of infection, and herbs should be added to your program to help your body fight the infection internally. Echinacea and golden seal work together to help fight infection; add some black walnut, althea, parthenium, plantain, and bugleweed, and you have a combination to kill infection and shrink those glands. If your white oak bark is not working for you as well as you think it should, you can add some bayberry, another strong astringent herb to your program. You should be as tight as a whistle within a few days on this combination! Other things you can add are vitamin C, beta carotene, B6, vitamin D, magnesium, lecithin, and CoQ10. These nutrients will feed your lymphatic system and help boost your circulation, which can increase your ability to fight infection and help your body rid itself of waste products in the lymph tissues.

Tightening Up with White Oak Bark

White oak bark (Quercus alba) is the bark from the white oak tree. The great white oak tree grows up to 100 feet tall, and its wood was used to build ships because of its ability to handle moisture. Its medicinal properties are mostly astringent in their effect, making this herb very useful in tightening tissues that are loose (in energetics, this would mean a “wet” type of condition). White oak bark can be used internally as well as externally for any inflamed tissue, and you can use it as an excellent remedy not only just for swollen glands but also for hemorrhoids, internal bleeding, gout, herpes, wounds, and gingivitis.
White oak bark is rich in calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and zinc, all minerals involved in tissue healing. For swollen glands, use internal application along with external application until swelling subsides.

Cure for Swollen Glands

Swollen glands are a symptom usually associated with a bacterial or viral infection. Our lymph glands are tiny glands dispersed throughout the body where white blood cells are stored and work to fight off infection. When we have swollen glands in the neck, the body is usually fighting off an infection to keep it from reaching the brain, where it could be most damaging to us.
When you have swollen lymph nodes or glands, you should try to help your immune system fight off whatever is causing the infection. Immune system herbs such as echinacea and even elderberry are both immune-boosting herbs that help do so. Otherwise, for the symptoms associated with the pain of swollen tissues, astringent-type herbs such as white oak bark make an excellent remedy for shrinking swollen tissues.

Just a Pinch Between the Cheek and Gums

White oak bark is a strong astringent herb that will help shrink swollen tissues. You can moisten a little white oak bark with water or even liquid chlorophyll and pack it around your gums each night to help relieve your swollen gums. Take white oak bark internally, too, but not before meals because its tightening, drying, restricting type properties might inhibit your digestion.
Myrrh and golden seal packs can be used to pack around the gums and work just as well as the white oak bark. And don’t forget your vitamin C supplementation—rose hips work as a natural vitamin C source.
If gingivitis is caused by over-acidity in the system, eliminate acidic foods such as heavy protein.
Internally, green drinks such as liquid chlorophyll will help neutralize body acids.

Myrrh: Something to Chew On

Myrrh (Commiphora nayrrha), a plant native to northeast Africa, serves as a disinfectant and astringent that can help tone the gum tissue. Myrrh stimulates the body to make mucus and therefore facilitates drainage. It is also used as an infection-fighter because of its ability to increase white blood cell activity. Myrrh is best teamed with golden seal, especially when taken internally to help fight infection and heal the gums. In small does, you can take myrrh internally every few hours until inflammation stops. You can then take myrrh daily for two weeks after your dental treatment to continue your healing process. Myrrh is not suggested during pregnancy for internal use, except in very low doses.
Myrrh is great topically, but you can make a tea from myrrh and golden seal and use it
as a mouthwash to treat your problem locally. Mix both with a little water and peppermint
or spearmint oil to help hide the taste. Rinse your mouth with cold water only,
which will help tighten your tissues. Myrrh resin mixed with white oak bark powder
and a couple drops of clove oil makes an excellent toothpaste that can help disinfect,
tone, and clean the teeth and gums. The clove oil also serves as an analgesic and will help relieve some of the soreness.
Other topical applications of myrrh include acne, boils, bruises, cavities, halitosis (bad breath), mouth sores, pain, sore throat, thrush, tonsillitis, and wounds. Myrrh resin can be burned as an incense to repel bugs.

Gingivitis to Your Party?

Gingivitis (gum disease) literally means “inflammation of the gums,” and it may lead to pyorrhea (periodontal disease). Symptoms of gingivitis include swollen, bright red gums that usually bleed when you brush your teeth. The whole mouth and teeth can feel extremely sore and achy. Gingivitis is usually caused by poor dental hygiene or a lack of vitamin C or calcium. Some say it is also due to an over-acidic body system caused by eating too much protein. Protein foods cause an acid base when digested.
Herbs can be used internally and externally to help tone bleeding or swollen gums. A vitamin C deficiency needs to be corrected internally, but your dentist can get rid of deposits on the teeth that can be causing the problem. Either way, you can take herbs to strengthen and tighten your gum tissue to fight infection before, during, and after dental treatment.

Are You Masticating at the Dinner Table?

Make sure you chew your foods well. We all have enzyme activity in our saliva, which is where the actual digestive process begins. Chewing thoroughly will give your stomach and the rest of your digestion a break and should help your gas problems. Because your body relies on digestive juices and enzymes to break down the foods you eat, don’t drink liquids (especially cold liquids) in large amounts during your meals. This may dilute the digestive juices and hinder your proper digestion. Be sure, however, to drink plenty of water in between meals, as proper digestion requires a lot of water. If you must drink during meals, sip warm herbal tea. The warmth will relax the stomach and aid digestion, whereas an icy cold drink will contract the stomach and inhibit digestion.
Bowel cleansing will help if you have foul-smelling gas. If you have started taking a new herb supplement, such as psyllium hulls, aloe vera, or any cleansing herb, you may experience gas the first few days to a week while your bowel is cleansing. I like to think of this process as sweeping out an old, dirty basement. You stir up a lot of dust, but when you are through, you have a clean basement!

The Answer, My Friend, Is Blowin’ in the Wind

So, besides reaching for fennel and other supplements and herbs to get rid of this antisocial problem before it strikes, let’s take a quick look at how and why those things that cause the problem can be handled.
Proper food combining takes a little work, but it will help your digestion. When you eat foods together that are not complementary for each other, this can be considered poor food combining.
Let’s just cover the very basics of food combining:

• In general, do not eat starches and proteins together.
• Do not eat fruit on a full stomach (empty stomach only).
• Do not combine fruits with any other food besides other fruits.
• Do not eat more than one concentrated food (starches and proteins) at any one meal. To demonstrate, eat only fruit in the morning. For dinner or lunch, if you have a steak or some type of meat, have a salad or other green vegetables with it, and leave out the bread and cheeses. Or, have a big salad and add a concentrated food, such as cheese or beans or meat—but choose only one.

Gas: Dispelling the Myths with the Right Herbs

Food enzyme supplements, especially those with hydrochloric added, will help your body break down foods that have been cooked. (Cooked foods kill the live enzymes in our foods, leaving our pancreas and liver to make up for the extra production of missing enzymes.) If you find a good enzyme tablet, take the tablet or capsule about 20 minutes before you eat. This gives the supplement a chance to begin breaking down in the stomach before you eat. Some people purchase food enzymes in capsules and open up the capsule and sprinkle it on their cooked foods before eating. If you forget to take your enzyme supplement before a meal, take one after or during your meal anyway.

Eat Here, Get Gas, Take Fennel

Have you ever seen those signs outside those rural roadside gas station restaurants? Eat here, get gas? Well, most of them don’t know what a prophetic sign that is—and if they were smart, they could sell a bottle of fennel capsules to you on your way out! Fennel (Foeniculum vlagare) is an herb that has historically been used to eliminate gas, colic, diarrhea, indigestion, nausea, and vomiting. Fennel has an affinity for the digestive and intestinal tract; primarily, the seeds from this plant are used for digestion. The raw seeds are served or offered in many restaurants in India and Nepal, similar to how restaurants in the United States give out peppermint candy at the end of a meal. For intestinal gas, take fennel tea or capsules right after meals. You can also chew on the raw seeds if you like their licorice taste.
In herbology terms, fennel acts as a carminative, which makes it effective for the subject we are talking about here. For colic in babies, fennel is effective for breastfeeding moms to take. No known side effects exist for fennel, and—as far as we know—it is completely safe even in high doses.

Got Gas?

Intestinal gas is funny only when we see comedians carry on about it. However, flatulence is an embarrassing symptom caused by poor digestion or constipation. I know this is no fun to talk about, but if you are one of those gaseous types, read on for herbal help. The answer to your roommates’ prayers are almost over! Our bodies create gas for many reasons. Intestinal gas is created by fermentation of wastes in the bowel, and constipation is a large part of why we have this problem. How do you know if your gas is a result of constipation? It shouldn’t be too hard to recognize, but here are a couple of clues:

• You have the mysterious power to clear out a movie theater without saying a word.
• While flying, you cause airline attendants to strap on their parachutes while passenger oxygen masks drop from the ceiling above you.
• Only when you sit up front during a live lecture does the speaker seem to become overwhelmed with unexplainable emotion, which causes him to go into long pauses, tightly close his eyes, and wipe sweat nervously from his brow.

But seriously, here are some reasons why you might be full of hot air:

• Improper combination of food
• Poor digestion
• Inadequate mastication of food
• Eating too fast (sucking wind)
• Drinking lots of liquids with meals

What a Fungi Can Do?

This list covers some things you can do to change your inner and outer environments for treating and preventing fungus:

• Eat lots of brown rice, millet, veggies, and lean meats; avoid sugar, alcohol, dairy, yeast, and caffeine.
• Exercise brings oxygen into the body and can suffocate carbon dioxide-loving fungus.
• Colon cleansing helps rid the body of excess waste and mucus and allows more oxygen to revitalize the body.
• For yeast infections, don’t wear wet gym clothes or bathing suits for long periods of time. Don’t wear panty hose or nylon underwear—wear cotton undies instead.
• Wear rubber thongs in public showers to avoid catching athlete’s foot.
• Always keep feet as dry as possible, and avoid wearing sweaty socks too long.
• Apply tea tree oil morning and evening.
• Take your herbs and supplements daily!

Black Walnut, Cracking Open the Fungal Poisoning Cure

Black walnut (Juglans nigra) is an excellent herb used both externally and internally to help fight fungus, worms, and all parasites. Black walnut is a very useful plant because almost all parts of this plant are used—and all parts have different purposes.
The rinds or hulls of the black walnut are most specifically utilized for antifungal properties. Black walnut hulls will usually come in a capsule form, or you may use the powder or liquid extract of the ground hulls for external applications. Black walnut bark taken internally may have a laxative effect, but can rid the bowel of parasites and fungus at the same time.
To fight fungus overgrowth and parasites use garlic and black walnut together—these two herbs make a good pair for this purpose. You have bacteria in your body all the time; fungus or bacteria overgrowth can occur only when your internal flora is out of balance. This is why supplementing with the good intestinal flora is helpful when fighting internal fungus infections or parasites.
Pau d’arco is another herb well-known for its fungus-fighting ability. Although this tree grows in a tropical area, its bark remains fungus-free. Drink a cup of pau d’arco tea each night along with taking your garlic and black walnut supplements to fight Candida, yeast infections, parasite infestations, and fungal infections. You can use tea tree oil as a topical application for athlete’s foot and ring worm; apply it directly to the area once in the morning and once in the evening. I have used a Q-tip dipped in tea tree oil for cleaning my ears to kill off an itchy fungal growth on my ear drum—in 10 days the fungus was gone. This is also effective if you dampen a cotton ball with tea tree oil and place gently in each ear. The fumes from the tea tree are effective in destroying fungus in the ear canal.

Cure for Fungus Poisoning

Fungal infections seem to be more and more widespread these days and can include ring worm, Candida overgrowth (Candidias Albicans), yeast infections, jock itch, and athlete’s foot. While some of these problems are externally contagious, such as athlete’s foot and ring worm, some are caused by an imbalance of our internal environment. Just as mold and fungus need a warm, moist environment externally, bacteria and fungus need a certain environment to thrive in internally. Therefore, if we change our inner environment and make it less fungus-friendly, these problems will tend to disappear.
Some causes of internal fungal infections such as yeast and Candida include:

• Sugar: Sugar is bad bacteria’s favorite food. Keep feeding it sugar, and it will think you want it to stay!
• Caffeine: Caffeine wipes out the good bacteria in your digestive tract and may allow fungal overgrowth to get a head start.
• Antibiotics and birth control pills: These can change your internal environment, causing it to be more fungus-friendly. If you are on birth control pills, it may be wise to supplement every day with acidophilus.
• Lack of cellular oxygen due to mucus in the system: Fungus doesn’t like fresh air—it likes a stale environment and carbon dioxide to bathe in. Fungus thrives in or on a body that is not exposed regularly to fresh air. By now, you’re probably itching to know how to get rid of these things!

Charcoal and Other Supplements to the Rescue

Activated charcoal capsules should be taken immediately if food poisoning or any other type of poisoning is suspected. This cannot hurt you, and in most cases you’ll be much happier safe than sorry. Activated charcoal has properties that attract and absorb poisons, making them unavailable to your body and therefore neutralizing the effect a poison will have.
Hydrated bentonite clay has a similar effect. Its powerful absorbing properties eliminate toxins, especially those in the colon, and remove them from your body. Aloe vera and slippery elm are other herbs that have a laxative effect on the bowel. Both can be taken with any of the previously mentioned supplements to help your body quickly rid itself of wastes via the bowel. As always, whenever your body needs to flush out poisons or toxins, drink plenty of clean water to assist the process.

Lobelia: Helping You Spit It Out

We talked a little bit about lobelia and explored how it can serve as an expectorant to help the lungs get rid of wastes. But lobelia also serves as an emetic, which means that too much of it can cause you to throw up. This can come in handy if someone has swallowed any type of poisonous substance. A liquid form of lobelia could be most effective. Take your lobelia until you get the desired effect.
Lobelia is native to North America and is also known as Indian tobacco—and, most appropriate to its emetic quality, it is also known as pukeweed! Native Americans smoked this herb to treat asthma and lockjaw because lobelia has an ability to relax tissues and seems to soothe coughing. Because of lobelia’s emetic effect, it should be taken in larger quantities only when used to promote vomiting, such as in the case of poisoning. However, many have used to lobelia to induce vomiting as a fast-forward way to cleanse.
Lobelia could be considered the best herb remedy for poisoning, but you should seriously consider utilizing other natural substances, such as those discussed in the following sections, if you have been poisoned by a contaminant.

Your body has ways of protecting bacteria

Your body has ways of protecting you from these bacteria; any foreigner that enters through the mouth and makes it to your stomach usually doesn’t last long. Your stomach produces hydrochloric acid, a powerful acid that actually sanitizes the foods you eat and kills any harmful bacteria. If your stomach acid is low and the bug makes it past this line of defense, the good bacteria in the small intestines will eat up the invader. However, low stomach acid (this becomes naturally lower as you age) along with lowered acidophilus (good bacteria in your intestinal tract that is easily killed off by antibiotics and caffeine) makes you vulnerable to invaders and can cause your body to react violently with diarrhea, vomiting, and fever. These symptoms are the body’s last resort to keep you safe from poisoning.
Your best supplemental protection against foodborne illness is to supplement with food enzymes that contain a small amount of hydrochloric acid before you eat. Adding acidophilus capsules every day—especially when traveling—will also help protect you. Acidophilus is best taken in entericcoated capsules so that it has a chance to reach the intestinal tract before being bombarded with your stomach’s digestive secretions. This protects these critters from being killed before they get a chance to make it to your intestinal tract.

Food poisoning is more common than you might think.

In fact, food poisoning symptoms can be almost identical to flu symptoms. Many 24-hour flus may actually be the result of a bacterial food poisoning.
Food poisoning doesn’t come only from restaurants; many cases come from improper food handling at home. For instance, the number of bacteria able to grow in food that is not properly refrigerated or that is not kept hot enough is staggering and can be strong enough to make you sick. Most of the bacteria that gets into our food (such as E. coli) comes from the earth that it was grown in. When fruits and veggies are not thoroughly washed, the bacteria can infiltrate the foods when we cut them. If the foods are eaten raw, we can become ill.
Now, I don’t want to discourage you from eating raw fruits and vegetables! But I do want to encourage you to wash not only your hands but also the foods.
Some tips to avoid food poisoning:

• Wash hands thoroughly before handling food and eating.
• Wash all fruits and vegetables thoroughly before cutting.
• Use separate cutting boards for meats and plant
• foods.
• In a restaurant, make sure that food is very hot when served; food left to cool can harbor bacteria.
• Take food enzymes with hydrochloric acid and acidophilus supplements 20 minutes before eating (especially when dining out).
• Cook all meats thoroughly.
• Refrigerate foods immediately if not eaten right away.
• Do not keep leftovers more than 24 hours.
• Read the book Poisons in Your Food, by Ruth Winter.

Supplements to Ease Your Fibromyalgia Pain

When suffering with fibromyalgia, you’ll need support in several different areas. This will certainly require more than one herb to help you get relief and help you to fully recover When dealing with fibromyalgia, you should concentrate on herbs and supplements that feed the following body systems:

➤ Structural system (bones, muscles, connective tissues)
➤ Nervous system (nerves, brain)
➤ Digestive system (stomach, liver, pancreas, gallbladder)
➤ Immune system (thymus, spleen, lymphatics)

Structural system: A supplement I have seen my clients benefit from is extra magnesium and malic acid. Magnesium works as a muscle relaxer in the body, and our muscles are made up of plenty of magnesium. Sometimes a pain indicates that your body trying to steal nutrients from that part of the body. Why not feed it what it might be asking for? And, of course, any bodywork that relaxes the muscles, eases stress and tension, and improves circulation will help you feel better. Reflexology and massage are both good therapies for this. Acupressure is another therapy that has been used to restore proper health to individuals. And who doesn’t need an excuse to go get a massage?

Nervous system: Lobelia may be used in small quantities to help relax nerves. In addition, make sure to add a B-complex vitamin with any conditions that could be brought on by stress. The brain utilizes a lot of the B vitamins for proper functioning, and our body utilizes a greater quantity of these important nutrients when under stress and in pain. Ginkgo biloba can be taken to nourish the brain and help increase blood supply to the head. Since researchers have now found a link between the brain’s blood supply and fibromyalgia, ginkgo might be your answer. Try one to two capsules or tablets two to three times daily. If dizziness occurs, back off slightly on dosage. This could indicate that fresh blood is being carried into the brain, and is a good sign, actually! Go slow and take your ginkgo as tolerated.

Digestive system: Liquid chlorophyll and aloe vera both aid digestion and are natural bowel cleansers. If the aloe causes you too much bowel rumbling, stick to the chlorophyll. Food enzymes help the body break down cooked or enzyme-less foods, and papaya is an excellent herb to support digestion. These can be taken at the same time if digestion is very poor, otherwise, try one or the other, first. Immune system: To boost the immune system effects of your uña de gato, you can add a combination of rose hips, Siberian ginseng, parsley, red clover, wheat grass powder, and horseradish. Beta carotene will also help boost immunity.

Uña de Gato: Clawing Your Way to Health

Uña de gato is Spanish for “cat’s claw.” Uña de gato is an herb that comes from a thorny vine in Peru that has thorns that are curved and resemble a cat’s claw—hence its name.
Uña de gato is used by many for the pain associated with fibromyalgia. Its properties also serve to support the immune system, aid the digestive system, and feed the structural system—all of which seem to be affected by fibromyalgia. Personally, I use uña de gato combined with astragalus and echinacea for any type of inflammation. I am amazed that it works as instantly as an aspirin (within 20 minutes), and it also relieves pain and reduces inflammation. Take two or more capsules three times per day or as needed to ease your symptoms. Some relief should be felt within 20 minutes or so, if not, increase your dose.

Fibromyalgia: What a Pain!

Fibromyalgia is considered a syndrome because it is a collection of symptoms with no apparent relation to each other.
You might be diagnosed with fibromyalgia if you have the following symptoms:

• A history of widespread pain lasting more than three months
• Pain on both sides of the body, above and below the waist
• Eleven or more established tender points that show extreme pain when pressure is applied Other symptoms include all-over aches; insomnia; chronic aches in the hips, neck, or low back; stomach trouble; and intolerance to cold. Fibromyalgia seems to strike after a stressful or traumatic event, such as an accident, marriage, divorce, or death of a loved one. Ninety percent of fibromyalgia sufferers are women.

The true cause of fibromyalgia seems to allude physicians, but herbalists and physicians alike have theories, although much of it has been blamed on psychological disorders. Some believe it to be deep-seated stress or an immune deficiency. Because stress can have the effect of lowering the immune system, these seem to tie together. Others blame the disease on a virus. And still others believe the problem starts with poor digestion, which then leads to poor absorption, which can lead to a mineral or nutritional deficiency. What they all seem to agree on is that fibromyalgia is linked to a lowered immune system brought on by stress. When our immune is lowered we are susceptible to every disease. Here’s a game plan for addressing fibromyalgia. The best plan for dealing with fibromyalgia that I have seen work in my practice includes this set of actions:

• Support digestion. Using herbs such as papaya, chew properly, eat while not under stress, etc.
• Cleanse the colon.
• Eat more fruits and vegetables of an alkaline nature, which include most green vegetables, and fruits such as apples and pears.
• Reduce stress, if possible.
• Have frequent bodywork done, such as massage or reflexology.
• Get gentle exercise to improve circulation.
• Take your herbs.

Now let’s talk about some herbs that have been used to help this annoying syndrome.

Other Unpronounceables

Elderberry is a wonderful remedy, but when suffering from flu symptoms, you are likely to experience more than just what elderberry can handle for you. For stomach flu and vomiting, a mixture of ginger, capsicum, golden seal, and licorice is helpful. Vitamins C and A will help boost your immune system. As always, drink plenty of liquids and eat very lightly; your body can use the extra energy to heal you.
A homeopathic from France known as oscillococcinum (Anas barbariae) is claimed by many to help stop a flu dead in its tracks. Currently, Cochrane Review Group is researching whether oscillococcinum is more effective than a placebo in the prevention and treatment of influenza and its symptoms. Oscillococcinum is available in most health food stores.
Another excellent herb worthy of mention is olive leaf extract. Olive leaf is anti-fungal, and anti-viral and can be used to kill infections, cold viruses and many other ailments.

Elderberry: Influencing Influenza

Elderberry (Sambucus nigra) is an excellent herb for treating acute conditions of any kind, and this is one of Europe’s most widely used herbs for centuries. Different parts of the plant are used for different medicinal purposes, including the flowers, berries, leaves, and bark. The berries are rich in vitamins A and C and potassium. Elderberry strengthens the immune system and helps it fight off viral infections. Elderberry increases mother’s milk when taken by nursing moms. It can be used as a tea as a gargle and is good for head colds, laryngitis, and flu. It is best given to children in the late afternoon and evening to help break fevers.
It has been reported that research in Israel done by virologist Dr. Madeleine Mumcuouglu has shown elderberry to disarm the flu virus by neutralizing the spikes that viruses use to invade host cells. Elderberry has been used to reduce inflammation, promote perspiration, and to serve as a laxative and decongestant. Add yarrow and mint, which will enhance the effects and make a safe remedy for children and adults alike.

Flu (Influenza): A Flu Good Herbs

Unfortunately, there is no real medical treatment for the flu or colds because they are usually caused by a virus. Antibiotics kill bacteria, not viruses. The best way to deal with the flu, therefore, is to help the symptoms fast-forward. Herbs can be a catalyst to your recovery from the flu and can help prevent you from getting complications associated with the flu. And, if taken after exposure to an infected person, these herbs just might help you bypass the flu altogether.
A colon cleansing with the use of an enema or colonic can help rid the body of waste and speed your recovery. For any infection in the body, add garlic to the enema water, and always be sure to use clean water since the bowel absorbs what is put into it.