Thursday, July 30, 2009

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.