Herbal Medicine | Breathe Network

Alternative Medicial Approaches to Reducing Asthma Symptoms

There are two types of asthma. There is extreme asthma that requires the use of prescription medications and there is a less severe type of asthma that can be controlled through alternative means. If you are suffering from the less severe type of asthma there are many alternative approaches that you can take to reduce your asthma symptoms. Here is a look at some of the alternative methods.

Warm Liquids. Warm liquids are believed to help open up the chest and relieve any coughing or asthma symptoms. In fact, some alternative medicine practitioners will recommend the use of teas or coffee to open up the chest as the caffeine works as a bronchodilator and help loosen up the airways to the lungs.

Steam. Steam is another alternative approach to treating asthma symptoms. It is believed if you sit in a warm room with steam such as a bathroom or a sauna it can help loosen up the bronchial tubes and help relieve the symptoms of asthma. Steam can be inhaled by inhaling it from a cup of warm liquids or even just sitting in a bathroom with the shower or hot bath running.

Breathwork. There are many yoga breathwork exercises that will help the asthma sufferer learn how to regulate their breathing. It is believed that when those with asthma start to breathe properly they are able to reduce the effects that asthma has on the body. Yoga and Pilates are also known to help open up the chest and loosen up the airways so that breathing is a lot easier in those that suffer from asthma.

Filed Under: Alternative Practices, Herbal Medicine Tagged With: Asthma, Asthma Symptoms, Pilates

Natural medicine: Alternative cures for anxiety

If you are someone who suffers from anxiety, you may think that there are not many natural options for controlling anxiety. You have probably heard that the only way to ease your anxiety is to take medications. Usually these medications have so many side effects that taking them is scarier than your anxiety. Perhaps you don’t like the idea of having to take prescription medication and are looking for natural way to deal with your anxiety. There are many natural cures for anxiety. One way to ease the symptoms of anxiety is to use breathing exercises.

Breathing exercises can be used for a variety of reasons but are very helpful in deminishing anxiety. Learning to control you anxiety through breathing could help you to not need medication or reduce your dependency on anxiety medication. Also, by learning to use a breathing technique you would be controlling the anxiety yourself rather than relying on medication.

Breathing exercises are a very natural way to help anxiety. By learning to recognize what makes you anxious and what triggers your anxiety you can learn to use breathing techniques to cope with the situation. One the ways that breathing helps is to focus your mind away from what is upsetting you. By paying attention to your breathing you will learn to use breath as a way to calm youself down. You may think that using breath to ease anxiety sounds stupid, but the next time you feel anxious try the simple act of counting your breaths. This can have a calming effect as you would be focusing the attention away from what is troubling you and you will be able to calm down. You could also begin to breath in a circular fashion, where you begin to exhale immediately at the end of inhale and vice versa.

Filed Under: Health, Herbal Medicine Tagged With: Alternative medicine, Breathing, Disorders, Health, Mental health

The Healing Properties of Oil of Oregano

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Oregano is perhaps best known as an indispensible and tasty herb used in a variety of dishes, especially in Italian cuisine. In fact, the spice is so widely loved that just about every home has at least one bottle of oregano handy for pastas, pizza, soups, even salads.
What many people may not know is that oregano has long served as a powerful herbal remedy for a variety of ailments, especially in oil form. The active components of oil of oregano have shown for centuries to work well against many of the malignant effects microorganisms have on humans. For example, oil of oregano serves as an excellent digestive, and even coupled with milk or juice serves as a quick and natural remedy for indigestion or other mild stomach aliments. For skin contagion and incessant itching, the oil can be applied directly to the infected area, although with highly concentrated oils, the product may need to be diluted as directed. When used properly, oil of oregano has seen success as an excellent combatant against bug bites, minor cuts and scrapes, mild rashes, fingernail and toenail irritation, and its use has been proven safe for both children and adults.
One excellent use for oil of oregano is preventative in nature. With many looking for ways to lessen the impact of cold and flu season, using oil of oregano does much to stave off throat irritation and sinus infection before they become full blown problems. For example, when a sore throat begins to loom, gargling water with a few drop of the oil has proven to be an effective deterrent, and regular use over a few days will help those with stuffy sinuses and head colds, thanks to oil of oregano’s healing effects and strong, pungent spirit.
However, as with all remedies, side effects may occur with the use of oil of oregano. With regular use the body may not be able to absorb iron at optimal levels (which means pregnant women should not use oil of oregano).

Filed Under: Herbal Medicine

Benefits of an Assisted Living Environment

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Everyone would naturally prefer to be capable of caring for themselves. This is simply nature. As we age, become ill or become disabled, however, it becomes increasingly impossible for us to take care of our own selves, meaning that we have to rely on other people to get the help and care that we need. The primary focus behind an assisted living facility is exactly what you would assume from the name: an assisted living facility provides its guests and patients with the care and assistance that they need in order to live a full and enriching life, whatever that may entail.

If you know someone that is elderly, ill or disabled in some way, you should address whether or not this type of living situation is ideal for them. For example, someone who is wheelchair bound and disabled may find it easier to live in an assisted living facility where they can get the help that they need around the clock.

This is especially important if you are their caretaker, because taking care of someone that needs this level of help and assistance can weigh on you, and can pull you away from your other obligations such as family, school or work. Sometimes it is important to consider that the best course of action is to put a loved one in an assisted living facility where they can get medical help and professional assistance. This will help them thrive and live the life that they want to, and no one has to worry about burdening anyone else, because the loved one will be surrounded by professional help and care.

Talking to your loved ones about assisted living can be trying, but you need to consider the benefits when you enter into this conversation. Someone who is having trouble caring for his or herself will benefit from assisted living, and should consider it as a viable option in their care plan.

Filed Under: Health, Herbal Medicine Tagged With: Assisted living, Health, Health care

The Fishy Facts on Vitamin E

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Those who spend a lot of time in the sun experience a wide variety of after-effects. Some need only a short amount of time to tan golden brown, while other more fair-skinned people need only a few minutes to turn as red as a tomato, and endure days of pain and misery watching their skin peel like, well, a tomato.
That kind of skin trauma in one way or the other is an obvious side effect of a prolonged sunny day outdoors. But while the rays do get their fair share of bad press, the Vitamin D that comes from sunshine is not only good for health, but essential for helping the body absorb calcium, enhance bone growth and strength, reduce the onset of arthritis, and bolster the immune system.
Interestingly enough, vitamin D is found naturally in but a few foods, meaning most people must get their recommended allotment through supplements and vitamins. In areas of the world where sunlight is at a premium during certain times of the year, notably polar regions, residents must be diligent in assuring themselves that they get enough Vitamin D. Cod liver oil, for example, has served as a natural, if albeit nasty tasting supplement that has served as a dietary mainstay for generations of polar denizens. For years it was nearly impossible to ingest this fishy syrup without having to tolerate the rancid fishy taste and bad odor. Now, cod liver oil can be taken in capsule form (although there may be a mild fishy aftertaste). And those who like theirs in liquid form easily can find a flavored version that tempers the pungent taste to a bearable level.
In addition to Vitamin D, cod liver oil carries a high level of Vitamin A, which can be both good news and bad news. Vitamin A is abundantly present in the foods people eat every day, including fruits, dairy products such as eggs and milk, and vegetables such as carrots, spinach, and potatoes. That means that taking cod liver oil most likely will result in an overabundance of vitamin A, which can then accumulate in body fat and can cause body cells to swell with fluid. However, these effects can be reduced through other vitamins and minerals such as vitamin E, zinc, and calcium.

Filed Under: Alternative Practices, Health, Herbal Medicine, Resources Tagged With: Cod liver oil, Health, Nutrients, Vitamin D

Exercising the Mind

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It’s easy to associate good health and well being as essential elements of physical well being. After all, one needs to take care of the body to “feel” good, whether that be through consistent strengthening and conditioning, good personal hygiene, or promoting healthy nutrition through a thoughtful, balanced diet. While these things are important, even critical ingredients to building a happy healthy life, there is much more to consider.
The brain, for example, is the command center of the body, and even the most ripped body can’t function correctly if the mind is overloaded or too cluttered to focus and deliver. Just as important as eating right and exercising, it is vitally important to take time every day and care for the mental aspects of the body, and it can be as simple as taking a well-placed “time out” during the day.
For those who spend an inordinate amount of time at their desk in front of the computer, it doesn’t take long for that glassy-eyed stare at the screen to set in. In a world where we are constantly bombarded with a barrage of media – pictures, video, sounds, colors, noise – it can be easy to let sensory overload shut mental acuity down completely. Therefore it is important to take moments throughout the day and meditate and clear the mind.
One meditative exercise called Centering is a simple and fast way to refresh and enliven brainpower, and is an easy thing to do at the office. Find a spot to sit quietly and focus solely on the awareness of inner self. Block out work, distractions, and anything else that causes stress or undue discomfort. By focusing on the self, the “center,” one can be aware only of the present moment and relax the mind. The result is a restored sense of perspective and a clearer intellect which with to work.
Simple meditative exercises like Centering will not only restore and rejuvenate the mind, they will dial down stress and provide moments of much needed relaxation throughout the day.

Filed Under: Health, Herbal Medicine, Resources Tagged With: Mental health, Nutrition, Physical exercise