Endometriosis

By Sarah C. Corriher

Endometriosis is a condition that affect 10 percent of women who are of child-bearing age. It occurs when the tissues that normally grow inside the uterus grow in other locations. It is a notoriously painful condition, which many women have described as being more intense than child birth. Internal scar tissue may eventually develop, which is a known cause of infertility. Medical books provide differing explanations as to why this condition is so incredibly painful, but there are only theories, and endometriosis is not well understood.

Most doctors treat this condition by suppressing its symptoms with painkillers, or by placing women on birth control drugs that cause them to skip their monthly cycle. As a result of such neglect, endometriosis is a leading cause of infertility in the civilized world. The mainstream methods of suppressing endometriosis are usually futile. The only drugs that provide effective relief are extremely addictive, and all surgical attempts are largely failures. The most common long-term treatment is laparoscopic surgery to remove the excess tissues, but the condition has an extremely high recurrence rate despite surgical interventions. Some women get hysterectomies to eliminate endometriosis, but even in these cases, it sometimes returns in different places. Pregnancy is the only thing that reliably cures the condition, and it still provides relief even in those rare cases when endometriosis is not completely cured. The condition always stops when menopause begins.

The disease can have a massive impact on the quality of life. Women with endometriosis have an 87% chance of depression, and an 88% chance of having mild to moderate anxiety. Sixty-three percent of endometrial women have severe anxiety problems. Endometriosis sufferers are four times more likely to have allergy problems, and they are also four times more likely to have migraines. Many women with severe endometriosis are forced to go on disability, because their symptoms are so severe. The Internet is riddled with horror stories about those who committed suicide due to their endometriosis pain.

Symptoms of Endometriosis

•Painful Periods

•Painful Intercourse

•Infertility

•Heavy or irregular bleeding

•Painful bowel movements or urination

•Loss of stale menstrual brown blood

•Fatigue

•Depression

•Excessive mood swings

•Lower back pain

•Loss of large menstrual blood clots

•Swollen abdomen

The Causes of Endometriosis

Traditional Chinese Medicine (ancient Chinese medicine) links endometriosis with liver problems. While T.C.M. can seem very confusing upon first glance, we have learned not to underestimate its usefulness. A study titled Chinese Herbal Medicine For Endometriosis, at Southampton University revealed that Chinese herbal medicine is more effective for endometriosis relief than mainstream treatments are, with no side effects.

The liver is the primary organ that is responsible for the elimination of toxins. When the liver is unsuccessful at flushing toxins, they sometimes remain in the liver forever. These liver toxins are the most common cause of liver impairment. The liver is responsible for the regulation of the sex hormones, including estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. Increases in estrogen make endometriosis more severe, indicating yet another hormonal component of the condition and the condition's relationship to liver health. The fact that this condition is caused by liver dysfunction means that women who opt for mainstream treatments will eventually find themselves in a worse condition after treatments than they were before treatments. This is because all pharmaceuticals stress the liver.

The Endometriosis Association has done massive amounts of research on the connection between endometriosis and dioxin exposure. Dioxins are a byproduct of chlorination, which is used to bleach sanitary towels and tampons. The bleaching process is known to release dioxins that remain on consumer products. This exposure, particularly in the case of tampons, could cause endometriosis or worsen it.

It has been shown that alcoholic women (or former alcoholics) are more likely to have endometriosis. Heavy drinking places a massive strain on the liver.

Numerous studies have additionally linked a higher risk of endometriosis with women who have diets which are low in anti-oxidants, or who have above-average "free radicals" (oxidation) in the body. Oxidative damage is indicative of a bad diet overall, lacking in both fruits and vegetables. This can be easily fixed with dietary changes.

A Korean study has linked endometriosis with small figured women, and the researchers noted that the thinner the women are, the more severe the disease. Hormones have a dramatic effect upon a person's weight, and thin women tend to have smaller amounts of the hormone estrogen, which makes it more difficult for them to become pregnant.

Curing Endometriosis

In the long term, the typical pharmaceutical methods for treating endometriosis will cause the disease to worsen. The prolonged use of either strong painkillers or oral contraceptives is very harmful to the liver. Areas where endometrial tissue grows in the body become very inflamed, and the long-lasting inflammation prevents the body from properly healing. Therefore, one of the most important things for an endometriosis sufferer to do is reduce the amount of inflammation in the body.

Exercise in the week prior to the menstrual cycle can be very beneficial. Sweating is the only way to cleanse the lymph nodes, and endometriosis is a disease that is often influenced by toxicity.

Those who are sexually active in healthy relationships are less likely to experience endometriosis attacks, and the attacks are less severe for them. Korean researchers have labeled endometriosis a "working woman's disease" for this reason. This insight has been ignored by the Western press due to political correctness. Intercourse shortly before menstruation will drastically reduce endometrial symptoms. The best effect is achieved when male hormones are directly injected into the patient, but we have opted to not explicitly explain. Becoming pregnant during this time is very unlikely.

Dietary Changes

•Eat organic, grass fed meat. Avoid processed and factory-farmed meats, because they contain growth hormones which will make the problems worse. Iron is essential, so beef must be part of the diet. Iron supplements are less safe and they are poorly absorbed.

•Avoid refined white sugar, white flour, and white rice. The chlorination process used to bleach foods will leave some dioxin residues in the food, because dioxins are always a byproduct of chlorine. The (white) refined variants of these foods are very inflammatory. Read the ingredients and purchase "evaporated cane juice" for sugar. Use only brown rice and whole wheat flour, and do not use any carbohydrates that are not completely homemade.

•Honey is actually an anti-inflammatory sweetener, so it too is recommended. It is the ideal sweetener whenever it is a viable option.

•Do not use homogenized milk, ever. It is one of the most inflammatory food items available. If milk is needed, purchase non-homogenized milk from a health food store.

•Avoid all soy products. Soy contains phytoestrogens, which are compounds that mimic estrogen in the body. They can cause major hormone instability, which will worsen the endometriosis.

•Reduce the intake of processed foods. Virtually all of the chemical additives are highly inflammatory to the body.

•Dioxins can also be found in municipal drinking water, because it contains chlorine. Women with endometriosis should purchase spring water, or use a Berkey water filter. A shower filter that removes chlorine is prudent, because inhaled chlorine vapors are extremely inflammatory.

Curing endometriosis is a process of providing the body with the nutrients that it needs to heal the liver, while keeping inflammation low, and flushing any toxins out of the body. For information about performing a liver cleanse, see the article about cleansing. We furthermore recommend the following supplements for endometriosis sufferers.

Supplement Suggestions

•All of the B vitamins strengthen the liver, and directly assist the body in disposing of excess estrogen.

•Licorice is one of the most commonly used herbs in China, and it is well known for its beneficial effect on the liver.

•Dandelion strengthens the liver and kidneys.

•Selenium has been historically given to cows by farmers to prevent endometriosis. Endometriosis hinders fertility, so farmers work hard to prevent a disease that results in fewer calves. The best single source of selenium is Brazil nuts, followed by tuna, cod, and meats. It can also be purchased in supplement form.

•Vitamin E is known to ensure that animals have healthy uterine linings, and it has been used by farmers since the 1930's. Vitamin E and selenium are believed to work together to prevent damage to cell membranes, and protect against oxidation. Do not take blood thinners like vitamin E during the menstrual period, because they will increase bleeding.

•Due to the link between endometriosis and dioxins, it would be wise to supplement with chlorophyll. Chlorophyll can remove dioxins from the body, and it can be purchased as a liquid concentrate.

•Folate or folic acid. Folate is necessary for the body to make heme (the iron-containing, non-protein part of hemoglobin) for the red blood cells. Too little folate can cause nutritional megoblastic anemia (large red blood cells that cannot transport oxygen well). It is known to help regulate and balance the hormones. Alcohol reduces the absorption of folic acid, and increases the kidney's excretion of it. Folic acid assists in the chelation of lead, and helps the body to properly utilize zinc. There is a strong connection between folate and the liver, because liver disease increases the loss of folate.

•Radishes were used in Traditional Chinese Medicine to cure endometriosis, and to fix liver problems, including jaundice. It would be wise to include them in the diet.

•Alcohol should be avoided, with the exception of an occasional glass of red wine. Greater amounts will weaken an already impaired liver.

•Gelatin is the only common ingredient in endometriosis-related pharmaceuticals. While it is purported to be an "inactive ingredient", many sufferers have noticed that eating foods high in gelatin during the menstrual cycle is beneficial. Endometriosis sufferers finally have a bona fide health reason to eat gummy bears.

•Cannabis ("marijuana") is often recommended by doctors in U.S. states that allow medical marijuana use. In addition to helping with the pain, it also seems to reduce the inflammation issues. Some sufferers proclaim that marijuana is more effective in helping with endometriosis than the expensive prescription pain medications. Cannabis does not harm the kidneys, is not addictive, and it helps to suppress the nausea that often accompanies the pain.

Castor Oil Transdermal Packs

At the beginning of the menstrual cycle, when the first symptoms of cramping become noticeable, a castor oil transdermal pack can dramatically reduce the severity of symptoms throughout the cycle. 

This is the basic procedure:

1.A wash cloth should be soaked in pure, cold-pressed castor oil that is obtained from a health food store.

2.The wash cloth should be placed on bare skin on the lower stomach.

3.Put a piece of plastic on top of the cloth, such as a plastic grocery bag.

4.Place a hot water bottle on top of that. The water should be made as hot as possible, so long as the patient can tolerate it.

5.Leave this in place for at least 30 minutes.

The above procedure can also be done repeatedly during the cycle to provide relief. However one treatment is usually enough to provide massive relief. Women should use only dioxin-free, unchlorinated feminine products, especially tampons. Consuming Brazil nuts is ideal, because they contain folate, selenium, and magnesium, which have all been shown to reduce menstrual cramps.

Reference:

http://healthwyze.org/index.php/component/content/article/570-curing-endometriosis-through-natural-methods.html

http://truefitnessbootcamp.com/Nutrition_Challenge.html

DIVERTICULITIS

Treating diverticular disease and diverticulitis 

Most cases of diverticular disease can be treated at home.
The over-the-counter (OTC) painkiller paracetamol is recommended to help relieve your symptoms.
Painkillers known as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as aspirin and ibuprofen, are not recommended because they may upset your stomach and increase your risk of internal bleeding.
Eating a high-fibre diet may initially help to control your symptoms. Some people will notice an improvement after a few days, although it can take around a month to fully feel the benefits. Read more advice about using diet to improve the symptoms of diverticular disease.
If you have constipation, you may be given a bulk-forming laxative. These can cause flatulence (wind) and bloating. Drink plenty of fluid to prevent any obstruction in your digestive system.
Heavy or constant rectal bleeding occurs in about one in 20 cases of diverticular disease. This can happen if the blood vessels in your large intestine (colon) are weakened by the diverticula, making them vulnerable to damage. The bleeding is usually painless, but losing too much blood can be potentially serious and may need a blood transfusion.
Signs that you may be experiencing heavy bleeding (aside from the amount of blood) include:

• feeling very dizzy
• mental confusion
• pale clammy skin
• shortness of breath

Diverticulitis

Treatment at home

Mild diverticulitis can often be treated at home. Your GP will prescribe antibiotics for the infection and you should take paracetamol for the pain. It is important that you finish the complete course of antibiotics, even if you are feeling better.
Some types of antibiotics used to treat diverticulitis can cause side effects in some people, including vomitting and diarrhoea. 
Your GP may recommend you stick to a fluid-only diet for a few days until your symptoms improve. This is because trying to digest solid foods may make your symptoms worse. You can gradually introduce solid foods over a two or three day period.

Treatment at hospital

If you have more severe diverticulitis, you may need to go to hospital. Hospital treatment is usually recommended if:

• your pain cannot be controlled using paracetamol
• you are unable to drink enough fluids to keep yourself hydrated
• you are unable to take antibiotics by mouth 
• your general state of health is poor
• you have a weakened immune system
• your GP suspects complications
• your symptoms fail to improve after two days  treatment at home

If you are admitted to hospital for treatment, you are likely to receive injections of antibiotics and be kept hydrated and nourished using an intravenous drip (a tube directly connected to your vein). Most people start to improve within two to three days.

Surgery

In the past, surgery was recommended as a preventative measure for people who had two episodes of diverticulitis as a precuation to prevent complications.
This is no longer the case as studies have found that in most cases risks of serious complications from surgery (estimated to be around one in a 100) usually outweigh the benefits.
However, there are exceptions to this, such as:

• if you have a history of serious complications arising from diverticulitis
• if you have symptoms of diverticular disease from a young age (it is thought the longer you live with diverticular disease, the greater your chances of having a serious complication)
• if you have a weakened immune system or are more vulnerable to infections

If surgery is being considered discuss both benefits and risks carefully with the doctor in charge of your care.

Colectomy

Surgery for diverticulitis involves removing the affected section of your large intestine. This is known as a colectomy. There are two ways this operation can be performed:

• an open colectomy, where the surgeon makes a large incision (cut) in your abdomen and removes a section of your large intestine
• laparoscopic colectomy – a type of ‘keyhole surgery’ where the surgeon makes a number of small incisions in your abdomen and uses special instruments guided by a camera to remove a section of large intestine

Open colectomies and laparoscopic colectomies are thought equally effective in treating diverticulitis, and have a similar risk of complications. Laparoscopic colectomies have the advantage of having a faster recovery time, and cause less post-operative pain.
Laparoscopic colectomies are a relatively new technique and may only be available at specialist surgical centres. There may also be a longer waiting time for this type of surgery.

Stoma surgery

In some cases, the surgeon may decide your large intestine needs to heal before it can be reattached, or that too much of your large intestine has been removed to make reattachment possible.
In such cases, stoma surgery provides a way of removing waste materials from your body without using all of your large intestine.
Stoma surgery involves the surgeon making a small hole in your abdomen known as a stoma. There are two ways this procedure can be carried out. These are explained below.

• An ileostomy, where a stoma is made in the right-hand side of your abdomen (stomach). Your small intestine is separated from your large intestine and connected to the stoma, and the rest of the large intestine is sealed. You will need to wear a pouch connected to the stoma to collect waste material.
• A colostomy, where a stoma is made in your lower abdomen and a section of your large intestine is removed and connected to the stoma. As with an ileostomy, you will need to wear a pouch to collect waste material.

In most cases the stoma will be temporary and can be removed once your large intestine has recovered from the surgery. This will usually take at least nine weeks.
If a large section of your large intestine is affected by diverticulitis and needs to be removed, you may need a permanent ileostomy or colostomy.

Results of surgery

In general terms, surgery is usually successful, although it does not achieve a complete cure in all cases. Following surgery, an estimated one in 12 people will have a recurrence of symptoms of diverticular disease and diverticulitis.

Reference

http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Diverticular-disease-and-diverticulitis/Pages/Treatment.aspx

What Activated Charcoal Can Do

Activated charcoal is required by law in many states to be part of the standard equipment on ambulances for use in poisonings. Mushroom poisoning, brown recluse spider bites, and snakebites can all be treated with activated charcoal. Doctors also use activated charcoal to prevent and treat intestinal infections, and as cleansing and healing agents.

Jaundice of the newborn, bee stings, poison ivy reactions, and many other illnesses can be helped with activated charcoal. Many pediatricians and pediatric handbooks recommend that activated charcoal be kept on hand as an antidote in the family medicine chest, especially in households that include small children. 

Scientific experiments over many years attest to the effectiveness of charcoal as an antidote. In one experiment, 100 times the lethal dose of Cobra venom was mixed with charcoal and injected into a laboratory animal. The animal was not harmed. In other experiments, arsenic and strychnine were mixed with charcoal and ingested by humans under laboratory conditions. The subjects survived even though the poison dosages were five to ten times the lethal dose. 

Activated charcoal can be used internally and externally for humans and pets for the following:  

  

•Antidote for food poisoning or accidental ingestion of poisons, poisonous spider, snake, or bug bites, or poison ivy

•Eliminate toxins that can contribute to anemia in cancer patients

•Filter toxins from blood, in cases of liver or kidney disease

•Deodorize colostomies and disinfect wounds (shouldn’t be used on open wounds or you may end up with a tattoo)

•Remove tartar and plaque buildup when used as toothpaste

•Alleviate allergy headaches, minor arthritic symptoms, menstrual pains, diarrhea, painful urination, flatulence, sore throat irritation, flu-like symptoms, drug overdose, cold sores, tooth abscesses, and toxin from foods. 

Activated charcoal has no side effects or known cases of any allergic reactions. It has an infinite shelf life if the container is kept closed to prevent adsorption of caustic fumes.

Activated charcoal powder will not cause someone to have constipation, but if a person has a problem with constipation and then drinks charcoal slurry, the activated charcoal will back up the colon due to blockages already present in the colon. Research has shown that if a person has a problem with constipation and does a colon cleanse and addressed the cause of constipation, then that person can drink charcoal slurry without having the activated charcoal build up in the colon. 

Activated charcoal can be purchased in tablets, capsules, or powder form. Tablets have one-half the potency of the powdered charcoal and the capsules are expensive but are easy to use. About 14 capsules equal a tablespoon of powder. It is most easily mixed in a small portion of water and is most effective if one tablespoon is used with one to two glasses of water. While some drugstores sell activated charcoal tablets, but the most economical way to purchase activated charcoal is in powder form. It should be taken only as needed to reduce dependency although it is definitely not addictive. 

Activated Charcoal is 100% alkaline and is spinning with electrons making the substance highly electrical. Activated Charcoal negative ionic charge attracts positive ionic charges (of toxins and poisons) causing them to bind and then escorts them out of the body via the eliminative channel of the intestines.

Benefits of Activated Charcoal:

Rid Your Body of Toxins in Emergency Situations

According to a study published in the journal Medical Toxicology and Adverse Drug Experience, activated charcoal prevents the gastrointestinal absorption of a wide variety of drugs and toxins in emergency situations, and also increases their elimination even after they’ve been absorbed by the body. 

This includes an overdose of:

•Pharmaceutical drugs such as acetaminophen or aspirin, opium, cocaine, and morphine

•Toxins from pesticides (including DDT)

•Mercury, lead, and other chemicals

Activated charcoal is most effective if it’s administered within the first hour of ingestion of the toxin. However, there are some substances that activated charcoal does not work on:

•Alcohol

•Cyanide

•Metals such as iron and lithium

•Certain acids that quickly damage internal tissues

Simply put, if you or someone you know has ingested a toxic substance, administering activated charcoal may inactivate the toxicity of the substance and help them pass it far more quickly than their body could on its own. If they’ve ingested a highly toxic substance, a quick administration of activated charcoal could save their life.

Mixing a poultice of activated charcoal with a bit of water and cornstarch or flaxseed powder can help cure bee stings, poison ivy rashes, snake bites, spider bites (including highly poisoning bites from the Brown Recluse or Black Widow), and other poisoning bites.

A paper published by I. Makalinao and A.D. Woolf of Harvard Medical School mentions the effectiveness of a charcoal poultice for drawing out poisons from insect and spider bites. Additionally, there are many stories online from people who claim that their lives were saved by applying an activated charcoal poultice to bee stings or spider bites – especially those who are highly allergic to bee stings and didn’t have epinephrine on hand.

It’s also important to consider your teeth’s sensitivity. Any whitening agent can weaken your tooth enamel over time – this is true with commercial products, such as Crest Whitening Strips, and it’s true for activated charcoal. If you notice your teeth becoming more sensitive after using activated charcoal, cut down on brushing with it to just once or twice per week, or stop using it altogether.

Activated charcoal can be effective for reducing gas, especially after eating foods, such as beans, that commonly create excess gas. It can also relieve an upset stomach or nausea. However, it is worth repeating that activated charcoal should only be taken occasionally to relieve these symptoms, and should not be used every day.

Since charcoal does such an amazing job ridding your body of toxins, some people also use it to rid their body of built-up toxins. The length of these cleanses can vary, but they often last a week or two.

As a paste applied topically, it can draw out poisons from an insect bite lie spiders, bees or wasps.  It is also good to apply whenever you have an attack of gout. But be careful when applying activated charcoal to broken skin as it may leave a tattoo effect on the skin.  To play it safe, apply activated charcoal as a poultice, if in doubt, to the skin.  Additionally, it is the BEST thing to use to whiten your teeth.  Simply put your regular natural toothpaste on your brush and dip it in some powdered activated charcoal, slightly moisten it and brush as usual. Within a short amount of time, it will substantially whiten your teeth and even help remove long standing plaque.  

It is great for both teeth and gums and will not harm either.  We personally recommend activated charcoal for tooth whitening over the counter whitening strips and even baking soda which can be somewhat hard on teeth and the delicate tissues of both mouth and gums.  Sometimes we use a Q-tip with activated charcoal on it to scrub the teeth seriously and to avoid the potential of damaging the gums with the tooth brush bristles. It is also used as a facial to help oily skin.

Taken internally, it can also remove the uric acid build up which causes gout and remove some heavy metals like mercury and lead.   It will help whenever you overeat or over drink and adsorb the toxins and aid in controlling acid reflux and other gastrointestinal distresses.  It can eliminate gas, vomiting and diarrhea. Simply take the charcoal until the symptoms disappear.  Sometimes you have to experiment to see how much works for you.  There is no danger of overdosing on charcoal.  

The only thing we would recommend is the amount of water intake to be increased to help prevent constipation when taking activated charcoal.  There is no evidence that activated charcoal interferes with your body's ability to use vitamins and minerals from food. However, it is best taken away from foods as food in the stomach will slow down the effectiveness of the charcoal. Also, please check with your doctor before taking it if you are on prescription drugs. Charcoal can interfere with your prescription's performance.

What Not to Do

You shouldn’t take activated charcoal if you’re taking prescription medication, as it could render your medication useless. It also shouldn’t be taken regularly, like a supplement, because it will reduce your body’s absorption of important nutrients from food.

Furthermore, you should never use charcoal briquettes in place of activated charcoal in the event of a poisoning. Dangerous petrochemicals have been added to commercial briquettes, and it is not the same as activated charcoal. This is why you should purchase medical-grade activated charcoal to use in the event of an emergency. You can find safe activated charcoal online at Amazon or in many health food stores.

Charcoal is safe and harmless. It will do you no harm, even if you eat lots of it. It is officially recognized as an antidote. The FDA gives it their stamp of approval as a safe and effective remedy for acute toxic poisoning. Charcoal is a cleansing agent that is able to adsorb toxic gases, liquid toxic wastes, germs, and heavy metals.

How it Works:

When it passes through your digestive system, it carries these toxins with it. That prevents you from absorbing them into your blood stream. Adsorption is different from absorption. With absorption, something is attached into something else. An example would be some water that is sucked up by a paper towel. The water goes into the paper towel. With adsorption, something is attached onto, instead of into. Charcoal attaches or binds things onto itself. It does not absorb them. Activated charcoal is not the same as regular charcoal. It is a lot more powerful than regular charcoal. Regular charcoal is made by burning wood in a controlled environment.

To activate charcoal, steam or air at a high temperature is used to oxidize it. This process makes the charcoal develop lots and lots of tiny pores. These tiny holes are what make activated charcoal able to adsorb so much more than regular charcoal can.

To purchase Activated Charcoal:

 References

http://www.moneycrashers.com/activated-charcoal-uses-health-benefits/

http://urbanhomestead.org/journal/2011/12/13/home-apothecary-charcoal/

http://amazinghealth.com/AH-health-activated-charcoal-drink-poison

http://truefitnessbootcamp.com/Nutrition_Challenge.html 

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Curing the Common Cold, Flu, & Respiratory Illnesses with Mullein Herb Leaf

It is sometimes called Common Mullein, Great Mullein, or, in the western U.S., "cowboy toilet paper," because its leaves make good toilet paper in a pinch.
Mullein is sold as tea, in supplement form, and in drops and tinctures. You can buy loose leaf mullein leaves to make your own tea or to make your own pastes to use topically on the skin. Better yet, grow your own in your home garden! The leaves, stems, and flowers are edible but the seeds are toxic and contain a natural pesticide so be sure to avoid eating them.
Here are 11 health benefits of mullein.

Tuberculosis Treatment
Mullein was used as a treatment for tuberculosis in Europe as far back as the 16th century. One experiment in the 19th century found that mullein improved the symptoms of six out of seven TB patients at St. Vincent's hospital in Dublin, Ireland. Some believed that mullein, if used in the early stages of the disease, could bring about a full recovery.

Today, it is known that mullein has anti-bacterial and expectorant properties, both of which are needed in the treatment of TB. Although it has not been studied extensively against mycobacteria, the bacteria that causes tuberculosis, it has been studied against other bacteria with great success and other plants of the same species as mullein have been specifically studied against mycobacteria with positive results.
More studies are needed but the case for mullein as a natural treatment for TB is promising based on historical evidence and modern studies.

Cold and Flu
As mentioned above, mullein has expectorant and anti-bacterial properties, which make drinking mullein tea helpful if you have a cold or flu with lots of congestion. According to researchers, it is the saponins in mullein that give it its expectorant properties. Mullein also helps to reduce the amount of mucus that is produced by the body.

Allergies, Asthma, & Bronchitis
Mullein is a great treatment for allergies, asthma, and bronchitis for the same reasons that it helps with TB, colds, and flu - it is anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, a natural expectorant, and reduces phlegm.

Ear Infection
Studies have found that mullein flower oil works as a natural remedy against ear infections. It is believed that this may be due to its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties.

Anti-Inflammatory
Mullein is a natural anti-inflammatory thanks to the verbascoside it contains. Verbascoside is a phenylethanoid and caffeic acid sugar ester.

Anti-Bacterial
As mentioned in the section about TB, mullein contains natural anti-bacterial properties. This is due at least in part to the verbascoside. Studies have found that verbascoside works particulary well against Staph infections.

Digestive Health
Drinking mullein has been found to help a number of digestive problems including diarrhea, constipation, hemorrhoids, and bladder infections. It is also sometimes used to get rid of intestinal worms.

Cramps
Mullein has anti-spasmodic properties that help with menstrual cramps or stomach cramps associated with gastric distress.

Sedative Effects
Mullein has natural sedative benefits and may be helpful in the treatment of insomnia and anxiety.

Skin Soothing
Applying mullein oil directly to irritated areas of skin may help you to find relief from the discomfort associated with conditions such as a rash, burns, cuts or blisters. Because mullein is antibacterial and anti-inflammatory, it will also help with any skin conditions caused by bacteria or inflammation.

Joint Pain Relief
The anti-inflammatory effects of mullein can help to ease the pain associated with joint or muscle pain by reducing inflammation and swelling.

Source: http://www.healthdiaries.com/eatthis/11-health-benefits-of-mullein.html

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How Eating Less Sugar can Change Your Life

According to experts, Americans consume 22 teaspoons of carbohydrates in sugar daily. A number of individuals are falling prey to heart diseases, diabetes, and other disorders. Scientists have agreed that increased intake of sugar increases the liver’s production of triglycerides and cholesterol, both of which increase the chance of suffering from various cardiac diseases.  

One of the benefits of consuming less sugar carbohydrates is that it can cut the risk of developing heart disease and other related diseases in half. Eliminating carbohydrates in the form of sugar from your diet is essential to lower the body fat percentage and to reduce diabetes. 

 Here are some additional benefits of eating less sugar:

1. Increase in energy levels and productivity: Avoiding intake of sugared carbohydrates actually increases energy, allowing you to do more productive things. Although sugar is highly essential for the body, processed sugar is harmful to the body’s digestive system because it forces the body to spend most of its energy digesting it. The energy gained by eating sugar is short lived. Eating large amounts of sugar can cause our body to become used to it, which increases our insulin levels. This can be quite dangerous, as the body gets used to excess sugar and is not able to survive on lower levels of sugar. Excess sugar consumption can also lead to conditions such as diabetes.
 

2. Weight loss: Reducing your sugar intake generally leads to weight loss due to the decrease in overall calorie consumption. Since sugar is mostly carbohydrates, the decrease in carbohydrates can ensure that you burn off excess calories. However, to effectively burn calories, you need to do physical exercise.
 

3. Lowers risk of heart disease: Replacing the sugar in your diet with other alternatives can actually reduce the risk of heart disease by as much as 25%. It also lowers the triglyceride level by as much as 50% and increases the level of artery-clearing HDL cholesterol.
 

4. Prevents yeast infection: One of the most common types of yeast infections is Candida. This infection is common in people who are taking antibiotics. Candida feeds on sugar and carbohydrates. Reducing sugar intake decreases your risk of developing this infection.
 

5. Better Dental Care: The first sign of excess sugar intake, especially among children, is deteriorating dental hygiene. Increased intake of sugar causes a lot of problems, especially related to the teeth and gums, and may lead to easy infection by tartar.
 

Eating lesser sugars has benefited people in different ways and can be an important step towards leading a healthier life. Nutrition and medical experts agree that Americans eat too much sugar, and the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend cutting back on the sweet stuff. If you reduce the amount of sugar you eat, you may have more energy, lose weight or stay at a healthy weight more easily, see your triglycerides drop, have fewer dental cavities and even look younger.

Fewer "Crashes"

Reactive hypoglycemia is the “crash” -- sleepiness, hunger, anxiety and other symptoms -- that some people experience one to three hours after eating a meal. Avoiding sugary foods, especially on an empty stomach, can help stave off these dips in blood sugar, according to the Mayo Clinic. So can eating smaller, more frequent meals, and eating more protein and high-fiber foods instead of simple sugars.

Healthier Weight

Sugar contributes to weight gain in one obvious way -- sugar-laden treats tend to be high in calories and often high in fat, and low in fiber and other nutrients. But evolving research also supports the idea that sugars and refined carbs may independently contribute to obesity and metabolic syndrome, a precursor to diabetes, regardless of how many calories you eat, says "The New York Times" science writer Gary Taubes. Unlike glucose, fructose is processed mostly by the liver. Animal studies have shown that the liver will turn an overabundance of fructose into fat. The two sweeteners most commonly added to foods, table sugar and high-fructose corn syrup, are roughly half fructose and half glucose.

Lower Trigylcerides

Eating too much sugar can raise the level of triglycerides, or fats, in your blood, according to the Mayo Clinic. Higher triglyceride levels may boost your risk of heart disease.

Fewer Cavities

It’s well known that sugar is bad for your teeth. When you eat sugar, a sticky combo of carbohydrates and protein forms on your teeth and traps bacteria. The bacteria use fructose to create lactic acid, which wears away tooth enamel. Besides brushing and flossing regularly, eating less sugar, especially between meals, can help prevent cavities.

Youthful Looks

Dermatologist Dr. Fredric Brandt, author of “10 Minutes/10 Years,” claims that sugar contributes to the breakdown of two skin proteins, elastin and collagen, and that simply cutting out the sweets can make you look younger. He recommends cutting out all kinds of sugar, as well as wheat and other grains with gluten, yeast, most fruit and foods high on the glycemic index, a scale that measures how quickly a food raises your blood sugar.

A low-sugar diet isn't just about a great smile anymore; according to studies found in some of America's leading medical publications, including the Journal of the American Medical Association, switching to a low-sugar diet is one of the best things you can do for heart, your appetite, and even your mind.

Better Cholesterol Numbers

A low-sugar diet is associated with higher levels of HDL, or "good" cholesterol, according to an April 2010 news release by the "Journal of the American Medical Association." The key finding of the study, as reported by Jean Welsh and colleagues at Emory University was that sugar consumption has a strong association with HDL cholesterol levels. People who consumed higher levels of added sugar in their diet tended to have lower levels of HDL.

Weight Control

According to Richard J Johnson, MD, chief of the Division of Renal Diseases and Hypertension at the University of Colorado in Denver, fructose adversely alters the balance of two hormones, leptin and ghrelin, which control human appetite and satiety. Fructose, especially high fructose corn syrup, is the type of sugar most commonly used in the production of processed foods and sugar-sweetened beverages. Mayo Clinic nutritionist Katherine Zeratsky recommends reducing fructose consumption by limiting consumption of processed foods and choosing whole fruits instead of soda or sweetened juices.

Possible Protection Against Memory Problems

In a study published in 2007 by the "Journal of Biological Chemistry," Dongfeng Cao and colleagues describe tests done with two groups of mice. One group was given low-fat rodent food and water; the other was given low-fat rodent food and free access to a liquid sweetened with the same types of sugar usually used in soda. The relative sugar concentration of the liquid--about 11 percent--was the same as that of soda.

The study found that after six months, the mice in the water group did significantly better on memory tests than the mice in the sugar group. Also, the sugar group had developed beta-amyloid protein plaques in their brains, which in humans are associated with Alzheimer's disease. Although findings from animal research don't necessarily transfer to humans, this is nevertheless an interesting finding.

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/195483-what-are-the-benefits-of-a-low-sugar-diet/#ixzz2WRuFAxLU

http://www.newsmax.com/FastFeatures/carbohydrates-diabetes-calorie-sugar/2010/11/24/id/378085

http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/benefits-lowering-sugar-intake-4563.html