Green Living and Alternative Health Review

GUIDELINES FOR BREWING A HERB INFUSION OR A HERB TISANE

2010-07-19T07:31:00.000-07:00

Healing with Herbs, PART 7
GUIDELINES FOR BREWING A HERB INFUSION OR A HERB TISANE

Natural food stores and even many grocery stores today sell all sorts of ready- made herbal medicines. Still, it is far less costly and more satisfying to make your own remedies with homegrown herbs picked right from your garden. You can combine herbs to fit your own needs and tastes and make just the amounts you need. Furthermore, one can guarantee the purity of the herbs since you would know they had not been treated with any toxic chemicals.

CAUTION: Keep in mind that many herbs have toxic properties, and some are absolutely poisonous. Take care to identify plants accurately and if you are not sure of one, then do not use it. The standard rule is: Use all plants judiciously; use some plants not at all. Remember that medicines that are healthful when taken in small quantities can be harmful in large doses. Of course, do not self medicate for ailments which have not been previously diagnosed by a licensed physician or other qualified health professional. Certain herbal medications may not work well in conjunction with other drugs you may be taking.

The following are standard guidelines for brewing herb infusions and tisanes:

1) Use a glass or ceramic container: Aluminum, iron, tin, or other metals will leach into the tea, so do not use pots made from these metals. Although copper and stainless steel may be okay, herbalists recommend you stay with a clean glass, ceramic, pottery or an unchipped ceramic pot.

2) Use pure water: Do not pollute our tea with chlorine or other chemicals in the water you use. Fresh spring water or distilled water is best for making medicinal teas.

3) Used boiled- not boiling- water: Boil your water first, then remove it from the heat and add the herb.

4) Use the proper proportions: A typical medicinal tea requires 1 ounce of dried herb (about 2 handfuls) to 2 cups of water, or 2 ounces of fresh herb to 2 cups of water. Let the infusion steep for 15 minutes to several hours, depending on the herb's potency and how strong a tea you wish to make. The herb will soak up about 1/2 cup of the water, leaving you with roughly 1 1/2 cups of beverage.

5) Cover the pot tightly: If you smell the aroma of the brewing tea, the herb's essential oils are escaping into the air, rather than being retained in the liquid.

6) Strain the finished infusion before capping and storing.

*****

Author Dr Cathleen V. Carr, JD, PhD is the Editor in Chief of The Best Natural Health Directory and Natural Medicine Ink

See the entire series on Healing with Herbs at Radient life or nationally syndicated Examiner.com

How Long Will You Live In Good Health?

2010-07-12T05:34:00.000-07:00

Growing Old In Good Health:
The Great Disparity

The lowest ‘years of healthy life’ is seen in Estonia, where the age is 59 years for men and 61 for women. In Denmark, by contrast, those values rise to 73 years for men and 74 years for women. The UK is higher than the European average with figures of 69 years and 9 months for men and 70 years and 9 months for women.

The lowest ‘years of healthy life’ is seen in Estonia, where the age is 59 years for men and 61 for women. In Denmark, by contrast, those values rise to 73 years for men and 74 years for women. The UK is higher than the European average with figures of 69 years and 9 months for men and 70 years and 9 months for women.

Although life expectancy is constantly growing, living longer isn’t always the same as living well, and knowing to what age someone will live in good health remains a different question altogether.

Carol Jagger, Professor of Epidemiology at the University of Leicester, is part of the European Health Expectancy Monitoring Unit (EHEMU), who have undertaken a research project on healthy life expectancy within the EU.

Using a new indicator called Healthy Life Years, they found that in 2005 life expectancy in the EU was 78 years on average for men and 83 for women, while men live on average without any health problems up to 67 years and women to 69 years.
Great disparities persist, however, between the countries of the EU, and the differences in Healthy Life Years are much greater than differences in life expectancy.

The lowest ‘years of healthy life’ is seen in Estonia, where the age is 59 years for men and 61 for women. In Denmark, by contrast, those values rise to 73 years for men and 74 years for women. The UK is higher than the European average with figures of 69 years and 9 months for men and 70 years and 9 months for women.

These results are correlated with the overall wealth of the different countries as measured by GDP and the average level of health spending by the countries on older people. In general, a strong GDP and higher health spending are associated with more Healthy Life Years at age 50.

For men, long periods out of work (over 12 months) and poorer education were equally responsible for fewer Healthy Life Years.

The disparities observed are even stronger among the last ten countries to have joined the EU. For most of these countries, the age of retirement is higher than or coincides with the average age at which people can hope to live without health problems.

Carol Jagger commented: “Without an improvement in the state of health of older people, it will be difficult to raise the retirement age or bring more older workers into the workforce for certain EU countries.”

Partner institutions in the research project are: the University of Leicester; the French Institute for Demographic Studies (INED); The Scientific Institute of Public Health, Belgium; the Erasmus Medical Center, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Netherlands; and the French Institute of Health and Medical Research.

Ayurvedic Doshas

2010-07-12T04:19:00.000-07:00

Ayurveda helps people heal by balancing the doshas. When the doshas are balanced, the body is in homeostasis (a state of zero change) and that is a state of perfect health. When the body is healthy it automatically repairs and protects itself.

The three doshas are vata, pitta, and kapha. The doshas are three general body types. On a simple level vata, pitta, and kapha mean small, medium and large. More deeply dosha indicates three basic patterns of how we use energy. Vata spends energy. Pitta manages it. Kapha stores it.

Body type is a combination of doshas that Ayurveda uses to understand and approximate a person's constitution. If a person has a vata body type they have the gifts of vata but also the tendency to get vata type illnesses.

Every day, our body must react to change. In Ayurveda, a disease is any change from "normal" in the body. The body uses dosha to buffer changes and dosha is the body's preventative medicine. Doshas and qualities accumulate in the body until they begin to overwhelm tissues. For example vata tends to be dry. Vata's natural home is in the colon but when vata accumulates it begins to travel around the body leaving residue. Drinking less water, then skipping a meal, then doing exercise all cause dryness to accumulate. Vata increases and accumulates to manage dryness.

Naturally Repel Mosquitoes, Gnats and More

2009-06-04T04:56:00.000-07:00

Do biting mosquitoes and other flying pests spoil the fun of summer ? Mosquitoes can carry diseases that they spread by transmitting germs through their stingers.

Are you worried about the ecology of your body and yard in your effort to combat these stinging summer spoilers? Light wearing and cooling to the skin blends of certain essential oils from plants repel biting flying insects. Diminish their nasty influence by making or buying natural insect repellent.

These recipes for natural repellants will repel mosquitoes and other biting flying insect s and are safe to use on plants, adults, babies and children, and will not harm pets. They are devoid of DEET (diethyl-meta-toluamide) which is the most common active ingredient in insect repellents but is toxic.

These essential oil blends will rid you of sand gnats, horseflies, deer flies, and mosquitoes without a drop of poison.

Some essential oils favored for their effectiveness as insect repellents are:
• Eucalyptus, recommended as effective by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Catnip oil, containing nepetalactone, which researchers at Iowa State University have found to be ten times stronger than DEET
• Citronella, long used as an insect repellent, and Lavender, Basil, Lemongrass, Thyme and Patchouli can provide other repellent qualities and delightful fragrances to make interesting blends.

Make a natural insect repellent by using a spray bottle that combines water and essential oils combined together, such as Lemongrass, Lavender, Tea Tree and Citronella. Another good blend combines Peppermint, Eucalyptus and Citronella. Both combinations work and smell good on the wearer.For example, use the Peppermint, Eucalyptus, Citronella combination. Peppermint, eucalyptus and citronella all have especially potent properties that repel many flying, biting pests.

All you will need is a bottle and either a distilled water or a carrier oil.
Pour the oil or water into a 1ounce bottle. Adding 20-100 drops of each essential oil allows you to get the scent just right for you.

Shake each time you use the mixture to ensure the oils are mixed and distributed evenly before applying.
You might find that you need to reapply frequently for maximum effectiveness so reapply as necessary. Under normal outdoor conditions, the repellent will last an hour or more. You can safely mist as often as you like to suit variations in your biochemistry or a particular environment.

Spray it all over, even your face. Be careful not to spray it into your eyes. Peppermint is very irritating to soft mucous tissues like eyes.

Here is a link to a video showing the easy steps to making your own natural insect repellent:
http://www.ehow.com/video_4994300_make-natural-insect-repellent.html

Be sure to keep your mist close on hand and in keep some in your picnic or bicycle basket. To maximize effectiveness be sure your bath soap fragrance will not attract bugs and do not wear perfumes and colognes if you plan to be outside for any length of time mid spring through late autumn.

If making your own insect repellent is not going to make your ‘list of things to do’ there are several brands on the market that you can comparison shop before buying. Herbaria Citronella Mist has been featured in Vegetarian Times Magazine and claims that their lemon eucalyptus mist has been found by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention to be as effective against mosquitoes as popular brands containing small amounts of DEET.

Used as intended these hard working essential oil products effectively give relief from biting pests and do not cause harm to humans, pets or the environment.

Cathleen V. Carr is a licensed attorney, herbalist and published author who writes regularly for Natural Medicine Ink, Radient Life, the Best Natural Health Directory, eHealth Science, the National Diet Institute, Alternative Health Review, Examiner.com and numerous websites and blogs. Contact her through LinkedIn.com

Liver and Gall Bladder Tonic Herb Blend

2009-06-01T13:50:00.000-07:00

Get this special herbal blend in capsule form from Sage Woman Herbs http://www.sagewomanherbs.com/formulas-liver-gallbladder.html
If you would rather have the tincture (liquid) form of this powerful balancing and cleansing blend get it here http://www.sagewomanherbs.com/blended-tincture-liver-gallbladder.html
I have used this product...it WORKS!
Best of all the ladies that work at Sage Woman Herbs are nice and knowledgeable.

Take with acidophilous for best results.

Ingredients: Burdock rt., Dandelion rt., Yellowdock Rt., Wahoo Rt., Beet Rt., Gentian Rt., Ginger Rt., Tumeric and Milk Thistle sd.

If you want/need more info feel free to ask.

Sincerely
Cathleen
Cathleen Carr, Editor
Natural Medicine Ink
http://BestNaturalHealthDirectory.com
Tell them you are listed in the best natural health directory!

Vain Benefits of Being a 'Health Nut'

2008-06-27T11:57:00.000-07:00

First, allow me to say how much I enjoy writing this blog and second, a hearty congratulations on your much deserved Blue Ribbon Web award, American Eastern Institute! Many of the natural and alternative health community appreciate your ability to research, write and present useful natural and alternative health care information for others to study and share, both personally and professionally.

Some of my readers might know that I was raised by a ‘health nut’ mom and that I have tried to be one, too. The benefits of setting a good example for my family have really paid off. I'm almost 50 now and still get mistaken for early 30's, (mid 30's when my teenager is around!) More importantly, I feel good-much better than almost all of my friends of any age.

I thought you might like to know that there is a school that accepts kids as young as 16 to teach about health and nutrition and to prepare them for careers in this and related natural health areas. If you 'd like more information about this school, American Eastern Institute let me know.

As always, please start or keep sending articles, reports, news and blog posts about nutrition and natural, wholistic, and alternative health care!

Conventional vs. Alternative Medical School Programs

2008-05-27T13:01:00.000-07:00

What is the difference between a conventional medical school and an alternative health school?

As an alternative health school, Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine educates students to become Naturopathic physicians. The degree of Naturopathic Physician (ND) is earned after graduating from our four-year post-graduate alternative medical school program and passing national board exams. Though our College focuses on students becoming doctors of alternative healthcare, there are numerous conventional medical similarities in the curriculum offered. SCNM students are taught the same comprehensive basic science courses as in conventional medical schools, such as anatomy and biochemistry. As graduates of Arizona’s only alternative medical school, our students will also be proficient in standard Western diagnostic and laboratory medicine. In addition, students are taught the philosophy of alternative medicine and how to treat diseases by removing obstacles to cure and helping the body to heal. Although licensed to prescribe drugs, naturopathic medical college creates physicians who primarily use nutrition, nutritional supplements, botanical medicine, Chinese medicine, mind-body medicine, homeopathy, naturopathic manipulation, minor surgery, and IV therapeutics. Southwest College is recognized as the innovative and technological leader among the naturopathic medical schools in North America. Becoming a doctor of alternative medicine through our college ensures a wonderful career of healing people naturally and effectively.

How do graduates practice medicine?

Unlike many other natural medical schools, Southwest Naturopathic Medical School is an alternative healthcare school that gives students a legally valid medical education. After successfully graduating from the college, students take national board exams. After they pass the board exams, they are doctors who can set up practice as naturopathic physicians specializing in alternative medicine. Career opportunities for our graduates are excellent. Southwest College is renown for its business career department that helps new graduates set up a practice right away. Many physicians from our naturopathic medical school set up their own private practice, join a clinic with other doctors, including MDs, work for laboratories, or do research or medical writing. Although all states do not license doctors who graduate from naturopathic medical schools, there are naturopathic physicians flourishing throughout the country. See also, American Eastern Institute Alternative Health Education and Training

AmericanEasternInstitute

American Alternative Health Distance Learning Integrative Health Care solutions and professional training through American Eastern Institute

AmericanAlternativeHealth.com

2008-05-26T15:47:00.000-07:00

American Eastern Institute Alternative Health Education and Training

AmericanEasternInstitute

American Alternative Health Distance Learning Integrative Health Care solutions and professional training through American Eastern Institute

AmericanAlternativeHealth.com

CarolAnn Bailey-Lloyd

If you've ever thought about becoming a natural healthcare practitioner, then you may wish to review some of the many alternative health schools, which offer a number of fast-growing career-training programs.

In addition to specialized natural healthcare training options, alternative health schools provide practical instruction in healing arts like refloxology, holistic nutrition, herbal medicine, reflexology, naturopathy, homeopathy, or acupuncture, among others.

Depending on which healthcare discipline you choose to pursue, you might be surprised at the comprehensive training and skills that you will attain. For example, alternative health schools that extend academic programs in naturopathy are course-intensive, and generally require some degree of formal education prior to applying. In addition to health sciences like anatomy, microbiology, and biomedical sciences; typical studies in naturopathic alternative health schools include botanical medicine, holistic nutrition, massage, Oriental medicine; naturopathic history, philosophies and applications; homeopathy, and clinical ecology, and other associated studies.

If you find herbology appealing, then a great number of alternative health schools provide varying levels of herbal medicine courses. In a typical herbalism program, students are taught about Materia Medica, wildcrafting, physiology and anatomy in relation to plant medicine, botanical medicine history and philosophy, aromatherapy, herbal gardening and cultivation, and basic medicine making, in addition to other relative studies.

The eyes have it if you're drawn to iridology. Numerous alternative health schools provide training and education to aspiring iridologists, who gain in-depth knowledge about the iris; learning how to identify certain markers and colorations of the eye, which correspond to specific organ systems in the human body. Aside from learning how to map the eye using an iris chart, students in these alternative health schools learn how to use specialty tools like magnifying glass, microscopes and cameras to examine the iris. Most often, this course of study is complementary to training in a specialized field of natural healing like herbal medicine, naturopathy or homeopathy.

Massage therapy programs seem to be a core training option at alternative health schools as well. For the future massage therapist, it is critical to receive appropriate instruction in the field; and this is why many States currently regulate education and the practice, itself. Typical courses average between 300 and 500 hours, with some massage programs exceeding 1,000 training hours. General curriculum in these alternative health schools is comprised of anatomy, physiology, kinesiology, Swedish massage, and deep tissue massage, among other associated coursework.

If you (or someone you know) are interested in finding healing arts programs, let professional training within fast-growing industries like massage therapy, cosmetology, acupuncture, oriental medicine, Reiki, and others get you started! Explore alternative health schools near you.

Top Programs at Alternative Health Schools

The CollegeBound Network

American Eastern Institute Alternative Health Education and Training

AmericanEasternInstitute

American Alternative Health Distance Learning Integrative Health Care solutions and professional training through American Eastern Institute

AmericanAlternativeHealth.com

American Eastern Institute Hot Distance Learning

2008-04-26T16:52:00.000-07:00

AEI brings alternative health care to the next level with its accredited, certificates to degrees distance learning programs. Their entire educational programming, designed to teach others how to teach others, is brilliantly synergistic.
The 12 year old distance learning program offers beginning, intermediate and advanced basic 'modules' centered around preparing students to work on their own or in a professional integrative practice- in 2-3 years. The tuition is amazingly cheap for the breadth and depth of their programs. (I think that is what is causing distance education programs to grow so fast in the past several years). I was VERY impressed.

I'm going to keep my eyes on them. I found more on their site than I had expected to. I will report more later.