Healing the Natural Way – Natural Healing Herbs and Spices

When it comes to dealing with an illness or disease, how many of us really want to deal with the side effects of most drugs forced upon us by the medical profession. It seems to me that the side effects can be just as complicated or painful as the disease or illness being treated. Listed below are some natural healing herbs and spices and their healing power.

* Curcumin, found in turmeric, is a powerful anti-inflammatory. It basically works the same as COX-2 inhibitor that reduces the COX-2 enzyme responsible for the pain and swelling of arthritis. Curcumin can also shrink colon polyps when taken with a small amount of quercetin. Quercetin is a powerful anti-oxidant that can be found in onions, apples, and cabbage. In addition, according to a study published in the 'Journal of Alzheimer's Disease,' curcumin can also help clear plaques in the brain that are characteristic of the disease. Add the spice to your cooking whenever possible. The recommended dosage is 400 mg of curcumin a day and 20 mg of quercetin three times a day.

* Cinnamon extract not only lowers blood sugar, it also reduced cholesterol by 13% and triglycerides (natural fat in the tissue) by 23% in a recent study. The recommended brand of cinnamon extract is Cinmulin PF found in health food stores. Another suggested use for cinnamon is to add ¼ teaspoon to your coffee grounds before brewing.

* Rosemary extract – HCAs (heterocyclic amines) are potent carcinogens (cancer causing agent or substance) linked to cancer. Cooking beef at high temperatures will help create these HCAs. When rosemary extract is mixed into or marinated into the beef before cooking, the HCA levels are significantly reduced. This is because powerful anti-oxidants called carnosol and rosemarinic acid help destroy the HCAs. A suggestion for use is to marinate your food in spice mixes that include rosemary and one or more of thyme, oregano, basil, garlic, onion, or parsley.

* Ginger is an old cure for nausea. It is a powerful anti-oxidant that blocks off the chemical serotonin produced by both the brain and stomach when your stomach is upset. 500-1000 mg taken every four hours starting 30 minutes before departure will be just as effect against motion sickness as Dramamine. Besides calming our stomach, ginger is also helpful in regulating blood flow. In one study at the University of Miami, it was revealed that ginger contains an anti-inflammatory that reduced the pain of 124 patients experiencing osteoarthritis of the knee.

* Holy basil is effective in reducing stress by increasing adrenaline and noradrenalin and decreasing serotonin. It is suggested that you use holy basil extract from New Chapter or Om Organics found in health food stores.

* St John's Wort has been used for ages to relieve mild to moderate depression and anxiety. It can also help regulate your sleep-wake cycle by increasing the body's own melatonin to improve sleep. The recommended dosage is 300 mg three times a day.

* Aged garlic extract supplements decreased the size and number of colon polyps in a yearlong study with individuals who had a history of colon polyps. Studies have also shown that the allicin in garlic helps decrease blood pressure by as much as 30 points. The recommended brand of garlic extract is 1000 mg of Kyolic aged garlic each day.