Archive | June, 2007

Libido Foods and Herbs


There is an increasing tendency in men to seek easy methods for achieving and maintaining erection and in women to find remedies that will turn them on. There may be physical, psychological or medical causes for impotence in men and loss of libido in women. The best way to address the problem is to find out the main cause and then solve the problem accordingly.

Of late, people are using drugs like sildenafil citrate (Viagra), verdenafil hydrochloride (Levitra) and tadalafil (Cialis) for the purpose. But these have several possible side effects, like headaches, strokes, cancer and even death. Therefore, there is a need to look elsewhere for alternatives in order to have a great sexual experience. Certain foods and herbs can actually work quite well for improving libido, without causing harmful side effects.

Yohimbe is one of them. It is the bark of a tree found in West Africa. Yohimbe is found to increase blood circulation to the male genitals thereby helping men to achieve erection within an hour. For faster effect, Korean ginseng works well as a stimulant. It has to be used immediately before sex. There are claims that Korean ginseng, if used regularly, increases the levels of the male hormone, testosterone, in addition to increasing the duration of erection and its maintenance.

Foods high in zinc are also said to help alleviate the problem of erectile dysfunction. Oats, oysters, pumpkin seeds, pine nuts and so on, which are rich in zinc, boost libido. If you include ginger and cayenne pepper in your food, you will be able to enjoy a better sexual drive and experience soon after.

In order not to allow any reduction in the beneficial effects of the libido herbs and foods that you take, you have to avoid libido suppressing foods and drinks like fats, carbs, fried foods, fish and chips (which contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils or trans fats). These lower the testosterone levels in your body. In particular, avoiding alcohol is extremely essential, as excessive alcohol consumption is known to destroy sex drive. Eat more vegetables and fruits on a regular basis for a healthy sexual experience.

Libido herbs for women

Menopausal women experience low sex drive because of low hormone levels. They can perhaps try taking soy milk or foods containing soy in limited quantities for improving their libido. As too much of soy interferes with the functioning of the thyroid, it is better to limit its consumption to no more than an ounce a day. Pomegranate is also a libido fruit, the consumption of which poses no problems for women with low sex drive, as it contains oestrone, a form of estrogen. Consumption of fennel also helps, as it contains oestragole, which is like estrogen. A mineral called arginine is supposed to enhance libido in women in the post-menopause stage. Damiana is a wonder herb for increasing the sex drive in post- menopausal women. Magnesium and Vitamin E are two best promoters of libido in women. Therefore, eating avocados, rich in Vitamin E, will certainly help.

One word of caution, however, is that you have to consult a medical or health care professional before consuming any over-the-counter health foods, because your medical condition must permit their use.

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Simple remedies for the common cold


Although there’s no such thing as a cure for the common cold there are some things you can do to help relieve the symptoms associated with it. The symptoms of the common cold are varied but by using herbal remedies and taking a holistic approach you can help your body along.

There are many pre-made herbal remedies available from the drug store or herbal shop or you have the possibility of putting together herbs yourself. Some of the most common ones can be found growing in the wild or you may even have them in your own backyard.

One of the most excellent remedies you can take and which you can make at home once you have gathered together a few ingredients consists of five herbs. Golden seal, Garlic, Chaparral, Echinacea and Chineseastralagus root can all be combined together to make an excellent remedy to ease suffering of many of the symptoms associated with the cold.

Echinacea is known for its powerful anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties and is one of the most common and widely used of herbs today. Golden seal root is known for its properties in being able to dry mucus and Chaparral will relive and soothe the respiratory tract and bronchial tubes. Garlic has excellent anti-bacterial properties along with anti-viral ones and is said to work particularly well with the influenza virus as well as the common cold, while the astralagus root is known for its ability to give the immune system a good boost.

The juice from a lemon is said to be one of the most powerful and easiest home remedies for the common cold, and is most beneficial if there is a fever alongside the cold. Lemon juice is rich in essential Vitamin C and this will ensure that the body’s resistance to germs and viruses is increased. The remedy is simply made by squeezing the juice of one lemon into a glass of hot water and adding a teaspoon of honey as a sweetener.

The next home remedy is just as easy to purchase, Ginger root, if you take roughly ten grams of root and chop it before adding boiled water then allow it stand for a few minutes before sTraining out the root. The infusion can taste a little bitter so if necessary add a little honey or sugar. This infusion can be made up twice a day and drunk while hot.

The spice turmeric is great for colds when they are associated with a sore throat, mix ½ teaspoon of the powder into a glass of warm milk and drink this once or twice daily. If you want to relieve the stuffiness associated with a head cold then place some turmeric powder in a ladle pour a little milk over it and then hold over the burner of a stove, inhaling the steam that comes from the mix. This is an excellent way to ease congestion that allows you to breathe easier.

Peppermint, pine or eucalyptus oil is also great inhaled to relieve the stuffiness in the head and ease the chest.

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Revive your body with a lemon detox diet


One of the latest crazes and fads in the keep yourself fit and healthy world is the lemon detox diet, but is it nothing more than just another fad or is there any credence to show tat the diet is in fact useful and does work when it comes to detoxifying the body and losing weight?

The whole idea behind the lemon detox diet is that when you eat anything that is sour, then the body reacts by the liver and gall bladder getting rid of their stored toxins. This is associated with Weight Loss and dieting because the liver is extremely important when it comes to keeping fit and healthy and losing weight.

It is important to get rid of the toxins that the liver stores because if not then while it is holding onto the toxins it isn’t doing its most important task that is metabolizing the fat that we eat in our diet.

The lemon detox diet is one of the easiest or hardest to follow of diets depending how you look at it, and relies on little more than squeezing the juice from fresh lemon first thing in the morning into a cup of hot water and drinking it. It is important that this procedure is carried out first thing in the morning as this is the time when our bodies are in what is generally termed the cleansing phase. On top of this once you have had your morning detox to get your system boosted and flowing, you then use a slice of lemon or the juice from one throughout the day. Water plays an essential part in the lemon detox diet and it is essential that you drink at least 64 ounces throughout the day, everyday.

Lemon is also a great source of Vitamin C something that is absolutely essential for good skin.

While many that swear by the lemon detox diet and there does seem to have been some good results when this is followed to the T, relying on this as the sole method of cleansing the body does leave something to be desired. You will without a doubt feel the benefits from using this alone but when accompanied by a good healthy diet during the rest of the time, which includes lots of fresh vegetables and fruit it can work wonders. Try to stick to organic fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Keep any unwanted toxins out of your body for the duration of the lemon detox diet to ensure that your liver has the best chance it can get to cleanse and rejuvenate.

How long you will have to remain with the lemon detox diet in order to feel the full effects from it will vary form person to person and the state of your health before starting on it. Ideally you should stick with it for at least 7 to 10 days especially if this is the first time you have tried such a diet, however if you find this too strict, you must keep at it for a few days at the very least. Like any form of diet you cannot expect miracles from this diet but it can work given time and if you can stick with it. The hardest part to the diet is giving up junk foods and eating only whole grains, fruits and vegetables, however it does get easier and you have the satisfaction of knowing that by the end of the diet your body will be totally cleansed and refreshed.

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Natural remedies in your garden


For many years people have believed strongly in homeopathic medicine and the value herbs have for medicinal purposes. Not only herbs but also leaves, flowers, seeds and bark from plants can give valuable properties for treating and relieving a vast amount of illnesses and their symptoms.

However, to get the most out of the herbs and plant matter it is essential that they are prepared in the correct manner. The usual methods by which herbs are taken are by infusion, infusions are relatively simple to achieve, simply take 1 cup of water and 1 to 2 teaspoons of the dried herb. Leave this to stand for no longer than 10 minutes, you can leave it longer but it is not advisable due to the brew tasting bitter if left too long.

An infusion can be drunk hot or cold and the usual dosage is one cup taken three times a day, perhaps the only exception to this is if you are taking a remedy for such as the cold or a fever. If this is the case then the infusion should always be drunk hot.

In today’s world a lot of people fall prey to stress and anxiety, the leaves of the lemon balm can be taken in an infusion as can chamomile. Essential oil taken from lavender can also be used as a compress or to bathe in.

If you suffer from asthma then there is a way to relieve the tight chest feeling associated with it, simply take some sage or thyme leaves from the herbs in your garden and place them in hot water and inhale the steam.

To ease the symptoms associated with the common cold there are several useful plants and herbs that can help. Peppermint, catnip and yarrow leaves can all be used as infusions and thyme leaves can be used for steam inhalation.

For those people who have trouble sleeping, then an infusion of lemon balm, chamomile, hops or passionflower taken at night can help greatly.

We all get sprains and strains at some time and these can be relieved be using Comfrey or Thyme in oil infusions or as compresses which are applied to the area and left for a half hour or so.

Garden pansies, Sage and agrimony can all be made into infusions and gargled throughout the day to ease the symptoms of a sore throat.

For those who suffer from warts apply the fresh juice of a dandelion several times a day to the wart, the fresh juice from the greater celandine will also have the same affect.
If you have a wound then a cream can be made from Calendula, chickweed, Comfrey or elder and this can then be applied throughout the day several times to ease the pain and swelling from the wound and also to help it heal quicker.

If you stay out in the sun too long and suffer from sunburn then apply the juice from the aloe, calendula and St John’s wort can also be used to the same effect when turned into oil and mixed with eucalyptus.

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Natural appetite suppressants


We all know how hard it can be to Lose Weight; the majority of people will try anything and pay virtually anything for that wonder cure to losing weight. There have been many products available to those who want to suppress their appetite and some have been nothing more than scams promising ways of losing weight overnight while you sleep along with those which claim to help you lose pounds per week. Then there have been some that actually do help when it comes to suppressing the appetite and does so successfully while having very few or no side effects.

However, for those who wish to go totally naturally and not want to take herbal remedies of any kind then there are other ways that you are able to suppress your appetite. There are certain foods which could be called “appetite control foods”, these foods will help to give you the feeling that you are full and so you eat less, this is just what the many herbal remedies that work does.

These appetite control foods will simply trick the body into thinking that you have eaten lots of calories in a huge meal containing lots of calories when in fact you will have a full stomach but will have eaten hardly any calories. In the majority of cases this is considered to be a better way of fooling your body as you are actually eating but you are eating healthily and have that full and satisfied feeling that can be lost with herbal appetite suppressants.

Plain and simple: Water

The first totally natural appetite suppressant that is readily available to anyone is water. Normal tap water will work just as well as bottled spring or mineral water. If when you first start to get hunger pangs you should drink a full 8oz glass of water, wait for around 10 minutes before being tempted to eat anything and you will find that you don’t feel as hungry or that you will need to eat less. Water is one of the most powerful and natural of all appetite suppressants available and best of all its free.

Leafy greens

The next best appetite suppressant is eating lots of vegetables, green veg works best, such as lettuce or cabbage. Green leafy vegetables will make you feel while providing you with very few calories.

Pickles

Finally pickles can work as a great work of making you feel full without filling your body with unwanted calories; the pickles should be of the natural variety and contain no artificial colors or preservatives. It is essential that they are natural pickles as many of the jars containing pickles also contain a great deal of sugar. So always remember to read the labels, as they should be clearly labeled with any additives and the sugar content.

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How to stay healthy on a vegetarian diet


There is one major problem if you are vegetarian or are thinking of going on a vegetarian diet and that is the lack of protein that will be in your diet. Some of the most common foods that contain adequate protein sources cannot be included in the vegetarian diet and as such need to be got from other sources.

However, vegetarians can get enough protein with just a little effort.  One of the easiest ways to get it is by combining two or more incomplete plant proteins. Soy protein can be used to boost the amount of protein, calcium and iron in almost any dish, the beauty of soy is that it will take on the flavor of anything that you choose to use to marinate it or cook with it.

Here are some of the ideas that can be used to good effect when it comes to soy, soy milk is an excellent form and will give you roughly 10 grams of protein, this can be used on your cereals in the morning or you can just drink it. Soy milk can now also be found in different flavors and is also available in a low fat version.

Isolated soy protein is a powdery substance that is almost 90% protein; it is made from de-saturated soy flour and can be used in a wide variety of ways to ensure that the veggie gets enough protein in their daily diet. As a very rough guide around 4 tablespoons of soy protein will give you 23 grams of much needed protein.

Once you have the protein in your diet figured out then there are a few other things that the vegan has to watch out for, these include calcium, Vitamin B12 and Zinc.

For those who consume lactose, dairy products are brimming over with calcium.  For the others then you can make sure that enough calcium is included in your diet by eating foods such as broccoli, beans, turnip, calcified orange juice and almonds.

If you are a very strict vegetarian then making sure you get enough Vitamin B12 in your diet can be a major problem. The reason for this is that most B12 is found in products relating to animals, however foods that are particularly high in Vitamin B12 include cereals and bread.

Zinc is an important mineral that should be included in all diets on a daily basis; vegetarians have a little trouble maintaining the amount of zinc in their diet. Zinc can be found in whole grain foods, tofu, nuts, seeds and wheat germ products but there is one big problem with this, zinc that comes from plant rather than animal is absorbed less into the body therefore more needs to be taken in.

Even with the struggle to get these certain foods into the diet the vegetarian diet is still a health way of living and doesn’t affect people in general. In fact some of the best sports personalities are vegetarian.

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How to choose a herbalist


Chinese and in particular herbal medicine, has been around for thousands of years, herbal medicine is said to be able to relieve a vast amount of symptoms when taken in the correct dosages and amounts. Herbal medicine can be bought through a wide range of places including drug stores, super markets and herbal stores, there is also a specialist in herbal remedies and this is called an herbalist. The herbalist is a trained professional in herbal remedies and diagnosing illnesses and problems and is the most effective way of using herbal medicine.

There is so much more to herbal medicine than just taking the herbs, although there are many ready-made medicines available. The Chinese herbalist uses various skills in order to make a diagnosis and so can suggest the treatment most suitable for the condition. The herbalist does this in many different ways; here are some tips on choosing a herbalist.

A well-trained herbalist will always insist of looking at and inspecting the tongue of the patient. The tongue can give many clues as to the condition of the person and this is usually where the herbalist will start. The persons pulse will also play an important role in the diagnosis; the herbalist will feel the pulse in both wrists before making a diagnosis. Pulse palpitation and assessment of the tongue are the two main procedures that the competent herbalist will always follow and this procedure has evolved over thousands of years.

Most herbalists choose to use dried herbs as their choice, mainly due to the fact that greater control over the herbs can be given, such as the freshness of the herbs and the quality of them.

The next thing the herbalist should ask during the examination is about the lifestyle of the patient, the person is treated on the whole in Chinese medicine and the person’s diet, environment, work and social habits should all be taken into account during the examination. The simple fact is that around 80% of the illnesses in Americans are thought to be caused by environmental factors or because of poor diet. As a result of this these factors are taken into account as very often the cure is as simple as changing the diet.

Certification often comes behind the experience of the herbalist as there is nothing to match experience, although many herbalists do have Training in the medical field such as a physician or nurse. What you pay for treatment and diagnosis with an herbalist will often reflect on the experience and any qualifications that the herbalist holds. Depending on the type of the problem also depends on how much the herbalist will cost, if you have a chronic illness that needs many visits to the herbalist then of course treatment will be given over time, the average cost is around $200 to $300 per month. Despite the monthly bill, Chinese herbal medicine is still the cheapest and many believe the most effective form of medicine available when compared to Western traditional medicine.

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How Hoodia changes your metabolism


One of the latest crazes in the diet pills is Hoodia, some say it is the miracle pill that can help you to achieve Weight Loss the easy way, while others have slammed as it as nothing more than a fad that simply does not work and costs an arm and a leg. So the question on everyone’s minds is - does Hoodia work or not and if so how does it work?

Hoodia is derived from a cactus that specifically grows in the Kalahari dessert in South Africa and it has for centuries being used by tribesman who break off parts of the plant and would eat it and then store some away for taking with them when they went out on hunting trips. The whole idea behind it was that Hoodia required very little room but was said to fill you up and keep you going, giving you plenty of energy, which the tribesman needed on their trek.

Today people use the same plant known as Hoodia Gordonii to achieve the same effect in their lives, make one feel full and not need to eat as much while remaining alert and healthy.

One of the biggest pluses when taking Hoodia as part of a diet in order to Lose Weight is that it speeds up the metabolism, the faster the metabolism, the more energy you burn and the more calories are burnt off. Losing calories is an essential part of any diet and is the mainstay of all diets. Without burning off the calories you eat it is impossible to Lose Weight.

Hoodia is a natural appetite suppressant, which means that while you eat very little your body is actually tricked in into thinking you are full. If your mind thinks you are full then you don’t feel the need to eat therefore you Lose Weight. Therefore, Hoodia is no different from many time honored traditions and the basis of all diets, the premise that you burn off calories faster while taking fewer in.

Being an appetite suppressant means that Hoodia can also ward off those cravings that are normally associated with all diets, you won’t feel hungry so therefore the cravings will just simply cease to exist. While Hoodia can help as part of a diet plan of course if you don’t change your lifestyle and the type of foods you do eat then you will put weight on if you are eating the wrong type of foods. Therefore a change in your daily diet is advisable, changing to a healthier way of eating while taking Hoodia is the most sensible course of action.

If you are thinking of taking Hoodia to Lose Weight then be sure that the product you are buying is 100% Hoodia as there are many cheaper imitations on the web which include a small amount of Hoodia along with other herbal appetite suppressants. Of course if you are using a product such as this then you cannot expect the results that expected with 100% Hoodia products. Products that are 100% Hoodia are typically quite expensive so don’t settle for cheap imitations.

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Easy yoga stretches you should do daily


While we all think of yoga as being curled or stretched into unimaginable positions, yoga is a form of exercise that you can do everyday and only take a few minutes to perform. It will keep your joints supple and your mind calmer and more active, the exercise don’t need any special Training and can be performed by anyone. Here are a few very easy yoga stretches that you should make a part of your daily life.

The first quick and easy exercise that you can do and which only take a few minutes to perform and which stretches the whole body and joints are to stand and raise your hands above your head. Gently lock your fingers together above your head and lean slowly to the right, then come back up to the middle position and move over to the left. Try to keep your breathing slow and relaxed breathing in through your nose and slowly out through your mouth.

The second exercise that is just as beneficial and is an excellent way to relive tension is to stand and slowly exhale letting all tension leaves your body. Then as you breathe in slowly lift your shoulders up towards your ears and as you reach this point let your breathe leave your body, repeat this exercise four of five times.

This exercise can be done either stood up or sat down, however make sure that your feet are firmly planted on the ground and slowly breathe in as you raise your arms up and out to the side with the palms of your hands facing down. As you let out your breath rotate the palms up and has you do roll your shoulders back. When you exhale bring the arms back into the body and bend the elbows in to the waist. This exercise is an excellent way to open up the chest in those who suffer from respiratory problems.

Stand up and lace your fingers behind your back, begin to stretch the shoulder and raise the arms slightly behind your back, stretching the shoulders and opening the chest.
Make sure you are standing by a wall and place one hand on the wall with your arms outstretched, as you exhale begin turning your head to look to the side and repeat this exercise around 10 times.

Stand by a desk and gently place your hands on top of the desk while standing up straight, make sure the fingers are facing towards the body. Gently lean forward and stretch the lower wrist and fingers.

Begin this exercise by lifting one arm into the air, as you exhale drop the arm behind the shoulder and as you do bring your other arm and hand and place the hand on the elbow of the arm that’s behind your back. Repeat this exercise four or five times and then repeat with the other arm.

This is an excellent exercise if you have a chair with castors, sit on the chair at your desk and place your hands on the top of the desk, gently push the chair back keeping the hands on the desk and exhale as you push back.

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Does hoodia have side effects?


The benefits of using Hoodia in order to Lose Weight have gained more interest over the last few years. When compared to some of the health foods and dietary supplements currently being sold in drugstores, Hoodia is generally more accepted and said to have more health benefits. The biggest plus that people turn to Hoodia pills for is their ability to decrease your appetite, which means that you don’t eat as much or even want to eat as much. This decrease in caloric intake thus leads to losing weight.

However, Hoodia claims to be different from the usual appetite suppressants in that they will keep you healthy and give you plenty of energy at the same time. Most people who use appetites suppressants report to have a severe loss in energy. If the hoodia is pure then there are no harmful side effects because Hoodia contains no harmful stimulates like many manufactured appetite suppressants.

Hoodia has been used in Africa for many years and is considered to be a food there, there are no real adverse effects to taking hoodia in its pure form, it is only when mixed with other substances that there could be problems.

One of the biggest problems is where you purchase the hoodia from, there are many websites offering hoodia to buy cheaply online. However pure hoodia is expensive so you should be very wary of anyone who is offering hoodia cheaply as in the majority of cases the product contains very little hoodia or it contains a type of Hoodia that does not help suppress appetite.

While Hoodia has undergone some research it hasn’t been inclusive, however very few herbal remedies are tested and so whether they actually work or not is often debated. Hoodia seems to fall into the same category although some tests have said that there are no real bad side effects from taking it. In some cases, people have reported that it acts as an aphrodisiac and may even some people a slight buzz.

Hoodia is a relatively new product that is used for suppressing the appetite and thirst. However, there are around 30 different types of hoodia and only Hoodia Gordonii will suppress the appetite. While hoodia is regarded as a safe way of suppressing the appetite and thousands have claimed that it is effective if you are considering taking any form of alternative herbal remedy then you should always consult your doctor.

You should also be aware that some products that are sold which claim to be hoodia, do in fact have very little of the product in it. You should always check to make sure that the product is 100% hoodia; pure hoodia is expensive so besides not wanting to take the additives that are in some of the products, you will also be paying more than you should.

If you wish to purchase hoodia then make sure you buy from a reputable herbal supplement store or an online store that deals solely in hoodia supplements. All products should have clear labeling which allows you to tell if you are indeed purchasing hoodia in its pure form or if hoodia is just one of several products in the product.

For the best prices on 100% pure Hoodia please click here…

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