The Complete Herbal Guide: A Natural Approach to Healing the Body - Heal Your Body Naturally and Maintain Optimal Health Using Alternative Medicine, Herbals, Vitamins, Fruits and Vegetables (21 page)

To boost your intake of vitamin C, eat foods rich in vitamin C, such as grapefruit, oranges, kiwi fruit, mango, papaya, strawberry, red pepper, broccoli, brussels sprouts, and cantaloupe. Vitamin C can also be taken in supplement form. Avoid chewable vitamin C, because the acidity may promote the erosion of tooth enamel over time.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D has been found to have anti-inflammatory effects and may reduce susceptibility to gum disease. A study by the Boston University evaluated the association between vitamin D status and gingivitis. They analyzed data from 77,503 teeth in 6700 people in the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and found that people with higher blood levels of vitamin D were less likely to experience bleeding gums during gingival probing.

Sun exposure is one of the most important sources of vitamin D, because UV rays from the sun trigger the synthesis of vitamin D in skin. The National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements suggests 10 to 15 minutes of sun exposure twice a week, however the further away from the equator you live, the more polluted your city, and the more cloud cover there is, the less likely that this sun exposure will be sufficient. Look for at least 200 IU in a multivitamin.

Stress reduction

Stress contributes to gum disease by increasing plaque accumulation. A University of Dusseldorf study examined how exam stress would impact plaque and gum bleeding. All students had a professional tooth cleaning 4 weeks prior to exams and then 4 weeks after exams. They found that students had significantly higher rates of plaque and gingivitis after exams compared to a control group of students that did not write exams.

Coenzyme Q10

There is some evidence has linking gum disease to lower levels of coenzyme q10, an antioxidant made naturally in the body, found widely in foods, and available in supplement form. Some researchers say that coenzyme q10 is needed to properly repair gum tissue. A study by Osaka University in Japan found improvement in infection and inflammation after 3 weeks of taking topical coenzyme q10 toothpaste. You can look find toothpaste containing coenzyme q10 at natural grocers, health food stores, and online.

Tea tree oil

Tea tree oil has proven antibiotic properties. A topically applied tea tree oil gel was evaluated in a double-blind placebo-controlled study involving 49 people with severe chronic gingivitis. They were told to brush twice a day and were assessed after 4 and 8 weeks. The group that brushed with tea tree oil had a significant reduction in the degree of gingivitis and bleeding. However, tea tree oil gel did not reduce the amount of plaque. Use only commercial tea tree toothpaste, not tea tree oil.

Cranberries

Cranberries may help gum disease by preventing bacteria from sticking to teeth. Look for cranberry juice with no added sugar at the health food store. A typical amount is 4 ounces a day. Consult your doctor if you are taking the blood thinner warfarin or have kidney stones. Consider an oscillating rotating electric toothbrush

A Dutch study reviewed randomized controlled trials and found that the use of electric toothbrushes with oscillating, rotating heads for 3 months reduced gingivitis compared to manual brushing with a regular toothbrush. There was also some reduction in plaque, although it was not statistically significant. Another study found that the Oral-B Professional Care 7000, which has an oscillating, rotating head, was more effective at reducing plaque and bleeding of gingivitis compared with another electric toothbrush.

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Hemorrhoids are normally present blood vessels in and around the anus that become swollen and inflamed. Over three-quarters of people in the United States have hemorrhoids at some time in their lives. The peak age is between 45 to 65 years.

What is the Cause of Hemorrhoids?

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Constipation
- One of the top causes of hemorrhoids is constipation. Straining puts greater pressure on these veins.

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Pregnancy
– Hemorrhoids are a common, usually temporary problem among pregnant women caused by hormonal changes and increased pressure by the growing fetus, which forces the veins to work harder to pump blood.

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Chronic Venous Insufficiency
– Hemorrhoids can be a sign of general weakness in the veins. Contributing factors are standing or sitting for long periods, being overweight, not exercising enough, and smoking.

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Inflammatory bowel disease
– Ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease may be the underlying cause of hemorrhoids.

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Portal hypertension
- Increased pressure within the portal vein blood from the intestines to the liver. Liver cirrhosis (scarring) is the most common cause.

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Aging
- Starting in the thirties, there is a progressive weakening of the support structures in the area.

Symptoms

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Internal hemorrhoids (ones that are inside the anal cavity) usually cause painless bleeding at the end of a bowel movement. Blood can be a sign of a serious problem so it is important to be evaluated by a health professional.

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A sensation of fullness, usually described as feeling the urge to have a bowel movement even when there is no stool. Straining worsens the discomfort.

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Acute pain, itching, and irritation around the anus. This often occurs when the hemorrhoid has prolapsed and can be seen outside the anus or it can be caused when a blood clot develops or the hemorrhoid becomes twisted. There may be a painful lump or swelling around the anus. These can be serious and need evaluation.

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External hemorrhoids (outside the anus) can often be felt as a bulge in the anus. Although they can be itchy and painful, they sometimes do not cause typical symptoms.

Hemorrhoids Are Often Confused With Anal Fissures
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When people see spots of blood on the toilet paper and have pain with bowel movements, they often immediately think its hemorrhoids when the problem may really be a small but painful tear called an anal fissure.

Anal fissures are often caused by constipation. If stools are dry and hard, the anal sphincter is forced open wider than normal, resulting in a tear, or anal fissure. There are often some spots of bright red blood on the toilet paper. Anal fissures also cause a sharp, stinging, often severe pain with the passage of each bowel movement (whereas hemorrhoids often cause bleeding but no pain).

Herbal Remedies

Fiber

One of the most common causes of hemorrhoids is inadequate fiber intake. Fiber shows a consistent beneficial effect for relieving hemorrhoid symptoms and bleeding. Seven randomized trials with a total of 378 participants have found fiber improved symptoms including itching, discomfort, and pain.

Start by eating foods high in fiber, such as whole grains and vegetables. Psyllium is another option, one that is inexpensive and readily available. A typical dose of psyllium is 1 teaspoon of the husks in water followed by another glass of water.
My favorite is ground flaxseeds, which I mix with brown rice or sprinkle on salads. To me this tastes much better than psyllium. Whatever the source of fiber, it is important to drink sufficient water or constipation may worsen.

Bioflavonoids

Bioflavonoids are a type of plant compound that stabilizes and strengthens blood vessel walls and decreases inflammation. They have been found to reduce anal discomfort, pain, and anal discharge during an acute hemorrhoid attack. Side effects of bioflavonoids appear to be mild and rare, making them a promising treatment for hemorrhoids in pregnancy (the flavonoid tangeretin however, should not be used by people taking tamoxifen for breast cancer).

The major flavonoids found in citrus fruits, diosmin, herperidin, and oxerutins, appear to be beneficial. Daflon, a product made with citrus bioflavonoids was found to improve symptoms in pregnant women by day four of taking it and to reduce symptoms of pain, heaviness, bleeding, itching and discharge.

Witch hazel compress or cream

This drug store staple is made from the leaves and bark of a plant called
Hamamelis virginiana. It should not be taken internally but instead is applied topically to the anal area in the form of witch hazel distilled liquid, ointment, or medicated pads.

Witch hazel decreases the bleeding of hemorrhoids by acting as an astringent. It also relieves pain, itching and swelling associated with hemorrhoids.

Butchers Broom

This plant
Ruscus aculeatus, which is also known as knee holly, box holly, and sweet broom, gets its name because it was once used by butchers in Europe to clean their chopping blocks. Butchers broom has a long history of traditional use for hemorrhoids and varicose veins. It is often used when there is underlying poor circulation in the veins.

How does a butcher broom work?

Butchers broom extract has anti-inflammatory and vein-constricting properties believed to improve the tone and integrity of veins and shrink the swollen tissue. The active compound is called ruscogen.

Dosages:

Butchers broom is usually recommended in capsule or tea form. The tea has a slightly bitter taste, so a bit of stevia or honey can be used to sweeten it. The tea can be made by steeping 1 teaspoon of the herb in a cup of hot water for 10 to 15 minutes. Butchers broom has also been shown to be effective when applied topically as an ointment or compress.

Precautions:

Butchers broom should not be used by people with high blood pressure, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), by pregnant or nursing women, or by people taking alpha blocker or MAO inhibitor drugs unless otherwise recommended by their doctor.

Horse chestnut

Description

Horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum), like Butchers broom, is often recommended when there is poor circulation in the veins, or chronic venous insufficiency. It relieves symptoms such as swelling and inflammation and also strengthens blood vessel walls. The active compound is believed to be aescin.

Dosages

Horse chestnut can be taken as a tea or in capsule form. It can also be applied externally as a compress.

Precautions

People with an allergy to the horse chestnut family, bleeding disorders, or people taking blood thinners should not take horse chestnut. Only products made from the seeds or bark of the young branches should be used. Other parts of the plant are poisonous. Although uncommon, side effects have included kidney damage, severe bleeding, bruising, and liver damage.

Other Herbs

Triphala

Description

It is an Ayurvedic compound composed of three fruits. It is well known as a bowel tonic that gently relieves constipation without being a harsh stimulant.

Topical application of chamomile or calendula. Can be applied as a compress or an ointment.
The three basics that can greatly reduce hemorrhoids symptoms are:

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Adequate Water Intake (A Minimum Of 6 Glasses A Day)

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Adequate Fiber In The Diet

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Exercise

Getting Diagnosed

A thorough evaluation and proper diagnosis by the doctor is important any time bleeding from the rectum or blood in the stool occurs. Bleeding may also be a symptom of other digestive diseases, including colorectal cancer.

Conventional treatment options include cutting off circulation to the hemorrhoid (ligation), shrinking the hemorrhoid chemically (sclerotherapy), burning hemorrhoid tissue with a special device (infrared coagulation), and surgery (hemorrhoidectomy).

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What is a seasonal allergy?

The definition of a seasonal allergy is an immune system reaction to a natural substance in the environment that occurs during a particular time of the year. The allergen, which triggers the allergy, "is released at a time point that's associated with the growth of a plant.

Symptoms:

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Itchy eyes

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Runny nose

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Sneezing

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Coughing

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Scratchy throat

The difference between a seasonal allergy and other allergies