4 Powerful Antiviral Herbs and How To use Them

The virus is a different creature than the bacteria. Some people find viruses “scarier” because antibiotics have no effect on them. The interesting (and good) thing is that certain herbs do have antiviral action, and many of these are widely available. Here are some of them.

1. Lemon Balm

In Germany, the antiviral effects of lemon balm are well-documented, and creams made from the herb are prescribed for herpes outbreaks and cold sores. Lemon balm is very easy to grow in your garden – a little too easy, in fact, as it tends to take over if not contained.

Lemon balm makes a very good tea, and can be drunk to combat all sorts of viral infections, such as colds and flu. The tea or a cream can be applied to cold sores or other viral lesions, such as shingles or chickenpox.

2. Astragalus

This lesser-known immune enhancing herb is known as huang qi in Chinese medicine. The root is sweet, not unlike licorice, to which it is related. It has been shown to be a very effective antiviral herb, particularly in the prevention of colds and flu, and may even be effective against the Coxsackie B virus (this virus can cause an inflammation of the heart).

You can simmer slices of the root in water to make a healing decoction, or you can use the commercially-available tincture. It is generally agreed that astragalus should be taken as a preventative rather than once the illness is in full swing, so if you think you’ve been exposed, or you experience the very first twinges of illness, you can start taking astragalus.

3. Garlic

No discussion of antiviral herbs would be complete without mentioning garlic, an herb that is antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal. It’s not expensive, and you can use the whole herb or take capsules. However, many experts agree that “deodorized” garlic may not be as effective as the unaltered herb.

You can simmer minced garlic in chicken broth and sip it to stave off colds and flu. Raw, minced garlic can be sprinkled over salads and tossed with pasta. Be careful with consuming too much of it raw, though, as it can cause severe nausea when taken in this form.

4. Ginger

Long ago, ginger was considered a “warming” herb that would prevent nausea from a “chilled stomach,” which was said to occur when large amounts of cold water were consumed in hot weather. We now know that ginger has powerful anti-nausea action, and it is also anti-viral.

Teas made from fresh ginger are palatable and spicy. You can sweeten them with raw honey for added germ-fighting benefits and flavor. When you feel the very first stages of a cold or flu, try drinking some of this tea several times a day. You can even drink it as a preventative if you think you may have been exposed to any viruses. Ginger is considered quite safe, although it is not recommended for pregnant women.

Article Source: Nature Hacks

New Research: Ginger Selectively Kills Breast Cancer Cells

New research published in the Journal of Biomedicine and Biotechnology found that “ginger may be a promising candidate for the treatment of breast carcinomas.”[i]  This is a timely finding, in so far as breast cancer awareness month is only days away, and one of the primary fund-raising justifications is the false concept that a low-cost, safe and effective breast cancer treatment is not yet available. Could ginger provide the type of cure that conventional, FDA-approved treatments have yet to accomplish?

The new study was performed by researchers at the Biological Sciences Department, Faculty of Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Saudi Arabia, who discovered that a crude extract derived from the medicinal plant ginger (Zingiber officinale) inhibited the proliferation of breast cancer cells, without significantly affecting the viability of non-tumor breast cells — a highly promising property known asselective cytotoxicity, not found in conventional treatments.

The researchers outline the serious problems with present breast cancer therapies thusly:

Despite significant advances toward targeted therapy and screening techniques, breast cancer continues to be a chronic medical problem worldwide, being the most common type of cancer in women and the leading cause of death [1]. Typically, the treatment of breast cancer involves hormonal therapy with tamoxifen or other selective estrogen receptor (ER) modulators [2–4]. However, almost all patients with metastatic disease and approximately 40% of patients that receive tamoxifen experience relapse that ends by death [5]. In addition, the clinical utility of ER antagonists is often limited by side effects [2, 3, 6] and is largely ineffective against ER-negative breast cancer [2, 3]. Furthermore, despite the fact that many tumors initially respond to chemotherapy, breast cancer cells can subsequently survive and gain resistance to the treatment [7]. Thus, identification of novel agents that are relatively safe but can suppress growth of both ER-positive and ER-negative human breast cancers is highly desirable.

They described their interest in investigating crude extracts of ginger in the following manner:

Despite knowledge about the potent anticancer activity of the ginger, the molecular mechanisms underlying this activity are not currently well known in breast cancer. Based on the previously mentioned reported scientific data and considering the fact that in some cases herbal extracts are showing more potency than the purified components [21, 22], the present study was undertaken to investigate the impacts of crude extracts of ginger on growth of breast cancer cell lines.

They discovered that ginger was capable of positively modulating a surprisingly wide range of molecular mechanisms simultaneously, such as:

• Induction of apoptosis (programmed cell death)
• Upregulation of Bax (a pro-apoptosis gene)
• Downregulation of Bcl-2 proteins (cancer-associated)
• Downregulation of prosurvival genes NF-κB, Bcl-X, Mcl-1, and Survivin
• Downregulation of cell cycle-regulating proteins, including cyclin D1 and cyclin-dependent kinase-4 (CDK-4). (cancer-associated)
• Increased expression of CDK inhibitor, p21 (anti-cancer associated)
• Inhibition of c-Myc, hTERT (cancer-associated)

This is not the first study to confirm ginger’s anti-breast cancer properties.[ii]  In fact, a ginger compound known as [6]-Gingerol has recently been shown to have anti-metastatic properties in breast cancer. [iii]  Nor is ginger’s anti-cancer activity limited to breast cancer. Ginger and its constituents have been studied to inhibit the following cancers:

• Colon and Rectal Cancer[iv]
• Liver Cancer [v] [vi] [vii]
• Lung Cancer [viii] [ix]
• Melanoma [x]
• Pancreatic Cancer [xi] [xii]
• Prostate Cancer [xiii] [xiv] [xv]
• Skin Cancer [xvi]

Ginger is an archetypal example of a food-medicine – that is, something we ingest that both nourishes us, and helps alleviate pain and suffering. Today, it is consumed as a delicacy, spice and medicine by hundreds of cultures throughout the world.  Modern science now confirms that ginger has over 100 distinct health benefits.[xvii] It’s use stretches back thousands of years – something no existing FDA-approved drug can lay claim to – and is believed to have originated in southern China, spreading to the Spice Islands and other regions of Asia, and eventually to West Africa, the Caribbean, finally to India, its largest producer.[xviii]  There is also recent evidence that ginger was traded in Greece, as far back as 3rd century BC.[xix]

Source: Raw For Beauty & HTTP://WWW.GREENMEDINFO.COM/BLOG/RESEARCH-GINGER-SELECTIVELY-KILLS-BREAST-CANCER-CELLS

Juice for Healthy Eyes

What you consume has a major effect on the health of your eyes. Poor eyesight and other eye issues can be restored by giving your body the proper nutrients. Eating a plant based diet that provides crucial vitamins, minerals and carotenoids is one of the main ways of maintaining and restoring eyesight.

This juice helps improve eyesight via the nutrients it delivers. It helps repair broken capillaries in the eye; lowers intra-ocular pressure; supports the liver which in turn helps repair the eye after a days worth of sunlight and other environmental toxins; speeds regeneration of rhodopsin (purple pigment used by rods in the eye); and nourishes the optic nerve. 

It also helps prevent against developing eye diseases like cataracts, myopia, and glaucoma, and helps relieve dry and puffy eyes, blurred vision, night blindness and broken blood vessels. Preventing eye disease and eye problems, is just as important as preventing other diseases in the body. Eating fresh, whole foods with high nutrient, vitamin and mineral content is one of the best ways of achieving this!

Ingredients:

- 8 carrots

- 2 endives 

- 2 inches ginger

- 1/2 fennel bulb & greens (like if you were to cut fennel in half vertically)

- 2 apples of your choice

- 2 lemons

Juice for health & enjoy! Try to aim at drinking this once or twice a day. Remember, patience is a virtue. Your eyes will not repair themselves overnight, nor will they repair if you consume processed foods that hinder the healing of your eyes. Eat fresh, raw, whole foods, and juices (such as this one) that promote healing of the eyes! 

Source : Live Love Fruit

Inflammation is largely caused by the foods we put in our bodies. Consuming highly processed canned, frozen and bagged foods are foreign to the natural flora of our bodies and so the body naturally fights against the products in these foods (as a part of the immune response), leading to high levels of inflammation. Effects of chronic inflammation can range from heart disease to dementia, to cancer and arthritis. Most autoimmune diseases like inflammatory bowel disease are linked to excessive inflammation in the body.

The good news is that you can control the level of inflammation in your body by simply changing the way you eat. Getting regular sleep, eating well, quitting smoking, reducing alcohol intake (or quitting altogether), stressing less and engaging in regular exercise will all help make a difference.

Here is a list of 12 amazing foods that help combat inflammation in the body:

(1) Papaya
Papaya contains the enzymes ‘papain’ and ‘chymopapain’ which help reduce inflammation  in the body (and also improve digestion). Papaya has powerful antioxidants like beta-carotene and vitamins C and E which combat free radicals in the body that trigger inflammation-related diseases.

(2) Avocado
Avocados are polyhydroxylated fatty alcohols (PFAs). PFAs are mostly present in seaweeds and other ocean plants, and are extremely rare in land plants, so this makes the avocado very unusual in this respect. The PFAs and phytosterols in avocados provide our bodies with anti-inflammatory benefits which help fight a variety of diseases. Particularly, avocado’s phytosterols prevent pro-inflammatory prostaglandin E2 synthesis by the connective tissue (and thus reducing inflammation in the joints of individuals experiencing arthritis and gout.

(3) Cranberries
Cranberries contain important anti-inflammatory phytonutrients that protect the cardiovascular system and prevent hardening of the arteries. They also prevent inflammation-associated diseases of the urinary tract (urinary tract infections), stomach (ulcers), and mouth (gingivitis).

(4) Broccoli
Broccoli is an incredible anti-inflammatory food, thanks to it’s abundant sulforaphane compounds which help the body get rid of potentially carcinogenic compounds (a cause of a highly inflamed body) and relieve inflammation and oxidative stress. It is also very high in vitamin C which is another powerful anti-inflammatory agent which cuts the levels of inflammation markers by up to 45%!

(5) Red Cabbage 
If we do not ingest anti-inflammatory foods, our body cannot regulate the inflammation in our body we acquire from stress and the environment, as well as highly processed foods, wheat, and animal products. Anthocyanins found in red cabbage have been researched numerous times and time and time again they have been found to be one of the best anti-inflammatory vegetables out there!

(6) Hemp seeds
Raw hemp seeds contain an ideal ratio of omega’s 3 and 6. Omega-6 fats contain GLA which works in the body as an anti-inflammatory, decreasing inflammation and helping people suffering from things like asthma, arthritis and other body pain associated from exercising or being bruised. This healthy fat also improves the health of our skin and inhibits cancer cell growth.

(7) Blueberries
Inflammation and damage by free radicals have been linked with pretty much every disease we witness today. Many studies have found that blueberries prevent oxidative stress and inflammation. Blueberries help increase natural killer cell activity which help eradicate free radicals and fight disease. As well, they promote the production of anti-inflammatory cytokines in the body which leaves us with lower levels of inflammation and thus reduced chance of falling ill.

(8) Chia seeds
Many arthritis sufferers have reported reduced inflammation associated pain after just a few weeks of taking chia seeds. They contain important omega-3 fatty acids which are converted to prostagladins which have pain relieving and anti-inflammatory effects. Chia seeds are also a great source of antioxidants (they contain more than blueberries!), and antioxidants help keep the body healthy and reduce pain arising from inflammation in the body.

(9) Ginger
Ginger contains potent anti-inflammatory compounds called gingerols which inhibit the production of nitric oxide (which naturally forms potent and very damaging free radicals called peroxynitrites). Ginger has also been found to suppress pro-inflammatory compounds like cytokines produced by synoviocytes, chrondrocytes and leukocytes, and thus making our immune system and joints stronger.

(10) Walnuts
Walnuts contain omega-3 fatty acids, phytonutrients (tannins, phenolic acids and flavonoids), quinones and other anti-inflammatory nutrients. Consuming walnuts has been linked to decreased markers for blood vessel inflammation (reduced C-reactive protein) for those at risk for heart disease. Including walnuts as a part of your diet will ensure you gain these benefits.

(11) Turmeric
Turmeric, if you haven’t already heard, is one of the best anti-inflammatory foods out there! Thanks to the active ingredient, curcumin, this root can inhibit the activity and synthesis of COX-2 and 5-LOX, two important enzymes involved in the inflammatory response. One study found that osteoarthritis patients had significantly reduced pain and increased mobility when taking just 200 mg of curcumin per day (the control group with no curcumin had no significant improvements). Curcumin has also been found to block inflammatory pathways, and thus prevents proteins from triggering pain and swelling.

(12) Celery
A specific nutrient in celery, called “luteolin”, is particularly effective against inflammation and cancer. This compound is found in smaller amounts in peppers, parsley, thyme, basil and peppermint. It is a biofalvonoid which means that it has double the antioxidant properties of vitamin C! Luteolin essentially prevents the inflammatory pathway in the brain to get switched on, and thus helps reduce the amount of inflammatory responses triggered in the body.

Source: Live Love Fruit

Natural Pain Relief

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When a plant shows a certain effect with regards to human health, the first thing western medicine does is isolate, synthesize and make a pharmaceutical out of the “active molecule” in the plant. The rest of the plant is normally not considered of any use because it is cheaper for research to study one single compound instead of the multiple complex interactions happening between the whole plant and the human body. Isolating and synthesizing one molecule in a plant (instead of the entire array of plant molecules that benefit us in the first place) allows drug companies to patent that molecule and call it their own. Making slight chemical modifications opens these companies to an array of further patenting potential (and thus, more money).

Little do people know is that the entire plant itself is much cheaper, and easier to gain access to. The whole plant is also much more beneficial to the human body, putting the isolated compounds synthesized by drug companies to shame.

I will, and always have believed that the whole plant itself is much better than pharmaceutical drugs. Consuming the entire plant allows your body to synthesize all that plant has to offer – the enzymes, minerals and vitamins, creating a whole body health benefit. Synthesized plant compounds take on a form that is not as recognizable to the human body – the benefits are not whole, and have little to no effect on our health compared to if we actually ate from the source plant itself. The compounds in the whole plant work synergistically with the body – human beings and plants have evolved side-by-side for millions of years, and so it only makes sense that our bodies would have adapted to absorb these health-activating compounds from plants and dispose of the rest.

Here is a list (not limited to) of 8 natural painkillers that can be found in your kitchen:

1. Ginger - Joint & Muscle Pain
Gingerols (active compounds in ginger) prevent the production of pain-triggering hormones. Add at least 1 tbsp. fresh, raw dried ginger (powder form), or 2-4 inches of fresh ginger into your meals daily (juicing ginger with other greens is a great way to reap these health benefits!)

2. Garlic - Painful earaches
Ear infections are one of the most prevalent medical complains in North America. Placing two drops of warm garlic oil into you or your child’s achy ear daily for five days. This treatment clears up infections faster than prescription medications! Making your own garlic oil is simple. Crush 3-4 cloves of garlic and put into a shallow pot on the stove. Let the cloves simmer in 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil (or hemp oil) for two minutes, strain, and refrigerate for two weeks. Alternatively, simply let the garlic cloves sit in the oil for 2-3 days in the fridge and strain out the cloves whenever you need to use the garlic oil.

3. Honey - Mouth sores (i.e., canker sores or cold sores)
Unpasturized, raw honey works wonders for mouth sores. Dabbing a little bit of honey on your cold sore or canker sore four times daily helps them heal up to 43% faster than over-the-counter prescription creams. The enzymes in raw honey reduce inflammation and destroy bacteria and viruses. It also helps speed the healing of damaged tissues.

4. Horseradish - Sinus problems
Many individuals suffer from congestion and facial pain. Horseradish naturally speeds up blood flow to the sinus cavities and helps heal sinus infections by opening up and draining the cavities. Horseradish works just as well, if not better than, decongestant sprays do, and without the addictive side effects of decongestants (these also leave you congested more than decongested in the long run – I remember using them as a teen and I was consistently congested). Take one teaspoon twice daily symptoms clear.

5. Turmeric - Chronic pain & inflammation
Turmeric is a wonder food. It contains a compound called curcumin which naturally shuts down cyclooxygenase 2, an enzyme that activates an array of pain-inducing hormones. It is three times more effective at easing pain and inflammation than aspirin, ibuprofen or naproxen. It has also helped relieve chronic pain for over 50% of people suffering with arthritis and fibromyalgia. I would suggest juicing 3-4 inches of turmeric root, or consuming 1 tbsp. fresh, raw turmeric powder daily.

6. Cloves - Tooth pain & gum inflammation
Chewing on clove buds is a great way to ease tooth pain and gum inflammation. They contain a compound called eugenol which is a natural anesthetic. You can also sprinkle some ground cloves (1 tsp. or so) on your food if you would rather not chew on the clove itself.

7. Peppermint - Painful muscles
Peppermint is an excellent muscle relaxant. If you have any knots in your back, shoulder, or anywhere else in your body, sitting in a warm bath with 10 drops of peppermint oil will help relax your muscles. Peppermint oil naturally soothes the nerves in your body, and when combined with warmth, is up to 25% more effective at relieving muscle cramps than over-the-counter painkillers.

8. Grapes - Backaches (damaged back tissue)
The resveratrol in grapes helps relax tight blood vessels and improves blood flow in the intervertebral discs and thus eases back pain. Improving blood flow to the discs in the back in important because blood helps deliver healing nutrients and oxygen to the cells and nerves in our body. Eating 2-3 cups of grapes per day is an excellent way to help loosen and ease backaches.

Sources: Live Love Fruit

(1) Altman, R., & Marcussen, K. (2001) Effects of a ginger extract on knee pain in patients with osteoarthritis. Arthritis & Rheumatism, 44, 2531-2538.

(2) Brooks, D. (1986) An onion in your ear. The Journal of Laryngology and Otology, 100, 1043-1046.

(3) Molan, P. (2001) The potential of honey to promote oral wellness. Gen Dent., 49, 584-589.

(4) Bladh, K., & Olsson, K. (2011) Introduction and use of horseradish (Armoracia rusticana) as food and medicine from antiquity to the present: emphasis on the nordic countries. Journal of herbs, spices and medicinal plants, 17, 197-213.

(5) Funk, J., Oyarzo, J., Frye, J., Chen, G., Lantz, C., Jolad, S., Solyom, A., & Timmermann, B. (2006) Turmeric extracts containing curcuminoids prevent experimental rheumatoid arthritis. Journal of Natural Products, 69, 351-355.

(6) Raghavenra, H., Diwakr, B., Lokesh, B., & Naidu, K. (2006) Eugenol – the active principal from cloves inhibits 5-lipoxygenase actiity and leukotriene-C4 in human PMNL cells. Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes, and Essential Fatty Acids, 74, 23-27.

(7) Grigoleit, H., & Grigoleit, P. (2005) Pharmacology and preclinical pharmacokinetics of peppermint oil. Phytomedicine, 12, 612-616.

(8) Xin, L., Phillips, F., An, H., Ellman, M., Thonar, E., Wu, W., Park, D., & Im, H. (2008) The action of resveratrol, a phytoestrogen found in grapes, on the intervertebral disc. Spine.

(9) http://www.ivillage.com/natural-pain-remedies-your-kitchen

A Natural Pain Killing Formula