The vast majority of our blogs follow one of two “formulas” in how we approach them in terms of offering valuable information about supplements, herbs, nutrients, and other forms of natural remedies and products. One is to focus on a particular herb or supplement and explain how they work and their health benefits. The other approach is to turn things inside out and zero in on a particular health issue or condition and discuss various herbs and supplements that might alleviate those health challenges or conditions.
With this latest blog, we are going to do both things at once, switching back and forth. We will do a quick summation of a particular natural remedy and then hop over to doing the same for a certain condition or health need. We are going to do this alphabetically; that is, following the ABCs so to speak, working our way through the alphabet. As you might have expected, we are going to start at the beginning, this time with A and B, highlighting two entries for each letter.
Our aim is to inform, as always, pointing you in what we believe is the right direction for better overall health.
Remedy – Ashwaghanda: This is an herb we like to talk about because it has been used as a natural remedy for thousands of years and still is wildly popular in the 21st century. It has its roots, no pun intended, in the Ayurvedic form of alternative medicine that follows Indian (as in India) beliefs of natural healing. The ashwagandha plant, sourced from a petite shrub with yellowish flowers and native to India and southeast Asia, has a wide range of uses that run the gamut from diminishing stress levels or anxiety to enhancing athletic performance in terms of strength, fitness, and recovery. It can also reduce high blood pressure and cholesterol, and thwart heart disease. It is believed to also prevent cognitive decline and might even restore normal cognitive capacity.
Condition – Anxiety: Anxiety is often thought of as something minor and short term – like when a student feels apprehension and nervousness going into a final exam. That’s not what we’re talking about here in terms of anxiety as a chronic condition, one which can severely hamper a person’s daily lifestyle and long-term state of mind. Among the natural remedies believed to be effective at combatting anxiety are vitamin D3, magnesium, melatonin (also a popular sleep aid), valerian root, and, yes, ashwaghanda, as described above in this blog. What is common to many of these compounds are how they work similar to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) found in prescription medications (e.g., Prozac) that assist in the reabsorption of neurotransmitters such as serotonin.
Remedy – Boswellia: This is another plant-sourced (a tree, actually) health aid, also, like ashwaghanda, with a long history of use in the Ayurvedic medical practice. In the case of boswellia, it has been used for treating health issues such as brain injury, various types of arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, tendonitis, Crohn’s disease, and abdominal pain. Anyone also advocating for anti-aging assistance (we love alliteration) has a friend in Boswellia, thanks to its reported success in toning the skin and reducing wrinkles as well as skin damage related to radiation treatment. It is boswellia’s resin and the substances it contains that appear to play a major role in abating inflammation while simultaneously stimulating immune response.
Condition – Bronchitis: Many people who have had to deal with an annoying cough that develops into something worse and hangs around for weeks, even months, especially as autumn works its way toward winter, knows all about bronchitis. This is a condition in which the bronchial tubes, which transport air to your lungs, are infected and become swollen. The yucky response: a bad cough, excess mucus that drains into your chest area, and companion cold-like symptoms that include body aches and/or chills. If you would prefer to start treatment with over-the-counter remedies, sound choices include vitamin C, probiotics, garlic and/or turmeric (both are anti-inflammatories), and ginseng (another anti-inflammatory).
If there is anything here that you’ve seen perhaps suitable to you and your needs, then it’s time to consider picking out some new herbs of supplements for you to keep around. Be sure to discuss your use of any of these natural remedies with your personal physician or other healthcare professional.