Ulcerative proctitis herbal remedies | Herbs for ulcerative proctitis

Ulcerative proctitis refers to inflammation and ulceration of the inner lining of the rectum. Tiny sores form on the surface and cause bleeding, pus and mucus secretions. Ulcerative proctitis is part of the broader definition of ulcerative colitis which involves inflammation of the colon mucosa. For about 30% of all patients with ulcerative colitis, the illness begins as ulcerative proctitis.

Common symptoms of ulcerative proctitis are generally tenemus - which involves an urge to have a bowel movement but the amount of feces passed is small and marked by blood and pus. Sometimes there may also be fever.

Herbal remedies for ulcerative proctitis :

Turmeric herb is considered excellent for treating inflammation. It can be taken raw, in powder form or in capsules. Other anti-inflammatory herbs that are useful in this condition are Triphala, Boswellia and Ashwagandha.

These herbs are anti-inflammatory and also help to relax the colon. They also have mild laxative properties that promote smooth bowel movements.

Anemia herbal remedies | Ayurvedic remedies for anemia

Anemia is the condition in which the number of red blood cells in the blood is low. Red blood cells are produced in the bone marrow and if the kidneys or bone marrow are not functioning or the body is not properly nourished then anemia can result.

Ayurveda recommends purgation before treatment of anemia. Bodily toxins need to be flushed, constipation needs to be corrected and a diet rich in iron needs to be followed.

The following foods are good sources of iron:

Enriched breakfast cereals

Cooked beans and lentils

Pumpkin seeds

Blackstrap Molasses

Canned asparagus

Clams

Oysters

Chicken Liver

Mussels

Pregnant women should not consume liver.

Herbs and herbal preparations generally recommended in Ayurveda for treatment of anemia are:

Triphala

Shatavari

Punarnava

Chyawanprash

Osteopenia diagnosis | bone loss medications

Osteopenia is a diagnosis of low bone density but not severe enough to be termed osteoporosis. The World Health Organization has developed a tool called FRAX that is said to determine when treatment for bone loss should be started.

However both the new diagnosis of osteopenia and the tool are subjects of controversy. Primarily because a diagnosis of pre-osteoporosis leads to prescription of medications that treat bone loss but can cause severe side effects. According to the WHO panel normal bone mass is considered to be that of an average 30 year old woman. That would imply that anyone over 30 has osteopenia since some bone loss is common after 30 years.

Many doctors are against the diagnosis of osteopenia since it tends to unnecessarily scare women into taking prescription drugs for osteoporosis. Sales of such drugs exceed $8 billion a year and drug companies are paying for the installation of bone-density measuring devices in doctors’ offices, drugstores, shopping malls and health clubs.

Bisphosphonates the class of drugs, which includes Fosamax, Actonel, Boniva and Reclast have been known to cause serious side effects. These include osteonecrosis of the jaw, severe muscle, joint or bone pain, poor kidney function, low blood calcium, painful swallowing, severe heartburn, nausea or upset stomach, chest pain and ulcers. There is also evidence to show that bisphosphonates can actually contribute to bone brittleness, fragility, and microfractures - actually increasing the chances of breakage.

Bone loss can be mitigated by natural methods. Adequate vitamin D and calcium in the diet, weight bearing exercises will help stem bone loss. Natural herbo-mineral remedies like Reosto also help to prevent and reverse bone loss. Reosto provides a natural source of Vitamin D and calcium that are easily absorbed by the body. It helps in the production of estrogen and progesterone. It helps restore bone mass and supports the microstructure of bones.

Antidepressants side effects | Depression medication

Depression can be debilitating and anti-depressants such as Prosac, Zoloft, Paxil are frequently prescribed. These medications are known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and work by acting on a chemical in the brain called serotonin. Serotonin regulates moods but also plays a role in many other body functions such as digestion, sleep, pain and mental alertness. As a result prescription depression medications tend to have a number of side effects which include

Nausea
Insomnia
Anxiety
Restlessness
Decreased sex drive
Dizziness
Weight gain or loss
Tremors
Sweating
Sleepiness
Fatigue
Dry mouth
Diarrhea
Constipation
Headaches

Sometimes side effects may be so severe that people have to stop taking antidepressants. In order to avoid antidepressant withdrawal symptoms, medication should never be stopped suddenly. The dose should be slowly reduced with at least 1-2 weeks between each dosage reduction. This dosage reduction process may take several months, and should be done under a doctor's supervision.

Studies have shown that therapy and other treatments such as exercise, meditation, relaxation techniques, stress management, support groups, and self-help steps work just as well as antidepressants in treating depression, and are better at preventing relapse once treatment ends.

Herbal alternatives such as Bacopa, Mentat, Ashwagandha and Gotu kola have also been shown to have very positive effects in treating depression. Moreover they are non-habit forming and have none of the side effects of antidepressants.

Read more on Natural remedies for depression

Guggul research cardiovascular benefits

Guggul - the oleogum resin obtained from the Commiphora wightii tree is known for its benefits in lowering and regulating cholesterol levels. Recent research published in the Cardiovascular Drug Review show the therapeutic effects of guggul on the heart.

Guggul's cardiovascular benefits are derived from the multiple pharmacological activities of Guggulsterone the bioactive constituent responsible for guggul's therapeutic effects. The most important are its hypolipidemic, antioxidant, and antiinflammatory activities.

Studies demonstrate that guggulsterone upregulates the bile salt export pump (BSEP). The BSEP removes cholesterol metabolites, bile acids from the liver. The guggulsterone action promotes cholesterol metabolism into bile acids, and is another possible mechanism for its hypolipidemic activity.

Guggulsterone has been found to potently inhibit the activation of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB), which triggers inflammatory responses. Repressing NF-kappaB has been proposed as a mechanism of the antiinflammatory effect of guggulsterone

Centella asiatica research | Gotu kola decreases amyloid beta levels

Recent research on Gotu kola (Centella asiatica) shows that extract of this herb decreases the levels of amyloid protein plaque. Studies on mice at Texas A&M university showed a significant decrease in amyloid beta 1-40 and 1-42 following an 8month treatment with 2.5 mg/kg of Centella asiatic extract. A reduction in fibrillar amyloid plaques was detected and it was also confirmed that Centella asiatic extract functions as an antioxidant in vitro, scavenging free radicals, reducing lipid peroxidation and protecting against DNA damage. Centella asiatic extract can alter amyloid beta pathology in the brains of PSAPP mice and modulate components of the oxidative stress response that has been implicated in the neurodegenerative changes that occur with Alzheimer's disease.

In a separate study conducted at the Central Food Technological Research Institute, India, mice were administered 3-NPA - a neurotoxin that elicits conditions similar to Huntington's disease. Centella asiatica prophylaxis completely attenuated the 3-NPA-induced oxidative stress. 3-NPA also caused significant oxidative stress and protein oxidation in cytosol/mitochondria of other brain regions as well which were predominantly abolished by Centella asiatica prophylaxis. Significant depletion of GSH levels, total thiols and perturbations in antioxidant enzymic defences in striatum and other brain regions discernible among 3-NPA administered mice were also protected with Centella asiatica prophylaxis. Interestingly, Centella asiatica prophylaxis offered varying degree of protection against 3-NPA-induced mitochondrial dysfunctions viz., reduction in the activity of succinic dehydrogenase, ETC enzymes and decreased mitochondrial viability.

New herb added - Gotu kola

FavorFinesse.com is now offering Gotu Kola. Also known as Mandukaparni or Indian Pennywort, Centella asiatica is one of the premier ayurvedic herbs for mental rejuvenation and relaxation.

Apart from its benefits of improving functions of the brain, Gotu kola is also considered an effective remedy for supporting and strengthening varicose veins, for improving blood circulation, blood pressure and for treating various skin disorders.

Gotu kola finds mention in the texts of ancient Indian and Chinese literature.

Find out more on Gotu kola benefits and research