North American N.A.B.C
WBA Fedro Centro Champion
Trained by and managed by John Melich
Author Archives: Ed
John Melich Jr.
Two time Ontario Champion.
Trained by John Melich.
Tumeric Health Benefits
Turmeric health benefits go all the way back to ancient India. Turmeric is a yellow, culinary spice widely used in Southeast Asia. Recent research reveals why this herb is such a powerful healer due to its turmeric anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties. The medical ingredients present create many Turmeric Health Benefits.
Turmeric and Cancer
Studies have been conducted on the turmeric and cancer connection. They reveal that turmeric can induce a process that triggers the self-destruction of cancerous and damaged body cells. Turmeric is effective in treating cancer since it increases liver function. The liver helps to eliminate toxic substances from your body. Given its antibacterial properties, turmeric is beneficial in treating many types of cancer, most noticeably:
• Breast Cancer
• Colon Cancer
• Lung Cancer
• Leukemia
Turmeric hampers the growth of cancerous cells. This is just one of the many turmeric health benefits.
Turmeric and Liver Diseases
The liver helps by detoxifying your blood through the production of enzymes. These enzymes break down and eliminate the toxins found your body. Taking a turmeric supplement or using turmeric recipes increase the production of these vital enzymes, thus increasing liver function. Studies conducted on rats revealed that enzyme production increases by 14% within fourteen days of taking turmeric.
Turmeric For Arthritis
Turmeric isn’t something most people think of when dealing with arthritis or joint pain. Recent studies show sufferers should consider turmeric for arthritis as it is a powerful anti-oxidant. Like other anti-oxidants, turmeric works to destroy free radicals in your body which are responsible for damaging body cells.
Due to turmeric’s anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, turmeric health benefits provide relief to those suffering from moderate to mild joint pains. Arthritis patients using turmeric for arthritis were found to benefit from reduced morning and evening joint pains. It has now become a natural remedy for arthritis sufferers and provides significant pain relief while also increasing walking speed for patients.
Turmeric and Wounds
As an anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory agent, turmeric works to heal wounds, cuts and other skin injuries. Using a saucepan, boil coconut oil and add a small amount of turmeric to it. Mix the two together, turn the stove off. When it is no longer too hot to touch, use a cotton swab to apply some of the mixture to the wound. Saving the extra oil in an airtight container allows you to use it in the future without needing to go through the boiling process again.
Turmeric can cause allergic reactions and rashes in a few individuals. For this reason it is a good precaution to talk to your doctor before using this treatment. If you try it and you develop a rash, it is a sign that it’s not the best treatment for you.
Turmeric and Alzheimers
Brain inflation is suspected to be one of the leading causes of Alzheimer’s disease. Studies done with turmeric have shown that one of the major turmeric health benefits is helpings to prevent Alzheimer’s disease. Turmeric anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties might help to prevent or delay the onset of this ruthless disease. It is believed that turmeric blocks the production of IL-2 protein, which is known to destroy the protective sheath found around the nerves.
Turmeric and Cardiovascular Disease
Unhealthy cholesterol levels are the primary cause of most cardiovascular disease. When cholesterol oxidizes, it builds up on the walls of body cells. Turmeric contains vitamin B6, which regulates homo-cysteine levels. Homo-cysteine is directly responsible for damaging body cells. Through interaction with the liver, turmeric lowers the cholesterol levels in the body, which aides in preventing most cardiovascular diseases.
Turmeric as an Anti-Inflammatory
Turmeric’s anti-inflammatory properties don’t just help against deadly diseases. Turmeric also keeps your immune system strong against colds, flu and coughs.These are just the benefits that studies have revealed and there are undoubtedly many more turmeric health benefits yet to be discovered.
Turmeric and Diabetes
Turmeric, along with many other spices, helps to moderate your insulin levels. If you consume a heavy sugary or white bread snack or meal, including turmeric will reduce how extreme your insulin response will be. Turmeric will by no means totally eliminate the sudden sugar intake shock on your body. Limiting sugar consumption and eating whole grains is the best approach to maintaining balanced levels.
Health Benefits of Turmeric
The health benefits of turmeric are numerous. If you’re considering using a turmeric supplement to achieve those benefits you need to know what to look for in a supplement. A turmeric supplement should be standardized turmeric curcumin 95%. This means 95% of the supplement consists of curcumin. This is the part of turmeric which provides its health benefits.
Turmeric Side Effects
Turmeric is spicy and as such can cause heartburn and increase your body temperature. Nausea, dizziness and stomach cramps are possible side effects. These turmeric side effects are more likely if you don’t consume turmeric with food.
Turmeric Supplement Dosage
Knowing all the turmeric health benefits is useless if you don’t know what is the correct turmeric dosage to use. Using the correct turmeric dosage is essential to maximizing its benefits.
The Health Benefits of Horse Chestnut
Many indigenous cultures have used herbs and plants in medicinal capacities to address health issues. This is a tradition and practice that extends to nearly every continent and includes nearly every culture and gives new meaning to “living off the land.”Fortunately, in spite of the advertising and brainwashing initiatives by the pharmaceutical industry, this habit has also taken root in America and over half the population uses some form of herbal medicine. Do you favor herbal remedies and suffer from poor circulation or other vascular conditions? You may be interested to learn about horse chestnut, or aesculus hippocastanum, a tree which contains compounds that may offer relief.
What is Horse Chestnut?
Horse chestnut is a tree native to the Balkan Peninsula but found throughout the northern hemisphere. Horse chestnut seeds, leaves, bark, and flowers have been used for centuries to help relieve an array of health problems. Horse chestnut seed has a place in European phytotherapy and is used to address inflammation and vascular issues. A tea made from horse chestnut is a staple of Turkish folk medicine and used to relieve an upset stomach and pass kidney stones; they also use the seeds to alleviate hemorrhoid symptoms. [1] Today, horse chestnut is primarily used as a traditional remedy for vascular problems like chronic venous insufficiency, or CVI, a condition in which the veins do not efficiently return blood from the legs to the heart.
Why is Horse Chestnut Effective?
Horse chestnut contains a compound called aescin which has several observed prospective benefits. Research out of China suggests that aescin is resistant to inflammation, and in a good way. It’s not uncommon for some compounds to temper inflammation by suppressing the immune system, since inflammation can be a response from the immune system. Aescin resists inflammation without being immunosuppressive. [2] Aescin has also exhibited very strong antioxidant activity. Middlesex University in England published information that showed horse chestnut extract to be one of the most effective free radical fighters available. Additionally, Aescin is also a saponin, which is a word you may have heard before in conjunction with natural soap products. More than providing a natural clean, saponins also help the vascular system by making capillaries less fragile. This is likely to be of tremendous interest to persons who experience the swelling that results when fragile capillaries leak fluid. [3]
Horse Chestnut and Vein Health
CVI is a condition in which ill-functioning valves prevent blood from efficiently circulating away from the extremities. There are different causes of CVI but the most common include deep vein thrombosis and obesity. CVI is often identifiable by itchiness, increased leg pigmentation, swelling, varicose veins, and even ulcers. The most common treatment is to wear compression socks. Made of a tight elastic, compression socks do exactly as their name implies, they compress the veins and arteries which decreases the size of distended veins. This increases pressure on the arteries and forces more blood to circulate. All this allows less blood to pool in the feet and legs.
Studies have shown that horse chestnut extract provides a similar effect to compression socks and helps to contract veins and arteries. [4] According to the Journal of the Norwegian Medical Association, horse chestnut seed extract is widely used throughout Europe for chronic venous insufficiency (CVI). [5] Italy’s University of Milano performed research that showed aescin to be as effective as compression therapy for CVI and, additionally, aescin is significant for not just CVI, but also hemorrhoids and edema. [6] Why? At the lowest level, horse chestnut seed extract is thought to inhibit the breakdown of capillary wall proteins.
Horse Chestnut Research
The Institute of Medical Biometry and Medical Informatics at Germany’s University of Exeter reviewed available information and found that while traditional CVI treatment consists of compression therapy, compression therapy can be painful and susceptible to compliance issues. In these instances, oral medications may provide the most promising outlook and the positivity of that scenario increases when the medications are from natural, plant sources like horse chestnut. In their review, researchers were quick to note that the symptoms of CVI improved when an extract of horse chestnut was used. [8]
Another German study involved 22 patients with CVI who were given capsules with either an aescin extract or a placebo. Those who took the asescin extract noted a “compression like” effect in the form of decreased intravascular volume; supporting the argument for horse chestnut’s benefit for venous problems in the legs. [9]
The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center evaluated various approaches to dealing with vein and circulation problems. Compression therapy, diuretics, and topical creams have been shown to reduce pain and swelling but their long term application and benefit is questionable. Obviously, the best long term solution is to address potential causes at the root, especially if obesity or type 2 diabetes are a factor. Absent that, researchers noted that herbal supplements like horse chestnut may have much to offer for improving symptoms of CVI. [10]
Supplementing with Horse Chestnut
The research into horse chestnut benefits has, fortunately, observed very few adverse side effects. To the contrary, horse chestnut is thought to be remarkably safe and well tolerated by most people. Some research has shown that aescin is more absorbable by the body during the daytime than night- something to consider if you supplement with horse chestnut. [11]
If circulation and vein health are a concern in your life, I encourage you to take inventory of yourself and determine if there are any factors you can change to get those issues under better control. Are you eating healthy? Are you exercising enough? Would losing a few pounds put you in a better spot? When was the last time you cleansed your body? Sometimes those are factors, sometimes they’re not. Regardless, if lifestyle choices aren’t putting you where you want to be, Hematrex® contains organic horse chestnut and is the only vein and circulatory support supplement I recommend.
-Dr. Edward F. Group III, DC, ND, DACBN, DABFM
References:
- Küçükkurt I, Ince S, Keleş H, Akkol EK, Avci G, Yeşilada E, Bacak E. Beneficial effects of Aesculus hippocastanum L. seed extract on the body’s own antioxidant defense system on subacute administration. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20219666
- Wang T, Fu F, Zhang L, Han B, Zhu M, Zhang X. Effects of escin on acute inflammation and the immune system in mice. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19815952
- Wilkinson JA, Brown AM. Horse Chestnut – Aesculus Hippocastanum: Potential Applications in Cosmetic Skin-care Products. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18503457
- Felixsson E, Persson IA, Eriksson AC, Persson K. Horse chestnut extract contracts bovine vessels and affects human platelet aggregation through 5-HT(2A) receptors: an in vitro study. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20148408
- Methlie CB, Schjøtt J. [Horse chestnut–remedy for chronic venous insufficiency]. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19247403
- Sirtori CR. Aescin: pharmacology, pharmacokinetics and therapeutic profile. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11529685
- Suter A, Bommer S, Rechner J. Treatment of patients with venous insufficiency with fresh plant horse chestnut seed extract: a review of 5 clinical studies. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16644618
- Pittler MH, Ernst E. Horse chestnut seed extract for chronic venous insufficiency. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23152216
- Bisler H, Pfeifer R, Klüken N, Pauschinger P. [Effects of horse-chestnut seed extract on transcapillary filtration in chronic venous insufficiency]. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3527643
- Rathbun SW, Kirkpatrick AC. Treatment of chronic venous insufficiency. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17484814
- Bässler D, Okpanyi S, Schrödter A, Loew D, Schürer M, Schulz HU. Bioavailability of beta-aescin from horse chestnut seed extract: comparative clinical studies of two Galenic formulations. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14964349
Source: http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/natural-health/health-benefits-of-horse-chestnut/
Health Benefits of Pure Organic Cranberry Juice
Loaded with Vitamins, Minerals
Cranberries are an excellent source of vitamins A, C, B complex, folic acid and fiber. They also provide such minerals as calcium, iron, phosphorous, potassium, sodium and sulphur. Their plant pigments–called biolflavanoids–repair molecules damaged in the body’s use of oxygen.
Miracle Berry for Urinary System
As documented in the Journal of Medicinal Food, chemicals found in cranberries–called proanthocyanidins–prevent such infectious bacteria as E.coli from attaching to the cells that line the urinary tract. High amounts of acids and other useful chemicals in cranberries also help prevent the formation of kidney stones.
Fight Cancer Cells, Cellulite
Cranberry juice’s phytochemicals break down breast cancer cells. Its organic acids emulsify fatty deposits, decrease cellulite and improve overall skin health. Its concentration of calcium combats osteoporosis while strengthening other bones and teeth.
Help Prevent Peptic Ulcers
Preliminary research suggests that cranberries–laden as they are with flavonoids–may help prevent peptic ulcers by inhibiting the growth of H. pylori, the bacteria most responsible for ulcers.
Fights Osteoporosis
Cranberry juice’s concentration of calcium combats osteoporosis while strengthening other bones and teeth.
Source: http://www.livestrong.com/article/112134-cranberry-juice-health-benefits/