Author Archives: Ed

Maca Root Health Benefits

A couple of days ago I started the topic of Superfoods. We discussed whether there is any truth to the claims and reviewed benefits of certain foods, claimed as superfoods. Today I would like to give special attention to Maca Root Powder, since it is one of the foods I use nearly on a daily basis.

I came to finding maca root while I was researching ways to reverse hypothyroidism. When I read about maca’s ability to help balance hormones without negatively affecting them I had to try it. I knew there would be no harm–it is a plant; so I had nothing to lose and much to gain. I ordered my first bag of maca through a local co-op [I have to tell you that I LOVE co-ops–the price of maca was about 50% less through the co-op than what I have to pay now]. I strongly believe that maca has been very helpful in my healing process and reversing hypothyroidism. I could not pin point to tell you if it gives me an energy boost or works in another specific way, since I have a very nutrient rich diet and believe that all of the foods I consume work together in helping me heal, but I have no doubt that raw maca powder does it’s job too.

I am going to recap some of the material we covered earlier about maca and then get a bit deeper into its history and benefits.

Maca is endocrine adaptogen. Maca does not contain hormones itself, instead it provides a unique set of nutrients that directly fuel the endocrine system and help the glands to produce vital hormones in precise dosages predetermined by one’s own body.

Adaptogen, by definition, is a substance which brings the body to a heightened state of resistance to disease through physiological health and brings balance .

Benefits

Increases energy and endurance
Increases stamina
Alleviates chronic exhaustion (fatigue) syndrome
Improves sexual function in men and women
Enhances fertility in people and animals
Helps to regulate menstrual cycles
Reduces hormonal dysfunction during menopause and andropause
Can regulate hormonal imbalances
Aids in alleviating depression- gives a sense of well being
Reduces anxiety and stress
Has a beneficial action on the circulatory system;
Speeds wound healing and reduces anemia
Enhances memory, learning, and mental ability
Has a beneficial action on the circulatory system; gives skin a more youthful appearance
Helps treat anemia, rickets, osteomalacia, and stomach cancer
Good for healthy teeth and bones
Acts as a fungistatic and bacteriostatic
Acts as an anticarcinogen and antioxidant
Is an alternative to anabolic steroids, helps to build muscle
Libido enhancer

As an adaptogen, maca works broadly to contribute to overall well-being. It nourishes and calms the nerves with calcium, phosphorus, vitamins B1 and B12, and fatty acids, all of which work eneficially on the nervous system.

It stimulates the appetite and aids in digestion with calcium, vitamins B1 and B2, B12, and fatty acids. Its phosphorus is a primary building block in the cell fuels Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) and glucose-6-phosphate (G6P).

At the same time it supports the adrenal glands so they don’t have to rely on damaging cortisol to fuel the body. Its sterols, calcium, and vitamin C help build muscle mass and its starches aid in physical endurance. Its alkaloids help the body assimilate all these nutrients just where they are required.

In addition, recent studies of maca also show:

Its fiber as well as glucosinolate content show promise in helping combat some cancers.
Bio-available calcium, in conjunction with its alkaloids, make it an effective bond builder, thus reducing osteomalacia and rickets.
Some of its fatty acids function as fungicides and local antiseptics, which may aid in overall immunity enhancement.
Tannins bind and precipitate proteins, which improves the nutritional value of maca.
Saponins and terpenoids may aid as a sedative, expectorant, pain reliever, anti-tumoral, and analgesic.
Effects general and not localized to a specific organ.
Normalizing action irrespective of the pathological state.

Background and History

Cultivated for thousands of years at elevations over 13,500-14,000 feet, maca had been an important food and medicinal supplement for villagers who inhabited the Peruvian highlands. It has even been used as currency, and even in our modern times still is in some regions.

The Incas found maca so potent that the root was prescribed to warriors in preparation for battles to increase their strength and endurance. It has been told that outside of war-time, however, warriors were banned from consuming maca due to its ability to increase the libido–a fact confirmed by modern science. During peaceful times the consumption of maca was restricted to be used only in the royal court.

When Spaniards conquered Incas, they became aware of maca’s value and collected tribute from the Incas in maca roots for export to Spain. The Spanish royalty learned of maca’s benefits and used it as energy enhancer and for nutrition. As the time went on, however, the knowledge of maca’s properties had been lost. It was not until mid- 20th century that this potent plant was rediscovered and regained its place on the list of power plants.

Today maca root is consumed by people from all around the world, including professional athletes, those looking to increase their energy and libido, and by many who suffer from health ailements, one of which is hormone imbalance.

Source: http://www.vega-licious.com/health-nutrition/maca-root-powder-properties-and-benefits/

Health Benefits of Pumpkin Seeds

Pumpkin seeds are edible kernels of pumpkin fruit. The seeds, in-fact, are concentrated source of numerous health benefiting minerals, vitamins and anti-oxidants. Pumpkin fruit, native to Mexico, is a squash-like gourd of the Cucurbitaceaefamily. Scientific name: Cucurbita pepo.

The pumpkin fruit, in general, is grown as a field vegetable crop; and its seeds, nevertheless, are used as food and to extract useful pumpkin seed oil. In fact, in some parts of central Europe (Styrian province in Austria, Slovenia and Hungary), it is cultivated as a major oil-seed crop at a commercial scale.

Generally, the pumpkin fruit is allowed to mature completely in order to obtain good-quality seeds. Each fruit contains up to 500 cream-white husky seeds located at its central hollow cavity interspersed in between net like mucilaginous fibers. The seeds are semi-flat, have a typical oval shape with a conical tip. Inside, the edible kernel has olive-green color. The kernels have sweet, creamy nutty flavor enjoyed in deserts, as a snack, in savory dishes, etc. In Central America, hulled and roasted pumpkin seeds known as Pepita.

Health benefits of pumpkin seeds

Crunchy, delicious pumpkin seeds are high in calories, about 559 calories per 100 g. In addition; they are packed with fiber, vitamins, minerals, and numerous health promoting antioxidants.
Their high caloric content mainly comes from protein and fats. On the positive side, the nuts are especially rich in mono-unsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) like oleic acid(18:1) that helps lower bad LDL cholesterol and increases good HDL cholesterol in the blood. Research studies suggest that Mediterranean diet, which is liberal in monounsaturated fatty acids help to prevent coronary artery disease and strokes by favoring healthy blood lipid profile.
The seeds contain good-quality protein. 100 g seeds provide 30 g or 54% of recommended daily allowance. In addition, the seeds are an excellent source of amino acid tryptophan and glutamate. Tryptophan is converted into serotonin and niacin. Serotonin is a beneficial neuro-chemical often labeled as nature’s sleeping pill.Further, tryptophan is a precursor of B-complex vitamin, niacin (60 mg of tryptophan = 1mg niacin).
Glutamate is required in the synthesis of γ-amino butyric acid (GABA). GABA, an anti-stress neurochemical in the brain, helps reducing anxiety, nervous irritability, and other neurotic conditions.
Pumpkin seeds are a very good source of anti-oxidant vitamin E; contain about 35.10 mg of tocopherol-gamma per 100 g (about 237% of RDA). Vitamin E is a powerful lipid soluble antioxidant. It prevents tissue cells from the free radical mediated oxidant injury. Thus, it helps maintain the integrity of mucus membranes and skin by protecting from harmful oxygen-free radicals.
Pumpkin kernels are an also excellent source of B-complex group of vitamins such as thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, vitamin B-6 (pyridoxine) and folates. These vitamins work as co-factors for various enzymes during cellular substrate metabolism in the human body. In addition, niacin helps to reduce LDL-cholesterol levels in the blood. Along with glutamate, it enhances GABA activity inside the brain, which in turn reduces anxiety and neurosis.
Furthermore, its seeds contain very good levels of essential minerals like copper, manganese, potassium, calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc and selenium. Just as in pine nuts, pumpkin seeds too are very rich in manganese (provide 4543 mg per 100 g, about 198% of daily-recommended intake). Manganese is an all-important co-factor for antioxidant enzyme, superoxide dismutase. It is therefore, consumption of pumpkin kernels helps the body develop resistance against infectious agents and scavenge harmful oxygen-free radicals.

Medicinal values of pumpkin seeds.

Research studies suggest that pumpkin seed to have DHEA (Di hydro epi-androstenedione) blocking actions. Thus, it cuts the risk of prostate and ovarian cancers.
In addition, experimental studies suggest that certain phytochemical compounds in pumpkin seed oil may have a role in prevention of diabetic nephropathy (kidney disease).

Pumpkin seeds are available in the stores all around the year. You may find whole seeds, hulled, as well as roasted seeds displayed in the grocery stores. In the Latin American world, hulled and roasted-pumpkin seeds are referred as pepita.

While buying whole seeds look for uniform sized, compact, cream-white, or light yellow color seeds that feel heavy in hand and feature good metallic sound.

Avoid thin, small sized, shriveled seeds as they yield poor-quality kernel. They should be free from cracks, mold, and spots and free of rancid smell.

Completely un-hulled seeds keep well for few months placed in cool dry place. However, hulled pumpkin kernels deteriorate soon if exposed to warm, humid conditions; therefore, should be placed in an air-seal container and stored inside the refrigerator.

Culinary uses

Whole as well as hulled pumpkin kernels are used in variety of recipes worldwide.

Here are some serving tips:

Raw kernels can be enjoyed as healthy snacks. Whole seeds can equally be enjoyable when roasted.
In addition, the kernels can be salted or sweetened. In Mexico, the seeds are usually toasted and flavored with salt, lime, or chili peppers, and eaten as snacks.
Pumpkin seeds are one of the ingredients in the Mexican mole sauce.
Just like other nuts and seeds, they can also be used in granolas, biscuits, breads, cookies, casseroles or baked goods.
The seeds also used in salads especially sprinkled over fruit/vegetable salads.
You may add them to desserts, particularly sundaes and other confectionary.
The seeds are frequently added to enrich in meat, poultry, rice, and vegetable dishes.
Pumpkin seed oil is used in salad dressing as well as in cooking. In Austrian-Styria, the oil is mostly used to add to soups and salad dressings along with vinegar, salt and minced garlic.

Safety profile

Unlike tree nut’s allergy, it is rare to find true pumpkin-seeds allergy incidences. However, in known sensitive persons a few allergic symptoms may appear due to antigenic cross-reactions with some other nuts, seeds and fruits, especially of Anacardiaceae family such as mango,cashew nuts,pistachio,etc. Persons with previous history of allergic-reactions to these seeds, and nuts may therefore need to observe caution. (Medical disclaimer).

Source: http://www.nutrition-and-you.com/pumpkin-seeds.html

Benefits of Wheatgrass

Some of the superior qualities of wheatgrass and the juice that can be extracted from its blades include the following:

Increases red blood-cell count and lowers blood pressure. It cleanses the blood, organs and gastrointestinal tract of debris. Wheatgrass also stimulates metabolism and the body’s enzyme systems by enriching the blood. It also aids in reducing blood pressure by dilating the blood pathways throughout the body.

Stimulates the thyroid gland, correcting obesity, indigestion, and a host of other complaints.

Restores alkalinity to the blood. The juice’s abundance of alkaline minerals helps reduce over-acidity in the blood. It can be used to relieve many internal pains, and has been used successfully to treat peptic ulcers, ulcerative colitis, constipation, diarrhea, and other complaints of the gastrointestinal tract.

Is a powerful detoxifier, and liver and blood protector. The enzymes and amino acids found in wheatgrass can protect us from carcinogens like no other food or medicine. It strengthens our cells, detoxifies the liver and bloodstream, and chemically neutralizes environmental pollutants.

Fights tumors and neutralizes toxins. Recent studies show that wheatgrass juice has a powerful ability to fight tumors without the usual toxicity of drugs that also inhibit cell-destroying agents. The many active compounds found in grass juice cleanse the blood and neutralize and digest toxins in our cells.

Contains beneficial enzymes. Whether you have a cut finger you want to heal or you desire to lose five pounds…enzymes must do the actual work. The life and abilities of the enzymes found naturally in our bodies can be extended if we help them from the outside by adding exogenous enzymes, like the ones found in wheatgrass juice. Don’t cook it. We can only get the benefits of the many enzymes found in grass by eating it uncooked. Cooking destroys 100 percent of the enzymes in food.

Has remarkable similarity to our own blood. The second important nutritional aspect of chlorophyll is its remarkable similarity to hemoglobin, the compound that carries oxygen in the blood. Dr. Yoshihide Hagiwara, president of the Hagiwara Institute of Health in Japan, is a leading advocate for the use of grass as food and medicine. He reasons that since chlorophyll is soluble in fat particles, and fat particles are absorbed directly into the blood via the lymphatic system, that chlorophyll can also be absorbed in this way. In other words, when the “blood” of plants is absorbed in humans it is transformed into human blood, which transports nutrients to every cell of the body.

When used as a rectal implant, reverses damage from inside the lower bowel. An implant is a small amount of juice held in the lower bowel for about 20 minutes. In the case of illness, wheatgrass implants stimulate a rapid cleansing of the lower bowel and draw out accumulations of debris.

Externally applied to the skin can help eliminate itching almost immediately.

Will soothe sunburned skin and act as a disinfectant. Rubbed into the scalp before a shampoo, it will help mend damaged hair and alleviate itchy, scaly, scalp conditions.

Is soothing and healing for cuts, burns, scrapes, rashes, poison ivy, athlete’s foot, insect bites, boils, sores, open ulcers, tumors, and so on. Use as a poultice and replace every two to four hours.

Works as a sleep aide. Merely place a tray of living wheatgrass near the head of your bed. It will enhance the oxygen in the air and generate healthful negative ions to help you sleep more soundly.

Enhances your bath. Add some to your bath water and settle in for a nice, long soak.

Sweetens the breath and firms up and tightens gums. Just gargle with the juice.

Neutralizes toxic substances like cadmium, nicotine, strontium, mercury, and polyvinyl chloride.

Offers the benefits of a liquid oxygen transfusion since the juice contains liquid oxygen. Oxygen is vital to many body processes: it stimulates digestion (the oxidation of food), promotes clearer thinking (the brain utilizes 25% of the body’s oxygen supply), and protects the blood against anaerobic bacteria. Cancer cells cannot exist in the presence of oxygen.

Turns gray hair to its natural color again and greatly increases energy levels when consumed daily.

Is a beauty treatment that slows down the aging process when the juice is consumed. Wheatgrass will cleanse your blood and help rejuvenate aging cells, slowing the aging process way down, making you feel more alive right away. It will help tighten loose and sagging skin.

Lessens the effects of radiation. One enzyme found in wheatgrass, SOD, lessens the effects of radiation and acts as an anti-inflammatory compound that may prevent cellular damage following heart attacks or exposure to irritants.

Restores fertility and promotes youthfulness.

Can double your red blood cell count just by soaking in it. Renowned nutritionist Dr. Bernard Jensen found that no other blood builders are superior to green juices and wheatgrass. In his book “Health Magic Through Chlorophyll” he mentions several cases where he was able to double the red blood cell count in a matter of days merely by having patients soak in a chlorophyll-water bath. Blood building results occur even more rapidly when patients drink green juices and wheatgrass regularly.

Apricot Seeds Kill Cancer cells without side effects

(NaturalNews) Are apricot seeds a source for a natural substance that kills cancer cells without destroying the cancer victim’s health and wealth? The essential ingredient has been called laetrile or vitamin B 17. If there is any merit to it, why is this information being suppressed? Why are people who have been cured or have cured others being censured and imprisoned? Could be there is something to the claims.

Keep in mind that the cancer industry world wide is estimated at a 200 billion dollar a year industry. There are many in various associated positions within that industry who would be without a job if that cash flow dried up suddenly with the news that there are cheaper, less harmful, and more efficacious remedies available. Big Pharmacy would virtually vanish.

What is B17, or Laetrile Anyway?

In 1952, a biochemist named Dr. Ernst Krebb, Jr. in San Francisco decided that cancer was a metabolic reaction to a poor diet, and a missing nutrient from modern man’s diet could be the key to overcoming cancer. His research led to a compound found in over 1200 edible plants throughout nature. That compound is amagdylin,

Amagdylin is found with the highest concentration and necessary enzymes in apricot seed kernels. A primitive tribe, the Hunzas, were known to consume large amounts of apricot seed kernels. The hard pit had to be broken to get into the soft kernels. There was no incidence of cancer with them at all, ever. And they had long, healthy life spans. Laetrile was created by simply extracting amagdylin from the soft apricot kernels, purifying it and putting it into a concentrated form.

Amagdylin is a nitrioloside. Nitriolisides are difficult to categorize since they are in foods but not foods themselves. As a nitrioloside, amagdylin resembled the B complex structures, so Dr. Krebb called it B17 since by that time 16 types of B vitamins had been isolated.

Dr. Krebb injected himself with laetrile to ensure there would be no toxic side effects. He conducted further lab animal and culture experiments to conclude that laetrile would be effective in the treatment of cancer. By the way, the FDA standard for drug safety is known as LD 50, LD stands for lethal dose, and the 50 is the percentage threshold of lab animals poisoned to death by the drug tested. As long as the percentage killed is under 50%, FDA will approve it!

Since laetrile is derived directly from a food substance in nature and not chemically developed in a laboratory, it is impossible to patent. And of course it’s not toxic. In other words, just as with all natural healing substances, Big Pharma and the AMA can’t make a fortune from the substance and from the remedies for the long term side effects. There have been several testimonies from cancer victims who cured themselves by chewing large quantities of the apricot seeds alone.

The seeds are more available to consumers now than laetrile because in 1971 the FDA banned laetrile. Laetrile is difficult, but not impossible, to purchase. The seeds are actually the soft almond shaped, bitter tasting kernels from inside the pits. A few users prefer extracting those soft kernels from the pits themselves. But the soft kernels are available and inexpensive.

So How Does It Work?

Amagdylin contains four substances. Two are glucose; one is benzaldyhide, and one is cyanide. Yes, cyanide and benzaldyhide are poisons if they are released or freed as pure molecules and not bound within other molecular formations. Many foods containing cyanide are safe because the cyanide remains bound and locked as part of another molecule and therefore cannot cause harm.

There is even an enzyme in normal cells to catch any free cyanide molecules and to render them harmless by combining them with sulfur. That enzyme is rhodanese, which catalyzes the reaction and binds any free cyanide to sulfur. By binding the cyanide to sulfur, it is converted to a cyanate which is a neutral substance. Then it is easily passed through the urine with no harm to the normal cells.

But cancer cells are not normal. They contain an enzyme that other cells do not share, beta-glucosidase. This enzyme, virtually exclusive to cancer cells, is considered the “unlocking enzyme” for amagdylin molecules. It releases both the benzaldyhide and the cyanide, creating a toxic synergy beyond their uncombined sum. This is what the cancer cell’s beta-glucosidase enzyme does to self destruct cancer cells.

Amagdylin or laetrile in conjunction with the protective enzymes in healthy cells and the unlocking enzymes in cancer cells is thus able to destroy cancer cells without jeopardizing healthy cells. Chemotherapy, on the other hand, kills a lot of other cells and diminishes one’s immune system while killing an undetermined amount of cancer cells.

Those cancer cells tend to return elsewhere because the patient’s general health was reduced from the pervasive chemo toxins. The cancer industry has declared the bench mark for curing cancer as being cancer free for 5 years. It’s estimated that of those who undergo the AMA big three for curing cancer, surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, no more than 3% make the 5 year cancer free mark. Besides the treatments’ debilitating effects, they are much more expensive!

But for someone with cancer, it takes a considerable amount of daily B17 consumption to enable the amagdylin to reach the cancer cells with beta-glucosidase. That’s because some of the amagdylin molecules will be neutralized by the normal cells containing rhodanese.

Many practitioners who use laetrile have an 85% cure rate among cancer victims who did not undergo much of the standard cut, burn, and poison that is main-stream – while the cure rate for those who come to laetrile therapy as a last resort after all that conventional medicine could only have a 15% recovery rate. There is a clinic in Mexico that claims a 100 percent cure rate!

The Medical Mafia’s Suppression

Since around 1920, practitioners of alternative cancer therapies and remedies and their messengers have been marginalized, harassed, imprisoned, and even killed. Federal agencies have been used to bring about bogus charges or IRS tax liens that are enforced by US Marshals the way Dr. Gary Glum was hassled for even writing books on Essiac Tea. See Natural News article “Essiac Tea: A Cancer Cure Big Pharma Doesn’t Want You To Know About.” http://www.naturalnews.com/026928_cancer_Essiac_Tea_health.html.

A young Brooklyn man, Jason Vale, was imprisoned because he refused to stop telling others on TV and in lectures how he cured himself of cancer using those nasty apricot pit kernels! Jason is a more recent public example of the Medical Mafia’s grip on the legal system regarding B17. Laetrile, which is non toxic, was banned by the FDA in 1971.

Shortly after the 1971 laetrile ban, a practicing physician in San Francisco, Dr. John Richardson, who had been using laetrile successfully on cancer patients, came to his friend G. Edward Griffin, a published investigative journalist, and asked Griffin if he could write up something to help him and others continue using laetrile on their cancer patients.

G. Edward Griffin’s research evolved into his groundbreaking book, World Without Cancer. This book not only explained laetrile and chronicled several cancer cures, but Griffin’s investigative nose led him down the rabbit hole and into the underbelly of the cancer industry’s efforts at keeping alternative cancer cures from the light of day. That’s how he discovered that the Sloane-Kettering Cancer Institute had buried documentation from scientists’ research, which proved laetrile was “highly effective” at curing cancer.

Griffin received those documents himself from a Dr. Ralph Moss, who had been told to cover up that evidence and claim that laetrile was worthless. He refused and left his position as PR manager with Sloane-Kettering. Since that time in 1977, Dr. Ralph Moss has gone on to write or edit several books on cancer cure options. It’s always encouraging to see an insider come out! Someone else filled Dr. Moss’s vacant position and lied the lies about laetrile that filled the medical journals.

And what about those medical journals? Lately, the most prestigious New England Journal of Medicine dropped its standard of not allowing articles contributed to the journal from anyone who was receiving money from Big Pharma, as long as it’s less than 10 grand annually. If they didn’t drop that standard, there wouldn’t be enough articles to fill the journal! Of course, most medical journals are glossy ad forums for Big Pharma anyway.

Both G. Edward Griffin with World Without Cancer and Phillip Day in his book Cancer: Why We’re Still Dying to Know the Truth, make it very clear that the cancer industry does not really want a cure. Even non-profit organizations get millions in donations from the brainwashed, huddled masses along with funding for promoting Big Pharma. A non-profit organization can and will have key people working for 6 figure plus annual salaries, by the way.

Doctors mostly do as they are trained and told; medical journals contain false reports and lies. Cancer foundations have breast cancer months or whatever as PR to get people into the disease industry’s money mill as early as possible, and at the top, there is Big Pharma. It’s all about money and career. Not about public health and “The War on Cancer.”

So far in mainstream medicine, it’s been a losing battle with more getting cancer than ever. Around 1 out of 3 is destined to get cancer these days, and more are dying from cancer after conventional treatments. Talk about pandemics! All this with lots of cash going their way, enabling some to live a lush lifestyle and others hanging on to their comfy, secure jobs at the expense of our health.

Meanwhile, too many true humanitarian doctors and herbalists and writers concerned with the truth wind up being treated like criminals or nut cases, sometimes with their lives destroyed. That’s tragic. And so is the fact that millions suffer and die while being conditioned against using effective and less painless procedures.

Laetrile Treatment

There are many success stories from people using just laetrile or apricot pit kernels. The usual recommendation for prevention is around 5 to 7 over the course of a day. For actual cancer cases use 2 to 3 times that. Some say one kernel for every 10 lbs of body weight. For maintenance after a cure, go back to 5 to 7 per day.

Some laetrile therapists have patients use vitamin B15 tablets and digestive enzymes such as papaya’s papain and pineapple’s bromalene. Too many apricot pit kernels can create nausea or dizziness. There are no recorded deaths or disabilities from the apricot seeds or laetrile, however. Although some success has been recorded with patients undergoing conventional therapy and using laetrile, it’s not recommended. Eventually most of those who combine the two get off the chemo or die anyway.

There are many practitioners and writers who recommend you combine other alternative cancer therapies while taking laetrile or using the apricot pits – especially if you go for it alone at home. It should be obvious to Natural News readers that a foundation of healthy food and less stress is necessary. A fundamental lifestyle change has to be a part of any permanent cancer cure. In addition, a little eclectic mix and match with other alternative therapies seems like a good approach.

For example, Gerson’s cancer cure therapy’s juicing protocol with the right type of juicer and using coffee enemas to detox the liver could be added with laetrile use. It’s hard to go wrong with that healthy combination. See Natural News article on the Gerson Therapy for more details here:
http://www.naturalnews.com/027004_cancer_coffee_health.html

Do your own research by starting with the source links below this article. Those sources are for more than showing the author has done his homework. The author intends for you to use them as a springboard for your own research. Why waste your money and health on toxic remedies when so much is available as alternatives for far less money and negative side effects?

Sources:

Excellent interview of G. Edward Griffin on laetrile and the cancer industry
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFnP9sU1KW4

An excellent overview of different cancer cure options
http://www.1cure4allcancer.com/the_ultimate_one_page_cancer_report.ht…

A vast, indexed and categorized free source of cancer cure options with details you can use – It’s the free online bible of cancer cure options
http://www.cancertutor.com/index.html

Information on apricot seeds with more details
http://www.detailshere.com/cancerapricots.htm

Vitamin B17 – contains information on supplements to include with B17 and a list of foods with B17, also a few caveats on using B17
http://www.detailshere.com/cancerb17.htm

Author Phillip Day’s blog
http://www.credence.org/

About the author

Paul Fassa is dedicated to warning others about the current corruption of food and medicine and guiding others toward a direction for better health with no restrictions on health freedom. You can visit his blog at http://healthmaven.blogspot.com

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/027088_cancer_laetrile_cure.html#ixzz2MxI9K4MM

Health Benefits of Hawthorn Berries

Hawthorn berry information, FAQ and product listing page. This page contains information and frequently asked questions about hawthorn berry as well as a complete list of products containing hawthorn berry.

Quick jump to the sub-sections on this page:

What is hawthorn berry and what does it do?
What are the benefits of taking hawthorn berry?
Who can benefit from taking hawthorn berry?
How much hawthorn berry should I take?
Does hawthorn berry have any side effects?
List of products containing hawthorn berry.

What is hawthorn berry and what does it do?

Hawthorn (also scientifically known as Crataegus species) is a tiny shrub or tree that is a part of the rose family. In the Middle Ages it was hung over doorways to help deter evil spirits. In the America’s in the 1800’s doctors found some of the herb’s medicinal advantages – treatment of circulatory disorders and respiratory illnesses began with hawthorn berry.

The hawthorn berry is concerned to be a “cardiotonic” type of herb or tonic, with the berries and flowers of the hawthorn plant being used to treat heartbeats that were irregular, high blood pressure, chest pain, heart failure, and hardening of the arteries. This is why the hawthorn plant is commonly used to improve the strength of the heart.

What are the benefits of taking hawthorn berry?

Centuries away from it’s original use of deterring evil spirits, a lot of medical professionals prescribe hawthorn to help in the fight against heart disease. In addition, it’s used to keep blood pressure at a minimum, as well as high cholesterol.

Heart failure – The primary focus of hawthorn to combat heart related illnesses. Many studies have been performed that have study the effects of hawthorn berry on patients with heart failure – heart failure being described as the situation in which the heart is unable to pump enough blood around the body. A total of 4 studies have shown that hawthorn berry has been able to drastically improve heart function. Hawthorn has also been able to increase a patient of heart failure’s ability to exercise.

One study that was performed showed that 900 milligrams of hawthorn extract a day, if taken for 2 months, was nearly if not as effective as a leading heart medication, capropril, when it came to improving symptoms of heart failure.

Today, many health care professionals use hawthorn to help protect against heart disease and help control high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

Atherosclerosis – Studies have shown that the hawthorn plant contains some antioxidant properties that are beneficial in helping protect against the creation of plaques. This refers to the build up of fatty platelets and materials inside blood vessels, potentially causing a stroke – also known as atherosclerosis. Buildup of plaque along the vessel walls will thin out the oxygen-rich blood that the heart receives, causing angina (chest pain), and eventually heart attacks. Plaque that builds up within the brain has the ability to cause a stroke.

Chest pain – Preparations of hawthorn berry have demonstrated the ability to help fight angina. One study has showed that 60 patients diagnosed with angina were given a placebo or 180 milligrams of hawthorn berry extract for 3 weeks – the individuals that received the preparation of hawthorn were able to exercise longer due to improved blood flow to the heart.

Who can benefit from taking hawthorn berry?

Individuals that were diagnosed with a myriad of heart related conditions may possibly benefit from supplementing with hawthorn berry. However, hawthorn berry should never be taken in substitute of proper professional medical help and diagnosis. If you believe you have a heart related medical condition and have yet to seek treatment or diagnosis, please do so immediately.

How much hawthorn berry should I take?

There are no studies showing the effects of hawthorn berry usage in pediatrics. Therefore, it should not be taken by children unless otherwise prescribed.

To decrease symptoms of heart failure in adults you should take 160-900 milligrams daily for at least 6 weeks, standardized to 2-3% flavonoids or 18-20% oligomeric procyanidins. Alternatively, 120-240 milligrams 3 times a day for at a minimum of 6 weeks, standardized to 1.8% vitexin rhamnoside and 10%. Of course, always follow the label directions found on the supplement you’re taking.

Does hawthorn berry have any side effects?

The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) grants hawthorn with a class 1 safety rating, which basically means that it’s one of the safest herbs on the market. While side effects are rare, they may occur and can include nausea, palpitations, and a headache.

Original Article: http://www.muscleandstrength.com/supplements/ingredients/hawthorn-berry.html