Asafoetida

Asafoetida has been also referred to as the “Food of the Gods.” The main part of this plant that is used is the resin which makes up a volatile oil. The history of this herb is amazing as it was used frequently back in time by Alexander the Great for flavoring. That was back in 4 B.C. still in early times, Asafoetida was used to treat gas and the bloating associated with it. Carrying through time the resin gum is used often for vegetarian dishes that are prepared in India. Today, it is one of the main flavorings in Worcestershire sauce.

Asafoetida is an herbal plant that has many diverse uses such as an aid for digestion, a remedy for headaches, an antidote, and an expectorant. Asafoetida has been known to be used on some mental impairment but not very often has it been shown to make any significant difference except for mild anxiety. Therefore it focuses primarily on bodily functions where it can do greater good.

As mentioned earlier, it works on gas and the bloating associated with it but further it also eases indigestion, rids stomach cramps, and helps with constipation, which is Asafoetida’s contribution in the digestion department. When it comes to headaches, when Asafoetida is mixed with water it is showing great promise for the treatment of migraines and tension headaches. As an antidote, it works great for snake bites and an insect repellant when it is mixed with garlic.

As an expectorant the Asafoetida oil helps to rid the body of excess mucus and eases the respiratory system. Many use it for whooping cough, asthma, and bronchitis. Where expectoration is a problem asafetida helps in expelling accumulated cough. Some mixtures that seem to blend together well for coughs and as expectorants are roasted fresh resinous gum powder with real ghee or a mixture of asafetida powder with honey, white onion juice, betel nut juice and dry ginger.

Asafoetida has a very unpleasant odor to it, so bad that many call it the “Devil’s Dung.” The foul odor comes from the resin that is removed from the plant’s stem and root. Asafoetida is a species of the fennel plant but a relative to the carrot. The wicked odor is formed from the organic sulfur compound found as part of the essential oils. When it comes to the value of the Asafoetida tree, the older, the better and trees less than four years of age are virtually worthless.

When buying Asafoetida in the marketplace it will likely be available in three different forms, one is called tears which are commonly sold in Chinese pharmacies and characteristically may have fragments of root and earth. It is also sold in a paste which is very commonly used as a condiment for flavoring such dishes as curry, to flavor beans, sauces, pickles, and many use it as a substitute for garlic.

A few other unique things that Asafoetida is used for is that if used in recipes regularly it has been suggested that it may increase the chances of male fertility. Often it is used for toothaches as well.

Does Alternative Medicine Work?

In today’s modern times, many of us no longer believe in alternative medicine, natural remedies, the use of herbs or anything that does not involve the use of traditional modern medicine. We have made so many advances in modern day medicine, that most of us don’t trust or want to believe in anything else. The question I ask myself constantly is; “if traditional medicine has become so much better than other alternative, more natural medicine, Why are we still getting sick?” Why do some people get better when they use alternative medicines? Why do traditional medical professionals see so many ¨unexplained healings,¨ as they like to call them. Is it all because of miracles, or is it thanks to Alternative medicine?

Natural medicine does work! Or at least I am one of those believers. But as even the best alternative medicine professionals believe, it should be used in conjunction with traditional medicine. Natural, or alternative medicines allow your body to heal itself, and to balance itself out, without the use of so many chemicals. Even studies done by traditional medicine experts show that many life threatening diseases like cancer, diabetes, and heart problems are caused by stress and anxiety. If the cause is stress, and they agree that one of the best ways to fight this stress and anxiety is through alternative medicine, then how can they also say that alternative medicine doesn’t work. Why do so many in the medical profession say that alternative medicine doesn’t work? Well, your guess is as good as mine! But whether it’s the natural medicine, herbs, therapies or just the patients faith, what is true that something is working, and it’s more than just traditional medicine.

Recently, in a conversation with a friend, who was once a stage IV cancer patient, I asked him what he attributed his healing too. This man should be dead, he is in the 3% survivor rate and was stage four! He told me the doctors had sent him home and told him to make his final plans. Instead he used his faith, tried alternative medicine and is still alive today! If you ask him, whether he believes in alternative medicine or not, he will say, ¨I don’t know what I believe in, but I am still here. Does that answer your question?” ¨It might have been the natural herbal treatment I take, it might be people’s prayers, it might even be traditional medicine. The good thing is I’m still here for a few more years and enjoying every minute of it! I don’t think I could have ever written a better analogy as to the effectiveness of alternative medicine.

The truth is that there are two types of people. Those who truly believe in the natural healing wonders of alternative medicines, and others who believe that natural medicine is a matter of “old wives tales” and these old techniques that have no effect at all.

It is difficult to say which is true and which is not. But we are left with something to consider. If alternative medicines do not work, then why have they been around for thousands of years, and why do we still use them? Why do people who use them, survive life threatening diseases? Is it truly just a matter of faith, or is there really something to these alternative medicine techniques? Those questions I will leave you to answer.

Free Iridology Charts

Free Iridology Charts Are Only A Starting Point For This Study

Iridology is the study of the eye and how it relates to the rest of the body. Iridologists believe that the iris of the eye holds clues as to the health status of each and every major organ and system within the human body. To guide them in their pursuit of health screening, many people interested in this field of study seek out free iridology charts.

Free iridology charts are available rather extensively online. These charts serve as the guide for helping iridologists read lesions and anomalies within the eye for clues about the health status of a person.

The best way to obtain free iridology charts is to do a simple Internet search. There are many locations where these charts are offered free for download. The charts alone, however, will not entirely help a person learn the ropes of iridology. There is more to this field of study than simply finding a spot on the eye and then cross checking it with a free iridology chart.

The basic premise behind iridology is that the eye holds key information as to the entire health status of a body. If there is a problem with the heart, for example, there will be a visible marking or lesion within the iris to indicate it. In many cases, these lesions appear even before a person becomes symptomatic. Free iridology charts and more complex charts that are available for purchase map out the eye and show exactly which parts of the iris relate to specific organs within the body.

What iridologists do with iridology charts is pinpoint the location of lesions they’ve found on the eye and then match them up to a specific organ. This form of health screening is simply that, however. It is not considered a diagnostic procedure. Instead, it simply helps guide further study or even preventative measures.

Beyond reading free iridology charts to compare found lesions, iridologists also delve a little deeper. These practitioners believe the different lesions have different meanings. For example, a black marking on the iris might indicate dead or dying tissue. White tends to indicate the presence of inflammation.

Free iridology charts can give those interested in this pursuit an idea of what the science is all about. There is much more to this field of study, however. To properly read charts, iridologists must be able to obtain very clear pictures of a person’s eye and also understand the significance of different lesions, their shapes and even their colors. To obtain proper credentials in the field, many people undergo rather extensive training.

While free iridology charts can help beginners learn more about this field, there is much more to the pursuit. Skilled iridologists often train long and hard to develop the traits necessary to properly screen health.

Diabetes Is More Responsive To Alternative Medicine

You just returned from your doctor’s office, and you are still a little in shock. You knew you had been feeling tired and out of sorts – not like yourself at all. But you had no idea that the doctor would find anything really wrong. Now, it turns out that you have borderline diabetes. The doctor said if you didn’t take care of yourself, it could develop into full-fledged diabetes! You certainly don’t want that. He advised you to watch what you ate, keep a check on your blood sugar, and all should be okay. You didn’t like the sound of that “should”. What should you do? It’s simple. Your pre-diabetes needs more alternative medicine than a change of diet. How about trying herbs?

Diabetes has been around practically since the beginning of time. We haven’t always had allopathic remedies such as insulin to treat it, either. What do you think our ancestors used for diabetes and pre-diabetes, too? That’s right – herbs. A natural diabetes treatment does more as alternative medicine, simply because the herbs are all natural, have few if any side effects, and are extremely effective. The addition of a few of these herbs to your daily regime could make a real difference in how you feel in just a short time.

What are the herbs that can control diabetes more effectively when used as alternative medicine? Here are a few listed below for your information.

• Cayenne
• Cinnamon
• Huckleberry
• Yarrow
• Banaba – A natural plant insulin
• Licorice Extract
• Guggle
• Bitter Melon – Regulates blood sugar
• Juniper Berries
• Vanadyl Sulfate

None of these herbs are especially expensive, and if just one of them helped to keep you from reaching the stage where you had t o have daily insulin injections, it would be well worth whatever price paid.

Of course, it is to the advantage of the pharmaceutical companies and the FDA to keep this information quiet. But, as more and more people learn that diabetes responds more quickly to alternative medicine, you will see natural products like herbs in use more often than not.

Pre-diabetes/borderline diabetes is not anything to take lightly. You should make lifestyle changes and use safe, natural herbal remedies to keep your blood sugar under control. Once you have seen how diabetes responds more efficiently to alternative medicine, it will be a method you’ll want to use as a precaution against the development of Type 2 diabetes. Insulin has its own set of side effects, just like most prescription medications, and can interfere with other prescription drugs that you may have to take because there are no herbal substitutes for them, such as birth control pills. In the case of diabetes, alternative medicine is the safest method for blood sugar management.

Alternative Herbal Medicine In The Modern World

Alternative herbal medicine is gaining popularity with over 80% of the world’s population choosing to use herbs for some aspect of their primary health care according to the World Health Organization. Alternative medicine relies on more than a regular dosage of prescribed herbs for the treatment to be effective. A positive mental attitude, exercise and a proper diet are all essential components of alternative herbal medicine.

Herbal medicines vs. pharmaceutical medicines

Approximately 80% of the traditional pharmaceutical medications on the market today are based on a major active ingredient that is found naturally in an individual herb. Pharmaceutical medications are typically used to treat one specific illness, which can help save a life in an emergency situation. Herbs on the other hand contain numerous minor ingredients that work in conjunction with their one main ingredient. These minor ingredients help support the function of the main ingredient as well as help it get to all parts of the body as needed. Long term use of alternative herbal medicine should be avoided because it can result in the body becoming immune to the herbs in the same way the body can become immune to pharmaceutical medicines. Once the body becomes immune to either a pharmaceutical or herbal medication it will either lose some of its effectiveness or not work at all. There is also a chance that the herbs could build up in the body, the same way pharmaceutical medications can and cause various side effects. Herbal formulations are different from pharmaceutical medications because they consist of combinations of two or more herbal medicines that work together to solve the complete problem. Alternative medicine centers on healing the mind, body and soul, instead of focusing on healing one major illness like pharmaceutical medicines do. This complete solution is one reason why alternative herbal medicine is rapidly gaining popularity.

Alternative herbal medicine solutions – are they right for you?

Even though herbal medicine is gaining popularity today it may not be the right choice for you. The first step in making this decision is to talk to your health care provider. They know your medical history and can advise you on the best solutions. Many traditional health care providers use both alternative and traditional treatments because the role that traditional medicine typically plays is being changed as more people look for a natural approach to healing. In the event your current health care provider does not believe in alternative medicine, it is possible to find a health care provider does. This makes it easier than ever for people who want to use a combination of alternative herbal medicine and prescription drugs to get sound advice from their medical care provider.