Saw Palmetto Leaves

Probably the most commonly heard of herb to use for the prostate is saw palmetto. A native of North America, this plant has leaves arranged in large fans. Its berries are an accepted treatment for BPH in many countries all over the world. They can be used in capsules or teas to help shrink an enlarged prostate and relieve BPH symptoms. Saw palmetto has been found to act as a 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor, the same as some popular prescription medications used today. Saw palmetto will not shrink the prostate as well as those medications; however, it does come pretty much side-effect free, something those drugs cannot brag about.

Nettle is another common herb used for the prostate. Germany, which is ahead of the United States in its use of herbs over drugs for many ailments, has used this herb for prostate cancer and BPH treatments. The leaves and root can be used and it is most likely another side-effect free herb.

Bark from the pygeum tree is used for BPH also. Use this in teas to help shrink the prostate and relieve symptoms.

Pumpkin seeds and blooms are known for their use as a tonic for the healthy functioning of the prostate. Add these to formulas used for BPH or other prostate problems.

Generally, herbs used in urinary formulas also help with prostate infections. Such herbs which can be used are uva ursi leaf, corn silk, bladderwrack, and juniper berry. Add these herbs together in mixes for their combined benefits. Pau d’arco is especially helpful in formulas for prostate cancer as it has anticarcinogenic properties.

It is best to see your medical physician for any prostate ailment diagnoses, and always inform your physician of any herbs you are taking or are thinking of taking for remedies.

Thiamine (vitamin B) is a great flea deterrent and is the active ingredient in brewer’s yeast we hear so much about. A small amount can be mixed into their food daily or dusted onto their fur by itself or in an herbal flea powder mix.

Garlic, one of our favorite heart-healthy herbs, is also great for flea prevention. Add a small amount of this to their food also. Be prepared for garlic breath!

Apple cider vinegar is another frequently seen ingredient in herbal formulas. Mix other flea-deterring herbs with this and use as a spray on your pet’s fur.

Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare), with its licorice-like taste, is the bane of a flea’s existence. They hate fennel with a passion. Plant plenty of this in your garden and around your pet’s kennel. Place fresh or dried fennel inside their bedding and use dried in an herbal flea powder mix.

Pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium) is another good herb to keep around. The oil is used as a repellent for mosquitos and other flying insects and is great to deter fleas also. Powdered pennyroyal can be placed inside your pet’s bedding and used in herbal flea powder mixes. Do not use pennyroyal on pregnant pets.

Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia/officinalis) is another great all-around bug repellent. The powder and oil can be used in herbal flea powders or shampoos or sprayed or placed into bedding.

Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus) oil is a popular addition to respiratory ailment products and is useful in deterring fleas and will kill them also. Use in shampoos or in bedding.

Peppermint (Mentha piperita) is a favorite herb for its digestive help and flavoring in teas and candies. It is also another great addition to your herbal flea powder/spray and inside bedding.

Rosemary (Rosemary officinalis), another herb used for its digestive help, can be used fresh, dried, powdered, or as an essential oil in bedding, powder dusting, and in shampoo rinses.

Other helpful herbs to add to your natural flea powders and shampoos:  Rue, catnip, wormwood, chamomile, calendula, rose (petals), and sage. Avoid getting the herbs into your pet’s eyes. All of these can be used a couple of times a week or daily for bad infestations. A healthy pet is less vulnerable to fleas, so be sure to feed a good balanced diet, have plenty of fresh water available, and make sure they get plenty of exercise.

1 tablespoon dried lemon balm leaves
1 tablespoon dried lavender flowers
1 tablespoon dried catnip leaves
1 tablespoon dried passionflower leaves
1 to 2 tablespoons dried chamomile flowers

1 fresh sprig of mint (any kind) – optional

Mix together all of the dried herbs. To make the tea, use 1 to 2 teaspoons of the mixture and add a fresh sprig of mint. Steep for about 10 minutes. Add sweetener if desired, although this tea has a very good flavor on its own.

Squirrel Stealing Bird Seed

I don’t mind the squirrels out in my yard at all – I like to watch their antics during the day. However, I’ve acquired a couple of particularly stubborn ones who have figured out how to trick my “squirrel-proof” bird feeders and they seem to want to eat out of those no matter how much food I throw out for them on the ground. I even tried adding cayenne pepper to the seed, which I’ve read doesn’t affect the birds, and that doesn’t even bother them.

I finally found a proven way to keep these squirrels off my feeders. A good mix of cooking oil (I use sunflower oil, but any will do) with some water sprayed onto the feeder poles every couple of days or so does the trick. A mix of one part water and three parts oil in a regular spray bottle is good. Now I get a laugh out of watching them slide down the poles and there’s no harm done.

This is the same mixture I use in my natural “WD-40” recipe:  http://herbsaregreener.com/2009/04/30/homemade-natural-wd-40-type-product/

Keep a bottle of this on hand for an economical and environmentally friendly solution to those squeaky door hinges and as a quick fix to keep those squirrels off your feeders.

• whole wheat bagel
• soy or regular cream cheese, flavor of choice depending on fillings
• alfalfa sprouts or any other sprout of choice
• tomato slices, lettuce leaves, cucumber slices, or any other veggie or fruit slices of choice
• various seeds such as sunflower, optional
• salt, pepper, or other herbs and spices of choice

Toast the bagel as desired. Spread cream cheese on both slices. Add the fillings to taste. For a veggie bagel, add tomato and cucumber or even go wild and add slices of squash, radishes, etc. For a fruit bagel, add slices of various fruit such as strawberries, pineapple, and berries. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different seasonal variations and add lots of fillings to help get your daily veggie/fruit servings.

One popular treatment as a preventative measure is the use of bee pollen. You’ll see varying opinions in your research on whether or not it matters where the bee pollen comes from or what kind of pollen the bee was collecting, but some swear by this to help lessen or prevent symptoms. It is recommended that you try just a few pollen granules at first, then gradually work your way up to a full dose to watch out for reactions. Around 1 to 2 teaspoons of the granules (about 4-8 capsules if you make them yourself) should be used daily. You can find bee pollen in health food stores.

The use of honey itself is also touted as a remedy for allergies for the same reasons as bee pollen. Be sure to look for local honey and it wouldn’t hurt to use raw honey. Add to teas or other foods or just take spoonfuls everyday.

Quercetin is another popular remedy and you will often see this in allergy supplement combinations. Quercetin is a chemical found in apples and black tea and it may help to prevent the release of histamine by the body. It is best used in supplement form for full effect and taken on an empty stomach. Quercetin may also be helpful in preventing hives from occurring. Recommended doses are around 200 to 400 mg several times daily.

Nettle leaf is an herb which has been used as an old folk remedy for allergies. It has anti-inflammatory qualities and may help reduce congestion. Nettle can be used in herbal teas or in capsules.

The addition of B6, B12, vitamin C, and niacin supplementation in an allergy sufferer’s diet are also recommended. Niacin itself may help reduce histamine, while vitamins B6, B12, and C help support the body during reactions. Be sure to add these to your daily regimens, especially around allergy season.

There are other things you can do to help prepare yourself for allergy season. Begin a fasting or detoxification program a couple of weeks or so before you would normally start to experience symptoms. This may help prepare your body by getting rid of toxins and starting you out with a clean slate. For those suffering from food allergies and sensitivities, certain foods may crossreact with certain pollens (such as being allergic or sensitive to wheat – in the grass family – may cause you to crossreact with grass pollen spring through fall). Research the food families your allergens are in and check to see if you should be more careful with your diet at certain times of the year.

There is natural relief for headaches

Headaches are one of the most common ailments people seek treatment for and come in different forms such as tension, sinus, and migraine headaches. They can be caused by stress, lack of sleep, not enough fluids, eye strain, diet, allergies, and many other factors such as precursors to illnesses and diseases. There are many ways to treat them by going a more natural route.

Trying to figure out the source of your headache is very helpful in treating it. If you suspect a dietary issue, keeping a food journal may help determine what you need to avoid in order to prevent them in the first place. Some people get headaches triggered by dairy products, wheat, chocolate, or other foods they are sensitive or allergic to. Sometimes doing a body cleanse will help by getting rid of toxins causing headaches. If you are dealing with a migraine, lying down in a dark quiet room may be helpful. For stress, relaxing the mind and creating inner calm may do wonders for headache relief. Take time to unwind, do some yoga, meditate, take up a relaxing hobby, or go for a walk.

There are also many natural remedies helpful in preventing and treating headaches. Below are some of the more common ones:

Basil acts as a mild sedative and can be useful for headaches caused by stress.

Black birch leaves have anti-inflammatory and analgesic qualities and are helpful for relieving headaches.

Black cohosh has sedative, nervine, and anti-inflammatory properties. It is great for relieving tension headaches.

Chamomile

Chamomile is a calmative, nervine, and sedative. Having anti-inflammatory properties, chamomile helps relieve headaches along with nervous tension, making it great for headaches induced by stress. It is a great addition to herbal teas, and is also useful for helping to calm the body for sleep.

Feverfew has been widely studied as a migraine headache preventative. It has analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties and must be taken for a few months to show its effectiveness, so don’t consider this herb a quick fix. Chew one or two leaves a day. Do not use if pregnant. Feverfew also causes allergies for a lot of people.

Lemon balm leaves have mild sedative properties and are especially helpful in treating tension headaches.

Peppermint is good for headaches caused by stress as it helps to relax. Add this to herbal tea mixtures.

Rosemary is a nervine and anti-inflammatory herb. Add this to herbal teas to relieve headaches.

Sage has sedative properties and may help relieve tension headaches.

Skullcap has sedative and nervine properties. This is another great herb for tension headaches.

Valerian root is one of my favorite herbs for really bad headaches which are hard to get rid of. It has sedative, nervine, and calmative qualities and acts as an herbal Valium with side effects or chance of addiction.  It is very effective against tension and migraine headaches. Valerian should only be used once a day and for no longer than a couple of weeks at a time. Valerian can be added to herbal teas, although it has a really strong smell a lot of people can’t take, so it is best taken in capsule form.

The bark of white willow is well known for containing salicin, the source for aspirin. It is one of the most helpful herbs for pain relief and reducing inflammation. White willow bark is great for headaches.

So is it safe to feed them any type of fruit and vegetable and in any form? Not exactly. Dogs have shorter intestines and don’t digest produce as well as humans, so it is best to only feed produce as a fifth to a quarter of their meals. It is also best to feed produce cooked, which will help make them easier to digest. However, giving a carrot or celery stick or a slice of apple as a treat instead of fattening dog bones is okay. Just don’t overdo it. It’s always best to start off with very small amounts to see how your pet will react. The following should NEVER be fed to dogs as they are toxic:

Cherry or peach pits or apple seeds. Dogs will swallow these, but they are toxic, so it’s best to just give chunks of the fruit already pitted or seeded.

Avocados, tomatoes, grapes, and raisins are toxic. They should never be given to dogs.

Onions and garlic contain a chemical called thiosulphate which will cause anemia in dogs. Never give these in any form. This includes onion and garlic flavorings in “people” food, so these processed foods should never be given.

When most people start a diet, they drastically change their eating habits in a way they’ll never be able to keep up long term, sometimes practically starving themselves in the process. Instead of making sudden drastic changes, start making smaller changes which you will be able to continue in order to maintain a healthy way of living. Cut out caffeine and sugar-loaded sodas by gradually adding fresh fruit-flavored water and decaffeinated coffee or herbal teas to your regimen. Add an extra vegetable or two to your meals, or even add vegetarian meals to your week. Instead of telling yourself you will never again eat a slice of chocolate cake, just be sensible and lower your portions. Even better, if you can, substitute more fresh fruit when you feel the craving for something sweet, maybe strawberries dipped in dark chocolate, and gradually work towards eating more fruit, less white sugar products altogether. Just making small changes such as these can cut out a lot of empty calories without any effort. And don’t forget to add in some daily exercise. You might just find yourself losing weight without having to spend time logging calories and paying for diet programs you’ll stop using within a few months.

Look at your health. Are you taking vitamins regularly? Do you load your body up with medications for simple ailments which could be treated with natural remedies? If you suffer from leg cramps at night causing loss of sleep, look into adding a magnesium and calcium supplement before bedtime – both act as mild sedatives, are a great combination for the cramps, and are much healthier than taking sleep aids or pain relievers every night. Have a sore throat? Use honey or slippery elm instead of chemical-laden throat drops. Have pollen allergies? Try using bee pollen to build up your resistance. Maybe your headaches are caused by an irregular eating schedule – change your eating habits and don’t let yourself skip meals. Making sensible changes may improve your health and save money in the long run.

Next, work on your well being. Are you so stressed you can’t sleep at night and rarely take time for yourself? Look at your schedule and habits and see if there is a way to reduce the tension and take back your life. Chances are there are things cluttering your day that you can change or get rid of entirely. Maybe you have dozens of newsletters coming into your E-mail in-box you just don’t have time to read, or magazine subscriptions just gathering dust. Stop subscriptions you just don’t care about or set up another E-mail account to use just for that purpose, saving you time and money.  Do you end up making too many trips to the grocery store every week just because you never write down things you run out of and then forget to buy them? Put a grocery list somewhere handy and try to keep the list updated. Be sure to take breaks during the day, even if only for 15 minutes, to meditate, read, play with your dog, go for a walk, or just sit outside and stare at nature. It’s amazing how a short break can revitalize you and give you energy to complete your work or chores. Take some time to read at night before bed and listen to soothing CDs such as ocean waves or classical music, or do gentle stretches or yoga to help relax your mind and clear it from the chaos of your day.

Instead of making resolutions this year, resolve to NOT make resolutions you can’t keep. Instead think of the New Year as a time to begin a new healthier way of living.

Celery is a nervine and sedative. The seeds can be used to make an herbal tea to help relieve depression symptoms.

Chamomile Flowers

Chamomile is a popular herb for relaxation. Taken as a tea, the flowers help to reduce depression and anxiety, calm and relieve nervousness, and improve digestion. Drink a cup of chamomile tea with lavender and honey before bedtime to help with insomnia.

Lavender is another popular herb used for its calming and sedative properties. The flowers can be used to make a tea and can be mixed with other herbs such as chamomile to help with insomnia. It also helps to relieve tension and depression.

Lemon balm leaves can also be used in herbal teas. This herb has calmative and sedative properties and helps to relieve depression, tension, and digestive issues.

Motherwort is a nervine and helps relieve nervousness and tension. It may also help with insomnia.

Passion Flower

Passion flower is considered a mild sedative. The flowers are used in herbal teas to help relieve insomnia, anxiety, and digestive issues.

Pennyroyal is a stimulant and mild sedative. The leaves of this herb are usually used to make an oil which is used in aromatherapy. It can help with digestive issues and tension. Pennyroyal should never be used during pregnancy as the oil can stimulate the uterus and cause contractions.

Sprigs of Fresh Rosemary

Rosemary is a nervine and can help treat depression and headaches.

Sage has sedative properties and be used in herbal teas to help relieve tension.

Skullcap is known as a nervine and sedative. When anxiety strikes, it can help to calm and relax and relieve insomnia.

St. John’s Wort is probably the most well known herb for depression. It is even approved and frequently prescribed by doctors in Germany. This perennial herb is used to relieve depression that is considered mild to moderate only.

Valerian is a sedative and nervine useful for insomnia and anxiety. Valerian should never be used more than once a day or for longer than a couple of weeks at a time.