Critics object to the idea of colonic cleansers because they maintain that the body performs this function without assistance, and attempting to flush the intestines artificially can lead to increased risk of dehydration. Proponents insist that the process of colon cleansing removes harmful toxins from the body and assists in the growth of “good” bacteria in your colon. So who is right?

Some evidence shows that there may be benefits to cleansing your colon. These include the removal of harmful toxins from your intestines, boosting your immune system, enhancing memory function, sharpening mental focus, and increasing metabolic activity. Opponents of the theory insist that the same benefits can be garnered by simply eating more fiber, drinking more water, and getting more exercise.

Colon cleansing may also be beneficial to those experiencing a plateau during weight loss. If you have been losing weight on a healthy diet and exercise plan, and suddenly the numbers on the scale quit moving, a colon cleanse may be helpful in jumpstarting that weight loss process. Many dieters have reported success with the use of colonic cleansers in this way.

If you do plan to try a colon cleansing method, however, take care in choosing a quality product and make yourself aware of the ingredients. While colon cleanse products do not contain pharmaceuticals, some herbal supplements in improper proportions can cause harmful side effects. Also remember to remain well-hydrated throughout the entire cleansing process.

The Airborne that my roommate uses comes in a tablet format that you are supposed to dissolve in 4-6 ounces of hot or cold water. I personally think they taste good without the water (I will admit that I have licked the tablet before putting it in a glass) but that the taste is a little weak when it is dissolved–as if it were water with a small squeeze of lime. However, there are different flavors such as Zesty Orange, Lemon-Lime, Pink Grapefruit, and Very Berry.

What is in Airborne that makes it such an immune system booster? Well this dietary supplement has so much packed into one tablet that I do not even know where to begin. It is a special blend of zinc, ginger, echinacea and 13 other vitamins, minerals and herbs. Some of the vitamins it contains are vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin E. It also contains selenium, manganese, magnesium, riboflavin, amino acids, and more.  It has also been studied by scientific studies and medical journals and has been shown to support the immune system. It is safe and meets the rigorous safety standards of the Dietary Health and Supplement Act (DSHEA) and the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act.

You can get Airborne at a variety of stores such as Walgreens, Walmart, CVS, BJ’s, Costco, Trader Joe’s, and more. The average price for a pack of 12 tablets is seven dollars. It may be mental, but I do believe that Airborne is a great natural way to help boost your immune system when you are starting to feel sick.

For colic, chamomile tea is the best natural remedy you can use; this can relax the intestinal muscle of your baby and help him relax.

A mixture of honey and lemon juice is very good at giving relief to your child’s sore throat that is brought about by cough. Mix a tablespoon of honey with a tablespoon of lemon juice then heat it in the microwave for a few seconds and then let your child take it. This is not advisable for children below 1 year old because honey is not safe for them.

For insect bites, baking soda can be used. Mix baking soda with enough water to make a paste. Apply the paste on the affected area. Baking soda paste is very good at stopping the itching, and it also counteracts the acidic swelling in the bite because of its alkaline content.

Don’t you know that your common duct tape is quite effective in removing warts? Yes, just place a small piece of duct tape on the skin over the wart. Replace the tape whenever it looks viscid. In three to four weeks, the wart should be gone.

If your child has motion sickness, it is good to let him drink ginger tea 30 minutes before travelling. Shred some ginger and add a tablespoon of it into five ounces of boiling water. Let it cool before giving it to your child.

There are many things inside your home that have been proven through time to be natural remedies for minor aches and injuries. But remember that you can rely on these natural home remedies only if you know that the ache or injury is minor. If your child’s condition seems serious, then it is better to contact your doctor.

• Magnesium is a sleep booster, so eating magnesium-rich food during the day can help you sleep better through the night. Dark leafy green vegetables, almonds, cashews, and whole grains all are rich in magnesium. Magnesium supplements also exist.
• You may be familiar with hops as an ingredient in beer, however, hops are also a mild natural sedative. Similar to magnesium, a supplement of 30 to 120 milligrams may ease you to sleep.
• Aromatherapy is one of the many soothing techniques that has been known to lessen insomnia. Lavender, specifically, is a cheap and natural remedy that you can find in many forms. You could buy a naturally-scented lavender infuser or even a lavender-filled pillow!
• One of the most important factors of falling asleep simply is being calm. This aspect will have different solutions for everyone, but many find it helpful to have a warm drink, such as milk or caffeine-free tea, although too much can lead to bathroom stops during the night. Yoga and meditation are techniques that may take extra time, but have been known to provide a deeper sleep and leave one feeling even better in the morning.
• Valerian is a natural and effective sleep aid that has been proven to work. Taking 200 to 800 milligrams before sleep has helped many former insomniacs and is better than medicines because it allegedly does not trigger the “hangover” effect that is common. However, the FDA does not regulate herbal supplements, so finding an effective formula of valerian root may take some searching. There currently is no standardized formula.
• Last but not least, cut out the caffeine in your diet. (Perhaps the easiest concept, but hardest to actually follow through with.)

Allow me to begin by setting the scene. It’s 7:17pm in Boston, Massachusetts, in snowy wintry conditions. The plane should have left two minutes ago, but we’re still boarding because it’s being catered. It’s 7:47—we’re still sitting on the plane; hey, at least we’re on the plane, right? Well, now it’s 9:00, and they are finally telling us that we are waiting for the cargo to be loaded but that this is taking forever because it is so icy. Okay, so it’s 10:00pm, and we’ve been de-iced, but now we’re being taxied back to the gate to check a load? Right, so if we had left at 7:15, would we be turning in the air at this point to go check a load? Okay, okay, 11:00pm, we’re ready to go again, it’s okay, though, because it stopped snowing, so we won’t have to de-ice again, but wait, we can’t go, because a passenger is sick and needs to be deplaned.

People, please fly healthy.

The key point to remember is to eat well before your flight and to stay hydrated. Make sure to drink water, before, during, and after your flight. Commercial flights have low humidity, even lower than the Sahara desert. Avoid alcohol the day before you fly. Eating will keep your energy up, your blood sugar normal, and you’ll be able to fall asleep faster. Also, if food is offered on the plane, you may not like it, recognize it, or you may find out that you cannot stomach it. Bring munchies!

Remember to pack vital medications. Also, wear comfortable clothing and shoes and bring as little carry-on baggage as possible. Planes’ temperatures can vary widely so dress in layers, I know I found myself frequently putting on or taking off my sweatshirt. In your carry-on, you should pack for a situation where you’re left without your baggage for a night.

To be really safe, wipe down your armrests with antibacterial wipes, and wash your hands. Don’t sit next to someone who is sick, and make sure to plan for some rest time after your flight.

Good luck!

]]> http://www.healtheagle.com/plane-health/feed/ 2 http://www.healtheagle.com/garlic-natures-remedy/ http://www.healtheagle.com/garlic-natures-remedy/#comments Tue, 23 Sep 2008 12:14:04 +0000 Lisa Stauber http://www.healtheagle.com/?p=157 Garlic has long been prized as a natural remedy. Garlic contains allicins, which have natural antibiotic properties. It doesn’t just ward off vampires, it can kick out a cold and cure an ear infection! It’s tasty, cheap, and generally safe for home use. Health Eagle has discussed garlic and heart health before, and now we offer you some old fashioned home remedies, as well.

Can garlic cure the common cold? Many researchers are now saying chicken soup will help you survive a cold, and garlic has been fingered as the reason why. An old home remedy for coughs is to crush one clove of fresh garlic into a spoonful of honey or vinegar. Take in the morning, and then again at night. You should be sniffle free in a day or so.

The honey does a good job of masking the taste, but you still shouldn’t try it on an empty stomach. The vinegar will take some of the bite out of garlic. Take your pick – sweet or sour!

Another effective home remedy, supported only by decades of anecdotal evidence, is garlic oil. To make garlic oil, simply put some olive oil in a pan, and crush a few cloves of garlic into it. Gently heat the mixture and cook for a few minutes, then let it cool and steep for several hours. Strain the oil and keep it in the fridge. Garlic oil is used topically on fungal infections, such as athlete’s foot, or as ear drops to cure an earache. It’s pretty potent stuff, so don’t use it on broken skin or if you have eczema!

Eating garlic seems to be helpful as well, so if you do get a scratchy throat or drippy nose, make some garlic bread, a plate of pasta, and feel better soon!

]]> http://www.healtheagle.com/garlic-natures-remedy/feed/ 4 http://www.healtheagle.com/know-what-pill-youre-popping/ http://www.healtheagle.com/know-what-pill-youre-popping/#comments Thu, 18 Sep 2008 17:00:03 +0000 Lisa Stauber http://www.healtheagle.com/?p=148 In our modern age, it seems there is a pill for everything. Unfortunately, many times these pills have side effects – and we don’t always save all of the fine print we get from the pharmacist.

Is your dry mouth related to the antibiotics, or a new symptom? Can you drink milk with your statin medication? Can you take your anti-inflammatory with your iron supplement?

What about herbal remedies and vitamins? You can purchase these over the counter, but the FDA doesn’t require them to be labeled the same way prescription medications are. It’s also possible that the ginger you are taking for gout will work against the ulcer medication you’re taking for heartburn.

Fortunately, any information you need is a simple mouse-click away. Most major pharmaceutical companies have websites full of information, and even interactive forms for reporting adverse reactions.  Some sites have a good amount of human growth hormone information.

Be an informed consumer, and bookmark this list of links when you need to check out your supplements and medications!

RxList – A large database of prescription medications, it also includes a “pill identifier” button. Click on “Consumer” for information; “Advanced Consumer” will give you the actual chemical structure and other details directed towards professionals.

Vitamin Encyclopedia – This is a commercial site but has loads of information on all things vitamin, including recommended daily allowances, therapeutic doses, and symptoms of overdose. It’s easy to navigate by vitamin or mineral name. The only drawback is each vitamin page contains links to purchase related products at the bottom; be a savvy consumer and do plenty of research before purchasing vitamins and supplements!

Herbal Encyclopedia - Similar to the Vitamin Encyclopedia, and also includes lists of dangerous interactions.

Drugs.com – The most comprehensive and easy to use of all prescription sites. Also contains a drug interaction checker, news, pill identifier, and more.

There are a lot of treatments available for hair loss in the market today. It would be a good idea to seek natural remedies first, if your condition is still at its early stages, though. Natural remedies can be effective in restoring hair without the side effects of medications. Here are some natural remedies for hair loss:

Massage your scalp with uncooked egg yolk. Leave it on your scalp for about an hour before rinsing.

Soak fenugreek in a hot pot of water throughout nighttime. When you wake up, massage this liquid into your scalp and wrap it with cloth. Leave it there for 2-3 hours; repeat this procedure everyday for a month for best results.

Rub olive oil on the scalp daily to reduce hair loss

Boil one cup of water and add one teaspoon of mustard seed. Cook the mixture for five minutes before letting it become cool enough to drink.

Smear castor oil on the hair roots, but be careful not to put too much on the hair. Wrap your hair in a newspaper and leave overnight before rinsing in the morning.

Mix two tablespoon of rosemary oil and olive oil. Add the juice of one lemon and one egg yolk. Then apply to the hair roots for about 30 minutes before rinsing.

Boil some rosemary leaves, strain, and then store the liquid in a glass bottle. Use this liquid to wash your hair daily. You also can put this liquid into a sprayer, so you can use it every morning on your hair.

]]> http://www.healtheagle.com/natural-remedies-for-hair-loss/feed/ 1 http://www.healtheagle.com/back-to-school-wellness/ http://www.healtheagle.com/back-to-school-wellness/#comments Tue, 19 Aug 2008 13:00:16 +0000 Lisa Stauber http://www.healtheagle.com/?p=116 Kids are going back to school this week, and that means the germs will be spreading. You don’t have to spend the first few weeks nursing summer colds, however. Prevention is the key!

• Wash your hands. You’ve heard it before, and you’ll hear it again. The single most effective way to prevent the spread of germs is to wash your hands. Antibacterial soap isn’t necessary; it’s the mechanical action of the scrubbing along with the surfactants in soap that rinse the germs down the drain.

• Sanitize. Most back to school supply lists now require hand sanitizer for classroom use. Small bottles on key chains or clips are a great idea for attaching to backpacks and lunchboxes, as well. Get everyone in the habit of rubbing some on before they eat, and when they get on and off the school bus.

• Cover Your Mouth. Coughing and sneezing spray millions of viruses and bacteria into the air, and anyone nearby will be inhaling germ soup. Love thy neighbor, and keep the snot to yourself.

• But Not With Your Hands. Teach your children not to cough on their hands, and you will drastically minimize the germ spreading in your home. They can cough into their elbows or inner arms, in order to cover their mouths.

• Go herbal. There is evidence that herbs such as Echinacea can enhance immune system response, if taken for short periods. Garlic is also reported to prevent illness, and Vitamin C and zinc are well known helps for shortening sickness.

• Get to the pharmacy. Nowadays, there are many over the counter preventatives and cures. Airborne isn’t just for plane trips and can keep you well when everyone else is sick; you might check out the stock of cough drops while you’re at it!

It is unfortunate that despite garlic’s seemingly huge potential, the evidence of its effectiveness is mixed. In a 2007 study, three garlic formulations were tested and compared to see which was most helpful in lowering cholesterol levels. The researchers concluded that none of the three were effective enough in lowering cholesterol levels.

However, it is important to take note that this recent study contradicts earlier ones that prove garlic can lower cholesterol over the short term and that it might have potential heath benefits, including slowing the advancement of coronary artery disease and even lowering blood pressure. The benefits of garlic are still being hotly debated because of the conflicting test results. Therefore, there is no consensus as to whether garlic supplements should be prescribed.

Despite that lack of concrete research study, a lot of people have testified to the benefits of garlic. It is a good thing that garlic has no known side effects, so patients who want to try this herbal alternative may do so without any problems. But similar to any other herb or food supplement, the patient needs to be sure that garlic will not interact adversely with other prescription drugs.

Canada is the country where an ancient blue-flowering crop is exclusively cultivated. The flax plant produces a fiber. From this fiber linen is woven. There is an edible seed and from this seed flax oil can be extracted. This seed contains heart healthy omega-3 fatty acids. The flax seed has alpha-linolenic acid which is not exactly the same as the omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil. The body however can convert alpha-linolenic acid from flaxseed oil to the same type of omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil.

The flax plant contains mucilage gum which is a soluble fiber. It is similar to the fiber that is in oat bran. This mucilage gum is what lowers blood levels of cholesterol. Many research studies have indicated a reduction in the bad cholesterol called LDL. Triglyceride levels were also lowered. Decreasing these two lipid has a connection to lessen the risk of cardiovascular disease. Platelets may also become less sticky which would reduce the risk of a heart attack.

In the flax plant is a chemical called lignans. This is a plant estrogen that is believed to limit the bodies production of estrogen and testosterone. It has been shown that in some cases estrogen and testosterone can stimulate the growth of certain cancers such as cancer of the prostate and breast cancer. Before using flax oil or flax seed, breast cancer patients who are taking the drug tamoxifen should consult their physician.

Of course, it is prudent to ask your doctor about any supplement you plan on taking to discover if you have any health issues that would effect that choice. It has been found in animal studies that when flaxseed was given to pregnant rats the birth weight of their male babies was lowered.

Most Americans eat enough Omega-6, or linoleic acid, but often it is not converted to a usable form because of metabolic problems caused by diets rich in sugar, alcohol, or trans-fats from processed foods. Omega-6 is found in found in supplements such as evening primrose oil, borage oil or black current seed oil.

Pregnant and/or lactating women should consult a physician before using this or any other supplement. This product is not intended for use by people under the age of 18. Keep out of reach of children. Consult your doctor before taking this product if you are any prescription medications and/or blood thinners, if you have a bleeding disorder, or if you plan to have or have recently had surgery. Discontinue use if any adverse reactions occur. Side effects may include rash, upset stomach and/or headache.

A study at Harvard University which was a 10 double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study concluded that fish oil supplementation resulted in a highly significant decrease in the number of tender joints and a significant shortening in the duration of morning stiffness among rheumatoid arthritis patients.

In 1960, two Danish scientists, Jorn Dyerberg and H.O. Bang, traveled to Greenland. They discovered that although Eskimos ate a lot of fat they didn’t suffer heart problems. They found that the high amount of fish in their diets protected the Eskimo’s hearts.

Fish oil has been found to benefit the heart in the following ways: favorably alters the balance of blood fats, reduces blood clotting, improves blood flow and lessens irregular heart beat patterns.

Fish oil is derived from the flesh of fatty fish such as salmon and from the livers of white fish, such as cod and halibut.  (These fish are often referred to as being as white as dental veneers.)