07.06.09
Heath Matters July 09
HEALTH
MATTERS
SCIENCE AND SUPPELEMENTS
ARE YOU GETTING ENOUGH CALCIUM—CHECK OUT THESE BENEFITS
Calcium and Weight Loss: According to Dr. Oz, people who got enough calcium excreted twice as much fat daily as those who did not. He stated that the average person gets 500 mg. a day and should get 1200 mgs. with menopausal women needing 1600 mgs daily. This means supplements of calcium would greatly help most people maintain or reach their ideal weights more easily.
Beware of calcium supplements made of calcium carbonate, sometimes called “dolomite.” Calcium carbonate is ground up rock bull-dozed from the earth—hardly something that should be used as a food source as the human body was not designed to be able to digest rocks! Hard-to-digest calcium supplements can cause kidney stones, bones spurs, etc.
Additionally, if you are 38 years old or older, you will have much better calcium absorption if you take your calcium with PDA, a source of hydrochloric acid which greatly improves the absorption of all minerals. As we age, we produce less and less hydrochloric acid and supplementation becomes more necessary for the best mineral absorption.
Symposium Details Calcium-Vitamin D Fracture Potential. At the European Symposium on Calcified Tissue that took place in Vienna, researchers suggested that daily consumption of both calcium and vitamin D was linked to a 20 per cent fall in the rates of hip damage in older people. Read article at nutraingredients.com
Nature’s Sunshine offers the following quality calcium products:
Skeletal Strength, a 1/1 blend of calcium and magnesium, # 1806-7
Calcium Plus Vitamin D, a 2/1 blend of calcium and magnesium plus Vitamin D, #1675-0
Calcium-Magnesium, Synerpro, a 2/1 blend of calcium and magnesium plus Vitamin D, zinc, boron, and, copper in the Synerpro blend of cruciferous vegetables, # 3194-9
CA, ATC Concentrate, blend of herbs that are high in calcium and very easy to absorb—100% natural food product, # 826-3
PDA, hydrochloric acid plus pepsin to improve absorption of the above products
Creating an Herbal First Aid Kit for Illnesses and Emergencies
by Steven Horne, RH(AHG)
Accidents, illnesses and emergencies are a part of life. They happen to everyone. Some people might think that this is only due to “negative” thinking, but most people who promote positive thinking don’t deny that we go through difficult times; they just teach that we should look on even our difficulties in a positive light. We do this by seeing them as opportunities for growth.
In that vein, I’ve always thought that being prepared for emergencies is a good idea. Part of this is training. Everyone should have some basic first aid training and know how to handle common injuries. I also think that everyone should be able to handle common illnesses, which is why I wrote my Dr. Mom-Dr. Dad Course. (For more information on this course, go to www.treelite.com).
In this course, I offer some suggestions for an herbal first aid kit. Here they are:
A General Activator or Stimulant
You want to have at least one herb or formula which you can administer which stimulates the energy of the body. You use this at the first sign of colds, flu or other acute illness and administer it in small, frequently repeated doses to stimulate the system to remove the disease. I think Capsicum or HCP-X are the best choices, but ginger will also do.
An Antispasmodic Herb or Formula
An antispasmodic relaxes muscle cramps or spasms and can be used to ease pain, relax the body during anxiety attacks and stress, ease asthma attacks, and relieve tension headaches. Lobelia is my favorite remedy here although Blue Vervain or CBG extract could also be used.
An Immune Stimulant
It’s good to have something to stimulate the immune system. This can be used for fighting infections, but it can also be used for prevention. Take the remedy when colds or flu are going around to “immunize” yourself and your loved ones. Ultimate Echinacea and Immune Stimulator are good for this purpose, but you can use any herbal product that stimulates the immune system.
A Natural Antibiotic
I always keep raw garlic on hand to use as a natural antibiotic for fighting infections. For long term storage, I also keep Garlic Oil and High Potency Garlic in my home health care kit. Silver Shield has also found a permanent home in my first aid kit, both the liquid and the gel.
An Astringent
It’s a good idea to keep at least one astringent in your home health care kit. Astringents can be used to arrest bleeding and other discharges. They are useful for diarrhea, bee stings and insect bites and gargles for a sore throat. My personal favorites are yarrow, bayberry and white oak bark. Yarrow is particularly good because it is also a valuable remedy for fevers.
Activated Charcoal
As I said last issue, Activated Charcoal is a vital remedy that should be in everyone’s home. I especially believe every home that ever has small children in it should have some activated charcoal on hand for use in case of poisoning. It lasts forever, so there is no worry about it going bad on you.
A Blend of Topical Analgesic Essential Oils
I don’t know where I’d be without my Tei Fu oil. It has to be one of the most useful remedies I’ve ever found. It can be applied topically to ease the pain of sore muscles, to reduce swelling in bug bites and bee stings and to aid headaches, sore throats, sinus and respiratory congestion and a whole lot more.
A Shock-Relieving Flower Remedy
The classic here is Dr. Bach’s Rescue Remedy, but NSP’s Distress Remedy is even better as I explained in the last issue.
An Expectorant and Decongestant
Although HCP-X and Lobelia all have an expectorant and decongestant action, it is best to have a formula that is more specific to clearing excess mucus from the lungs and sinuses. AL-J is my favorite.
Aloe Vera Gel
A high quality aloe vera gel is useful to keep on hand for burns, sunburn, abrasions and other skin irritations, such as NSP’s Aloe Vera Gel. Herbal Trim is even better as it contains some Tei Fu oil and other ingredients.
Arnica
Arnica is one of the best remedies for treating bruises, sprains and other related injuries. Nature’s Sunshine’s Healing AC Cream is a great remedy that contains both arnica and calendula.
An Anti-Viral Formula
My favorite is VS-C. This is something you can use for chicken pox, measles, cold sores, herpes and other viral infections.
A Carminative
Carminatives are used to relieve gas, bloating and colic. Catnip and Fennel is a great choice, especially for families with young children.
Nature’s Fresh Liquid Enzymes
Although this is supposed to be a stain and odor remover (and it’s a very good one), it also makes a great first aid spray for injuries, sunburn and many other problems.
Non-Herbal Supplies
You will also want to keep an assortment of bandages, gauze pads and other dressings for wounds in your home health care kit. I also include a pair of tweezers and a needle for extracting slivers, a pocket utility knife, a small pair of scissors, an elastic bandage for sprained ankles and related injuries, an emergency flashlight and radio, and a couple of “space blankets” as an emergency way to cover someone in shock and keep them warm.
Having a kit like this (and knowing how to use it) brings me great peace of mind because I know I’m prepared for illness, injuries and emergencies.
(Lisa Marie Petty of Natural Healing; wishes to thank Steven Horne for this excellent article)
Natural Healing Solutions
Lisa Marie Petty
6050 N. Native Way
Flagstaff, AZ 86004
928 853-2673 Fax 928 526-9087
