Gastronic Dr. promotes healthy digestion and encourages comfort after meals. Helps you avoid gas, upset stomachs and digestive irregularities.

Does Ginger Help with Digestion

An ancient Indian proverb states that everything good is found in ginger. Ginger ale can naturally provide relief from digestive problems. It helps in naturally soothing the digestive tract and is beneficial for treating problems related with acidity. Ginger ale can also help with motion sickness

Ginger has been used for medicinal purposes for centuries, which is most likely how the idea of converting it into a consumable beverage came about. As a medicinal soft drink, ginger ale precedes most of the well-known carbonated sodas originally concocted as digestive aids, such as Coca-Cola® or 7-Up®. As a child you were probably been given a glass of ginger ale when you felt sick to your stomach.

Ginger contains compounds similar to the digestive enzymes found in your digestive tract. Ginger is particularly effective for motion sickness. In fact, studies have shown that it’s even more effective than the prescription drug Dramamine. To head off motion sickness, most herbalists recommend ginger capsules. The standard dosage is 1500 milligrams, taken about 30 minutes before you travel. Ginger is a time-tested remedy for morning sickness, too. A cup of ginger tea or a glass of ginger ale (made from natural ginger and not artificial flavorings) first thing can make mornings much more comfortable. A cup of hot ginger tea can also relieve menstrual cramps.

A lot of people prefer to use ginger, ginger ale or ginger tea to decrease nausea because conventional prescription and nonprescription medicines cause unwanted side effects, such as dry mouth and drowsiness. Given the safety of ginger, many people find it a welcome alternative to these medications to relieve motion sickness.

Studies suggest that ginger can be useful in keeping cholesterol levels under control. Chinese herbalists have used ginger for generations to treat colds and flu. Modern studies confirm that ginger helps kill the influenza virus and helps the immune system wage war on infection. If you feel a cold coming on, try sipping on ginger tea or ginger ale throughout the day.

The ginger ale you buy in the store may not contain enough ginger to help with your digestion or nausea. Also store bought ginger ale can contain sugar and other artificial ingredients you may not want to ingest. This recipe for homemade ginger ale is easy to make and uses Perrier for the carbonation.

Homemade Ginger Ale Digestive Aid

1 large piece ginger root, bruised
1 pint boiling water
1 tablespoon honey
Perrier water as needed

Boil water, add bruised ginger root, and simmer for fifteen to twenty minutes. Strain out root. Add honey and mix well. Combine with Perrier water. Don’t use powdered ginger.

Gastronic Dr. promotes healthy digestion and encourages comfort after meals. A better balanced digestive system means less bouts of diarrhea and gas. The herbs used in Gastronic Dr. have been specifically selected and are suitable to use in conjunction with prescription and over-the-counter medication, if required.

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FDA on Red Yeast Rice

My friend who suffers from high cholesterol was recently prescribed red yeast rice supplements by her doctor. She is very happy to be taking a natural supplement as opposed to a drug.

Historically, red yeast rice has been used in China as both for food and a medicine. The use of red yeast rice in China was first documented in the Tang Dynasty in 800 A.D. It is made by fermenting a type of yeast called Monascus purpureus over red rice. In Chinese medicine, red yeast rice is used to lower cholesterol, promote blood circulation and aid digestive problems.

People with high cholesterol are usually given statin medication to help lower their levels of bad cholesterol or LDL. Research indicates that red yeast rice contains substances that are similar to prescription statin medications. One of these substances, called monacolin K, has the same makeup as the drug lovastatin.

The University of Maryland Medical Center cites several studies that support the ability of red yeast rice to lower cholesterol:

• A 2008 study compared a group of people with high cholesterol who took fish oil and red yeast rice with a group who took a standard dose of simvastatin. The red yeast rice was purchased directly from the manufacturer and contained lovastatin, but at a lower dose than what you would find in the prescription drug. Both groups saw a similar reduction in cholesterol levels.

• One study by the UCLA School of Medicine involved 83 people with high cholesterol levels. Those who received red yeast rice over a 12-week period experienced significantly lower levels of total cholesterol, “bad” LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides (fats in the blood) compared to those taking placebo. “Good” HDL cholesterol levels did not change in either study group.

• A study presented before the American Heart Association also showed that red yeast rice lowered LDL cholesterol. In the first study, 187 people had mild-to-moderate elevations in total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol. The study showed that treatment with red yeast rice reduced total cholesterol by more than 16%, LDL cholesterol by 21%, and triglycerides by 24%. HDL cholesterol also increased by 14%.

• In another 8-week study of 446 people with high cholesterol, those receiving red yeast rice had a significant drop in cholesterol levels compared to those who took placebo. Total cholesterol fell by 22.7%, LDL by 31%, and triglycerides by 34% in the red yeast rice group. HDL cholesterol increased by 20% in the red yeast rice group as well.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the dosage of dietary or supplemental red yeast rice is as high as 6,000 – 9,000 mg per day. But the appropriate dosage for adults may vary, depending on the form of the supplement.

This is not something you should buy over the counter. Due to the 2001 FDA decision, only a doctor may legally prescribe standardized red yeast rice extract. As such, health-food stores now selling this product are doing so illegally. People suffering from high cholesterol and/or heart disease may not be able to use red rice yeast. People with liver disease and those at risk for liver disease should not take red yeast rice. Ask your doctor if red yeast rice if appropriate for your condition.

If you want to know what foods you can eat to help lower your cholesterol see our post Foods To Lower Cholesterol

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Alternative Cancer Therapies

Found this article in Parade Magazine and it gave good information about alternative cancer therapies. I summarized the major points.

More than 70% of cancer patients use complementary and alternative (CAM) medical therapies, according to a study in the journal Cancer. Alternative therapies may include acupuncture, meditation, supplements, hypnosis, homeopathy, prayer and religion.

Years ago alternative medicine was considered ineffective by the medical community and still today you will find some doctors who do not support that type of treatment. Most doctors though are willing to consider it. The American Cancer Society recently released its Complete Guide to Complementary and Alternative Cancer Therapies. The book is to be used as a reference book and details hundreds of alternative therapies including evidence of effectiveness and side effects.

Historical evidence indicates that most patients who use natural remedies are not using them as a cure but for help in handling the side effects of radiation or chemotherapy. Common side effects are nausea, stress, and harm to the immune system.

The Cancer Society guide also covers many therapies for which there is no evidence such as shark cartilage, enzyme therapy and electro-magnetic therapy. Some alternative therapies can be dangerous, according to the guide, for instance chelation therapy, oxygen therapy, and hyperthermia.

Supplements are also detailed in the guide. Medical doctors issue with supplements is that they may interfere with the way your body breaks down chemotherapy drugs. By taking some supplements you could decrease the effectiveness of chemotherapy and even worse create more toxins in your body.

The article ends by advising patients to discuss alternative medicine options with your doctor or oncologists.

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Home Remedies for Diaper Rash

Found these great home remedies at AOL Health Following are a few of the remedies listed with a few of my own remedies added in. If you want to see the complete list follow the link AOL Health.

Home remedies for a headache:

Lay down in a darkened room. You can also take a hot bath using a few drops of lavender essential oil or you can simply inhale the scent of the lavender oil. Alternatively you can rub the area between your thumb and pointer finger, and/or open your mouth wide several times to relieve jaw tension. Headaches can also be caused by dehydration or dehydration can make your headache worse. So make sure to drink plenty of fluids. Drink an electrolyte solution such as Gatorade if you are very dehydrated.

Home remedies for nausea:

Drink lemon water, peppermint tea and/or suck on a peppermint to reduce your stomach pains. You can drink ginger tea or sip ginger ale, but be sure to get the kind with real ginger from a health food store.

Home Remedy for In-Flight Comfort:

Try yawning or chewing food or gum, since this can reduce the pressure on your ears. To prevent the ear pain from occuring you can put hand warmers (like those used for skiing) on your ears before takeoffs and landings and you won’t feel the pain of the pressure change.

Natural Cold Remedies:

For a sore throat gargle warm water with a heaping teaspoon of salt or drink Hot Lemonade

Home remedies for diaper rash:

Coat the rash with a thin layer of vegetable shortening. It will act as a moisturizer and help soothe the rash.

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Drinking peppermint tea will help overcome sore muscles and cramps. You can apply it externally as a wet mash to the area also, as its camphoraceous principles will help relieve the pain according to Pamela Allerdice writing in Natural Remedies A to Z.

Peppermint Tea for Upset Stomach

Peppermint tea will also help pregnant women experiencing nausea but they should only use a mild infusion. Too strong of an infusion can be dangerous when you are pregnant.

Peppermint tea is also good to calm an upset stomach. Peppermint tea (not hot but at room temperature) is also helpful in treating diarrhea and reducing intestinal gas.

Recipe for Peppermint Tea Facial:

Hold your face close to the steam and drape a towel over your head and the bowl rim. After steaming your face for 15 minutes, wipe with dampened cotton wool to remove impurities, then close the pores by splashing cold water.

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Prescription Drug Interactions

I wanted to post about this because many people assume if your taking over-the-counter medication you don’t need to tell your doctor. But pharmacists advise that doctors need to have a complete picture of what you are putting in your body. In other words, you need to tell them what vitamins, herbs and non-prescription drugs you are taking.For instance you may have heard about the interaction between St. John’s Wort and Vioxx an anti-inflammatory drug that was taken off the market in 2004. Serotonin levels became dangerously high for some people who took both these medicines.

To avoid dangerous drug interactions and herbal medicine/drug interactions pharmacists recommend several things:

1. Keep a list of every prescription, supplement and over-the-counter medicine you take.

2. Use one pharmacy to fill all your prescriptions. Using only one pharmacy minimizes the chances of drug interactions by keeping all medication records at one location.

3. Get to know your pharmacist. If your pharmacist doesn’t have time to visit with you, make an appointment so the pharmacist can get a complete picture of all medications, vitamins and over-the-counter medications.

The above information comes from an article which appeared in our local paper. In the article the “Vial Of Life”, a non-profit program that provides a complete picture of all the medicines a patient is taking is mentioned as worthwhile program for those taking multiple medications. Here is how is works:

The list of medications is put in a medicine bottle which is then stored in a home refrigerator or in an automobile for easy access in an emergency. The Web site vialoflife.com provides a printable guide listing medications and a sticker to post in a vehicle or on a refrigerator door. Area emergency medical officials have been trained to look for the sticker when they enter the home of an elderly patient.

Another site, drugs.com offers a drug interaction checker where you can provide the name of a drug to see how it interacts with other medications you take.

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Cucumber Recipes for Natural Skin Care

Cucumbers are usually cheap and readily available. They have an amazing number of uses for natural cures. According to Pamela Allardice writing in her book Natural Remedies A-Z cucumber’s ability to eliminate water from the body makes it very important for those with heart and kidney problems. It also helps dissolve uric acid accumulations such as kidney and bladder stones. Constipation is helped greatly by cucumber salad. The best cucumbers to use are those fully ripe, when starting to turn yellow.

For skin and cosmetic uses, cucumber juice can be applied to the skin as a toning, refreshing lotion, or blended into a cream; it is excellent as an inclusion in any ointment or lotion used for treating burns, chafing or dry or flaking skin.

Recipe for Cucumber Juice:

Wash the cucumbers thoroughly and then cut them, with the skin on, into small pieces.

Put the pieces in an earthen ware or porcelain dish.

Pour enough hot water over them to cover, put over a low heat and let simmer for half an hour or more. Be careful not to burn them.

Strain the mixture through a colander.

Alternative Recipe for Cucumber Juice:

Cut cucumbers into very small pieces.

Mash them to a pulp (you can put them in the blender or food processor)

Squeeze through cheesecloth or a sieve.

This method gives you the pure fresh juice, or essence of cucumber.

Cucumber juice is appears in many beauty care recipes. Here is one for a cleansing tonic, which is also very useful in treating chapped hands.

Recipe for Cucumber Cleanser with Rosewater

90 ml cucumber juice
90 ml distilled water
45 ml rosewater

Combine all ingredients in a lidded jar and shake well to mix. Rub into skin thoroughly, and then rinse with tepid water.

Recipe for Cucumber Cleanser with Milk:

Peel half a cucumber and blend it in the food processor until you have a smooth liquid, then put this through a sieve.

Combine with 250 ml whole milk and blend well.

This will keep well in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

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Gastronic Dr. promotes healthy digestion and encourages comfort after meals. Helps you avoid gas, upset stomachs and digestive irregularities.

Digestive supplements can help your digestive system work at peak efficiency and can help with weight loss. Click on the banner above this text and learn more about digestive supplements.

Digestive Health

“It is estimated that 25 to 50 percent of all digestion-related ailments can be prevented and/ or modified by proper eating, exercise, natural medicines, and lifestyle modifications” says Dr. Anil Manocha, writing in her book Natural Stomach Care. Here is her list of foods that are high in nutritional value, provide medicinal benefits, and help promote sound and healthy digestion:

1. Yogurt – If you don’t like the sour taste try a fruity yogurt or try greek yogurt which is a thicker somewhat sweeter variety.

2. Rice - Unrefined rice comes loaded with fiber, gentle on your gut and is good when you have diarrhea, nausea, or sour stomach. Drinking the water the rice was boiled is also good for stopping diarrhea.

3. Tofu - Tofu is rich in protein and viamins and is reputed to contain a number of anticarcinogenic nutrients. Most people easily digest tofu.

4. Dandelion greens – A great source of vitamin C, dandelion greens and a traditional blood purifier and digestive aid.

5. Sunflower seeds – Sunflower seeds have protein, as well as phosphorus, potassium, and omega-6 fatty acids. Purchase fresh-hulled varieties from natural food stores.

6. Sea Vegetables – Sea vegetables such hijiki, nori, arami, wakame, dulse, and kombu come with almost the entire spectrum of mineral elements needed for human nutrition. They also contain almost all major vitamins, including B vitamins.

7. Miso – A fermented soybean paste that is easily digested. Miso includes powerful digestive agents such as lactic acid bacteria, fermentation molds, and enzymes, its action in the bowels also helps break down foods in a fast and efficient way.

8. Flaxseed oil – Flaxseeds and flaxseed oil strengthen the immune system, regulate blood pressure and stabilize cholesterol. Flaxseed oil helps lubricate the intestines and increases the ease of bowel movements.

9. Tempeh – Because of its high protein content and some vitamin B12, tempeh makes an excellent meat substitute. Unlike tofu, it causes very little intestinal gas.

10. Papaya – Papaya extract is sold at health-food stores and is taken by many people for its healing and stimulating qualities. If you suffer from a bloated or queasy feeling after eating a large meal, eat a papaya and see how fast the feeling goes away.

11. Garlic – In Chinese medicine garlic is used to combat infectious diarrhea, chronic cough, asthma, pneumonia, indigestions, intestinal gas, and skin rashes. Ayurvedic doctors use it for colds, asthma, heart disease, high blood pressure, arthritis and nervous conditions.

12. Turmeric – Turmeric’s antiseptic and antitoxin properties are believed to do their good work without altering the healthy balance of intestinal flora.

13. Bananas - Bananas are highly effective in people with diarrhea, ehlping tilt the balance in the colon in favor if helpful “friendly” bacteria. Dr. Lohsoonthorn and Dr. Danvivia, as reported in the Asian Pacific Journal of Public Health (1995) claim that eating bananas on a regular basis lowers the risk of developing cancer by half. Bananas are also believed to help prevent stroke.

14. Basil – Basil is valued for its anti-infection and soothing properties, and is widely prescribed for coughs, colds, indigestion, diarrhea, arthritis, colic, stress and food poisoning. Dr. S. Singh, in the Indian Journal of Experimental Biology (1999) tell us that the fixed oil of basil posesses significant anti-ulcer properties, especially the type of ulcers produced by aspirin and alcohol abuse. Basil has also been shown to be effective against diarrhea-causing bacteria such as Aeromonas, Escherichia coli, Salmonella, and Shigella.

15. Sage – Sage leaves contain antioxidants and antinflammatory properties, and are expecially useful for relieving menopausal symptoms. Studies show sage combined with alfalfa eliminated hot flashes and night sweating in 2/3 of test subjects.

To boost your digestive system and as a preventative measure consider using a digestive aid such as Gastronic Dr. which keeps your system in balance and supports ongoing health in the entire digestive system and stomach lining.
Regular use of Gastronic Dr. safely supports digestive health and all organs and structures involved in digestion, as well as the mucus membranes of the digestive tract. Additionally, the herbs used in Gastronic Dr. have been specifically selected and are suitable to use in conjunction with prescription and over-the-counter medication, if required. Click on the banner below or at the top of post to get more information.

Gastronic Dr. promotes healthy digestion and encourages comfort after meals. Helps you avoid gas, upset stomachs and digestive irregularities.

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