Amazingly Simple Natural Cough Remedies You Can Make at Home

By Liz Alderson

There are many natural cough remedies you can make at home.

I'm going to show you how to use items you might already have in your store cupboard and garden, or can easily buy at the supermarket to make your own cough medicine.

You may be concerned about the chemicals that over the counter cough remedies put in your body - I know I am - and of course, if you have children, you will be even more worried about what you give them.

I think a natural remedy is always preferable and can be just as effective.

Many over the counter remedies are based on traditional remedies but are full of preservatives and chemicals.

So here's 3 natural cough remedies you will be able to use safely.

The first is honey and garlic.

Simply chop up a garlic clove and mix it with a teaspoon of honey - then swallow it!

The second is my particular favourite.

Honey and sage.

Sage has many healing properties and is widely used in herbal medicine - it's an essential in your medicinal herbal garden as well as your culinary.

Simply take about 6 sage leaves and crush them lightly in your hand to begin the release of the essential oils. Pop them into the bottom of a cup or mug.

Take some boiled water - just off boiling point and pour over the leaves.

Add a teaspoon of honey and stir it in to dissolve.

Leave for about 5 minutes for the sage to infuse - then lift the leaves out and sip the sage and honey tea.

It will bring relief from a persistent cough and will ease the tight feeling in your chest.

The third cough remedy is sage and honey again, but this is made into a syrup that you can either take by the spoonful (as a cough medicine) or stir into hot water with lemon to make a soothing drink.

Take a large pan and pour in two pints of water and bring to the boil.

Add 1 oz (25g) of dried sage - tie it in a muslin bag so that it can be easily lifted out, if you don't you will have to strain the liquid before going onto the next stage.

Simmer for 20 minutes, then either lift out the sage bag or strain through a cloth to remove the herbs.

You could also use a really big handful of fresh sage leaves for this - just crush them in your hands to begin the release of the essential oils.

Add a pound jar of clear honey and stir well.

Simmer for a further 20 minutes then allow the mixture to cool before putting into a jar.

You can keep this for about 6 months - the honey is a natural preservative.

When you need some, just take a spoonful neat or pop some in a cup with lemon juice and hot water for a soothing natural cough remedy.

You can take this several times a day to soothe your cough - 4 or 5 times will give you quite a bit of honey - just beware if you suffer from raised blood sugar for any reason.

These natural cough remedies can all be made out of things you will either already have in your store cupboard and garden, or can easily buy on your next shopping trip.

The information in this article is in no way intended to replace medical advice. If you have persistent problems that do not respond to herbal treatments within a few days, then you should consult a doctor.

Liz Alderson is the webmaster of http://www.the-herb-guide.com which is a free resource for information on all things herbal - from growing to using herbs.

Visit http://www.the-herb-guide.com/natural-cough-remedies.html to learn more about natural herbal remedies.

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Floral Nectar Component of Honey

Floral Nectar Component of Honey
By Frank W. Buonanotte

Some honey is considered to be multi-floral which means that the honeybees used the nectar of several different types of flowers to produce the honey. Beekeepers that want to make a specific type of mono-floral honey will place their hives within close proximity to a certain type of plant so that bees don't have to travel far from their hives in order to collect the nectar. After gathering the nectar, the honeybees go back to their hives where they add enzymes to it to form honey.

Some types of honey are more suitable for medical use than others. For example, Manuka Honey from New Zealand has been found to have the most healing properties out of any other type of honey. As a result, Manuka Honey is now being used for medical purposes to treat conditions such as ulcers, wounds, burns, acid reflux, eczema, fungal and bacterial infections.

The antibacterial variation among floral nectars and the types of honey that are made from various nectars are due to several factors. Some nectar contains catalase, which is an enzyme that neutralizes hydrogen peroxide. This diminishes the effectiveness of the hydrogen peroxide producing mechanism of honey which makes it undesirable for medicinal use. Other nectars contain substances with high antibacterial activity. For example, nectar that is derived from the Manuka Tea Tree has been found to contain antibacterial elements such as methylglyoxal and a substance that has become known as the Unique Manuka Factor or UMF. Manuka Honey has also been found to contain flavonoids which contribute to its antibacterial properties as well as a very high antioxidant activity.

In addition to its antibacterial effect, Manuka Honey has other significant health benefits. Manuka Honey enhances the immune system by stimulating B-lymphocytes and T-lymphocytes to multiply. It also has the ability to reduce inflammation and stimulate cell growth, making it ideal as a wound dressing.

"Regardless of the floral nectar component, all types of honey contain medicinal properties," says Frank Buonanotte, CEO of Honeymark International. "However, Manuka Honey contains healing properties not found in any other type of honey which is why we use it in our products. The results we get from this unique type of honey outperforms traditional forms of medicine in most cases." Manuka Honey has also been found to have no negative side effects when used for medical purposes.

For more information or to purchase Manuka Honey and Manuka Honey products, call 1-866-427-7329 or visit http://www.HoneymarkProducts.com.

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Natural Living is Not Just About Food

Natural Living is Not Just About Food
By Wendy Streater

Maybe you already have a healthy diet and you exercise regularly, watch your weight and look after your health. Do you also watch what you put onto your skin? Are you aware that your skin absorbs many chemicals just as if they had been swallowed? Some are worse because being absorbed through your skin they go straight into your body without having been previously filtered through your liver.

Have you ever seen someone with heart problems putting a tablet under their tongue? This is done because the drug is absorbed through the lining of their mouth faster than it would be absorbed if it were swallowed. How much lipstick do you apply? Where do you think it goes? The average woman is supposed to have swallowed seven pounds of lipstick over her lifetime. Red lipstick contains lead. Some cosmetic companies were forced to remove their red lipsticks from sale because the quantities of lead were above the recommended safe dose. Lead is a heavy metal, which our bodies can't dispose of readily. It builds up in our system, along with the lead from the environment until our systems can no longer cope and we begin to suffer the effects of lead poisoning. One of the first is headaches.

Have you heard of nicotine patches? They are applied to the skin of people wishing to give up smoking. They release a steady dose of nicotine into the bloodstream of the quitter to help them cope with the addiction. The drug is absorbed through the skin. How many substances are you absorbing through your skin? Do you use deodorant, moisturiser, perfume or soap? Of course you do. Do you know how many carcinogens, petrochemicals or mutagens are in your personal care products? My guess is, probably not.

Maybe you believe that if it were dangerous the government wouldn't allow it to be sold. What about cigarettes? They are a proven contributor to many types of cancer. They are freely available for sale. The government even makes a fortune in taxes from the sale of this deadly substance.

The government does not have the resources to test the effect of all the new chemicals being developed daily for the cosmetic industry. They can't do long term studies on products that didn't even exist until recently. They certainly don't have the resources to test even combination of these chemicals. They haven't even begun to test the effects of chemicals being absorbed through our skin. The scary thing is the list of dangerous substances that has come from the tests they have done. Many of the products we regularly put onto our skin cause cancers, birth defects, mood disturbances and allergies.

I choose not to risk my health and the health of my family on products that have not been fully tested. I choose to use natural products. After all, why take the risk when the natural alternative is equally effective, readily available and usually cheaper to buy.

Wendy Streater has been interested in natural products for over twenty years. After discovering some disturbing facts about the ingredients in regular household products, Wendy has set up a site http://www.naturallythebest.info devoted to informing everyone about the natural, affordable alternatives available.

There is a lot of things most people take for granted e.g., the government controls the amount of dangerous chemicals in toiletries and make-up. This is not possible, given the amount of new chemicals and combination of chemicals developed every year. We need to take a proactive approach and look out for ourselves. http://www.naturallythebest.info

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Green Tea in Cancer Prevention

Green Tea in Cancer Prevention
By Amy M Chan

Drinking tea is primordial custom that dates back 5,000 years particularly in India and China. It has been long considered by those cultures as assistance to superior health, researchers at present are studying the tea's possibility for preventing and treating several kinds of cancers. Examiners are particularly concerned in the anti-oxidants known as catechins present in tea. In spite of the favorable studies, there are researches involving people which have been questionable.

The body of people continually generates unstable molecules known as oxidants, also generally called free radicals. To stabilize everything, oxidants take electrons from some molecules and eventually harm cell proteins and hereditary material. This damage may result to cells being more susceptible to cancer. Antioxidants are components that permit the body to forage and grab oxidants. Similar to some antioxidants, catechins in green tea selectively restrain particular enzyme actions that result to cancer. These may also aim and restore DNA irregularities due to oxidants.

All kinds of teas are derived from leaves on one evergreen plant called Camellia sinensis. The entire tea leaves are selected, spun, dried and heated. The extra procedure of letting the leaves to oxidize and ferment, black tea is generated. Probably because it undergone fewer procedures, green tea has greater levels of antioxidants compared to black tea.

Even though tea is taken in several manners and differs in chemical composition, a research revealed soaking either black or green tea for around 5 minutes generates over 80% of catechins. However, instant iced tea contains small amounts of catechins.

In laboratory studies revealed tea catechins to be strong restrainers of cancer development in various ways. They forage oxidants prior to cell damages to happen. It reduces the occurrence and mass of chemically stimulated tumors. It also slows down the development of tumor cells. In research regarding skin, stomach and liver cancer, chemically stimulated tumors were made known to reduce in mass in mice which were nourished with black and green tea. Even tea has been long recognized as antioxidant, study outputs involving people have been opposing. Some epidemiological researches evaluating tea drinkers and non-tea drinkers backs up the claim that taking tea averts cancer to some that do not. The environment, population and diet disparities may explain these contradictions. 2 researches in China, wherein green tea is a staple in diet, end up in encouraging results.

One research engaging more than 18,000 men discovered tea drinkers were around half as possible to build up esophageal and stomach cancer with men who consumed minimal tea, even following the adjustment for smoking and some health and diet aspects. The 2nd research was in Beijing Dental Hospital that discovered taking 3 grams of tea daily or around 2 cups together with the inclusion of tea extract decrease the mass and propagation of leukoplakia, a pre-cancerous oral plaque.

However, there is a research in Netherlands that do not back up these judgments. It studied the connection between tea consumption and the succeeding hazard of breast, lung, colorectal and stomach cancers amongst 58,279 of men and 62,573 of women with ages 55-69. The study included aspects like smoking and general diet. It did not find any connection with cancer prevention and tea consumption.

Amy Chan is has been an organic tea enthusiast since 2005. She actively joins many online communities who discuss the benefits of organic tea consumption. She is also the author of her online blog and frequently updates it with useful tips and advises for anyone interested in organic loose tea.

Amy's Organic Tea

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Alternative Herbal Treatments

Alternative Herbal Treatments
By Christine Brocious

Organic herbal remedies have been around since ancient times? Recently many have re-discovered alternative herbal cures rather than man-made pharmaceuticals. Some would say we need to go back to a more natural way of healing ourselves. Have we actually weakened our bodies natural defense? In most cases what you really need are fast, natural remedies and we do not want the root cause to come back. Alternative herbal treatments have recently become more excepted as more people have found they do really work.

Prevention is very important and often overlooked by most of us.  You could almost say the alternative herbal cure is not to get sick in the first place.  Sorry to say that doesn't work for most of us in today's world of confined spaces and travel.   We also know there is a link between diet and illness and then we do not change what we put into our bodies. 

Why do we get sick?

One reason is stress from everyday life.  Today's lifestyles are fast and heavily scheduled.  Most of us today live to work and not work to live and it strains our immune systems.  Our minds do not get the chance to relax and recharge.  One of the best ways is to adopt a more healthy lifestyle that doesn't just include diet.   Exercise of course is key but an active and less stressful life is important.  Before you look for home organic herbal remedies or alternative herbal treatments, look at your stress level.  Perhaps tea instead of coffee, stop smoking or take walks to clear your mind.

The second reason is our eating habits, which goes right in line with the first reason.  Fast food is the most common cause of poor nutrition.  Most of us understand this but we go for the quick fix.  You may purchase pre-packaged foods at the grocery store.  The labels are confusing and rarely read.  Even though you may not buy a burger and fries, lots of the foods we buy at the grocery store can be worse.  The link between diet and illness is real and it is something you can control. 

Stress and Diets can bring on many common personnel illnesses, examples of which are listed below.  These examples are not issues you like discuss with others and they will not go away because you just want them to.  There are alternative herbal treatments for each one of the examples listed below:

• Panic Attacks


• Yeast Infections


• Hemorrhoids


• Bacterial Vaginosis (BV)


• Ring Worm

Alternative Herbal Treatments:

There are some common issues that affect both men and women that simple diet changes and organic herbal remedies can solve.  Most of us will spend hard earned money for special creams, pills and lotions that only treat the symptoms but not the root cause.

All of these can be treated with alternative herbal treatments. Simple herbal remedies can not only help your discomfort but can also stop it from coming back.  One of the best reasons for alternative herbal treatments is the money you will be saving.  As you keep your treatments simple and use organic products whenever possible you will be helping your body heal itself.  After you have used the organic herbal remedies you will learn how to prevent them from coming back. 

Look at http://www.curesherbal.com/ for a list of herbal treatments, healthy eating and exercise programs.

Christine has been a Yoga instructor for 10 years. She also is an amateur gardener and organic activist. Avid rail trail bike rider and lover of nature and natural solutions to common problems. http://www.organicfitness.com for body care, gardening and exercise information.

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