The part of this perennial plant that is used for seasoning and for medicinal purposes is called the rhizome, the area that grows below the ground above the root.

Ginger is a common ingredient in home made or old fashioned cough syrups, and it can be mixed with water, tea, and other drinks to make an effective cough remedy.

When combined with Cayenne, Ginger is an excellent cold remedy that can clear the sinuses and help to relieve head congestion. It can also be used to treat sore throats, bronchitis, upset stomachs, and for relief from general aches and pains.

You can add some Ginger to bathwater to relieve a variety of problems as well. It helps to promote sweating, which can quickly bring a fever down. Adding three or four tablespoons of Ginger to a lukewarm bath is an excellent way to relieve tired or sore muscles.

Ginger is another herbal remedy that can help to cleanse the bowels and kidneys, which can have a beneficial effect on the entire body. Since the bowels and kidneys are responsible for the majority of the waste and toxin removal from the body, cleansing them will help to heal the rest of the body also.

Ginger also help to stimulate circulation, which, in combination with bowel and kidney cleansing, helps to remove additional toxins.

As a final note, Ginger is also considered beneficial for treating menstrual problems. It can help to get a suppressed menstrual cycle started, and it's an excellent herbal remedy for relieving the pain of menstrual cramps.

Cold & Flu Herbs
Natural Cold Remedy & Herbal Flu Remedy.

One of the most effective antibiotic herbs is garlic. Garlic can be used to prevent infections and heal infections, and it is an anti-fungal herb as well. This means it can be used to treat yeast infections, and problems like athletes foot.

Garlic contains an ingredient called Allicin, and Allicin is considered to be as potent as 15 standard units of Penicillin. Garlic differs from prescription antibiotics, though, because it doesn't kill friendly flora in the body. As a result, after an infection has cleared up, you will remain healthier longer.

Don't take the odor free variety of garlic supplements, however, because the health benefits will be negligible. Allicin is actually the source of the odor in garlic, and if a garlic pill is odor free, then it is basically useless.

One of the most effective ways to prevent recurring ear, nose and throat infections while taking prescription antibiotics, is simply by eating whole, all natural yogurt. Real yogurt contains live bacteria, which is friendly to the body.

By eating live cultured yogurt, you're helping to supplement the flora your body needs to fight off the bacteria that causes infections. So infections will clear up quicker, and they won't reappear as quickly, if you eat yogurt while taking antibiotics.

More Natural Ear, Nose and Throat Remedies

Not only are they more susceptible to catching the flu, they also run a greater risk of developing complications from the flu, because they often have other health related problems, along with a weakened immune system. This can turn influenza into a potentially deadly illness.

If you already have some type of chronic lung disease, like cystic fibrosis, chronic bronchitis, asthma, tuberculosis, or emphysema, you are considered to be a high risk individual. You are also considered to be high risk if you have diabetes, chronic kidney disease, heart disease, or some other type of chronic disorder.

Severe anemia is another condition that places you at high risk.

People who are over the age of 65, or are living in a chronic care facility or nursing home, are considered to be at greater risk for catching the flu, as well as developing complications from the flu. A lowered or depressed immune system automatically puts you in the high risk category as well.

]]> http://herbalandalternativemedicine.com/risk-factors-for-the-flu/feed/ 0 http://herbalandalternativemedicine.com/ear-nose-and-throat-infections-part-2/ http://herbalandalternativemedicine.com/ear-nose-and-throat-infections-part-2/#comments Thu, 07 Apr 2011 11:04:39 +0000 admin http://herbalandalternativemedicine.com/infections/ear-nose-and-throat-infections-part-2/ In the last ten to twenty years, modern doctors and medical professionals have used broad spectrum antibiotics much more liberally than they used to. These same antibiotics are fed to animals we eat, as well, and this onslaught of usage has allowed most bacteria to become immune to the effects of the drugs.

Read more on Ear, Nose and Throat Infections: Part 2…

Adults have problems with the ears, nose and throat as well, but inner ear infections are much less common after about the age of ten. Nose infections happen for adults more frequently, though, particularly in the form of sinus infections. Throat infections can happen at all ages.

Most infections in these areas of the body are caused by general germs and bacteria. These germs are usually highly contagious, and this is why kids tend to get sick more often than adults. Small children put things in their mouths constantly, for instance, regardless if another child may have had the item in their mouth just a few moments earlier.

Small children also have undeveloped bodies. So the tubes which connect the ears and throat are quite small and flexible. These tubes can allow bacteria which usually resides in the mouth to travel up to the inner ear area and start multiplying. This is how most children develop ear infections.

Get more info on Ear-Heal – Natural ear ache home remedy

Ear, Nose and Throat Infections: Part 2

The natural antibiotic properties of garlic make it a powerful weapon to use for ear infections, throat infections – any type of infection humans have, actually. Take the supplements internally, or eat fresh bulbs to kill the harmful bacteria inside your body which is causing the infections.

For fungus related problems, such as toenail or fingernail fungus, rub fresh cut garlic bulbs on the affected areas several times each day, or pierce garlic oil capsules and rub those on instead.

Garlic is also an excellent herb to use for maintaining the proper balance of flora in your intestinal tract, which helps prevent excessive gas, indigestion, and other digestive problems. When used regularly, garlic also helps maintain normal blood sugar levels, helps strengthen blood vessels and arteries, and can help prevent plaque build up which leads to heart problems too.

Grape root extract and lavender extract are two other herbal remedies that can help to naturally clear up a yeast infection. You should first consult with a professional herbalist before trying any herbal remedies. She can make recommendations based on the severity of the problem, and help you to decide on the correct dosage.

You should also speak with your doctor about using any herbal remedies, to avoid potential conflicts with prescription medications you may be taking.

Echinacea, widely regarded for its immune-boosting capabilities, has also proven to be an effective natural remedy for alleviating yeast infection symptoms. Clinical studies have found that this herb can also help to reduce the occurrence of yeast infections.

No discussion about infection fighting herbs would be complete without mentioning goldenseal. This natural antibiotic has proven to be an effective remedy for treating many different types of infections, including Candida.

If any of the above natural remedies fail to alleviate your yeast infection, it is advisable to consult your doctor. Yeast infections, if allowed to grow for any length of time, can become a serious health problem.

For more information visit Yeastrol.com

Garlic can be used by women in a vaginal douche, men can rub garlic oil or juice on their penis, or garlic supplements can be taken orally. All of these methods quickly kill the fungus infection without the common side effects experienced with prescription medications.
Garlic can also be taken in raw or cooked form with your food, though, and this will work too. Garlic is also used in vaginal suppositories, as well as vaginal douches, both of which work well for clearing up yeast infections.

Another natural antibiotic that can be taken orally is Golden Seal. Golden Seal can be purchased at any health or herbal store in supplement form, and it can be taken three times a day until the yeast infection is gone.

Combining Cayenne pepper supplements with either garlic or golden seal supplements, will help create a powerful combination for fighting infection that spurs your body to start healing faster.

Kelp supplements also acts like antibiotics inside your body. Kelp is very high in natural iodine, which helps regulate your thyroid. In turn, your thyroid helps fight bacteria and infections in the body.

Vinegar is also an excellent natural remedy for vaginal yeast infections, because it is a natural antiseptic, meaning it kills germs and bacteria. Combine organic white or apple cider vinegar with 1-2 tablespoons to one quart of filtered or mineral water. This can be used as a douche at least once a day until the yeast infection is gone.

Most kids who have problems with recurring, chronic ear infections stay on prescription antibiotics for several months at a time, only to return to them again after they've stopped for just a month or two.

Middle and inner ear infections happen so often in small children because the eustachian tubes are not fully developed. The eustachian tubes are what connects the ear and throat areas in the body and when the tubes are too small or undeveloped, they allow bacteria to enter the ear much more easily.

Since children aren't fully developed when they're born, thier eustachian tubes are of course small and undeveloped, plus the tubes tend to be straighter as well – all of which allows germs to pass into the ear easier than with older children and adults.

Another reason ear infections have become such a chronic issue in children in the past twenty years or so is that  prescription antibiotics have been greatly overused.

Antibiotics are used for almost everything these days – and they have been for far too long – so germs and bacteria have become resistent to them. So the infection may recede while a child is on antibiotics, but the bacteria aren't actually killed off by these medications, so the ear infections return quite rapidly once medication is stopped.

When kids have too many problems with ear infections, a popular next step is to have surgery performed to insert small drainage tubes into their ear drums. This works well while the tubes are in place, because it allows the fluid behind the ear to drain from an alternate route when it's unable to drain through the eustachian tubes as it should. Unfortunately, some children will get round after round of surgery, because it's only a temporary solution to the problem.

Thankfully there are many alternative and herbal remedies which work quite well in resolving ear infections nd these are much  gentler on the child's body than using antibiotics or getting surgery.

The best natural ear infection remedy is garlic and onion is a close runner up. Both of these not only clear up the infection within just a day or two, but they also relieve the pain quickly. This is something of a life saver for many parents walking the floor at two am with a child in pain from an ear infection.

To use, simply slice a small piece of raw fresh garlic, wrap it in tissue, then insert it partially into the ear canal. Within about 15 minutes the pain is usually gone and the child can sleep and within a day or two, the infection is often gone too.

Garlic oil can be used instead of fresh garlic, but be sure you're using true garlic oil. If it says "odor free" for instance, it will not work because the key healing ingredient is allicin, and that is also the primary source of garlic's smell.

If you don't have garlic on hand, plain old onion will work as well. Just follow the same procedure noted with garlic above. Cutting a small piece of garlic or onion is important, because it releases the juices and odor – both of which travel into the ear canal and begin quickly killing the bacteria.

Wrapping the onion or garlic in tissue is important too, because the juices can irritate the sensitive skin inside the ear.

Most herbs used to treat bronchitis are used purposely for their ability to help the body force the phlegm out. Some antibiotic herbs are used as well, because bronchitis can sometimes occur with an infection.

Several of the common infection fighting herbs are used, such as Garlic, Goldenseal, and Echinacea. All of these are strong natural antibiotics, and can be used to help prevent an infection from occuring due to bronchitis, or treat an existing bronchial infection.

Other herbs useful for bronchitis include:

Ginger – This is an excellent herb to use in the bathtub because it helps promote perspiration, relieve congestion and bring down fevers. It's often used in cough syrups and when used with Cayenne it an excellent way to relieve sinus cavity congestion.

Fenugreek – This is known as a lung herb because it does a great job of expelling mucus and phlegm from the bronchial tubes.

Lobelia – This herb is most often used to soothe, calm and relax. It also relieves spasms however, and works great for respiratory problems.

Marshmallow – This herb soothes and coats inflammed areas in the body, including in the respiratory system.

Mullein – This herb is often used for respiratory problems and diseases. It loosens mucus and helps expel it out of the body. It also calms spasms, helps ease pain, and helps reduce swelling in the glands.

Poke Root – This herb is another natural antibiotic, and it's especially useful for cleansing swollen, infected glands. It helps to break down mucus throughout the body, as well as expel wastes and toxins from the entire body too.

Yarrow – This herb is considered to be particularly good for use against flus and fevers. It helps the body open it's pores and perspire more, which does a great job of lowering fevers. It's healing and soothing to the glandular system and mucous membranes. It's also helpful for most respiratory problems.