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Again I
would like to make it clear that herbal remedies are not a substitute but rather an
enhancement of modern medicine and are intended to help with symptoms and aide in
the bodies own ability to heal. Also if you have any allergies you should be
careful about what you take. The below herbs are easy to find in stores dried , in capsule form or grown
fresh in your own garden. For further use instructions and how toos please refer to the prior herbal page.
FISH OIL (OMEGA3 FATTY ACID): The omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil can lower blood triglyceride levels, "thin" the blood, and also decrease inflammation in various parts of the body. Fish oil appears to help prevent death caused by heart disease and strokes by reducing high triglyceride levels, raising HDL ("good") cholesterol levels, "thinning" the blood, lowering levels of homocysteine, and perhaps decreasing blood pressure. Fish oil appears to be an effective treatment for early stages of rheumatoid arthritis. It is thought to significantly reduce symptoms without causing side effects and may magnify the benefits of standard arthritis drugs. High doses of fish oil may produce benefits in bipolar disorder , depression, schizophrenia, and borderline personality disorder. Regular use of fish oil may reduce the pain of menstrual cramps especially when combined with B12. There is some evidence that essential fatty acids may enhance the effectiveness of calcium in the treaatment of osteoporosis . THIS SOUNDS LIKE ONE WE SHOULD ALL TAKE!!!
WARNINGS AND SIDE EFFECTS:Fish oil appears to be safe. The most common problem is fishy burps (gross!!). Some fish oil products contain excessive levels of toxic substances such as organochlorines and PCBs. Read the label and If possible, try to purchase fish oil products certified not to contain significant levels of these contaminants. Because fish oil has a mild "blood-thinning" effect, do not use with powerful blood-thinning medications, such as Coumadin (warfarin) or heparin, except on a physician's advice. However, contrary to some reports, fish oil does not seem to cause bleeding problems when it is taken by itself, or even with aspirin.
DOSAGE:Typical dosages of fish oil are 3 to 9 g daily, but this is not the upper limit. In one study, participants ingested 60 g daily. Guess it is whatever your body can tolerate the best before you get those fishy burps (YUCK!).
GLUCOSAMINE SULFATE:Glucosamine relieves joint pain and inflammation for many arthritis sufferers, and it may slow progression of the disease. Because of its ability to reduce and sometimes completely eliminate the pain of osteoarthritis, doctors think Glucosamine might offer similar benefits for people suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, spinal disc degeneration, tendinitis, bursitis, and physical injuries to the joints. There is even speculation that it could play a role in eliminating the development of osteoarthritis in people over 40.
WARNINGS AND SIDE EFFECTS:Glucosamine does not produce serious side effects. You might, however, experience mild symptoms such as diarrhea, heartburn, indigestion, and nausea. Try taking the medication with food if it upsets your stomach (or if you have an ulcer).
DOSAGE: There is no consensus on the ideal dosage of Glucosamine sulfate. Some doctors recommend 1,000 to 2,000 milligrams per day. Others suggest up to 3,000 mg a day. Again I would suggest that you gage this on your tolerence , if you start having some side effects drop the dose, like wise if you are not getting any benefits increase your intake.
VITAMIN E: Vitamin E is an antioxidant that protects body tissue from damage caused by unstable substances called free radicals. Free radicals can harm cells, tissues, and organs, and they are believed to be one of the causes of the degenerative processes seen in aging. Vitamin E is also important in the formation of red blood cells and it helps the body to use vitamin K. Vitamin K is known as the clotting vitamin, because without it blood would not clot. Some studies indicate that it helps in maintaining strong bones in the elderly.The benefit of vitamin E supplementation in cancer, heart disease, dementia, liver disease, and stroke are still not known. It is likely that a protective effect will be found for coronary artery diseaseWARNINGS AND SIDE EFFECTS:There are no known toxic effects to megadoses of vitamin E. Occasional side effects such as headache have been reported. Heart or stroke patients and people who are taking Coumadin for the purpose of thinning their blood, they may need to avoid Vitamin E supplements to prevent the risk of excessive bleeding.
DOSAGE:The reccomended daily allowance is 800 mg per adult
