Home remedy for toothaches

Many herbs have been employed to relieve tooth aches and gum problems. Native Americans applied the inner bark of the butternut tree to their gums to get relief. Please check with your doctor before using this remedy.

The butternut tree, Juglans cinerea, is a native of North America and a cousin of the black walnut. It thrives in rich woods, along rivers in well drained soil, and does well in yards. The butternut can reach heights of 40 to 60 feet at maturity, its bark is light gray, and both the leaves and its fruit resembles the black walnuts, with the fruit being more elliptical.


The medicinal part of the butternut is the inner bark, but the twigs and inner part of the root have also been used. The inner bark, after being dried, is ground into a powder, and is considered a gentle, effective laxative. Native Americans applied the bark to the gums to alleviate tooth aches, and it is said that it works quite well for this.

Calendula, Calendula officinalis, or Pot Marigold, is a hardy annual with bright green leaves and stems tinged with yellow. The petals are delicate and are what is used in herbal medicine. Flowers, picked when they’re newly opened, are spread out to dry, and then the petals are picked off. It is a safe and gentle herb, and is used in ointments and dressings for wounds and sores. An infusion of calendula blossoms eases toothaches and ulcers in the mouth.

Tarragon, Artemisia dracunculus is a member of the same family as daisies, with small yellow flowers. From the two types of tarragon, French and Russian, and the more aromatic French variety is preferred for both cooking and medicine. An infusion of the leaves stimulates the appetite, relieves gas and colic, helps alleviate the pain of arthritis, and expels worms for the body. The fresh leaf or root, when applied to aching teeth, acts as an anesthetic until one can get to the dentist.

Yarrow, Achillea millefolium, originated in Europe and Asia, but is now naturalized throughout North America. Yarrow grows wild in fields, meadows, roadsides and open woodlands. Yarrow has the ability to stop bleeding, aids in healing wounds, and yarrow tea is also beneficial to rashes, skin ulcers and hemorrhoids. But the root of the yarrow is also an anesthetic. To relieve toothaches, apply the fresh root or leaves to the gums or teeth.

Clove, Caryophyllus aromaticus, is an evergreen tree, native to the Spice Islands and the Philippines, but also grows in other tropical areas. The medicinal part of the clove is the dried flower bud. Clove oil will stop the pain of toothache most effectively.
Raw plantain leaves, crushed with salt rubbed on to them will, also help stop a toothache. In Oriental medicine, a concoction of roasted eggplant and salt, called Dentie, is widely used for toothaches.

A paste of slippery elm powder and water put into a tooth where the filling has come out, will be very helpful until one gets to the dentist. And a mouthwash made with sage or marigold and a pinch of salt, is beneficial to bleeding gums.

These are just a few helpful herbs one can use on aching teeth until one can get professional help

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Juice Fasting a Quick Guide

by: Mark Henry

A little instruction from me on the subject of juice fasting, when you consider it in this day and age a lot of variable quality foods and drinks get consumed with little or no regard for the 42 odd feet of tubing that makes up our digestive tract. Yes 42 feet between you mouth and your butt, it stands to reason that it needs some rest and cleansing once in a while.

Fasting is an excellent way to give your body a rest from its normal day to day duties and giving it a chance to concentrate on kicking out stored up toxins and other nasties. Juice fasts are a particularly effective method as while you fast from solid food you nourish your body with a ready supply of no effort, liquid, super nutrition in the form of cold pressed organic juices. Brilliant.


Lethargy, lack of concentration, flatulence, I.B.S, skin and hair problems are all signals that the digestion of your food it not quite happening as well as it could. Skin problems in particular can just be as a result of nutrient not quite reaching the skin, a sure signal of an inefficient gut. So what can we do to help? Try a juice fast and healthy eating!

The detoxification headache: if you life a caffeine,convenience food and alchohol lifestyle then do expect to feel worse before you feel better! When your body takes this opportunity to kick out stored toxins, you can expect to fill a little low, queasy and or headachy, this is perfectly normal, so stick with it, the end result is well worth while.

A few cautions, a fast if you're not used to it, should not be entered into lightly, you must consult your healthcare professional before embarking on any health regime! Fasting should not be attempted by infants, elderly, pregnant women and those recovering from illness and or on medication

So, if you are still interested in doing a juice fast? The thing to do is to start slowly, with a 1 day fast, it may not sound like much but if fasting is new to you it's plenty to begin with. So have a look at the fasting plans below and with the help of a trained health professional investigate the healthy power of a fast.

The one day juice fast is a great way to try things out and see, I would think if you are reading this you are already familiar with juicing and are a bit of a health fan ready to take it to the next level. Good action is best!

The day before your fast is important, the body responds best to gentle treatment so going from Burger King to 7 day fast expert is not a good idea. Prepare your body with the following steps, cut out sugar and caffeine for a day before the fast and eat lightly and freshly on the day before your fast. Keep it fresh, simple and well hydrated.

Your pre- fast day

No caffeine or cut right down, no sugar we want nice stable blood sugar.

Start the day with a glass of warm water with a twist of lemon in.

For breakfast keep it light, yogurt and fruit, brown rice and steamed veggies. Try and avoid manufactured cereal.

Have a juice for a mid morning snack.

For lunch, have a salad, no meat just salad and veggies maybe rice or pasta but make the rice or pasta 10% of the overall meal

Have a juice for an afternoon snack.

Dinner again keep it a light salad, no need for any rice or pasta at this time of the day, have fruit for desert.

You can drink as much water as you like but not with meals, in between meal times and stop at 2 litres per day.

If you crave sugar sweeten with honey or black strap molasses.

The Fast Day

The first thing to do is relax and enjoy the day, this is a day for you, so use this as a guideline, don't be too rigid about the schedule.

On rising: drink a glass of warm water with a squeak of lemon in.

10 am: have your first juice, make it and drink it fresh, after all this is a day centered on fresh living. Mix fruit and veggies have a half pint and keep the rest for laterm, this saves on cleaning

11 am: time for another glass of water, filtered or bottled

12 pm: the second juice of the day, make this vegetables only, again half a pint, include beet and ginger

1.30 pm: another glass of water, and take a leisurely stroll or do some gentle stretching may be walk the dog!

3 pm: juice number three, less veggies more fruit and add citrus as this will help cleanse

4pm: another half pint of water or herbal tea or infusion

6pm: the last juice of the day, give it some body with a banana but no citrus fruit its too acidic.

8pm: another glass of water or herbal tea, nothing too perky though, you want a restful night

10 pm: Time for bed, if you have not gone to sleep already, wind down with a relaxing bath or massage treat your self!

Breaking the fast

On rising, be easy and good with yourself, have a glass of warm water or herbal tea and start with a glass of mixed fruit and vegetable juice. When it's time for the first solid food, have a vegetarian salad or fruit and yoghurt and ease for self back slowing into normal living.

Try to adopt eating light and juicing regularly as a lifestyle rather than a fad, lasting changes make for the best long term effects.

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The Best Food Group for Cardiovascular Health

by: ecochuck

Nutrition experts know that the best group of foods for
preventing and fighting cancer is the cruciferous
vegetables or cabbage family vegetables. They include
cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, brussels sprouts, kale
and collard greens. Cancer is the second leading cause
of death of Americans. The best food group for helping
with cardiovascular health is berries.

The botanical definition of a berry is a simple fruit
produced from a single ovary, such as a grape or a
tomato. However, in everyday English, a berry is a term
for any small edible fruit. I will use the everyday
English meaning. Heart attacks and strokes are the first
and third leading cause of death among Americans.


The first thing is the Doctrine of Signatures. This
states that an herb, botanical or plant food sometimes
gives a clue about what it is good for by its appearance
like ginseng root looking like a human body or a walnut
looking like a brain.

Berries are the color of blood. Blood that is very
oxygenated is red, but blood without oxygen can appear
blueish or purple. Just look at the veins of someone
with varicose veins. One newer red berry that is great
for cardiovascular health is goji berries. Here is what
webmd.com says about goji berries:

"Research shows that eating berries -- like blueberries,
acai berries, cranberries, strawberries, and cherries --
offers some definite health benefits. Berries like the
goji berry are filled with powerful antioxidants and
other compounds that may help prevent cancer and other
illnesses, including heart disease."

Strawberries are said to help lower high blood pressure
(hypertension) Another good example of the Doctrine of
Signatures is the strawberry. It is red and is shaped
like a heart. Please note that berries have different
anthocyans (a group of phytochemicals) that strengthens
the inner lining of the arteries. Common problems with
arteries include angina, congestive heart failure,
intermittent claudication, peripheral arterial disease
(PAD), strokes and heart attacks.

Superfoods Rx (2008) by Steven Pratt, M.D. says (p 28)
"The anthocyans also work synergistically with vitamin C
and other key antioxidants. They strengthen the
capillary (tiny blood vessel) system by promoting the
production of quality collagen-- the building block of
tissues. This important subclass of flavonoids also
promotes vasodilation (widening of arteries) and has an
inhibitory effect on platelet aggregation-- an
aspirin-like effect on blood clot formation." Please
note that aspirin are drugs and berries are foods.

If you look these things up, you will see that they are
also effective for preventing cancer. A recent study
from the University of Michigan reveals that new
evidence links cherries (a red berry) to heart health
benefits. The study found that a cherry enriched diet
lowered total weight, body fat (especially the important
belly fat), inflammation and cholesterol-- all risk
factors associated with heart disease. According to the
American Heart Association, being overweight or obese,
in particular when the weight is concentrated in the
middle, is a major risk factor for heart disease.

There are other red berries like cranberries and then
there are the other darker color berries. Some that have
attracted a lot of attention for health benefits are
acai berries, yumberries and aronia berries that are
said to improve circulation and strengthen blood
vessels.

There is a red berry that is great for cardiovascular
health. But I have not seen it sold as a berry. I have
only seen it sold in capsules or as a tea. Herbalists
know that it is the best herb for heart health or
cardiovascular health. It is the red hawthorn berry.
Berries are a good example of Natural Cures with foods.

Prescription for Herbal Health (2002) by Phyllis Balch
says " A large body of scientific research has shown
that the fruit, leaves and flowers of various hawthorn
species dilate the blood vessels, lower blood pressure
and dissolve cholesterol. Hawthorn fights
atherosclerosis, in which cholesterol forms plaques on
blood-vessel walls. in two ways." It increases the rate
that the liver converts bad LDL cholesterol into good
HDL cholesterol. It "also fights atherosclerosis by
providing antioxidants, which prevent plaque formation."

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Menopause Symptoms and Memory Loss

While you may experience the misery of hot flashes and mood swings as you enter menopause, one thing you can't blame on the "change" is memory loss.

In the latest study that exonerates menopause as a cause of impairing the ability to recall, Taiwanese researchers compared the memory of hundreds of women before they had any menopausal symptoms to their memory as they entered menopause.

They found the women who were going through the menopausal process scored as well or nearly as well on five different cognitive function tests. Results of the study are to be presented Oct. 4 at the American Neurological Association annual meeting in Toronto.

"When women go into perimenopause, they don't need to worry about cognitive decline," said Dr. Jong-Ling Fuh, an attending physician at Taipei Veterans General Hospital and an associate professor of Yang-Ming University School of Medicine.

The researchers said the myth of memory loss during menopause is a perception some women have because as they went through menopause, they felt their memory wasn't as sharp as it had been before. Studies suggesting that hormone replacement therapy might protect against dementia strengthened that belief. However, a large study later found that in older women, hormone replacement therapy not only didn't help protect women from dementia, but could actually increase the risk.

To try to answer the question of whether menopause did have any effect on memory, Fuh and her colleagues studied nearly 700 premenopausal women living on a group of rural islands between Taiwan and China. The Taiwanese government restricted access to these islands until the 1990s, so the authors report that the study's population was nearly homogeneous, which would help rule out other potentially causative factors of memory loss.

The women were between the ages of 40 and 54. None of them had had a hysterectomy, and none took hormone replacement therapy during the study.

All took five cognitive tests designed to assess their memory and cognitive skills at the start of the study, and then again 18 months later.

During the study period, 23 percent of the women began to have symptoms of menopause.

The researchers then compared the memory of the women who had entered menopause to those who had not, and found very little difference. In four of the five tests, there were no statistically significant differences in the two groups of women.

Only on one test was the difference statistically significant, and that difference, said Fuh, was very slight. This test was designed to assess verbal memory and involved showing the women 70 nonsensical figures. Some of the figures were repeated during the test, while most were not. The women were asked whether they had seen the figure earlier.

"For women, menopause does not mean you'll develop memory loss," said Dr. Raina Ernstoff, an attending neurologist at William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Mich. As you're going through perimenopause and experiencing symptoms like hot flashes, she said, you may feel lousy and have trouble sleeping, which might temporarily affect your cognitive skills.

"I don't think declining estrogen levels are what causes memory loss," said Dr. Steven Goldstein, an obstetrician/gynecologist at New York University Medical Center in New York City. "It's not like your memory is bopping along, doing fine and then takes this big dive during menopause, like bone density can."

Both Ernstoff and Goldstein said they weren't aware of many women who believed that menopause might cause significant memory loss. They also both felt that results from this group of women who were so homogeneous might not apply to different groups of women, such as those living in more industrialized society. And they both said that other factors that weren't studied could play a role in memory loss, such as hypertension, which can contribute to vascular dementia.

Ernstoff also pointed out that the education backgrounds can play a large role in memory loss. Fuh acknowledged the researchers did attempt to control the data for educational differences.

SOURCES: Jong-Ling Fuh, M.D., attending physician, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, and associate professor, Yang-Ming University School of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan; Steven Goldstein, M.D., obstetrician/gynecologist, New York University Medical Center, and professor, obstetrics/gynecology, New York University School of Medicine, New York City; Raina Ernstoff, M.D., attending neurologist, William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, Mich., and member, Alzheimer's Board of Detroit; Oct. 4, 2004, presentation, American Neurological Association, Toronto.

For more information visit: http://www.menozac.com/?aid=957746

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