Have some ginger and rosemary tea...

[polichick]

made with sliced ginger, dried rosemary leaves and hot water.

It's anti inflammatory without the side effects of pharmaceutical anti inflammatories.

Yum!

[pecwae]

1. But, but, but,

WOO!

[polichick]

3. :)

[Jackpine Radical]

2. Elderberry syrup, lemon & honey is also worth a try.

We have wild elderberries all over the place & my wife cans them in the fall.

[polichick]

4. Sounds delicious - is it also anti inflammatory?

[Jackpine Radical]

7. Anti-inflammatory, antiviral, immune system strengthener.

When the immune system fails, use elderberries

For those times when the immune system has failed to do its job, there is one natural remedy that has proven to be among the most effective for battling viruses. There are many natural remedies, foods and other techniques that can enhance immune function, but in the case of battling common viruses specifically, elderberry has a show to posses an especially high rate of efficacy. Elderberries, which happen to be a very powerful antioxidant, have been used for centuries in folk medicine (as well as today, in other countries around the world) to treat colds, influenza, wounds (when applied topically) and have even shown to be effective against the herpes simplex virus.

A 2001 study published in the U.S. National Library of Medicine stated that elderberry extracts are "natural remedies with antiviral properties, especially against different strains of influenza virus." Another 2004 study published in the NLM commented on reduced duration of flu symptoms when using elderberry: "Symptoms were relieved on average four days earlier and use of rescue medication was significantly less in those receiving elderberry extract compared with placebo." University of Maryland Medial Center writes "Elderberry may have anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and anticancer properties" and "one study suggested that elderberry could kill the H1N1 virus."

Why exactly are elderberries so effective?

It is hypothesized that black elderberries may include a specific compound, which coats viruses and keeps them from penetrating and infecting healthy cells. The truth is science cannot always pinpoint the exact reason mother nature's cures work as well as they do. There are unknown molecules in nature which work in mysterious ways with the body.

The human body and its mysterious abilities to heal and overcome sicknesses cannot always be identified or quantified by science. The body and mind are amazingly complex and that complexity works especially well with nature in its unaltered form. So, the next time you have a cold or flu, instead of running to the drugstore, create your own black elderberry elixir and you'll be better in no time.

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/039367_black_elderberry_colds_anti-viral.html#ixzz2pYWjvzF9

[polichick]

11. Mother nature is smarter than science...

"The truth is science cannot always pinpoint the exact reason mother nature's cures work as well as they do."

[ProSense]

15. Mother nature

"Mother nature is smarter than science..."

...is science. She's simply more advanced than some people can comprehend, and others believe they're smarter than both Mother Nature and science.

If you don't understand what you find in nature, it could kill.

[polichick]

18. Science is preschool compared with Mother Nature...

I'm not one to laugh at one of her cures simply because science can't figure it out yet.

Interesting that wherever there is poison ivy, there is also jewelweed growing nearby - just one small example of Mother Nature's wisdom.

[Mariana]

22. I wish that were true about jewelweed.

I just moved into a house recently. I have poison ivy in my yard. I do not have any jewelweed. This year I will attempt to remedy that situation.

[polichick]

26. There must be some in the woods nearby.

[Mariana]

42. I'm sure there is. I'll gather some seeds

and spread them around in a likely spot or two.

[polichick]

45. Best of luck - at least they're pretty!

[Mariana]

49. When I was little my dad taught me how to

make the seedpods explode. He didn't know it works to prevent poison ivy rash. He also didn't know the seeds are tasty.

[cali]

24. that's like saying "science is preschool compared to god"

Nature isn't "wise". there is no such thing as "mother nature". It's simply nature. It isn't wise or stupid. I'm not sure why you feel the need to denigrate science. science is discipline dedicated to the natural world. It's part of the natural world. I'm by no means putting down the amazing properties of plants, but talking about nature in religious terms as you're doing, is a bit silly.

[ProSense]

25. It almost seems

Nature isn't "wise". there is no such thing as "mother nature". It's simply nature. It isn't wise or stupid. I'm not sure why you feel the need to denigrate science. science is discipline dedicated to the natural world.

...as if "mother nature" and "nature" are referencing the same thing: the "natural world" as you put it.

I mean, did you sense that there was a distinction that demanded clarification?

The "natural world" is more complex than most scientist understand, which I believe is the point.

It seems "a bit silly" to make a big deal out of the use of the label "mother nature."

[polichick]

39. Thank-you. Mother nature, nature, natural world...

I guess you could even say Mother of Science, metaphorically - but yes, it's more complex than the fields of science can yet comprehend.

[cali]

53. when you claim- as YOU did, that nature is wise

you are doing this:

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/anthropomorphize

[polichick]

54. So what? "Mother Nature" is a metaphor.

[cali]

51. It's not simply the appelatiohn that I'm disputing

it's characterizing nature as a cognitive personality as the op does throughout this thread- which I think I made fairly clear. Of course nature is complex. the phenomena of the natural world is what science seeks to explain.

It's a bit silly to not grasp something so basic, hon.

[ProSense]

52. Well,

"it's characterizing nature as a cognitive personality ...It's a bit silly to not grasp something so basic, hon."

...seems like "silly" spin in search of something to be upset about, "hon."

[nadinbrzezinski]

40. You know, this falls in the same category as the science will cure all

folks. When either become a belief system, that becomes a problem.

[polichick]

41. Maybe my post #39 will help explain.

[passiveporcupine]

28. wild elderberry may not be what you need

I have elderberry too, and read that it was a health aid in colds, but upon further research, discovered that most wild elderberry is not what is used in the OTC herbal remedies you can buy at a health food store. It is a special elderberry they use, with different properties. I would have to look it up again to recall what to look for...it's been many years since I stopped making elderberry syrup.

I wanted to edit this because I cannot find the info I found before, and maybe it was not really factual...maybe it was an attempt by herbalists to prohibit individuals from making their own remedies. So take this post with a grain of salt.

[hedgehog]

5. If you have an autoimmune disease, stay away from the elderberry!

There is a risk of activating the immune system!

http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/herb/elderberry

http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-434-ELDERBERRY.aspx?activeIngredientId=434&activeIngredientName=ELDERBERRY

[polichick]

12. Good point. Many foods and herbs boost the immune system...

and some people really have to be careful.

[Schema Thing]

13. "activating the immune system"?

[tridim]

6. + I can't wait until the new Cannabis users in CO begin talking about the effects on stress.

I'm starting to wonder if maybe Cannabis legalization is the catalyst for the recent influx of Woo Fighters?

Closed-mindedness is a Conservative trait.

[polichick]

9. Could be. You're right, "Close-mindedness is a Conservative trait."

[ProSense]

10. Interesting point. Maybe

"I'm starting to wonder if maybe Cannabis legalization is the catalyst for the recent influx of Woo Fighters?"

...some weed would cure their anxiety.

[polichick]

20. "some weed would cure their anxiety" - the perfect RX!

[ProSense]

8. Try some

cerasse, lemon grass and soursop leaf tea

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Momordica_charantia#Local_names
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cymbopogon
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soursop

[polichick]

16. Thanks! I really like lemon grass but haven't tried...

cerasse or soursop. Yet!

[malaise]

14. Never tried that but

we drink rosemary and mint tea every night. It's great for the memory

[polichick]

17. That sounds delicious too - and who couldn't use help with memory! :)

[get the red out]

19. You are not allowed to drink that

BY GOD, and you call yourself a liberal!!!!! FOR SHAME!!!!!!!

That actually sounds pretty darn good with our temps here poised to drop 50 degrees overnight.

[polichick]

21. My bad :)

[Vashta Nerada]

23. Great scientifically-tested anti-inflammatories:

Advil, Motrin, Aleve, Bayer.

[hedgehog]

27. Those are all marvelous drugs, and I wish I could use them more often.

My rheumatologist told me to stop taking those because of fear of kidney damage. I try to add anti-inflammatories such as fish oil and cherry juice to my diet instead. I'm also adding glucosomine /chrondrotin for my arthritis knees. I think these items are in the can't hurt/might help category.

[polichick]

29. You can keep the side effects.

[truebluegreen]

30. I totally believe every result from a scientific test

funded and run by Big Pharma (you didn't think the FDA tests everything itself, did you?).

[Vashta Nerada]

31. That tired argument?

[truebluegreen]

43. Goodbye.

[nadinbrzezinski]

32. Well, you do know aspirin started as a tea

made from a bark right?

Motrin and advil are the exact same thing, and started life as well as a tea. Aleve is a close chemical cousin. You also know that Motrin, Advil and Aleve are a no-no drug is you happen to be a diabetic due to the effects with the liver, right? In fact, in my mind neither in this family should be an OTC due to the side effects, well known, why it was not OTC for decades. Another bad effect of this family is the GI bleeds that it can cause, or worst case, holes in the gut.

As to the teas, there is a reason why you should ALWAYS tell your doctors what you are taking, including all "natural remedies." They do have a certain level of interaction with meds that come in pill form.

I also should mention DIGITALIS, another well known plant based medicine that these days comes in pill form, as well as metmorfin. And not done in the US, but we know that Chamomile tea is a smooth muscle relaxant, and is used for tummy ache, why just drinking it for fun makes no sense to me. Wait, the curanderas have known this for over a thousand years.

[Vashta Nerada]

35. Of course I know that.

I took a botany class a couple years ago. If I remember correctly, aspirin is salicylic acid, which is found in willow bark. It was discovered in the 1700s by Edward Stone.

[nadinbrzezinski]

36. Why I do not put down plants

as a source of medicine that works.

Hell, the US is BEHIND Europe in the adoption of some "natural medicines." They are embracing them (with research), since they work. What we are not behind is trying to steal some of these goods from third world nations, which has led to some interesting cases on biodiversity and who owns it in the courts. You do know this right?

And yes, Ginger does have some anti inflammatory effects. In my mind, instead of going, see these are well known meds. we should do the actual research and like Chamomile, FIND OUT WHY THEY WORK.

By the way, if we tried to do the research on Aspirin these days, the way the FDA works, it would still be in research. That is what is so damn funny about it.

[Vashta Nerada]

37. If they work and there's research to support that, I'll support it.

Until then, if there is no research backing up health claims, I will continue to ignore those claims until there is.

[nadinbrzezinski]

38. Your prerrogative

avoid chamomile, there is plenty of research, but not in the US, so it is not good.

That is my view at this point.

As to condroitin, there is plenty of research. And as to Ginger, see what five seconds of a google search led to? Gee a nice PubMed article

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16117603

[pecwae]

56. No one is forcing

you to accept those claims.

[MyNameGoesHere]

33. Is it USwooDA approved?

I mean I wouldn't want to go against science or anything.

[Zorra]

34. I've used this book for 16 yrs: The Scientific Validation of Herbal Medicine

by Daniel Mowrey
3.53 of 5 stars 3.53 · rating details · 15 ratings · 3 reviews
" 'The Scientific Validation of Herbal Medicine,' by Daniel B. Mowrey Ph. D., is a remarkable book that has been long awaited by herbalists and health professionals who are seriously interested in herbal medicine.
Dr. Mowery had presented to us in his first book, destined to be classic work, documented research from predominantly peer reviewed medical journals and texts fro...more

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2068275.Scientific_Validation_of_Herbal_Medicine

I've been using herbs for medicine pretty much my entire life, I like this book.

[Autumn]

47. Thanks for that link. I will be ordering that book because

I much prefer herbs than over the counter crap.

[polichick]

48. Thanks - that looks like a good one!

[1000words]

50. Penelope Ody's "The Complete Medicinal Herbal" is outstanding, too.

http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Medicinal-Herbal-Practical-Properties/dp/156458187X/ref=sr_1_1/192-0083632-2655828?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1388962095&sr=1-1

[ZRT2209]

44. choline - anti-inflammatory.

[1000words]

46. Tumeric!

That tea has intrigued me. Making some now ...

[Lucinda]

55. Thankie for the info!