…As mentioned earlier, herbal medicine is mostly used to treat mild or chronic ailments and illnesses. So, in this article I will focus on five illnesses that can be remedied by using herbal medicines. These are migraine headaches, high blood pressure, obesity, colds and flu.

Migraines

Have you ever had a throbbing pain on one side of the head? Was the pain so intense that it also made you nauseated? Did you experience visual disturbances, like flickering points of light? Then chances are you were experiencing one of those debilitating, migraine headaches. They are the worse of all headaches, because you can become completely incapacitated.

More mysterious than others, in migraines evidence shows that constricting and swelling of the blood vessels is involved. The belief of some researchers is that these types of headaches are neurological in origin. It is also believed that genetics play a role in the migraine sufferer, because they often run in families.

There are a variety of reasons why people suffer migraine headaches. Some of these reasons are, the excessive intake of caffeine, dry winds, scents, seasons, changes in altitude, birth control pills, hormonal changes, certain foods, stuffy rooms, excitement, anger or even missing a meal. Sexual activity, strenuous exercise can also trigger a migraine.

The most widely recommended herbal remedy for migraine headaches is feverfew (Chrysanthemum parthenium). Researchers believe this herb works by blocking excessive secretions of serotonin, a neurotransmitter. When a migraine is in its initial stage, blood vessels constrict and serotonin is released. To help counteract, feverfew may help by dilating the blood vessels involved. Chewing a leaf or two on a daily basis is one approach to this ailment. Because the leaves of this herb can occasionally cause ulcers in the mouth, an alternative to the leaves is 125 mg. capsules. If you need to offset an acute attack, take three or four capsules right away and continue the dosage every four hours, but do not exceed 12 capsules per day.

If a migraine is triggered by stress, you may obtain relief from combining equal parts of hawthorn (Crataegus oxyacantha), wood betony (Pedicalaris canadensis), linden (Tilia spp.), skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora) and cramp bark (Viburnam opulus). This should be taken three times a day as a tincture or tea.

Sometimes migraines can become so severe, that they are accompanied by nausea and vomiting. In this case, at the onset of the warning stage, you may try taking 500 mg. of dried ginger (Zingibar officinale) with water. You may repeat this dosage every two hours if needed.

High Blood Pressure

The worst of all cardiovascular diseases, is hypertension or high blood pressure. If your blood pressure were taken right after a brisk walk or a five-mile hike, your reading would definitely seem high. This is no call for alarm. It is perfectly normal for your blood pressure to go up and down, when there is a change in your emotional state or physical activity.

High blood pressure or hypertension is the leading cause of stroke and heart attack in the Unites States alone. Approximately 40 million people suffer with this illness. This includes over half of all Americans the age of 60 and 64% of individuals are over 70.

Blood pressure means, the force of blood that pushes against your arteries walls. The arteries are supposed to be filled to a certain capacity. Too much pressure will eventually damage good healthy arteries.

There are two numbers in a blood pressure reading. The first number is always the highest. This is called the systolic pressure measurement. This means the peak force of your blood, as the heart is pumping it. The second number is your diastolic pressure.

At birth, a normal blood pressure steadily rises, from around 90/60 to around 120/80 in adults that are healthy. An individual that has a blood pressure reading as high as 140/90 on more than one occasion would be considered to have hypertension. In this case, your doctor will most likely begin treatment. A person with a reading of 200/120 should seek medical attention immediately.

When your blood pressure is consistently high, it puts more strain on the heart and causes it to work beyond its capacity. Not only does this damage the blood vessels, but it can also damage the eyes, kidneys and even the brain. Because so many people with hypertension do not realize they have this condition, it has been labeled as the “silent killer.” If this illness is left untreated, it can cause severe damage to the body and is potentially fatal.

In many cases, there are no warning signs of this illness, but if symptoms occur they may be headaches, chest pains or tightness, numbness or tingling. A person with high blood pressure may also perspire excessively, have muscle cramps, weakness and palpitations. If you experience any of these symptoms, please call your doctor.

Hypertension is broken down into three categories. In about 95 percent of hypertension cases reported in the United States, no underlying cause can be found. This is called essential hypertension. When a person suffers organ damage, caused by high blood pressure, this is called malignant hypertension. Pressure readings in this category are usually over 130. This is a very dangerous stage and requires immediate medical attention. The last type of high blood pressure is called secondary hypertension. This is when the cause of this condition is known. Among all the causes of secondary hypertension, kidney disease is No. 1. Other causes may be tumors or abnormalities that cause adrenal glands to secrete excess hormones, that heighten the blood pressure.

Essential hypertension is still a mystery, but it has been linked to certain risk factors. High blood pressure has been associated genetically, because in many cases, it runs in the family. Unfortunately, race and age play a role in developing this condition. Statistics show, here in the United States, that African Americans are twice as likely to develop hypertension than Caucasians. Even though this separation starts to narrow around the age of 44, after 65, African American women rank the highest in high blood pressure cases.

People, who do not use salt in their food, show no virtual traces of essential hypertension. In addition to these factors, diabetes, stress, obesity, insufficient intake of calcium, magnesium, potassium, excessive alcohol intake and insufficient physical activity can contribute to the onset of this condition.

There is no cure for essential hypertension, but it can be effectively treated.

Secondary hypertension can usually be cured, by concentrating on the cause. There are many things that can control your blood pressure. Your doctor will decide on a treatment plan. Since the focus is on herbal remedies, I will address this type of preventive plan.

First of all, watch what you eat. Eliminate the salt and fat in your diet. Include foods that are high in magnesium, calcium and fiber. If you don’t smoke, don’t start. If you do smoke, quit! Exercise regularly. This keeps your blood vessels dilated, so that they can function properly. It also conditions the heart. If you are obese, lose weight.

The best herbal medicine to take for correcting or preventing hypertension is Hawthorn Tea (Crataegus laevigata). This herb has been used to treat many circulatory disorders. When used over a period of time, Hawthorn Tea can help reduce heart rate and dilate blood vessels. You may prepare this at home, by steeping the berries and dry flowers in hot water for 10 to 15 minutes. Research shows that you can also reduce your blood pressure by consuming an ample amount of onion and garlic.

Obesity

Obesity is one of the contributors of hypertension. A woman is considered to be obese, when her body fat percentage is over 30 percent and over 25 percent for men. Because some people metabolize food differently, the person with the lower metabolism will gain weight at a faster rate. Obesity puts the overweight person, at a much higher risk not only for hypertension, but also heart disease, cancer, diabetes and respiratory problems.

Even though there are reasons why some individuals can eat as much as they want, without gaining weight, if you are obese, you need to make every effort to lose the weight. You should especially be concerned, if you tend to carry a lot of weight around the abdominal area. This is more typical in men, than in women. There are a variety of reasons why a person can become overweight. Some of these include poor diet, lack of exercise, thyroid and heredity.

Programs to lose weight are a billion dollar business in the United States. But, many weight-loss enterprises still look at obesity from a cultural point of view, that obesity is a result of inadequate exercise or some moral deficiency. Research has proved that it is not nearly that simple. Genetic, as well as, biochemical forces are involved each time we eat. Unfortunately, having will power does not have much to do with how our body will process the food we consume, or how our bodies will respond when we are full.

As research brings us more knowledge about the causes of obesity, better treatment plans will be created. But, presently conventional and alternative therapies are focused on exercise, diet and in some cases psychological complications.

Herbal therapy is one approach that can be tried. Kelp (Fucus spp.) in tablet form three to four times a day can be used to stimulate your metabolic rate. It has been reported to be especially good for obesity related to thyroid disorders. It helps to offset the cravings for sweets that are full of those extra calories.

You may take Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), to boost your metabolism and flush out the kidneys. You may eat the raw leaves in a salad or drink it in a tea, by boiling two to three teaspoons of the root in a cup of water for 10 to 15 minutes. Drink this tea three times a day.

One of the complications associated with obesity is constipation. In this case, a tea made from rhubarb may eliminate this problem.

To be continued with colds and flu.