Information abou some herbs

BETONY
Betonica officinalis
It is useful in treating diarrhoea, it has mild sedative properties and can aid in the relief of headaches and anxiety, it has also been used in treatment of rheumatism and varicose veins. Beware of using the root as it may cause vomiting.
BLACK COHOSH
Cimicifuga racemosa
This herb can be used in the acute stage of rheumatoid arthritis and sciatica, it also relieves menstrual cramps. It is an effective stimulant for the heart and lowers high blood pressure but can also be used in cases of hysteria.
BETHROOT
Trillium erectum
It is used to treat menstrual problems and as a poultice it can be applied to ulcers and sores.
BLUEBERRY (BILBERRY)
Vaccinium myrtillus
The berries of this nutritious fruit can be dried and used for circulatory problems, the treatment of diabetes, burns, ulcers, inflamed gums, and catarrh. It also helps improve night vision and is an antioxidant.
BOLDO
Peumus boldus
Stimulates the liver, the   gall bladder, the digestive acids, the pancreas, acts as a diuretic. It has been used in the treatment of urinary tract infections, and it has sedative properties.
BUCKTHORN BARK
Rhamnus cathartica
The bark of this plant can be used as a powerful diuretic and purgative which is used in cases of chronic constipation. Do not use the fresh bark as it is too strong.
CAMPHOR
Cinnamomum camphora
It is commonly used on inflammed joints but is also used in small doses as a sedative and for the reduction of fevers. It can be used as an antispasmodic for epilepsy. Applied externally it relieves sprains and strains. As an insect repellent it is useful.
*127\26\8*

ZINC

CAUTIONARY NOTE ON HERBS

Natural medecine

News

EPILEPSY AND PREGNANCY

Women with epilepsy are quite often concerned about getting pregnant. There appear to be five reasons for this concern. They wish to know:
if they are likely to hand their epilepsy on to their children;
whether their fits will get worse during pregnancy;
whether it is safe for the baby that the mother should take anticonvulsants drugs during pregnancy;
if there will be any problems in the newborn baby from these drugs;
if they can safely breast feed the baby.
With regard to handing on epilepsy to one’s children – as mentioned earlier, if one parent has epilepsy, the chances of one of the children having epilepsy are no greater than in the population at large. If both parents have epilepsy, it would appear that the risk of a child having epilepsy is about 10 per cent. So in fact the chance of a child inheriting epilepsy, particularly idiopathic epilepsy, is negligible.
As far as seizures during pregnancy are concerned, the situation is not as clear as it might be. There is evidence that for some women, seizure control may deteriorate, while for others there may in fact be no change or even an improvement. A patient told me recently that “she would like to remain pregnant forever” as she had not had a single fit during her pregnancy, compared with six fits in the preceding nine months!
As a general working rule, it is suggested that people who have more than one grand mal fit a month are those who are most likely to have a deterioration in seizure control during pregnancy. The deterioration, if it occurs, is most likely during the first three months of pregnancy. There are a number of theories why this may happen, but none has been proved. It may be of value to check the blood anticonvulsant levels during pregnancy, especially if there is a deterioration in seizure control. The blood levels may fall, necessitating an increase in dosage during the pregnancy.
The main concern for parents is whether the anticonvulsants can harm the unborn baby (foetus). It is known by most people with epilepsy that this is a potential hazard. The effects include physical abnormalities in the baby, a process known as teratogenesis. Abnormalities have been reported in the offspring of mothers on all the commonly used anticonvulsants with the exception of carbamazepine. This is particularly applicable to phenytoin, barbiturates and sodium valproate. Babies born to mothers who have been on carbamazepine have not been shown to have any physical abnormalities, but have a smaller head size than other babies. This has not been shown to be any handicap to the babies who have been followed up for five years.
The risk of abnormalities in the baby is difficult to assess, but it seems to be most common in mothers on polytherapy (receiving numerous drugs), especially if they are on three or more anticonvulsants. The risk in mothers on phenytoin, with or without other medications, appears to be about a 10% chance of the baby showing features of the ‘foetal hydantoin’ syndrome. This syndrome consists of cleft palate, abnormalities of the fingers, possible heart abnormalities and mild mental retardation. Thus, at present, if it is possible, it would seem wise to try to change patients over to carbamazepine before conception. This may not be possible in all patients and, of course, many women will first visit their doctor when already pregnant, at which time there is no purpose in making the change.
Anticonvulsants taken by the mother during pregnancy may have some effects on the baby immediately after birth, as they are transmitted to the baby across the placenta. These include the possibility of a mild bleeding tendency and some drowsiness. In mothers who have been taking barbiturates, the infant may occasionally show features of a withdrawal reaction with irritability, jitteriness and poor sucking. None of these features is [...]

read more... -Next - Next2

Articles

ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION SYMPTOMS

Most patients have a combination of two or more of these problems. They are usually first given a thorough medical history and examination to determine the extent of the prob­lem and to hopefully pinpoint a cause. I want to briefly outline the nature of these four symptoms so that your problem will make more sense to you as a patient if you are experiencing any of them.

PRESCRIBED DRUGS

Taking prescribed medications with most vitamins is safe as is taking herbal complexes that are available through health food stores. However, you should always check with your doctor, your pharmacist or your naturopath. They are all trained to know what can go with what.

Weight loss

Overweight is most commonly a result of overeating and lack of exercise. Overweight and fluid retention often go together with people who have glandular problems or under-active thyroids. In such cases an iodine and phosporous deficiency may be the cause.