Monday, May 24, 2010

Herbal Remedies to Give Relief from Hay Fever

Publisher: Earl Williams
The Affiliate Mini Mall


When you suffer from hay fever, plants can seem like the problem, not the solution! But there are some plant-based, herbal supports that can help you get through the hay fever seasons.

Yes, there is more than one hay fever season. Spring, late summer, and fall all feature different irritating pollens. Hay fever symptoms can include runny nose, itchy and watery eyes, sneezing, coughing, "tickle" in the throat or chest, and even skin rashes. Here are some herbs that may help you through the hay fever seasons.

1. Bee Products

Honey, being made from flower nectar and containing pollen, can have a desensitizing effect. While the evidence is anecdotal, allergy sufferers around the world swear by honey's effectiveness at treating hay fever. Use raw, unfiltered honey for the best medicinal benefit, and try a tablespoon a day a month or so before allergy season.

Bee pollen's curative effect on his allergies inspired U.S. Senator Tom Harkin to form the National Institute of Health's Office of Alternative Medicine. It is particularly implicated in hay fever.

2. Stinging Nettle

Sometimes just called nettle, this is not a new remedy for respiratory complaints. The most effective way to use stinging nettle is by taking capsules of the freeze-dried herb, which can be found in health food stores. It has significant anti-inflammatory effects, and studies suggest antihistamine action. Like honey and bee pollen, it is best to begin taking nettle a month or so before allergy season.

3. Turmeric

This is a potent anti-inflammatory that can be liberally added to foods or taken in capsules.

4. Garlic

Garlic contains a powerful anti-inflammatory substance called quercetin. Like turmeric, garlic can be added to foods or taken in capsules. Cook up an anti-allergy curry with turmeric and garlic.

5. Ginkgo

Ginco has been hailed as a circulation-enhancing herb, but it can also help with allergies. The body naturally produces a chemical called platelet-activating factor (PAF), and PAF triggers allergies. Ginkgo inhibits the action of PAF in the body.

6. Cucumber

Cool cucumber slices placed over the eyes can help with swelling, redness and itching.

7. Eyebright

Eyebright is an herb with a long history of mucus membrane support. As its name implies, it is good for the eyes - make a tea of dried eyebright herb and place the teabags over your eyes. Or simply use a cloth dipped in the cooled tea as a compress. Eyebright can also be taken internally in tea or capsule form.

8. Chamomile

A member of the ragweed family, chamomile can provide soothing relief if applied topically to itchy skin or hives. Creams or lotions are available commercially. Just use caution - very rarely, chamomile can make hay fever symptoms worse.

9. Goldenseal

This is implicated in the treatment of colds and flu, and can also be helpful in treating the mucus membrane inflammation associated with hay fever.



About the Publisher: Earl Williams is a real entrepreneur who is making money with his online marketing business using some of the largest Affiliate programs on the Internet. He uses the affiliate programs to setup Affiliateminimall.com where you can fine discount shopping along with great coupon deals. To learn more visit: www.affiliateminimall.com

Green Redecorating On a Budget

Publisher: Earl Williams
The Affiliate Mini Mall


You may think that keeping your redecorating efforts eco-friendly will break your budget. While it's true that some "green" items can cost more, there are ways to engage in environmentally-friendly redecorating and still stay within a budget. Here are some ideas.


Paint

Do you get headaches or respiratory irritation when painting a room? That is probably due to the toxic substances in the paint, particularly volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Look for paint that is VOC-free - many major paint manufacturers have VOC-free versions of their paints. While it does cost a bit more, it is high-quality paint that tends to cover better, so you will likely only need one coat. That can actually end up being cheaper than getting many gallons of conventional paint.

Painting a room can mean a lot of disposable accoutrements such as plastic drop cloths and paint trays. Consider biodegradable drop cloths, which are comparable to plastic and sell for under $4. An even cheaper option is to use an old sheet you already have. It can be washed and re-used for your next painting project. You can also purchase washer able drop cloths.

If you use disposable paint trays and rollers, look for those that are biodegradable or made from recycled materials.

Flooring

If you have synthetic wall-to-wall carpet, rip it up and expose the flooring beneath. If it's hardwood, it can be restored with minimal effort. If it is not hardwood, or if you just want to put down more carpet, consider modular carpet tiles. These are inexpensive and can be laid down by the homeowner without the use of toxic adhesives or chemicals. They are also manufactured with non-toxic dyes and recycled materials. When they are worn out or you just want a change, they can be returned to the manufacturer for recycling.

Appliances

Perhaps you want to redecorate your kitchen and you are considering buying new appliances. If they are still in good working order, you can actually get appliance paints to give them a fresh, new look. (The same is true for bathroom tiles.) If you do purchase new appliances, look for those with the energy-star for optimum efficiency.

Furniture and Accessories

Here is where you can really save money and be environmentally friendly. Shop at antique and second-hand stores and purchase inexpensive furniture and accessories such as lamps, vases, etc. Some of these items need to be restored, or can be given a new look by simply spraying them with white spray paint.

Don't forget your own attic, garage, closet, etc. for these items. Perhaps you have an old end table that you could re-paint, or a basket hidden away that could be used to hold magazines. Re-use bottles and jars as candle holders and flower vases.

Redecorating probably means that you are throwing out some things - old carpet, appliances, etc. Rather than hauling these to the landfill, find out if they can be donated to charitable organizations for refurbishing. Remember to report any eco-friendly changes you make to your home on your income tax return.


About the Publisher: Earl Williams is a real entrepreneur who is making money with his online marketing business using some of the largest Affiliate programs on the Internet. He uses the affiliate programs to setup Affiliateminimall.com where you can fine discount shopping along with great coupon deals. To learn more visit: www.affiliateminimall.com

Thursday, May 13, 2010

Cancer-Fighting Spices And Foods

Publisher: Earl Williams
The Affiliate Mini Mall


Cancer is a frightening illness, and even hearing the word can be scary. Thus, it's comforting to know that there are spices and foods that can help prevent and fight cancer. Here are some of those foods.

General

In addition to the specifics, there are a few wise, general rules to follow in any cancer-preventing or cancer-fighting diet.

First, variety is essential. Second, that variety needs to be plant-based, meaning the greater variety of fruits and vegetables you consume, the better. Third, the variety of plants you eat need to be whole and natural, not processed (in other words, buy a bunch of fresh, organic spinach rather than a package frozen, prepared spinach dip).

Applying these general guidelines to all the foods you buy will go a long way in promoting cancer prevention.

Specific foods

* Whole grains are an important source of inositol hexaphosphate, a form of B vitamin that is a cancer fighter.

* Cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and cauliflower contain D-glucaric acid, which is an anti-cancer phytochemical. ("Phytochemical" refers to any chemical component found in plants.)

* Berries protect DNA from damage; the multiplication of cells with damaged DNA is how cancer forms.

* Cherries, particularly tart ones, contain powerful antioxidants called anthocyanins.

* Garlic and onions have sulfides, immune-enhancers and cancer-fighters. Be sure to crush or chop garlic before consuming; this treatment enhances the cancer-fighting properties.

* Bell peppers have cancer-fighting capsaicin and vitamin C, an antioxidant.

* Tomatoes are rich in the antioxidant lycopene.

* Red clover can be used in salads, and is a good anti-cancer food.

* Citrus fruits contain the anti-cancer compound limonene.

* Raw almonds have laetrile, which is anti-cancer, and calcium, which is also implicated in cancer prevention. (Note - dairy products are not a good source of calcium for those on an anti-cancer diet.)

* Brazil nuts contain selenium; low levels of this substance are associated with increased cancer risk.

* Mushrooms, specifically shitake, reishi, and maitake enhance the immune system and help the body fight cancer cells.

* Beans and lentils have inositol hexaphosphate, the same form of B vitamin found in whole grains. Serve up the beans and whole grain brown rice! And add liberal amounts of some of the following spices.

Spices

* Remember the song about "parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme"? That combination of herbs makes an excellent anti-cancer blend. All four of these flavor-enhancers have anti-cancer properties. Rosemary in particular is under scrutiny as a cancer therapy due to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity.

* Cumin is an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory.

* Cayenne pepper has more of anti-cancer capsaicin than bell peppers.

* Turmeric is anti-inflammatory.

* Ginger is a pungent anti-inflammatory spice.

Bear in mind, too, that the National Institutes in Health (NIH) recommends five servings of fruits and vegetables a day. Here's where a blender can come in very handy - you can toss in five different fruits and veggies, add some filtered water, and create a healthful drink.


About the Publisher: Earl Williams is a real entrepreneur who is making money with his online marketing business using some of the largest Affiliate programs on the Internet. He uses the affiliate programs to setup Affiliateminimall.com where you can fine discount shopping along with great coupon deals. To learn more visit: www.affiliateminimall.com