Natural healing growing in
popularity in the United States
February 09, 2005
Americans are turning back to natural healing methods
as the costs of traditional medicines continues to soar.
Echinacea has been found to have a strong preventative
and palliative effect on the common cold. Zinc destroys
cold and flu viruses in the mouth, and eases the symptoms
of those ailments. Omega-3 oils and St. John's Wort
can help with depression.
Summary
- Twelve natural remedies--antioxidants, ginkgo biloba,
ginger and more--that boost immunity, lift your mood
and keep the heart healthy.
- Americans are turning in high numbers to naural
supplements for everything from colds to memory lapses.
- If you're looking for a mood booster, you might
think about upping your omega-3s.
From acidophilus to zinc, PT canvasses the best natural
remedies, be they classic standbys or cutting-edge
extracts.
- This daisylike cone flower, used as a medicinal
remedy since the late 1800s, is now known as the cold
and flu supplement.
- The Lowdown: A meta-analysis of 16 trials found
that echinacea helps prevent as well as treat common
cold symptoms more effectively than a placebo.
- Suggested Dose: For cold symptoms, take 50 to 300
mg, two to four times daily, depending on extract
concentration.
- Expert Testimony: Both zinc gluconate and zinc acetate
lozenges have been studied, but it's not clear which
is more effective.
- Depression, seasonal affective disorder (SAD), high
cholesterol levels and heart disease--all are said
to improve with plentiful supplies of the essential
fatty acids, omega-3s.
- Suggested Dose: Take an extract standardized to
.3 percent hypericin or 2 to 4.5 percent hyperforin,
900 mg daily in three doses.
- A large German study recently found that people
with vascular dementia and Alzheimer's disease had
lower levels of many key antioxidants--vitamins C,
E and A, carotenoids, lycopene and others-- than healthy
controls.
- But when boosting antioxidant intake with supplements,
opt for combination formulas; single high-dose antioxidants
are not only less effective but dangerous because
they can themselves become free radicals.
- B vitamins preserve the integrity of the central
nervous system, keeping vascular health as well as
cognitive function in top condition.
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