Kidney Infections: Stop the Madness!

If you've ever struggled with kidney infections, you understand what a pain they can be.  Back pain, stomach pain, fever, nausea, physical and mental exhaustion can all be symptoms of a kidney infection.  No fun at all.  It's common that when you have one, whatever issue that caused it might not be addressed and the infections continue to occur.  Stress, lack of water, contamination and other illnesses may leave your body vulnerable to a build-up of the bacteria that causes these infections, which begins a crazy cycle that is miserable!

Stop the Madness!

There are some wonderful herbs and remedies for feeding and healing the kidneys. There's no reason why you can't stop the maddening cycle today!

Prevention
If you find yourself predisposed to kidney problems and infections, here are some things you should consider:

• Always, always, always drink plenty of water.
• Chronic infections often come an overgrowth of candida (from medications, antibiotics, etc.) and Probiotics are vital to restoring that balance.  
• Make cleansing a regular part of your health regimen.
• Take Cranberry & Buchu daily to promote healthy digestion and to feed and maintain a healthy urinary tract.
• If you struggle with repeat infections, Urinary Maintenance might be just what you need to maintain fluid and mineral balance.
• Get plenty of rest! Yes, there's always more to do, but you won't have a choice if you're doubled over in pain.

Remedies

Once the madness has begun, relief is all you care about.  Here are some remedies that have worked really well for us.

• JP-X is the absolute best herbal combination for handling kidney infections.  It is designed to support the detoxifying functions of the body and strengthens kidneys and bladder.
• IF-C is a Chinese combination that nourishes the structural and immune systems by stimulating blood flow and helping to eliminate toxins.  Whatever kind of infection you may be treating, this combination will work to eliminate it.  When combined with the JP-X, this will usually do the trick.
• Cranberry & Buchu is great for prevention, but also if a kidney infection is especially rough, the cranberry builds up the urinary tract to ensure it's proper function.
• Olive Leaf Extract helps protect from and eliminate the unwanted invaders (bacteria) that often cause the infection to begin with. It also promotes great circulatory health and supports the urinary system.

There are so many great herbal alternatives that gently correct damages in the body by nourishing the systems.  If you haven't found relief yet for your urinary and kidney health OR you have another hard to address health issue, we'd love to help you find herbal alternatives!  Give us a call at (405) 634-HERB.

Are You Feeding Your Brain? Supplements for Brain Health

Our brains are often a key to our success in life.  Effectiveness, comprehension, attention to detail can all make or break a job, an event or a relationship.  Thinking clearly is important, but sometimes we don't act like it.  Two of the main areas we can feed our brain is usually where we abuse it the most: Exercise and Sleep. These are usually the first thing to go when we're crunched for time or stressed, but they should be the first place we go to for a boost!  Don't forget brain boosting foods like avocado, blueberries, dark, leafy greens, nuts and fish.

In addition to exercise, sleep, and a diet full of good fats, fresh fruits and vegetables, there are some great herbal supplements that can feed the brain for optimum performance.

Got a big test or important meeting coming up?  Focus Attention combines powerful nutrients that encourage a quiet, balanced mental activity.  This combination also helps protect the body from undesirable side effects of drugs or exposure to toxic chemicals, food additives, pesticides, etc. It's also a great choice for kids having trouble in school!  Mind Maxsupports brain function, memory and concentration with the help of a highly absorbable magnesium l-threonate, along with gotu kola aerial parts, bacopa leaf and ginkgo leaf—herbs well-known to benefit circulation and brain health—for a powerful brain boost.

 Work in a stressful or toxic environment? Brain Protex is designed to give the brain protection against free radical damage. It is especially helpful for those who desire extra support for brain health, nerve function and alertness.   Gaba Plus  supports brain and nerve metabolism, normalizes the nervous system and promotes a great sense of relaxation and peace.  GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) is an amino acid that plays a role in neurotransmitter and brain activity. It affects the central nervous system by reducing the number of neurons firing in the brain, thus calming brain activity. This can benefit people with overstimulated nervous systems who find it difficult to relax or who have trouble focusing on one task.

Feeling a little off? Hard to keep your mood swings in check?  Adding some EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids can go a long way in stabilizing your brain function. DHA(Docosahexaenoic acid) is a fatty acid that is absorbed into the fatty perimeter of cells. It is required for brain development and important in maintaining and protecting the neural tissues,  Super Omega-3 or Sunshine Heroes Omega-3 (for kids) contains both EPA and DHA fatty acids, supporting the cardiovascular system, structural system, as well as the skin. The body uses omega-3 fatty acids as one of the primary components of cell membranes.  Through feeding the cells with an adequate ratio of fatty acids, many have seen a relief of symptoms in mild depression or mood disorders. With our western diet, healthy fatty acids should be a large part of everyone's health regimen.  

Stomach Bugs Gotcha Down?

Appetite issues, gas, mental fogginess, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, exhaustion.  When the stomach bugs come to town, there's just no telling what manner of misery you may find yourself in.  Whether it's a contagious virus or some food-borne bacteria, getting rid of it is always a #1 priority! 

We often hear that there is just nothing you can take/do in these cases, except let them run their course.  We feel differently.  In some cases, these are prolonged and can stay and settle in the body causing inflammation and leading to disease when not effectively addressed and cleansed out of the system. There are several remedies that can help in getting over and getting rid of these stomach invaders.  If you want more information on any of the herbs and combinations below, just click on the name for details.

Silver Shield or Olive Leaf Extract  are the place to start above all else.  In most cases, either remedy will do the trick in eliminating the virus or bacteria from your system.  Since Silver is liquid though, it can be more useful with children and periods when it's difficult to keep anything down.

Ginger - If you struggle with gas or stomach pains anytime, but especially as the result of stomach bugs, ginger is an excellent source of relief.

Red Raspberry (or the liquid) - Women's health, digestion and nausea relief are just a few of the areas Raspberry is good for. The capsules are an excellent addition to help with nausea and the liquid is especially helpful for kids!  Making some raspberry tea and sipping it at a cool temperature has also been effective in calming the system when it's refusing to keep anything down.

FV, Slippery Elm or Intestinal, Soothe & Build - If diarrhea is a problem, be sure to include FV and then one of the other supplements to help calm the system down.  FV nourishes the digestive system and settles the stomach.  Slippery Elm works to maintain normal elimination.  Intestinal, Soothe & Build works to restore the bowel to a healthier, cleaner state.

Solstic Revive - Since the electrolyte balance is disrupted through vomiting and diarrhea, Solstic Revive is a pleasant tasting powder that can be mixed with water and consumed to help restore those energy and balance to the body.  This is a great help in recovering from illnesses as well as excessive exercise and overall preventing dehydration.

Chinese Trigger Immune - Recovery is often a big issue, especially when high fevers are involved.  This Chinese formula builds up the circulatory system and fights against nutrient depletion - which is common in illness, especially with vomiting and diarrhea.

Not sure what is best for your body?  Give us a call (405)-634-HERB or send us an email theherbgardennsp@gmail.com and we would LOVE to help you!

Make Your Own Salad Dressings!

Salad dressings are stuffed full of chemicals and unfriendly ingredients these days!  Here are 5 great dressing recipes that we use at our dinner table regularly!

Basic Ranch Dressing Recipe

INGREDIENTS

1 cup well-shaken buttermilk

1/4 cup mayonnaise

3 tablespoons sour cream

3 tablespoons finely chopped Italian parsley

2 tablespoons finely chopped chives

4 teaspoons white wine vinegar or lemon juice

1 medium garlic clove, finely chopped

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more as needed

1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus more as needed

INSTRUCTIONS

Place all of the ingredients in a 2-cup Mason jar or other container with a tight-fitting lid. Seal tightly and shake to evenly distribute all the ingredients. Taste and season with additional salt and pepper as desired. Refrigerate until chilled and the flavors have melded, about 1 hour. The dressing will last up to 3 days in the refrigerator.

Honey mustard dressing

1 cup - plain yogurt

1/2 cup - raw honey

1/2 cup - Dijon mustard

1/4 cup - mayonnaise

1 Tbsp white wine vinegar

1 Tbsp tarragon, dried and crushed

Mix and serve. 

Homemade Caesar Salad Dressing

Ingredients:

2 small garlic cloves, minced

1 teaspoon anchovy paste (found near the tuna fish in the supermarket)

2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice, from one lemon

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard (I like the brand Maille)

1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

1 cup mayonnaise, best quality such as Hellmann's Real

1/2 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Instructions:

In a medium bowl, whisk together the garlic, anchovy paste, lemon juice, Dijon mustard and Worcestershire sauce. Add the mayonnaise, Parmigiano-Reggiano, salt and pepper and whisk until well combined. Taste and adjust to your liking.

I add a little water to make it the consistency I want.

Avocado dressing

1 large avocado

2 tsp lemon juice

1/2 cup greek yogurt

1/4 cup olive oil

2 cloves garlic

3/4 tsp salt

Dash of chili flakes

Blend in food processor.  Add water for right consistency. 

Poppyseed dressing

1/3 cup xylitol

1/2 cup white vinegar

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon ground dry mustard

1 teaspoon grated onion

1 cup vegetable oil

1 tablespoon poppy seeds

Directions:

In a blender or food processor, combine sugar, vinegar, salt, mustard and onion and process for 20 seconds. With blender or food processor on high, gradually add oil in a slow, steady stream. Stir in poppy seeds.