Yours for the asking

[Mira O'Halloran]

My friends, and fellow citizens, I am at your service. Any questions you may have on the this's of the that's, this is the place to ask.

I also have a tiny bit of knowledge when it comes to animals, so fire away, and the more obsure the things, the more fun it will be to research.

[Queen Rachel]

How did you get involved in herbal medicine and things? It's been something that has always interested me but I can't say I ever had much of a talent for it.

[Mira O'Halloran]

My mother first sparked my interest, in culinary purposes, then later, when i decided to follow nature, i began to look into bits and pieces, like crystal healing, aromatherapy and herbal tea. Then problems began to arise in my, and my families life.

My depression spun out of control, and the insomnia started, my mum was having awful migraines, and after a year on the medication the doctor said that its possible that it might kill her if she stays on it (yet he still handed her a prescription), and my stepdad got cancer.

The medication I was on had adverse effects, and I just wanted to kill myself half the time. After a while I got sick of it, so I looked into herbal alternatives. not only was it more plesent the the medication, but it was fun, finding and making the perfect mixture for a sleep tea. It took me a few months to get it right, but in that time, the sedatives in the tea helped enormously with the depression and anxiety.

So with my sucess, I looked into herbs for headaches, and blood vessel inflamation, and nausea. Found a few different herbs, but I really struck gold in some small store in the city. natural painkillers, 100% herbal, and natural (and now the major supermarkets stock it ^.^). So using the information on the box, i began a new search, and found some really obscure (but helpful) herbs from overseas (like the amazon region) and some fairly... common ones too (who would have thought chilli reduced blood vessel inflamation and improved blood circulation!)

Both of us are so much better for it, and unlike chemical medication, there are no side effects, and it's probably worked better too. I only ever take chemical medication if I have to.

As for my stepdad, one of my boyfriends sister had a brain tumour, and i got talking to their dad, and he told me about vitamin B17. It's not officially recognised by scientific groups.
There have been a huge amount of sucess stories where people have taken it, and the cancer has just gone after a 3-6 month course of their prefered food that contains it. The best/easiest source is apricot kernals however they are very bitter, so my stepdad refuses to take them. But you can't win them all.

And as a result, I have an interesting library on herbs.

[Nesslandria Haneh]

It's amazing that you've gone and found all that information! Here's a bit of an odd question, but do you know of anything to reduce inflammation in the colon? I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis almost two years ago. UC causes tiny ulcers in the colon and inflammation of the colon. The doctors don't know what causes it, and there is no way to predict when it's going to flare up. I'd appreciate any help you can offer, but don't feel like you need to go through too much trouble.

[Mira O'Halloran]

I've copied your post to my hard drive, and i'll begin ferretting around for you. It's some thing new to look up and new is always interesting, so it's no trouble.
I'll get back to you as soon as I can,
Be well.

[Mira O'Halloran]

herbs for ulcerative colitis

Aloe vera has known anti-inflammatory properties. However, it has not been studied specifically for use in treating inflammation in UC. Other herbs with anti-inflammatory properties include calendula, linseed, licorice, marshmallow, myrrh, and yarrow.

These herbs can be taken either orally, or in enema form, however enemas may not be beneficial for severe flare-ups. Calendula, licorice, marshmallow, and yarrow are often taken as teas. Myrrh can't be made into a tea, so it comes in the forum of a tincture that can be mixed with water. Linseed (flaxseed) is an oil, and can be a substitute for fish oil. When replacing fish oil, as much as 10 times more linseed oil is needed to provide the necessary essential fatty acids. Aloe vera and these other anti-inflammatory herbs can be found in health food and vitamin stores.

Chamomile, known for its calming properties, may also be useful in curbing UC symptoms. Chamomile is most often taken as a tea, but can also be used in enema form. Peppermint, taken in enteric-coated capsules, also relaxes the bowel. Chamomile tea and peppermint capsules are widely available.

Boswellia (also known as Frankincense) is a little-known herb that may reduce inflammation in the colon. In one study, complete remission was achieved by 82% of those taking boswellia 350 mg three times a day. Boswellia can be found in vitamin stores.

Psyllium seeds (Plantaginis ovatae)

A study comparing the use of psyllium seeds to the prescription drug mesalamine in people with UC reveal that the fiber-based supplement may be as effective as the medication in decreasing recurrences of the disease. More research is needed to confirm the conclusion of the authors of this study.
Psyllium for Ulcerative Colitis

Ulcerative colitis sufferers are often urged to observe a bland, low-fiber diet during flare-ups so it may seem odd that psyllium, one of the best sources of natural fiber, is gaining respect among colitis researchers. Between flare-ups, psyllium may help normalize bowel movements and decrease recurrence of symptoms.

Bromelain for Ulcerative Colitis

Emerging research on pineapple suggests that pineapple's "active" component, bromelain, may help relieve the inflammation associated with ulcerative colitis. Additionally, bromelain, which is an enzyme traditionally associated with improved digestion, may also help colitis sufferers better digest food.

A professional herbalist may also recommend the following herbs to reduce inflammation and diminish abdominal cramps associated with UC:

* Cat's claw
* Wild Indigo
* Marshmallow root (Althaea officinalis)
* Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus)
* Turmeric (Curcuma longa)
* Ginger (Zingiber officinale)
* Green tea (Camillia sinensis)
* Bromelain (Ananas comosus)
* Wild yam (Dioscorea villosa)
* German chamomile flower (Matricaria recutita)
* Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)


Other Notes:

The following foods should also be avoided by people with UC because they worsen symptoms of the disease:

* Milk (and milk products)
* Spicy foods
* Fats
* Sugars


Avoiding fast food where you can will help.
High allergenic food are said to be triggers, such as wheat, milk, peanuts, ect.
Keeping to a lower fibre diet will help during flare ups.
This is still in the preliminary stages, but a group of people with mild to moderate ulcerative colitis experienced significant improvement after receiving 30 grams (about 1 oz) per day of a germinated barley product for four weeks. they are still trialing this.

For unknown reasons, smokers have a lower risk of UC. The nicotine patch has actually been used to induce remissions in people with UC, although this treatment has been ineffective in preventing relapses. (Though i wouldn't recommend this method, due to the other health complications that come with it.)

Exercise may also be very helpful for those with UC. Although exercise is generally considered safe for people with UC, those with the condition must take certain precautions when exercising and should talk to their healthcare practitioners before starting an exercise program. It is especially important for people with UC to drink one to two glasses of water before exercising and one glass of water every twenty minutes while exercising to prevent dehydration. Exercise should be avoided during symptom flare-ups or if the individual has a fever.

Good luck, and sorry for taking so long in getting back to you.

[Rook]

Only vaguelly related, on the ship we varnish alot of the wood with linseed oil and petrolatum. Weird.

[Nesslandria Haneh]

Wow, that's a lot more information than I was expecting. Thank you so much! I copy-pasted your post and it's saved on my flash drive. I'll definitely be looking into obtaining some of those herbs. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

[Mira O'Halloran]

Welcome sweetie. I just hope it helps in some way.
Good luck with obtaining them

[Rook]

The Queen has come down with a cold as the wetness ravages the Southern Orange County populace.

She's got a fever, a wet cough that gets cracky and a sore throat, that isn't so sore anymore, along wtih general weariness and feeling of malaise.

It's mostly the coughing and such now. Any suggestions?

[Mira O'Halloran]

Steam inhalation on it's own would work, (sticking your head over a bowl of freshly boiled water) but to make it more so effective, rosemary oil and eucalyptus, tea tree and/or pine with help breaking up anything in the lungs, and help to clear blocked airways. if you (like me) are too poor to the get the oils, bits of the freshly picked, gently broken up plant thrown in will also do the trick.

May her majesty recover quickly (if she already hasn't, i just realised this reply is 5 days late.)

[Queen Rachel]

Luckily I have. Normally things like this knock me out for at least a few weeks.

[Gelare]

Apart from Uantir's own excellent infirmary, where can one go to find medical information? A trip to the doctor's office, apart from perhaps not being the best use of a physician's time, is also quite expensive for a patient, especially if all they seek is information. What other resources could one go to? WebMD or Wikipedia, perhaps? Any other ideas?

[Rook]

Both my parents are medical professionals, so I have always gone to them with serious medical conscerns. I've heard good things about WebMD though.

[Mira O'Halloran]

I don't know about the websites you mentioned, but I normally google for "herbal remedies for <insert ailment here>" read about 15 sites, make sure they're all saying the same thing, and then go with that. Of course, I already have extensive knowledge stored in my brain because of my interest in the subject. I'm planning on getting my BA and few other qualifications in holistic medicine/science, so I'll be official!