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Robert McDowell's Herbal Treatments 02 December 2007 Herbal Help for Humans and their CompanionsStress is the plague of the 21st Century-never underestimate the physical damage it can do .Try the following 6-step relaxation response the next time you feel anxiety or stress:
2. Close your eyes. 3. Deeply relax all of your muscles, beginning at your feet and progressing up to your face. Keep your muscles relaxed. 4. Breathe through your nose. Become aware of your breathing. As you breathe out (exhale), say the word, "ONE", silently to yourself. For example: breathe IN...OUT, "ONE", -IN...OUT, "ONE", etc. Breathe easily and naturally. 5. Continue for 10 to 20 minutes (depending on your schedule). You may open your eyes to check the time, but do not use an alarm. When you finish, sit quietly for several minutes, at first with your eyes closed, then with your eyes opened. Do not stand up for a few minutes. 6. Do not worry about if you are successful in achieving a deep state of relaxation. When distracted, simply return to repeating "ONE". This week we feature:-
Feline - Heat Stroke Heat stroke is a condition that results from excessively high body temperatures which leads to abnormalities in the pet's body that can lead to death. It is most common in pets left in locked cars with the windows up or to dogs left outside in the heat without water. It is can also happen to dogs that are "exercised" during really hot weather. Puppies, kittens, dogs and cats with underlying medical problems and older pets are at most risk. Keep your pet safe! Please do NOT leave your dog or cat in a parked car! Their body temperatures can rise quickly - even to 105 to 110 degrees Fahrenheit. At temperatures greater than 109 F, failure of vital organs, and consequently death, can occur. Learn more about heatstroke and how to protect your pet! Go to "How Heat and Humidity Affect Your Pet". Canine - Allergy to Flea Saliva This does not mean that your dog is covered in fleas it means he is sensitive to the flea saliva & it would take only 1 or 2 fleas to bite to start the allergic reaction. After the first bite your dog may still show reaction for up to 2-3 weeks. Treat the environment & all other animals in the house also. Sometimes with fleas & flea allergy dogs A 2 pronged approach is necessary. I have a range of treatment programs for allergic skin problems in dogs. Your dog would be best treated with the acute allergy mix to be found on the following link: http://www.herbal-treatments.com.au/dog_skin_allergy_acute_irritation.html It is an internal treatment which reduces the reactivity and will make him more comfortable without the sides effects of the chemical treatments. My mix also works toward reducing the underlying sensitivity so he can cope better and better if the circumstances return. There is also a cream which is useful both to heal the damage done to the skin from the irritation and scratching and the allergic response as well. This is found on; http://www.herbal-treatments.com.au/dog_skin_irritant.html Or you can simply make up a Chamomile Tea place in fridge to cool and spray or dab on irritated areas to calm the skin. If your dog's. problems are ongoing it's likely there are blood toxicity problems involved but these type of skin problems are treated with blood cleansers. See link: http://www.herbal-treatments.com.au/dog_blood_poisoning.html Equine - Sweet/Queensland Itch Sweet Itch is like our Queensland itch and I have had success with treating this. It helps the progress if you are able to protect from the biting insects. Use this in conjunction with covering the horse and if the horse is not one of the few that develop severe allergic reactions to the bites, it is successful. I have had horses though that still suffer seasonally quite badly and really the only recommendation for them is to remove them from that area. My first approach for the Sweet Itch is to give blood cleansers. This mix can be found at the following link: http://www.herbal-horsekeeping.com/horse_blood_cleanser.html The mix will need to be run for a full Blood Cycle of 12 weeks (which would be 2 bottles). At about the 5 week mark you may notice a slight increase in the itch which is very normal as the herbs detoxify the system. I also recommend keeping the horse lightly covered with a cotton rug and hood if possible. Also have a good read of the following article on QLD Itch: http://herbal-treatments.com.au/articles_queensland_itch.html Giving your horse Chamomile every day and adding fresh garlic, molasses and rosehips tea to the diet will also support the improvement in immunity and toxin removal. Chamomile tea made with flowers; Dose rate is 4 dessertspoons made into a tea with 1 litre of boiling water and given with feed. http://www.herbal-horsekeeping.com/horse_chamomile_flowers.html Rosehip tea made with granules; Dose rate is 2 dessertspoons made into a tea with 1 litre of boiling water and given with feed. http://www.herbal-horsekeeping.com/horse_rosehips_granules.html You can mix the teas into the same 1 litre of water. Molasses and Garlic recipe; I recommend that you soak 1 kilo of unpeeled garlic cloves ( just roll the corns underfoot slightly) into a 5 litre tub of molasses, allow to steep for 3 weeks then it's ready to use. Dose half a cup daily including cloves. Human - Muscle Cramping A muscle cramp is defined as an involuntarily and forcibly contracted muscle that does not relax. Cramps may be caused by an inadequate blood supply to the muscle such as in after eating or after vigorous exercise that produces the waste product lactic acid and results in a loss of fluids and electrolytes. Emotionally cramps are a gripping, a fear of letting go. Muscle cramps can be due to dehydration (i.e. not drinking enough), elimination of body salts(potassium, Calcium, megnesium), poor circulation (i.e. not enough oxygen getting to the muscles), or nerve supply problems (maybe from the back) and these are just some of the reasons. The most commonly affected muscle groups are: Athletes are more likely to get cramps in the preseason when the body is not conditioned and therefore more subject to fatigue. Cramps often develop near the end of intense or prolonged exercise, or 4-6 hours later. Older people are more susceptible to muscle cramps due to normal muscle loss (atrophy) that begins in the mid-40s and accelerates with inactivity. As you age, your muscles cannot work as hard or as quickly as they used to. The body also loses some of its sense of thirst and its ability to sense and respond to changes in temperature. Magnesium is present in many foods (greens, grains, meat and fish, bananas, apricots, nuts, and soybeans) Look for herbs to assist circulation, relaxing muscles and ease the cramps. http://www.herbal-treatments.com.au/herbs_nighttime_muscle_cramping.html Home Remedies - Onions, Garlic and Cabbage Onions: In the Middle Ages, onions were used as a charm to ward off the Plague. According to Nicholas Culpeper (1616-1654), "the juice .... dropped into the ears eases the pains and noises in them." Until comparatively recently it was not uncommon for a mother to put the warmed core of an onion, or some onion juice, into her child's ear to relieve the pain of earache. Roasted onion has also been used in the past as a poultice for weeping ulcers and chilblains. A slice of onion is reputed to remove warts. The Greeks used onion juice as a treatment for alopecia. Onions also help to reduce high blood pressure. They protect against the harmful effects of fatty foods on the blood, and this may help prevent circulatory diseases such as coronary heart disease, thrombosis, and a wide range of conditions associated with strokes and poor circulation. Research has shown that onions may offer protection against tumors as it is believed that the sulphur compounds may help prevent the growth of tumor cells. Onion cough syrup is very easy to make. Slice an onion (or garlic) and place in a bowl, layering it with sugar or honey. Cover and leave overnight. Pour off the resulting syrup into a bottle and refrigerate. Garlic: Garlic does everything an onion does, and more! It is a natural antibiotic and decongestant, and is of particular benefit for chest infections. Try rubbing a slice of garlic on the sole of your foot; within a few minutes you will be able to detect garlic fumes on your breath! A study of 16 000 Chinese found that people with the highest intake of garlic and onions were the least likely to suffer from stomach cancer. Taken daily, it will help lower blood pressure and blood cholesterol levels. Cabbage: Heated cabbage leaves can be worn inside the bra to relieve mastitis. They may also be applied to bruises. Cabbage is an excellent remedy for gastric ulcers. It speeds up oestrogen metabolism in women, which may offer protection against hormone-related tumors such as breast or ovarian tumors. It also suppresses the growth of intestinal polyps. The crucifer/brassica family of vegetables, which includes brussels sprouts and broccoli, contain a compound which can be particularly beneficial in lung, colon and breast tumors. Reader Feedback Hives Good day, just wanted to fill you in on my progress. I stayed on the schedule with the hives mix for just over 4 weeks. It did start clearing after 1.5 -2 weeks and completely gone , other that the scars, by the then end of 4 weeks. I did have a minor flare up last weekend, but started again for a couple of days and is cleared up again. Seems just to bother if I sweat during the night after being out and about for a full day. Strange, but very happy it is gone, I haven't been this comfortable for over a year. Thanks so much for your help. Gary We value your feedback so much that we are making it easier for you to send us a sentence or two. Please fill in the form below and click 'Submit' Wishing you and your companions the best of health and happiness. Yours Truly, Judith Burton for Robert McDowell |
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