Whitney has an acupuncture session with Heather Lounsbury. Heather explains each step along the way, examining Whitney’s pulse and tongue, then does the treatment with the needles.

Alternative Medicine: The Evidence Series Professor Kathy Sykes from Bristol University – shows acupuncture has a powerful and measurable effect on the human brain. Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM), as it is now known, was for thousands of years the only medicine available to us. However these traditional cures are now being treated with a whole new respect by the medical profession. Presented by Professor Kathy Sykes, this series produced by the BBC in conjunction with the Open …

Cleanse the liver and gallbladder by using milk thistle supplements and schisandra berries. Both supplements will aid in the healthy function of the liver and gallbladder. Visit an herbalist for more information on cleansing the liver and gallbladder with advice from a wellness educator and herbal medicine specialist in this free video on alternative medicine.

These herbs and roots have been there for ages and and make ideal herbal aids for digestion. Peppermint is one of the oldest medicinal plants that we identify and is common to find in your beautiful garden or growing naturally in your backyard. “Herbal Medicine” author Rudolph Weiss says that the peppermint herb has three primary benefits. It can encourage the gallbladder and liver to produce more bile, which assists in disinfecting the stomach from any imbalances. It also has several aesthetic properties that anaesthetizes the mucous membrane which preempts vomiting and nausea and also aid in the lessening of gas and indigestion. This is a very simple herbal medicine for digestion that can be consumed in various forms, but generally the more enjoyable is tea.

According to the book written by Phillips, S., et al. “Zingiber officinale (ginger) — an anti-emetic for day case surgery,” Ginger is well known for its aroma, think about that smell of freshly chopped ginger being fried while awaiting your order at a table in a restaurant or even the pervading scent in your kitchen when fresh ginger is being cooked. Ginger is also well known because of its anti-nausea properties. In a trial conducted on a group consisting of 80 very nervous young naval cadets, in the open waters on the high tide in 1988, they concluded that Ginger had major advantages in lowering nausea and motionsickness. Not only that, it also showed that Ginger was a good preventive measure, and a cure too.

A Few herbs for digestion, like Aloe, Fennel and Gentian, allow for the control and avoidance of stomach upsets. Fennel has a mainly strong impact against relief of spasms in smooth muscles and other digestive issues such as morning sickness. It has also been known to be used in individuals going through radiation treatments to help soothe their stomachs. Aloe, besides having a naturally smoothing effect on your stomach, also contains vitamin C, amino acids and enzymes. Gentian is one of the less than popular herbs for digestion. Due to its extremely bitter taste, which helps stimulate digestive juices, it happens to be a great pre-emptive measure against an upset stomach. Gentian also helps you to extract all extra nutrients into your system like iron, and vitamin B12.

Acquiring herbs for digestion can be as easy as growing them yourself, or purchasing them at the local market, but bear in mind, if you are uncertain then you should get advice from a professional and don’t forget to drink plenty of water. Herbal remedies can work,   as long as they are used safely.

Coriander has almost a sweet scent to it, and has been used as a seasoning in foods for this reason. It comes from the Mediterranean, as many other popular seasonings do. The Mediterranean region in particular is an excellent environment to farm fruits, vegetables, spices, and herbs. So coriander does well when growing here. The leaves contain protiens, carbs, water, and of course fiber…even trace amounts of fats are in the leaves. It also contains minerals and vitamins, including calcium, potassium, riboflaven, iron, and its loaded with vitamin C. So many people eat coriander seeds and leaves for energy and nutrition.

Coriander has its applications medically as well, from aiding in digestion, to cleansing toxins out of the body, to strengthening the stomach. Some people use it to reduce a fever as well. Animal studies have shown it can be one of several important herbs for digestion. It also can act as an expectorant for removing phlegm, and can promote a feeling of coolness to one who is sick with fever. There is some clinical evidence that it aids digestion, and can lower cholesterol. So this isn’t just anecdotal evidence here. For these reasons it can be a good natural heart health herb.

The juices from coriander seeds can be mixed with buttermilk, and then swallowed to help aid digestive and stomach disorders. Indigestion and nausea are two common ailments that coriander is used to treat, but some use it to relieve symptoms of more serious medical issues such as hepatitis, dysentery, and typhoid fever. The most predominant studies however show that the heart and cholesterol benefit coriander offers may be it’s best benefit of all. Coriander juices are easy to procure. Simply boil dry coriander seeds in water, and then strain out the seeds. Drink the water after it cools.

Additional uses include eating dry seeds to treat diarrhea, reduce menstrual flow, and when coriander juice is mixed with tumeric powder, it may be able to reduce acne, blackheads, and dry skin. For skin issues like acne and dry skin, this mixture should be applied once a day after the affected area has been washed before bed. For these reasons, coriander has been one of many effective herbal remedies in asia for many years

Naturally, more thorough and complete studies of the medical benefits of coriander need to be conducted before it is endorsed as a substitute for common medications. But in the mean time, it is an extremely healthy herb that looks to very well have some excellent medicinal properties that have been used by millions of people over the past thousand years.