How to Use Antiviral Herbs to Naturally Fight Infection?

 

Click HERE to Discover these 80 Keto-Friendly and Healthy Slow Cooker Recipes

There’s no need to explain the dread and exhaustion that comes with fighting a virus.

Whether it be the common cold or the flu – the nausea, congestion, and other symptoms, can almost be too much to bear.

These symptoms usually result in fleeing to your doctor, in search of a pill, to make it all go away as fast as possible. And while there is definitely a time and place for prescription medications, have you paused for a moment to consider a prescription from nature?

Why Use Herbs to Fight Viruses?

Unlike prescription medicines, whose list of potential side effects are often longer than their list of benefits, antiviral herbs often have little to no side effects. These herbs can be traced back to as early as Ancient Egypt and China, where they were also used as natural remedies.

Many, like licorice root, are also so effective that they are being considered for use as broad-spectrum, non-prescription antivirals.

By sticking with these antiviral herbs, you can stop viruses in their tracks, boost your immune system, and avoid the chemical toxins found in prescription drugs.

Top 10 Antiviral Herbs

1. Oregano

It turns out that this fragrant herb offers far more than a zesty flavor. Oregano, and specifically oregano oil that has been extracted from the plant, contains significant antiviral properties. Studies show its active component, carvacrol, can inactivate viruses like human norovirus (sometimes referred to as the “vomit bug”) within one hour of contact.

Oregano has the power to “inactivate” the human norovirus within an hour of contact.

In addition, Mexican oregano oil has been shown to be effective against viruses like acyclovir-resistant herpes simplex virus type 1 and human respiratory syncytial virus .

Keep in mind, that while it’s great to cook with oregano, you might need to go the oil route to get the most antiviral benefits.

2. Echinacea

Echinacea is one of the most popular antiviral herbs on the market when it comes to fighting viruses and bacteria, and for good reason. Not only does it have the ability to boost your immune system by stimulating the production of cells to help fight infections, but it also contains phytochemicals that fight and help reduce infections once they occur.

3. Garlic

From ancient India to the medieval streets of Europe, garlic has a long history of use when it comes to infections. Some of these uses included using garlic as a treatment for leprosy, parasitic infections, and as an antibiotic for infectious diseases.

Today, garlic’s reputation as a potent antimicrobial is well-known. Studies have shown that it has the ability to combat the flu virus, the common head cold virus, HIV, and pneumonia, to name a few.

4. Elderberry

If you’re suffering from the flu, elderberry should be your go-to for relief. Studies have shown that people infected with influenza virus A and B experience 91 percent improvement after taking elderberry for seven days, while also reducing their fevers and increasing their feelings of improvement.

If you’ve got the flu, reach for some elderberry. It’ll boost your immune system while eradicating the virus.

Elderberry is commonly taken alongside echinacea to boost your immune system, while at the same time eradicating the flu virus.

5. Astragalus Root

Astragalus root is more well-known as an adaptogen herb whose role is to help improve your body’s reaction to stress. However, research has shown this root also contains powerful antiviral properties.

One study revealed that astragalus root is effective at inhibiting the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), while another showed that it inhibits RNA replication in some virus strains.

In simple terms, astragalus root could be your best friend whenever you’re looking to stop a virus from multiplying and getting worse.

6. Olive Leaf

Olive leaf, which indeed hails from the olive tree, is another fantastic antiviral. It’s main compound, oleuropein, has been shown to inhibit the spreading of viruses by not allowing them to attach to healthy cells.

In addition, studies have shown that exposing certain viruses to oleuropein in their early stages reduced their infection potential by 10 to 30 percent.

Other studies have even shown that olive leaf can inhibit certain antiviral effects on HIV by inhibiting replication.

7. Ginger

Not only is ginger an excellent remedy for the nausea and stomach upset you might feel when fighting a virus, but it also wages war against the virus itself. It does this by blocking the attachment of viruses to areas that are commonly infected first, like your airways.

Keep in mind that many of the studies showing ginger’s effectiveness use fresh ginger rather than dried.

8. Licorice Root

Licorice root has been used for centuries in Traditional Chinese Medicine for its antiviral effects. Modern studies have caught up, and now conclude that compounds in the root called triterpenoids are extremely effective when it comes to viral immunity.

It has been shown to have antiviral effects against viruses like the herpes virus, SARS, HIV, and influenza, and is being recognized as a potential broad-spectrum antiviral.

9. Cat’s Claw

Cat’s claw, hailing from a woody vine in the Amazon rainforest, is another herb with spectacular antiviral properties. Specifically, cat’s claw works to supercharge your immune system, while simultaneously repairing damaged DNA and boosting your virus-fighting white blood cells.

10. Calendula

Calendula, also called pot marigold, is mainly used throughout the Western world as an ornamental plant. However, calendula’s flowers have been shown to fight viruses like rhinovirus and vesicular stomatitis by reducing their multiplication.

Calendula, aka pot marigold, is more than just a pretty flower. It can heal infections, ulcers and ear infections!

Calendula is also recognized as a cleansing herb that helps treat chronic infections and reduces inflammation, as well as helping heal ulcers and eradicate ear infections.

How to Use Antiviral Herbs

Teas

Try steeping any of these antiviral herbs into a tea. Add 1 tablespoon of your favorite herb to 1 cup of hot water, and let it steep for 10 to 15 minutes. To naturally sweeten your tea and boost its nourishing properties, add a bit of honey (we like to use 100% raw honey by Beekeeper’s Naturals).

Alternatively, you can purchase pre-packaged teas such as ginger, licorice, or elderberry.

Oils

Combine 1 to 2 drops of antiviral essential oils with a carrier oil (like coconut oil or jojoba oil), and rub them onto your chest or feet, or add 2 to 3 drops to a warm bath.

Diffusers and Steams

Another way to use antiviral herbs, in their essential oil form, is to add around 7 drops to an essential oil diffuser, if you have one.

Alternatively, you can make an antiviral steam treatment by adding an oil to just-boiled water and inhaling the steam. This method is great for head colds and upper respiratory viruses.

Supplements

If you’re short on time, purchasing these antiviral herbs in supplement form might be your next best option. Many of these can be found in your local heath food shop in standalone capsules, or in combination as part of an antiviral blend.

Recipes

Try upping the amount of garlic and oregano in your recipes when you’re suffering from a virus. Roast garlic in the oven with chicken and veggies, add sautéed garlic and oregano to eggs for a Mediterranean twist, or add chopped garlic and oregano to spaghetti squash “pasta.” Or make a batch of these easy, slow-cooker garlic and oregano mushrooms!

Dosages

While it may be tempting to down as many antiviral herbs as you can to get rid of your virus, keep in mind that while most have little to no negative side effects to date, that doesn’t mean that you should take an unreasonable amount. Use them, but avoid going overboard. And as always, consult with your doctor first, especially if you are pregnant or taking other medications.

Watch this video – 5 Herbs to Boost Your Immune System and Kill Viruses Naturally

Written by Megan Patiry

Author Bio:

Megan is an inquisitive nutrition and wellness writer harboring an editorial love affair with the decadent and the nutritious. She is a dedicated researcher in all areas of ancestral health, a certified specialist in fitness nutrition, personal trainer, and professional almond milk latte addict.

A lot of people have gotten results from the Keto diet, and enjoyed the foods that it has to offer. However, many of the people who are following this diet have a hard time finding the recipes that they need, especially ones that are quick and easy to complete.

Fortunately, Kelsey Ale, noticed this problem, and decided to do something about it. She’s found that making recipes in a slow cooker gives you meals which are not only delicious, but also take very little time to make. Mostly you just put a few simple ingredients in the slow cooker, and let it do the rest.

To find out more, click on – Keto Slow Cooker Cookbook

Natural Pain Relief – 9 Foods That Work Better Than Aspirin

 

Click HERE to Discover these 80 Keto-Friendly and Healthy Slow Cooker Recipes

There are 100 million Americans living with chronic pain. Chronic pain can happen as the result of autoimmune disease, side effects of an injury, or many other reasons that aren’t as easily identified.

The downside to addressing pain with prescriptions or OTC pain relievers is that they don’t address the cause, and they often come with a hefty serving of side effects, some of which can be long lasting.

Nature has its own pain medicine in the form of food and in cases of chronic pain, turning to diet and lifestyle to help mediate symptoms can be effective, reduce inflammation, and create long-lasting relief.

9 Foods That Work Better Than Aspirin

These nine foods have been researched and proven to help correct the mechanisms within the body that can contribute to long-term and chronic pain problems. Eating them regularly can help lead to lasting relief.

1. Cherries

Well known for their anti-inflammatory health benefits, cherries are rich in antioxidants and anthocyanins, which give the cherries their deep color and can help to reduce pain-causing mechanisms in the body, not to mention the ability to reduce cancer-causing activities in cells and oxidative damage to the cardiovascular system.

While NSAIDs are often taken for pain and inflammation, tart cherries are similarly effective at producing the same effect with both acute and chronic pain, and they don’t come with any OTC side effects, like stomach bleeding risks or ulcers.

For the best pain relief results, cherries should be eaten daily, with two servings being the best amount to provide noticeable relief and reduced inflammatory markers.

Even those who experience chronic pain from intense physical exercise, such as marathon running, can benefit from drinking tart cherry juice for a week before a big event, during, and then after.

2. Garlic

The sulfur compounds in garlic make it a potent health food, beneficial not only for pain relief (like arthritis), but also for immunity, digestion, and reducing the risk of certain kinds of cancer.

While garlic in its raw form may be unappetizing, garlic can be eaten in many ways. To work it into a diet regularly, add roasted garlic to meat and vegetable dishes.

Peeling and chopping raw garlic might not seem like a fun task, but you can get an equal amount of flavor and benefit from it if you peel and quarter.

Eating roasted garlic pieces when they’re soft and roasted can be as tasty as any other roasted vegetable, and can produce some potent anti-inflammatory responses within the body. Try to work garlic in daily for maximum effects.

3. Healthy Fats

We all know that healthy fats such as olive oil and omega-3 fatty acids (e.g., in salmon) are good for us. Specifically, they can cut inflammation in the body that can lead to chronic pain conditions or other diseases and disorders.

Regular intake of omega-3s can result in equivalent pain-relieving effects when compared with NSAIDs like ibuprofen.

Regular intake of omega-3s can result in equivalent pain-relieving effects when compared with NSAIDs like ibuprofen – without any potentially damaging side effects. Even severe chronic conditions, like rheumatoid arthritis, respond to the pain relieving effects of omega-3 fatty acids.

Beyond that, a proper balance of omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acids can lead to better overall health, reduced risk of blood pressure problems, and an overall decreased cancer risk.

4. Leafy Greens

Eating greens is often synonymous with health, but their benefits extend well beyond weight loss, detox, and reduced cancer risk. A high daily intake of both vegetables and fruits can lead to the prevention of pain-associated diseases and disorders, including rheumatoid arthritis.

A high daily intake of both vegetables and fruits can lead to the prevention of pain-associated diseases and disorders.

While there are mixed answers on how many servings of leafy greens one should eat each day for preventive effects, an overall eight to ten servings of vegetables and fruits daily is recommended for the best results. Of those, perhaps two to three servings of vegetables should be leafy greens.

Leafy greens are rich in quercetin, a type of flavonoid that is responsible for broad anti-inflammatory benefits, as well as vitamin C, vitamin K, and essential minerals like magnesium.

5. Turmeric

Curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric, can help to reduce the inflammation associated with chronic disorders, like rheumatoid arthritis. It can also help to reduce inflammation, swelling, and pain after surgery.

Turmeric can be consumed in a variety of forms, including as a spice added to foods or drinks and encapsulated for those who are not tolerant of the signature spicy taste. Two to three teaspoons of turmeric daily can help to provide therapeutic levels of relief and preventive benefits with little side effects.

Note: Turmeric absorbs best when taken in combination with black pepper (approximately 1/4 teaspoon of black pepper for every 1 teaspoon of turmeric).

The only caution is that individuals also taking blood thinners should check with their doctors before adding turmeric to their diet.

6. Ginger

Ginger is in the same family of anti-inflammatory spices as turmeric. While they share similar benefits, ginger is well known for its ability to relieve nausea associated with pregnancy and cancer treatments. It can also relieve pain in the same category as NSAIDs, making it another effective alternative to over-the-counter medications that have unpleasant side effects.

Ginger is well known for its ability to relieve nausea associated with pregnancy and cancer treatments.

Ginger is also effective at relieving long-term pain associated with chronic inflammatory conditions like rheumatoid arthritis.

Ginger can be eaten raw or pickled, grated or brewed into tea, added as a spice to dishes, or encapsulated.

Ginger tea or capsules seem to be the most efficient way to regularly consume it. You can drink up to four cups of tea daily, and capsules should follow daily recommendations or what practitioners suggest.

Similar to turmeric, those on blood thinners should consult their doctors before adding daily ginger to their diet.

7. Cinnamon

Cinnamon is a popular natural remedy for helping to control blood sugar, but it can also keep inflammation levels low in the body and improve digestion. Spices have long been used for medicinal purposes, but in a modern day where pharmaceutical options abound, it is rarer to use food as medicine.

Still, cinnamon and other spices can have broad anti-inflammatory benefits and in many cases, can be equally as effective to (or more) than NSAIDs, whether over-the-counter or prescription.

For cinnamon to be used in the diet to reduce pain, it should be in powdered form, and should be the Ceylon variety, not cassia. Cassia is the most common form and is less expensive, but toxicity can be of concern when cassia is consumed in large quantities.

Ceylon cinnamon presents no toxicity risks and has more potent health benefits.  Ceylon cinnamon is the preferred supplemental form, and for best results, one should take approximately 1-2 teaspoons per day.

8. Bone Broth

Whether the pain that someone experiences is activity related, leftover from an old injury, or due to a chronic inflammatory condition, bone broth in the diet can help to reduce chronic pain and flares.

This is due to the presence of collagen in bone broth, which can help to alleviate joint problems and repair pain that originates from the digestive tract.

Inflammatory disorders specifically respond well to the natural collagen-containing gelatin that is found in true bone broth.

Bone broth and meat stock are different, since bone broth extracts nutrients from the bones, such as gelatin, minerals, and amino acids, whereas stock only contains nutrients from the meat. While both can be healthy, stock contains no pain-relieving properties.

Bone broth can safely be consumed daily in large quantities. Since it is a whole food that contains protein, some healthy fat, and plenty of naturally occurring nutrients, it can be used in cooking dishes like soups or stews or can be taken on its own as a beverage or a snack.

9. Cruciferous Vegetables

Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage have several health benefits. They naturally support detox organs like the liver and kidneys, and they contain plenty of natural fiber, folate, and vitamin C.

But they can also help to regulate inflammatory bacteria within the digestive tract, especially H. pylori, which is implicated in ulcers and other chronic digestive conditions.

Since the body obtains all of its nutrients via digestion, an inflamed digestive system will contribute to inflammation throughout the rest of the body. Eating cruciferous vegetables daily can help to promote the healthy elimination of toxins as well as the proper regulation of the digestive system.

3 Pain-Relieving Lifestyle Factors

While diet can go a long way in addressing chronic pain, fighting it naturally with a one-two punch of diet and lifestyle can help to bring faster relief and longer lasting results.

1. Yoga

Well-known for its stress-relieving benefits, yoga can also help to relieve tissue stress that can lead to pain. It is effective for chronic problems like rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia, and also from pain associated with pregnancy, athletic injuries, and thyroid problems.

Yoga can effectively reduce inflammatory markers within the body, proving that its calming effects go well beyond mindfulness and anxiety relief.

To gain benefits of yoga, you can successfully achieve poses and health benefits from the comfort of your own home or take a class. If practicing at home, all you need is a yoga mat (or a soft surface like a carpet) and an online program or a sequence of poses you can follow.

2. Acupuncture

Acupuncture can provide pain relief that clinically compares to other methods. When patients get regular treatments, it can improve mobility and reduce pain, as well as relieving other issues often associated with chronic pain, such as depression, anxiety, and insomnia.

Acupuncture can even provide relief in chronic pain disorders like rheumatoid arthritis. When paired with a pain-relieving diet, acupuncture can have long-lasting results and can dramatically improve quality of life.

3. Massage

Similar to both yoga and acupuncture, regular massage treatments by a qualified expert can help to alleviate chronic pain, particularly the type brought on by arthritis, fibromyalgia, and other inflammatory pain conditions. Massage can even reduce pain associated with cancer treatments.

When finding a massage therapist, ensure that they have proper certification and are familiar with massage for pain relief. An unqualified massage therapist could worsen muscular or joint pain.

Watch this video – Top 10 Natural Pain Killers

Written by Aimee McNew

Author Bio:

Aimee McNew is a Certified Nutritionist who specializes in women’s health, thyroid problems, infertility, and digestive wellness. She ate her way back to health using a Paleo diet, lost 80 pounds, and had a healthy baby after numerous miscarriages. She focuses on simple nutrition practices that promote long-lasting results.

A lot of people have gotten results from the Keto diet, and enjoyed the foods that it has to offer. However, many of the people who are following this diet have a hard time finding the recipes that they need, especially ones that are quick and easy to complete.

Fortunately, Kelsey Ale, noticed this problem, and decided to do something about it. She’s found that making recipes in a slow cooker gives you meals which are not only delicious, but also take very little time to make. Mostly you just put a few simple ingredients in the slow cooker, and let it do the rest.

To find out more, click on – Keto Slow Cooker Cookbook

5-Minute Guided Meditation for People Who Have Chronic Insomnia

 

Click HERE to Discover these 80 Keto-Friendly and Healthy Slow Cooker Recipes

It’s the middle of the night and you’re awake. Tossing and turning, weary eyes staring out into the dark room. This isn’t the first night you haven’t been able to sleep, and (unfortunately) you’re sure that it won’t be the last.

If insomnia is a word you know all too well, then this post is for you. Read on to find out what may be getting in the way of your sleep, and follow the steps listed below, on our relaxing guided meditation (for when counting sheep doesn’t work).

What Causes Insomnia?

Insomnia is the inability to sleep, having difficulty either falling or staying asleep. If you experience insomnia, you’re not alone: 30 percent of U.S. adults suffer symptoms of insomnia. While many people experience a poor night’s sleep from time to time, recurring sleeplessness becomes a real problem for your physical, emotional and mental health.

Poor Sleep Habits

This includes not having an established sleeping routine or lacking ideal sleep conditions. Your body likes consistency, especially when it comes to sleep.

Being erratic about when you go to bed and wake up can confuse your circadian rhythm, which means that your body doesn’t know when it should be asleep or awake.

Trying to sleep in a light, noisy room, or on an uncomfortable mattress, will also impact the quality of your shut eye.

The fix: Stick to having a consistent wake-up time every single day, even on weekends

Anxiety or Depression

You may be familiar with that feeling of being extremely tired, only to go to bed and have your mind light up with worry. Unfortunately, it’s quite natural for your mind to wander when your body is resting – you have no other distractions, after all.

The fix: Having quiet time earlier in the day allows your mind to analyze these thoughts before you go to bed. Activities such as journaling or meditation can help you sort out confusing thoughts and help you rest easier when it’s time to sleep.

Lack of Exercise

As a reader of PaleoHacks, chances are that know just how important exercise is for the body and mind. And when it comes to sleep, science is a big fan of that daily workout to reduce symptoms of insomnia. On the flip side, over-exercising, or doing high intensity exercise too close to bedtime, can have a negative effect on your sleep, so keep the HIIT workouts for earlier in the day.

The fix: Make a commitment to move your body every day. This will boost energy during waking hours and help you physically feel the need to sleep.

Physical Ailments or Chronic Illness

Being uncomfortable in your body, or battling an illness, makes it very challenging to sleep peacefully through the night.

The fix: While this can be hard to work around, lifestyle habits may help to improve your condition and aid your sleep. Stretching or foam rolling and other mobility exercises can help release chronic muscle pain that may be keeping you up at night.

Combine this with following an anti-inflammatory diet to help heal you from the inside out.

Medications

Some medications also impact the quality of your sleep, disturbing your body’s natural clockwork.

The fix: If you feel your medication is affecting your sleep, discuss this with your primary care physician. They may be able to recommend an alternative brand that’s more natural, a different dosage, or have you take it at a different time of day.

How Insomnia Impacts Your Health

Muscle growth, cell and tissue repair, and detoxification are processes that happen during sleep. Without enough sleep, this regeneration process is disrupted, which can wreak havoc on your physical body, your hormones and your mood.

Sleep deprivation is linked to excess fat storage and increased hunger and decreased metabolic rate, and it can raise your risk for chronic health problems.

Sleep is also the time that the brain is getting a cognitive reboot, with neural pathways forming that will improve your ability to learn and remember new information.

Studies also link lack of sleep with anxiety, depression, and even an increase in suicidal thoughts. Sleep deprivation is linked to excess fat storage, increased hunger, decreased metabolic rate. It can raise risk for chronic health problems.

As you can see, not spending quality time sleeping has far more serious consequences than yawning in that 3pm meeting. But saying that you’ll “get more sleep” might not be enough, especially if it’s the act of sleeping, not the routine of going to bed, that you’re struggling with.

The guided meditation below is one that I’ve found great success with for myself, my clients and my Pilates groups. It uses a mindfulness-based technique to relax your body and your mind, and creates a good physical environment for rest.

In fact, a study in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine links mindfulness meditation with reduced insomnia and fatigue, so let’s give it a try.

A 5-Minute Guided Meditation for Healthy Sleep

You can complete this exercise when you go the bed, or to relax any time of day.

Start by lying comfortably on your back and closing your eyes.

Take a deep breath in through the nose, and exhale through the nose (nose breathing activates the parasympathetic nervous system, which calms your body).

Breathing softly, you’re going to move your attention through each body part. As you think of that body part, you’ll feel it relax. Allow it to rest heavy against your mattress or the floor where you’re lying.

Starting with your left big toe, think about the toe, soften the toe, let it relax.

Now focus on the left second toe, feel it relax.

In your mind’s eye, continue to work through your body in the following order:

Left Foot: third toe, fourth toe, baby toe, all toes, left ball of the foot, whole left foot, left ankle

Left Leg: calf, shin, knee, back of thigh, front of thigh, inner thigh, left hip

Right Foot: big toe, second toe, third toe, fourth toe, baby toe, all toes, right ball of the foot, whole right foot, right ankle

Right Leg: calf, shin, knee, back of thigh, front of thigh, inner thigh, right hip

Pelvis + Lumbar: front of pelvis, right buttocks, left buttocks, right side low back, left side low back, whole low back

Ribs, Shoulders + Arms: back of right waist, back of right ribcage, right shoulder blade, right shoulder, right upper arm, elbow, forearm, wrist, right thumb, first finger, second finger, ring finger, little finger, whole right hand; repeat on the left side

Stomach, Chest + Head: stomach, right side chest, left side chest, whole chest, throat, jaw, lips, eyes, eyebrows, forehead, crown of head, back of head, back of neck

Whole Body: whole right body, whole left body, whole back body, whole front body, whole body

Sending your breath to your whole body, feel it relax even more, feel it lying heavy, so heavy as if it could melt through the floor, softly, gently, calmly. In that relaxed state, stay and rest.

Watch this video – Fall Asleep Fast Deep Sleep Meditation for Insomnia / Mindful Movement

Written by Jennifer Dene

Author Bio:

Jennifer Dene is a celebrity trainer, health coach, and owner of Jennifer Dene Wellness.. She is also the creator of the lifestyle program The Dene Method, and host of the Soulful Self Love Challenge, which helps hundreds of women around the world feel fit, feminine and fabulous.

A lot of people have gotten results from the Keto diet, and enjoyed the foods that it has to offer. However, many of the people who are following this diet have a hard time finding the recipes that they need, especially ones that are quick and easy to complete.

Fortunately, Kelsey Ale, noticed this problem, and decided to do something about it. She’s found that making recipes in a slow cooker gives you meals which are not only delicious, but also take very little time to make. Mostly you just put a few simple ingredients in the slow cooker, and let it do the rest.

To find out more, click on – Keto Slow Cooker Cookbook