Aloe Vera: The Commander Of A Multitude Of Health Benefits

The health benefits of Aloe Vera are numerous, beginning with improving the digestive system all the way to preserving food; it can result in optimal health in the long run. Aloe Vera strengthens the immune system, delays the aging process, cures dermatitis, alleviates menstrual problems, reduces arthritis pain, heals wounds, cures nausea, eliminates ulcers, lowers blood sugar levels, prevents diabetes, reduces oxidative stress, inhibits cancerous growth, heals the side effects of radiotherapy treatments, promotes hair growth, and soothes acid reflux symptoms.
This widely useful plant also lowers cholesterol and triglycerides, improves cardiovascular functions, alleviates joint and muscle pain, enhances life span, and cures gum diseases. This plant has been used for ages to alleviate pain, since it has excellent anti-inflammatory properties.
Studies are still being conducted to discover more benefits of the aloe plant that will undoubtedly make it even more important in the medicinal practices of cultures all around the world.
Aloe Vera is also known as medicinal aloe, and some of its common names are Lily of the Desert, Burn Plant, and Elephant’s Gall. It belongs to the family of succulent plants in the genus ‘Aloe’. The origin of Aloe Vera is believed to be in Sudan and has been used for more than 6,000 years. The great virtues of this plant have been recognized by many civilizations, including the Egyptians, Spanish, Persians, Greek, Italians, Africans, Japanese and Indians. Aloe Vera grows best in warm, dry climates and is densely found in India, Africa, and other arid zones. This species has a wide usage in herbal medicine. The Aloe Vera plant has compounds such as mannans, polysaccharides, lectins, and anthraquinones that are extremely beneficial for human health.

Aloe Vera plant is often a stemless or sometimes very short-stemmed juicy plant that grows 60–100 cm (24–39 in) height, and the offsets spread out wide. The leaves of this plant are thick and fleshy; and the color varies from green to grey-green. Some varieties of this plant have white flecks on the upper and lower portions of the stem surfaces. The margin of the leaves is like saw-tooth and the flowers bloom . This plant can be easily grown both indoors and outdoors.
Nigeria Natural Health Online will feature subsequent articles on how to apply aloe vera for specific purposes. Always keep a date with us.

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The Difference Between A Babalawo And A Herbal Practitioner

In the Nigeria society, there is a certain amount of apathy against herbal practitioners by a generality of a public. This apathy is mainly borne out of the fact that most people do not know the difference between herbal practitioners and babalawos or [witch doctors] . Some people feel that if you are a herbal practitioners then you must be a witch doctor. But this is wrong. Infact, majority of herbal practitioner in Nigerian cities are elder christians or muslims.

Have you heard of charmers, enchanters, sorcerers, conjurers, magician, witchcraft and wizadry before, these group of people, who are the real babalawos, use a multiplicity of natural elements like air, water, earth, fire and herbs to execute things in the spiritual realm to have a physical effect.


Herbalists, also sometimes called herbal practitioners and licensed herbalists, are specially trained in the field of herbal medicine. An herbalist uses plants and other natural substances to improve health, promote healing, and prevent and treat illness.
Herbal medicine, also called herbalism, botanical medicine, or phytomedicine, has been used for thousands of years. In Western civilizations, including the United States, herbal medicine is considered a type of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 80 percent of people worldwide use herbal remedies as part of their overall health care.
Herbalists use the seeds, berries, roots, leaves, bark, and flowers of plants called herbs or botanicals for medicinal purposes. In some country, herbal products are classified as dietary supplements, rather than drugs or medicines (pharmaceuticals). Labeling standards and health claims for dietary supplements, including herbal remedies, are set by the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act.

In Nigeria, herbal product are regulated by NAFDAC, which these they required approval for such product to be distributed and sold  only not Nigeria but also exported to other country. On account of NAFDAC certification, Nigerian herbal products are respected in most country of the world. However, the local market appears to be suffering from an influx of foreign herbal products, especially from countries in Asia.

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Fight Asthma And Other Aiments With Fish Oil

The rate of asthma keeps rising. The fact is that, children’s asthma is continuing to increase at an alarming rate. Environmental pollution and poor eating styles are largely the culprit.
Essential fatty acids in fish and fish oil will restrain the inflammatory chemicals associated with this disease. Research shows that children who eat oily fish more often than once a week have one-third the danger of getting asthma as children who do not eat fish or eat lean fish regularly.
Fish-oil supplements are beneficial for both children and adults with asthma. Again, the key benefits of fish oil take months before the natural anti-inflammatory benefits start to take hold.
The health benefits of fish oil also include its ability to aid in the treatment of various heart diseases, high cholesterol, depression, anxiety, AHDH, weakened immune system, cancer, diabetes, inflammation, arthritis, IBD, AIDS, Alzheimer’s disease, eye disorders, macular degeneration and ulcers. It also helps aid weight loss, healthy pregnancy, fertility and skin care (particularly for conditions such as psoriasis and acne).
Most of the health benefits of fish oil can be attributed to the presence of omega 3 essential fatty acids like Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). Other useful essential fatty acids in fish oil include Alpha-linolenic acid or ALA and Gamma-linolenic acid or GLA.
While fish oil has plenty of beneficial qualities, There is need to know the particular source of fish oil to consume for maximum benefits.The most common ones among these for obtaining oil are albacore tuna, herring, mackerel, sardines, lake trout and salmon. The quality of fish oil greatly depends on the type of fish from which you retrieve the oil.

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Why You Should Consider A Regular Diet Of Bitter Leaf

Bitter leaf is a common vegetable found all over Nigeria, especially in the southern part of the country. Bitter leaf (Vernonia amygdalina) is used in preparing the popular Bitter leaf soup. It is also known as Onugbu, Shiwaka & Ewuro by the Igbos, Hausas&Yorubas in Nigeria.

Although this plant has been around for hundreds of years, only a few people know of its medicinal and healing properties.

  Bitter leaf (Vernonia amygdalina) as the name implies, is actually a bitter plant whose leaves, extracts, stems and barks are used for culinary,medicinal and curative purposes.  
  Vitamins in Bitter leaf include: Vitamin A, Vitamin C ,Vitamin E, Vit.B1 and Vit.B2.

Bitter leaf is very familiar to some people but others may not have any idea about this wonder leaf. Bitter-leaf can grow anywhere unlike other leaves that only grow in certain places and temperature. These leaves flourishes anywhere they grow. They add beauty to all places where they are present. The most distinctive characteristic of this plant is its bitterness. Every part of this plant is bitter starting from the leaves to its roots. The bitterness of this plant is actually good for the body. It has a lot of health benefits to people. The plant can remind people that life is not always sweet; it takes to taste bitterness before you can achieve sweetness. This plant is very useful in toning the vital organs of the body especially the liver and the kidney.

The liver is one of the most important organs of the body. It has a lot of vital functions that is needed for normal functioning of the whole system of the body. Without the liver all major process in the body will be paralyze. The liver is known as the largest organ inside the body. It has an approximate weight of 1-3 kg in an average adult individual. There are a lot of major functions that the liver should do every day and this includes the production of bile acid that helps in fat metabolism.

Without the liver fats will not be digested inside the body to be use as energy. Bitter-leaf can be very helpful in maintaining the livers optimum health to release bile acid every time people eat fatty foods. Another major function of the liver is the production of glycogen. Glycogen is stored energy that is release in times of low level of glucose especially for people who do fasting.

The liver should be well taken care of by using bitter-leaf. Once the liver is been damage it can’t be restored into its normal function. People with liver problems can boil a bitter-leaf and drink a glass of it every day.

Another very vital organ inside the body is the kidney. Kidney helps in the excretion of waste products inside the body. If the normal function of the kidney breakdown there will great huge problem inside the body. Bitter-leaf a natural herb that is useful in taking care of the kidney and the liver.

Diabetic patient can also use bitter-leaf as one of their medication to prevent high sugar level in the blood. It will not only lower the sugar level in the blood but also repair impaired pancreas. As you all know pancreas is the organ responsible for the production of insulin for glucose to reach each cell to use by the body as energy. Impaired pancreas does not release the right amount of insulin to maintain the right sugar level in the blood. Bitter-leaf is a real wonder of nature. You can take the benefit of this amazing plant by squeezing its leaves in ten litters of water.

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Foods That Help To Reduce Blood Sugar

 Healthy eating is essential when it comes to the management and prevention of diabetes. Some substitutions and alternatives will help you to keep diabetes at bay and make it more manageable if you already have the disease.
High Fibre, Slow-release Carbs
Blood sugar levels are impacted by carbohydrates more than by proteins and fats. This does not necessarily mean that you should avoid them completely. The types of carbs have to be chosen carefully.

• Limit carbohydrates that are highly refined
• Focus on high-fiber complex carbs (slow-release) – blood sugar levels are aided with slow release carbs as a result of the slower digestion that keeps too much insulin from being produced by the body. You will stay full longer and the energy provided lasts longer.

Some substitutions can make a big difference.

• Eat brown or wild rice instead of white rice
• Cauliflower mash, sweet potatoes, winter squash and yams can take the place of fries, and mashed white potatoes
• Whole-wheat pasta, whole grain or whole wheat bread in place of regular pasta and white bread.
• Rolled or steel cut oats instead of instant oatmeal
• Bran muffins instead of pastries or croissants
  Be Careful with Sweets
  Sugar does not have to be eliminated with diabetes, although it should be eaten only in moderation. A few adjustments have to be made to have dessert.
  
• Skip bread because the sweets will give you extra carbohydrates.
• Healthy fat should be added to dessert- fat will slow the process of digestion preventing blood sugar spikes. Healthy fats include yogurt, nuts, ricotta cheese and peanut butter.
• Sweets should be eaten slowly and with a meal instead of by themselves. Eat half the amount of dessert you would typically eat and substitute fruit for the other half of dessert.

Nuts
Fiber, magnesium and healthy fats are provided by nuts which hunger is kept at bay. Cholesterol levels are improved and heart disease risk reduced by some varieties of nuts. There has been research suggesting that diabetes risk is reduced by eating nuts.
Fish
Fish like salmon are high in omega-3 fatty acids, although breaded and deep fried fish should be avoided. The risk of cardiovascular disease and cardiac death is reduced while cholesterol levels are improved by eating fish in those with diabetes.
Water Foods
You can eat as many of these foods as you like, they are referred to as “free foods” and include most fruits and all vegetables. Blood sugar can spike quickly with things such as canned fruit with syrup, dried fruit and fruit juice, therefore they are not among the foods that you can eat all that you want without worry.
When it comes to the prevention and management of diabetes eating foods that reduce cholesterol, reduce risks of cardiac disease and allow blood sugar levels to maintain a level balance will work wonders. Substitutions for foods that you would typically eat, minor changes such as eating fruit for dessert can help to prevent diabetes.
Be Careful with Sweets
Sugar does not have to be eliminated with diabetes, although it should be eaten only in moderation. A few adjustments have to be made to have dessert.

• Skip bread because the sweets will give you extra carbohydrates.
• Healthy fat should be added to dessert- fat will slow the process of digestion preventing blood sugar spikes. Healthy fats include yogurt, nuts, ricotta cheese and peanut butter.
• Sweets should be eaten slowly and with a meal instead of by themselves. Eat half the amount of dessert you would typically eat and substitute fruit for the other half of dessert.

Nuts
Fiber, magnesium and healthy fats are provided by nuts which hunger is kept at bay. Cholesterol levels are improved and heart disease risk reduced by some varieties of nuts. There has been research suggesting that diabetes risk is reduced by eating nuts.
Fish
Fish like salmon are high in omega-3 fatty acids, although breaded and deep fried fish should be avoided. The risk of cardiovascular disease and cardiac death is reduced while cholesterol levels are improved by eating fish in those with diabetes.
Water Foods
You can eat as many of these foods as you like, they are referred to as “free foods” and include most fruits and all vegetables. Blood sugar can spike quickly with things such as canned fruit with syrup, dried fruit and fruit juice, therefore they are not among the foods that you can eat all that you want without worry.
When it comes to the prevention and management of diabetes eating foods that reduce cholesterol, reduce risks of cardiac disease and allow blood sugar levels to maintain a level balance will work wonders. Substitutions for foods that you would typically eat, minor changes such as eating fruit for dessert can help to prevent diabetes.

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Computer Diagnosis: The New Wonder In Alternative Medicine

With Dr. Amadi Godspower opening the Radionic Computer Lab Centre in Lagos, Nigerians are becoming more aware of the impacts computer diagnostics and electronic computer healing on the general healthcare delivery. The wonders of this development cannot be over-stressed. Let’s take a look at the scenario that gave birth to computer  diagnostics.

 Physicians and other health care professionals often prescribe medicines that will only work at certain levels.  These medicines – whether natural medicine or orthodox - are said to have a narrow therapeutic window.  This means that if the level of the medicine is too high or too low, it  may cause serious side effects or not provide the benefits it should.  For example, blood thinners are prescribed to thin the blood to prevent clots.  If the level is too high, people can bleed to death. On the other hand, if the level is too low, a clot could form and cause a stroke.  For these types of medicines, it is important that the right amount be prescribed.
Calculating and prescribing the right amount can be complicated and time-consuming for health care professionals.  Sometimes determining the right amount can take a long time since health professionals may not want to prescribe high doses of the medicine right away or sometimes they make mistakes. 
This is where the use of computers in diagnostics comes in. Several computer systems have been designed to do these calculations and assist health professionals to prescribe these types of medicines.
A review of studies that evaluated these computer systems showed that computerized advice for dosage can benefit both health professionals and patients. When using the computer system, health professionals prescribe higher doses of the medicines right away and the right amount of the medicine is reached quicker.  Using the computer system also reduces the length of time patients spend in the hospital while the right amount of the medicine is reached. 

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