Herbal Treatment for UTIs

Posted May 26, 2013 / 8:15 p.m.



Most all of us have had some sort of a bacterial infection at one time or another.  Some of us ladies have the added bonus of occasionally suffering from urinary tract infections, commonly known as UTIs. 

With swim season just around the corner, our risk goes up, so let me share with you a wonderful herbal remedy to keep on hand should such an infection strike.

It's called UTI-Clear by NativeRemedies, http://www.nativeremedies.com/?ss=276452#ysmtac=ss&ysmchn=affiliate&ysmcpn=ss&ysmgrp=276452.

The product is a liquid herbal supplement packaged in a glass bottle with an eye dropper. Dispense several drops of the solution in a small amount of drinking water; take doses intermittently throughout the day. (The 2 fl. oz. bottle will last you a while.)

Also increase your vitamin C and/or oregano oil intake to boost your immune system while fighting the infection, and above all drink lots of water, which will help flush out bacteria from the urinary tract. You should feel relief from symptoms pretty quickly (much like an antibiotic), and the infection should resolve within a short time frame.

Begin taking UTI-Clear and increasing other immune-boosting supplements at the first sign of infection; generally, the longer you wait to start treatment, the longer it will take to feel relief from symptoms and resolve the infection. That's why I keep this product on hand -- you never know when you're going to need it, and you won't want to wait the standard three to five days it takes for shipping once symptoms strike.

This herbal remedy has saved me a trip to the doctor and kept me off antibiotics. Hopefully it can do the same for you.

My Top Seven Herbals/Supplements

Posted May 24, 2013 / 11:30 a.m.


1)  Oregano Oil -- This herbal comes in a softgel, and while it's a bit pricey, it's totally worth it.  Oregano oil has the powerful benefit of antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal properties. Take one softgel daily with a meal for immune system support. I use this instead of vitamin C because even buffered vitamin C supplements irritate my sensitive stomach. Oregano oil is essential during cold and flu season and when seasonal allergies strike.  I use wild Mediterranean handpicked P73, which are guaranteed non-GMO.

2)  Tea Tree Oil -- Always have this inexpensive essential oil on hand for its antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal properties.  I use it specifically for sore throats, including strep throat.  My children used to get strep throat frequently and had to be on antibiotics to cure it. Since discovering I could use tea tree oil instead, they have not needed antibiotics. 

In a small cup of warm water, add several drops of tea tree oil (at least 7).  Gargle with every last bit of water in the cup...it will be very bitter toward the bottom of the cup. The tea tree oil kills bacteria in the mouth. Be sure to change out your toothbrush every time you brush (you'll want at least two to swap out) until your symptoms are gone. If you don't, you are reintroducing the bacteria into your mouth each time you brush, and your condition won't be resolved. No need to throw away your toothbrush though. Our dentist recommends putting your toothbrush in the dishwasher for disinfecting; then reuse it.

Do the gargling regimen three times daily (preferably in the morning, midday, and before bedtime). This treatment addresses the bacteria in the mouth and throat area. Don't forget to take higher amounts of oregano oil, vitamin C, and a good multivitamin to boost your immune system and treat your whole body while you're feeling under the weather. If you normally take one gelcap of oregano oil a day, increase it to two gelcaps.  When sick, children can take as much as 250 mg of vitamin C every three hours.  Adults can take even more. Return to your regular regimen of supplements following a bout of sickness for illness prevention.

3)  Mullein -- This is a very inexpensive herbal (around $10 for 100 capsules) that's been used since ancient times. Used primarily for ear and lung health, this herbal should be taken with food to avoid upset stomach. It relieves ear pain almost instantly for those suffering from ear infections or fluid in the ears from allergies.

4)  GDU Anti-Inflammatory -- This product from danielchapterone is very effective for relieving pain and inflammation.  Take on an empty stomach (at least thirty minutes prior to eating) and feel relief from back pain, knee pain and inflammation. Ingredients include turmeric root, black cohosh and feverfew. GDU is a great alternative for people whose sensitive stomachs can't handle ibuprofen, for those who must avoid blood-thinning products like aspirin or for people who prefer natural pain relievers.

5)  MicroCal --  In my opinion, the best calcium supplement for the money. Also a danielchapterone product, I have been taking this for many years. My children, who don't get enough calcium in their diet, also take MicroCal. Dosing is extremely important in calcium intake; your body can only absorb around 400 mg of calcium at a time, so doubling up is a waste of your money. If you require higher doses of calcium, you should take one capsule with breakfast and another capsule with dinner. Product labels will say you can and should take more at one time (you'll go through the bottle faster, so they make more money), but check with any dietician and they will tell you otherwise.

6)  Biotin -- Take this inexpensive, water-soluble vitamin to promote hair growth. Many men AND women suffer from hair loss and receding hair lines (from medications, hormones, stress, pregnancy and genetic disposition). I lose a lot of hair and tried this supplement at the advice of my stepmother who is a knowledgeable and experienced nurse.  It works! I noticed hair growth right away along my temples where it had gotten thin. 

7)  Fish Oil -- Everyone, children and adults alike, should take fish oil daily. It is good for your heart and brain and can help regulate cholesterol. My naturopath recommends Nordic Naturals as one of the purest brands on the market (fish oils like other supplements and herbals are not created equal).  http://www.nordicnaturals.com/ You get what you pay for.  

You may be thinking, how can I afford all these supplements? Look for deals.  I purchase my danielchapterone products at http://www.foxfireherbals.com/store/catalog/index.php?cPath=21_25.  Foxfire Herbals, located in Louisburg, Kansas, promptly ships danielchapterone products to your door with free shipping on orders over $50.

Don't overlook clearance racks at your local health food store.  Harvest Moon Natural Foods, http://www.harvestmoonnaturalfoods.com/retailer/store_templates/shell_id_1.asp?storeID=9BF9A924857740958EDA1E8B0535F46C, the health food store I frequent in Olathe, Kansas, has a clearance section (always check expiration dates). I've been able to pick up some Nordic Natural fish oil supplements and good multivitamins at a significantly reduced rate.

Above all, YOU ARE WORTH IT!  Invest in yourself! I'm thankful I did, because at age 36, I have more energy and am in better physical shape than I was ten years ago.   

I must give credit to my mother, Sharon Wooderson, for educating me about many herbals and supplements. Other information I have picked up along the way from naturopaths, health food store employees, and personal experience.

Adjusting to Gluten-Free Living 

Posted May 15, 2013 / 11:30 a.m.


Have you or someone you know been diagnosed recently with a gluten or wheat allergy? Feeling overwhelmed with the "daunting" task of converting to a gluten-free/wheat-free diet? You've come
 to the right place for some helpful tips!

1. Become a label reader. Many processed foods have wheat ingredients in them, and they're not always listed as "wheat." Other terms synonymous with wheat are "modified food starch" (unless it says "modified food starch (corn)") and "maltodextrin." Believe it or not, you will find wheat ingredients in many sauces such as barbeque and steak sauces, seasoning packages, and candies. The more ingredients a product has, the more likely you are to find wheat listed.

2.  Prepare to spend more and get less. Gluten-free products are much pricier and the portions included are much smaller than wheat-laden products. For example, a box of gluten-free macaroni and cheese will run you around $2.50 to $3.00 a box, and you'll get a lot less pasta in the box than the typical box of wheat macaroni and cheese. I have to make two boxes of gluten-free macaroni and cheese to feed my three children.

3.  Get familiar with stores and restaurants that offer gluten-free products. Most Hy-Vee grocery stores have large health food sections that offer a variety of competitively priced gluten-free products, and there are dieticians on staff to readily offer assistance to customers with questions. Some other grocery stores, like Hen House and Price Chopper, offer select gluten-free items in their health food sections as well. Whole Foods is another option, but there aren't as many locations in the Kansas City area as there are Hy-Vee grocery stores. 

Restaurants we frequent that offer gluten-free menu items include Jason's Deli http://www.jasonsdeli.com/, Minsky's and Dominoes pizza. Several chain restaurants are beginning to offer gluten-free menu items, which are denoted by a special symbol like, "GF." If there are no gluten-free items on a restaurant's menu, consider ordering sandwiches without the bread or substitute lettuce to wrap the meat instead of bread. 

4.  Remember you have many healthy options.  Though many processed foods contain wheat, you have many healthy and delicious food options. Fresh meats, eggs, fruits, vegetables, rice, and dairy products are foods you can indulge in without worry. And if you're a pasta lover, don't despair; rice-based or corn-based pastas are a good substitute. You will find that a gluten-free diet is a healthier diet in that you'll be eating more fruits and vegetables and less processed foods.  You may even shed some unwanted pounds from the diet change.  :)   

Tics:  A Success Story

Posted May 13, 2013 / 4:40 p.m.

It was around four years ago that we discovered our two older children had tics. We learned that our son had vocal tics and that our daughter had motor tics. 

At the onset of symptoms, my son began clearing his throat repeatedly; shortly thereafter he began to make a "hmm" sound incessantly.  It was perplexing to us, but we attributed the throat clearing to throat irritation from season allergies because it came on in the spring and eventually subsided for a time.  But it was my daughter's tics that were alarming -- facial grimacing, involuntary eye-squinting and doing strange motions with her fingers and hands. 

I knew something was terribly wrong but had no idea what it could be.  That's when my mother e-mailed me a link to a website about tic disorders.  I had never heard of the term "tics" before, except in relation to those repulsive insects associated with lyme disease.  As soon as I read some of the information, I knew my mother was onto something.  Soon thereafter, I spoke with the elementary school counselor who referred me to a practice in the Kansas City area, specializing in counseling families of children with Tourette's syndrome, Asperger syndrome and other spectrum disorders.  

When my husband and I met with the licensed counselor, he confirmed our kids were exhibiting tics but that they did not have Tourette's syndrome.  He said, as did Internet sources that for a diagnosis of Tourette's syndrome, a person must have both motor tics and at least one vocal tic, and the symptoms must be chronic (not just a waxing and waning thing).   Our daughter had only motor tics, and our son had only vocal tics.

So the good news was my children didn't have Tourette's syndrome.  The discouraging part was the counselor was telling us nothing could be done to alleviate tic symptoms, short of pharmaceutical drugs, which he didn't recommend unless the tics were severely impeding our children's ability to function in everyday life.  The counselor discredited any association between tic disorders and diet.

Unwilling to accept that my children would just have to live with the discomfort and embarrassment of tics, I continued my investigation,  while my mother located and ordered the book, Natural Treatments for Tics & Tourette's: A Patient and Family Guide.  KNOWLEDGE IS POWER, and this book contains valuable insight from professional experts, patients and families throughout the global community on tics. 

From this book, I learned one commonality shared by many children afflicted with tics: allergies.  Milk and wheat topped the list of foods parents chose to eliminate based on allergists' recommendations, so that's where we started --eliminating dairy and wheat from our children's diet to see if any change in their tics resulted.

The results were almost too incredible to believe!  Right away, their tics markedly diminished -- the change was amazing!  It was clear that our children had food allergies, so we later decided to get a single blood test to determine the full extent of their allergies.  We consulted with an excellent naturopath from the Sastun Center of Integrative Health Care http://www.sastuncenter.com/ (located in Corporate Woods) in Overland Park, Kansas.  When we got the blood test results back, we learned that not only were our children allergic to dairy and wheat, they were also allergic to eggs, cane sugar and a host of other foods. 

Several years have passed since we first discovered our children's food allergies and how their tics were associated with consumption of these foods.  While they occasionally indulge in dairy, wheat and other items they are allergic to, we have to monitor their diet.  We can always tell when they've had too many foods off their diet because the tics return in full force -- that's when we back off those foods and strictly adhere to an allergen-free diet for a while.  It's a balancing act.

Since altering their diet, our children come down with colds and other illnesses much less frequently than before, and when they do, the duration and severity of the illnesses are much diminished.

So if your children or children you know are suffering from tics, I encourage trying an elimination diet to see if that makes any difference.  Remember eliminate only one food at a time; otherwise, you won't know which foods are associated with your child's tics. What do you have to lose?  It made all the difference in our children, and I hope it can do the same for yours.

Allergy Tips

MAY 9, 2013 / 3:00 p.m.

'Tis the season for seasonal allergies! I hope this post will give you some fresh information and ideas on how to combat those runny noses, hacky dry coughs and itchy eyes.

Yes, we all know that 2013 is predicted to be a bad year for allergy sufferers.  The status quo approach to dealing with allergy symptoms can include OTC medications like Benadryl or even allergy shots.

But if you're interested in more natural alternatives for yourself and your children when allergy symptoms strike, consider the following suggestions:

1.  Use a cool mist humidifier at night to help relieve dry, hacky coughs and  itchy, scratchy throats. (This really helps my children get restful sleep.)

2.  Do homeopathic breathing treatments -- this can be done throughout the day as needed but especially right before bed. 

(Directions: Simply boil a small pan of water on the stove. Remove the pan from the heat source -- essential oils are flammable.  Pour 2-3 drops of eucalyptus or thyme essential oil into the pan of hot water. Place a towel over your head and breathe deeply and slowly through the nose repeatedly-- preferably a minute or more.  Repeat this process of deep breathing after a short break.) These particular essential oils possess antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral properties; hence the benefit of breathing a miniscule amount directly into the lungs.

3.  Increase Vitamin C intake and add herbal supplements to your daily regimen. My kids take Nature's Sunshine herbal supplement ALJ (Bronchial & Respiratory Support Formula), which has the wonderful effect of an antihistamine without the drowsy feeling that accompanies many big-name OTC products. Like many herbals and supplements, ALJ should be taken with a meal.  Visit Nature's Sunshine's website at http://www.naturessunshine.com/us/shop/.

4.  If you do go outside, remember to shower and change clothing when you go back inside. Pollen gets trapped on clothing and in hair, so if you're sensitive to it, it's best to remove it as soon as you can. Plus, the warm, humid air in the shower can help clear your sinuses.

5.  Depending on the severity of your condition, you may want to avoid going outside altogether, especially in the morning hours when pollen counts are at their highest levels.

Note:  I follow all of these measures when my children's allergies are at their worst but find that symptoms generally subside after a week or so. Then, we no longer need the cool mist humidifiers or breathing treatments. For maintenance, we continue the increased vitamin C intake and take herbal supplements as needed.

You can find essential oils at your local health food store or on-line.  I shop at Harvest Moon Natural Foods store in Olathe.  http://www.harvestmoonnaturalfoods.com/retailer/store_templates/shell_id_1.asp?storeID=9BF9A924857740958EDA1E8B0535F46C