phytochemicals Archives - Amazing Health Advances

Cabbage Juice Outperforms Standard Medical Treatment for Healing Peptic Ulcers

The AHA! Team — Fri, 22 Nov 2024 06:33:25 +0000

Lori Alton via NaturalHealth365 – In the United States, a whopping 4.5 million Americans (per year) are affected by peptic ulcers – lesions that develop in the stomach lining or small intestine. In the United States, a whopping 4.5 million Americans (per year) are affected by peptic ulcers – lesions that develop in the stomach lining or small intestine. And, while Western medicine tends to treat peptic ulcers with an array of drugs – including antibiotics and antacids – these drugs can cause serious side effects. So, what does cabbage juice have to do with all of this? You may be surprised to discover a natural therapy – from nearly 70 years ago – that can offer a drug-free solution for those suffering. In fact, as early as 1950, a professor at Stanford University School of Medicine was conducting studies supporting the ability of cabbage juice to heal peptic ulcers naturally and safely. The physician, Dr. Garnett Cheney, had discovered that fresh cabbage juice contains a potent anti-ulcer factor – which he dubbed “vitamin U” (for “ulcer”). Now, recent research has shed new light on the humble cabbage’s impressive arsenal of disease-fighting phytochemicals – and on the identity of “vitamin U.” Fascinating study shows cabbage juice helps to speed up the healing process By 1950, Dr. Cheney was aware of research showing that cabbage juice could prevent the development of laboratory-induced ulcers in animals. But, he wondered, could it promote healing existing ulcers in humans? He found that it could. In Dr. Cheney’s small but impressive study, cabbage juice emphatically outperformed the standard medical treatment of the time. Thirteen peptic ulcer patients – seven with duodenal ulcers and six with gastric ulcers – were treated with a quart of fresh cabbage juice a day. Duodenal ulcers are located in the upper portion of the small intestine, while gastric ulcers form in the stomach. The healing time for duodenal ulcer craters in the cabbage juice group averaged ten days – while published literature on duodenal patients treated with standard therapy recorded healing time at an average of 37 days. The healing time for gastric ulcer patients in the cabbage juice group was seven days – compared to 42 days for patients treated with standard medical therapy (consisting of a bland diet, antispasmodics, and sedation). In other words, the cabbage juice promoted the healing of ulcer lesions within a week to a week-and-a-half, while healing time in conventional treatment averaged five to six weeks. So, you can easily see why Dr. Cheney was so heartened by the results! Important to note: A second clinical study involving 100 patients published in the Journal of the California Medical Association also showed accelerated healing of ulcers – as did a third, placebo-controlled study conducted at San Quentin Prison. But why was this simple remedy so effective? Cabbage compounds constitute a “dream team” of stomach-soothing, ulcer-healing compounds One secret of cabbage juice’s healing powers is its content of a pair of amino acids, glutamine, and methionine. A form of methionine called methionine S-methyl sulfonium, or MMS, is believed to be the “vitamin U” of which Dr. Cheney spoke. MMS has been shown to stimulate the production of protective mucous – and has potent antioxidant abilities that allow it to ward off tissue-damaging oxidative stress. Studies have shown that MMS supports stomach healing after exposure to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) – which are notoriously damaging to the stomach lining. As for glutamine, it is a natural antacid strong enough to rival the effect of commercial acid-reducing medications. Allantoin, another cabbage constituent, has stomach-soothing effects as well. But cabbage juice’s “master stroke” against ulcers is probably its high levels of glucosinolates – which suppresses the H. pylori bacterium. Significantly, scientists report that this common bacterium is responsible for 70 to 90 percent of all ulcers. The remainder of peptic ulcers is believed to be caused by exposure to medications – particularly NSAIDs. Cabbage juice offers a wide range of important micronutrients and disease-fighting benefits Cabbage, scientifically known as Brassica oleracea, is a true superfood – chock full of beneficial plant compounds. Its juice is rich in vitamin K, needed for normal blood clotting and efficient wound healing. Cabbage juice is also a good source of magnesium and potassium and is surprisingly high in antioxidant vitamin C. A single cup of shredded cabbage provides up to a third of the RDA (recommended daily allowance). In addition, fresh cabbage and cabbage juice are also excellent sources of lutein and zeaxanthin, a pair of carotenoids that help to protect against macular degeneration. Cabbage juice is also high in manganese, a mineral needed for proper nervous system function. Yet a cup of cabbage juice contains a modest 22 calories – and virtually no fat. Bonus benefit: Research reveals an ever-growing roster of benefits from the phytochemicals in cabbage In addition to its antibacterial effects, sulforaphane in cabbage has been shown to protect against cancer – and to help alleviate damage from radiation therapy. Researchers at the University of Missouri found that apigenin – a cabbage flavonoid also found in celery – slowed the growth of breast cancer tumors. To further ramp up disease-fighting benefits, experts advise opting for juice from red cabbages. These contain anthocyanins, natural plant pigments with potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that help to protect against cancer and heart disease. Note: if you think cabbage juice is for you, check with your holistic doctor before using it. And, naturally, don’t attempt to treat peptic ulcers – or any other medical condition – unless supervised by a doctor. When implementing the cabbage juice remedy, things couldn’t be much simpler. Natural health experts advise sipping the fresh juice from one-half to one head of fresh, raw organic cabbage several times a day before meals. Remember: you can “spike” your cabbage juice with carrot or apple juice to add flavor and color. Of course, cabbage supplements are available in tablet form if the taste is still a dealbreaker. Just remember: As Dr. Cheney demonstrated seven decades ago, cabbage juice is a powerful (natural) therapy worth adding to your routine. Sources for this article include: NIH.gov NIH.gov Medscape.com MedicalNewsToday.com NIH.gov NIH.gov LifeExtension.com To read the original article click here.

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Slash Your Cancer Risk With Two POTENT Spices

AHA Publisher — Thu, 02 Dec 2021 08:00:34 +0000

Karen Sanders via NaturalHealth365 – Within the past few years, scientists at the forefront of cancer research have increasingly given voice to a once radical-sounding concept: cancer – second only to heart disease as a cause of death for Americans – is largely preventable, with diet playing an important role. In a prominent article published in 2008 in the peer-reviewed scientific publication Pharmaceutical Research, the authors – researchers in the Department of Experimental Therapeutics at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center – boldly state that cancer is, for the most part, a preventable disease that can be avoided with proper lifestyle choices. An article published the following year in the Journal of Clinical Oncology echoes and confirms this finding and goes on to assert that dietary modification alone – namely, increasing intake of fruits, vegetables, and spices – could prevent 20 percent or more of all cases of cancer, saving close to a quarter of a million lives a year. In a more recent study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health authors concluded that indeed, nutrition is one of the most modifiable aspects of people’s lifestyles and dietary choices that can affect cancer risk. Furthermore, with the maintenance of optimum body weight and regular physical activity added to dietary modification, the authors estimate that up to 40 percent of all cancer cases would simply never occur. Stunning Fact: Nearly 50% of All Cancer Cases Can Be Eliminated With Natural Compounds Imagine the headlines, the fanfare, and the triumphant advertising campaign Big Pharma would unleash if a drug manufacturer were to develop a medication with the same rate of success at warding off cancer. Yet, the “medication” already exists. We already have access to safe, natural, and relatively affordable cancer-preventing substances: the phytochemicals contained in luscious fruits, tasty vegetables, and zesty spices. Although a myriad of fresh fruits and vegetables – broccoli, blueberries, garlic, grapes, tomatoes, and dozens more – can help prevent cancer, two spices, in particular, have been impressing researchers with their ability to inhibit and even destroy cancer cells. Fragrant Cloves Offer Up a Protective and Potent Essential Oil Cloves, scientifically known as Sygizium aromaticum, are the unopened flower buds from an evergreen tree indigenous to the Indonesian rain forest. Their aromatic scent and rich, distinctive flavor arise from their high content of eugenol oil, the constituent also responsible for much of their protective benefits. Recent scientific research supports the ability of eugenol oil to inhibit the proliferation of melanoma cells. It also suppresses COX-2 mRNA expression, meaning that it works to “turn off” one of the primary genes implicated in inflammation and cancer development. In one particularly encouraging animal study conducted at the Department of Cancer Causation and Prevention at AMC Cancer Research Center and published in 2005 in the Journal of Biological Chemistry, eugenol not only slowed the growth of tumors but decreased tumor size by 40 percent. While 50 percent of the mice in the control group died from metastatic growth of their tumors, all eugenol-treated mice survived. In addition, researchers reported no evidence of cell invasion or metastasis – no spreading of cancer – in the eugenol group. While clinical studies are lacking, test tube and animal studies point to potential use for cloves as a natural cancer treatment. Cloves Contain a Surprising Variety of Nutrients Although eugenol oil seems to be the major player in the anticancer effects of cloves, these piquantly-flavored buds can also provide health benefits by way of their other constituents. Cloves are rich in tannins and flavonoids and contain hefty amounts of essential minerals such as iron, manganese, and selenium. As if that weren’t enough, they are also a good source of the antioxidant vitamin C and A, as well as the antioxidant carotenoid beta-carotene. What’s the Best Way to Add Cloves to My Diet? Opt for whole, organically grown cloves for maximum health benefits, and powder them yourself in a coffee grinder. Use cloves to enhance meat, poultry, rice dishes, and soups or to add zest to a marinade. You can also use them to flavor desserts such as gingerbread, pumpkin pie, and fruit compote, or pair them with cinnamon in hot spiced apple cider. But, be warned, overindulging in cloves can cause gastric irritation, so moderation is the best policy. And, if you have a digestive condition such as gastric ulcers, ulcerative colitis, or diverticulitis, check with your doctor before using them. Fenugreek: An Ancient Mainstay of Ayurvedic Healing, Proves Its Worth to Western Researchers Scientifically known as Trigonella foenum-graecum, fenugreek is a staple of Middle Eastern cooking and is used to make curry and pickles. It has been employed since antiquity for culinary and medicinal purposes and is particularly prized in the Ayurvedic healing system, known as methi. Recent medical research indicates that fenugreek seeds have anti-cancer properties due to their high diosgenin levels, a steroidal saponin. In a cell study published in 2006 in Oncogene, researchers found that fenugreek extracts suppressed inflammation, inhibited the proliferation of cancer cells, and caused apoptosis – or self-destruction – of tumor cells. Like the eugenol found in cloves, diosgenin in fenugreek regulates pro-inflammatory COX-2. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) concurs, crediting fenugreek seeds with chemopreventive properties and citing a study in which fenugreek extracts induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in MCF-7 receptor-positive breast cancer cells. Although animal and cell studies have been promising, MSKCC points out that studies on humans are currently lacking. However, research into fenugreek’s therapeutic potential is ongoing. Diosgenin Is Not Fenugreek’s Only Weapon Against Cancer While diosgenin has been shown to destroy cancer cells, it is not the only protective gift fenugreek bestows. The seeds are also rich in non-starch polysaccharides such as mucilage, pectin, and hemicellulose. These various types of dietary fiber all have the proven ability to bind to toxins and carcinogens, allowing them to be speedily flushed from the body. So it is no surprise that decades of research have supported fenugreek’s strong protective effects against colon cancer. Like cloves, fenugreek seeds also store essential minerals such as copper, iron, selenium, and manganese. They also contain abundant quantities of vitamin A and vitamin C. What are the best fenugreek seeds to get? Be sure to purchase whole fenugreek seeds from a certified organic supplier – as your best bet for maximum cancer protection. High-quality fenugreek seeds are golden-yellow, with a rich maple syrup aroma. Enthusiasts say that the taste – often likened to burnt caramel with bitter overtones – can be mellowed by browning the seeds lightly over medium heat. The toasted seeds can then be ground and used in curries and sauces. Keep in mind, fenugreek seeds can interact with certain medications, so check with your doctor before using them. Although no one can expect to eliminate all cancer risks, consuming beneficial detoxifying spices such as cloves and fenugreek may help to significantly better your odds while adding sparks of exotic and sophisticated flavor to your recipes. Sources for this article include: NIH.gov NIH.gov NIH.gov NutritionAndYou.com NIH.gov NutritionAndYou.com BiblioMed.org MSKCC.org To read the original article click here.

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‘Beat the Holiday Bloat’ Smoothie – Easy & Delicious

AHA Publisher — Tue, 30 Nov 2021 08:00:08 +0000

Dr. Don Colbert – Holiday celebrations and feasts can be a joyous event within the Holiday Season. It’s often a time we can engage with family and friends, give thanks, and enjoy delicious foods. It’s also often a time of feeling bloated. All those rich foods. All those extra servings and courses. How can you beat the Holiday bloat? Believe it or not, there are nutrients and foods that can actually help you beat the holiday bloat. Use them, and you’ll feel better, healthier, and likely enjoy the rest of the season more! Beat the Holiday Bloat Smoothie Ingredients: 1.5 cups almond milk 1 cup spinach, loosely packed ½ cup cucumber, sliced (appox. ¼ medium cucumber) ½ cup celery, chopped (appox. 1 medium stalk) ½ small avocado (peeled & pitted) 1 scoop Keto Zone® MCT Oil Powder OR 1 tbsp. coconut oil 1 scoop Keto Zone® Hydrolyzed Collagen Powder 1 scoop Divine Health® Fermented Green Supremefood® Optional: 2-3 drops liquid stevia or low-carb sweetener of choice, to taste Instructions: Into a blender, mix almond milk and spinach. Pulse to break down spinach and make room for the other ingredients. Add all ingredients except stevia. Blend for about 1 minute or until creamy. Taste it. If you’ve used flavored MCT Oil Powder and/or Green Supremefood, it may be sweet enough. If not, add stevia (or another low-carb sweetener), to taste. Nutrition Info: 375 Calories, 25g of Fat, 20g of Protein, 4g of Net Carbs Why the Holiday Bloat? Usually, when you feel bloated, the culprits are too much sugar, carbohydrates, sodium, or simply too much food. It happens. It’s easy to get carried away and overeat during a holiday. But, if you’re trying to stay in the Keto Zone® and eat a healthy diet, the indulgence can cause a host of issues in your body including (1): Increased blood sugar and insulin Increased fluid retention Inflammation Weight Gain If this describes your Holiday Season condition, it’s time to get right back on track. One of the best ways to do so is with a green smoothie! Why? It provides both a physical and mental shift back towards healthy eating. There’s no wallowing in guilt. There’s more. A secret weapon. Here’s what it is and why it works. Why Our Beat the Holiday Bloat Smoothie Works If you’ve overeaten carbohydrates or sugar don’t despair just yet. We’ve got a secret weapon in our detox smoothie: celery. Sugar can cause damage in the body. But, celery can help you stop the damage, reverse it, and get back on track. Beat the Bloat and Detox with Celery While I’m not encouraging you to ever overeat sugary desserts and then detox with a smoothie, we all live in the real world and know it happens. Rather than pretend it doesn’t, let’s focus on tools to get you back on track. First: celery. Why celery? Celery has a gentle diuretic effect (2) which quickly normalizes fluid retention without leaving you dehydrated. This beats the bloat. Next, it’s loaded with nutrients. In fact, celery is (3): A nutrition powerhouse. It contains calcium, copper, magnesium, iron, zinc, and potassium. In addition, a plethora of vitamins: including vitamin A, C, E, D, B6, B12, and vitamin K as well as thiamine, riboflavin, folic acid and fiber (4). Rich in Vitamin C, which promotes good immune function and works as an antioxidant to reduce oxidative stress. A blood pressure reducer. It reduces stress hormones and relaxes arteries to make them more elastic (5). A cholesterol-binder. Celery increases bile production which binds cholesterol in the gut and promotes excretion out of the body (6). A gentle diuretic. Cucumber, Avocado, & Greens to Beat the Holiday Bloat The other ingredients in our Beat the Holiday Bloat Smoothie are not exactly slouches. They bolster it to the next level and provide a full-nutrition meal with healthy fats and protein. Cucumber also promotes gentle diuresis, helping you beat the bloat from extra foods and sugars (6). Avocado is full of vitamins and minerals along with health-promoting omega-9 fats and cholesterol-binding fiber (12) . Spinach provides many phytochemicals, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. It’s deep green hue is an indication of health-benefiting chlorophyll (7). Keto Zone® MCT Oil Powder is a convenient and non-greasy form of the best MCTs available. They are easy-to-digest, great for heart health, and produce ketones your brain can use as a super-fuel (8, 9). Keto Zone® Hydrolyzed Collagen Powder promotes healthy hair, skin, nails, joints, gut function, and more. Additionally, collagen provides amino acids seldom found in modern diets (10). Divine Health® Fermented Green Supremefood®, a blend of fermented organic vegetables and wheatgrass, provides concentrated vitamins and minerals. The fermentation process “opens up” these natural superfoods to get more nutrients out. Plus, Fermented Green Supremefood contains healthy bacteria to support digestive and whole-body health (11). BOTTOM LINE: Ready to feel better this Holiday Season? Forget about bloat and fill your body full of amazing nutrition instead. Try our Beat The Holiday Bloat Smoothie today! To read the original article click here.

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Prevent Breast Cancer with THESE Powerful Plant Compounds

AHA Publisher — Tue, 19 Oct 2021 07:00:05 +0000

Wendy Miller via NaturalHealth365 – Breast cancer is one of the most deadly forms of cancer for women. It can also occur in men, as well. It is also one of the most treatable when caught in its earliest stages, for as deadly as it is. For many years, studies have proven that there are many powerful plant phytonutrients and adaptogenic herbs that can fight breast cancer and play a role in putting it into remission. The ironic thing is, doctors try and steer you away from these natural cancer warriors by telling you to avoid them in your diet. Incredible Plant Compounds Reduce Tumor Size and Eradicate Cancer Cells, According to Study Phytonutrients are potent plant compounds that work to promote better health once they are brought into the body. Phytonutrients include antioxidants, indoles, and glucosinolates. These three compounds especially have been proven to both prevent cancer and attack cancer cells in the body. In addition, studies have proven that they can reduce the size of tumors and even eradicate cancer cells from the body. They are especially beneficial in decreasing the number of cancer-related hormones within the body. These Plants Are a Powerhouse of Phytonutrients Phytonutrients also referred to as phytochemicals, are found in all types of plant foods, not just fruits and vegetables. Isoflavones, for example, are found in soy products. Despite its phytonutrient content, stay away from traditionally-grown soy, and make sure you buy organic varieties only. Inositol is present in most grains, including wheat, rice, corn, nuts, and soybeans. Polyphenols (resveratrol and ellagic acid) are found in many different foods, including citrus fruits, grapes, berries, green tea, whole grains, and many types of berries. In addition, carotenoids and flavonoids have been proven to inhibit or prevent the growth of many different types of cancer cells. Here Is How These Chemical Compounds Fight Against Breast Cancer Phytonutrients can support the body by providing the nutritional compounds it needs to fight against invading cells that destroy tissues and wreak havoc. When cells mutate into cancer cells that grow into larger tumors, the phytonutrients can damage those cells so they can no longer impact the body negatively. Phytonutrients can attack tumors, causing them to shrink and eventually disappear. In addition to attacking cancer cells, phytonutrients also boost the body’s immune system so that it can better recover when cancers attempt to take over. Choose Whole Foods Instead of Supplements While phytonutrients and other plant compounds can be found in supplements, they are much more effective if you get them through whole foods. Including whole foods in your diet will not only provide you with the vitamins and minerals your body needs to remain strong and healthy, but you will also get the essential plant compounds or phytonutrients your body needs to use as weapons against cancer cells and other toxic elements. Phytonutrients are the most powerful plant compounds available when it comes to cancer-fighting tools you have at your disposal. Including them in your diet will help you lower your risk of breast cancer, as well as many other cancers, whether they are hormone-related or not. Eating a diet full of whole foods is the best way to prevent cancer and even eliminate cancer once it appears. Sources for this article include: NIH.gov NIH.gov MedicalNewsToday.com BreastCancer.org Environhealthprevmed.biomedcentral.com MDAnderson.org Stanfordhealthcare.org Webmd.com To read the original article click here.

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Lycopene Supplements Put to the Test

AHA Publisher — Thu, 03 Jun 2021 07:00:52 +0000

Michael Greger M.D. FACLM via Nutrition Facts – High doses of lycopene—the red pigment in tomatoes—were put to the test to see if it could prevent precancerous prostate lesions from turning into full-blown cancer. Back in 1980s, the Adventist Health Study found “strong protective relationships” against prostate cancer with increasing consumption of legumes, citrus, dried fruit, nuts, and tomatoes. In the 1990s, a Harvard study focused attention on tomatoes, which appeared to be “especially beneficial regarding prostate cancer risk.” Researchers suspected it might be the red pigment in tomatoes called lycopene, which has greater antioxidant power than some of the other pigments, such as the orange beta-carotene pigment in carrots and cantaloupes. Lycopene dramatically killsoff prostate cancer cells in a petri dish, even down at the levels you might expect in your bloodstream after just eating some tomatoes. So, not surprisingly, the Heinz ketchup company, along with manufacturers of lycopene supplements, petitioned the FDA to allow them to print health claims on their products. As I discuss in my video Lycopene Supplements vs. Prostate Cancer, they were essentially denied. The FDA said the evidence was “very limited and preliminary” and didn’t allow any endorsements for ketchup or supplements. By that time, further population studies had cast doubt on the lycopene theory. Consumers of high dietary intakes of lycopene didn’t seem to have lower cancer rates after all, but who has high dietary intakes of lycopene? Those who eat the most pizza. So, maybe it’s no surprise there are mixed results. What we needed was to put lycopene to the test. It started with a case study of a 62-year-old man with terminal prostate cancer. Both surgery and chemotherapy had failed. He had metastases all over that had spread to the bone and was sent to hospice to die. So, he took it upon himself to initiate “phytotherapy”—plant-based therapy. Every day, he took the amount of lycopene found in a quarter cup of tomato sauce or a tablespoon of tomato paste. His PSA, a measure of tumor bulk, started out at 365, dropped to 140 the next month, and then down to just 8 the month after that. His metastases started disappearing, and, “at last followup he was asymptomatic”—living happily ever after. When lycopene was given at a higher dose in pill form, however, it didn’t seem to work. A 2013 review of all such lycopene supplement trials failed to support the initial “optimism.” In fact, the researchers were just happy that the lycopene pills didn’t end up causing more cancer, like beta-carotene pills did. Then came 2014. Researchers in Italy had been giving the largest doses they could have of lycopene, selenium, and isolated green tea compounds to men with precancerous prostate lesions, hoping they could prevent full-blown cancer. But, in 2014, the expanded results of a similar trial were published, in which selenium and vitamin E supplements resulted in more cancer. Yikes! So, the researchers in Italy stopped their trial and broke the code to unblind the results. And indeed, those taking high doses of lycopene, green tea catechins, and selenium appeared to get more cancer than those who just got sugar pills. “The potential implications are dramatic,” said the lead researcher, “given the current massive worldwide use of such compounds as alleged preventive supplementations in prostate and other cancers.” What went wrong? Well, after the beta-carotene pill debacle, researchers measured cellular damage at different natural and unnatural doses of beta-carotene, as you can see at 3:32 in my video. At dietary doses, beta-carotene suppressed cellular damage, but at supplemental doses, which are higher, it not only appeared to stop working, but it caused more damage. The same with lycopene. “Both lycopene and [beta]-carotene only afforded protection against DNA damage…at relatively low concentrations”—at the kinds of levels one might see in people eating lots of tomatoes or sweet potatoes. That is, “levels [that] are comparable with those seen in the plasma [blood] of individuals who consume a carotenoid-rich diet.” However, at the kind of blood concentrations that one might get taking pills, “the ability to protect the cells against such oxidative [free radical] damage was rapidly lost” and, indeed, the presence of high levels of beta-carotene and lycopene may actually serve to increase the extent of DNA damage. It’s no wonder high dose lycopene pills didn’t work. Phytochemicals may be “guardians of our health,” but the safety of consuming concentrated extracts is unknown. “The protective benefits of a phytochemical-rich diet are best obtained from frequent consumption of fruits, vegetables, and whole grain products”—by whole plant foods. The food industry has different ideas, though. Soon, there may be phytochemical-fortified bacon, martinis, and ice cream, says an article in the journal Food Technology. If they can find just the right mix of plant compounds, it “is not inconceivable that foods that once contributed to illness and disease may be reconstructed…to offer significant health benefits.” To read the original article click here. For more articles from Dr. Greger click here.

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5 INCREDIBLE Health Benefits of Tea Tree Oil You Should Know

AHA Publisher — Thu, 04 Feb 2021 08:00:19 +0000

Karen Sanders via NaturalHealth365 – For millennia, the indigenous people of Australia have prized the oil of the tea tree or Melaleuca alternifolia. The aromatic oil from this evergreen tree contains powerful antibacterial, anti-fungal, antiviral and anti-proliferative compounds known as phytochemicals. Why should I care about tea tree oil? These botanical elements offer a range of health benefits, from clearing acne and athlete’s foot to eliminating dandruff, alleviating periodontal disease’s effects to speeding up wound repair, and even preventing the growth spread of cancerous tumors. Concerned With the Overuse of Antibiotics? Could Tea Tree Oil Be Used as an Alternative? History would suggest the answer is yes. The tea tree’s name stems from 18th-century explorer Captain Cook, whose sailors made tea from the tree’s leaves while exploring the Australian coastline. Despite its name, however, the Melaleuca tree isn’t related to the plants commonly used to make black or green tea. Unfortunately, most conventionally-trained physicians have never learned about the healing properties of natural plant compounds. Perhaps shocking to most doctors, tea tree oil was commonly used as an antiseptic in surgery, burn, and dental care applications before the widespread use of antibiotics. Here Are the Top 5 Health Benefits of Tea Tree Oil 1. Acne According to the American Academy of Dermatology, one of the most common skin conditions, acne, affects as many as 50 million Americans – and 85 percent of people experience acne at least once in their lives. Tea tree oil contains high levels of terpenin-4-ol, a terpene alcohol that eliminate many common germs, bacteria, and fungi. Studies indicate that tea tree oil is just as effective at killing the microorganisms that cause acne as benzoyl peroxide, a commonly prescribed treatment. However, the tea tree works without all of the benzoyl peroxide’s unpleasant side effects, says the Linus Pauling Institute. 2. Athlete’s Foot The potent terpene alcohols in tea tree oil inhibit fungi’ growth, such as the types that cause athlete’s foot or Tinea pedis. Multiple studies indicate that this oil, both when applied alone and in combination with other essential oils, is effective at eliminating the fungi-yeast overgrowth that causes athlete’s foot. Studies also indicate that the oil is an effective treatment for the microbes that cause toenail fungal infections, according to the NYU Langone Medical Center. 3. Dandruff A 2002 study found that using a shampoo that contains a 5% concentration of tea tree oil effectively eliminated the growth of the yeast Pityrosporum ovale – a known cause of dandruff. Participants in the study reported a decrease in flaking, scaling, itchiness, and greasiness after 4 weeks of use. 4. Periodontal Disease Tea tree oil kills many of the bacteria associated with periodontal disease and gum inflammation, according to a 2011 study. So, for infected gums, you can try swishing a few drops of the oil in some warm water or put a drop or two in your toothpaste and brush for about 2 minutes. Either way, do not swallow any of the oil and it will help to reduce the number of harmful bacteria in the mouth. By the way, another great oral health remedy is neem oil to boost immunity by killing pathogens. 5. Cancer According to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, multiple studies indicate that the terpenin-4-ol in tea tree oil inhibits the growth of melanoma cancer cells. The oil’s cytotoxic effects have been shown to slow cancer cell proliferation, suggesting promise in the area of cancer treatment and prevention. Naturally, no one is suggesting to treat cancer with just this oil, but it’s good to know that nature provides many anti-cancer therapies without toxic side effects. Just to be perfectly clear, if you’re ever diagnosed with cancer and want to incorporate natural remedies, it’s essential to find a qualified (experienced) medical professional to help in the healing process. Tea tree oil is regarded as safe for topical use; though side effects are rare, they may include skin irritation or redness. Diluting it in a carrier oil, such as sweet almond or avocado, may eliminate any skin irritation. Remember, this oil is not for internal use or consumption, as it is toxic in large amounts. This natural oil is available in various forms, from soap, toothpaste, and shampoo to lotions, creams, gels, and essential oil. So, I encourage you to learn more about these natural remedies and enjoy the self-empowering journey. Sources for this article include: NIH.gov NIH.gov AAD.org NIH.gov To read the original article click here. For more articles from NaturalHealth365 click here.

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