12 Science-Backed Ayurvedic Herbs and Spices with POWERFUL Health Benefits

AHA Publisher — Thu, 09 Dec 2021 08:00:02 +0000

Stephanie Woods via NaturalHealth365 – Ayurveda is a traditional system of medicine that originated in India and is more than 3,000 years old. It is an all-natural modality, using herbs and spices to prevent diseases and health conditions from developing in the first place. By taking a whole-person approach, it focuses on balancing mind, body, and spirit for better health. In fact, many Ayurvedic herbs have been studied extensively and now have solid scientific backing as effective remedies for many health conditions. Ayurvedic Herbs Can Improve Your Health in Multiple Ways Ashwagandha Several studies have shown that ashwagandha promotes healthy cortisol levels and normal inflammatory processes that occur in response to stress. Cortisol is called the “stress hormone.” By supporting a healthy stress response, ashwagandha can help lower levels of anxiety and improve sleep quality for people who suffer from anxiety and stress. Bitter Melon Bitter melon supports normal blood sugar levels and boosts insulin secretion, which is the hormone that stabilizes blood sugar levels. According to research, this tropical vine is not only a good remedy for blood sugar problems, but it is also packed with antioxidants and nutrients. Boswellia This herb, also called Indian frankincense, is a potent anti-inflammatory, but research has also shown that it is very effective for reducing pain. Studies also show that Boswellia improves range of motion and mobility, especially in rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis patients. It also helps prevent gingivitis and oral infections. Brahmi Studies have found that Brahmi can improve memory, learning rates, information processing, and attention. It is also effective in treating ADHD symptoms such as restlessness, lack of self-control, and impulsivity. Cardamom This “queen of spices” has powerful scientific data recognizing it for its ability to maintain normal blood pressure. Besides supporting blood pressure, inhaling the essential oil also helps to boost oxygen uptake in the lungs during a strenuous activity like exercise. Cumin Studies have shown that this earthy spice provides many health benefits, including boosting digestive enzyme activity. It promotes faster digestion by speeding the release of bile in the liver. In addition, cumin also helps ease fat digestion and relieves symptoms of IBS such as bloating and abdominal pain. Gotu Kola Also called the “herb of longevity,” gotu kola is very effective at relieving anxiety symptoms. According to one study, it also reduced stress and depression when subjects took gotu kola instead of antidepressants for 60 days. Licorice Root Licorice root has several healing properties, and there are plenty of studies to back it up. For example, it reduces inflammation and helps to protect the body from bacteria and viruses. It is also beneficial when dealing with upper respiratory infections. Triphala (amla, bibhitaki, and haritaki) The Ayurvedic remedy triphala is a combination of three medicinal fruits: haritaki, bibhitaki, and amla. This mixture is often used to ease constipation and decrease inflammation that is caused by arthritis. Studies have also shown that it limits the growth of certain cancer cells and may even prevent them. Turmeric Turmeric is a well-known spice and herbal remedy that is one of the rare substances embraced by practitioners of Western medicine. This is because of the abundance of scientific support that shows its effectiveness as an anti-inflammatory. In fact, it has been shown to be just as effective as some drugs used to reduce inflammation – but without the unpleasant side effects. Incorporate Natural Remedies Into Your Lifestyle for Their Mighty Benefits Many natural remedies work just as well as conventional drugs but don’t have harmful or unpleasant side effects. However, before beginning a new supplement routine, including herbal remedies or Ayurvedic medicine, talk to your healthcare provider to ensure you won’t encounter any allergic reactions or drug interactions. The beauty of these natural treatments is that they can be taken in supplement form, but many can be made into teas or used to flavor your favorite foods. Their versatility makes it easy to incorporate them into your lifestyle. Sources for this article include: Herbs.News PhytoPharmaJournal.com NIH.gov To read the original article click here.

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Why We Should All Cry More, The Mental & Physical Health Benefits of Crying + Is There a Right Way to Cry?

AHA Publisher — Wed, 02 Jun 2021 07:00:20 +0000

Dr. Caroline Leaf – In this podcast (episode #282) and blog, I talk about why crying is not a sign of weakness, the neuroscience behind crying, and how crying can be very beneficial both mentally and physically, especially when it comes to stress reduction, and more! First up, it is important to note that crying is a complex and important behavior that has (surprisingly!) received relatively little attention from scientists. One of [the] main hypothesis regrading crying is that it is a way of signaling distress, joy or empathy, thereby promoting social interaction and support. In other words, crying is one of the main ways we use our body language to communicate how we feel and what we need to others. It can help us bond in a community and build meaningful relationships that enhance our life. Of course, there is little debate that tears are significant social signals. Recent research even theorizes that “crying is an arousing behavior in response to distress, as well as a soothing behavior that reduces arousal after distress.” Based on this study, tears can be both a signal and validating response, helping us recognize and process the highs and lows of life. One area of research that has been studied in depth is emotions, and the importance of finding healthy ways to express our thoughts and feelings. A number of studies have shown suppressing our complex thoughts with their embedded emotions can have negative repercussions in the mind, brain and body, which I discuss in detail in my book Cleaning Up Your Mental Mess and examine in my recent clinical trials. It is important to remember that thoughts are a product of our mind, and take up real estate in the mind and brain. Thoughts look like trees and are made of proteins, chemicals and electromagnetic energy. They are dynamic (always growing and changing) and are made of memories, like a tree is made of branches and roots that grow. Memories are made up of a combination of our experiences, our interpretations of these experiences and our emotions, and are “volcanic” in nature. What this means is that sometimes the emotions get so energized that they “spill” over (or need to be expressed in varying degrees of intensity) to restore balance in the mind and brain. This “spillover” essentially acts as a signal of an underlying issue in our life, much like the ebbs and flows of the earth that signal an oncoming volcanic eruption. Tears are one way many people express their emotions to restore a sense of balance or equilibrium in their life. I am sure you have experienced this feeling at some point in your life! After a good cry, things often feel better, even if nothing has changed per se. But what exactly are tears, and where do they come from? Tears come from the lacrimal glands in the eyes. When we start crying, there is an increase in sympathetic activity in the brain and body, which kindles our flight or fight response; when we stop crying there is an increase in parasympathetic activity in the brain and body, which helps calm us down (we go into “rest and digest mode). Prolactin is one of the main chemicals that is released when we cry. Although prolactin is released when breastfeeding, it is also released in both males and females in response to negative and positive stress, and may help us manage our stress response. Other chemicals related to crying are oxytocin, vasopressin, and endogenous opioids, all of which can make us feel calm and more in control when released. Crying also appears to activate the central autonomic network in the brain and the anterior central gyrus (ACC). The former helps restore balance in the brain and body, while the ACC is involved in cognitive fluency. This implies that the experience that led to the tears–good or bad—disturbed the balance or homeostasis in the neural networks, and affected the person’s ability to think. Consequently, crying is the mind and body’s way of restoring a degree of balance to the brain and unblocking thinking, a bit like “letting off steam” can relieve pressure in a machine. When it comes to crying, there is no right and wrong way to cry, nor is there a “right” amount to cry. Just as everyone is different, our need to cry will be different, based on our own uniqueness as individuals and the particular situation we find ourselves in. The important point is NOT to suppress our feelings or feel shame for crying. It’s a perfectly normal, human response to both happy and adverse circumstances, and is a part of what it means to be human. Crying is a messenger. It’s telling us something about ourselves and what we are going through. Consequently, any changes in a person’s unique pattern of responding or crying is worth paying attention to. For example, if you or someone close to you normally only cries now and then, but are suddenly crying a lot more, this may be a sign worth paying attention to. To read the original article click here. For more articles from Dr. Leaf click here.

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12 Science-Backed Ayurvedic Herbs and Spices with POWERFUL Health Benefits

Why We Should All Cry More, The Mental & Physical Health Benefits of Crying + Is There a Right Way to Cry?