Herbal Medicine in the East and West

Many people think of herbal supplements and immediately think of Chinese or other Eastern medical traditions. But herbs have been used in the western world for centuries too. John Gerard, English botanist and superintendent of the gardens of William Cecil (Queen Elizabeth I's most trusted court member), published Herball for the first time in 1597. Though this edition contained many errors, later editions were considered standard reading for generations of English students of plants and herbs.

The Benefits of Using Herbal Diet Pills for Weight Loss

The main benefits of herbal diet pills are that they act as appetite suppressants and metabolism stimulants. The result is that you will eat less and burn more calories throughout the day, both of which are recipes for successful weight reduction.

Some companies use implied advertising to make people think that herbal weight loss supplements are the magic pill to weight loss, but this can lead people to a false sense of security. If you take herbal weight loss pills to lose weight but continue to eat a diet that is high in fats and sugar and not exercise, you will not see the benefits of using herbal weight loss pills.

Weight loss can be simplified as "calories out" must be greater than "calories in". By using the correct herbal diet supplements, you can swing both sides of the equation in your favor. Let's look at a couple of the most common herbal substances that have made there way to the weight loss market.

Hoodia

Hoodia has recently increased in popularity due to its ability to suppress the appetite. African hunters use this herb to diminish hunger pangs during prolonged periods of hunting. Hoodia has recently become very popular on the internet, however there are problems with some companies providing either fake hoodia or hoodia that is less concentrated than advertised. You want to be sure you get your hoodia pills from a trusted source.

Fucoxanthin

Fucoxanthin is an antioxidant present in brown seaweed. If you've eaten miso soup, then you've had a dose or two of fucoxanthin. Preliminary studies have shown success in fucoxanthin reducing the abdominal fat of animals. Not only is abdominal fat the most common type of fat that people are trying to lose, it is also linked to dangerous diseases such as heart disease and diabetes. With further successful testing, fucoxanthin has the potential to be one the most effective and popular herbal fat loss remedies on the market.

Guarana

The seeds from the Guarana plant, which is found in the amazon rain forest, are high in caffeine content (twice as high as that of coffee) and raise your metabolism, allowing you to expend more energy and burn more calories. If you suffer from anxiety, you want to avoid taking large doses of guarana as it can stimulate the central nervous system. Otherwise, guarana can help you lose weight by increasing the "calories out" portion of the weight loss equation.

The benefits of herbal weight loss pills are that they will help you eat less and burn more calories. They are not meant as a sole means of weight loss, but they can make the difference between a successful weight reduction program and one that has little to no results.

In conjunction with consistent exercise and a healthy eating regimen, the benefits of herbal diet pills will help you lose weight safely, effectively and quickly. If you are serious about losing weight, you should consider herbal diet pills as a vital part of your weight loss program.

What's the Difference Between a Salt Water Flush And Herbal Laxative Teas For the Master Cleanse?

The Master Cleanse cleans your body by flushing away toxins and other poisonous materials. This powerful detox diet has helped a lot of people to rejuvenate their bodies and free themselves from the toxins that have long been polluting their bodies.

The Master Cleanse dislodges the mucus and other waste materials that are blocking the colon. It is just a matter of flushing it out of our system. This is why, there are natural laxatives used along with the Master Cleanse diet. Individuals who are practicing the Master Cleanse can either use a herbal laxative tea or salt water flush. But what is the difference between the two?

Using Herbal Laxative Tea's

Most of the herbal laxatives use the herb Senna leaf to stimulate colon contractions. Senna leaf is popularly used in countries like China, France, Germany, Great Britain, India, Japan, Switzerland, and the United States as laxatives. Herbal teas are easier to deal with and easier to drink since it is pleasant tasting and soothing. When preparing the tea make sure to use distilled or filtered water. Avoid preparing it beforehand because the essence of the Senna herb will be lost once it has been dissolved in hot water.

The downside about using an herbal laxative is that it is definitely harder or more difficult to predict when the next bowel movement will happen. It can also cost more than sea salt water flush.

You'll want to avoid drinking laxative teas if you are pregnant or nursing baby. If you have a medical condition, you should consult with a doctor be safe for you to drink laxative teas. While herbal tea's are natural, there are medicinal-like properties which you should be cautious about.

The Salt Water Flush

Salt water flush also helps the digestive system to clean itself and remove the toxins out of the body. It works just like a herbal laxative, but with the salt water flush, the results will be quick. Within 30 minutes to an hour, you would start to feel some bowel movements.

Aside from being predictable, it is also easier to prepare and the ingredients can be brought easily. You'll find the ingredients in most grocery stores. It is an inexpensive way of flushing the toxins out of the body.

The problem with salt water flush sometimes is that people find it difficult to gulp down. The taste could be so horrific sometimes that people refuse to do it again. Some would recommend drinking it with a straw, while others recommend that you mix something that can be swallowed with one gulp. While drinking it, I slowly drink it as if it was a cup of Japanese Miso soup.

Both the herbal laxative and salt water flush have their own distinct pros and cons. Some people would find that salt water flush does not work for them, but finds tea very soothing. While some would discover it to be the other way around. It is just a matter of discovering the things that best suit your needs and your body.

Top 5 Qi Improvement Ingredients in Chinese Herbal Soup & Free Recipe

In Chinese medication books, there are 1000 types of herb to look for, however there are way too many herbs with different features and nature, so it is not advisable that you simply mix and match with Chinese herbs. At least you need to understand the nature and behavior before mixing them around in soup.

The top 5 Chinese Herbal Soup ingredient for Qi improvement are:

1. Wild Ginseng
Ginseng is beneficial to all internal organs, it stimulates physical vigor, soothes temperament, promotes general well-being and longevity. It is the "Yang" type of herb according Chinese medication reference book. The older the age of this wild ginseng, the better and higher level of minerals and nutrition.

2. American Wild Ginseng
Stimulates energy and nourishes the lungs and spleen. It is beneficial to those who suffer from mental and heart weakness, cough, fatigue and menopause. America Wild Ginseng is sometimes very good in having it anytime in the day, usually it is best to drink in the morning or before bed.

3. Radix Codonopsis Pilosulae (Dangshen)
Reinforce Qi, invigorates and improves blood circulation. It is also effective in the treatment of fatigue and pale complexion. It is the most commonly used in Chinese herb soup making as the ingredients.

4. Chinese Yam
Tastes sweet and is neutral in nature. It nourishes the lungs and kidneys, strengthens the spleen, stop diarrhea, improves vitality and restores Qi. Since it serve more healthier in cleaning up the body.

5. Walnut
Walnut improves Qi and regulates blood circulation. It is also known as "longevity fruit". Other than this, it also help in improving our memory power and healthier.

A Qi improvement Chinese Herbal Soup recipe: Chinese Yam with Pork Spare Ribs Soup

Ingredients:
1. Pork Spare Ribs 750 gram
2. Chinese Yam 500 gram
3. Soup Stock 1000 gram
4. Salt 8 gram
5. Some Ginger slices
6. Water 2 liter
7. Some White Pepper powder

Steps:
1. Soak port spare ribs in cold water and boil it until water is boiling. Pick it up and set aside to let it cool down.
2. Skinned Chinese yam, cut into slices and soak into salt water to avoid it gets oxidation.
3. Put port spare ribs, soup stock, hot water, ginger slice into pot and cook until half done.
4. Add in Chinese yam, continue boil it with big fire heating until boiled, then change to small fire heating continue for 40 minutes.
5. Add in a dash of salt and some white pepper powder before serve.

Enjoy~