Herbal Tea and the Many Benefits of Green Tea

Sipping a nice cup of herbal tea is a long-standing tradition in cultures all around the world, and not just because of the great taste. Green tea, for example, has been consumed in Asia for thousands of years, much to the enjoyment and health benefits of the population. Hundreds of studies have been conducted to determine just how and why green tea (and other herbal tea) seems to make such a difference in health and vitality.

Herbal tea is used medicinally for all types of purposes. An upset stomach may be calmed by a cup of strong peppermint tea. Sleeplessness can often be overcome with a dose of chamomile tea. It is even thought that various herbal teas, green tea among them, have the ability to prevent cancer in the human body. Just the act of brewing and drinking a cup of herbal tea can be calming, as the aromas delight the drinker and the warm liquid soothes the throat.

Some of the most interesting medicinal uses for herbal tea include:

o Burdock to clean the blood, regulate blood sugar, and for anti-inflammatory uses

o Cardamom to improve digestion, reduce gas, and calm stomach cramps

o Cinnamon to calm upset stomachs, relieve menstrual cramps, and regulate blood sugar

o Dandelion as an expectorant or diuretic

o Fennel to soothe coughs, stimulate appetite, and relieve stomach cramps

o Ginger to ease stomach and menstrual cramps, relieve nausea, improve circulation, and alleviate cold and flu symptoms

o Kava Kava to relax muscles, reduce anxiety, promote urinary tract health, and promote sleep

o Lemon balm to reduce anxiety and relieve stomach upset

o Licorice to sooth coughs and sore throats, improve digestion, and ease menstrual cramps

o Nettle to relieve diarrhea and constipation, sooth coughs, and support the liver and kidneys

o Rosehips to relieve headaches and prevent bladder infections

o Rosemary to relieve cold symptoms, ease headaches, improve circulation, and lessen joint pain

o Sage to improve digestion, relieve coughs and lung congestion, and to soothe the nerves

o Skullcap to relieve PMS symptoms and reduce anxiety

o St. John’s Wort to lessen anxiety, improve mood, and promote relaxation

o Valerian root to promote relaxation and sleep, relieve stomach cramps, and calm the nerves

o Yarrow to stimulate appetite, improve digestion, and relieve cold symptoms

Green tea is probably the most well-known and studied of the “herbal teas.” With a wide range of scientific studies to back up the experience of thousands of years, sources ranging from The Journal of the National Cancer Institute to the Mayo Clinic have found exceptional benefits to green tea and its components. In addition to potentially preventing cancer, green tea has also been credited with lowering the risk for heart disease, lessening symptoms of arthritis, preventing tooth decay, and playing a role in healthy weight loss.

Most green tea is made from the Camellia sinensis bush, but herbal tea will include other botanical elements, including leafs, roots, stems, and even the flowers of various plants. It is possible to make “tea” that doesn’t use Camellia sinensis at all, although this would more accurately be referred to as an “herbal infusion” or “tisane” than as an herbal tea.…

Type 2 Diabetes – What Is Diabetic Gastroparesis?

Diabetic gastroparesis is a condition by which the food takes too long to empty from the stomach. It is a possible complication of diabetes, although other people can experience this condition without being diabetic. It’s basically a type of neuropathy, otherwise known as nerve damage, which can also cause other secondary effects for diabetics.

The nerves damaged are the ones that control the automatic muscular activity of the stomach. This disrupts the normal emptying process, and the stomach ends up behaving like a floppy bag. Food is normally squeezed out of the stomach in a matter of hours, but when gastroparesis is present, stomach emptying is variable and food may even remain in the stomach for days. This condition can make it impossible to control diabetes, especially in diabetics who have an injection of insulin before each meal. Because the absorption of food is completely unpredictable, it is impossible to make the normal calculations about the type of food and the dose of insulin.

Thankfully, most cases of gastroparesis can be treated using a combination of drugs, diet and insulin management. In rare cases, a feeding tube could be required. Antibiotics have been used with variable results. In recent years, specialists have treated gastroparesis by injecting botulinum toxin into the muscles at the outlet of the stomach. Early results of this procedure are promising.

Gastroparesis can come about in people who have Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes. When someone has this condition and eats a meal, their food seems to sit in their stomach for hours and hours. This is called delayed gastric emptying. The nerve that controls the movement of food through the digestive tract is called the vagus nerve. If it is damaged or doesn’t work at all, the stomach muscles and intestines cannot properly move food along. This causes the food to be slowed or stopped along the way.

Diabetes can be the cause of damage to the vagus nerve just like it can cause other kinds of nerve damage throughout the body. Since the stomach cannot move the food along fast enough, this can lead to blood sugar levels that are high and out of control. The high blood sugar levels continuing throughout the body causes more chemical changes in the nerves. This in turn damages blood vessels that are carrying nutrients and oxygen to the nerves.

What are the symptoms of gastroparesis? They include things like:

abdominal bloating,

gastroesophageal reflux,

heartburn,

nausea,

weight loss,

erratic blood sugar levels,

throwing up undigested food,

feeling full early when eating,

stomach wall spasms, and

lack of appetite.

Symptoms can be mild all the way through to severe, depending upon the person. There are several complications associated with gastroparesis including bacterial overgrowth since food sits in the system too long and has a chance to ferment. In addition, food can have time to harden into solid masses, called bezoars, which can obstruct the stomach. This is a very dangerous situation.

Gastroparesis can be diagnosed in several ways including:

a barium x-ray,

barium beefsteak meal, and

a gastric emptying scan.

The doctor can also do something called gastric manometry which measures the electrical and muscular activity in your stomach. Blood tests can also be ordered, but they won’t be conclusive for gastroparesis without other tests. Your doctor may also choose to do an ultrasound and/or an upper endoscopy to rule out other conditions.…

Blurred Vision – One of the First Signs of Diabetes

This is an era of speed. Everything in today’s era is fast. We want quick results, quick searches on internet and fast-food. As diabetes is reaching to the proportions of epidemic, a large number of people are losing complete or a part of their sight.

Would these diabetics be able to live in such a fast paced society with the partial vision? How would they survive in such society if their vision keeps on decreasing?

Diabetes is the number one culprit of blurred vision. American Academy of Ophthalmology advocates that diabetics have 25 folds greater risk of losing complete or a part of their site or experiencing blurred vision without the presence of any other disease. Don’t you think this 25 percent increased chance is a scary figure?

You must have already heard that blurred vision is one of the early signs of diabetes. But the figure released by American Academy of Ophthalmology is even more alarming.

In the early stages of diabetes the blurred vision comes and goes. This is the early signs of diabetes. It happens as the blood sugar levels becomes better or get worse. With the passage of time the constant increased blood sugar level starts to damage the vessels of the blood at the back of the eye retina. The longer a person has a diabetic life the more he is at the increased risk of suffering from partial loss of vision. This loss of vision because of diabetes is termed “Diabetic Neuropathy”. The diabetics who have a poor control on the level of the blood sugar generally develop eyesight deterioration within 15 years. You must not think at this stage that 15 years is a longtime as you must never play with your eyesight.

There are two types of eyesight damages because of diabetes

Non Proliferative

Proliferative

The later one is more severe but rare. The former one is generally known diabetic retinopathy. Retinopathy is the result of damages to the tiny blood vessels, which break because of increase in blood sugar level and rupture.

Generally no action is required except for the better blood sugar control

Proliferative retinopathy is a rare and a serious case. It is an uncommon growth of tiny blood vessels in the inner side f retina. The bleeding of these blood vessels, result in blindness or partial vision loss. Early detection of the problem is the key to better treatment. Laser surgery at the right time can help to put a stop at the leaking of these vessels. However the part of the vision that has been lost can never be reversed.…

Herbal Tea Gardening Demystified

Unlike the ambitious requirements of a formal garden, the needs of sustaining your very own herbal tea garden is very easy. It can be grown in any existing flower or vegetable garden as long as it is located in a sunny area. The better solution is to plant your herbal teas in a container that sits comfortably on your windowsill.

The only necessity of your indoor herbal tea gardening planter is to make sure the soil is loose and that the water drains sufficiently to ensure you do not waterlog the roots which would result in a scanty crop. Which ever method you choose you’ll want to make sure your herbs are within easy reach should the urge strike to enjoy a freshly brewed cup of tea.

When I first became interested in growing my personal herbal tea garden my tiny flat did not receive much sunlight so I had to carefully consider where I placed my containers. I found the perfect little corner that received great afternoon light. That is where I grouped my tiny collection of tea tins I’d collected from my forays to the local tea shop.

Your tea preference should dictate what type of herbs you would like to grow. For instance in my herbal tea garden some of my favorite type of teas are:

Chamomile which is an excellent night time tea that calms and induces sleep.

Bergamot which brews a refreshing taste of orange citrus that can be enjoyed both hot and cold.

Lemon verbena is another citrus tea with a tangier bite of lemon.

Peppermint is also an excellent summer tea known for its cooling taste.

When using fresh herbs for tea, rub them together or tear them to release the flavor producing oils. You can either use a tea infuser or pour hot water directly on the leaves. Be sure to strain them before drinking so you won’t have to dodge the leaves while enjoying your tea.

Let your fresh herbal tea steep for five or more minutes to allow the flavor to infuse the water. Some herbal teas are milder in taste then the conventional dry tea bags you may have become accustomed to drinking. It may take a couple of cups before you get the right mix. And with certain fresh herbal teas you’ll need time to appreciate the subtle flavor of fresh herb brewed tea.

You can mix and match your own customized tea flavors. If the herb has a pleasing aroma then chances are it will make a tasty cup of tea suiting to your palate. Personally, I enjoy the taste of bergamot, so many of my teas contain a hint of bergamot.

If you do not finish your pot of hot tea it can be chilled and enjoyed as iced tea. Simply add some fresh lemon juice and garnish with a mint flower or spring of chamomile to help maintain the original flavor.

Sun tea is a very popular way of brewing teas. To make sun tea place fresh herbs in a lidded gallon jar and add water. Set in the sun for a couple of hours, then strain and chill the tea. You can add slices of lemon and a garnish of edible flowers such as mint or violet to your glass.

Maintaining your very own herbal tea garden is extremely easy and you’ll be happy you did as you will enjoy an ample supply of fresh tea all year round. Store your dry herbs in a sealed glass jar container away from direct sunlight.

Extras from your personal herb tea garden make excellent gifts to friend and family. Who would not be delighted with a gift basket filled with fresh tea herbs and a small tea pot and matching tea cups?…

Divorce can be difficult for everyone involved, especially if there is a lot of hostility and conflict involved. It can be especially hard on minor children, who have had their entire world upended. Even non-contentious ones can be challenging for them as they struggle to adjust to a new schedule, new households and a whole new way of life. Their family will never be the same and they know it.

After you have talked with your family law Hernando County FL attorney and settled everything in court, there will be a period where your kids may feel angry, bitter and resentful as a result of all the changes. As they try to reconcile themselves to their new reality, they will need your support and understanding more than ever. There are a few things you can do to help them adapt to their circumstances.

1. Don’t Assign Blame

It is imperative that you assure your children that the divorce is in no way their fault. They may feel that they bear some fault even if they don’t voice it. Also, avoid blaming your former spouse or talking bad about him or her in any way. Even if you don’t have any intention of doing so, you may end up alienating them from their other parent, which can negatively affect their relationship with him or her.

2. Be Steady

Reassure your children by acting as normal as possible. Things will be different no matter what, but maintaining some semblance of normality will help them feel more stable and secure. Maintain the same rules as usual and continue with traditions as much as possible.

3. Display Patience

Above all, be patient. Your children may act out. They may behave coldly towards you for a while. They may even direct blame your way even if you didn’t do anything wrong. All of this is because of the turmoil and excess of emotions they are experiencing. Their brains are not fully mature and they may not be able to properly process everything they feel like you as an adult can. Respect them and their emotions. Allow them to vent as long as it’s not in a disrespectful manner. Don’t talk down to them or dismiss their feelings. Instead, tell them that they have a right to feel the way you do and that you are there for them whenever they need to talk.

Minor children can suffer the effects of divorce for a long time. By remaining steady, comforting and empathic, you can help them through the difficult adjustment period.…