White Willow Bark Extract Side Effects

White willow bark has been used for thousands of years as a treatment for fever and inflammation. It contains a chemical called salicin that is similar to the active ingredient in aspirin. Willow bark extract is available in capsule, liquid, or dried herb form. Most people can tolerate white willow bark, but some people have reported a number of side effects from its use.

Allergies and Side Effects

People who are allergic to aspirin should avoid white willow bark. The most common side effects of a willow bark intolerance or allergy include stomach upset, nausea and diarrhea. Some users have also experienced hoarseness, coughing and eye swelling. More serious symptoms such as dizziness, breathing difficulties, swelling, itching or rash may also occur. Medicine Net recommends consulting a doctor promptly if symptoms such as dizziness, confusion, black or tarry stool, a ringing sensation in the ears, or easy bruising develop. These symptoms can indicate a serious reaction to the herb. Willow bark can also cause a number of serious disorders. Renal papillary necrosis is a disorder characterized by tissue death in the kidneys. Its symptoms include bloody, cloudy or dark urine, back pain, incontinence and tissue inside the urine. Willow bark also creates a condition called hypertriglyceridemia, or too many fat cells in the bloodstream. Hyperuricemia, which means that there is a high uric acid level in the blood, is another harmful side effect.

Drug and Alcohol Interactions

Acetazolamide is a medication used to treat seizure disorders and glaucoma, and is also sometimes prescribed as a remedy for altitude sickness. A combination of white willow bark and acetazolamide results in confusion, a lack of energy and bladder control problems. Some drugs increase the risk of bleeding in patients; white willow bark can worsen these effects. Do not use white willow bark with medications such as warfarin or heparin, which are anticoagulants that prevent blood clots in the lungs, arteries and heart, or with aspirins or other aspirin-like medications. Willow bark increases the levels of methotrexate, which is a drug used to slow the growth of cells, and the anti-seizure medication phenytoin, to toxic amounts. Do not use willow bark in combination with either of these medications. Willow bark also decreases the effectiveness of diuretics and beta-blockers. It causes stomach inflammation and bleeding inside the gastrointestinal tract when used in combination with alcohol.

Mothers and Children

Pregnant women are advised to avoid willow bark because salicylates, or aspirin chemicals, are dangerous to unborn babies. They can also cause rashes in breastfed babies whose mothers use salicylates. Children from the ages of 4 to 12 who use aspirin are at risk of developing a serious infection called Reye's Syndrome that causes liver dysfunction and sudden brain damage. Reye's syndrome usually follows the onset of chicken pox or respiratory infections by about a week,so it should not be given to children who are suffering from chicken pox or any other viral infections. The University of Maryland recommends not giving white willow bark to children under the age of 16.

What Is an Ionic Detox Foot Bath?

Ionic detoxification foot baths are quickly becoming a popular alternative treatment for a range of health concerns. Treatment takes about 30 minutes and can be done two to three times per week. However, there is some debate about whether or not ionic foot baths are effective detoxification treatments.

Function

Ionic detoxification treatment consists of placing the feet in a special foot bath equipped with a metal plate called an array. The array produces a gentle current in the water, which creates millions of negative ions. These negative ions are absorbed into the body through the process of osmosis, and then attach to the positive molecules of foreign toxins in the body. Once the ions attach to the foreign substances, the body releases them through the bottom of the feet.

Benefits

Ionic detoxification is believed to assist in relieving symptoms of many conditions and diseases including arthritis, fibromyalgia and acidosis, and it supposedly detoxifies the body of metals and pollutants. It is important to note that expectant and nursing mothers, people who have undergone an organ transplant and people with pacemakers should not use an ionic detox foot bath.

Colors

The color of the water during and after an ionic detox treatment is believed to indicate which types of toxins are being released from the body. For example, dark green water indicates gallbladder detoxification, yellow indicates kidneys and urinary tract detoxification and black water can indicate the liver detoxifying from metals. Colors can be difficult to read though, because minerals and chlorine in the water used can affect the metal array.

The Uses of Diindolylmethane

Although its cumbersome name sounds clinical, diindolylmethane is a natural substance found in cruciferous vegetables. Diindolylmethane, or DIM, forms during the breakdown of glucobrassica in these vegetables. Consuming DIM promotes estrogen metabolism in both women and men. It increases the activity of antioxidants and seems to work against tumor cells, but exactly how DIM does this is still unclear. Still, it is certain that DIM has practical applications for health.

Antiviral

Diindolylmethane has a number of antiviral properties. It is used in the treatment of recurring respiratory papillomatosis caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV), and as of September 2010, it is in trials to treat other conditions. DIM seems to be able to modulate the body's immune system, and among its applications, it is sold as an immunity-boosting supplement. Scientists are conducting research to investigate further antiviral and possibly antibacterial uses for diindolylmethane.

Hormone Imbalance

Because diindolylmethane helps the body metabolize estrogen, it can treat some types of hormone imbalance. Hirsutism, a condition involving the growth of dark, coarse hair on women's bodies, may be treated with diindolylmethane in cases caused by an excess of androgens, male sex hormones, in the body. DIM has anti-androgenic effects, and a 120 mg supplement taken daily may help to balance the body's hormones.



DIM may also be used to help treat and relieve symptoms of endometriosis, a condition causing heavy and painful menstrual periods in women. One to two capsules of a DIM supplement per day helps the body to metabolize estrogen in the most efficient and beneficial way.

Cancer Prevention

While the exact mechanisms of diindolylmethane's cancer-preventing and antioxidant properties are unclear, DIM is a recommended form of treatment in cancer prevention. Eating cruciferous vegetables rich in DIM may help prevent prostate cancer, and studies suggest DIM is useful in preventing cervical cancer as well. Taken in capsules, DIM can prevent the cancer cells from forming.

How to Make an Ice Pack Using Alcohol

Be prepared for the inevitable bumps, bruises and sprains. Whether you have an active household or children, an ice pack comes in handy. Don't throw away money buying those one-use bags or reusable hard packs. Forget about tossing ice cubes into a plastic baggy. Try this rubbing alcohol and water alternative to create a lasting, multiple-use ice pack you can fine-tune to your preferences.

Instructions

1

Open the plastic bag and rinse the interior under running water. Shake excess water out of the bag.

2

Pour the cup of rubbing alcohol and the 2 cups of water into the bag. Hold the bag closed and gently mix by kneading the bag with your fingers.

3

Leave the bag open. Prop it up in your freezer and allow to sit for at least one hour.

4

Remove the bag from the freezer. The water and rubbing alcohol form a slush when frozen. Squeeze excess air from the bag and seal. Place back in the freezer until needed. The ice pack will refreeze numerous times.

Vitamins to Help Eyesight

When you were a kid and your mother told you to eat your carrots because they were good for your eyes, she was really saying that there were some vitamins in carrots that could help keep your eyes healthy for longer. Today, these vitamins can typically be purchased as supplements or they can be added to your diet by eating certain foods that contain them naturally.

Lutein and Zeaxanthin

Lutein and zeaxanthin, commonly found in carrots (just like your mother told you) and green foods such as kale, spinach and collard greens are two vitamins which have a great deal to do with reducing the risks of macular degeneration, one of the most common causes of blindness in the elderly. Lutein and zeaxanthin work to absorb certain kinds of light in order to protect plants while they are growing. In humans, these vitamins perform a similar function, preventing certain kinds of damaging light from hitting the retina and causing macular degeneration.

Vitamin A

While lutein and zeaxanthin protect the inner parts of the eye, vitamin A protects the outer part of the eye, the cornea. Vitamin A, found in carrots, beef, chicken livers, and dairy products, is often used to treat dry eyes and is commonly deficient in the populations of developing countries. It should be noted that while vitamin A is good for your eyes, too much of it can be toxic and as such you should consult with your doctor before taking large amounts of it in supplement form.

Vitamin C and bioflavonoids

Eating foods like peppers, strawberries and oranges should provide you with both vitamin C and bioflavonoids which are vital for the health of your eyes. While they are more commonly known for helping to prevent or minimize the effects of the common cold, these vitamins can also help to strengthen the blood vessels tin your eyes, thus helping to prevent a host of health problems, including cataracts and macular degeneration.

What Is Yerba Mate Leaf?

Yerba mate is a drink made from the dried and crushed leaves of a native South American holly shrub called Ilex paraguariensis. The leaves are steeped in water to create a tea-like beverage.

History

Yerba mate was widely used in pre-Columbian times, according to W.P. Armstrong from Palomar College, by people from the lowland areas of Paraguay. It was also popular among Andean Indians, who used the tea as a stimulant when making arduous treks through the mountains.

Benefits

Yerba mate contains approximately 1 percent caffeine, approximately the same amount of caffeine that is in coffee. The beverage was commonly used by South American natives to stimulate the nervous system, increase urine production, and reduce muscle tension. It also helped relieve fatigue-related headaches and reduce overly active appetites.

Features

South Americans drink yerba mate from small gourds that are made into special cups. The gourds are often embellished with silver rims and elaborate support bases. They place mate powder in the gourd and fill it with boiling water and sip the tea through a perforated metal straw called a bombilla that filters out the leaf particles.

How to Make Your Own Herbal Supplements from Gel Capsules

You can make your own herbal supplements from empty gelatin capsules (gel caps), notes Michael Castleman. In his book "The New Healing Herbs," he notes that taking herbal remedies in the form of herbal capsules is a convenient way to ingest bitter or unpleasant herbs, or to carry your herbs while you travel.



By making your own herbal supplements, you also get to customize the herbal capsules contents with powdered herbs (or vitamins) of your own choice. Furthermore, buying commercial herbal supplements can be extremely costly and you are not always guaranteed to get what you want. Always consult with a licensed health care professional before self-treating with any herbal supplements or herbal remedies.

Instructions

1




Herbal supplements are a convenient way to take bitter or unpleasant herbal remedies.

Purchase standard pharmaceutical gelatin capsules from a specialty or health food store, or from an herb supply catalog. These empty capsules are generally available in three different sizes: 0, 00 and or 000, notes Rosemary Gladstar in her book "Rosemary Gladstar's Herbal Recipes for Vibrant Health." "0" is the smallest size.

2




A mortar and pestle are a convenient way to powder dried herbs.

Crush your dried herb using a mortar and pestle. You may have to remove any stems that may not easily reduce to powder. Alternatively, you can use a coffee grinder for this step.

3




The fill weight for a "000" size gelatin capsule is about 1,300 mg.

Measure out the amount of powdered herb for each gel capsule, taking care not to exceed the recommended individual dosage for the herb. Typically, the fill weight for a "000" size gelatin capsule is about 1,300 mg.

4

Open an empty gel capsule and fill the longer end with the appropriate amount of herb. You can do this by hand, or by using a capsule-packing device. These capsule filling devices are a convenient, time-saving method for filling your capsules, and are available at many herb supply catalogs and specialty or health food stores.

5

Insert the smaller end of the capsule over the larger half to enclose the powdered herb. Shake the completed capsule to fill both ends. Store your herbal supplements in a tamper-proof container.

6

Begin taking your homemade herbal supplements in a low dose to ensure that you do not have any adverse reaction, and then gradually increase the amount each week up to the recommended dosage.