Herbal Remedies for Better Health

For varicose veins, try horse chestnut, an herbal extract that's been shown in studies to strengthen veins and reduce swelling.

Tame tension headaches by rubbing peppermint oil, Tiger Balm, or white flower oil into your temples. All three remedies contain menthol, which has analgesic properties.

The volatile oils in ginger have long made it a useful herbal remedy for nasal and chest congestion. Pour 2 cups of boiling water over a 1-inch piece of peeled, grated ginger; steep for 10 minutes; and strain. Add a pinch or two of cayenne pepper to the water and drink as needed.

Natural Cough Relief

When you find yourself hacking, try natural remedies first, says Dr. Andrew Weil. Loosen phlegm and make coughs more productive by adding crushed eucalyptus or sage leaves to a pot of boiling water, carefully tenting a towel over your head, and breathing in deeply. Certain herbs may also help calm a cough; other favorites include mullein leaf, licorice root, and marshmallow root. Look for teas containing one or more of these herbs, and sip a few cups throughout the day.

Even Martha Stewart Loves Simply Organic!

Martha Stewart uses Simply Organic Peppermint Extract for her holiday recipes and so should you! A powerhouse in the world of herbal teas, peppermint partners well with a wide variety of other herbs (raspberry, rosehips, lemongrass, ginger—you name it) for tea blends. Delicious hot or iced, it has an uncanny ability to both refresh and calm.

Watch the Martha Stewart video here

Stress Free Thanksgiving

Life this time of year can feel like a marathon of family gatherings, shopping, and general overdoing. Instead of relying on vast amounts of caffeine to keep up the pace, try a homemade herbal chai to build your body's reserves.

This energy-enhancing blend stars eleuthero (also known as Siberian ginseng), which helps the body adapt to stress; burdock to gently detox the liver; and licorice to balance the adrenal system (omit if you have high blood pressure). Ginger, cinnamon, and cardamom warm your body and add a spicy-sweet flavor. Drink three to four cups daily for best effects.

Stamina Tea - Makes 1 quart

• 3 teaspoons dried eleuthero
• 2 teaspoons dried burdock root
• 2 teaspoons dried licorice root
• 1 teaspoon dried (or 2 teaspoons fresh chopped) ginger
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon chips (or 1 cinnamon stick)
• 1 teaspoon cardamom pods

Simmer herbs in 1 quart of water for 20 minutes. Strain and discard herbs. Pour a cup, adding milk and honey to taste if desired. Keep remaining tea in a jar or thermos. Tea will keep for two days in refrigerator.

Natural Relief From Pain

For mild headaches, consider Tiger Balm, says Andrew Weil, M.D., author of the upcoming "Why Our Health Matters." This Chinese ointment contains menthol, which creates a warm, tingling feeling that eases pain when rubbed into your neck or temples.

Massaging a few drops of lavender essential oil onto your temples may also help for headaches triggered by stress, says herbalist Deb Soule, author of "A Woman's Book of Herbs." Indeed, past research has shown that lavender can promote relaxation. Or try plant remedies with a long history of traditional use and supporting scientific evidence: "Willow bark and meadowsweet both have anti-inflammatory properties that may help relieve headaches," Soule explains.

Take 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of tincture as needed at the first sign of symptoms. For arthritis pain, turn to turmeric, boswellia, or fish oil, which all show promise in recent research; talk to a health-care practitioner about the best form and dosage.

Cold Cures - Natural Relief

Take a dropperful of echinacea tincture in water four times a day at the first sign of symptoms, until they subside. Some studies have shown it can shorten colds; everyone is different though so try it for yourself to see if it works for you. Additionally elderberry syrup, which research suggests can fight flu, may also ease symptoms of a common cold. Take according to directions until a few days after symptoms have disappeared.

You also might try a neti pot, an Aladdin's lamp-shaped vessel that you fill with warm salt water and use to irrigate congested nasal passages. A small study showed that this practice can help decrease the symptoms associated with chronic sinus infections. Many customers have had great relief from chronic sinus infections AND their allergies from using their Neti Pot with regular use.

Ditch the White Foods to Keep Your Mind Sharp

White sugar, flour, and other refined carbohydrates are absorbed quickly as sugar into the bloodstream and can cause a spike in insulin levels. This promotes inflammation, which in turn has been linked to an increased risk of Alzheimer's disease. Keep blood sugar stable by choosing slower-burning carbohydrates like whole grains. If whole grains are hard to swallow, then start with good for you energy bars loaded with whole grain goodness.

Hit the Sack to Keep Your Mind Sharp

Getting enough shut-eye doesn't just boost your energy -- it may increase brainpower as well. Research shows that a good night's sleep helps improve memory. In one recent study published in Nature Neuroscience, researchers found that sufficient sleep is also necessary to help retain episodic memory -- your ability to remember times, places, and events. Although sleep needs vary, most of us require about eight hours a night.

Immunity Boost With Yoga

With the chilly weather invariably comes cold and flu season. But before you stock up on Kleenex and cough drops, consider a preventive approach that strengthens your defenses with yoga.

Its twists, backbends, and inversions stimulate your main immunity components -- the adrenal glands and lymphatic system -- helping them perform better, says Jeff Migdow, M.D., a holistic physician and yoga expert. Yoga's deep breathing also helps calm the nervous system, which "tells the immune system when to fight off a threat and when it can rest," he says. "When you're tense, those signals become garbled."

Spice Things Up to Keep Your Mind Sharp

Turmeric does more than add flavor to curry dishes. Curcumin, one of the compounds in this spice, has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Some early research has linked it to a lower risk of cognitive decline. Preliminary animal studies suggest it may help prevent Alzheimer's disease, a condition that's rarer in India, where curry is a staple. Add turmeric to food regularly or mix 1/2 teaspoon with hot water and sip as a tea.

Sip Smarter To Keep Your Mind Sharp

Slurping down too many sugary drinks could raise your risk for Alzheimer's disease, according to recent research. After 25 weeks with free access to sugar water, mice displayed memory-retention problems and an increase in brain plaques associated with Alzheimer's development. Researchers aren't sure if the bump in sugar intake caused the increased mental impairment. But past research has indicated that inflammation and insulin resistance (both linked to excess sugar intake) could lead to Alzheimer's. Limit soda and other sugary treats, advises Morris, and feed your brain omega-3-rich fish and antioxidant-packed fruits and vegetables, which show promise in protecting the brain from age-related damage.

Save Money & Preserve Quality by Making Your Own Supplements

Soon Cap-M-Quik supplement supplies will require two forms of identification, registration with the DEA, and a signature- Order NOW while legacy inventory is still available! Do it yourself! Save money! Make 50 capsules in just minutes!!! With Cap-M-Quik it's easy to turn powders into easy to swallow capsules. Fill your capsules with any powdered herbs, food supplements, vitamins, oils, or your own custom formulas. This is an economical and convenient way to take strong tasting herbs and avoid table binders and fillers which are commonly added to store-bought herbs. HURRY while supplies last...

Check Your Iron: Keep Your Mind Sharp

Taking iron supplements could increase brain power for iron-deficient women, according to a 2007 study from the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Results showed that after 16 weeks of treatment for iron deficiency, participants performed five to seven times better on cognitive tasks.
Low iron -- the most common nutritional deficiency in the United States -- typically triggers symptoms such as fatigue and a decrease in work performance. But overloading on iron can lead to organ damage, cautions Martha Clare Morris, director of the Rush Center on Nutrition and Aging, so it's crucial to supplement only under the supervision of a doctor.