Benefits of Garlic

For thousands of years, garlic has been recognized for both its culinary qualities and a variety of medicinal properties. Garlic cloves, for example, were reportedly applied to the feet of smallpox victims as treatment for the disease.
In today’s more science-oriented world, research has shown garlic to have a host of positive health effects, including antiseptic qualities that have been credited to sulfur compounds in the cloves. The Chinese have long used garlic to reduce blood pressure and treat cardiovascular disease a few of the many medicinal effects under study in the U.S.
Despite a flurry of research on garlic in the 1990™s, much remains to be learned.
Scientific and medical research continues worldwide on the health properties of various forms of garlic and garlic supplements. Health benefits ascribed to garlic and garlic supplements include: Read more...

Kama Yoga for Male Virility

Are Anti-Inflammatory Herbs Safe for the Heart?

Q: I have been using Zyflamend for joint pain for a couple of years because it contains naturally occurring ingredients, albeit in higher concentrations than can be found in their original sources. My question concerns the advisability of COX-2 inhibition in general (in light of the heart problems linked to Vioxx). Is there a risk in continuing to take Zyflamend?

A: Since the arthritis drug Vioxx was found to endanger the heart and was removed from the market in the fall of 2004, I've often been asked whether Zyflamend, a natural anti-inflammatory product I frequently recommend for joint pain and stiffness, presents a similar threat. Zyflamend, from New Chapter Inc., contains ginger, turmeric, green tea and other herbs that moderate the inflammation associated with arthritis. One of its components, by the way, is resveratrol, a component of red wine believed responsible for its heart protective effects. Read more...

Ayurveda Formula for Heart Care

Is Fasting Right for You?

Q: Is Fasting Right for You?
I started fasting once a week, but I had to give it up because I was getting severe headaches. Could you suggest anything I can do to prevent the headaches and continue fasting?

A: You don't say why you want to fast once a week. I have experimented with fasting one day a week as a useful physical and psychological discipline. Many people experience a clearer mental state and increased energy after a short-term fast. When I did my weekly one-day fasts, I consumed nothing but water or herb tea. The first thing I would ask is how much water you were drinking during your fast. You should be drinking at least eight 8- to 12-ounce glasses of water or unsweetened herbal tea. Drinking less than that might explain your headaches. Read more...

Ayurtox for Body Detoxification