Reflections on Herbs, Health And Nature

We love our dogs. . .but just like kids they can get into things they should not eat. Here is a list of 10 food items that you should never feed your dog:  Chocolate Onions Tomato stems or leaves Pits from peaches or plums Raisins Rhubarb leaves Sugary foods Tobacco Bones Nuts Now for the reasons WHY you should not feed your dog - Chocolate - chocolate, especially baker's chocolate is dangerous to dogs. Cats are mostly unaffected since they do not like the taste of chocolate; however, dogs love it. Chocolate contains various chemicals which are called methylxanthine alkaloids and...

It’s important to accept a certain amount of hyperactivity in pets, but what is unhealthy is a pet whose high energy disrupts their quality of life. Examples of this include, separation anxiety, excessive shaking, aggressiveness, loss of appetite, or vomiting. Natural remedies for hyperactive dogs are milder and safer to use than conventional medication. Natural remedies include the use of herbs, essential oils, flower essences, and nutritional supplements to reduce anxiety and calm the hyperactive dog. While herbal remedies will not "cure" your dog's hyperactivity, some herbs can be used to temporarily and symptomatically calm him down so that both...

The term "oil" in herbal medicine can be a confusing matter without clarifying exactly what type of "oil" we are talking about. There are two very different types of oil-based herbal medicines. They are known as essential oils and infused oils. Both essential oil and infused herbal oil are made from herbs or plants. Infused herbal oils are diluted, while essential oils are pure concentrated oils. Essential oils cannot be made easily at home. They are the pure plant oil, usually extracted by chemicals or hot steam. Hundreds of pounds of fresh plant material may produce only ounces of essential...

Yeast infections of all kinds tend to develop in areas of the body where conditions are most favorable for yeast and mold to reproduce easily. Yeast and fungus thrive in moist conditions, so damp “folds” of the body (think areas where you sweat a lot) are usually more prone to infections and outbreaks. Vaginal yeast infections, also known as candidiasis, are a common female condition. A healthy vagina has bacteria and some yeast cells. But when the balance of bacteria and yeast changes, the yeast cells can multiply. This causes intense itching, swelling, and irritation. One of the most common reasons...

Hemorrhoids, also called piles, are swollen veins in your anus and lower rectum, similar to varicose veins. They have a number of causes, but the basic cause of Hemorrhoids is sugar. There is generally enough fluid to cause a bowel movement, but the liquid which is left absorbs the sugar. It then feeds into the veins and leaches out the tensile strength of the veins in the lower bowel area. When straining for a bowel movement, the veins have more pressure exerted, and in turn, the weak walls break and result in a varicose condition called piles or hemorrhoids. So...