Common Cold - Ginseng - Natural Protection Against Catching a Cold

Worried about catching a cold or the flu because everyone around you is sick? You know you just don't have time to be sick, but winter is here, and that means it's cold and flu season. What can you do to protect yourself?

Colds are contagious viruses, and unless your immune system is in top shape, you stand a good chance of coming down with one yourself. There is much that can be done to avoid catching a cold. Well-known tips include staying away from crowded places, keeping your distance from those who have cold, keeping your hands away from your nose and eyes after coming into physical contact with someone who has a cold, washing your hands after blowing your nose, and keeping your room well ventilated.

But how do you strengthen your immune system's infection-fighting ability? It is essential to eat a healthy diet with minimal processed food, especially sugar. You need to get sufficient sleep and exercise. In addition, you can take a good herbal complex containing Echinacea and Ginseng.

These kind of herbal complexes are formulated with the root of the herb American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius), which has a long history of use as a medicine by native North Americans. American ginseng has also been exported to Asia since the eighteen century. In both cultures, this herb has been prized as a tonic to replenish energy and build resistance. In North America native culture, it was also given magical properties and was used as an ingredient in love potions.

Recently, there have been serious clinical studies done with American ginseng, and there is now strong evidence to support the immune-enhancing properties of this herb. These studies show that not only can American ginseng help to prevent colds and flu, but it can also reduce the severity of symptoms and significantly reduce the number of days a person suffers with an infection. The scientific explanation is that Ginseng is an adaptogen, therefore helps the body cope with stress better, including the stress that comes with changing seasons and cold temperature.

In clinical trials and a documented from usage in the general population, American ginseng has been shown safe and well-tolerated. No known interactions have been found with any medications, diseases, or other herbal products. However, as specific clinical trials have not been conducted to investigate these interaction potentials, it is advised that individuals with serious medical conditions or those taking medications consumed a health care practitioner prior to use of any product containing American ginseng.

Ginsenosides are the active constituents of ginseng, and they are thought to fight fatigue and stress by supporting the adrenal glands. Several clinical studies have shown that American ginseng works by stimulating the immune system's natural killer cells (NKC).

So if you want to give yourself the best chance of avoiding that sore throat, coughing, sneezing, runny nose, and general run-down feeling, then eat well, get sufficient sleep, exercise, add Ginseng to your shopping list to reduce the possibility of catching a cold.

About the Author

And now I'd like to invite you to find out how strong your immune system really is by taking my FREE quiz when visiting my blog, http://www.askdoctoranca.com while there, you may also want to register for my FREE UPCOMING Tele-seminars on a topic you like.

From: Dr. Anca Martalog, N.D - survivor's coach of cancer&stroke survivors network http://Www.telehealthsecrets.com

Mesothelioma Prognosis-Why Do Some Patients Survive Longer?

by Bello kamorudeen

There have been some few patients who have survived far beyond the usual one year prognosis for most mesothelioma victims and a handful that have even been cured, with no trace of the aggressive cancer several years after treatment (though recurrence is always possible).

Many medical experts are baffled by this observation and for most of the time they are yet to find a real scientific basis to explain why some mesothelioma patients survive and others do not.

There seems to be one common factor amongst those that have survived the disease for longer times - the immune system. Studies of those who have either survived or been cured of the disease reveal that most of these patients participated in somesort of therapy that enhanced their immune system. Some treatments included clinical trials in immunology while others involved alternative therapies dealing with the immune system.

A number of mesothelioma survivors have posted their stories on the Internet and have spoken to patients and their families with the hope of providing a brighter outlook for their future. These same survivors have also presented their cases to doctors and researchers. The most outspoken of these individuals is Paul Kraus, an Australian mesothelioma survivor. Kraus was diagnosed with abdominal/ peritoneal mesothelioma in 1997, a form of the disease that is tougher to treat than the more common pleural mesothelioma. Kraus worked in a factory 35 years earlier where he was exposed him to blue (crocidolite) asbestos.

Upon his diagnosis, Kraus changed his diet (he's now a vegetarian), added many vitamins and supplements to his daily routine, began "juicing," and tried a treatment known as ozone therapy. Kraus explains, "They took blood out of a vein, used an ozone machine to add ozone (a molecule composed of three oxygen atoms) to the blood and reintroduced it into my body through a drip. The rationale for that was that cancer does not like an oxygenated environment." The research in putting the protocol together took a lot of time, but in the long-run, Kraus believes the combination of all these treatments stabilized his mesothelioma. Today, tests show he still has the disease and his body is a bit weaker than it was, but he has no pain and his doctors tell him he has many more years to live. Kraus stresses the fact that he is not the only mesothelioma survivor.

He has cited the case of a man diagnosed 14 years ago at age 58 (no name given) who had a chest wall resection after diagnosis and has had no symptoms or recurrence since. His doctors believe there was "moderate host inflammatory response" and that spontaneous regression may be an immune-mediated phenomenon" - in other words, his immune system played a role in his survival.

Another survivor, Rhio O'Connor - who recently published a book about his fight with mesothelioma - has lived with the disease for seven years. He opted against the conventional methods of treatment like surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Instead, with the help of several medical physicians, he developed a regimen that included 100 supplements per day, changed his diet drastically, and now practices what he calls "mind-body medicine" (such as non-stress techniques like meditation). In his book, he recommends a variety of alternatives to traditional medicines and treatments.

All mesothelioma patients should be encouraged to participate in clinical trials especially those that are trying out new methods of boosting the immune system.

About the Author

Bello Kamorudeen.For more information on mesothelioma treatments and clinical trials go to http://www.mesotheliomacorner.blogspot.com

Burn Fat with Green Tea

by Kurt Nimmo

When you work out in the gym every day with that huge commitment and the results come slower than you'd like, it's a huge bummer. After all, you're eating right and burning lots of energy so what else could you do to get the weight to drop off? Turns out it may be cutting out that morning cup of coffee. I know. I can almost hear you screaming: coffee is loaded with caffeine that helps you burn fat, genius! It's true, I know, but even more important to consider is that coffee has organicacids that raise your blood sugar and raise insulin, which puts a lock on your body fat.

So what do I suggest? Switch to green tea. Black tea, oolong tea, and green tea come from the same Camellia sinensis plant but green tea leaves are not fermented before steaming and drying. You'll get your morning (or afternoon) caffeine, and you will drop insulin levels and therefore, body fat. How does it work? Researchers substances found in green tea known as catechins may trigger weight loss by stimulating the body to burn calories and decreasing body fat. The International Journal of Obesity states that green tea contains polyphenols which causes your body to produce heat that burns off your body fat and the University of Chicago's Tang Center for Herbal Medical Research shows green tea reduces the fat deposits under your skin and the fat in your belly area.

Best of all, these substances have also been shown to have anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties, too so you can stay healthy while you get rid of excess fat. Obviously, you'll need more than just one cup in the morning to get these awesome benefits. The experts suggest drinking 3-5 cups per day and you should notice effects within a few weeks. Drinking without sweetener is best.

About the Author
Kurt nimmo is a health specialist and exercise guru. For more tips and advice by kurt, visit http://www.kurtnimmo.com.