Memory (see also ADD, Alzheimer’s)

June 23, 2010

Brain function can be greatly improved with the right nutrients, so don’t give up on yourself!

Suggested Remedies to Improve Brain Function:

B12 Complete (Liquid), Brain-Protex, Clove Bud, DHA, Dulse, Evening Primrose Oil, Eleuthero, Eucalyptus, Flax Seed Oil, Focus Attention, GABA Plus, Ginkgo Biloba, Ginkgo & Hawthorn, Ginkgo/Gotu Kola, Glyco Essentials, Grapefruit (Pink) -mental clarity, Jasmine -alertness, Nature’s Chi, Nervous Fatigue Formula (Chinese) -confusion, forgetfulness, L-Glutamine, Lecithin, Myrrh -improve intellect, Niacin, Nutri-Calm, Parsley -enhance, Peppermint, Pine -mental stimulant, Pregnenolone, Rosemary -mental fatigue, Stress Pack, Super Omega 3, Valerian -mental overactivity, VitaWave

Posted by Terry | Filed Under Ailments Reference, Essential Oils, Herbal Products | Leave a Comment

Alzheimer’s Disease (see also Brain Function)

June 22, 2010

What is Alzheimer’s?

Alzheimer’s is a central nervous system degenerative disease … a pre-senile dementia characterized by mental deterioration, including: confusion, loss of memory, speech problems, hallucinosis, and the inability to perform and follow through with purposeful movements. This is the result of free radical destruction to the neurons in the brain that produce the neurotransmitter called acetylcholine.

What Causes Alzheimer’s?

Studies done on Alzheimer patients have found high levels of aluminum in the brain, so aluminum poisoning could be a factor in the cause of the disease (yet we’re encouraged every year to get flu shots which contain aluminum). It’s also been found that Alzheimer’s nearly doubles in patients with high homocysteine levels.

What We Can Do to Protect Our Brains?

Avoid cooking in aluminum cookware (especially with acidic foods like tomatoes)
Avoid antiperspirant deodorants containing aluminum compounds
Eat food high in antioxidants and take antioxidant supplements (Thai-Go is an excellent source of antioxidants)
Improve circulation to the brain (Ginkgo/Gotu Kola with Bacopa helps improve many symptoms associated with Alzheimer’s)
Chelate toxic heavy metals from the brain (Mega-Chel program, or Heavy Metal Detox are both helpful here)

Although most of the remedies listed here are more for preventative purposes, they can slow the progress of Alzheimer’s, but may not completely halt or reverse its progress.

7-Keto, Alpha Lipoic Acid, Antioxidants with Grapine Chewable (don’t let the “kid” label fool you), B12 Complete (Liquid), B-Complex, Brain-Protex, Clary Sage, Co-Q10, DHA, DHEA-F, DHEA-M, Focus Attention, Ginkgo Biloba, Ginkgo & Hawthorn, Ginkgo/Gotu Kola, Green Tea Extract, Heavy Metal Detox, Lecithin, Lemon Oil, Mega-Chel, MSM, N-Acetyl Cysteine, Super Algae, Super Antioxidant, Thai-Go, VitaWave

References:

Publishing, E. S. (2007). Essential Oils Desk Reference, Fourth Edition. Essential Science Publishing.

Steven Horne, R. (. (2003). The Comprehensive Guide to Nature’s Sunshine Products. St. George, UT: Tree of Light Publishing.

Posted by Terry | Filed Under Ailments Reference, Essential Oils, Herbal Products | Leave a Comment

ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) (see also Brain Function)

June 17, 2010

The characterizations of ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) are inappropriate inattention and impulsivity … and with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) hyperactivity is also present. People with this “imbalance” have a tendency to haphazard and poorly organized activity. Often times the sympathetic nervous system is weakened with a corresponding overactivity of the parasympathetic nervous system. You can actually tell by looking at a person’s pupils whether they’re suffering from anxiety or ADD. When the pupils are enlarged, this is a signal that there is too much sympathetic nervous system activity (anxiety). In this case nervines such as Stress-J, Lavender, or Lobelia will calm them down. When the pupils are small and contracted it signals an excess of parasympathetic nervous system activity. In this case (believe it or not), stimulants like caffeine will actually have a calming effect.

There are nutrients that provide support to the sympathetic nervous system as well as for adrenal function, and this is usually critical to correct these imbalances. Some of the products that provide these nutrients include Adrenal Support, ENERG-V, Licorice Root, HistaBlock (helpful for leaky gut), and small amounts of caffeine (preferably from green tea). Please note that the green tea extract from NSP will not work because it is caffeine-free.

Also since the brain is made up of mostly fat, essential fatty acids are absolutely necessary for the brain to function properly. It is imperative to provide good fats – not the fats in processed foods. Specific neurotransmitters in the brain calm down excessive nervous system reactions. Two products that help with elevating the levels of these neurotransmitters and calming down excess brain activity (very helpful for some people with ADHD) are Focus Attention and GABA Plus.

Protein is also very important … it balances blood sugar and creates neurotransmitters. The amino acid l-tyrosine is the precurser to the neurotransmitters epinephrine and norepinephrine, which regulate attentiveness and mental focus. The richest source of l-tyrosine is from red meat. People with ADD should eat a hearty breakfast which includes eggs and red meat, and they will be more focused. Sugar sweetened breakfast cereals or other simple carbohydrates (like pop-tarts, etc.) should be avoided. If you’re vegetarian, Super Algae or Free Amino Acids can provide the essential amino acids (including l-tyrosine).

Other causes of ADHD are heavy metal poisoning (particularly with lead or mercury), hypoglycemia and leaky gut syndrome. Heavy Metal Detox is very helpful, and Licorice Root helps with both hypoglycemia and leaky gut.

Artificial sweeteners and food additives, including aspartame, have been found to cause hyperactivity and other behavioral disorders, so it’s a good idea to completely avoid these .

Other useful products include: AdaptaMax, Astragalus, Black Currant Oil, Chamomile, Roman Chamomile, Clary Sage, Flax Seed Oil, Herbal Sleep, Magnesium, Master Gland, Nerve Eight, Nutri-Calm, Spirulina, SUMA Combination, SynerProTein, TS II, Wood Betony, DHA, Focus -stimulate awareness, concentration, and Ginkgo/Gotu Kola