Top 5 best herbs for treating the flu

  

(NaturalNews) There are no known cures for the common flu but  there are many natural flu remedies that are highly effective at easing flu symptoms and reducing the duration of the illness. Certain herbs have been used as natural flu remedies for generations and can provide both protection from the flu and relief of symptoms. Here are the top five anti-flu herbs to keep around.
 

1.      Echinacea

Scientific research has shown that the herb can maintain a healthy immune system and strong, protecting it from common pathogens such as influenza virus. Research suggests that echinacea extracts work against an enzyme called hyaluronidase that destroy the body's defenses against disease. The study also suggests that echinacea may help in not only destroy certain viruses such as influenza strain but slow tumor growth.

2.      Elderberry
Elderberry (Sambucus nigra ssp. Canadensis) has been used for centuries as a tonic for the infection of colds, flu and sinus.
While elderberry has been used for generations as a medicinal tea, it's also just discovered that botany viburnic acid, a compound that encourages sweating and helps detoxify the body tissues. This means that elderberry can help reduce fever, purify the blood and cleanse the body cells of the pathogen.

3.      Ginger
Fresh ginger (ginger) is a botanical warming that has been used as medicine in Asia, India, and Arabic herbal traditions since ancient times.
Used for the treatment of digestive problems, abdominal pain and nausea for more than 2,000 years, ginger has long been a popular natural remedy for various diseases. A powerful anti-inflammatory properties, ginger has also been widely used for generations to help treat colds, flu-like symptoms, headaches and painful menstrual periods.

4.      Andrographis
Andrographis (Andrographis paniculata) is used in Ayurvedic medicine and is considered part of Hindu folk medicine from India. Traditionally used to treat upper respiratory infections and sinusitis, Andrographis is shown in a recent study to reduce the symptoms of cough, sore throat, headache and fever. Andrographis can help to prevent upper respiratory tract infection if taken every day during the winter, according to clinical evidence.

5.      Boneset
The herb boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum) is immune stimulant that has a long history of being used effectively in cases of influenza and fever
A bitter taste of the powerful antivirus that helps drain mucus and stimulates the digestion of toxins, boneset has been said by many shamans to be one of the best options for herbal treatment of flu. Boneset was traditionally used to treat not only the flu but fever and respiratory allergies also, chills, rheumatism, bruises, fractures, urinary tract infections and jaundice. Powerful herbs contain at least 23 nutrients including calcium magnesium, chromium, iron, niacin, selenium, vitamin A, vitamin C and zinc.

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How Music Affects Us and Why Music Therapy Promotes Health

Research has shown that music has a profound effect on your body and psyche. In fact, there’s a growing field of health care known as music therapy, which uses music to heal. Those who practice music therapy are finding a benefit in using music to help cancer patients, children with ADD, and others, and even hospitals are beginning to use music and music therapy to help with pain management, to help ward off depression, to promote movement, to calm patients, to ease muscle tension, and for many other benefits that music and music therapy can bring. This is not surprising, as music affects the body and mind in many powerful ways. The following are some of effects of music, which help to explain the effectiveness of music therapy:

•  Brain Waves: Research has shown that music with a strong beat can stimulate brainwaves to resonate in sync with the beat, with faster beats bringing sharper concentration and more alert thinking, and a slower tempo promoting a calm, meditative state. Also, research has found that the change in brainwave activity levels that music can bring can also enable the brain to shift speeds more easily on its own as needed, which means that music can bring lasting benefits to your state of mind, even after you’ve stopped listening.

• Breathing and Heart Rate: With alterations in brainwaves comes changes in other bodily functions. Those governed by the autonomic nervous system, such as breathing and heart rate can also be altered by the changes music can bring. This can mean slower breathing, slower heart rate, and an activation of the relaxation response, among other things. This is why music and music therapy can help counteract or prevent the damaging effects of chronic stress, greatly promoting not only relaxation, but health.
• State of Mind: Music can also be used to bring a more positive state of mind, helping to keep depression and anxiety at bay. This can help prevent the stress response from wreaking havoc on the body, and can help keep creativity and optimism levels higher, bringing many other benefits.
• Other Benefits: Music has also been found to bring many other benefits, such as lowering blood pressure (which can also reduce the risk of stroke and other health problems over time), boost immunity, ease muscle tension, and more. With so many benefits and such profound physical effects, it’s no surprise that so many are seeing music as an important tool to help the body in staying (or becoming) healthy.

Using Music Therapy:
With all these benefits that music can carry, it's no surprise that music therapy is growing in popularity. Many hospitals are using music therapists for pain management and other uses. Music therapists help with several other issues as well, including stress. For more information on music therapy, visit the American Music Therapy Association's website.

Using Music On Your Own:
While music therapy is an important discipline, you can also achieve many benefits from music on your own. Music can be used in daily life for relaxation, to gain energy when feeling drained, for catharsis when dealing with emotional stress, and in other ways as well. This article on music, relaxation and stress management can explain more of how music can be an especially effective tool for stress management, and can be used in dailly life.

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