Red Onion - Homeopathic Remedy

Red Onion: ALLIUM CEPA Homeopathic Remedy for Flu, Allergies, Sore Throats, and Arthritis

By Melanie Grimes

Allium cepa is the Latin name of the homeopathic remedy made from the red onion. Onions have been used in medicine for hundreds of years, and in various cultures around the world to treat infections and arthritic complaints. Allium was first prepared as a homeopathic remedy by the eminent homeopath, Constantine Hering, M. D., in 1847. The remedy is made from the onion bulb, which was ground and then prepared in alcohol. The tincture was then diluted and succussed (shaken), in accordance with homeopathic methods of pharmacy.

Main Uses of Allium cepa as a homeopathic remedy
Allium is mainly used to treat problems in the mucous membranes of the nose and eyes. It is used to treat colds and the flu, especially those that come on after exposure to cold air. A keynote of the remedy is a clear, bland secretion from the eyes or nose, similar to that which occurs when peeling an onion. The University of Maryland Medical Center recommends Allium cepa to treat allergic rhinitis caused by either allergies or hay fever. The Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine also recommends this homeopathic remedy in the treatment of allergies. It can also be used to treat nerve pains, such as those from a toothache.

Aggravations and Ameliorations or Allium cepa
People who need homeopathic Allium cepa usually feel worse when they are in a warm room. They are also aggravated by getting their feet wet, by damp weather, and in the spring. Cucumbers and salads disturb their digestion, and the person will feel generally better in cool, open air, after bathing and when they move around.

Mental State of Allium cepa
The mental state of those needing this remedy is comprised of many fears, including fear of their pains. They fear that their pains will become unbearable. This makes them feel sad and melancholy. On the other hand, they can also experience mental dullness.

Mucus of Allium cepa
The mucous associated with this remedy is clear but can cause irritation to the skin. For instance, the skin below the nose can become irritated from the constant drip of the mucus. Congestion and drainage are constant in the Allium remedy picture, and sneezing can become violent.

Pains of Allium cepa
Pains associated with Allium cepa are shooting, sharp and burning and they travel from the left to the right side of the body. The remedy also treats the phantom pains that can occur after amputation of a limb. The pain occurs mainly in the areas of the head, teeth, neck, sinuses, or face.

Eye symptoms of Allium cepa
The eyes are a common area of discomfort for those needing Allium ceps. They burn and are worse when coughing. The eyes, which become sensitive to light, are red and itchy, filled by constant bland discharge. The person feels a constant desire to rub their eyes, which enhances the aggravation. Vision is disturbed so that near objects appear far away.

Stomach and digestion symptoms of Allium cepa
Those needing Allium cepa crave raw onions and do well eating them. They have a great appetite along with great thirst. They may also experience nausea, and have rumbling gas pains.

Arms and leg symptoms of Allium ceps
The joints feel as if they are lame, for those people who need to take Allium cepa. The remedy can also be used to treat ulcers on the heels caused by shoes, as well as a sore feel on the bottom of the foot after a long walk.

Cough and lungs and sore throat symptoms of Allium cepa
Allium cepa is a good remedy for sore throats and laryngitis. People who need this remedy have a sensation that the larynx is split and torn because of the pain when they talk. The cough is constant and is worse inside in warm rooms and at night. The cough is better outside, though the symptoms can be brought on by exposure to cold air. Allium can also be used to treat bronchitis in the elderly. A hacking, tickling cough is typical for those needing this remedy. Allium also treats hoarseness

10 Signs You Have (SIBO)

 10 Signs You Have Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO)

 

By Dr. Amy Myers 
Have you ever eaten something and within a few hours realized that your stomach is so bloated that you can't button your pants? It's not uncommon for my patients to tell me that they wake up with a flat belly and by the end of the day they look six months pregnant. 

Even if you haven't experienced abdominal swelling to such an extreme, any amount of bloating is not normal; it’s a sign of intestinal inflammation. If you're having gas and/or bloating regularly, you could have food sensitivities and/or a gut infection, such as SIBO.
 
What is SIBO?
Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth occurs when the bacteria in our gut get out of balance and overgrow. I often say, "Too much of a good thing can be a bad thing." How do we get too much of some bacteria over others? This can manifest in several different ways, and often occurs in those eating a diet high in sugar, alcohol and refined carbohydrates. Certain strains of bacteria feed off of refined carbohydrates and break them down into short-chain fatty acids, creating gas and causing bloating. 

Another strain of bacteria can break down bile salts before your body has a chance to use them. Bile salts are crucial for the breakdown of fats; without them, the end result is fat malabsorption or diarrhea. 

Finally, a third type of bacteria can produce toxins that damage the lining of the small intestine. This prevents your body from absorbing the nutrients you need, much like what we see with a leaky gut.
 
What causes the bacterial overgrowth?
Our gut relies on nerves, muscles, enzymes, and neurotransmitters to properly digest food. While enzymes mainly break down our food, the nerves, muscles and neurotransmitters physically move the food through our digestive tract from the stomach to the small intestine and to the colon. When this happens in a healthy gut, bacteria gets passed through the digestive tract along with the food to its final destination in the colon. Problems arise when something interferes with this process.
Damage to the nerves or muscles in the gut can result in leftover bacteria in the small intestine, increasing your risk for SIBO. For example, diabetes mellitus and scleroderma can both affect the muscles in the gut, leaving room for SIBO to develop. 

Physical obstructions in the gut, like scarring from surgeries or Crohn’s disease, can also cause an abnormal buildup of bacteria in the small intestine. Diverticuli, which are tiny pouches that can form in the wall of the small intestine, can also collect bacteria instead of passing it on to the colon, where it belongs. 

There are also medications that influence or disrupt the normal gut flora, such as antibiotics, acid-blocking drugs, and steroids. And of course, as I mentioned above, the most common cause I see in my functional medicine clinic is from a diet high in sugar, refined carbohydrates and alcohol.
 
10 Signs Of Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO)
1. Gas
2. Bloating
3. Diarrhea
4. Abdominal pain or cramping
5. Constipation (much less common than diarrhea)
6. Diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome or inflammatory bowel disease
7. Food intolerances such as gluten, casein, lactose, fructose and more
8. Chronic illnesses such as fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, diabetes, neuromuscular disorders and autoimmune diseases.
9. B12 deficiency as well as other vitamins and minerals
10. Fat malabsorption
 
How to test for SIBO
Breath Test: This is the gold standard, however it’s quite cumbersome. Individuals must fast for 12 hours, breathe into a small balloon, ingest a precise amount of sugar, and repeat breath samples every 15 minutes for 3 or more hours. Abnormal breath tests can also signify pancreatic insufficiency and celiac disease. 

Organix Dysbiosis Test: This functional medicine lab test the urine for by-products of yeast or bacteria in the small intestine. If your small intestine is housing a yeast or bacterial overgrowth, byproducts will appear in your urine, indicating their presence. This test is much easier for patients and only requires one single urine specimen. This is the test I use most often in my clinic.
Comprehensive Stool Test: This is also a functional medicine lab test looking at the flora of the large intestines. If I see all elevated levels of good bacteria, I suspect SIBO. 

History: By listening to the patient’s history and symptoms, I'm often able to make a diagnosis.
 
How to treat SIBO
The standard treatment for SIBO is an antibiotic called Xifaxan. Because Xifaxan is not well absorbed throughout the body, it mostly stays in the gut and is very effective against SIBO. The problem with Xifaxan is that most insurance companies have approved it for traveler’s diarrhea, but not for SIBO, so it can be very cost-prohibitive for most people. In my practice, I place my patients on a diet low in carbohydrates and free of refined flours, sugars and alcohol. I also use a combination of herbs for 30 days, if Xifaxan is too costly. In addition, I follow a 4R program to heal the gut. 

Similar to Candida overgrowth, those who are susceptible to SIBO may have reoccurrence after treatment. It is advised to adopt a long-term diet that is low in carbohydrates and especially refined carbohydrates. 

Should you need additional help, I recommend finding a functional medicine physician in your area.

Candida Cleanse

Randy Alvarez, host of The Wellness Hour TV show, and Christa Orecchio, Founder of The Whole Journey, discuss Candida Cleanse

Live Candida Q&A: Christa Orecchio

A 5-Minute Yoga Routine for Strong, Slim Arms

Strength through yoga

by Kristin McGee
From Health magazine

My new clients are often skeptical when I tell them yoga is one of the best ways to build upper-body strength. They think they have to spend hours in the gym pumping iron to get sculpted arms. Not so! The truth is, yoga in general and this sequence in particular can do the job. The moves engage every part of the arm. Plus, supporting your own body weight is great strength training.

Hold each pose for 5 breaths, and complete the entire series 5 to 8 times. Do 3 to 5 of these workouts a week to tone up and gain muscle in just 14 days. You might never lift another free weight. 

Downward Dog

Kneel on all fours with hands directly under shoulders. Tuck toes under and exhale, lifting hips toward ceiling. Move shoulders away from ears, drawing front ribs in; push into hands and feet.

Plank

Inhale, lowering hips, coming onto toes and moving torso forward, with shoulders directly over wrists. Contract abs and straighten arms; keep body in line from head to heels.

Side Plank

Exhale, rotating torso and stacking right foot on top of left. Press torso up (body in straight line) with abs tight. Raise right hand up, fingers toward ceiling; gaze up or forward. Inhale; return to plank. Repeat on other side.

Chaturanga

Exhale, keeping body in a straight line and bending elbows to 90 degrees while lowering toward floor. Contract abs; be careful not to round shoulders forward.

Upward Dog

Inhale, lowering hips toward floor. Untuck toes; push into hands, straightening arms, lifting chest and engaging abs. Hug shoulder blades together and down away from ears. Exhale, lifting hips to return to Downward Dog.

Natural remedies to ease a sore throat

From air pollution that acts as an irritant to allergies and the frustrating common cold, the causes for developing a sore throat are plenty. While the Mayo Clinic notes that more serious issues may be at hand such as cancerous throat tumors or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a sore throat is likely due -- at least in colder climates or in the winter season -- to dry indoor air that exists in heavily heated environments.⁽¹⁾

The dry, scratchy and often painful feeling that results is bothersome, and many people seek ways to ease sore throat pain.

Unfortunately, the majority of ones that people use, such as store-bought numbing throat sprays, can make health even worse.

Avoid sprays and liquid promises

According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), they have continued to "receive reports of methemoglobinemia, a serious and potentially fatal adverse effect, associated with benzocaine products both as a spray, used during medical procedures to numb the mucous membranes of the mouth and throat." Methemoglobinemia, while rare, occurs when there is a diminished oxygen supply in the blood stream. Headaches, rapid heart rate and even death may result.⁽²⁾

Rather than take the time to sort through the clutter of over-the-counter "fixes," which have the potential to harm your body, why not turn to more natural methods?


7 ways to soothe a sore throat, naturally
 Here's a look at some easy ways to tame a sore throat. Chances are, most of these remedies are already in your own home.

 

1. Cayenne

Capsaicin, an ingredient found in cayenne peppers, acts as a natural anti-inflammatory and pain reliever. Simply mix about one-half teaspoon of cayenne powder to one glass of warm water and gargle. Doing this on an as-needed basis should help provide relief from that pesky sore throat.⁽³⁾

Just remember not to overdo it, as cayenne powder is high on the spicy/hot scale. Additional powder can always be added if it can be tolerated.

 

2. Apple cider vinegar (ACV)

ACV has been recommended for a variety of health situations. From helping to clear skin problems to being an instrumental part of a cleansing detox, it's often a go-to solution.

In the case of a sore throat, it's advised to mix two tablespoons of it with one-quarter cup of warm water and two tablespoons of honey.⁽³⁾

Feeling bold? It can also be taken straight, with no need for dilution.

 

3. Garlic

Chopped or crushed raw garlic is an ideal way to ease a sore throat. Its powerful compounds are both antiviral and antibacterial.

After chopping, let the garlic sit for about 15 minutes. This helps ensure its effectiveness, as cooking lessens its healing properties. Many people enjoy mixing it with honey and lemon or adding the crushed pieces to either a favorite herbal tea or just plain hot water.⁽³⁾

 

4. Sore throat teas

In addition to making a garlic tea like the one described above, plenty of herbal teas exist in health stores. Look for organic ones specifically designed to coat the throat and relieve associated tenderness.

Ones with ginger, licorice root and cinnamon all have warming, soothing qualities that should help.⁽³⁾

 

5. Pickle juice

While this may not sound particularly appealing, it's a go-to option worth exploring.

Gargling with the combination of salt and vinegar that's sitting inside a pickle jar has been said to help relieve sore throat pain. Raw sauerkraut juice works just as well, since it also contains vitamin C and probiotics.⁽³⁾

 

6. Zinc

Several studies have shown that zinc may reduce the duration of a cold and that it may even reduce the total number of colds a person gets annually. While lozenges are linked with crippling the rhinovirus, some people have noted unpleasant side effects such as headaches, a bad taste in their mouth or changes in their sense of smell.⁽⁴⁾

Therefore, zinc supplements from a trusted healthcare store may be something to consider.

Furthermore, many foods naturally contain zinc. Garlic, sesame and pumpkin seeds, and chickpeas are good choices.⁽⁵⁾

7. Warm saltwater

Last but certainly not least, who can forget the common remedy of gargling with warm saltwater? Simply mix one-quarter teaspoon of salt with one-half cup of warm water, and gargle often.

A warm saltwater gargle restores proper pH levels and relaxes throat muscles, which diminishes sore throat pain.⁽³⁾

Trying these natural sore throat remedies should result in a soothing feeling that helps you feel better in no time flat.

Why Pepper Boosts Turmeric Blood Levels

Written by: Michael Greger M.D.

“Historians from all around the world have produced evidence to show that apparently all primitive peoples used herbs-often in a sophisticated way. Quinine from Cinchona bark was used to treat the symptoms of malaria long before the disease was identified, and the raw ingredients of a common aspirin tablet have been a popular painkiller for far longer than we have had access to tablet-making machinery. Indeed, today many pharmacological classes of drugs include a natural product prototype that we originally discovered through the study of traditional cures and folk knowledge of indigenous people.”

There’s a plant in South Asia called Adhatoda (from adu meaning “goat,” and thoda meaning “not touch” because it’s so bitter even the goats won’t eat it). It has compounds that help open one’s airways and as such, Adhatoda tea has been used traditionally to treat asthma, where the leaves are steeped with black peppercorns. Leaves steeped with black peppercorns? That sounds gross to me—why would they do that? Because they’re smart. Back in 1928, scientists discovered what the people evidently already knew, that adding pepper increased the anti-asthmatic properties of the leaves. Black pepper alone didn’t work: it was the combination. And now we know why.

Just like approximately 5% of the spice turmeric is composed of an active compound called curcumin, about 5% of black pepper by weight is comprised of this compound called piperine. Curcumin is responsible for the yellow color of turmeric and piperine for the pungent flavor of pepper. Piperine is a potent inhibitor of drug metabolism. One of the ways our liver gets rid of foreign substances is making them water soluble so they can be more easily excreted. But this black pepper molecule inhibits that process.

And it doesn’t take much. If people are given a bunch of turmeric curcumin, within an hour there’s a little bump in the level in their blood stream. We don’t see a large increase because our liver is actively trying to get rid of it. But what if the process is suppressed by taking just a quarter teaspoon’s worth of black pepper? Then you see curcumin levels skyrocket (See Boosting the Bioavailability of Curcumin). The same amount of curcumin consumed, but the bioavailability shoots up 2000%. Even just a little pinch of pepper—1/20^th of a teaspoon—can significantly boost levels. And guess what a common ingredient in curry powder is besides turmeric? Black pepper.

Another way to boost the absorption of curcumin is to consume it in the whole food, turmeric root (fresh or dried as a powder) because natural oils found in turmeric root and turmeric powder can enhance the bioavailability of curcumin seven to eight fold. When eaten with fat, curcumin can be directly absorbed into the bloodstream through the lymphatic system thereby in part bypassing the liver.

How is it prepared in India? With fat and black pepper. Amazing how they could figure that out without double blind trials. (Though maybe it just tastes good, and it’s merely coincidence?) Their traditional knowledge certainly failed them with ghee, however, which is practically pure butter fat, which may explain India’s relatively high rates of heart disease despite all their turmeric.

Why would we care about boosting curcumin levels? Learn why in my videos Which Spices Fight Inflammation? and Spicing Up DNA Protection, Turmeric Curcumin and Rheumatoid Arthritis, and Turmeric Curcumin and Osteoarthritis. It’s also good to know Who Shouldn’t Consume Curcumin or Turmeric.

I’ve previously covered this topic of food synergy in videos such as Apples and Oranges: Dietary Diversity and Garden Variety Anti-Inflammation that emphasize the importance of eating a variety of plant foods to take advantage of some of these interactions.

The black pepper mechanism reminds me of the grapefruit (Tell Your Doctor If You Eat Grapefruit) and broccoli (The Best Detox) stories. A testament to the power of plants.

The painkilling properties of aspirin mentioned in the video are actually found throughout the plant kingdom: Aspirin Levels in Plant Foods.

In some circumstances, traditional medicine wisdom seems incredible (Tomato Effect); in others, dangerous (Get the Lead Out). But that’s what we now have science for!

-Michael Greger, M.D

Golden Milk - non-dairy 2

 

Ingredients

• Almond milk
• 1/2 tsp Turmeric (haldi)
• 1 tsp raw honey 
• 1/8 tsp ginger powder (or fresh...press the juice in a garlic press)
• 1/2 tsp coconut oil
• 1/8 tsp pepper (piperine in black pepper maximizes the benefits of turmeric and helps our body absorb it better)
• 1/4 tsp Betaine (optional)
• Dash of cinnamon

Instructions

• In a small sauce pan heat almond milk over medium heat with all ingredients.
• Stir until all is dissolved.
• Stir well and drink slowly while hot

I included ingredients that not only make this tea taste absolutely delicious, but every ingredient is chosen to maximize nutrients and absorption, and to help detoxify and rid the body of inflammation.

Fresh Turmeric

Turmeric is a powerful liver and body cleanser. Turmeric is also a very effective anti-inflammatory. Studies like this and this show turmeric is more effective at providing anti-inflammatory relief than taking NSAID’s and other drugs.
 
Ginger

Turmeric combined with ginger doubles the anti-inflammatory results. Ginger also works wonders for headaches, joint pain, and arthritis, especially rheumatoid arthritis. Ginger is a very effective digestive aid.

Black Pepper

Sources agree that piperine in black pepper maximizes the benefits of turmeric and helps our body absorb it better.

Cinnamon

Cinnamon contains anti-inflammatory properties.

Coconut oil

The fats in the coconut oil help enhance turmeric nutrient absorption. These medium chain fatty acids also get used immediately as energy for your body and aren’t easily stored as fat. These extremely healthy and beneficial fats also keep you full longer and actually protect against heart disease and cardiovascular disease.

Raw Honey

Raw honey is rich in enzymes, vitamins, nutrients and antioxidants and helps promote digestive health.