Prostate Enlargement – A growing problem

August 27, 2023 by Jurgen

‘Saw Palmetto appears to have the efficacy similar to that of medications like finasteride, but is better tolerated. Reported side effects are rare.’- American Family Physician

The frequency and severity of benign prostate enlargement (BPH =benign prostatic hypertrophy) increases with age, and symptoms will tend to worsen if the condition is not treated. With a large and increasing number of men affected, many seek advice from their GPs and pharmacists on means of easing the unpleasant symptoms without suffering the side effects common with pharmaceutical drugs.

Sabal serrulato

Saw Palmetto and BPH

In the UK and Ireland, management of BPH has mainly focused on drug or surgical treatments and the use of herbal medicine is not common. In Germany and Switzerland, Saw Palmetto is extensively used as first line treatment against mild to moderate cases of BPH. It provides therapeutic effects equal to those achieved with conventional drug treatments.

Back to School Blues

August 21, 2023 by Jurgen

Q. My son hates going back to school after the freedom of the holidays. Also he often ends up with head lice or a sore throat thanks to at least one of his schoolmates which just makes things worse. What can I do to get him to go back more willingly and keep him clear of bugs and beasties?

back2school_blues

A. Going back to school is always a traumatic time for kids, both boys and girls, as they face the challenges of the year ahead, but yes, there are gentle remedies that can help.

Passiflora is a wonderful herbal remedy that may help to calm frayed nerves. If your son just lacks a little self confidence, you could try Indigo Essences, gentle essences, which are made in Ireland and help transform negative emotions such as shyness or low self esteem into positive ones.

Head lice are all-to-common undesired guests. As only one in five people with head lice have an itchy scalp the best way to find out if your family has them is by regular checking! How do you get rid of them? You want something that is gentle but also effective at ridding your life of lice. Neem shampoo is a natural head lice repellent that contains Neem seed extract, which is both gentle on the scalp and superbly effective. The beauty of it is that it doesn’t just get rid of the lice but also the eggs, which most chemical shampoos can’t do.

Children who are well nourished will have stronger immune systems and will be better able to throw off infections. It is not healthy to be overly protected from bugs and beasties – the immune system needs some challenges in order to mature. Feed your child well, make sure they run about in the fresh air regularly, and don’t worry about the occasional cold or runny nose. Turning the central heating up and dosing them with antibiotics will just weaken their immune function in the long term.

If your child is healthy all summer and then picks up a bug the minute he returns to school you can give them Echinacea and Vitamin C to help prevent them falling ill.

Sage is a very effective natural remedy to treat sore throats.

All remedies are available in-store.

Solidago – Goldenrod – Kidney Tonic

August 1, 2023 by Jurgen

A bumblebee pollinating European Goldenrod – Solidago Virgaurea

USES: diuretic (fluid retention), improves renal function, kidney tonic.

HOW IT WORKS: Whilst Solidago has diuretic action, this is not the prime role of the plant. Solidago, aka. Goldenrod or Woundwort, has been shown to have important anti-inflammatory, anti-spasmodic and antiseptic action and seems to strengthen kidney function.

This makes it useful as an agent to counter inflammation and irritation of the kidneys, when an infection or stones are present. The diuretic action is also useful in helping to dissolve kidney stones.

European Goldenrod – Woundwort