Herbs and Alternative Medicine

Ayurcold - Best relief for Cold and Flu

2008-08-27T05:59:00.000-07:00

Ayurcold - Best relief for Cold and Flu

What is Common Cold & Flu?
Common cold, true to its name continues to be one of the most common afflictions. According to Ayurveda, common cold and flu indicate the first stage in the breakdown of our bodily defenses.

Common cold and the flu (influenza) are alike in many ways. Both cold and flu can sometimes lead to more serious problems like pneumonia. Cold symptoms are usually a stuffy nose, sore throat, and sneezing. They last a couple of days to a week. Flu symptoms are usually tiredness, fever, headache, and muscle aches and pains. Coughing can be a sign of either a cold or the flu.

Common cold is a contagious illness that can be caused by a number of different types of viruses. Because of the great number of viruses that can cause a cold and because cold viruses evolve, the body never builds up resistance against all of them. For this reason, colds are a frequent and recurring problem. In fact, on average, preschool children have 9 colds a year, those in kindergarten, 12 colds a year; and adolescents and adults, 7 colds per year.

How does Common Cold & Flu spread?
The common cold is spread mostly by hand-to-hand contact. For example, a person with a cold blows or touches his or her nose and then touches someone else who then becomes infected with the virus. Additionally, the cold virus can live on objects such as pens, books, and coffee cups for several hours and can be acquired from such objects. While common sense would suggest that coughing and sneezing spread the common cold, these are actually very poor mechanisms for spreading a cold.

Causes
According to Ayurveda, Colds and Flu are generally Kapha (phlegm) diseases. Exposure to cold air and seasonal changes are Kapha increasing factors. Exposure to hot and cold conditions alternatively in a short period is also responsible, as for example having cold water or drink immediately after coming in from the sun.

Treatment

If you want to enjoy optimal health and avoid debilitating days due to congestion, sore throat, cough, chest discomfort, fever, tiredness, headache, and aching muscles and joints, there is proven help available. India's men and women have been reaping the powerful benefits of Ayurveda Medicine for the past 5,000 years. AyurCold is one of them.

As soon as you notice Cold & Flu symptoms, take 2 capsules of AyurCold daily for a period of 7 days. If you experience recurring Colds and Flu, then take AyurCold daily for a period of 4 months or more. The prescribed use of ingredients in AyurCold builds permanent immunity against cold and flu in addition to providing quick relief from their symptoms.

While Cold & Flu symptoms persist, take the following precautions:

Avoid…

Cold: food, drinks, showers, air conditioning
Sweets: juices, pastries, candies
Milk Products: cheese and yogurt
Meat Products
Breads and Nuts
Sleeping during the day

Consume more…

Vegetables: boiled, steamed, or in soups
Teas: spiced or herbal
Hot milk with crushed Ginger or Turmeric

And…

Use disposable tissues
Empty garbage frequently
Wash hands frequently
Use warm water for bathing

Prevention
You can fortify your cold and flu defenses by taking AyurCold daily and:

Washing your hands frequently - Frequent hand washing eliminates germs and keeps you and your family healthy.
Getting sound sleep - Make sure you get minimum eight hours of sound sleep every night. A good night's rest allows your body to keep up its defenses.
Exercising Regularly - Regular workouts help maintain your stamina.
Drinking water - Drink at least six to eight glasses of water a day. Avoid consuming alcohol on airplanes.
Taking vitamins daily - Take your daily vitamins without fail. Consider taking extra vitamin C, vitamin A, and zinc, all of which help fight colds. Consult your family doctor or physician for the correct dosage.
Getting a Flu Shot Annually - The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advocates that, children under 2 years of age, adults 65 and older, pregnant women, and anyone suffering from a serious medical condition should definitely get flu shots. Consult your doctor if you feel that your loved ones are at a higher risk for contracting the flu.

For more information, visit: Ayurcold Site

Sherpa Strength for Muscle Enhancement

2008-01-02T15:27:00.000-08:00

Sherpa Strength for Muscle Enhancement

Strength and endurance are essential for sports and required for everyday activities such as carrying groceries, moving furniture, and even gardening. Without adequate strength, daily chores that we take for granted can be hard to do. Many people lose muscle and strength with age. Most of this loss is due to inactivity and when inactive people grow older several things happen. Exercise tolerance declines, your body fat increases, your muscles decrease in size and become weaker, and bone thickness decreases. These changes make simple tasks difficult and increase the risk of injury.

Inactive men and women also have an increased risk of high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, thinning of the bones, and other diseases. Strength training can prevent and even reverse these changes. Proper weight lifting makes muscles stronger by forcing muscles work more than usual. This conditioning also improves gait, increases flexibility, muscle size and mass, and improves overall physical functioning on a daily basis. It also decreases the risk factors for diabetes and other diseases.

When coupled with a consistent weight training regimen, Sherpa Strength's unique blend of herbs engenders the fastest muscle strength increases possible while promoting wider range of joint movement. Greater strength and flexibility means extraordinary body power for you on a daily basis. Sherpa Strength strengthens bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments, and improves fitness and health. It improves your ability to perform everyday chores and activities as well as achieve supreme athletic conditioning. You will find improved balance and renewed independence as your body becomes stronger and your mind more confident.

Western medicine relies on aggressive prescription drugs and surgery to deal with many problems related to physiological and muscular dysfunction. Unfortunately, these methods often result in unwanted and even dangerous side effects while natural pills provide fleeting, inconsistent results.

Ayurveda, the science of life, prevention and longevity, is the oldest and most holistic and comprehensive medical system available. Its fundamentals can be found in Hindu scriptures called the Vedas - the ancient Indian books of wisdom written over 5,000 years ago. Ayurveda uses the inherent principles of nature to help maintain health in a person by keeping the individual's body, mind, and spirit in perfect equilibrium with nature.

India Herbs has a seasoned group of Ayurvedic doctors specialized in Vajikarana, one of the eight major specialties of Ayurveda. Vajikarana is "a process or a drug, which makes a man physically as strong as a ox and able to undergo many hours of physical rigors during battle." Vajikarana prescribes the therapeutic use of various herbal and holistic medicines to enhance your physiological capabilities and composition while strengthening the mind and overall well-being. Sherpa Strength is a product of Vajikarana science.

India Herbs' Vajikarana doctors combine a proprietary herbal formula based on centuries old wisdom with advice on diet, exercise, mental training, and relaxation to help you reach your peak and overcome health concerns through safe, natural means.

Results: The precise combination of natural ingredients in Sherpa Strength along with a mind-body focus precisely addresses your physiological concerns!

Sherpa

Youtharia for Anti-Aging and Longevity

2008-01-01T15:32:00.000-08:00

Youtharia

According to the World Health Organization, there were 600 million people aged 60 and over in the year 2000. This number will increase to 1.2 billion by 2025 and 2 billion by 2050. Today, about two thirds of all older people are living in the developing world and by 2025, it will be 75%.

The United States is on the brink of a longevity revolution. By 2030, the number of older Americans will have more than doubled to 70 million, or one in every five Americans. The growing number and proportion of older adults, places increasing demands on the public health system and on medical and social services. In just 10 years, spending on the elderly will total nearly $1.8 trillion, almost half the federal budget, according to new Brookings Institution and Congressional Budget Office projections. That is up from 29 percent in 1990 and 35 percent in 2000. The bulk of that growth is spending on the federal government's two largest health care programs, Medicare and Medicaid. Their combined costs are projected to more than double, to a combined total of $1.2 trillion in 2015 from $473 billion last year. Social Security spending is expected to rise to $888 billion from $492 billion in that span. Chronic diseases exact a particularly heavy health and economic burden on older adults due to associated long-term illness, diminished quality of life, and greatly increased health care costs. Although the risk of disease and disability clearly increases with advancing age, poor health is not an inevitable consequence of aging.

Aging is an accumulation of lifelong damage to macromolecules, cells, tissues and organs. The maximum life span known for humans is 122.5 years. Genetic differences between humans account for different aging rates, including efficiency of DNA repair, types and quantities of antioxidant enzymes, and different rates of free radical production.

Common diseases among older people are cardiovascular disease, arthritis, osteoporosis, and hypertension. For chronic diseases and conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, arthritis, depression, psychiatric disorders, osteoporosis, Parkinson's disease, and urinary incontinence, much remains to be learned about their distribution in the population, associated risk factors, and effective measures to prevent or delay their onset. The epidemiologic transition, combined with the increasing number of older persons, represents a challenge for public health. In the United States, approximately 80% of all persons are aged above 65 years and have at least one chronic condition, and 50% have at least two conditions. As the population ages, the impact of Alzheimer's disease, which doubles every 5 years after the age of 65, is also expected to increase. Chronic conditions also can lead to severe disability. In the United States alone, arthritis affects approximately 59% of persons aged 65 years and above and is the leading cause of disability.

Western medicine relies on aggressive prescription drugs and surgery to deal with many problems related to aging. Unfortunately, these methods often result in unwanted and even dangerous side effects. And natural pills only provide fleeting, inconsistent results.

India Herbs has a seasoned group of Ayurvedic doctors specialized in Vajikarana, one of the eight major specialties of Ayurveda. Vajikarana is "a process or a drug, which make a man as healthy as a ox and able to undergo many hours of physical rigors." Vajikarana prescribes the therapeutic use of various herbal and tonic preparations for enhancing the cellular systems and revitalizing your system while strengthening the body and overall well-being.

India Herbs' Vajikarana scientists combine a proprietary herbal formula based on centuries old wisdom with advice on diet, exercise, mental training, and relaxation to help men and women reach their peak and overcome aging concerns through safe, natural means.

Results: The precise combination of ingredients in Youtharia along with a mind-body focus precisely addresses age-related vulnerabilities!

Youtharia

Yogic Slim for Weight Loss

2008-01-01T15:30:00.000-08:00

Yogic Slim for Weight Loss

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the key causes of the global obesity epidemic are increased consumption of energy-dense foods high in saturated fats and sugars, and reduced physical activity due to rapid urbanization. Currently over 1 billion adults are overweight and at least 300 million of them are clinically obese. Excess weight and obesity lead to adverse metabolic impact on blood pressure, cholesterol, triglycerides, and insulin resistance. Some of these negative effects in turn redouble the propensity for weight gain.

Due to increased work-related stress and time constraints coupled with easy access to tasty junk food, advice on incorporating a low-fat, high-fiber diet in conjunction with an exercise program has been difficult to heed. And even when dietary and physical regimen changes are made, the struggle to reverse the physical and psychological inclination to gain weight remains difficult.

Western medicine relies on aggressive prescription drugs and liposuction surgery to deal with many problems related to obesity. Unfortunately, these methods often result in unwanted and dangerous side effects. Non-medical methods for weight loss such as diet programs and fat targeting exercise routines have failed to break the cycle of weight gain. And natural pills have provided only fleeting, inconsistent results.

India Herbs has a seasoned group of Ayurvedic doctors specialized in Rasayana Chikitsa, one of the eight major specialties of Ayurveda. It is the branch of Ayurveda that deals with various aspects of preventive health care. Rasayana Chikitsa includes therapies for longevity, improved memory, health, youthfulness, complexion, and strength of body and senses. Rasayana Chikitsa prescribes the therapeutic use of various herbal and holistic preparations for maintaining optimal weight while strengthening the body and overall well-being.

India Herbs' Rasayana Chikitsa doctors have developed a proprietary herbal formula based on centuries old wisdom to rejuvenate stagnant bodily functions that contribute to weight gain and obesity. The Yogic Slim formulation coupled with adherence to simple advice on diet, exercise, mental training, and relaxation will help you lose weight and attain good health through safe, natural means.

Results: The precise combination of ingredients in Yogic Slim along with a mind-body focus precisely addresses the concerns of men and women that suffer from excess weight and reduced vitality!

Yogic Slim

Rudraksha Healing for Tranquility and Good Health

2008-01-01T14:00:00.000-08:00

Rudraksha- Healing for Tramquility and Good Health

How Rudraksha Healing Works
Rudraksha beads, botanically known as Elaeocarpus Ganitrus Roxb, are the seeds of the fruit from Rudraksha trees. Rudraksha trees are found mainly in Indonesia, Nepal, and India. There are clefts on the surface of the beads which are used to characterize the beads. For example, a five facet Rudraksha bead has five clefts on it (shown below on the left). A ten facet Rudraksha bead has ten clefts on it (shown below on the right).

Rudraksha beads are available with 1 to 38 facets. Beads with 1 and 15 to 38 facets are rare. The 5 facet bead is commonly available and thus the most popular due to its effectiveness and economical cost. Yogis wear necklaces called malas (Sanskrit for garland) which typically consist of 108 five facet Rudraksha beads and a larger "meru" bead. The tassled "meru" bead is symbolic of the transcended state, and indicates the beginning and end of a cycle. Malas consist of 108 Rudraksha beads because according to Vedic literature, Brahmand (the universe) is made up of 108 elements.

The beneficial powers of Rudraksha beads have been known in Asia for ages and are well documented in traditional and contemporary literature. Due to increasing popularity of Rudraksha malas with the general populace in India, scientific studies have been undertaken in recent years to determine just how Rudraksha Healing works. One of the best known research papers was published by Dr. Suhas Roy of the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology in Banaras, India.

Dr. Roy's research confirmed that the healing powers of Rudraksha beads flow from their electro-magnetic properties. When Rudraksha beads are placed over the heart, they act to stabilize the heart beat. Similar to magnets, the beads work on the principle of Dynamic Polarity. Blood circulation and heart beat automatically induce a magnetic field around the body and particularly the heart region. Depending on the polarity and intensity of this induced magnetic field, Rudraksha beads transmit subtle electrical and inductive impulses with opposing polarity and intensity. According, a proportionate balancing force is exerted on the heart to regulate it if it starts beating above or below normal rates. This action helps to ensure ideal blood circulation in the body.

The human body is a complex bio-electronic circuit comprised of the Central Nervous System and the organs and functions it regulates.


Rough Pattern of current induced by magnetic field in the body.	Red shows highest induced currents, Blue the lowest.	Rough Pattern of current induced by electric field in the body.

Streamlined blood flow has a powerful rejuvenating impact on this circuit and serves to prevent stress-related disorders caused by the damaging effects of excess energy on neurons and neurotransmitters. In essence, Rudraksha beads help bring about the well-known "relaxation response" which is the ultimate goal of meditation, yoga, tai chi, biofeedback, and countless other Alternative Medicine methodologies.

Rudraksha

Radiancio Radiate Beauty and Nature

2008-01-01T13:57:00.000-08:00

Radiancio - Beauty and Nature

Just as human instinct drives us toward survival, physical beauty is programmed into our brains as a means of staying alive and furthering our family line. Nature has given us impulses that drive us towards procreation. Every creature, from the lowest organism to the most complex, desires sex. Dogs are attracted to each other’s smells. Peacocks are attracted to each others’ plumages. Human beings are attracted to many things about each other – one of which is physical beauty.

Physical attractiveness can have very real effects. When a person is seen as attractive or unattractive, a whole set of assumptions are brought into play. Many have asserted that certain advantages tend to come to those who are perceived as being more attractive, including the ability to get better jobs and promotions, receiving better treatment from authorities and the legal system, having more choices in romantic partners and therefore more power in relationships, and marrying into more successful families. A survey conducted by London Guildhall University of 11,000 people showed that those that subjectively describe themselves as physically attractive earn more than others that describe themselves as less attractive. Less attractive people earned, on average, 13% less than more attractive people, while the penalty for being overweight was around 5%.

Both men and women use physical attractiveness as a measure of how 'good' another person is. Men often tend to value attractiveness more than women. In Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) brain scans published in 2004 by Rutgers University, evolutionary anthropologist Helen Fisher discovered that there were clear differences in male and female brains, during the early intense stages of falling in love. Men, on average, tended to show more activity in two regions in the brain: one was associated with the integration of visual stimuli, and the second was with penile erection. Conversely, women in these early stages exhibited increased activity in several regions of the brain associated with memory recall.

Although it is said that "beauty is in the eye of the beholder", studies have shown that there are many universal or near-universal qualities which make men and women attractive. These qualities usually fit into one or more of three categories:

Indicators of general good health.
Indicators of reproductive fitness.
Healthy nails and thick, "lustrous" hair.
Features that include a clear complexion and healthy, youthful-looking skin.

A hair and its follicle make up one of the most complex and interesting systems in the body. Scientists are just now beginning to identify the key cells, proteins, hormones and genes that control the growth, loss, and regeneration of hair. While inherent genetic coding is decidedly a factor in hair loss, other factors exist that accelerate the process, including stress, diet, pollution, and hygiene.

Gradual buildup of residue from commercial hair care products and environmental toxins, along with a diet high in animal fats, prompts an over-secretion of sebum. The sebum soon becomes oxidized and is transformed into a waxy substance clogging the follicle entrance. In time, the impacted sebum and other debris makes its way deep within the follicle, inhibiting the absorption of nutrients and impeding the growth of healthy hair. Stress contributes to this problem by causing tightness in the scalp, which inhibits blood circulation to this area. A chemical reaction takes place between an enzyme called 5-Alpha reductase and androgens present in the impacted sebum. This results in the formation of a powerful hormone, dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT binds to the follicle entrance, which eventually sends a message to the hair follicle to shut down. The result: thick and healthy hair begins to grow thin and weak, eventually dying altogether.

Nails can be very attractive and serve many important functions. Women, more often than men, place a great deal of importance on how their nails look and spend a considerable amount of time and money on them. Nails reflect an individual's personal and health habits - good or bad. Aside from their cosmetic appeal, nails serve many important functions. They help us pick up and manipulate objects, and they protect and support the tissues of the fingers and toes. Most importantly, nails often reflect our general state of health. Nail problems usually increase throughout life and affect a high number of the elderly. This is due to the susceptibility of the nail to fungal infections, its increased thickness with age, circulation problems, and the use of medications.

Many diseases and serious conditions can be detected by changes in the nails. Most doctors will check the nails carefully during physical examinations. Major illness will cause a deep horizontal groove to form in the nails. Discoloration, thinning, thickening, brittleness, splitting, grooves, clubbing (convex), flatness, spooning (concave) can indicate nutrient deficiencies, drug reaction or poisoning, local injury, and other illnesses in the body. Nails can become extremely thick, loose, or degenerated. They can also be infected with fungus which can come from dirty socks, certain types of aggressive exercise, walking barefoot, and exposing one's feet in a moldy environment.

Our largest organ is our skin. Others see our skin and assess our mood, physical state, and attractiveness. As your skin ages, it becomes thinner and more easily damaged. When this effect intensifies, the skin decreases its ability to heal itself. Sagging skin is caused by the fall in elasticity. Skin also receives less blood flow and lowers glandular activity. Your skin supports its own ecosystems of microorganisms, including yeasts and bacteria, which cannot be removed by any amount of cleaning. In general, these organisms keep one another in check and are part of healthy skin. When the balance is disturbed, e.g., by antibiotics which kill bacteria, there may be an overgrowth and infection by yeasts.

The human skin has many other important functions such as:

Protection: Your skin is an anatomical barrier between the internal and external environment in bodily defense.
Sensation: Your skin contains a variety of nerve endings that react to heat, cold, touch, pressure, vibration, and tissue injury.
Heat regulation: Your skin contains a blood supply far greater than its requirements which allows precise control of energy loss by radiation, convection, and conduction. Dilated blood vessels increase perfusion and heat loss while constricted vessels greatly reduce cutaneous blood flow and conserve heat.
Control of evaporation: Your skin provides a relatively dry and impermeable barrier to fluid loss. Loss of this function contributes to the massive fluid loss in burns cases.
Storage and synthesis: Your skin acts as a storage centre for lipids and water, as well as a means of synthesis of vitamin D and B by action of Ultra Violet energy on certain parts of the skin. This synthesis is linked to pigmentation, with darker skin producing more vitamin B than D, and vice versa.
Excretion: The concentration of urea is 1/130th that of urine. Excretion by sweating is at most a secondary function to temperature regulation.
Absorption: Oxygen, nitrogen and carbon dioxide can diffuse into the epidermis in small amounts. Skin is an important site of transport in many other organisms.

With such diverse roles, it is no wonder that the skin is subject to constant attack and can be afflicted by numerous ailments. The skin is the barrier between the world and our own body, between the outer and inner environment. There are many elements in the outer environment that can cause inflammation or breakouts. There is now no question that these accumulated toxins are behind nearly every disease, symptom, injury, and malfunction of the body. Free radicals are highly reactive chemical molecules and participate in unwanted reactions, causing tissue damage, and destructive effects on the human body. Free radicals attack protein, lipid, and nucleic acids and lead to a reduction in their respective functions, thereby decreasing cell function, and finally causing organ failure. The road to disease can be paved with a slew of toxins and free radicals that can bind to enzymes at a cellular level and inactivate them so that the cell no longer functions optimally. When toxins are not eliminated, they are reabsorbed back into the liver.

The liver works by filtering toxins directly as well as altering them so that they can be removed during the various stages of detoxification. The liver filters toxins from about 1 liter of blood every minute. Some of these endotoxins (produced in the body), exotoxins (from outside the body), and wastes are sent to the kidneys or the colon. Other toxins, made up of compounds that are difficult for the liver to filter, must be broken down with enzymes so that they can be removed. A properly functioning liver is vital to your health.

Western medicine relies on aggressive prescription drugs and surgery to deal with many problems related to health and aesthetics. Unfortunately, these methods often result in unwanted and even dangerous side effects. And natural pills provide fleeting, inconsistent results.

Ayurveda, the science of life, prevention, and longevity, is the oldest and most holistic and comprehensive medical system available. Its fundamentals can be found in Hindu scriptures called the Vedas - the ancient Indian books of wisdom written over 5,000 years ago. Ayurveda uses the inherent principles of nature to help maintain health in a person by keeping the individual's body, mind, and spirit in perfect equilibrium with nature.

India Herbs has a seasoned group of Ayurvedic doctors specialized in Vajikarana, one of the eight major specialties of Ayurveda. Vajikarana is "a process or a drug, which make a man as healthy as a ox and able to undergo many hours of physical rigors." Vajikarana prescribes the therapeutic use of various herbal and tonic preparations for enhancing the condition of your hair, nails, and skin while strengthening your body and overall well-being.

India Herbs' Vajikarana scientists combine a proprietary herbal formula based on centuries old wisdom with advice on diet, exercise, mental training, and relaxation to address the native inhibitory causes that affect hair, nail, and skin growth while helping both men and women reach their peak health and beauty through safe and natural means.

Results: The precise combination of ingredients in Radiancio along with a mind-body focus precisely addresses your health and beauty needs!

Radiancio

PMS Lite for PMS Relief

2008-01-01T13:55:00.000-08:00

PMS Lite - Premenstrual Relief

Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) is characterized by uncomfortable physical and mental symptoms that occur before the onset of your menstrual period. An estimated three out of every four menstruating women experience some form of PMS. About 5% of women experience symptoms that cause severe impairment. PMS may start at any time during the years that a woman menstruates. Once it begins, the symptoms often continue until menopause. PMS is more likely to trouble women between their late 20s and early 40s and it tends to recur in a predictable pattern.

The physical and emotional changes that are experienced with PMS may vary in intensity with each menstrual cycle. Cyclic changes in hormones are believed to be a precursor to PMS because its symptoms appear with hormonal fluctuations and disappear with pregnancy and menopause. Fluctuations of serotonin, a brain chemical (neurotransmitter), is the cause of mood swings during PMS. Insufficient amounts of serotonin may contribute to other symptoms of PMS, such as fatigue, food cravings, and sleep problems. Occasionally, some women with severe PMS have undiagnosed depression, though depression alone does not cause all of the symptoms associated with PMS. Stress may also aggravate PMS.

Western medicine relies on pharmaceuticals to counteract symptoms related to PMS. Unfortunately, these drugs do not address underlying causes and often result in dangerous side effects. And natural pills only provide fleeting, inconsistent results.

India Herbs has a seasoned group of Ayurvedic doctors specialized in Vajikarana, one of the eight major specialties of Ayurveda. Vajikarana prescribes the therapeutic use of various herbal and holistic medicines to enhance your physiological and psychological capabilities and composition while strengthening the mind and overall well-being.

India Herbs' Vajikarana scientists combine a proprietary herbal formula based on centuries old wisdom with advice on diet, exercise, mental training, and relaxation to help you reach your peak and minimize the symptoms of PMS through safe, natural means.

Results: The precise combination of natural ingredients in PMS Lite along with a mind-body focus precisely addresses your gynecological concerns!

PMS Lite

Mystic Sleep Supplement for Sleep Well

2008-01-01T13:53:00.000-08:00

Mystic Sleep - Supplement for Sleep Well

Sleep is vital for your health and well being. Yet millions of us are not getting sufficient rest. Sleep deprivation is a common condition that afflicts 47 million American adults, or almost a quarter of the adult population. According to the National Sleep Foundation, 60% of adults report having sleep problems a few nights a week or more. In addition, more than 40% of adults experience daytime sleepiness which interferes with daily activities at least a few days each month and 20% report sleep problems a few days a week or more. Over one-quarter of working adults (28%) said they missed work, events, and activities in the previous three months due to sleep-related issues. People who drove after being awake for 17–19 hours performed worse than those with a blood alcohol level of 0.05% (Blood Alcohol Limit for Western Europe) or 0.08% (Blood Alcohol Limit for USA).

Getting less sleep than what your body requires has serious consequences. Symptoms can interfere with memory, energy levels, mental abilities, and emotional mood. According to WebMD reports, chronic sleep deprivation increases risk of early death. Studies show there is a greater risk for heart disease and heart attacks as well as obesity. In addition, insufficient sleep adversely affects the frontal cortex's ability to control speech, access memory, and solve problems. A sleep-deprived individual suffers from slower reaction time, weaker memory, and other thinking impairments. Major accidents have been linked in part with lack of sleep: Three Mile Island, Chernobyl, and the Exxon Valdez. According to the "Sleep in America" poll in 2004, 60% of American drivers reported driving in a drowsy state and 4% had an accident or near-accident. Fatigue contributes to more than 100,000 highway crashes, 71,000 injuries, and 1,500 deaths each year in the United States alone.

The trend in industrialized nations over the last hundred years suggests that people are increasingly sleep deprived. In 1910, the average person slept 9.0 hours a night. By 1975, the total had fallen to 7.5 hours. The same "Sleep in America" poll, indicates that the average American adult now only sleeps 6.9 hours a night; this leads to fatigue and exhaustion. Shift workers suffer more than other people. Many shift workers average only five hours a night. A number of studies have reported that shift work throws off the body's circadian rhythm and have suggested that such changes could lead to chronic insomnia. One study found that 53% of night-shift workers fall asleep on the job at least once a week, implying that their internal clocks do not adjust to unusual work times. They are also at much higher risk than other workers for automobile accidents due to their drowsiness and may also have a higher risk for health problems in general. A Japanese study reporting on different aspects of insomnia found that excessive computer work was associated with all forms of insomnia. People who were over-involved with their work tended to have trouble falling asleep and they tended to awaken earlier than average.

Western medicine relies on aggressive prescription drugs to deal with many problems related to sleep deprivation. Unfortunately, these methods often result in unwanted and even dangerous side effects. And natural pills provide fleeting, inconsistent results.

India Herbs has a seasoned group of Ayurvedic doctors specialized in Rasayana Chikitsa, one of the eight major specialties of Ayurveda. It is the branch of Ayurveda that deals with various aspects of preventive health care. Rasayana Chikitsa includes therapies for longevity, improved memory, health, youthfulness, complexion, and strength of body and senses. Rasayana Chikitsa prescribes the therapeutic use of various herbal and holistic preparations for enhancing mental acuity while strengthening the body and overall well-being.

India Herbs' Rasayana Chikitsa doctors combine a proprietary herbal formula based on centuries old wisdom with advice on diet, exercise, mental training, and relaxation to help you experience consistent, rejuvenating sleep through safe, natural means.

Results: The precise combination of ingredients in Mystic Sleep along with a mind-body focus precisely addresses the concerns of men and women that suffer from restlessness and sleep deprivation!

Mystic Sleep

Joint Mender for Joint Care

2008-01-01T13:50:00.000-08:00

Joint Mender - Joint Care

According to estimates from the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, "Each year, arthritis results in 750,000 hospitalizations and 36 million outpatient visits. Ten years ago, medical care for arthritis cost nearly US$22 billion, and the total cost, including lost productivity, topped US$82 billion." Nearly two-thirds of people with arthritis are younger than 65 years of age. Arthritis is not just an "old person's disease".

Osteoarthritis, also known as degenerative arthritis, affects the joints. The wear and tear of cartilage, which acts as a cushion for the joints, causes inflammation and the pain. As the bone surfaces lose protection from the cartilage, walking and standing or any activity that bears weight causes pain. Osteoarthritis affects more than 21 million people in the United States alone. This form of arthritis is more common in males before the age of 45. In women, osteoarthritis is diagnosed more often after the age of 55. As the "baby-boomer" generation ages, doctors predict there will be a staggering growth in the cases of osteoarthritis. As it is almost impossible to replace cartilage, there is no cure for osteoarthritis. The pain associated with osteoarthritis is described as a sharp ache or burning sensation in the muscles and tendons attached to the bone. When the joint moves, it makes a crackling noise. Other symptoms noted include muscle spasms, tendon contractions, and fluid in the joint. Areas affected by osteoarthritis are hands, feet, spine, hips, knees and in theory any joint in the body. When knees are affected, they tend to curve outward and usually feel worse the more they are used during the day. This separates osteoarthritis apart from rheumatoid arthritis. There are two causes of osteoarthritis. The first is aging where the water content of the cartilage increases and protein composition is lost. The second cause is other diseases or conditions including obesity, repeated trauma, hormonal disorders, surgery and inflammatory diseases. In severe cases, surgery may be required to remove fragments, re-position bones. or perform bone-fusion surgery.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory autoimmune disorder that allows the immune system to attacks joints, which is both painful and destructive and may create loss of mobility. Rheumatoid arthritis differs from other forms of arthritis because it attacks the soft-tissue of many joints simultaneously. Rheumatoid arthritis may lead to joint deformity when joint surfaces erode and assume unnatural shapes. Severely affected joints may require joint replacement. Rheumatoid arthritis affects women three to five times as often as men. The peak age of incidence is between the ages of 40-60. Approximately 33% of patients will not be able to work after only 5 years and after 10 years, over half will have substantial functional disability.

Western medicine relies on aggressive prescription drugs and surgery to deal with many problems related to joint dysfunction. Unfortunately, these methods often result in unwanted and even dangerous side effects that include: elevated cholesterol, gastric ulcers, hypertension, carcinogenesis, liver failure, and even infertility. And natural pills only provide fleeting and inconsistent results.

India Herbs has a seasoned group of Ayurvedic doctors specialized in Vajikarana, one of the eight major specialties of Ayurveda. Vajikarana prescribes the therapeutic use of various herbal and tonic preparations for enhancing the motor-function capabilities, joint performance, and vitality of men and women while strengthening the body and overall well-being.

India Herbs' Vajikarana scientists combine a proprietary herbal formula based on centuries old wisdom with advice on diet, exercise, mental training, and relaxation to help men and women achieve optimal joint health through safe, natural means.

Results: The precise combination of ingredients in Joint Mender along with a mind-body focus precisely addresses your joint care concerns!

Joint Mender

Immunice for Immune Support

2008-01-01T13:48:00.000-08:00

Immunice - Immune Suport

In a presentation made at the annual Infectious Diseases Society of America meeting in Toronto in October 2006, findings determined that the incidence of whooping cough or pertussis, in the United States is increasing. Pertussis can be deadly. In the mid-1970s, about 1,000 cases of pertussis were reported each year in the United States. By 2004, more than 25,000 cases were reported. One study showed that the number of pertussis cases in the Seattle area increased from 39 in 2001 to 280 in 2003. The highest incidence of the disease occurred among infants less than 1 year old, but the largest increases in pertussis were among people 20 years and older (an 11-fold increase) and among adolescents and teens 10 to 19 years old (a more than fivefold increase). In 62% of infant cases, a household member was the potential source of infection.

According to World Health Organization (WHO) estimates, 300,000,000 people suffer from asthma and 255,000 people died of asthma in 2005. Asthma is not just a public health problem for high income countries; it occurs in all countries regardless of level of development. Over 80% of asthma deaths occur in low and lower-middle income countries. WHO has estimated that deaths will increase by almost 20% in the next 10 years. Asthma is under-diagnosed and under-treated, creating a substantial burden to individuals and families and possibly restricting individuals' activities for a lifetime.

Although the fundamental causes of asthma are not completely understood, the strongest risk factors for developing asthma are inhaled asthma-triggers or allergies. These include indoor allergens (for e.g. pollution, household dust and pet fur), outdoor allergens (for e.g. pollens and moulds), tobacco smoke and chemical irritants in the workplace. Allergies can cause your suffering to worsen. Urban areas show the most dramatic rise in hospitalization and deaths triggered by allergens. Developing industrialization and higher levels of environmental pollution are major factors. The research shows a sharp increase of overall allergic events since 1980. The number of children with on-set of asthma has increased by nearly 60% and asthma related deaths by 78%. Hay fever affects 30-40% of Americans and is the most chronic illness for children. Symptoms include decreased lung function, bronchial inflammation, recurrent coughing, wheezing, breathlessness, and tightness in the chest, sneezing, runny nose, congestion, itching, redness of the eyes, inflammation, and rashes. Allergies are disorders of the immune system. The function of the human immune system is to defend the body against invaders such as certain bacteria, viruses, and fungi and to destroy any infectious microorganisms that invade the body. The immune system is made up of a complex and vital network of cells and organs that protect the body from infection. Although the immune system is extremely complex, its basic strategy is simple: to recognize the enemy, mobilize forces, and attack.

Just as a country that seeks continued existence, it must be in a constant state of preparedness to face all kinds of threats and dangers from external and internal sources. If it fails to defend itself, no matter how well-developed and advanced a nation may be, it could be destroyed with the launching of a military offensive against it or even a well-directed and unanticipated terrorist act. The human body also has unseen enemies that are more resilient than others. In today's age of environmental toxins, viral and bacterial infections and the myriad of allergens that we are exposed to on a daily basis, serious measures must be taken to guard against them and to keep our internal defense system fully functional to protect ourselves against these threats.

The human body is made up of atoms. All atoms contain a nucleus and have electrons that circulate around the central body. Atoms connect to each other to form molecules by sharing or exchanging their electrons. In an example using water, it is formed by three atoms: two hydrogen and one oxygen. The electrons they share are locked into a stable compound making it difficult to break down. However, in some compounds, there is a "free radical," an electron that is not held firmly in the compound and so is "free" to break away and attach to another compound or body tissue. When they combine with another tissue, free radicals oxidize chemicals that form tissue, like oxygen turning iron to rust. Just as rust does not possess the strength of iron, oxidized tissues lose strength when they are damaged by oxidation. These free radicals are highly reactive chemical molecules, causing tissue damage and destructive effects upon the human body. Your body has built-in defenses against free radicals but they can be overwhelmed by the effects of stress, environmental pollutants, and age.

Western medicine relies on aggressive prescription drugs to deal with many problems related to immune-system dysfunction. Unfortunately, these methods often result in unwanted and even dangerous side effects. And natural pills only provide fleeting, inconsistent results.

India Herbs has a seasoned group of Ayurvedic doctors specialized in Vajikarana, one of the eight major specialties of Ayurveda. Vajikarana is "a process or a drug, which make a man as healthy as a ox and able to undergo many hours of physical rigors." Vajikarana prescribes the therapeutic use of various herbal and tonic preparations for enhancing the capabilities and vigor of the your immune system while strengthening the body and overall well-being.

Results: The precise combination of ingredients in Immunice along with a mind-body focus precisely addresses your immune system vulnerabilities!

Immunice

Cosmic Joy for Mood Enhancement

2008-01-01T13:44:00.000-08:00

Cosmic Joy - Mood Enhancement

According to the World Health Organization, twenty-five percent of individuals develop one or more mental or behavioral disorders at some stage in life, in both developed and developing countries. An estimated 121 million people currently suffer from depression. An estimated 5.8% of men and 9.5% of women will experience a depressive episode in any given year. These figures apply to men and women of all genders, ages, and backgrounds.

Depression is one of many common mental disorders that cause unhappiness, loss of interest in life's pleasures, feelings of guilt or low self-worth, disturbed sleep, loss of appetite, low energy, and poor concentration. These problems can become chronic or recurrent and lead to substantial impairments in your ability to handle daily responsibilities. At its worst, depression can lead to suicide, a tragic fatality associated with the annual loss of about 850,000 lives. Depression is the fourth leading contributor to the global burden of disease. By the year 2020, depression is projected to be the second most common cause of disability leading to years of productive life lost and early mortality.

Western medicine relies on aggressive prescription drugs and surgery to deal with many problems related to cerebral and emotional dysfunction. Unfortunately, these costly treatments often result in unwanted and even dangerous side effects. And most natural pills provide only fleeting, inconsistent results.

Ayurveda, the science of life, prevention and longevity, is the oldest and most holistic and comprehensive medical system available. Its fundamentals can be found in Hindu scriptures called the Vedas - the ancient Indian books of wisdom written over 5, 000 years ago. Ayurveda uses the inherent principles of nature to help maintain health in a person by keeping the individual's body, mind, and spirit in perfect equilibrium with nature.

India Herbs has a seasoned group of Ayurvedic doctors specialized in Rasayana Chikitsa, one of the eight major specialties of Ayurveda. It is the branch of Ayurveda that deals with various aspects of preventive health care. Rasayana Chikitsa includes therapies for longevity, improved memory, health, youthfulness, complexion, and strength of body and senses. Rasayana Chikitsa prescribes the therapeutic use of various herbal and holistic preparations for enhancing mood while strengthening the body and overall well-being. The approach is to heal the mind and body before minor emotional imbalance leads to chronic psychological problems.

India Herbs' Rasayana Chikitsa doctors combine a proprietary herbal formula based on centuries old wisdom with advice on diet, exercise, mental training, and relaxation to help you reach your peak and overcome emotional tribulations through safe, natural means.

Results: The precise combination of ingredients in Cosmic Joy along with a mind-body focus precisely addresses the concerns of men and women that suffer from emotional turmoil and stress.

Cosmic Joy

ClariMind - Memory and Concentration Supplement

2008-01-01T13:41:00.000-08:00

ClariMind - Memory and Concentration Supplement

You know the importance of performing to your optimum level at work and study, especially in today's changing economic climate. Increasing workloads and late nights demand that we stay sharp and alert to remain on top of things, to keep in control of situations. A well-nourished brain is one of the basic requirements for a sharp mind. Unfortunately, stress from a hectic and demanding lifestyle can easily take its toll and deplete your body and brain of the vital nutrients it needs. Poor diet, ineffective digestion, and decreased nutrient absorption during stressful periods intensify the damage. To cope with stress, many men and women resort to excessive smoking, alcohol, and caffeine consumption. All of which lead to further drain of the body's store of nutrients. These habits also come with addictive side effects and unpleasant withdrawal symptoms.

Nutrients are vital for many biochemical processes in the body, especially the brain. Signals between nerve cells are transmitted through chemicals known as neurotransmitters. Ayurveda has long known that brain-processing speed gradually slows as you age. Between the ages of 25 and 55, you are likely to lose 20% of your synapses, the connections that relay messages from neuron to neuron to the brain. Although your brain makes up only 2% of your total body weight, it uses 20% of the glucose and oxygen you consume. ClariMind offers a healthy and effective way to get your body and brain nutrient levels back to optimal and to maintain that balance. Its unique formulation helps you stay sharp and alert long-term.

Western medicine relies on aggressive prescription drugs and surgery to deal with many problems related to cerebral and intellectual dysfunction. Unfortunately, these methods often result in unwanted and even dangerous side effects. And most natural pills provide fleeting, inconsistent results.

India Herbs has a seasoned group of Ayurvedic doctors specialized in Vajikarana, one of the eight major specialties of Ayurveda. Vajikarana prescribes the therapeutic use of various herbal and tonic preparations to address the root cause of irregular blood chemistry, while strengthening your body and overall well-being.

India Herbs' Vajikarana doctors combine a proprietary herbal formula based on centuries old wisdom with advice on diet, exercise, mental training. and relaxation to help you reach your peak and overcome mental tribulations through safe, natural means.

Results: The precise combination of ingredients in ClariMind along with a mind-body focus precisely addresses the concerns of men and women that suffer from mental fatigue and loss of intellectual vitality.

ClariMind

Cardiofy - Heart Care Supplement

2008-01-01T13:38:00.000-08:00

Cardiofy - Heart Care Supplement

The American Heart Association recommends the following goals for maintaining a healthy cardiovascular system:

Total Cholesterol less than 200
LDL ("Bad") Cholesterol less than 160 for people who are at low risk for heart disease
LDL ("Bad") Cholesterol less than 130 for people who are at intermediate risk for heart disease
LDL ("Bad") Cholesterol less than 100 for people who are at high risk for heart disease
LDL ("Bad") Cholesterol less than 70 for people who are at very high risk for heart disease
HDL ("Good") Cholesterol 50 or higher for women
HDL ("Good") Cholesterol 40 or higher for men
Triglycerides less than 150
Blood Pressure less than 120 / 80
Fasting Glucose less than 100
Body Mass Index (BMI) less than 25
Waist Circumference less than 35 inches for women
Waist Circumference less than 40 inches for men
Exercise minimum of 30 minutes most days, if not all days of the week
Eat at least 5 daily servings of fruit and vegetables, 6 daily servings of grain products, 2 weekly servings of oily fish, 25 to 30 grams of fiber per day, less than 300 mg of cholesterol per day
Limit intake of saturated fat and trans fat to less than 10 percent of total calories
Choose fats and oils with 2 grams or less saturated fat per tablespoon
Limit salt intake to less than 6 grams per day (slightly less than one teaspoon)
Limit alcohol consumption to no more than one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men
Balance the number of calories you eat with the number you use each day
Eliminate all tobacco products and exposure to secondhand smoke

Are you meeting these goals? Most men and women are not. Widespread inability to meet these goals is demonstrated by the following statistics for 2003 in the United States:

Americans with one or more forms of cardiovascular disease: 71,300,000
High Blood Pressure: 65,000,000
Coronary Heart Disease: 13,200,000 (leading cause of death in America)
Stroke: 5,500,000
Total Deaths: 910,614
Deaths of those under age of 65: 152,000

Basically today's hectic lifestyles involve surviving under stressful conditions for extended periods of time while subsisting on dangerous fast food diets and lack of proper exercise and rest. This has become a recipe for cardiovascular disaster. Ayurveda Medicine provides a way for you to reverse the damage to your body and puts you on the road to good health.

Western medicine relies on aggressive prescription drugs and surgery to deal with many problems related to cardiovascular problems. Unfortunately, these methods often result in unwanted and even dangerous side effects. Natural pills provide fleeting, inconsistent results.

India Herbs has a seasoned group of Ayurvedic doctors specialized in Kaya Chikitsa, one of the eight major specialties of Ayurveda that deals with Internal Medicine. It is the branch of Ayurveda that offers therapies for purification and detoxification. Kaya Chikitsa dwells deep into defining the root cause of a disease and prescribes the therapeutic use of various herbal medicines and holistic treatments for enhancing the cardiovascular capabilities while strengthening the body and overall well-being.

India Herbs' Kaya Chikitsa doctors combine a proprietary herbal formula based on centuries old wisdom with advice on diet, exercise, mental training, and relaxation to help individuals attain their peak cardiovascular health and overcome health concerns through safe, natural means.

Results: The precise combination of ingredients in Cardiofy along with a mind-body focus precisely addresses your cardiovascular concerns!

Cardiofy

Ayurtox for Body Detoxification

2008-01-01T13:35:00.000-08:00

Ayurtox - Body Detoxification

You are a toxic cesspool of the lifetime accumulation of chemicals from air, food, and water. These accumulated toxins contribute to nearly every disease, sickness, and malfunction of the body.

Your body is like a city where the sanitation units are on strike. As the garbage bags pile up, the city slows down and if the situation were to continue to crisis proportions, unsanitary conditions would cause widespread illness, disease, and death amongst the population. The sanitation officers in our body that find and eliminate toxins comprise our excretory system (kidneys, intestines, lungs, skin, and liver). When they are severely overworked, they go on strike. When this occurs, waste and toxins buildup in your body, channeling of nutrients becomes inefficient, the situation compounds itself, and various disease states become inevitable.

The largest internal organ in the body is the liver. It performs many functions in addition to body detoxification. The liver works by both filtering toxins directly and by altering toxins so that they can be removed at other stages of detoxification. The liver filters toxins from about 1 liter of blood every minute. Some of these toxins are endotoxins (produced in the body) and exotoxins (from outside the body). These wastes are eliminated the kidneys or the colon. Other toxins, composed of compounds that are difficult for the liver to filter, must be broken down with enzymes so that they can be removed. A properly functioning liver is vital to your health.

Serious toxin overload can easily occur. Toxins released from the liver must leave the body through the colon. If a person is constipated, the toxins are not eliminated and are instead reabsorbed back into the liver. This occurs while new exotoxins are continually introduced into the body through medication, pesticides, cigarette smoke, pollution, impurities in food, bacteria, and other problematic substances in the environment; and new endotoxins are created in the body due to stress and lack of exercise. The road to disease is soon paved with an improperly functioning liver, gummed up excretory system, and a slew of toxins that bind to enzymes at the cellular level and neutralize them, so that cells no longer function optimally.

Western medicine relies on aggressive prescription drugs and surgery to deal with many problems related to body toxicity. Unfortunately, these methods often result in unwanted and even dangerous side effects. Natural pills provide only fleeting, inconsistent results.

Ayurveda, the science of life, prevention and longevity, is the oldest and most holistic and comprehensive medical system available. Its fundamentals can be found in Hindu scriptures called the Vedas - the ancient Indian books of wisdom written over 5,000 years ago. Ayurveda uses the inherent principles of nature to help maintain health in a person by keeping the individual's body, mind, and spirit in perfect equilibrium with nature.

India Herbs has a seasoned group of Ayurvedic doctors specialized in Vajikarana. Vajikarana is "a process or a drug, which make a man as healthy as a ox and able to undergo many hours of physical rigors." Vajikarana prescribes the therapeutic use of various herbal and tonic preparations for enhancing the capabilities and vigor of the your body's detoxification system while strengthening the body and overall well-being.

India Herbs' Vajikarana scientists combine a proprietary herbal formula based on centuries old wisdom with advice on diet, exercise, mental training, and relaxation to help men and women reach their peak and overcome their toxicity concerns through safe, natural means.

Results: The precise combination of ingredients in Ayurtox along with a mind-body focus precisely addresses your natural detoxification needs!

Ayurtox

Ayurstate for Prostate Care

2008-01-01T13:28:00.000-08:00

Ayurstate - Prostate Care

The prostate is an exocrine gland of the male mammalian reproductive system. Its main function is to store and secrete a clear fluid that constitutes up to one-third of the volume of semen. A healthy human prostate is slightly larger than a walnut. It surrounds the urethra just below the urinary bladder and can be felt during a rectal exam. The male urethra has two functions: to carry urine from the bladder during urination and to carry semen during ejaculation. The prostate also contains some smooth muscle that helps to expel semen during ejaculation. In order to function effectively, the prostate needs androgen - male hormones which are responsible for male sex characteristics. The main male hormone is testosterone, which is produced mainly by the testicles. Some male hormones are produced in small amounts by the adrenal glands. The prostate gland has four distinct glandular regions, two of which arise from different segments of the prostatic urethra:

1. The Peripheral Zone (PZ) - The sub-capsular portion of the posterior aspect of the prostate gland which surrounds the distal urethra and comprises up to 70% of the normal prostate gland in young men. It is from this portion of the gland that more than 70% of prostatic cancers originate.

2. The Central Zone (CZ) - This zone constitutes approximately 25% of the normal prostate gland and surrounds the ejaculatory ducts. Central zone tumors account for more than 25% of all prostate cancers.

3. The Transition Zone (TZ) - This zone is responsible for 5% of the prostate volume and very rarely is associated with carcinoma. The transition zone surrounds the proximal urethra and is the region of the prostate gland which grows throughout. It is involved in benign prostatic enlargement.

4. The Anterior Fibro-muscular zone - This zone accounts for approximately 5% of the prostatic weight, is usually devoid of glandular components, and composed only, as its name suggests, of muscle and fibrous tissue.

The prostate gland is a source of many health problems in men, the most common being benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostate cancer. Older men often have corpora amylacea which are dense accumulations of calcified proteinaceous material, in the ducts of their prostates. The corpora amylacea may obstruct the lumens of the prostatic ducts. As men age, the prostate gland slowly grows enlarges. As the prostate gets bigger, it may press on the urethra and cause the flow of urine to be slower and less forceful. The American Urological Association assesses that by age 60, more than half of American men will have BPH. By age 85, about 90 percent of men have BPH, but only 30 percent of men will be bothered by their symptoms.

The prostate produces powerful immunosuppressive compounds that enhance fertilization when a female is inseminated but those same proteins, polyamines and prostaglandins, can instigate prostate cancer by preventing an effective intraprostatic immune response. The American Cancer Society (ACS) estimates that by the end of 2006 about 234,460 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed in the United States. About 1 in every 6 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime. Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in American men. The American Cancer Society estimates that 27,350 men in the United States will die of prostate cancer in 2006. Prostate cancer accounts for about 10% of cancer-related deaths in men. 91% of all prostate cancers are found in the local (confined to the prostate) and regional stages (spread from the prostate to nearby areas).

Western medicine relies on aggressive prescription drugs and surgery to deal with many problems related to prostate and reproductive irregularities in the male body. Unfortunately, these methods often result in unwanted and even dangerous side effects. And natural pills provide fleeting, inconsistent results.

Ayurveda, the science of life, prevention, and longevity, is the oldest and most holistic and comprehensive medical system available. Its fundamentals can be found in Hindu scriptures called the Vedas - the ancient Indian books of wisdom written over 5,000 years ago. Ayurveda uses the inherent principles of nature to help maintain health in a person by keeping the individual's body, mind, and spirit in perfect equilibrium with nature.

India Herbs has a seasoned group of Ayurvedic doctors specialized in Vajikarana, one of the eight major specialties of Ayurveda. Vajikarana is "a process or a drug, which make a man as healthy as a ox and able to undergo many hours of physical rigors." Vajikarana prescribes the therapeutic use of various herbal and tonic preparations for enhancing the capabilities and vigor of the your reproductive and urogenital system while strengthening the body and overall well-being.

India Herbs' Vajikarana scientists combine a proprietary herbal formula based on centuries old wisdom with advice on diet, exercise, mental training, and relaxation to help men overcome their prostate health concerns and reach their peak through safe, natural means.

Results: The precise combination of ingredients in Ayurstate along with a mind-body focus precisely addresses your sexual and urogenital concerns!

Ayurstate

AyurGold for Healthy Blood

2008-01-01T13:24:00.000-08:00

AyurGold - Healthy Blood

Blood chemistry is regulated by negative feedback in order to keep the body in homeostasis (optimal equilibrium). The levels of glucose in the blood are monitored by the cells in the pancreas. If the blood glucose level falls to dangerous levels (caused by very heavy exercise or lack of food for extended periods), some pancreas cells release glucagon, a hormone that acts on liver cells to increase blood glucose levels. Stored glycogen is converted into glucose by a process called glycogenolysis. The glucose is then released into the bloodstream, increasing blood sugar levels.

Blood sugar levels are also increased by "stress" hormones such as adrenalin, steroids, infections, trauma, and the ingestion of food. When levels of blood sugar rise, whether as a result of glycogen conversion, or from the digestion of a meal, a different hormone is released from beta cells found in the Islets of Langerhans in the pancreas. This hormone, insulin, causes the liver to convert more glucose into glycogen. This process is called glycogenesis and it forces about two-thirds of body cells (primarily muscle and fat tissue cells) to take up glucose from the blood, thereby decreasing blood sugar levels.

A breakdown in body homeostasis can lead to dangerously high or low blood sugar levels. This can become a chronic condition leading to the onset of diabetes.

According to the World Health Organization, in 1985, an estimated 30 million people worldwide had diabetes. By 1995, this number shot up to 135 million. The latest WHO estimate for the number of people with diabetes worldwide is 177 million. This will increase to at least 300 million by 2025. The number of deaths attributed to diabetes is likely to be around 4 million. These projections take into account the fact that there will be more people in the world due to population growth and that there will be more elderly people due to population aging. They also account for urbanization - the fact that people are moving from rural areas to cities, particularly in developing countries. This migration affects the number of people who are likely to have diabetes, because people living in cities of developing countries tend to be less physically active and have higher levels of obesity than people in rural areas. In fact, current trends in obesity suggest that these projections are conservative and that the increase in the prevalence of diabetes may be even greater. In developing countries, people in the middle and most productive years of their lives are particularly affected by diabetes. In these countries, three-quarters of all people with diabetes are under 65 years old and 25% of all adults with diabetes are younger than 44. In developed countries, more than half of all people with diabetes are older than 65, and only 8% of adults with diabetes are younger than 44.

Because of its chronic nature, the severity of its complications, and the means required to control it, diabetes is a costly disease, not only for the affected individuals and the families involved, but also for the health authorities. Studies in India estimate that, for a low-income Indian family, as much as 25% of family income may be devoted to diabetes care. For families in the USA, the corresponding figure is 10%. The total healthcare cost of a person with diabetes in the USA is between two and three times those for people without the condition. A recent analysis of healthcare expenditure in the Western Pacific region has shown that 16% of hospital expenditure was spent on people afflicted with diabetes. In the Republic of the Marshall Islands, this figure was 25%. The cost of diabetes affects everyone, everywhere, but they are not only a financial problem. Intangible costs (pain, anxiety, inconvenience, and generally lower quality of life) also have great impact on the lives of patients and their families and are the most difficult to quantify. Direct costs to individuals and their families include medical care, drugs, insulin, and other supplies. Patients may also have to bear other personal costs, such as increased payments for health and life insurance. Recent treatment cost estimates for Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico were US $3.9 billion, US $0.8 billion and US $2.0 billion, respectively. Each of these is an annual figure and is rising as prevalence of diabetes increases. For most countries, the largest portion of diabetes expenditure is cost of hospital admissions for the treatment of long-term complications, such as heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, and foot problems.

Western medicine relies on aggressive prescription drugs and surgery to deal with many problems related to irregular blood chemistry in the body. Unfortunately, these methods often result in unwanted and even dangerous side effects. And natural pills provide only fleeting, inconsistent results.

Ayurveda, the science of life, prevention and longevity, is the oldest and most holistic and comprehensive medical system available. Its fundamentals can be found in Hindu scriptures called the Vedas - the ancient Indian books of wisdom written over 5,000 years ago. Ayurveda applies the inherent principles of nature to help maintain optimum health in a person by keeping the individual's body, mind, and spirit in perfect equilibrium with nature.

India Herbs has a seasoned group of Ayurvedic doctors specialized in Vajikarana, one of the eight major specialties of Ayurveda. Vajikarana prescribes the therapeutic use of various herbal and tonic preparations to address the root cause of irregular blood chemistry, while strengthening your body and overall well-being.

India Herbs' Vajikarana scientists combine a proprietary herbal formula based on centuries old wisdom with advice on diet, exercise, mental training, and relaxation to help men and women overcome their health concerns through safe and natural means.

Results: The precise combination of ingredients in AyurGold along with a mind-body focus precisely addresses your blood chemistry concerns!

AyurGold

AyurDog for Dog Health Care

2008-01-01T13:20:00.000-08:00

AyurDog - Dog Health Care

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association's (AVMA) U.S. Pet Ownership & Demographics Sourcebook, 58.3% of all American households have at least one pet. There are more than 60 million pet dogs in America and the average pet dog visits its veterinarian almost twice as many times as the average dog. Pet owners are now spending more than ever before on their companions with four legs (approximately US $19 billion annually in 2006 nearly doubled from US $11.1 billion in 1996).

In the past, dietary recommendations for dogs were largely drawn from nutritional management of diseases common to the aging process. Research, however, has shown that special nutrition can proactively prevent health problems common in dogs, such as the following:

* Obesity
* Loss of Muscle Mass
* Inappropriate Elimination Behavior
* Changes in Interactions
* Changes in Activity Patterns
* Unexplained Weight Loss or Gain
* Changes in Food and Water Consumption
* Changes in Grooming
* Signs of Stress
* Bad Breath or Odor

Despite continued advances in canine healthcare, behavior problems are still the most common reason for dog euthanasia. While diseases pose a threat to your dog, misunderstanding its behavior can be just as dangerous. Research shows negative behavior (like destroying furniture and unexplained aggression) is the primary reason that dogs are euthanized. Often these behaviors are associated with curable illnesses.

Patches of hair loss or a greasy or matted appearance can signal underlying diseases. A decrease in grooming behavior is associated with fear, anxiety, obesity, or illnesses. An increase in grooming may be a sign of a skin problem. Your dog can be stressed despite having an "easy" life because the social organization of dogs is different from that of people. Changes in the family, such as adding a new pet, should be done gradually. A stressed dog may spend more time awake and scanning its environment, withdraw from society, and exhibit signs of depression like fluctuating appetite.

Anemia is commonly associated with specific diseases in dogs like chronic renal failure. A hormone called erythropoietin (EPO) is produced by the kidneys and stimulates the bone marrow to produce new red blood cells to replace old and worn ones in circulation. In diseases such as chronic renal failure, EPO levels may be decreased and anemia may develop as a result. Typical signs associated with anemia are decreased activity and poor appetite.

Parasites exist internally and externally in dogs. Intestinal parasitism exists in all ages of dogs with the greatest frequency in puppies. Types and incidence of parasitism varies with geographic regions. Additionally, age and immune status are significant factors influencing gastrointestinal (GI) parasitism. Most parasites are diagnosed by a microscopic fecal examination using various chemicals to help concentrate the population of parasite eggs. Some parasites are visible to the naked eye although they are not consistently shed into the feces.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), the most common cause of chronic vomiting and diarrhea in dogs, is a disease in which diet may have an important role. The intestinal wall becomes thickened by inflammatory cells, and the microscopic and gross surface folds of the intestinal lining are flattened, leading to a great loss of surface area. As the surface area is reduced, the ability of the dog to digest and absorb nutrients is reduced, leading to weight loss in the face of normal or increased appetite. The stools often become looser and in some cases, more odorous.

Western medicine relies on aggressive prescription drugs and surgery to deal with many problems related to canine health. Unfortunately, these methods often result in unwanted and even dangerous side effects.

Ayurveda, the science of life, prevention and longevity, is the oldest and most holistic and comprehensive medical system available. Its fundamentals can be found in Hindu scriptures called the Vedas - the ancient Indian books of wisdom written over 5,000 years ago. Ayurveda uses the inherent principles of nature to help maintain good health in dogs by keeping the canine body, mind, and spirit in perfect equilibrium with nature.

India Herbs has a seasoned group of Ayurvedic doctors specialized in Vajikarana, one of the eight major specialties of Ayurveda. Vajikarana prescribes the therapeutic use of various herbal and tonic preparations geared towards rejuvenating your dog.

India Herbs' Vajikarana scientists combine a proprietary herbal formula based on centuries old wisdom with advice on diet and exercise to help your dog attain optimal health, appearance, and longevity through safe and natural means.

Results: The precise combination of ingredients in AyurDog along with a mind-body focus precisely addresses your dog's health concerns!

AyurDog

AyurCat for Cat Health Care

2008-01-01T13:14:00.000-08:00

AyurCat - Cat Health care

"Cats are masters at hiding illness, so it may not always be obvious if they are sick," says Ilona Rodan, DVM, Diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners, certified in Feline Practice and Co-Chair of the American Association of Feline Practitioners. Did you know your cat could be sick and you may not know it until it's too late? Cats are naturally designed to conceal their weaknesses from predators. This built-in protection mechanism may help in the wild, but it is a potential detriment for a domestic pet with a disease or condition that could be treated.

According to a report by the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP), there are approximately 90 million domestic cats in the United States. Cats outnumber dogs by 20%. Cats visit the veterinarian half as often as dogs and veterinarians annually lose approximately 15% of their client base due to unresolved feline health issues. According to one survey, while 46.1% of cat owners consider their cats to be family members, 34.7% of all cat-owning households do not visit the veterinarian.

Some symptoms of failing feline health are:

Inappropriate Elimination Behavior
Changes in Interactions
Changes in Activity Patterns
Changes in Sleeping Habits
Unexplained Weight Loss or Gain
Changes in Food and Water Consumption
Changes in Grooming
Signs of Stress
Changes in Vocalization
Bad Breath or Odor

Despite continued advances in feline healthcare, behavior problems are still the most common reason for cat euthanasia. While diseases pose a threat to your cat, misunderstanding its behavior can be just as dangerous. Research shows negative behavior (like destroying furniture and urinating outside the litter box ) is the primary reason that cats are euthanized. Often these behaviors are associated with curable illnesses.

Patches of hair loss or a greasy or matted appearance can signal underlying diseases. A decrease in grooming behavior is associated with fear, anxiety, obesity, or illnesses. An increase in grooming may be a sign of a skin problem. Your cat can be stressed despite having an "easy" life because the social organization of cats is different from that of people and dogs. Changes in the family, such as adding a new pet, should be done gradually. A stressed cat may spend more time awake and scanning its environment, withdraw from society, and exhibit signs of depression like fluctuating appetite.

Anemia is commonly associated with specific diseases in cats like chronic renal failure. A hormone called erythropoietin (EPO) is produced by the kidneys and stimulates the bone marrow to produce new red blood cells to replace old and worn ones in circulation. In diseases such as chronic renal failure, EPO levels may be decreased and anemia may develop as a result. Typical signs associated with anemia are decreased activity and poor appetite.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), the most common cause of chronic vomiting and diarrhea in cats, is a disease in which diet may have an important role. The intestinal wall becomes thickened by inflammatory cells, and the microscopic and gross surface folds of the intestinal lining are flattened, leading to a great loss of surface area. As the surface area is reduced, the ability of the cat to digest and absorb nutrients is reduced, leading to weight loss in the face of normal or increased appetite. The stools often become looser and in some cases, more odorous. As cats are obligate carnivores, the carnivorous diet provides cats with a ready dietary source of certain nutrients not supplied by an omnivorous or vegetarian diet, thus negating the need to synthesize these nutrients. As most household cats no longer hunt, and without the evolutionary pressure to maintain the relevant metabolic pathways, cats have lost their ability to synthesize the micronutrients which are amply present in the tissues of their traditional prey.

Obesity has also become a serious health concern for cats bringing with it increased risks of diabetes mellitus, joint disease, and other problems. Cats with hyperthyroidism or diabetes mellitus can lose weight despite good appetites.

Western medicine relies on aggressive prescription drugs and surgery to deal with many problems related to feline health. Unfortunately, these methods often result in unwanted and even dangerous side effects.

Ayurveda, the science of life, prevention and longevity, is the oldest and most holistic and comprehensive medical system available. Its fundamentals can be found in Hindu scriptures called the Vedas - the ancient Indian books of wisdom written over 5,000 years ago. Ayurveda uses the inherent principles of nature to help maintain good health in cats by keeping the feline body, mind, and spirit in perfect equilibrium with nature.

India Herbs has a seasoned group of Ayurvedic doctors specialized in Vajikarana, one of the eight major specialties of Ayurveda. Vajikarana prescribes the therapeutic use of various herbal and tonic preparations geared towards rejuvenating your cat.

India Herbs' Vajikarana scientists combine a proprietary herbal formula based on centuries old wisdom with advice on diet and exercise to help your cat attain optimal health, appearance, and longevity through safe and natural means.

Results: The precise combination of ingredients in AyurCat along with a mind-body focus precisely addresses your cat's health concerns!

AyurCat

Kama Rani for Female Arousal

2008-01-01T13:08:00.000-08:00

Kama Rani - Female Arousal

Studies suggest that almost half of women in the United States suffer from one or more of four types of sexual dysfunction: low libido (hypoactive sexual desire), sexual arousal disorder, orgasmic disorder, and sexual pain disorder. Low libido is the most prevalent. According to the Female Sexual Medicine Center at UCLA Medical Center, low sex drive may stem from emotional issues, relationship problems, inability to orgasm, decreased vaginal and clitoral sensitivity, lack of lubrication, hormonal imbalance, stress, lack of sleep, and many other reasons.

The consequences of not treating this problem can be severe. Ongoing friction in relationships due to sexual problems can lead to separation, unfaithfulness, and prolonged emotional duress for both partners. Many women fear sexual intercourse so much that they avoid male companionship and possible relationships. As the problem becomes ingrained in the psyche, possibilities for love and satisfying sex life are lost and replaced by loneliness, low self-esteem, and depression.

Thus far, Western medicine has not offered successful treatments for female sexual dysfunction. The psychological symptoms are being treated with aggressive prescription drugs. Unfortunately, this does not solve the problem and often results in unwanted and even dangerous side effects.

India Herbs has a seasoned group of Ayurvedic doctors specialized in Vajikarana, one of the eight major specialties of Ayurveda. Vajikarana is "a process or a drug, which make a woman sexually as strong as a horse and able to copulate for long and frequently with many husbands and partners." Vajikarana prescribes the therapeutic use of various aphrodisiacs and tonic preparations for enhancing the reproductive capabilities and vigor of women while strengthening the body and overall well-being.

India Herbs' Vajikarana doctors combine a proprietary herbal formula based on centuries old wisdom with advice on diet, exercise, mental training, and relaxation to help women reach their peak and overcome sexual concerns through safe, natural means.

Results: The precise combination of ingredients in Kama Rani along with a mind-body focus precisely addresses the sexual concerns of women!

Kama Rani

Kama Yogi - eBook to Enjoy Extraordinary Sex

2008-01-01T12:59:00.000-08:00

Kama Yogi - eBook to Enjoy Extraordinary Sex

Sexual dysfunction may take many forms. The most common problems are Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (low sex drive) and Penile Erectile Dysfunction (difficulties in achieving and maintaining an erection). According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the key causes of sexual dysfunction is due to rapid urbanization, increased consumption of energy-dense foods high in saturated fats and sugars and depression. When a man finds himself unable to get and maintain a sufficient erection due to physical causes, it can cause depression and anxiety. By the same token, when a man finds he suffers ED only in certain circumstances, physiological factors may be the source of the problem.

While psychological factors can play a big role in sexual problems, studies have suggested that 20 - 50% of men with erectile dysfunction have some organic basis for their problem. Sexual dysfunction may range from mild (low sex drive, weak erections, lack of energy, slow and weak ejaculation) to severe (total inability to achieve erection and complete lack of sexual desire). In many cases, sexual dysfunction or sluggish sexual responses may be caused by poor systemic health, stress, the build up of toxins and unhealthy lifestyles.

In a way, sexual health can be seen as a sort of ‘barometer’ of overall systemic and psychological health. Men who are healthy, fit and confident about themselves and about life usually report a vigorous and satisfying sex life, no matter what their age.

Practitioners of Ayurveda have many centuries of knowledge regarding the use of herbal medicines and holistic techniques to treat a wide variety of medical problems and to promote optimum health and functioning. In this respect, certain Yoga techniques practices have been identified as having the ability to improve sexual functioning and overall systemic health.

Traditionally, Yoga is the divine science, a gift of God to his creation. When man has reached a certain stage of evolution, Yoga is "revealed" to a few great saints who are empowered to transmit it to qualified pupils and through them to successive generations. The earliest archaeological evidence for the practice of yoga is afforded by drawings of men in the posture of yogic meditation excavated in the Indus valley - dating from at least 3000 BC! The earliest literary evidence is found in references to the practice of Yoga in the Vedas, the oldest books in the world, parts of which were composed in Northern India not later the 2500 BC; it is widely believed by scholars that Yoga existed and was handed down orally for thousands of years before that.

India Herbs has a seasoned group of Ayurvedic doctors specialized in Vajikarana, one of the eight major specialties of Ayurveda (the ancient science dealing with medicine). Vajikarana is "a process or a drug, which make a man sexually as strong as a horse and able to copulate for long and frequently with many wives and partners. "

India Herbs' Vajikarana scientists have integrated a series of yogic techniques and practices based on millennia old wisdom to reignite inert bodily functions caused by stress and energy deprivation. The KAMA YOGI eBook contains simple and effective methods, coupled with adherence to simple advice on diet, exercise, mental training, and relaxation that will treat the whole person - the mind , body and spirit in order to create the balance that will address the causes of low libido and male sexual dysfunction as well as ensuring optimum overall health through safe and natural means.

Results: The KAMAYOGI eBook is a clear and step-by-step practical guide with photos to help you to increase your psycho-sexual power and improve your sex life. YOGA's healing power is very strong - so powerful that men who are impotent can regain their potency as they realized their overall health potential.

Kama Yogi

Kama Raja for Male Virility

2008-01-01T12:46:00.000-08:00

Kama Raja - Male Virility

In order for erection to occur, the nerves of the penis must be functioning properly, blood circulation to the penis must be adequate, and there must be stimulus from the brain. If there is something interfering with any or all of these conditions, a full erection is not possible. Common causes for erectile dysfunction include diseases that affect blood flow and nerves, psychological factors such as stress, depression, and performance anxiety, and injury to the penis.

According to the National Institutes of Health, a majority of men at some point in their life experience occasional failure to achieve erection which can occur for a variety of reasons such as drinking too much alcohol or from being extremely tired. Failure to achieve erection less than 20% of the time is not unusual and medical treatment is rarely needed. But the causes for this minor problem might lead to a permanent condition where failure to achieve erection occurs more than 50% of the time. Once this stage of erectile dysfunction is reached, medical treatment is required to reverse the situation. Approximately 5 percent of 40-year-old men and between 15 and 25 percent of 65-year-old men experience erectile dysfunction on a long-term basis.

Western medicine relies on aggressive prescription drugs and surgery to deal with many problems related to sexual dysfunction. Unfortunately, these methods often result in unwanted and even dangerous side effects. Non-medical methods of penis enhancement through exercise using weights, straps, rings, and pumps have proven destructive to muscle tissue. And natural pills provide fleeting, inconsistent results.

India Herbs has a seasoned group of Ayurvedic doctors specialized in Vajikarana, one of the eight major specialties of Ayurveda. Vajikarana is "a process or a drug, which make a man sexually as strong as a horse and able to copulate for long and frequently with many wives and partners." Vajikarana prescribes the therapeutic use of various aphrodisiacs and tonic preparations for enhancing the reproductive capabilities and vigor of men while strengthening the body and overall well-being.

India Herbs' Vajikarana doctors combine a proprietary herbal formula based on centuries old wisdom with advice on diet, exercise, mental training, and relaxation to help men reach their peak and overcome sexual concerns through safe, natural means.

Results: The precise combination of ingredients in Kama Raja along with a mind-body focus precisely addresses the sexual concerns of men!

Kama Raja

Global Health Care Challenge

2008-01-01T10:09:00.000-08:00

Abstract
Globally, there has been an unparalleled growth in the plant-derived medicinally useful formulations, drugs and health-care products, its market covering more than 60% products derived from plant origin. India exhibits remarkable outlook in modern medicines that are based on natural products besides traditional system of Indian medicines. Almost, 70% modern medicines in India are derived from natural products. Medicinal plants play a central role not only as traditional medicines but also as trade commodities, meeting the demand of distant markets. Ironically, India has a very small share (1.6%) of this ever-growing global market. To compete with the growing market, there is urgency to expeditiously utilize and scientifically validate more medicinally useful plants while conserving these species, which seems a difficult task ahead. This paper begins with an overview of the value of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants and discusses its usefulness in the traditional medicines. Then it briefly assesses the potential of medicinally useful plants and prospects of modern medicines and health care products derived from plant origin and based on the knowledge of alternative system of medicine in India. It thereafter concisely touches upon India’s varied biodiversity, comparative Research and Development strength, strong pharmaceutical manufacturing base and traditional wisdom in medicines to improve its market potential. In the conclusion, there are major recommendations to help India evolve as a major drugs and herbal based health care products leader in the world market.

Herbal supplements
Herbal supplements are a type of dietary supplement that contain herbs, either singly or in mixtures. An herb (also called a botanical) is a plant or plant part used for its scent, flavor, and/or therapeutic properties. A dietary supplement is a product taken by mouth that contains a "dietary ingredient" intended to supplement the diet. The "dietary ingredients" in these products may include: vitamins, minerals, herbs or other botanicals, amino acids, and substances such as enzymes, organ tissues, glandulars, and metabolites. Dietary supplements can also be extracts or concentrates, and may be found in many forms such as tablets, capsules, softgels, gelcaps, liquids, or powders. They can also be in other forms, such as a bar, but if they are, information on their label must not represent the product as a conventional food or a sole item of a meal or diet. Whatever their form may be, DSHEA places dietary supplements in a special category under the general umbrella of "foods," not drugs, and requires that every supplement be labeled a dietary supplement.

Herbal supplements are products made from plants for use in the treatment and management of certain diseases and medical conditions.
Herbal supplements commonly address specific medical concerns, such as the common cold, menopause, or memory loss. All plants, including herbs, naturally synthesize many (sometimes hundreds) of complex chemical compounds as part of their metabolic activities. Many of these compounds are not directly related to the plant's energy production but are toxins synthesized by the plant in order to ward off other plants, herbivores, and plant parasites. Thus, all plant materials contain large numbers of chemical compounds, some of which may exert a desired physiological effect and others which may exert no effect whatever or any number of undesirable effects when consumed by humans. In fact, many herbs contain chemical compounds that act oppositely from the principal active ingredient.
For most herbs, the specific ingredient that causes a therapeutic effect is not known. Whole herbs contain many ingredients, and it is likely that they work together to produce the desired medicinal effect. Many factors affect how effective an herb will be. Many herbs have several active compounds that interact with one another to produce a therapeutic effect. An herbal supplement may contain all of the compounds found in a plant, or just one or two of the isolated compounds that have been successfully extracted. Many plants contain essential oils that are distilled, packaged, and sold unregulated to the public for medicinal purposes. Essential oils include any of a class of volatile oils composed of a mixture of complex hydrocarbons (often terpenes, alkaloids, and other large molecular weight compounds) extracted from a plant.

Essential oils give the plant its characteristic aroma and will evaporate quickly from the skin or another surface. Herbal supplements come in all forms. They may be taken internally as pills or powders, dissolved into tinctures or syrups, or brewed in teas and decoctions. Salves, ointments, shampoos, or poultices may be applied to the skin, scalp, or mucous membranes. For example, fresh ginger root is often found in the produce section of food stores; dried ginger root is sold packaged in tea bags, capsules, or tablets; and liquid preparations made from ginger root are also sold. A particular group of chemicals or a single chemical may be isolated from a botanical and sold as a dietary supplement, usually in tablet or capsule form. An example is phytoestrogens from soy products. A tea, also known as an infusion, is made by adding boiling water to fresh or dried botanicals and steeping them. The tea may be drunk either hot or cold. Some roots, bark, and berries require more forceful treatment to extract their desired ingredients. They are simmered in boiling water for longer periods than teas, making a decoction, which also may be drunk hot or cold. A tincture is made by soaking a botanical in a solution of alcohol and water. Tinctures are sold as liquids and are used for concentrating and preserving a botanical. They are made in different strengths that are expressed as botanical-to-extract ratios (i.e., ratios of the weight of the dried botanical to the volume or weight of the finished product). An extract is made by soaking the botanical in a liquid that removes specific types of chemicals. The liquid can be used as is or evaporated to make a dry extract for use in capsules or tablets.

Safety and regulation of herbal supplements
A common misconception about herbalism and the use of 'natural' products in general, is that 'natural' equals safe. Nature however is not benign and many plants have chemical defence mechanisms against predators that can have adverse effects on humans. The action of botanicals ranges from mild to powerful (potent). A botanical with mild action may have subtle effects. Some mild botanicals may have to be taken for weeks or months before their full effects are achieved. The dose and form of a
botanical preparation also play important roles in its safety. Teas, tinctures, and extracts have different strengths. The same amount of a botanical may be contained in a cup of tea, a few teaspoons of tincture, or an even smaller quantity of an extract. Also, different preparations vary in the relative amounts and concentrations of chemical removed from the whole botanical. The safety of herbal products may be related to the mixtures of active chemicals that they contain; their interactions with other herbs and drugs, contaminants, or adulterants; or their inherent toxicity. Active ingredients in herbs and dietary supplements can cause unexpected reactions when used with other herbs or medications. Effects on the distribution, metabolism, or excretion of drugs may be pronounced and may lead to drug toxicity. Contaminants and adulterants of herbal products can be pharmacologically active and responsible for unexpected toxicity. Because of the variability in herbal product ingredients, the actual dose of active ingredients being consumed is often variable, unpredictable, or simply unknown. When compared with adults, children may be particularly susceptible to the effects of such dosage variations by virtue of their smaller size and different capacity for detoxifying chemicals.

In the United States, FDA has limited control over products labeled a "dietary supplement." In 1994, Congress passed the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA). The DSHEA states that manufacturers don't have to prove the safety or efficacy of a product before they put it on the market. Under the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA), the dietary supplement manufacturer is responsible for ensuring that a dietary supplement is safe before it is marketed. FDA is responsible for taking action against any unsafe dietary supplement product after it reaches the market. Generally, manufacturers do not need to register their products with FDA nor get FDA approval before producing or selling dietary supplements. Manufacturers must make sure that product label information is truthful and not misleading. Currently, there are no FDA regulations that are specific to dietary supplements that establish a minimum standard of practice for manufacturing dietary supplements. However, FDA intends to issue regulations on good manufacturing practices that will focus on practices that ensure the identity, purity, quality, strength and composition of dietary supplements. In some countries in Europe, however, herbs are classified as drugs and are regulated. The German Commission E, an expert medical panel, actively researches their safety and effectiveness.

FDA regulations require that certain information appear on dietary supplement labels. Information that must be on a dietary supplement label includes: a descriptive name of the product stating that it is a "supplement;" the name and place of business of the manufacturer, packer, or distributor; a complete list of ingredients; and the net contents of the product. In addition, each dietary supplement (except for some small volume products or those produced by eligible small businesses) must have nutrition labeling in the form of a "Supplement Facts" panel. This label must identify each dietary ingredient contained in the product.

Safety advices from NCCAM, National Institutes of Health

It's important to know that just because an herbal supplement is labeled "natural" does not mean it is safe or without any harmful effects. For example, the herbs kava and comfrey have been linked to serious liver damage.

Herbal supplements can act in the same way as drugs. Therefore, they can cause medical problems if not used correctly or if taken in large amounts. In some cases, people have experienced negative effects even though they followed the instructions on a supplement label.

Women who are pregnant or nursing should be especially cautious about using herbal supplements, since these products can act like drugs. This caution also applies to treating children with herbal supplements.

It is important to consult your health care provider before using an herbal supplement, especially if you are taking any medications (whether prescription or over-the-counter). Some herbal supplements are known to interact with medications in ways that cause health problems. Even if your provider does not know about a particular supplement, he can access the latest medical guidance on its uses, risks, and interactions.

If you use herbal supplements, it is best to do so under the guidance of a medical professional who has been properly trained in herbal medicine. This is especially important for herbs that are part of an alternative medical system, such as the traditional medicines of China, Japan, or India.

In the United States, herbal and other dietary supplements are regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as foods. This means that they do not have to meet the same standards as drugs and over-the-counter medications for proof of safety, effectiveness, and what the FDA calls Good Manufacturing Practices.

The active ingredient(s) in many herbs and herbal supplements are not known. There may be dozens, even hundreds, of such compounds in an herbal supplement. Scientists are currently working to identify these ingredients and analyze products, using sophisticated technology. Identifying the active ingredients in herbs and understanding how herbs affect the body are important research areas for the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

Published analyses of herbal supplements have found differences between what's listed on the label and what's in the bottle. This means that you may be taking less--or more--of the supplement than what the label indicates. Also, the word "standardized" on a product label is no guarantee of higher product quality, since in the United States there is no legal definition of "standardized" (or "certified" or "verified") for supplements.

Some herbal supplements have been found to be contaminated with metals, unlabeled prescription drugs, microorganisms, or other substances.

There has been an increase in the number of Web sites that sell and promote herbal supplements on the Internet. The Federal Government has taken legal action against a number of company sites because they have been shown to contain incorrect statements and to be deceptive to consumers. It is important to know how to evaluate the claims that are made for supplements.