March 26th WHMonth: MEN'S HEALTH ISSUES - HEALTHY HEART / HI BLOOD PRESSURE

TO CELEBRATE WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH (WHM), during the month of March ~ in addition to my weekly postings ~ I will be making DAILY postings of time tested herbal and medicinal foods used from a Medicine Woman's bag, which holds many, many herbs, generating many, many formulas, as one herb used for a cold (mullein), when combined with totally different herbs, can be used as an antispasmodic for inflammation or as an expectorant to relieve asthma or general lung congestion.

This last week of March I will dedicate to OUR MEN.  Women's History Month would not be complete without addressing some health and healing issues for our men. During the 4+ years that I've been writing my weekly column on herbs and healing alternatives, most of my articles have been for men and women alike, but most specific articles are usually directed towards women's issues.  Yes, we have more health concerns then men, but this last week will focus on male issues - though ironically, out of the top ten causes of male deaths, only one is male organ specific: prostate cancer.  The other nine are suffered by women as well, but happen less frequently to women than men. 

My beloved Fathers, Brothers and Uncles, I am happy that we have begun to make better health and lifestyle choices. We will be looking at diet, herbs and lifestyle alternatives to address the top five killers of men: today cardiac herbs for the heart and blood pressure.  I am currently creating a “Health Detox and Regeneration Regimen” of herbs and whole-food supplements that will drastically raise your energy level and have a marked improvement on your bodies' ability eliminate and manage disease.

Although heart disease is the leading killer of both men and women, almost twice as many males die of cardiovascular conditions than women.  According to the CDC, one in four men have some form of heart disease.  Herbs for the lungs/heart/hypertension include comfrey root, horehound, elecampane, ginger, hawthorn berries, cayenne, black cohosh, skullcap, senega root, lily of the valley, tien chi, motherwort, rehmania, garlic, sanicle, sassafras.

Slippery Elm Bark - unmatched in its nutritive properties
especially for the Elderly!!!

For debilitating lung congestion, bronchitis, or chronic cough take 2-3 cups daily of either of these hot herbal tea formulas:

1. Combine 2pts slippery elm bark, 1pt each horehound, thyme, red clover, yerba santa, lobelia, 1/8 pt cayenne (severe lung problems).

2. Combine equal parts pleurisy root, elecampane root, mullein, yerba santa(chronic lung)

3. Combine yerba santa, wild cherry bark, licorice root and elecampane.

4. Combine 2pts motherwort herb, 1pt hawthorn berries, ½ pt valerian (good heart tonic).

People who consume soft drinks such as Coke have a 48% increase in heart attack and stroke risk, compared to people who did not drink the sodas at all or did not drink them every day. A study published in the journal Respirology, reveals that soft drink consumption is also associated with lung and breathing disorders including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Cayenne Pepper - unmatched
in harmonizing blood pressure!!!

As a way to manage your blood pressure, herbs and spices are a fantastic way to increase the medicinal value of your food. Below are some herbs and spices you may have been enjoying with no idea as to their value:

1. Garlic - Garlic contains allicin, a substance which has antibacterial, antioxidant, lipid lowering and anti-hypertension properties.

2. Cinnamon - Cinnamon not only prevents heart disease, it can also prevent diabetes.

3. Onions - Onions contain quercetin, an antioxidant flavonol found to prevent heart disease and stroke.

4. Olives - Oil made from olives has been found to reduce blood pressure.

5. Oregano - This herb contains the compound carvacrol which has been proven to be effective against blood pressure.

6. Hawthorn - This herb has been traditionally used to treat high blood pressure.

7. Cardamom- In one study was able to demonstrate that blood pressure was effectively reduced.