GHS Natural Health Blog

What is Glucosamine?

Glucosamine is made of an amino acid and a sugar molecule and is a raw material for making connective tissue in joint cartilage. In supplement form, it is derived from chitin, the hard material in crustacean shell. It can also be made from plant material such as corn, known as vegetarian glucosamine.

How does it work?

Glucosamine feeds and stimulates cartilage repair. It’s one of cartilage’s key building blocks and also encourages self-repair by stimulating the process that creates moisture-holding molecules.

Uses for Glucosamine

As we age, the body’s ability to produce glucosamine can decrease and this causes joint cartilage to lose it water holding capacity. The cartilage breaks and becomes less effective as a shock absorber, leading to joint stiffness. Supplementing the body’s natural glucosamine production has been shown in clinical trials to repair and rebuild worn or damaged cartilage. As the condition of the joint cartilage improves, pain is reduced and mobility increased.

What are the key benefits?

• Helps repair and rebuild damaged cartilage
• Can improve joint mobility and flexibility
• Symptomatic relief of osteoarthritis
• Helps reduce further cartilage damage
• Temporary relief of joint inflammation
• Temporary relief of joint pain

How does it compare?

Conventional osteoarthritis treatment involves anti-inflammation medicines. While they can be effective in relieving pain, they do not address the cause of the problem. Unlike these medicines, glucosamine has been demonstrated to effectively act on the cause of osteoarthritic pain – cartilage breakdown. By addressing the root the problem, osteoarthritis joint pain can also be relieved.

Where’s the evidence?

Given glucosamine works mainly as a structural compound to maintain cartilage, it’s more sensible to measure changes in joint structure, than pain reduction, to quantify glucosamine’s effectiveness. A review of a number of clinical trials that used X-rays to measure improvement concluded glucosamine can reduce the risk of osteoarthritis progression by 54%.

Glucosamine has also been shown in some clinical trials to work as effectively, if not better than some other commonly used arthritis medicines. Some studies show that it relieves pain and this is more marked in people with moderate to severe symptoms.

Does it really work?

Aside from the functional evidence above, thousands of glucosamine users are benefiting from the effects of glucosamine with about 400m tablets a year being consumed. In fact Choice Magazine found about 75% of their online members who were arthritis sufferers claimed they were experiencing a benefit from using glucosamine.

Essential oils are liquids that are taken from the leaves, flowers, roots or stems of plants or flowers. Essential oils are typically clear and sometimes amber or yellow in appearance. They are highly concentrated and have many great and versatile uses. They can be used to help relieve stress and anxiety, thin out congestion in the lungs and chest and even clean the house.

Essential oils, when they are inhaled, impact the olfactory receptor cells. They then reach the parts of the brain that are known as the limbic system or the part of the brain with controls our emotions. Essential oils can also be placed directly into the skin, however, they should be diluted with a carrier oil before doing so. The limbic system affects blood circulation, memory and even the levels of hormones in the body. Different essential oils have different effects on the body.

Essential oils are categorized into three types. They include Top Note, Middle Note and Base Note essential oils. Top Note oils provide the most stimulation. They are for good for providing a pick me up for users. They are very strong scents and typically last for the shortest amount of time.

Middle Note essential oils last a little longer then top note oils. They are also a little less strong in scent. They can have a metabolic affect on the body. Base Note essential oils usually last for about a week. They are really useful for helping individuals relax.

Essential oils provide physical and mental benefits. They are great for helping individuals relax and also can act as a stimulant. They can also be used to treat depression, anxiety and stress. Inhaling of these oils is also believed to provide benefits to the lungs, and help decrease congestion.

Essential oils may be considered by some individuals to be quite expensive. However, it is important to note that they are extremely concentrated and a little bit goes a long way. If you add a few drops to a carrier oil, you will find that you will be able to make it last.

Certain essential oils not only work well on the body, but also for household tasks. Essential oils can be used to clean and disinfect the home, without the use of dangerous and harsh chemicals.

There are many benefits of using essential oils; the ones’ listed above, are just a few. Essential oils are pure and most do not include chemicals that may have harmful effects. Instead, when used carefully and correctly, they can help remedy a great number of ailments.

Visit Global Herbal Supplies for a full range of essential oils.

Reference: George Key

Preparation

1. Measure 2L of pure or distilled water in a 3L pot (not aluminium). Cover and bring to the boil.
2. Weigh 45g of Essiac powder and add to the boiling water. Stir with a wooden or stainless steel spoon. Replace lid and boil for 10 to 12 minutes.
3. Remove from heat, scrape down sides of pot and stir the mixture thoroughly. Replace lid and let stand at room temperature for 10 to 12 hours.
4. Stir thoroughly, cover and heat Essiac liquid to scalding (85 degrees Celsius). Do not boil.
5. Remove from heat.
6. Strain the liquid through a fine stainless steel strainer using a funnel into sealable, sterilized, amber glass jars. Finger tighten lids, allow jars to cool and then tighten lids again.
7. Store jars in refrigerator. This is a sensitive preparation and contains no preservatives. If mould develops in jars, discard immediately. This preparation should keep for at least 12 months if prepared as above, filtered into sterilized jars and well lidded.

Note: It is important that all instructions are followed carefully! All jars and lids must be cleaned with a 3% solution of food grade hydrogen peroxide in water.
 
Dosage
 
Daily Maintenance:  Take 2 to 4 tablespoons 30 to 60mL) of the prepared Essiac liquid per day, mixed with 2 to 4 tablespoons of boiled water. Take half in the morning and half in the evening on an empty stomach or at least 2 hours after eating.
 
Extra Strength Dosage: Take 4 tablespoons (60mL) up to 3 times daily on an empty stomach, mixed with 4 tablespoons of boiled water.
 
Children: Take 1 to 2 tablespoons (15 to 30mL) prepared Essiac liquid per day, mixed with 1 to 2 tablespoons of boiled water.
 
Important

Consult your health care professional if pregnant, lactating or taking medication.
 
Storage

Store at room temperature in a sealed container away from moisture.

In many cases, it might be best to leave the production of essential oils to the professionals. However, if you are an individual who either is interested in making essential oils or who would just enjoy learning more about the process, then this article will be quite interesting.

Essential oils are generally created through the process of distillation. There are three ways to distil the oils. They include the use of water, direct steam and water and steam. The type of distillation that is used depends on the plant and what condition it arrives in.

Plants or flowers are steamed to create essential oils. The steam suspends the essential oil from the plant. After the steam is allowed to cool, it turns to water and the essential oil sits on top of the water, as oil and water do not mix. The oil is then taken from the water.

Cold pressing is another method used to make essential oils. Cold pressing is most often used to extract the essential oils from citrus fruits such as tangerine, orange and lemon. The peelings are taken from the fruit and then cold pressed so that the essential oils can be collected.

Enfleurage is also a method used to extract essential oils. Flower petals are pressed into wax or warm oils until the essential oils come away from the flower petal and into the warm oils or wax.

Solvent extraction is the most common way to make essential oils. It is also the most expensive way to do so. However, it provides the best results. Solvent extraction involves taking flower petals and mixing them with a solvent such as benzene or petroleum. This process continues until all of the essential oil is taken out of the flower. The extraction solution is filtered so that the plant’s essential oils are separated from the solution.

There are several common ways that are used to make essential oils. They include solvent extraction, enfleurage, cold pressing and distillation. All of these methods are highly effective to extract the essential oils from fruit, flowers and plants. The process does require some expertise, so if you are planning on attempting to create your own essential oils, you will need to look further into the process. A good book on the process may be order. You can likely find ones at your local bookstore, library or online. If you have a plant near where you live that makes essential oils, you may call them up and request a tour.

Reference: George Key

Offering to give a relaxing massage to a friend or loved one can be one of the best gifts that you can provide for someone who has had a bad or stressful day or week.

Few people will turn down a massage, especially if you know how to properly give one. A good massage isn’t necessarily all about great technique, although that is important. You also need the right tools, be able to set the mood conducive to a relaxing massage.

It’s fairly easy to set the right mood. Ask the recipient of the massage if they have any musical requests. If they do not, find music that is soft and relaxing. Purchase some candles. Again, ask the person who is receiving the massage if they have a personal favourite. If they do not, pick something that you like which is soothing smells nice and promotes relaxation. If you have no idea, try a lavender candle.

After you have chosen the music and the candles, it’s time to purchase massage oil. Using massage oil allows you to give a massage that feels good. You won’t be roughly rubbing on the skin, but gliding over it. It will also prevent your hands from getting tired quickly. Jojobo and almond oils are good picks. You will also find great options at local, specialty shops or online.

Once you have all of your supplies, grab two of your biggest, fluffiest towels and place them in the dryer for a few minutes. This will get them nice and warm. Place one of the towels underneath the person that is getting the massage and the other one on top of them so that they are not overly exposed.

Now if you are unsure about massage techniques, you may want to invest a little money and purchase a good book or video on the subject. However, if you avoid massaging too hard or too soft, you should be fine. Make sure that you get feedback and ask your partner to tell you when it feels good. Focus on the arms, back, legs and buttocks (if appropriate). Use your fingers, thumbs and fists to lightly knead and place pressure on the various muscle groups.

Giving a relaxing massage to someone can be a great gift. With the day-to-day pressures that most people live with, being pampered and tended to with a massage can be extremely enjoyable. When giving a massage, be sure to set the mood with soft, soothing music, burn some candles and make sure the temperature is right. Turn down the lights and focus on gently and firmly massaging the major muscle groups with your hands, fists and thumbs.