posted on January 27, 2001 08:50:19 PM new
There seems to be a highly contagious virus going around the schools in our town. There were 9 kids just in my sons class alone that came down with it last week. Unfortunately my son came down with it too. My sister suggested that we try colloidal silver (a natural anti-biotic) rather than going through the time, hassle and expense of seeing the doctor. Especially since his symptoms matched what everyone else had and we were sure of what we were dealing with.
I was amazed that the colloidal silver has really helped. He was down for about 36 hours total as compared to 3 or 4 days for some of the other kids. Also, from talking with some of the other mothers it seems that his illness wasn't as severe as their kids - no throwing up...
A few years ago I worked as a freelance writer for a Nutrition company. I wrote an article for them about a product called MSM. It's supposed to cure allergies. To be honest, I've forgotten all the details so I don't remember the premise for why it works... but I remember being so impressed with the data that I decided to try it with our son. He had awful allergies - to the point that we were ready to start the rounds of allergy test, etc. After the first two weeks or so on MSM he's been almost completely allergy free ever since.
Both products are available at nutrition stores - of course, I should put a disclaimer here... talk to your doctor.
I'm seriously looking for a product that might help me with my memory. Does anyone have any experience with anything. I looked at Kava (sp?) but there are so many to choose from??? I do have a neurological problem - but my neurologist is no help at all when it comes to alternative medicines. Any ideas?
posted on January 27, 2001 08:57:21 PM new
I don't know from medicins but I have a suggestion for the memory problem.
Play difficult games. You can actually excersize(sp sorry, one of my bad words and not looking it up now) your mind. (I should try it)
I'm not even sure what games to suggest, but the point is you can rejuvinate or increase the number of the cells in your brain by forcing it to perform difficult tasks.
posted on January 27, 2001 09:14:44 PM new
Thanks Kel. Yes, I need to rejuvenate my brain. LOL I try memory games a lot... mostly because I have to. But, they do help. When I first got sick and realized my memory was being zapped I started shutting down and quit trying to do the same things I'd always been able to do. But, no more. I realized that that was stupid and only contributed to excalating the whole problem. I was never the brightest bulb but I'd really like to recover my memory skills. I know there must be a good herbal remedy out there... just have to track it down.
BTW, the Colloidal Silver is also good to take if you've been exposed to a flu or virus type illness. It's supposed to protect you from getting it. Sure seems to do what it claims to do. The MSM was the best find though.
posted on January 27, 2001 09:32:14 PM new
I know little about medicine and hate going to the doctor, I mean HATE. The one time in my life I had a serious problem, I had to go to 6 of them before one finally knew what was wrong. Most told me my actual fall on your knees pain was in my head. I was 16 and had endometriosis. Had to have surgery and drugs for a year to get it gone. I'll never forget those bastages telling me it could be in my head and forcing me to suffer months longer than was necessary.
One thing for sure I know is not to take antibiotics or any kind of drugs if you can help it. My kids have had to have antibiotics one time in their lives. I don't ever need them. I get sick, I feel like crap for a day or four and it's gone.
I use the aloe vera plant for cuts and such. I used it for diaper rash the very few times they ever got it and it did wonders within hours.
I had all these prescriptions when I had that car accident and the pill bottles are still sitting in the medicin cabinet. (full)
If it hurts too bad for BC powder then I take two BC powders.
Dunno why I'm talking about this.
[ edited by kitsch1 on Jan 27, 2001 09:35 PM ]
posted on January 27, 2001 09:56:59 PM newKel I had forgotten about how great Aloe vera is - works super for burns or cuts. I'm terrible about not wanting to take medicines too. Have you seen the commercials with the nine million side effect warnings. Oh yeah... that's what I wanna take! LOL
But, if I could find an herb that worked as well for my memory as the MSM did for my sons allergies... I'd take it in a heartbeat.
posted on January 27, 2001 09:58:11 PM new
Also, to exercise our brains, I've heard recently the suggestion that we work crossword puzzles on a regular basis. And that we stop doing things automatically, without thinking, using the same hands for the same activities, putting our shoes and socks on in the same order all the time, taking the same route home, etc., and that we vary our daily routines. This is supposed to challenge our brains, I guess.
posted on January 28, 2001 05:24:37 AM new
The advise to remain active is great. Using the computer takes a lot of thinking and memory recovery. Reading helps.
There is a herb ginko biloba made from the leaves of the tree. It increases blood flow to the brain, but there is a slightly increased risk of stroke if you have high blood pressure or a problem with family stroke already so use caution.
I take Niaspan a time release megadose of vitamin b-12 that you take at night so you don't have the flush from it during the day when you are awake. I always feel real sharp mentally when I am taking it. I take it to reduce my tinnitis.
Edited to add - The colloidal Silver - That's one reason Silver was popular for dishes and utensils. It has a natural disinfectant quality that helped keep you healthy and prevent the dishes from being contaiminated.
[ edited by gravid on Jan 28, 2001 05:27 AM ]
posted on January 28, 2001 08:00:14 AM new
although colloidal silver has been used for many years without any reports of serious side effects, the ingestion of metallic substances by those with kidney or liver problems could have serious consequences. anyone noticing a blue or grey cast to the skin should immediately stop taking it and get medical attention. see: www.clspress.com/tox.html
posted on January 28, 2001 09:38:44 AM newgravid Do you take both the Ginko and the Niaspan B12? I've heard of the Ginko Biloba but I don't know anyone who has tried it. I don't have high blood pressure or history of strokes - maybe I could start with small doses and build up. Did either of these cause side effects for you?
I'm in the middle of more testing to see about the blood flow, etc. My first neurologist found "brain spots" but she kept insisting that I had early Multiple Sclerosis and wouldn't do more testing. I have good reasons for thinking she's wrong. She wouldn't admit it but I think it was an insurance thing... they wouldn't pay enough for her to pursue it and ain't that a crock of crap. I have a new neurologist who seems to be more willing to find a more definite diagnosis... at least she's trying - so cross your fingers for me.
posted on January 28, 2001 09:47:27 AM new
Ginkgo biloba is a good idea for memory improvement. It does have a slight blood-thinning effect, which actually improves circulation, both in the brain and elsewhere in the body.
The risk of stroke is actually associated with impaired circulation, so the problem for people with hypertension (whose circulation is impaired) taking ginkgo is really not an increased risk for stroke, but that they might need less prescription medication to lower their blood pressure if they're taking ginkgo, and most western-trained doctors don't know enough about herbs to be able to counter for that.
There are some very good studies about ginkgo out there, but American doctors are famous for not trusting studies done outside of the US, even when they have been done in developed countries and otherwise meet all the standards for studies done in the US. Ginkgo has been in use for years in Germany, where it has been well studied and proven clinically effective. (It's available in Germany in prescription strength.)
As for niacin (vitamin B-3, as opposed to cyanocobalamin, better known as B-12), that's also great for improving circulation. Unfortunately, the sustained-release type nacin products are nowhere near as beneficial for that purpose as plain niacin, which produces the "flush." The "flush" is caused by the dilation of the blood vessels, which is the effect you're seeking if you're taking niacin for any reason other than as simply a nutritional supplement.
I'm at risk for both hypertension and stroke (family history and lifestyle factors), and have been using both ginkgo and plain niacin (taken on an empty stomach to maximize the "flush" and its associated benefits) for years. Despite multiple risks for both of these problems, my blood pressure is normal, unlike my family members, who laugh and sneer at my use of herbs and nutritional supplements as they take expensive prescription drugs to treat problems I am apparently preventing with low-cost supplements.
posted on January 28, 2001 09:57:03 AM newtabbinosity Thanks for the info. I hadn't heard of niacin before gravid mentioned it. I'll do a search on the web for more info on it. The local nutrition store (gnc) hasn't been much help. I seem to know more about their products than they do and that's very little.
I'm sure this new neurologist I'm seeing will come up with some meds once she finishes the testing but I personally trust herbs much more than garden variety prescription drugs. I'm hoping to find a way to stick with natural herbs and stay off the prescriptions.... we'll see.
posted on January 28, 2001 11:32:45 AM newmybidness: Check out Dr. Andrew Weil's books from your library. He's a naturopathic physician. But please check with your neurologist before taking any herbs re side effects and/or drug interactions if you are taking any perscription or over the counter meds.
posted on January 28, 2001 11:58:28 AM new
I don't take Ginko just the Niaspan which is a prescription form. My Mother-in-Law took Ginko when she was first diagnosed with dementia about a year ago but it did not help - nothing has - she has just continued down hill. If I use the Niaspan the ringing in my ears goes alnmost completely away, and as a side effect I just feel more alert and quicker so to speak.
posted on January 28, 2001 12:23:14 PM new
Mybiddness: I have been taking MSM for a year and a half. I had been having excruciating sinus headaches, and this stuff really did the trick. On the other hand, although I take this stuff every day and it's supposed to help boost your immune system, I still got the flu really bad and was sick for two+ weeks. I'm a little disappointed in that.
However, here's something good for colds. Have you all heard of Zicam? It's a zinc gel that you put into your nostrils and it gets the zinc, which we all know is proven to shorten the duration and severity of a cold, right to where the problem is. My pharmacist swears by it, and so does my daughter who just used it to stop a cold in its tracks. So give it a try. There are even generic versions out there.
posted on January 28, 2001 01:13:36 PM new
you all might think i'm nuts but i went to an iridologist.these are the people who look into your eyes and can tell about any health problems you have had or have at the present.this woman was right on!!she could see injuries that i had had .things that are not visable like the fact that i had dislocated my shoulder a few times and other thing like severe stress that i had had about five years ago.they deal in herbal remedies and i think it was worth the $20.00 i paid .
posted on January 28, 2001 01:26:12 PM newMuriel I don't know if it would help but you might try the MSM/VitaminC combination. That's the one we used. I will definitely check out the Zicam - another one I'd never heard of.
Snowy I think that after I get all the latest test results in hand I'll try to find a second opinion for treatment through a naturopathic physician - that's a great idea. The conventional doctors I've seen seem to want to guess when they don't know the answer and then throw drugs at the problem... The last neurologist gave me a prescription that was supposed to help my bouts of blurred vision. When I checked it out I found that it helped blurred vision caused by migraines... which I've never had. So, I threw the prescription in the trash...
gravid I'm only 43 so I hope it isn't early dementia ALREADY ... wouldn't that be a beetch.
posted on January 28, 2001 01:28:57 PM newLooney I've heard of that but never knew anyone who had tried it... it is another option. I'm ready to at least explore everything I can find...
posted on January 28, 2001 02:19:39 PM newgingko with aspirin is dangerous.
It can be, as both are blood thinners, as is ibuprofen. But I take ginkgo (one 60 mg. capsule of standardized extract) daily, and aspirin on an as-needed basis, without any problems.
People who are planning on elective surgery should discontinue gingko intake for ten days prior to the scheduled surgery, just as they should discontinue taking aspirin or ibuprofen.
The important thing to remember about herbs is that they are drugs. (The active ingredient in aspirin was synthesized from willow bark. The foxglove plant was used to treat heart problems--its Latin name is digitalis). It's important to learn about them before using them.
If you've ever been in an old-time pharmacy and seen a refrigerator marked "botanicals," that's what "botanicals" are, or were, and American pharmacists were trained in plant-based medicines and how to compound them as recently as 50 years ago.
Please don't misunderstand me--I use herbs extensively, and have studied them almost as long as I've used them.
But it's a good idea to do a little research. Read some good books on the subject, and avoid the scary hype favored by the popular media.
Sure you can get into trouble if you take too much of a particular herb, or have a medical condition which would make its use unwise. But good old acetominophen, best known in the US by the brand name of Tylenol, is routinely recommended to pregnant women for pain relief, although it can cause serious liver damage (even to people who don't consume alcoholic beverages) and death.
Unfortunately, since you can't patent a plant, it's unlikely that we'll see the kind of research that western practitioners demand. (There's no money in plants.) Personally, I rely on some excellent herbology texts, some classical, others modern, for herbs I don't already know.
And no, I have no axe to grind about doctors. Aside from my brother, I'm related to several, including the guy who delivered me, and I think western medicine has its place. (If I have chest pain, I'm not going to stop to brew a cup of foxglove tea--I'm going to head for the nearest emergency room, stat!)
But my greatx3-grandmother was an herbalist, and I think she'd probably be tickled to see how we all are carrying on the family tradition of healing in our own ways!
posted on January 28, 2001 04:44:27 PM newMuriel, What dose MSM do you take every day? I have sinus headaches also and didn't realize MSM could help with that.
posted on January 28, 2001 07:24:38 PM new
There is also a great book called the Vitamin Bible written by Earl Mindell who was a pharmisist (sp) who started studying vitamins when he noticed that the diabetic customers who also took vitamins took less insulin.
I was found to have VERY HIGH cholestrol a couple of years ago. I would not take the prescription but did check out a book whose name escapes me, but it suggested you take Slo-Niacin (time-release) and Oat Bran. Cholestrol is down and no prescription.
Also take Grape Seed Extract otherwise get really stiff in the mornings, Melatonin and Valerian Root for sleep aid. (Be prepared * Valerian Root smells like dirty socks but really works.)
There are some really great vitamins and herbs if you do the research and can only remember one side affect. (Brewer's Yeast makes me itch.)
posted on January 28, 2001 08:35:41 PM newBit OT: Taking St. Johns Wort can DECREASE the effectivness of the birth control pill.
Yes, this was reported widely in the mass media, who failed to note that prescription anti-depressants also decrease the effectiveness of birth control pills, as do antibiotics, antihistamines, antispasmodics, tranquilizers, and seizure medications.
posted on January 29, 2001 05:55:18 AM new
I have taken MSM for years... it is great stuff. However the best place to buy it is in a tack store or feed store. Horse owners have used it for years and it is food quality 99.9 % pure. You can buy a pound for what a couple of bottles cost in the health food store. I take a heaping tablespoon disoved in either warm water or jiuce. MSM is found in RAW foods but not cooked or processed which is why so few poeple today get adequate amounts.
I severly damaged my shoulder snow boarding to the point where it needed surgery. I spent one winter taking MSM religiously. All healed and no surgeon's bill.
The brand I use is called Vita-Flex, Patented & Pure MSM, available at most tack & feed stores.
posted on January 29, 2001 11:26:11 AM new
I give my son 20 mg of Pycnogenol daily for his allergies. It's a pine bark extract which comes from the Maritime Pinetree from France. It acts like a natural anti-inflammatory and reduces the swelling caused by sinus irritation & allergies. I take grapeseed extract for similar benefits. It's another extract high in bioflavanoids.
MSM didn't do much for me, but I might have been taking too small of a dose.
Colloidal silver is very good in small doses and should not be taken over long periods of time.
posted on January 29, 2001 12:20:16 PM new
njrazd~ I take a heaping tablesppon dissolved in juice every am, not a measuring tablespoon , a table tablespoon.(which works out to 2-3 regular tbsp.) Now you may see why buying by the pound is more effective.
posted on January 29, 2001 03:10:17 PM new
dejavu...I was probably just taking one small capsule a day. Guess I'll stop at the local feed store and check it out again. It's supposed to have some great benefits.
posted on January 29, 2001 11:51:54 PM new
Another great feed store buy is called Bag Balm. If I remember right it's actually meant for moisturizing cow udders. But, it's a great human moisturizer too... it's amazing what we can find at the feed store. I didn't know they have MSM. Thanks for the tip.
but I'd really like to recover my memory skills. I know there must be a good herbal remedy out there... just have to track it down.
