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Mushrooms for Cancer in Eastern Medicine By Lily Remington

In the Orient, the Far Eastern countries of Japan and China, mushrooms are a vital part of the material medica, the plant medicines. The Eastern way of treating disease with herbs and mushrooms is ancient and dates back over 10,000 years. Healing formulations have been passed down through the ages from teacher to student. These formulations treated emperor and peasant alike. Today, acupuncturists and practitioners of Eastern medicine the world over prescribe mushrooms in the treatment of cancer. Medicinal mushrooms, including the Reishi, are deemed the highest class of medicines in traditional eastern modalities.

Traditional Chinese Medicine is over 4000 years old. The Ling Chi mushroom, also known as the Reishi mushroom, is perhaps one of the most famous and common medicinal mushrooms for cancer. This mushroom goes by many different names. The latin, Ganoderma lucidum is most recognizable and scientifically appropriate. The Reishi is also known as Ling Zhi and Varnished Conk. Recorded historical uses of this mushroom in healing go back 2000 years. Reishi is often found in paintings and carvings because of the medicinal importance and folklore surrounding this mystical, medicinal mushroom. Chinas famous natural history book, the Ben Cao Gang Mu, written in 1578 states "continued use of the Ling Zhi will lighten weight and increase longevity".

Reishi is one of the primary mushrooms for cancer in eastern medicine. Historically, Ling Chi has been used as a fortifying medicinal herb in tea. The mushroom grows on dead or dying hardwood trees, especially maple and oak, throughout North America and across Asia. Reishi is a polypore, meaning "many pores" and is a shelf mushroom. The fruiting body is hard, not soft like a gilled mushroom. Today, Reishi is cultivated for use in natural medicine. The whole mushrooms may be broken up into small bits, chopped, or powdered and added to hot tea. Below is a recipe for a strong infusion of Reishi mushroom. It may be taken for detoxification, for energy, or as an alternative or compliment to traditional cancer therapies.

Reishi Mushroom Infusion
1oz. Reishi Mushrooms
32oz. Purified Water

Chop mushrooms in a coffee grinder and place in a glass quart jar. Add boiling water to the quart jar. Let steep four to eight hours. Strain out the mushrooms and discard. Drink 16oz. per day for a revitalizing health tonic. Discontinue use immediately if any adverse reactions occur.

As with most herbal remedies, it is important to use Reishi Tea for a sustained period of time to see benefits. For serious health conditions, drinking 16oz. of Reishi Tea everyday for two months is recommended. If it working for you and you notice decrease in symptoms, increase in energy, better immune system, etccontinue the 16oz. dosage. The anti-tumor properties of this fungi are powerful and it takes time for herbal medicines to be effective.

It is of the utmost importance to know the source of your medicinal mushrooms. Mushrooms absorb toxins. So medicinal mushrooms grown in environmentally compromised areas can be very dangerous. Experts suggest sourcing NO Reishi mushrooms from China. Whole Reishi mushrooms are available at herbal apothecaries and directly from Chinese Medicine practitioners. They may also be sourced online. Many companies are also offering Reishi Mushroom in the form of supplements. Powdered Reishi is put in capsule form and taken directly. To ensure your mushrooms are safe and free of heavy metals and toxins, know where they were grown and always buy organic when possible.

Scientific research shows that Reishi mushroom is anti-tumor, anti-microbial, immune-enhancing, anti-inflammatory, and anti-fatiguing. This mushroom has been used for thousands of years to impart longevity and increase energy and vitality. When it comes to finding great medicinal mushrooms for cancer, be sure to include Ganoderma lucidum, the great Reishi mushroom in your health protocol.

Herbal Medicines Are the Wave of the Future

Going green technologies have been making quite the stir in today's environmentally friendly products. From solar propelled cars to less abrasive cleaning products made with all natural ingredients, there are an array of qualities that all natural products provide us in our everyday lives. The same holds true to all natural medicine and herbal medicine. These treatments have been increasing in popularity in recent times, and it's all because they have been shown to work just as effective, if not better then other scientifically engineered medicines.

When we travel back into history many of the products that were used to treat ailments were composed of herbs from nature. There were a variety of tonics, such as green tea, which was a plant with origins in Asia and Japan that was used for a variety of reasons. Tibetan monks used it as a way to increase their spiritual powers and live the holistic way of life they were accustomed to living.

Green tea is a great way to stay healthy, it helps strengthen the immune system and fights off viruses such as the common cold. It has even been used to treat Alzheimer's disease, cardiovascular disease, helps aide weight loss and is currently being used in studies by researchers to be a cure for cancer in the near future.

Another great plant that has been used for many ailments is aloe vera. This herbal medicine has roots in Egypt dating back to over 6,000 years ago. It was used to treat various skin conditions and was taken in tonic form as a laxative.

In recent times it is also used to treat various skin conditions, but also has been used to treat osteoarthritis, diabetes, asthma and epilepsy. Did you know that about 80% of beauty products also contain some form of aloe vera in them? It is because of it' many valuable properties that people are naturally drawn to this herbal remedy.

Cranberries throughout history have been used to treat various health problems, such as bladder infections, liver problems, diabetes and helped with a number of stomach problems. Cranberries are an excellent antioxidant.

Antioxidants have been known for their excellent cancer fighting properties and to help strengthen our immune system. Did you know that cranberries contain more antioxidant phenols then over 19 other more common fruits?

The Hawthorne plant has been used since the first century to help treat heart disease. The fruit of the Hawthorn plant as well as it's leaves can be used. In recent times, this plant has been used in cases of heart failure, and weakness in the heart muscles.

When the heart muscles are weak this affects the amount of blood that is pumped throughout the body, which leads to decreased circulation. This can ultimately caused fatigue and limited mobility.

Hawthorne has also been used to treat a variety of heart conditions which include, coronary artery diseases like angina. It can be taken orally as a liquid or as a supplement.

By using many sources of nature people can reap many benefits to help treat a number of health problems. Herbal medicines have been around for many centuries and there is good reason for it. They tend to have less side affects then more traditional medicines and many of them contain valuable vitamins and nutrients that our bodies need to function at an optimal level.

Holistic Medicine For Hormone Imbalance

Have you been feeling a little off balance lately ? For a woman, hormone balance is essential to her every day health and well being. It affects her sleep, weight mood, and almost every aspect of her every day life.

Around age 35 a woman's ovaries start to become less efficient while estrogen and progesterone production start to decrease at different rates. Since the reduction rates of the two are not the same, an imbalance occurs. Since the progesterone rate drops faster than the estrogen rate, a woman becomes estrogen dominant while actually being low on estrogen.

Progesterone induces a calming effect, so a reduced progesterone level will naturally cause problems like weight gain, sleep problems, bloating, changes in menstrual patterns and the decreased ability to handle stressful situations. Regrettably, chronic stress restricts the effects of progesterone creating an endless cycle. Depleted progesterone is a major problem, but it's not the only problem. The imbalance among other hormones coupled with low estrogen levels all contribute to the symptoms of menopause.

Standard, though ineffective, treatments for menstrual problems, hot flashes, and mood swings are birth control pills and anti-depressants. Actually, according to a recent study, anti-depressants consumed by women between the ages of 40 and 55 has a high potential for triggering night sweats. For women who suffer from mood swings and hot flashes, St. Johns Wart is a more effective natural remedy with no side effects.

Birth control pills can cause problems. Whether you art taking them to prevent a pregnancy or if you are taking them as an ill advised remedy for menstrual problems. They contain an artificial form of progesterone called progestin. Progestin prevents ovulation but also suppresses the natural ability of a woman's body to produce progesterone. When natural progesterone is depleted it contributes to the side effects of the pill and soon after aggravates menopause related symptoms like weight gain, bloating, irritability, and the increased risk for breast cancer.

The Best Natural Ways To Balance Your Hormones

Exercise: We have all heard about the lack of exercise being detrimental to our health. But there are numerous degrees of exercise. Exercise like training for a marathon or "Iron Man" categories can trigger stress hormones and aggravate others. These types of exercises should be avoided. Try exercises that produce a relaxing effect on the body like yoga, gentle aerobics, or a 3 mph walk.

Manage Stress: Start by getting 7-8 hours of of restful uninterrupted sleep. Manage schedules so there is adequate down-time between the end of one and the beginning of the next one. And make sure you schedule some relaxing activities.

Avoid Toxins: Everywhere you look, there are toxins in our environment. So, this is what you should do. Keep an eye out for the following additives and if you spot them when you read those lists of ingredients put the item back on the shelf. And don't limit your ingredient reading food items. Check out anything you put into or onto your body. And avoid the following:
Propylene Glycol
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
Sodium Laureth Sulfate
Sodium Benzoate
High Fructose Corn Syrup
Artificial Sweeteners
Artificial Flavoring

Try to choose food with organic labels.

Chaste Berry: Also known as Vitex, is an herb used to relieve PMS, menopausal distress, and irregular periods. One study revealed Chase Berry reduced numerous PMS symptoms including irritability, breast tenderness, and dyspeptic moods.

Dong Quai: This herb is used in traditional Chinese Medicine for the treatment of menstrual problems. It is also effective at relieving menopausal symptoms and balancing estrogen levels.

L-Theanine: this amino acid is found in Green Tea and lowers elevated stress hormones. It improves sleep but does not cause grogginess. For best results take 50-200 mg during the day for stress reduction or the same dosage in the evening for quality sleep. When starting with the lower dosage (recommended), the effects usually take about 30 minutes to take effect, and usually last for about 8 hours.

Black Cohosh is a plant source of estrogen. It increases estrogen levels to various areas of the body like the brain. This results in the reduction of the occurrences of hot flashes. Also other areas of the body are also affected like the bones, lowering the risk of osteoporosis, and the vagina, preventing vaginal dryness. Taking Black Cohosh in conjunction with St. John's Wart has proven to be effective in treating depression and the symptoms of menopause. Once again Mother Nature to the rescue.