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Over the years, natural herbs as an alternative to hormone replacement therapy have soared. Indeed, with the proven dangers of hormone replacement therapy more and more women are interested in learning more about natural therapies and alternatives. Moreover, some women simply don't like ingesting their estrogen from the prescription drug Premarin, which comes from horses horse urine, to be precise.

So, without further adieu, let's delve into natural herbs as an alternative to hormone replacement therapy.

Befriend black cohosh. Black cohosh has long history as a treatment for a variety of "female complaints," including menopausal symptoms and painful menstrual cramps. Black cohosh has been shown to have estrogenic activity and inhibits the secretion of the luteinizing hormone, which is responsible for many unpleasant symptoms associated with menopause that wreak havoc on a women's life. More specifically, black cohosh may help fight hot flashes, night sweats, irritability, sleep disturbances, and nervousness. In fact, black cohosh is highly touted as one of the natural herbs as an alternative to hormone replacement therapy.

Get aid from Asia. For centuries, Dong Quai has been used by Asian healers to balance female hormones and to prevent PMS and menopausal symptoms. Dong Quai is most commonly used to treat menstrual problems, including cramps and pain during menstruation as well as to ease some of the symptoms of menopause, such hot flashes and night sweats.

Try your luck with red clover. Red clover contains isoflavones, a class of phytoestrogens that have effects similar to estrogen. More specifically, phytoestrogens mimic some of the effects of estrogen and, as such, this herb is used to help combat menopausal symptoms and hot flashes. Red clover may even help important factors in a woman's sexual function and pleasure by maintaining vaginal tissue and lubrication (vaginal dryness.) In addition, it may help prevent osteoporosis due to its weak estrogenic effects. Indeed, despite a lack of research support, this herb is finding a place on the herbal medicine shelf as one of the natural herbs as an alternative to hormone replacement therapy, meaning a remedy for menopausal discomforts.

Get acquainted with wild yam. Wild yam has been highly promoted as one of the natural herbs as an alternative to hormone replacement therapy. More specifically, wild yam is used as a natural alternative for estrogen replacement therapy. Wild yam may be helpful for menstrual disorders and to relieve postmenopausal vaginal dryness and other menopause-related symptoms, amongst others.

Chase away menopausal symptoms with Chasteberry. Chasteberry, also known as vitex or chaste tree, is said to help regulate hormones involved in the menstrual cycle and, as such, it is used to help fight menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes. In addition, chasteberry is used for menstrual irregularities and for premenstrual syndrome (PMS) symptoms, amongst others.

Meet other herbs that may help. Sage and sarsaparilla are also natural estrogen promoters.

Nutritional-Supplement-Educational Centre's Opinion On Natural Herbs As An Alternative To Hormone Replacement Therapy

Discover the power of comprehensive formulas. Nowadays, there are highly sophisticated companies that have designed comprehensive formulas specifically to help combat menopausal symptoms. In fact, a comprehensive formula using carefully selected ingredients can offer more therapeutic benefits, often better than taking a single herb or nutrient on its own.

Therefore, it's important to understand the how and why of what makes some these comprehensive products useful - an important factor in making an informed choice. Moreover, mixing and matching nutrients and herbs on your own can be very dangerous to your health as well as expensive.

Bottom Line...

We believe you're better off taking a product that is professionally and scientifically formulated by a highly-credentialed scientific team that can ensure the proper blending of ingredients to maximize the therapeutic benefits needed to combat menopausal symptoms.

Final note...

It's important that you always speak to a physician before taking any dietary supplements, including natural herbs as an alternative to hormone replacement therapy.

Cindy Amorin is the chief editor of Nutritional-Supplement-Educational-Centre.com, an information-rich site that discusses nutritional, dietary, and herbal supplements and their potential therapeutic value. She is the editor of menopause information a section of Nutritional-Supplement-Educational-Centre discussing a variety of topics associated with menopause.

For those of you interested in learning more about menopause natural treatments and tips on how to buy quality supplements meet us on the web at our menopause natural treatments web page.

If you are a business owner or manager and are currently playing music in your venues or considering implementing music on hold, you need to be aware that the music you use must be licensed, or it will be considered illegal use of copyrighted music. If caught, you could be facing steep fines or possible legal action. The music industry is coming down hard on businesses that are unaware of or disregard proper licensing of copyrighted music, as is evident by a recent series of crackdowns on over two dozen venues in Seattle who failed to pay royalties on music they were playing.

(ASCAP) The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, says that these venues have been performing copyrighted music without permission. ASCAP is now actively going after local businesses that have not been paying to use copyrighted music. According to their web site any music that is played outside a direct circle of family and friends is considered a public performance; this includes restaurants playing background music or commonly known as in-store music, DJs and music on hold over phone lines.

Fortunately, if you are unwilling or unable to pay expensive music licensing fees but still would like to play music in your venues or implement music on hold, there is a less expensive alternative, Royalty Free Music. Unlike most music licenses, royalty free music only requires a typically low one time fee, and the purchaser is then free to use the music as often and in as many different ways as they like. The majority of music licenses stipulate how the music is to be used, and charge additional fees accordingly. If youre looking for music you can use without being restricted by fussy contracts, you should consider royalty free music.

If youre interested in royalty free music for your music on hold or venues, but are hesitant about the quality and believe popular music is the only way to engage customers you can relax. In addition to being legal and affordable, royalty free music from reputable libraries can be as appealing as any music heard on the radio today. With cutting-edge technology and compositions by talented professional musicians, the quality of royalty free music is on par with popular commercial music.

Because of the rising number of lawsuits being filed by the music industry against those who continue to implement music illegally, and the high cost of synchronization or needledrop licenses, royalty free music is becoming increasingly popular. Its well worth the low fee, particularly if it keeps pricy lawsuits at bay plus it is easy to obtain. Music copyright laws are becoming increasingly more strict and complicated, and it is up to you to keep abreast of and act within these parameters. Pleading ignorance seems to be an unacceptable excuse with performance rights organizations like ASCAP and BMI. If you want to play music and not run afoul of the law seriously consider royalty free music.

One good source for royalty free music with clean and simple licensing terms is Opuzz Royalty Free Music Library, one of the larger independent providers of quality royalty free music.

An allergy is a hypersensitivity to one or more things that are in the environment. The allergy can show itself as a skin condition such as eczema, respiratory conditions such as hay fever or asthma or food allergies. One in six children in the United States is allergic to one or more substances.

Common symptoms of allergies in children include:

• sniffling and a postnasal drip, inflammation of the nasal passages
• dark circles under they eyes (what is often called the allergic shiner),
• puffiness under the eyes,
• restlessness,
• fatigue,
• poor sleep,
• headaches,
• behavioral issues, such as:

• - irritability,
• - hyperactivity,
• - poor concentration, and

• pickiness with food.

Recommendations

Try to remove the source of the allergic reaction - at least as much as possible. There is often a dietary allergy. The most common food allergies are dairy and wheat - these are often the allergy behind nasal congestion. Eat a healthy diet that emphasizes plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables. Any chemical additives that are found to be the cause of allergies need to be eliminated.

Vitamin and Minerals Supplement

These are aimed at balancing the immunity, reducing inflammation and enhancing intestinal health and promoting relaxation.

• Beta-carotene, up to 10,000 units daily and foods that are rich in vitamin A - dark colored fruit and vegetables.
• Essential fatty acids in the form of evening primrose oil, 500 mg one to four times per day.
• Zinc, 5 mg daily.
• Vitamin C with bioflavonoids, 250 - 500 mg taken two to four times each day.
• Vitamin E, 50 to 200 mg daily.
• Vitamin B complex supplement daily.
• Calcium citrate or lactate 600 to 800 mg daily in combination with 300 to 400 mg of magnesium.

Herbal treatments

The treatments can be maintained regularly or used as needed during bad allergy seasons or with flare-ups.

The following herbs are most helpful:

• Nettle - an immune system herb which stimulates lymphatic function. It is also used to stabilise the histamine produced by the body to excess in allergic reactions.
• Elder flowers - used to dry up excessive catarrh in the upper respiratory passages and it also has an anti-microbial action and is a relaxant.
• Ginkgo - reduces platelet activating factor which plays a key role in allergic and inflammatory processes. It also improves cerebral circulation, cerebral oxygenation, enhances memory and reduces depression. This makes this herb a good choice for allergy related behavioral problems.
• Plantain - is used to reduce upper respiratory congestion and it can be easily combined with other herbs.
• Anise seed - has a warming effect on the digestive and upper respiratory tracts which is useful for reducing secretions. It is also mildly antiseptic and relaxing for the respiratory system.
• Ginger - is an excellent anti-inflammatory and anti-catarrhal herb.
• Astragalus - an immune system enhancing herb which is particularly useful for the upper respiratory passages and also skin conditions.

Tincture for Allergy Remedy

The following herbs balance the immune function, strengthen the upper respiratory system, reduce inflammation and decrease secretions (improving runny noses, watery eyes and ear congestion).

1 1/3 ounces elder tincture

2/3 ounces ginkgo tincture

2/3 ounces astragalus

2/3 ounces liquorice tincture

1/2 ounces anise seed tincture

Combine all of the ingredients and store in an amber glass bottle away from sunlight and heat.

Take 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon up to four times per day.

Hay Fever Remedy

To treat and alleviate the symptoms of hay fever the following combination of herbs can be most effective.

2 parts elder flowers

1 part ephedra (ma hung)

1 part eyebright

1 part golden seal

1 cup water

Combine the herbs. You need about as much of the combined herb as you would for a cup of coffee. Then add the cup of boiling water. Allow this to stand for 10-15 minutes and let the mixture cool slightly. Strain the mixture before you drink it. Drink 1 cup of this mixture 2 - 3 times per day.

Concluding Comments

Remember that allergies are accumulative in their effects. During seasons when people are exposed to higher than normal allergens, symptoms can become much worse quite quickly if there is existing chronic exposure to other allergens. The most common culprits are food allergies and these are sometimes "silent" and undiagnosed. Improving the diet to eliminate these can sometimes reduce the level of symptoms experienced even seasonally to a tolerable level, so no treatment is needed at all. While the above details are intended to be generally helpful and educational they should not be construed as a replacement for individual advice from a health professional. You should seek professional assistance if your child's allergy is sudden, extreme, long-lasting or fails to improve.

Liquid vitamin and mineral supplements can be helpful.

References

Hoffmann, D. 2000, The New Holistic Herbal. Element Pub.

Romm, A. 2000, Naturally Healthy Babies and Children. Storey Books.

Shaw, N. 2002, Herbalism. Element.

Woodward, P. 2003, Grow Your Own Herbal Remedies. Hyland House.

Dr Jenny Tylee is an experienced health professional who is passionate about health and wellbeing. She believes that health is not just absence of disease and seeks to actively promote vitality and wellness through empowering others. She encourages people to improve their health by quit smoking, cleansing their body, taking essential, non contaminated vitamin and mineral supplements (from healthproductssite.com) and many other methods, including herbal remedies. She also owns Healthy Living blog.