The Herbal Insider

Elizabeth J Baldwin says “Forget the Viagra for men, where the heck is something to boost a woman’s libido?”

After enjoying a healthy sex drive since the onset of puberty I suddenly had little or none. This did not make my husband happy, and it made me even more unhappy. After consulting with my doctor, trying various over-the-counter remedies, and generally pursuing any avenue that promised even a slight renewal of my sex drive I stumbled on a combination that works for me.

First taking a two mile walk two or three times a week, in addition to my regular activities, helped a bit. Some of the natural remedies offered seemed to help some. The biggest aid though was discovering that the antihistamines I take for my allergies may be the biggest culprit. My allergies have been getting worse over the years and I’ve been taking more meds for them. Once I discovered this possible problem I began making certain I did not take them within twenty-four hours of times I thought we might have time to play. Then I added Guaifenesin to ward off Read more… »

With the approach of autumn, we welcome that slight chill in the air after the relentless heat of the summer. We look forward to the brilliant colors of the changing leaves, the final harvest of the fruit trees and digging out our favorite sweater. Cooler temperatures and shortening days also signal the start of flu season and the time to prepare is now. Read more… »

When I first read the claim that a papaya leaf dried and put in hot water makes a tea that can treat, slow down, or prevent cancer, I was highly skeptical. Having lost my mother, Julia Ruffin Robertson, to cancer when she was only 55, just at the point where she was becoming recognized for her work as both an artist and art historian (and certainly not because she had done anything to “deserve” cancer), my first thought was, “How dare this person make this claim”. My mother had lived the life of a saint; always two steps behind my father, holding him up and accompanying him to Africa because he wanted to be a missionary, only to succumb to cancer just at the most rewarding time of her life. So to me, the idea that a simple papaya leaf tea could perhaps have added years to her life was not anything to be taken lightly.

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Nutritional and Herbal ways to beat the blues

“…St. John’s wort can have a…beneficial effect on depression.”

Depression can be a response to stressful events, hormonal imbalances, biochemical abnormalities, or other causes. Mild depression which passes quickly may not require any diagnosis or treatment. From nutrients to herbs, there are many mood-lifting alternatives. But keep in mind that there’s a world of difference between an occasional funk and clinical depression—a physician, psychiatrist, or other health professional should be consulted for persistent or serious cases of depression.

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Energizing Vitamins, Minerals, and Herbs

If you are “tired of being tired,” you’re not alone —fatigue is one of the most common complaints heard at a doctor’s office. Fatigue can have a wide variety of causes: from poor diet, lack of sleep or exercise, and obesity, to side effects from certain medications or a sign of drug/alcohol abuse. And that’s not all. A feeling of tiredness could also indicate anemia, infection, hormone imbalance, low thyroid or adrenal function, depression, mental or physical stress, or other serious conditions.

The dietary changes and supplements discussed in the following sections can provide an occasional “oomph” to your life, but fatigue that persists for more than a few days, is associated with pain or discomfort for which the cause is unknown, or has unusual symptoms, should be addressed with your physician.

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