Six herbal remedies for everyday ailments

If you have a headache, you have a mind-boggling array of over-the-counter drugs to take for it: Aspirin, acetaminophen and ibuprofen are just the start.

You can apply that to almost any common ailment: stomach troubles, sinus issues, rumbly tummy.

Recently, though, there seems to be a resurgence in home wellness remedies. For many people, natural oils, herbs and supplements go hand-in-hand with mental and physical health regiments.

"The truth is herbalists don't treat conditions. They treat people," said Donna Merrill, a certified medical herbalist and nurse who is a consultant with Harvest Market Natural Foods in Hockessin. For example, many stomach problems, like constipation, originate from emotional stress.

The mentality of "You are what you eat" also comes into play with holistic remedies. Yogurt, for example, is known to replace and build up the good bacteria in your gut, which helps stave off most illnesses.

"As soon as anybody in my house gets sick I make chicken soup," explained Dr. Frances Zappalla, a pediatric cardiologist certified in integrative medicine with Nemours. The ingredients in chicken soup, if made from scratch with garlic, onions and thyme, work like antibiotics to fight off the seasonal cough and cold.

It's important, however, to extensively research natural supplements since they could react with other medications you take. For instance, the herb St. John's Wort is used to help elevate moods and ease pain, but it can negatively interact with low-dose birth control pills, causing them to be less effective.

However, you might not be able to avoid over-the-counter medicines and should not avoid some prescribed medications, Zappalla points out.

"If you have an infection, you need the antibiotics. All the herbal remedies in the world aren't going to get rid of the strep throat," Zappalla said.

Interested in making a switch to herbal medicines, or adding them to your arsenal of health helpers?

Zappalla, Merrill and Kellie Schiavo, a wellness advocate for essential oils, give us some natural remedies for six everyday ailments. Here's what they had to say:

Constipation

Your brain and your gut are connected, Merrill says. They are made from similar tissue that controls stress and worry. In the gut it's known as the enteric nervous system, located in the lining of the esophagus, stomach, small intestine and colon.

Stress in the gut, in turn, leads to problems like constipation and bloating. Chamomile tea helps to ease that stress immediately, but bitters and flax seed can jump-start certain bowel processes.

Bitters are just what they sound like: bitter herbs. These herbs tell our bodies to secrete enzymes which aid the digestive process, Merrill said, acting as a natural laxative. They "send the energy downward." You can buy them at a natural food store in liquid form to take on its own or with a bit of water.

For chronic constipation, milk of magnesium can be used as a laxative, but it also has calming properties that ease muscle spasms and stress. However, Merrill said you want to avoid products that contain senna because they can be habit-forming.

Pimples

"In natural medicine, chronic skin problems are not necessarily treated just topically, they are usually treated internally with herbs that help the body get rid of waste," Merrill said.

Topical treatments should include tea tree oil, which helps conditions like eczema or psoriasis. Tea tree kills bacteria and fungus and reduces allergic reactions.

Merrill also suggests a treatment that balances hormones in the body. Balancing herbs include chaste tree, which was traditionally used for women experiencing premenstrual syndrome.

She recommends products with Oregon grape root for deep cystic acne, since it can fight bacterial and fungal infections deep within the skin.

Urinary tract infection

With a recurring urinary tract infection, the key is taking preventive measures. Cranberry supplements or juice help flush your system.

Mild, non-irritating herbs like corn silk or Oregon grape root also are said to alleviate inflammation in the urinary tract. In addition to those natural solutions, drink plenty of fluids, avoid wearing skintight pants and reward yourself with pristine hygiene practices.

"All the things your mother told you," Merrill said with a laugh.

For women with chronic UTIs, products with a sugar called D-mannose can help prevent bacteria from sticking in the urinary tract.

Migraine

When it comes to treating migraine headaches, it's important to discern whether the pain originates in blood vessels that are vasodialated (widening) or vasoconstricted (contracting), Merrill said.

If it's the type of migraine that is vasoconstricted, or tight, heat will help relax the pain. Herbs that increase circulation to the brain like rosemary and ginko help stimulate the vessels. For blood vessels that are vasodialated, herbs like butterbur, decreases swelling.

But the question remains: How do you know which kind of migraine you have?

Merrill uses this trick. Put a cold pack on your head and your feet in warm water. If ice makes you feel better, your headache might have vasodialated vessels. If heat soothes you, you likely have a vasoconstricted headache.

Lavender oil, a cure-all, also can ease tension if rubbed on the neck and shoulders. Schiavo said lavender also helps with insomnia and can help heal cuts and bruises. The lavender dually soothes the cut and the mind.

Sinus trouble

Sinus trouble needs to be treated with a three-prong approach, Merrill advocated.

For treatment, use a Neti pot, literally a small pot, to clean out the nasal passageways. Fill the pot with filtered water, sea salt and little bit of bi-carb baking soda, which balances the PH so the solution doesn't sting as much. Position your head so you are facing down, pour the water into one nostril and watch the gunk pour out the other.

"I always jokingly say, 'Welcome to Delaware: Here's your neti pot,' " Merrill said.

A lot of people suffer from year-round allergies, waking up to headaches, puffy eyes, irritated lungs and stomach aches or nausea from nasal discharges. Steam treatments with lavender or eucalyptus oils can alleviate the irritation.

"The steam opens you up and helps you drain," Merrill said.

Lemon and peppermint together can also clear congestion, Schiavo added. She likes to use them to replace Claritin allergy tablets, using only a drop or two in a glass of water.

"It can really go a long way," she said.

To additionally quell sinus pain, Merrill said it's imperative to limit dairy and wheat products.

"They are very mucus-producing – glue-ifying," she said.

For nagging coughs and upper respiratory infections, cook with thyme herbs and astragulus roots, Zappalla said. She tosses astragulus into her weekly Sunday dinner tomato sauce.

"It has properties in it that help boost the immune system," she said.

Overall immune health

Now that we are in the middle of cold and flu season, Schiavo recommends using an oil called onguard, which is a combination of wild orange, cloves, cinnamon, rosemary and eucalyptus to help boost immunity.

"I use it every day in my home. It keeps us from getting sick so often," said Schiavo, who has two young kids.

Elderberry herbs can also be used every day to boost your immune system. Often, when people feel run-down, they immediately think they need a "detox" to help flush toxins out, Merrill said.

"Build a little, cleanse a little," she said.

Herbs like ginseng, holy basil and ashwagandha are beneficial to that end. Ashwagandha in particular helps the body adapt to stress since it's said to aid overworked pituitary and adrenal glands, which secrete hormones throughout the body.

"We all know that we are whipping them all day long for our energy. We have coffee, chocolate, carbs, caffeine. They give you energy in the short-term but deplete you in the long run," Merrill said.

Jen Rini can be reached at (302) 324-2386 or jrini@delawareonline.com. Follow @JenRini on Twitter.