Superboosters: natural herbs and supplements to boost health

Feeling fluey or down in the dumps?

Whatever your ailment, this guide to natural supplement remedies is

sure to give you an instant lift

Ailment
Booster
Effect

Acne
Artichoke,

Dandelion
Artichoke

improves liver function and fat digestion.
Dandelion is both

cleansing and diuretic.

Anxiety
Passion

flower,
Valerian
Both are

calming and mild tranquillisers.

Arthritis
Devil's

claw,
Glucosamine,
Pycnogenols
Devil's claw

and pycnogenols are both anti-inflammatories,
while glucosamine

sulphate helps repair damaged cartilage.

Back

pain
Chilli,

Devil's claw
Chilli

stimulates the circulation and promotes healing of damaged tissues.

Devil's claw is a natural anti-inflammatory.

Boils
garlic, Tea

tree
Both are

powerful anti bacterials (eat one clove of garlic a day
or take as

tablets; apply tea tree oil directly to the boil).

Bruising
Horse

chestnut,
Pycnogenols
Horse

chestnut improves capillary blood flow. Pycnogenols
are natural

anti-inflammatories.

Chilblains
Chilli,

Ginger,
Vitamin E
All

stimulate and improve circulation to the extremities.

Cholesterol
Evening

primrose
oil, Folic acid, Garlic
Evening

primrose oil is anti-inflammatory and protects the
arteries. Folic

acid controls levels of heart-damaging
homocysteine. Garlic helps

reduce blood cholesterol.

Chronic

fatigue
BIO-STRATH

elixir,
Coenzyme Q10,
Ginseng,
St John's wort
BIO-STRATH

is an immune booster, protects against infection
and improves

nutrient uptake. Coenzyme Q10 improves
energy release from food.

Ginseng boosts energy. St John's
wort helps with depression that

accompanies chronic fatigue.

Circulation
problems
Ginger,

Ginkgo
biloba, Vitamin E
Ginger

stimulates circulation and improves blood flow. Ginkgo
biloba helps

dilate the tiny capillaries at the end of the
circulatory system.

Vitamin E strengthens blood vessel walls.

Colds
Devil's

claw, Echinacea, Lapacho
Devil's claw

lessens aches and pains. Echinacea and lapacho
are both immune

boosters.

Cough
Garlic,

Liquorice, Valerian
Garlic is

anti-bacterial. Liquorice is an effective expectorant.
Valerian

improves sleep that is interrupted by coughing.

Cramp
Chilli,

Ginger, Vitamin E
All

stimulate and improve circulation.

Cystitis
Cranberry,

Dandelion
Cranberry

protects against urinary bacteria. Dandelion is diuretic.

Depression
Lemon
balm, St John's wort
Lemon balm relieves
physical tension. St

John's wort helps moderate depression.

Fever
Chamomile,

Feverfew, Tea tree
Chamomile

helps ease fevers, especially for children. Tea tree
is

anti-bacterial. Feverfew helps lower body temperature.

Flatulence
Fennel,

Peppermint
Both relieve

symptoms.

Fluid

retention
Dandelion
Dandelion

leaves are a powerful diuretic.

Gallstones
Artichoke,

Fenugreek
Artichoke

stimulates the gall bladder and improves liver
function. Fenugreek

protects and stimulates the liver.

Gastritis
Chamomile,

Fennel,
Peppermint
Chamomile

relieves stomach pain. Fennel seeds relieve
gastric discomfort.

Peppermint reduces stomach acidity.

Gout
Dandelion,

Devil's
claw, Lemon balm,
Pycnogenols
Dandelion's

diuretic action helps remove uric acid which
causes the pain of

gout. Devil's claw and pycnogenols are
anti-inflammatories. Lemon

balm relieves muscle spasms.

Hair

problems
Chamomile,

BIO-STRATH elixir,
Red clover
BIO-STRATH

improves nutrient absorption to aid hair health.
Chamomile helps

strengthen weak hair (drink as tea or use tea as a rinse after

washing). Red clover provides plant hormones which may help reduce hair

loss.

Headache
Artichoke, Dong

quai, Feverfew
Artichoke

cleanses the liver (good for hangover headaches). Dong quai relieves

vascular spasm, so may help headaches associated with blood flow.

Feverfew eases headaches.

Heart

disease
Folic acid,

Garlic, Lycopene, Selenium, Vitamin E
Folic acid

controls homocysteine levels, a predictor of heart disease. Garlic

lowers blood pressure and cholesterol, and reduces the stickiness of

blood. Lycopene is a protective antioxidant. Selenium is an essential

mineral. Vitamin E protects both heart and arteries against oxidative

damage.

Hepatitis
Artichoke, Milk

thistle
Artichoke

stimulates the liver and gall bladder and improves fat digestion. Milk

thistle is useful for all liver problems.

Herpes
Garlic, Lemon

balm
Both are

specifically anti viral. Dab the cut end of a garlic clove onto

affected areas, eat garlic in food or take as tablets. Take lemon balm

as tea; use cold tea as a lotion on any areas affected with the herpes

virus.

Hypertension
Coenzyme Q10,

Flax seeds, Garlic
Coenzyme Q10

may lead to significant reduction in blood pressure. Garlic lowers

blood pressure and cholesterol.

Impotence
Catuaba, Muira

Puama, pfaffia
Catuaba

stimulates the central nervous system. Muira Puama helps improve sexual

function. Pfaffia helps combat stress.

Indigestion
Chamomile,

Fennel seeds, Peppermint
Chamomile

relieves stomach pain. Fennel seeds relieve flatulence. Peppermint

reduces stomach acidity.

Influenza
Cat's claw,

Echinacea, Turmeric
Cat's claw

is a great immune booster. Echinacea protects against viruses. Turmeric

is anti bacterial and anti viral.

Insomnia

Passion flower,

St John's wort, Valerian
Passion-flower is calmative. St John's wort is an

anti-depressant; insomnia can be a symptom of depression. Valerian

encourages deeper sleep and prevents waking in the small

hours.

Memory

loss
Ginkgo biloba,

phosphatidylserine
Ginkgo

biloba stimulates blood flow to the smallest blood vessels of the

brain, specifically improving short-term memory loss.

Phosphatidylserine is a vital regulator of brain function and helps

improve general memory.

Menstrual

problems
Black cohosh,

Chamomile, Dandelion
Black cohosh

helps regulate general physical and emotional disruptions of the

menstrual cycle. Chamomile eases painful breasts before and during

periods. Dandelion helps correct fluid retention, which causes

menstrual discomfort.

Mouth

ulcers
Garlic, Lemon

balm, Probiotics
Garlic oil

is excellent for healing mouth ulcers (rub the ulcers with the cut,

squeezed end of a clove). Lemon balm is anti viral and prevents

secondary infections (use lemon balm tea as an anti viral mouthwash).

Probiotics replace the friendly bacteria in the mouth and digestive

tract which protect against infections.

Prostate

problems
Zinc and oyster

extract
Zinc is

essential for proper functioning of the prostate.

Raynaud's

Syndrome
Chilli, Ginger,

Ginkgo biloba, Vitamin E
All

stimulate and improve circulation to the extremities.

Seasonal

Affective Disorder (SAD)
Ginseng, Lemon

balm, St John's wort
While none

of these is a true treatment for the condition (light therapy is most

effective), together they can produce a remarkable improvement. Ginseng

provides an energy boost, which at least enables sufferers to be more

active. Lemon balm relaxes physical tension and aids well-being. St

John's wort helps to overcome the inevitable depression of

SAD.

Tired All

The Time Syndrome
BIO-STRATH elixir,

Guarana, Kelp, Schisandra
BIO-STRATH

promotes well-being. Guarana provides a gentle, slow-release energy

boost. Kelp stimulates the thyroid, which is commonly, though

sub-clinically, underactive. Schisandra restores a zest for life and

improves the mental state.

Varicose

veins
Chilli, Garlic,

Ginger, Horse chestnut, Vitamin E
All stimulate

and improve circulation to the extremities. Vitamin E in particular

helps to strengthen vein walls.

Check with your doctor before taking any supplements and follow

dosage guidelines on packets.

Extract taken from Super boosters by Michael Van Straten

(£10.99; Mitchell Beazley). For more information and to order the book,

log onto www.mitchell-beazley.co.uk