Kidney Infections: Stop the Madness!

If you've ever struggled with kidney infections, you understand what a pain they can be.  Back pain, stomach pain, fever, nausea, physical and mental exhaustion can all be symptoms of a kidney infection.  No fun at all.  It's common that when you have one, whatever issue that caused it might not be addressed and the infections continue to occur.  Stress, lack of water, contaminations and other illnesses may leave your body vulnerable to a build-up of the bacteria that causes these infections, which begins a crazy cycle that is miserable!

Stop the Madness!

There are some wonderful herbs and remedies for feeding and healing the kidneys.  There's no reason why you can't stop the maddening cycle today!

Prevention
If you find yourself predisposed to kidney problems and infections, here are some things you should consider:

• Always, always, always drink plenty of water.
• Chronic infections often come an overgrowth of candida (from medications, antibiotics, etc.) and Probiotics are vital to restoring that balance.  
• Make cleansing a regular part of your health regimen.
• Take Cranberry & Buchu daily to promote healthy digestion and to feed and maintain a healthy urinary tract.
• If you struggle with repeat infections, Urinary Maintenance might be just what you need to maintain fluid and mineral balance.
• Get plenty of rest! Yes, there's always more to do, but you won't have a choice if you're doubled over in pain.

Remedies

Once the madness has begun, relief is all you care about.  Here are some remedies that have worked really well for us.

• JP-X is the absolute best herbal combination for handling kidney infections.  It is designed to support the detoxifying functions of the body and strengthens kidneys and bladder.
• IF-C is a Chinese combination that nourishes the structural and immune systems by stimulating blood flow and helping to eliminate toxins.  Whatever kind of infection you may be treating, this combination will work to eliminate it.  When combined with the JP-X, this will usually do the trick.
• Cranberry & Buchu is great for prevention, but also if a kidney infection is especially rough, the cranberry builds up the urinary tract to ensure it's proper function.
• Olive Leaf Extract helps protect from and eliminate the unwanted invaders (bacteria) that often cause the infection to begin with. It also promotes great circulatory health and supports the urinary system.

There are so many great herbal alternatives that gently correct damages in the body by nourishing the systems.  If you haven't found relief yet for your urinary and kidney health OR you have another hard to address health issue, we'd love to help you find herbal alternatives!  Give us a call at (405) 634-HERB.

Colon Health: That's Where the Party's At!

As we approach the new year, it's likely you've mistreated your body a bit in the past few weeks (maybe months?) and some detoxing or cleansing is in order.  We are diligent to regularly clean everything else in our life - hands, bodies, homes, clothes, etc. - so it makes sense to do the same for the inside of your body.  Just like the grime and muck of daily living can build up sometimes before we realize, the toxicity of our environments takes its toll on our bodies.  Here are just a few of the possible benefits you could experience with some internal cleansing:

-Improved digestion and elimination

-Better mental clarity 

-Energy levels usually improve

-Removal of waste/debris and toxic chemicals (like preservatives, artificial colors, pesticides, etc.)

-Increased nutrient absorption

And the best and most important place to start is the colon.  It might be an uncomfortable topic for discussion, but if your colon isn't healthy, you're uncomfortable on a whole new level.  When things are working like they should, especially when they have haven't been, suddenly there's all kinds of rejoicing!

Did you know that during active weight loss is an ideal time to cleanse and detoxify?  As your body burns up fat, it releases more stored toxins, which need to be removed before they get back into your bloodstream.  So, as you prepare to start that new exercise routine and healthy eating habit, throw in some intentional cleansing while you're at it for optimum benefits.

Cleansing Essentials
Every person's body has unique needs and conditions and there are dozens of herbal supplements and combinations that can aid intestinal health.  But for a basic understanding, here is a summary of the most commonly used products to aid a short term cleanse.  For more information about which is best for you, give us a call!

Probiotics - Our intestinal tract includes both good and bad bacteria.  Many things like diet, environmental factors and medications wipe out all of the good.  To build it back up, consider probiotics like Bifidophilus Flora Force, Probiotic Eleven, and Acidophilus

Fiber - Insoluble and soluble fiber are both critical to a properly functioning intestinal system.  Products like Nature's Three, Loclo, Psyllium Hulls Combination and Everybody's Fiber help to keep the movement regular.

Enzymes - Enzymes break down toxins and undigested food which helps your intestinal track stay healthy. Products like Food Enzymes, Proactazyme, and Hi-Lipase are great options.

Cleansers - In addition to fiber, a cleanser is needed to act as a stimulant to rid the bowel of toxic waste.  For a typical detox, LBS II, Intestinal Soothe & Build, All Cell Detox and Bowel Detox are popular combinations.

13 Super Brain Foods - by Nature's Sunshine


And finally, make sure you're drinking water, water and more water! Herbal supplements especially are more effective in the body with plenty of water AND extra water helps the toxins you are trying to clean out to move through faster.  Whether at the beginning of a new year or just some time in the next 3 or 4 months, do something to detox! Your bowels will thank you!