Herbel Remedies for Anemia/Asthma

[HolyDiver777]

Well I've been interested in using herbs for some time now and once my husband and I get our own home I plan to work on an herb garden. He's anemic and has asthma and I'd really like to come up with some things for him to try other than having his inhaler all the time. I thought perhaps certain herbs might gradually help him without having to use his inhaler so much.

Particularly I was wondering if anyone knew any helpful herbs I might use in cooking because he hates teas. He did, however, like one tea. It was a vanilla-caramel tea I bought from the store, so if I were to add herbs to that for healing purposes, not magickal purposes, would it still have the same effect?

And one more question...lol. I'm pregnant and have some pretty noticeable stretch marks around my breasts now. I bought a Jergens lotion to prevent stretch marks but I neglected using it because I forgot. Now I'm not sure the lotion will work in removing what I already have, so are there any herbs I can use to make an ointment to take them away? I've done research and haven't found anything on that.

Well i know that was a lot of questions, but if anyone can help thank you!

[SphinYote]

Is there any reason he can't take iron supplements for the anemia?

I assume you or he is vegetarian, since meat is the best source of iron and there aren't going to be any herbs or vegetables that contain more (in a digestible form) than meat.

Supplements aside, this page (http://www.mckinley.uiuc.edu/Handouts/dietary_sources_iron.html) provides a list of foods that contain iron, scroll down and the vegetable list comes after the meat list.

I'm sure other people will provide better information regarding herbal treatments of asthma, my only advice is to just be sure you do away with any kind of fragranced things like perfume, air fresheners, and candles as those will make asthma much worse in a lot of people. (and trigger migraines in a number of us who don't have asthma).

[watersprite]

Beets and beet greens are VERY good for iron deficiencies. Beet greens are quite tasty.

[Lunacie]

This page (http://www.homemademedicine.com/home-remedies-anemia.html) has what looks to me like very sensible and helpful suggestions for treating anemia. I think dietary treatment is probably the most helpful, especially since your hubby doesn't care for herbal teas, but they also list some herbal treatments such as:


1/2 to 1 tsp. of the tincture of Yellow dock root three times daily, or 1/2 to 1 tsp. of extract of Dandelion leaf and or root or two capsules twice daily, or Eat Dandelion greens in your salads

I developed pleurisy and then asthma after marrying a smoker, and it vanished after I divorced him. Allergens can be a very big trigger.

This page (http://www.homemademedicine.com/home-remedies-asthma.html) (same source as the first one I listed) has more sensible and helpful suggestions for treating asthma.

They even have a page (http://www.homemademedicine.com/home-remedies-stretch-marks.html)of suggestions for treating stretch marks! (I have to bookmark this source!)

[Faol-chù]

Well I've been interested in using herbs for some time now and once my husband and I get our own home I plan to work on an herb garden. He's anemic and has asthma and I'd really like to come up with some things for him to try other than having his inhaler all the time. I thought perhaps certain herbs might gradually help him without having to use his inhaler so much.

Anemia - nettle, alfalfa
Both of these have iron in them. They also both have other essential minerals that help the body to absorb the iron.

Asthma - mullien

You can get both of these in either capsule form, or you can buy or make tinctures with them.


Particularly I was wondering if anyone knew any helpful herbs I might use in cooking because he hates teas. He did, however, like one tea. It was a vanilla-caramel tea I bought from the store, so if I were to add herbs to that for healing purposes, not magickal purposes, would it still have the same effect?

Yes...
For that matter, if he likes ginger and mint, you can get those to go along with your 'medicinal' herbs to make loose tea. Ginger and mint will hide just about anything.


And one more question...lol. I'm pregnant and have some pretty noticeable stretch marks around my breasts now. I bought a Jergens lotion to prevent stretch marks but I neglected using it because I forgot. Now I'm not sure the lotion will work in removing what I already have, so are there any herbs I can use to make an ointment to take them away? I've done research and haven't found anything on that.

A few things that help with stretch marks and scarring...
Vitamin E, Coco Butter, and Comfrey. (Externally only, of course.)
I'm sure it will help prevent....making what's already there "go away" might be too much to ask for though.
It might be worth a shot, though.

[Faol-chù]

Is there any reason he can't take iron supplements for the anemia?

Just because nobody else has said this yet...I'm going to.

"Iron supplements", as in iron, isolated from everything else is really not the best way to help anemia.

They are hard on the body. Most people get constipated from them, or worse..and so they don't take them.
In addition, the iron is not well absorbed this way. (Probably why it causes digestive issues.)

It's best if you can get them in the form of some food (herbs, included)...because when you get it like that, it usually comes in a nice package with other minerals that help the body to absorb it.

[SphinYote]

Just because nobody else has said this yet...I'm going to.

"Iron supplements", as in iron, isolated from everything else is really not the best way to help anemia.

They are hard on the body. Most people get constipated from them, or worse..and so they don't take them.
In addition, the iron is not well absorbed this way. (Probably why it causes digestive issues.)

It's best if you can get them in the form of some food (herbs, included)...because when you get it like that, it usually comes in a nice package with other minerals that help the body to absorb it.

*nods*

I was writing quickly and I phrased that badly....those were the issues I was trying to ask about. Brain to hands to screen wasn't working efficiently...:weirdsmil

[HolyDiver777]

Is there any reason he can't take iron supplements for the anemia?

I assume you or he is vegetarian, since meat is the best source of iron and there aren't going to be any herbs or vegetables that contain more (in a digestible form) than meat.

Supplements aside, this page (http://www.mckinley.uiuc.edu/Handouts/dietary_sources_iron.html) provides a list of foods that contain iron, scroll down and the vegetable list comes after the meat list.

I'm sure other people will provide better information regarding herbal treatments of asthma, my only advice is to just be sure you do away with any kind of fragranced things like perfume, air fresheners, and candles as those will make asthma much worse in a lot of people. (and trigger migraines in a number of us who don't have asthma).

Actually no, neither of us is a vegetarian. I don't know much about anemia. He's just told me red meat helps him most and all I can really think of is steak, which I can't cook. Eventually I'd try to keep that kind of thing around for him but meat can be expensive, and we also don't have the money to keep up with getting iron supplements at the moment, which is why I was wondering if there were any herbs out there to help that. I thought I could start growing those herbs now if there are any and even when I can afford what he needs, still use those to keep him extra healthy.

[HolyDiver777]

Oooh...Thank you so much. :)



This page (http://www.homemademedicine.com/home-remedies-anemia.html) has what looks to me like very sensible and helpful suggestions for treating anemia. I think dietary treatment is probably the most helpful, especially since your hubby doesn't care for herbal teas, but they also list some herbal treatments such as:



I developed pleurisy and then asthma after marrying a smoker, and it vanished after I divorced him. Allergens can be a very big trigger.

This page (http://www.homemademedicine.com/home-remedies-asthma.html) (same source as the first one I listed) has more sensible and helpful suggestions for treating asthma.

They even have a page (http://www.homemademedicine.com/home-remedies-stretch-marks.html)of suggestions for treating stretch marks! (I have to bookmark this source!)

[HolyDiver777]

Thank you for all the info. I must write this down. Well I've made it a point since I started this thread to put that damn lotion on twice as a day. I haven't forgotten since then and this must be some really good stuff because the marks I did have aren't as visible. :hahugh:


Anemia - nettle, alfalfa
Both of these have iron in them. They also both have other essential minerals that help the body to absorb the iron.

Asthma - mullien

You can get both of these in either capsule form, or you can buy or make tinctures with them.



Yes...
For that matter, if he likes ginger and mint, you can get those to go along with your 'medicinal' herbs to make loose tea. Ginger and mint will hide just about anything.



A few things that help with stretch marks and scarring...
Vitamin E, Coco Butter, and Comfrey. (Externally only, of course.)
I'm sure it will help prevent....making what's already there "go away" might be too much to ask for though.
It might be worth a shot, though.