Anticoagulants

     Some people call anticoagulants blood thinners. However, the blood is not actually made any thinner. Anticoagulants are medicines that prevent the blood from clotting as quickly or as effectively as normal. The main possible side-effect of anticoagulants is bleeding. Many synthetic anticoagulants interact with some other medicines and foods. If you are prescribed or buy any other medicine always tell your doctor, nurse or pharmacist if you are taking an anticoagulant or before switching to an herbal.  Blood clots can block an artery or a vein (blood vessels), a blocked artery stops blood and oxygen from getting to a part of your body. The tissue supplied by a blocked artery becomes damaged, or dies, and this results in serious problems such as a stroke or heart attack.

      Some work by blocking vitamin K, which prevents blood clots forming so easily by increasing the time it takes to make fibrin. It usually takes two or three days for these medicines to work fully.

Anticoagulants are used to treat or help with;

·             Atrial fibrillation (fast irregular heartbeat). Having atrial fibrillation is one of the most common reasons for taking an anticoagulant.

·         A mechanical heart valve.

• Endocarditis (infection of the inside of the heart).
• Mitral stenosis (one of the valves in the heart does not fully open).
• Certain blood disorders that affect how your blood clots (inherited thrombophilia, antiphospholipid syndrome).
• Had surgery to replace a hip or knee.

     Aspirin has an effect of preventing clots by preventing platelets sticking together. However, it is classed as an antiplatelet agent rather than an anticoagulant. Anticoagulants interfere with chemicals needed to make clots or clotting factors. Some natural anticoagulants include; garlic, ginger, white willow, turmeric, feverfew and angelica.

       Using garlic is usually prescribed as supplements in two 200mg daily three times a day.

       Ginger is usually taken four times daily in 500mg doses.

       Like garlic turmeric is consumed three times daily in 200mg doses.

       White willow is consumed as a tea three to four times each day by steeping one or two teaspoons of dried bark in 8 ounces of hot water for a period of 15 minutes or 240 milligrams of this herb in capsule form daily.

Please refer to the disclaimer at the bottom of the page

Aloe Vera

Oriental, Persian, Greek and Roman physicians have used aloe vera to treat a wide range of illnesses; from tonsillitis to insomnia. Some people believe that drinking aloe flower essence  , diluted in water, daily can increase your sensitivity to others. It includes vitamins A, C, and E making it ideal as part of a great beauty regime. The aloe gel can be use to treat a large range of skin ailments including; burns, wounds, acne, eczema, bedsores, allergic reactions, inflammation, psoriasis, insect bites, blisters and dry skin. It can also be used to treat constipation as a mild laxative. This amazing plant helps boost you immune system if you drink aloe juice daily. This juice also naturally replenishes your body because of it's many amino acids, vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, B12, C and E, Folic Acid and Niacin. Minerals also found in the juice include; copper, iron, sodium, calcium, zinc, potassium, chromium, magnesium, and manganese, making it a good source of daily nutrients. Along with improving your energy levels it can help you maintain a healthy body wait by helping your digestive system. This herb also helps with heartburn, arthritis, and lower blood sugar and cholesterol. Aloe vera plant juice is also helpful for common reoccurring disorders such as colds, flues, bronchitis, herpes, stuffy noses, and other respiratory disorders. This plant is also commonly called a miracle plant because of it's ability to help heal people suffering from AIDS and cancer as it halts the growth of cancerous tumours. Not only does it help with all these ailments the list of benefits is still even longer. It prefers well-drained soil in sun, it can grow indoors out of direct sun. It can grow from sown seed indoors during spring or from offsets taken from the base. Lower leaves can be harvested any time, cut the leaf diagonally across base. This leaf should be allowed to stand in a jar to drain out the sap; this should be stored separate from the rest. The gel is scraped out of the inside of the leaf.

Dandelion (Taraxacum Officinale)

In England this plant used to be believed to ward off witches if picked on Midsummer's Eve; called 'witch gowan'. This "weed" has been considered a pest in America however this herb is wonderfully medicinal. So much so that in place where is doesn't grow naturally, such as China and Japan, they have farms/greenhouses devoted to growing this plant for medicinal uses. For years in America this herb has been used to treat kidney diseases. This herb can be uses to fight acne or eczema along with flushing accumulated waste in the liver. This herb is rich in Calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, iron, manganese, and potassium. The leaves of this plant contains more protein than spinach.; the leaves alone are 14% protein. This plant is also loaded with antioxidants and vitamins.The nutrients in dandelion greens may help reduce the risk of cancer, multiple sclerosis, cataracts, age-related muscular degeneration and stroke. Dandelion contains anti-inflammatory properties which provide benefit to those with asthma and other inflammatory diseases. This herb prefers rich, well drained soil in full sun. The seeds should be sowed in the spring, the leaves and fresh flowers can be picked anytime they flower but roots should be dug up in the second autumn.

Ginseng (Panax Ginseng)

This adaptogen helps the body recover faster by strengthening the entire body, increasing the efficiency of the endocrine, metabolic, circulatory, and digestive systems. This root reduces stress by increasing the flow of oxygen in the blood stream and immune-strengthen white blood cell to eliminate toxins. Ginseng has been use therapeutically for more than 5,000 years, making it one of China's most valued ancient herbs. This herb helps enhance physical endurance and speed up the recovery of a cold. This herb helps improve male fertility and help the body to process emotional stress. In China this herb has been used to avoid signs of aging. This root should be harvested in autumn once the plant is six years old. the seeds should be sown once ripe and kept in a greenhouse for their first winter. Separate the neck of older plants from roots and replant in spring. This herb prefers moist, humus-rich soil in the shade. This herb cam be taken in many forms including as tinctures, decoction, or concentrated capsules. Avoid taking ginseng for more than six week continuously, break for 2 weeks then resume if necessary.

Garlic (Allium Sativum)

This hardy perennial bulb is widely available in any grocery store and has amazing medicinal qualities. In WWI doctors squeezed fresh garlic juice in wounds to control infections. But the use of garlic has gone back even longer than that it was used as a protector against evil. European folklore tells that people put garlic in a small bag and tied it around a child's neck to protect against a cold or their tummy to protect from worms. The core benefits include antibiotic, detoxifying, lower cholesterol and blood pressure.  Garlic can be used to halt a cold or flu by letting the good oils from crushed garlic cloves be absorbed into your skin. This method is best if used on the sole of your feet overnight at the first sign of illness. This is because the skin on your feet is very sensitive. Garlic helps prevent heart disease as recommended by The University of Maryland Medical Center. Not only does it decrease bad cholesterol it increases good cholesterol. Garlic helps prevent platelet aggregation, also known as blood clotting. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, allicin appears to be the chemical property in garlic with the anticoagulant powers. The dosage required varies for each person so if you are looking into replacing your anticoagulant with an herb alternative talk to your local Herbalist or Natural Consultant about using garlic capsules.This herb prefers moist, well-drained soil and sun. Plant individual cloves 1 1/2in (4cm) deep in late autumn. Once grown, stop watering allowing the plant to dry out and dig the bulb out in early summer. hang bulb to dry fully or preserve.

Echinacea (Echinacea Angustifolia)

Also known as the purple coneflower, this perennial herb is renowned for its ability to stimulate the immune system. This herb is native to the American Great Plain, found in Central and North America. The parts of the plant that are used are the roots, leaves and stems. This plant prefers moist, rich, well-drained soil in full sun. Once the plant is 2-4 years old roots are best harvested in the autumn. This herb is great for treating insect bites/stings, and halting infections. Echinacea is considered a natural antibiotic, and is also effective as an anti-mircobial agent, anti-inflammatory, and wound healer. Taking echinacea regularly will help with overall health but is advised that a break of a week should be taken after every 3 weeks of prolonged use. Peppermint and Echinacea tea daily is a great way to enhance your immune system and prevent getting sick.

Prevention

You'd be surprised to find out that adding a few extra things to your diet can make such a huge difference. Adding organic peppermint tea to your daily routine will lower your chances of getting a cold because of all its amazing vitemins. Peppermint is also excellent of helping to treating a cold too. The methol and carvone in peppermint make it an excellent decongestant; just inhaling the vapors of peppermint tea will help clear your nasal cavaties. Garlic and onions have great use of an anti-inflammatory and help keep your digestion system healthy and clear. Echinacea has many many uses and helping to prevent the common cold is one. This amazing herb help boost your immune system so if you do get sick you can fight it off fast. If you have allergies you'll be happy to find out that eating watercress is very helpful with allergy symptoms and tastes great with spinach and some lime and salt. A tea recipe I find very tasty and had keep my immune system strong is peppermint, dried orange peel, echinacea, raspberry leaf and juniper berries. The raspberry leaf and juniper berries also help with regulating period and increasing female fertility. The juniper berries are also more effected in treating urinary tract infections. Gluten and sugars should be avoided along with caffine as these are harmful to your immune systems and makes the healing process slower.

Great Resources

In this Prezi you will find a variety of resources we use as Natural Consultants as some of our reference guides. This is an ongoing Prezi so information will be added and removed when it becomes necessary.

Herbal Resources

Prezi #1

This is a prezi we made to help explain some ways to prepare herbs for using in medicinal ways. This is a basic explanation and specific measurements may vary for the herbs you wish to use.

Herbal Preps

Prezi #2

Here is a link to a prezi presentation we made about the 5 most common medical herbs in the U.S. Keep in mind you never want to use herbs that have been treated with weed killers or harmful pesticides as the poisons are in the soil even after you stop treating it.

Herbal Knowledge Backyard Health