How to Take Cascara Sagrada for Health

How to Take Cascara Sagrada for Health



Cascara sagrada (Rhamnus purshiana) is Spanish for "sacred bark." It was probably named by Spanish priests who learned about it from Native Americans. Cascara sagrada is an American species of buckthorn found on the western coast of North America. The following steps will help you decide whether or not to take this herbal supplement.









1


Read about the historical uses of cascara sagrada. Although it was used by Native Americans as a laxative, it did not see widespread use for this purpose in Western medicine until 1877. A European relative, Rhamnus frangula, has been used as early as 1650, however.





2


Look at the results from modern scientific testing of cascara sagrada. It has been tested extensively and was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 1978 as a safe and effective treatment of chronic constipation.





3


Prepare cascara sagrada for use by harvesting the bark in spring and summer. Age the bark for at least a year to reduce its effects because the fresh bark is too strong. The active ingredients in the bark are anthraquinones.





4


Study the side effects of cascara sagrada. High dosages can cause nausea and vomiting. Cramps and diarrhea also have been reported.





5


Take no more than the recommended dosage of 20 mg to 70 mg per day of cascara sagrada. It should not be taken by pregnant or nursing women. Cascara sagrada is also contraindicated for patients suffering from intestinal blockage and appendicitis and
children
less than 12 old.


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How to Take Butcher's Broom for Health

How to Take Butcher's Broom for Health



Butcher's broom (Ruscus aculeatus) is also known as box holly and Jew's myrtle. It is a small shrub with leaf-like stems and green flowers that bloom in late winter. Butcher's broom is native to Europe and the Mediterranean. The following steps will help you decide whether or not to take this herbal supplement.









1


Read about the historical uses of butcher's broom. This plant is related to asparagus and the young shoots can be eaten. The roots have been taken medicinally for at least 2,000 years, primarily as a diuretic and laxative. It was also given to treat broken bones, gout, jaundice and kidney stones.





2


Look at the results from modern scientific testing of butcher's broom. The first animal trials were conducted in the 1950s and showed two compounds in the roots, ruscogenin and neurscogenin, to be vasoconstrictors.





3


Examine the subsequent clinical trials which showed a similar result in humans. However, the side effects have not studied enough for butcher's broom to be approved as a drug by the Food and Drug Administration.





4


Take no more than the recommended dosage of butcher's broom. The extract is typically taken in capsules of 1 g, three times per day for chronic venous insufficiency. The active ingredient for this effect is thought to be steroidal saponins.





5


Study the side effects of butcher's broom. Side effects are rare at the proper dosage, but nausea is occasionally encountered. Drug interactions of butcher's broom have not been well-studied.


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How to Take Bilberry for Health

How to Take Bilberry for Health



Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) is also known as whortleberry, blueberry, whinberry and huckleberry. It is not generally cultivated but grows wild, bearing fruit in the late summer. It is related to the blueberry and used to make jams, syrups and tarts. If taken medicinally, extract from the fruit should contain 25 percent anthocyanidin. The following steps will help you decide whether or not to take this herbal supplement.









1


Read about the historical uses of bilberry. Bilberry has been used medicinally at least since Elizabethan times for diarrhea and other stomach problems by mixing it with honey. The berries were also used to treat kidney stones, infections and scurvy, and the leaves were sometimes given to treat diabetes.





2


Look at the results of modern tests involving bilberry. Few scientific studies have been done on humans. The available data comes mostly from correlations with similar antioxidants and the limited animal studies that have been done.





3


Consider the uses of bilberry. Today, it is most often used in Europe to treat diarrhea and poor vein circulation.





4


Study the side effects of bilberry. Like many fruits, bilberry is generally safe to use, although the tannins in the berries could be toxic if taken in large quantity over a long period of time.





5


Take no more than the recommended dosage. The dosage for the extract is 80 to 120 mg twice per day and the dosage for the fruit is 5 to 10 g of crushed, dried bilberries in 150 ml of water as a tea.


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How to Take Astragalus for Health

How to Take Astragalus for Health



Astragalus (Astragalus membranaceus) is commonly called milk vetch or huang qi. It is a member of the pea family and is native to northern China. This plant is used medicinally by drying the large yellow taproots of plants that are 4 to 7 years old. The following steps will help you decide whether or not to take this herbal supplement.









1


Read about the first known reference to astragalus. Shen Nung of China recommended its use around A.D. 100 for night sweats, fatigue, loss of appetite and diarrhea. It is often used with other herbs in traditional Chinese medicine to support the immune system, lower blood pressure and treat diabetes.





2


Consider the results from modern scientific testing. Some studies in the United States have shown astragalus speeds the recovery and extends the life expectancy of patients undergoing chemotherapy and radiation therapy.





3


Look at modern studies to see that no significant side effects have been found. However, the clinical trials of astragalus have been generally poor.





4


Take no more than the recommended dosage. Astragalus does not have significant dosage information in Western medicine. Traditional Chinese medicine recommends 9 to 15 grams per day as a tea. A tincture of 3 to 5 ml three times per day also may be recommended.





5


Use caution when taking astragalus with other diuretics. It also may increase the effects of anti-viral medication, diabetes medication and blood pressure medication. Astragalus may counteract the effects of immune suppressants.


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How to Take Agnus Castus for Health

How to Take Agnus Castus for Health



Agnus castus is commonly known as chaste berry or monk's pepper because the Greeks believed it reduced the sex drive. It is native to the Mediterranean and Central Asia and is now grown commercially in Albania and Morocco. The following steps will help you decide whether or not to take this herbal supplement.









1


Collect and dry the reddish-brown or black fruits that grow on this densely branched shrub during the summer. This is the medically important part of the plant.





2


Study the traditional uses of agnus castus. The first recorded medical use of this plant was in the fourth century B.C. by Hippocrates, who prescribed it for disorders of the uterus.





3


Look at the results from modern scientific testing of agnus castus (known generically as Vitex.) The first scientific research was conducted in 1930 on this plant's effects on the female reproductive system. Some of the ingredients have been isolated, but no single component has been shown to have hormonal activity. Subsequent testing indicates agnus castus may be effective in the treatment of menstrual discomfort, particularly that associated with low progesterone levels.





4


Watch for side effects of agnus castus, even though it appears to be well tolerated. Large-scale studies have not shown side effects significantly above those of the placebo.





5


Take no more than the recommended dosage. The usual dosage is two tablets once per day of 280 mg Vitex extract. Vitex is slow acting and given for six months on average.


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How to tie a bow on the back of a dress

How to tie a bow on the back of a dress



Dresses with bows in the back can be glamorous and beautiful for almost any occasion, from casual to formal. But how do you get the perfect bow when you have to tie behind your back?









Step
1



Hold a strap in each of your hands.




Step
2



Cross the left strap over the right strap, being sure to leave enough strap for you to hold onto.




Step
3



Take the strap that is in your right hand (the left strap) and thread it through the hole between the crossed straps and the back of the dress. This should create a knot.




Step
4



Holding the strap that you threaded in your right hand (the left strap), form a loop.




Step
5



Cross the strap in your left hand over the looped strap, then thread the strap in your left hand through the looped strap in your right hand to create a bow. Tie the bow as loose or as tight as you want the bow to appear. If you want the bow to cling tightly to your dress, you will need to tighten the bow. If you want the bow to hang loose from the dress, tie a loose bow.


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How to Test Gold from www.goldtester.net

How to Test Gold from www.goldtester.net



This is a step by step instructional guide to testing gold. Used by jewelers, pawn brokers and gold craftsman for years. Guaranteed to determine if an item is real or fake and the exact karat reading.







Things You'll Need:





Acid Test Kit



Acids



Gold testing stone



Gold Testing needles



Electronic Gold Tester



Selvyt polishing cloth









Step
1



Gold is the most collected and sought after metal today.
Make sure the karat content is what is actually stamped on the piece!




Step
2



Rub the piece of jewelry across a piece of unglazed porcelain tile. It should NOT make a black streak. If it does then it is pyrite. If the streak is golden yellow then it is gold.




Step
3



Use a Moh's scale to determine the hardness. Gold has a hardness of 3.0 Glass is 5.0. It the glass scratches by the test piece it is NOT gold.




Step
4



Hold a magnet near the piece of gold. If the magnet attracts the gold piece, then there are other metals mixed in the gold. This is not pure gold.




Step
5



Purchase hydrochloric acid or sulfuric acid. Place a small drop of acid onto the gold. If the gold begins to dissolve, then there is some other type of metal mixed with the gold and it is not pure.




Step
6



Purchase a gold testing kit from Star Struck, LLC. Visit Star Struck, LLC www.starstruckllc.com for gold testers from leading brands such as RS MIZAR and Tri
Electronics
. Gold Test Acid Solutions, Gold Test Needles, Gold Testing Stones, and a large selection of Jewelry Supplies.




Step
7



Having the ability to test the purity of gold is important for anyone who is involved with buying or selling gold. A jewelry item that is stamped as 10k, 14k or 18k does not mean that it actually contains that type of gold. Many fake stamps exist in the gold market, particularly since gold jewelry has virtually no regulation or oversight. Sometimes a lower quality of gold will be stamped with a higher grade marking, or may not be gold at all, or simply plated. To protect yourself against this, it is important to test the purity of the gold. There are simple methods you can do at home without sending your gold away to an assayer's office.




Step
8



All above Gold Testing kits & testers are
available from Star Struck LLC or by calling 1-800-243-6144.
www.goldtester.net







Tips & Warnings









Always clean the piece of chemicals after testing.








Be careful when using acid.








Wear protective glasses.



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