The COVID era was full of arguments about how to prevent and treat the virus – masking vs. no masking, vitamins and herbal supplements vs. conventional medicines and vaccines vs. no vaccines.
But many medical professionals acknowledge that, if there’s one thing that we should all be able to take away from the pandemic, it’s the knowledge that conventional and natural therapies can work side by side to prevent and cure. Just as not every pharmaceutical drug is appropriate for every disease, not every herbal treatment is appropriate for every disorder.
But many of the natural treatments and immune-boosters have been proven, scientifically, to offer effectiveness in preventing and treating illnesses- you’ll feel like you’ve hit the Uptown Pokies jackpot!
What are the top natural treatments today?
Garlic
If there’s one miracle herb, it would have to be garlic. Garlic is regarded by both conventional and alternative medical professionals as a wonder herb that can both prevent and cure illness. It has been used throughout history in many different regions of the world for it’s health and therapeutic benefits including as far back as in the empires of ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome.
Garlic, both cooked and raw, has been shown to be beneficial in the prevention and treatment of coronary heart disease, hypertension, high cholesterol, atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries, different types of cancer and various infections and viruses including, laterly, the COVID-19 virus.
Garlic is a much-studied compound. Research has discovered that:
- People who eat garlic at least twice a week have a 44 percent lower risk of developing lung cancer (Jiangsu Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention in China).
- The organo-sulfer compounds found in garlic are effective in destroying the cells in glioblastoma brain cancers. (Medical University of South Carolina).
- Women whose diets are rich in allium vegetables, of which garlic is one (others include onions, leeks and shallots) have lower levels of osteoarthritis (Kings College London and University of East Anglia).
- A compound of garlic called “diallyl sulfide) is more powerful than pharmeceuticcal anti-biotics in fighting some types of bacteria (Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotheraphy).
- Garlic oil may help protect diabetes patients from cardiomyopathy, the leading cause of death among diabetes patients (Joural of Archaeologiccal and Food Chemistry).
- Garlic extract supplementation can help reduce cholesterol levels and blood pressure in patients with high cholesterol and high blood pressure (Ankara University).
- Allium vegetables, including garlic, reduce the risk of prostate cancer (Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention).
- Diallyl disulfide has protective effects against liver damage (Institute of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Shandong University, China).
- Alliums and dried fruits can reduce the risk of pre-term births (Division of Epidemiology, Norwegian Institute of Public Health.
- Prophylactic use of garlic (regular use) can decrease the frequency of colds in adults, though it use has no effect on the duration of symptoms once the virus erupts (St. Joseph Family Medicine Residency, Indiana). Some researchers have applied these findings to the COVID-19 virus.
Honey
The Mayo Clinic reports that honey has antioxidants that are associated with reduced risk of heart disease. Honey is also recommended for people with coughs and sore throats for its soothing properties and can act as a cough suppressant for acute nighttime coughs and upper respiratory infections.
There is also evidence that honey can relieve gastrointestinal tract conditions, be effective in oral rehyration therapy, promote wound healing, especially in burns, help prevent memory disorders and offer antidepressant, anticonvulsant and anti-anxiety benefits.
Turmeric
Many herbs and spices have therapeutic and preventative properties but tumeric is probably the most versatile. Turmeric’s active compound, cucumin, makes turmeric a powerful natural method for healing diseases and illnesses. Many highlight that curcumin, a compound in turmeric, has more effect than some prescription drugs.
Tumeric has been shown to increase antioxidants in the body and help to control diabetes by helping to moderate insulin levels. It’s also to believed to help prevent many different types of cancer such as breast, coli, skin and stomach cancer and to help prevent the spread of those cancers once they have begun to grow.
Use of turmeric as a seasoning or in a tea can suppress plaque build-up in the arteries and lower blood cholesterol levels. If used on a regular basis tumeric can help prevent cardiovascular disesases and even prevent and treat Alzheimer’s disease, even once it has begun to manifest, by reducing inflammation and oxidative damage in the brain.
Turmeric is often used to speed up wound healing, reduce acne and prevent scarring. Some people have allergic reactions to topical applications of turmeric so it’s wise to try it on a small area of the skin before spreading it all over.
Research has linked the use of turmeric to positive outcomes in the treatment of depression, gastrointestinal conditions, and arthritis. Turmeric can also serve as a natural weight control aid by claiming the low-grade inflammation associated with obesity.
