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In 3,300 B.C., a tribal elder from Val Venosta, Italy, trekked across an Alpine glacier in an attempted getaway from enemies. But his foes got the better of him and with a well-aimed arrow pierced his subclavian artery, leaving him to bleed to death in a glacial cave where his mummified remains were discovered in 1991. Among the belongings of Oetzi the Iceman were two medicinal mushrooms, the earliest evidence in existence of mushrooms used as remedies.

One of the mushrooms he carried was a traditional de-wormer known as Birch polypore (Piptoporus betulinus), which makes sense because whipworm eggs were found in Oetzi’s intestines. The other mushroom was a species frequently used to cauterize wounds, Tinder fungus (Fomes fomentarius). The Iceman’s right hand had been injured days earlier and was in the process of healing when he was killed.

Both of these are polypores, so named because they have pores instead of gills underneath. No species of polypore is known to be poisonous. They usually grow on trees, dead or alive.

Polypores are usually considered inedible due to the fact that they are hard and wood-like. But for ancient peoples all across the globe – from China and India to Europe and the Americas – polypore teas and poultices have none-the-less been indispensible allies to human health at least for as long as written and oral traditions can recount.

Oral traditions of Native Americans bear tale of many types of polypores being used to help against the diseases brought by the Europeans, including Birch polypore but also Reishi (Ganoderma resinaceum), Turkey Tail (Trametes versicolor), Chaga (Inonotus obliquus) and the now almost vanished species Agarikon (Fomitopsis officinalis).

Although nearly extinct today, Agarikon was once common in the old-growth forests of ancient Europe. Greek physician Dioscorides referred to Agarikon as a remedy for tuberculosis in Materia Medica, 65 B.C. It’s the earliest record of a medicinal mushroom in European literature. Two millennia later, the historic use of Agarikon in Poland was put down in writing in the article Medicinal mushrooms in Polish Folk Medicine by K. Grzywnowics. Again, it included lung conditions, as well as rheumatoid arthritis and infected wounds.

So far, we’ve only covered the history of medicinal mushrooms in Europe and America and have barely even touch upon their use in Asia, where their use has been even more exhaustive. At least three Asian species must be included in any article on the history of mushrooms.

First is the polypore Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum), which has been used in China and Japan as a health bestowing mushroom of immortality for at least two millennia. It was first mentioned in the 2,000 year old book Shen Nong’s Herbal Classic. Many ancient wood-carvings and temple engravings in the Orient bear testament to the homage paid to this acclaimed cure-all mushroom.

Another Chinese medicinal mushroom known as Cordyceps was first described in the 200 A.D. book The Classic Herbal of the Divine Plowman. Cordyceps was, and still is, largely used as an aphrodisiac and to improve physical prowess in athletes, although modern research also indicates many other areas of potential usefulness.

Finally there is the Shiitake mushroom, which today is a common household name even in the West. In Asia, however, it is known to have been cultivated as a gourmet mushroom for at least a thousand years. What may surprise is that Shiitake is also one of the most researched medicinal mushrooms in the world. Its potential uses range from energizing tonic to immune-booster and antibiotic with anti-tumor properties.

Medical research on mushrooms appears to have begun in the late 1960’s in Japan. It gained attention in the West through the research by Dr. Ikekawa, who found that families growing mushrooms had lower cancer-rates than other people in their communities. Since those early days, medical research into mushrooms has grown exponentially and is still increasing. Medicinal mushrooms are continuing to make history.

UTI occurs when bacteria gets into the urine and begins to grow. The infection usually starts at the opening of the urethra where the urine leaves the body and moves upward into the urinary tract. The bacteria is commonly known as E. Coli and is known to be the culprit in 90% of uncomplicated infections. The bacteria normally lives in the bowel and around the anus but can move from the area of the anus to the urethra.

Urinary tract infections are often treated by antibiotics (which can have side effects such as nausea, diarrhea or allergic reactions) or the home remedies listed above. Home remedies may help decrease the number of bacteria or provide UTI relief, but rarely can completely eliminate the infection itself.

The most widely known remedy for UTI infections is cranberry juice. Juice should be 100% natural with no added sugars. Another option is to take cranberry extract tablets, available at your local health food store. It may be easier for you to take tablets than to drink cranberry juice throughout the day, and the tablets have been shown to be equally effective in the treatment of UTI infections.

An easy remedy for UTI infections is diet modification. Drinking large amounts of water throughout the day will help to flush out the system, ridding your body of bacteria. You should also avoid sugar and foods containing sugar, as these can encourage bacterial growth. Finally, increasing your consumption of Vitamin C, usually through the use of a supplement, will help to treat UTI infections.

Plenty of rest is key in fighting a UTI. Most of the time infections are the result of our bodies being run-down and compromised from our busy, stressful lives. Something as simple as getting the rest you need can help you body naturally fight off infection.

Urizol, a natural urinary tract formula, can be used to treat UTI infections effectively. Urizol is a safe herbal supplement with a special proprietary blend of substances to treat UTI infections and relieve symptoms quickly. Urizol is well researched and clinically proven to not only treat UTI infections, but also help prevent future infections. By taking just one capsule of Urizol every morning and evening, you will soon find relief from the painful symptoms of UTI infections.

Gout is a type of arthritis that occurs when uric acid crystals accumulate in the joints. Gout usually affects the large joint of the big toe but can also affect other joints, including the knee, ankle, foot, hand, wrist and elbow. The shoulders, hips or spine can also be affected during the later stages of gout. The symptoms of gout usually appear suddenly, and can last anywhere from a few hours to several days.

Treating gout can be easy if the symptoms, genetic history, patients medical history are checked by the physician on time. If a person suffered two or more arthritis attacks, experiences severe joint stiffness in any one area like knee or toe, it could be a symptom of gout.

Beef, iron, and pork are also purine rich foods, but these meats do not usually cause gout if they are consumed in moderation. Game meat may also contain high amounts of purine, although most people do not consume a large amount of game meat as part of a modern diet.

As another effective treatment for gout, your doctor may suggest that you take anti-inflammatory, non-steroidal medicines. These medicines should be takes as soon as the symptoms start to relieve inflammation and pain. Occasionally, as another treatment for gout, strong painkillers may be prescribed. Corticosteroids could also be another effective treatment for gout. Your doctor may inject corticosteroids into your joints to ease the pain.

What is Gout? Gout is the result of too much uric acid that builds up in the body over a period of time.
The uric acid forms very sharp crystals that cluster around the joints causing the pain, inflammation
and tenderness associated with gout. Since gout is caused by the formation of uric acid crystals
that the body does not get rid of you need to know about some factors that might cause gout.

A natural solution for handling the symptoms of gout is Goutezol, a supplement that provides a natural and safe way of fighting gout, providing all the benefits of eating a large bowl of cherries in one capsule. Goutezol contains quercetin, celery seeds, mulberry tree extracts, and rutin, which are all-natural ingredients with a proven history of relieving the symptoms of gout.

Hemorrhoids pain is from a swelling or inflammation of the blood vessels in and around the anus. The pain from hemorrhoids can be mild and intermittent, or almost excruciating and constant, or anywhere in between. There are a number of ways to alleviate the pain, some taking care of the pain only, and others that try to fix the problem.

There are ways that may help prevent hemorrhoids, such as, eating a high fiber diet. When you eat a high fiber diet or bran, or rouhage, it helps to retain more water in your stool, allowing the bowel movement to be softer and easier for you to pass. When you have the urge to have a bowel movement do not prevent it from happening, drink plenty of liquids and exercise to help the bowl movement to be more frequent.

Although keeping your diet under control helps ease the pain, it does not always make the hemorrhoid or the pain go away. There are many natural herbs that people have found help not just ease but often cure painful hemorrhoids. Witch hazel is a liquid that is softly rubbed on the area to lessen the swelling. Butchers broom is another herb known for contracting and strengthening the veins. Ginkgo biloba improves blood flow and lessens the swelling. a final herb known for calming the irritation is mullein. Each of these herbs can be found at a local GNC or vitamin store.

Over-the-counter treatment options for hemorrhoids include topical creams, suppositories, stool softeners and fiber. In mild cases, these treatments can be effective in providing temporary relief and allow the hemorrhoids to become less irritated. However, these methods to not address the root cause of hemorrhoids, and the problem is almost certain to reappear soon.

When treatment is required, you should do the following to help minimize the pain and any possible infection of the hemorrhoids. Sit in a hot tub of water for 10 to 20 minutes, also known as a sitz bath. Keep the anal area clean, by using a mild soap. Only dab the area after having a bowel movement. Do not use harsh rubbing of the area. Keep the hemorrhoids and anal area dry. You may use a talcum powder and some tissue to help absorb the moisture.

The treatments listed above are not the only natural way to do away with embarrassing hemorrhoids. Thankfully there is now a capsule that you may take to help get the hemorrhoid to go away. Calmovil is the only product that helps with the proper blood flow and helps to make sure blood clots dissolve naturally. Calmovil is formulated to help reduce pain, take away the swelling, shrink the hemorrhoid, stop itching and bleeding. Calmovil also helps to strengthen veins and helps to prevent any infections of the hemorrhoid. Last but not least, Calmovil regulates the digestive system by calming it down.

Sciatica is a painful condition that occurs when the root of the sciatic nerve, the longest nerve in the body, becomes compressed. The sciatic nerve has its beginning in the spinal cord near the buttock and hip and extends all the way down the leg and into the foot. Any feeling derived along the hip, leg and foot is due to impulses from the sciatic nerve. Likewise, any compression, damage or inflammation to this nerve can cause pain that radiates all the way from the lower back down the leg and into the foot.

Yet another natural technique to consider is chiropractic treatment, designed to adjust or manipulate your spine, thus enhancing function and reducing pain. A chiropractor may also perform some massage and stretch, to give you some relief from your lower back sciatica.

When walking it is important to always maintain proper posture. Walk upright with your head held upward. One way of teaching yourself the proper posture when walking is to get you back against a wall so that your head heels and your buttocks touch the wall and walk outwards maintaining that exact posture. When you sit it is good to remember to keep your thighs parallel with the floor and sit in an upward position and slouch back slightly. Sleeping is always one of the key ways to maintain a day free from lower back pain caused by sciatica. If you wake up pain free you are more likely to have a pain free day. The best way to sleep at night is by sleeping in fetal position with a pillow in between your knees.

A natural approach found from researching information on sciatica is simple techniques for pain management with the practice of exercise. If the pain is severe and resistant to this treatment, the next approach may involve a more structured version of this type of solution.

Over the counter pain medications containing acedeminophin or aspirin are often helpful in treating sciatica. The application of ice packs over the area where the pain is the deepest can often reduce the inflammation. Some people find relief by alternating heating pads with periods of ice pack therapy. Anti-inflammatory prescription medication may be necessary if the pain proves hard to manage.

Many times natural home remedies just arent enough to alleviate the pain associated with sciatica. However, many prescription drugs are known to cause unpleasant side effects for the patient. For this reason, many sciatica sufferers turn to Sciatol. Sciatol is a natural dietary supplement that has been specially formulated to support the health of the sciatic nerve, spine, and nervous system. If your sciatica pain cannot be relieved through home remedies, but you do not want the unpleasant side effects of prescription drugs, Sciatol could be the answer to all of your sciatica troubles.