If you catch the flu then it’s likely you’ll experience some or all of the following: a headache, a fever, achy muscles, stiff muscles, an upset stomach, nausea, and possibly dreaded vomiting. The herbal remedy bag has some answers for you. Ginger root and Kudzu have been shown to alleviate these symptoms. Read further to see which one alleviates which symptoms.
Ginger root has been used for thousands of years in traditional Chinese and Indian medicine. Ginger root is an effective nausea relief medication that is safe for children, adults, the elderly, and even pregnant women. Ginger soothes upset stomachs. Doctors often recommend that their patients use a combination of ginger and their prescribed anti-nausea medications when they are having surgical treatments such as chemotherapy. Ginger does not produce a lot of side effects and it does not interfere with the effectiveness of most medications. Ginger’s active ingredients are found in the root. Therefore, a supplement made from ginger root extract is recommended.
Some other medicinal uses for ginger root include:
- Sore muscles and body aches
- Lower blood sugar levels
- Reduces indigestion
- Reduces menstrual cramps
Part 2: Health Benefits you get from Kudzu
Kudzu, is a fast growing vine. It can be found growing in the Southeastern portion of the United States. It has been used in China for its medicinal purposes since about 200 B.C. It is used to treat a myriad of health conditions and symptoms.
For a flu it will help alleviate:
- Headaches
- Fevers
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Upper respiratory infections
- Diarrhea and intestinal issues
- Muscle pains
- Stiff necks
Some other medicinal uses for kudzu include:
- Sinusitis and sinus infections
- Irregular heartbeats
- Hay fever
- Encephalitis
- Thirst
- Skin rashes
- Psoriasis
- Diabetes management
- Strokes due to blood clots
- Unspecified angina
- High blood pressure
What makes Kudzu so Effective?
Kudzu contains a chemical called puerarin that makes it useful in treating things that affect the heart, brain, and circulatory system of humans. It also contains many other chemical agents that help it to be put to medicinal uses.
The Bad Side of Kudzu
Herbs are great, as always, people with certain condition must show caution or not use certain herbs at all. People with the following, need to avoid kudzu as it can cause the following adverse reactions by consuming kudzu:
- Low blood sugars in diabetics
- Blood is made thinner like when you take aspirin, but there is no stomach issues like aspirin causes
- May mimic estrogen so people who have breast cancer, or conditions that could be made worse by estrogen supplements should consult with their physician before they begin to take kudzu in any form
- It might worsen liver diseases so people with these conditions should consult their physicians before they begin a kudzu regimen
Keep these two powerful herbs readily available in your nutritional arsenal. As a general rule you should never take any supplement, natural, or man-made, without first asking your doctor if it will be safe for you.