Age Gracefully With Herb: Support Digestion, Brain And Heart

It is a given fact that everyone ages. Since aging means a decline in a person’s vitality, that may be a cause of concern for some people. But in an article published in the Journal of the American Herbalist Guild, it says that a person, despite their age, can keep their body as healthy as possible by adjusting their lifestyle and diet as well as incorporating herbs.

Here are some of the common conditions related to aging and herbal and nutritional therapies to attenuate it.

Osteoporosis

Common in post-menopausal women is the loss of bone density. This condition is affected by many factors such as hyperthyroidism, lack of exercise, smoking, the long-term use of corticosteroids, and excessive alcohol consumption. Listed below are the herbs that can support bone health:

  1. Drynaria root/Gu Sui Bu (Drynaria fortunei)
  2. Horsetail (Equisitum arvense)
  3. Alfalfa herb (Medicago sativa)
  4. Teasel root (Dipsacus asper, D. japonicus)
  5. Amla fruit (Emblica officinalis)
  6. Dandelion leaf (Taraxacum officinale)
  7. Nettle leaf (Urtica dioica)
  8. Peppergrass herb/seed (Lepidium spp.)
  9. Processed Rehmannia root (Rehmannia glutinosa)
  10. Oat straw (Avena sativa)


Alzheimer’s disease

The likelihood of developing this condition can be lessened by the using dietary and herbal antioxidants. Impaired digestion, insulin resistance, chronic stress, nutritional deficiencies, poor circulation, and smoking are all factors that decrease the cerebral capacity and increase the risk of Alzheimer’s. To counter this condition, the following herbs are recommended:

  1. Blueberry solid extract (Vaccinium spp.)
  2. Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis)
  3. Bacopa (Bacopa monnieri)
  4. Chinese polygala root (Polygala tenuifolia)
  5. Holy basil (Ocimum sanctum)
  6. Periwinkle (Vinca minor)
  7. Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)
  8. Lavender flower (Lavendula angustifolia)
  9. Ginkgo standardized extract (Ginkgo biloba)
  10. Gotu kola (Centella asiatica)
  11. Sage (Salvia officinalis)


Atherosclerosis

This condition is commonly linked to the presence of fats in the body and is aggravated more by systematic inflammation, oxidation of fats, low-grade infections, and insulin resistance. Here are the herbs that can fight atherosclerosis:

  1. Cinnamon bark (Cinnamomum spp.)
  2. Dan Shen root (Salvia miltiorrhiza)
  3. Sage (Salvia officinalis)
  4. Turmeric rhizome (Curcuma longa)
  5. Garlic bulb (Allium sativum)
  6. Gum guggul gum (Commiphora mukul)
  7. Hawthorn berry/flower (Crataegus spp.)
  8. Linden flower (Tilia spp.)
  9. Lycium fruit (Lycium barbata)
  10. Pomegranate (Punica granatum)
  11. Blueberry solid extract (Vaccinium spp.)
  12. Green tea (Camellia sinensis)
  13. Rosemary (R. officinalis)


Constipation

The digestive system is also impacted by the aging process, just like other parts of the body. Apart from a diet that is rich in soluble fiber, taking the following herbs may help deal with the problem:

  1. Butternut bark (Juglans cineria)
  2. Culver’s root (Veronicastrum virginicum)
  3. Prune juice (Prunus domesticus)
  4. Artichoke leaf (Cynara scolymus)
  5. Dandelion root (Taraxacum officinale)
  6. Red Alder bark (Alnus rubra)
  7. Triphala – An Ayurvedic bowel tonic


Sciatica

This painful inflammation of the sciatic nerve is felt from the buttocks to the inside or back of the thigh. Aside from acupuncture and chiropractic the following herbs can offer pain relief and help speed up the healing process:

  1. Prickly ash bark (Zanthoxylum spp.)
  2. Clematis root (Clematis chinensis)
  3. St. John’s Wort flowering tops (H. perforatum)
  4. Teasel root (D. asper, D. japonicus)
  5. Sweet melilot (Melilotus officinalis) – for sharp, stabbing pain
  6. Horse Chestnut seed (Aesculus hippocastanum) – for dull, throbbing pain
  7. Ox-knee root (Achyranthes bidentata)


Depression

This condition can happen to anyone. The following herbs are known to has anti-depressant properties:

  1. St. John’s Wort flowering tops (Hypericum perforatum)
  2. Black Cohosh root (Cimicifuga racemosa)
  3. Damiana (Turnera diffusa)
  4. Mimosa bark (Albizia julibrissin)
  5. Night Blooming Cereus stem (Selenicereus grandiflorus)
  6. Rosemary (R. officinalis)
  7. Evening Primrose (Oenothera biennis)
  8. Holy Basil (Ocimum sanctum)
  9. Linden flower (Tilia spp.)
  10. Lavender flower (L. angustifolia)
  11. Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) – use with hypericum for seasonal affective disorders (SAD)

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