It is easy to think to put aloe vera on a burn or tea tree on an insect bite, but what about more serious ailments like asthma, cancer, arthritis or heart disease? Do we have to rely on prescription medicines to treat these ailments or are there natural healing remedies for these conditions as well?

Natural healing remedies usually use naturally occurring plants; the whole plant may be used, some parts of it or a substance might be extracted from the plant. These natural remedies have been used for centuries and have been proven to be safe and effective for numerous ailments.

It is interesting that many of the most advanced natural treatments have originated from Eastern countries like China and India. Ancient China, in particular, is renowned for its natural medicine traditions, much of which survives to this day. You can find Chinese medicine practitioners in most capital cities in America. It is China that has given us green tea, ginseng and wolfberry, all very powerful natural healing remedies.

Past generations had to collect, extract and blend their own natural healing remedies, but we only have to visit a health food store for ours. Besides there being a huge range of products on the shelves and knowledgeable staff to give advice, there are many books and articles on natural medicine to help you gather information and increase your own knowledge.

One of the major health concern at the moment, are the medical conditions that involve inflammation. These include heart disease, arthritis and some cancers. The prescription medicines that are prescribed to relieve inflammation only provide temporary relief and are not effective against chronic inflammation. Most have unpleasant side-effects and prolonged use could damage the liver and kidneys.

There are natural healing remedies that work effectively in cases of inflammation, and these include fruit, fish, some vegetables and green tea. These foods contain certain active ingredients like lipoic acid, resveratrol, carnosine and glutathione that ease the inflammation and discomfort. To get these natural healing ingredients regularly, you need a balanced diet that contains plenty of antioxidant-rich foods like green vegetables, kale, fruit and green tea, and foods that are high in vitamins A, C an E. Antioxidants help to balance the body’s systems and vitamins help them to perform at their best.

You are probably aware that any example of a healthy, balanced diet, always contains many plant foods. The reason for this is that plants contain antioxidants, polyphenols, vitamins and minerals that are so good for our health and help us fight disease. Some plant foods are better than others in keeping us healthy ” green tea has one of the highest levels of antioxidants and polyphenols, and it is known to be good for strengthening the immune system and the heart. Green tea also has implications for treating asthma, gout, cholesterol, blood pressure and cancer.

There are everyday foods that are useful as natural healing remedies. Garlic and onion has been shown to prevent colds, high blood pressure and cardio-vascular disease, while ginger is useful for asthma and blood pressure. Fruits like grapes and apples strengthen and tone the heart, citrus fruit, being rich in vitamin C, strengthens the arteries and lowers high cholesterol. Gingko biloba is useful in cases of high blood pressure and Alzheimer’s disease.

We don’t need to depend solely on prescription medications to treat these more serious illnesses. Natural healing remedies come from nature; they are not synthesized in a laboratory. They are generally free from side-effects, when taken as directed, and are not putting more chemicals into our bodies.