Health 8 Natural Herbs To Treat Mental Disorders: Stress, Anxiety, Depression

Daily life problems and on-going pressure can create mental disorders such as anxiety, stress and ultimately depression. All of which are linked to each other and for instance, stress can make existing mental issues like anxiety worse. Approximately 14.8 million American adults are affected yearly with such disorders. And instead of resorting to sedative drugs that can reflect side effects such as addiction, weight gain and frenzy behavior. Alternative medicine offers you the same therapeutic properties using only natural elements.

Herbs to treat depression, stress and anxiety:

1 – St. John’s wort herb

If you are depressed and always anxious, unable to sleep? St. John’s wort plant is the solution that you need. Herbal experts consider it one of the best anti-depressants and prescribed for the treatment of light and moderate depression.
You can find this plant in health stores or in pharmacies in different forms, such as pills, liquid extracts, capsules or injections. But be careful, because consuming this plant should be in suitable doses.
To use the plant for more than 15 days, you must consult with a doctor or a specialist in the field because drugs interactions can create complications, especially antidepressant and antiviral drugs.

2 – Rhodiola Rosea or the Golden Root

This plant prefers a particular slope in the cold regions of the world to grow naturally. The plant is considered the golden root of the perennial plants and pretty useful against mental stress.
The roots are used in Scandinavia for the treatment of seasonal depression, which is associated with the absence of sunny skies as well as being an excellent stimulant and substitute for anti-anxiety medication as it helps to regulate the production of adrenaline and improving sleep in people who suffer from insomnia.
If you feel tired and you need the energy to work, you can take golden root plant in the form of a capsule or tablet half an hour before breakfast or lunch. Avoid taking it in the evening so as not to bother you while you sleep.

3 – Valerian 

Valerian plant is known for its sedative effects since ancient Greece era and used as a natural remedy for sleep disorders and nervousness. The important ingredients of this plant exist in its roots and consumed in different forms such as dried roots, dye and dry extract of the herb.
You can use this herb to reduce tension and anxiety by putting dried roots in boiling water and drink from it twice a day. And you can also add boiled valerian to your bath to release tension and stress.

4 – Ginseng 

Ginseng is called the “root of life” in Chinese traditional medicine because it gives a sense of energy in the case of physical and mental fatigue.
The advantage of this plant is that it helps to increase the body’s ability to cope with stress and fatigue of different situations you encounter every day. To take advantage of its unique properties, take ginseng on a daily basis, for example, in the form of capsules containing 3 or 7 percent of the “ginsenoside”.

5 – Chamomile

If you feel anxious, stressed, you should take a cup of chamomile warm tea, which helps to calm the nerves and relieves anxiety and depression.

6 – Green tea

Green tea contains a substance called ‘Theanine’ that reduces high heart rate and high blood pressure, drink green tea twice a day to refresh your thoughts and to calm the nervous system.

7 – Passion Flower

Despite its name, passion flower have no effect on the feelings or pain and it works as a moderator for the nerves, anti-anxiety and insomnia, but it is advised to to overtake it because it has the same effect as other sedative drugs.

8 – Lavender

Lavender flower has a strong aromatic smell and used to treat stress and anxiety, you can create a lavender spray or drink it in the form of tea, try it and you won’t be disappointed.

Important tips for anxiety, stress, depression:

•  Exercise is very beneficial for both the body and the mind, try to practice any kind of sports on a regular basis and you will feel the difference.
• A deep breath is one of the easiest ways to fight anxiety and when you feel the pressure. It will help you relax and refrain you from getting nervous or angry.
• If you notice low blood glucose, it may be due to anxiety feelings, you need to eat something like chocolate or candy to restore normal glucose level.
• Make sure to eat breakfast on time because it’s considered one the most important meals of the day. It helps the body to function efficiently, where studies found that those who do not have breakfast become more anxious than those who do.
• Omega 3 is among the top beneficial nutrients for your health, such as protecting the heart from disease, as they also protect against depression {depression home remedies} and stress.
• Magnesium components reduce the tension and lower high blood pressure and excess heart rate.

That’s it,

What are some other herbs worth mentioning to treat stress, anxiety and depression?

References:

1. http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/condition/stress
2. http://www.theherbalspoon.com/2013/06/anxiety-and-depression-relief.html
3. http://www.herbalismchoice.com/2016/03/stress-and-anxiety-home-remedies.html

Border Agent: Vast Majority of Illegals Released into Country – Disease or No Disease

A history lesson about your Social Security card and benefits

Subject: History Lesson on Your Social Security Card

Just in case some of you young whippersnappers (& some older ones) didn’t know this. It’s easy to check out, if you don’t believe it. Be sure and show it to your family and friends. They need a little history lesson on what’s what and it doesn’t matter whether you are Democrat or Republican. Facts are Facts.
Social Security Cards up until the 1980s expressly stated the number and card were not to be used for identification purposes.

                                                                 DID YOU KNOW

Since nearly everyone in the United States now has a number, it became convenient to use it anyway and the NOT FOR IDENTIFICATION message was removed.

Franklin Roosevelt, a Democrat, introduced the Social Security (FICA) Program. His promises are in black, with updates in red.
1.) That participation in the Program would be Completely voluntary [No longer voluntary],
2.) That the participants would only have to pay 1% of the first $1,400 of their annual Incomes into the Program [Now 7.65% on the first $90,000, and 15% on the first $90,000 if you’re self-employed],
3.) That the money the participants elected to put into the Program would be deductible from their income for tax purposes each year [No longer tax deductible],
4.) That the money the participants put into the independent ‘Trust Fund’ rather than into the general operating fund, and therefore, would only be used to fund the Social Security Retirement Program, and no other Government program [Under Johnson the money was moved to the General Fund and Spent], and
5.) That the annuity payments to the retirees would never be taxed as income [Under Clinton & Gore up to 85% of your Social Security can be Taxed].
Since many of us have paid into FICA for years and are now receiving a Social Security check every month — and then finding that we are getting taxed on 85% of
the money we paid to the Federal government to ‘put away’ — you may be interested in the following:
Q: Which Political Party took Social Security from the independent ‘Trust Fund’ and put it into the general fund so that Congress could spend it?
A: It was Lyndon Johnson and the democratically controlled House and Senate.
Q: Which Political Party eliminated the income tax deduction for Social Security (FICA) withholding?
A: The Democratic Party.
Q: Which Political Party started taxing Social Security annuities?
A: The Democratic Party, with Al Gore casting the ‘tie-breaking’ deciding vote as President of the Senate, while he was Vice President of the US
AND MY FAVORITE:
Q: Which Political Party decided to start giving annuity payments to immigrants?
A: That’s right! Jimmy Carter and the Democratic Party. Immigrants moved into this country, and at age 65, began to receive Social Security payments! The Democratic Party gave these payments to them, even though they never paid a dime into it!
Now, after violating the original contract (FICA), the Democrats turn around and tell you that the Republicans want to take your Social Security away!
And the worst part about it is uninformed citizens believe it! If enough people receive this, maybe a seed of awareness will be planted and maybe changes will
evolve. Maybe not, though. Some Democrats are awfully sure of what isn’t so — but it’s worth a try. How many people can YOU send this to?
Actions speak louder than bumper stickers.

Source: Bookworm Room

Bill Requiring Women to Register for the Draft Passes Senate

A provision that would require women to register for the military draft alongside men for the first time in American history was included as part of the massive 2017 National Defense Authorization Act that passed the Senate handily on Tuesday with an 85-13 vote.
The language requiring the draft for women was added in committee and received little debate on the Senate floor, but has created a firestorm of controversy on and off Capitol Hill. It comes as the military services welcome women into previously closed ground combat units in keeping with a mandate from Defense Secretary Ash Carter given late last year.
On Feb. 2, a panel of top military leaders including Army Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Milley, Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Robert Neller, and Navy Secretary Ray Mabus all told the Senate Armed Services Committee they supported drafting men and women in light of the changes to combat assignments.
"It is my personal view that based on this lifting of restriction for assigning [job specialties], that every American that is physically qualified should register for the draft," Neller said at the time.
In the House, which previously passed its version of the NDAA, an amendment requiring women to register for the draft passed narrowly with a 32-30 vote, even though its author, California Republican Rep. Duncan Hunter, voted against it.
"I've talked to coffeehouse liberals in San Francisco and conservative families who pray three times a day," Hunter said April 27, as the House Armed Services Committee marked up the bill. "Neither of them want their daughter to be drafted."
The Senate proposal was hotly debated on the floor June 7 by Republicans Ted Cruz, from Texas, and John McCain, from Arizona.
Cruz complained that the provision including women in the draft entered the bill through committee, rather than in public, open debate.
"I'm the father of two daughters. Women can do anything they set their mind to, and I see that each and every day," Cruz said. "The idea that we should forcibly conscript young girls in combat to my mind makes little or no sense. It is at minimum a radical proposition. I could not vote for a bill that did so without public debate."
McCain countered that including women in the draft was a matter of equality.
"Women who I have spoken to in the military overwhelmingly believe that women are not only qualified, but are on the same basis as their male counterparts," McCain said. "Every leader of the United States military seems to have a different opinion from [Cruz], whose military background is not extensive."
Currently, U.S. law requires most male citizens and immigrants between the ages of 18 to 25 to register in the selective service system. The Senate NDAA would require all female citizens and U.S. residents who turn 18 on or after Jan. 1, 2018, to register as well.
Republican Sen. Mike Lee of Utah introduced an amendment that would have removed the draft language from the bill, but it was unsuccessful. Another Republican, Rand Paul of Kentucky, filed an amendment that would have gotten rid of the draft altogether, but it too failed to get traction.
The House and Senate must now reconcile their versions of the NDAA in conference before final passage.

Source: Military.com

Pic De Jour

What is Your Antibiotics IQ?

The Quickly Changing World of Antibiotics

Well, if you haven't been following along about the state of antibiotic resistance in the world today... it's time to do your homework!
The "superbugs" are here.  But don't let the media fool you - antibiotic resistance isn't about a handful of "superbugs."  Any bacteria can develop resistance to our antibiotics.  And as it turns out, they already have.
It's odd that this story is still so surprising to so many people.  The inventor of modern antibiotics himself actually told us this would happen, if we misused them.  Long before "superbugs" were making any headlines, Sir Alexander Fleming had this to say shortly after he accepted the Nobel Prize for developing penicillin...

"The microbes are educated to resist penicillin and a host of penicillin-fast organisms is bred out...  In such cases the thoughtless person playing with penicillin is morally responsible for the death of the man who finally succumbs to infection with the penicillin–resistant organism. I hope this evil can be averted."

Uh... I've got some bad news, Dr. Fleming.

Read more: Treating Infections Without Antibiotics

What is Your Antibiotics IQ?

We put together this nifty quiz so that you can gauge your knowledge about antibiotic resistance against the general population.
These 10 questions will show whether or not you've been paying attention, and more importantly, whether or not you know the basic facts that you need to know in order to make the best decisions for yourself and your loved ones.  Take the quiz by clicking on the banner below:

Pass or Fail?

Don't worry if you didn't ace the quiz on your first attempt.  There's some technical stuff, and a lot of numbers to remember.
You can always come brush up on the basics here at The Grow Network.  For starters, check out Marjory's article 23,000 People Will Die This Year... and the follow-up Antimicrobial Resistance in the News.  And if those two are too depressing for you, there's a bit of positive news to be found here: A New View of Life on Earth - The National Microbiome Initiative.
And we'd love to hear your feedback on the quiz.  If you have thoughts or comments, share them with us using the comments at the bottom of this blog post, down below.

Food Security: Could You Grow Your Own?

 When Will Dinner Be Ready?

This is a serious question: How long does it take to grow your own food?  There's no easy answer, but give it a little thought.  If you woke up tomorrow and the grocery store was empty, how long would it take before you could provide food for your family to eat?
Let's assume that you're an accomplished gardener.  You have good soil and you know what to do, but you're starting from scratch...
You can grow some radishes in about 30 days.  About 70 days for carrots.  You could have some tomatoes in about 100 days.  Now, if you wanted to eat a chicken, we're talking about more like 4 or 5 months - and make it 6 months if you want eggs.
So, starting from scratch, an accomplished gardener could whip up a tasty salad in about 3 months.  The bad news?  It only takes 40 days to starve to death.

What's My Point?

Venezuela is undergoing a catastrophic food shortage right now.  It's as bad as it gets - the total collapse of a food system that relied heavily on imports.  The grocery stores have already been ransacked, the people are starving, and food shipments are being transported under armed guard.
Amid this overwhelming and life-threatening crisis, the government has formally advised its people that they should begin to grow their own food and raise their own chickens.  Can you imagine that?
Even if you're an expert, gardening takes a lot of time.  Now let's assume that you're not an expert.  Now you're someone who has never before planted a single seed...

Read more: Are You Prepared for Peak Chicken?

How Long Does it Really Take to Grow Food?

Developing a rich soil that produces consistently might take you a few years, depending on what you start with.  Tack on another few years to learn the basics about when you should plant and when you should harvest.  In the meantime, you'll also need to learn about pest and disease management, nutrient deficiencies, pollination, crop rotation... the list goes on.
How long does it really take to grow food?  The short answer is... it takes a lifetime.  Ask an old-timer with a thriving garden how long it would take them to show you what they know, and there's a fair chance they'll throw their head back and laugh out loud.
For someone who has never sunk a shovel into the ground to consistently produce food on their own would take several years, at least.

Read more: 10 Reasons to Garden NOW

Is Your Food Security At Risk?

Regardless of the type of government or the people in power, any population that relies on imports for its food supply could be the next Venezuela.  Any number of scenarios could disrupt the supply and leave the importer without food.  When you rely on food imports, you accept the risk that tomorrow's food shipment might not show up... for any reason.
So the question for each of us becomes, "Does my country rely on food imports?"  If you live in the United States, the answer is clearly yes.  The U.S. imports more food than any other country on earth, followed by China, Germany, Japan, and the UK.
I'm sure that some people will call this fear mongering, but my intent is just the opposite.  I hope that people won't just look the other way and pretend that this could never happen to us.  Instead, we should take a good long look at the situation, learn from it, and begin to make changes in our own lives to take responsibility for our own food security.

---

Sources:
1: Venezuelans Ransack Stores as Hunger Grips the Nation.  New York Times (http://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/20/world/americas/venezuelans-ransack-stores-as-hunger-stalks-crumbling-nation.html?ribbon-ad-idx=4&rref=world&smid=pl-share&_r=0&version=SlideCard-12&slideshowTitle=A%20Hungry%20Nation&currentSlide=12&entrySlide=1&module=ArrowsNav&contentCollection=Americas&action=swipe&region=FixedRight&pgtype=article)
2: Food shortages take toll on Venezuelans' diet.  The Guardian (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/may/24/venezuela-crisis-basic-food-shortages)
3: The Science of Starvation: How long can humans survive without food or water?  Public Library of Science (http://blogs.plos.org/obesitypanacea/2011/05/13/the-science-of-starvation-how-long-can-humans-survive-without-food-or-water/)
4: Countries Most Dependent On Others For Food.  WorldAtlas (http://www.worldatlas.com/articles/the-countries-importing-the-most-food-in-the-world.html)