There are many herbal and natural remedies on the market, but few are as well known as the herb Echinacea. For many years, Echinacea has been one of the world’s most popular herbal remedies, and it is being studied for the ability to fight colds, flu and other common infections.

What is Echinacea?
The herb we know as Echinacea, also called the purple coneflower, actually consists of nine distinct species, but only three varieties are used in herbal medicine. Those three varieties are:

? Echinacea engustifolia
? Echinacea pallida
? Echinacea purpurea

Various parts of the plants, including the flowers, leaves, stems and roots, are used in hundreds of different commercial products and herbal medicines. Depending on the preparation and the variety used, this popular herb may be able to stimulate the immune system and fight bacteria, viruses and other common harmful microbes.

Echinacea and the immune system
Echinacea appears to be both safe and powerful, and it is thought to stimulate various immune system cells that are key to the fight against infection. In addition, the herb is also thought to boost the ability of the cells to produce interferon, a substance vital to the fighting of viruses.

In particular, Echinacea is thought to help to reduce our susceptibility to colds and flu. This herb is most effective when it is taken at the first sign of a cold or flu. For those who are already afflicted by colds or the flu, Echinacea is thought to have the power to shorten their duration and severity.

Echinacea is also being studied for its possible role in fighting such recurrent respiratory ailments as bronchitis, strep throat and sinusitis. It is thought that the immune boosting properties of Echinacea are responsible for this effectiveness in fighting chronic infections. Again, Echinacea works best when taken at the first sign of illness.

Echinacea and healing
Echinacea may also aid in speeding the healing of wounds to the skin, and in reducing inflammation. Conditions treated by Echinacea include burns, sores, cuts and scrapes, as well as boils, abscesses, canker sores and eczema. Echinacea preparations can be applied directly to the wound or taken orally to promote a healthy immune system response.

In addition Echinacea has even shown promise at treating chronic fatigue syndrome, one of medicine’s most puzzling conditions. While results have varied, many CFS sufferers have found relief by using this popular herb.

Echinacea comes in a wide variety of forms, and many different preparations, including tablets, capsules, soft gels, liquids and tinctures. Echinacea can also be bought as a dried herb and brewed into a tea. There are a variety of Echinacea preparations consisting of creams that can be rubbed onto sunburns and other skin irritations to provide relief.

When buying Echinacea, either at your health food store or over the internet, it is important to read the label carefully. Some preparations will contain mixed ingredients from several different species, and from many parts of the plant. It is important to choose an Echinacea preparation which contains the species and the plant part best suited to treat your ailment.

The cranberry has long been associated with the holiday season, and no Thanksgiving feast would be complete without at least a few cranberry dishes. In addition to the delicious taste of the cranberry, however, this wholesome fruit has many important health benefits as well.

How nutritious is the cranberry?
The cranberry is very high in a number of important nutrients, in particular many important antioxidant vitamins. Nutritionists and other experts all talk about the many benefits of a diet rich in fruits and vegetables and cranberries are an excellent way to fit five servings a day of fruits and vegetables into even the busiest lifestyle.

One of the reasons that fruits like the cranberry are so much more effective than packaged vitamin pills is that fruits and vegetables contain a wide variety of nutrients, including the important phytonutrients which have been shown in study after study to lead to increased levels of health and fitness.

Other advantages of the cranberry
In addition to its role in optimizing overall health and fitness, the cranberry is thought to play a role in reducing the occurrence of urinary tract infection. The reason for this effect is thought to be the proanthocyanidins (PACs) contained in cranberries. These PACs have been shown to prevent certain types of bacteria, including dangerous E. coli, from adhering to the walls of the urinary tract.

In addition to helping to prevent urinary tract infections, the PACs contained in the cranberry are thought to help prevent gum disease and stomach ulcers, using the same anti-adhesion mechanism.

In addition to these important roles in good health, there is growing evidence that the phytonutrients and antioxidants contained in the cranberry and other fruits may help to protect against a variety of diseases, including such major killers as cancer and heart disease.

Antioxidants gain their healing power through their ability to fight the harmful effects of free radicals in the body. Free radicals are part of the normal processes of the cells of the body, but they can be quite damaging to health. Antioxidants work to mitigate the damage caused by free radicals, and therefore they are thought to play an important role in preventing degenerative diseases and even retarding the aging process.

Fortunately for those who want to include more cranberry products in their diet, these products are plentiful, inexpensive and available all year long. Fresh cranberries are available in many major grocery stores and supermarkets for much of the year, and when they are not available there are plenty of canned and frozen cranberry products to take their place.

In addition to fresh, canned and frozen cranberry, there are a number of excellent cranberry based products on the market. In addition to the cranberry sauce that is part of every traditional Thanksgiving celebration, there is cranberry juice and even cranberry pudding. With all these choices, it is easy to fit more cranberry into just about any diet. And with all the health benefits cranberries contain there is no reason not to enjoy more of this tasty treat.

Eat plenty of cinnamon for good taste and great health
Cinnamon is one of the best known and best loved spices in all the world, and in earlier times a few grams of cinnamon could bring a king’s ransom on the open market. While the cost of this great spice is quite reasonable today, cinnamon remains one of the world’s most valuable substances in terms of its effects on health and nutrition.
Traditional uses of cinnamon
Many traditional cultures around the world have been using cinnamon not just as an ingredient in their favorite dishes but as a medicine as well. In fact, cinnamon has been valued highly for its medicinal properties for hundreds, perhaps even thousands of years.
New scientific evidence
One of the areas in which cinnamon has shown great promise in clinical studies is in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. A recent study in the Diabetes Care journal has found that the ingestion of just a half a teaspoon of cinnamon every day significantly reduced the level of blood sugar in those with type 2 diabetes. In addition, the same study found that cinnamon was able to reduce triglycerides, LDL (bad) cholesterol and total cholesterol levels in the same study participants.
Some of the many health benefits thought to stem from cinnamon include:
? Better digestion – Cinnamon and other related spices have long been used as a digestive aid, and those who suffer from stomach cramps, irritable bowel syndrome and other common stomach disorders often find that adding cinnamon to their favorite dish aids digestion.
? Toning of tissues – There is considerable anecdotal evidence to suggest that cinnamon has the ability to tone and constrict tissues in the body.
? Relief from congestion – Cinnamon and other spices have long been used to relieve the congestion that can come from colds, allergies and other common conditions.
? Relief from muscle and joint pain and stiffness – Those who eat cinnamon on a regular basis often report that their muscle and joint pain and stiffness is reduced or even eliminated.
? Relief from menstrual cramping and other discomfort – Cinnamon has long been used in the world of traditional medicine to treat the discomfort that accompanies menstruation, and many women report that a daily helping of cinnamon greatly reduces cramping, pain and other common menstrual complaints.
? Thinning of the blood and better circulation – Like garlic, cinnamon acts as a blood thinning agent. Though not as powerful as garlic, cinnamon also acts to thin the blood and increase circulation.
? Relief from the pain of arthritis – Recent studies have suggested that cinnamon may contain anti-inflammatory compounds that may be useful in reducing the pain and inflammation associated with arthritis.
? Prevention of urinary tract infections – Many of those who eat cinnamon on a regular basis report a lower incidence of urinary tract infections.
? Prevention of tooth decay and gum disease – Likewise there is considerable anecdotal evidence that cinnamon may be helpful in the prevention of tooth decay and gum disease.
? Killing harmful bacteria – Cinnamon has been shown to be a powerful antimicrobial agent, one that has the ability to kill such common germs as E. coli and other harmful bacteria.