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Page 77
| as powdered psyllium husks, slippery elm bark and pectin, improve nutrition with raw juices and whole fruits and vegetables, take a tablespoon of cold pressed flaxseed oil daily and move bowels promptly instead of suppressing their movements. Hemorrhoids are a risk factor in sedentary occupations, so be sure to get plenty of active excercise. |
| For relief from pain, apply aloe vera gel or any strong astringent tea such as bayberry bark, witch hazel bark, oak bark, or cranesbill root to the affected area several times daily. To brew any of these teas for use as a wash or compress, combine 1 cup water with 1 tablespoon herbs and simmer in a covered pan for 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand until cool. Refrigerate for best results as cold causes the veins to contract. Apply cold tea with a cloth or paper towel and hold it in place for as long as possible. |
| The same astringent teas can be taken internally to help treat the problem from the inside out. Astringent fruits or juices may be more to your liking as the teas described here do not taste pleasant. Blackberries and blackberry juice are beneficial and can be taken in any form and quantity. |
| In addition to the thereapies described above, Rosemary Gladstar recommends applying a poultice made of water or witch hazel extract (the kind sold in pharmacies as a skin care product) and green clay. Add just enough liquid to form a thick paste and apply it directly to the hemmorrhoids, then leave it in place until it's completely dry. Remove the clay in the bathtub or shower. |
| Indigestion, Dyspepsia |
| This catch-all diagnosis covers a variety of symptoms ranging from simple discomfort to heartburn, pain and flatulence. It can be caused by irregular meals (the digestive tract loves a dependable schedule), overeating, eating too fast and eating the wrong foods. For immediate relief, David Hoffmann recommends meadowsweet tea, which settles the stomach and reduces acidity, Irish moss and other demulcents, bitter herbs before or after eating to stimulate digestion and carmi- |
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