Herbs For Men
Most of the physical problems
unique to men are caused by imbalances
in thir hormone levels, especially in the
level of testosterone. Produced in the
testes and in the adrenal glands,
testosterone develops a man's muscles,
deepens his voice and makes him fertile. On
the negative side, testosterone can also
cause the prostate to enlarge, and high
testosterone levels have been blamed for
overaggressive behavior.
Baldness
It's not easy for a man to go bald.
Hair and lots of it - is an age-old symbol of
virility. Many men think that they look better with a full head of hair than
without.
The truth is that there is no cure for
baldness-the best such products can do is
to slow the loss of any remaining hair.
Healthy hair grows in a cyclical
pattern; a strand of hair grows for a while,
then it falls out and its root takes a rest
before sprouting again. Balding occurs
when hair roots never "wake up" again!
This is the case with "male pattern
baldness," which is especially common when
hair growth begins to slow, around age
50 or 60. It is the male hormone
testosterone, helped along by certain genes,
that encourages hair roots to shut down. Herbs can help! Take herbs as a
nutrients for your hair.
Although herbs will not bring hair
back once it is gone (there is no wonder
cure), a few herbs do seem to slow hair
loss, especially aloe vera gel,
nettle and
rosemary. For centuries, both men and
women have massaged rosemary in olive
oil into their scalps to keep their hair
healthy and lush. The massage itself serves an important function: It stimulates
circulation and encourages hair roots to grow. Herbs such
aloe vera not only is good for
hair, but also serves as protection against
sun and wind for a scalp that becomes
exposed when hair begins to thin.
While it is difficult to know for sure
that the herbs are helping, all the men
know who use them swear that they can
tell the difference. When you use any
hair-growth treatment, remember that
the scalp is the most important area to
address. Hair itself is dead. Certain types
of hair conditioners can make it look a
little thicker or smooth it down, but little
else can be done. The scalp, however, is
very much alive and can respond to
herbal treatments.
Of course, testosterone, genes and
poor circulation are not the only factors
that cause men to lose their locks. Unlike
the man who sprouts it, the body
considers hair one of its least important
assets. It is one of the first things to go
when a serious illness, nervous-system
disease or advancing years demand their
share of limited nutrients. Some medication
treatments, especially ones for arthritis,
gout, depression,
high blood pressure
and heart problems, can also shut down
hair growth. So can radiation therapy and the various scalp problems that fall
under the umbrella of dermatitis. If you think that any of these could be
causing your baldness, choose herbs to help
treat the specific condition.
- Rosemary hair oil
-
Combine ingredients. Dab a small
amount on your fingertips and rub it
into the scalp, using circular motions.
Although this treatment will make your
hair oily; use it twice a week and leave it
on your hair at least a few hours before
washing it off.
- Hair formula
- 1 cup aloe vera gel
- 4 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon nettle tincture
- 1/2 teaspoon vitamin E oil
- 1/2 teaspoon rosemary essential oil
Combine ingredients in a blender
and process until smooth. Massage a
small amount of the formula into your
scalp every day and whenever you wash
your hair. If you aren't able to find nettle
tincture, make the recipe without it.
- Men's tea against hair loss
- The Chinese know that the tendency to hair
loss can be inherited. In any case, it helps to
strengthen the scalp. The hair is influenced by
the kidneys and the treatment of the
blood by
the spleen. This recipe can help by nourishing the blood.
- 0.4 oz. (10 g) knotweed root
- 0.1 oz. (3 g) stinging nettle seeds (Urtica) or dried nettle
- 1 tbsp. Taiga ginseng
- 0.2 oz. (5 g) wolfberries (Lycium chinensis)
- 0.2 oz. (5 g) ground Eucommia (ulmoides)
- 1 1/4 cups (300 ml) water
Prepare a medicinal soup out of these ingredients by simmering
them for 20 minutes to reduce the liquid to 3
oz. (100 ml), which you drink. Brew up the same
ingredients at night, but do not keep them
overnight. It helps to continue taking this tea for
6 weeks. Those who wish to benefit their hair
even more can take the Chinese tonic Qi Zi Bu
Ji, which contains important nutrients for hair
and scalp. For external use, the herbal tincture
Hairoka Liniment is recommended. It is most
effective against so-called seborrheic baldness,
which is most common among men of European origin.
Herbal remedies for genital rash, infections, and irritations
- Herbal genital soak
-
Pour boiling water over herbs and
let steep at least 20 minutes. Strain out
herbs, and let cool to a comfortable
temperature. Fill a large drinking glass
half way with the "tea" and submerge the
afflicted area. Soak twice daily, or as
often as possible, for at least 5 minutes.
- Oil for genital infection/irritation
- 1/8 teaspoon lavender essential oil
- 1/8 teaspoon tea tree essential oil
- 1 ounce vegetable oil
Combine ingredients. Apply to the infected or irritated area at least twice a
day. (It works well even when the
irritation is not caused by infection.)
- Dusting powder for fungal infections
- 4 ounces cornstarch or powdered cosmetic clay
- 1/2 teaspoon lavender essential oil
- 1/2 teaspoon tea tree essential oil
Place cornstarch in a plastic bag and
add essential oils drop by drop,
redistributing the cornstarch as you go to
disperse the oils evenly. Break up any clumps with your fingers on the outside
of the bag. Let sit for 2 days. Use a few times daily, and always after bathing
or swimming. This powder works great on athlete's foot.
- Infection-fighting extract
- 1/2 ounce tincture of Echinacea root
- 1/2 ounce tincture of goldenseal root
- 1/2 ounce tincture of pau d' arco bark
- Siberian ginseng root (optional)
Combine ingredients. Take half a dropperful 5 times daily during an active
infection. You can purchase the individual tinctures in a natural food store or
choose a similar formula that is already blended.
- Wart oil
- 1/2 ounce castor oil
- 1/4 teaspoon thuja essential oil
- 1/4 teaspoon tea tree essential oil
- 800 International Units vitamin E oil
Combine ingredients. (The vitamin
E, added to facilitate healing, can be
obtained by opening two 400-International Unit capsules.) First, protect the
skin around the wart with some salve,
leaving the wart itself exposed. Carefully
apply the mixture with a glass rod
applicator or a cotton swab 2 to 4 times a day.
Apply it only to the wart itself-thuja oil
is extremely strong and this formula can burn sensitive skin.
- Impotence tincture
- 1/2 ounce tincture of ginseng root
- 1/2 ounce tincture of ginkgo leaves
- 1/2 ounce tincture of yohimbe bark
- 1/2 ounce tincture of fresh oats
- 1/2 ounce tincture of damiana leaves
Combine ingredients. Take 30 drops
of tincture 3 or 4 times a day for at least
2 months. (Oats and damiana are
usually most effective in tincture form.
The fall-harvested ginkgo can be taken
as a tincture or in pill form.)
- Fertility formula
-
Combine ingredients. Take 1 dropperful twice a day.
- Aromatherapy fertility oil
- 5 drops rose essential oil
- 1 ounce vegetable oil
Combine ingredients. Massage into
the lower abdomen and inner thigh once a day. Be sure to use only pure rose
essential oil, preferably Bulgarian or Turkish rose attar.
Herbal remedy for male menopause
- Male change formula
- 1 ounce tincture of ginseng root
- 1/2 ounce Siberian ginseng root
- 1/2 ounce shizandra seed
- 1/2 ounce licorice root
Combine ingredients. Take half a dropperful once or twice a day.
Herbal remedies for prostate enlargement
- Prostate-reducing tincture
-
Combine ingredients. Take half a dropperful 3 times a day. For a maintenance dose, take once a day.
- Anti-inflammatory prostate oil
- 1/8 teaspoon lavender essential oil
- 1/8 teaspoon rosemary essential oil
- 4 drops Roman chamomile essential oil (optional)
- 2 ounces St.John's-wort oil
Combine ingredients. Rub on the skin under the scrotum once or twice a day.
Herbal remedy for swollen testicles
- Testicle bath
- 1 quart water
- 1/4 cup comfrey leaves
- 1/4 cup mullein leaves
- 1/8 cup chamomile flowers
Bring water to a boil and pour it over the herbs. Let steep at least 15 minutes. Strain and pour into your bath.
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