Herbal Supplements Maryjane's Blog

Herbal Supplements

 To Go or Not to Go Herbal, that is the Question…

Many people nowadays are turning to “organics” and “naturals” otherwise known as herbals. The rising popularity of herbal supplements has created a new fad if not a new health lifestyle. But before you join the bandwagon, here are some things you need to know about this mean, “green” dietary supplementing machine.

What is the difference between a drug and a dietary supplement?

According to the definition set by food and drug administrations in different countries, drugs are chemicals that can prevent, prolong the life, treat other effects of a health condition, improve the quality of life, and/or cure ailments and diseases, or alter the function of any part or chemicals inside the body. These drugs have approved therapeutic claims. For example, paracetamol is a drug given to bring down the body temperature in fever. Ascorbic acid is indicated for the treatment of scurvy. Iron supplements are given to treat mild cases of anemia.

Herbal supplements are not classified as drugs but as dietary supplements. The main difference is that they do not have approved therapeutic claims unlike in the case of drugs. Moreover, dietary supplements could either contain vitamins, minerals, herbals, or amino acids, all aimed to add to or supplement the diet of an individual. They are not intended to be taken alone as a substitute to any food or medicine.

Most of the manufactured medicines we now have once came from animals and plants. Through the years, chemists isolated the life-saving or life-curing components and separated them from the harmful ones. This lead to the further drug research and drug development that lead to the production of a different variety of drugs for many ailments and conditions from synthetic sources. But still we have semi-synthetic drugs, as well as drug that more or less approximate more natural composition. Since herbal supplements are made from a mixture of crude herbs reduced into powder or gel form, and later on packaged as tablets and capsules, there is a possibility that life-threatening or at least body chemistry-altering components are still present, thus the expression of concern from the medical community.

Is there a growing concern with the use of herbal supplements?

Yes. With the rising popularity of using and consuming anything herbal or organic is the proliferation of fake herbal supplements that threaten to endanger lives. If that’s the case, then why are herbal supplements given drug administration approvals? One way of ensuring the safety of the people is to have all candidate drugs, food, drinks, and dietary supplements registered with the proper authority. Otherwise, they would pose more risk with these things being sold in the black market for a hefty sum. We could ensure the quality and safety of herbal supplements if they get proper classification with the food and drug administration. Moreover, people may be able to file the proper complaints in the event a worsening of health condition is proven to be linked to the use of a particular herbal supplement.

Is using herbal supplements worth the risk?

Yes. It cannot be discounted that many who have tried herbal supplements experienced an improvement in their health—whether this is due to the herbals themselves or due to a placebo effect, as long as they do not worsen the condition of an individual, then using them is worth the risk. But of course, certain things must be considered before taking those herbal supplements:

Your doctor knows best.

First of all, clear your condition with your doctor. Ask him/her if taking a particular herbal supplement is safe given your health condition. People with heart, liver, or kidney trouble or malfunction, are usually not advised to take these, or at the minimum is to take these herbals in minimum amounts. All substances pass through the liver and kidney to be processed and filtered respectively. Kava, which is used to relieve people from stress, has been pulled out from the Canadian, Singaporean, and German markets because it contains substances that cause liver damage. Certain herbals such as Ephedra used for losing weight, contains chemicals with heart-inducing effects that can increase heart rate, which in turn can exhaust the heart and cause heart attacks in several documented cases by the American Medical Association.

Follow the directions for use.

Never take more herbal supplements than what is directed by the doctor or as instructed on the bottle. Each individual reacts differently to the components of herbal supplements. While it is perfectly safe for one individual to take in a supplement of primrose oil capsules, another person may be allergic to it. So, do not even think about downing one bottle of primrose oil capsules before checking with your doctor.

It has no approved curative effect.

No matter how the product pamphlet or the label of the bottle sounds about how it has been found to be helpful in certain health conditions, these herbal supplements are not therapeutic. So do not substitute these for the medications prescribed by your doctor for the treatment of certain diseases, or for the maintenance of blood pressure, lowering of blood sugar and cholesterol, and fight off infections.


Maryjane Angelo

16 Things You May Not Know Are Compostable |Maryjane's Blog

Composting is a great “green” thing to do for your garden. It provides organic nutrients for the soil, which could help it produce more. Obviously, you can compost leaves, grass clippings, fruits and vegetable peelings. But, these are not the only compostable items! The following are sixteen things you may not know are compostable.

1. Coffee grounds and filters – When you finish your last cup of coffee and clean out the filter to get your coffee maker ready for the next pot, keep your coffee grounds and filter. Toss them in a bowl or bucket to be taken to the compost pile the next time you go out there.

2. Tea bags – If you enjoy a cup or gallon of tea, you can also compost your tea bags.

3. Paper bags – Some grocery stores still give paper bags. Tear the bags up and add them to the compost pile.

4. Plain cooked pasta – Did you cook too much pasta but not enough for leftovers? Instead of tossing it out, add it to the bowl to be taken out and composted.

5. Stale bread – Let’s face it, stale bread does not taste good. You can break the bread up in smaller pieces and compost it instead.

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6. Used paper napkins, paper towels and paper plates (non-waxed) – Used paper goods will easily decompose.

7. Stale pretzels, cereal and crackers – Like stale bread, these things simply are not appealing. Adding them to the compost pile, rather than tossing them, will at least be of benefit for the plants and you will not feel like you have totally wasted your money.

8. Pizza crusts – Some people simply do not like eating the pizza crust but throwing it away would be wasteful. Add this to the compost pile in the same way you do other bread or pasta.

9. Nutshells – Nutshells provide additional nutrients to the compost mixture. It is, however, important that you keep walnut shells out of the compost because the shells are toxic to plants.

10. Moldy cheese – Normally you would not compost meats and cheeses, but the fact this is moldy makes it all right.

11. Eggshells – Eggshells are a great addition to your compost pile if you wash them first. The reason you wash eggshells before adding them is that there may be salmonella on the outside of the egg, which would be transferred to your compost and could spread to your garden.

12. 100% cotton balls – ‘Cotton balls’ made of other content than cotton should not be added to the compost pile because they most likely will not decompose.

13. Old loofah sponges – Loofah sponges are organic matter and therefore can be added with other items.

14. Dryer lint – If you wash and dry your clothes, you will have dryer lint. Instead of throwing it away, add it to the compost pile.

15. Old cotton clothing – Clothing, as long as it is 100% cotton, can be composted. It will compost better if it is torn or cut up into smaller pieces before adding it to the pile.

16. Paper you have shredded – It is possible to add shredded paper for composting, which will keep your personal information out of the landfill.

When thinking about things you can compost, you may not have known about these. These are not the only items, either. In fact, any organic material can be composted. The things you will want to keep out of your compost pile include used cooking oil, diseased plant, treated wood shavings, milk products and any type of meat. 

Maryjane Angelo

How to Find "Green Hotels" |Maryjane's Blog

Green hotels are perhaps the best way to help the sustainable travel industry. Instead of just supporting the sustainability ideologically, you're supporting it with your wallet as well.

==> What Are Green Hotels?

Green hotels are hotels that go out of their way to use the most environmentally friendly materials, equipment, processes and policies they can.

This means using energy saving light bulbs, water conserving shower heads, good insulation, low flush toilets, heat / cool conserving windows and energy star appliances.

It means they often use environmentally friendly products instead of mass produced products. For example, you might find green soaps and shampoos in your bathroom instead of the cheapest possible shampoo the hotel could buy.

Often times green hotels will serve organic foods, raw foods or vegan foods in their kitchens.

By supporting green hotels, you're not just supporting the hotel - you're supporting all their vendors as well. All the money you spend will go towards helping the environment in one way or another.

==> How Do You Find a Green Hotel?

There are a few different ways you can look for green hotels.

First is the Green Hotels Association website. This website is where green hotel owners register their hotels. The site independently verifies that each hotel has truly taken steps to reduce their environmental impact.

You can also use a number of online forums and communities to find green hotels. For example, the Environmentally Friendly Hotels forum is a good place to start any search for a sustainable hotel.

Finally, you can just read reviews of hotels on any travel website to find people who've commented on a hotel's greenness.

Instead of looking for hotels that market themselves as green, you can find quite a few hotels that really are green, but don't necessarily market themselves this way.

Just call up the reception and ask about what green procedures the hotel has taken. Sometimes hotels simply prefer to target a mainstream audience, but still implement green procedures anyway.

==> Instead of a Hotel ...

In some cities, finding a good green hotel can be quite challenging. Instead, of looking for a hotel, it's often easier to go for a bed and breakfast that's environmentally conscious.

There are a few ways to find them. The easiest way is Google.

Just type in the city's name and "bed and breakfast" in Google. For example, "Bristol Bed and Breakfast" or "Krakow Bed and Breakfast."

You can also find a lot of bed and breakfast establishments on Airbnb.

Finding green hotels takes slightly more research than just booking at room at the nearest Hilton or Holiday Inn. By staying at green hotels however, you're supporting a growing industry that's actively trying to make a difference in the world.

Maryjane Angelo

5 Myths about Going Green |Maryjane's Blog

Protecting the environment, or going green, is something more and more people are doing these days. You may be wondering if the things you do will make an impact. Here are five myths to bear in mind.

1. One of the misconceptions about going green is that it uses more energy to recycle than it saves. However, part of the reason recycling is used by many manufacturers is that it does actually save energy. For instance, it takes 95% more energy to make a new aluminum can than recycling one. Another benefit of recycling, at least aluminum, is that it can be recycled repeatedly.

2. Another myth about going green is that it is better to keep an old appliance and get it fixed rather than buying a new one. Appliances can be expensive so no one would blame you for trying to save money by repairing an old appliance instead of getting something new.

However, if you are looking from a purely green standpoint, buying new is definitely ‘greener.’ Newer appliances are made to be more efficient, which means you will save up to 90% energy usage with them. Check with the retailer to see if they will remove the old appliance and recycle it.
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3. The idea that building a green house is expensive is another myth. While it may be more expensive during the building process, the energy savings can be substantial. It is also relatively easy to incorporate green designs into homes and buildings - often without adding to the cost.

4. Still others believe the myth that the main reason for choosing to go green is that they are concerned about their ‘carbon footprint.’ The truth of the matter is that most people are going green to save money on their heating and cooling bills. Less than 30% of those going green do so because of their concern for the environment.

5. Finally, the last myth that people often believe about going green is that the little bit that they do won't make a difference. The truth is that even small changes can improve things environmentally. Think about the things you can do:

* Save water by watering your lawn and garden during the cool of the day, turning the water off while brushing your teeth, ensuring there are no water leaks in your home and running only fully loaded washing and dishwashing machines.

* Save electricity by turning off lights when you leave a room, setting your thermostat down a couple of degrees when no one is home and setting the thermostat down on your water heater.

* Save gasoline by car-pooling, keeping your car’s engine tuned up and keeping your tires properly filled.

As you can see, there are many myths about going green. You will want to decide if the potential savings are worth the effort of making the changes for your family and the environment.

Maryjane Angelo