During the European “Copper Age” five thousand years ago, a man of high ranking status fled his home valley of Val Venosta, Italy, across an Alpine glacier. But his enemies caught up with him. An arrow penetrated his subclavian artery, which soon bled him to death. In 1991, two unsuspecting tourists came upon his mummified remains. On the body of “Oetzi the Iceman” were found pouches with two medicinal mushroom species, the oldest known example of mushrooms used medicinally.

There is good reason to believe he carried both of these mushrooms along as natural remedies. Whipworm parasite eggs were found in Oetzi’s intestines. Birch polypore mushroom Piptoporus betulinus is a traditional de-worming remedy. The other mushroom in his possession, Tinder fungus (Fomes fomentarius), may have been used to cauterize the wound on his right hand.

Both species belong to the group of mushrooms known as polypores, so named because of the many pores underneath. They often grow on trees, and to date no species is known to be poisonous to humans.

Polypores are usually considered inedible due to the fact that they are hard and wood-like. But for ancient peoples all across the globe – from China and India to Europe and the Americas – polypore teas and poultices have none-the-less been indispensible allies to human health at least for as long as written and oral traditions can recount.

Oral traditions of Native Americans bear tale of many types of polypores being used to help against the diseases brought by the Europeans, including Birch polypore but also Reishi (Ganoderma resinaceum), Turkey Tail (Trametes versicolor), Chaga (Inonotus obliquus) and the now almost vanished species Agarikon (Fomitopsis officinalis).

Although nearly extinct today, Agarikon was once common in the old-growth forests of ancient Europe. Greek physician Dioscorides referred to Agarikon as a remedy for tuberculosis in Materia Medica, 65 B.C. It’s the earliest record of a medicinal mushroom in European literature. Two millennia later, the historic use of Agarikon in Poland was put down in writing in the article Medicinal mushrooms in Polish Folk Medicine by K. Grzywnowics. Again, it included lung conditions, as well as rheumatoid arthritis and infected wounds.

Up to this point, we’ve only covered the use of medicinal mushrooms in the West. However, their use has been far more widespread in Asia. There are at least three Asian species that would be criminal to leave out of any article on the history of medicinal mushrooms.

First out is Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum), sometimes nicknamed the “Mushroom of Immortality” due to its wide range of healing properties. Reishi was mentioned in Shen Nong’s Herbal Classic from around 2,000 years ago. Many ancient Oriental temples and wood-carvings include images of this highly revered “cure-all” fungus.

Next is Cordyceps, a minute fungus from the Tibetan plateau, parasitising on silk caterpillars. Cordyceps sinensis was first mentioned as a medicinal mushroom in The Classic Herbal of the Divine Plowman from 200 A.D. It is popular with athletes to improve physical stamina. Historically, it’s been used as an aphrodiciac.

Finally there is the Shiitake mushroom, which today is a common household name even in the West. In Asia, however, it is known to have been cultivated as a gourmet mushroom for at least a thousand years. What may surprise is that Shiitake is also one of the most researched medicinal mushrooms in the world. Its potential uses range from energizing tonic to immune-booster and antibiotic with anti-tumor properties.

Modern research into medicinal use of mushrooms began in earnest in the late 1960′s Japan. One pioneer, Dr. Ikekawa, discovered that families of mushroom growers had significantly lower cancer rates than their surrounding communities. Scientific research into medicinal mushrooms has expanded exponentially since that time and continues to increase and intensify until this day. Medicinal mushrooms are still in the process of making history.

Note: The article is informational only. The FDA has not approved mushrooms for medicinal use. Always consult a licensed medical practitioner before using any product to treat an illness.

Dr. Markho Rafael has worked in the natural health field since the mid-90′s as an author and researcher, now specializing in fungi for health. Click medicinal mushrooms for mushroom articles and products. Material for this article comes from several different sources. However, a large portion comes from the books of medicinal fungus expert Paul Stamets, who deserves special credit and thanks.

In a first to investigate the acai berry, the University of Florida found in a recent study that the fruit contained enough antioxidants to destroy human cancer cells.

This study showed that acai berry triggered a self-destruct response in up to 86 percent of the leukemia cells tested according to the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry where the results were published.

A abundant source of antioxidants which fight and prevent harmful acai from entering the body can be found in the acai berry. This research has strengthened the hypothesis that adding an acai berry extract can be very beneficial to the human body.

The study also noted that it is not intended to show that leukemic can be cured in humans with the the acai berry elements.

The benefits on the acai berry related to leukemia was never intended to raise any kind of false hope. The findings are still very encouraging however. Elements that have proven well in cell-culture trials have proven very beneficial when tested on humans.

Antioxidants have not been directly proven to fight cancer cells in the human body because of other factors such as biochemical processes. However, research has shown that fruits such as guavas, grapes, and mango’s’ have antioxidants that have been known to kill cancer cells as well.

The fragility of the acai berry is the primary reason so little is known because they must be consumed shortly after they are picked. The process of extracting the important elements of the acai berry is new and has also delayed the process of researching in depth.

The acai berry is found on a palm tree that is frequently found along the amazon river flood plains. The color of the berry is a dark purple when ripe and is the size and similarity is that of a red grape. The acai berry is contained i a thin layer of a pulp that can be eaten surrounded by a large seed.

The indigenous people of the amazon have used the acai berry to treat symptoms ranging from digestive disorders to skin conditions. The acai berry has also been proven recently to help loose weight and gain energy.

For the past 30 years,Dr. Mathias Wikenslop has been researching all of the wondrous benefits of the acai berry. He has a detailed acai benefits website where he goes into detail about the best acai berry products on the market today. He also has a acai benefits website that has freeinformation on everything that is related to the acai berry

There is substantial research that shows a Mediterranean diet provides protection against type 2 diabetes.

The composites of what make the Mediterranean diet so perfect against type 2 is it is robust in olive oil, grains, nuts vegetables, and fish yet it is low in meat, alcohol, and dairy products.

The current studies are showing that the body has a positive effect in regards to cardiovascular disease when a diet such as the one explained is implemented.

The study involved over 13,000 graduates from the University of Navarra in Spain with no history of diabetes, and were recruited between December 1999 and November 2007;each participant had their dietary habits and health were tracked.

The subjects started the study off by answering a questionnaire that was designed to gauge their overall dietary habits. The 136 questions that were given to the participants, specific questions were asked on how they cooked their foods, what types of oils they used, and dietary products they used.

The participants were then notified every two years by a questionnaire that asked each about their diet, lifestyle, and other medical conditions. From this information, researchers were able to pick up new cases of diabetes

During the follow-up period (median 4.4 years) the researchers from the University of Navarra found that participants who stuck closely to the diet had a lower risk of diabetes. A high adherence to the diet was associated with an 83% relative reduction in the risk of developing diabetes.

Interestingly, those participants who stuck strictly to the diet were expected to have the highest prevalence of risk factors for diabetes such as they got older with age, a family history of diabetes, and a higher proportion of ex-smokers.

This did not happen. In fact the participants had a lower risk of diabetes which suggested that the diet might provide substantial protection.

The characteristics of the diet include a high intake of fiber and vegetable fat, a low intake of trans fatty acids, and a moderate intake of alcohol.

In addition, a key element of the diet is the abundant use of virgin oil for cooking, frying, spreading on bread, and dressing salads.

The scientist finished by calling for larger cohorts and trials to confirm their findings.

For the past 30 years, Dr. Lorna Mistranski has researched extracts that offer the best results in diet pills. She has a free diet pillsinformation site that offers sound advice when looking for which diet solution is right for you. She also has an informative web sitethat looks at the best free diet pillstrials available and which ones to avoid.

Since organic food started to gain popularity in the late 1990s, people have been skeptical about the superiority of organics. Many people claimed that the benefits of organic over traditional products could not be proven. The truth is that there had simply not been enough testing done to prove the benefits of organic products or the drawbacks of traditionally produced food.

There have been various studies done to show the improved nutritional value of organic agriculture by analyzing the vitamin, nutrient, and mineral content of both organically and traditionally grown produce. There are significantly higher levels of various components in organic products, including:

* Chromium, prevents hardening of the arteries and type 2 diabetes * Calcium and Boron, build strong bones and prevent osteoporosis * Lithium, a common chemical in antidepressants and mood stabilizers * Salicylic acid, an anti-inflammatory which can prevent heart disease * Antioxidants, protect cells from damage * Magnesium, helps prevent death during a heart attack * Selenium, helps prevent heart disease and certain cancers * Vitamin C, builds the immune system

While this list seems rather long, its not complete. While these nutrients have been found organic produce, they arent the only ones. This list could also get longer as more research is done about the nutrient benefits of organic food.

While its important to look at the beneficial properties of organic food, we must take into account the harmful effects of traditionally grown foods to fully understand why organic food is superior. When many of the chemicals used in farming were approved, there had been little research to show whether or not these chemicals we harmful. Research has since found that most of these chemicals have negative effects on humans. Non-organic foods have been analyzed and have been found to contain harmful chemicals, heavy metals, solvents, and various hormones. Some of the conditions linked with these substances include:

* cancer * heart disease * osteoporosis * migraines * hyperactivity * decreased intelligence * impaired hearing * less growth in childhood * anemia * Alzheimers * multiple sclerosis * rheumatoid arthritis * early puberty * increase in antibiotic-resistant disease strains

Again, this list is just part of the harmful side effects of these chemicals. There are likely many more conditions to be added to this list after more research is done. Also, most of the research has been done on the affects of single chemicals, and not multiple offenders as are normally found on conventional food. While several of these chemicals have been banned, they are still present in regular and organic food. This is because they linger in the soil; some have been there for over 20 years.

While there are obviously many benefits to organic agriculture, it is not without its faults. First of all, organic products are more expensive. Depending on where you buy organic food, it could cost twice as much as regular grocery store brands. There is also concern that natural fertilizers such as plant material and manure could contain harmful organisms, such as e coli. Although this can be rare it can also make consumers very sick.

Even with the drawbacks, organic food production is proving to be much safer for consumption than other foods available. Along with the health benefits, organic agricultural practices also benefit the environment; keeping it viable for years to come.

Taking Vemma Mangosteen Juice may alleviate the symptoms of an under active thyroid gland. The symptoms may be extreme tiredness, dry skin, weight gain, irritability, memory loss and some other physical conditions. However, the worst thing with an under active thyroid gland is the trouble taking off weight even when you’re on a low calorie diet and you frequently exercise. Even if you are getting thyroid hormone replacements, you may still find that your metabolism is a lot lower than what it was before.

However you can speed up your metabolism and treat your thyroid problems naturally. You can give your thyroid the boost it requires, with these natural methods and it can start functioning properly.

The most recommended way to speed up your metabolism, is to eat all your meals, especially breakfast. Breakfast is the meal that gets your metabolism started for the day. Your body has been starving all night, which lowers your metabolism, so breakfast will get it going again. Also, it’s a good idea to consume lots of smaller meals during the day to keep your glucose levels consistent.

To increase your metabolism and help your body function properly, water is absolutely necessary. Water increases healthy function of all your vital organs and assists in keeping your hormones balanced and it also assists in burning fat.

To assist in having a healthy thyroid, it is necessary to follow a healthy diet. Junk foods and empty calories are very bad for your thyroid. Ensure that you consume foods that are rich in iodine and B vitamins. It’s important to eat an abundant supply of seeds and nuts and wholegrain foods, and include fish and root vegetables in your daily diet.

Exercise is another important thing for a healthy thyroid. Exercise makes all parts of the body work better and also slims you down. The body parts that will work better with exercise, include the glands that produce the hormones we need to live a balanced healthy life.

A good quality multi vitamin will also assist your thyroid to function properly. It’s important when purchasing a good multi vitamin to avoid purchasing them in the discount drug chains. They produce in bulk multi-vitamins, such as Centrum, and these do not have the potency or bio-availability that you need.

Look for a multi-vitamin that has adequate levels of vitamins and minerals, and contains trace minerals as well. Ensure the multi-vitamin is as natural as possible without additives such as coloring and flavors. It’s also necessary to take some extra vitamin C, or make sure the supplement has larger amount of Vitamin C than the recommended daily allowance.

Another important factor for a healthy thyroid, is to manage stress. Try to eliminat the stressors from your life and learn relaxation techniques. Practice yoga, meditation or other relaxation exercises.

See your doctor for an accurate diagnosis, if you think you have hypothryoidism. The doctor may want to run more extensive blood tests besides just a TSH. Try some of the above ways to get your thyroid into tip-top shape, if you do have a thyroid problem.

I got a question yesterday from a woman who wanted to know what foods to eat and what supplements would help with her arthritis.

Generally, with regard to food, you should eat foods as close to their natural state as possible. This means vegetables, lean meats, whole grains, fresh fruits, and dairy. You’ll notice that processed foods aren’t on the list, and neither are fast foods.

When you go to the grocery store you should only shop in 3 areas, at most: The area for meat/poultry/seafood, and the vegetable and fruit areas. All the rest of the packaged products can just just sit on the shelf, undisturbed by you.

That’s a good goal, but often unrealistic. You are going to eat some processed food at some point. (Or maybe more than a bit.)

Keep in mind that the elements that provide real nourishment for your body, like enzymes, vitamins, fatty acids, minerals, amino acids, and other elements, are usually stripped from processed foods.

Inflammation can result from not getting these items in the needed amounts, especially fatty acids.

The long chain omega-3 fatty acids help block the dietary omega-6 fatty acids, so high in the Western diet, which actually promote inflammation, restore the correct lipid balance your body needs, and are absolutely essential to combating the pain and joint stiffness of inflammation.

Spoilage is bad news for manufacturers of most food products, so they do whatever it takes to stop it. Including removing the elements your body truly needs.

It can be tough to eat the right kinds of food. But it’s absolutely vital for your health and longevity.

Sleep apnea should not be taken lightly as it can be life threatening. There are many symptoms you can watch for, the most obvious of which is severe snoring. This however is not the most serious symptom, so by making yourself aware of what to look for you have a better chance of nipping this condition in the bud, before it can do more harm.

Sleep apnea comes in two main forms, each with different causes. Obstructive sleep apnea is a result of the airway being physically blocked while you sleep. Central sleep apnea occurs when there is a disorder in the part of the brain that is responsible for controlling your breathing. There are successful treatment options for both varieties.

Sleep apnea is most prominent in middle-aged men, but it is important to understand that it can afflict both men and women of all ages. Symptoms can come on at any time. In fact, children today are more frequently exhibiting signs of sleep apnea.

Those who have sleep apnea may exhibit some or all of the following symptoms:

1. Loud snoring that disrupts the sleep of you or your partner.

2. Headaches which usually occur during the morning.

3. Hypersomnia, or continuously feeling sleepy during the day.

4. Difficulty staying asleep at night.

5. Short episodes of not breathing during sleep.

6. Sore throat or dry mouth on waking.

7. Irritability.

8. Difficulties with concentration, learning or behavior.

9. Hypertension.

10. Hyperactivity in children (ADHD).

The patient is very often completely unaware that they are experiencing this problem and have to be advised by their partner. They however are acutely aware that they are extremely tired all the time.

While you are experiencing sleep apnea episodes the brain is not getting oxygen. Overall this is very serious as it can lead to an increased risk of heart attack and stroke. If you or someone you know may be suffering from sleep apnea it is important that you meet with your doctor to discuss it as soon as possible.