If you are at a mature age you will have noticed the symptoms of heartburn becoming more frequent. If the symptoms persist regularly on a weekly basis you need to see your local doctor.

Everyone at some time or other has heartburn. For some people it can be a chronic condition.

Heartburn symptoms are a burning pain in the chest area, in the throat and if too strong can be thought to be the start of a heart attack.

When you start having the symptoms the first reaction is that you ate your food too quickly and you buy a tube of antacid tablets. It is only when it becomes a problem that it needs more attention you may decide to look elsewhere.

Note: Medication bought over the counter should not be taken more than twice in a day.

There are natural Herbal Remedies which can be of assistance such has Ginger, Fennel or peppermint oil. The herbs can cool down the burning sensation in the body.

Some of these herbal remedies are available in the form of teas which you can sit and sip until you feel more settled.

Foods that are high in acid such as citrus fruit, curries or tomatoes can set off the symptoms. Therefore a change of diet and eating small meals regularly may prevent heartburn.

Note: stress and anxiety can also contribute to heartburn.

Indian Gooseberries are antioxidants and are not as well known as the wild gooseberries grown in domestic gardens.

Indian gooseberries are high in Vitamin C. Their berries are green coloured and small in size.
The tree bears fruit and has many uses for treating various ailments. The whole of the herbal plant can be used, including its leaves and bark.

Immune System:
This plant can be used for the immune system. Take the same amount of the berry and honey. Pressed into a mixture, this recipe can help to strengthen the body’s immune system.

Diabetics:
Use a teaspoonful of the juice of the berries and mix with a cup of bitter guard. This routine needs to be followed twice a day for at least a month to lower the level of blood sugar.

Indigestion:
Cut some of the berries and mix with the juice of a lemon. Add rock salt to the mixture. Keep in a sealed jar for future use when you have trouble with the digestive tract.

Mouth ulcers:
Take the leaves and some of the bark of the herb, grind and then mix with water. Gargle regularly whilst warm to heal ulcers quickly.

Listed below are some of the old fashioned home and Herbal Remedies which can help if you suffer from cold sores:

- As soon as you feel the itching on your upper lip apply an ice pack to reduce the pain.
- Vitamin C tablets taken daily will help the immune system. You should also apply lemon balm on the infected area.
- Make use of a warm tea bag by applying it onto the cold sore.
- Use fresh Aloe Vera leaves to sooth the irritation or aloe gel if you have no aloe plant.
- Salt can be used. Apply with your finger and continue to press until it reaches the cold sores root. This can be painful but it will reduce the soreness.
- Witch hazel can be purchased over the counter to aid faster healing. It is normally available in cream or liquid form.
- Make a mixture of olive oil and tea tree oil. Three tablespoonfuls of each and apply liberally to destroy the infection.
- Chamomile lotion can help, or use a chamomile tea bag. Apply cold to the affected area.

If you are suffering from a mild bout of depression there are natural Herbal Remedies that you can take to make you feel better. Depression can be caused by a wide range of things, including the loss of a job, anxiety or even a busy lifestyle in general.

One of the ways to help with depression is to look at your diet and try to eat more foods which contain Omega 3.

Careful changes to a person’s diet have been shown to have positive effects on a person.
Herbal remedies are available such as St. Johns Wort extract which works as a natural anti-depressant without the side effects of some prescribed medication. Other herbal remedies are Ginko biloba and Kava kava.

• Ginko biloba helps memory loss and depression.
• Kava kava helps with anxiety caused by depression and aids restful sleep.

One of the main exercise remedies which has been used for thousands of years is yoga. Yoga helps a person to breathe correctly and the stretching of the body brings about a natural cure for depression.

Note: if you are taking any prescribed medication inform your doctor of any herbal supplements you decide to use.

Bruises are caused by the impact of a collision breaking blood vessels on the surface of the skin. Bruises can be painful and they create ugly marks. However there are some effective herbs and Home Remedies which can help:

- To prevent bruising you can take a vitamin C supplement on a daily basis.

- As you mature your skins thin out. The use of Arnica gel in cream form helps to remove the bruises almost instantly. However if the bruises have not disappeared in a couple of weeks you need to see your local doctor. Arnica gel can also be used safely on children.

- Try taking a few leaves of the herbal plant Parley and crush them to extract the juice. Apply to the affected area to reduce the pain.

- Extracted onion juice can also be applied unless the skin is broken.

- Try melting some Vaseline and add cayenne pepper. Apply this old fashioned Chinese remedy twice a day. A combination of cayenne pepper and melted Vaseline needs to be made in a 1:5 proportion. It should be applied to the swelled bruised place once a day. It is a Chinese remedy for the home treatment of bruises.

- Take an ice pack from the freezer and apply quickly after the event in order to reduce the swelling.

There has been research performed upon Frankinsence the essential oil. Although the research was done on a low scale, it proved to be an effective treatment for pain and stiffness for Osteoarthritis sufferers.

Osteoarthritis can affect bones and joints due to the cartilage becoming damaged. The bone can then start to grow into different shapes, which causes extreme pain. The most common areas in the body to contract this disease are the hands, knees, spine and hip areas. This disease tends to affect the older generation more than the young.

Medical practitioners prescribe anti–inflammatory drugs to help to reduce the severity of the pain. Increasing numbers of people suffering from various ailments are now trying alternative therapies. Undiluted Frankinsence extract oil has been shown to have a positive effect on affected painful areas.

It is important to remember that any alternative treatment can vary on each individual. Long-term prescribed medication and the herbal products working together can bring relief. However, you need to keep your doctor informed at all times of any treatments that you are using.

Warning: Do not use Herbal Remedies or Aromatherapy Oils without consulting your doctor. Do not use if you think you are pregnant.

Once you have started to use different essential oils for healing treatments or to create moods in your home it can create a desire to learn more.

If you want to learn more, then start with diffusion. Diffusion is the practice of collecting the scents from the essential oils.

Take a tissue and place a few drops of essential oil such as eucalyptus for a cough and place it in the room near you. The vapours or scent will surround you allowing you to breathe.

If you require light oil such as rose, why not try this in the car as a cost effective way of having an air freshener.

Steam is another way of using diffusion which can help with treatments:

Add a few drops of your chosen essential oil to boiling water. Pour the liquid into a bowl and leave while it sends out the aroma all around the room.This is a fabulous way to have the room smelling nice if you are entertaining. However when the water cools down the scent will disappear.

There are so many ways to use Aromatherapy Oils so enjoy your research.

Warning: never use undiluted essential oil directly on a person’s skin.

The herb Ginko Biloba is already well known as a remedy which can help a person who suffers from a loss of memory. However, there has been more research to establish whether or not this herbal plant can help sufferers of dementia.

Dementia sufferers have problems thinking clearly which brings confusion as they do not remember how to complete jobs or tasks allocated to them. This can prevent a person from recognising the person who is talking to them, and it often brings a sense of frustration.

This disease tends to affect some people of around eighty years old and over. As a nation we are living longer so there is a need for treatment which can help to delay the disease.

Ginko Biloba helps the memory by stimulating the flow of blood to a person’s brain. There is no hard proof that dementia can be avoided altogether, although tests were carried out on two groups of people. The first group who were taking the herbal remedy in tablet form noted that their memories had improved, whilst the group of people who were not given the herbal remedy simply remained the same.

Note: There has not been a discovery which confirms dementia can be cured.

Warning: Do not take herbal supplements without your doctor’s permission if he/she is prescribing medication.

If you are a woman and you are experiencing an unpleasant discharge, or if you have the sensation of burning when you urinate, you may have a bacterial infection. This infection is not sexual transmitted, but it can be very uncomfortable. It is a problem that needs medical attention.

However there are Herbal Remedies which you can use as well. The natural remedies listed below are fast-acting and have no side effects.

Itching can be the most common symptom and one which makes life uncomfortable. Use a tea bag which has been in water and left in the refrigerator to cool. Place the teabag in the personal area required and it will bring relief. You will need to apply a few times a day.
When you have taken a bath to help with the relief of further itching you will have to keep the area extra clean in order to avoid the bacteria spreading.

• Triphala the herb soaked in water will help. Once the herb has been soaked in water wash the genital area with this to help in soothing the discomfort.
• Your diet can help you to reduce the symptoms by eating yoghurt.
• If you use some yoghurt on the affected area it can have quick results in healing the vaginal area.

There are various names for the herb Agnus Castus. It is also known as the chaste tree, hemp tree, monk’s pepper or Chinese vitex.

If you are a woman who suffers every month with pre- menstrual problems this herbal remedy has been used monthly on a regular basis as a treatment.

Some of the main areas which can be affected through hormonal change include the ovaries, the enlargement of breasts at puberty, and of course controlling a monthly period.

Agnus Castus balances the hormones of the body and it has also been used to treat women who suffer from breast pain. A woman’s hormones travel through the body via the blood stream and this herbal plant appears to balance and calm the hormones ready for menstruation.

There are few problems with the side effects of this remedy, although some women may have slight headaches, feel a little lightheaded or have a dry mouth. This remedy is available in capsules or liquid form.

Warning: You need to keep your doctor informed of any herbal products you decide to take if you are on prescribed medication. Do not use if you think you may be pregnant.