6 Secret Southwest Remedies

Since moving to the southwest I’ve been introduced to quite a few cool natural remedies from the vibrant plant life down here, which have been proven to not only heal but give you more energy too. Here are six natural alternatives to traditional over the counter remedies for some common ailments.

2.)Juniper Berries are a great natural cure for UTI’s (urinary tract infections). They contain quercetin (an anti-oxidant) and volatile oils that kill harmful bacteria before they can adhere to the bladder walls. Juniper is also a diuretic and might be a little irritating if you take it for an extended period of time so you might want to stop once your infection is cured. You can find Juniper tea at your local health food store or health food section of your grocery store.

3.)Prickly Pears, the colorful little fruit of the opuntia engelmannii flowering cactus is very high in the antioxidant vitamin C and it’ll also give you an energy boost, end fatigue and create a sense of alertness and focus. It’s also been touted as making your workouts a little easier. I prefer the actual fruit because you get the benefits of the fiber, but you can find prickly pear juice in many grocery stores if you’d rather a little liquid pick me up.

4.)Yucca is known in the Naturopathic world as “natures own cortisone”. The saponins, which are anti-inflamatories, block toxins and relieve pain and discomfort from arthritis and muscle pain. Countless studies and testimonials have shown great improvements of the participants who experienced less stiffness, pain and swelling after taking yucca without a single negative side effect. You can find yucca root capsules at your health food store or health food section of your grocery store.

5.)Yerba Mansa leaves and roots have been used by Native Americans for centuries as a remedy for the symptoms of allergies, colds and sinus issues. New research also proves they really knew what they were doing. Yerba Mansa has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties that soothe irritated mucous membranes which brings you instant relief. You can find the liquid extract in health food stores.

6.)Chia or Salba seeds are a great source of omega 3 fatty acids and because they contain eight times more omega 3 fatty acids than a serving of salmon which can boost your mood if you’re feeling a little down in the dumps. A handful of the seeds also contains 3 times more iron than spinach, 6 times more calcium than a glass of milk and 3 times more antioxidants than blueberries. Native Americans used to eat chia seeds before long hikes in the desert and claimed it gave them more stamina. Chia seeds don’t have a whole lot of taste and when mixed with water they make a pretty cool gel that I’ve used as a re-fueling drink/gel on long bike rides and hikes. I also like to mix a scoop in a 8-12oz glass of water and add a little lemon juice and drink it for part of my snack. You can get chia on-line at greensplus.com or at your local health food store.