Natural Therapy: Coffee Treats Asthma, Headaches and other Conditions

Everyone knows that drinking a cup of coffee will give you a little boost of energy. But, it can also treat and prevent a number of other disorders such as asthma, headaches, Parkinson's Disease, Type II Diabetes and colon Cancer.

Coffee as a Stimulant
While most people realize that the caffeine in coffee may wake them up in the morning, many do not realize there may be additional benefits to drinking coffee. Coffee has also been shown to improve mental performance and increase productivity at work. According to the National Coffee Association, 54% of adult Americans drink coffee on a regular basis. The average amount consumed is around 3 cups per day.

Coffee as Disease Prevention
The International Coffee Organization, states that it is also believed that since coffee contains a slew of antioxidants there may be benefits to the liver, brain and it may actually help prevent colon cancer. Coffee has also been shown to have benefits in prevention of Parkinson’s disease, Type II Diabetes.

Coffee Treats Asthma
Coffee’s primary stimulant activity is caused by the presence of caffeine. Caffeine is a member of the chemical group Xanthine derivatives which also includes Theophylline and Theobromine.
Theophylline is a powerful bronchodilator which has been in use for many years to treat asthma available by prescription as “TheoDur” and several other brand names. Theobromine, a related chemical is highly present in chocolate.

When medical help is not available, because of its caffeine, coffee can be used to treat an asthma attack. The Caffeine works similarly to Theophylline by constricting the blood vessels in the lung tissue leading to an opening of the airway and easier breathing.

Coffee Treats Headaches
Because Caffeine is a “vasoconstrictor”, it can also be used to treat headaches. Some headaches, such as migraines are thought to be caused by a dilation of blood vessels in the brain. Drinking a cup of coffee can help to alleviate this condition. Many “migraine treatments” have caffeine as one of the active ingredient. This includes the popular over-the-counter pain relievers “Excedrin” and “Anacin” and the prescription products “Fioricet” and “Fiorinal”.

As a health care professional and natural therapy enthusiast, I have often recommended that people drink a cup of coffee in order to alleviate a headache. If it won’t completely treat the headache, it may help the pain reliever work better.

There are a few drawbacks to drinking coffee on a regular basis such as staining of teeth and possible bad breath, though good oral hygiene should minimize this effect. The worst potential side effect of daily use is that one may become dependent on the caffeine and develop a need to consume it daily. Withdrawal can be unpleasant and result in tiredness and withdrawal headaches which seem to be only treatable by consuming more coffee.

As coffee is readily available most everywhere in the world, it doesn’t seem to be much of a problem and the benefits appear to outweigh the drawbacks. So, drink up!

Herbal Therapy: Using Tea Tree Oil

Tea Tree Oil is an essential oil extracted from the leaves of the Melaleuca Alternifolia plant that can be used to treat a variety of skin disorders. It has been used successfully to treat a number of infection and irritation based skin disorders.

The “Tea Tree” was discovered when explorer James Cook traveled from Great Britain to Australia in the late 1700’s. The aborigines introduced the explorers to the wonders of the plant which they used by crushing the leaves and applying directly to a cut. It was named the “Tea Tree” by Cook’s group after they made a tea out of the leaves. Shortly thereafter, its use spread to Europe and was widely used.

Its use as an antifungal is documented during World War II but in the 1940’s it fell into disuse due to the development of penicillin and subsequent antibiotics. It’s effectiveness was proven in a number of clinical trials dating back to the 1920’s investigating such topics as athlete’s foot, toenail fungus, acne and dandruff.

In the 1970’s, tea tree oil use once again became popular and has since been on the rise due to interest in natural medicines and increasing bacterial and fungal resistance to traditional medicines. Oil from the plant is extracted using steam distillation methods. The compound terpinen-4-ol is thought to be responsible for most of its activity; however the extract contains a number of terpinoids all of which demonstrate some activity.

Tea tree oil has been successfully used to treat a number of skin infections and disorders such as:

• Acne – apply directly to affected area or mix a few drops with normal facial cleanser and use as normal
• Cuts, burns, scratches, insect bites, skin infections, boils – apply directly to affected area
• Seborrheic dermatitis, dandruff – apply directly to scalp with cotton ball or mix with shampoo
• Athlete’s foot – apply directly to affected area with cotton ball
• Thrush, periodontal disease – mix several drops with mouthwash or warm water, rinse and spit
• Eczema, psoriasis – mix a few drops with non-irritating lotion and apply to affected area
• Lice – works best as a preventative by mixing a few drops with regular shampoo and/or conditioner
• Yeast infection, vaginitis – apply a few drops to the tip of a tampon and insert vaginally
  

Tea tree oil is generally considered safe for topical use but should not be taken internally as it can be toxic if ingested. Minor skin irritation may occur if used in a sensitive area and occasionally specific skin allergies are noted. If you experience a worsening of any condition, additional inflammation or symptoms of allergic reaction use should be discontinued.

Tea tree oil is widely available at any health food store and at many drugstores, grocery stores and large discount stores such as Wal-Mart or Target. In addition, many body care products made with tea tree oil such as creams, lotions and shampoos are now commercially available. Though, in my experience you will always get greater benefit by purchasing tea tree oil and adding a few drops to the shampoo, lotion or cream just prior to use yourself.