Staying active is key
The golden years represent a time to savor a lifetime’s accomplishments, look back at past pleasures, and plan for a proactive “third act.” It’s also a time when certain potentially treatable health issues should remain of concern.
Some seniors declare that “60 is the new 40,” and then live up to the boast by becoming the most active, engaged, fitness-oriented, and health-conscious group of older adults in history. Their baby-boomer level of activism has turned inward, toward themselves, and they work hard at staying in shape and keeping up social contacts. Still, the onset of old age brings new, unfamiliar medical challenges to many senior adults—including bone-density loss, failing joints, faulty memories, and reproductive-system or sexual problems. Some of these health issues can be forestalled, or even prevented, by targeting them with specific herbs or botanicals.
Staying active is key
PROVIDE PROPHYLAXIS
In order to maintain good health and ward off serious ailments such as cancer, heart disease, and diabetes, it makes sense to “weaponize” the immune system. The more powerful one’s defenses, the less likelihood there is of facing a debilitating disease. So focus on herbs that are rich in anti-inflammatory qualities that combat pain, stiffness, swelling, and redness, and antioxidants that protect cells from free radicals.
Raise Your Defenses: Members of the Allium genus, including garlic and onions, are proven immunity boosters, as are American ginseng, elder flower, garlic, ginger, licorice, goldenseal, green tea, cinnamon, cayenne pepper, oregano, thyme, and turmeric.
HERBS FOR LONGEVITY
The following remedies have lengthy histories of treating the ailments and conditions that afflict older adults. Most of them are available in health-food stores and online. Always speak to your doctor before starting any herbal regimen.
Heart Health: Herbs that benefit the cardiovascular system include rosemary, turmeric, borage, nettle, ginger, valerian, ginkgo, and green tea, which can also improve pulmonary function.
Blood Sugar: Help the body regulate blood glucose levels with cinnamon, cloves, rosemary, oregano, sage, garlic, and an ayurvedic herb called Gymnema sylvestre or gurmar.
Arthritis: Treat the pain and swelling of joint or muscle issues with alfalfa, ginger, nettle, feverfew, cayenne pepper, turmeric, or burdock.
Osteoporosis: To strengthen bones and help prevent bone loss, try dandelion greens, nettle, safflower, and watercress.
Reproductive System Issues: Prostate problems can be addressed with Chinese ginseng, cayenne pepper, parsley, saw palmetto, or a combination of turmeric with nettle. Loss of libido may be corrected with red ginseng. Dong quai is effective for treating erectile dysfunction as well as menopause symptoms. Natural estrogens are found in anise, fennel, licorice (for seven days only), and sage.
Urinary Problems: Help restore normal kidney and bladder function with diuretics such as dandelion, nettle, and parsley and bacteria cleansers such as cranberry juice and blueberries.
Anxiety: Combat the effects of stress or nervous disorders with chamomile, lavender, valerian, ashwagandha, and passionflower.
Depression: Keep sad or negative thoughts at bay with Saint-John’s-wort, valerian, lemon balm, ginger, peppermint, ginkgo, and Siberian ginseng.
Memory Loss: Help restore brain function, clear-headedness, and memory with the aid of ginkgo biloba, gotu kola, ginseng, vacha or sweet flag, rosemary, and bacopa. Huperzine-A, derived from Chinese moss, may possibly prevent Alzheimer’s by facilitating information relays between brain cells.
Fatigue: Overcome frequent tiredness—or even chronic fatigue syndrome—with burdock, ginger, goldenseal, dandelion, ginkgo, valerian, licorice, milk thistle, and Saint-John’s-wort.
