Natural sore throat remedies (Home Remedies)

Natural sore throat remedies

Before you go running to a doctor, try these simple but effective natural home remedies to battle a sore throat.

Natural sore throat remedies

A sore throat burns, feels scratchy and may cause pain that makes it hard to talk or swallow. The usual cause is a virus or bacteria, though throat irritation may also be caused by smoking, dry heat, postnasal drip or an allergic reaction. Try these sore throat remedies to feel better fast.

What you can do for a sore throat

• For fast and effective sore-throat relief, nothing beats an old-fashioned saltwater gargle. Salt acts as a mild antiseptic, and also draws water out of mucous membranes in the throat, which helps to clear phlegm. Dissolve a half-teaspoon salt in a glass of warm water, gargle and spit out. Repeat up to four times a day.

• Alternatively, gargle with a baking-soda solution. Dissolve one-half teaspoon of baking soda in a glass of warm water.

• Run a cool-mist vaporizer or humidifier in your bedroom. Adding moisture to the air will help keep the air from drying out and prevent the lining of your throat from becoming too dry. If you don’t have a humidifier, place a bowl of water on your radiator or heating vent each night. It will work as well as a store-bought device.

• Quit smoking. Cigarette smoke is extremely irritating to the lining of the throat. Breathe through your nose, rather than your mouth. It’s a natural way to humidify the air you breathe.

• If you’re plagued with a sore throat that seems to come back time and time again, buy anew toothbrush. Bacteria collect on the bristles, and if you injure your gums as you brush, they can enter your system and re-infect you.

• Bolster your immune system during cold and flu season with vitamins, herbs and good nutrition. The obvious supplement candidates are vitamins C and E, the minerals zinc and magnesium, and immune-boosting herbs such as goldenseal and astragalus. Also cook or supplement with garlic, ginger, shiitake mushrooms and reishi mushrooms, all of which have immune-boosting properties.

More sore throat remedies

• Honey has long been used as a sore-throat remedy. It has antibacterial properties, which can help speed healing. It also acts as a hypertonic osmotic, which means that it draws water out of inflamed tissue. This reduces the swelling and discomfort. Add several teaspoons to 1 cup of hot water or herbal tea.

• Hot lemonade with honey can also relieve pain. Combine the juice of half a lemon with hot water.

• Horehound reduces the swelling of inflamed throat tissue. It also thins mucus, which makes it easier for you to clear it from your throat. To make the tea, steep 2 teaspoons chopped herb in 1 cup boiling water for 10 minutes; strain and drink.

• Slippery elm contains mucilage that coats the throat and eases the soreness. Steep 1 teaspoon of the inner bark in 2 cups boiling water, strain and drink.

• Like slippery elm bark, marshmallow root (Althea officinalis) contains throat-coating mucilage. To make the tea, steep 2 teaspoons dried herb in 1 cup boiling water for 10 minutes; strain and drink. Drink three to five cups a day to help a sore throat.

• Take vitamin C three times a day. Whether your sore throat is caused by a cold, the flu or strep, this vitamin will help boost your immune system and fight off infection. Reduce the dose if you develop diarrhea.

• Echinacea. This herb’s antibacterial and antiviral properties will speed healing.

• Garlic, as another aid to fight off infection. Dried garlic has potent antibacterial and antiseptic properties.

• Zinc lozenge. In one study, people who sucked on a lozenge containing about 13 milligrams of zinc every two hours got rid of viral sore throats three to four days quicker than those who didn’t. But too much zinc can actually compromise immunity, which is why you shouldn’t take the lozenges for a long time.

Natural home remedies: Heartburn (Home Remedies)

Natural home remedies: Heartburn

Heartburn is definitely punishment, but it's not always clear why you've been sentenced. Find out about the best natural remedies to try at home.

Natural home remedies for heartburn

When stomach acid backs up into your esophagus, you feel a burning pain. Large meals as well as certain foods can lead to heartburn. You’re more likely to have heartburn if you’re pregnant, overweight or a smoker, or if you have a condition called hiatal hernia. Some medications, including aspirin, certain antibiotics and some antidepressants and sedatives, may aggravate heartburn. Try some of these natural home remedies to relieve your heartburn symptoms.

What you can do for heartburn

• As soon as you feel the telltale flicker of heartburn, drink a 250 mL glass of water. It will wash the acid back down your esophagus into your stomach.
• Saliva helps neutralize stomach acid. So chew a piece of sugarless gum, suck on a candy or daydream about juicy steaks or buttery lobster—whatever it takes to get you to generate and swallow extra saliva.
• Baking soda is alkaline, so it neutralizes stomach acid. Mix a half-teaspoon of baking soda and a few drops of lemon juice in a half-cup of warm water. Don’t drink the baking soda by itself. You need the lemon juice to dispel some of the gas baking soda creates in the stomach when it comes in contact with stomach acid—there have been cases where baking soda produced such a rapid internal reaction that it ruptured the stomach.
• The juices of vegetables like carrots, cucumbers, radishes, or beets help to tame the acid in the stomach due to their alkaline nature. Feel free to add a pinch of salt and pepper for flavour. If juicing vegetables is inconvenient or strange to you, just eat some raw vegetables.
• No matter how terrible you feel, stay upright. Gravity is a powerful force, and if you’re standing, the earth’s pull helps keep acid in your stomach. Avoid bending over after a meal, and definitely don’t lie down.
• If nighttime heartburn plagues you, eat meals at least two to three hours before you turn in. The added time will give acid levels a chance to decrease before you lie down.
• You might also elevate the head of your bed 10 to 15 centimetres with large wooden blocks. When you’re tilted at an angle while sleeping, gravity helps keep acid in the stomach.
• Try sleeping on your left side. When you lie on your left side, the stomach hangs down and fluids pool along the greater curvature, away from the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), the thick ring of muscle that separates the stomach from the esophagus and keeps stomach acid where it belongs. Pooled fluids stay farther away from the esophagus.
• Eat smaller, more frequent meals to minimize the production of stomach acid. And avoid eating too much in one sitting; doing so can force open the LES.
• If you haven’t done so already, quit smoking. Research shows that smoking relaxes the LES.

A natural boost forheartburn treatment

• To make a heartburn-easing tea, add 1 teaspoon of freshly grated gingerroot to 1 cup of boiling water, steep for 10 minutes, and drink. Long used to quell the nausea caused by motion sickness, ginger also helps to relax the muscles that line the walls of the esophagus, so stomach acid doesn’t get pushed upward.
• A tea made from anise, caraway, or fennel seed can also ease the burn, according to herbalists. Add 2 teaspoons of any of them to 1 cup of boiling water, steep for 10 minutes, strain and drink.
• Practitioners of Ayurvedic medicine, the traditional medicine of India, prescribe teas made of crushed cinnamon or cardamom to cool the heat of heartburn. Add 1 teaspoon of either crushed or powdered herb to 1 cup boiling water, steep, strain and drink.
• Marshmallow root is one of the oldest remedies known for heartburn. It produces a gooey, starchy substance called mucilage, which coats and protects the mucous membranes of your esophagus—just what you need when you feel like it’s on fire. Stir 1 teaspoon powdered marshmallow root into 1 cup water and sip it. Drink three or four cups a day.
• You can make a similar soothing drink from slippery elm. Add one teaspoon of the powder to a cup of hot water, and drink a few cups throughout the day.
• A form of licorice called DGL also provides heartburn-soothing mucilage. Take two or three chewable wafers three times daily on an empty stomach.

Natural home remedies: Toothache (Home Remedies)

Natural home remedies: Toothache

Toothache is at the top of the list for not-a-fun-time, but there are some natural remedies you can use to relieve the pain before you make it to the dentist.

Cavities often cause tooth pain, and you get cavities from bacteria in the mouth that are thriving on sugary and starchy foods that cling to teeth and gums. The bacteria produce acids that damage your teeth, and when the damage reaches a nerve, misery sets in. But there can be other causes as well—a filling that’s come loose, a cracked tooth, an abscess (a pocket of infection at the gum line), or a sinus condition. Any infection that reaches the root is sure to cause pain.

Toothaches range from throbbing to excruciating, but with a good dentist as your ally, the pain should be short-lived. If you can’t get an appointment right away, you can stop at the pharmacy for a pain-relieving gel. For general pain relief, you can also take aspirin or acetaminophen (Tylenol). And try the following approaches.

Natural remedies for toothache

• Dab some clove oil directly on your bad tooth. Clove oil has remarkable bacteria-slaying properties—and it also has a numbing effect, which is why it’s a longtime folk remedy for toothache. Today we know that this extract from the clove bud contains eugenol, which acts as a local anesthetic. The oil may sting at first, but then blissful relief sets in.

• You can get the same numbing effect from whole cloves. Put a few in your mouth, let them moisten until they soften, bruise them a bit between your non-hurting molars to release their oil, then hold the softened cloves against your painful tooth for up to half an hour.

• If you don’t have any cloves, make a paste of powdered ginger and red (cayenne) pepper. Pour the powdered ingredients in the bottom of a cup, then add a drop or two of water to make the paste. Roll a small ball of cotton into enough paste to saturate it, and place it on your painful tooth. (This can irritate the gums, so keep the cotton on the tooth.) In addition to using the spices together, you can try them separately. Either one can help relieve tooth pain.

• Rinse your mouth with a tincture of myrrh. The astringent effects help with inflammation, and myrrh offers the added benefit of killing bacteria. Simmer 1 teaspoon of powdered myrrh in 2 cups water for 30 minutes. Strain and let cool. Rinse with 1 teaspoon of the solution in a half-cup water five to six times a day.

• Peppermint tea has a nice flavour and some numbing power. Put 1 teaspoon dried peppermint leaves in 1 cup boiling water and steep for 20 minutes. After the tea cools, swish it around in your mouth, then spit it out or swallow. Repeat as often as needed.

• To help kill bacteria and relieve some discomfort, swish with a mouthful of 3% hydrogen peroxide solution. This can provide temporary relief if the toothache is accompanied by fever and a foul taste in the mouth (both are signs of infection), but like other toothache remedies, it’s only a stopgap measure until you see your dentist and get the source of infection cleared up. A hydrogen peroxide solution is only for rinsing. Spit it out, then rinse several times with plain water.

• Stir a teaspoon of salt into a glass of warm water and rinse for up to 30 seconds before you spit it out. Salt water cleanses the area around the tooth and draws out some of the fluid that causes swelling. Repeat this treatment as often as needed.

• Place a small ice cube in a plastic bag, wrap a thin cloth around the bag, and apply it to the aching tooth for about 15 minutes to numb the nerves. Alternatively, that ice pack can go on your cheek, over the painful tooth.

• A warm, wet tea bag is a standard folk remedy for toothache that’s worth a try. Black tea contains astringent tannins, which may reduce swelling and give you temporary relief.

• Use a toothpaste that’s designated “for sensitive teeth.” If you have a problem with shrinking gums, this could relieve a lot of the pain you probably experience from hot or cold foods. When gums shrink, the dentin beneath your teeth’s enamel surface is exposed, and this material is particularly sensitive.

• Switch to the softest-bristled brush you can find to help preserve gum tissue and prevent further shrinking.

• If you’ve broken a tooth or have lost a filling, you can relieve some pain by covering the exposed area with softened chewing gum. This might work with a loose filling, too, to hold it in place until you can get to the dentist. To avoid further discomfort, avoid chewing anything with that tooth until you can have it repaired.

• Try an acupressure technique to stop tooth pain fast. With your thumb, press the point on the back of your other hand where the base of your thumb and your index finger meet. Apply pressure for about two minutes. This helps trigger the release of endorphins, the brain’s feel-good hormones. (Off-limits if you’re pregnant.)

The bottom line for tooth pain

Whatever else you do, make an appointment to see your dentist. These home remedies can provide temporary relief, but your dentist needs to do some exploration and find out what’s causing this toothache. Odds are, you have a problem that requires treatment. If you don’t find out what’s causing the ache, it will only get worse.

Natural home remedies: Carpal tunnel syndrome (Home Remedies)

Natural home remedies: Carpal tunnel syndrome

The symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome include numbness or tingling in your thumb and first three fingers, pains that shoot up your wrist and forearm, soreness in the neck and shoulders, and hand weakness. Try these natural home remedies for relief.

Natural home remedies for carpal tunnel syndrome

Inside each wrist is a narrow passage called the carpal tunnel. Running through this tunnel are nine tendons that move your fingers, along with the median nerve. These tendons can become inflammed and swell, compressing the nerve. Repetitive hand motion is one well-known cause of carpal tunnel syndrome, but other factors include pregnancy, birth-control pills, rheumatoid arthritis, and being overweight. Try these natural home remedies to provide relief.

What you can do for carpal tunnel syndrome

• To quickly ease the pain and inflammation caused by carpal tunnel syndrome, cool your wrists with an ice pack wrapped in a thin towel. Leave it on for about 10 minutes. You can repeat the treatment every hour or so.
• Heat can also ease pain by relaxing muscles. Soak your hands and wrists in warm to hot water for 12 to 15 minutes before you go to bed each night.
• Wear a splint at night. While sleeping, you may be bending your hand and wrist under your pillow, and this puts pressure on your wrist. In fact, people with carpal tunnel syndrome are often awakened by the pain. A splint will hold your fingers in a neutral position and relieve pressure on the median nerve. You can purchase the splint in a medical supply store or pharmacy, but be sure to check with your doctor or physical therapist to make sure it fits properly.
• You may also want to wear a splint during the day, especially if you’re doing jobs that require a lot of hand motion.

A natural boost for carpal tunnel syndrome treatment

• Twice a day, rub your wrists with an ointment containing arnica. This herbal treatment, renowned for its anti-inflammatory properties, helps ease aches and pains. Dab the inside of each wrist with about one-quarter teaspoon of the ointment, then massage that area with the thumb of the other hand, all the way to the base of your palm. Repeat every morning and night until your symptoms ease.
• Bromelain, an enzyme derived from pineapples, digests inflammatory proteins, so it can reduce inflammation in your sore wrists. Along with reducing the pain, it may help you heal faster.
• The herb St. John’s wort, best known as an antidepressant, can also help repair nerve damage and reduce carpal tunnel syndrome pain and inflammation.
• Take a tablespoon of flaxseed oil every day, and give it at least two weeks to have an effect. Flaxseed oil is extremely rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which reduce inflammation. Take it with food for better absorption. If you like, you can mix it into your orange juice or add it to your salad dressing.
• Curcumin is an anti-inflammatory component found in the spice turmeric. In Ayurvedic medicine, which originated in India, turmeric has a long history of use as a medicine for pain and inflammation. But the spice doesn’t pack the punch of curcumin supplements.
• Try elemental magnesium. This trace mineral is involved in nerve function and muscle relaxation. A supplement may help carpal tunnel syndrome, especially if you don’t eat a lot of magnesium-rich whole grains, legumes or green vegetables. The most absorbable forms are magnesium lactate, magnesium orotate, magnesium glycinate and magnesium gluconate. The only side effect might be loose bowel movements. If you have that problem, just reduce the dose.

Natural home remedies: Dry skin (Home Remedies)

Natural home remedies: Dry skin

The outer layer of your skin works like a self-oiled machine, but sometimes oil production can’t keep up with demand. Try one of these home remedies to soothe dry skin.

Natural home remedies for dry skin

The outer layer of your skin works like a self-oiled machine, but sometimes oil production can't keep up with demand. Trouble occurs when you shower a lot, use skin-drying soap, or live in a house where the air is Saharan. What's the best refreshment for parched skin? Most moisturizers (which don't actually add moisture to the skin but serve to lock in moisture that's already there) will do the trick. Or try one of the home remedies below.

What you can do for dry skin

• Give your skin a milk bath. The lactic acid in milk exfoliates dead skin cells and may also increase skin’s ability to hold in moisture. Soak a washcloth in cold milk. Lay the cloth on any area of skin that is particularly dry or irritated. Leave the cloth there for five minutes, and when you rinse off the milk, do it gently, so some of the lactic acid stays on your skin.
• To soften rough patches of skin, fill your tub with warm water and add two cups of Epsom salt, then climb in and soak for a few minutes. While your skin is still wet, you can also rub handfuls of Epsom salt on the rough areas to exfoliate the skin. You’ll be amazed at just how good your skin feels when you get out. If you have some, you can also add a few strips of dried seaweed to your bath to boost the softening effect.
• Apply aloe vera gel to help your dry skin heal more quickly. It contains acids that eat away dead skin cells. To obtain the gel, cut off a leaf at the base and split it open with a knife. Scrape out the gel with a spoon.
• Use a moisturizer that contains alpha-hydroxy acids. These remove loose, flaky skin cells, leaving the skin softer. Lotions that contain urea have a similar effect. Pit an avocado, puree the pulp, and pat it on your face as a moisturizing mask. The oil acts as an emollient. It also contains beneficial vitamin E.
• Turn to any of these inexpensive products to trap in skin’s own moisture: lanolin (obtained from wool), petroleum jelly, mineral oil, peanut oil, or even vegetable shortening (such as Crisco). Just use them sparingly to avoid feeling greasy.
• Switch soaps. If you use a deodorant soap, stop. These soaps dry the skin. And they contain perfumes, which are irritants. Liquid soaps also tend to be gentler on your skin. Put a squirt bottle next to your sink for washing your hands.
• Shower sparingly. Never stay in the bath or shower for more than 15 minutes. When you take long soaks, you’re washing away your skin’s protective oils. And use lukewarm water, not hot. Hot water tends to strip the oil from your skin.

A natural boost for dry skin treatment

• Eat fish. At least twice a week, eat some oily, cold-water fish like herring or salmon. These are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which help keep your skin-cell membranes healthy. Other good sources of these fatty acids are walnuts, avocados, and flaxseed oil. Mix up to two tablespoons of flaxseed oil each day into your salad dressing or your morning oatmeal. (If you add it to hot cereal, do so only after the cereal is cooked. Flaxseed oil breaks down into less-useful compounds if you cook with it.)
• Take your vitamins. Certain vitamins and minerals help support healthy skin. Every day, take 100 milligrams of a B-complex vitamin supplement containing thiamin, riboflavin, and pantothenic acid; 15 milligrams of beta-carotene in divided doses, with meals; and 15 milligrams of zinc.
• Find the right formula. Look for products that offer an array of skin-enhancing nutrients in one pill. Look for a pill formula containing vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, riboflavin, vitamin B6, folate, zinc, selenium, and other minerals.

Natural home remedies: Muscle cramps (Fitness) (Home Remedies)

Natural home remedies: Muscle cramps

Sometimes you get a muscle cramp during a workout, but it can also happen after some part of your body has remained frozen in one position for a long time. Try these natural home remedies to relieve your pain.

Natural home remedies for muscle cramps

Muscle cramps are caused by overuse of a muscle, dehydration,stress or fatigue. But if calves cramp painfully when you're trying to sleep, or a muscle often locks up for no apparent reason, the root cause is a faulty chemical signal from the nervous system that "tells" the muscle to contract. Try these natural home remedies to relieve your muscle pain.

What you can do for muscle cramps

• Place an electric heating pad or a hot washcloth on the misbehaving muscle to relax the cramp and increase blood flow to the affected tissue. Set the pad on low, apply for 20 minutes, then remove it for at least 20 minutes before reapplying.
• Take a long, warm shower, or soak in the bath. For added relief, pour in a half-cup of Epsom salt. The magnesium in Epsom salt promotes muscle relaxation.
• Find the epicentre of the muscle cramp. Press into this spot with your thumb, the heel of your hand or a loosely clenched fist. Hold the pressure for 10 seconds, then press again. You're doing it right if you feel some discomfort, but not excruciating pain. After a number of repetitions, the pain from the cramp should start to diminish.
• Low levels of minerals known as electrolytes—which include potassium, sodium, calcium and magnesium—can contribute to muscle cramps. You probably don't need any more sodium in your diet, but you may need more of the others. Good food sources of magnesium are whole-grain breads and cereals, nuts and beans. You can getpotassium from most fruits and vegetables, especially bananas, oranges and cantaloupes. Dairy foods supply calcium.
• If you tend to get muscle cramps during exercise, drink at least 2 cups of water two hours before each workout, then stop and drink 125 to 250 mL every 15 minutes during exercise sessions. If you're sweating a lot, consider a sports drink, such as Gatorade, that replaces lost sodium and other electrolytes.
• To prevent nighttime calf cramps, try not to sleep with your toes pointed. And don't tuck in your sheets too tightly—this tends to bend your toes downward, activating cramps.

A natural boost for treatment of muscle cramps

• Mix 1 part wintergreen oil with 4 parts vegetable oil, and massage it into the muscle cramp. Wintergreen contains methyl salicylate, which relieves pain and stimulates blood flow. You can use this mixture several times a day, but not with a heating pad—you could burn your skin.
• Take vitamin E to prevent nocturnal leg cramps. Studies suggest that taking vitamin E improves blood flow through the arteries.
• Muscle cramps are often caused by dehydration, so if you're getting frequent cramps, drink more water.

Natural home remedies: Constipation (Home Remedies)

Natural home remedies: Constipation

Constipation is unpleasant, but you don't have to suffer. Try these home remedies to get your digestive system back on track.

Natural home remedies for constipation

If your first instinct when you’re constipated is to reach for the laxatives, chances are you don’t need one. The best way to get “regular” again is to eat more fibre, drink more fluids and exercise.

Fix it with fibre

• Start off the day with a high-fibre bran cereal. Some brands contain as much as 14 grams of insoluble fibre, the kind that adds bulk to stool. If you’re new to the whole fibre thing, start off with a smaller serving to prevent gas, bloating and cramping.
• Fill up on dried beans, prunes, figs, pears and oatmeal. These foods are also all high in soluble fibre.
• Mix one to two teaspoons of psyllium seeds into a cup of hot water. Let it sit for two hours, add lemon and honey, then drink.
• Flax seeds are high in fibre and also contain heart-healthy omega-3 fats. Take one tablespoon of the ground seeds two or three times a day. You can also add it your morning cereal or smoothie.
• As you increase your intake of fibre be sure to drink lots of water—at least 8 glasses a day.

Loosen up with a hot cup

• A morning cup of hot java will help. Caffeine has a bowel-loosening effect. Just don’t drink too much since it’s also a diuretic.
• Herbal or decaffeinated tea, or a simple cup of hot water with lemon juice will also help to get things moving.
• Dandelion tea has a mildly laxative effect. Steep one teaspoon of the dried root in one cup of boiling water. Drink one cup three times per day.

Tastes awful but it works

• Castor oil has a compound that when digested stimulates the small and large intestines. Swallow one to two teaspoons quickly on an empty stomach and give it eight hours to work its magic. Tastes nasty but it works!

Wrinkled fruit to the rescue

• Prunes are one of the oldest home remedies for constipation. High in fibre, prunes also contain a compound called dihydroxyphenyl isatin, which kicks the colon into action.
• Raisins are also high in fibre as well as tartaric acid, which has a laxative effect.

Get up and go

• There’s a reason the evening walk used to be called the daily constitutional. Regular exercise helps your body move food quicker. Aim for a daily walk at the very least.

Put the pressure on

• You can stimulate your digestive system through acupressure. Using your thumb, apply pressure at the spot four finger-widths above your wrist on the back of the forearm. Do this two minutes per day.

Last resort

• The herb cascara sagrada is one of the key ingredients in over-the-counter laxatives. It comes in a variety of forms (teas, tinctures,tablets) and it’s important to follow the directions on the package carefully. Don’t use it for more than two weeks since it can cause you to lose too much fluid and salt.
• Senna is the mother of all laxatives. A tincture is the easiest way to take his herb. Usually 20 to 40 drops at bedtime is sufficient.

Go easy with both of these herbs since long-term use can cause dependency.

Relax and don’t wait

• Never force a bowel movement. You can give yourself hemorrhoids or anal fissures that eventually narrow the anal opening, causing constipation.
• Never ignore nature’s call. If you do, you’re asking for a case of constipation.

Natural home remedies: Acne (Home Remedies)

Natural home remedies: Acne

Are your mornings marred by the discovery of new pimples? Then try these natural home remedies and zap those zits.

Natural home remedies for acne

If scientists can decipher the human genome, you’d think they could find a way to eradicate acne. No such luck. It’s up to you to deal with the outbreaks that can damage your pride of appearance long after teenage angst is past. When a pimple rears its ugly black, white, or red head, over-the-counter products can help. But so can simple remedies from Mother Nature’s medicine chest.

Your first options against acne

• The first avenue of assault is an over-the-counter cream or gel formulated with benzoyl peroxide. It works by mildly irritating the skin, which encourages dying skin cells to flake off. This helps reopen clogged pores. Benzoyl peroxide also kills the bacteria that infect clogged pores.
• Alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs), such as glycolic acid, slough off the outermost layer of skin, which helps keep pores clear and unclogged. Opt for a cream, lotion, or gel that contains 8% glycolic acid.
• At the first hint of a pimple, wrap an ice cube in a piece of plastic wrap and hold it to the area at least twice a day—every hour, if you can, but for no longer than five minutes each time. The cold will reduce the redness and ease the inflammation.
• Pop an aspirin or two. Taking one or two 325-milligram tablets four times a day can help calm an acne outbreak by reducing inflammation. (Check with your doctor before taking aspirin regularly.)

Try alternative acne treatments

• Three times a day, dab a drop of tea-tree oil on blemishes to discourage infection and speed healing. Research has found that 5% tea-tree oil is as effective against acne as a 5% benzoyl peroxide solution.
• For acne that flares at that time of the month, drink one to two cups of chasteberry tea a day. Some studies show that this herb helps regulate female hormones. Give the herb two or three months to work. And don’t drink copious amounts of the tea to hasten the results—it may make your skin look worse.
• Dab vinegar or lemon juice on pimples. All vinegars contain acids that can help flush out pores—so does lemon juice.
• An old folk remedy for healing pimples is to use a mixture of spice and honey on them. Combine 1 teaspoon powdered nutmeg and 1 teaspoon honey, and apply it to the pimple. Leave on for 20 minutes, then wash off. There’s no proof that this helps, but honey does have antiseptic properties.
• Apply aloe vera. One study found that 90 percent of skin sores were completely healed with aloe vera within five days.
• Think zinc. People with acne tend to have lower than normal zinc levels. Zinc supplements produce visible improvement in about a third of people who take them. You’ll need high doses, though—between 200 and 600 milligrams daily—so take it only under your doctor’s supervision.

The power of prevention

• If you keep skin free of dirt and excess oil—the thinking goes—perhaps your pores will never get clogged. But over cleansing can cause acne by making your sebaceous glands produce more oil. Forgo granulated cleansers. And avoid washcloths; they are abrasive and can accumulate bacteria if you reuse them. Instead, use a disposable cleansing cloth.
• Make a skin-cleansing solution to help clear up blackheads. Add one teaspoon of epsom salt and three drops of iodine to one half-cup of water and bring it to a boil. Let cool. Dip in a clean cotton pad and use it to clean the pores.

Natural home remedies: Ingrown toenails (Home Remedies)

Natural home remedies: Ingrown toenails

Is an ingrown nail cutting into your day? Try these natural home remedies to put that nail back in its place.

Natural home remedies for ingrown toenails

Ingrown toenails are usually a big-toe problem. A thick, sharp nail starts growing into the tender skin at the corner of the nail, cutting the skin as it grows. The incised area becomes red, painful, and vulnerable to infection. Some people have toenails that just naturally grow in ways that set the stage for this problem. But there are other contributing factors—wearing tight shoes or socks, for instance, or trimming toenails improperly. And you’re more likely to have ingrown toenails if you have the structural irregularities known as bunions or hammertoes.

What you can do for an ingrown toenail

• Fill a large basin with about 8 litres of hot water. Add several spoonfuls of salt and stir until the salt dissolves. Soak your problem foot for 15 to 20 minutes each day. Hot water softens the skin around the ingrown nail while the salt helps combat infection and reduces swelling.
• After you’ve soaked your feet, wash off the salt with warm, soapy water, rinse and let your feet dry.
• Put on a clean pair of socks every day. While you can’t keep feet completely germ-free, you reduce the risk of infection if you keep them as clean as possible.

Natural home remedies: Diarrhea (Home Remedies)

Natural home remedies: Diarrhea

When a case of diarrhea has you running to the bathroom, you need to do two things: stave off dehydration and avoid anything that will make it worse. Try these home remedies for relief.

Natural home remedies: Diarrhea

Normally, as food goes through your digestive tract, the large intestine soaks up extra water. Sometimes, though, it doesn’t, and you get rid of the fluid in your stool—a bothersome problem we call diarrhea.

What you can do for diarrhea

• It’s important to keep replacing your body’s supply of water and electrolytes, which include sodium, potassium and chloride. Mix up the perfect electrolyte drink by stirring a half-teaspoon of salt and four teaspoons of sugar into a litre of water. Add a little bit of orange juice, lemon juice or salt substitute for potassium. During the day, drink the full amount.
• Start by eating only foods that are see-through, like chicken broth and Jell-O. Broth is an especially good choice, since it supplies your body with water as well as electrolytes from the salt. Stick with these “clear foods” for a day or two.
• Avoid fruit juices. Large amounts of fructose can be hard to digest.
• Spoil yourself with the BRAT diet: bananas, rice, applesauce and toast. All are bland and soothing, and the bananas and applesauce contain pectin, a type of soluble fibre that soaks up excess fluid in your intestine and slows down the passage of stool. (Avoid apple juice, however, which can make diarrhea worse.)
• Carrots are another soothing source of pectin. Cook some carrots until they’re soft, then drop them in a blender with a little water and puree into a baby-food consistency. Eat a quarter to a half-cup each hour.
• Avoid foods that are rich in roughage, which can be hard to digest. That means no beans, cabbage or Brussels sprouts.
• Eat yogurt containing “live cultures” like Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium. These help to restore healthy levels of the helpful bacteria in your intestine.

A natural boost for diarrhea

• Drink black tea sweetened with sugar. The hot water helps with rehydration and tea contains astringent tannins that help reduce intestinal inflammation.
• Tannin-rich blackberries have long been used as folk treatments. Make blackberry tea by boiling one or two tablespoons of blackberries or dried blackberry leaves in 1 1⁄2 cups water for 10 minutes, then strain. Drink a cup several times a day. Raspberry tea is also said to be effective.
• Capsules of dried goldenseal appear to kill many of the bacteria, such as E. coli, that cause diarrhea. The key compound in the herb is berberine. Take the capsules daily until the diarrhea improves.
• Ground-up psyllium seeds soak up excess fluid in the intestine, making stool bulkier. They are the key ingredient in Metamucil and in many other natural-fibre products. Take one to three tablespoons mixed in water each day.

3 homemade cough remedies (Home Remedies)

3 homemade cough remedies

When you feel a sore throat coming on, raid your pantry instead of your medicine cabinet to prepare affordable all-natural cough remedies that really work.

Ditch the chemical syrups

Chemical-laden cold and flu syrups leave much to be desired. In fact, according to Leslie Solomonian, naturopathic doctor and assistant professor at the College of Naturopathic Medicine in Toronto, studies have demonstrated that over-the-counter cough and cold remedies for kids are actually potentially harmful and no better in addressing symptoms than homemade syrups prepared with honey. Here’s how you can whip up your own all-natural cough and cold-fighting mixtures.

1. Honey, onion and garlic syrup

The mixture:
Combine a half-cup of honey and a half-cup of water. Add in one whole chopped onion and one chopped clove of garlic. Add a dash of sage, thyme or oregano and allow to steep overnight at room temperature. Strain and use the liquid as a cough syrup. Store in your refrigerator. 

Why it works: 
Honey, onion and garlic are all naturally antimicrobial, says Dr. Solomonian. “Honey also acts as a demulcent, meaning it relaxes the cough reflex and soothes the throat.” Not cooking the mixture helps preserve the full antimicrobial properties of the onions and garlic, which lose some of their potency when heated. Finally, herbs like sage, thyme or oregano add even more antimicrobial benefits. 

Tip:
If you can’t wait overnight for your syrup to steep, simmer the mixture for five to 10 minutes until the onions soften. Although you’ll lose some antimicrobial properties, you will get some relief before heading to bed.

2. Castor oil chest rub

The mixture:
Start with a half a cup of good quality, cold pressed castor oil. Crush one or two cloves of garlic and stir them into the oil. Add a tablespoon of freshly grated ginger, three or four drops of eucalyptus oil and about half a teaspoon of cayenne pepper. Rub on chest. 

Why it works: 
Castor oil is well absorbed by the body and helps to increase circulation, which stimulates our immune response. The ginger and cayenne pepper also help warm the body, stimulate circulation and dilute mucus. The garlic and eucalyptus oil are added for their antimicrobial properties. 

Tip: 
“This is a very messy paste,” warns Dr. Solomonian. She recommends putting on an old T-shirt directly over the chest rub and wearing your pajamas over that. The extra layer will help trap added warmth.

3. Horseradish syrup

The mixture: 
Add a dash of grated horseradish to a quarter cup of honey. Allow it to sit for a few hours then use as a cough syrup.

Why it works:
“Horseradish promotes perspiration, making it useful in the treatment of fever,” says Dr. Jean-Jacques Dugoua, naturopathic doctor and director of clinical pharmacology for Newtopia. “When mixed with honey, it can be an effectiveremedy for hoarseness and cough from colds and flu.” Horseradish also stimulates appetite and promotes digestion. However, just a small amount does the trick. Eating large amounts may cause stomach upset.

Tip:
Although you may be tempted to add essential oils to a homemade cough syrup, it’s best to stick with whole foods as ingredients. Essential oils are very concentrated and can be very hard on the liver if ingested. Instead, reap the antimicrobial benefits of essential oils by adding them to a steam inhalation. Simply boil water, add in a few drops of the essential oil of your choice, place a towel over your head and breathe deeply. This will help dilute mucus and clear the nasal passages.

Natural home remedies: Indigestion (Home Remedies)

Natural home remedies: Indigestion

Suffering from indigestion? Try one of these simple home remedies for relief.

Natural home remedies for indigestion

You may have luck with the following comforting cures. However, no matter which teas or chewables you choose, you’ll certainly want to cast a critical eye on the foods you eat—as well as how often you and how much you munch. There’s no free parking in your GI tract. Once it’s in, you pay the price. 

Well-rooted traditions

• Ginger is justifiably famous for setting stomach upset and improving digestion. You can take capsules with meals, eat some candied ginger or brew up a cup of ginger tea.
• Camomile is an age-old treatment for indigestion. It calms the stomach and soothes the intestinal tract. Drink a few cups of the tea during the day or take the tincture up to three times a day.

Pamper yourself with peppermint

• Peppermint oil soothes intestinal muscle spasms and helps prevent nausea. Take one to two capsules containing 2 mL (1 tsp.) of oil three times a day between meals.
• If you prefer a cup of tea, then steep 1 1/2 teaspoons of dried peppermint in a cup of hot water. You can drink it hot or cold.

Note: If you have heartburn, peppermint is NOT the solution for you. 

Chewable resources

• Chewing and swallowing a spoonful of fennel or caraway seeds is a great way to stop indigestion. Both seeds contain oil that relieve spasms in the gut, relieve nausea and control flatulence.
• Fennel or anise tea made with two to three teaspoons of the crushed seeds is another tasty solution.
• DGL (deglycyrrizinated licorice) sold in health-food stores coats the lining of the stomach, reducing ingestion and stomach upset.

Sour solution

• Try drinking one teaspoon of apple cider vinegar mixed with a half-cup of water. This is particularly effective if you've overindulged at the dinner table.

Soda solution

• Stir a teaspoon of baking soda into a glass of water and drink it. This solution neutralizes stomach acid and helps relieve gas and bloating. Add a few drops of lemonto dispel some of the gas before it hits your stomach.

Sip this

• Sometimes sipping a plain old cup of hot water eases indigestion.
• Warm ginger ale, lemon-lime soda or flat cola are old standbys for stomach problems.

Beware of juice and dairy

• The fructose in fruit juices can cause abdominal pain and gas as it passes undigested into the colon. Start drinking your fruit juices with a meal to reduce their negative effect.
• If cheese or any other dairy products make you feel gassy and bloated you may be lactose intolerant. Try including some lactose-free dairy products in your diet and see if that solves the problem.

Eat slowly and early

• Your mother was right. Eat slowly and chew your food. Wolfing your food down makes you swallow gas, which can contribute to bloating and gas.
• Eat your final big meal at least three hours before bedtime. You don’t digest very well when sleeping.