Healthy Status Always » Natural Remedy

Natural Remedies For The Common Cold

hosnee — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 20:27:36 +0000

If you’re trying to avoid catching a cold this season, or if you’ve already been hit by the bug and are looking for natural remedies that don’t require taking over-the-counter medicine every day, you may want to consider some common cold natural remedies. Here are a few herbal and alternative treatments that work wonders on the immune system during the cold season that will keep you and your family healthy.

Besides the tried and true remedies like taking in a significant amount of Vitamin C, garlic and Echinacea have been known to boost the immune system. Garlic releases a chemical called acillin, which has antibacterial qualities, and Echinacea is a great natural remedy that can kill viruses in the body that can be caused by the common cold.

The herbal combination of Goldenseal can also eliminate toxins from the body, as well as boost the immune system and increase strength. Since the common cold is brought on by germs and other foreign substances that find their way into the bloodstream, this natural remedy is very helpful. Goldenseal is also great for treating a sore throat, and can help you to get a good night’s sleep, which may be difficult when you’re battling a cold.

Depending on how severe the cold is, or how long you’ve had a cold, you can use eucalyptus oil to help eliminate chest congestion and swollen sinuses. Inhaling the extract can help to clear your airways and eliminate some of the mucus buildup associated with the common cold.

If you’re taking over-the-counter or prescription medications for your cold, be sure to check with your doctor before switching to natural remedies, so that you don’t create any new complications. It may also be a good idea to try one natural remedy at a time, so you can determine which treatments work best for you.

Taking prescription from your doctor is necessary because sometime it may happen that natural remedy give its negative effects and could be dangerous, so just to avoid the depressing situation, take your family doctor’s advice. Captivating recommendation has become the norm for many people in today’s world.

Lemon Balm

hosnee — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 10:17:36 +0000

Are you anxious or under some serious stress? Using lemon balm is an excellent way to calm yourself. This aromatic herb has several other beneficial medicinal properties besides relaxation. Not only does it pep up your mood and spirits but it relaxes your mind, promotes sleep, improves digestion, reduces flatulence, and heals cuts and injuries on your body too. Its helps seal up wounds and in other words, it can make an excellent surgical dressing. You can rub lemon balm on your skin to repel mosquitoes and it can help heal bites of venomous creatures like scorpions. It even brings down fever, as it induces perspiration. These are just a few of the many of its uses. In fact, you can make a long list of its anti-viral and ant-bacterial properties as also its medicinal and cosmetic uses or its uses in the kitchen.

Growing Lemon Balm

From the mint family, lemon balm is a very plant easy to grow. You can either sow its seeds in a piece of land that is fertile and moist or grow it from stem-cuttings or root divisions. As the seeds are quite small, ensure that you cover them with a thin layer of rich soil so they do not blow away in the wind. You can use stem-cuttings taken from the plants in summer. If you use root divisions, it is best to do so in early fall or spring. See to it that each root- cutting has at least 3 or 4 buds. Space the plants about 2 feet apart to allow the necessary freedom for it to grow well. As with many plants, lemon balm takes more time to grow from seed than from cuttings. You will also have more success growing plants with more succulent leaves in shade than under bright direct sunlight.

In winter, if ground conditions are freezing cold, mulching the crowns will help. Proper irrigation, suitable fertilization with chemicals like nitrogen, phosphorus and potash, prevention and removal of weeds, usage of organic and other controls for keeping away insects, adopting good cultural practices are some of the important aspects that will help you in harvesting healthy, disease-free, lemon balm. You need to cut off the decayed stalks and loosen the soil around the roots to allow faster growth. Trim the plants quite frequently so as to stimulate branching and to increase foliage.

They usually are in bloom from late spring to midsummer. The flowers are white or yellowish and attract bees. The leaves are oval or heart shaped, shiny and crenate. When fresh, lemon balm gives better fragrance than when dried.

You can harvest once or twice a week, once the plants start to bloom. Take care to avoid bruising the leaf during harvesting, as otherwise the quality of the product will suffer. Dry the harvested lemon balm outside, but in partial shade rather than directly under the sun. If there is moisture in the air at night, the lemon balm will turn brown. Alternatively, you can air dry it in your shed, or even oven dry it on screens. You need to store the dried balm in airtight containers.

With the umpteen ways in which lemon balm can be put to use, there is no doubt that you will find many uses for it with your own bountiful harvest.

Yin And Yang1

hosnee — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 11:42:36 +0000

You have surely heard of opposites. Black and white, night and day, light and dark, pleasure and pain, wealth and poverty and similar innumerable pairs come to mind as opposites. Yin and yang represent, according to ancient Chinese philosophy, two opposing aspects of this entire universe as well as of human life, but with a difference. They not only oppose but also complement each other. Simply put, life is impossible without yin and yang at once opposing and complementing each other on a perennial basis. Yin is feminine, yang is masculine; yin is passive, yang active; yin is death, yang life and so on. If yin is thought to be receptive, cold, winter, moon, night, water, and even, then yang opposes and complements them by being creative, hot, summer, sun, day, fire and odd. They represent the essential parts of a duality. That only means that without either of them, the duality does not, and cannot, exist.

Yin and yang replace one another in cycles and are interdependent opposites that work in unison to attain a much-needed balance that sustains and runs this world, which by its very nature is always in flux. Yet they are not mutually exclusive, in that in yin, there is a tiny part of yang and likewise there is a very small seedling of yin in yang. They at once overwhelm and complement each other. This is a never-ending process.

Ancient scholars of China, who the emperors of the Han dynasty commissioned to study the earlier divergent principles of philosophy, came out with a unifying theory of the nature and alternating cycles of yin and yang. As yang increases, yin decreases and vice versa, in order to strike a natural balance. While it is important to have balance and harmony in nature, there are times of imbalance whenever yin and yang are deficient or in excess. This imbalance in yin and yang brings about unhappiness or misery in human life.

Manipulating your yin and yang

At such times, when you are in an unhappy state, you have to manipulate yin and yang in a way that restores the balance, by decreasing yin and simultaneously increasing yang or the other way round. Here, Feng Shui, an ancient Chinese art of space arrangement and placement of your possessions in particular directions or positions in your house, comes to your rescue. Depending upon the kind of distress you may be in or the kind of luck you want in your life, Feng Shui experts offer you suitable advice in order to make adjustments in the placement and directions of some of the objects occupying various spaces in your house. Many Feng Shui followers are also quite fastidious about using or wearing certain objects on their person, as they believe in the principle of balance in yin and yang that would bring them luck and turn their fortunes for the better.

This ancient Chinese concept of yin and yang may fascinate you. After that, you may want to see for yourself how these two, with their infinite ways in which they oppose and integrate with each other, ultimately affect your personal life.

Food Can Be A Natural Remedy

hosnee — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 21:08:36 +0000

Food can be a natural remedy for many ailments. Unfortunately, many people in the world don’t eat right these days, especially Americans and Europeans. Processed foods loose many of the nutrients that they originally had, including vitamins. This leads many people to take supplements, which can be very good for you at times. It also leads people to seek pharmacological solutions to many of their problems. There is a movement in the western world however to seek a natural remedy to a health problem, and often times that natural remedy can revolve around food. Healthy eating can make a world of difference in healthy living.

When looking at food as a natural remedy for many ailments, first understand what food is and what it does. Food is the fuel for your body, providing nutrition and energy. One of the things that good food does is strengthen the immune system. A strong immune system fights off disease. Hence, healthy eating means a strong immune system, a natural remedy at its best.

Remember the old folk saying, “an apple a day keeps the doctor away”. There is truth in that saying. Apples are a natural remedy to fatigue because of the natural sugar they contain, as well as vitamins. In addition, apples are full of fiber and can be a natural remedy for bowel blockage. Apples are also a good source of vitamin C and are a good natural remedy for the common cold. Oranges, grapefruit, lemons, limes, and tomatoes all contain large amounts of vitamin C as well as other vitamins and are a great natural remedy for the cold and other ailments.

Knowing that these vitamins found in food serve as a natural remedy to many illnesses should lead a person to examine their diet and add whole grains, fruits, vegetables, natural sources of fiber and lean meats. Protein found in lean meat, eggs, fish, poultry, cheese, and nuts is a natural remedy for fatigue, and helps the immune system develop. Oats, such as those found in normal breakfast oatmeal are a natural remedy for high cholesterol. Jalapeno peppers, high in iron-more iron per ounce than beef liver – are also an unthought-of of source of vitamin C, and actually contain more vitamin C per gram than equivalent citrus fruits, with the additional benefit of spicing up a meal and adding some zest. With that in mind, keep in mind that often the best natural remedy to any ailment is improving your eating habits.

Wheatgrass Is Fast Becoming The Most Widely Used Health Supplement

hosnee — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 08:40:36 +0000

One of the most poplar herbs to come to light over recent years is wheatgrass, wheatgrass is now thought be the most widely used herbal supplement for many reasons. One of the reasons is that is contains chlorophyll, this is mother natures most amazing health prompting nutrient. Wheatgrass contains no less than 20 amino acids, several hundreds of different enzymes that cannot be found in any other food and over 90 other vitamins, minerals and nutrients. When taking all this into account it is not hard to see why it is fast becoming popular.

People from all walks of life have befitted from taking wheatgrass, athletes, those on diets, those who live busy lifestyles and anyone who wants to keep their immune system healthy.

Wheatgrass has been described as the closest thing to the fountain of youth that man has ever found. Which says a lot for it, in the UK people are so impressed with the product that even royalty have taken to endorsing the remedy, the “Prince of Wales trust” is aiming to educate people on the many health benefits of taking this supplement.

Wheatgrass is available in many forms, including pills, powder, pasta or you can even buy your own “grow you own kit”.

Benefits of wheatgrass

Great success has been reported in reversing chronic degenerative diseases with wheatgrass, it is thought that there are two reasons behind why this happens. First wheatgrass provides an optimal nutritional environment during the healing process and secondly the detoxification process is expounded which increases the elimination of waste that has accumulated in the body.

Other ways which wheatgrass can be beneficial include reducing the amount of bad cholesterol and lowering high blood pressure. It is also thought to be effective in fighting off certain types of cancer and reducing the risk of these cancers.

If you are feeling run down and have a lack of energy then drinking a glass of wheatgrass juice can bring back lost energy and get you back on your feet again after illness. It is also used to increase the body’s natural ability to heal and in recent studies has proved to be effective.

For those who have trouble with indigestion and heartburn then you could benefit from taking wheatgrass on a daily basis, wheatgrass is thought to help with the digestive system and process and calm and soothe irritated linings.

When it comes to keeping your oral hygiene in top form again wheatgrass is thought to be effective, it is thought to help fight tooth decay and also help with bad breath. Those who have skin problems can also benefit from including wheatgrass in their daily diet as it promotes healthy skin.

All in all it is not hard to see why wheatgrass is fast becoming a popular supplement to many daily diets. Although some studies have been made and wheatgrass has made improvements in areas, for some of the ailments listed above evidence has been inclusive. However on saying this millions of people throughout the world are trying this remedy and it is fast becoming the number one herbal supplement, which must say something for it.

A Taste Of Bitter Does You Good

hosnee — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 10:22:36 +0000

Bitter melon or momordica charantia as it is correctly named is a climbing vine that has green leaves and fruits that are very bitter. However, it is the bitter fruit and leaves that has been used and taken advantage of due to their medicinal properties.

Uses of bitter melon

Bitter melon has been used with positive results to treat numerous diseases including cancer, diabetes and many other infectious and potentially dangerous diseases. Since HIV and AIDS came into the spotlight, bitter melon has been used to fight these diseases, as well as being an herb widely used in Chinese medicine. The Chinese regard it as a popular form of vegetable. It is also a very popular remedy when used as an herbal tea.

The fruits and leaves of the bitter melon hold a great source of vitamins and minerals which include iron, vitamin B, calcium and phosphorous. Exactly how much of these nutritional contents are actually taken into the body’s digestive system in unknown but it is a very popular choice among those who go to the herbalist for preparations.

Along with helping several potentially serious diseases, the bitter melon is also used for less life threatening problems. It is thought to work well when used in the treatment of hemorrhoids and if the juice from the leaves is squeezed and drunk then it is thought to help with a troublesome cough. It has also been used successfully in the treatment of roundworm as well as to reduce high fevers.

Bitter melon and diabetes

People who suffer from type II diabetes have been known to benefit from the bitter melon. It is thought that it helps to reduce and normalize the blood sugar level in those suffering from this type of diabetes. Results have been scientifically proven on people who have drunk bitter melon juice over a period of time. It is thought that the substance momordicin, which gives the fruit its bitter taste, is what’s responsible for correcting the blood sugar levels.

While bitter melon has proven to be helpful in reducing the blood sugar level, it should by no means be the sole treatment for your diabetes. However, it can work alongside treatment and medication provided by your doctor to help keep your diabetes under control, people did benefit by being able to reduce the amount of the diabetic drugs they had to take while taking the bitter melon.

Bitter melon can be bought from many health food stores already mixed and is available in leaf, tea, pill or capsule form. For those who wish to grow there own it couldn’t be easier. You can either choose to grow the plant yourself from scratch or buy it from the market and prepare it yourself.

Preparing bitter melon

Just take the leaves from the plant and give them a thorough wash, then finely chop the leaves. Get the equivalent of two glasses of water and put 6 tablespoons of the finely chopped leaves into the water and boil them for 15 minutes. Allow the mix to cool down then strain the juice from the leaves, drink 1/3 of a cup of the juice 3 times a day.

Nature’s Prescriptions On Natural Remedy

hosnee — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 08:12:36 +0000

More and more people are turning towards natural remedies to cure whatever ailment they might have. They’ve gained enormous popularity in recent years as the side effects of traditional medication are becoming more and more serious.

Walking into a health food store will unveil a multitude of herbs, vitamins, and treatments that can address almost every health concern imaginable. A core staple of the natural remedy arsenal is the weight loss aid. Numerous herbs and natural treatments can aid in a faster, more efficient trimming of body fat. Substances like green tea and apple cider vinegar and derived from natural sources and many people feel much more comfortable taking something supplied by the earth as opposed to a chemical that is produced in a stark, sterile environment.

Consumers are more aware of their bodies and the effects of traditional prescription medications. They normally come with a laundry list of damaging consequences including stomach ulcers, heart problems, and rashes. Ironically, these are all conditions that natural remedies can cure.

Some of the brightest stars in the natural remedy world are the medications that are designed to relieve the pain and swelling of arthritis. Glucosamine and Chondroitin are becoming household words in a world that until now has believed that in order to effectively treat joint pain and swelling, medications that caused stomach damage were the only choice. With new natural remedy solutions, such serious side effects are becoming a thing of the past. By treating something as painful as arthritis with a natural treatment, patients are quickly discovering that they can rid themselves of the uncomfortable symptoms that are present with arthritis in a manner that is much easier on their entire body.

Vitamins are another area that has gained momentum as people realize the positive benefits of supplementing their basic diet with added nutrients. It’s difficult for even the most health conscious individual to consume all the food that is suggested by medical professionals each day. By taking one of the many vitamin and mineral supplements available, they are making certain that what they are lacking in caloric intake is being addressed naturally in the form of a capsule or a pill.

Natural remedies are here to stay. As their use increases, it’s entirely possible that the issues that so many people were facing as a result of consuming prescribed medications will fade into the medical landscape. Choosing nature over science is a great thing for your body.

Herbs To Improve Your Memory

hosnee — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 20:32:36 +0000

Does it sound bizarre? Using herbs to improve memory have long been practiced not only by those in the United States, but in other countries as well. The American Indians, Orientals, Egyptians, and Greeks have all used herbs to enhance the mind.

Spicy foods are said to increase the cognitive functions of your brain, and there are several spicy herbs available.

Have you ever heard of turmeric? Maybe curry? Well, turmeric is an ingredient in curry. Curcumin is an ingredient in turmeric, which in turn works to improve your memory. It reduces the effects of diseases like Alzheimer’s disease. Ginger is another herb, containing zingerone, which defends the neurons of the brain to improve memory. Cinnamon is a brain activity booster; simply smelling it enhances cognitive function and lifts the mood. All these wonderful spices can be found in your local grocery store, usually on the isle with the basic cooking ingredients such as flour and sugar.

Health food stores abound in the United States. They’ve become more popular for the youth of today alone. Health food stores can also benefit adult shoppers. They offer things like ginkgo biloba, touted as the best herb to improve blood flow to the brain. Suggested use is 80 mg, 3 times a day.

Another herb found in health food stores which increases memory and guards against senility is gotu kola. It has a calming effect. Suggested use is 1/2 teaspoon in warm water 3 times a day.

Siberian Ginseng can help the body adapt to stress, helps promote a strong, balanced nervous system, and gives a mild energy boost. Suggested use is 250 mg, 2 times a day.

Before partaking in the benefits of any of these suggested herbs, please do your research and make sure they won’t have a negative interaction with any medications you are currently taking. The idea is to improve your memory, not further damage your health in another way.

Herbs don’t just serve to improve your memory by oral ingestion. A popular way to stimulate your brain these days is by aromatherapy. Some herbs can be heated in either water or as an ingredient in a candle, maybe even as an ingredient for use with a potpourri burner placed on a cloth as an essential oil to inhale, or simply burned as incense. Aromatherapy can be done as a low-cost addition to your steps towards good mental health. It clears the mind, helps you relax, sharpens your ability to focus, and improves your mood. Two essential oils to use in aromatherapy to help improve memory are rosemary and basil. Although, anything that is pleasant to your nose will help you calm your thinking so that you can focus more clearly and feel uplifted in spirit.

An important thing to consider is whether you would rather slow down your lifestyle now and begin to take proper care of your mind and body, or whether you’d rather suffer more later as you’ve aged and have more trouble undoing the effects of your neglect. It’s never too late to adapt a positive outlook and take charge of yourself!

The Earth’s Medicine Named As Natural Remedy

hosnee — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 02:40:36 +0000

Taking prescription medication has become the norm for many people in today’s world. As soon as they feel something is amiss within their bodies they run to the doctor and begin popping pills that contain countless chemicals.

Many are realizing the benefits that a bit of research and a trip to the health food store can afford them. Natural remedies offer an alternative to the medical approach that most of us have been dependent on our entire lives.

Natural remedies are available for almost any condition. Everything from migraine headaches, cold sores, athlete’s foot, heartburn, and even head lice can be cured by taking something derived right from the earth. We wouldn’t think that by eating a piece of ginger our nausea would fade, but ginger does effectively settle an upset stomach. Instead, most people would chew a chalky tablet instead of eating something that is not only addressing the medical issue, they are suffering from, but it’s doing it without any ill side effects. Ginger is a natural substance that we use in cooking therefore using it to cure our discomfort only seems natural.

Natural remedies are not just treating pains and aches. They are also taking care of problems that many people suffer from but never seek a cure for. Things like memory problems, and a sluggish immune system. When a person feels their memory slipping the idea of telling their doctor or anywhere for that matter, might feel daunting. They don’t view it as a medical issue just a sign of aging. It can be treated and it can be treated with a natural cure. The same can be said for the immune system. With the ingestion of antibiotics on and off for year to treat common ailments, some people build up a tolerance to them, and their immune system takes a beating. By using a natural supplement to help boost it back to where it needs to be, they are giving their body a natural chance to fight off infection.

Natural remedies are a safe and effective way to build a healthier human being. Without the added stress of clogging our bodies with chemicals in the form of prescription medication, we can live longer and healthier lives. It might be something as simple as a cup of herbal tea each day or taking a vitamin before bed, but it’s a step in a positive direction; that direction being a chemical-free, strong and healthy body.

Natural Remedies Mother Nature’s Prescription

hosnee — Sat, 30 May 2009 02:19:36 +0000

For centuries, human beings have turned to traditional medicine in search of a cure for what ailed them. Recently that has changed significantly, as more people are turning toward natural remedies to treat numerous health conditions and medical concerns.

Walking into any health food or natural remedy store and the consumer will find many products that can offer relief or assistance with common medical conditions. There are natural remedies to treat headaches, to aid in weight loss, to treat acne or blemishes, even heartburn and toothaches. These are just a few of the many conditions that natural remedies can effectively cure.

Both natural healers and traditional medical professionals have long noted the importance of vitamins. With the introduction of more and more natural remedies, people everywhere are seeing the benefits of using products that are derived from the earth as opposed to ingesting chemicals that are produced in a laboratory.

Eating healthy is an important step towards overall well-being and the use of natural supplements is a continuation of that. By using supplements that are derived from plants and herbs, the body is not becoming dependant on chemicals to reach the goal of a healthy lifestyle. Through the use of substances that are readily found in nature, the body can conquer health issues that traditional medicine hasn’t yet been able to without the use of prescriptions that include chemicals that are not naturally occurring in the body.

By healing, the body naturally there won’t be any dependence on prescription drugs that have proven negative side-effects. Treating conditions such as arthritis and kidney stones in a traditional sense have meant the patient has to undergo a regime of medications. These treatments can last for months, in some cases years. The benefits of those drugs being shadowed by the problems they create. It’s not uncommon for traditional therapies to have a list of side-effects that include stomach bleeding, constipation and heart problems. With natural remedies, the benefits far outweigh any negative side effects. Using something found in nature to cure your body translates into less foreign chemicals finding their way into your blood stream.