Category: Natural Remedies

by: David Victor

(NaturalNews) Headaches are one of the most common ailments people experience. It is estimated that 50 million people seek medical attention for headaches every year in the US alone and over $500,000,000 is spent annually on headache medicine. There are many herbal remedies for headaches that can help you without taking chemical based medicines.

The two most common types of headache are tension headaches which are caused by muscular tension and headaches caused by a constriction of blood vessels supplying blood to the brain. A few of the common causes are stress, poor posture, caffeine, eye strain, low blood sugar, allergies, sinusitis, and tiredness. There are also more severe problems that can cause headaches, but they are far less common. It is estimated that 90% of all headaches are tension headaches.

There are headache remedies from virtually every school of medicine including Chinese Herbalism, Ayurveda and Aromatherapy. Each remedy seeks to help you get rid of the pain using natural ingredients. Many of the remedies below have multiple uses and most are used in more than one school of alternative medicine.

Traditional Chinese Herbalism recommends using ginger for headaches. You can eat a small piece of fresh ginger or make a ginger tea. You can find ginger in most health food stores.

Ayurveda (the traditional system of medicine in India) offers a couple common remedies for headaches. The first is to soak a cloth in warm mustard oil and apply directly to your forehead to relieve the pain. The second remedy is to put coriander seeds in boiling water and inhale the steam created by this mixture. This is often used to relieve sinus related headaches.

If you want to try an aromatic remedy, there are several headache cures from the Aromatherapy school of medicine. For tension headaches, lavender is used to relax away your pain. You can message lavender oil directly into your temples or place a drop or two at the base of your nose. You may also want to try inhaling peppermint oil steam similar to the coriander seed remedy talked about above or take a bath with relaxing scents like chamomile. The idea is to soothe away your pain with pleasant smells.

There are many more herbal remedies for headaches. Herbal teas like peppermint, chamomile, rose hip, and more can soothe away a tension headache. Another common herbal remedy for tension headaches is valerian root. You can take capsule supplements or drink valerian root tea, but beware that it may make you drowsy.

These are just a few of the herbal remedies for headaches you can try. In general, these are so much better for you than popping pills and in most cases much more pleasant. Who wouldn`t want a soothing bath or warm cup of tea?

Enzyme Plus
Jarro-Zymes
NattoMax

Colloidal Silver can be used to irrigate the sinus cavities as well as taken internally to help fight off the infection.  To irrigate the sinus cavities thoroughly, use a pump spray or squirt bottle and use a good amount of silver to get in all the sinus passages.

Grapefruit seed extract is a wonderful supplement for sinus infection which can make a sinus infection disappear after only couple of days.  The drops are really good but they taste terrible.  Never take the drops on an empty stomach, especially early in the morning.

Using a neti pot helps keep your nasal passages healthy with all the pollution, pollen, dust and other irritants in the air.  All you need to use in it is non-iodized salt, preferably sea salt.

Potassium supplements help dry up mucous.

Drink apple cider vinegar throughout the day in large glasses of water (ACV thins mucus).

Cayenne pepper tincture will help clear the sinuses.  It is going to be hot (and the hotter the better), but you do get used to it.

Let a hot shower run onto your forehead and nose and then clear all the mucus from your sinuses. Do this several times a day.

Oil Pulling, a fabulous remedy from India, often alleviates sinus congestion within about 10-15 minutes

Licorice root helps reduce inflammation and stimulates the immune system to fight sinus infections. There are two types of licorice products. Be sure to take licorice capsules that boost the immune system and not those for treating ulcers.

Eucalyptus soothes sore throats. It also has antiseptic properties and can help shrink swollen tissues such as swollen sinus passages.

Peppermint can help calm mucous membranes. Dou may drink peppermint tea or steep the peppermint and breathe in the steam. You can also use peppermint in aromatherapy. The scent of peppermint when inhaled helps to ease your breathing.

Drink eight to ten glasses of water every day.

Drink warm tea. This may help dilute mucus.

Ginger has long been known to relieve and prevent headaches. It is also an anti-inflammatory and can help relieve pain. Take in tincture or capsule form according to directions.

Lemon balm is helpful in fighting off viruses and bacteria. Steep the dried leaves for 10 minutes in hot water. Strain and drink the tea warm. Alternatively, lemon balm tea can be used as a gargle.

Echinacea often will knock out a cold in only a matter of days when taken in quantity.  It helps boost the immune system and makes it function better. Take in tincture or capsule form with increased dosages at the onset of illness and decrease after three or four days. Do not take if you have an allergy to ragweed.

Vitamin C and zinc can help the duration of colds as well as reduce cold symptoms. Sinus infections often come as a result of lingering colds. If you fight a cold early, you can help stave off a sinus infection. Take capsule or lozenges during cold season, especially with the onset of any symptoms.

Foods high in antioxidants help to build the immune system and prevent infections in the first place. Some of these foods include blueberries, cherries, artichokes, cranberries and pomegranates.

Pink Himalayan Salt
Ester C
Zinc/Copper

by: Barbi Trejo

(NaturalNews) What exactly is "plantar fasciitis?" When the plantar fascia becomes inflamed it is called plantar fasciitis. This happens when you use your foot too much, such as an athlete who runs constantly. There can be trauma caused to the heel and this trauma is called a heel spur. A heel spur is a bony growth, while plantar fascia is a tendon thickening that is inflamed and thus ruptures. This rupture causes so much pain that the person can be debilitated.

Have you recently gained weight? The force on your feet is about 120 percent of your weight. "Obesity puts a great amount of stress on all the supporting structures of the foot," said Dr. Bart Gastwirth, a podiatrist at the University of Chicago. "It can lead to plantar fasciitis and heel pain and can worsen hammertoes and bunions."

Heel pain for many begins in their early 60's, but may start as early as the 20's and 30's. Being obese, circulation problems and diabetes may add to this problem. Wearing proper footwear and getting the right kind of exercise is very important to help prevent this foot health problem. A normal person will walk an equivalent of three times around the earth. This is a lot of walking to put pressure on your 26 bones, 33 joints, 100 tendons, ligaments and muscles in your poor aching feet.

Wearing the Wrong Shoes:

According to many doctors, wearing the wrong type of shoes can cause heel spurs. The famous wedges, high heels or the new style shoes are not only uncomfortable, but they can cause many foot health problems down the road. Don`t give up these stylish shoes, but wear in moderation. Look for a comfortable shoe with wiggle room; a shoe that has the arch padded and thick soles.

Risk Factors That Might Cause Plantar Fasciitis:

– Foot arch problems(sometimes from wearing ill fitting shoes).
– Sudden weight gain or being obese.
– Running or being an athlete.
– A Tight Achilles tendon.

Self Help Methods:

1. Let your feet rest, as rest is essential. Reduce the amount of time you are on your feet.
2. Never go barefoot. Always protect your souls with cushions.
3. Stretch your feet before rising in the morning. The first steps are the worse.
4. Exercise your plantar fascia or heel spur in the day.
5. Massage with warm olive oil.
6. Soak your feet in a bath of marigold flowers.

Chop some fresh flowers and add it to some coconut oil. Heat slightly and then let cool. The ointments are good for pains. To make the ointment easy to spread, you can add some vegetable oil to the ointment. Some will recommend lard instead of coconut oil.

Note: Adding some Nigella Sativa oil to the above remedy may help with the pain, as Nigella Sativa is also an anti-inflammatory herb useful for pain and swelling.

Read the entire article:

http://www.naturalnews.com/026958_M…

Will Exercising Relieve the Pain:

– Use stretching exercises to stretch the plantar fascia and Achilles tendon.
– Use strengthening exercises to strengthen the muscles in the ankle and foot.

Natural Pain Relief Formula:

– 1 Tablespoon of Cayenne Pepper
– 3 Tablespoons of Ginger
– 3 Tablespoons of Turmeric

Mix all very well and store in an airtight container. When pain relief is needed, take 1/2 teaspoon of the pain formula and mix in a glass of water and drink.

Morning Exercises:

1. When you wake in the morning, exercise your plantar fascia by flexing your foot up and down for 10-12 times.

2. Take a towel and stretch the bottom of the feet.

Exercises to avoid

Avoid all forms of running and jogging or any motion with repeated pounding of your feet against a hard surface.

If you are an athlete, use warm up exercises before you begin your day. After a day of sports, relax with some foot massages and some ice packs to relieve the swelling.

Remedies that work:

Grape Seed for Circulation:

One of the best remedies is the use of grape seeds or grape seed extracts. Grape seeds are a natural anti-inflammatory herb and are great for a number of things. Take 2-3 capsules per day of the whole grape seeds ground in capsules or 500 mg of grape seed extract per day.

Nigella Sativa or Black Cumin:

This cure for all diseases includes bone spurs. Take 50 grams of ground black seeds and 250 ml of water and bring to a boil. Boil this mixture for 30 minutes. Strain and drink this mixture twice a day for one week. Results should be seen after one week.

EFT for Heel Spurs:

Marian Slaman talks about having results with EFT (Emotion Freedom Techniques) in curing a plantar fasciitis problem. With her tapping, she was successful. This is the beginning of what she tapped on the patient`s hand:

– "Even though I have this pain in my feet."

– "Even though it hurts to walk."

– "Even though it feels like the bones are coming apart."

– "Even though my bones need to readjust to the route."

– "Even though it feels like I am coming apart."

Read the full story on how to tap your way to being pain free.

http://www.emofree.com/articles/pla…

Apple Cider Vinegar:

Using a brown paper bag soaked in apple cider vinegar will cure heel spurs. Cut the paper bag out in the shape of your feet and soak it in apple cider vinegar. Change the paper a few times in the day. Use this protocol for 2-3 weeks. Others have stated that they had better results drinking the vinegar. To drink the vinegar, mix 1 teaspoon of vinegar with 1 teaspoon of honey and one glass of water.

• Apple cider vinegar. To eliminate toe nail fungus, soak your nails for 15 minutes a day in a basin of half warm water and half apple cider vinegar. The apple cider vinegar restores the proper pH balance to the skin, making it more resistant to fungal infections. When you are done, be sure to dry your feet and toes thoroughly. Using a hair dryer on low heat on and in between the toes will help to be sure that there is no moisture left in which fungus can thrive. You can also put undiluted apple cider vinegar on the entire nail with a medicine dropper or Q-tip.

• Colloidal Silver. Silver is a potent anti-microbial agent that works well on epidermal fungus. Some claim also to have cured toenail fungus with silver, but silver in a water-base may have some difficulty in penetrating into the toenail, unless you can file or ‘dremil ’ the nail very thin.

• Teal tree oil and lavender oil. Swab a 50/50 mixture of each under the top edge of the toenail and around the nail two or three times a day using Q-tips or a small brush. Tea tree oil is a natural antibiotic, an antiseptic, and anti-fungal. Lavender will fight the infection and prevent skin irritation.

• Oregano oil and olive oil. Oregano is antiseptic, antibacterial, anti-parasitical, antiviral, analgesic and antifungal. Use only two drops of oregano oil per teaspoon of olive oil. More is not better with oregano oil, and use this oil for no more than three weeks. Warning: Do not use during pregnancy or on children under 5. Oil of oregano may reduce the absorption of iron, so take the oil at least two hours before or after consuming iron supplements. Do not use near eyes or mucous membranes. This is not the oregano you find in the grocery store. Pure essential oils are not for cooking, and very few can be taken internally. Any oil of
oregano which might be safe enough to be taken internally is not pure but will be already diluted in a carrier oil.

• Apply the oils or apple cider vinegar on the affected area two or three times a day until the new nail has completely grown out. This can mean about six months for fingernails and up to 12 months for toenails.

• Nail fungus is not an external problem only. You should also take acidophilus, which you can get in pill form or liquid, or in yogurt which contains active cultures.

• If possible, you should also cut down on sugar, wine, beer, white bread, melons, tea, mushrooms, dried fruits, and berries.

• Wear sandals as much as possible, or shoes that are not tight.

• If you wear socks, use 100% cotton, wool, or silk socks because they absorb moisture from your feet (from sweating) and provide good ventilation.

• Thick nails should be thinned by filing before applying medicine.

• Keep your nails cut short, and don't use nail polish.

• Dry your nails thoroughly after bathing or soaking in water.

• Banana is wonderful as an anti-wrinkle treatment. Mash 1/4 banana until verycreamy. Spread all over face and leave for 15-20 minutes before rinsing off with warm water followed by a dash of cold. Gently pat dry.

• Olive oil is also reported to work wonders on eliminating and minimizing wrinkles.

• Vodka, fennel seeds and honey. Combine two tablespoons of vodka, one tablespoon of fennel seeds and one and one-half teaspoons honey. Stir well and allow to sit for three days. Strain mixture. Use a cotton ball to apply to face and neck as a toner.

• Apply vitamin E oil to the surrounding skin, then crush a clove of raw garlic, place it on the wart, and cover it with an adhesive bandage. The raw garlic causes a blister to form, and the wart generally falls off within a week. Apply colloidal silver to the area to help it heal.

• Colloidal Silver. Some if not all warts are believed to be caused by a virus and applying a band-aid kept wet with silver has been known to get rid of it within days.

• Chop one raw onion in a dish, cover with salt and leave overnight. Apply the resulting juice to the warts twice a day, until warts disappear.

• Cut fresh pineapple into thin slices. Apply to warts several times a day until they are gone.

• Fig sap. Apply the white milky juice exuding from the stems of figs and fig leaves.

• Gently rub the wart with your finger for 15 seconds at the same time each day. Rubbing the wart stimulates blood flow to the area and prompts your immune system to fight the wart virus. Doing this at the same time every day trains your immune system to kick in on its own.

• Potassium and apple cider vinegar. Some believe that the best treatment for warts is prevention, and that warts are sometimes a sign of potassium deficiency. Apple cider vinegar is high in potassium, as are bananas.

 

• Omega 3 oils such as fish, borage and flax oil. Lower bad cholesterol and raise the good cholesterol levels.

• Coconut Oil. A tablespoon or two per day on an empty stomach may lower low density cholesterol levels.

• Honey, Cinnamon, and water. Take 10 pieces of cinnamon sticks (one inch each). Powder and then boil in five teacups of water. Add a teaspoon of honey and have a hot cup of this mixture every day.

• Sure gel apple or grapefruit pectin (jam & jelly stiffener). Take one heaping teaspoon in a cup of hot water nightly before bed. Two acids in the Sure gel help dissolve cholesterol deposits in the blood vessels. In about a month or less, the bad cholesterol should be much lower, and as a side affect, any heavy metals (generally, industrial toxins) should be flushed from your system. Sure gel Grapefruit pectin is 100 times stronger, but tastes awful and oxidizes and interferes with many medications.

• Chromium – Chromium is a trace metal that is vital to human health. Nutritionists are not sure exactly what chromium does in the body or how much is needed to maintain health. Chromium supplements were found to help raise HDL cholesterol levels – an important benefit in CHD. Chromium is important for normal metabolic functions, particularly for carbohydrate metabolism. It plays a significant role in regulating blood sugar. A Recommended Daily Allowance has not been established for chromium. A daily intake of 50 to 200 micrograms is often recommended. It is estimated that 50 to 90 percent of Americans are not getting enough chromium in their diets. Trace amounts of chromium are present in many foods. The best dietary source is brewers yeast, which contains chromium in the form of GTF (glucose tolerance factor). Other good sources of chromium include peanuts, legumes, and whole grains,o Chromium deficiency was found to increase the blood cholesterol levels of rats. Chromium supplementation, on the other hand, was found to bring the cholesterol values back down. More impressively, some rats were found to actually develop fatty plaques of atherosclerosis in their arteries as a result of chromium deficiency.

• Lecithin – An antioxidant found in eggs, corn and soybeans, lecithin helps prevent the conversion of LDL into its more dangerous, artery- damaging form. Lecithin may also lower the total cholesterol. Note: use only fermented soy products such as tempeh and miso.

• Calcium and Magnesium.

• Calcium : In the proper amounts, calcium may help to keep cholesterol under control and may prevent dangerous blood clots. Too much calcium may increase the risk of heart disease, especially if there is too much calcium in relation to magnesium. Sources of calcium include milk, sardines (with bones) and cheese.

• Magnesium: A lack of magnesium has been linked to an increased risk of CHD, heart attacks and improper heartbeats. Many doctors report using magnesium as a first-line treatment for treating irregular heart rhythms.

• Magnesium supplementation may reduce the total cholesterol, increase the beneficial HDL and prevent unnecessary "clumping" in the blood that can trigger a heart attack. The mineral may also reduce the symptoms of angina or may prevent future attacks.

• Vinegar, apple juice and white grape juice. Mix 1 to 2 cup of apple cider vinegar, four cups of apple juice and three cups of white grape juice. Drink six ounces every day before breakfast. Used very effectively by Pennsylvania Amish families.

• Garlic. Is one of cholesterol’s natural enemy. Eat three cloves daily to lower blood pressure, build immune system and guard against cancer.

• Pomegranate juice. New studies indicate that pomegranate juice not only appears to prevent hardening of the arteries by reducing blood vessel damage, but the antioxidant rich juice may also reverse the progression of this disease.

• Green Tea. Drink one or more glasses a day. Powerful antioxidant and anti-cancer properties too.

• Turmeric. Found in curry seasoning and plain yellow mustard. Lowers cholesterol, helps guard against Alzheimer’s and may help protect smokers from cancer.

• Walnuts. Eat a half cup of walnuts every day. Almonds are also good.

• Oatmeal. Eat a bowl of oatmeal every day for breakfast. Top with walnuts or almond bits and blueberries.

• Onion juice reduces cholesterol and works as a tonic for nervous system. It cleans blood, helps digestive system, cures insomnia and regulates the heart action & helps in lowering cholesterol.

• Sunflower seeds contain a substantial amount of linoleic acid which is helpful in reducing cholesterol deposits on the walls of the arteries. Substituting oil of sunflower seeds for some of the solid fats like butter & cream will, therefore lead to a great improvement in health & lower cholesterol.

• Other good foods to help lower cholesterol: Flaxseeds, soy (due to concerns about unfermented soy products increasing the risk for certain cancers, use only fermented soy products such as miso and tempeh), lentils, beans, salmon, avocado, spinach and other dark green leafy vegetables, margarine with no trans-fats or hydrogenated ingredients, other nuts, dark chocolate, whole wheat and other grains.

• Diet and exercise. Essential to help combat high cholesterol. Eat more vegetables and fruit and less meat and fatty foods. Find a way to be physically active each day, if only for a brisk walk, bike ride or 15-30 minute light workout.

– Grapeseed Extract. Aids in ridding the body of potentially harmful microorganisms.

– Flaxseed Oil. Essential fatty acids are very important in healing and preventing the fungus from damaging and destroying tissue cells.

– Ease the maddening itch of a yeast infection with a suppository made with boric acid. Although its name sounds harsh, boric acid acts as a mild antiseptic and has antiviral and antifungal properties. Insert one suppository every night as long as needed. Do not exceed 14 days. If you don't find the suppositories in your natural food store, ask your pharmacist to make them.

– Yogurt – Dip a tampon in a container of live culture yogurt that contains active cultures, then insert it into the vagina and leave for 30-40 minutes.

• You'll need to find a carpeted area for this heartburn remedy called a heel drop. This sounds strange, but it works. Roll up onto your toes as high as you can, and then allow your heels to quickly drop down onto the ground. Repeat this 20 to 30 times, holding onto the back of a chair for balance if you need to. The downward motion pulls the acid that causes heartburn back into your stomach.

• Apple Cider Vinegar. It may sound wrong because of the massive ad campaigns that sell anti-acids, but Vinegar can actually help heartburn, as

heartburn is more often than not caused by a LACK of stomach acid rather than too much. As we age, our stomachs produce less acid over time – and that causes the same symptoms as too much acid. So sometimes anti-acids only make the situation worse since we are medicating with a

substance that allows our stomachs to produce even less acid. Vinegar to the rescue! The acid in vinegar will help digest your food, and over a period of time, alleviate heartburn if yours is caused by a lack of stomach acid.

• Pancreatin and Enzymes. Digestive enzymes break down foods and other nutrients so that the body can utilize them, such as lipase, amylase, protease, pancreatin, papain, betaine, and pepsin.

• Eat a cup of vanilla ice cream or drink a glass of cold milk to get heartburn and acidity relief within minutes.

• Bromelain. A Pineapple enzyme aids in digestion as well as enhances the absorption of other nutrients. Do not take bromelain with any drugs as it will also increase the absorption of drugs and intensify their effect.

• Take one piece of Clove and suck on it slowly. This should give you relief from acidity and also help in reducing the onslaught of diseases arising out of acidity.

• Papaya. Particularly good if you have ulcers and cannot tolerate citrus, vinegar or spicy substances. Use natural papaya or natural papaya juice.

• Lemons. Can prevent heartburn. Cut a lemon into thin strips and dip in salt. Eat before meals to prevent heartburn.

• Lemon rind can also be eaten to prevent heartburn.

• For acid reflux, try DGL tablets (licorice). Take two tablets 20 minutes before meals. Usually symptoms will be gone within about three days.

• Saltine crackers. Eat anywhere from two to six saltines when symptoms begin. Drink a little water afterwards and symptoms should go away quickly. Pretzels also work.

• Mustard. Take one teaspoon by itself. If necessary, repeat a second time. Works wonders!

• Almonds. Can relieve heartburn. Eat several almonds when heartburn symptoms persist.

• Bananas. Eat a banana slowly.

• Other effective remedies include raw potatoes, pineapple or pineapple juice, raw ginger or ginger tablets, baking soda and water, and root beer. Peppermint is an over-rated remedy for most people.

Vertigo is not a disease itself; it is the symptom of some other problem and can be caused by a number of things. It is advisable to get oneself checked by a healthcare professional, preferably a Naturopathic doctor. The possibilities can be very minor or very serious. Causes of vertigo can range from aging, inner ear problems/infections, ear wax build up, allergies, neurological issues, blood pressure, poor cardio-vascular circulation, oxygen deprivation, brain tumors, diabetes, anemia, general nutritional deficiencies, and even stress. As you can see, this can be a very complex issue to deal with and should not be taken lightly.

The Herpes virus is reputed to sometimes be a culprit and almost all adults carry one form of the virus or another (cold sores, genital herpes, chickenpox, shingles, measles, mononecleosis, and so forth.) The Herpes that causes cold sores resides dormant in the joint of the jaw and may cause some issues with the inner ear which could affect balance.

If the underlying cause is not life threatening, there are some supplements that may be of benefit The Prescription For Nutritional Healing lists the following as possibly being beneficial for vertigo, Colloidal Silver, Nattokinase, Vitamin B Complex, B-12, Plant Minerals, Vitamin C, Inositol, CoQ10, Zinc, Calcium & Magnesium, Melatonin, etc.  http://utopiasilver.com/products/supplements/index.htm

• An old remedy for vertigo. Mix 7 to 8 almonds with 7 to 8 kernels of pumpkin seeds, one teaspoon poppyseeds and three tablespoon wheat. Soak in water overnight. Next morning, remove the outer skin of the almonds and grind everything together into a fine paste. Heat separately two teaspoon ghee and fry ½ teaspoon cloves. Add the paste to it along with some (preferably raw) goat or cow milk and boil the whole mixture. Sweeten with raw cane sugar and drink every day for a few days for vertigo relief.