Stop Those Colds with These Natural Remedies

Preventative Meansures & Natural Home Remedies for Back Pain and Sciatica

Most of us suffer from some sort of back pain one time or the other. Lumbago is a common occurrence that is caused by exertion, bad posture or lifting heavy objects improperly.

Sciatica is a more serious condition of pain in the low back that may extend via the pelvic region down to the heels. Sciatica is actually a symptom of the compression of the sciatic nerve due to an alternation in one or more of the spinal discs. It may also be caused by a pinched or pulled sciatic nerve. Sciatica pain is excruciating and severe conditions can lead to partial or complete disability. Long term treatment for sciatica requires sciatic nerve treatment that may include surgery.

Home remedies are intrinsic to sciatica alternative remedies and can prove to be very helpful in preventing and managing back pain. * Make juice of celery and potatoes (add beets or carrots for taste). Both potato and celery are considered to alleviate pain. Also drink two cups of celery tea every day.* Apply a hot poultice made of turmeric powder, butter oil and garlic to the affected area for an hour. This will stimulate the nerve. * Garlic is a multipurpose herb. Eat raw garlic pods for eliminating gas, which according to Ayurveda, is one of the major causes behind pain. Heat 150ml of any vegetable oil with ten fresh garlic pods. Use for massaging the affected areas as and when required.* Fomentation of the affected area will relieve pain and inflammation to a great extent.

* Throw out an overused mattress. Sleep on a comfortable, neither too hard nor too soft mattress.* A hot bath followed by a cold shower will improve circulation and reduce pain. Alternately, apply a cold pack on the affected area after a hot bath.

* Avoid fatty foods and take plenty of salads that include raw vegetables like radish, carrot, lettuce, cucumber, cabbage, potato and tomato.

Exercise the lower back. Some useful exercises recommended by specialists are:
* The Side Stretch.
* The Back Arch.
* The Hamstring Stretch.

* Take proper rest. Get up from your seat, preferably every hour and stretch your muscles.
* Waist cinching elastic back supports push the abdomen and make a natural cushion and protect nerves around the spine.
* If you have a desk job and work on the computer for long hours, make sure that your chair supports the natural curve of your spine and the keyboard is placed in a way that your elbows bend at right angles while typing. Small things like sitting and standing in a good upright posture and staying clear from lifting heavy objects matter a lot.

So do regular exercise and a healthy diet. Make these a part of your daily care and you may be able to keep sciatica at bay. Article courtesty of Native. See all their natural products and more info at http://www.onlinenaturalremedies.com/

Natural Remedies Clear Up Those 'Nasty' Pimples!

The presence or absence of acne is one of the most prominent factors that can affect the self confidence of teenagers. Considering the emphasis that modern society places on good looks, one ugly looking pus spot that makes an appearance early in the morning is enough to spoil the day for your teen!
The fact that acne mostly occurs at puberty points to the fact that it is caused by various hormonal changes that are inevitable during adolescence. The sites where tiny hairs exist on the face or the body are most likely to be affected with acne. The oil glands associated with these hairs become overly active when the male hormone testosterone acts upon them at puberty. Testosterone is normally present in small quantities in women too. Sometimes the level of this male hormone increases abnormally, causing acne in women. Acne is basically an inflammation of the skin. The most common cause of acne is an oily skin that leads to proliferation of bacteria, which the body recognizes as foreign invasion. To combat this, the immune system secretes hormone-like substances known as inflammatory mediators. This is the main indication of a link between the immune system health and acne.The most common over=the-counter treatment that is used to control and tame acne is Benzoyl peroxide. This is the main ingredient used in most topical creams. This acid (normally 2%) kills bacteria and also dries the skin’s inflammatory pores. Salicylate and glycolic acid and some fruit based acid solutions, available over the counter, help in destroying bacteria and shedding skin so that the bacteria do not get a chance to reproduce. In severe cases the doctor may have to take recourse to the antibiotic alternative . A variety of tetracycline based drugs and its derivatives are used as a systemic antibiotic treatment. In severe cases of cystic acne or chronic acne that do not respond to antibiotics, a retinoic acid derivative known as isotretinoin can be used. However, this is a restricted drug and should be used only under the supervision of a practicing dermatologist. Topical creams used to treat acne may dry up the skin and cause irritation. Benzoyl peroxide tends to bleach hair and clothing. Antibiotic treatment on the other hand can interfere with the contraceptive pill and tetracycline. Howsoever rare it may be, it can also lead to severe headaches at times. Even though acne is likely to disappear as teens grow into adults, it may leave some disturbing scars. The best case scenario is to start treatment as soon as you see the first pimple on your teen. Bacteria grow faster after the initial invasion. Early treatment can reduce bacteria multiplication and nip it in the bud. Acne is a condition that can be potentially caused by various internal and external reasons like a stress factor, hormonal changes, bacteria and infection. Herbs for immune system can effectively strengthen the automatic responses of the body when there is an excess production of hormones and therefore can help in prevention of acne. In addition, herbal antibiotics such as aloe, garlic and grapefruit provide an effective protection against bacteria.

We have found using ClearSkin FaceWash along with ClearSkin-A Gel has cleared up our teenagers acne - sometimes within 24 hours! They felt their skin was much smoother and stayed clearer longer. They began using the ClearSkin Face Wash every night leaving it on for 5 minutes and then rinsing off. They have been amazed with the results. Online Natural Remedies offer these products and more.

Are we eating the right food for a healthy immune system?

There was a time when the experts in the medical science field worried about influenza. Today the focus seems to have shifted to ‘afflulenza’.

Lifestyle diseases, more than anything else, are snuffing out lives and shortening productive years of the population. The mantra seems to be to get rich, buy cars, get houses and get meals out. When we chase such a lifestyle what we get in return is appalling.

We get obesity, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, respiratory problems and cancer. We fail to appreciate that despite the progress in medical science, there are sure cures for a very small number of ailments. On top of it, there is an extraordinary level of reliance on the antibiotic alternative as patients and doctors are in a hurry to earn the next buck, which does not make things any better.

Herbal antibiotics , on the other hand, treats ailments and boosts the body’s responses to illness. Besides the visible physical problems, a prolonged illness can wreck mental health and can also affect immune system health negatively. It can hinder the body’s capacities to self-heal.

Immune system is a relatively new area of study for the medical experts and not much is known about the mechanisms of its dysfunction. However, it has been established that certain factors that there are certain factors that affect immune system health. The way we eat and what we eat is one of them. The immune system, which is primarily responsible for recognizing foreign substances like bacteria and toxins must be in proper shape to perform its function of destroying such foreign material.

A weakened immune system is an invitation to disease in two ways. It is incapable of fighting infections and you are therefore susceptible to contracting diseases more often. The immune system also looses its capacity to recognize foreign invasions and starts destroying the body’s own normal cells, which causes autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and diabetes.

Food has been the most prominent of all causalities behind the gradual decline of traditional family patterns and eating practices. We may be eating more calories but we are obtaining them from poor sources, eating fat of inferior quality (trans-fats), more sugar, refined carbohydrates, more meat, chemicals and preservatives. This type of diet can adversely affect the body’s self-healing capacity.

Instead of the multi vitamins and dietary supplements that you may choose to add on to your food, opt to eat certain foods that help your immune system. Vitamin C in combination with magnesium and calcium resists infections. For people who have problems of heartburn, citrus fruits may not be advisable as they are highly acidic in nature. Crabmeat, lobsters and oysters are rich in all three nutrients - calcium, magnesium and Vitamin C. Salmon is rich in a lot of minerals and vitamins along with a substantial quantity of Omega 3 fatty acids. Omega 3 fatty acids are good for arthritis and heart disease and also aid immune system functioning. Other healthy sources of Vitamin C are broccoli, tomatoes, peaches and guava.

Selenium is a trace mineral that is essential for immune system health, which you will not find in multi-vitamin supplements. Chicken and broccoli are healthy sources of selenium. Different types of edible mushrooms increase the production of white blood cells, which are essential for effectively combating disease. A case also exists for the use of herbs for immune system. These are herbs that our ancestors used, to maintain health and vitality. These herbs are still an integral part of traditional therapies and the mainstay of homoeopathy.

A wonderful product called Immunity Plus is a 100% safe, effective herbal natural remedy that provides a wide range of benefits to maintain and strengthen your immune system. Eating healthily and supplementing your diet with good herbal products will ward off any diseases or viruses that easily attack a weakened immune system.

Natural Remedies Save Our Pets!

Our pets need some undivided health attention! Just like us, they can be affected by germs and pollutants. They can even suffer from emotional problems like depression, anxiety, ADHD and other behavioral problems. Physical ailments such as arthritis, diabetes, digestive disorders, kidney & liver disease, skin disorders, obesity and thyroid dysfunction are also becoming more prevalent in our domesticated animals.

We want our pets to live a long and healthy life. Many of these ailments can be prevented, relieved, and even cured by using a combination of lifesyle changes and natural medicine. Contrary to popular assumptions, annual vaccinations and even commercial pet foods have been highly suspected of the rising rates of chronic illness in pets today according to pet expert and author CJ Puotein.

Animals have been known to seek out and eat medicinal herbs - they know that nature often has the answers! Natural medicine can help your pets just like it can help you. Although they might need help from the veterinarian, natural remedies can complement the vet's care - without any side effects that can actually damage their health that accompany synthetic drugs and antibotics.

I've been using the natural remedies for pets found at Healthy Meds 4 Pets and You and have seen a radical change for good in all of our pets,(and we have many!) I always keep some preventional remedies on hand so I'm ready as soon as I see any symptoms!

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