Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Effective and Natural Constipation Relief

Constipation is one of the most common problems affecting a large number of people across the world. It is most common in western countries where people do not have time for home cooked meals and diets mostly consist of refined sugar and carbohydrates, with minimum water intake.

The need to defecate varies from individual to individual but if you’re passing hard stool less than three times a week, you are most likely suffering from constipation. It is among the many conditions that can be cured solely by alternative medicine, such as constipation natural remedies.

While there are no permanent affects of constipation, it can make you feel uncomfortable and bloated. You will find yourself straining during bowel movements and will have the urge to pass stool throughout the day, without actually doing so. In some cases, people also experience acute stomach pain.

Irrespective of what laxative advertisements tell you, you really don’t need any medicine to deal with constipation because natural remedies will be enough – they will also make you feel more fresh and energetic. Here are some simple constipation natural remedies:

First, think about your fluid intake. What kind of fluids are you drinking throughout the day? Most people take a lot of soda, coffee and alcohol instead of plain water, resulting in dehydration. Increasing your fluid intake will make the stool softer making it easier to pass.

Second, are you taking enough fiber? Fiber comes from fruits, vegetables and whole grains. You are most likely to be constipated if your diet includes only burgers, fries and other junk food. Instead, replace it with fruits like apples and plums. Having a small salad before every meal will help the body regularize your bowel movements and will also help you stay fit. Other constipation natural remedies that use fiber are psyllium husk supplements, which can be taken with water or milk and flaxseed, which can be used in food while cooking.

There are also some herbal teas and herbal laxatives that are sold over the counter such as rhubarb and senna. They shouldn’t be used for more than a week at a stretch but it has been found that people get addicted to them, ingesting them for long periods of time. Instead, it is much better to adopt a healthy lifestyle.

Another home remedy is acupressure, which if used correctly can work for some people. The point for constipation is large intestine 4. Look for an acupressure point diagram on the internet to better understand this. Once you have located the point, apply gradual pressure with your thumb and middle finger. The pressure should not induce pain or be uncomfortable. Please avoid this if you are pregnant.

If you exercise regularly and take a well balanced diet, you will never have to experience constipation. However, because of the current economy and lifestyle, it is becoming increasingly difficult for people to enjoy a simple home cooked meal. One of the simplest constipation natural remedies is having 4-8 glasses of water every day and a fruit such as apple. Remember the old adage – an apple a day keeps the doctor away? It is true in case of constipation!

Monday, October 29, 2012

Arthritis Back Pain Relief

Arthritis in the back is a really painful condition and can be a life stopper of sorts. There are many medicines available over the counter that can provide arthritis back pain relief, but not all of them are free from side effects. Side effects arising due to the composition of painkillers can bring about other complications in the long run.

Natural or herbal remedies can provide effective and lasting arthritis back pain relief, and these remedies have been very popular. Apart from efficacy, these remedies stand out due to the lack of side effects and are absolutely safe. Below are a few natural methods to relief arthritis back pain that you may try.

Consume Flax Seed Oil: Flax seed oil contains Omega-3 fats, which produce Prostaglandins Series 1 and 3. The latter helps you fight inflammation in the body and can effectively combat pain. One tablespoon of flax seed oil daily is good enough to keep arthritis at bay and provides lasting arthritis back pain relief. You can also mix flax seed oil with your breakfast cereals or use ground flax seed on your dinner.

Consume Epsom Salt: Epsom salt has a lot of magnesium that helps you keep the body pH levels under check. In the absence of adequate magnesium, your body is unable to absorb calcium and phosphorus, the primary components for bone building. You can mix Epsom salt with fresh lemon juice and consume this twice every day for lasting relief from pain.

Exercise regularly: Exercise is a proven remedy that can be lasting and is a highly effective solution for arthritis back pain. Make it a point to exercise at least for 45 minutes every day. Working out at the gym and lifting weights are known to improve the bone strength and density, and you can effectively combat arthritis back pain easily. As you grow older, your bones will not give in to arthritis easily, and so, you can enjoy lasting relief from arthritis pain.

Consume Cinnamon: Cinnamon is known to provide remarkable relief from arthritis back pain. It is a trusted agent for providing lasting arthritis back pain relief. Mix cinnamon powder with honey and have the solution every day before breakfast. If you continue the practice for a month, the results can be great and beyond your expectations.

Consume Cod Liver Oil: Cod liver oil has been found to slow down cartilage degeneration, which is a primary cause of arthritis. You need to consume a small quantity of cod liver oil everyday steadily for a few months to see the resistance to degenerative diseases developing gradually. This is an effective way of providing lasting arthritis back pain relief.

Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT): Using EFT to relief physical pain is probably the most natural way to get rid of pain. It is a technique that requires you to tap on certain points on your body why repeating statements about how you feel about the pain that you're experiencing. EFT is easy and quick to learn, and you must definitely give it a try.

Natural remedies can not only provide arthritis back pain relief, but also can build up significant resistance to degenerative diseases. When you are building up resistance to diseases, you are giving yourself the best chance of getting relief from pain in less time.

Related link:
JointEase Plus

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Cure ADD/ADHD Naturally, Without Using Harmful Drugs

Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a condition that affects 3-5% children globally. It is a chronic disorder, continuing into adulthood in half the children it affects and is characterized by symptoms such as hyperactivity, inattention and impulsivity. Most treatments induce drug addiction in patients but alternative ADD/ADHD natural remedies are known to have lasting benefits on overall health.

If detected before seven years of age, ADD can be cured with the help of medical and alternative medicine. The problem with using drugs for ADD treatment is the potential side effects. Ritalin has been used since the 1980s for treatment but there has been a significant rise in the number of horror stories that exist from its usage. It is known to cause violent behavior, insomnia, angina, increased blood pressure and heart rate, and in some cases, even depression. If dosage is cut off, withdrawal symptoms are worse.

Because of all these problems, more and more parents around the world are opting for ADD/ADHD natural remedies, which are safe and have no side effects because of all natural ingredients. Mostly, simple changes in your child’s diet can help reduce ADD symptoms over time. Essential oils also have a lot of therapeutic advantages when administered correctly.

If your child has been diagnosed with ADD, have a close look at their diet. Are they having too much sugar and not enough proteins? Here are some ADD/ADHD natural remedies that are easy to incorporate:

  • Reduce your child’s sugar intake. Sugar also includes all forms of sweets, carbonated drinks and junk food. Instead replace them with alternatives like fruits, which have natural sugar content. Too much sugar consumption can severely impair brain coordination.
  • Protein deficiency and a shortage of vitamins B, C and E can affect your child’s mental clarity, attention span and focus. Take a vitamin supplement and protein rich foods such as tofu.
  • 90% children suffering from ADD also suffer from some kind of food allergies, which can trigger hyperactivity. The most common allergens are gluten, sugar, eggs, dairy, food coloring and artificial flavoring. Removing these foods from your child’s diet will completely transform their behavior!
  • Physical exercises like Yoga and meditation help children stay calm and channel the excess energy into productive tasks.

Among the various ADD/ADHD natural remedies, essential oils are considered to be the most effective by medical practitioners as well. This is because pure, therapeutic grade essential oils contain molecules that can easily cross the blood-brain barrier to directly heal the brain. A 2001 study conducted by Dr. Terry Friedman indicated that lavender, cedarwood and vetiver essential oils helped improve focus and learning in ADD kids with a success rate of 80-100%.

In order for essential oils to do their magic, buy pure oils only. Lavender is the most adulterated but is known to be calming for the body and mind. Rub a few drops on your child’s feet, shoulders or chest to help them relax and sleep better.

Aromatherapy oils are not essential oils and should not be considered as a part of ADD/ADHD natural remedies. Make sure you’re buying essential oil of the right herb. For an untrained eye, there isn’t much difference between lavender and lavandin but the effects vary significantly.

ADD/ADHD natural remedies have shown a good success rate amongst children across the globe. Isn’t it much simpler to make a few dietary changes than investing in drugs that could impair your child forever?

Saturday, October 20, 2012

Herbal Remedies 101

During the Middle Ages, perhaps even earlier than that, medicine as we know it did not even exist but people were falling sick all the time. How were common illnesses and diseases treated then? By various methods of alternative medicine like healing natural remedies, naturopathy, herbal remedies, Yoga and the ancient Indian science of Ayurveda.

Modern medicinal therapies, also known as allopathic medicines, have snubbed and ridiculed natural remedy cures and other forms of natural healing saying that these methods don’t work but alternative cures have been around even before the foundation of modern medicine was laid. Do we really need another proof? Although the mortality rate was higher because of lack of information and resources needed for proper treatment, people still battled against various diseases and survived. According to the World Health Organization, 25% of modern drugs in the USA have a percentage of plant extracts in them – that has to say something about all the good things our ancestors discovered.

Written records of healing natural remedies date back to over 5000 years to Sumerians, who used plants such as caraway and thyme. Ancient Egyptians encouraged herb cultivation and even Hippocrates endorsed some herbal drugs! Of course, Ayurveda has been practiced in India since 2000BC, and India still boasts of a large population base that swears by this ancient form of medicine.

Modern natural remedy cures can be spanned largely across the sciences of Unani, Ayurveda, Chinese medicine, traditional African medicine and some components of shamanic herbalism as well. All these sciences vary a lot in their approach. While scientists and doctors advise caution in choosing natural cures, people across the world are opting for natural remedy cures simply because they are natural! Side effects of natural cures are lesser than those of evidence based medicine and natural medicine is almost never tested on animals.

An interesting fact is that there is no allopathic medicine for weight loss but herbs like Phytoberry are extremely effective in curbing hunger. You can look up a lot of similar examples across the internet.

Natural remedy cures are administered in the form of tinctures, tea, decoctions, oils, syrups and extracts while others are also in the form of acupressure and Yoga. Acupressure and Yoga were an ancient form of exercise and healing natural remedies in China and India respectively but are now popular across the globe. People in the west have become particularly fond of both these methods of healing so much so that some universities even offer specialized courses and workshops on these!

While natural remedies are limitless in the scope of diseases that they cover, caution has to be administered when dealing with herbs specifically. Some herbs, if taken in a large dosage, can cause seizures and liver damage. It is always advisable to visit a specialist than a back alley shop advertising miracle cures. Make sure you see the practitioner’s certificates before beginning the treatment. A good way to ensure your safety is by taking references from friends and through the internet. Don’t become the doctor yourself and administer any herbal medicine by reading something on the internet, unless it is written on a reputable site that you can trust.

But let this not dither you from venturing into the wonderful world of natural cures! Who knows when everyday kitchen ingredients might come in handy?