Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Effective Herbal Remedies for Insomnia

Insomnia is a health condition that is more than just a mere annoyance. If left untreated, it can seriously affect your physical, as well as mental health. Today, many insomnia sufferers are using herbal remedies to get better sleep on a permanent basis.

Insomnia Herbal Remedies vs. Insomnia Medications
An insomnia herbal remedy has various advantages over insomnia-treatment medications. Given below are two important reasons why you should opt for an insomnia herbal remedy if you are having trouble sleeping:

  • Insomnia herbal remedies provide permanent relief from the condition whereas sleeping pills provide only temporary relief.
  • An insomnia herbal remedy is free from side effects whereas all insomnia treatment medications are laced with at least a few side effects.

All the insomnia herbal remedies discussed below are 100% safe and non addictive. If you are pregnant, we recommend that you consult your doctor before using a natural remedy for insomnia. Below are the top 5 herbal cures for insomnia.

Chamomile
Chamomile is regarded as a great insomnia herbal remedy. Chamomile contains chrysin, whose anxiety relieving properties have been well documented. It helps in aiding digestion, relieving nervous tension, and promoting good sleep. You can use chamomile orally or externally.

If you want to use chamomile orally, then drink a cup of chamomile tea half an hour before bed. To use externally, take a hot water bath in the evening and add a few drops of chamomile oil in the bath.

Passionflower
Passionflower is another effective insomnia herbal remedy since it is one of the best non-addictive herbal tranquilizers. Passionflower is known for its ability to promote sleep, relieve pain, and curb muscular spasms. We recommend that you drink two cups of infused hub in the evening for better sleep.

Valerian
Valerian is a natural relaxant and is used for relieving nervous tension and anxiety. Valerian is known to calm the mind and treat insomnia if the cause is anxiety or over-excitement. Drink one cup of valerian tea forty-five minutes before your bedtime to improve both the quantity and quality of your sleep. You may also add one teaspoon of honey in your valerian tea to increase its effectiveness.

Caution: Though an effective natural remedy for insomnia, valerian does not suit everyone and can cause occasional excitement. If valerian causes any discomfort, then we recommend you use any other natural herbal remedy discussed in this article for the treatment of your insomnia.

Jamaica Dogwood Jamaica dogwood has a history of being used as a treatment for insomnia if the cause is nervous tension, pain, or menstrual cramps. Just like chamomile, you can also take Jamaica dogwood orally (by adding it to your tea) or use it in an herbal bath.

Lavender Lavender promotes good sleep by calming the nerves and reducing irritability. A lavender herbal bath is an effective way of curing insomnia.

When it comes to insomnia, the quicker you address the problem, the better it is. You don’t have to pop a sleeping pill and then live with its multiple undesirable side effects to enjoy a good night’s sleep. Instead, select a natural remedy for insomnia to address the root cause of insomnia and enjoy permanent relief from your condition.

Related link:
SereniteJr — Promotes healthy sleep patterns and restful nights for children and babies

Monday, December 10, 2012

How to Stop Hair Loss

It is considered normal to lose 20 to 100 strands of hair every day but if you see your brush full of hair after a wash, alarm bells should start ringing. There are several hair loss treatments available in the market but the demand for natural hair loss remedies has been on the rise because people want to avoid the pain, discomfort and high costs associated with clinical products.

There are many natural remedies for improving hair growth but it is important to understand the usage and expected results of each of these before you try them. The most common base for natural treatments is herbs and essential oils. Essential oils have been known for their therapeutic properties and if administered correctly, they can help cure a range of diseases. Herbs have been used for different medicinal purposes since 1000 BC.

One of the main reasons for hair loss is improper diet and irregular sleep patterns. Of course, life isn’t as simple as it used to be and people hardly have time to sit & enjoy a proper meal but it is important to include fruits, vegetables and proteins in your diet for overall well being. Most hair loss problems can be easily cured by taking vitamin supplements and increasing your water intake.

The other common factor for hair loss is the use of chemical based sprays, pomades etc and also subjecting hair to constant heat from straightening and curling irons. If you use any of these things daily, chances are that your hair structure has become badly damaged, resulting in hair loss. If this is the case, stop subjecting your hair to the constant violence and use organic shampoos and conditioners. You can use hair loss natural remedies like henna, coconut and olive oils, palmetto and rosemary.

Here is a list of effective hair loss treatments that have been tested successfully across the world:

  1. Henna heals the hair follicle and makes it stronger, increasing hair resistance against breakage. The best way of using henna is to mix powdered henna leaves with warm water and let it rest for 2-3 hours. Apply this as a pack and wash off after a couple of hours.
  2. Coconut and olive oil can make the hair resilient and more moisturized. Apply warm coconut or olive oil three times a week for an hour prior to washing hair. If you suffer from dandruff, add a teaspoon of lemon juice to the warm oil.
  3. Boil rosemary and sage, strain and apply before washing hair. Rosemary and sage help cleanse pores, stimulate hair follicles and condition the scalp.
  4. Though initially used for prostate enlargement, saw palmetto is being increasingly used as a popular hair loss treatment as well. Palmetto shampoos and supplements are readily available in any store. However, doctors suggest that green tea is more beneficial for women compared to palmetto.

Hair loss can also be induced by changes in the weather, hormonal changes and pregnancy. Hair loss natural remedies can be effective in these cases as well but hair loss because of these factors should not be a cause of worry since it will only be temporary.

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Alternative Cures in Your Kitchen

On an everyday basis, there are many things that we end up throwing in the garbage because we consider them useless. This happens a lot in case of kitchen ingredients but little do we know that these kitchen ingredients can come in very handy as natural remedies for health, including common ailments such as cold or even problems such as high blood pressure or cholesterol.

Increasingly more people these days are shifting towards alternative natural treatments for overall health and wellness because they do not have any side effects and can be taken for long periods of time without common side effects such as headaches, nausea and dizziness. In this article, we will discuss some of the best natural remedies for health and common illnesses.

  1. Stomach aches can be discomforting and quite painful. The most common causes of stomach ache are eating spoiled or rotten food, gastritis or acid reflux, and indigestion. In some cases, stomach ache may be accompanied with explosive diarrhea and nausea or vomiting. Taking a handful of caraway seeds with warm water can help provide relief from stomach ache. This is one of the many natural remedies for health that is commonly used in South East Asian countries.
  2. For conditions such as acid reflux or gastritis, take small meals throughout the day. Your stomach should never be empty. Avoid eating processed foods and spices. The ideal diet should include a lot of fresh fruits and salads. Taking a mixture of powdered coriander seeds with ground cane sugar will also help in providing relief. This is an ayurvedic natural remedies for health.

  3. Common cold or flu is a condition that affects many people. Getting over the counter medicines for this condition is not possible without a doctor’s prescription but there are several natural remedies for health that can be useful in case of flu. For sore throat, crush whole black pepper, mix with a teaspoon of honey and take it 4-5 times during the day for relief. In case of cough, you can take any flavor of herbal tea and add crushed ginger and holy basil to it when preparing the tea. This will help provide instant relief from cough. Eat home cooked meals as much as possible during this time.
  4. Another common problem that people report is that of headaches and migraines. There are a number of natural remedies for health for headaches that you can find in your kitchen. Organic cane sugar, also known as jaggery, can provide relief from migraine if taken regularly. Take a small pod of jaggery post lunch or dinner. It also helps in increasing the metabolism rate of the body, helping you digest food effectively. One of the natural remedies for health for cold, ginger tea, is also helpful in case of headaches. Ginger works by having a calming effect on the body and helps in relieving stress as well.

Similarly, there are many other natural remedies for health that can you find at home. Your grandmother will definitely have a repository of helpful hints about using kitchen ingredients to treat common illnesses.

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Natural Back Pain Relief

Chronic back pain is a problem that affects 70% of the world’s population and is especially common in people who have a sedentary lifestyle or have desk jobs. As a neurological disorder, back pain is at par with headaches. Though there are a lot of natural back pain relief products and back pain relief systems in place, you must first get the pain evaluated by your physician to rule out the possibility of chronic conditions such as a disc injury or spondylitis.

Once the cause of the back pain has been found, you can safely use natural back pain relief systems to alleviate the pain completely. Among the various natural products that can be used for back pain, the one that stands out from the rest is inversion therapy, which is administered through the use of inversion tables.

According to Dr. Randy A Sheleraud, MD, inversion therapy uses traction to help relieve back pain, by taking gravitational pressure away from the spinal cord and increasing the space between vertebrae. As a temporary pain relief method, inversion therapy is a natural back pain relief system that can be useful in pain caused by spinal disk compression. Inversion therapy involves standing head down on an inversion table. It is not advised to be administered for a long period of time because blood pressure to the brain may increase, resulting in injury. It is also not advisable for those with cardiovascular and other heart problems. Inversion tables are easily available online. Some popular inversion tables brands are Teeter, LifeGear, and Ironman.

Another natural back pain relief product is the Nubax Trio, which is a therapeutic device. The device works similar to the way inversion therapy works. All you need to do is lean forward on the Nubax Trio such that your torso becomes suspended on a common pivot point. It then lifts off the gravitational pressure and creates more space between the vertebrae, just like in inversion therapy. Many people have found relief using the Nubax Trio. This back pain relief product comes with an instructional booklet and the CD, making it simple and easy to use. Unlike the inversion table, the Nubax Trio does not involve standing head down and can be used safely by pregnant women and those with high blood pressure.

You can also try some sun therapy. Getting some sun can help reduce back pain. The sun provides human body with essential vitamin D, the lack of which can result in bone diseases. Most pain arises from the bones, as researchers at the University of Minnesota found. In a study conducted on 150 people with chronic back ache, 90% people were found to have a Vitamin D deficiency.

Vitamin B12 can also cause back pain, albeit the pain is restricted to the muscles. However, getting vitamin B12 supplements or injections can be helpful in reducing pain. Some people have also found the Indian art of Yoga helpful as a natural back pain relief system. Yoga cannot provide instant relief. Those interested in taking Yoga classes must continue them for at least 12-16 weeks to see a significant reduction in back ache and other ailments. Yoga is a great exercise for overall health and provides strength to the immune system.

The Sheffield University in United Kingdom conducted a study on the benefits of acupuncture as a back pain relief system where the treatment was provided to more than 180 people, of which 100% of the people receiving acupuncture treatments regularly reported a significant reduction in back aches and back pain.

The test group also mentioned that the relief they experienced with acupuncture was long lasting and it was unlikely that they would go back to using pain killers. Acupuncture releases natural pain relievers and sends signals to the nervous system, helping in the reduction of pain. Typically, an acupuncture session costs about $100 but is considered a medical expense which is covered by some insurance companies.

Previously unheard of, the Capsaicin cream has been shown to provide an analgesic effect resulting in a significant decrease in the production of pain-inducing neuro chemicals. The cream contains capsaicin, an active ingredient found in chili pepper and is readily available in drug stores and health food stores. A tube of the cream is priced around $10. It should be applied four times a day at the affected area. Side effects include burning or a stinging sensation because of the constituents.

If you opt for natural back pain relief cures that are available online, remember to buy them from a reputable store.

Related links:
The 7-Day Back Pain Cure (FREE report)
Inversion Table Therapy vs. Nubax Trio
Inversion Table 30-Day FREE Trial
Back Pain Articles

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