Sunday, July 31, 2011

Falling Asleep Naturally

Natural and Organic Sleep Aids
Here are some of the best natural sleep aids available:
  • Adding a drop of lavender oil on your pillow at night will help you fall asleep faster and you'll also sleep for longer. Lavender oil also works great in the bath. Sometimes taking a long soak in the bath with the essential oil will help you completely relax before bed.
  • Chamomile, which you can drink as a tea, has an great calming effect and increases better sleep.
  • Chinese medicines & acupuncture can also help you get a better night's sleep. Talk to your local Chinese naturopath, herbalist, or acupuncturist to setup a treatment plan to suit your needs.

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Herbs for Cats to improve immune system

For the most part the immune mechanism is a very efficient disease fighting machine. That said, sometimes it needs a little help. For these instances immune boosting herbs for cats are a natural way to accomplish this. Let's look at a few of the more well known herbs for supporting and bolstering cat immune defense.
*Echinacea: Without a doubt this is the most recognizable herb for cat immune system health. There are two common species Echinacea angustifolia and Echinacea purpurea. The latter is the one most commonly used for its immune boosting capabilities in cats.
Among the most important immune stimulating components of Echinacea are the large polysaccharides, such as inulin, that among other things increase the production of immune chemicals that activate microphages (a large cell derived from a white blood cell). The result is an increase in immune defense activity.
In addition to being an excellent herb for cat immune health echinacea exerts direct antiviral activity and has been shown to prevent the spread of bacteria.
*Astragalus membranaceus: While the name is likely not one most people in the west recognize this herb has been used in Chinese medicine to support immune system health and fight viral infections for centuries.
Research studies with animals show that astragalus works by bolstering several factors in the immune system: phagocytic activity of monocytes and macrophages; interferon production and natural killercell activity; T-cell activity and other antiviral mechanisms. This valuable herb for cat immune system health seems to be particularly useful in cases where the immune system has been damaged by chemicals or disease (cancer).
In summary, there is good evidence to suggest that herbs for cat immune system function are a safe and effective way to both prevent illness and fight off existing disease. 

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Avoiding Mosquito bites naturally

Diet can play a very pivitol role in making oneself less attractive to the mosquitoes. Diets high in garlic (and garlic tablets) and B complex can actually change the extremely faint scent of an individual; thus making oneself less attractive to a hungry mosquito. Garlic literally does repel the vampires. Other herbs that are also important in repelling mosquitoes are: citronella, cedar, verbena, geranium, lavender, pine, cinnamon, rosemary, basil, thyme, allspice, and peppermint.
Vitamin B1 has a unique ability to create an obnoxious scent that stops mosquitoes in their tracks. Ingested orally each day, an individual can take 15mgs of B1 for every 30 pounds of body weight.

Sunday, July 17, 2011

Arnica for sore muscles,sprains and bruising

Arnica is one of the premier herbs to soothe aching muscles and help bruising. A variant of the species that is native to the United States has been used by the American Indians as a healing ointment and in tinctures to relax stiff muscles and to treat wounds for almost as long. Arnica, since 1820, has been listed in the US Dispensatory and is listed in the U.S. Pharmacopoeia.
NOTE: Arnica is for external use only - It is TOXIC to use internally.
In Germany alone there are over 100 recipes to prepare healing lineaments and salves with arnica as the base ingredient. Arnica is one the important homeopathic remedies on the market today. In a German study it was found that the herb contains helenalin and dihydrohelenalin that produce effective anti inflammatory and analgesic properties. A simple liniment recipe is one ounce of flowers in one ounce of lard or oil boiled for several hours. Strain it and let it cool completely before using the dried salve.
Externally this herb is considered completely safe. Internally, however, it is a completely different story. Internally it is poisonous even in a tiny dose. Scientific studies have shown internally arnica affects the heart and circulatory systems. Additional studies have confirmed that arnica is toxic to the cardiac system. It is important to note that although the herb is considered safe externally, there are cases that the helenalin in some people causes an allergic type reaction of dermatitis. If this occurs, discontinue use.
The studies have shown that arnica's analgesic and anti inflammatory properties are only seen when the yellow - orange daisy like flower is heated and steeped over a period of time. That makes this another one of those must haves for the bathroom. Filling a small cheese cloth sack with the dried leaves and steeping it in hot bath water before settling in is a wonderful relaxation that truly is like getting a soft tissue massage as the muscles relax.
There are many prepared salves and ointments on the market from natural and health food stores alike that are prepared for you. This herb is one of the few that it does not matter if the plant is fresh or dried also making it a favorite of many herbalists.

Friday, July 15, 2011

Dealing with Kidney stones naturally

Pain in the flank or in the side is experienced when the pressure of the urine from the kidney pushes down into the ureter and the stone. The pain can range from moderate to severe and usually goes away once the kidney stone is pushed into the bladder. Once it is in the bladder, it would be able to disintegrate or break down into smaller stones that can easily be passed with urine. Some of the other symptoms associated with kidney stones include vomiting, nausea and the presence of blood in the urine.

Doctors would usually just prescribe pain management medications and advise the patient to wait for the kidney stone to make its way to the bladder on its own, especially if the symptoms are not too severe. As a matter of fact, if you do not want to take medications, you can try some home remedies that can help in getting rid of painful kidney stones. Here are some of them.

1. Since the best way to get rid of kidney stones would be to promote urination, you can try drinking herbal teas that act as natural diuretics. A good choice would be teas made from stinging nettle leaf or hydrangea. Nettle leaves can help in flushing out bacteria and in maintaining a good balance of the electrolytes in the urine while hydrangea has been used for many centuries as a remedy for various kidney and bladder problems. Through drinking about two or three cups of stinging nettle leaf or hydrangea tea daily, you would not just be able to treat kidney stones but also prevent them from forming again.

2. Eating cherries has also been studied to offer benefits to people who have been diagnosed with uric acid kidney stones. Cherries have anti-inflammatory properties which help in reducing the levels of uric acid in the body.

3. Another remedy that you can try would be drinking a mixture of extra virgin olive oil and lemon juice. The acidity of lemon juice and the ability of the olive oil to act as a lubricant helps in breaking down the kidney stones and in making them pass through your urinary tract easier and faster.

4. You can also try cleansing your kidneys through eating watermelons. Watermelons have high water content, making them natural diuretics. Eating them would increase the amount and frequency of your urination, which could in turn speed up the passage of the kidney stones through your urinary system. However, note that this home remedy should not be done by diabetics as watermelons have plenty of natural sugars. Some other fruits and vegetables that you can add to your diet to promote the cleansing of the kidneys would be radish, cucumber, cranberries and celery.

5. Lastly, drink plenty of water. Water is probably the best natural remedy that can help in getting rid of painful kidney stones. Instead of drinking just eight to ten cups of water, increase your daily intake to 14 cups or more. This would allow you to pass about two to three quarts of water throughout the day, which can make the passage of stones quicker.


 

Saturday, July 9, 2011

Unusual mosquito bite remedies

Mosquito Bites
For mosquito bites, you can prepare limejuice and dilute it with water. Apply the liquid onto the area bitten by the mosquito. Aside from this, you can opt to simply apply calamine lotion, which is the most common choice for home remedies. If you don't have any available, check your cupboard for baking soda. Mix a teaspoon of baking soda with a glass of water. Rub the mixture onto the bitten area for about 15 minutes. Other people also use oatmeal because it has antiseptic and cleansing properties that can kill harmful organisms, which have entered your skin by way of the insect bite. All you need to do is to mix a teaspoon of oatmeal to 3 teaspoons of hot water, and mix well then apply to the mosquito bite. Oatmeal is also known to reduce itching and swelling.

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Jewel Weed- Nature's help for poison ivy

Jewel Weed usually grows near water or in shallow ponds. It is often found in areas where Poison Ivy grows.
Jewel Weed totally neutralizes the Poison Ivy's oily antigen called Urushiol, and you will no longer spread it by scratching or rubbing. The Urushiol oil may be carried on the fur of pets, clothing, shoes, toys, tools, or other objects and then transferred to the skin. Approximately 24 to 36 hrs after a sensitized person is exposed to the Urushiol, a blistery, itching rash develops. Usually within 15 minutes of contact, the Urushiol binds to skin proteins. If it is washed off with soap and water before that time, a reaction may be prevented. After the antigen is fixed, however, it cannot be washed off or transferred to other areas. Scratching or oozing blister fluid cannot spread the antigen to other areas of the body or to other persons.
Jewel Weed is still quite helpful even if you have developed scabs, though you need to work — Rub — it in longer, and it takes time for the blisters to heal.