Posts Tagged "natural remedies"

Manuka Honey Prevents Infections

A new study published in the journal, Microbiology, has found that manuka honey could help to clear chronic wound infections. These findings even suggest that this natural remedy could prevent infections from developing. This study provides further evidence of the anti-bacterial properties of this powerful natural remedy. Research conducted at Cardiff Metropolitan University found that manuka honey can destroy Streptococcus pyrogenes (anormal skin bacteria that is associated with wounds). The research also foundthat manuka honey can also prevent infections from initially developing. Wounds that are infected with Streptococcus pyrogenes are generally difficult to treat with conventional treatment. This is partly due to the strength and resistance of the bacteria to antibiotic treatment. Overuse of antibiotics is another possibility why infections such as Streptococcus pyrogenes are resistant to treatment. This is why investment into the research ofnatural remedies such as manuka honey and herbs such as oregano and goldenseal is vital in the treatment and prevention of bacterial infections. This is especially important in the management of open wounds, which are prone to infections. Dr Sarah Maddocks, who led the research study, said that the honey reduced the spread of the bacteria and stopped the bacteria from clumping together. She continued, “This is a feasible mechanismby which manuka honey minimizes the initiation of acute wound infections andalso the establishment of chronic infections”. Dr Maddock’s team is continuing toinvestigate other bacteria such as Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA),which manuka honey has been shown to be effective against. Dr Maddocks said, “Thereis an urgent need to find innovative and effective ways of controlling wound infections that are unlikely to contribute to increased antimicrobial resistance. No instances of honey-resistant bacteria have been reported todate, or seem likely. “Applying antibacterial agentsdirectly to the skin to clear bacteria from wounds is cheaper than systemic antibiotics and may well complement antibiotic therapy in the future. This is significant as chronic wounds account for up to 4% of health care expenses inthe developed...

Male Pattern Baldness

Male pattern baldness, or androgenetic alopecia, accounts for the majority of baldness in males. This condition has a heriditary predisposition, but is mainly caused by a hormone imbalance. Hair loss usually starts at the temples and the crown. The hair initially thins over a number of years before causing baldness. The hormone Testosterone, which is present in high levels in males after puberty is converted to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) by an enzyme called 5-alpha reductase. High levels of DHT are responsible for causing hair loss and baldness. The hormone DHT attaches itself to the hair follicles and blocks blood flow to the follicle. This deprives the hair follicle of vital nutrients that are required for hair growth. This leads to a slowing of hair growth and eventually complete hair loss. There are a number of natural medicines that can be taken to stop the enzyme, 5-alpha reductase and therefore decrease the amount of DHT, the main cause of male pattern baldness. Studies have shown that the herb Saw Palmetto is an effective natural anti-androgen. It lowers levels of DHT by blocking the enzyme 5-alpha reductase. Zinc can also be taken to stimulate hair growth by stimulating the immune system aswell as lowering levels of DHT. Essential fatty acids from flax seed oil or fish oils are also very important to treat hair loss. Other important natural supplements include anti-oxidants such as Selenium, Acai, Vitamin E, Vitamin C, Co-enzyme Q10 and Silica. For maximum benefit it is important to combine these products or to take a combination...

With Stoptober now in full swing, there are various options available for quitting the habit. Most people who have tried to quit smoking will testify that it is one of the hardest challenges of their life. It is virtually impossible to quit unless you really want to. So this is the first question you need to ask yourself. If the answer is yes, then why not quit smoking for Stoptober with homeopathy? As most people are now aware, smoking is linked with various diseases and illnesses, so it is definitely in your best interests to give up this habit.  Whilst the over the counter nicotine replacement therapies (NRT), such as chewing gum, patches and lozenges, provide some support there are still many smokers who quit the programmes and revert back to the habit. The electric cigarette market is currently booming, but most types have very high doses of nicotine, which is very addictive. There are some very good homeopathic remedies that have can help to break the smoking habit. Homeopathy provides a different type of support, which helps with both the physical craving of nicotine and the general addiction of smoking. The homeopathic support for smokers consists of natural remedies that are safe and free from side effects and can be tailored to the individual. These remedies are not addictive and can be taken alongside other medications. The following homeopathic remedies will help with the different aspects of helping to quit the smoking habit. It’s better to keep a range of remedies as this will help deal with situations as they arise. Remedies Tabacum is a natural remedy that can help to reduce the smoking craving. The ideal dose is one tablet three times a day and when the craving is bad. This is a remedy that is actually made from tobacco leaves, but following in the principles of homeopathy (like treats like), it forms an ideal remedy for smoking cessation. One of the main principles of homeopathy is that a substance that can cause symptoms when given in excess can be taken to cure those symptoms when given in a smaller dose. This homeopathic remedy should be taken in the 6C potency over a period of a few months...

Beetroot Juice Can Lower High Blood Pressure

A glass of beetroot juice a day has been found to significantly lower high blood pressure. Several studies have discovered this benefit from taking a daily glass of beetroot juice. There have also been studies highlighting the benefit of beetroot juice on sports performance. Beetroot juice may be an acquired taste, but it seems to be worth forcing a regular dose down the throat as the health benefits suggest. Aside from lowering high blood pressure and improving sports performance, beetroots are also full of antioxidants, which help prevent illnesses and keep our cells looking young and healthy. It is thought that the nitrate content in beetroot is responsible for this blood pressure lowering property. Other vegetables that contain nitrates include cabbage, fennel and lettuce. The nitrate content in beetroot helps to widen blood vessels, which improves oxygen circulation and reduces blood pressure. This is similar to the way that nitrate medications work in the treatment of angina. This small study was conducted on eight female and seven male participants who all had a systolic blood pressure between 140 to 159 mm/Hg. The participants did not have other medical problems, and were not on any medication for their hypertension. The group drank 250mls of beetroot juice or water consisting of a low amount of nitrate, and over the following 24 hours, had their blood pressure measured. A glass of beetroot juice contains around 200grams of dietary nitrate, which is similar to a bowel of lettuce. The results found that the beetroot juice group had an average of 100mm/Hg drop in their blood pressure levels. Researcher Dr Amrita Ahluwalia said, “We were surprised by how little nitrate was needed to see such a large effect. This study shows that compared to individuals with healthy blood pressure much less nitrate is needed to produce the kinds of decreases in blood pressure that might provide clinical benefits in people who need to lower their blood pressure. However, we are still uncertain as to whether this effect is maintained in the long term,” “Our hope is that increasing one’s intake of vegetables with high dietary nitrate content, such as green leafy vegetables or beetroot, might be a lifestyle approach that one could easily employ...

Alternative Treatments for Back Pain

Back pain is an issue that plagues many people. Did you know that an astonishing 80% of all people in the UK will bring up their posture or their back issues to their GP at some point? That is an astounding figure that could be much lower if more people were aware about alternative treatments. Here, we will explore more about alternative treatments for back pain.   Yoga One of the main alternative treatments for back pain is yoga and stretching. One of the largest studies conducted showed that those with moderate pain could manage their issues with on-going yoga and stretching workouts because the exercises involve the strengthening of the core muscles. Massage Therapy One of the best short-term natural remedies for back pain is massage therapy. Once again, studies have shown that when combined with stretching, massage is one of the most cost effective cures for sub-acute and chronic non specific low pain. Diet Many people are unaware that the food we eat can affect pain, which is why it is essential that we make sure we take the right supplements. Nutrition and pain have been linked for a long time. According to a 2005 report published in the British Medical Journal vitamin D supplements may lead to a clinical improvement in back pain symptoms. Other studies have shown that vitamin B12 and magnesium supplements also have an effect. Omega 3 oils are also effective natural ways to reduce inflammation and pain. Anti inflammatory herbs When faced with inflammation,a lot of us will just take ibuprofen and other anti-inflammatory drugs .However, in 2007, white willow bark and devil’s claw were proven to both have chemical compounds, which were found to possess anti-inflammatory properties.Therefore, there are alternative solutions. If you are taking regular medication, please consult your doctor or pharmacist before taking herbal medicines. Herbal medicines should be avoided during pregnancy and lactation. Homeopathy Homeopathic remedies such asRhus Tox, Arnica, Ruta Grav and Kali Carb are regularly prescribed for back pain. Homoeopathic remedies are prescribed on the individuals specifics symptoms. These remedies, if correctly prescribed can be very effective at reducing back pain. As you can see from the above,there are many alternative treatments for back pain. This...

Travel sickness is very common in all age groups, so let us explain some great natural remedies for travel sickness. Ginger. This can be taken as a capsule or chewed in the crystalised form. Ginger is an excellent remedy for nausea and stomach upsets. These should ideally be started a few hours before the journey to be of maximum benefit. Rescue Remedy or Ainsworths Recovery Remedy can be taken if you feel anxious and nervous. This can be taken throughout the journey at regular intervals. There are also some homeopathic remedies that can be taken to prevent travel sickness. They should be taken in the 30c potency, starting an hour before the journey, and thereafter every two hours during the journey. One dose can then be taken after the journey. These natural remedies can be taken safely by young children, and will not interact with any prescribed medication you may be on. Cocculus. This is the main remedy for travel sickness and should be included in all prevention regimes. Petroleum. This remedy is indicated if the dizziness is made worse by loud noise or sitting up. Aconite should be taken if the person feels anxious and is afraid. Tabacum. This homeopathic remedy should be taken for nausea, giddiness, and faintness. Nux Vomica is a good remedy if the travel sickness is accompanied with a headache and the person has a headache which is made worse by the smell of coffee or...

Natural Remedies for Heel Pain

Heel pain is caused by inflammatory processes secondary to bone spurs (grown of extra bone tissues on normal bone), poor arch support, stress fracture, inflammation of the tendons, irritation of nerves, and etc. Take note that this kind of pain is situated on the UNDERSIDE or at the BACK OF YOUR HEEL, back of the foot, worsens upon rising, and intensifies with time. The reason why it worsens in the morning is that your feet have been relaxed over night and then suddenly you move them out upon waking up. When you moved those inflamed tissues, you are adding stress and exacerbating the inflammatory process precipitating the feeling of discomfort. This kind of inflammation is medically termed as Plantar fasciitis. In this condition, your plantar fascia, the connective tissues that extend from the heel to the toes, are inflamed. They also are thickened at the same time. Among the causes mentioned above, the most common one is the poor arch support. Those with overly high-arched feet and Flat feet are prone to developing heel pain. Now let’s move on to the natural remedies. Natural treatment for heel pain is very much possible. The pain, caused by inflammation, should be the priority. To do that, anti-inflammatory agents can be the top choice, and you get them from nutritional supplements and/or herbal remedies: a)  Bromelain – one most effective natural treatment which has anti-inflammatory effects. The enzymes in bromelain are derived from FRESH pineapple fruits. Any processed and cooked pineapples are no longer considered organic as enzymes are already destroyed.  The nutritional supplements are available in tablets and capsules. b) Glucosamine sulfate – this supplement helps repair damaged tissues and reduces inflammation at the same time. c)   Calcium and magnesium – help to relax muscles and are essential for bone health. Topical creams can also be used on the affected part: a)    Boswellin creams – The most common one. These creams contain herbs that function as pain relievers and work really fast. b)   Heelspur creams – contains the devil’s claw (dried roots of an African plant) which acts as anti-inflammatory, ginger which is an anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory, Arnica that has Helenalin which is also a potent anti-inflammatory, and menthol which has...

Cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex 1 virus, and unfortunately once you have this virus, it always stays with you. This virus does however stay dormant in the body and only reactivates itself when you become run down, stressed, have a fever or are exposed to the sun. Read more to learn about cold sores homeopathy… Eruptions usually occur on or around the mouth and cause a blister which weeps then becomes crusted over. These eruptions normally clear up after 5 to 7 days. There is often a tingling or itchy sensation before the cold sore fully develops. This is the most effective time to start treatment, but homeopathic remedies can still work after the cold sore has erupted. The following homeopathic remedies should be taken in the 30c potency, four times a day for up to 5 days.  If there is no change after two days, you may need to take another homeopathic remedy. These homeopathic remedies can help to speed up recovery from an outbreak, but you should consider consulting a homeopath for constitutional treatment for a more thorough solution. Nat Mur should be taken if the cold sore occurs in the middle of the lower lip. An indication for this remedy is a dry mouth and dry lips. The person may also crave salty foods and the symptoms will be better in the open air. Rhus Tox is for cold sore eruptions that occur at the corners of the mouth or on the chin. The eruption will cause burning and itching and will be red and swollen. The symptoms are better for warm applications and the person may be restless. This remedy is for cold sore’s that are worse in open air and which are caused by overexertion. Capsicum should be taken for cold sore’s that occur on at the corners of the mouth and cause burning.  The person may also have burning blisters on the tongue and their breath may be smelly. Arse Alb can be taken for cold sore’s that cause extreme burning and itching. The person may be very restless and anxious. The symptoms are usually better for warmth and heat, and the person will be thirsty for small sips. Graphites should...

Natural alternatives to sleeping pills

One industry that has grown during the last few years of the economic downturn is the pharmaceutical sector. Latest figures show that the NHS is spending £50 million pounds a year on sleeping pills. The economic downturn is causing more people to have stress related insomnia, resulting in the increased prescribing of these medicines. But there are natural alternatives to sleeping pills which should be considered by insomnia sufferers. One of the major side effects of sleeping pills & drugs are that they are highly addictive. People can become hooked on these drugs very easily. Drugs that are commonly prescribed for insomnia include zolpidem, zopiclone, nitrazepam and temazepam. These drugs all have side effects which include digestive disturbances, nightmares, drowsiness the following day, confusion and nightmares. These drugs are only recommended for short term use, but in my experience patients tend to stay on them for months and years without a break. This causes patients to become dependent and even addicted to these drugs. There are however natural and safe alternatives to help treat this condition, without causing addiction. So what are the natural alternatives to sleeping pills? Regular exercise is an excellent way to relax and results in a more relaxed sleep. This has the added benefit of feeling energised the following day. You should try and make exercise a part of your daily routine. This can range from walking, running, strength training,playing sports or exercises such as yoga or pilates. Caffeine is a well known stimulant and the simple measure of avoiding caffeinated drinks such as coffee, fizzy drinks and tea can dramatically improve the quality of your sleep. You should ideally leave a gap of around four hours between having your last caffeinated drink of the day and bedtime. Vitamin B5 (Panthothenic Acid) is a B vitamin that helps to support the adrenal glands. The adrenal glands are depleted at times of stress (both physical and emotional). These glands are responsible for producing hormones that are essential for certain body functions. Stress can cause an imbalance of these hormones, which leads to a feeling of being rundown or even “burnt out”. It is therefore very important to supplement with Vitamin B5 at times of stress. This...

Thrush is a fungal infection that is caused by Candida Albicans. Candida is present in our body in small amounts, but under certain conditions, it multiplies rapidly to cause the symptoms of thrush. The usual symptoms of thrush are vaginal soreness, itching and a discharge. The discharge is usually described as curd-like and “yeasty”.  Many women suffer with this condition at some point in their life. read on to find out more about natural remedies for thrush… You can see how common this condition is by the number of products that are available in high street pharmacies. These products are based on chemical anti-fungal medications (clotrimazole and fluconazole), that can help in the short-term, but a long term view is to balance the levels of Candida in your body to prevent the condition returning. There are many possible causes why women develop thrush. These range from stress, hormonal changes, tight underwear, medications (antibiotics, contraceptive pill), or from being “run-down”. Thrush is a common condition during pregnancy. This is mainly due to the hormonal changes that are taking place during this time. It is important not to take too many medicines during pregnancy, however there are a number a natural remedies that are safe throughout this time. Antibiotics are main cause of thrush. This is because these medications “kill” all the bacteria in your system. This is beneficial in treating a bacterial infection, but most of the bacteria in our system is beneficial and essential for our health. By destroying the “good” bacteria, organisms such as Candida multiply and lead to symptoms such as lethargy and thrush. There a number of home remedies that you can take to prevent this condition. The main food to consume on a daily basis is unsweetened live yoghurt. This provides good amounts of probiotics that help to maintain a balance of “good” bacteria in the system. There are many companies that produce probiotic drinks that are sweetened. You should avoid these as they generally do not provide you with enough “good” bacteria, and are high in sugar. High amounts of sugar can actually promote the growth of Candida and prolong the condition. If you have thrush, cutting out sugar and refined carbohydrates will speed up...

Homeopathic Remedies for Toothache

A toothache is usually a sign that dental treatment is needed but Homeopathy offers a range of natural remedies that can be taken to help alleviate pain in the meantime. In contrast to the conventional over the counter painkillers homeopathic remedies do not cause drowsiness and are extremely safe for the whole family. These remedies can also be taken alongside other regular medication. There are a number of possible causes of toothache ranging from decay, gingivitis or a tooth abscess and for these there are several remedies for toothache that you can consider. These are a few homeopathic remedies that can be taken every 30mins for up to 10 doses then up to four times a day until improvement or until you visit your dentist. The remedies should be taken in the 30c or 200c potency. You may need to order some of these remedies from a Homeopathic Pharmacy. Plantago can be taken if the toothache is worse for cold air and is sensitive to the slightest touch. The toothache is better whilst eating for this remedy. The pain may be described as sharp and stabbing. Plantago tincture can also be rubbed onto the affected area to help relieve the pain. Staphysagria is a homeopathic remedy for toothache that is made worse for cold air, food and the slightest touch. The gums may also be bleeding and the pain is excruciatingly intense, sharp and stabbing. Merc Viv can be taken if the person also has bleeding gums and bad breath. The person may have a lot of saliva in the mouth, with pains that radiate to the ears. Another sign of this remedy is if the person is very thirsty. Chamomilla. This remedy is normally used to treat teething in infants but it can also be helpful in treating toothache. The pain is made worse after warm drinks and may be described as unbearable. The person may also be very irritable and...

Flatulence also known as wind is an embarrassing problem that can sometimes be extremely uncomfortable. This condition occurs when there is an excessive build up of gas in the stomach and intestine.  This gas is caused by bacteria and yeasts that are found in the gastrointestinal tract. Candida is a yeast that is often responsible for flatulence. This yeast thrives on unhealthy foods such as sugar. There are lots of natural remedies for flatulence that are easily available. Flatulence is a natural biological process that affects everyone (although men are affected more that women). Foul smelling flatulence is an indication that the digestive process is sluggish. This is often the case with people who have constipation. A good way of preventing this is to eat plenty of vegetables, fruits and increase your intake of water. Increasing your intake of fibre will also help to keep your digestive system healthy. As the digestive process starts in the mouth, it is very important to chew your food properly. When we swallow anything, we also take in air. This process contributes to the build up of gas. By chewing food slowly, you will minimise the intake of air, and lower your risk of having flatulence. Top Tips to Avoid Flatulence Include probiotics such as acidophilus and bifidus in your diet. One or two capsules should be taken after each meal to help replace healthy bacteria. Drinking herbal teas such as peppermint, chamomile, fennel and ginger after a meal can help to ease digestion and reduce bloating. Low fat live yoghurts help to aid digestion and are also an excellent source of probiotics. Peppermint oil (diluted in some warm water) or taken in a capsule form and help to reduce bloating and flatulence. The homeopathic remedy Lycopodium, is a commonly used remedy to reduce flatulence. This natural remedy should be taken in the 30c potency, twice a day for up to two weeks. Eat five smaller meals a day rather than three larger meals. This will place less of burden on your digestive system. Stress also contributes to sluggish digestion and flatulence. If you are under stress consider relaxation exercises, EFT (emotional freedom technique) or natural remedies. Note any foods that make you...