Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Health Benefits of Himalayan Salt

Before the advent of modern medicine, our ancestors used salts such as Himalayan crystal salts for centuries to heal themselves. Himalayan salt is a pink salt which can be found in the Himalayan Mountains, hence the name. Research have shown that this one of a kind pink salt contains about eighty four minerals required to sustain human life. So it is really not surprising to know that Himalayan salt has been used since the ancient times to alleviate the symptoms of a variety of health conditions. Interested to know more about the health benefits of Himalayan crystal salt? Well then let me share to you some of them.

1. It aids in treating various skin disorders such as acne. Himalayan salt works by drawing out toxins inside the skin. The toxins that are in the body and under the skin can be one of the major causes of skin problems such as acne. These days, you can buy Himalayan salt in the form of a bar and use it to wash your face. You can also dissolve it in lukewarm water and use it as a facial wash.

2. It helps treat halitosis and other oral problems. Add some Himalayan crystal salt to water and let it dissolve. Use it as a gargle to cure oral problems from sore and bleeding gums to bad breath to infected tooth.

3. It helps detoxify the body. Himalayan crystal salt can be used as a bath soak to draw out toxins from the body. They say its trace minerals and negative ions penetrate the skin which produces a cleansing and detoxifying effect. To make a crystal salt bath, dissolve about two pounds of Himalayan salt to a tub then fill it with lukewarm water. Soak in the water for at least thirty minutes.

4. Himalayan salt can help regulate the water in our bodies. It also helps promote a strong PH balance in the cells, particularly in our brain cells. You can consume this natural salt in different ways. You can consume it as a mineral water by dissolving it in water and drinking it, or you can also replace your regular table salt with Himalayan salt and use it for cooking.

5. Ironic as it may sound, drinking water with Himalayan salt every day can help alleviate the symptoms of arthritis, rheumatism and even prevent kidney and bladder stones from forming.

6. When used as facial steam, it can help lower the incidence of sinus problems. It can also help alleviate the symptoms of asthma, bronchitis and other nose and throat discomforts.

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Seven Different Ways To Treat Sinus Infection At Home

Are there ways to treat sinus infection without antibiotics?

Getting an upper respiratory problem affecting the sinuses is unavoidable even in a healthy individual.

There are many causes ranging from untreated colds, allergies to structural issues.

Many people tend to go towards conventional treatment but not everyone is able to tolerate chemical drugs. They have been known to cause side effects in some people and prolonged usage can do more harm than cure.

This is not to say that medicines are bad as they are certainly effective when your symptoms are severe. For example antibiotics have been known to fight bacteria and other chronic diseases.

Sometimes you can manage the pain with home remedies while waiting for your infection to clear up.

The accumulation of excess mucus is the main contributor to upper respiratory infections and inflammation of the sinuses.

In fact there are many treatment options, you just have to choose one that works for you.

The fastest way is to prevent them before they start by treating the symptoms of cold and flu, maintain a healthy immune system and diet.

The main treatment plan is to reduce excess secretions, increase its flow rate so that they can drain through our nose and restore normal breathing.

Here are 7 different ways to treat sinus infection at home.

Steam Therapy

Inhaling steam is an effective method to relieve congested nasal and sinus cavities aw well as pressure. You can do this several times a day and blow your nose gently to get rid of infectious mucus.

Apply Hot Compress

Placing a compress such as a warm wash cloth over your sinus region helps to shrink the blood vessels that lined the membrane and open your nasal passage.

Hot Fluid Therapy

Drinking hot fluid such as herbal tea in particular peppermint several times a day tends to thin and break up your infected mucus for easy discharge.

The warm steam generated does soothe and relieve sinus related headache.

You can combine this therapy immediately after a hot shower to enhance the effect.

Boost Your Immune System

Do you know that certain foods and supplements may help to boost your sluggish immune system?

Eating fresh fruits and vegetables is a good start to nourish your body.

Vitamin A plays a role in maintaining the mucosal surfaces and infection by influencing certain cells in our body. A deficiency is often associated with poor immunity and increased the risk of infectious disease.

Another good immune boosting food is yoghurt. Good probiotic bacteria such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium that dwell in our digestive tract can influence our immunity.

Zinc deficiency in our diet affects the ability of the immune cells to function at its optimal level. It is available naturally in red meat, poultry, fish, nuts, cereal, legumes and dairy foods.

Vinegar solution

Vinegar has been known to kill bacteria and other micro-organisms because of its acidity properties.

Dilute one tablespoon vinegar to half cup of warm water and with a cotton bud dab gently into your nasal lining. If the burning sensation is unbearable you can add more water.

Propolis Solution

Propolis a natural substance made by the bees contains anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties that support a range of ailments.

This tincture is available in the local health shop. Add few drops into fifty milliliters of distilled water and apply with a dropper into your nasal several times a day. This will reduce mucus, help clear infection and promote natural breathing.

Herbal Remedies

Herbs have been used for centuries to treat all types of ailments. There are several herbs that are beneficial for respiratory diseases.

Saturday, March 17, 2012

Seven Tips to Super Charge Your Immunity

It seems that the more we step out into the world, the more risk we have for catching something. A spring or summer cold. The flu in winter, or just a slight case of the sniffles. These ideas can help boost your immunity against many common ailments. While they probably won't cure that common cold, they make you less susceptible to catching it in the first place.

CUT INFECTION RISK by up to 67% just by visiting with friends for thirty minutes a week. Researches from Pittsburg's Carnegie Mellon University claim that fun and laughter affect the brain's production of immunity boosting hormones serotonin, dopamine, and endorphins. As grandma always said, laughter really is the best medicine. Get your gab on and stay healthier.

KILL A COUGH by nibbling on dried apricots. Rich in beta carotene, apricots help keep the lining of the throat and sinuses healthy. Healthy enough to keep germs from taking hold. Beta-carotene increases production of T cells by about 33%. You need this boost if you do happen to get sick. Eating about a half cup of dried apricots a day can give you this boost. Also try sweet potatoes, winter squash, pumpkin and carrots.

FASTER HEALING when you bite into a burger. You can heal up to 42% faster by eating a burger. The red meat has lots of zinc, a mineral that we need to help destroy viruses at their point of entry, the nose and throat. The Cleveland Clinic Foundation discovered that only four ounces of beef daily can cut the time you fight with viral infections by forty-two percent. If you don't eat red meat, seafood or fish, and even chicken, can do the trick.

LUNG STRENGTHENING ginger tea is a brew that should be in every cabinet. Within three hours of that first cup you can build up your defense against cold and flu bugs. James F. Balch,M.D., claims that ginger's antiviral compounds double the production of immune system proteins lining your lungs. Two cups a day will cut about two days off the time you are sick.

ANTIBODIES get the boost they need when you munch on roasted garlic. With about 70 sulfur compounds which activate antibody production and boost your immune system. garlic can increase your immunity to common germs by as much as 40%. According to W. Sears, M.D., of the University of California at the Irvine School of Medicine, one clove a day will do the job.

To enjoy this treat, simply cut about a quarter of an inch off the top of a head of garlic. Sprinkle with a little olive oil and salt, wrap in aluminum foil and bake for about forty-five minutes. Spread on crackers. I really like a garlic and anchovy dip. I mix the roasted garlic and a can of anchovies with about a cup of sour cream. Or try mixing it with fresh Humus. A great and satisfying snack that is good for you too.

INFLAMMATION can be reduced by rinsing with a saline solution. Saline flushes out the viruses that make us sick. It lowers the inflammation and helps you fight off the germs. You can recover about 45% faster if you happen to get sick. Use a Neti pot from your local drugstore and rinse with a solution of 2 cups of sterile water with one teaspoon of kosher salt and one teaspoon of baking soda. thoroughly dissolved. You will start to feel better in no time and there are no chemicals involved.

Thursday, March 15, 2012

Ayurvedic Herbal Treatment for Bronchiectasis

Bronchiectasis is a medical condition involving an abnormal dilatation of the large airways in the lungs, resulting from chronic infections, obstruction in the lungs, hereditary diseases, and auto immune disorders. Abnormal dilatation of the airways causes symptoms of a chronic obstructive disease in which the lungs get inflamed easily, with collapse of the airways. The common symptoms of this condition include breathlessness, prolonged bouts of disabling cough, and impaired inability to clear the lung secretions, sometimes accompanied by hemoptysis. A major involvement of the lungs can cause considerable disability to the affected individual and significantly increase the morbidity and mortality from this disease.

The modern management of bronchiectasis involves treatment of infection using antibiotics, treatment of inflammation, the use of expectorant medication, and postural drainage in order to clear accumulated lung secretions. However, this treatment is mostly conservative and only treats the symptoms without actually curing the disease. The chronic disability resulting from this disease usually prompts affected individuals to seek alternative treatments, with the maximum number of patients looking towards Ayurvedic treatment for a remission of the symptoms of this condition.

Ayurvedic treatment has a significant role to play in the long-term management and treatment of bronchiectasis. Herbal medicines are known to have a specific action on the mucosa of the respiratory tract as well as the muscular walls of the airways in the lungs. These medicines have an anti-inflammatory effect and reduce inflammation, congestion and the production of excessive fluids in the lungs. Ayurvedic medicines also reduce the damage to the airways and bring about a significant reversal in the dysfunction cause due to this damage.

Ayurvedic treatment can bring about significant improvement in the breathing capacity of the affected individual in a very short period of time after commencement of therapy. Within four to six weeks, individuals affected with bronchiectasis notice a significant change in the symptoms and in the resulting disability from this condition. Symptoms like disabling cough and large amount of expectoration reduce significantly, and affected individuals experience an improvement in overall health and notice a definite feeling of well-being. The frequency of lung infections comes down significantly and the patient notices definite improvement in overall quality of life.

Most individuals affected with bronchiectasis require Ayurvedic treatment for about four to eight months in order to benefit significantly from treatment. Depending upon the severity of symptoms and associated medical conditions, treatment needs to be tailor-made according to the presentation of symptoms in each individual. Individualized treatment gives maximum positive results and long-term improvement in this condition, which usually does not have a clear-cut treatment in the modern system of medicine. Most individuals can stop treatment after this period and can carry on life at a normal pace, provided they take precautions to avoid infections and precipitate further lung damage. Some individuals may require booster doses of treatment ranging from 2 to 3 months in the following year or two, usually at the commencement of winter. Overall, the majority of patients affected with bronchiectasis experience a dramatic change in life after completing the prescribed course of Ayurvedic treatment.

Monday, March 12, 2012

Ayurvedic Herbal Treatment for Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy relates to a group of neurological disorders involving a disturbed muscular coordination and movement. This condition results from brain damage occurring in the first few months or years of life, brain infections such as bacterial meningitis or viral encephalitis, and head injury. The symptoms of this condition include uncoordinated muscular movements known as ataxia, rigid muscles, exaggerated reflexes, foot drop, walking on the toes, a crouched or scissored gait, and muscle tone which can be either stiff or floppy. There is no medicine for this condition in the modern system of medicine; physiotherapy is given to improve or maintain muscular tone and coordination.

Brain damage occurring in cerebral palsy may also cause mental retardation and an inability to speak properly, coupled with a limited vocabulary. Ayurvedic treatment for cerebral palsy is therefore aimed at improving both physical and neurological functioning as well as treating mental retardation and symptoms related to dysfunctional cognition and speech. It is important to commence treatment at the earliest possible in order to obtain maximum results from Ayurvedic treatment.

Treatment for cerebral palsy is focused on reversing the brain damage and improving the health of brain cells to the maximum extent possible. Treatment also involves improving the chemical neurotransmission from the brain through the spinal chord and up to the peripheral muscles. Muscular tone and strength also needs to be improved while simultaneously reducing spasticity and muscle floppiness. The main focus is on Ayurvedic herbal medicines which are known to improve and strengthen the nervous system both structurally as well as functionally. The main treatment is in the form of oral medication which needs to be continued for at least 18 to 24 months in order to provide the maximum possible therapeutic benefit to affected individuals. Herbal medicines are used since these have a very wide safety margin and can be used for prolonged periods without any serious adverse effects.

Oral medication is also supplemented by localized therapy in the form of different types of Panchkarma treatments. These include specific treatments for the brain as well as massage therapy for the entire body. Specialized treatments known as Shiro-Basti and Shiro-Dhara are used to strengthen the brain, while different massage therapies using different types of medicated oils are used to strengthen muscles as well as provide stimulation to the peripheral nerves. Graded physiotherapy can also be given simultaneously in order to provide a comprehensive treatment plan for affected individuals.

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

How Take Care of Aspirin Allergy With Medical ID Jewelry?

There are many millions affected by aspirin allergy and general Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug allergy. Remember, there is a way to deal with it. You need to take all of the necessary precautions and wear Medical ID Jewelry in order to ensure that you are not accidentally given a potentially deadly dose of the drug by emergency personnel.

Aspirin is a Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug first discovered from the bark of the willow tree. It has been proven to help reduce pain and inflammation in patients, and is now synthetically manufactured and distributed in generic form, prescription form, and over-the-counter form. The most well-known over-the-counter brand of aspirin is Bayer Aspirin.

Aspirin allergy affects approximately one percent of the general population, and is prevalent at a ten- percent rate among patients who have asthma. Thus, allergies to Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug such as Bayer Aspirin and other brands of this painkiller are relatively common. Make sure you avoid the drug. This does not mean you need to suffer. You can take acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) when in need of a painkiller or anti-inflammatory.

If you have an allergy to Aspirin, then it is very important that you wear a piece of Medical ID jewelry.

How Do I Know if I have an Aspirin Allergy?

The symptoms of aspirin allergy are quite simple to identify, so you shouldn't need medical tests to determine if you are a sufferer. The most common symptoms are skin conditions, such as the formation of hives or a general swelling in an area of the skin.

Other more serious symptoms include respiratory symptoms, such as rhinitis and asthma symptoms, and, in rare cases, anaphylaxis. If you have taken Bayer aspirin or any other type of aspirin-related Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, and experienced any of these symptoms, then you may have an allergy to Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and should avoid them completely.

Because aspirin allergy isn't a traditional allergy, you cannot determine if you have the allergy through traditional allergy testing. In fact, an allergy to Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug is not an allergy at all, but rather intolerance to the substance. When someone with this condition consumes aspirin, the body actually has a small overdose due to the fact that it cannot metabolize even the smallest doses of the substance.

What Steps Should I Take to Stay Safe?

After one bad encounter with an aspirin allergy, you will probably become aware of your condition. Aspirin is easy to avoid as long as you are aware of which medications contain the drug, such as Bayer aspirin and other generic brands.

However, you may not be able to inform if you are rendered unconscious and become unable to inform medical personnel of your condition. Hence, it's absolutely crucial that you keep some kind of medical ID jewelry on your person at all times. One of the easiest ways to do this is to purchase customized medical ID jewelry and wear it at all times. This way, you can guarantee that emergency medical personnel will not accidentally give you a potentially fatal dose of aspirin or any other Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. Medical ID jewelry are reasonably priced, stylish, and completely customizable based on your various conditions and allergies.

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

How To Grow Taller Using Simple Stretching Techniques?

There are many people who are very unhappy with their current height. Have you ever wished you were a few more inches taller? Have you ever wondered if it were possible to grow taller after puberty? Do you want to know if its possible to grow taller by doing certain exercises? If you have ever asked any of these question you must read this article and you will definitely find the answer.

Exercises to increase your height has been proven countless time to add a few more inches to anyone's stature. By doing the proper stretching exercises it's possible for you to increase your height even if you haven't grown in ages!

When you start your exercise routine for the purpose of growing taller you must keep in mind that it takes focus and consistent determination to see any results. The greatest exercise to do to increase your height is stretching exercises. You should do stretching exercises at least three times a week for as long as possible and be determined not to give up until you see results.

When you start your exercise program you must always warm your muscles up to prevent injury. All exercises should be done moderately at the beginning and you should not force yourself because this can strain muscles which will prevent you from reaching your goal. By doing simple exercises you can be sure to see good results in a short period of time.

The first exercise we will look at is what is known as the cobra. To do this exercise lay on your stomach with your elbows tucked in at your side. Put your hands under your shoulders and push your feet to the floor.

Lift your head upward as if trying to look at the ceiling and push your body up slowly. Try to push your body up by straighten your arms and arching your back. This simple exercise should be repeated at least 10 times, but if you can't do your best and work up to 10.

The next stretch is the called the deep chest and backstretch. This exercise is simple but very effective. To do this stand facing the wall and put you feet together. Place your hands flat on the wall and take a deep breath and then blow out. As you exhale you must lower your chest by bending from your hips. You should do this exercise everyday because its simple and it will produce good results.

These are some simple and easy exercises that anyone could do from the comfort of their own home. By being consistent and staying dedicated you will be on the right path of shooting up in height!