Lemon As a Home Remedy for Pimples

If you are worried stiff about those wretched pimples on your face and fed up with the costly but useless treatments that are available in the market, it is high time that you started using lemon. With its acidic and bleaching properties, lemon can easily be your cheapest way out of the problem of pimples. The main reasons why lemon is one of the most effective home remedies for pimples are listed below.

Oil removing property: The primary factor that makes lemon juice the most effective way to drive out pimples is its oil removing property. The citric acid in lemon clears away all the unnecessary oil that clogs under the skin and creates pimples.
Property of exfoliation: The other factor is that lemon has the property of exfoliation. In other words, it eradicates all the old dead skin that gets accumulated on the skin's surface. This dead skin is one of the root causes in the formation of pimples.
Skin whitening property: Lemon extract also acts as a skin whitener or a bleacher and thus cures the red color that often makes pimples conspicuous.
Easy availability: Along with the above-said properties, the fact that lemon is easily available and does not cost much, when compared to all those popular cosmetics and skin treatment modes, makes lemon one of the best home remedies for pimples.

There are different ways in which lemon can be used as a home remedy for pimples. Lime juice can be applied on facial skin as it is or it can be mixed with other substances that are readily available at home. Following are a few methods of using lemon for removing pimples.

• Concentrated lemon extract: Lemon juice can be directly applied on the facial skin to remove pimples. However, you should be careful to apply the juice only on the pimple because the strong bleaching element might make the surrounding skin look whiter than usual if the juice spreads out. It is best to use a cotton swab to apply the concentrated lemon juice on the pimple. You should properly wash and clean your face, possibly with a skin cleanser, before applying the juice.
• Lemon and honey: The oil removing properties and exfoliation of lemon are most effective in combination with some natural moisturizer. Natural honey is a great moisturizer that can soothe the skin which might become too dry due to the application of lemon juice.
• Lemon with rosewater: Just like using the combination of lemon juice with honey, a mixture of lemon juice and rosewater can be just perfect in treating pimples. Rosewater is known for its anti-inflammatory and astringent properties. It is also an excellent skin cleanser.
• Lemon with egg white: Egg white can act as a great skin conditioner and therefore is perfect in combination with lemon juice for treating pimples.

The best suited proportion for the aforementioned combinations would be half a portion of lemon and one tablespoon of honey, rosewater or egg white. Using lemon juice in any of these methods for 10 to 20 minutes everyday for a period of three to five weeks can definitely bring positive results for your pimples problem.

Symptoms Of A Kidney Stone

The signs and symptoms of kidney stones are very noticeable. Millions of adults deal with the often unbearable symptoms. The kidney is a very sensitive organ.

When something solid and possibly rough is lodged in the kidney there is going to be an undeniable pain that can cause nausea.

There are three common symptoms that are from kidney stones.

- Lower back pain is the first symptom.

- Nausea is the second symptom.

- Fever is the third symptom.

These three symptoms show a clear sign of having the stones. Once the stones are diagnosed you will begin treating the stones which is most often done from home.

Treating Kidney Stones

If the stone is too large to pass through and out of the bladder a surgical procedure is needed. There are two surgical procedures to treat the large stones.

The first surgery is known as extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy. This treatment will break the stones into pieces small enough to pass through the bladder.
The second surgery consists of the doctor going into the kidneys and removing them himself.

Most often the stone is small enough to pass on its own. If this is the case treatment will likely happen from home. Treatment from home consists of drinking a ton of water as well eating a healthier diet and staying hydrated.

If the nausea becomes too much to handle the doctor may prescribe medication to help manage. Vomiting and having the chills is common and normal when having kidney stones.

There is more than one type of kidney stone.The two most common are the oxalate stones and the uric acid stones.

Oxalate Stone - This stone is caused by either a high level of oxalate intake and not enough water or a deficiency in calcium which raises the level of oxalate in the blood resulting in the same outcome.

Uric acid Stone - When high levels of animal protein is in the diet, the stone will most likely be formed.

Remember by drinking water as much as possible you are allowing your kidneys to flush any toxins or minerals out decreasing the chances of a stone forming.

Symptoms seem to creep up on a person but when they do you will instantly know it. With the sharp pain you will be seeking treatment instantly. It is important to prevent the stones once they have passed out of your system.

Natural Home Remedy For Itchy Scalp Conditions

Yes it can be extremely annoying and embarrassing having a scalp condition like dandruff, eczema, scalp infections or a nasty itchy red rash on your scalp.

If you are suffering from:

itchy scalp, sore scalp or do you have a flaky dry scalp with redness and rashes that drive you crazy?

scalp picking - do you constantly find yourself picking at & scratching?

oily scalp and limp hair leaving you feeling less than your best

embarrassing dandruff falling on your clothes

or even a fungal infection of your scalp...that can lead to lesions or scalp sores.

Hair falling out & patches on your scalp

Your instinct might be to pick up a product from the store shelf or your doctor. Most of these scalp treatments that promise relief from dry scalp conditions sound very attractive until you start reading the fine print.

Sodium Laureth/Lauryl Sulphate (SLS)? What's that? Why do you have to call a Poison Control Center if you accidentally swallow shampoo? And what are those warning labels on the back all about? What does it do to your head if it's that toxic?

Stop! What you must know is that several chemicals, especially SLS, strip the natural oils from the skin and even corrode it, along with your eye membranes. Have you also noticed that your hair has been thinning? Well hair follicle damage is another little known but very common symptom of these chemicals.

Actually, most commercial shampoos & scalp treatments are designed to meet people's "sensory" expectations...offering instant gratification and the illusion that they are doing their job. So therein lies the problem. For example adding silicone to conditioner induces an artificial shine but in truth can create problems long term including sensitivities.

Most people expect a shampoo to:

Foam up nicely

Smell good

Take all the so-called "nasty" oiliness out of their hair

Make their hair feel squeaky-clean

And that's a reasonable ask - think about it...if your shampoo didn't foam up, smell good, or leave your hair feeling squeaky-clean, would you trust it? Well, here's the thing: 90% of commercial shampoos achieve the foaming effect using the equivalent of engine degreasers to strip off not only dirt and grime but also valuable natural oils that your scalp needs.

Yes --your scalp needs natural oils. Without them, your body has no natural defence - those oils are there for a reason! Your scalp needs to maintain a natural PH balance that if disturbed - can develop into a dry, itchy irritated scalp. The good news is that there are many natural remedies you can use with moisturising oils and natural powerful alternatives to heal & reverse any scalp problem by restoring balance safely. You can easily repair follicle and damage - even boost hair growth and use your own home remedy for scalp cell regeneration. There are also the artificial aromas that are added - its alarming the huge percentage of people who are mildly to severely averse or allergic to artificial scents - resulting in itchy scalp, skin rashes etc and we don't even know it.

So what non toxic itchy scalp treatments and natural remedies can help? Well there are many non toxic shampoos which are nourishing and conditioning while still giving you're the "foam effect", they smell devine with the addition of the natural oils they contain. So you do have a choice and it does NOT have to cost you more - in fact most of them are less - you just have to know what to look for.

So lets have a look at natural oils for treating your scalp...

Here are some of my favorite natural oils you can use for hair & scalp treatments.

Zinc Pyrithione: Wonderful stuff for dandruff & itchy scalp conditions. First synthesized in the 1930's, this is the most widely used active ingredient from a natural source. It's used to treat dandruff, seborrheic dermatitus, psoriasis, eczema and numerous other skin and scalp disorders. It has strong anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties.

Jojoba: Is excellent as a scalp moisturiser and helps to rebalance sebum.

Tea Tree: Oily hair ... Treatment for dry scalp, dandruff, lice, and underactive sebaceous glands, enlivens the scalp and brings the cells & follicles to attention

Basil: Oily hair ... promotes growth

Chamomile: Fine to normal hair ... gives golden highlights

Clary sage: All types of hair ... dandruff treatment

Lavender: Normal hair ... Scalp treatment for itchiness, dandruff, and even lice!

Lemon: Oily hair ... Gives golden highlights; treatment for dry scalp, dandruff, lice, and underactive sebaceous glands

Myrrh: Dry hair ... Treatment for dry scalp, dandruff, lice, and underactive sebaceous glands

Patchouli: Oily hair ... Dandruff treatment

Peppermint: Dry hair ... Promotes hair growth

Rose: Fine hair ... Soothes scalp

Unrefined Virgin Coconut Oil: Itchy Scalp, Dry Scalp Excellent for itchy scalp, dry scalp and dandruff

Rosemary: Oily hair ... Dandruff treatment; promotes hair growth

Tea tree: Oily hair ... Treatment for dry scalp, dandruff, lice, and underactive sebaceous glands

Ylang-ylang: Oily hair ... Dandruff treatment

Neem: ... a wonder oil from India. Neem is amazing for all of the wonderful "stuff" it does. It's also derived from a type of tree bark. Neem is an effective fungicide and insecticide (great for head lice when used with geranium, rosemary, lavender and eucalyptus oils). In clinical studies Neem extracts and oil were found to be as effective as coal tar and cortisone in treating psoriasis with none of the usual side effects accompanying the use of Neem as there was with Coal tar and cortisone. Neem extracts and oil removes redness and itching when applied directly to your scalp...and it's a great skin conditioner. Best of all its excellent for relieving itching fast.

The best part of knowing that there are alternatives is that you can have mix these into super powerful blends like a super moisture boosting home remedy for dry scalp, or soothing itchy scalp treatments. Dry itchy scalp can be dealt with fast and permanently without spending a ton on traditional scalp med products.

Here's just one easy remedy you can make today:

Home remedy for dry itchy scalp Take ¼ c oatmeal and soak in water for 20 mins. Mix well and then strain the liquid adding it to a cup. Add 5 drops lavender oil (or lavender stalks steeped in ¼ cup hot water. Add 5 drops rosemary (or rosemary stalks steeped in ¼ cup hot water. Allow to cool until tepid.

Mix the liquids together and dab on your scalp...leave in for 10 mins to soothe the itch. This a good temporary soother for itching. Chamomile tea is also soothing!

There are hundreds of ideas that are excellent scalp treatments from dandruff to scalp infections like scalp sores & psoriasis. These remedies combined with the knowledge of what causes itchy scalp and other scalp conditions will enable you to be free from itching, dryness and allow you to grow fabulously thick, shiny beautiful hair also.....so have fun experimenting and "luxuriating" by giving your hair a treat using the many natural gifts from nature that are right under our noses! There are also many natural shampoos that so not use these ingredients and do wonders for your hair such as Akin shampoo, and Thursday Plantation which is fantastic as an effective anti-dandruff shampoo.

I have included a few more remedies and uses for oils below. There are many many more in "Beautiful Hair & Healthy Scalp Secrets & Remedies " and a list of shampoos that are not toxic. They are nourishing & repairing for your scalp & hair.

SOOTHING & HEALING ANTIFLAMMATORY REMEDY: Apply a mixture of 1 teaspoon of Neem oil (antifungal & antiitching) 1 teaspoon Teatree or Manuka (also antifungal) which much stronger than teatree, one teaspoon of Rosemary oil and one teaspoon of Lavender oil together in 3 tablespoons of carrier oils such as Olive or Almond oil (Wheatgerm and Macadamia carrier oils closely match your natural sebum) and apply to your scalp daily.

Alternatively add the oils together minus the olive/almond oil to one cup if water in spray bottle and shake vigorously then spray on your roots. If you can get a teaspoon of hemp oil add that to the mix as well.

GARDEN REMEDY: Go to your garden and get 3 sprigs of Rosemary, and chop up and add to 3 tea bags of Chamomile tea. Boil gently, let cool, strain and rinse your hair with this liquid for a calming antiflammatory effect.

As with all remedies please patch test first and use at your own risk. And but only non toxic shampoos without ingredients that cause your head to react, flake itch and burn....plus more remedies in "Beautiful Hair & Healthy Scalp Secrets & Remedies "

Heres a little about the oils above which can be mixed to create various formulas to treat different conditions and add condition to your hair found in my eBook "Beautiful Hair & Healthy Scalp Secrets & Remedies ".

Neem Oil: Derived from a type of tree bark it is an effective fungicide and insecticide (great for head lice when used with geranium, rosemary, lavender and eucalyptus oils). It has a very strong odor which can overpower other fragrances but its effectiveness is proven:

In clinical studies Neem extracts and oil were found to be as effective as coal tar and cortisone in treating psoriasis with none of the usual side effects accompanying the use of Neem as there was with Coal tar and cortisone.

When applied to the skin, Neem extracts and oil removes redness and itching while improving the condition of the skin while being treated. In the case of eczema clinical studies demonstrate that even the application of weaker Neem leaf extracts effectively cured acute conditions of eczema with the fresh cold pressed oil with its high concentration of active ingredients.

Neem effectively kills the bacteria that cause Acne and studies prove that Neem will reduce inflammation caused by acne and other bacterial infections.

Its also good for other skin conditions such as Dry Skin, Wrinkles, Dandruff, Itchy Scalp, Skin Ulcers and Warts which can be effectively remedied with soaps and other products containing Neem oil.

Lavender Oil: Lavender is known for its calming properties both emotional and physical. There are different varieties of lavender and certain ones are favored more than others for medicinal treatments. Lavender is effective to soothe itching from skin and sore scalp inflammations such as burning red itchy scalp, and dandruff to insect bites as well as having a powerful calming effect to treat scalp itching and irritated scalp as well as relax you and help you nod off to sleep.

In one study of 86 people with alopecia areata (a disease of unknown cause characterized by significant hair loss, generally in patches), those who massaged their scalps with lavender and other essential oils daily for 7 months experienced significant hair re-growth compared to those who massaged their scalps without the essential oils. It is not entirely clear from this study whether lavender (or a combination of lavender and other essential oils) was responsible for the beneficial effects. Scalp massage is also highly beneficial to stimulate follicles and blood supply to the skin's surface.

Aromatherapists also use lavender as a tonic in inhalation therapy to treat headaches, nervous disorders, and exhaustion. Herbalists treat skin ailments, such as fungal infections (like candidiasis), dandruff, eczema of the scalp, wounds, scalp acne, with lavender oil. It is also used externally in a healing bath for circulatory disorders and as a rub for rheumatic ailments (conditions affecting the muscles and joints).

Tea Tree Oil: One of the strongest known natural antiseptics. Also has punative skin penetrating capacity as an anti-inflamatory, anti-bacterial, germicide and fungicide. The scientific name for it is Melaleuca Alternifolia.

Rosemary Oil: Rosemary oil has a pronounced action on the brain and the central nervous system and is wonderful for clearing the mind and mental awareness, while having excellent brain stimulant properties, as well as improving memory.

It helps with headaches, migraines, neuralgia, mental fatigue and nervous exhaustion and the antiseptic action of rosemary oil is especially suitable for intestinal infections and diarrhea, easing colitis, dyspepsia, flatulence, hepatic disorders and jaundice and relieving pain associated with itchy flaky scalp, rheumatism, arthritis, muscular pain and gout. It also helps for arteriosclerosis, palpitations, poor circulation and varicose veins.

The diuretic properties of rosemary oil are useful with reducing water retention during menstruation, and also with obesity and cellulite.

On the respiratory system, it is effective for asthma, bronchitis, catarrh, sinus and whooping cough. Because of its astringent action, it is also effective for countering sagging skin. Its stimulating action benefits scalp disorders and encourages hair growth.

On the skin, it helps to ease congestion, puffiness and swelling and can also be used for acne, dry inflamed scalp, dermatitis and eczema, but a very popular use of this oil is the use in hair care products, as it has a pronounced positive effect on the health of the hair and scalp. It increases the circulation to the scalpand is therefore also effective for promoting hair growth after having conditions such as dandruff or scalp sores causing hair loss, scalp itching and scratching.

Rosemary oil is effective for mental fatigue, circulation problems, pain relief for the muscular system, decongests the respiratory tract and is a skin and hair booster.

img: speedyreemedies.com

3 Natural Remedies for Uric Acid

Here you'll discover 3 natural remedies for uric acid reduction. It's important to reduce or neutralize uric acid if you're suffering or suffer from gout, because your gout is caused by uric acid crystals that have been deposited in your joints. These needle-like crystals are what cause the redness, swelling, inflammation, heat and excruciating pain of your gout.

When gout has been confirmed by you doctor he / she will usually prescribe drug-based medications such as colchicines, etc. And these can relieve your symptoms in time. But they are addressing the symptoms (not necessarily the root cause) and they have several unfortunate side effects. As a result many more gout sufferers are turning to natural remedies for uric acid, remedies that can reduce uric acid levels and so provide gout relief.

There are many natural remedies for gout that you can utilise: things like herbal treatments, dietary changes, physical therapies such as natural poultices, etc. To help you, here are 3 popular and effective natural remedies that you can try...

Cherries. Cherries have anti-oxident and anti-inflammatory powers. They are very effective natural cures for gout. Take a cupful of cherries with every meal.

Fruit and Vegetables. Consume your 5 helpings of fresh vegetables and fruit per day to help flush uric acid out of your system. Avoid cauliflower, asparagus and mushrooms though, because they can make things worse.

Diet. An important aspect of any natural gout remedy is your diet. You need to avoid foods high in purines: sweetbreads, anchovies, sardines, liver, kidneys, brains, meat extracts, game, gravy, mackerel, herring, scallops, beef, pork, poultry, shellfish, fish, mushrooms, spinach, cauliflower, asparagus, beans, peas, lentils, oatmeal, wheat germ, wheat bran.

But, as well as getting fast relief from your pain, you have to make sure that you prevent your gout returning. Recurring gout can cause permanent joint damage. It can also cause things like agonising kidney stones.

You can find out exactly how to do this with an easy, step-by-step natural gout remedy report that thousands of ex-gout victims around the world have successfully used. And it doesn't matter if you have gout toe, ankle or knee etc., this report has everything covered.

Make Your Own Flax Seed Hair Gel Using 8 Simple Steps

The things you will need are golden flax seeds, a small non-stick pot, an ankle stocking, a glass jar, a bowl, a regular coffee or beverage mug and distilled water.
Here are the steps:

1 - Put the stocking over the glass jar like it is a strainer or sieve. You will pour the hot gel in there later. And the stocking will strain away the flax seeds.

2 - Put 5 tablespoons of golden flax seeds into the small, non-stick pot.

3 - Pour about 1 and 3/4 mug of distilled water into the pot.

4 - Put the pot of flax seeds and water on to the stove to boil. Once the water boils, turn the fire to medium or small. Gently keep stirring as you boil so that the seeds do not clump together or stick to the bottom of the pot.

5 - In a few minutes you will see the liquid thicken in the pot - it looks like starch. From time to time, scoop up some liquid to check the texture. Is this how you like your gel to be? How 'starchy' do you want your gel to be? Keep stirring and checking. Once you get the gel texture you like, turn off the fire.

6 - While the gel is hot, pour it into the jar with the stocking. Then, for easier cleaning up later, fill the pot with water and leave it to soak.

7 - Now you will see the gel 'flow' into the jar - easily - and the flax seeds remain in the stocking.

8 - Lift the lump of flax seeds up. You may want to use a spoon to scrape off some of the gel into the jar. Then just throw the whole lump of seeds away.

Otherwise, if you are a fun-loving mum like me, you may put this lump into a bowl to let it cool. Then give this lump to your kids to 'mess with' - my kids love this slimy stuff!

For scent and moisturizer (optional), you may add stuff like lavender essential oil, rosemary oil, honey, Aloe Vera gel or juice. Then mix well. All these add-on ingredients are really up to your personal tastes, hair texture, hair volume, hair length and the occasion. You also need to avoid ingredients you or your skin are sensitive or allergic to.

Some people may add something like guar gum to give the gel more 'weight' to define curly hair. And some may also add preservative. Otherwise, this gel can be kept in small portions in the freezer. Whenever you need, just take out one of the small portions, thaw it and it is good to go.

To apply, 'crunch' the gel using your fingers and apply the gel to your hair. A wide tooth comb comes in handy too.

As a mother, I make my own hair stuff because I know the stuff I make is safe for my kids too. Making your own natural hair recipes are fun and I love sharing these fun times with my kids.

The above basic flax seed hair gel recipe makes a good jump-start. You can then explore and fine tune to your liking. If you want to see the picture recipe, hop over to my site.

Natural Hair Growth Stimulator

There is a relation to hair loss and the presence of calcium in the pores of the skin (scalp area). Numerous reports on some of the causes of hair loss, mention that calcium in the pores of the skin is causing new hair to fall out.

My doctor, (with whom I spent a considerable amount of time studying the causes of hair loss), explained that the para-thyroid gland is partly responsible for the absorption and utilization of calcium in the body. For various reasons (too detailed to mention in this article), the para-thyroid gland becomes overactive and releases calcium through the pores of the skin. The calcium 'eats up' the new hair as it pushes through the pores of the skin on the scalp before it even has a chance to grow. Sometimes hair may gain a little length, but eventually the root of the new hair is "broken down" by the calcium and falls out. When this happens over a large area of the scalp, hair starts to thin out.

FlaxSeed Oil

Using flaxseed oil as one of the natural hair growth remedies to stimulate faster hair growth. Sometimes, hair does not grow because there is a problem in the circulation in your scalp. To treat this problem, you should apply flaxseed oil on your scalp and massage it on your scalp for 3 minutes or so. Leave it for 30 minutes to let your scalp absorb the flaxseed oil. Rinse and wash your hair afterwards.

Nutritionists offer scientific research supported reports, indicating that omega three fatty acids promote bone health. This surely indicates improved calcium absorption in the body.

Further research claims reveal that there are tremendous improvements in joint health, as well as a reduction in arthritis complaints. Both of these conditions are relative to calcium displacement. These symptoms are indications of a calcium imbalance in the body and appear to be a common complaint.

Flax Seed Oil supplemented in the diet supports healthy skin. Eczema, Psoriasis and Dandruff are skin disorders related to calcium present in the skin. Flax Seed has been proven to help alleviate these symptoms dramatically, and within a very short period of time. Healthy skin relates to healthy hair.

Improving calcium absorption alleviates the presence of calcium in the pores of the skin, and allowing the hair to complete its' intended life span. The cycle of hair growth and normal cell activity should resume. Hair will grow with added strength and shine.

Should you be struggling with hair loss, a good intake of two or three Flax Seed Oil capsules daily may improve hair growth. Use a good hair loss product as sufficient progress reports have proven that there are formulas effective in removing calcium from the pores. One should see some exciting results within a minimum of six weeks. New hair is reported to have been seen in as little as three weeks.

Foods for Strong Bones

How we manage to climb down the stairs so fast in order to catch that train or go up the stairs to avoid the ticket collector, equally fast? We do it all, with the help of our bones! The very bones that tend to give us growth pains during our childhood and osteoporosis in our old age.

Bones:

Bones form the basis of our skeletal system, protect our vital organs and define our body shape and size i.e frame. The bones found in our body are alive just like us; they keep on growing, changing in shape, size as we grow old, in fact our height and weight depends on our bones. We have 206 bones in our body, with the spine being made up of 26 bones alone!

Bones contain bone tissue and marrow, and are made up of calcium, phosphorous, sodium and other such minerals, they are primarily responsible for our movement, production of red and white blood cells, fat storage, and protection of our vital organs and so on. In short bones are one of the most integral parts of the human body.

If bones are alive, do they need food?

Any organism that is alive, needs food for fuel purpose so that it can generate the required energy to perform functions vital for its survival. Food is needed so that we have the energy or efficiency to perform our bodily actions such as walking, sleeping, running, breathing etc. Plus with constant use, these bones gradually degenerate and can become brittle and even break with ease. To maintain healthy and strong bones, it is necessary that we provide proper nutrition to them, following is a list of foods that will help us maintain good healthy and strong bones,

Milk: 99% of the body's calcium reserves can be found in our bones and teeth and as calcium is an integral part of our bones make-up, we need to provide ample calcium to our bones for them to remain healthy. Since Milk is one of the richest natural sources of calcium i.e one full glass of milk contains about 300 mg of calcium.

Adults need about 1000 mg of calcium per day which roughly translates to around 3 full glasses of milk a day, whereas kids in the age group of 4-19 years need about 800-1300 mg of calcium per day which translates to around 3-4 glasses of milk per day, if they are to develop and maintain healthy bones as adults.

Nuts and Seeds: Almonds, pistachios and walnuts are packed with calcium and vitamin D which two important components when it comes to keeping our bones healthy and strong. Plus these serve as excellent munchies or snacks, as they can be eaten anytime and anywhere. Adults are recommended to consume at least at least 1-2 servings of nuts where 1 serving equals a 1/3rd of a cup, for healthy bones.

However one shouldn't go over the board with the consumption of nuts and seeds as they also contain a high level of cholesterols which can lead to clogging up of arteries in the long run.


Yogurt and Cheese: Dairy products often come packed with calcium and vitamin D, proteins and other vitamins that are needed by the body for the upkeep of our bones. A full cup of yogurt has almost the same amount of calcium as Milk, however it doesn't contain as much as vitamin D as milk.

Coming to cheese, not only does it taste good but also comes packed with Calcium, and for those who are lactose intolerant there's no need to miss out as these days there are plenty of yogurt and cheese varieties available that are lactose free or with a reduced lactose count!

Research has pointed out that removing lactose content from the milk does not affect its calcium content.

Pumpkin and sunflower seeds: Bones don't just need Calcium for their up keep, in fact too much of calcium can make them brittle and put them at the risk of fractures! It is better to balance calcium out with other elements and vitamins. Pumpkin seeds are one of the richest natural sources of magnesium in fact consuming a 1/4th cup of these seeds daily will mean that you have consumed about 185 mg of magnesium. Similarly sunflower seeds are also rich in magnesium with a mere 100 gms containing about 420 mg of magnesium.

Back Pain Relief Remedies

Can't you even touch your toes without feeling a pain in your back? This sudden back ache could mean many things, and it can also disturb your life. This kind of pain is commonly faced by office goers, bikers, and those who don't exercise regularly. Before you start seeking pain treatments, remember that back pain is a symptom like other aches. When you feel the pain, it means that something in not right with your body parts. Your back is an important part of body, and ignoring pain is not a good idea. The article has an interesting selection of back pain relief treatments to shrink your pain. Time to say goodbye to all back aches!

Back pain can be debilitating for every person, especially for people who are overweight. Being overweight places extra pressure on the back and results in severe pain. One of the best things you can do to relieve your pain is to lose some extra weight. Besides, also be aware that whether you are sitting at a desk or engaging in any activity, you keep an upright body posture to prevent further stress on your back. If you will not be aware of small things, the pain can affect every phase of your life. Only awareness of mind towards remedies can bring the biggest changes and lasting results.

Instead of trying any pain killers that have the prospective to cause damage to your liver and kidney, it is better choosing natural remedies to alleviate the pain. Additionally, you should move properly throughout your day to shun movements that will intensify your back pain. Resting with raised knees, using good back support, practicing good body posture, etc can eliminate a lot of back pain.

Here are some home back pain remedies

Most back pain goes away within some days, but again arises because you have not treated the pain from its root. To ease discomfort, home remedies also work effectively.

-> Exercise: Walking, stretching, swimming, and other gentle exercises can help you recover the pain easily. You must consult with a quality therapist to make sure you are not overdoing any of these exercises.

-> Drinking plenty of water: You may be surprised to know that just drinking several glasses of water in a day may work wonders to ease all of your soreness, including back pain.

-> Heat and ice: Applying cold packs to numb the pain and reduce swelling is the cost-effective way of getting relief from severe pain. Use them for at least 20 minutes, many times in a day, and constantly for 2-3 days. After that, warm baths or using a heating pad can ease the discomfort of pain.

-> Follow online pain relief program: You may also get relief from online exercise programs, DVD's, E: book, email coaching, free 12 months subscription to the monthly newsletter, free health related articles, recipes and pain relief tips. Take advice from professional and maintain a program of exercise. This can clear up your pain and keep it away from returning in the future.

Conclusion:
Follow these natural back pain treatments and get you back in a normal position to catch up with your daily activities.

By Eric Mark Francis

How to Cook Safely With a Microwave Oven

Man's usage of the microwave oven has skyrocketed in greater proportions nowadays. This is because of its convenience and efficiency. Microwave cooking uses lesser energy and saves more time in heating compared to other conventional methods. In this write up, we will give you the very details behind this cook-in-a-flash ubiquitous appliance called the microwave.

What is microwave cooking? The answer is quite self-explanatory. From the words microwave and cooking, food is cooked using the microwaves, a form of radio waves. This microwave radiation usually heats food at a frequency of 2.45 Gigahertz. Food is cooked through dielectric heating. In this process, water molecules from the food take in the energy from the microwaves hence heating up the outer surface first. The inner parts are warmed as heat travels from the outer surface to the inner layers. Hence, food is being cooked from outside to inside.

As you can see, there is a list of things to observe and to avoid in microwave cooking. These instructions ensure food safety and quality. Here are a few of the useful tips when heating food with the microwave:

• Do cook lean and thinly-sliced meats. Don't cook big chunks of meat because microwaves can only heat food with an inward depth of an inch. Microwaves may not heat thick meats evenly hence leaving raw or cold spots. Cold spots are viable mediums for bacteria to grow.
• Do cook foods that are water-based. Do not cook oil in a microwave oven because oil lacks the polarity found in water, which is used in heating up foods.
• Do use ceramics or glass containers when cooking food. Do not cook foods in a plastic container because plastic when heated releases Bisphenol A. This toxin may cause neurological damages to humans.
• Do heat water in a microwave oven for a minimum span of time. Do not boil water for too long to avoid possible explosions. When water is superheated, even a little movement may cause the water to release heat violently through erupting out of the cup.
• Do use a wooden spoon or any smooth metal object when heating food in a microwave oven. Don't use utensils with pointed ends such as forks. The tines of a metallic fork may produce electric charges or sparks at the tips.

The microwave is indeed one of the greatest inventions in these modern times. What started as an unintentional discovery by an engineer is now used a vital appliance for cooking by many. Microwave cooking is easy, practical and time-saving. With the help of microwaves and dielectric heating, foods are cooked inside the microwave oven. Truly, learning these facts on microwave cooking gave us a deeper understanding what this common cuboidal appliance does.

By Aria Spencer

3 Health Benefits of Sweet and Juicy Pineapple

Also known as: Nanas, meaning "excellent fruit", Pine of the Indies

Likes: Tropical climates

Dislikes: Cold weather, ending up stuck as a table centerpiece

Hobbies: Welcoming home travelers, being the life of the party from fruit trays to wine in some areas

Find her: Adorning traditional dishes like ham, juiced for a sweet treat, livening up salsa, adding a surprisingly fresh and festive flavor to fish

Pineapple is one tempting, tropical beauty. She is all juicy nutrition and golden curves to entice you to savor a little more fruit in your diet. Quite frankly, who wouldn't want to welcome her to the meal? She is always on the lookout for the next dish to sweeten up, and she doesn't just stop at dessert. She adorns crisp salads, adds a fresh and unexpected sweetness to fish and meat and can help cool the spice of chili in sauces and salsas.

This sweet girl can be a simple and tasty snack, but she is more complex than you might expect. She's actually made up of a mass of individual berries combined together into one. This helps explain some of the extra work you may have to put in if you buy her whole instead of pre-cut. Don't let that scare you off though; a few simple tips and techniques to choose and prepare Pineapple can go a long way.

Pineapple is a world traveler these days, but she originally hales from South America. It was there that the famous explorer, Christopher Columbus, succumbed to her charms and decided to take her home to Spain and beyond. She eventually made her way to Hawaii, where she launched empires starting at the turn of the 20th Century. While she still has a place in her heart for the Aloha State, she is now grown around the world, from Thailand to Brazil and the Philippines, and she has become a symbol of welcome in many of them.

In addition to her sweetness, here are a few of Pineapple's key vitamins and minerals that make her a must for your plate:

Manganese - plays a role in a healthy metabolism, among other things

Bromelain - may help reduce inflammation

Vitamin C - boosts the immune system and may play a role in preventing dementia. Pineapple and her citrus friends are always ready to help you battle that cold or flu!

Add Pineapple to your next meal for her health benefits or just a juicy taste of the tropics.

By Sara Lucero

Signs and Symptoms of Brain Tumor

In 2012, 13,700 people died from brain or nervous system cancer and there were 22,910 new cases reported - that's just one year. So many people are impacted by cancer whether as a patient or a relative or friend of a patient; because of this, people are always concerned that they will become one of those statistics.

So what do you need to know?

Let's start with what a tumor actually is. Basically, tumors are abnormal cells that grow at a faster rate than normal cells. A tumor can be benign (meaning not malignant) or malignant ([muh-lig-nuhnt] meaning cancerous)

There are many different types of brain tumors. First, primary brain tumors are tumors that begin in the brain (not traveling from another part of the body). Any primary tumor refers to the type of tissue where the tumor first appeared. The most common brain tumors are call gliomas (that's pronounced glahy-oh-muh). A secondary tumor is one in which the cells travel from another area of the body - so a in the brain, a secondary tumor would be cells that traveled into the brain (via blood stream) and burrowed in and started multiplying cells in its new home.

There are a couple types of gliomas:

Astrocytomas (pronounced ās'trō-sī-tō'mə)- this is a cluster of star-shaped cells referred to as astrocytes. These can grow anywhere in the brain or spinal cord; but there are general pattern that seems to occur. Astrocytomas are most often found in the brain for adults but in the brain stem in children.

Most people know that cancer has many grades - I, II, III, and IV. Identifying cancer early allows a patient to be treated quickly and more effectively.

Anaplastic astrocytoma: This is a grade III astrocytoma.

Glioblastoma multiforme (pronounced glee-o-blas-TO-ma multih-FOR-may): This is a grade IV astrocytoma.

My brother died from a grade IV, glioblastoma multiforme, when he was 49 years old. We didn't know the signs that indicated he was in trouble. Obviously, we wish we had. Now I tell people what signs to look for so that they can get treatment in time and not go through the ugliness of dying from a brain tumor.

Check Out These Signs

The most frequent symptoms of brain tumors include:

• Headaches that tend to be worse in the morning and ease during the day
• Seizures (convulsions) - what my brother experienced was little spaces of time that he couldn't account for. For example, while ordering food in a restaurant, he would suddenly stop talking - that was the extent of his seizure for many years until he had a grand mal seizure (that's the kind of seizure with convulsions).
• Nausea or vomiting
• Weakness or loss of feeling in the arms or legs
• Stumbling or lack of coordination in walking (ataxic gait)
• Abnormal eye movements or changes in vision
• Drowsiness
• Changes in personality or memory
• Changes in speech: My brother lost his ability to speak well; this was because the tumor was in his speech center in his brain. This became one of our biggest clues to his condition.
• Don't overlook any of these signs or symptoms in the people you love. Educating yourself and being observant may just help someone you know get the help they need before it's too late.

By Candace Mondello

Natural remedy for diabetes

What causes type 2 diabetes?

The pancreas discharges insulin to help the body stock up and utilize sugar from the food that you consume. This mechanism takes place only in a healthy body.  One suffers from the diabetes when,

The pancreas does not release any insulin.

The pancreas releases very little hormone insulin.

The body stops responding to the hormone insulin, a condition known as "insulin resistance".

Individuals with type 2 diabetes do generate insulin. However, the amount of insulin their pancreas releases is not enough or their body fails to recognize it. Therefore, the body cannot use the insulin as it must be utilized. This results in the insulin to build up in the blood stream instead of getting into the cells. It affects various parts of the body. On the other hand, since the cells do not get the glucose, they fail to function properly.

The human body is made of innumerable cells. These cells need energy to perform daily activities. They can only use the simple form of food to make energy. When you consume foods or liquids, these are broken into a simple sugar known as ‘glucose'. After this, the glucose is transferred to the cells through the blood stream which is used as a source of energy.

Natural remedy for diabetes

Diabetes treatment can be regulated with the help of natural remedies. Among so many natural elements, cinnamon is considered to control the glucose level in the human body.

There are two kinds of cinnamon- Ceylon cinnamon and cassia cinnamon. Americans use the cassia cinnamon for baking and cooking. However, the research has shown that cinnamon may lower glucose levels by reducing insulin resistance. Not only that, it is quite effective in lowering cholesterol and blood glucose levels.

It is safe to consume cinnamon. But, individuals with liver problems should not consume this spice. Remember, cinnamon supplements are referred to as a food, not as a drug. If you are thinking to purchase the best cinnamon supplement, you need to opt for a brand that comes with a quality seal. Check if the product has a US Pharmacopeia, the NSF International or Consumerlab seal. This assures you are taking the effective ingredients of the cinnamon.

5 simple Tips for Shining Skin at Home

Taking great care for you skin starts at home. This article discusses 5 simple lifestyle changes that will be relevant for the skin care of many Australians. Before you worry too much about which skin care products to buy you can make sure your daily habits are beneficial to the health of your skin.


Here are 5 simple lifestyle changes that can help you maintain healthy skin:

A Little Bit of Sunshine
Sunshine can actually be great for the skin in moderation. Emphasis on the word moderation! In Australia you only need a small amount (a few minutes) of sunshine each day. Too much sun and you will be speeding up the ageing process. Over exposing your body to the sun damages skin cells and leads to a variety of health risks. It is still best to avoid the sun during the middle of the day and if you do need to be in the sun for more than a few minutes cover up as much as possible and use a good sunscreen.

Shorter Showers
This tip will obviously depend on how much time you currently spend in the shower and just to be clear, there is nothing wrong with having a shower. Cleaning your skin with a daily bath or shower is actually very important. The point is that too long in the shower can be damaging. If you are showering or bathing to a point where you notice wrinkles in your hands and fingers that is a bit too long. By this stage a lot of protective oils have been washed out from your skin cells. To combat this, simply take less time in the shower. The added benefit is that a little less time in the shower will also bring down your hot water bills.

Eating Well
A healthy diet and healthy skin are related. Saying that a healthy diet will ensure your skin will be free of blemishes and acne is not quite true but it will help. Chemicals within processed meat, oils and other heavily processed foods can affect hormones and speed up the ageing process. Eating plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables will lead to a healthier, happier you and your skin.

Stress Less
Okay, sometimes that may be easier said than done but you do have to make time for yourself to relax. Everyone handles stress differently and like many good things in life, finding time to relax should become a habit. Stress will make your skin age faster and make it more prone to blemishes. You should not feel guilty for relaxing occasionally. A relaxed you will not only result in benefits for your health and your skin but other people will also enjoy your company more.

Smoke Kill your skin
In case you needed one more reason to put the cigarettes away think about your skin. Smoking may help reduce your stress level temporarily but it does come at an expense that can be great to your general health and the health of your skin. Smoke decreases the oxygen flow within the skin. The skin is connected through string fibres and these fibres become loosened the more you smoke, which can lead to early wrinkles.

Your lifestyle does have an impact on your skin. By developing healthy lifestyle habits you will be helping to improve the health of your skin without even thinking about it.

Turning to the power of nature to care for your skin.
via Tyler M Dee  

Some Things A Cardiac Monitor Can Tell You

When you've been told that you need to wear a cardiac monitor by the doctor or you're curious about what your heart is doing, there are a lot of details held within the small device. While every device is a little different, there are many things that it can tell you and your doctor. It's important to know just how much information is being recorded or transmitted because it can assist with diagnostics for the doctor to help determine if there are any health problems that you need to be aware of.

There are some things that a cardiac monitor can tell you, depending upon the make and model of the device you buy.

Pulse:

It's important to know what your pulse is throughout your daily activities. If the pulse gets too low or too high, it can signify a problem that a doctor needs to know about. The pulse can also help you to know if you have reached the right cardio level when you are exercising.

Resting heartbeat:

A resting heartbeat can be just as important as the pulse. This is the heartbeat that you have when you are doing nothing. When you are sleeping in the middle of the night, the monitor will still be recording and can tell the doctor if your heart is beating faster than it should be, which can be a sign of something wrong.

Blood pressure:

A cardiac monitor has the potential to record your blood pressure. When this is recorded, it allows the doctor to see when the pressure increases or decreases throughout the day when you are performing certain activities, eating specific foods or reaching high levels of stress. This may help the doctor to prescribe certain medications to you or assign you a special diet.

Temperature:

The body temperature is becoming more important when a doctor is making a diagnosis. Recent studies have shown that the temperature in relation to the pulse can signal different changes within the body before they actually happen. As a result, a cardiac monitor will often record the temperature at the same time as the pulse.

Arrhythmia:

One of the main reasons a doctor will assign the use of a cardiac monitor for 24 hours or longer is to see if there is any kind of arrhythmia. This is designed to record the ups and downs of the heartbeat and see if there is any kind of irregularities.

Strain on heart: 

There may be some sort of strain on the heart, in which case the cardiac monitor will be able to see this going on. Whether it's going on when there is a strenuous activity going on or with a resting heartbeat, the monitor will record the strain to help a doctor make the proper diagnosis.

Calories burned. Many people are interested in using the cardiac monitor for more than just health reasons. As a result, many monitors can also tell the amount of calories that are being burned based upon weight and the heart rate.  - via Britton Connell

4 Main Causes For Ugly Neck Lines

Cause Number 1: Free Radical Damage


You may have heard of free radical damage. Many supplement companies mention the subject briefly in their advertisements for antioxidants.

Free radical molecules can cause damage to any cell of your body. Your skin cells are no different. Free radical damage is likely involved in all the things that lead to the visible signs of aging.

But, if you know anything about free radicals, you know they are naturally present in the skin and in the rest of the body. They do not always cause damage. In fact, they sometimes provide assistance to the body's immune system by destroying intercellular bacteria. So, what causes free radicals to turn against us? There are several things.

• Overexposure to the sun-UV radiation stimulates increased production and activity of radical molecules
• Toxins in skincare products-some are free radicals, some stimulate production
• Cigarette smoke-contains free radicals and depletes the skin's antioxidant levels

Ugly neck lines occur as people age, because there are fewer antioxidants present in older skin to neutralize the free radicals.

Cause Number 2: Decreased Collagen Production

Collagen, a simple protein, is the main component of the skin's elastic fibers. It is the elastic fibers that keep the skin firm, stretching out wrinkles and creases. As collagen production decreases with age, the skin under the jaw and at the neckline starts to sag. Gravity works against us in that respect, but there isn't much we can do about gravity.

Cause Number 3: Damaged and Degraded Collagen Fibers

Healthy new collagen fibers are very strong. That's why young people do not usually have ugly neck lines. There are only a few things that can damage or degrade collagen. The free radical mentioned above is one of those things. Another is chronic inflammation.

Inflammation is a natural immune system function, but research has shown that chronic inflammation is a big problem for modern humans. This unhealthy kind of inflammation occurs as a result of poor eating habits, lack of physical activity and exposure to modern toxins.

If there is a lack of vitamin C in the diet, the collagen produced will be weaker to begin with and more easily damaged. Vitamin C is an essential cofactor for the production of strong collagen and the prevention of ugly neck lines. Vitamin C is also a dietary antioxidant, important for preventing damage.

Cause Number 4: Low Levels of Hyaluronic Acid

Hyaluronic acid is something like glue. It helps to hold the skin's cells together. For some reason, the skin's hyaluronic acid levels decrease with age. The glue breaks down to quickly and the visible result is sagging skin that appears to be cracked.

Those are the four main causes of ugly neck lines. Now that you have learned about them, you will be able to better understand the solutions, which are the main subjects of my next article How to Solve Ugly Neck Lines.
via Margaret Bell

Hazards Of Overexposure To Sun

The sun is both friend and foe to our bodies. The sun, as a friend, helps your body produce vitamin D for one thing. However, be careful to practice Sun Safety Tips to avoid being overexposed to these rays or the sun, since it could quickly become your enemy. There are various hazards to getting too much of the UV rays from the sun. Check out the information below to learn more.

Sunburn Occurs with Overexposure:

Sunburn is a huge problem with being out in the sun for too long of periods. This does actual damage to the skin including the blood vessels running through it. With continual damage such as this, the skin will begin to show signs similar to aging such as dryness, wrinkles, age spots and more. This makes you look older before your time. Sun Safety Tips advise sunscreen to protect this type of damage from occurring, along with limiting your time in the sun.

Chronic Exposure:

Chronic exposure on a daily basis can make for leathery skin. The sun can dry the skin out changing the texture of the skin from soft and supple to dry and leathery. This can encourage other problems to occur such as the wrinkles and other issues listed above. Sun Damage Could Result in Skin Cancer

Once the sun has caused damage to the skin, it cannot fight off certain health issues such as skin cancer. In fact, the damage makes it easier for free radicals to run rampant causing the cancer to occur. These cancers can range from benign growths to the more deadly malignant melanoma. New Tanning Products make getting a tan less dangerous as with the ones used in tanning spray sessions.

Eyes also Can Be Damaged by Sun's UV Rays:

Your eyes can be harmed if not shielded for the sun's UV rays. Macular degeneration and cataracts are just two examples of serious eye issues that could occur, if you do not protect your eyes from the sun's UV rays.

How to Avoid the Hazards of Overexposure:

• Wear sunscreen anytime you are out in the sun for any length of time. It should be reapplied throughout the day. It is only effective for a few hours at the most before you need to slather or spray more onto your skin. This will go a long way to preventing sunburn and other damage from happening to the skin. When you have to be out in the sun for your job on a daily basis, you need to wear appropriate clothing to help shield you some from the sun on top of sunscreen.
• Limit your exposure to direct sun to the cooler part of the day such as in the morning hours and avoid the hottest part of the day, when the sun's rays are more intense. In addition, do not stay out in the sun for so long for recreational purposes that you wind up burning your skin, so limit your amount of time as well as what time of the day. Limiting your sun exposure is one of the most important Sun Safety Tips for you to follow.
• Protective glasses or goggles that are UV rated need to be worn whenever you are out in the sun. This will prevent sun damage to occur to the eyes.

The sun can be your friend, but only if you practice the above Sun Safety Tips. If you decide to ignore these tips, you could have certain problems occur.
   - via Lara Seltzer

How To Remove Skin Tags Naturally from Home

Since you interested in how to remove skin tags naturally, I will explain a method that has worked perfectly for numerous people that had been dealing with their own ugly skin tags.

This removal method is very simple to implement and is less intrusive than the other methods that you may have read about.

1. Mix together castor oil and baking soda :

The first step in this natural way to get rid of a skin tag is to create a pasty mixture using castor oil and some baking soda. These items can be easily purchased at your local grocery store. What is great about this technique is that once you have mixed the items together, you do not have to use it all right away. The paste can be stored safely for a number of days.

2. Use the substance directly on your tags :

• Apply the pasty substance to your tags around 3-5 times per day. 
• Stop the treatment once the tag has fallen off or once it has just completely disappeared. 
• If you notice that the area where you have applied the paste is becoming painful, stop the application process for one to two days and then try again.
• If you want to make sure that the tags are completely gone, it is fine to continue the procedure for a couple of days after the skin tags have disappeared.                                                                         

This tag removal method will apparently not cause any damage to the surrounding skin and you can even use it as a preventive measure if you notice that a tag is starting to appear elsewhere.

via Jeff Warren  

9 Home Remedies for Allergic Rhinitis

Allergic rhinitis:
Allergic rhinitis results when allergies like dust, pet dander, pollen, smoke attack your immune system and cause congestion, stuffy/runny nose, watery eyes and sneezing. It also involves itchy eyes and nose. Treatment involves easing the symptoms and avoiding exposure to irritants and allergens. It is a very common problem in pollen season and that's why is often referred to as 'hay fever'. People having chronic / perennial allergic rhinitis suffer these symptoms throughout the year. Mild cases can be treated with antihistamines available over the counter. However if the symptoms are severe then allergy shots may be prescribed.

Prevention
In most countries, allergic rhinitis is at its peak and very common during pollen season. Hence it is advisable to be cautious and begin the required medication and treatment before the beginning of the season and prepare yourself. Most important is to fortify your immune system for which most important is vitamin C.

• Have vitamin C rich foods in your daily diet such as freshly squeezed orange juice, pineapples, tomato soup. 
• Vitamin A is also very important for strengthening mucus membranes. Include carrots in your daily diet.

Avoid inflammation aggravating foods such as dairy products, meat, wheat, sugar and lots of salt. And have foods that are anti-inflammatory and have antioxidants including beans, vegetables and fruits.

9 home remedies for allergic rhinitis

1. It is vital to avoid exposure to allergens and to create allergen free environment.

2. Your room, furniture, sofas, mattresses, carpets, rugs should be dusted and cleaned regularly.

3. Place air purifiers and humidifiers/dehumidifiers in your room. The correct humidity level of 45% - 50% should be maintained inside. Too much humidity and too less are both bad for this condition and aggravate symptoms.

4. Use saline nasal wash to keep your nasal passage moist and to clear mucus.

5. Steam inhalation has been used for hundreds of years to clear nasal passage and loosen mucus. Add a few drops of eucalyptus oil or peppermint to the steaming water and inhale the vapors.

6. Keep yourself hydrated. Drink plenty of fluids, 6-8 glasses of room temperature water, soups, broth.

7. Having freshly produced unfiltered honey relieves allergic rhinitis.

8. Make a mixture of 1 tablespoon each of honey and lemon and briefly heat it. Have 1 teaspoon of this mixture three times daily to treat your hay fever.

9. Consult a practitioner before having any supplements. For instance probiotic supplements are known to ease the severity of the condition. Herbal preparation such as biminne has been known to effectively relieve symptoms. Indian gooseberry and Echinacea pills available over the counter are also known to naturally strengthen immune system. But it is recommended to consult your physician before doing self medication.

Hence you can effectively address allergic rhinitis through a natural course of therapy including lifestyle changes, dietary plans and alternative medicine which can relieve symptoms and build a stronger immune system to fight against allergens.
via Stephanie Harper 

Hangover Salvation Tips

No party, especially such as one for Christmas or the New Year, for example, can go without alcohol. We drink to health, friendship or just to relax and have a good time. But the next day we wish we were somebody else. Headaches, nausea, severe pain, sensitivity to light, diarrhoea and thirst are typical effects of alcohol intoxication and they usually occur in the morning, right after the previous night of heavy drinking. To make things worse, physical symptoms can be mixed with psychological ones like depression and anxiety. All these symptoms can last for many days. Some people are resistant to hangover effects but most of us are not.

The possible causes of hangover symptoms can be hypoglycemia, dehydration, acetaldehyde intoxication and glutamine rebound. From the scientific point of view, dehydration occurs because of alcohol's ability to inhibit the effect of anti-diuretic hormone on kidney tubules, leading to an interruption of the body's Krebs cycle (a Citric Acid cycle, a central metabolic pathway that completes the oxidative degradation of metabolites), and the swelling of the brain against the lining of the skull. Your body also loses vitamins and minerals.

But how to get rid of such symptoms, what to do to brighten up your "hangover" day?

TAKE PAINKILLERS:

If your hangover is too overwhelming, then, perhaps, you can try some painkillers, such as Ibuprofen, Paracetamol or Aspirin, but be sure you don't take it right after drinking, as this may cause worse symptoms to your body.

DRINK:

Drink plenty of liquid to flush out alcoholic toxins.

- Water and Juices.
Among other juices we give preference to tomato juice with pepper.

- Orange juice, especially freshly squeezed, can also help you in this situation. It will replenish your organism with vitamin C and contribute to detoxification of your body system.

- Coffee is also good for you in this situation, as it contains caffeine, responsible for sharpening your mind. But, caution! Coffee also has diuretic effect and won't be good if you are already dehydrated.

- Cold tea with lemon or sparkling mineral water.

- Tea. The best choice for a tea would be any Green Tea as they are the best for cleansing your organism and acceleration of your metabolism. It can also be black tea with lemon or sparkling mineral water.

EAT:

You would also need to raise your blood sugar levels in order to help your body to get back to normal. Basically, you will need to eat some protein and carbohydrates such as eggs, bacon and a piece of toast (don't forget to add some vegetables, especially tomatoes), in order to prevent hypoglycemia.

Fatty food like sausages or bacon, activate hormones, which slow down the absorption of alcohol by your organism.

Eggs contain cysteine to produce glutathione, which cleanse the organism from harmful free radicals. Tomatoes contain antioxidants.

If you have time and ingredients, you can quickly make Tomato Soup or use a ready made one from a shop.

If you can't stand the sight of bacon or sausages, then replace them with bananas. They will "calm down" your unsettled stomach and will restore potassium salts in your organism.

GO FOR A WALK:

Go for a walk and enrich your organism with oxygen, which will help to accelerate metabolism to detox your body.

TAKE VITAMINS:

Some suggest take vitamins for prophylactic purposes, as a measure to prevent severe hangover effects.

After hot soup you can take a hot shower. All toxins accumulated on your skin will be washed away.

Dr. Jeff Wiese from General Internal Medicine Section and Department of Medicine, Tulane Health Sciences Centre, New Orleans, USA, came up with a new remedy for hangover, cactus Opuntia Ficus Indica (OFI) extract, which reduces hangover effects by inhibiting the production of inflammatory mediators and accelerating digestion of alcohol by the organism.

People of Puerto-Rica rub pieces of lemon into their armpits.

Russian scientists invented The Oxygen Cocktail, which is a foamy substance containing a beverage (juice, milk, etc.) enriched in gaseous oxygen, which supplies oxygen into organism, reduces chronic fatigue symptoms and accelerates metabolism.
- via Nadine Mano