Friday, July 29, 2011
Sprain : Causes, Treatment and Home Remedies for Sprain
Muscles sprains can be really painful. They might cause you terrible discomfort and they might also prevent you from performing certain activities. A ligament is a band of elastic connective tissue in the body that connects a bone to a bone in a joint. The ligament works to keep the bones in place. A sprain is an injury to a ligament. The injury may include a stretching of the ligament or a tear to the tissue. An ankle is a common joint in the body to experience a sprain. Wrists, knees, ankle and neck are some of the most susceptible joints which suffer from sprains.
Some of the causes of sprain may be listed as follows:
.Rapid fall
.A forceful blow to the body
.Twisting
.Stepping on a rough surface
.Lifting heavy substances
.Over stretching of the ligaments
Home remedies for muscle sprain usually focus on reducing the pain and the swelling and on accelerating the recovery process. There are several home remedies which can help treat muscle sprain.
. Apply an ice pack over the affected muscle. This will make it numb and pain won't be felt that badly. You can also apply a cold compress and secure it with a bandage.
. Prepare a hot bath and add Epsom salt to it, according to the instructions. Soak the affected muscle in the water and keep it there for 10-15 minutes. Once the bath is over, bandage the muscle.
. Heat some sesame oil mixed with one teaspoon of black pepper powder. Let the mixture cool of and then massage it on the affected body part.
. Soak the outer leaves of a cabbage in water. Apply these leaves on the sprained area and let it stay there for 10 to 15 minutes.
. Heat some water till it is warm. Pour it in a bowl and add a few drops of lavender oil to it. Soak the sprained area in this water.
. Heat clove oil and allow it to cool down. Then apply over the affected area. It gives a speedy recovery.
. Prepare a mixture of almond oil and garlic oil at home. Massage the injured are with this mixture. After a day or two, one can start applying hot compresses over the sprained region.
. Eating pineapple will help you heal faster. Pineapples contain an enzyme which helps healing.
. Chop an onion into small pieces. Tie this in a thin cloth and place over the sprain. This will help bring down the swelling.
. Five drops of thyme oil diluted either in bathwater or some other oil can be used as a compress to get rid of swelling.
. Soak the sprain area in warm water with few drops of violet oil. Good home remedy for sprain.
. Smear olive oil around the sprain, take an egg yolk and stir it, then apply on the olive oil. Wrap with cotton wool pads, bandage for 2 days. Can repeat after 2 days, but make sure to wash first.
. Soak licorice roots in water overnight and apply this infusion on the affected area.
. Turmeric is made into a paste and is mixed with lime and salt. This is applied on the sprained muscles with very good results.
. Straighten the muscle and flex it upwards. If you have a sprain in the calf muscle, then sit down on a chair and pull your leg as much away from your body as you can.
. Apply the paste made from lime leaves and butter on the affected area.
. Add 1 teaspoon of honey to 1 teaspoon of raw lime powder, and mix them well. Apply the mixture on the sprain.
. Rub ginger paste on the sprained part. It is an effective herbal remedy for sprain.
. In a cup of sunflower oil, mix 1 tsp of camphor oil. Massage the affected area with this oil mixture. It would provide immense relief from the pain.
. Mix 2 tbsp sunflower oil with 1 tbsp turpentine oil. Store this mixture in a glass jar and massage the sprained area with it, on a daily basis.
. Make a paste with fenugreek leaves and lemon juice and apply it on the sprained area as it is a good home remedy for treating sprains.
~source:livestrong.com~
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Menstrual Cramps Home Remedies|Home Remedies for Menstrual Cramps|How to Reduce Menstrual Cramps
Menstrual cramps are pains in the belly and pelvic areas that are experienced by a woman as a result of her menstrual period. Menstrual cramps are not the same as the discomfort felt during premenstrual syndrome (PMS), although the symptoms of both disorders can sometimes be experienced as a continual process. Many women suffer from both PMS and menstrual cramps.
Menstrual cramps can range from mild to quite severe. Mild menstrual cramps may be barely noticeable and of short duration sometimes felt just as a sense of light heaviness in the belly. Severe menstrual cramps can be so painful that they interfere with a woman's regular activities for several days.
Some of the factors that increase the chances of suffering from menstrual cramps include:
� Reaching puberty at an early age, - 11 or younger
� Metrorrhagia, more commonly known as irregular menstrual bleeding
� Genetic factors, like a family history of dysmenorrhea
� Being below the age of 20 or never having been through childbirth
� Menorrhagia or heavy bleeding during periods
� Unhealthy habits like smoking, leading a sedentary lifestyle, consuming excess alcohol and taking illegal drugs
Menstrual cramps will affect most women at some point in their lives. The symptoms can annoyingly make your day unpleasant or become so severe that your regular routine is disrupted. To ease the pain and discomfort associated with this condition, consider the following home remedies for menstrual cramps:
. Do some mild exercise. Walk around the neighborhood, run on the treadmill, go ride your bike, or any other exercises you enjoy. This will increase blood flow which will help the cramps go away.
. Lie on your back with your bottom touching a wall and your feet resting above. Relax in this position when you have painful cramps and they will be alleviated.
. Try placing a hot water bottle or heating pad on your abdomen. This helps ease your muscles. A hot wash cloth or even just a warm blanket can also help.
. Try taking a hot bath or hot shower.
. Relieve your cramps with peppermint or wintergreen, especially when added to a tea. Drink one to two cups per day.
. Drink hot herbal tea or hot lemon when your pelvic region feels congested and cramped. It will increase your blood flow and relax your muscles.
. Blend and drink 75 milliliters of parsley, beet, carrot, and cucumber juice to treats painful cramping.
. Pound a piece of ginger and boil it in a cup of water for a couple of minutes. Sweeten the infusion with a little sugar and drink three times daily after meals.
. Take a multiple vitamin and mineral supplement, especially one that provides the body with calcium. Choose supplements that deliver small doses so that you can take one after each meal.
. Taking a magnesium supplement before and during your period will help your body effectively absorb more calcium.
. Add two tablespoons of basil leaves to one pint of boiling water. Cover tightly and allow the blend to cool at room temperature. Drink half to one cup of the basil tea every hour to ease your cramps.
. Sprinkle cinnamon on your breakfast foods or add to a tea. Cinnamon can ease the symptoms of menstrual cramping.
. Crush one teaspoon of fennel seeds to make a powder. Then, add one cup of boiling water. Let it steep for five minutes. Strain it and then drink it while it is still hot.
. Sprinkle ground flax seed over your salad, morning cereal, a cup of yogurt or in a smoothie. Women are usually advised to consume between one and two tablespoons of flax seed during the menstrual cycle.
. Make a simple mixture by taking about 2 tablespoons of some chamomile flowers and adding to a cup of water. This should be boiling water and the chamomile flowers should be allowed to steep in it for a few minutes. Add some honey to this mixture for added relief.
. Take 1 teaspoon of fenugreek powder with 1/2 cup water at the interval of every 3 hours till cramps subside.
. Take evening primrose oil in the form of capsules and the usual dose is 3,000 to 6,000 mg a day. This oil contains a substance that prevents uterine contractions and cramps.
. Drink red raspberry leaf tea at least once a day for 2-3 days before your period is about to start, and during menstruation. This is a great natural cure to muscle cramps and stress relief.
. Take 1-2 teaspoon of sesame seeds in a glass of water and boil it. Allow to stand for some time,then strain the mixture. Drink it 1-2 times a day.
. Eat unripe papaya. The unripe papaya helps the contractions of the muscle fibres of the uterus and is thus helpful in securing a proper menstrual flow.
. Eat a banana as soon as you feel the onset of menstrual cramps. Bananas contain both vitamin K and potassium which will help alleviate muscle cramping.
. Drinking dong quai tea or taking the herbal extract is also an effective remedy in the treatment for menstrual cramps.
. Drink a couple of cups of the juice from a coconut each day you are on your period (and eat the meat from the coconut as well).
~source:mayoclinic.com~
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Dietary Guidelines for Americans, My Way
I just saw this on BoingBoing. Simple but true.
This image was created by Adam Fields.
The people who design government dietary guidelines are gagged by the fact that politics and business are so tightly intertwined in this country. Their advice will never directly target the primary source of obesity and metabolic dysfunction-- industrially processed food-- because that would hurt corporate profits in one of the country's biggest economic sectors. You can only squeeze so much profit out of a carrot, so food engineers design "value-added" ultrapalatable/rewarding foods with a larger profit margin.
We don't even have the political will to regulate food advertisements directed at defenseless children, which are systematically training them from an early age to prefer foods that are fattening and unhealthy. This is supposedly out of a "free market" spirit, but that justification is hollow because processed food manufacturers benefit from tax loopholes and major government subsidies, including programs supporting grain production and the employment of disadvantaged citizens (see Fast Food Nation).
This image was created by Adam Fields.
The people who design government dietary guidelines are gagged by the fact that politics and business are so tightly intertwined in this country. Their advice will never directly target the primary source of obesity and metabolic dysfunction-- industrially processed food-- because that would hurt corporate profits in one of the country's biggest economic sectors. You can only squeeze so much profit out of a carrot, so food engineers design "value-added" ultrapalatable/rewarding foods with a larger profit margin.
We don't even have the political will to regulate food advertisements directed at defenseless children, which are systematically training them from an early age to prefer foods that are fattening and unhealthy. This is supposedly out of a "free market" spirit, but that justification is hollow because processed food manufacturers benefit from tax loopholes and major government subsidies, including programs supporting grain production and the employment of disadvantaged citizens (see Fast Food Nation).
Mosquito Bites Itch : Home Remedies for Itchy Mosquito Bites : Natural Remedies to Stop Mosquito Bites Itching
Most people experience a skin reaction when bitten by a mosquito. For some, the persistent itchiness of a mosquito bite can be maddening. Scratching an insect bite can create an opening for infection. The cause of the itch is basically the saliva of the mosquito that is injected into your blood.
If you get large swellings like welts or swelling in your throat you must contact your pharmacist or doctor immediately as you may have developed an allergy to the bite. Otherwise you can use some of the following home remedies listed below, they work wonders not to mention giving you a relief from the itchiness.
. Put a piece of Scotch tape or similar onto the bite. Wash the area with rubbing alcohol or ammonia first. Leaving it there will make the itch almost entirely go away. After a few hours, remove it.
. Use the common plantain. Either roll leaves of common plantain between fingers to extract juice, or chew on common plantain leaves a little bit, then rub the juicy leaf over mosquito bite. The itch goes away in less than a minute.
. Rub aloe vera gel or broken leaf from an aloe vera plant on the bite area to relieve itching.
. Make a paste of baking soda (bicarbonate of soda) mixed with warm water. One tablespoon to one pint of water is a good ratio to use. Gently apply to the affected area. Leave on for a few minutes, then wash off with warm water.
. Cut lemon or lime into pieces and rub gently on the affected area, or just squirt a bit juice on it. Citric acid has some itch-relieving properties.
. Rub a basil leaf on mosquito bites to stops itching.
. Crush aspirin and mix with a smidge of water to make a paste. Dab right on mosquito bite and leave to dry.
. Try mouthwash. Simply dab over the affected area and leave to dry.
. Mix a few drops of household cleaning ammonia with baking soda to form a paste. Apply gently to the affected area and allow to dry. This should relieve the itching. Remove with warm water.
. Soak a cotton ball in apple cider vinegar. Place the soaked cotton ball over the mosquito bites. If you don't want to hold it, tape it in place. Leave there for a few minutes.
. Make a thick paste of cornflour and apple cider vinegar. Gently apply the paste to the affected area. Allow to dry. It will alleviate the itching by the time it has dried. Wash off using warm water.
. Try adding some distilled witch hazel to calamine lotion as an effective pain relief and itch soother for mosquito bites.
. If you're near the sea, take a dip in sea water. Or add salt to hot water to make salt water.
. Dip a wash cloth into hot water, but not so hot that it burns your skin. Press the wet part of the cloth against the bite. Hold it there until you feel the bite tingle. Repeat once or twice.
. Apply an ice pack or ice cubes to the bites.
. Dab some toothpaste over the bite area. This can work like a charm to relieve itching.
. Rub some underarm deodorant on the bite area.
. Rub a bar of dry or wet soap over the itchy area.
. Dabbing small amounts of lavender oil direct to the affected area can relieve the itching quickly.
. Use melaleuca or tea tree oil. This oil is known as a cure-all for many problems and it can also alleviate the itching from mosquito bites.
. Try Vicks Vaporub�. Keep applying Vicks� to the area, especially if it rubs off.
. Use nail polish (preferably clear). Be sure that the bite is not raw from scratching. This keeps it from itching and acts as a seal to protect it.
. Rub the inside of a banana skin (peel) onto the bite.
. Rub the sap of an onion over the bite.
. Make a small paste of breakfast oatmeal and apply to the bite area. Allow to dry, then wash off.
. Add a little meat tenderizer to the bite area. Mix a little bit in water first, then apply.
. Place your own saliva on the bites. Leave it to soak in; for some people this relieves the itching.
. Break a raw egg and put only the white over your itch. Make sure there is no open wound over your itch.
. Mix equal parts of dettol and baby oil together, and apply with a cotton swab. Will relieve itching for abour 2-3 hours.
. Make a cup of green tea, put the wet tea bag on your mosquito bites.
~source:everydayhealth.com~
How To Get Fit In A Fun Way With The Zumba Program
We try different exercise programs in order to lose weight. It could be by going to the gym or having exercise equipment's at home. These would most definitely enable us to lose weight and become fit. Exercise sessions could be made more interesting and fun filled, by going in for the dance form of workouts called Zumba.
Zumba was developed by Alberto "Beto" Perez in Colombia. It uses a mix of salsa, merengue, cumbia, samba, African beats and hip-hop music to give a tempo to the various steps used in the program. In the normal exercise routines, where music is used as a medium, you would move according to the music and at a certain pace. But with the Zumba dance form, the music keeps changing along with its rhythm. This makes the whole experience dynamic as your whole body is in motion. All the muscles in your body will get a workout as you will be using them during the performance of the various dance steps. This will accelerate burning calories and increase aerobic activity.
The program has different levels and you can choose the one which you find comfortable. The Zumba steps are such that, you will be gradually introduced to the dance form. There is no pressure at any level. You are after all dancing and enjoying yourself. The initial stage will be to just move your arms to a slow beat of music. The next level will be to move your legs and arms at the same time. As you progress, you will reach the stage when you move your whole body to a faster beat and get the benefits of a total workout. As the exercise form is dancing, there is no undue stress on any part of the body. This means that, there are no aches and pains which are generally associated while starting on a fitness program.
You will need the proper kit before embarking on the Zumba fitness program. This comprises proper clothing and the right kind of foot wear. A t-shirt or top and loose pants will provide the ideal combination to enable ease of movement while performing the various routines. The foot wear should also be comfortable and provide the required support for your feet.
Losing weight and becoming fit is something we all aspire for. If this can be achieved in a fun -filled way, then we certainly stand a chance to attain our goal.
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Dry Peeling Lips : Causes, Treatments and Home Remedies
Peeling lips is a common feature in the season of spring/summer. While in other parts of the body has 16 layers of skin, lips have 3-4 layers and thus are prone to cuts, bruises and seasonal changes. During the spring/summer season, the wind tends to dry the lips by making it devoid of moisture. It is worse for people who have dry lips naturally. It not only makes your lips look bad but also if ignored makes them black.
Causes of Peeling Lips
Those who have the habit of pulling out the dry and dead skin end up having an even uglier look. It may also result in bleeding. Though it generally occurs because of lack of moisture during the winter season, it may also occur due to other reasons.
.Nutritional deficiency such as vitamin B deficiency
.Overexposure to the sun
.Dehydration
.Cold and dry weather
.Frequent licking of the lips. Saliva ��digests�� the thin membrane in our lips causing it to dry and peel.
.Allergic reaction to cosmetics and makeup
.Infections
Treatments and Home Remedies
In a great number of cases, peeling lips can not be healed easily and the skin loss happens in a repetitive manner. Home remedies have worked better to heal peeling lips than the usual medicine. Here are some home remedies of peeling lips:
. Take half of a lemon and put some sugar into it. Rub it gently in a circular motion on your lips. Do it for 10 minutes and then wash it off with cold water.
. Take spoon of olive oil and mix it with cayenne pepper. Apply it on your lips and wash it off after some times.
. Water intake must be regular and sufficient because dehydration or the loss of moisture in the lips is the primary cause of peeling in the lips.
. Apply cocoa butter to your dry peeling lips several times a day.
. Never lick or bite your lips as they can contribute to dehydration, drying up, and cracking up of lips.
. Take a ripe papaya and mash it. Apply this on your dry lips and wash it off after 15 minutes.
. Apply a layer of honey on your lips while indoors to prevent peeling.
. A paste made with 1 teaspoon of gram flour, 1 teaspoon of milk cream and a pinch of turmeric powder is also beneficial in the treatment of chapped lips. Apply this mixture on your lips and allow it to dry completely. Once dry, gently rub it off.
. Rubbing the lips with a mixture of equal parts of glycerin and lemon juice is also beneficial in the treatment of dry peeling lips.
. Apply petroleum jelly thinly to your dry peeling lips several times a day. Exfoliate your lips by rubbing them gently with a soft-bristled toothbrush or a soft washcloth.
. Mix sugar and honey. Scrub well for 3 minutes, then rinse an apply moisterizing chapstick. For best results, repeat once a week.
. Make lip balm by using 2 tsp of coconut oil, lemon juice, 3 drops of lemon oil and 1 tsp of bee wax. You should warm these ingredients till they melt and mix together. Store this home-made lip balm in a small bottle and apply it regularly on your lips to keep them moisturized.
. Mix 5 ml of lime juice with glycerin of the same amount and with some water. Apply this mixture to the lips. It should stay for some time. You can keep the mixture for future use. You can use it for three days at a time.
. Take some petals of rose and drench them in raw like for say one or two hours. Once done, make a paste of that mixture and then apply it on your lips.
. Cucumber slice when rubbed on the dry lips also helps to cure dry peeling lips.
. Apply vitamin E to your dry peeling lips several times a day to cure dry peeling lips.
~source:mdecg.com~
Interview on Super Human Radio
Today, I did an audio interview with Carl Lanore of Super Human Radio. Carl seems like a sharp guy who focuses on physical fitness, nutrition, health and aging. We talked mostly about food reward and body fatness-- I think it went well. Carl went from obese to fit, and his fat loss experience lines up well with the food reward concept. As he was losing fat rapidly, he told friends that he had "divorced from flavor", eating plain chicken, sweet potatoes and oatmeal, yet he grew to enjoy simple food over time.
The interview is here. It also includes an interview of Dr. Matthew Andry about Dr. Loren Cordain's position on dairy; my interview starts at about 57 minutes. Just to warn you, the website and podcast are both full of ads.
The interview is here. It also includes an interview of Dr. Matthew Andry about Dr. Loren Cordain's position on dairy; my interview starts at about 57 minutes. Just to warn you, the website and podcast are both full of ads.
Home Remedies for Dry Flaky Scalp : How to Treat Dry Flaky Scalp : How to Get Rid of Dry Flaky Scalp
A flaky scalp can be annoying and embarrassing. Dry skin is the number one reason for flakiness of the scalp, reports the Mayo Clinic. Flakiness and itchy also is a common sign of dandruff. A dry, flaky scalp is caused by overuse of shampoo and conditioners as well as styling products, like hairspray, that build up on the scalp. The scalp becomes itchy and begins to flake off, causing embarrassing dandruff.
While a dry and flaky scalp can be uncomfortable and irritating for many people, there are numerous home remedies that can help. Try using these natural home remedies to treat and get rid of a dry, flaky scalp.
. Mix 2 tbsp. of soft bean curd, 2 tbsp. of honey and 4 tbsp. of lemon juice in a small container. Gently massage a small amount of the mixture into the scalp and roots of the hair for five minutes. Wrap a towel around your shoulders and leave the mixture in your hair for 20 to 25 minutes. Rinse your hair with cool water to get rid of the mixture, then shampoo with a gentle shampoo. This process can be repeated daily unless there is irritation to the scalp or skin.
. Gently massage 2 tbsp. of pure, raw coconut oil into the scalp and roots of the hair for five minutes. Leave the mixture in your hair for 10 minutes before rinsing with cool water. Shampoo your hair with a gentle conditioner and let your hair dry naturally instead of using a towel or hair dryer.
. Mix 2 tbsp. of freshly-squeezed lime juice with 3 tbsp. of olive oil in a small container. Gently massage the mixture into the scalp and roots of the hair for six to eight minutes before rinsing the hair with cool water. Shampoo with a gentle shampoo and condition with a moisturizing conditioner.
. Dip your fingers into olive oil. Apply the oil to your scalp, using gentle circular motions. Cover the entire scalp, but not the length of the hair. Once the scalp is covered with oil, cover the head with plastic wrap or a shower cap and leave on for 45 minutes. Rinse well with lukewarm water, then shampoo as usual.
. Rub a thick coating of the aloe vera onto your scalp and keep it there overnight. Rinse it out with your shampoo application in the morning.
. Create a mixture of apple cider vinegar that is diluted by 50 percent water. Rinse this into your scalp and allow it to dry without rinsing it out.
. You can also pour two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar into a cup and directly apply it without dilution. This method requires that you leave the apple cider vinegar on your scalp for 15 minutes to three hours before you shampoo.
. Create a tea using sage or burdock. Use this as your rinse directly after the completion of shampooing.
. Create a rinse that requires you to boil four large teaspoons of dried thyme. Place this into two cups of water for a period of 10 minutes. Strain the mixture and let it cool before applying. You will directly apply this into your clean and slightly damp hair. There is not a need to rinse this out.
. Combine two tbsp. of olive oil, an egg, a tbsp. of lemon juice and a tsp. of apple cider vinegar in a bowl. Beat all the ingredients together with a fork or hand blender. Apply the mixture on your scalp like a shampoo and rinse with cool water.
. Mix the egg white from one egg with five tsp. of whole-fat yogurt. After a bath, apply the mixture to your damp hair and leave it on for about 15 minutes. Rinse it off with warm water.
. Apply tea tree oil on your scalp and leave it on for a few hours. It is best to do this at night, before you go to bed. Wash off the oil from your hair in the morning with a mild shampoo.
. Cut an avocado in half and remove its pulp. Apply the avocado pulp on your hair and leave it on for about 10 minutes after you take a shower. Wash off the avocado pulp with lukewarm water.
. Dip your fingers into a bowl of warm coconut milk. With your moistened fingers, apply the coconut milk into the hair and scalp until your hair and scalp is wet. Massage your scalp gently using your fingers or a wide-toothed comb for about 15 minutes. Cover your hair with a shower cap for at least an hour. Shampoo hair twice to remove the oil, then rinse thoroughly. Let it dry.
~source:ehow.com~
Causes and Home Remedies for Heart Disease
The heart is a vital organ of our body. It is the body that regulates our blood circulation and maintain a degree of purity of our blood. It takes oxygen-poor blood from different parts of the body and cleanses and provides distributed to every body.
A major reason for heart disease, poor diet and eating habits is the bad condition of selection. Among drugs, stress, tension, worry about family or business partners, increases or decreases the heart rate, pain or infection of the heart are another common cause of heart problems. Poor eating habits can be dangerous because there are a number of heart problems such as hypertension (high blood pressure), atherosclerosis, heart attack, an enlarged heart, kidneys can be, and cause even race.
Causes of heart disease:
1. High levels of cholesterol, triglycerides and other fats and oils.
2. Hypotension.
3. Elevated blood levels of uric acid (mainly due to the high-protein diet)
4. Some metabolic diseases such as diabetes.
5. Obesity.
6. Smoking.
7. The lack of movement.
Home remedies for heart diseases:
1. Apples are the heart-stimulating properties. Patients with a weak heart would be very useful in making generous use of vegetables and applesauce.
2. Garlic has proved useful in cardiovascular disease. They are useful for the proportion of cholesterol in the blood normalized by oxidizing excess cholesterol. A teaspoon of onion juice first thing in the morning gross useful in such cases.
3. Honey has achieved extraordinary properties for all types of cardiovascular prevention. It tones the heart and improves circulation.
4. It is also used for heart pain and palpitations. One tablespoon per day after meals, enough for all types of heart problems.
5. Asparagus is an excellent food for the heart to be strengthened. A good remedy for weak or enlarged heart is prepared by mixing the fresh juice from vegetables with honey, with a ratio of 2:1. A teaspoon of this drug should be three times per day. Patients with cardiovascular disease will also benefit from cooking vegetables steam.
6. Fresh fruits are generally useful in the treatment of cardiovascular disease death. They sound the heart of the wine is very effective in heart pain and palpitations and the disease can be controlled quickly if the patient died under an exclusive diet of grapes for several days. Grape juice is very valuable when a person had a heart attack.
7. The grass in the form of alfalfa juice proved to be very useful in most of the problems of the arteries and heart disease.
8. Only the leaves of plants are used for this purpose if they are available fresh. Juice of fresh alfalfa, but will be taken to be strong and powerful. It is best ml carrot juice in the same amount of 12 / 5, taken twice daily. In this association, the individual benefits of each juice.
9. Patients with heart disease should review their consumption of foods rich in vitamin E, as this vitamin is to promote heart function by increasing oxygen supply to the cells. It also increases blood circulation and muscle strength. Many full-value products and green vegetables, the outer leaves of cabbage are especially good sources of vitamin E.
A major reason for heart disease, poor diet and eating habits is the bad condition of selection. Among drugs, stress, tension, worry about family or business partners, increases or decreases the heart rate, pain or infection of the heart are another common cause of heart problems. Poor eating habits can be dangerous because there are a number of heart problems such as hypertension (high blood pressure), atherosclerosis, heart attack, an enlarged heart, kidneys can be, and cause even race.
Causes of heart disease:
1. High levels of cholesterol, triglycerides and other fats and oils.
2. Hypotension.
3. Elevated blood levels of uric acid (mainly due to the high-protein diet)
4. Some metabolic diseases such as diabetes.
5. Obesity.
6. Smoking.
7. The lack of movement.
Home remedies for heart diseases:
1. Apples are the heart-stimulating properties. Patients with a weak heart would be very useful in making generous use of vegetables and applesauce.
2. Garlic has proved useful in cardiovascular disease. They are useful for the proportion of cholesterol in the blood normalized by oxidizing excess cholesterol. A teaspoon of onion juice first thing in the morning gross useful in such cases.
3. Honey has achieved extraordinary properties for all types of cardiovascular prevention. It tones the heart and improves circulation.
4. It is also used for heart pain and palpitations. One tablespoon per day after meals, enough for all types of heart problems.
5. Asparagus is an excellent food for the heart to be strengthened. A good remedy for weak or enlarged heart is prepared by mixing the fresh juice from vegetables with honey, with a ratio of 2:1. A teaspoon of this drug should be three times per day. Patients with cardiovascular disease will also benefit from cooking vegetables steam.
6. Fresh fruits are generally useful in the treatment of cardiovascular disease death. They sound the heart of the wine is very effective in heart pain and palpitations and the disease can be controlled quickly if the patient died under an exclusive diet of grapes for several days. Grape juice is very valuable when a person had a heart attack.
7. The grass in the form of alfalfa juice proved to be very useful in most of the problems of the arteries and heart disease.
8. Only the leaves of plants are used for this purpose if they are available fresh. Juice of fresh alfalfa, but will be taken to be strong and powerful. It is best ml carrot juice in the same amount of 12 / 5, taken twice daily. In this association, the individual benefits of each juice.
9. Patients with heart disease should review their consumption of foods rich in vitamin E, as this vitamin is to promote heart function by increasing oxygen supply to the cells. It also increases blood circulation and muscle strength. Many full-value products and green vegetables, the outer leaves of cabbage are especially good sources of vitamin E.
Coronary heart disease nutrition
If lacto-vegetarian, low in sodium and calories. Fundamental air conditioning factor in all heart disease is the diet should be lacto-vegetarian, and low in sodium and calories. This should be of high quality, natural organic foods, are focusing on whole grains, seeds, fresh fruit and vegetables.
Avoid foods like white flour products, tea, coffee, salt, sugar and tobacco .
Foods that should be eliminated from the diet of white flour products, sweets, chocolates, canned in syrup, soft drinks, juices, tea, coffee, alcohol and tobacco, and all hard fats of animal origin such as meat butter, cream and fat. Salt and sugar should be reduced.
If lacto-vegetarian, low in sodium and calories. Fundamental air conditioning factor in all heart disease is the diet should be lacto-vegetarian, and low in sodium and calories. This should be of high quality, natural organic foods, are focusing on whole grains, seeds, fresh fruit and vegetables.
Avoid foods like white flour products, tea, coffee, salt, sugar and tobacco .
Foods that should be eliminated from the diet of white flour products, sweets, chocolates, canned in syrup, soft drinks, juices, tea, coffee, alcohol and tobacco, and all hard fats of animal origin such as meat butter, cream and fat. Salt and sugar should be reduced.
Sunday, July 24, 2011
15 Tips On How To Improve Health With Healthy Eating
Safe food with good nutrition is important for our health. Eat a balanced diet that includes proper nutritious food is one of the best ways to promote and protect includes your health. A good meal is rich in vitamins and minerals and low in saturated fats, chemicals, additives and antibiotics. There are some simple rules to protect and improve your health and live longer and more fulfilling. Here are some strategies that good for your health:
1. Limit your calorie intake you need for one day. Remember, if you have more calories than needed, extra calories are converted into fat. Your body fat, the greater your desire to eat.
2. A healthy lifestyle. Lots of exercise and movement, even more important than a healthy diet. There is nothing worse than when no physical activity and stagnant life. The person who produced the movie "Supersize Me" have, but it's easy to forget about in the film, which deteriorates the health because of the fast-food mentioned. Do not get wrong, not rooting for fast food, but it sure if you can burn more calories through exercise you get away with a certain amount of less healthy foods in the diet. The people of "Super Size Me" may sit in the butt a month and eats Big Macs all day. Yes, if new in the story? That would be news if people are forced diet of McDonald's. I truly believe that if you do not move and burn calories, the type of food can be bold.
3. Limit your consumption of soft drinks and other sweetened drinks. They still have calories in them. Pop made with artificial sweeteners like aspartame is even worse.
4. Avoid trans fats and saturated fats. Trans fats are in most hydrogenated oils, fats and saturated fats are found mainly in meat.
5. Avoid fried foods. Instead, choose foods that are prepared with a healthy cooking method.
6. Alcohol contains many empty calories. Try to consume it only occasionally, if at all.
7. Smoking is a sure sign that someone is not physically active, it is not in good health. Smoking is not only bad for the lungs, but also for the heart and sex life.
8. You can be fooled by the plans fairly new to the market. It is a company a billion dollars, and the people who do not really care about your health. All they want is a good laugh on the way to the Bank. The best advice regime, I can give is to keep your intake of calories less than the number of calories you burn in a day limit and an active lifestyle.
9. Take more Mediterranean products in your diet. Some examples:. Olive oil, olives, artichokes, basil pesto, eggplant, sun dried tomatoes, zucchini, tomatoes, ricotta, fresh herbs, fish and pasta (not cream-based Alfredo pasta as a solid material fat, I've always wondered, could eat as the restaurant) .
10. Try to eat three times a day regularly and avoid snacking between meals. Instead, drink more water purified through reverse osmosis or distilled water. Different types of mineral water has fluoride added to it and I can not recommend it for that reason.
11. Take a vitamin and minerals, but be aware that they do not really replace vitamins in fruits and vegetables. The best vitamin supplements are not synthetic varieties, extracted from all foods. They are usually difficult to find and expensive, but can be found in some health food stores.
12. If cooking fruits and vegetables you choose the best cooking methods to preserve vitamins in food.
13. If the food you serve at your job does not give a good variety of nutritious, healthy, should have a few brown bags of bread and some fruit for lunch. This way you can save money, as an added benefit to maintaining your health.
14. Find out which fruits and vegetables in season and buy a lot. With the purchase, which in the season, save money and enjoy the fresh and healthy foods on the market.
15. Last suggestion is probably the most important one to listen so carefully, NEVER consume aspartame, MSG (monosodium glutamate) and fluoride (yes, fluorine, a chemical compound that is said is good for the teeth). For the first two, you know what to do, the third is a little difficult to remove, but a reverse osmosis filter can remove them from the water. Three of them are vary dangerous neuro-toxin.
I hope that tips will be helpful and beneficial for your daily life.
Friday, July 22, 2011
High Blood Pressure (Hypertension) Treatments
According to Wikipedia, hypertension or high blood pressure is a cardiac chronic medical condition in which the systemic arterial blood pressure is elevated.
If you maintain prohibitive blood pressure, the basic gadget your doctor will commend is lifestyle changes. These changes may well include quitting smoking, losing weight, exercising frequently, dipping stress, and ingestion a diet rich in fruits and vegetables and low in fat and salt. �Many people can successfully lesser their blood pressure and like so risks of feeling disease by making lifestyle changes,� comments Daniel Jones, MD, dean of the train of medicine by the side of the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, and ancient president of the American Heart Association.
For many people, however, lifestyle changes forlorn may well not be an adequate amount. Clothed in with the aim of legal action, your doctor may well besides prescribe medications. Current guidelines from the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure, famous as the JNC7, commend a quantity of diverse classes of drugs to reduce blood pressure in citizens with moderate to unembellished disease.
The classes of drugs to be had to consider prohibitive blood pressure include:
- Diuretics: Also called "water pills," diuretics flush water and salt from your body. With a smaller amount water or fluid, to last against, the pressure in your blood vessels decreases. Some commonly prescribed diuretics are: Hydrochlorothiazide (Hydrodiuril, Aquazide H, Microzide), indapamide (Lozol, Natrilix SR), furosemide (Lasix), metolazone (Zaroxolyn, Mykrox), chlorthalidone and chlorothiazide (Diuril).
- Beta-blockers: Beta blockers lesser blood pressure by slowing your feeling rate and dipping the force with which the feeling muscle contracts. They resolve this by preventing adrenaline (epinephrine) from stimulating special receptors in your feeling. Some commonly prescribed beta-blockers include metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL), atenolol (Tenormin), carvedilol (Coreg, Dilatrend), nadolol (Corgard), and propranolol (Inderal).
- Alpha-blockers: These medications relax muscular tissue inside your blood vessels, by this means dipping your blood pressure. Commonly prescribed alpha-blockers include: Doxazosin (Cardura), prazosin (Minipress), and terazosin (Hytrin).
- Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs): These two classes of drugs workings by interfering with the belongings of angiotensin II, a hormone with the aim of can prime to increased blood pressure. Some commonly prescribed ACE inhibitors are: Benazepril (Lotensin), captopril (Capoten), enalapril (Vasotec), fosinopril (Monopril), lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril), quinapril (Accupril), and ramipril (Altace).
Losartan (Cozaar), candesartan (Atacand, Amias), valsartan (Diovan), irbesartan (Avapro, Karvea), and olmesartan (Olmetec, Benicar) are repeatedly used angiotensin II receptor blockers.
- Calcium channel blockers (CCBs): These medications decelerate the rate by the side of which calcium passes into your blood vessels, like so relaxing the vessels, hire blood pour more simply through them, and lowering your blood pressure. Commonly prescribed CCBs include: Amlodipine (Norvasc), diltiazem (Cardizem LA, Dilacor, Tiazac), felodipine (Plendil), nicardipine (Cardene), nifedipine (Procardia, Procardia XL), and nisoldipine (Sular).
Some patients, especially folks with more unembellished hypertension, may well need a combination of single or more drugs from diverse classes, Jones says.
Side Effects of High Blood Pressure Medications
While with all medications, blood pressure drugs are associated with piece belongings in selected people. Common piece belongings of prohibitive blood pressure medications include lightheadedness (especially whilst you attitude up similar to duplicity down), fatigue, inconvenience sleeping, dry opening, dry cough, headaches, flushing, nausea, bloating, constipation, and depression. Some men may well maintain problems maintaining an erection whilst they take some prohibitive blood pressure medications. Some antihypertensive drugs can besides cause the amount of potassium in your blood to fall.
�You should talk to your doctor not far off from some changes you notice,� Jones advises. If single medicine causes piece belongings, your doctor ought to toil with you to unearth a diverse medication to control your blood pressure.
Keeping High Blood Pressure Under Control
To decrease your venture of feeling disease and stroke, it is tremendously of great consequence with the aim of you take steps to keep your blood pressure under control. Clothed in addition to a healthy diet, regular problem, and avoiding smoking, anti-hypertensive medications can help, it�s immediately a carry some weight of pronouncement the appropriate drug or combination of drugs in place of you.
Increasing Metabolism for the Healthy Benefits
There is much remuneration to increasing your metabolism. You can maintain an increase in intensity in energy through barred the daylight hours, you�ll nap much better and probably the nearly everyone of great consequence physical condition benefit of all is you will lose influence and after that be able to keep with the aim of influence inedible. And here�s a benefit nearly everyone citizens don�t think not far off from. By simply increasing your metabolism you will burn more calories even whilst you are sleeping. With a decelerate but steady increase in intensity in metabolism it is promising to destroy the recommended single to two pounds of influence loss apiece week.
The attention-grabbing gadget not far off from increasing your metabolism is the verity with the aim of in order to burn calories the body needs calories. Actually biting calories can decelerate down your metabolism to the central theme someplace you are rebuff longer burning glut calories and your body begins to put in storage more fat. While everybody knows exercising is a high-quality way to lose influence. It is besides a high-quality way to increase in intensity your metabolism. But immediately like no matter which to boot it is the type of problem that�s of great consequence to your long designate influence loss goals. Many fitness and influence loss �gurus� maintain prime the broad-spectrum shared to believe with the aim of aerobic or cardio type workouts are the superlative way to lose influence.
While near is nothing abuse with liability folks types of problem and near are indeed lofty physical condition remuneration to liability them they are not the last part all and be all of influence loss. Here�s why. When liability aerobic workouts your metabolism does increase in intensity and your burn more calories after that you would sitting on the couch watching television. But pardon? Happens whilst your workout is on? Your metabolism slows down. Your are rebuff longer burning folks ultra calories. The type to increasing your metabolism is to increase in intensity your metabolic rate while resting. How resolve you resolve this? Weight training. Building lean muscle heap is a calorie burning system not solitary throughout the workout but besides stake workout whilst you are resting your muscles are rebuilding and this takes calories. The beauty of influence training is you can convert your workout to form your body however you find out fit.
Lifting weights will not build generously proportioned bulging muscles save you tailor your workout and lifestyle to resolve with the aim of. For women influence training is a lofty way to not solitary increase in intensity their metabolism but besides form and tone their body�s. The other benefit of influence training is the capability to keep inedible the influence once upon a time you maintain lost it. Slant muscle heap requires generously proportioned amounts of caloric energy to retain itself. Combine these two metabolism boosting problem regimens mutually and you will really be on your way to down some amount of influence you hunger and keeping it inedible simply. The solitary gadget with the aim of is missing is the plea and liability to kind it go on and with the aim of is something with the aim of has to approach from inside.
Treatment Cure for Diabetes
Times were whilst being diagnosed with diabetes was the last part of the humankind though at the moment, however with lofty advances in knowledge and therapeutic science near is a smaller amount goal to be anxious as near are a quantity of diverse diabetes treatments to take custody of the snag together with taking medications while it is besides promising to resolve not including them. However, once upon a time you are diagnosed with diabetes you ought to just now consult with a doctor who will after that prescribes the superlative diabetes medicine in place of your regard legal action.
Diet and Exercises
Though it is promising to take diabetes medicine not including resorting to medications and injections, the deciding cause would be the type of diabetes with the aim of is heartwarming you and its causes as well as your give to state of being. Among the other diabetes treatments with the aim of you ought to consider using is performing sufficiently of problem while chalking barred a proper diet has besides proven to be very successful. Since you form some behavior with the aim of are a answer of your diet and problem regime, this is single lofty way of humanizing your diabetes snag as it helps to reduce the venture of complications while besides brings blood baby levels to handy levels. And, if with the aim of is not an adequate amount, this kind of diabetes medicine can besides help in the prevention of the disease under some circumstances.
Diet is indeed a very successful diabetes medicine which channel changing your lifestyle in order to bring elevated blood baby levels down to regular, and it will prevent you from misery from other complications as well. Clothed in verity, heaviness is between the leading causes of suitable a diabetic, which requires down influence so with the aim of it will help you happen to a smaller amount of a diabetic, figuratively speaking.
When you consider diet as your method of diabetes medicine, you ought to solitary take a meal with the aim of has a smaller amount of baby and besides as little of saturated fat as is promising, and worry more of fibrous content with the aim of is much healthier. Another aspect to diet as your method of diabetes medicine is being unfailing with your diet which requires ingestion the same amount of calories throughout the daylight hours which will like so not cause some problems with blood baby and keep it in the regular range as well.
But, diet forlorn may well not be an adequate amount as your diabetes medicine, and it ought to be accompanied with proper problem which will resolve wonders in place of your diabetes condition. Clothed in verity, you ought to kind it a central theme to problem thrice in a week in place of not far off from twenty minutes in place of both problems which ought to resolve you well, and jogging and besides walking is besides advantageous to your well-being.
Other diabetes treatments with the aim of you may well besides think not far off from in place of your diabetes condition are using medications or even insulin injections though you ought to besides television your blood baby by the side of regular intervals so with the aim of you can control the dosage. The substructure line is with the aim of you need to take all these requisite steps to ensure with the aim of your diabetes medicine provides you with greatest extent remuneration.
Good Nutrition for a Healthy Heart
Maximum heart health, you should eat a balanced diet. But what does this mean? "Try a diet low in saturated fat and high in fiber," Lisa R. Young, Ph.D., RD, associate professor in the department advises on nutrition, food safety and public health studies at New York University. Here's how such a plan in place.
Diet for a healthy heart: Get plenty of fiber
The fiber helps reduce cholesterol and the risk of diabetes (a risk factor for cardiovascular disease) and certain cancers. "We are based on 25 grams of fiber per day recommended for men a little more. It depends on your weight," says Young. "Most Americans eat a lot, lot less. If you follow a good diet, you will have enough of it, but many of us don�t."
The best way to get fiber to your diet is a variety of whole grains and a mixture of fruits and vegetables, which contain foods rich in soluble and insoluble fiber. Soluble fiber helps the cholesterol in the blood clear. Good sources of soluble fiber are oats, barley, dried beans and peas, the insoluble fiber found in vegetables such as turnips and Brussels sprouts, whole wheat bread, and to find.
Diet for a healthy heart: The role of carbohydrates
Carbohydrates should be from about 50 to 60 percent of your diet. In addition to fresh fruits and vegetables, you get your carbohydrates from vegetables, whole meal bread and pasta and brown rice. Carbohydrates from these sources as well as it nutrients, vitamins and fiber, in addition to providing calories.
However, Young said that many vehicles carbohydrates for saturated fats like butter, sour cream, cream cheese and dips and spreads. It is not good news, because saturated fat raises your LDL or "bad" cholesterol. To watch what you want on your carbs and how much you eat.
- Eat the right carbohydrates and fats right. While too much LDL cholesterol is bad news, to replace the fat in the diet with carbohydrates is not the answer. "A diet rich in carbohydrates and low in fat reduces HDL cholesterol," says Young. HDL-cholesterol in a couple of good (unsaturated) fat is really good for the heart.
- Understand the role of triglycerides. Fruits and vegetables contain carbohydrates and are packed with nutrients the body needs. Other simple carbohydrates such as bread, cakes, biscuits and white, refined flour have less nutritional value. After we eat, our body converts carbohydrates, fats and proteins to triglycerides, the chemical that cells us our energy. We need triglyceride fuel us during the day. But too much of this substance was found to reduce the risk of increased heart disease. "It depends on the type of carbohydrate," says Young. "White bread, for example, increased triglycerides."
Diet for heart health: Vitamins for the heart
Although many people swear by vitamins and minerals, there is not much evidence to the idea that vitamin particular good support for the heart. "It was a much talked about vitamin E and did not really pan," said Young, "and folate, B-6, B-12 - does not work these vitamins."
"As they say, there are no quick fixes and no miracle," said Young most of us can get all the nutrients found that our hearts need a balanced diet -. Lots of fresh fruit, vegetables and whole grains.
Although many people swear by vitamins and minerals, there is not much evidence to the idea that vitamin particular good support for the heart. "It was a much talked about vitamin E and did not really pan," said Young, "and folate, B-6, B-12 - does not work these vitamins."
"As they say, there are no quick fixes and no miracle," said Young most of us can get all the nutrients found that our hearts need a balanced diet -. Lots of fresh fruit, vegetables and whole grains.
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Vaginal Dryness : Symptoms, Causes, Treatments and Home Remedies
Vaginal dryness is a common problem for women during and after menopause, although inadequate vaginal lubrication can occur at any age. Vaginal dryness is a hallmark sign of vaginal atrophy (atrophic vaginitis) � thinning and inflammation of the vaginal walls due to a decline in estrogen. Along with vaginal dryness, you might also have itching and stinging around the vaginal opening and in the lower third of the vagina.
Vaginal dryness can make intercourse uncomfortable. Most vaginal lubrication consists of clear fluid that seeps through the walls of the blood vessels encircling the vagina. When you're sexually aroused, more blood flows to your pelvic organs, creating more lubricating vaginal fluid. But the hormonal changes of menopause, childbirth and breast-feeding may disrupt this process.
Symptoms
Vaginal dryness may be accompanied by signs and symptoms such as:
.Itching
.Burning
.Soreness
.Pain or light bleeding with sex
.Urinary frequency or urgency
Causes of Vaginal Dryness
There are many factors that may lead to vaginal dryness. Some of them are:
.Diaphragms
.Condoms
.Tampons
.Drying soaps
.Douches
.Medications (antihistamines/decongestants, antidepressants, antibiotics)
.Chemotherapy and radiation
.Allergens (for example the fragrances and dyes in toilet paper)
While all of these may cause problems with lubrication, the main cause of vaginal dryness remains low estrogen levels.
Treatments and Home Remedies
The diagnosis of the causes for vaginal dryness is necessary, but home remedies for vaginal dryness can relieve the condition while treating any significant disease or psychological issues. There are some treatments and effective home remedies for vaginal dryness which are mentioned ahead.
. To keep body hydrated drink at least 10 glasses of water. It will help to relieve the dryness.
. Apply Vaseline on the external and also within the lips of the vagina. It helps with the itching, dryness, and also a great lubricant.
. Vitamin E oil is good too. Apply the oil with your finger into the inside wall of your vagina.
. Aloe vera if consumed with saffron, winter cherry and milk at night is known to increase vaginal lubrication.
. Use a cotton pad and dip in sesame oil. Massage the vaginal walls daily to help in restoring vaginal lubrication.
. Including yogurt, rice, barley and corn in everyday meals is also known to reduce vaginal dryness.
. Apply around � tsp of comfrey salve to your vaginal area daily after taking a bath. Comfrey contains allantoin which helps in soothing the irritated tissues and stimulates the growth of new and healthy cells.
. Fatty fish like salmon and sardines are a good source of omega-3 fatty acids. It is very important for you to have these foods as they keep the cells healthy and naturally cure infection.
. Consume flax oil several times a day as a regular treatment for vaginal dryness. You can also substitute the oil for one to two tablespoons of freshly ground flaxseeds.
. Applying wild yams to the affected area can give relief. Typically, this is done with creams that are made with wild yam. Wild yam is a natural source of estrogen, thus, increasing the estrogen levels in the vaginal area.
. Local application of turmeric or tea tree oil is considered beneficial. Both, turmeric and tea tree oil are considered to have strong anti-bacterial properties which in turn can improve the infection.
. Eat more soy-based foods, such as soymilk and tofu, into your diet, Valuable options include tofu, soymilk, soy yogurt, miso and boiled or steamed soybeans.
. Other good natural remedies for the treatment of vaginal dryness include taking Kudzu. A study showed that healthy postmenopausal women that took a Kudzu capsule daily for 24 weeks showed improvements in vaginal dryness.
. Take a glass of water and add a teaspoon of fenugreek seeds and allow it to boil for 10-15 minutes.
. Herbs such as Dong Quai, a very well known Chinese herb helps to support balance of female hormones and to promote hormonal health. Available as a supplement at most natural health stores.
. Regularly drink fresh milk with 1 teaspoon of saffron in it. This will help to reduce vaginal dryness.
. Squeeze the oil of 6 vitamin E capsule into a cup. Add 5 teaspoon of black cohosh cream and mix. Apply it to the inside part as well outside of the vagina two or three times a day till relief.
. Take a cup of oat straw regularly to keeps the female reproductive organs in good condition and helps the skin glow.
. Try Kegel exercises since they may increase circulation to the pelvic area and thus help you keep vaginal tissue healthy and strong.
~source:mayoclinic.com~
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Weight Gain and Weight Loss in a Traditional African Society
The Massas is an ethnic group in Northern Cameroon that subsists mostly on plain sorghum loaves and porridge, along with a small amount of milk, fish and vegetables (1, 2). They have a peculiar tradition called Guru Walla that is only undertaken by men (2, 1):
Read more �
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Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Vaginal Itching : Causes, Home Remedies and Preventions
Vaginal itching is a tingling or uneasy irritation of the skin of the vagina and the surrounding area (vulva). The itching may cause a desire to scratch the affected area. Many women will experience vaginal itching at some point during their lives. It�s an unpleasant condition that needs proper care.
Causes
Common causes of vaginal itching include:
.Chemical irritants -- such as detergents, fabric softeners, feminine sprays, ointments, creams, douches, and contraceptive foams or jellies.
.Menopause -- the drop in estrogen causes thinning of the vaginal wall and less lubrication.
.Stress -- may increase vaginal itching and make you more susceptible to infections.
.Vaginal yeast infection -- often includes a discharge that is white and curd-like. Vaginal yeast infections can be brought on by antibiotics, birth control pills, pregnancy, menstruation, condom use, sexual intercourse, diabetes, and a weakened immune system.
.Vaginitis -- inflammation, itching, discharge, and odor caused by other infections (including sexually transmitted diseases). Vaginitis in girls before puberty is common. If a young girl has a sexually transmitted vaginal infection, however, sexual abuse must be considered and addressed.
Other possible, but less common, causes of vaginal or vulvar itching include the presence of other skin conditions that may or may not be precancerous, and pinworms -- a condition that primarily infects children.
Home Remedies
The following are some commonly used home remedies are proven in most patients with vaginal itching. These home remedies have worked for many women with vaginal itching but the results can vary from person to person.
. Mix three tablespoons of the apple cider vinegar, in one quart of warm water and fill your douche bag. You can safely do this twice a day to make the itching go away.
. Regular consumption of ginseng may act as a replacement for lowered estrogen levels, and eliminate the dryness, itching and burning associated with menopause.
. Apply ice or a cold compress for immediate relief from the itching. This is especially effective at night when the itching is most intense.
. Fill a shallow tub or sitz bath with warm water and a half cup of salt. Stir until the salt dissolves, then sit in the water for 10 to 15 minutes.
. Eat 1 cup of yogurt a day. Make sure the yogurt doesn't contain any sugar and that it has live acidophilus cultures in it. Acidophilus helps control the fungus that causes yeast infections.
. Apply yogurt to the vulva to help relieve external itching.
. Rinse your vagina with warm water mixed with 2 tablespoons of cider vinegar twice a day for two days.
. Increase your intake of foods high in vitamin C, such as citrus fruits, tomatoes, strawberries and broccoli.
. Apply aloe vera gel liberally to the affected area. Repeat process until you get relief from itching.
. Drink 1-2 cups of nettle tea daily to get relief from this problem. Add 1 tabelspoon of dried nettle leaves to a cup of boiling water
. Apple cider vinegar mixed with yogurt and water can be dabbed on the irritated area with a washcloth. Wash with cool water if there is a stinging sensation.
. Buttermilk provides good results in stopping the growth of bacteria, which may cause the itching. Apply it to the vaginal area or drink it everyday.
. Garlic is also used for feminine itching due to its antifungal properties. Create a drink made from crushed whole garlic and water, and consume until itching is gone.
. Herbal extracts are ideal for home remedies, specifically extracts of olive leaves, grapefruit seed and slippery elm.
. Boil a tablespoon of the dried rind of pomegranate in 2 cups of water, strain and use as vaginal douche for the fishy smell and irritation.
. Boil 150 gm of lady finger in two cups of water, for about 15-20 minutes. Strain the water and add little sugar to taste. Take 50-100 ml of the decoction at frequent intervals to treat vaginal itching or vaginitis.
. Extract juice from fresh henna leaves and take a tablespoon twice a day. Take one on empty stomach in the morning, and another, 4-6 hours after lunch. Take this for ten days to cure symptoms of vaginitis.
. Add a sliced banana to a tablespoon each of honey and gooseberry juice, and eat it daily for a few days to get relief from vaginal itching.
. Juice some asparagus roots and take a tablespoon of it two times in a day for 2 weeks to treat vaginal itching.
. Boil a tablespoon of the dried rind of pomegranate in 2 cups of water, strain and use as vaginal douche for the fishy smell and itching.
. Boil 1 thread of saffron in � cup of water with a teaspoon of milk added to it. Boil until � of the solution remains, and drink it daily to cure vaginal itching, discharges, burning, and irritations.
Preventions
Once your genital itching is relieved and remedied, you�ll want to take the proper steps to keep it from happening again. Assuming you�ve had a pelvic exam and have ruled out any sexually transmitted disease itching or symptoms (which may require antibiotics), you can follow these steps to prevent vaginal itching from occurring in the future.
- Use well washed under garments.
- Maintain good toilet hygiene.
- Always take a warm bath.
- Avoid irritants like scented tampons.
- Use condoms during sexual intercourse.
- Always keep vaginal area clean.
- Clean your vagina area thoroughly after having sex.
- Avoid tight clothes and wear cotton panties.
- Avoid douching as it disturbs the balance of the microorganisms within the vagina.
- Be sure to clean diaphragms, cervical caps and spermicide applicators after each use.
- Take care to clean the anal area from front to back to prevent the intestinal bacteria from spreading into the vagina.
~source:simple-remedies.com~
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