We have all seen a pet repeatedly and even obsessively lick a wound, burn, or other injury, and probably understand that this is done to enable the animal to heal itself, due to the healing properties in the saliva. So is the same true for humans? Should we also be using saliva to help heal? Are the movies to be believed when the person spits on themselves to make a wound heal faster?
It is a fact that saliva does in fact have certain active immune properties and also has antimicrobial and antifungal proteins.
Also saliva contains growth factors that help in healing wounds.
For this reason, a burn or a cut inside the mouth will heal in one fifth the time that it takes to heal a similar injury at another site of the body. Also there will be no scarring.
However, there is a counter to this argument as well – saliva also contains certain bacteria, which, if brought on to the skin surface, will actually reduce the ability of the skin to overcome an infection.
So as of now, there is no clear indication as to whether we should be spitting on our wounds and burns or not!
Filed under Alternative Medicine, Holistic Healing, Natural Health Care by on Sep 7th, 2010. Comment.
Hemorrhoids are both painful and embarrassing, and there are remedies available for hemorrhoids that will help to manage the pain or try and get to the root of the problem and remove it.
Some natural remedies for hemorrhoids are:
- Application of ice to the affected portion for several minutes each day will help shrink the hemorrhoid and also help in healing. After a painful bowel movement is the best time to do this – it will help reduce the pain by numbing the area as well.
- Take a sitz bath – a hip bath of hot water for 10 to 20 minutes to reduce pain.
- Keep the anal area clean and as dry as possible using tissue and/or talcum powder.
- Don’t be rough while wiping, just dab instead else you end up irritating an already inflamed area.
- Eat a high fiber diet with lots of roughage – this helps to keep the stool softer and easier to pass.
- Drink plenty of water and other liquids.
- When you have to ‘go’ don’t delay since this ends up dehydrating the bowel movement and makes it even more difficult to pass.
Filed under Alternative Medicine, Holistic Healing, Natural Health Care by on Aug 11th, 2010. Comment.
Natural cures have been a topic of interest by many people for a very long time. In comparison to its conventional treatments, natural cures are known to be an alternative way to go, especially if for those who want to minimize the use of chemically manufactured medicines.
More often than not, natural cures become an evident option when people feel that they have done everything they could to cure their ailments and still have no results.
On a side note, natural cures have been a practice for many years. Ancient cultures have perfected the science of natural cures and have openly shared their secrets for the benefit of all those who need them. These natural cures, as they have been named so, have proven to have some significant results with the use of the basic ingredients that are all natural and safe for human use.
There are a lot of people who actually prefer the use of natural cures as a complete alternative to the more conventional treatments which are performed and prescribed in most modern hospitals today.
these people were asked the reason why they have decided to choose natural cures, their answers would have been very simple. Here are some of the reasons why people choose to benefit from these alternatives:
1. Natural Ingredients
Natural cures are made from healthy ingredients such as herbs and plant extracts. These ingredients are then carefully manufactured for human consumption so it can be easily taken for cures. The natural ingredients, in general, are the basic ingredients most conventional medicines use so a lot of people would rather put their options on the root itself.
2. Healthy option
The use of natural cures has no side effects to the body. This means that the use of these treatments do not harm organs that may cause long term complications in the future that may prove to be even more expensive to heal once it becomes terminal.
3. Healthy supplement
We cannot accept the fact that a lot of sicknesses, diseases, and preventive treatments are inevitable in one’s health status. Treatments and prescriptions usually take time before the actual healing process takes place so a lot of people supplement it with natural cures. They go hand in hand and have proven to produce spectacular results when combined with conventional treatments.
The wonders of natural cures cannot be left unnoticed, especially in a world that is aware of its significance. As awareness about health and its relativity to natural elements continue to spread, more people are becoming attuned to healing cures. There are all sorts of ailments these natural cures can relieve.
Sicknesses such as cancer, diabetes, skin asthma, asthma, and others are no exemption to the long list of ailments people seek cures for.
There are many forms of natural cures available for everyone who is interested in purchasing them. People can choose to either purchase products that are taken orally or topically.
For oral natural cures, they are available in tablet or capsule form. On the other hand, topical natural cures are available in ointments and creams. They are made available in local drug stores in your area as well as health stores. Before purchasing any natural cure products, be sure to check the expiration dates located and the product container itself.
Filed under Alternative Medicine, Holistic Healing, Natural Health Care by on Aug 2nd, 2010. Comment.
According to doctors at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi, new uses for the wonder spice turmeric have been found; the doctors claim turmeric can cure epilepsy, boost memory and reduce stress!
Epilepsy cure and management have always been problematic for doctors as well as patients, and the side effects of the drugs used (long-term antiepileptic drug or AED therapy) are damaging as well.
This study carried out by the researchers on rodents has been promising in terms of providing a possible cure for epilepsy.
AED therapy has been seen to impair cognitive development and damages essential macro molecules in the body in some cases and the goal of achieving treatment without side effects has been difficult so far because of phenytoin-induced cognitive impairment and oxidative stress.
The researchers found that when turmeric was administered orally along with phenytoin this prevented cognitive impairment and oxidative stress.
Turmeric has long been used in traditional medicine as a natural anti bacterial agent which prevents infections and speeds up the healing process. It is also known to help aid digestion and reduce inflammation.
Filed under Alternative Medicine, Holistic Healing, Natural Health Care by on Jul 27th, 2010. Comment.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is characterized fatigue, mental as well as physical that is chronically present for about 6 months or more.
It may follow an illness (which is why it is also known as post-viral fatigue syndrome) or may otherwise manifest itself along with other symptoms such as weakness, poor concentration, hypersensitivity, digestive disturbances, orthostatic intolerance, poor immunity, awakening tiredness from a full night’s sleep and cardiac/respiratory problems.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome can considerably hamper quality of life and full recovery is not common, however it is possible to control symptoms using a number of alternative and/or complementary treatments:
Ginseng
Siberian Ginseng is thought to improve conditions relating to the immune system and increase count of T-lymphocytes, which are found to be low in people with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Ginseng is also thought to enhance the immune response of people who are HIV positive.
Antioxidants
Antioxidants can help sufferers feel more energy by aiding the absorption of iron, metabolism of cells etc and can also help wounds heal faster. Vitamins A, C and E, selenium, beta carotene are also seen to help with CFS.
Ayurveda
The traditional Indian medicine system of Ayurveda can help to improve digestion and rid the body of toxins. This healing method depends upon the individuals’ own constitution or personality type, and formulation having constituents such as ashwagandha, amla, bala, triphala, and lomatium in different proportions may be prescribed.
Chinese Traditional Medicine
Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum) and Astragalus (Astragalus membranaceus) are thought to be helpful as treatment since they have natural antiviral, anti oxidant, anti inflammatory and anti bacterial properties.
Other herbal supplements
St John’s Wort is known to be useful in controlling certain symptoms such as depression, anxiety and sleeplessness among sufferers. Energy levels and appetite are also seen to increase, while inflammation is controlled.
Valerian is also seen to be a very effective natural sleep aid for CFS sufferers, without the harmful side effects of pharmaceutical sleep aids.
Licorice is also thought to improve levels of cortisol in the body that can offer an energy boost to CFS sufferers. Caution should be exercised with this supplement however if one is seen to suffer from hypertension, heart or liver disease.
Aromatherapy for CFS
Essential Oils are thought to offer redress for many of the symptoms of chronic fatigue. They can make a person feel revitalized and reenergized, help in pain management and foster feelings of positivity.
Filed under Alternative Medicine, Holistic Healing, Natural Health Care by on Jul 19th, 2010. Comment.
Pharmaceutical decongestants and expectorants may be effective in quelling a number of uncomfortable symptoms, however they contain artificial additives as well as drugs that make you drowsy and unproductive that may best be avoided in a lot of cases.
Foods that may help: Onions are a well known natural decongestant because they are seen to loosen the mucus that hamper easy breathing.
Even the fumes of an onion as you cut it up will help to loosen the mucus and actually eating onion in its raw form will definitely have a positive impact on lessening congestion. Bell peppers and other spicy food are also seen to help relieve congestion.
Steam: Steam is the time honored, tried and tested natural way to relieve congestion. You can use a steam vaporizer or simply do it the old fashioned way: use a pot of boiled water to inhale steam covering your head with a towel to direct the steam correctly.
Adding eucalyptus oil to the water is seen to enhance the benefits of steam inhalation.
A Neti Pot: This item helps direct saline water into the nasal passages to help clear them in a natural and painless way. Even without a neti pot, inhaling salt water through your nose in the correct manner will help to relieve your congestion.
Filed under Alternative Medicine, Holistic Healing, Natural Health Care by on Jul 16th, 2010. Comment.
Sore throat is the inflammation of the throat and most of the time is highly painful and its infection can last for long period of time if not properly treated.
It can be characterized by large tonsil which is the primary cause of difficulties in swallowing and breathing. It can also go together with a cough or a fever.
To address the pain, there are sore throat remedies to help you when needed.
Common causes of sore throat
- It can be caused by common viruses like the common flu and mononucleosis. It usually produces swelling in the mouth or the throat.
- It can also be caused by bacteria.
- When breathing through the mouth, because it is the source of dryness.
- Sinus drainage.
- It can be caused as an after effect of treatment with antibiotics and other immune related medications.
Remedies for sore throat
- Gargling with salt water is the most common of the sore throat remedies. You can mix ½ tsp. of salt with 4 oz of warm water for your solution. You can gargle every few hours in intervals or as needed.
- Another gargle solution for sore throat remedies is by mixing white vinegar, salt and squash vitamin c with water.
- Here’s a surprising sore throat remedy, the chili pepper gargle solution. Mix ½ tsp of dried chili or cayenne pepper in a small amount of water and gargle. The capsaicin in the chili pepper can numb the throat.
- Drinking a good number of liquids will also relieve you from sore throat and is among the highly advisable sore throat remedies. Be cautious however with acidic juices like orange because it can irritate your throat.
- Warm water with 2 tsp of honey and the juice of one piece lemon can also relive you from sore throat pains.
- Over the counter medicines like ibuprofen or acetaminophen helps in relieving the pain.
- A humidifier is also useful especially in taking precautionary measures against sore throat.
- For sore throat remedies for adults, should you experience clogging of the nasal area, you can use nasal sprays like afrin for two to three days to avoid breathing from the mouth which in turns causes sore throat. However, do not use it excessively, because you may become dependent on them.
- Decongestant products are excellent remedies for sore throat since they can also help in declogging your nasal area.
- Be careful when using hard candies like lozenges as your sore throat remedies. It may relieve the pain temporarily but it is not advisable for young kids because it can cause choking.
- Stop smoking, in case you are a smoker.
- After experiencing sore throat, it is best to throw away your toothbrush to avoid further contamination. As such, replacing your toothbrush preferably on a monthly basis is highly suggested if you are not sick.
- If sore throat lasts for more than two weeks or you have trouble in swallowing, immediately consult your doctor for the proper medication.
Filed under Alternative Medicine, Holistic Healing, Natural Health Care by on Jun 21st, 2010. Comment.















