Alternative Therapies and Health News

Treat the wounds and cuts immediately before it gets infected. Before trying out any of these home remedies, clean the wound thoroughly with soap and water, and remove the dirt and all foreign matters from the wound.

• Wash the wound well, apply ground ginger on it and bandage the wound.
• Apply garlic on the wound or cut. The allicin in garlic speeds up the healing process.
• If your skin has bruised, apply a cold compress for half an hour. After applying a cold compress, the next day, apply heat pads on the affected area to improve blood circulation.
• If the cut is deep or large, raise the injured part above the level of the heart to reduce the bleeding. Use a sterile gauze pad and apply pressure to stop bleeding.
• Apply turmeric powder over the wound and dress it with a bandage. Turmeric powder will stop the bleeding.
• Chamomile flower reduces swelling and prevents infection.
• Yarrow speeds up the clotting of blood in cuts.
• Include high amounts of garlic and onions in your diet.
• Avoid dairy products, sugar and white flour.
• Smoking interferes with blood supply and collagen metabolism thereby delaying the healing process. So avoid smoking.
• Apply apple cider vinegar and cold water on the bruise.
• Applying raw egg on the bruise also helps.

Make your own lip balm at home without adding any preservatives, artificial flavors, artificial colors or artificial sweeteners. Lip balm is usually a mixture of solid base and oil mostly in the ratio 1:2. But you can make your own changes as per your need and liking. First melt the base oil and then add the essential oil according to your choice. Adding vitamin oil will be good for your skin.

• Go to your nearest shop and get some beeswax, almond oil and shea butter. Mix beeswax and shea butter until the mixture looks clear. Add almond oil to the mixture and stir.
• Heat a quarter cup vegetable oil and quarter ounce beeswax until it melts. Add a teaspoon of glycerin. You can flavor it with peppermint flavoring oil.
• Mix beeswax, shea butter, mango butter and cocoa butter. Heat the mixture until it melts. Later add almond oil and flavoring.

Transfer these mixtures into containers. As the mixture gets set, your lip balm is ready. With these simple tips you need not visit any cosmetic shops or drug stores anymore to buy a lip balm. All you need to do is stir your creativity and taste for a while.

For those who like to spend time outdoors, beware of poison ivy. It is a three-leafed vine, notch edged, that if found in most parts of US. If it comes in contact to the skin, the plant can cause dermatitis. Children are more prone to this infection as they spend their time outdoors.

If your child develops a red, itchy rash all over his/her body, then it could be a poison ivy rash. Blisters filled with fluid might also appear. If not treated immediately, the symptoms will worsen over weeks. The rash appears when oil from the plant comes in contact with the skin. Though some are immune to poison ivy, for some people it takes multiple exposures for symptoms to appear. A person does not have to come in direct contact with the plant to get infected. You can also get affected by contaminated clothing.

• Learn to recognize poison ivy and also to avoid them.
• To avoid being exposed to the shrub, wear long and full covered pants, boots and long sleeved shirt.
• Quickly clean the exposed area by rubbing alcohol.
• Wash the exposed area with water.
• Covering the rash with a mixture of baking soda and cold water will give relief.
• If it is a slight exposure, applying calamine lotion or steroid cream will give relief.
• Ivy-Block is a lotion which, when applied to skin before going out will prevent the plants oil from penetrating into the skin.
• Avoid burning the plant as the smoke can cause severe reaction to those who are exposed to it.
• Cortisone preparations are helpful in treating poison ivy rash.
• Applying Burows lotion in the blistering area will also give relief.
• If Jewel Weed stems are crushed and applied, it will neutralize the poison ivy’s oily antigen called Urushiol.

Wash away all the clothing, pets and tools that might have been in contact with the plant.

Warts are a common problem among people, especially children. It is a skin infection caused by the human papilloma virus. People usually adopt different means like freezing, heat, laser therapy, acids and cryotherapy to treat warts. Cryotherapy is the most commonly used treatment to treat warts. The treatment includes application of liquid nitrogen for few weeks.  Children are usually afraid of this treatment as it might sometimes be painful.

According to experiments conducted on children, common wart (Verruca vulgaris) can be treated using the duct tape. In the duct tape therapy, the wart is covered with a duct tape and left to stay there for 5-6 days. If the tape comes off in between, replace it with another tape. On the 6th day, soak the wart with water and rub it with pumice stone. After that, apply another piece of tape on the wart and continue this process for 2 months. Studies show that only 60% of wart is cleared by cryotherapy; but use of duct tape helps remove almost 80% of the wart.

According to a report of the study conducted at the Madigan Army Medical Center in Tacoma, Washington, “Tape occlusion therapy can now be offered as a nonthreatening, painless, and inexpensive technique for the treatment of warts in children”. 

The tape irritates the wart and stimulates the immune system and suppresses the microorganisms that cause warts.

Dry skin can cause itching or rashes on your skin. It can affect any part of the body; but the most frequently affected part is the arms and legs. Dry skin is usually caused due to inability of the skin to retain moisture. Here are some simple tips for a smoother and younger looking skin.

• Avoid smoking and drinking alcohol.
• Drink plenty of water (at least 8 glasses) to keep your skin hydrated.
• Add oil (almond oil or olive oil) to your bath. Using bath oils and moisturizers daily would help. Oil stays more on the skin than moisturizers.
• Do not take bath in hot water for long durations.
• Avoid washing your face frequently; it might cause dehydration.
• Avoid using deodorants which can cause skin irritation.
• Increase the amount of essential fatty acids in your diet. It will help replace the moisture content of your skin and hair.
• Exfoliate your skin at least three times a week to get rid of dead cells. If dead cells remain on your skin, it lets the moisture escape from its cracks.
• Apply moisturizer to your skin.
• Limit the use of soap while bathing. After you take bath, pat your skin dry; and do not rub.
• Wear gloves when you wash clothes and dishes.
• Burrow’s solution that contains calcium acetate will be a great relief. Dilute one part of Burrow’s solution with 30 parts of water and apply on your skin.
• Dry skin usually lacks lipids that are found on normal skin that helps retain water on your skin. Use creams that help replace lipids on your skin.
• Do not overexpose your skin to sun. Apply sunscreen or moisturizer to those areas of skin that are prone to exposure.
• Extreme weather conditions can also cause dry skin. Use humidifier at home while central heating.

Dandruff is common among both men and women. It usually happens due to nutritional lack and poor blood circulation. It could also be hereditary. One must have a healthy and balanced diet, and also drink plenty of water.

Listed are some natural ways to treat dandruff:

• Mix vinegar with lemon in the ratio 2:1. Apply it on your scalp for 2-3 hours. Wash your hair with water. Continue the treatment for few months.
• Before going to bed apply olive oil on your scalp. In the morning wash your hair with shampoo.
• Mix coconut oil with castor oil in equal proportions. Warm the combination. Massage your scalp with this warm oil. Apply lemon juice after 3 hours. Let it remain for 2 hours more on your scalp. After that, wash your hair with shampoo. Repeat for 2-3 times a week.
• Rub aloe vera gel onto your scalp before hair wash. Aloe vera is considered to be an excellent treatment for dandruff.
• Applying henna on your hair mixed with lemon juice will also help. Let the henna remain on your hair and scalp for 2-3 hours before washing your hair.
   

Stretch marks are fine lines that develop on the body, as a normal puberty symptom. Stretch mark is a term that is used in describing a condition in which the tissue under the skin gets pulled because of overstretching and rapid growth.

Strech marks are reddish or purple color lines that are formed on the body that differ in texture from the surrounding skin. Stretch marks are a very common problem , among both the genders.

Common Causes Of Stretch Marks:

• Pregnancy
• Obesity
• Rapid weight loss
• Body building
• Hormonal disorders
• Insufficiency of nutrients in the body
• Sudden difference in physical or environmental conditions some medications
• Use of steroids

Here are a Few Effective Stretch Mark Remedies:

• Drink lots of water, because it helps in increasing the elasticity of skin, thus preventing the formation of stretch marks. This is proven to be a very effective stretch marks remedy.
• Eat a well-balanced nutritious diet, such that you dont put on too much weight. Keep a watch on your food because weight gain can also become a cause for the formation of stretch marks.
• Massaging the area of stretch marks has proven to be a good home remedy for the stretch marks removal. You can use olive oil, flaxseed oil, vitamin E oil or cod liver oil for the massage.
• It is the loosening or stretching of skin which causes stretch marks. To tone your body, exercise well.
• Use cocoa butter and apply it on the stretch marks.

Following are some effective home remedies to treat wrinkles:

• Apply the egg white part of an  egg  to the problematic area as it serves as an effective home remedy for wrinkles.
• Apply some odorless castor oil on the skin that sags under the eyes or on the throat.
• Apply some coconut oil and massage it on the wrinkled skin.
• Everyday eat 1 tsp of shredded ginger along with a few drops of honey every morning.
• Rub the core of a pineapple over the face for sometime and leave it on for around 10 to 15 minutes.
• A paste of turmeric made with sugarcane juice is great to get rid of wrinkles and slow skin ageing.
• Prepare a mixture of honey, olive oil and cream. Apply it on the face. It gives very good results.
• Regular facials are necessary to control wrinkles.
• Have a balanced diet which includes fruits, vegetables, whole grain foods, seeds, nuts and legumes.

Eczema is quite common as a skin disease. Check the following remedies proven to be effective in soothing eczema.

• Rub a nutmeg against a smooth stone along with some water. Make a smooth paste and then apply it on your skin.
• Add a tablespoon of turmeric powder to a tbsp of neem leaves. Grind this to a paste and apply.
• Apply a mixture of 1 tsp camphor and 1 tsp sandalwood paste on the rashes.
• Apply some natural vitamin E on the affected skin, this will relieve it of itching.
• Zinc taken both orally and when applied directly on skin is effective.
• Shark cartilage and blueberry leaves lotion help in reducing inflammation.
• Use a pine tar soap to wash the affected skin.
• Drinking tomato juice everyday will help curing the symptoms in a few days.

Diet for Eczema:
It is a misconception that diet causes eczema. Food can only causes allergy. It is the genes of a person that causes eczema. If you are allergic or sensitive to certain foods then try avoiding them, because they could trigger eczema. Avoid dairy products, eggs, nuts, preservatives and citrus fruits which are more likely to trigger eczema.

All of us fancy a golden tan, but when it gets a little more than needed it can lead to a sun burn. A sun burn can be painful and makes one look ugly. But dont fear as it wont stay on your body for long, here are some tips to soothe a sunburn:

• Use Aspirin first, it will reduce the pain.
• Put a cold wet compress that will make you feel better immediately.
• Soak yourself in a tub of cool water containing a cup of white vinegar in the bath.
• Apply aloe gel generously to the burnt area.
• Rub the sunburned area with some fresh cucumber slices
• Apply ice or cold water to the burned area. This will soothe the burning process and cool the skin
• Apply peppermint oil to the sunburned skin. You can also make a mild peppermint infusion and use it as a wash to cool the sunburn
• Grate a potato and apply iton the burned area. The starch will cool and soothe the burn
• mix equal quantities of yogurt and mashed strawberries and apply it to the sunburned area for 15 minutes. Rinse the area with cool water.
• Mix the juice of three lemons into two cups of cold water and then sponge the sunburnt area. The lemon will cool the burn, act as a disinfectant, and will promote healing of the skin

If the burn is really bad then please go to a doctor. Another important thing to remmeber, be very careful before going into the sun, overexposure to the sun prematurely ages the skin and also increases the risk of skin cancer. So dont forget to use a sun blok or sun screen before facing the sun.

You don’t need to spend thousands of dollars to get beautiful and healthy skin. Just follow a few sedu guidelines to get a flawless skin easily and naturally:

1. Eat healthy. Avoid foods that cause breakouts and pimples, this will make your skin less oily and more resistant to blemishes. Avoid junk and fried foods like fries, chocolates, pizzas and soft drinks. You dont need to give up everything that is bad for your skin. You can eat these things in moderation.

2. Keep your skin hydrated at all times. Drink atleast eight glasses of water every day to flush out the toxins from your body.

3. Exercise regularly. You can do some aerobic exercises, walking, running, cycling or swimming. Play some outdoor games to keep your body fit and active. Exercise helps in proper blood circulation and gives a natural glow to your skin.

4. Limit exposure to sun. Use a good sunscreen or sunblock cream whenever you step out. Also wear a hat and sunglasses and avoid going out in the sun during the peak hours between 11 a.m and 3 p.m.

5. Follow a regular cleansing routine. Cleanse and moisturize your skin with a good cream every day. Also tone and exfoliate your skin once in 2 days. Do not use hot water to wash your face.

6. Remove all traces of makeup before going to bed every night.

7. Use a facial mask once or twice in a week to refresh your face.

Our hands are the most used but probably the most neglected parts of our body. We try to keep our face glowing and vibrant all the time, but turn up at parties with dirty hands and fingernails. And most of us don’t have the time to visit a saloon and get a manicure done.

Here are some simple and quick steps to do manicure in a few minutes:

1. Remove all old nail polish from your nails.

2. Wash your hands thoroughly. Then cut your fingernails. Wash your hands again after cutting.

3. Now shape your nails. Take a nail file and file the corners of your nails. Avoid using a sawing motion, as this makes the nails brittle. Take your nail file to a corner and using an upward motion, file to the center of your nail.

4. Now soak your fingers in a bowl of warm, soapy water to soften the cuticles and loosen the dirt.

5. Now remove all the dirt from under the nails. And push back the cuticles using the stick. Wash your hands again.

6. Now soak your hands in a bowl of warm water to which a little lime juice and johnson’s baby shampoo has been added. Do this for 15 minutes. Then rinse off your hands.

7. Use a good moisturise to massage the hands and cuticles. This will make your hands soft and silky smooth.

Voila ! Now your hands are ready to be shown off everywhere with pride.