Natural Alternatives to Medications
Painkillers in Your Kitchen
WARNING: These natural remedies here are submitted by numerous people from around the world, and we have no way to test or verify every remedy. As such these home remedies should be used for academic purposes only. Never use any home remedy or other self-treatment without being advised to do so by a physician.
Make muscle pain a memory with ginger:
Danish researchers added ginger to the diet of those with muscle and joint pain to find the swelling and stiffness for up to 63 % of them abated within 2 months. Experts credit ginger’s potent compounds called gingerols, which prevent the production of pain-triggering hormones. The study-recommended dose:
Add at least 1 teaspoon of dried ginger or 2 teaspoons of chopped ginger to meals daily.
Cure a toothache with cloves:
Got a toothache and can’t get to the dentist? Gently chewing on a clove can ease tooth pain and gum inflammation for 2 hours straight, say UCLA researchers. Experts point to a natural compound in cloves called eugenol, a powerful, natural anesthetic.
Bonus: Sprinkling a 1⁄4 teaspoon of ground cloves on meals daily may also protect your heart. Scientists say this helps stabilize blood sugar, and dampen the production of artery-clogging cholesterol in as little as three weeks.
​
​
Heal heartburn with apple cider vinegar:
Sip 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar mixed with 8 ounces of water before every meal and experts say you could shut down painful bouts of heartburn in as little as 24 hours. “Cider vinegar is rich in malic and tartaric acids, powerful digestive aids that speed the breakdown of fats and proteins so your stomach can empty quickly, before food washes up into the esophagus, triggering heartburn pain,” explains Joseph Brasco, M.D., a gastroenterologist at the Center for Colon and Digestive Diseases in Huntsville, AL.
Erase earaches with garlic:
To cure painful ear infections fast, just place 2 drops of warm garlic oil into your aching ear twice daily for 5 days. This simple treatment can clear up ear infections faster than prescription meds, say experts at the University Of New Mexico School Of Medicine (this is where my Dad taught at for 30 years!). Scientists say garlic’s active ingredients (germanium, selenium, and sulfur compounds) are naturally toxic to dozens of different pain-causing bacteria.
Make your own garlic oil: gently simmer three cloves of crushed garlic in a half a cup of extra virgin olive oil for 2 minutes, strain, then refrigerate for up to 2 weeks. For an optimal experience, warm this mix slightly before using it so the liquid will feel soothing in your ear canal. (Teresa Graedon, Ph.D., co-author of the book, Best Choices From The People’s Pharmacy).
Chase away joint and headache pain with cherries:
If you struggle with arthritis, gout, or chronic headaches, try a daily bowl of cherries. This could ease your aches, without the stomach upset so often triggered by today’s painkillers, say researchers at East Lansing’s Michigan State University. Their research reveals that anthocyanins, the compounds that give cherries their brilliant red color, are anti-inflammatories 10 times stronger than ibuprofen and aspirin. “Anthocyanins help shut down the powerful enzymes that kick-start tissue inflammation, so they can
prevent, as well as treat, many different kinds of pain,” explains Muraleedharan Nair, Ph.D., professor of food science at Michigan State University.
His advice: Enjoy 20 cherries (fresh, frozen or dried) daily continuing until your pain disappears.
Fight tummy troubles with fish:
Eating 18 ounces of fish weekly may help with your indigestion, irritable bowel syndrome, and inflammatory bowel diseases. Repeated studies show that the fatty acids in fish, called EPA and DHA, can significantly reduce intestinal inflammation,
cramping, and belly pain and, in some cases, provide as much relief as corticosteroids and other prescription meds. “EPA and DHA are powerful, natural, side-effect-free anti-inflammatories, that can dramatically improve the function of the entire gastrointestinal
tract,” explains biological chemist Barry Sears, Ph.D., president of the Inflammation Research Foundation in Marblehead, MA.
For best results, look for oily fish like salmon, sardines, tuna, mackerel, trout, and herring.
Prevent PMS with yogurt:
Snacking on 2 cups of yogurt a day can slash the symptoms of PMS by 48 %, say researchers at New York’s Columbia University. “Yogurt is rich in calcium, a mineral that naturally calms the nervous system, preventing painful symptoms even when hormones
are in flux,” explains Mary Jane Minkin, M.D., a professor of gynecology at Yale University.
​
​
Tame chronic pain with turmeric:
Studies show turmeric, a popular East Indian spice, is actually three times more effective at easing pain than aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen, plus it can help relieve chronic pain for 50 % of people struggling with arthritis and even fibromyalgia, according to Cornell researchers. That’s because turmeric’s active ingredient, curcumin, naturally shuts down cyclooxygenase 2, an enzyme that churns out a stream of pain-producing hormones, explains nutrition researcher Julian Whitaker, M.D., and author of the book,
Reversing Diabetes:
The study-recommended dose: Sprinkle 1/4 teaspoon of Tumeric daily on any rice, poultry, meat, or vegetable dish.
End endometrial pain with oats
The ticket to soothing endometriosis pain could be a daily bowl of oatmeal.
Endometriosis occurs when little bits of the uterine lining detach and grow outside of the uterus. Experts say these migrating cells cause inflammation that triggers severe pain. Fortunately, scientists say opting for a diet rich in oats can help reduce endometrial pain for up to 60 % of women within six months. That’s because oats don’t contain gluten, a trouble-making protein that triggers inflammation in many women, making endometriosis difficult to bear, explains Peter Green, M.D., professor of medicine at
Colombia University.
​
​
Soothe foot pain with salt:
Experts say at least 6 million Americans develop painful ingrown toenails each year. But regularly soaking ingrown nails in warm salt water baths can cure these painful infections within 4 days, say scientists at California’s Stanford University. The salt in the mix naturally nixes inflammation, plus its anti-bacterial, so it quickly destroys the germs that cause swelling and pain.
Just mix 1 teaspoon of salt into each cup of water, heat to the warmest temperature that you can comfortably stand, and then soak the affected foot area for 20 minutes twice daily until your infection subsides.
Prevent digestive upsets with pineapple:
1 cup of fresh pineapple daily can cut painful bloating within 72 hours, say researchers at California’s Stanford University. That's because pineapple is naturally packed with proteolytic enzymes, digestive aids that help speed the breakdown of pain-causing
proteins in the stomach and small intestine, say USDA researchers.
​
Relax painful muscles with peppermint:
Suffering from tight, sore muscles? Stubborn knots can hang around for months if they aren’t properly treated, says naturopath Mark Stengler, N.D., author of the book, The Natural Physician’s Healing Therapies.
His advice: 3 times each week, soak in a warm tub scented with 10 drops of peppermint oil. The warm water will relax your muscles, while the peppermint oil will naturally soothe your nerves easing muscle cramping 25 %more effectively than over-the-counter painkillers, and cut the frequency of future flare-ups in half, says Stengler.
​
​
Give your back some TLC with grapes:
Recent studies at Ohio State University suggest eating a heaping cup of grapes daily can relax tight blood vessels, significantly improving blood flow to damaged back tissues, often within 3 hours. Your back’s vertebrae and shock-absorbing discs are completely dependent on nearby blood vessels to bring them healing nutrients and oxygen, so improving blood flow is essential for healing damaged back tissue, says Stengler.
Wash away pain injuries with water:
Experts say water dilutes and then helps flush out, histamine, a pain-triggering compound produced by injured tissues. “Plus water is a key building block of the cartilage that cushions the ends of your bones, your joints’ lubricating fluid, and the soft discs in your spine,” adds Susan M. Kleiner, Ph.D., author of the book, The Good Mood Diet. “And when these tissues are well-hydrated, they can move and glide over each other without causing pain."
​
​
Heal sinus problems with horseradish:
Latest studies show sinusitis is the nation’s number one chronic health problem.
According to German researchers, Horseradish naturally revs up blood flow to the sinus cavities, helping to open and drain clogged sinuses and heal sinus infections more quickly than decongestant sprays do.
The study-recommended dose: 1 teaspoon twice daily (either on its own, or used as a sandwich or meat topping) until symptoms clear.
Beat bladder infections with blueberries:
Eating 1 cup of blueberries daily, fresh, frozen or in juice form, can cut your risk of a urinary tract infection (UTIs) by 60 %, according to researchers at New Jersey’s Rutgers University. That's because blueberries are loaded with tannins, plant compounds that
wrap around problem-causing bacteria in the bladder explains Amy Howell, Ph.D.
Heal mouth sores with honey:
Dab painful canker and cold sores with unpasteurized honey 4 times daily until they disappear, and they’ll heal 43 % faster than if you use a prescription cream, say researchers at the Dubai Specialized Medical Center in the United Arab Emirates. Raw honey’s natural enzymes zap inflammation, destroy invading viruses and speed the healing of damaged tissues, say the study authors.
​
Cure migraines with coffee:
Try taking your painkiller with coffee. Whatever over-the-counter pain med you prefer, researchers at the National Headache Foundation say washing it down with a strong 12- ounce cup of coffee will boost the effectiveness of your medication by 40 % or
more. Experts say caffeine stimulates the stomach lining to absorb painkillers more quickly and more effectively.
Tame leg cramps with tomato juice:
At least 1 in 5 people regularly struggle with leg cramps caused by potassium deficiencies, which occur when this mineral is flushed out by diuretics, caffeinated beverages, or heavy perspiration during exercise. But sip 10 ounces of potassium-rich tomato juice daily and you'll not only speed your recovery, but you'll also reduce your risk of painful cramp flare-ups in as little as 10 days, say UCLA researchers.
​
​
ORAL REHYDRATION/SALTS:
​
​
Chigger Bites:
Chigger bites are itchy red bumps made by the larvae of some mites. Chiggers are too small to be seen, but there are some steps you can take to prevent getting bitten.
PREVENTION:
Use DEET
Right Guard deodorant spray - Spray everywhere a chigger might go, especially everywhere below your waist. The chiggers will go to someone else.
​
Bounce Fabric Softener sheets - Rub a sheet all over your skin below the waist and on as much of your upper body as you want to protect, again the chiggers will find you not their liking and go elsewhere
Put the sulfur powder in a sock and dust it around ankles, waist, and wrist.
HOME REMEDIES: (Remember these are suggestions from many people. They may not work and if you know you have sensitive skin be careful what you put on it before consulting a doctor). Take a hot shower and douse with Listerine Cool Mint over the bites to find relief from the itching.
Chigarid. https://www.chigarid.com/
Chiggaway https://www.chiggaway.com
Take a small amount of softened butter and add an equal amount of table salt to it.
Apply the paste to the chigger bites and scrub them for as long as you can stand it. It actually feels pretty good. Leave the paste on overnight.
Rub Toothpaste on the bites.
50%water/50% bleach. Soak the bites.
​
Olive Oil
Ambesol
Neosporin
Hand Sanitizer 60% alcohol; it relieves the itch without stinging. It is also anti-bacterial so it will help to prevent infection.
Vicks Vapor Rub. The petroleum suffocates the bites and the methanol relieves itching.
Neosporin ointment on the bites helps the healing process and prevents infection.
​
​
The Ultimate Chigger Bite Relief Formulas:
#1
• 1 oz bottle of Tea Tree oil--Can be found at the local Wal-Mart store in the pharmacy
• 1⁄2 teaspoon dishwashing liquid--allows emulsification of the juice and oil
• 1⁄2 teaspoon Cayenne pepper
• 2 oz fresh pineapple juice.
THEN
1. Mix pineapple juice with dishwashing liquid
2. Add Tea Tree oil
3. Mix thoroughly
4. Add 1⁄2 teaspoon Cayenne Pepper (contains a strong pain-blocking substance)
5. Mix well
6. Apply to bites directly with Qtip at the first indication of itching
A slight burning may occur that will subside in a few seconds
7. Reapply as often as needed
WARNING: DO NOT LET THIS MIX GET INTO or AROUND the EYES
​
​
#2
Distilled white vinegar 5% it does stop itching & drys up bites
Dry Sage (grown in your garden) Chew a sage leaf just enough to break it & get it wet.
Apply to the bite. Hold on to the place with a piece of tape. It normally will be gone in a few minutes.
MOSQUITO REPELLENT-6 NATURAL OPTIONS
Before you grab the risky DEET-based mosquito repellent in an effort to keep the mosquitoes at bay, check out these six natural options that mosquitoes hate and you’ll soon love. If you think that natural means less effective, keep reading. Some of these mosquito repellents are MORE EFFECTIVE THAN DEET!
​
​
1. Citronella
The old standby. Be sure you’re using pure essential oil. (not fragrance oil, which is ineffective and potentially dangerous. Apply a few drops diluted in a carrier oil or natural moisturizer.
2. Catnip
Research at Iowa State University found that catnip essential oil is 10 times more effective than DEET at repelling mosquitoes. Like citronella be sure to use it diluted in a carrier oil or natural moisturizer.
3. Lavender essential oil
4. Soy oil
Better yet, choose organic soy oil as the carrier oil for catnip, lavender, and citronella essential oils. According to research published in The New England Journal of Medicine soybean oil-based mosquito repellents are as effective as DEET-containing repellents.
5. NEEM seed oil
“Neem oil” is extracted from a plant that grows in India. An ingredient in Neem seed oil has also been found to be more effective than DEET by researchers at the Malaria Institute in India. Both the US National Research Council and the Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association have confirmed this finding.
​
​
Read more: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/6-ways-to-beat-mosquitoes-naturally.html#ixzz1OFGIc2YL
​