Home Cures and Treatments

Natural Remedies – Alternative Healing Methods

ninaer — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 20:10:22 +0000

There has been a real shift in the way people think about their health. They are realizing that conventional medicine is expensive and sometimes dangerous–and not always effective. While the term alternative medicine may conjure up some pretty exotic images, many of these therapies are more familiar than you think. If you’ve ever massaged your temples to ease a headache, applied an ice pack to a sprained ankle or listened to your car radio to de-stress during a traffic jam, you’ve already practiced some simple natural healing techniques.

Some mainstream doctors have begun to recommend natural, drug free therapies to treat both everyday complaints and serious illness. Dietary modification, for instance has become the weapon of choice against a number of diseases that would have been treated mainly with prescription drugs a generation ago.

While natural therapies have been described as the wave of the future, they’re actually much older than Western treatments such as surgeries and antibiotics. Ayurveda, the traditional medicine of India has been around for 5,000 years. Ancient Egyptians used fragrant oils in what may have been an early version of aromatherapy, and hydrotherapy was practiced in ancient Greece and Rome. And homeopathy, one of the newest techniques, is more than 200 years old.

The naturopaths are really on to something. Instead of prescribing an antibiotic to wipe out an infection, a naturopathic physician might prescribe a combination of natural remedies to attack the infection but then will also try to determine which factors in the patient’s daily life–such as stress, poor nutrition or inadequate exercise–made him susceptible to the illness in the first place. A natural healer may use a combination of juices, vitamin and mineral supplements, dietary changes and other therapies to build up the immune system. As the immune system becomes stronger, antibacterial and antiviral herbs and homeopathic preparations can be used to zero in on the infection.

That is not to say that alternative treatment should be a substitute for conventional medicine. Most alternative health practitioners believe that the best care involves considering all options, including conventional medicine. Good holistic doctors recognize that regular medicine really is best in certain areas, especially emergency situations. Using an inhaler during an attack can save the life of someone with asthma. What it can’t do is improve the condition in the long term. That’s where other treatments come in.

Whether changing your diet or relaxing with meditation, people who take the natural approach report feeling more in charge of their health. The whole idea is to break the cycle of dependency, to get people well and keep them out of the doctor’s office when it’s not necessary.

Where do I find it?

ninaer — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 10:23:08 +0000

The content of my posts have been focused on passing on home remedies that have been used for generations. I always try to find a natural way to prevent an illness or to cure one before I resort to taking myself or a family member to a physician. Well, unless it is an emergency I know I can’t handle and I do have a primary care physician and health insurance for such instances.

It would be impossible for me to remember all the ways of natural healing for each problem and I do resort to my books and my notes to find the proper treatment for each person. If you don’t have a library of books, I suggest you begin collecting them.

It is so important that healing starts within, not only for the person being treated, but for the healer as well. Here are two suggestions for E-Books that could get you started:
Click Here! “>Habit Guide: How to be Happy and Healthy
Click Here! “>The Power of Positive Habits

Nutrition has everything to do with our good health and a book that contains information on the healing properties of food is a must in your library. One in particular is
Click Here! “>Miracle Superfoods

You do need a quick and easy encyclopedia of Natural Cures and Home Remedies to refer to. Always be aware that even Natural remedies can have side effects. Some people are allergic to certain compounds. One book that contains very good data is
Click Here! “>Home Remedies for Better Health

I hope that these suggestions will be of help to you and that your health and the health of your loved ones will improve with your journey into the ways of natural healing.

ROUGH HANDS

ninaer — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 15:48:48 +0000

For those chapped hands, try some honey. Wet your hands and shake off the water without actually drying them. Then rub some honey all over your hands. When they’re completely honey coated, let them stay that way for five minutes. ( This will give you the opportunity to lean back, close your eyes and relax for five minutes)

Next, rub your hands as you rinse them under tepid water. Then pat your hands dry. Do this every day until you want to clap hands for your un-chapped hands.

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Also, you can take 1 teaspoon of granulated sugar in the palm of your hand and add a few drops of castor oil and enough fresh lemon juice to totally moisten the sugar. Vigorously massage your hands together for a few minutes. Rinse with tepid water and pat dry. This hand scrub should leave hands smooth and , in the process, remove stains.

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Many farmer’s favorite remedy for chapped and soiled hands is to combine abut ¼ cup of cornmeal, 1 tablespoon of water and enough apple cider vinegar to make the mixture the consistency of a loose paste. Rub this mildly abrasive mixture all over your hands for 10 minutes. Rinse with tepid water and pat dry. This treatment can remove dirt, soften, soothe and heal the hands.

COUGHS

ninaer — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 15:35:39 +0000

Smokers cough

This remedy is updated from the Universal Cookery Book (circa 1888). Pour 1 quart of boiling water over 4 tablespoons of whole flaxseed and steep for three hours. Strain, add the juice of two lemons and sweeten with honey (which replaces the crystals of rock candy used in the original recipe). Take a tablespoon whenever the cough acts up.

An even better remedy for smoker’s cough — stop smoking!

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Dry cough

Take 1-2 tablespoons of potato water each time the cough acts up. You may also want to add honey to taste.

Potato Water

Scrub two medium sized potatoes (use organic, if possible) and cut them in half. Put the four halves in a pot with 4 cups of water (filtered, spring or distilled, if possible) and bring to a boil. Lower the flame a little and let the potatoes cook for 30 minutes.

When they’re done, take out the potatoes (eating them is optional) and save the water. Most remedies suggest that you drink 2 cups of potato water. Refrigerate the left-over water for the next time.

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Bronchial Coughs

Add 3 drops of oil of fennel and 3 drops of oil of anise to 6 tablespoons of honey. Shake vigorously and bottle it. Take 1 teaspoon when you start to cough.

If you haven’t prepared the syrup in advance of your cough and don’t have the necessary ingredients, you may wan tto settle for second best. Do you have the liqueur called anisette? Take 1 teaspoon of anisette in 1 tablespoon of hot water, every 3 hours.

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Nighttime cough

To help loosen phlegm, fry two finely chopped medium onions in lard or vegetable shortening. As soon as it’s cool enough to touch, rub the mixture on the cougher’s chest and wrap the chest with a clean (preferably white) cloth. Do this procedure in the evening. May result in a good night’s sleep

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving

ninaer — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 23:29:46 +0000

To everyone who has come to this website, I hope you have a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving.
Eat healthy, be safe and come back soon.
Nina

ARTHRITIS – Walk this way and celery tonic

ninaer — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 18:12:55 +0000

It may not make sense at first, but when arthritis makes your joints ache all over, a workout of sorts may be in order. Researchers at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City recently studied more than 100 people who had arthritis of the knees. Half were put on a walking program; the other half did not partake in regular exercise. After eight weeks, the walkers reported decidely less pain and less reliance on pain medication. Also, theywere able to walk farther without pain than they had been able to before the test started.

CELERY TONIC:

For such a seemingly mild-mannered vegetable, cerely packs a surprisingly strong medicinal punch. Cerlery seed contains at least 12 compounds that have anti-inflammatory effects, which makes celery desirable as a natural treatment for arthritis. You can take celery seed in extract form, available in herb shops and health food stores, or you can eat the stalks themselves. Four stalks of celery a day should deliver healing benefits.

Nature’s Flu Remedy

ninaer — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 17:00:46 +0000

Feeling feverish and think you’re coming down with the flu? Swallow a tablespoon of sambucol extract every two hours as a good replacement for over-the-counter flu remedies. Sambucol, made from brightly colored elderberries, is loaded with bioflavonoids and vitamin C, which can help knock out the viral infection that causes the flu. You can buy it in most health food shops.

WAX BUILDUP IN THE EARS

ninaer — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 16:57:00 +0000

First things first, most people don’t need to clean inside their ears–with safety swabs or anything else. The ear does a good job of using the wax as a sort of safety seal–to keep dirt and bacteria out–and doesn’t need pushing in on the wax. Plus, eventually, excess wax and oils push themselves into the outer ear canal, where you can easily reach them with a washcloth and a pinky finger.

If there is a heavy buildup of wax, and it is causing pain or affecting hearing, a home remedy of baby oil can help. Simply ease two or three drops of oil into the ear and let it do its work. It will soften the wax buildup, often overnight, making it easier to clean and safely remove (again with a washcloth, not with an ear swab, in the outer ear canal). Some doctors prescribe “softening drops” for wax, but others say baby oil works as well and is less expensive.

BLISTERS

ninaer — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 16:49:22 +0000

When blisters are at their most annoying, painful stage, head to the kitchen for a veggie solution–boiled carrots. Simply boil and mash a couple of carrots, then apply to the affected area. This carrot compress is perhaps best suited when a blister has been punctured and is irritated.

My Objective for this Blog

ninaer — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 14:56:36 +0000

Over the years, my mother, grandmother, aunts, mother-in-law and various other family members have passed down home remedies and natural healing methods to myself and other young mothers in the family. Of course, babies get sick and so do we and going to the hospital or doctor every day or so is not an option as far as the family was concerned. The doctor was reserved for a BIG sickness that did not respond to our home remedies or broken bones.

In this day and age of inadequate health care for some and no health care for others I felt there was a need for some of the “old Home Remedies” to be made available to people who might need them. They will not always solve the problem if it has been left untended for too long, but by using commons sense with basic preventatives some illness can improve and even disappear all together.

There is no replacement for modern medicine. Surgeries are necessary and save many lives, eye exams for glasses are a must, broken bones must be set and antibiotics have been a boon to mankind, but if proper nutrition is part of daily life, clean water is made available, and preventatives used regularly, most everyone can live a life where the doctors office is seldom seen.

Please be aware that if your “patient” doesn’t respond or if they get worse, contact a physician. Also be aware that some people have allergies and if they develop a rash or cannot breathe, get them to the ER.

I hope that some of these remedies are beneficial to others as they were and still are beneficial to me.

If you have questions or a request for a particular remedy, please email me at ninaer2715@gmail.com and I will try to help.