Sunday, December 30, 2007

BOILS!!

Boils are localized, tender, inflamed, pus-filled swellings in the skin surrounded by large red areas. They are infections of the hair follicles of the skin. They are quite painful, particularly in areas where the skin is closely attached to the underlying tissues, such as the nose, ears, or fingers. They usually occur in teenagers and young adults. The common sites for boils are the face, neck, buttocks, and thighs.

Boils are the result of bacteria that invade through a microscopic break in the skin and infect a blocked oil gland or hair follicle. An abscess results when white blood cells, sent to kill the invaders, produce pus. Sounds nasty, but even though boils are sometimes painful and ugly, they're rarely dangerous.

Symptoms of Skin Boils

Painful red nodule appears on the skin
At first, a painful red nodule appears on the skin. This grows bigger and then breaks down in the middle where the pus collects. The patient experiences a great deal of irritation and itching. There may be a single skin boil, or several boils in the same area or in different areas at or about the same time, or they may come in successive crops. The swelling may not be limited to one hair follicle but may extend to several follicles. When the skin boils ripen, they give out a discharge. Fever may sometimes accompany the boils.

Causes of Boils

Staphylococcus germs
Boils are caused mainly by staphylococcus germs which enter the sweat glands or hair follicles. The essential cause of this disorder is thus bacterial. However, several factors predispose the growth of bacteria in hair follicles.

Toxic condition in blood stream
Of these, the chief factor is a toxic condition in the blood stream, which is due to a faulty diet and a frenetic pace of living. Boils generally appear when a person is in a run-down and devitalised condition.

Home Remedies for Boils and Skin Boils

Boils treatment using Garlic and Onion
Garlic and onions have proved most effective among the several home remedies found beneficial in the treatment of boils. The juice of garlic or onion may be applied externally on boils to help ripen them, break them, and evacuate the pus. An equal quantity of the juices of these two vegetables can also be applied with beneficial results. Eating of two to three pods of garlic during meals will also bring good results.

Boils treatment using Bitter Gourd
Bitter gourd is another effective home remedy for blood-filled boils. A cupful of fresh juice of this vegetable, mixed with a teaspoon of lime juice, should be taken, sip by sip, on an empty stomach daily for a few months to treat this condition.

Boils treatment using Milk Cream
Milk cream is beneficial in the treatment of boils. One teaspoon of milk cream, mixed with half a tea spoon of vinegar, and a pinch of turmeric powder, makes an excellent poultice. It helps in ripening the blood boils and in their healing without allowing them to become septic.

Boils treatment using Betel Leaves
Betel leaves are a valuable remedy for boils. A leaf is gently warmed till it becomes soft. It is then coated with a layer of castor oil. The oiled leaf should be spread over the inflamed part. It should be replaced every few hours. After a few applications, the skin boil will rupture, draining out all the purulent matter.

Boils treatment using Cumin Seeds
Cumin seeds are beneficial in the treatment of boils. The seeds should be ground in water and made into a paste. This paste can be applied to boils with beneficial results.

Boils treatment using Margosa Leaves
The use of margosa leaves has proved effective in boils. They can be used as a poultice, decoction, or liniment with beneficial results. To make the decoction, 15 gm of margosa leaves should be boiled in 500 ml of water till it is reduced by one-third.

Boils treatment using Parsley
To treat boils, this vegetable should be steeped in boiled water till it is soft and juicy. When comfortably hot, it should be wrapped with clean muslin or linen cloth and applied to the boils as a poultice.

Boils treatment using Turmeric
Application of turmeric powder on boils speeds up the healing process. In the case of fresh boils, a few dry roots of turmeric are roasted, the ashes dissolved in a cupful of water, and then applied over the affected portion. This solution enables the boils to ripen and burst.
Apply warm moist compress three or four times a day over the tender area. This will help to bring the boil to a head and helps in easy drainage.
Always keep some type of ointment on the boil site to prevent the skin from drying and causing a scaring. Keep the area clean and covered.

Take an onion, cut it in half and place a half on a dry frying pan the cut side down. Warm it on a low heat till the "top" of it feels warm to the touch. Then dig out a piece of the core big enough to accommodate your boil. Place on the boil and try to stay still till the onion cools (=15-20 min.)

Take 1/2 teaspoon Colloidal Silver everyday and you will not have any new boils.
Place 1/2 cup of chlorine bleach in a tub of warm to hot bath water. Stay in tub (with infected area under water) for at least 20 minutes. Do this twice a week for one month. Boils come to a head, drain and dry up faster. This is an effective home remedy for boil.
Prepare a mixture by adding a little of baking soda and water together. Put it all over your boil for about 30 minutes and it should be gone or it should be down.
Prepare a thick paste by adding a small amount of flour and vinegar. Place the paste on the boil over night and wrap it with gauze. Over night the paste will harden like a cast. Upon removing the bandage in the morning, the head of the boil should come out.
Peel a banana (a ripe banana works best). Place banana peel on boil and leave it there for as long as you can.
Cut bacon fat from bacon and place over boil. Place bandage and leave on overnight. Boil should come to a head and rupture upon removing bandage
For boil treatment eat raisins as much as you can.
Crack open and discard contents of egg, then take thin white layer of inside shell and place over boil opening (head) then put on bandage overnight. When you wake up take off bandage and the core of the boil come out then will ooze all contents.
Cut a thick slice of a juicy tomato and place it on the area where the boil is and use a tape of some sort to hold the tomato in place and leave it on for about a day. The boil will come to a head and bursts.
Soak a tea bag in very hot water. When it's cool enough to tolerate, place the tea bag on the boil and leave it there until it cools. Repeat this a few times a day until the boil comes to a head and then wash the boil very well with antibacterial soap, open the boil with a sterile needle and drain it.
Open the Vitamin E capsule and put the liquid on the boil. Leave it on. Repeat as needed also take at least 1000mg of Vitamin C, it helps fight infection internally and helps the skin
Take a piece of bread, white or wheat. Dip the piece of bread into a bowl of milk. So the bread is a little soaked with the milk. Take the bread with milk on it and place it over the boil for about 15-20 min. The yeast in the bread will draw out the stuff inside the boil. And the boil will not return again. This is an effective home remedy for boil.
Sprinkle nutmeg on your food and this will dry up boils within a couple of days.
Take internally, 1 teaspoon of turmeric powder in warm water a day. Continue for several days.
Prepare a mixture by adding one tablespoon of Apple Cider Vinegar, one-tablespoon honey in a cup of hot water and drink at least twice a day.
Mix a paste of oatmeal, add salt and apply directly onto the boilwrap it to keep the poultice in place.
For boil treatment prepare a combination by adding garlic clove, fenugreek, and red clay. It is very effective.

Diet For Patients With Skin Boils

Fast on orange juice with water
A thorough cleansing of the system is essential for the treatment of boils. To begin with, the patient may fast on orange juice diluted with water on a 50:50 basis for three to four days, or adopt an exclusive diet of fresh juicy fruits from five to seven days.

Well-balanced diet
After the short juice fast or the all-fruit diet, as the case may be, the patient should adopt a well-balanced diet, with emphasis on wholegrain cereals, raw vegetables, and fresh fruits. Further periods of a juice fast or an all-fruit diet may be necessary, depending on the general health level and bodily condition of the patient.

Avoid tea/coffee, cakes, pastries, condiments and sauces
The patient should avoid tea and coffee, starchy and sugary foods, especially cakes, pastries, sweets, chocolates, white sugar, and white bread. He should also avoid all condiments, pickles, and sauces.

Other Boils treatments

Warm-water enema
A warm-water enema should be given daily during the initial juice fast or all-fruit diet. This will help to cleanse the bowels.

Warm moist compresses would be applied
Warm moist compresses should be applied three or four times a day over the tender area. This will help to bring the boil to a head and encourage easy drainage.

Hot Epsom salts bath
A hot Epsom salts bath is highly beneficial and should be taken by the patient two or three times in a week until the boils persist and once a week thereafter.

Dry massage followed by cold sponge
Other helpful measures in the treatment of boils are daily dry massage in the morning followed by a cold sponge.

Breathing and outdoor exercises
Fresh air, breathing exercises, and outdoor exercises are also essential for toning up the system.

Avoid constipation
In case constipation is habitual, all measures should be taken to overcome it.

Keep it wet and warm. "A warm compress is the best way to treat a boil, but you have to keep it very wet and very warm," says John F. Romano, M.D., a dermatologist and clinical assistant professor of medicine at The New York Hospital--Cornell Medical Center in New York City. "It's not enough to wring out a washcloth and place it on the boil. You should leave the compress on for 10 to 15 minutes, but keep wetting it every few minutes to make sure the boil stays wet and warm." He suggests this 15-minute compress four or five times daily to bring the boil to a head, which leads to its draining and then healing.

Lead staph to slaughter. If you're prone to boils, you may be able to lessen their frequency by cleaning your skin with an antiseptic soap such as Betadine, says dermatologist Adrian Connolly, M.D., clinical assistant professor of medicine at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey in Newark.

Don't monkey with cysts. When cysts become infected, they often have a nasty way of turning into boils. So leave cysts alone, or have them excised by a doctor.

Hit the showers. When a boil is draining, keep the skin around it clean by taking showers instead of baths. This reduces the chance of spreading the infection to other parts of the body. After treating a boil, wash your hands well before preparing food, because staph bacteria can cause food poisoning.

Head for the kitchen. Applying pieces of warm, milk-soaked bread directly on the boil is an old folk remedy--and some people find it works quite well, according to Varro E. Tyler, Ph.D., professor of pharmacognosy at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, and author of The Honest Herbal.

Try vegetables ... or tea. Other home remedies for boils include "compresses" of heated slices of tomato--or raw onion, mashed garlic or the outer leaves of cabbage. You can press these cut vegetables directly on the boil and see for yourself how well they work. Another kitchen compress: Place a warm tea bag of black tea directly on the boil for 15 minutes several times a day.

When to See the Doctor
You can treat most small boils (less than 1/2 inch) at home, but boils that are larger than that or that don't respond to simple remedies require a doctor's attention. You should never squeeze a large boil or a boil of any size around certain "danger zones": face, armpits, groin and the breasts of a nursing woman.

Be sure to consult a doctor if you see red lines radiating from the boil or if you get fever, chills or swelling in other parts of your body. You may also need a doctor's care if the boil is extremely tender or is under a thick layer of skin, as with some boils on the back. And if you have diabetes, you should always consult with your doctor any time boils appear: You might need antibiotics that are available only by prescription.

Warning: The reader of this article should exercise all precautionary measures while following instructions on the home remedies from this article. Avoid using any of these products if you are allergic to it. The responsibility lies with the reader and not with the site or the writer.

Kidney Detoxification!!

Kidney detoxification is a long process. Juice fasting and a diet high in raw food can greatly benefit the kidneys.

Our liver and kidneys enlarge due to the added workload of protein metabolism. If you are an individual with kidney problems, diabetes, hypoglycemia or hepatitis, a high protein diet worsens the condition. A damaged liver or kidney does not do well when overloaded with protein digestion. When the filtering organs are overburdened, the blood becomes more toxic and tends to aggravate other conditions.

DNA and RNA contain purines that are the primary building blocks of our genetic code. Meat eating causes large quantities of purines to break down and form uric acid. Uric acid causes gout and kidney stones. The good news is that both these ailments are cured with a low-protein diet.

Fruit and vegetable juices assist in kidney detoxification.
Fruit and vegetable juices are the cleansers, energizers, builders, and regenerators of the human system. A combination of either fresh, raw fruit or vegetable juices will supply all the enzymes, vitamins, minerals, protein and fats critical to increased vitality! By adding live juices to one's diet as a daily routine, many have experienced a rejuvenating effect and healing of various illnesses such as cancer, leukemia, arthritis, high blood pressure, kidney disorders, skin infections, liver disorders, alcoholism and smoking. Supplying the body with easily-absorbed nutrients, while the body is cleansing itself in the fasting state, avoids the dangers of total abstinence associated with water fasting. Be confident that this method is both safe and beneficial.

Grapes: There are between 40 and 50 different varieties of grapes that come in a rainbow of greens, whites, reds and purples. Grapes fill the mouth with an explosion of delicious flavors. Grapes are an excellent source of potassium, which encourage an alkaline blood balance and also stimulate the kidneys and regulate heartbeat. The restorative power of grapes is phenomenal, cleansing the liver and removing the uric acid from the body. In France, many people go on a grape fast during harvest time. Studies have shown a lower incidence of cancer in the areas of France where this grape fast is practiced yearly.

Asparagus: Available in early spring. It can be expensive due to the difficulty in cultivating. Its claim to fame is the amino acid aspargagine that is destroyed by cooking. Aspargagine is a strong diuretic, stimulating the kidneys. Asparagus is a great blood cleanser and excellent for healthy bowel maintenance.

Parsley: Ancient civilizations have used parsley in medications and in poultices on wounds, boils, cysts and to draw the pus out of an infected cut. Parsley is one of the highest sources of life-giving chlorophyll, which acts like iron to oxidize the blood. Chlorophyll will help neutralize the strong odor of garlic, and is used in chewing gum to sweeten breath. It is a cleanser of the kidneys, liver, and urinary tract. Parsley is effective for upset stomachs by stimulating digestive enzymes. Excellent for the colon by encouraging the peristaltic wave in the intestines.

Spinach: Never cook spinach. Oxalic acid is destroyed when heat transforms it into oxalic acid crystals that are harmful to the kidneys. It also binds to iron, making it unabsorbable.

Cranberry Juice
A powerful healing tonic filled with quinine, which changes to hippuric acid in the liver. Hippuric acid is able to assist in the removal of purines, uric acid, urea and toxic build-up in the prostate gland, testicles, kidneys and bladder.

Kidney detoxification Problems:
Fasting can irritate damaged kidneys due to the amount of toxins they filter. Try short juice fasts of 3-to-5 days before progressing to longer fasts. To maintain the healing, you will need to permanently remove high-protein meals, refined flours, commercial oils and fats from your diet.

Bloodshot Eyes!!

As eye problems go, bloodshot eyes are easy to self-diagnose: The tiny network of blood vessels on the surface of your eyeballs (barely noticeable, most times) are swollen and your eyes are red. Anything that irritates your eyes can leave them instantly bloodshot: Wind. Crying. A smoke-filled room. An allergic reaction to pets. Mold. Even troublesome makeup. And, yes, drinking too much alcohol can cause the blood vessels to dilate and redden, says Anne Sumers, M.D., an ophthalmologist in Ridgewood, New Jersey, and a spokeswoman for the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Often when your eyes are red, they are also dry, so they feel and look uncomfortable.
FOR CLEAR EYES, READ THIS To shrink those blood vessels and get the red out, try following these tips from experts. Chill. Applying a cold compress to your eyes for 30 minutes will shrink your swollen blood vessels, says Dr. Sumers. "Wrap ice cubes in a clean washcloth or just use a damp washcloth. It brings the swelling way down." Artificial tears to the rescue. They won't whiten your eyes immediately, but they will lubricate and remoisten, ease that stinging feeling and clear up the underlying irritation that makes your eyes red, says Dr. Sumers. Artificial tears, such as Moisture Drops, Hypotears and Tears Naturale, are available over the counter at your local drugstore. If you wear contacts, rewetting drops will work. They serve the same function as artificial tears, says Dr. Sumers. Use medicated eyedrops only in an emergency. Over-the-counter eyedrops, such as Murine and Visine, are medicated; they contain a vasoconstrictive substance that will shrink your blood vessels for about 45 minutes.

So if you need to show up at an important meeting with crystal-clear eyes, it's okay to pop in a few drops, says Dr. Sumers. But use medicated drops sparingly. The more you use medicated eyedrops, the more you need them, says Dr. Sumers. "It's a medical situation that we call rebound hyperemia." If your eyes are chronically bloodshot, you need to find out why and not just mask the symptom.

Apply a cold compress. If your eyes itch, the bloodshot look is probably caused by allergies. "A cold washcloth placed over your eyes will soothe the pain and shrink the blood vessels if your eyes are bloodshot because of allergies," says Eric Donnenfeld, M.D., associate professor of ophthalmology at North Shore University Hospital/Cornell Medical College in Manhasset, New York. Hold the cold compress over your eyes until the itchiness subsides. You can repeat as often as convenient during the day.

For tired eyes-use a warm compress. If your eyes are red but don't itch, then a warm compress is the answer, adds Dr. Donnenfeld: "Warmth is best for bloodshot eyes caused by fatigue, staying up too late or a cold." Just place a warm washcloth over your closed eyes for 10 to 20 minutes.

Try artificial tears. If your bloodshot eyes are stinging, try soothing them with nonpreservative artificial tears, suggests Paul Vinger, M.D., assistant clinical professor of ophthalmology at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He recommends the single-dose packages.

Contacts wearers: Read the label. If you're a contact lens wearer and you notice more eye redness than in the past, read the label on your contact lens cleaner. If you're not using one labeled "preservative- free," switch to one that is. Preservatives in the cleaner can cause reddened eyes.

Put a lid on "red-out" products. "Eyedrops that promise to remove redness should be used only occasionally, because they can become habit forming," warns Dr. Donnenfeld. "After using them for a while, you may develop a 'rebound' effect, so if you don't use the drops, your eyes become red." His advice: Avoid using these over-the-counter products for more than four consecutive days, and try not to use them more than once daily.

Avoid known allergens. Steer clear of anything that has caused you to have allergies in the past: It could be causing your red-eye to flare up. Also, wash your hands after petting pets or applying makeup and shampoo, advises Thomas Platts-Mills, M.D., Ph.D., head of the Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology at the University of Virginia Health Sciences Center in Charlottesville.

When To See A Doctor
If your eyes are still red after a day, see your doctor. Bloodshot eyes may be a sign of a foreign body trapped in your eye, allergies or infection, says Anne Sumers, M.D., an ophthalmologist in Ridgewood, New Jersey, and a spokeswoman for the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

If you get a strong chemical or poison, such as ammonia, in your eye, flush your eye with water and call 911 immediately (or have someone call for you).
If you're in pain or have vision loss from an injury to the eye (like getting whipped in the eye by a branch), call your doctor immediately.

Warning: The reader of this article should exercise all precautionary measures while following instructions on the home remedies from this article. Avoid using any of these products if you are allergic to it. The responsibility lies with the reader and not with the site or the writer.

Teeth Whitening!!

Smile is one of the first things people notice about you. Yellow or brown teeth are not the best first impression you want to make. Teeth can become discolored for a number of reasons, the most common being tobacco, coffee, tea, berries, and the natural accumulation of tartar over time.

Other reasons for discoloration of teeth may be internal reasons such as by aging, injury, excessive fluoride, and by certain illnesses and medicines. Discoloration is natural over time.

Tooth whitening can have fantastic affects on your appearance, as well as giving your self-esteem a big boost. Tooth whitening is safe, convenient, and can change the overall appearance of your smile in a matter of hours.

In the adult there are thirty-two permanent teeth. The first of these, which grow in below, begin to come through when a child is six or seven years old. These permanent teeth usually replace the deciduous teeth. By the time a person is twenty-five he should have all his teeth. By the time a person is twenty-five he should have all his teeth. The condition of his teeth will largely depend on his diet, and on the kind of care he has given the teeth during his growing years.

Some teeth seem to be defective from the start owing to hereditary factors. A clean mouth contributes toward an attractive personality and a happy disposition. An unsanitary mouth usually arises from years of neglect.

HOME REMEDIES FOR TEETH WHITENING
Take some foil and fold it to form to your teeth. Take a little toothpaste and baking soda and mix together really well. Put some of the mixture into the foil and place on your teeth. Leave on for one-hour everyday. Brush teeth normally afterwards. This is an effective home remedy for teeth whitening.
Brush your teeth with wood ash. It is good teeth whitener.
Mash some strawberries in a bowl and use this to brush your teeth, just as you use toothpaste. It whitens really well
Every time you brush, add baking soda to your toothpaste. Within 14 days your teeth will become visibly whiter
Good nutritious diet is very effective in maintaining the dental health. Eating fresh crunchy veggies and fruits such as: carrots, broccoli, celery, apples, strawberries, and cucumbers can help whiten your teeth.
Each time after brushing your teeth just gargle with a small capsule of peroxide, concentrating it on your teeth (don't swallow), and rinse thoughroly with water.
Another home remedy for teeth whitening is - Take your wet toothbrush, put baking soda on it, then put a dab of lemon juice on it (the baking soda will begin to fizz) brush your teeth with it. Rinse with water
Rub the inside of an orange peel on the teeth.
Prepare a paste by adding equal parts lemon juice and salt and apply to yellowing spots.
Make a paste by grinding dried bay leaves and dried orange peels and adding a little water. Use as a teeth whitener.
Rubbing the bark of walnut tree brightens the teeth.
For tooth whitening, brush your teeth properly and eat the right food to keep your teeth healthy.
It is also wise to note that eating sweet snacks between meals affect teeth more than eating sweet snacks with meals.
Brush your outer and inner surfaces at 45-degree angle. On chewing surfaces, hold the brush flat and brush back and forth. On inside surfaces of front teeth, tilt brush vertically and use gentle up and won strokes with toe of the brush.
Do not brush after every meal. It will affect the enamel.
Avoid sticky sweets like toffee or hard candies like mints. Try to rinse your mouth quickly after you drink anything with strong color such as coffee and red wine.
Chew a piece of sugarless gum after you've had your coffee or tea. This is also an effective home remedy for teeth whitening.
Avoid smoking.
Teeth should be properly brushed at least twice a day to maintain good dental health.
Brushing should be done in the direction in which they are growing; the upper teeth should be brushed downward, and the lower teeth should be brushed from below, upward.
Use a sweeping motion, being sure that the bristles reach the crevices between the teeth, thus helping to remove any food particles that may have lodged there.
Add a drop of clove oil to the toothpaste and brush.

Warning: The reader of this article should exercise all precautionary measures while following instructions on the home remedies from this article. Avoid using any of these products if you are allergic to it. The responsibility lies with the reader and not with the site or the writer.

TINNITUS!!

The ringing or buzzing sound inside one or both the ears is called Tinnitus. It may be continuous or may come and go. Those who suffer from tinnitus experience a wide range of noises inside their ears. Tinnitus is of two types, objective tinnitus and subjective tinnitus. In objective tinnitus, apart from the patient himself, people around him can also hear the buzzing sound inside his ears. But in case of subjective tinnitus only the patient himself can hear the buzzing sound inside his ears. Subjective tinnitus is more common than objective tinnitus. Severe cases of tinnitus can be extremely disturbing, the patient may not be able to sleep or concentrate.

Buzzing,hissing, and ringing sound inside the ear
The most common symptoms of tinnitus are buzzing, hissing, and ringing sound inside the ear. Sometimes these sounds may go along with the patient's heartbeat. If the tinnitus patient is also suffering from Meniere disease then the sound in the ear may be accompanied by dizziness and hearing loss.

Damage to hearing nerve
The inner ear has the hearing nerve; any damage to its microscopic endings can cause tinnitus. This is the most common cause of tinnitus. However the hearing nerve is also affected due to aging. Frequent exposure to loud noise also affects the hearing nerve. Therefore those who are always exposed to loud noise can get tinnitus. Any of the four sections of the ear can have tinnitus. Any foreign particle or wax in the external ear can cause tinnitus. Subjective tinnitus may be caused due to some wax in the ear canal.

Objective tinnitus may be caused due to some circulatory problem or some tumor in blood vessel. It may also be caused due to structural defects in the inner ear. Tinnitus may be a symptom of otosclerosis. Conditions like allergy, high or low blood pressure, diabetes, neck injury, head injury may cause tinnitus. Medicines like sedatives, antidepressants, aspirin and so on can also cause tinnitus.

Treatment for Tinnitus
There is no specific or universal treatment for tinnitus, treatment shall be different for different cases of tinnitus. If tinnitus is due to loud noise then wearing a mask could help. Sometimes tinnitus may be a symptom of some other medical problem; in such case the underlying condition must be treated first. Reducing your stress level will also decrease tinnitus, therefore breathe deeply. Put 20 to 40 mg of extract of the Maidenhair tree or Ginkgo biloba into your ears for four to six weeks. This will dilate blood vessels and increase blood flow to the ears.

Avoid saturated fats, sugar, salt
Tinnitus patients must avoid foods like saturated fats, dairy products, sugar, salt, processed foods and so on because all these food items tend to aggravate the condition. Avoid coffee, tea, sweet foods, and refined alcohol because all these result in low blood sugar which can lead to tinnitus. Include lots of fresh and raw fruits and vegetables in your diet. Eat a protein rich diet. Tinnitus patient's diet must include vitamin A, vitamin B, vitamin E, zinc and choline.

Keep blood pressure under control
Avoid alcohol and smoking. Exercise daily to improve your blood circulation. Check and keep you blood pressure under control.

Tinnitus is not a disease, and it doesn't cause hearing disorders. It's any kind of swishing, hissing, whirring, ringing, whistling, buzzing or chirping that goes on inside your head.

The causes? Tinnitus can be a sign of hearing loss, or it can result from head injuries, ear infections or diseases that range from the common cold to diabetes. People who work with noisy equipment, such as power tools, can also get it. Or tinnitus may be initiated by a single loud noise, such as a gunshot or an explosion.

Sometimes tinnitus is only temporary. If you have a ringing in your ears for only a few days (perhaps after listening to loud music), take it as a warning sign. Tone down your listening habits or tinnitus may become permanent.

Even when tinnitus moves in to stay, there are still things you can do about it. The first move is a medical checkup. After that, here are some ways to make it easier to live with.

Tone down sound around you. "Never expose your ears to loud sounds, because they simply make tinnitus worse," says Jack Vernon, Ph.D., professor of otolaryngology at Oregon Health Sciences University and director of the Oregon Hearing Research Center, both in Portland. "If you have to raise your voice to be heard, then the sound around you is too loud. That includes vacuum cleaners, dishwashers, lawn mowers and so forth."

So wear earplugs whenever noise abounds. Pharmacies carry foam, rubber and moldable wax plugs as well as headphones you wear like earmuffs.

Try a little night static. Some people don't notice their tinnitus in the daytime, but as soon as the lights go out, they're up to their inner ears in bells and buzzers. "For those folks, I recommend detuning an FM radio to static between stations," says Dr. Vernon. If you keep the radio near the bed just loud enough to be audible, the static near your head will mask the sounds in your head and let you fall asleep. Other sounds that might be the key to dreamland: a fan running all night or a bit of soft music.

Play that shower! In the "mask that sound" department: "Some people can't hear their tinnitus when they take showers," says Dr. Vernon. Of course, you can't stay in the shower all day, but you can carry shower sounds around with you. Dr. Vernon suggests making a long-playing tape of a running shower. When the tinnitus gets bad, listen to the tape through headphones, he recommends. (The idea is to find a band of tones that includes your tinnitus tone but is more acceptable to listen to.)

Breathe deeply to dismiss distress. "Reducing stress often reduces tinnitus," says Robert E. Brummett, Ph.D., a pharmacologist at the Oregon Hearing Research Center. Deep, slow breathing is one safe way to ease tension any time you feel it creeping up on you, according to Dr. Vernon. But he cautions that this may not be enough. See a counselor if you're having difficulty dealing with stress in your life and your tinnitus is becoming worse because of it.

Skip the smokes and drinks. "Restrict the nicotine, alcohol, tonic water and caffeine you consume," Dr. Brummett suggests. If you find that it helps to cut out one or all of these, consider a permanent vacation from the noise provoker.

Don't take aspirin. People with tinnitus who take aspirin daily (for arthritis, for example) should try a different anti-inflammatory drug if possible, suggests Dr. Brummett. Aspirin can cause or worsen tinnitus. Some of the other anti-inflammatory drugs can also cause or worsen tinnitus, but not in everyone. By working with your doctor, you can try some of the alternative drugs until you find one that you can tolerate.

Give yourself a dose of distraction. "Getting distracted from tinnitus surely will help," says Dr. Vernon. "Focus on some outside things: Help other people. Join some volunteer groups. Don't retire!" he suggests. "People with tinnitus need to enrich rather than restrict their lives."

Warning: The reader of this article should exercise all precautionary measures while following instructions on the home remedies from this article. Avoid using any of these products if you are allergic to it. The responsibility lies with the reader and not with the site or the writer.

DIARRHOEA

Diarrhoea is not a disease in itself. It is a disorder that may arise from many different causes. The most important cause of diarrhea is the contaminated food. One or two loose watery stools may not be significant. Large, loose stools may drain much of the essential water from the body. Such fluids must be replaced as soon as possible. Diarrhea in babies and small children can be dangerous. Infants are easily dehydrated, and they are not able to tell how they feel

Diarrhea is often seen in people who take excessive amounts of laxatives. Some people are allergic to certain substances or common foods. Some people have frequent loose stools for years without any other evidence of disease. Some people develop diarrhea when under severe emotional strain. Excess alcohol consumption; laxatives; caffeine are also known to cause diarrhea. Some medicines can cause diarrhea, such as antibiotics (tetracycline, clyndamycin, penicillin). Blood or mucus in the stool is a sign of infection or parasites.

Diarrhea is a means to excrete bacteria or viruses that might have ingested by eating bad food. Therefore, it is not good idea to stop diarrhea too quickly. However, diarrhea does not work sometimes and if goes on for several days, dehydration and loss of important nutrients may occur which can be dangerous especially in children.
Diarrhea is characterized by frequent, watery stools, often accompanied by stomach cramps, abdominal pain and gas. Diarrhea may be of various colors and contain mucous, blood or pus.
Symptoms of Diarrhoea

Cramps Dehydration Wind and distention in the abdomen Weakness Mild fever
Water is either not absorbed or is excreted in excess
Diarrhoea may be acute or chronic. Commonly known as 'loose motions', it is one of the commonest diseases, particularly in India, in children. The small intestine normally gets more than ten litres of liquid per day which comes from the diet and from secretions of the stomach, liver, pancreas, and intestines. In the case of diarrhoea, water is either not absorbed or is excreted in excess. It is then sent to the colon whose water-holding capacity is limited. Thus the urge to defecate comes quite often.
Causes of Diarrhoea
Overeating or eating of wrong foods
The main causes of diarrhoea are overeating or eating of wrong foods, putrefaction of food in the intestinal tract, fermentation caused by incomplete carbohydrate digestion, nervous irritability, use of antibiotic drugs, and excessive intake of laxatives.
Parasites, germs, virus, bacteria, emotional stress
Other causes include parasites, germs, virus, bacteria, or a poison which has entered into the body through food, water, or air; allergies to certain substances or even common foods such as milk, wheat, eggs, and sea foods; emotional strain or stress in adults and fright in children.
Organic diseases affecting the intestines
Certain organic diseases affecting the intestines may also lead to diarrhoea.

HOME REMEDIES FOR DIARRHEA

Increasing fluid intake is the first thing to be done to fight against the diarrhea. Fluids that contain salt and small amounts of sugar are particularly beneficial, as they help the body replace glucose and minerals lost during diarrhea. A good "rehydration fluid" can be easily made by adding 1 teaspoon of sugar and a pinch of salt to 1 quart of water.
Foods containing large amounts of poorly absorbed carbohydrates can aggravate diarrhea. Therefore foods such as bread, pasta, and other wheat products; apples, pears, peaches, and prunes; corn, oats, potatoes, and processed bran should be avoided. Dairy products should also be avoided during a bout of diarrhea
Black berry tea is good for mild diarrhea.
Ginger tea can give relief to cramps and pain. This is very effective home remedy for diarrhea.
Do not drink apple juice this will make diarrhea worse.
Boil brown rice and water for 45 minutes eat the rice (it contains Vitamin B) and drink the water.
Cook ½ cup of rice with 4 cups of water with ½ teaspoon of ginger paste and salt. Add ½ cup of pomegranate juice when the gruel is warm. This gruel rehydrates body and supply energy. This soothes inflamed walls of intestine and controls bowel movements. This is also very effective home remedy for diarrhea.
Drink 3-4 times half a cup of water with a few drops of Pudin Hara
Drink a mixture of 1 tsp mint juice, 1/2 tsp ginger juice, and 1 tsp honey.
Make a paste of a lemon along with seeds. Add some salt. Take 1 tsp of this paste 2-3 times.
Add 1/2 tsp of dry ginger (saunth powder in 1 cup buttermilk ( chhachh). Drink it 3 - 4 times a day.
For diarrhea treatment chew a few pieces of the inner lining of pomegranate with salt, and/or drink pomegranate juice.
Prepare a mixture by adding 1 Tbsp poppy seeds, 1 tsp edible gum, 1 tsp cardamom powder, 1/2 tsp nutmeg ( jaiphal) powder, and2 tbs sugar, and grind to a powder. Take this powder every 2 hours.
Prepare a solution by adding 1/2 tsp lemon juice, 1/2 tsp ginger juice, and 1/4 tsp pepper powder and drink it.
Prepare a mixture of 5-6 chopped basil (tulsi) leaves, 1/4 tsp sea salt, some black pepper in 3 Tbsp of curd, and eat it. Repeat this 4 times a day for one week for complete reconditioning of stomach.
Roast 1/2 tsp cumin (jeera) seeds and 1/2 tsp fenugreek seeds (dana methi). Mix and powder it, add to 4 tsp of yogurt (curd). Take thrice a day.
Grate one raw papaya. Add 3 cups water, boil for 10 mins, strain and finish the water in one day.
Stew 1 apple with 2 pinches of nutmeg powder and 1 tsp sugar. Give your child to eat it.
Grapefruit seed extract is an excellent remedy for traveler's diarrhea.
Ripe bananas are recommended. Bananas are especially good as they are easily digested and have pectin and important nutrients such as potassium and magnesium.
For diarrhea treatment add fiber to diet to absorb excess fluid in the intestines and help make firmer bowels.
Try to manage the stress and anxiety that is causing your diarrhea. Yoga, meditation, hypnotism, biofeedback and other tension releasing techniques may be useful.
Take 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar in a glass of water with each meal and at mid-morning, mid-afternoon, and at bedtime.
Take bee pollen several times a day. It contains nearly all the minerals and trace elements needed in the diet.
Boil water and cool. Add 3 teaspoons of black pepper and 11/2 teaspoon of kelp to 2 cups of water. Repeat as often as necessary.
Boil carrots, and make a puree. Take 1 teaspoon every 15 minutes.
Prepare a mixture by adding 4 tablespoons of honey with 8 ounces of water. This is a good remedy for bacteria-caused diarrhea.
For diarrhea treatment make a solution by adding 1/2 cup of orange juice, 1 tablespoon sugar, 1/6 teaspoon salt, 11/3 cups of water. Give a child 1/2 oz. of this mixture every 2 hours.
Potato soup is also very good remedy for diarrhea; eat several bowls during the day.
Make a tea from the leaves of a pumpkin, squash or gourd. Boil two quarts of water; snip several double-handfuls of leaves into the water; cover and remove from heat; steep for 35 minutes; drink a cup every couple of hours.
In a food blender mix a handful of chopped red radishes, 1 cup of cold milk, and 1/2 teaspoon of cornstarch. Drink slowly. This remedy should stop the diarrhea within an hour. Repeat again in 4 hours, if needed.
Amaranth seeds and leaves are useful in stopping diarrhea. Make a tea by bringing three cups of water to a boil, adding two teaspoons of seeds, cover and simmer on low for about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and add 1 teaspoon of leaves (if available) or just let it steep for 30 minutes. Drink two cups daily.
Make a paste of sesame seeds (1 teaspoon) and add a few tablespoons of goat's milk. It is also beneficial.
The leaves and fruit of blueberries and bilberries will help to naturally stop diarrhea.
During the course of diarrhea, babies should eat carrots, rice cereal, bananas, potatoes, and applesauce to help firm the stools. Fruit juices, peas, pears, peaches, plums, prunes and apricots should be avoided until the stools are back to normal.
Adults and older children can also eat cheese, crackers, bread, rice and potatoes. During diarrhea outbreaks, it's best to avoid most dairy products, which tend to make diarrhea worse. This includes milk, butter, creams, and eggs.
Yogurt is the exception; it will help to stop diarrhea.

Dietary Remedies

Milk It
A West Indian remedy for diarrhea is a pinch of allspice in a cup of warm water or milk. A pennsylvania Dutch remedy is 2 pinches of cinnamon in a cup of warm milk. A Brazilian remedy calls for 2 pinches of cinnamon and 1 pinch of powdered cloves in a cup of warm milk.
We may as well "milk" this for all it's worth with a Welsh remedy that requires a cup of boiled milk and a red hot fireplace poker.

Carefully place the red-hot poker into the cup of milk. Keep it there for 30 seconds.The poker supposedly charges the milk with iron , which is a homeopathic treatment of diarrhea. Drink the iron-charged milk slowly-it may be hot!

The combination of cinnamon and cayenne pepper is known to be very effective in tightening the bowels quickly. In fact, it probably takes longer to prepare the tea than for it to work.
Bring 2 cups of water to a boil, then add ¼ teaspoon of cinnamon and 1/8 teaspoon of cayenne pepper. Let the mixture simmer for 20 minutes. As soon as it's cool enough to drink, have ¼ cup every half hour.

Add 1 teaspoon of powdered ginger to 1 cup of just-boiled water. To control diarrhea, drink 3 cups of the mixture throughout the day.
Grate an onion and squeeze it through cheesecloth so you get 2 tablespoons (1 ounce) of onion juice. Take the onion juice every hour, along with 1 cup of peppermint tea.
Suited to a Tea
Raspberry-leaf tea is a popular folk remedy for children and adults. Combine 1 ounce of dried raspberry leaves with 2 cups of water (a piece of cinnamon stick is optional), and simmer in an enamel or glass saucepan for 25 minutes. Strain, cool and drink throughout the day.
Hippocratic Oats
According to Hippocrates, the Greek physician and father of medicine, everyone should drink barley water daily to maintain good health. One of the benefits is its effectiveness in treating diarrhea.
Boil 2 ounces of pearled barley in 6 cups of water until there's about half the water-3 cups-left in the pot. Strain. If necessary, add honey and lemon to taste. Not only should you drink the barley water throughout the day, you should also eat the barley.

Berry Good Berries
Since biblical times, the common blackberry plant has been used to cure diarrhea and dysentery. And so the berry remedy, in one form or another, has been passed down through the generations. Don't be surprised if your neighborhood bartender recommends some blackberry brandy.
Dose: Drink 1 shot glass (2 tablespoons) every four hours.
Blackberry juice or wine will also do fine.
Dose: Take 6 ounces blackberry juice every four hours-or 2 ounces (4 tablespoons) blackberry wine every four hours.

The Big Apple
Scrape a peeled apple with a (preferably nonmetal) spoon and eat the scrapings. In fact, eat no other food but grated apple until the condition greatly subsides.
Boil ½ cup of white rice in 6 cups of water for a half hour. Strain and save the water, then sweeten with honey to taste.
Dose: Drink 1 cup of the rice water every other hour. Do not drink other liquids until the condition disappears.
Eating cooked rice with a dash of cinnamon is also helpful in controlling the problem.

An A-peeling Remedy
Bananas may help promote the growth of beneficial bacteria in the intestine and replace some of the lost potassium.

Dose: Three times a day, eat one ripe banana that has been soaked in milk.
Add 1 teaspoon of garlic (finely chopped) to 1 teaspoon of honey and swallow it down three times a day-two hours after each meal.
Certain drinks are effective in treating diarrhea and help replenish the systems supply of friendly intestinal bacteria. Have 1 to 2 glasses of buttermilk or sauerkraut juice or kefir (found in health food stores).
Or eat a portion or two of yogurt with active cultures, along with pickled beets, pickled cucumbers or raw sauerkraut.

Press for Success
The navel is an acupressure point for treating diarrhea. Using your thumb or the heel of your hand, press in and massage the area in a circular motion for about two minutes.

Chronic Diarrhea
This remedy goes to prove that you can't argue with success. A woman wrote to tell us that eating Archway coconut macaroons-two a day-put an end to her 12-year bout with diarrhea. She suffers from Crohn's disease, which is a chronic inflammation of the intestinal wall. Chronic diarrhea is one of the most common and debilitating symptoms of this condition. The woman asked that we include her remedy, hoping it will help others with this problem.

Upon further investigation, we found that joe Graedon, MS, pharmacologist, adjunct assistant professor at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, also reported on these cookies and the success many people had with them. One woman couldn't find the Archway cookies, so she made her own coconut macaroons and they; too, worked like magic. While they don't work for everyone, they may be worth a try.

NOTE: Take into consideration your dietary needs before trying the coconut macaroon remedy. The cookies are high in fat and contain sweeteners.

Warning: The reader of this article should exercise all precautionary measures while following instructions on the home remedies from this article. Avoid using any of these products if you are allergic to it. The responsibility lies with the reader and not with the site or the writer.

NASAL CONGESTION!!

Most germs enter the body through the nose and throat. Germs are often carried into the body on tiny droplets of water when air is drawn into the lungs.

The inside of the nose is lined with a mucosal membrane that is lined with large number of blood vessels. Nasal congestion occurs when these blood vessels expand and cause the mucosal membrane to become swollen. Expansion of these blood vessels can result from inflammation that accompanies a food-allergic reaction.

Nasal congestion can lead to ear infection. There are many causes of the nasal congestion and can range from a mild annoyance to a life-threatening condition. The newborn infant is an obligate nose breather (must breathe through the nose). Nasal congestion in an infant in the first few months of life can interfere with nursing and cause life-threatening respiratory distress. Nasal congestion in older children and adolescents is often just an annoyance but can cause other difficulties.

Nasal congestion can interfere with the ears, hearing, and speech development. Significant congestion may interfere with sleep, cause snoring, and can be associated with episodes of not breathing during sleep). In most cases it results from the presence of some form of pollen or fungus in the air.

The single most common cause of food-allergic reactions and the number one cause of chronic nasal congestion in the absence of other health conditions is pasteurized dairy. Avoiding significant amounts of pasteurized milk, cheese, ice cream, cream cheese, and other concentrated sources of pasteurized dairy can completely resolve chronic nasal congestion for many people, even those who have suffered with nasal congestion for decades.

HOME REMEDIES FOR NASAL CONGESTION

Place a teaspoon of cardamom seeds on hot coals and let the child inhale the smoke.
Boil water and salt and put in a sterilized container. Wait until it is warm. Get an eyedropper and get some of the solution of boiled water and salt. Put a couple of drops in each nostril while your nose if facing the ceiling. Wait until you feel the salt water in your throat then blow your nose.
Place a handful of crushed carom seeds in a handkerchief. Tie off and place near the pillow.
Too high a diet in carbohydrates creates nasal congestion and asthma. Eat less sugar and carbohydrates; whole grains, vegetable and fish are the median balance foods.
Higher energy and weight loss occur through the increase of meats and the reductions of sugars, fruits and refined carbohydrates.
A warm bath or steam from the shower can help relieve nasal congestion.
Prepare a mixture by addiung 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon baking soda in 8 ounces of warm water. Use a nasal dropper to squirt water into the nose. Hold one nostril closed by applying light finger pressure while squirting the salt mixture into the other nostril. Let it drain. Repeat 2-3 times, then treat the other nostril. This is an effective home remedy for nasal congestion.
Hot liquids relieve nasal congestion, prevent dehydration, and soothe the uncomfortably inflamed membranes that line your nose and throat.
Mix a teaspoon of grated fresh horseradish with a little apple cider vinegar or honey, and eat it on toast. Inhale deeply as you grate the horseradish; the fumes alone will relieve your congestion.
For nasal congestion treatment, put two inches of apple cider vinegar in a pan and heat until it begins to steam. Inhale the vapor.
Both red and black pepper dilates blood vessels in the nose and stimulates secretions, which helps drain the sinuses, thus relieving the congestion.
Place a drop or two of either eucalyptus or peppermint essential oil on a cotton ball or handkerchief and hold near the nose while breathing deeply. This increases the airflow.
Try a nasal rinse by putting a few drops of grapefruit seed extract in 1/2 cup of warm water and inhaling it; repeat two or three times, especially before bed and when you get up in the morning.
Add 1 cup tomato juice, 1 tsp chopped fresh garlic, 1/2 tsp of hot sauce, 1 tsp lemon juice, and a pinch or two of celery salt for flavor. Heat ingredients and drink hot. This is also an effective home remedy for nasal congestion.
Drink plenty of fluids, more than usual. Water, fruit juice, teas, and carbonated drinks are recommended. Rest as much as possible.
For nasal congestion treatment, avoid exposure to as many allergens (such as pets, foods that cause allergic reaction, and dust) as possible.
Sleep with an extra pillow under your head. This will help relieve congested nasal passages.
A small dab of mentholated salve under your nose can open breathing passages and help restore the irritated skin at the base of the nose.
Boil some water and smell its vapor. The vapor will actually help open the nose.
Reference:
The Ayurveda Cook Book: A Personalized Guide to Good Nutrition and Health
New Choices in Natural Healing. Ed. Bill Gottlieb, et al. Emmaus, PA: Rodale Press, 1995.
The Consumer's Medical Desk Reference. Ed. Charles B. Inlander. New York: Hyperion, 1995.
Warning: The reader of this article should exercise all precautionary measures while following instructions on the home remedies from this article. Avoid using any of these products if you are allergic to it. The responsibility lies with the reader and not with the site or the writer.

Coconut in Modern Medicine!!

Modern medical science is now confirming the use of coconut in treating many of the above conditions. Published studies in medical journals show that coconut, in one form or another, may provide a wide range of health benefits. Some of these are summarized below:

Kills viruses that cause influenza, herpes, measles, hepatitis C, SARS, AIDS, and other illnesses.
Kills bacteria that cause ulcers, throat infections, urinary tract infections, gum disease and cavities, pneumonia, and gonorrhea, and other diseases.
Kills fungi and yeasts that cause candidiasis, ringworm, athlete's foot, thrush, diaper rash, and other infections.
Expels or kills tapeworms, lice, giardia, and other parasites.
Provides a nutritional source of quick energy.
Boosts energy and endurance, enhancing physical and athletic performance.
Improves digestion and absorption of other nutrients including vitamins, minerals, and amino acids.
Improves insulin secretion and utilization of blood glucose.
Relieves stress on pancreas and enzyme systems of the body.
Reduces symptoms associated with pancreatitis.
Helps relieve symptoms and reduce health risks associated with diabetes.
Reduces problems associated with malabsorption syndrome and cystic fibrosis.
Improves calcium and magnesium absorption and supports the development of strong bones and teeth.
Helps protect against osteoporosis.
Helps relieve symptoms associated with gallbladder disease.
Relieves symptoms associated with Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and stomach ulcers.
Improves digestion and bowel function.
Relieves pain and irritation caused by hemorrhoids.
Reduces inflammation.
Supports tissue healing and repair.
Supports and aids immune system function.
Helps protect the body from breast, colon, and other cancers.
Is heart healthy; improves cholesterol ratio reducing risk of heart disease.
Protects arteries from injury that causes atherosclerosis and thus protects against heart disease.
Helps prevent periodontal disease and tooth decay.
Functions as a protective antioxidant.
Helps to protect the body from harmful free radicals that promote premature aging and degenerative disease.
Does not deplete the body's antioxidant reserves like other oils do.
Improves utilization of essential fatty acids and protects them from oxidation.
Helps relieve symptoms associated with chronic fatigue syndrome.
Relieves symptoms associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (prostate enlargement) .
Reduces epileptic seizures.
Helps protect against kidney disease and bladder infections.
Dissolves kidney stones.
Helps prevent liver disease.
Is lower in calories than all other fats.
Supports thyroid function.
Promotes loss of excess weight by increasing metabolic rate.
Is utilized by the body to produce energy in preference to being stored as body fat like other dietary fats.
Helps prevent obesity and overweight problems.
Applied topically helps to form a chemical barrier on the skin to ward of infection.
Reduces symptoms associated the psoriasis, eczema, and dermatitis.
Supports the natural chemical balance of the skin.
Softens skin and helps relieve dryness and flaking.
Prevents wrinkles, sagging skin, and age spots.
Promotes healthy looking hair and complexion.
Provides protection form damaging effects of ultraviolet radiation form the sun.
Helps control dandruff.
Does not form harmful by-products when heated to normal cooking temperature like other vegetable oils do.
Has no harmful or discomforting side effects. Is completely non-toxic to humans.