Natural Headache Remedy

Headaches and migraines seem to be going around in this changing Spring(?) weather and I myself have been suffering a lot during the past few weeks due to pressure headaches. The fact that I’m not allowed to take any medicine doesn’t help. Bummer…

This situation got me thinking though and I decided to make a list of what homemade and natural remedies helped me in pain relief, and I’ll share some websites with great information too.

We all respond differently to the different cures and since all these homemade and natural headache remedies are safe and have no side effects (absolutely perfect for someone with peptic ulcer (any form of it) as they won’t disturb your stomach), you can try out more than just one and see what works best for you

• Scalp massage and you can apply a drop of Lavender essential oil to the temples.
• Take a warm bath – using these bath salts might help to further relax.
• Chamomile and Mint tea relax muscles and sooth tension (sweeten with honey instead of sugar).
• Honey mixed in a glassful of lime juice is also one of the most effective homemade headache remedies.
• Calcium and Magnesium are minerals that help to alleviate muscular tension.
• Ginkgo Biloba extract improves circulation to the brain, and may be helpful for certain types of headache.
• Try to have a regular balanced diet and keep your body hydrated. Reduce the intake of caffeine, salt and chocolate.
• Light exercises like stretching, and you can also practice yoga and meditation regularly.
• Apply an icepack on the affected areas (neck, upper back, temples of the head and forehead). Apply the icepack for at least 5 to 10 minutes and it will reduce the temperature of the head while preventing severe pain.
• Get plenty of fresh air, a 5 minute walk can work wonders.
• Sleep.

A few useful websites I found on this topic:

Home remedies for you

Homemade Medicine

Ezine Articles

Almost forgot: if you know any natural ways and homemade remedies that worked for you and are not listed here, please share your wisdom with us!

Stay healthy everyone

War plan against the sniffles

We all try to avoid it as much as possible, but the sniffles (with all it’s bacteria and stuff) has it’s own special plans and catching people off-guard is one of it’s best features.

So, aside from avoiding confrontation, we should develop some war plans for when we’re already attacked.

Here are some mostly natural home remedies against the common cold (absolutely perfect for someone with peptic ulcer (any form of it) as they won’t disturb your stomach).

As I’ve read, common colds need common sense, and even though you don’t need to use every single point from this list when you get a cold, there’s still no need to fill your body with anti-biotics when you can cure your cold in a natural way:

• Vitamin C can make the cold symptoms less severe or can shorten the length of a cold from seven days to two or three days with less coughing, sneezing, and other symptoms.
  In fact, overall, Vitamin C works as a scavenger in our body throwing out all toxins, that’s why all doctors urge people to eat fruits and vegetables every day.
  (for example: Orange, Lemon, Kiwi, Broccoli, Cauliflower, etc. you can find a detailed list here)
• In case you don’t have these, you can buy Vitamin C (or Vitamin C with Propolis is even better) from the pharmacy, and since it depends on the mg., take as many as the instructions or your doctor tells you, while you’re healing.
• Take one piece of Propolis, or add 20 drops of Propolis tincture to 1 cube sugar and let it melt in your mouth.
  Propolis is a natural resinous mixture bees make, and it relieves numerous health conditions as it strengthens the immune system.
• Zinc is another wonder thing for cold that can cut colds short. So when you first feel that you may be getting a cold, start eating Zinc rich foods.
  (for example: eggs, various cereal and wheat, fish, yogurt, etc. you can find a detailed list here)
• Eat garlic (as a bonus: this also helps in keeping those pesky vampires away)
• Take a bath with a few drops of cinnamon and/or lavender in the bath water as this can relieve congestion, head aches while it relaxes you.
• Get plenty of rest because that way your immune system is boosted up and it quickens the process of getting better.
• Eat chicken soup. It’s no wonder grandmothers used to make this for us when we were little, it is quite effective in relieving cold symptoms.
• Drink tea 2-3 times a day:
  - Elderberry tea is the best (or at least for me it is).
  - Ginger, Eucalyptus, Chamomile, Echinacea and Peppermint are also very good for colds.
  - A tea from the combination of one teaspoon of Plantain (Plantago Lanceolata), Heartsease (Viola Tricolor) and Thyme (Thymus) each  to 1 liter of water is amazing for any type of cough or irritated throat
• Eat honey. Add a teaspoon of honey to your tea.
• One spoonful of Pine (Bud Cone) Syrup swallowed slowly eases an irritated throat and helps with reducing coughing. Don’t eat anything after this for at least an hour so it will act as is stays on your throat.
• For a dry irritated throat mix: a few teaspoons of honey with some lemon juice (if you add 20-30 drops of Propolis too it’s even better) and slowly let it melt in your mouth. Don’t eat anything after this for at least an hour so it will act as is stays on your throat.  
• Add 5-10 drops of Eucalyptus or Peppermint, Pine, Lavender, Thyme, Tea Tree oil to a bowl of steaming water.
  Place your nose over the vapors and inhale, covering yourself with a towel and inhale deeply. This will cure your blocked or running nose or will loosen thick mucus.
• Apply VapoRub on your chest or throat right before going to sleep.
• Make a tea by boiling 2 teaspoons of Astragalus root in 1 cup water for 15 minutes and drink. This tea enhances your immunity.
• Nasal drops for dry and stuffy nose can be homemade by adding: 1/4 teaspoon of table salt to about 5 ml lukewarm water.
  Use this solution as a nasal drop, 1 to 2 drops in each nostril about 3 to 4 times daily.
  (You can keep this nasal drop in refrigerator for 2-3 days.)
• In case you’re sensitive to nose drops (shouldn’t use this without prescription as too much of it may cause chemical rhinitis) you can buy nasal gel from your local pharmacy (if you find a herbal based one, even better).
• Fill a glass with warm water and mix in 1 tsp of table salt and gargle several times a day to cure throat soreness.
• Make some Homemade Vapor Rub
• Make some Homemade Cough Syrups 

If you follow this war plan against the sniffles, you won’t have to wave the white flag and immediately take medicine.
My motto is this: if you can avoid getting many toxins and chemicals into your body, why not?

Stay healthy everyone!