Home Cures and Treatmentsfor common ailments

Home Remedy Treatments for Hemorrhoids
Here are the most effective home remedies you can take to soothe your achy bottom and keep hemorrhoids from flaring.

Rough up your diet. Dietary fiber — the fiber found in foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and dried beans — passes through the human digestive tract untouched by digestive enzymes. As it travels, it absorbs many times its weight in water; by the time it reaches the colon in combination with digestive waste, it produces a stool that is bulky, heavy, and soft — all factors that make it easier to eliminate without straining. Straining, remember, is a major cause of hemorrhoids. In about half of hemorrhoid cases, consuming more dietary fiber is the only treatment necessary.

Drink up. Be sure to drink plenty of water to keep the digestive process moving right along. A minimum of eight large glasses of water or other noncaffeinated fluid a day is recommended. Fruits and vegetables, which are important sources of dietary fiber, are naturally packed with water and can also help keep you hydrated.

Avoid sweat and strain. Don’t try to move your bowels unless you feel the urge to do so. And don’t spend any more time on the toilet than it takes to defecate without straining. Once your bowels have moved, don’t strain to produce more.

Heed the call of nature. On the other hand, don’t wait too long before responding to the urge to eliminate. The longer the stool stays in the lower portion of the digestive tract, the more chance there is for moisture to be lost, making the stool hard and dry.

Try a different position. It has been suggested that squatting is a more natural position than sitting for moving one’s bowels; unfortunately, Western toilets are not designed to make this possible for most people. Some people find that propping their feet up on a small footstool and pulling their knees in the direction of their chest helps.

Soften it. If eating more fiber-packed food and increasing water intake aren’t enough to solve a severe constipation problem, you might want to talk to your doctor about taking a laxative known as a stool softener (such as Colace or Correctol) or one that contains a natural bulking agent (such as Metamucil and Effer-Syllium). These are only short-term solutions, however–the best way to add fiber is through food. Do not — repeat, do not — use laxatives that act on the muscles of the colon and rectum unless specifically directed to by your doctor; prolonged use of such products, which typically contain bisacodyl, senna, cascara sagrada, or castor oil as their active ingredient, can cause permanent malfunction of the bowel in addition to severe irritation of the anal area. Avoid mineral oil, as well, since it can interfere with the absorption of some essential nutrients, such as vitamin A.

Take a walk. Regular exercise helps your digestive system work more efficiently. Strenuous exercise isn’t necessary, however; a lengthy walk at a brisk pace will do quite nicely.

Keep it clean. Keep your rectal area clean at all times. Residual fecal matter can irritate the skin, but so can vigorous rubbing with dry toilet paper. Use plain water to rinse the area, then pat it dry and dust with cornstarch powder. More convenient, but also more expensive, are premoistened wipes designed for anal care. These wipes cause irritation in some people. If you want to try them, they are available without a prescription at pharmacies and drugstores.

Rinse well. Soap residue can also irritate the anal area.

Skip the soap. If you find that, even with thorough rinsing, soap still irritates the anal area, look for a special perianal cleansing lotion in your drugstore. Follow the package directions.

Soften your seat. If your job demands that you sit all day, try sitting on a doughnut shaped cushion — an inexpensive device that takes the pressure off the sensitive area. And be sure to take short walking breaks several times a day.

Sitz around. Take a sitz bath for 30 minutes, three or four times a day: Sit in six inches of warm water on your doughnut cushion or on a towel twisted into a circle big enough to support your bottom.

Take the heat. Even if you can’t manage a full-scale sitz bath, a washcloth moistened with warm water can soothe the painful area.

Slim down. If you are overweight, you’ll be doing your bottom a favor by getting your weight closer to the desirable range. Of course, you’ll be doing the rest of your body good, too.

Hemorrhoid-Fighting Fiber

One of the most important moves toward healing hemorrhoids is a change in diet. However, it’s best to add fiber to your diet gradually. Too rapid an increase can cause gas, abdominal cramps, or diarrhea. As it is, you can expect some increase in intestinal gas at first, but this will subside in a week or two as your system and the bacteria that inhabit your colon adjust to your new diet.

Gluten free whole grains can be enjoyed by people who may have an allergy to gluten.

Celiac Disease and Allergies

For the millions of Americans who can’t eat gluten – (a protein in wheat) and related grains such as barley, rye, spelt, kamut, and triticale – must choose their grains carefully. This group includes the nearly 3 million Americans with celiac disease – an autoimmune form of gluten intolerance – who must eat a gluten-free diet for life.

Other people may not have celiac disease, but may be allergic to wheat nonetheless, and must avoid all forms of wheat. A gluten-free diet is also sometimes recommended as part of the treatment for autistic children.
Which Grains are Gluten-Free?

It’s important to note that gluten-intolerant people CAN eat whole grains. In fact, as you’ll see from the list below, a large number of gluten-free grain choices are available.

Grains with Gluten

Wheat, including varieties like spelt, kamut, farro
and durum; and products like bulgur, semolina
Barley
Rye
Triticale
Oats**

**Oats are inherently gluten-free, but are frequently contaminated with wheat during growing or processing. Two companies (Cream Hill Estates and Gluten Free Oats) currently offer pure, uncontaminated oats. Ask your physician if these oats are acceptable for you. VisitGluten.net for a discussion on oats in the gluten-free diet.

Gluten FREE Grains

Amaranth
Buckwheat
Corn
Millet
Montina (Indian rice grass)
Quinoa
Rice
Sorghum
Teff
Wild Rice

Other Healthy Substitutes for Gluten Grains

Many creative recipes have been developed for gluten-intolerant people, using the gluten-free grains above along with foods like nuts, arrowroot, beans, chestnuts, mesquite, potato, soy, and tapioca, all of which are gluten-free. Some of these ingredients make deliciously healthy breakfast cereals and side dishes, while others are ground into flours for flavorful baked goods such as pizza, desserts, and breads.

For gluten-free baking tips, visit The Savory Palate.
For more information on foods that are acceptable for the gluten-free diet, see the Quick Start Diet Guide at Gluten.net. It was jointly developed by the Gluten Intolerance Group of North America (GIG®) and the Celiac Disease Foundation.

Where to Buy Gluten-Free Ingredients

There are nearly 190 companies world-wide that provide over 2600 gluten-free foods and ingredients; many can be found at natural food stores. Some grocery stores carry gluten-free goods. Gluten-free items are available through mail-order at many places including:

By Dr. Mercola

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common condition that many people struggle with. Statistics show that one in ten Americans display the symptoms of IBS, accounting for more than 2 million prescriptions and 35,000 hospitalizations each year. It is also the second highest cause of work absenteeism after the common cold.
Do You Have Irritable Bowel Syndrome?
It’s important to realize that IBS is completely different from another condition that sounds very similar, namely inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
Inflammatory bowel disease is an autoimmune disease that can have very serious consequences. But irritable bowel syndrome, even though it can cause debilitating pain, is a functional bowel disorder. In other words, there are no significant physical conditions that contribute to the problem; hence it’s a functional disease.
So how do you know if you might be suffering from IBS?
Common signs and symptoms include frequent:
• Abdominal discomfort and/or pain
• Spastic colon (spastic contractions of the colon)
• Bloating
• Gas
• Diarrhea
• Constipation
How to Treat IBS without Drugs
Fortunately, there are some simple, basic strategies you can use as an alternative to the drugs that are typically prescribed, such as antispasmodics and antidepressants. These drugs may help control the symptoms but do nothing to address the underlying cause.
Avoid all sources of gluten — The first step for any patient that comes to my clinic with this problem is to go on a gluten free diet. Most people understand this means avoiding all forms of wheat, but you also need to be aware that there are many other hidden sources of gluten in your diet.
Gluten is a protein found in wheat, but it’s also found in other grains such as:
• Barley
• Rye
• Oats
• Spelt
Typically, avoiding gluten for a week or two is enough to see significant improvement.
In addition to gluten, food allergies can also play a role so be sensitive to that and start a trial and error process to determine which ones you have.
Get checked for parasites — Another comprehensive strategy, to make sure you’re not struggling with a physical condition that could be simulating IBS, is to have your stool checked for parasites. Some parasites, such as giardia, can sometimes be a contributing factor that needs to be treated.
Tailor your diet to your personal biochemistry — Naturally, you’ll want to pay close attention to your diet. Ideally, you’ll want to eat according to your nutritional type, as you have specific nutritional needs that are based on your personal biochemistry, metabolism, and genetic makeup.
Some people thrive on low-carbohydrate, high-protein and high-fat diets. A typical ratio for a Carb Type might be 40 percent protein and 30 percent each of fats and carbohydrates, but the amounts could easily shift to 50 percent fats and as little as 10 percent carbohydrates depending on individual genetic requirements.
Others require the converse: a high carb, low fat and low protein diet. (However, it’s important to realize that there is a major difference between vegetable carbs and grain carbs, even though they’re both referenced as “carbs.” Grains convert to sugar, which is not something anyone needs in their diet in high amounts.) Others fall somewhere in between these Protein and Carbohydrate types and can afford to be less strict with their ratios of carbs, fats and proteins.
It’s important to realize that if you don’t eat a diet that is suitable for you, you’re likely to suffer health challenges, and a spastic colon is one possibility.
Part of nutritional typing is also to pay attention to the quality of your food. You’ll want to consume high quality, unprocessed food. Remember, 90 percent of the money Americans spend on food is for processed foods. When you choose foods like this you’re bound to experience physical complications, and it’s no big surprise that one of those complications could be in your gut.
Boost healthy bacteria in your gut — It’s also important to make sure you have enough healthy bacteria in your gut. You can get healthy bacteria from fermented foods or a high quality supplement.
Now, once you lower the amounts of sugar and processed foods in your diet, you’re automatically creating a milieu that will support the growth of good bacteria and diminish growth of bad bacteria. But you can enhance that process further by eating fermented foods or taking a high quality probiotic.
Take your fiber – Taking additional fiber can also be very helpful to control IBS symptoms such as constipation and diarrhea. Fiber such as psyllium tends to be particularly helpful, and is my personal favorite. I use it nearly every day.
Psyllium is adaptogenic fiber, meaning if you’re constipated it will soften your stool and help increase your bowel frequency, and if you have loose stools and frequent bowel movements, it will help with stool formation and decrease the frequency of bowel movements.
If you decide to use psyllium, make sure it is organic as nearly all the products out there are not, and the damage from the pesticide residue in most of the products far outweigh the benefit you would receive from the fiber itself. Metamucil is a classic non-organic psyllium.
Another good fiber is whole, organic flax seed. You can take a few table spoons of freshly ground flax seed per day. Another benefit of flax is that it’s also a high quality source of plant-based omega-3 fats, particularly ALA, which nearly everyone needs on a regular basis.
Address emotional challenges – Last but certainly not least, I’ve found that many people with IBS have an unresolved emotional component that contributes to their physical problem. This is also one of the reasons why antidepressants are frequently prescribed. Meditation, prayer, and psychological techniques and tools like the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) are all strategies you can use to effectively address your emotional challenges.
If irritable bowel syndrome is a condition that you or someone in your family struggles with, following these tips and recommendations can help you, and your family, to take control of your health.

In this day and time when many people cannot afford medical care, there are alternative treatments that can be formulated from home and used to treat and fight off illnesses. This article from the Natural Health and Longevity Resource Center gives information on an old/new treatment.

Colloidal Silver -
The Rediscovery of a Super Antibiotic? www.colloidalsilver.com

Colloidal silver appears to be a powerful, natural antibiotic and preventative against infections. Acting as a catalyst, it reportedly disables the enzyme that one-celled bacteria, viruses and fungi need for their oxygen metabolism. They suffocate without corresponding harm occurring to human enzymes or parts of the human body chemistry. The result is the destruction of disease-causing organisms in the body and in the food.

Colloidal silver was in common use until 1938. Many remember their grandparents putting silver dollars in milk to prolong its freshness at room temperature. At the turn of the century, scientists had discovered that the body’s most important fluids are colloidal in nature: suspended ultra-fine particles. Blood, for example, carries nutrition and oxygen to the body cells. This led to studies with colloidal silver. Prior to 1938, colloidal silver was used by physicians as a mainstream antibiotic treatment and was considered quite “high-tech.” Production methods, however, were costly. The pharmaceutical industry moved in, causing colloidal research to be set aside in favor of fast working and financially lucrative drugs.

Ingesting Colloidal Silver

Taken orally, the silver solution is absorbed from the mouth into the bloodstream, then transported quickly to the body cells. Swishing the solution under the tongue briefly before swallowing may result in faster absorption. In three to four days the silver may accumulate in the tissues sufficiently for benefits to begin. Colloidal silver is eliminated by the kidneys, lymph system and bowel after several weeks. If routinely exposed to dangerous pathogenic germs, some recommend a regular daily intake as a protection. In cases of minor burns, an accumulation of colloidal silver may hasten healing, reducing the possibility of scar tissue and infection. It is believed by many in the natural healing arts that the lives of millions of people who are susceptible to chronic low-grade infections can be enhanced by this preventative health measure.

Topical Uses

Some have used colloidal silver in a nasal spray mister - to reach the sinuses and nasal passages. Spray bottles have been used for topical use on kitchen and bathroom surfaces, skin, sore throat, eyes, burns, etc. Colloidal silver is painless on cuts, abrasions, in open wounds, in the nostrils for a stuffy nose, and even in a baby’s eyes because, unlike some antiseptics, it does not destroy tissue cells. It’s excellent as an underarm deodorant, since most underarm odor is caused by bacteria breaking down substances released by the sweat glands!

Some Common Uses of Colloidal Silver

Natural health practitioners have for years recommended taking one tablespoon daily, for four days, to establish a level, then one teaspoon daily for maintenance (proportional to body weight for children). After six weeks, a pause of several weeks has also been recommended by some natural healing arts doctors. Also, colloidal silver can be applied directly to cuts, scrapes, and open sores, or on a bandage for warts. It can be applied on eczema, itches, acne or bug bites. To purify water, add one tablespoon per gallon, shake well and wait six minutes. Mixed this way, it’s tasteless. It is not an allopathic poison.

RLS sufferers generally have more leg discomfort when sitting or lying down than when standing. Leg discomfort is especially bad at night, making it hard to fall asleep. It can strike at any age, but most cases occur after age 40.

One third to one half of all cases of RLS seem to be inherited, but it can be caused by nerve damage in the legs — typically the result of diabetes, kidney disease or a pinched nerve in the back.

Some sufferers gain relief from iron supplements, but check with your Dr. first to make sure it is right for you. Others swear by supplements of vitamin E and B-12 and folate, however generally people do not benefit from vitamin supplements.

You can revise your sleep schedule. Try to sleep when your symptoms are least pronounced. Avoid caffeine and alcohol. And a home remedy that has been successful, is to place a BAR of SOAP under the bottom sheet on your bed, where your feet will touch it as you sleep. The bar will have to be exchanged for a new one about every 3 months or use it at the lavatory a few days and put it back. It seems to refresh whatever the compound that is in the soap that relaxes the nerves. GO AHEAD, TRY IT !!! WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO LOSE, BUT RESTLESS LEGS.

Jane G. Goldberg, PhD wrote a very understandable article about rebounding and how it positively affects your body.
Rebounding is unique as an aerobic exercise because it stimulates, strengthens, and cleanses every cell in the body. This because it uses vertical motion, rather than the horizontal motion that is used in all other forms of exercise. When you bounce up and down, your entire body goes through repetitive vertical acceleration and deceleration, working against gravity. At the bottom of every bounce, your entire body stops for a split second. At this moment, the force of gravity shoves down on every cell in our body. Then your body shoots back upward, again you are stopping for just a split instant. This your moment in space; for this instant, you are weightless and gravity-less. Because of the repetitive pushing and pulling on all your cells, the tissues and fibers and muscles in your body all grow stronger. Also, flushing out metabolic waste is increased by 300 percent by rebounding. The compression/decompression of cell membranes that occurs in rebounding significantly boosts the diffusion of fluid into and out of the cells, carrying in fresh oxygen and nutrients and flushing out the toxins. Rebounding can also substantially boost the immune system by increasing the activity of lymphocytes within the bloodstream. There is literally no other form of exercise that has the same capacity for total cellular cleansing.

How acidic is your diet or lifestyle? If you’re getting to much acid, it can be very dangerous to your health.

Ideally, you want a pH that’s balanced between acidic and alkaline. Most people are too acidic.

Your body can be too acidic if you are 1) taking prescription drugs 2) Eat meat or eggs 3) Have food chemical in what you eat 4) eat fish 5) eat most dairy products 6) consume refined sugars 7) have poultry in your diet or eat most grains.

Alkaline-producing examples are: Fruits, cereal grasses, vegetables, sprouts or herbs.

Now you can see WHY our bodies are usually too acidic… To balance your body, you can eat more of the last examples or find supplements that can help do that balancing act. In either case, everyone needs to balance the acid/alkaline in their bodies for good health.

One remedy for this is to drink 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar in a glass of water each morning before breakfast. Done on a regular basis, this has been known to help with many problems including weight gain. If you cannot do this, then the options below will assist you in getting a more balanced pH in your body.

Psoriasis is a condition that can be challenging to treat with either conventional or natural methods.

One study showed that a 0.5% aloe vera cream used for four weeks was significantly effective in relieving the lesions.

Psoriasis lesions tend to be very dry and flaky. I supposed aloe’s emollient and anti-inflammatory effects were the reason why it was helpful. Not everyone finds aloe helpful, but a surprising number of people do.

Often a trip to the seashore will help, but the next best thing is to dissolve 1/2 cup of sea salt in 1 gallon of water. Soak the psoriasis patches in the salty water several time a day.

A leading authority on herbs, James A. Duke explains in his book, “Several plant oils are chemically similar to fish oils, which have reputation for helping to relieve psoriasis. Flax seed oil contains beneficial compounds that help. Used in a smoothie, added to fat-free yogurt along with a minced clove of garlic is delicious. Or flax seed oil can be used in homemade salad dressings. You will need to start taking 2 tablespoons a day, one in the morning and one at night and after a couple of months, regulate the daily dosage to 1 tablespoon for every 100 lbs of body weight.

If you take the drug methotrexate for psoriasis, put even more fruit, veggies, and whole grains on your place each day, advises the National Psoriasis Foundation. This drug can inhibit folate, an important b vitamins. Each more chicory, asparagus, and other dark green vegetables, dried beans and peas, grapefruit and orange juice, cantaloupe, chicken livers and other organ meats.

Walking may be the ultimate form of exercise. It puts more muscle mass to work and you can quickly derive benefits–better fat metabolism, improved glucose tolerance, a lower resting heart rate and reduced stress.

Prior to your walk, do some stretching exercises to warm up your muscles. After getting used to a daily routine of walking, you must increase your pace to put more muscle mass to work. BOOST YOUR SPEED - SWING YOUR HIPS - STAND UP STRAIGHTER and last but NOT least, get yourself a good pair of shoes.

A pair with moderate cushioning.. a low beveled heel..roominess in the toe box…flexibility…an “Achilles notch” at the back of the collar (to allow space for your Achilles tendon). Have a sales person check the wear pattern on your old shoes before he/she recommends a new pair.