Natural Ways to Get Rid of Headache Pain
Headache pain can be a precursor to something more serious happening in your body – but most headaches are not life-threatening and are caused by temporary maladies such as allergies, stress, tension or diet. Migraine headaches are in a different classification, but some natural remedies can be helpful in alleviating the intense pain.
Over 45 million Americans have headaches that make them reach for over-the-counter medications. Many times these analgesic products can have side effects that are ultimately more serious than the headache itself, especially if you’re taking other medications.
There are natural ways to treat headache symptoms without taking a chance on having a negative reaction from prescription or OTC medicines. Here are some natural remedies that might help your occasional headache:
- Lemon – Drink a cup of tea in which you’ve squeezed the juice of about four slices of lemon. You can also try making a fine paste of lemon rind by placing in a blender or food processor, then rub the paste on your forehead.
- Avoid Allergy-Inducing Foods – Foods such as milk, chocolate, alcohol, cheeses and chicken can cause headaches. If you sneeze or have bouts of diarrhea after eating these foods, you’re probably more inclined to get a food-caused headache.
- Herbs and Spices – Cinnamon, made into a fine paste by mixing with water, then applied to the forehead can relieve headaches caused by exposure to cold temperatures. Rosemary should be boiled in water and inhaled until the headache subsides. A cup of tea made from the herb, marjoram, can be used for headaches caused by tension or nervousness.
- Hot Foot Bath – Putting your feet in a bucket filled with hot water for at least fifteen minutes can be extremely beneficial in relieving the pain of headaches.
- Apples – Remove the core of the apple, but leave the skin on. Sprinkle with a bit of salt and eat first thing every morning to relieve chronic headache pain.
The best prevention of headaches is to practice a healthy diet, physical exercise and periods of quiet meditation. Yoga techniques such as deep breathing and drinking lots of water on a regular basis can also drive headaches away and keep them from returning.
Consult your health professional if you have recurring headaches. They could be a sign of high blood pressure, eye strain or allergies.
Natural Ways to Improve Your Memory
Do you sometimes forget where you put your glasses and waste an inordinate amount of time looking for them? Our brain cells are supposed to help us remember where we’ve been, where we’ve put things and names associated with the faces of people we meet.
Unfortunately, our brain cells can let us down by losing the ability to communicate properly. There are certain strategies that we can incorporate to “train” our minds – such as paying closer attention to what we’re doing at all times or repeating information (a name, for example) over and over until we’ve got it memorized.
Our diets may be the cause of not being able to remember even the most mundane information. Memory boosters in the form of dietary supplements can help fill in those nutrients that we’re not getting in our diets and help drive out memory loss.
These boosters are sometimes called “smart nutrients” and can be found at your local health food store. Below are some of the smart nutrients that work best to restore your memory:
- Choline and DMAE (Dinethylaminoethanol) – These nutrients are the building blocks of the brain. Fish, eggs, liver, soy, peanuts (and other types of nuts) are especially high in choline. DMAE is also found in fish and helps your concentration ability.
- Acetyl-L-Carnitine and Glutamine – When you combine these nutrients, you’ll have an antioxidant that acts as an energy booster for the brain, plus a memory advocate that can balance the all-important neurotransmitters, necessary for enhanced memory performance.
- Ginkgo (Ginkgo Biloba) – Also acts as an antioxidant for the brain, improves circulation, boosts energy, memory and concentration.
- Vitamins and Minerals – There is a variety of vitamins and mineral supplements that you can take to increase your memory skills. These include all B vitamins and minerals, which contain niacin, folic acid and pyridoxine. Vitamin B12 is especially helpful in building nerve cells that help us with mental alertness.
Most of us would like to have better concentration and remembering skills. But most of us practice a diet lacking in the nutrients we need. Do your own research to find out which nutrients you may be missing and try supplements for awhile to jump-start your brain cells.
Natural Ways to Treat Acne
Our skin is an organ that can become inflamed when pores become clogged and when the sebaceous glands produce too much oil. Whiteheads, blackheads and pimples occur when oil mixes with the dead skin cells that are constantly being sloughed off. Acne isn’t just a teenage condition – it’s also common in many adults.
If your diet isn’t balanced or your digestive tract isn’t working properly, your skin can be adversely affected. One of the best natural ways to prevent skin diseases such as acne is to make sure that you exercise, drink plenty of water, eat lots of fruit and vegetables and avoid too much tea, coffee and alcohol.
Sometimes, because of hormonal imbalances or other problems, the skin develops problems no matter what precautions you take. You don’t have to purchase expensive products to get great results in clearing your skin.
Here are some home remedies you may want to try:
- Green Tea – A natural antioxidant, green tea can be very beneficial to preventing acne. The antioxidants found in green tea fight the “free radicals” that damage skin cells and tissues and has no bad side effects.
- Brewer’s Yeast – Contains chromium, a mineral that helps control how you process sugar. Two teaspoons of brewer’s yeast sprinkled on your oatmeal or breakfast cereal helps to clear the skin and prevent buildup of bacteria that causes acne.
- Oatmeal – Has long been used for skin irritations because it draws oil and impurities from the skin. Apply cooked and cooled oatmeal to the face as a mask for about fifteen minutes and then wash off with water.
- Aloe Vera – The juice or gel found in the aloe vera plant helps to heal skin problems such as acne. Use twice a day to reduce scaring and as a skin cleanser.
- Apple Cider Vinegar – The acid in apple cider vinegar helps to clean facial pores. It can also kill bacteria and remove excess oil on the face.
- Egg Whites – Egg whites are a natural astringent.Apply as you would a mask on your face and after a few moments, wash with clear water.
Acne can be a problem that controls your life. You don’t feel very social if you have big, ugly sores on your face, so you tend to stay home, eat things you shouldn’t and feel sorry for yourself.
Instead, pamper yourself and your skin with some of the treatments listed above. These and other natural and effective treatments can be used safely on your skin without buying expensive remedies that sometimes contains irritants that are harmful to your skin.
Nature’s Way for Healthy Looking Hair
Do you long for shiny, bouncy hair like that portrayed on television commercials for hair products? You may rush out to purchase those products only to be disappointed when you try them on your own mane.
Don’t despair! You can get the look you want from natural products that cost less and perform better. First, you have to understand the structure of your hair and how both internal and external factors can affect the way it appears.
A healthy diet and adequate exercise will bring circulation to your scalp and is one of the best things you can do to keep your hair healthy and shining. External factors such as sun and harsh chemicals contained in products used to color your hair can also dry out your hair and make it dull and listless.
Chemicals contained in most commercial shampoos and conditioners can also affect your hair negatively. Here are some natural methods for cleaning, conditioning and general care of your hair that should bring it back to a lush, manageable state:
- Use natural-ingredient shampoos – Look for shampoos that contain chamomile, lemon verbena, seaweed extract, rosemary, keratin, tea tree oil and plant proteins. Stay away from products that contain harsh cleansers that may cause lots of suds and bubbles, but are damaging to your hair.
- Condition with natural remedies – Jojoba oil, aloe and henna are just a few herbal remedies that can condition your hair without leaving it oily and limp.
- Use a brush made from boar bristles. They’re natural and will help lubricate your hair using the natural oils that come from your scalp. Never brush your hair while it’s still wet. Use a wide-tooth comb to detangle your hair and wait until it’s partially dry before using the brush.
- Dry your hair on the lowest setting of a blow dryer. Heat tends to dry your hair and sprays, styling mousse, and gels that have alcohol only make it worse.
- If your hair has been damaged from sun and too much processing, repair it by using deep conditioners made from botanicals. Look for “leave-in” conditioners – they tend to repair the damage much more quickly.
If you color your hair, ask the colorist if there is a product that will prepare your hair for touch ups or overall coloring. Using the products as recommended will also help to avoid damage.
Natural Bug Repellents
Poisons aren’t the only answer when it comes to making your skin unappetizing to bugs. There are some natural remedies that you can use to repel noisy and bothersome insects without taking a chance on chemical-induced repellents.
Especially when you’re considering putting poisons like DEET on your child’s skin, it’s beneficial to look at alternative methods to protect your skin from bug bites. Here are a few ways you can keep obnoxious insects from invading your home – and your body:
Ants – Place mint tea bags or crushed cloves near the ants’ starting point. Spray the ants with a small amount of soapy water. Draw a line of chalk at the ants’ entry point. The ants won’t cross the line. If ants are attacking your trees, wrap the trunk with paper and then put “sticky goo” (purchased at a gardening center) on the paper.
Fleas – Spray cedar oil spray, sprayed on carpets, floors and in your pet’s bedding. d-Limonene, produced by the citrus industry, can be sprayed safely to prevent fleas.
Diatomaceous earth or powdered pyrethrum (purchased at an herb shop) can be sprinkled on your pet’s clean bedding and carpets in your home. Herbs such as rosemary, citronella, wormwood and pennyroyal are natural treatments for fleas.
Mosquitoes – Rubbing alcohol, applied to the skin, can repel mosquitoes. Plant marigolds at your entrance and around a deck or patio. Clove oil is effective against mosquitoes, but use it sparingly as it may irritate the skin. Citronella (rose geranium), eucalyptus, peppermint, lavender and cedar oil are some of the most common insect repellents.
Flies – Citronella, diluted in oil (such as almond oil) can be rubbed on your skin to keep almost any flying insects away. Herbs such as basil, mint and tansy repel flies. The smell of pennyroyal oil is effective in repelling flies.
Mix a combination of white wine vinegar and water and add some or all of the herbs, citronella, eucalyptus, lavender or tea tree oils. Then, add to a liquid detergent in a spray bottle and shake well.
Try some of these home remedies to repel insects before purchasing the more expensive and extremely harmful products that contain poisonous chemicals. The natural way is the best way to go for ourselves, our loved ones and our planet.
Natural Ways to Ease Menstrual Discomfort
Once a month, a natural process – menstruation — occurs in a pre-menopausal woman’s body that usually brings some physical discomfort. The discomfort could be in the form of pain in the abdomen, headaches or sore muscles.
There are products on the market designed to alleviate some of the discomfort associated with menstruation, but if you prefer a more natural way of dealing with it – there are some tried and true natural methods that may work for you. For example:
- Yoga exercises – The gentle stretching exercises of yoga can help to relax and stretch aching muscles. Deep breathing and meditation are also beneficial.
- Raspberry leaf tea – This tea acts as a diuretic. Drinking it before menstruation can help lessen pain from cramps.
- Diet – Don’t eat heavy, starchy foods during menstruation. Instead, eat lots of fruits and vegetables.
- Heat – Applying heat (in the form of a heating pad or hot water bottle) will bring relief from cramps.
- Reflexology – A good reflexologist can relieve menstrual cramps and other problems caused by menstruation by applying gentle pressure to certain points on your hands and feet.
- Pomegranate – Essence of Pomegranate can help balance the female organs and bring relief from pain associated from menstruation.
- Ginkgo Biloba – A Ginkgo supplement taken on a regular basis may help relieve menstrual discomfort each month.
- Massage – A gentle back massage can help relieve lower back pain that occurs with menstruation.
- Hydration – Drink plenty of water to help flush out toxins that build up during your period and help relieve discomfort from bloating.
Monthly menstruation in a woman’s body is a natural process. It’s possible to relieve the discomfort associated with this process in a natural manner rather than taking prescription drugs or over-the-counter medications. Explore the above methods to find out which one will work best for you.