Free Home Remedies

Home Remedies for Sore Throat

2009-06-02T09:01:00.000-07:00

Family doctors will, on average, see four patients with a sore throat each week. This adds up to around 150,000 consultations a year in Britain, for which they prescribe 22.5 million worth of antibiotics. This may be appropriate for a small minority where it is obviously a bacterial infection usually caused by the bug streptococcus. Here the back of the throat is grossly inflamed with signs of pus or an abscess, the throat glands are enlarged and painful, and the temperature is raised.

For most, however, the cause of the sore throat is a virus which does not respond to antibiotics and so will simply get better of its own accord. Here the best treatment is to control the main symptoms of pain and swelling and simple remedies, by avoiding the hazards of inappropriate antibiotics, are clearly useful. The particular efficacy of the 'cold cloth' cure — advocated by several contributors — is of particular interest as most people, including doctors, are unaware of it.

Salt and water gargle: Gargling with salt water, or an antiseptic such as TCP three or four times a day, will sterilise the back of the throat and promote healing of the inflamed tissues. It is perhaps less well appreciated that both soluble aspirin and spirits such as whisky or brandy have a local anaesthetic effect, so regular gargling with these remedies will reduce the pain associated with a sore throat.

Lemon juice and honey: This combination is an excellent remedy for sore throats where the astringent antiseptic properties of the lemon are offset by the soothing (and anti-infective) effects of the honey. They should be mixed together in hot water or tea and sipped throughout the day.

Cold cloth cure; One of my readers from Nottingham was brought up in Lancashire where her father was a chemist. The family lived on the shop premises so there was plenty of medical treatment on hand but nonetheless her mother's favourite remedy was the cold towel treatment. 'A large handkerchief was wrung out in cold water and laid around the neck and covered with a woollen scarf on retiring to bed. As far as I can remember it always worked.’

Mrs Margaret Bellord from Hertfordshire also testifies to this treatment pointing out in particular that the water has to be very cold — and as the cloth warms up,' it was horribly uncomfortable. .. but it worked.'

Home Remedies for Snoring

2009-05-19T17:06:00.000-07:00

The nearest most people come to murdering their partners or spouses is when they are woken yet again by stentorian snoring from the adjoining pillow. Snoring is no laughing matter; it can wreck relationships, disrupt families and indeed be harmful to health. A heavy snorer suffers from chronic exhaustion and is more prone to heart ailments.

Snoring occurs when the tissues at the back of the throat, in sleep, collapse inwards, so that inspired air has to pass through a very narrow aperture — producing the characteristic grunting sounds. In its most severe form the narrowing at the back of the throat can be so extreme that breathing may stop altogether—a condition known as obstructive sleep apnoea or OSA. A person with OSA is, as it were, suffering from self-strangulation — the oxygen concentration in the blood falls to a point where the breathing centre in the brain is stimulated to make another voluntary intake of breath.

Those with OSA get insufficient restful sleep — they wake with a headache in the morning, are sleepy during the day and fall asleep at the slightest opportunity, whether at work, in church or while driving a car and sometimes in the middle of a meal.

Heavy snoring is thus a potentially serious condition which needs proper medical evaluation, but there are several simple remedies, each working in a different way, that can alleviate or abolish snoring, thus obviating the need for more drastic remedies.

Cut down on alcohol: There is no harm in a couple of glasses of wine in the evening and even a night-cap, but serious drinking in the evening is a major contributory factor to snoring for two reasons: a lot of alcohol in the bloodstream at night reduces the body's movements when asleep while simultaneously suppressing the breathing centre in the brain. Thus the typical position of the hard drinking heavy snorer is of a person flat on his back emitting intermittent snoring grunts.

Lose weight: This is, of course, easier said than done but reducing the amount of body fat all over will also reduce the quantity of tissues at the back of the throat and thus there is less to collapse inwards to obstruct the inflow of breath.

Steam: Nasal stuffiness is a potent cause of snoring by preventing breathing through the nose, forcing all the air that is inhaled and exhaled through the mouth. Hence those with a cold or hay fever tend to be heavy snorers, and it is only sensible to clear and open up the nasal passages at night by placing hot water in a flat pan, throwing a towel over the head and breathing in and out for ten minutes.

Marbles: Dr George McGeary from Oregon describes this interesting snoring cure. 'It was suggested by my mother who sewed a small glass marble into the pyjama top between the shoulder blades under a scrap of cloth. When the snorer rolls on his or her back, he immediately rolls back on his side usually without waking and resumes sleep without snoring. Once a marble is sewn into the pyjamas it can be forgotten about — as they go through the wash without problems.’

Dr Fritz Shmerl, a physician from California, has suggested a variant on this theme. 'I advise the use of half a soft sponge rubber ball six centimetres in diameter. Such a ball is available in any toy shop. Its hemisphere is detached and fastened to the mid part of the back of the pyjama top. I use friction material such as Velcro that when glued to the flat disc of the half ball clings firmly to the pyjamas fitted with a complementary piece.’

Cottonwool: The alternative to treating the snorer is to treat the partner. When the ears are plugged with cottonwool at night, the sounds of snoring become much fainter and sleep is no longer disturbed.

Home Remedies for Sex Selection

2009-05-17T06:16:00.000-07:00

Many couples nowadays having had two children of the same sex are keen to have another - but only if it is of the opposite sex. There is thus a natural interest in the question of whether some way or another couples might be able to influence the sex of their offspring by sex selection. This can obviously be readily achieved by antenatal diagnosis which by determining the sex of the foetus makes it possible to selectively abort any of the wrong' sex. Such a practice is outlawed in Britain so couples must resort to other means for which, though they certainly sound ingenious, there is no serious evidence of their effectiveness.

The sex of children is determined by whether the ovum is fertilized by a sperm carrying the usual twenty-three chromosomes together with the female sex X chromosome, or twenty-three chromosomes together with the male sex Y chromosome. They are called X and Y because of their shape and the only physical difference between the two is that the Y chromosome is missing one arm's length, so the sperm carrying it is infinitesimally slightly less heavy. Clearly, if sex selection is to work, it is necessary to separate the two types of sperm, and there must be some other distinguishing physical characteristic that allows this to be done.

In 1970 Dr Land rum Shettles, an American gynaecologist, reported that the Y bearing sperm swims faster and so, other things being equal, they should get to the ovum first and many more boys than girls would be born. But this is balanced, he claimed, by the fact that the X bearing female sperm, though less speedy, are more resilient and so less likely to be destroyed by vaginal secretions which are more acidic around the crucial time of ovulation.

If this theory is correct then it is possible to practice do-it-yourself sex selection.

For a girl: Couples wishing to have a girl should first douche the vagina with a diluted teaspoonful of acidic white vinegar which will selectively 'knock off' the competing sperm carrying the male Y chromosome. In addition they should be sure to nave sexual intercourse immediately around the time of ovulation — which can be determined by a slight rise in body temperature and the presence of a clear jelly-like vaginal discharge — as this gives the 'female' bearing sperm an equal chance against the male.

For a boy: By contrast, for those who wish to have a boy, the woman should douche the vagina with a diluted alkaline solution of sodium bicarbonate, thus rendering the environment less hostile to the male Y bearing sperm. In addition sexual activity should occur either just before or just after ovulation to maximize on the Y bearing sperm's ability to swim faster.

Dr Shettles subsequently proposed a further modification based on the observation that when the woman has an orgasm her vaginal secretions tend to be alkaline and so only those wishing to have a boy should try to achieve this pleasurable plateau.

Dr Shettles has sold a lot of books describing his techniques presumably because even if the method is completely valueless, half of all the couples following his advice would by chance end up with a child of their desired sex.

Home Remedies for Restless Legs

2009-05-11T20:49:00.000-07:00

Restless Legs Syndrome is an obscure affliction in which an unpleasant creeping sensation is felt deep within the bone and muscle. 'It feels as if my whole leg is full of small worms/ is how one sufferer describes it, and another 'as if ants are running up and down my bones/ Movement of the legs provide the only solace and sufferers find it impossible to keep still. This torture is psychological as well as physical. The creeping sensation may persist for hours at a time, keeping the tormented victim up till four or five in the morning and this forced insomnia unsettles the mind, inducing hallucinations and depression,

Medical examinations reveal no abnormality; nor do other investigatory tests. No abnormalities of muscles or nerves have ever been identified. The cause is unknown, though it is presumed there must be some area deep in the brain from which the crawling sensation originates.
Those who suffer from restless legs will get little help from their doctors who are as mystified by the complaint as they are, and for which they have no certain cure to offer. Several contributors have, however, suggested a variety of remedies which could be tried.

Heat: Heat in the form of a hot bath last thing at night or a hot water bottle and bed socks can prevent restless legs. Blessed relief is sometimes reported during a viral illness such as flu which, by raising the temperature, provides solace for a few days.
Cold: Alternatively, some sufferers find relief by pouring icy water over their legs, lying horizontal on the ground and sticking their feet in the refrigerator or, weather permitting, walking barefoot in the snow.

Exercise: 'Lie on the floor and "cycle" in the air until the muscles ease up.' Anon.

Cramp: Fascinatingly, deliberately inducing an attack of cramp can bring relief, as described by Mr J. L Visser from Edinburgh.

'Having been driven up the wall (literally) with restless legs and tried everything, eventually out of desperation, I pulled my calf muscles so tight that very quickly I got cramp in the leg. Letting go, I immediately noticed the infernal irritation had just about disappeared. Now when I feel the restless legs are about to start up again, I induce a cramp, let go immediately and have no more trouble. Sometimes I have to repeat the process a few times but no more.'

There may be a further connection between restless legs and cramps because Mr U. G. Huggins from East Sussex reports that after being advised to drink 'lots of tonic water at night' as a home remedy for night cramps, 'I am glad to say that after two months the problem was almost completely solved'.

Water: Emeritus surgeon Mr T. P. N. Jenkins from Surrey reports he has been 'plagued by restless legs from my late teens into my eighties. It was a great event in my life when I discovered a simple solution — a drink of water. As the discomfort of restless legs impinges on sleep, a point is reached when it is well worthwhile to get out of bed and drink. In a few minutes, the symptoms ease off and a deep sleep returns'.

Night Cramps Treatment

2009-05-04T13:39:00.000-07:00

Everyone gets night cramp from time to time which, if prolonged, propels the sufferer out of a warm bed to spend minutes walking up and down the bedroom floor. They become more frequent with the passage of years and, for those seriously afflicted, can disrupt a restful night's sleep. The pain is caused by acute spasm of the muscles and its cause is not known. Standard medical therapy is quinine sulphate tablets taken on retiring, though why it should work is not known.

Home Remedies for Night Cramps
There are a variety of home remedies including two of the most unusual in this collection — nets and corks.

Tonic water: Tonic water contains quinine, and a tumblerful on retiring is reputed to be as effective as quinine sulphate tablets.

Pillows: Cramp sufferers are advised to keep their legs flexed by, for example, placing a pillow under the knee or against the foot. This prevents the leg muscles from relaxing completely and thus going into spasm.

Exercises: Lady Ford from East Lothian suggests the following manoeuvre: 'Stand facing a wall about a yard away and place both arms flat against it. Brace legs, straighten knees and push hard ten times, then relax. Repeat two or three times.’ Alternatively, Mr F. A. Murphy from Merseyside has a simpler suggestion: 'If you have cramp in the legs point the big toe upwards and it goes.’

Rebreathing: Miss R. T. Clark from Newmarket suggests a remedy similar to the 'paper bag cure' for hiccoughs. 'At the onset of leg cramp I cup my hands closely over mouth and nose and breathe deeply, thus reinhaling the exhaled breath. Gradually the inhaled carbon dioxide reaches the taut muscles and relaxes them. It may take forty to fifty breaths but it always works and the cramp does not return.'

Corks: Mrs M. S. Geering from Hertfordshire reports:

Both my late husband and I used to have our sleep broken by cramps perhaps two or three times a week. When visiting my doctor on another matter I mentioned this to him and he suggested I put a cork under our martress. This I did without telling my husband. Neither of us suffered cramp again. The first my husband knew about the cork was six months later when a dinner party guest mentioned he suffered from cramps and I passed this remedy on to him.’

This account is particularly compelling because it would appear the cork worked for Mrs Geering's husband even though he was unaware of its presence under the mattress. Mrs Angela Beckon from Huntingdon describes a similar instance where the remedy worked independently for both partners:

'Many years ago I was told to put a few corks beneath my mattress. It worked wonders. No more creeping out on the cold kitchen floor to alleviate it.

My husband did not believe in it until his leg cramp became more frequent - when he tried it too. Complete success. The ladies from the Social Services, however, did wonder whether the corks might have had something to do with secret drinking.’

If the cork is displaced for any reason, the remedy no longer appears to work. Mr Geoffrey Bellis from Wrexham describes how his wife was advised by a friend to place a cork in her bed—with excellent results. 'After a few months a severe attack of cramp caused her to doubt the efficacy of the advice she had been given. Surprise, surprise, when she later made the bed she found the two corks on the bedroom floor.’

Magnets: Mrs Hilary Bonye from Kent has found that magnets have worked to prevent her cramps for over twenty years.

I put a magnet on the affected part of my leg and the pain disappears in a few seconds. My husband, a physicist, was doubtful at first, but he agrees the effectiveness of the treatment is no coincidence.’

Further, as with Mrs Bellis's experience, if the magnet is displaced, the remedy no longer works. Mrs Eileen Lynch from Suffolk uses a four inch magnet purchased from a toy shop:

'When I had a cramp again a few nights ago, I discovered the magnet had slipped down the side of the mattress.’

Home Remedies - Garlic

2009-04-30T17:14:00.000-07:00

Part used: corms.

Properties: circulatory stimulant, antiseptic, blood purifier, diaphoretic, digestive stimulant, carminative, expectorant, tonic.

Energy: warming, stimulating, sweet. Reduces Water and grounds excessive Air, increases digestive Fire.

Caution: avoid prolonged concentrated use during first trimester of pregnancy. Safe for occasional tea, culinary and short-term uses.

Garlic should be found in every home. Used regularly, it is an overall tonic for the system, helping to promote good digestion and assimilation, and strengthening the adrenal glands. It stimulates and improves blood circulation, because it clears cholesterol and other impurities from the blood. It therefore finds a place in treating excess weight, lymphatic congestion, hypertension and heart disease. However, it should be avoided in any bleeding conditions, such as excessive menstrual bleeding or blood in the stools.

Garlic is a natural antibiotic. Eating a clove raw or expressing the juice into one tablespoon of vegetable oil at the first sign of a cold, flu or any infection will usually clear or at least weaken it. Good quality garlic powder can be used instead of raw garlic, though it will not be quite as effective.

Home Remedies for Migraine

2009-04-29T13:58:00.000-07:00

There is no single cause of migraine. Many different factors can be involved in controlling the size of the arteries in the brain, whose initial constriction causes the warning symptoms, and whose subsequent dilation creates a crashing headache. It is not at all surprising that a treatment which works miraculously for one person might be ineffective for another. Standard medical drugs are certainly effective for many. Mrs Constance Benton from London reduced her monthly 96-hour ordeal to eight hours with Imigran injections. Mrs Marjorie Wells of Bristol reports that 'after years of migraine attacks and having every tablet' she found that Cafergot suppositories — combining caffeine and ergotamine — provided "instant relief".'

Three contributors discovered, by accident, that drugs taken for a different condition altogether combated their migraine. Mr Clive Mills from Nuneaton who has suffered migraines for 30 years says CI used to lose three days of my life at ten day intervals'. Then he was given Diltiazem for his angina and has had no migraine attacks since. He writes that he can even 'eat chocolate and drink red wine with impunity'. Mr P. Mason found that Prozac had the same effect, and Mrs Penny Bullivant of Salisbury found that the betablockers she took for her raised blood pressure stopped her migraines immediately. In fact, betablockers are a well recognised migraine preventive treatment as indeed is a small dose of daily aspirin. Dr R. M. Miller of Sussex particularly recommends aspirin as being beneficial in a major attack, quite independent of its analgesic effects.

Home Remedies for Migraine
Two simple remedies suggest some relationship between stomach biliousness and migraine, where treating the former prevents the onset of the latter. Mr A. L. Baker of Dorset suggests a heaped teaspoon of E no Fruit Salts in half a glass of water. Mrs Rosemary Stanbury of Swindon swears by the same thing in the form of two pints of soda water. She writes: 'within ten minutes the eyes are better and the following headache is negligible.'

Mrs Marianne Ticehurst from Essex observes: 'one of my many (symptoms) was a swollen left eye and congested left nostril.' She started to use the nasal decongestant Otrivine9 tight at the beginning of an attack—or when she anticipated one was on the way. She observed, 'gradually the attacks reduced in number and now I do not have migraines at all.'

Dentist, Mr Rory Linden-Kelly has discovered an association between migraine and increased muscle spasm around the jaw. The treatment involves wearing an acrylic appliance over the teeth at night to prevent the subconscious grinding habit. This reduces the muscle spasm and can prevent migraine.

Despite the disparate nature of these remedies a common theme seems to be that along with the well known dietary precipitants of migraine, disturbances in the stomach, nasal area and muscles may also be a contributory factor. Thus treatment directed at these areas may prove effective.

Home Remedies - Sweet Calamus

2009-04-28T17:55:00.000-07:00

Acorus calamus

Part used: root.
Properties: nutritive tonic, nervine and brain tonic, digestive aid, clears mucous. Circulating, warming, calming. Reduces excess Water. Calms and strengthens Air. Mildly increases Fire.

Caution: Use short term only.
Sweet calamus grows naturally near ponds and waterways. It holds a high place in Ayurvedic medicine as being purifying to the body and the mind and promoting longevity with its rejuvenating qualities. It tonifies digestion, thereby clearing the blood and lymph, and strengthens the nerves. Like comfrey, it is a starchy root with nutritive qualities.

Used externally as a locally applied paste, it calms headaches and pain. In the US it is currently listed as not recommended by the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) for internal use, though it is used thus routinely in India and in the UK.

The Five Elements of Home Remedies

2009-04-27T16:20:00.000-07:00

The five elements show different combinations of qualities such as dryness and moisture, heat and cold, lightness and heaviness, mobility and inertia. These are not present in absolute form, but are tendencies within a continuum and are relative to their opposites.

- Earth manifests the qualities of solidity, firmness, heaviness, density and cold.
- Water manifests the qualities of heaviness, fluidity, cold and moisture.
- Fire manifests yet more activity, also heat, light and colour, and less density.
- Air manifests to a greater degree the qualities of mobility, lightness (less weight) and dryness, and also tends to be colder.
- Ether manifests as emptiness, that positive space within which the other elements function, find their expression and communicate or interact with each other. The qualities of ether are clarity and subtlety. At the emotional-mental level, it is the space that allows the free expression of one's true nature. Spiritually, ether is the inner space, emptied of mental activity, wherein the individual consciousness becomes aware of the cosmic spirit. This is the most subtle manifestation of the life force.

Each of these elements is present to greater or lesser extents in all of nature from stones to sub-atomic particles. For example, in humans, Earth would be the most obvious and most characteristic element of bones, teeth and, to a lesser extent, muscles, because these are the most dense and solid tissues in the body. Water is present in great quantities in our bodies but is most obvious in mucous membranes, in the lubricating fluid around joints, in blood and in lymph fluid. Similarly, Fire is manifested in the digestive acids, in that veritable chemical factory, the liver, and in the warmth and redness of blood. Air is represented in the electrical impulses of the nervous system with its qualities of rapid communication and instigation of movement. Even Ether — space — is necessary in the body and is represented in, for example, the thoracic cavities, the colon and the synaptic space through which nerve impulses are transmitted.

In herbs, the elemental energy is expressed in such things as the earthiness of bark and roots; the fluidity of sap; the fire of colour in flowers and the chemical process of photosynthesis; the breathing of air by leaves; and the space within which the seed forms.

The Phenomena of Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Ether

2009-04-25T15:43:00.001-07:00

The life force expresses itself on the physical level as different qualities or patterns of energy - much as a river has different characteristics and qualities depending on whether it is a rushing mountain stream, a broader lowland river or a wide, silt-laden delta. This expression manifests as the phenomena of Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Ether -substances ranging from the most solid to the most ethereal. These elements are present in differing degrees and combination in the human body, in plants and throughout nature.

It is significant that each of the major known traditional medical systems of the world developed independent but similar paradigms of energetic understanding to make sense of the natural world, health and disease. These may be described in slightly different terms and configurations of the patterns ~ perhaps reflecting differences of climate, geographical and cultural experience - but it is sensed that they are descriptions of the same phenomena. In this book, the paradigm of Ayurvedic medicine is chosen as the model. It is very similar to our own European-Greek humoral tradition, includes many herbs in common and has the advantage of still being actively and successfully practiced today, after 5,000 years.

Home Remedies for Itching

2009-04-24T07:17:00.001-07:00

Itching is something of a medical mystery. It has some relationship to pain whose nerve fibres it shares, but whereas pain is useful in forcing one to withdraw from a painful stimulus, the instinctive response to an itch is to scratch - but to what end? Then there is the curious way that scratching or rubbing an itchy area not only brings relief but pleasure, so there is an urge to carry on, even though it is absolutely certain that once the relief has worn off, the itching will return with a vengeance.

There are four main types of itching. The first is that associated with some recognisable skin complaint such as athlete's foot, eczema, scabies and ringworm, for which the treatment is obviously for that of the underlying condition. Secondly, a generalised itching may be a response to some food or drink or to a change in physical environment. There are reports of people itching after drinking a glass of red wine, going for a run, having a hot bath, or even wearing elasticated knickers. Thirdly, there may be a hidden medical cause for generalised itching. The commonest is undoubtedly a side effect of some medication the patient is taking but both an 'over' — and an 'under' — active thyroid can cause itchiness, as can anaemia due to insufficient iron, and also diabetes, all of which will be diagnosed by appropriate blood tests. Very occasionally itching may be the first symptom of Hodgkin's Disease, preceding its appearance by a year or more.

The final type of itching is 'itching of unknown cause' to which the following remedies apply. Especially common in the older age group, there are two particularly virulent forms involving the anus and the vulva, known respectively as pruritus ani and pruritus vulvae respectively.

The general principle in treating these conditions is that the skin should not be exposed to hidden chemicals, so perfumed soaps and deodorants should be avoided. The skin should be kept moist, so emollient oils can be added to the bath or applied afterwards and these are readily available from local chemists. Lastly, a mild steroid ointment is often helpful, and this too can be purchased over the counter without a prescription.

Water: It is commonly believed that over-frequent bathing can exacerbate generalised itchiness. This now seems to be debatable but it would seem wise to bathe only in lukewarm water rather than hot, which is more likely to dry the skin out.

Hairdryers: Dry rubbing with a towel after a bath can exacerbate itchiness, particularly of the anal and vulval regions. It is recommended that these sites should preferably be dried with a hairdryer.

Gloves: Gloves worn at night will prevent the excoriations of the skin caused by nocturnal scratching.

Clothes: Loose fitting cotton underwear should be worn next to the skin as man-made fibres can cause or exacerbate itchiness. A useful hint for women afflicted with pruritus vulvae is to cut the gusset out of their tights thus improving the circulation of air to the affected region.

Diet: Certain foods may exacerbate itchiness and their exclusion from the diet can bring blessed relief. It is well known that some cases of child eczema may respond dramatically to a dairy free diet. For reasons unknown, coffee is said to be an important exacerbating factor in pruritus ani and less convincingly beer, chocolate and tomato ketchup have been implicated in a similar way.

Energy Herbs/Remedies

2009-04-22T13:53:00.001-07:00

The Chinese have a special category of herbs called ch'i or energy tonics, which they have found to restore and rebuild the body's life energy. The most famous of these is ginseng. Scientific research on ginseng has provided some clues as to how it works. As Stephen Fulder reports in his book, About Ginseng, researchers have found ginseng to have unique and remarkable effects leading them to coin a new term for this class of herbs - 'adaptogens'. Adaptogens increase the body's ability to adapt to stress positively, indeed to survive extremely stressful situations. It is unclear exactly how this occurs, but the plant's action is believed to affect the hormones and nerves, and their response to the environment. In effect, ginseng energizes the whole body.

It is possible that as well as single herbs, certain combinations of herbs may be created whose combined effect also affects energy directly. Several cultures seem to have a famous tonic that is believed to be an elixir of life. One such combination may be Chyavanprash, a highly respected Ayurvedic formula, taken regularly to maintain overall health. As stress is recognized as being an important contributor to many chronic diseases, this new understanding of the abilities of herbs to revitalize is very welcome.

Western Ancient Home Remedies

2009-04-20T07:00:00.001-07:00

The Ancient Egyptians
In ancient Egypt, herbs were used for religious purposes, as cosmetics and for healing. Many plants and their extraction methods are depicted on the walls of tombs, indicating their central role in Egyptian life. Fragments of medical papyri from about 2000 BC give left juniper was one of the herbs used for healing and ritual in ancient egypt. instructions and recipes for preparing various herbal medicaments including unguents, poultices and beverages made from herbs such as juniper, licorice, sweet calamus and aloe vera. Herbs were also extensively used in the mummification process.

The Ancient Greeks
In classical times little, if any, distinction was made between Hippocratic medicine and natural philosophy. Physicians shared the view of the world that held that humans Eire a microcosm of the universal macrocosm of nature. All things in nature derive from the same source and partake of its vital energy, or pneuma. The fundamental elements in nature, Earth, Water, Fire and Air-Ether form in the human body the biological humours of phlegm, blood, yellow bile and black bile. Health comes from a balanced mingling, or krasis of the humours, which leads to a state of well-being or harmonia. The Hippocratic physicians advocated the use of special diets, fasting, herbs and habits to harmonize the particular balance of humours within each individual.

Two ancient Greeks who also played an important part in the history of herbal medicine were Dioscorides and Galen. Dioscorides, a surgeon in the Roman army, wrote a five-volume De Materia Medica in the first century AD, which was subsequently used for centuries by herbalists.

In the second century AD, Galen, a Greek physician in the employment of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius, praised Dioscorides' work and based much of his use of herbs on it. Galen was a physician of considerable experience and wrote numerous treatises on the arts of medicine and on his investigations into anatomy and physiology. Galen also wrote numerous commentaries on the works of his predecessors and contemporaries. Because of his prestige and the survival of many of his writings, Galen was to be the dominant influence on all subsequent medical thought until the Renaissance, some 1,600 years later.

Islamic Home Remedies
Perhaps the most important Arab physician and teacher was Abu Ah al-Husayn Abd Allah Ibn Sina, known in the West as Avicenna. Bom in AD 980, Avicenna, who was a court physician in Persia, was a man of learning in many fields besides medicine - including mathematics, astrology and philosophy. He was also an early chemist and perfected several processes such as filtration, sublimation, calcination and distillation - producing the first essential oil of rose. Avicenna wrote many books, the most famous being his Canon of Medicine, which greatly influenced the development of medicine and chemistry, not only in the Middle East, but also in Europe and India.

Arabian civilization established the practice of founding public hospitals and dispensaries for the sick. Today Islamic medicine, which is known as Unani-Tibb, continues to be practiced throughout the former Islamic empire, from North Africa to the Indian subcontinent and

Indonesia Home Remedies
Herbal medicine continued to be studied and used in Europe, by monks and nuns and by gifted individuals. The monasteries and convents maintained special gardens for cultivating medicinal plants. Among lay people too, there was usually someone, often a wise woman, who had a knowledge of healing herbs.

In the later Middle Ages and with the Renaissance in the 15th century, an explosion of learning began, stimulated by increased contacts with the Islamic empire through the Crusades. Ancient Latin and Greek texts were rediscovered during this period and the first medical school was started in Salerno, Italy. The superior medical knowledge of the Arabs was eagerly sought, their texts re-translated into Latin and their teachers invited to teach in newly established medical schools.

Home Remedies For IBS

2009-04-17T09:53:00.000-07:00

The large bowel is in a state of constant movement, as the muscles in its wall contract and relax impelling its contents onwards. This wave-like motion is absent in those with irritable bowel syndrome who as a result suffer alternately from either constipation — where the bowel is inert — or diarrhoea -where it is overactive, with colicky pains and an excess of wind. No single cause has been identified, though the severity of the symptoms can be exacerbated by certain foods, while stress is certainly a contributory factor.

As there is no single cause of IBS, everyone's case is different, and finding the best treatment is very much a matter of trial and error. There are many proprietary preparations from the chemist for one or other of the several symptoms — laxatives for constipation, anti-diarrhoeal drugs for diarrhoea, charcoal tablets for wind and peppermint based products for colic.

None of the following remedies will therefore apply to all, but serve to illustrate the scope of possible treatments. Two relevant symptoms, constipation and wind, are considered elsewhere in this anthology in more detail.

Diet: There are two important aspects to the question of diet in irritable bowel syndrome. The first concerns the general advice that patients should seek to exercise their bowel with a 'high fiber' diet — with lots of unrefined cereals, brown bread, pasta and so on, supplemented if necessary by special fiber supplements or high fiber cereals. This increases the bulk of the stool and encourages the smooth wave-like motion of the bowel, while at the same time preventing constipation.

A high fiber diet is certainly effective in some cases, but in others it may exacerbate symptoms, particularly increasing the quantities of wind in the bowel and associated colicky pains. Those made worse should clearly try to reduce rather than increase the amount of fibrous food in their diet.

The second aspect of diet is that certain foods will either exacerbate, or in some cases dramati¬cally relieve the condition. Finding out which food affects the bowel can really only be determined by personal experience.

The most common exacerbating foods include, as already mentioned, 'high fiber' foods like bread and cereals; flatus inducing foods of which the most notorious are beans but also include cabbages, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower and onions; dairy products where the person is intolerant to the lactose they contain; spicy foods particularly chillies; and acidic foods, oranges, grapefruits and vinegary salad dressings; finally, coffee, which can directly influence the nerves controlling the muscles in the walls of the bowel.

Constipation: See under Constipation. In brief, the most important are water (lots of it); fiber (where appropriate) and natural laxatives such as sugar (or honey), prunes and cashew nuts.

Diarrhoea: There are several dietary remedies for diarrhoea to be found in any book of herbal medicine including rice, oats and potatoes but none are nearly as effective as the proprietary remedies obtained from the chemist which are clearly to be preferred.

Home Remedies for Insomnia

2009-04-16T12:59:00.000-07:00

It is possible to get by with very little sleep. Leonardo da Vinci, it is claimed, trained himself to take a nap for fifteen minutes every four hours, ninety minutes in total leaving the other 22.5 hours of the day to spend productively painting and inventing. However, most people do need their usual seven or eight hours and the lives of insomniacs who are unable to achieve this can be fairly wretched. The proprietary preparation Nytol can be obtained from chemists without prescription and there are two types of home remedy, lettuce and sleep hygiene.

Lettuce: Mr J. Jolly from Cheshire describes his experience of the hypnotic qualities of lettuce: 'I was a housemaster at an approved school. My charges, boys of fifteen to sixteen age group were in dormitories for about twenty boys. The morning after having had a rather difficult "lights out" time with boys complaining about being unable to sleep, I was overheard by an elderly cook who excused herself and interrupted the conversation stating that the traditional remedy was to give them a lettuce leaf to eat.

'On my next evening duty shift I raided the pantry for the biggest lettuce leaves I could find and dished them out as required to the slow sleepers. Hey presto! It worked. Since then I have often wondered whether test match cricketers lunches of large salads are responsible for so many early afternoon dismissals.’

Home Remedies for Insomnia
Sleep hygiene: Dr Colin Espie, clinical psychologist at the University of Glasgow, provides the following advice. It starts with elementary 'sleep hygiene'.

Exercise — late afternoon or early evening is best. Avoid exercise near bedtime. Fit people have better quality sleep.

Diet— snacks before bedtime should be light and fluid intake limited.

Caffeine - coffee, tea and 'cola' contain this; intake should be moderated.

Alcohol— regular use as an hypnotic disrupts sleeping patterns. A hot milky drink is preferable. Environment — bed and mattress should be comfortable, room temperature should be around 65 degrees Fahrenheit.

Next it is necessary to establish an optimal sleeping pattern.

(i) Go to bed only when you are 'sleepy tired' and not by conventional habit.
(ii) Put the light out immediately you retire.
(iii) Do not read or watch television in bed.
(iv) If you are not asleep within twenty minutes get out of bed and sit and relax in another room until you are 'sleepy tired' again.
(v) Do not nap during the day.
(vi) Do not take recovery sleep to compensate for a previous bad night.
(vii) Follow the programme rigidly for several weeks to establish an efficient and regular pattern.

Finally, he gives advice on overcoming the two main impediments to sleep.
Tension: Practice a relaxation routine when in bed. Concentrate on breathing, try to breathe deeply and slowly. Tense and relax major voluntary muscles groups in turn interspersed with breathing exercises. The groups comprise arms, neck and shoulders, face and eyes, stomach, back and legs.

Intrusive thoughts: Tell yourself that 'sleep will come when it is ready', that 'relaxing in bed is almost as good'. Try to keep your eyes open in a darkened room and as they naturally try to close tell yourself to 'resist that just for another few seconds'. This procedure 'tempts' sleep to take over. Try to ignore irrelevant ideas and thoughts. Visualize a pleasing scene or try repeating a neutral word such as 'the’ every few seconds.

Home Remedies for Infertility

2009-04-15T04:43:00.000-07:00

As virtually all couples trying to have a child will have conceived within a year, it is likely that failure to do so within this time means that there is a fertility problem. The woman may not be ovulating, or there may be a physical impediment such as blocked fallopian tubes preventing the sperm reaching the egg. Alternatively the man may have a low sperm count. Sorting out what is precisely amiss — and how to put it right — is not necessarily very complex but requires specialist help, so there is not much that a couple can do on their own to increase the likelihood of successful conception. The following suggestions may, however, be useful.

The woman can buy a special kit from the chemist to ascertain that she is ovulating and if this is the case then it is appropriate to ensure that intercourse takes place most frequently around this time — in the middle of the menstrual cycle usually two weeks after the cessation of her monthly period.

The cause of infertility on the male side — a low sperm count—is readily determined by performing a semen analysis. There may be several reasons for this — one of which, the temperature in the scrotum, can be treated by a simple home remedies for infertility.

Home Remedies for Infertility
Cold water: A cool ambient temperature is necessary for adequate sperm production—which is why the testes are conveniently placed outside the body. Ideally, to increase sperm numbers it would be desirable to enhance this effect by keeping the testes artificially cool throughout the day. Urologists have been working on a device that might achieve this — a sort of glorified jock strap through which cold water circulates continuously. Regrettably the prototype seems to have an insuperable design defect which results in the steady drip of icy water down the wearer's leg. A simple alternative is to immerse the scrotum in a large cup of cold water three times a day for at least ten minutes. The result has been described by Mrs Ann Claxton from Bristol:

‘My husband was told he was almost completely infertile by a fertility expert. His sperm count was 2. j million per milliliter which was described as "grossly abnormal ... fertility must be low if present at all". He was advised to spray his testicles for ten minutes morning and evening with cold water and to wear loose underpants. Within three months his sperm count had risen to 56 million, and I subsequently had three pregnancies in five years — two at the first at¬tempt.’

Home Remedies for Colic

2009-04-14T11:59:00.000-07:00

Human babies cry far longer and more loudly than the offspring of any other species, and sound levels have been recorded of 117 decibels which is only just less than that of a pneumatic drill. Compared with the other abilities of small infants, this vocal facility is exceptionally highly developed both in power and duration, and no doubt for good reasons. It is not enough for the baby to alert its parents to the need to be fed or changed, their lives have to be made sufficiently unpleasant to force them to react — and very effective it is too.

Regrettably, some infants cannot be consoled. This is the nightmare of young parents whose difficult babies cry inconsolably for hours at a time, particularly in the evenings and despite every conceivable attention. Typically the baby draws up its legs, clenches its fists and emits high pitched screams for several minutes, stops for a while and then starts again. This is infant colic and the question of its cause has, over the years, generated an enormous number of fanciful theories: the babies are overfed or underfed, or fed the wrong things; they suffer from an allergy, or heightened muscle tones; the fault lies with the parents who 'pick the baby up too much', or 'bounce it too much after its feed'. It has even been suggested that persistent crying by the baby is a form of malingering.

The popularity of such explanations is all the more remarkable because over a decade ago Professor R. S. Illingworth from Sheffield University convincingly showed that the reason for this persistent crying in infancy was that the baby was in pain induced by intestinal spasms. Everything fits this explanation: the rhythmical paroxysms of screaming the accompanying loud bowel sounds and the temporary cessations following the passage of wind. Convincingly Professor Illingworth showed that the anti-spasmodic drug dicyclomine was 'strikingly successful' in preventing these attacks. Regrettably this drug is no longer available to be prescribed to young babies following some poorly substantiated reports of adverse reactions, so parents must now soldier on with less effective remedies. The following have been recommended:

Home Remedies for Colic
Spin dryer: Placing the colicky crying baby in its carrycot on the spin dryer is well recognized to have a soothing effect. The reason is not clear but the baby is presumably relaxed by the rhythmic movement of the dryer.

A spin in a car: For similar reasons as with the spin dryer, parents find that taking the baby for a drive during a colicky attack can be remarkably effective.

Alcohol: A small dose of alcohol has been recommended which presumably relaxes the smooth muscle of the gut, preventing the build up of wind that contributes to the colicky attack.

Home Remedies For Wind

2009-04-13T23:28:00.000-07:00

Trapped wind in the colon can cause abdominal discomfort and distension. Charcoal tablets, available from the chemist, can by absorbing excess gas, provide short term relief. The best method of dispersing trapped wind was discovered by accident by a patient admitted to hospital with toxic mega-colon — an inflammatory condition of the bowel which becomes grossly distended with vast quantities of gas.

While trying to make himself more comfort¬able, the patient adopted the Mecca position — kneeling on the bed bent forward with his arms stretched out in front and his bottom sticking up in the air. In this position he passed a quantity of flatus 'which continued for several minutes'. He immediately felt more comfortable so he repeated this manoeuvre several times 'with similar results'. He described his experience to his astonished surgeon, Mr M. Z. Panos of the University of Birmingham, who measured his abdominal girth and discovered he had indeed become a lot slimmer. 'Over the next fortnight his condition gradually improved at which point he was discharged fully recovered,' comments Dr Panos.

It has subsequently become standard practice for surgeons to prescribe the 'Mecca position' in such circumstances, thus avoiding much unnecessary surgery. The same technique is also likely to be of value for those with trapped or excess wind for other reasons such as constipation or an over-consumption of beans.

Home Remedies For Toothache Pain - No More Painkiller

2009-04-13T10:45:00.000-07:00

The cure for toothache is to take some painkillers, gargle with salty warm water and make an appointment to see the dentist as soon as possible. The following temporary remedy from Mr W, K. Ayres of Canterbury recalls the time when people were unable to afford to see the dentist and had no alternative other than to treat themselves.

'We lived in a small village seven miles from Dover. My father was a farmer renting his land. In those days there were no subsidies and he had two successive bad years. The first was a drought — some idiot of a boy set fire to a barn full of corn. By the time the horse-drawn fire brigade from a village two and a half miles away arrived there was nothing left. By direct contrast, in the summer of the next year we had a cloudburst over the village. So you can see we were not very well off and if we had toothache there was no chance of a visit to the dentist.

'My mother filled a large saucer with vinegar, sprinkled a good amount of pepper on it and soaked a square brown paper on it. When it was thoroughly wet she slapped it on the cheek nearest the offending tooth and tied it with a large handkerchief. I think it helped because we always slept quite well but it didn't pay to wriggle one's face in the pillow because the vinegar had evaporated and the brown paper felt like sandpaper.'

This brown paper and vinegar, of course, features as a remedy for another ailment — Jack's headache after 'breaking his crown’ in the children's nursery rhyme Jack and Jill.

Home Remedies For Thrush - Live Yoghurt, Vinegar, Etc...

2009-04-13T02:20:00.000-07:00

Thrush is caused by a yeast — Candida albicans — which commonly resides harmlessly in the vagina where it causes no symptoms. Factors that upset the delicate ecology of the vagina will result in the proliferation of the yeast, giving rise to the typical symptoms of itchiness and a white discharge. These include antibiotics taken for infections elsewhere in the body, hormones such as the contraceptive pill and HRT, or irritation of the vagina by tampons or insufficient lubrication at intercourse.

The antifungal preparation Canes tan is an excel¬lent cure for thrush and can be purchased readily over the counter from the chemist. This is much the best solution for the one-off attack. Those prone to recurrent episodes of thrush should consider the following remedies.

Home Remedies For Thrush
Salt and water: Much relief can be gained by adding a good handful of salt to a bidet or shallow bath and swishing around in the resulting brine.

Vinegar: Vinegar has a similar acidity to the vagina, which is believed to control the proliferation of the yeast. Vaginal acidity can be restored by douching in a mixture of four teaspoonfuls of vinegar to half a liter of warm water.

Hair dryer: Drying the vaginal area with a hairdryer rather than a towel will minimize irritation of the region.

Clothes: Warm and damp environments promote the growth of yeasts so it is advised that loose fitting cotton underwear should be worn close to the skin. Cutting the gusset out of tights promotes circulation of air to the genital area.

Live yoghurt: Live yoghurt contains the harmless bug lactobacillus and helps suppress the proliferation of Candida in the vagina. It is advised that a pot of live yoghurt eaten every day will control the irritation and a small amount on the tip of a tampon can be introduced directly into the vagina.

Home Remedies For Styes - Saliva And Much More

2009-04-12T01:12:00.000-07:00

A stye is caused by blockage of the hair follicle of an eyelash behind which a small collection of infected material accumulates. The usual medical treatment is with an antibiotic cream but there are a variety of home remedies for styes that are equally or more effective.

Hot compresses: Hot compresses are a reliable way of bringing the stye to a head. The simplest method is to apply to the eyelash cotton-wool or a piece of gauze that has been dipped in hot water to which salt has been added.

Saliva: The anti-infective properties of saliva make it a suitable treatment for styes. Regular applications of early morning spittle to a stye in its early stages will prevent it developing. Wedding ring: This remedy is particularly interesting because it illustrates so well the difference between the superstitious nonsense of the 'old wives tale' from the genuine article.

In Country Things by Alison Uttley, published in 1946, she writes 'to cure a stye, the eyelid is rubbed very gently with pure gold. A wedding ring is used for this without, of course, removing it from the finger which would be unlucky. It has to be drawn three times across the afflicted eye. My mother often touched somebody's stye with her ring and even the most obstinate one disappeared within a few hours.

Mrs Mary Goodby from Chester puts the record straight about 'this excellent home remedies for styes'. 'In most homes mother's worn, plain gold wedding band is likely to be the only item in the house which is absolutely smooth without any possible points or corners, non-toxic, very clean due to mum's hands being constantly in water, and a convenient size tor the job.

The precise technique is as follows: 'Hold ring very firmly by its edge, between finger and thumb. Gently press the opposite half circle onto the affected eyelid whilst avoiding any possible pressure on the eyeball by performing a sort of gentle scooping action aiming under the stye itself. This causes the stye to empty of pus without hurting the inflamed part around the stye or the eye. An experienced mother could gently turn back the upper or lower eyelid and apply the ting just inside the edge of the lid.’

Stitches Treatment - Home remedies

2009-04-09T11:58:00.000-07:00

The cause of the crippling pain in the upper abdomen usually on the right following exercise, commonly known as a stitch, is a medical mystery. It can be precipitated by eating a large meal but more frequently by exercise that jolts the body like running on hard ground or in boggy countryside. It is particularly common in horse (and even more so camel) riders but rare in swimmers, skaters and cyclists.

The most plausible theory is that a stitch is caused by stretching of the ligaments which hold the gut in place, and on these grounds the following remedies are proposed, firstly prevention and then treatment.

Prevention: No food or water should be taken for two to four hours before exercise. In addition, the abdominal muscles should be strengthened by lying down with raised knees and hips and raising the head towards the upper chest.

Stitches Treatment: Stand on your head.

Home remedies for dry split skin

2009-04-09T11:52:00.000-07:00

Dry split skin causes painful fissures (colloquially known as hacks) most often at the tips of the fingers or around the heel. There are several good proprietary preparations including Lotil and 'New Skin' which one contributor says should be 'painted over a whisp of cottonwool placed over the crack first.' Two other popular remedies are as follows:

Superglue: Mr J. C. Clarke, a retired anaesthetist from Belfast, reports that 'painful fissures can be instantly rendered painless by the use of Superglue. The fissures should be clean and dry. Carefully fill the open fissure with bubble-free Superglue and allow to dry. As healing takes place, the scab falls away spontaneously.' However, Mrs Mary Elliott from Essex was not so impressed. 'The Superglue certainly healed the crack but a few days later the skin around the thumb started to peel away all the way down to the first joint.' There is also the obvious danger of inadvertently sticking your fingers together - or to other things.

Sellotape: Mr David Fairburn from Argyle reports: 'I have suffered for many of my 68 years from "hacks". Some years ago in frustration I wound myself up in Sellotape — the hacks were completely cured in a matter of hours. Being quite unscientific I proceeded to treat some of the hacks with the tape and to leave others untreated. The untreated hacks remained for days but the treated ones cured without exception overnight.'

Home remedies for splinters

2009-04-08T07:16:00.000-07:00

The conventional method of removing splinters — with a sterilized safety pin — causes some discomfort which can be avoided with the following home remedies, suggested by Mrs Jane Morgan from Leigh on Sea.

'The solution to the removal of a splinter has been used in my family for many years successfully. You simply put some soft soap (from underneath the tablet which somebody always leaves floating in the bath) on a piece of lint. Add a small amount of brown sugar (it must be brown), place over the site of the splinter and stick down firmly with a plaster. Leave overnight and, hey presto, the splinter will be on the lint in the morning

Independent confirmation of this striking home remedies for splinters comes from Mrs Mary Rosewarne from Howe who tried it out on a splinter she had had in her finger for five days. 'The following morning, as I removed the plaster from my finger, the splinter actually started "rising" like a worm coming straight up out of the ground!'

Best home remedy for ulcers

2009-04-06T14:07:00.000-07:00

Following an abrasion, a poorly healing wound on the legs due to poor circulation can be very slow to heal. Honey is the traditional remedy whose use was first recorded by the Egyptians in 2000 bc and as Mr P. J. Armon, consultant gynaecologist, re¬ports continues to this day.

'Honey, probably the best home remedy for ulcers, has been used in the treatment of infected wounds at the Kilimanjaro Medical Centre in Tanzania for the past four years with excellent results. In one case a woman was admitted with a massive post partum haemorrhage, requiring emergency hysterectomy and five further operations to deal with intestinal obstruction and abscesses. During the course of this debilitating illness she developed a massive bedsore on her sacrum, 15—20 centimetres in size, exposing the bone. The surface of the sore was covered three times daily with a thin layer of pure honey and a dry dressing. Twenty-one days later the cavity had closed without surgical treatment and the sacrum was covered in a new layer of skin. Only one seven-day course of antibiotics had been used during this time.'
Mrs Elaine Field from Cornwall records a similar if less dramatic result.

I have had for six months or more flaky skin on the top joint of my ring finger. After being given some hydrocortisone ointment by the chemist I then had a huge weeping sore which my doctor thought might be cancerous and accordingly referred me to a specialist. In the meantime my finger looked so awful I had to cover the sore when I left the house and each time smeared honey over the patch. Within two weeks it was completely clear and has not returned. I consider honey a miracle cure.'

Best home remedy for piles

2009-04-04T01:21:00.001-07:00

Piles, or haemorrhoids, are an affliction unique to humans and the roll call of famous sufferers include Martin Luther, Cardinal Richlieu, Copernicus and Casanova. Napoleon was a life-long sufferer and a particularly bad attack on the eve of Waterloo, it is alleged, was an important contributory factor to the defeat of his army by Wellington.

Piles are caused by the prolapse of the veins around the anal canal which are then pinched tight by the muscles of the anal sphincter, resulting in bleeding and intense pain. A standard treatment available from the chemist without prescription is a cream containing a mild steroid and a local anaesthetic such as Anugesic. There are in addition a range of home remedies that can be tried.

A hot bath: Hot baths can often cure a milder case of haemorrhoids and prevent their recurrence.

Ice: Cold constricts the blood vessels as well as having a local anaesthetic effect. The pile sufferer
is advised to sit naked on a chair on which has been placed ice cubes (or a packet of frozen vegetables) wrapped in a clean towel.

Laxatives: Constipation can, by causing straining at stool, precipitate an attack of piles, while the pain of piles, by discouraging defecation, can cause constipation. In either situation, loosening the stool and increasing its bulk with a high intake of fluid and fibre is an appropriate treatment (see Constipation).

Vaseline; A thin layer of Vaseline just inside the anus will ease the passage of the stool and thus relieve pain on defecation.

Mistletoe: Mr J. R. from Hertfordshire reports: 'After a hectic time preparing for Christmas my haemorrhoids returned. I recently read that the application of mistletoe was a suggested cure, so I thought why not. My local friendly florist was pleased to give me the berries waiting to be thrown away. After washing them and applying between two pieces of gauze I experienced wonderful relief and a complete cure. The moral is — have your haemorrhoids over Christmas.'

Nose bleed remedies

2009-04-03T12:57:00.000-07:00

To stop a nose bleed — as everyone knows — it is necessary to apply pressure, though the technique is important. The nose should be pinched forcefully between finger and thumb and held in that position for at least ten to fifteen minutes. For those prone to recurrent nose bleeds, the blood vessels on the inner surface of the nose need to be cauterised.

While waiting for this procedure to be done, it may be sensible to purchase a swimmer's nose clip. Dr Philip Turner explains: This can be left in place for as long as necessary without causing too much discomfort. It does not cause the finger aching so common with manual compression. It is equally effective in children and adults and well tolerated by the younger patient.'

Home remedies for insect bites

2009-04-02T11:49:00.001-07:00

There is a wide range of proprietary preparations available from the chemist both to prevent and treat insect bites. In addition Mrs E. Eardill from County Down recommends Bonjela: 'it forms a skin almost like cling-film and stops the intense itching.' Two home remedies have also been suggested.

Toothpaste: Mrs Linda Williams from St Albans reports that toothpaste topically applied stops the itching: 'I was told this in Botswana and have used it ever since.'

Hot water: Mrs Geraldine Hobson from Dorset was taught this remedy by her great grandmother. 'Hold a flannel by the end under a very hot tap. Wring out thoroughly and then press onto the bite. It will be almost too hot to bear but, of course, do not scald yourself. Repeat if necessary. The bite will itch even more furiously as the inflammation is 'drawn-out' by the heat - but after this the result is miraculous. It is more effective than any lotion or potion you can buy.

Wind: The main points are to avoid where possible wind-inducing foods, and if gas is trapped in the gut causing distension to try the 'Mecca position' to aid its expulsion.

Pain: The colicky pains of IBS are the symptoms that cause most distress. As with the treatment of diarrhoea, there are several home remedies including massaging the abdomen and the topical application of heat with a hot water bottle. But, once again, the treatments from the chemist, both painkillers and antispasmodics, are much more effective and thus to be preferred.

Home Remedies For Dry Hair That Work

2009-03-31T22:26:00.000-07:00

When a child's hair or eyelashes become plastered together with chewing gum or plasticine, the instinctive reaction is to wash it with shampoo — but to no avail. There might seem no alternative other than to cut away the matted hair. But there is chocolate.

From personal experience Dr J. H. Marks, a physician in South Africa, noticed that chewing gum dissolved in the mouth if chocolate is eaten at the same time: 'Following this lead I have repeatedly removed chewing gum from hair by rubbing in soft melted chocolate and allowing it to dry. After this the hair is washed well and the chocolate and the gum come away together.'

Several other gum removing remedies have also been recommended including peanut butter and hair lacquer. Thepropellant "freezes" the gum and after a couple of minutes it can be taken out of the hair quite easily' reports Mr Stephen Jessop from West Sussex. (This of course should not be used on eyelashes.)

For dry hair there are shelves full of conditioners available from the local chemist, but two home remedies for dry hair are sometimes used. The first is mayonnaise which can be left on the hair for up to an hour before washing out and the second is beer sprayed onto the hair after it has been shampooed and dried.

Home Remedies For Eye Strain

2009-03-31T01:27:00.000-07:00

Eye strain is commonly due to reading in poor light or to uncorrected short sightedness. In this case the solution is quite straightforward — read in a good light, visit the optician to have your eyes tested and buy a decent pair of glasses. The symptoms of eye strain have become more common in recent years due to the introduction of the VDU. Here the following remedies may be of help.

Close the eyes: There are many times during the working day, speaking on the telephone for exam¬ple, when it is not necessary to watch the VDU screen. This provides an opportunity to rest the eyes whilst simultaneously bathing them in a soothing tear secretion. This can be done by simply closing the eyes. Depending on how much time is spent on the phone this simple suggestion can rest the eyes for one or two hours a day.

Tea: Tea is reported to be an excellent antidote for eye strain. Mrs Patricia O'Driscoll from London describes the method she favors: 'My remedy is cold or tepid tea from the bottom of a teapot, so it is really "stewed". Straining it into a bowl will filter out the tea leaves. Then bathe the eyes with it. Alternatively soak a pad and leave it over the eyes for half an hour or so securing it in place with a few twists of a crepe bandage. Freshly brewed tea is not as effective, so leave it in the pot between cups of tea and it gathers strength.' No doubt tepid teabags directly applied to the eye might have a similar effect.

Massage: It is inadvisable to rub sore tired eyes as they will then become swollen and red and drag the surrounding skin. Two types of simple massage can, however, be very restful as described by Jill Nice in her book Herbal Remedies. The first is palming: Tress the base of the palms of the hands gently but firmly over the closed eyes and maintain pressure for several minutes.' The second is finger massage: 'Using a little fine oil and the tops of three fingers stroke gently from the bridge of the nose out across the eyes beneath and above the brows several times.

With finger and thumb pinch the nose beneath the bridge and maintain the pressure for several seconds/

Three efficient home remedies for dry eye

2009-03-28T12:03:00.001-07:00

The tissues in front of the eye—the cornea—are the most sensitive anywhere in the body for the obvious reason that were they to be damaged by a foreign body, it might seriously impair one's vision. The pain caused by eye grit is thus of such intensity that it requires the immediate removal of the offending object. There are a variety of methods of achieving this.

The tongue: Mr S. J. Green from Swansea recalls: 'My mother took my head in her hands, telling me to hold my head back. She then pulled up my eyelids and with her tongue licked over the ball of my eye, removing the offending piece of grit.' This is a very good home remedies for dry eye.

Castor oil: Mrs Cynthia Castellan from Stafford¬shire comments: 'When the children had a sand¬pit, I always kept castor oil handy for floating out sand in the eyes — also a bottle of witchhazel to soothe them afterwards (diluted on damp cotton-wool).'

Hair: This remedy comes from Mr Bill Annable from Nottinghamshire: 'Stand in front of the patient, remove from your head a long, strong hair. If you have not one borrow one from your patient or someone else close by as the hair must be strong. Make a loop with the hair. Hold the loop between the thumb and forefinger of the hand you are to use. The loop should ideally be three-eighths of an inch or less sticking out from the thumb and forefinger. With the thumb of the other hand lift or lower the eyelid in question. Ask the patient to look in the direction that exposes the debris. Let the loop or hair manoeuvre or scoop the debris away. When you have done this a few times, the debris is out in seconds. The hair does not irritate the eye and the patient has no feeling that something is being poked into the eye.'

Home remedies for dry mouth

2009-03-27T02:57:00.000-07:00

A dry mouth due to paucity of saliva may be part of a generalized illness or a feature of 'old age'. It is a most distressing condition making eating difficult and causing chronic dental problems as saliva is essential to oral hygiene. There are luckily several synthetic saliva preparations available form the chemist and a former pharmacist, Mr Paul Goriup from East Sussex makes the following observation — firstly that red wine drunk in the evening can cause dry mouth at night and secondly that central heating can have a similar effect by drying up the air for which the antidote is to place a bowl of water in each room.

Two contributors submitted unusual remedies which they maintain stimulate saliva production.

String: When Mrs Gogi Younger from Manchester discovered this treatment, her doctor advised that she should patent it: 1 put a bit of thread in my mouth, usually a small bit of thickish cotton scrunched up into a small ball and leave in my mouth and cheek usually changing a few times a day. I carry my cut off bits of string in my handbag at home and am never without. I have accidentally swallowed the occasional small bit of thread many times and it has done no harm. This remedy has certainly changed my life.'

Paper hanky: Mr M. Nichols from Kent describes his remedy as follows: 'Cut a strip off a paper handkerchief one and a quarter inches by approximately five inches and roll it up. Place it along the front of the mouth between the teeth. Close the mouth. Gently press the paper between the teeth while using the tip of the tongue to rotate the paper. After repeating these movements several times, the paper does seem to activate the moisture in the mouth.'

Home Remedies For Cystitis - Ocean Spray Cranberry Juice

2009-03-24T19:51:00.000-07:00

Cystitis is among the commonest of infections and all women probably know the following simple remedies which are included here. Increasing the fluid intake to 'flush out' the bladder and reducing the acidity of the urine with one or other of the alkaline type compounds available from the chemist are useful. Persistent attacks require antibiotics which will also prevent the infection spreading up to the kidneys.

Water: Drinking two or three liters of water over twenty-four hours will increase the urine flow. It is advised that enough should be drunk to make the urine a pale yellow color. In addition, a hot bath is very effective in relieving the pain of cystitis.

Alkalis: The burning sensation of cystitis is due to the acidity of the urine and is neutralized by one and a half teaspoonfuls of bicarbonate of soda in water or, if preferred, soda water or one or other of the proprietary preparations available from the chemist.

Cranberry juice: There is good evidence that cranberry juice prevents bacteria sticking to the wall of the bladder, and it is a good home remedies for cystitis. Ocean Spray is a good brand of pure juice, unmixed with anything else. Dr A. E. Sobota from Ohio comments:

'The potential use of cranberry juice in the treatment of urinary tract infections might be particularly beneficial in the management of those who suffer recurrent infections. Long term preventative measures with antibiotics present several problems including toxicity, side effects and the emergence of resistant bacteria. In contrast cranberry juice is well accepted and no clinical side effects have been observed.’

For those particularly prone to recurrent infections the following two suggestions may prove useful.

Sex: Sexual intercourse encourages the passage of bacteria up the urethra to cause bladder infections, so it is probably advisable to pass urine soon after intercourse—and for the fastidious — before as well.

Diaphragms and tampons: The insertion of diaphragms and tampons into the vagina may increase the risk of cystitis. It is worth considering alternative forms of contraception and a sanitary towel should be used instead of tampons. Check out this blog for more information about home remedies for cystitis.

Home Choking Remedies That Can Save Your Life

2009-03-23T20:48:00.000-07:00

Choking is a potential catastrophe, and one of those emergency situations where awareness of the appropriate treatment promptly performed can be life saving. The first imperative is to make the correct diagnosis — and particularly to distinguish choking from a heart attack. Here, luckily, there is one vital clue: the victim is silent. The obstructing piece of food as well as preventing air from getting into the lungs, prevents air from passing over the vocal chords, which is necessary for speech. One way to recognize the emergency is to point at the dinner plate and ask 'Can you speak?' If the victim cannot, one can be sure he has food stuck in the throat — and be equally sure he will die in a few minutes unless someone acts fast. The following, home choking remedies, manoeuvres to dislodge the obstruction are recommended.

Raise the left arm: It is not clear why this should work - but several readers attest to it. The arm should be raised 'as though trying to touch the ceiling — or the sky'.

Remove the obstruction: The common initial reaction is to stick the forefinger or middle finger into the victim's throat in the hope of extracting the bolus of food. This is not a very good idea as, quite apart from the danger of having one's digit severely bitten, it can precipitate a spasm at the back of the throat which only makes matters worse. Nonetheless, if the victim can be encouraged to explore the back of his own throat, it is sometimes possible to get hold of the obstructing matter—particularly if it is a large piece of meat.

Slap on the back: It is a time honored reaction to thump the victim vigorously on the back. This, too, is unlikely by itself to do much good, though it may stimulate a coughing fit which can disimpact the obstruction. By contrast, back slapping may do the trick in small children if they are also held upside down to benefit from the added effects of gravity. This is also a good home choking remedy

In the twenty years since Mr Heimlich first described his manoeuvre its efficacy has been con¬firmed many times. Objects expelled from the throats of choking victims have included apples, hot-dogs, beef, chicken, coins, pills and sweets. One mother found her nine month old infant blue and lifeless in her cot and noticed that foam rubber had been gouged out of the mattress cover. A quick thrust on the baby's abdomen and the missing rubber flew out of the child's throat.

How To Use Home Remedies for Bruises In Right Way

2009-03-23T00:57:00.000-07:00

Bruises are caused by bleeding of small blood vessels under the skin and so the most appropriate treatment is the same as for bleeding cuts — apply pressure.

'I remember my father getting into our car which was one of the fifties Rovers with the front door opening towards the back and the back door opening towards the front leaving a pillar in the middle. He was getting back into the car with his hand on this pillar when someone slammed the other door. He pressed his hand hard for some time as we drove on and had no bruising or swelling at all,' Marion Banyard from Suffolk.

Alternatively, if available, cold ice packs (or frozen peas from the freezer) will both reduce the swelling and bruising from a bump by constricting the blood vessels under the skin thus preventing blood and fluid leaking into the surrounding tissue.

Chilblains - The best home remedies for bruises recommended by most doctor
Chilblains are very itchy, reddish-blue swellings, usually of the hands and feet, induced by cold which restricts the circulation of blood to the extremities (to keep the core warm) thus depriving these tissues of oxygen. They have been relatively rare since the almost universal introduction of central heating but can be a serious nuisance for those with poor circulation.

The following home remedies for bruises have been suggested:

Urine: 'As a child I suffered in agony from chilblains and I can still remember the pain and itching. One day when the problem was discussed with a lady visitor, she said to my mother "let her stand in her own water". Although I am now in my seventies, I can still remember that moment which banished forever the suffering of chilblains.

Other contributors have similar comments. 'I remember an old cobbler in my village quite a few years before the last war when chamber pots were in general use. He used to say there is nothing so good for chilblains as to soak the affected part in your own water,' D. Fryer from Yorkshire.

Soda: 'Back in the 1920s at the onset of every winter, chilblains were one of the commonest ailments in our family. The invaluable remedy was a lighted wax candle and a large piece of washing soda. The soda was held in the flame of the candle until melting-point and the hot liquid applied straight to the affected part. Done in the evening, it resulted in dirty sheets but that was a small price to pay for the relief which usually lasted the winter,' T. W. Palmer from Dorset.

Onion: 'My chilblains would last for months each winter until I tried cutting an onion in half and rubbing the cut edge against the chilblain. Its juice soon got rid of the itching and the severity died down,' Shirley de Ath from Hampshire.

Home Remedies For Broken Rib

2009-03-23T00:46:00.000-07:00

For obvious reasons those who fall and sustain a broken rib find breathing, and particularly coughing, very painful, as movement of the rib irritates the nerve fibers around the fracture. As with all fractures this can take up to six weeks to resolve and can be complicated by lung infections as pain on coughing makes it difficult to expectorate retained secretions.
Virtually everyone who breaks a rib will end up in casualty where, after an X-ray has been taken to ensure there are not associated injuries such as a collapsed lung, it is customary to send the patient on their way with some painkillers and advice that as the rib heals the pain will diminish.

At one time it was customary to strap the rib with adhesive tape, though this fell out of fashion. Nonetheless, strapping certainly does relieve the pain as Dr K. Norcross of Birmingham's Dudley Road Hospital observes. He analyzed the records from the casualty department at Manchester Royal Infirmary before rib strapping fell out of favor. In 44 cases, 27 were relieved of pain by strapping, in four it was made worse and 13 gained no relief. Clearly for most patients strapping is effective in the relief of pain — if it is not it can be removed immediately.' He describes the case of one woman he treated: 'She told me she had severe pain from a fracture of the eighth rib and that before strap¬ping was applied every breath had been very painful and she could not cough at all. Within an hour of strapping she was virtually pain-free, could breathe readily and cough and clear her chest. She was most grateful for the help that had been provided/ Dr Norcross describes the technique as follows: 'To be effective strapping must splint the chest on the affected side so it must be applied under moderate tension to the chest i n full expiration. The strapping should cross the mid-line to the nipple in front and scapula at the back. In hairy men, shaving of the chest is needed first. The strapping must be inextensible (i.e. two inch zinc oxide strapping).'

Home Remedies For Breastfeeding

2009-03-22T22:46:00.001-07:00

Hundreds of books and articles have been written about breast feeding over the last few years full of practical advice to which there is little to add other than the following observations.

The mother's diet: Maternal breast milk tastes like watered down milk fortified with teaspoonfuls of sugar. If this over-sweet liquid was the only taste experience for the newborn, one might expect them to get bored with it fairly quickly. But the flavor of breast milk varies markedly depending on the maternal diet. Many mothers report that their baby's behavior is strongly influenced by what they themselves have had to eat. Thus the flatus inducing properties of beans and lentils will result in both mother and child passing lots of wind. Similarly, maternal onion eating is said to cause infantile colic, spicy foods and acidic drinks lead to stomach upsets and chocolate notoriously results in diarrhoea.

Alcohol: Alcohol is held to be doubly beneficial. It increases milk production—malt beer is particularly recommended—while its appearance in breast milk is soothing and sleep inducing. There is no evidence that this is harmful in moderation though there is one account of a woman who took the alcohol is good for nursing mothers' rather too literally and whose consumption of fifty lagers a week produced signs of chronic alcoholism in her baby.

Cabbage leaves: Raw cabbage leaves applied directly to the surface of the breast are said to reduce the physical discomfort associated with excess milk production. Their shape is peculiarly suited to this function while their coolness is an effective anti¬dote to heat and soreness. This claim is validated by a study conducted by doctors in South Africa who found that women who regularly applied cabbage leaves were more likely to breast feed exclusively and to do so for longer.