Chamomile

Image by blumenbiene via FlickrChamomile is an herb that has been used for thousands of years for many ailments including gas, diarrhea, stomach upset, sleeplessness, and anxiety. It can also be used topically for certain skin lesions. The Chamomile plant has flowering tops and these are what are used for making tea and other herbal remedies that include Chamomile.

When Chamomile tops are stewed and then drained the liquid is a deep yellow color and can be lightly sweetened if preferred. It has a very unique taste to it and many women used to make sure they always had a few baby bottles tucked safely away in the refrigerator in case their baby got gas. It was used before the days of over the counter gas relief drops and although there is no scientific validity to it, it always seemed to make the baby stop wailing and fall fast asleep.


It was also given to women for menstrual cramps in the days before Midol and Pamprin. Chamomile also has some calming properties to it so it can be very beneficial to sip on during the day if you are feeling anxious or if the muscles in your body are tense from anxiety and stress it is said that Chamomile can help to relieve that.

Chamomile produces an oil that when isolated turns a very unique bluish color and this has very distinct anti-inflammatory properties to it so it has been known to work very well on skin infections, eczema, and inflamed skin. This would be Chamomile in its topical form rather than the flowers or the tea from the flowers. Again, remember that Chamomile was around for a long time before many over the counter and prescription medications were so readily available. For years all many people had to rely on was herbal remedies that were likely passed down from generations and possibly continued to be passed down even after the newer medications did come to the forefront.

Often when small children had bug bites, diaper rashes, or eczema, the mother would fill a stocking with Chamomile and oatmeal and let it soak in the tub with her children. It was very effective in stopping the itch and improving the diaper rash. Chamomile was also used in combination with other herbs for a lot of other purposes such as if one felt nauseous, a combination of Chamomile, shredded licorice root, fennel seeds, and peppermint would cure that pretty quickly. Because Chamomile is part of the Ragweed family you should not ingest it if you have an allergy to Ragweed.

Some people love to sip a hot cup of Chamomile tea with no ailments at all, just because they enjoy it. Pregnant and nursing mothers are advised to stay away from all herbs but Chamomile is the exception to this rule. It is completely safe for anyone to drink at any time. It has even been known to help teething babies too. On a final note Chamomile has been known to be an excellent hair conditioner and to sooth scalps. When mixed with a bit of lemon and sunshine it has also been known to give subtle natural highlights to hair.

Natural Allergy Remedies

Image via WikipediaAre you an individual who suffers from allergies?  If so, you may be looking for ways to seek relief.  Most individuals turn to over-the-counter medications.  While these medications do work, in most cases, there are many individuals who are concerned with exactly what it is they are putting into their bodies.  If you are one of those individuals, you will want to continue reading on.  Below, a number of natural allergy remedies are highlighted below.  In addition to being considered natural allergy remedies, many are also known as home remedies for allergies.

One natural allergy remedy that comes highly rated and recommended is that of apple cider vinegar.  Often times, the only complaint that most have with apple cider vinegar is the taste.  However, it is not only known as a natural remedy to treat allergies.  Many also use it to assist with weight loss, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.  Most individuals using apple cider vinegar to treat allergies recommend taking two tablespoons a day.  Mixing it with juice or water is also advised, which can assist with taste issues.

Red clover is another natural allergy remedy.  What is nice about using red clover to treat your allergy symptoms is all of the options that you have, as red clover is available in a wide range of formats.  With that being said, most allergy sufferers recommend red clover tea.  Red clover wine and red clover herbal supplements, which come in the format of pills, are also available for sale both on and offline.

Carefully choosing the foods in which you consume is another natural way to reduce or treat the symptoms of allergies.  Lime squeezed into water has been known to assist those with allergies.  Vegetable juices and bananas also come highly rated and recommended.

Acupuncture is also an ideal way to treat and relieve the symptoms of allergies.  According to WebMD, a trusted medical website, acupuncture helped to reduce all allergy symptoms in a study performed on twenty-six patients.  If you are interested in giving acupuncture a try, consider contacting your local health spas, as many offer alternative healing approaches.  If acupuncture is not a service offered, you should be provided with contact information for another local practitioner.

In addition to the above mentioned natural allergy remedies, there are also steps that you can take to prevent the onset of allergies or steps that you can take to reduce these symptoms.  Most of these helpful tips can still be considered natural allergy remedies, but in a different sense.  Also, these additional tips, a few of which are outlined below, are for just about anyone suffering from allergies, as they are affordable and easy to implement.

 For pet allergies, stay a safe distance away from pets.  With that said, if you are a pet owner who cannot bear to part with your beloved pets, be sure to keep them out of your bedroom, as this is where you spend most of your time.

Since mold is a common trigger factor for allergies, it is important to take steps to remove mold from your home or prevent it from growing.  Limiting the humidity in your home is a great way to reduce or completely prevent mold growth.  Use a bathroom fan or open a bathroom window when taking a shower, to reduce mold growth in the bathroom.  If you already have mold in your home, contact a professional to inquire about a mold removal.  Until that time comes, be sure to avoid areas in your home where mold is present.

The above mentioned natural allergy remedies are just a few of the many that allergy sufferers recommend, but they are a few of the most popular approaches taken.  As a reminder, it is important to remember that natural remedies and home remedies work differently on different individuals.  If you do not see the success that you had hoped for, not all hope is lost, as there should be another natural allergy remedy out there that can provide you with relief.

Natural Remedies: An Ideal Option for the Uninsured

Are you uninsured?  If you are, you are not alone.  There are millions of individuals in the United States who are uninsured.  Unfortunately, not having insurance does not prevent you from developing medical complications.  Of course, medical attention should be sought for serious issues, but did you know that you can use natural remedies and home remedies to help treat and possibly cure a large number of minor medical issues?  You can and if you are uninsured, there are a number of benefits to relying on home remedies and natural remedies.

As previously stated, just because you are uninsured, it doesn’t mean that you are perfectly healthy.  After all, we all typically experience headaches, toothaches, and other minor medical complications.  Sometimes the pain associated with these problems, like a headache or a toothache, may warrant a visit to a healthcare professional, but you may be unable to do so if you are uninsured.  This is where natural remedies and home remedies can provide you with assistance.  If properly done, you may be able to seek relief from whatever minor medical issue you are dealing with, without having to schedule a costly appointment with a doctor or a dentist.

As nice as it is to hear that you and other uninsured individuals can seek assistance through the use of natural remedies and home remedies, you may be looking for more information.  For starters, you may be curious as to exactly what these remedies are.  You will find that it all depends on the medical issue at hand.  For example, the juice from ripe grapes are known to help relieve the pain and discomfort from headaches and migraines.  On the other hand, dandelion milk is known to help with the removal of unwanted warts.  Although the remedy in question will depend on the medical problem that you are looking to treat, you will find that most natural and home remedies involve products that are easy to access.  You may already have these items right inside your home.  Also, they are not over-the-counter medications.  In fact, they are the exact opposite.

Another concern that you and other uninsured individuals may have about natural remedies and home remedies involves safety.  After all, if you are unable to afford the cost of visiting a healthcare professional, you may rely on these remedies more than most average individuals.  For that reason, you do have more than enough right to be concerned with safety, but there is good news.  Almost all natural and home remedies are safe to use.  With that being said, be sure to use your best judgment.  Never use a home remedy that requires the use of a chemical or an ingredient that you are unfamiliar with.  Also, stay away from remedies that may have an ingredient that you are allergic to or known to have a bad reaction with.  Follow these tips and you should be okay.

As for how you can find natural and home remedies to seek relief from a minor medical issue, you will find that you have a number of different options.  For starters, there are a number of remedy books that can be found available for sale, both on and offline.  You can also use the internet to perform a standard internet search.  Many websites list home remedies for a wide range of issues, including warts, headaches, toothaches, irritable bowel syndrome, head lice, and so forth.  These remedies and their detailed directions should be available for you to access free of charge.  With that in mind, most home remedies websites are not trusted medical websites; therefore, it is important for you to use your best judgment.

In conclusion, if you or your family are without medical insurance, you are urged to examine home remedies and natural remedies, especially the next time that you are left dealing with pain and discomfort from a minor medical issue.  Natural remedies can not only help to provide you with much needed relief, but they can also help to save you a considerable amount of money in the process.

Walnut leaf

Image via WikipediaAs legends had it, when the gods walked on earth, they lived on walnuts. Walnuts derived their family name Juglans from Jovis glans or Jupiter’s nuts. The tree was grown in Europe since the times of the Romans due to its nuts. The walnut nuts are found to be rich in omega-3 fatty acids and other healing nutrients. Centuries ago, these healing powers had been evident in its pointy green leaves. Astringent compounds called tannins are found in high concentrations and which account for the healing effect of the walnut leaf. Tannins is capable of tightening and constricting tissues. This property is valuable in protecting areas of skin and regulating inflammation and itching.

Walnut leaf is available in topical formulations that are popularly used in treating mild eczema and excessive sweating of hands and feet. People in France often applied walnut leaf topical formulation in treating sunburns and scalp that has dandruff. This is effective in treating other mild skin disorders as well. Walnut leaf is also used as a laxative. Researchers have discovered that the walnut leaf has bacteria-killing, anti-parasitic and insect-repelling characteristics. This serves as a confirmation to the long-held beliefs that that walnut leaf contains healing qualities. Specific health benefits of walnut leaf include:

* As a treatment for acne, ringworm, eczema due to its astringent tannins. These tannins cross-link the skin cells thereby making them resistant to allergens and infectious microorganisms. There are two antibacterial agents found in walnut leaf, walnut essential oil and juglone which are capable of acting on infectious microorganisms. Walnut leaf contains large concentrations of vitamin C which also helps fight infection.
* It curbs excessive sweating. The tannins found in walnut leaf can cause proteins in the cells lining the sweat glands to crosslink, serving as a barrier to the excretion of sweat.

Walnut tree of Juglans regia is also dubbed as the English, Persian or Carpathian walnut tree. It belongs to a large species of walnut family called Junglandaceae. One fifth of all Juglandaceae species is comprised of Juglans which includes black walnuts (J. nigra), butternuts (J. cineria) and heartnuts (J. ailantifolia); all these varieties have tannins and other healing compounds in their leaves. J. regia tree originated in Europe. Today, it is now being cultivated in North America, Europe, North Africa and other temperate regions in the world. Walnuts that are used for consumption are cultivated in California.

Walnut leaf is dried and chopped before being boiled and made into a very strong tea (decoction). Once the tea has cooled down, the tea is applied on skin in compresses, rinses and other formulations. It is also added to bath water. To make your own decoction (boiled tea), use 1.5 ounces of dried, cut-up leaf per 1 cup (8 ounces) of water. Boil the mixture in a small pot and simmer gently for 15 minutes. Then cool it before using.

Walnut leaf applications include:

§ Infusion - this is used for skin problems and eye inflammations and as digestive tonic for poor appetite.
§ Wash – use fir eczema and for wounds and abrasions.
§ Eyewash – either as a well-strained infusion or 5 drops tincture in an eyecupof water for conjunctivitis and blepharitis.

There are no known drugs or nutrient interactions connected with walnut leaf. Make sure that when you apply walnut leaf formulations, the affected area still has enough air circulation. Also, avoid covering large parts of the body with walnut leaf compresses.