How to Ease an Earache With Herbs

How to Ease an Earache With Herbs



If you or someone you love suffers from occasional, mild earaches, herbs can help to relieve the pain. American
children
seem especially plagued with ear infections and the antibiotics that are commonly given for them can cause problems of their own, such as the child building up an immunity to that form of medicine. Several folk medicine remedies can be helpful in treating an earache when it first begins to cause pain. But it is important to catch it early. If an earache causes excessive pain and/or persists more than a few days, be sure to seek medical attention as soon as possible.







Things You'll Need:





Fresh or dried mullein (Verbascum spp.) flowers




Olive oil




Garlic




Echinacea




Chamomile




Eyebright herb




Aloe vera juice




Fresh oregano, thyme or basil




White vinegar




Water









1


Purchase or make mullein ear oil and apply it as follows: lie on your side, with the affected ear facing upward. With a dropper, drop three to four drops of the oil into the ear, and then massage it around the base of the ear and over the ear canal. Use one to two times daily until all symptoms are gone.





2


You can help to fight an earache with herbs that you take internally as well: brew a tea containing echinacea root, chamomile and eyebright. Use about one teaspoon of each herb for each two cups of water, and simmer gently for 20 minutes. Drink one cup of this tea twice each day. The echinacea will help to boost the immune system, making it easier for the body to heal itself.





3


Another direct helper is aloe vera juice, which you can drop into the affected ear and massage as in Step 1.





4


Common kitchen herbs such as oregano, thyme and
basil
can help greatly. Purchase or collect about one-fourth cup of fresh herbs, either all of these or one or two of them, and then place them into a dry, warmed-up frying pan just to wilt the plant material. Allow the leaves to cool, and then squeeze them to make a small amount of green juice, and drop a few drops of this mixture into the affected ear. Finally, moisten your fingers with olive oil and massage around the base of the ear. Repeat every three hours until the symptoms are gone.





5


For swimmer’s ear, mix one teaspoon of white vinegar into two ounces of warm water. Drop two drops into the ear once each hour until the symptoms are gone. You can also use this treatment before swimming to prevent a potential problem from occurring.








Tips & Warnings










Ear problems can be caused by allergic reactions to foods such as wheat and dairy products. If you or a loved one suffers from frequent ear infections or earaches, try eliminating foods containing wheat and dairy until the infection is gone, or longer.








To make mullein ear oil, simply place either fresh or dried mullein flowers in a small jar, about 1/3 full, and then add olive oil and optionally, freshly-chopped garlic (about one clove for each two ounces of oil). Heat at a low temperature in your oven for three hours, or leave in the sun for one hot, sunny day. Strain before using.








This article is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. The use of herbal products should not be taken lightly. Always consult a qualified health care practitioner before using any herb, especially if you are pregnant or nursing or if you are taking any prescribed medications.



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How to Ease Afterbirth Pains

How to Ease Afterbirth Pains



There are several ways to ease afterbirth pains. One way is with a mixture that you drink and others are with massages or positioning of a pillow. The afterbirth pains are caused when the uterus is contracting. Many women experience sharper afterbirth pains after having more than one child. Using all natural methods to ease the pain can be safer for the mother and the baby especially if the mother is breastfeeding. Many women find comfort with these methods rather than using an over the counter pain reliever.







Things You'll Need:





1/2 oz. ground nutmeg




2 egg whites




1 oz. ground cinnamon




Raspberry leaf




Pillow









1


Combine the ground nutmeg and ground cinnamon. Add the 2 egg whites and whip with a wire whisk until blended. Drink this mixture every morning to ease pain.





2


Use a pillow to ease afterbirth pain. Lay on your stomach with a small pillow positioned right under the navel. This should be done for about fifteen minutes or until pain subsides





3


Use the bathroom as much as you can during waking hours. Even if you do not have the need to urinate, try to keep the bladder empty. An empty bladder will allow the uterus to contract. If the bladder is full or semi-full, it can displace the uterus.





4


Drink raspberry leaf tea to ease afterbirth pains. This also helps the uterus get back into condition.





5


Use essentials oils such as angelica, rose, clary sage or bergamot to massage the stomach and help ease the pain and ease postpartum depression.








Tips & Warnings










The essentials oils should be used daily for the first few weeks after childbirth.








The pillow method might need to be used more than once a day or with one of the other steps to have continued pain relief.








If the afterbirth pains continue longer than a few weeks, seek medical attention.



http://www.ehow.com/how_2303563_ease-afterbirth-pains-.html

How to Ease a Toothache With Acupressure

How to Ease a Toothache With Acupressure



Acupressure uses gentle but firm hand pressure against meridian points in the body to relieve pain. Unlike acupuncture--which involves inserting thin needles into meridians and requires more training--a novice can generally perform acupressure anytime pain rears its head. And few pains are as frustrating as toothaches.









1


Simultaneously apply pressure to both sides of the face in the area just below the cheekbones, directly beneath the pupils.





2


Use fingertips to apply pressure between the upper and lower jaws on the muscle just in front of the earlobes. If you have trouble locating this muscle, clench your back teeth and feel the area for a bulge--this is the target muscle.





3


Apply pressure to the outer surface of the upper arm a couple of finger widths away from the posterior base of the deltoid muscle.





4


Bring your thumb and forefinger together and locate the muscle on the hand that forms the "web" between those two fingers. Locate the highest position on that "web" muscle. Separate your fingers and relax your hand. Apply pressure to this area.








Tips & Warnings










Use gradual and steady pressure for at least 3 minutes per meridian point for best results.








Using 1 or 2 of the pressure points outlined in Steps 1 to 4 is often sufficient. Find which ones seem to work best for you and concentrate on those.








The best acupressure technique for most of the areas described above uses the middle finger for pressure with the index finger and ring finger on either side for support. But applying pressure with thumbs, knuckles, palms, other fingers or the sides of your hands is effective as well.








Some slight discomfort is normal when applying acupressure techniques. If you experience too much discomfort when first applying pressure to a spot, decrease the pressure a bit until you locate a balance between pleasure and pain.








Do not apply pressure to any point that causes extreme pain or discomfort.








Acupressure is not a substitute for proper dental care and will not cure a toothache. Use the techniques outlined above to ease pain only long enough to get to a doctor or dentist for medical attention.



http://www.ehow.com/how_2222549_ease-toothache-acupressure.html

How to Ease a Headache Without Medicine

How to Ease a Headache Without Medicine



Whether you suffer from constant headaches or just have the occasional one, I have some tips that will help ease your headache without the use of medicine.







Things You'll Need:





Ice









1


Using ice on the headache is effective most of the time. Place the ice on the area most affected and apply pressure. If the pain moves, then move the ice to that location.





2


Try to relax. Roll your shoulders up and down while slowly breathing in and out. Sometimes just simply relaxing will make your headache wind down.





3


Caffeine has helped me before. It makes the blood flow faster and this will aid in ridding you of a headache.





4


Have someone you know or a professional give you a massage. Starting with your shoulders and working on down. Easing the stress in your muscles can help with the headache.








Tips & Warnings










These are just tips to help with a headache. I am not a doctor and always recommend seeing a physician if you have headaches constantly.



http://www.ehow.com/how_2141611_ease-headache-medicine.html

How to Drink Teas to Reduce Depression

How to Drink Teas to Reduce Depression



Tea has long been known as a revitalizing beverage. But scientific research is finally proving it's benefits to your body and your well-being. It contains polyphenols to help you fight off free radicals, flavonoids to restrict cholesterol buildup and antioxidants to keep you looking young. It also helps reduce depression in several ways.









1


Choose your favorite blend of tea. Steep the tea bag in hot water for up to 5 minutes. Remove it and add milk or lemon. Drink slowly and allow it to soothe your mind and spirit.





2


Opt for a herbal blend that offers serenity. St. John's wort and valerian are two types that have calming affects.





3


Know that St. John's wort helps alleviate stress, anxiety, depression, insomnia and seasonal affective disorder. It's believed to allow more serotonin to stay in your brain. Low serotonin levels can cause depression.





4


Use St. John's wort as a treatment for mild to moderate depression. In Germany, it's prescribed much more often than Prozac.





5


Drink tea with valerian if you're suffering from insomnia due to depression. It has effects similar to that of Valium and is a relatively powerful herbal sedative. It's not addictive, so you'll feel fine in the morning.








Tips & Warnings










Don't mix St. John's Wort with other antidepressants.








Check with your doctor before using St. John's Wort. It can reduce the effectiveness of some of your prescription drugs.



http://www.ehow.com/how_2257301_drink-teas-reduce-depression.html

How to Drink Teas to Control Blood Sugar

How to Drink Teas to Control Blood Sugar



The way to control your blood sugar levels is to promote insulin activity. Scientists have proven that some teas help control your glucose levels. Green tea, for one, contains polysaccharides and polyphenols that do the trick. Follow these steps to drink teas to control blood sugar.









1


Know that ordinary tea has proved to increase insulin activity in your cells by more than fifteen-fold.





2


Add any type of milk to the tea and you actually diminish its ability to control your blood sugar. It reduces the beneficial effect by more than 90 percent. Add a squirt of lemon juice instead of milk or cream.





3


Drink true tea--green tea, black tea or oolong tea. These three have the best insulin-enhancing properties.





4


Stay away from instant teas or commercially prepared iced teas. They don't have the same affects on your blood sugar as true teas do. Caffeine or the lack of it doesn't seem to make a difference.





5


Steep green tea, black tea or oolong tea bags in hot water for up to 5 minutes. Remove the tea bag, add some lemon juice and drink hot.





6


Refrigerate the tea to cool it down. Drink this iced tea several times a day too. Serve over ice.


http://www.ehow.com/how_2257300_drink-teas-control-blood-sugar.html

How to Drink Onion Juice to Treat Bladder Stones

How to Drink Onion Juice to Treat Bladder Stones



Often the result of untreated or undiagnosed urological conditions, bladder stones form when minerals and proteins in the urine crystallize. These deposits are usually small and go unnoticed. However, they may cause problems by scratching the bladder wall or obstructing the urinary tract. Men are disproportionately affected, accounting for more than nine out of every ten cases. Drinking onion juice may help to relieve symptoms and treat bladder stones.







Things You'll Need:





Optional: empty gelatin capsules




Optional: honey




Onion juice




Carrot juice




Celery juice







Diagnose Your Condition




1


Visit your doctor to have your bladder stones diagnosed. The visit may require a rectal examination, urine cultures and/or a pelvic x-ray.





2


If your doctor prescribes medication, fill it right away. Discuss contraindications and side effects with your pharmacist.





3


Ask your doctor about over-the-counter pain medications to treat discomfort.





4


Ask your doctor what dietary changes will speed your recovery.



Treat the Stones




1


Hydrate yourself. Adequate fluid intake is crucial to your recovery. Aim for at least 48 oz. of water daily.





2


Drink 2 tsp. onion juice, up to three times daily for 14 days. Mix with 1 cup carrot juice and 6 tsp. celery juice. Sweeten with honey if desired.





3


Empty your bladder completely when you urinate.





4


Avoid beverages with alcohol and caffeine.





5


Seek additional medical attention if you become feverish or your symptoms worsen.



Avoid Relapse




1


Drink at least 48 oz. of water every day.





2


Limit your consumption of alcoholic and caffeinated beverages. Drink extra water to prevent dehydration after consuming beverages with alcohol and caffeine.





3


See your doctor for a complete examination. Certain urological conditions may otherwise go undiagnosed and cause a recurrence of symptoms.





4


Continue taking one daily dose of the onion juice blend for 2 months following treatment.





5


Take a daily probiotic supplement for several weeks following treatment.








Tips & Warnings










If the onion taste is too strong, you can purchase empty gelatin capsules in your local health food store. Fill them with the onion juice and wash them down with the carrot/celery blend.








Alternately, you may mix one dose per day with apple juice.








Onion juice may be found in the spice section of your local grocery store, health food stores and on the Internet.








Excessive fluid consumption can lead to an electrolyte imbalance called water intoxication. Strive to remain adequately hydrated without drinking more than 32 oz. in any one-hour period.








Onion juice is strong and pungent. Cap your consumption at 50 ml each day.



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