4 Natural Remedies that Prevent Athlete’s Foot

 

By Lizzie Weakley

 

Athlete’s foot is caused by a fungus that is usually spread to others in wet and moist places, such as public showers or areas surrounding public swimming pools. According to Dr. Ian Russell, the key to preventing Athlete’s foot is to avoid contact with areas that have the fungus and to keep feet dry to either control the growth of the fungus or to prevent it from occurring. With a few natural remedies, people can avoid having Athlete’s foot.

 

Sandals and Flip-Flops

Keeping the feet dry mostly involves allowing the feet to be exposed to the air. Wearing sandals and flip-flops is a good way to allow fresh air around the feet to keep them dry. In addition, the sun’s rays help to kill the fungus on the feet. Sandals and flop-flops allow the sun’s rays to permeate the skin to effectively kill the fungus. Also, sandals and flip-flops help to create a barrier between the feet and any surface that may have the fungus or spores.

 

Bathroom Cleanliness

Clean bathroom floors regularly. Spray all surfaces in the bathroom with an antimicrobial solution to reduce the possibility of the fungus growing. Use a squeegee to reduce water in the shower. Allow curtains to be open and use the fan to reduce moisture. Thoroughly dry feet after getting out of shower and tub. A hairdryer can assist in making the feet completely dry.

 

Vinegar

Vinegar foot soaks kill the fungus and spores. The feet may have cracks in the skin from calluses. A vinegar foot soak can get into the cracks and kill the fungus. In addition, vinegar is particularly helpful in removing dead skin and calluses from the feet. After soaking feet between 15 and 30 minutes, use a pumice stone to slough off dead skin. Smooth skin prevents the fungus from hiding in the cracks of the skin.

 

Baking Soda

Baking soda has an amazing ability to soak up moisture and odors. It’s helpful to put baking soda on the feet after a shower. However, placing baking soda directly in shoes cuts down on moisture caused by sweat and using some inside of socks further reduces the amount of moisture around the feet. It’s important to regularly change socks regardless if following this method of Athlete’s foot prevention or not.

Athlete’s foot can be “the worst.” It’s itchy and produces substantial cracks in the feet that can hurt. In addition, Athlete’s foot can spread to other areas of the body. The best thing to do is to use the remedies above, but for serious cases, it’s best to see a doctor.

 

Categories: athlete's foot, Natural, prevent, remedies

Improve Your Wellness With These Simple, Herbal Remedies

Many people dismiss complementary therapies as mere quackery, ignoring the well-established benefits that many of them have for one’s wellness and wellbeing. The use of botanicals is actually very well rooted in medical practice. Going back to ancient times, doctors would collect information about herbs and collate detailed books about how to treat various ailments. Flash forward to modern times, and over a quarter of all drugs used in medicine contain active ingredients which have been derived from the same ancient plant.

 

It is thought that around 80 percent of the world’s population uses herbs in some area of their health care. In the United States alone, over 1,500 different types of botanicals are sold in the form of dietary supplements. The top-selling of these are herbs and supplements, including garlic, Echinacea, goldenseal, ginkgo, ginseng, aloe, saw palmetto, ephedra, cranberry and Siberian ginseng.

 

Before using any herb or supplement, however, you should consult a healthcare provider, to make sure that this is the most appropriate one for you to take, and that there are no interactions with other medications that you may be taking.

 

Chamomile is one of the most popular herbal remedies, frequently used to treat anxiety, muscle pain and cramping. It is usually ingested in the form of tea but is also used in combination with other herbs, too.

 

Echinacea is also commonly used, as it is believed to have properties that can help to fight off colds. People take Echinacea in the winter time, to help them boost their immune systems.

 

Ginkgo, also known as ginkgo biloba, is also commonly taken, as it is believed to improve the circulation and boost brain activity.

 

Those looking for a natural energy boost often turn to Ginseng. This herb has gained popularity in recent years.

 

Finally, the levels of use for St. John’s Wort remain high, as people use it to help treat their anxiety and depression.

Categories: Echinacea, ginkgo, herbal, herbal remedies, herbs, nbsp, remedies, treat

How to Treat an Injury Using Natural Methods

Everybody knows that hitting the gym or pounding the pavements can be great for your wellness and wellbeing; it improves fitness, tones muscles and helps to shed fat. The darker side to this, however, is that many people injure themselves in the course of taking exercise – especially when they are exercising for the first time after a break. Sprains, strains, tears and torn muscles are all commonplace, but fortunately mother nature provides us with all kinds of natural remedies to help us get back on the treadmill as soon as possible.

 

Acupuncture is commonly used, and whilst the idea of sticking needles into yourself may sound like a terrible idea, it is actually a very effective way to treat sports-related injuries. In particular, it is great for an inflammation of the heel and sole called plantar fasciitis, which is suffered by many runners. It can also be used to help treat rotator cuff injuries, which are generally caused by repetitive exercises such as lifting weights, rowing or playing tennis.

 

Massage is also a popular way to help treat injuries. Athletes use massage to improve the blood flow, reduce muscle spasms and decrease the build-up of lactic acid in the body. It is especially helpful for any kind of lower back injuries.

 

We always think of the benefits of putting ice on an injury, but warm can actually be even better than cold, when it comes to the healing process. Heat producing oils are often used to massage a painful area. These promote the circulation of blood, which helps the area to heal as quickly as possible.

 

Arnica is also an old favourite, generally used to promote healing and help to reduce bruising. It can be taken as a tablet or spray, internally, or rubbed directly onto the injured area in the form of a cream.

Categories: area, injuries, Injury, massage, Natural, nbsp, remedies, treat

Be a Savvy Shopper: How to Buy Natural Remedies

If you are shopping for complementary remedies, how do you know which ones will be the most beneficial for your wellness and wellbeing? There is such a plethora of products out there, especially when it comes to skin care and beauty products, that it can be really difficult to know which are the best ones to choose.

There are a few factors, however, which can help you to narrow it down to a few products which are best for your skin.

First of all, find out what kind of skin type you have. No matter how brilliant a product is, if it’s not right for your skin it’s not going to have the right effect. When you have ascertained what kind of skin type you have, choose a product that complements this.

Don’t necessarily trust the label, though; just because the product has the word ‘natural’ written on it does not mean that it is necessarily all natural. Natural is a word that can be used to refer to ingredients that are inspired by nature, such as scent. Similarly, a beauty product can be labelled as green or eco-friendly when in fact this purely refers to the packaging of the product rather than the ingredients.

Make sure that your product is chemical-free, too. If the ingredients are not natural, then they were not designed to be introduced into your body, and you should avoid them. Look out in particular for sodium lauryl sulfate, propylene glycol and dibutyl phthalate, as these are all commonly used ingredients in beauty and skin products which are no good for the skin.

Finally, make sure that the products are cruelty free – the label should tell you that the product has not been tested on animals in any way.

Categories: Natural, remedies, skin

Rising Healthcare Costs Puts Spotlight on Herbal Cures

With the rising costs of healthcare, people are being forced to turn away from traditional medicine and look towards vitamins, minerals and supplements to treat conditions that are affecting their wellness and wellbeing.

 

In the States, a trip to the doctor for something as minor as the common cold can cost you an average of $740, before you take into account insurance deductions. Analysts predict that the costs of health care will continue to rise and that the Affordable Care Act reforms could actually mean that an increase in health costs of around 32 percent for all families.

 

In order to help cut costs, families are turning their attentions to natural remedies, and this is proving to be a huge boost for the alternative medicine sector.

 

Maria Grovers is a Clinical Herbalist who lives in Allenstown N.H. and she now teaches families how they can use home grown herbs to help improve their day to day wellness. She says that more people than ever before are interested in how they can use herbs to sort out their daily problems.

 

The idea of families taking their own ability to cure themselves of minor ailments is an important one, as it helps them to take care of their families in the long term without incurring insurmountable costs. Herbs have a long history of being used to cure these types of minor illnesses.

 

Some even believe that herbs are more effective than any over the counter remedies, as the over the counter remedies tend to focus on masking symptoms and can actually contribute to supressing the immune system, so whilst they make you feel better in the short run, in the long run they can actually make things worse. Herbs on the other hand are both safe and effective, and can be used on adults and children, as well as more elderly members of the family.

Categories: Costs, counter remedies, Families, herbs, long, minor, nbsp, remedies

Ancient Myths Surrounding Our Health That May Not Be True

Some of the myths in the health world are based on superstition and old wives tales, from swallowing pumpkin seeds creating a pumpkin in your stomach to cats stealing the breath of babies from them both drinking milk. But some may be based on slightly more fact than fiction. We all love to believe the health myths our families have ingrained into us, but how useful are they in actually curing the problem? With their roots plausibly based in medical truth, here are some of the most common health myths that we’ve believed for centuries.

The hot and cold balance

In Eastern culture, it’s thought to be good for the body to maintain a balance of hot and cold. For example, ‘hot’ foods are considered to be ingredients such as chilies, peppers and beef, whereas ‘cold’ foods are soy beans, oranges and lettuce. The imbalance of hot and cold foods could lead to sickness according to these cultures, and based on Chinese medicine theory a healthy person is good at balancing cold and heat. In a way, this is actually true – eating too many spicy foods can make you feel ill and can lead to ulcers or acid reflux. Likewise, overeating fried or crispy foods can increase the risk of heart disease. There’s no scientific basis to say that eating spicy food will always make you ill – it’s a matter of individual preference and how the body reacts to these foods.

Hot toddies for a cold or the flu

Hot toddies, a mixture of boiling water, lemon and whiskey, are known in certain parts of the UK as being useful as soothing or killing a cold. But scientific evidence doesn’t support this. While alcohol kills some bacteria in the stomach, when we’re sick the disease-causing bacteria are already rife in the body. By this stage, alcohol can do little to kill them. Hot toddies are useful in opening the nasal passages though, thanks to the steam. The alcohol can also help you sleep if you’re struggling because of your symptoms. While it may not cure you, some people find them soothing and they can benefit you in that regard.

Shiatsu

Shiatsu is a form of accupressure from Japan that’s believed to help fight disease and pain by pressing certain parts of the body. These pressure points relate to different energies in the body, which can help with ailments. However, there is no scientific proof that it works. It is thought to be therapeutic and can help the individual relax by relieving tender muscles. It certainly isn’t damaging to our health, a positive point given the risks to some modern therapies. Previous studies have shown that it can help with brain function and stress relief, which in turn can help avoid illness.

Chicken soup and matzo balls

Branded the Jewish penicillin, chicken noodle soup has a global reputation for being the best cure for colds and flu. While it may taste good, however, there’s no proof that it can cure your body of anything. The steam can release the phlegm that collects in the body, helping to alleviate some of your symptoms though. Studies have shown that it works best as a placebo, showing that the soup lowered the action of white blood cells that spur on the inflammation, increasing the symptoms of the common cold. It certainly serves as a healthy comfort food, which in itself makes it a great food to eat when you’re ill!

Categories: ancient myths, based, body, foods, health, health myths, hot toddies, Myths, remedies

What Are the Best Herbs to Help You Get Some Sleep?

A lot of people have trouble sleeping, and ongoing sleep shortage can be really damaging to your wellness and wellbeing. What many people don’t know, however, is that lack of sleep can be directly improved by correct diet and nutrition.

 

There are a lot of reasons for lack of sleep, including changes in routine, having anxiety or depression and travel, but whatever the reason, getting enough sleep is really important for your health – both physically and emotionally. When you sleep, your body relaxes and heals. Your immune system is also boosted when you get a good night’s sleep, and so you can find that you fall ill more often if you are not getting enough sleep.

 

If your lack of sleep is a once off, you can try an over-the-counter medicine, but it is important not to use conventional medicines for sleep on a long-term basis. Instead, you can opt for herbal remedies that you add to your diet to help improve your sleep.

 

Kava is one such herbal remedy, and it’s great for those whose sleepless nights are being caused by anxiety. Kava should be used with caution, however, as there are some links to adverse effects on the liver. If you have any kind of liver problems, steer well clear of this remedy. Take only the amount that is recommended, and never use it alongside alcohol. It helps you to sleep deeply and release anxiety, and it is also rumoured to enhance and help you to remember your dreams.

 

Valerian is another popular herbal remedy for sleep. It promotes deep relaxation and has been widely researched. It has been proved to be safe and effective so you can take it safe in the knowledge that it will help you sleep and that it does not cause any negative side effects.

Categories: anxiety, herbal, herbal remedy, herbs, nbsp, remedies, remedy, sleep, sleep nbsp

What Everyone Ought to Know About Complementary Medicine

Complementary medicine is an expanding field, and one which could greatly benefit your wellness and well-being if you were able to get to grips with it. NCCAM is an organisation which covers the field of alternative and complementary  medicine, and defines this as a group of diverse health care systems, products and practices which are not currently thought of as part of the conventional medical system.

 

Whole Medical Systems vary from practices, and these systems generally comprise the following different therapies.

Homeopathy uses the body’s ability to self-heal by using extremely small doses of strongly diluted remedies. In larger doses, these remedies would produce negative symptoms, but these lower doses are thought to work with the body in a way as to immunise itself against them.

 

Naturopathic medicine is a medical system that works in harmony with the body’s self-healing ability. Dietary and lifestyle changes are used as part of this system, alongside natural remedies, massages, herbs as well as joint manipulation.

 

Ayurveda is an Indian medical system, which aims to integrate all areas of wellness and treat the whole body rather than one part of it. It focuses on the mind, body and spirit and works in a holistic way to help prevent as well as treat all kinds of diseases. In this medical system there are various herbal remedies, yoga and massages used to help treat the patient in every way possible.

 

Finally, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) works on the idea that diseases are the result of blockages of energy (Qi) in the body, and that disease results from imbalances of positive and negative energy in the body – also known as the effects of yin and yang. Therapies used in this treatment include massage, medication (herbal), acupuncture and meditation.

Categories: Alternative, body, complementary, complementary medicine, Medical, medicine, nbsp, remedies, therapy

4 Remedies to Combat Physical Symptoms of Stress

Stress can manifest itself in many different ways. While resting is generally the best option when symptoms of stress arise, there are also steps that can be taken to reduce some of the unwanted physical appearance that come along with excess stress.

 

Exercising

Fatigue and muscle tension are common companions to poor stress management. By exercising daily, especially during stressful periods, you can boost energy, help muscles relax, and cause the body to release endorphins, which increase the overall sense of well-being. Exercising can also help stressed out individuals sleep better at night, which may be difficult when tension is high. By sleeping better, you will look and feel less tired.

 

Massage

Receiving a massage can offer more direct relief for tense muscles. Like exercise, massage therapy also releases endorphins into the bloodstream and promotes a general feeling of wellness. People who do not have access to a licensed massage therapist can also learn self-massage techniques that are also effective. Massage can be enhanced with aromatherapy, which incorporates fragrant essential oils into the massage. The oils benefit the skin and are lifting when feeling dreary or in an otherwise stressful mood. Listening to relaxing musing during a massage can also help the mind relax, which will assist in releasing muscle tension. Getting a massage will help you look more relaxed, and less uptight, which can cause you to slouch or clench your jaw.

 

Hot Shower or Warm Bath

Heat relaxes tense muscles and can also ease the mind. When stress mounts, retreating to long, relaxing, warm back or shower can be the perfect way to unwind after a long day. The remedy can be enhanced by using pleasant scents like lavender, which has a calming effect on the mind. Using essential oils in a bath will help your skin look brighter and younger. Stress often causes acne, but taking a warm bath or hot shower and using essential oils or other calming and anti-inflammatory bath products will keep your skin looking great, despite your stress levels.

 

Dietary Supplements

Stress can be taxing on the immune system and cause other conditions like dry, tired eyes. Taking a vitamin supplement can help to ensure the body is receiving the nutrients it needs to function properly during stressful times. Experts from Visivite recommend taking a supplement that contains vitamins to strengthen the immune system and support eye health in a variety of ways. Supplements that are packed with a antioxidants to protect the cells and destroy free radicals are a great option.

 

The onset of symptoms of stress can be sudden. However, by approaching the condition from multiple points, stress can be effectively managed while minimizing the impact of overall health and well-being. Try doing these four things to help ease the physical symptoms of stress and take care of your body.

 

Categories: Essential Oils, hot shower, Muscle Tension, physical symptoms, remedies, Stress, tense muscles

Anxiety Stopping You in Your Tracks? You May Have GAD

When was the last time you felt really anxious? Was it the night before a big exam or that time in the supermarket when your toddler wandered off? In these situations, it’s perfectly normal to experience short-term anxiety which disappears after the event. However, if anxiety plays on your wellbeing in an on-going way that severely limits your daily life; your mental health may be affected by Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD).

 

GAD tends to affect your wellness with a multitude of worries, rather than one specific problem or event. Often, this anxiety is unwarranted and can last for more than six hours. Symptoms of GAD include insomnia, easy startle response, fatigue, irritability, muscle tension, headaches, inability to relax, trembling, twitching and feeling out of breath. Mild and moderate symptoms mean that you can probably maintain most of your regular activities, but your co-workers or loved ones may notice that you always anticipate the worst possible outcome. However, severe symptoms may leave you housebound. This will require medication or cognitive-behavioural therapy, but there are also a few simple, but scientifically-proven, changes that you can make to reduce your anxiety levels.

 

1. Diet. According to an American Journal of Psychiatry study, women who ate a diet of fast food, processed foods, refined grains, sweets and beer are more likely to be depressed or anxious than those who eat a more “traditional” diet of vegetables, fruit, whole grains, meat and fish. Try to eat tryptophan-rich foods, such as cheese, peanut butter, nuts, sesame seeds, oats, milk, poultry and bananas, as these increase your production of serotonin.

 

2. Meditation. The Transcendental Meditation (TM) technique, has been scientifically proven to produce a deep state of relaxation in the body as well as brain wave coherence. When researchers analysed 146 studies on the TM technique, they found it was twice as effective in reducing anxiety as other techniques, including Relaxation Response, Progressive Muscle Relaxation and EMG Biofeedback.

 

3. Exercise. A publication from the President’s Council on Physical Fitness hailed the benefits of the following exercise practices:

• Aerobic exercise compared to weight-lifting


• A 12-15 week exercise regime rather than a shorter routine

Categories: anxiety, diet, exercise, Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD), nbsp, remedies, scientifically proven, Symptoms, tm technique