Saturday, 30 April 2011

Knee Pain Exercises Especially for Women

A young lady in a baseball uniform recently came to see me in the emergency room. She had pain in her knees that had been increasing over the last few weeks. It had gotten to the point that she was actually limping. What to do?

A brief exam and a couple of x-rays later and we knew what the problem was. There was inflammation of the joint between the knee cap (patella) and the knee (distal femur).

Many women suffer from the same ailment. The reason is that because of the wider pelvis that women have, the muscles of the thigh tend to pull the knee cap off to the side. The result is that it gets increasingly inflamed and painful.

The pain from this type of problem is normally just in the front of the knee. It will be painful to straighten out your leg when you are sitting. It will be tender on the side of the knee cap.

If you have this problem, the good news is that normally you can completely relieve your pain with a few simple exercises.

The goal of these exercises is to strengthen the mucles of the front of the thigh (quadriceps muscle) that will pull the knee cap straight.

To strenghten the quadriceps, simply lie down on your bed and do straight leg raises. Don't bend the knee. It is already inflamed and you don't need to make that worse. Just repeatedly raise your leg. This will strengthen the quadriceps.

If you get a bit tired from doing this ten times, just keep doing it. But, if you are in pretty good shape already and this does not make you tired at all, it is time to step things up a bit.

When you are ready, the next step is to do the same exercise with weights. To do this just get an old purse and put a can of food in it and repeat the straight leg raises. Pretty easy eh? As you get stronger, gradually increase the weight in the old purse.

During this time, if you can take them, a good anti-inflammatory medications such as Ibuprofen will help get rid of the inflammation and aleviate the pain you are having in your knee.

However, by doing these exercises regularly, you should not need to use the medication for more than a few days.

Physiotherapy Exercises for Muscle Injuries

Physiotherapy exercises to do at home are great for minor muscle injuries. I've had my (un)fair share of injuries, building up a wealth of unfortunate experience with these exercises. The most commonly injured body parts are the knee and back, so I'll focus on them.

Physiotherapists (physical therapists) are usually very busy. If your injury isn't major, you may have to wait weeks to be seen.

In that time you could develop stiffness and lose muscle tone, making the injury worse and prolonging your recovery. Doing these simple physiotherapy exercises helps keep the muscles moving.

You probably already have some sort of pain from the injury, which you'll have to monitor. There are two types of pain you need to watch out for:

Pain due to stiffness. Bearable during your physiotherapy exercises, eases off soon after. This type of pain is OK to carry on.

Pain due to damage. Unbearable at any point, won't ease for several days. Stop any exercise immediately. Your muscles aren't ready for exercise yet. Continue with R.I.C.E.

The best course of action when doing physiotherapy exercises is to write a plan. Record the pain response after each exercise. Either increase or decrease the amount of exercises you do, depending on how bad the pain was.

Your muscles are in a delicate state, so really focus on the quality of each movement. Go slow and steady, visualizing the muscle as you exercise.

Physiotherapy exercises for your back:

1. Lie on your back, both knees bent (feet flat on floor). Tilt hips backward and slightly arch your back. The first movement leads to the second, don't force the arching. Relax, then tilt hips forward, keeping your bottom on the floor. Your lower back will push into the floor.

2. Lie on your back, both legs straight. Bend your left knee up towards your chest, holding your thigh or the top of the knee. Hold the stretch for 10 seconds, slowly relax. Repeat with right knee.

3. Lie on your front, chin resting on the floor. Bend your arms with hands resting beside your head, palms on the floor and elbows tucked in to your body. Look straight ahead and slowly lift your head up, keep your hips on the floor so that your back arches. Let your arms take the weight. Relax back down slowly.

4. Stand up, arms by your side. Bend down to the right, sliding your right hand down your leg. Come back up slowly and relax. Repeat on your left side.

Physiotherapy exercises for your knee:

1. Sit on the floor, legs straight out in front of you. Place your left hand under your left knee. Contract your quads so your knee pushes down on your hand (lifting your heel into the air). Hold for 10 seconds. Repeat with your right knee.

2. If the above exercise is too hard, then start off with a folded pillow under your knee (slightly bent). Lift your heel up as before, keeping your knee on the pillow.

3. Lie flat on your front with both legs straight. Slowly bend your left knee as much as possible. Hold for 5 seconds. Slowly straighten the knee returning to the start position. Repeat with your right knee.

4. Lie on your back. One knee bent up (foot flat on floor), the other straight. Lift the straight leg up (about 1 foot). Hold for 5 seconds. Repeat with the other leg.

These physiotherapy exercises should be used with professional care, or as preventative measures. If you're in pain from an injury, please see your doctor first.

If you're not injured, you can still do these physiotherapy exercises. Prevent common injuries in certain parts of your body. Add the specific exercise to your normal workout at least once a week.

Be pro-active with your recovery, quickly return to a pain-free active life.

Please visit here to see more physiotherapy exercises for your foot, knee, back, shoulder and neck. You'll also find more advice about the types of pain.

From the author and creator of this website dedicated to helping you be happy and healthy. Find exercise, diet and equipment tips. With added focus on pilates, swimming and physiotherapy advice.

Exercises for Knee Pain - 2 Simple Effective Exercises To Ease Pain On Your Knee

Exercises for Knee Pain are always recommended by doctors to help ease the pain and strengthen the knee. These poor parts of our body spend their entire lives bearing our weight, walking, running, skipping, jumping, turning, twisting and so many more actions. Is it any wonder then that it cracks up sometimes! This is the largest joint in the body and the most complicated, but probably the most at risk as well.

The causes for knee pain are truly varied and stem from injury, arthritis, bursitis, tendonitis, gout and other conditions that are more complicated in nature. When you tear a ligament or cartilage, it can give rise to pain to this largest joint and these injuries may require surgery.

It is universally agreed that exercises for knee pain are parts of the cure and we will look at some of the exercises that can be done to strengthen this part of our body.

The one thing you should never overlook is a warm up before beginning your exercise routine. This can be just 5 minutes of low impact aerobics like walking to increase the blood supply to the muscles and remove stiffness.

These are 2 simple effective exercises for knee pain that can you do:

Quads strengthening leg lifts- lie flat on your back, and bend your left knee at a 90 degrees angle. The foot should be flat on the floor. With right leg straight, raise it to the height of your left one, and hold for a count of 3. Repeat it 10 times and then change legs and repeat it again as before.

Hamstring strengthening curls - lie on your stomach, and put your left foot on the back of your right heel. The idea is to pull the heel to your buttocks and your left leg will resist. Hold for a count of 10 for contracting your hamstrings. Repeat 10 times with each leg.

If you do these 2 things persistently, I think you will gain result. However, it’s necessary if you also support your knee with the specific supplement to repair the damage faster. One of the best supplements for joint health will be Wobenzyme. This natural pain reliever seems to address the pain itself and speed up the recovery process.

How to Strengthen Knees

Our knees are perhaps, one of the most used body parts. We use them when we walk, run, climb stairs, indulge in sports, basically for carrying on all the physical activities. Due to this regular wear and tear, our knees become very prone to injuries, often resulting in knee pain. That's why, it becomes important that we take certain measures to maintain their health. So, for all those people, whether exercisers, non-exercisers, runners or sports persons, who want to know, "how to strengthen knees?", given below are some effective knee exercises to maintain the health, flexibility and balance of knees.

Tips on How to Strengthen Knees

In order to avoid injuries to the knees, make sure that you wear good quality shoes. Also, start with warming-up your leg and knee muscles and then move onto the knee exercises in order to avoid injuries. As a warm-up, simply walk for about five to ten minutes.

Knee Stretches
For those wondering, "how to strengthen your knees?", this exercise is most suitable. Sit on a chair and keep your back straight. Next, keeping your one foot firmly on the ground and bending your other knee, bring your leg as near to your upper body as you can. Remain in this position for about ten seconds and then lower your leg. Repeat this exercise ten times on both the legs.

Knee Bends
Another of the effective knee strengthening exercises is knee bends. To perform this exercise, lie down on your stomach on an exercise mat. Next, keeping your one leg straight, bend your other leg from behind the knee and try to touch your hips with your foot. If you are feeling a tightening in your quadriceps, it means that you are performing knee bends correctly. Hold on for five seconds and then come back to the starting position. Repeat this exercise for knee pain ten times on both legs.

Quadriceps Stretches
For those who are thinking, "how to strengthen knee ligaments?", this exercise is the solution. To perform this exercise, sit straight on a chair. Now, extend the legs in such a way that your heels touch the ground. Make sure that your knees are straight in this position. Next, tighten your thigh muscles and remain in this position for ten seconds. Relax and then repeat the same. Do this exercise ten times.

Knee Circling
One of the most useful of exercises to strengthen knees is knee circling. To do this exercise, stand straight. Next, bend your knees and take a position as if you are squatting in the air. Cup your kneecaps with your hands and start circling your knees clockwise. When you do this exercise, make sure that your toes and feet do not move at all. Repeat clockwise circling and anti-clockwise circling on both knees ten times.

Squats
Squats are very effective in strengthening the knee muscles. To perform this exercise, stand straight with your feet at shoulder width distance. Next, lower your hips as if you are going to sit on a chair. At any point of time, while lowering your hips, your knees should not come as forward as your toes. Hold on this squat position for ten seconds and then, placing your weight on your heels, stand straight. Do ten repetitions of this exercise.

Leg Raises
If you want to know, "how to strengthen knees for running?", the answer lies in leg raises. To perform this exercise, lie on your back on an exercise mat. Bend and lift your left knee, placing your left foot flat on the ground. Next, keeping your right knee straight, lift your right leg off the ground, about six inches. Hold on for a few seconds and then bring it back to the ground. Again raise the right leg in the same manner, however this time it should be slightly more than six inches away from the ground. Repeat this knee exercise for runners, ten times on both legs.

Here's hoping that now you know how to strengthen knees. Along with these exercises, taking a healthy diet is important too as it fastens the tissue repair and healing. So, eat lots of fruits, vegetables and dairy products like milk, yogurt and cheese every day. Vitamin C and vitamin E are especially known to aid in the healing of joints so take vitamin C rich foods like oranges, pineapples and grapefruits as well as vitamin E rich foods like peanuts, mango, spinach and broccoli, a part of your everyday diet. A combination of the knee exercises given above and a well balanced diet, will ensure that your knees remain healthy, strong and flexible.

Knee Strengthening Exercises for Torn Meniscus

A tear in the meniscus, simply put, is when there is a tear in the cartilage of the knee. This occurrence is oft seen when there is a sudden stop and jerking action applied to that area. Stopping suddenly on the spot while in full motion or jerking and twisting the part can lead to a tear in the meniscus and lead to a lot of knee pain and agony. A meniscus tear is a common occurrence in athletes who make a lot of use of their knees, but it can affect any of us if there is ever an occurrence that involves applying a sudden jerk to the knees like an accident or a fall. That is why knee strengthening exercises, and in particular knee strengthening exercises for torn meniscus become extremely important so that you do not cause further harm to the knee and help it to recuperate faster by aiding it through exercises. In the following article we will look into some of the most effective knee strengthening exercises that there are.

Meniscus Knee Strengthening Exercises

It becomes important that you take immediate steps when it comes to a torn meniscus and a sore knee or else the pain will just build up and the injury might turn into a permanent one. In order to avoid that, try doing some of the knee strengthening exercises for torn meniscus and help it recover faster. Here are some of the basic knee exercises for torn meniscus given below.

Knee Circles
This knee exercise is a light one as it should be after an injury, because you should not be putting any pressure on it in any way initially. Take it slow and make sure that there is no pain while doing them. Here's how you go about it:

   1. Stand with your feet together and bend your knees so that they do not cross the toes. Cover your kneecaps with your palms and keep your peripheral vision to the ground.
   2. With a slow, gentle motion, move your knees in a circle. First in the clockwise direction and then in the opposite direction.
   3. Make absolutely sure that the circles are not too wide.
   4. Do about 20-30 circles in both directions.

Chair Balance
This simple exercise to strengthen knees allows for building strength in the knees and thighs, such that it can support the knees better. Here is how you go about it:

   1. Take a sturdy chair and place it firmly against the ground.
   2. Now stand behind it and place both your hands on it.
   3. Lift one leg and keep it suspended so that the weight is on the other foot.
   4. Make sure that there is no pressure though. If you feel any pain, you should stop immediately.
   5. Stand in this position for a count of 15 and then shift legs to repeat on the other side.
   6. When you start feeling that you're regaining your strength, try and place only one hand on the chair, while the other is placed on your waist.

Leg Curls
This is one other effective knee and leg exercise that'll help to regain the strength once again and help you recuperate:

   1. Sleep on your stomach with your legs extended straight out.
   2. Now bend your knees and try to get them as far back as possible.
   3. Hold for a count of 15 and lower.
   4. You can add ankle weights to introduce intensity to the exercise.

Straight Leg Raises
This knee pain exercise will help in strengthening both the knees and the thighs. Here is how you go about it:

   1. Lie on your back with your legs extended straight out.
   2. Now bend one leg at the knee while the other one remains straight.
   3. Slowly lift the leg (which is not bent) from the hips into the air.
   4. The leg should be about 5 inches above the ground. The lower to the ground, the better.
   5. Hold for 6-8 seconds and slowly lower it.
   6. Alternate the leg and repeat on both sides 10 times.

All these are simple knee strengthening exercises that will not exert the knee in any way. When you feel like the strength of the knee has regained a little, you can move on to the more intense exercises like squats, hamstring curls, lunges and leg extensions.

These were some of the knee strengthening exercises for torn meniscus that you can start including in your routine as soon as possible. This will allow for the knees to regain their flexibility and strength and thereby be able to carry forth all the normal actions and sports activities without any hindrance.

Tea helps to fight cavities and a host of other diseases

Along with the common cold and gum disease, cavities are among the most common human afflictions. Studies, by research associations, have found drinking of black tea regularly reduced plaque and helped control bacteria. It was found that black tea could inhibit or suppress the growth of bacteria that promotes cavities and affect their ability to attach to tooth surfaces.

Dental plaque contains more than 300 species of bacteria that adhere to tooth surfaces and produce acid that lead to cavities. Plaque is also a leading cause of gum disease. Black tea was found to have antioxidant compounds polyphenols, which is suspected to kill or suppress cavity causing bacteria from either growing or producing acid. Tea also affected the bacterial enzymes and prevented the formation of the sticky-like material that binds plaque to teeth. It is however necessary that, to help prevent cavities the tea must truly be "black," without sugar, milk, honey or other additives.

As part of the study participants in the study rinsed with tea for 30 seconds, five times, waiting three minutes between each rinse to stimulate what people did while sipping tea. Whereas in a similar study by Goeteborg University, participants rinsed with tea for one minute 10 times per day, showed comparable results. Both studies showed that the more people rinsed, the more their plaque and bacteria levels fell.

Fluoride is another mineral found in great abundance in tea. In fact, tea is one of the very few natural sources of fluoride. Fluoride has made its mark as the most successful agent against tooth decay. Researchers looked at the impact of black tea's fluoride content on preventing cavities but found the benefits less clear as compared to polyphenols.

The polyphenols, found in tea are also found to harbor anti-cancer and anti-heart disease effects. Black tea also helps in managing gastric and intestinal disorders because of its tannins, which decrease intestinal activity and exerts an anti-diarrhea effect.

Black tea also contains theophylline. In addition to improving circulation, the theophylline in black tea helps improve cholesterol levels. It also has been known to expand the airways, making breathing easier for asthmatics. Both green and black teas also contain antioxidants known as flavenoids. Flavenoids play a critical role in protecting us from heart disease and cancer.

The benefits of this cup that cheers seems to be many fold so enjoy your tea and enjoy your health but remember no additives please!

Toothache Relief

A toothache is the soreness or discomfort within or around a tooth, which might be irritating. Toothache is usually accompanied by swelling or reddening of gums and there is always a possibility of abscess. A toothache starts emerging when an infection reaches the deeper parts of the tooth, the nerve endings and blood vessels. We all are aware and scared of the horrendous toothache, when a food particle gets stuck in a tooth cavity. Sitting in front of a dentist, can cause even the bravest men to surrender! Only a person who has experienced toothache, can explain how crippling it is! Almost every one of us has experienced the harrowing pangs of toothache, at least once in the lifetime. We all know how excruciating toothache can get, however, we just overlook the precautionary measures. Let's first have a look at the different tooth pain causes.

Toothache Causes

    * Gum Diseases: In gum diseases, inflamed gums affect the supporting bone of a tooth. The plaque on the tooth is a good home for bacteria, which can infect the gums. Read more on periodontal diseases.
    * Wisdom Tooth: Impacted wisdom teeth can be the cause of toothache. Mostly, the impacted wisdom tooth catches bacterial infections and so, for such wisdom toothache relief, removing of the tooth is usually advised. Read more on wisdom teeth infection.
    * Tooth Decay: Tooth decay is the main and common cause of toothache. Harmful bacteria secrete harmful acids, which destroy tooth enamel and tooth cavities are formed.
    * Injury: Any powerful blow to the mouth or forceful biting of a hard object, may result in cracked tooth, leading to toothache.
    * Sensitiveness of Tooth Root: Untreated gum diseases or tooth decay may expose the roots of a tooth. The roots of the teeth are very sensitive and can cause tooth pain, which can be noticed during consumption of hot, cold and sour foods.
    * Non Dental Causes: Sinus, ear infection, impending heart attack can be some of the causes of toothache.

To prevent toothache, dental health has to be taken care of. Oral hygiene is extremely significant if we wish to prevent tooth infection and decay. Here are some tips for proper dental care and home remedies for toothache pain relief.

Toothache Relief Home Remedy

    * Warm Salt Water: Warm salt water rinses or swishing with warm salt water will give relief to the toothache.
    * Clove: A clove can be held under the affected tooth or cotton saturated with clove oil can be pressed and kept around the painful tooth. Clove is analgesic in nature.The pain will subside slowly.
    * Camphor: A small piece of camphor can be held under the affected tooth or camphor oil can be applied around the paining tooth. The pain will be reduced soon.
    * Ice: Applying ice from outside is one of the most common toothache remedies. It can be placed inside also. It relieves the pain by creating numbness.
    * Oil of Oregano: Oil of oregano has excellent antibiotic properties. It can prevent tooth decay. Read more on oregano oil dosage.
    * Dried Peppermint Leaves: Dried peppermint leaves can be placed around the aching tooth for 10-15 minutes and then spit them out. Do it 10-15 times per day, to relieve toothache.
    * Fresh Peppermint: Add some fresh peppermint in salt and water and boil it for 5 minutes. Drink the lukewarm water. It will act as pain killer.
    * Whiskey: A swig of whiskey will make the alcohol work as anesthetic agent and the pain will get reduced.
    * Iodine: Put a drop of iodine on the aching tooth but do not swallow it. The pain will subside.
    * Garlic: If a paste of garlic with some rock salt is applied on the aching tooth, pain is reduced fast.
    * Asafetida: Make a paste of half tea spoonful asafetida and lemon juice and apply it on the aching tooth. It is an excellent pain killer.
    * Cucumber: Hold thick slices of cucumber under the affected tooth and it will relieve the pain soon.
    * Oats: Holding oats around the aching tooth, can draw out the pus from the abscess and thus, can help reduce the pain. Read more on tooth abscess home remedies.
    * Oral Hygiene: Brushing the teeth after every meal, avoiding too much of fatty or sweet food items, regular gargling and rinsing with warm salty water, regular dental check-up at the dentist's clinic, adequate intake of vitamins and minerals, following a high fiber diet can prevent tooth decay.

Toothache Symptoms

The medical term used to describe the aching pain of the toothache is odontalgia. It occurs as a result of swelling in the central part of the tooth also known as pulp. It consists of several nerve endings which are highly sensitive towards pain. There are several causes that can lead to inflammation of the pulp. Tooth or jaw problems like cavities, gum disease, infection of the pulp, trauma, cracked tooth, etc., are some of the most common causes of toothaches. After extraction of one or more teeth, a condition called dry socket tends to develop which may give toothache symptoms. Impacted wisdom teeth are responsible for causing wisdom toothache symptoms. It could be a symptom of some underlying health problems too. Like, one can get sinus toothache symptoms due to inflammation of the sinuses in the nasal cavity. Ear infection, oral cancer and heart disease may sometimes cause toothaches.

Symptoms of Toothache

The intensity of the aching pain of the tooth is mild in the beginning. This pain tends to shoot up when we eat or drink something hot or cold. After a few seconds, once the hot or cold stimuli is removed, the pain usually goes down. As the area of inflammation grows bigger, the toothache turns more severe and often gives a throbbing sensation. It may get extended to the cheek, ear and the head. Other accompanying symptoms that suggest periodontal diseases are as follows:

    * Swelling around the affected tooth.
    * Swelling of the jaw.
    * Bleeding from the tooth or if the gum has been infected then discharge can occur from the entire gums. Read more on gum infection symptoms.
    * Soreness can be felt in the gum and jaw area and is tender to touch.
    * The pain often intensifies with additional pressure on the tooth. It can happen while chewing the food or while lying down.
    * Sometimes, the tooth appears normal and it becomes difficult to identify the source of pain. In such cases, if you tap the tooth you can feel the tenderness.

If all the above mentioned toothache symptoms are missing and still you are suffering from toothache, then it is likely that the source of the pain is other than the tooth. It could be due to sinus infection and ear or throat infection. If you are unable to open your mouth for a large bite or yawning, then it can be due to injury to the joint that attach the jaw and the skull also called temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Sometimes, chest pain due to angina may travel through the nerves and can be felt in the jaw area.

Toothache Treatment

Treatment for toothache symptoms depends on the underlying cause of the problem. First of all, doctors prescribe pain killers and antibiotics to bring down the pain and swelling. In certain cases, they may administer injections around the tooth to provide relief from the pain. Then it is followed by other dental treatments. For a tooth decay, dentists remove the decayed part of the tooth and fill it up using silver amalgam or composite resin. If loose and broken fillings are found to be the cause of toothache, then newly formed tooth decay and broken fillings are cleared off and a new filling is placed. When damage in the tooth pulp is found then root canal treatment is carried out which involves removal of decayed pulp, filling up the space with a paste and covering the tooth with a crown. Thus the tooth is sealed up and is in a well protected condition. If the condition of the tooth is such that it cannot be treated with all these methods then the tooth has to be extracted. When the toothache is related to anything other than dental health then your dentist will refer you to other specialists. Find more on tooth decay treatment and tooth ache remedies.

You can avoid toothache symptoms to a great extent by following a proper dental care regime. Proper brushing of teeth using a soft brush is a must in order to remove food particles that get stuck in between the teeth. Brush your gums daily to make them healthy. Get your teeth cleaned by your dentist twice a year. This will ensure you protection from both tooth decay as well as any kind of gum disease.

Tooth Decay Symptoms

A dental check up is really a very frightening experience, for adults and children, alike. All through childhood we have heard how important dental care is, how brushing and flossing is important, how regular check and filling of cavity is important, and so on and on. But most of this advise is generally ignored and appointments of regular dental check dates are pushed back every month. That is until we feel something is 'not quite right' with the tooth. Before we get down to tooth decay symptoms, let us understand what causes it, and also few treatment options. Read up all on dental care and dental health.

Tooth Decay Causes
A tooth is a calcified, white structure found in the jaw. A set of 32 teeth in adults is used to chew, bite and scrape food. Tooth decay is caused by the bacteria found in the food that does not get washed out. This bacteria results in a sticky slightly yellowish substance called as plaque. More the bacteria, more the spread of plaque. Bacteria also makes acids when they come in contact with the sugars present in the food. As the acid destroys tooth enamel and its mineral content, it results in cavity and tooth decay. It is the consumption of sugars that gets the acids to act within minutes of consumption to set decay in the tooth. Read more on tooth decay causes.

Tooth Decay Symptoms
As the tooth decay takes a while to set in, it does not show an immediate symptom. Unless the cavity is exposed to very hot or cold foods, most people don't even realize that decay has set in. Once the decay gets infected, one may experience a toothache. A severe toothache results in earache and for some a splitting headache too. This pain gets further aggravated when one is eating sweets, hard food, cold, hot or citrus food, and while brushing teeth.

An infected tooth sometimes cause bad breath. If it is the gum that have gotten infected then the tooth may feel a little shaky, or even break in very tiny splinters. Yellow, brown, black spots may appear on the infected tooth or teeth. When tooth decay is left unattended, it can turn severe and form an abscess. Abscess generally accompanies swollen jaw and glands and/or mild fever. The pus in the abscess can easily spread out from the root of the infected tooth to others. Build of plaque and tartar may cause a gum disease resulting in loss of healthy teeth too. Read more on toothache symptoms.

Tooth Decay Treatment
A diagnosis is made after a dental physical examination and study of the symptoms. However, if the decay is not visible or is too severe, the dentist may recommend an x-ray to asses the damage. The doctor may prescribe pain and swell relieving medications to reduce inflammation of the gum. Anti bacterial mouth wash and toothpaste to inhibit the growth of bacteria in the mouth may also be prescribed. Cavity filling, placement of a crown or root canal treatment or a surgery, where the tooth extraction is performed are all treatment that are followed depending upon the severity of the tooth decay. Read and find more about tooth decay treatment.

This was all about severe tooth decay symptoms and possible treatment. But there are some very easy ways to prevent tooth decay. Brush teeth twice a day with a good quality fluoride toothpaste, floss regularly, avoid sweetened snacks and visit the dentist regularly and take their advice very seriously.

How to Get Rid of a Toothache

Painful ache in and around a particular tooth is a problem experienced by many people. Besides mild to sharp penetrating pain, other manifested toothache symptoms are redness, swelling, fluid drainage, bad smell, referred headache and at times, fever. So, how to get rid of a toothache and associated symptoms? Scroll down, to understand the causes of toothache and effective toothache remedies, which you can practice at home.

What Causes Toothache?

As with any medical condition, toothache treatment starts with identifying the root tooth pain causes. The main cause for this dental problem is inflammation of the pulp that is present inside the pulp chamber, a condition called pulpitis. Other reasons for severe toothache are tooth decay, tooth fracture, abscessed tooth and gum infection. Apart from these, faulty tooth filling is another cause for pain in tooth. Thus, toothache after filling is also reported by many who have undergone the procedure.

How to Get Rid of a Toothache Fast?

Tooth pain disturbs the normal well-being of an individual, in terms of eating, chewing and talking. Treatment for this problem varies according to the underlying cause. Although severe toothache cases require immediate attention by a dentist, there are certain things that one can practice at home to alleviate pain. Self care guidelines on how to get rid of a toothache at home are explained below:

Clean Teeth Properly
At the first signs of tooth pain, it is imperative for every person to floss and clean mouth thoroughly for prompt toothache cure. This will help in flushing off food particles that may be present in the corners of the teeth. First, rinse mouth with lukewarm water and then, gently brush teeth. Wash mouth and follow the same teeth cleaning after you have your meals.

Avoid Hot Foods
In most people having toothache, increased pain intensity is observed in responses to very hot and sweet food items. So, it is advisable to consume foods that are not too cold or too hot. Also, limit intake of sweet goodies, which again increases infection chances. If you have them, make sure you floss teeth as soon as possible.

Apply Ice pack
The best way to get instant toothache relief is applying ice pack in the aching tooth. Ice numbs the area, thus reducing pain perception. This is the main reason why, many dentists recommend having ice creams at times of toothache and alike conditions. You can place ice cubes in a clean cloth and place over the affected tooth.

Don't Pressurize Teeth
Some patients notice tooth pain, only when the pressure is applied to a tooth or teeth in doubt. If the same case is applicable to you, refrain from doing things that puts extra pressure to the teeth. So, avoid masticating hard foods, chewing with the affected tooth and having chewing gum. It is best to have soft foods that require less chewing.

Gargle with Salt Water
How to handle toothache during pregnancy? Being a frequently manifested condition amongst expecting mothers, 'how to get rid of a toothache while pregnant' is a common query. You can consider gargling with salt water. Add a pinch of salt in lukewarm water and gargle with it. Using saline water is effectual for toothache pain relief and at the same time, reduces the risk of tooth infection.

Use Clove Oil
Using clove oil for tooth pain is effective in alleviating painful symptoms. Having natural analgesic properties, it can be used alone or mixed with any of the ingredients - pepper powder, oregano oil and olive oil. You can dip a cotton ball in the oil or mixture and place it over the aching tooth. Repeat this 2-3 times daily for best results.

Other Remedies
Other effectual toothache home remedies are chewing guava leaves, chewing fresh spinach leaves, using crushed garlic clove and applying a mixture of pepper powder and table salt. Last but not the least, chewing raw onion for a few minutes is a good remedy for toothache. Onion possesses antibacterial properties and is effective for killing bacteria.

Since you now know what to do for a toothache, take action immediately for getting prompt results. As you follow proper dental care and above tips on how to get rid of a toothache, most probably the pain intensity will decrease gradually. If the symptoms persist even after 1-2 days, better consult a dentist. Based on the medical history and underlying cause, the doctor will recommend pain medicines in appropriate dosage for treating the tooth pain.

Wednesday, 27 April 2011

Homeopathic, Natural and Not-So-Natural Teething Remedies

Many parents know all to well the signs of teething in their baby but many feel powerless to help their child's teething problems. However, there is a range of teething remedies for all stages of your baby's teething. Knowing the remedy available and how and when to apply it is the key.

Homeopathic teething remedies are a great way to ease the discomfort of baby teething. Homeopathic remedies have been used for many years and can be highly effective, but you should only use a homeopathic teething remedy in conjunction with expert advice and guidance.

Apis mellifica is used to ease swollen gums before and after the eruption of teeth. Apis mellifica means 'whole honeybee' and was first discovered by the Rev. Brauns, in Thuringia, Germany, in 1853.

Calcarea carbonica: Some babies are late to teeth and the experience can be very distressing for late developers. Babies who need this remedy are usually chubby, slow to learn to crawl or walk and their heads often sweat during naps or sleep at night.

Essential oil of cloves has long been known as a natural local anesthetic. You administer the clove oil by adding one drop in one or two tablespoons of organic sunflower oil.

Kreosotum: This remedy can ease a child's stress when she has irritating saliva and severe discomfort during teething. Kreosotum is very beneficial if a baby's teeth succumb to decay soon after erupting from the gums.

Pulsatilla: especially good for teething babies who are clingy, nervous or tearful.

Sulphur: good if your baby has a reddish irritation or rash on the chin or diaper area during teething episodes. Diarrhea (often whitish) is not caused irectly by teething but because of stress from teething. The baby is irritable and anxious, feeling worse from being warm.

Other Natural Homeopathic teething remedies include a stick of licorice and chamomilla. As stated above, any parent contemplating using a homeopathic remedy for teething should do so only in conjunction with expert medical advice.

Natural teething remedies are becoming more popular as many parents want to avoid the use of any drugs or medicines on their baby. Many natural teething remedies have been around for thousands of years; there effectiveness depends on the child.

Bread, in various forms has been used for thousand of years, more recently the bagel has been used by parents in both Europe and America; the bagel being the right consistency - as is doesn't break apart too easily - and it's also a very easy shape for young child to grab hold of. Teething biscuits are also very popular. In the recent past many parents began to avoid buying teething biscuits as the biscuits often contained large amounts of sugar, salt and other ingredient not good for babies. But, things have changed and many manufacturers make teething biscuits free of these bad ingredients.

Vegetables are also commonly used to ease the pain of baby teething. Vegetables such as carrots and cucumbers make ideal soothers because of their texture - you can also put them in the fridge beforehand, as the coolness will also numb teeth and gums.

Some of the more dubious natural teething remedies include the wearing of coral as a necklace. The ancient Egyptians recorded this practice. Also amber necklaces have, and are still used, as natural teething remedies, as are silver spoons.

For those parents who don't care whether a teething remedy is natural or not the following can be tried.

The first recorded use of teething rings has been found on Sumerian sandstone tablets, around 3000 years ago. Perhaps teething rings could be considered natural but many were made of plastic using diisononyl phthalate - a chemical which can be cancer causing. The chemical is used as a softening agent during the manufacturing process and most teething toys contain about 10 to 20 percent phthalate. Many manufacturers have now stopped using this chemical but not all!

Other no-so-natural teething remedies include teething gels. Many teething gels contain a mild analgesic that act as a painkiller and also contain mild antiseptics that kill a variety of bacteria and fungi that might infect sore or broken skin in the mouth. Experts caution against the excessive use of teething gels as they contain benzocaine. There is a risk of allergic reaction. In addition, benzocaine can cause numbing of the throat and could lead to choking. Consult your doctor if you want to help relieve your child's pain with benzocaine.

Teething tablets are designed to melt quickly in the child's mouth and, in so doing, help alleviate the pain of teething. The active ingredients are usually Chamomilla (see homeopathic remedies above), which helps reduce irritability, and Belladonna, which helps reduce inflammation. Consult your doctor before using teething tablets.

The above are just some of the options available to parents to help ease a child's teething pains but there are many more teething remedies. Perhaps the best teething remedy for your baby is just good old fashioned patience, distraction and, above all, lots of cuddles.

Homeopathic Treatment For Toenail Fungus

A homeopathic treatment for toenail fungus cure or remedy can in fact be effective for many people suffering the embarrassment of nail fungus. While you may have fought or are fighting this condition now, if you're reading this, the lack of a complete cure has no doubt increased your exasperation with the condition.

The problem is simply once you have it, it's very difficult to completely cure regardless any promises that claim they have a quick, easy or simple cure. While you may be researching for a homeopathic treatment for toenail fungus on your own, remember that by it's very nature, onychomycosis is considered chronic.

When considering the various homeopathic options, understand that no remedy can restore your toenails in a week or even a month. Toenails aren't alive in the sense that your hand is alive. So while your hand can heal, toenails cannot. To regain healthy nails you need the time it takes to grow out new nail material while also protecting the new nail from becoming infected.
Another thing to remember is that any homeopathic treatment for solution will not work with your effort. Here are two that seem to be related and quite popular.

Alkalize - Alkalize
Eating high alkaline foods is claimed by some to be an effective toe nail fungus. Not extremely effective according to some reports but may help with very mild cases of nail fungus. Note that the most popular homeopathic methods to treat this condition use vinegar, a natural alkaline product.

Vinegar - Homeopathic treatment for toenail fungus
Vinegar has been used with success in treating a variety of ailments including toe nail fungus. The idea is basically the same which is to make the living area of the fungus uninhabitable by changing the Ph balance. Although not a scientifically proven method, using vinegar does have a much larger group of people claiming successful cure of their toenail fungus.

There are some home remedies that offer a measure of hope and actually have attained some success. That is, if you believe the number of testimonials for some of these "cures." Home treatment remedies like odorless iodine, vinegar and tea tree oil have a much larger following. These products are claimed by many to have helped with their nail infection than the rest of the treatment solutions offered.

Products like FUNG-B-GONE are all natural and help clear toenail fungus with regular use. It's a great homeopathic treatment for toenail fungus solution to a difficult to cure problem.

Only you can decide what therapies from the homeopathic or home remedy world you want to try. Remember however that re-infection is a concern.

Holistic Medicine – 5 Main Branches

Definitely you have heard of Holistic Medicine. For certainty, a friend of yours has experienced an alternative treatment. Probably, you have tried to benefit from a complementary therapy too. Perhaps, you know few holistic treatments. But, I am convinced that you do not know all the branches of Holistic Medicine. According to web references there are over of 30 main types of Holistic Medicine. In this article we will introduce you to 5 main Holistic therapies.

Acupuncture. Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medicine that is been practiced for thousands of years. Needles are inserted into human body (usually wrists, ankles, feet, back and abdomen) at more than 350 points. The procedure lasts for approximately 20 minutes while the patient rests and then the needles are removed. Practitioners manipulate and twirl the needles with special techniques, stimulating the energy flows and promoting healing and pain relief.

Aromatherapy. Aromatherapy is the therapeutic use primarily of essential oils and secondary of other aromatic natural substances such as vegetable (base) oils and scented products such as candles and soaps, in order to complementarily heal various diseases and vitalize body, spirit and mind. Aromatherapy is an ancient therapeutic method. There is historical evidence that in all major cultures of antiquity (Egypt, Greece, Persia, Roman), physicians deal with herbs, aromatic plants and floral water in purpose to invigorate, cure, stimulate and relax contributing to a better health and well being.

Homeopathy. Homeopathy is a relatively new Holistic Medicine based on the idea, that a natural substance that can produce sick symptoms in a healthy person, can have therapeutic effect in a sick person who suffers from the same symptoms. The term Homeopathy derives from a Greek compound word which means similar-suffering and was introduced by the German physician Samuel Hahnemann. Nevertheless, the homeopathetic approach to health was first described by Hippocrates 2,500 years ago. Homeopathy treatment is safe for patients as long as the next 2 rules are followed: 1. Remedies should be given in infinitesimal doses, so that unwanted side-effects could not be dangerous. 2. Remedies should be specific to each patient, because illness is specific to the individual.

Meditation. There are many different, even opposing definition of Meditation. The most usual description says that "Meditation is a state of just being without any interference from the body or mind". Free of thoughts, feelings and actions, the meditator has the ability to concentrate on the present moment of quiescence, to understand human mind’s nature and to help the awareness of every single aspect of life. Free from any distraction to the mind, the meditator, emphasizes mental activity and achieves personal development. There are many types of Meditation according to their focus and many of them are related to Eastern Religions.

Reflexology. Reflexology is a therapeutic method of healing and pain relieving by pressuring particular reflex areas in hands and feet. Thousands of nerves end in these areas and link to glands, parts and organs of human body. Therefore, reflexologists by pressing on the reflex areas, induced human body to self-correct, to prevent illness, and generally to reinforce itself reaching holistic health.

Natural Asthma Treatment

Below we will take a closer look at some of the other types of natural asthma treatments a sufferer may want to consider.

1. Hypnotherapy (Hypnosis)
Although it can’t really be labeled as a natural asthma remedy, it can provide a person with long term relief from the symptoms associated with this condition. However if you do decide to undergo asthma hypnotherapy it is important that you check out the credentials of the hypnotist that will be treating you. However just how successful this form of treatment can be will depend not only on the hypnotherapist but also what state of mind the patient has. If they do not trust or believe in what the therapist is doing then it will not work.

2. Acupuncture
There are some people who suffer with asthma who find acupuncture an extremely effective way of treating the condition. This form of treatment using very thin needles which when inserted into certain areas of the body will stimulate a chemical reaction and help to re balance the body. Although effective, it is important that the acupuncturist you use is well established and also is well aware of the safety and health issues with regard to the needles that they use. However if you are someone that does not like the thought of needles going into your body you could try acupressure instead. It works in the same way as acupuncture. Rather than needles being inserted into the skin, pressure is applied to specific areas of the body instead. Acupressure is actually considered to be much safer than acupuncture.

3. Yoga
This is supposedly meant to be an extremely effective way of treating asthma and has been around for many centuries now. This type of natural asthma treatment which originates from India uses exercises that can help to treat any problems a person is suffering from both in their body and their mind. Although some people do find it highly effective, it does involve a person actually placing themselves in to some very strange positions and so some people are actually put off by this.

However when it comes to choosing what kind of natural asthma treatment you are going to use it is best if you carry out as much research as possible before hand. Although you could ask friends and family what they would consider to be the best form of treatment another great place you should be looking is online. There are loads of sites that have been set up not just by medical professionals but also by those suffering from asthma which will provide you with as much information as you need so that you can make the right decision about the type of treatment you will be using.

Ricky is the online editor of an asthma homeopathy website. Visit his site today for more information on which herbal supplements for asthma are effective in treating asthma.

Asthma Homeopathy Treatment Methods

This type of treatment can not only help to reduce the symptoms of asthma but is found to be very effective for treating babies and children who have only recently been diagnosed with the condition. It can also be effective for those adults who have recently found that their asthma has returned.

However what you must remember is that traditional Western medical treatments can actually save a person's life that suffer from asthma and should not be stopped. But a person may be able to supplement asthma medical treatments with alternative forms of asthma homeopathy treatment for better effectiveness.

Often a lot of people who suffer from asthma will turn to using homeopathic treatments for their condition as not only are they natural, they are not addictive and they do not cause any side effects. This makes them more suitable for using with babies and young children as well as the elderly. All forms of homeopathic asthma treatments are made from plant, mineral and organic products which are specially prepared in order to provide a person with the most effective form of treatment for dealing with the symptoms associated with asthma.

However when it comes to using any kind of asthma homeopathy treatment a person may find that where someone gets results almost immediately when they start using it for others it may take a little longer. But whoever uses it should not expect miracles and although they will notice a general improvement in their health and well being as well as some of the symptoms becoming reduced they will not find that it instantly stops everything happening at once.

Generally when it comes to getting asthma homeopathy treatment the sufferer will visit a homeopathic practitioner who will then devise a plan that is devised for their own individual needs. Where as often with more conventional forms of asthma treatment and medication these will be based around a basic plan and then slowly the doctor or health practitioner will make changes as and when they see fit to suit a certain individual's requirements.

Homeopathic Remedies For Asthma

Certainly when the right kinds of treatments are chosen a person will find that they can help to relieve the stress that they are feeling when an asthma attack occurs. However if the attack becomes much worse then that person should be seeking medical advice as soon as possible. Especially in cases where the person has a great deal of difficulty when they are breathing and their lips have gone a bluish color or it looks as if they are likely to lose consciousness.

In this article I am going to take a look at some homeopathic remedies that a person may want to consider using in order to treat their condition. But these should only be used under strict guidance from an experienced homeopathic therapist.

Carbo Vegetabilis

This particular remedy will be suggested for use by some during an asthma attack who feels weak or faint. Often they will feel as if their chest is hollow also. Plus they will often cough in such a way that they can actually begin to gag which will then make it very difficult for more air to gain access to their lungs. Also this particular homeopathic remedy will be used on those people who feel worse in the evening or after talking, eating or when they are laid down.

Chamomilla

This particular homeopathic remedy has been designed for treating sufferers who suffer with a hard, dry but irritating cough which often occurs when they become exposed to air that is moving or when they become excited or angry.

Ipecacuanha

This particular remedy is provided to those sufferers who have coughing spasms which results in them either retching or vomiting. Also it is great for treating those who find that the mucus (phlegm) collects in their breathing tubes and when they try to cough it out they find it extremely difficult to do so.

Although I have provided information with regard to what kind of homeopathic remedies for asthma that may be given to some sufferers, there are also other asthma herbal remedies.

But until the homeopathic therapist knows what kind of asthma you are suffering from, they will not be able to devise a suitable remedy for you. The best thing you can do is find a knowledgeable and experienced homeopathic therapist to treat you. You can consult your own doctor who maybe able to suggest one and then take your time and discuss with them the best course of treatment for you.

Asthma Natural Remedy

Therefore when it comes to treating asthma, you may find that where one type of asthma natural remedy is suitable for one person, it may not actually be suitable for them.

When a person is first diagnosed with suffering from asthma, it is advisable that they use the medications prescribed by their doctor in order to control it especially if it is well established or can be a threat to a person’s life. Once you have established a clear routine with these drugs and followed the advice that your doctor provides then it may be time to start considering using asthma natural remedies. The problem with the medications that your doctor prescribes today is that they are their control rather than cure the condition.

Certainly after a period of time you will often find that the drugs you are using can become less effective and in a lot of cases a person will suffer some kind of side effect from using them. Luckily with asthma natural remedies, you will find that not only do they help to control the symptoms associated with asthma but in some cases may actually provide a cure to the condition. When it comes to finding the right kind of natural remedy to use for treating your asthma, there are four areas that you will need to look at closely to ensure that you get the most effective remedy possible.

You should be looking for a remedy that is able to reduce the amount of mucus being produced, as well as one that is able to reduce the inflammation that will occur in the lungs. Also look for ones that will help to reduce your stress levels both emotionally and physically. Unfortunately for many people suffering from asthma when they have an attack things can be made much worse when they become stressed. Finally you should look for an asthma natural remedy that will also help to boost your immune system.

So although it is best in the beginning for an asthma sufferer to use the medications that their doctor prescribes it will not be harmful to them to consider an asthma natural remedy in the future. But it is vital that any treatments they do consider using, they should discuss the matter with their doctor first.

The Alternative Way To Cure Acne

Do Alternative Remedies for Acne Work? Type of treatment that some people find effective, so it’s worth knowing about. The treatments I’m talking about are called alternative acne treatments.

There are a variety of ways to get rid of acne that are homeopathic or natural and do not require a prescription from a dermatologist. These remedies can be used in conjunction with prescribed methods. For those who are seeking healthy and natural methods for getting rid of acne, homeopathic remedies are a viable option.

There are many treatment methods available to treat this condition, ranging from traditional medicines to acne alternative treatments that have been formulated from natural sources.

The basics for acne alternative treatments and prevention advice are:

1.Herbal Acne Remedies

Alternative medicine has come up with many solutions for acne and most of these are herbal solutions. It's common knowledge that the liver is the primary internal organ that clears up any troubles we may have with our hormones. If our hormones get out of equilibrium the end result is a bad case of acne.

Why Some Herbal Acne Treatments Actually Work For Acne?

The herbal blend strengthened and improved liver function; there by purifying the blood and helping to balance hormones. It is your liver that deactivates and clears excess and used hormones from body system. And it's also your liver's that purifies your blood of the congesting toxins that aggravate acne so very much.

Even though they can be effective, one of the problems with herbal remedies is that they are very slow acting. While the results may be worth waiting for, it may take an entire month of consistent use before results are visible. Meanwhile, herbal acne treatments proved to be very powerful for acne sufferers, but for the short-term.

Remember that some herbal remedies have never been studied, and tested for safety and effectiveness as acne alternative treatments.

How Herbs Work in Body System?

All herbs work one of two ways or a combination of these two ways The herb carries with it vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients and a less understood "life force". These aspects support the body nutritionally. Generally, these kinds of herbs are safe to be taken long-term. But should only be taken seasonally.

The herb has chemical components that actually throws the body out of balance. Depending on these chemical components different body systems are thrown out of balance. These herbs work short-term, and are damaging to the body system if taken in long-term. Please understand herbal acne treatments that temporarily throw your body out of balance are not a bad thing. That's why they work. But they should never be taken long-term and will actually stop working very quickly if you do.

2.Homeopathic Remedies

The objects of homeopathic remedies for acne is to improve the skins resistance to infection. Most issues can be solved through a healthy diet and good hygiene.
Homeopathy refers to a system for treating disease based on the administration of minute doses of a drug. In massive doses, the drug is expected to produce symptoms in healthy individuals similar to those of the disease itself. Homeopathic professionals evaluate the individual (their physical, emotional and intellectual makeup) before prescribing a treatment. While homeopathy has not had the benefit of many scientific studies, professional homeopaths have found that certain homeopathic treatments reduce certain symptoms of acne.

Homeopathic remedies for acne can include medicine or nutrients that regulate hormone levels, as changing hormone levels are by far the leading cause of acne. Men and women experience the same results from changing hormonal levels even thought the amounts of each hormone are dramatically different. Homeopathic acne treatment is most often needed in the teenage years. Older people can also develop pimples, but are advised to immediately see a physician if a severe outbreak occurs.

3.Diet Remedies

There is saying "you are what you eat" One of the simplest alternative acne treatments is to simply change your diet. Some people have had great success in reducing their acne by eating more fruit and vegetables, and less processed foods. This keeps you much healthier, and will improve your skin.

Food and nutrition is the most important factor in alternative therapy. Fat and chocolates were blamed as the basic reason for the outbreak of acne while fast foods high in grease content as well as chips, chocolate and soft drinks can cause higher episodes of acne even in an adult. Vitamins such as A, E, B, and C are also important for the skin texture and tone, also seem to be important and juice therapists advice to have fresh juice, to a reduce acne problems.

What you eat can affect your acne breakouts. It’s no doubt that good nutrition is an important factor in getting rid of your acne once and for all. Yet many people who suffer from acne don’t actually know how they can improve their diet, which will in turn improve their skin. They don’t know which types of food helps, or doesn’t help.

So eating healthier foods will help keep your skin cleaner. But that isn’t to say you can’t ever eat the fatty foods, or the carbohydrates like rice and pasta. Although these things can take longer for your body to process, which means there are more toxins in your body system, it’s fine in moderation. A few other foods to avoid are foods that contain a lot of sugar or a lot of yeast. Again, these are fine in moderation, but if you eat these foods too often, it can make your nutrition unbalanced

Another help to diets, is the addition of adequate amounts of water consumption to anyone's diet. Why? Because water helps to flush out the poison Substances in your body system which would otherwise seek an outlet through your skin. By drinking more water, you can keep your body clear of toxin build-up. And this will help keep your skin healthier. Drinking at least 8 to 10 glasses of water a day can be one of the acne natural treatments that can begin to detoxify the pores and skin.

Anyone looking for treatment can look online to find more suggestions and can read testimonials from those who have had success with home remedies. No one acne home treatment will work for everyone, so finding the right combination of ingredients or procedures could take time. Getting a program that fits the person’s routine and helps prevent further problems may take time and experimentation, but the results will be worth the time invested.

Keep in mind that those acne solutions that work for one person will probably not work for the next person. What worked for your mother, brother, or best friend may or may not work for you.

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Honey: Homeopathic Treatment For Seasonal Allergies

"Let food be your medicine," Hippocrates implored a couple of thousand years ago. If we take the advice of the father of medicine, and combine that with a product of Mother Nature, we have no further to look for a perfect food/medicine than honey.

Not only is honey a great tasting food (whether eaten by itself, on toasted bread, or added to other foods or beverages as a sweetener), but it is also a germ-free product that can be used for applying externally to treat cuts and burns on the skin. It is said to promote healing and aid in the prevention of scarring. Honey also acts as a disinfectant in treating irritated mucous membranes, as in the occurrence of cough or sore throat.

Since the work habits of the bee are legendary (as in "busy as a ___"), let’s take a look at what our productive little friends do, how they do it, and how that relates to our health and well-being. The worker bees travel from their hive, making periodic and frequent stops at flowering plants, usually within a radius of just a mile or so from their home. They extract nectar from the blossoms and pass it into their "honey stomachs," where it is partially digested, taken back to the hive, and regurgitated to be stored in the honeycombs.

This is where the homeopathic viability of locally produced honey comes into play in the treatment of seasonal allergies. Since the honey contains pollen from nearby plants (the same pollen that becomes airborne and drives you to tears and tissues), eating the honey is the same as ingesting a small amount of the irritating pollens. This helps your system build up resistance to those same pollens that are causing your body so much discomfort. This is the whole principle behind homeopathic healing, anyway; treating a disease with small amounts of a substance that in large amounts produces symptoms that are similar to the disease itself.

So how much honey should you ingest to gain any homeopathic benefit? Most advocates of this method recommend at least 2 to 3 teaspoons per day. They also suggest that you start consuming the honey several months before the active pollen season begins in your area.

A few key points should be considered about the honey you choose to eat. It should be raw, unrefined, unfiltered 100% pure honey that has been harvested within no more than a 50 mile radius of your home; the reason being, of course, that the makings of the honey will have been collected from those same plants causing you the most trouble.

One good source of local honey is usually your local farmers’ market. The light colored product you find on shelves in major grocery store chains might be tasty, but who knows how far away it was produced or how much it has been processed?

This method of treating seasonal allergies may or may not be helpful to you, but at least in the process of trying it, you will be consuming a delicious natural food that is loaded with good things such as vitamin C, antioxidants, vitamin B-6, niacin, and lots of other vitamins and minerals. Honey is also a low-calorie food and makes a healthful sugar substitute in your diet.

Homeopathy: Proven Medicine or a Placebo

Samuel Hahnemann, a German physician disenchanted with these methods, began to develop a theory based on three principles: the law of similars, the minimum dose, and the single remedy.The word homeopathy is derived from the Greek words for like (homoios) and suffering (pathos). With the law of similars, Hahnemann theorized that if a large amount of a substance causes certain symptoms in a healthy person, smaller amounts of the same substance can treat those symptoms in someone who is ill.

The basis of his theory took shape after a strong dose of the malaria treatment quinine caused his healthy body to develop symptoms similar to ones caused by the disease. He continued to test his theory on himself as well as family and friends with different herbs, minerals and other substances. He called these experiments "provings."

As we might expect, the intensity of the symptoms caused by the original proving was harrowing. So Hahnemann began decreasing the doses to see how little of a substance could still produce signs of healing. With the minimum dose, or law of infinitesimals, Hahnemann believed that a substance strength and effectiveness increased the more it was diluted.

Minuscule doses were prepared by repeatedly diluting the active ingredient by factors of 10. A "6X" preparation (the X is the Roman numeral for 10) is a 1-to-10 dilution repeated six times, leaving the active ingredient as one part per million. Essential to the process of increasing potency while decreasing the actual amount of the active ingredient is vigorous shaking after each dilution.

Some homeopathic remedies are so dilute, no molecules of the healing substance remain. Even with sophisticated technology now available, analytical chemists may find it difficult or impossible to identify any active ingredient. But the homeopathic belief is that the substance has left its imprint or a spirit-like essence that stimulates the body to heal itself.

Critics of homeopathy point out that no way such a dilute medicine could work. People are feeling better because of the placebo effect. Critics also say the research in homeopathy is very unimpressive. Proponents of homeopathy point out to numerous trials that have been successful.

Recent homeopathic trials include a trial done by A Swiss-UK review of 110 trials found no convincing evidence the treatment worked any better than a placebo. However, there seems to be many problems with this type of trail.

The University of Limberg investigators, who are all epidemiologists, found 107 controlled studies in homeopathy. Most of these studies did not meet the research standard that they were looking for. However, 22 trials meet their strict criteria. The researchers used trials with a large number of people, double blind studies where neither physician or participant knew who was receiving the remedy or the placebo and a random assignment of patients in a treatment group.

Of the 22 trials, 15 were in the favor of Homeopathy working better than a placebo. The other 7 trials showed Homeopathy working equivalent to a placebo. This is almost a 2 to 1 ratio of successful homeopathic trials to unsuccessful studies.

Benefits of Homeopathic HGH

Homeopathy is a method of medical practices, which treat diseases by administering minute doses, which would otherwise produce symptoms, in a healthy person, similar to the symptoms of a disease. These small doses lead to the stimulation of body's endocrine and immune systems. A German physician, Samuel Hahnemann developed and discovered homeopathic medicines. Homeopathic HGH was introduced to check on the growth hormones in way that is more natural.

Homeopathic medicines are primarily based on a principal that states that if herbs can be responsible for certain symptoms in a healthy person, then it can very well treat a person having the same symptoms. This is how homeopathic HGH works.

FDA approves all the homeopathic HGH. Nevertheless, like food supplements and vitamins, homeopathic products that are offered do not have to go through the process of approval by the FDA.

Benefits of Homeopathic HGH-

- Homeopathic HGH, when taken in small doses, does wonders in a human body. A small dose has sufficient active ingredients that are needed to stimulate the 'healing processes in a body.

- The best thing about homeopathic HGH is that it has no side effects. Its natural herbal ingredients cure the disease conveniently.

- It helps in homeostasis. In this process, the pituitary glands are encouraged to supplement and release growth hormones to balance the body.

- Small amount of homeopathic HGH should be taken at regular intervals. This is one of the prime principles of homeopathy. It is believed that this method works better.

- Homeopathic HGH is effective and very safe. Taking homeopathic products does not put health at stake. It is like taking in something that is not foreign or new to the system and the body.

- It enhances the functions of nervous, immune, and metabolic systems.

- It reduces joint pains.

- It helps in increasing body mass in lean structure and in reducing fat.

With all the benefits and negligible side effects, one should always remember that homeopathy is a controversial practice that could lead to the violation of commonly held principles and beliefs of physiology and pharmacology.

It is always advisable to buy homeopathic HGH from vendors who have lab verses approved by FDA and who strictly follows all the guidelines set by FDA. FDA has periodic inspections, when they check that every bottle of homeopathic HGH has an expiry date and has been stamped with a lot number. This is one way by which you can check whether the vendor has been approved by FDA or not. FDA also advices the vendors not to describe their customers, the products in respect to nana grams. But when looking for homeopathic HGH, you should always look out for 'homeopathic HGH 30X' on the list of ingredients.

Results might vary from one person to another. Some may feel that they have been benefited a little in a span of six months, while some may even look ten to twenty years younger. It is always advisable to consult a doctor before actually consuming the 'fountain of youth'.

Homeopathic Medicine and Relief of Pain

Studies have shown that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that are commonly used for pain relief such as aspirin and ibuprofen can have some very negative side-effects on the body, including an increased chance of developing an ulcer, gastrointestinal bleeding, damaged kidneys or an upset stomach.

To that end, people are beginning to look towards other options for treating their pain. One option that many people take very seriously is homeopathic medicine, and in this article, we’ll give you a basic overview of some of the principles of homeopathic medicine and how it promises to help the body.

Homeopathic medicine relies on a concept that is known as the law of similars. For homeopathic treatments, an agent that is useful for certain purposes is diluted again and again until no discernible part of the agent remains, yet the treatment still aids the patient.

Homeopathic medicine often works towards establishing a full health of the body and doesn’t focus on specific symptoms, but many turn to the art in order to receive relief from chronic pain that they are experiencing.

One of the main compounds that are used for treating pain in the homeopathic world is known as aconite. The treatments are often available in the form of tablets which are to be placed underneath the tongue and dissolved or liquid tinctures or ointments.

Many people swear by homeopathic medicine, and odds are, if you live near a major metropolitan area, you should have no trouble finding a homeopathic practitioner.

Homeopathic remedies tend to be very low in cost and are recommended by homeopathic practitioners for treating such common ailments as headaches, wounds, and other occurrences in which traditional types of medicine have failed.

While not a complete answer for all of the ailments that we face as human beings, many people state that the medicine offered by homeopathic practitioners is potent when it comes to helping them to treat their problems. You should find out on your own whether or not the medicine is right for you, and you definitely should still keep pharmaceutical options in mind when considering a homeopathic regimen.

Consider it one of your many different types of treating problems such as pain relief, and you will be in the right mind state. There are many different methods of relieving the pain that you experience and homeopathic medicine is just one of them.

You also may want to consider looking at other alternative types of pain relief therapy, including massage therapy, physical therapy, acupuncture and herbal remedies.

In order to net the best possible results, you should consider all of your options that are available to you and you should experiment around with them until you can find a solution that works fully and completely. Pain is in the mind just as much as it is in the body, so understand that fact when addressing your personal pain issues. Best of luck!

Homeopathic Remedies: Homeopathy for Healing

Homeopathic healing medicine has been around for over 200 years and is used to treat everything from asthma and sore throats, to depression and anxiety. Gentle and safe, homeopathy can be used alongside most conventional medicine and other alternative medicines and is appropriate for children, adults, and even pets. You may have seen the small, round globules in health food stores, but wondered, "What is homeopathy and how does it work?"

What is Homeopathy?

Homeopathic medicine can be described easily as "like treats like." Homeopathic remedies are diluted substances that would actually cause the very symptom that it is used to treat. For example, if a person has nausea a homeopathic doctor would prescribe them a homeopathic remedy that would cause nausea in a healthy person, but would help to treat nausea in the patient. Similarly, if a person has a persistent cough, the homeopathic remedy that is prescribed would be a treatment that would cause a cough in an otherwise healthy person. Therefore, homeopathic medicine is not used to cover up or suppress ailments, but is used to stimulate the body to heal itself.

Homeopathic medicine is created by diluting substances from plants, animals, minerals, and even chemical drugs. For instance, a plant-derived homeopathic medicine may be made from diluting dandelion. A mineral substance may be made from arsenic, an animal substance from the venom of a snake, and a chemical substance from penicillin. These substances are then diluted, mixed with alcohol, and shaken. After dilution it is then used to soak small sugar globules. The globules are the packaged white balls you will see in the stores.

Homeopathic Training

There are many homeopathic training programs and many schools teaching courses on homeopathy. While it is of utmost importance to get schooling and training before practicing homeopathic treatment, there is no certification or degree required to practice homeopathy. Because homeopathy is a mind and body healing treatment, many established healers including chiropractors, acupuncturists, Reiki healers, and even dentists, use homeopathy in addition to their regular healing practices with wonderful results.

To try homeopathy for yourself, simply go to a health food store and choose the remedy that seems best suited for your specific ailment. Follow the instructions on the package and you will likely experience the healing results of homeopathic remedies for yourself.

Homeopathic Medicine Can Help Improve Fertility

Homeopathy is widely used all over the world and it is spreading very fast because it is very economical, safe and most of all very effective. Homeopathic medicine is very effective in treating men and women’s reproductive problems because it stimulates the body's own ability to heal itself rather than inhibit or suppress the body’s attempt to become well.

What is Homeopathic Medicine?

Many people believe that homeopathic medicine is all about herbs, vitamins and diet, but they are far from the truth. Homeopathic medicine is a separate and complete healing system which supports health, prevents and treats diseases all at the same time. A healthy life style, including the supplementation of minerals and vitamins is encouraged by homeopathic practitioners, but what homeopathy is all about is its highly diluted homeopathic remedies that elicit a healing response by stimulating the body’s own healing abilities.

In the early nineteenth century German physician Samuel Hahnemann discovered the law of Similars based on the principle of "like cures like." Hahnemann called his discovery Homeopathy. In ancient Greek, the word Homeo means similar and Pathos means suffering. This means that when a natural substance is administered to a healthy person in a crude dose, produces symptoms similar to the condition for which it is meant to treat.

Homeopathic medicine can help couples achieve pregnancy when the causes of the infertility are not known (unexplained fertility) because homeopathy stimulates the healing force within the body to heal itself. When couples seek advice from a homeopathic practitioner, they men and the women are treated constitutionally and a remedy selection is made based on their unique characteristics. The first homeopathic interview lasts for at least 2 hours and the person is asked questions about their likes and dislikes, how the weather changes affect their state of health and what makes their symptoms better or worse.

If it is the woman suffering from infertility, homeopathy can help regulate the menstrual cycle, treat endometriosis and polycystic ovarian syndrome. If the cause of infertility is due to a mental or emotional aspect of the woman’s life, like a stressful career or relationship, past abuse, shock, and guilt, homeopathic medicine can help restore balance at the mental and emotional state, allowing for healing to occur at the physical level.

When the male partner is the one suffering from infertility with symptoms of low sperm count, abnormal sperm morphology, erectile dysfunction and varicocele, homeopathic medicine can assist restore strength by increasing sexual vitality. In these cases, homeopathy works best if a healthy diet I followed especially when coffee is reduced and alcohol consumption and cigarette smoking is given up.

What are Homeopathic Remedies?

Remedies are derived from a variety of natural sources including animals, plants and minerals and are prepared in licensed laboratories under strict quality control. Homeopathic preparations are very sensitive to direct sun light, electromagnetic devices, strong odors like camphor, menthol, mothballs, or perfumes, high and low temperature and should be handled with care.

They are dispensed as small pillules, soft tablets, globules or liquid. The potency commonly used is 6C or 30C. Higher potencies should be taken under the advice of a homeopathic practitioner. During acute illnesses, homeopathic medicines can be taken quite often like every 20 minutes. As symptoms improve, the interval of administration increases to every hour, until great amelioration is noticed and the homeopathic medicine is taken 3 times a day until the person is better. In homeopathy, when symptoms improve, there is no need to repeat the dose. During a chronic illness, the homeopathic remedy is administered once a day or once a week for a couple of months until complete restoration of health is achieved.

How to Find a Homeopathic Practitioner

Homeopathic medicine is a regulated profession in many countries and many homeopathic practitioners have completed medical undergraduate studies. In countries when homeopathy is not regulated, homeopathic practitioner usually join a professional association whose role is to make sure high standards of homeopathic medicine are followed by its members. If selecting a homeopathic practitioner to help restore fertility, it is important to make sure that a homeopathic professional is selected; someone who has had basic training in homeopathic medicine with at least 2 years of experience and that belongs to a homeopathic professional association of Classical homeopathy. Many naturopathic physicians practice homeopathy, but not all naturopathic schools teach classical homeopathy.

Homeopathic Acne Treatments That Work Wonders

When most people scoff at the idea of homeopathic medicine, they don’t realize that the overwhelming majority of homeopathic treatments have been around far longer than their better known modern medicine counterparts. Homeopathic medicine can trace its roots back centuries to a simpler time when people understood the environment around them, understood what the natural world contained, what it could do and how to use it properly. There is a reason why the pharmacist logo is a mortar and pestle: those tools were actually used for hundreds of years to grind, crush and manufacture cures and treatments for diseases. Let’s take a look at a handful of modern and not so modern treatments for acne.

This first treatment takes a bit of preparation but many people swear by its effectiveness. Start by peeling the skin off of a pomegranate and placing it inside a 350 degree oven for 15 minutes. Once the skin is nicely roasted, place it inside a blender or food processor (or even a coffee grinder would work) and puree it as much as possible. Place the ground peel in a small bowl and add in a tablespoon of freshly squeezed lime juice.

Let the mixture sit for 30 minutes until a nice paste has been created. Use this substance as a mask and let dry anywhere on your skin where acne is often a problem. This mixture is an effective homeopathic acne treatment on several levels. The lime juice does the job of today’s benzoyl peroxide by shocking the pimples and cleaning them out and the pomegranate peel is full of anti-oxidants, vitamins and other nutrients your skin needs. Feel free to repeat this treatment 3-4 times per week as necessary. You may also want to eat the pomegranate as they are one of the best and most complete fruits in the world.

This next homeopathic acne treatment will not only help you control your pimple outbreaks, it will likely keep vampires away, as well! Much has been made in the last few years about the power of garlic on the human body. We are always told to eat more garlic every year and now there are even supplements that allow you to intake garlic every day without the tell tale breath.

There are a number of creams and concoctions you can make at home that contain garlic that can be great for your skin, but many people simply take a freshly crushed garlic clove and apply it directly to their face. Of course, you are going to have to shower later and you may want to be alone when you try this homeopathic acne treatment, but fans swear it works wonders. Likely the best time to try out this treatment would be right before bed. Since the acids in garlic can be harsh on the skin, keep this nifty new treatment to only 2-3 times per week.

Homeopathic Medicine Can Help Infant Colic

What is Infant Colic?
Colic is experienced by the baby as severe abdominal pain. The baby pulls the legs up, screams vigorously and is in great distress. Parents try everything to soothe the baby with little success. Many parents end up staying up all night carrying, rocking, and burping their baby, loosing precious sleep and becoming very exhausted and discouraged.
The cause of colic is unknown but it has been suggested that it may be due to acid conditions and production of gas that gets trapped in the gastro-intestinal tract. In breast-feed babies, this can be due to a reaction to foods in the mother's diet like dairy products, wheat, cabbage, or citrus fruits. Even mother’s tension and anxiety can play a role. In bottle-feed babies it may be due to swallowing air and sensitivity to proteins in cow's milk. This condition is typically worse in the evening and may last from a few minutes to several hours and it starts at birth and continues up until the baby is three months old. Colic is also associated with diarrhea, constipation, passing gas, spitting up and more. The baby also becomes very irritable and cries for long periods of time in great distress. Many homeopathic practitioners believe that colic is associated with a weak digestive system that is in a phase of development, as the baby grows the colic pain diminishes and goes away on its own. Homeopathic remedies are meant to help and assist during this transitional period.

What is Homeopathy?
Homeopathic medicine is becoming very popular among parents these days because it is a safe and effective healing system that offers a good alternative to allopathic drugs which can cause side effects. In the early nineteenth century German physician Samuel Hahnemann discovered the "Law of Similars" based on the principle of "like cures like." Homeopathy uses natural substances that, when administered to a healthy person in a crude dose, produce symptoms similar to the condition for which they are treated. Homeopathic medicines are diluted by a special method called "potentization" that releases their healing potential of the substance. Homeopathic preparations can be obtained by homeopathic pharmacies which follow strict industry manufacturing standards and procedures that ensure the highest quality of these remedies.

Homeopathic Remedies for Baby Colic
Homeopathic treatment can be a real life saver for parents of a colicky baby at a time when they are concerned to find some relief for their baby's pain. Colic most commonly affects infants from about two weeks of age until three months, but babies who suffer from colic during infancy may develop other gastro-intestinal problems later in childhood like food allergies, skin rashes, constipation, and more. This is why homeopathic treatment is very important not only to address the acute discomfort, but also to treat the underlying imbalance and decrease the susceptibility to chronic disease later in life.

How to Administer Homeopathy
Homeopathy can help a baby with colic when the correct homeopathic remedy is selected and administered frequently as soon as the discomfort begins and then less and less often until complete relief is achieved. The best way to treat infant colic is to give a remedy usually selected based on the specific colic symptoms the baby is exhibiting. Refer to a homeopathic practitioner for best results.

Note: If colicky pain is associated with paleness, vomiting, diarrhea or other, please seek immediate medical care.

During episodes, the following homeopathic remedies can be given every 5-15 minutes until improvement is noticed continue for up to 10 doses in a day. There is no harm of giving more if the baby needs it, but do not administer if the baby is doing fine. Be very alert and administer as soon as you notice colic discomfort.

Most Commonly Used Homeopathic Remedies

Colicynthis
The colic pain comes in waves and the baby screams in pain and is better by a firm pressure or tummy massage. The baby likes to be carried tummy-down on someone's arm.

Chamomilla
This remedy is for the impossible child that is angry, peevish and wants to be constantly carried and has green stools.

Magnesia Phosphorica
This remedy helps babies that like warm gentle massage on their tummy and are relieved when the parent pushes the baby’s legs up and down to relieve gas.

Aethusa
This remedy is indicated when the baby is allergic to mother’s milk or cow’s milk.
Usually about one hour after being fed, the baby develops colic pain and may also spit up large curds of milk. Vomiting and diarrhea may also be present.

Discorrea

The baby has colic and lots of gas. You can hear rumbling of gas in baby's belly. This remedy helps the baby that cries inconsolably and arches backwards when in pain.

Is Homeopathic is Safe for Babies?
Homeopathy is classified as alternative medicine, but it has been around for over two hundred years and widely used all around the world. Many natural health practitioners and medical physicians recommend homeopathic remedies for colic pain because they are very effective and safe due to the fact that they are derived from natural substances and are highly diluted. They are also non-toxic without side effects, safe for the entire family including infants.

Homeopathy in the Sydney CBD

Homeopathy Sydney

"The highest ideal of cure is rapid, gentle and permanent restoration of health, or removal and annihilation of disease in its whole extent, in the shortest, most reliable, and most harmless way, on easily comprehensible principles."
-Samuel Hahnemann, Organon of Medicine, 1842

For over 200 years, homeopathy has been used by millions of people as a natural way to promote healing. Its methods are safe and effective and have been clinically proven by thousands of homeopathic practitioners. Studies published in journals such as the British Medical Journal, the Oxford Journal and the Lancet have confirmed that these naturally derived remedies work. Some are even more effective than pharmaceutical treatments.
Homeopathic medicine is a natural, gentle system of treating illness. Homeopathy is based on principles discovered by Hippocrates, considered the father of modern medicine, in 450 BC. These principles were later organized into a system of medicine in Europe by Dr Samuel Hahnemann in the late 1700’s. The term comes from the Greek words "Homeo", meaning similar and "pathy" meaning disease, or suffering. The key principle of like cures like means is that if a particular substance causes symptoms in a healthy person, than a highly diluted form of the same substance can be used to treat an ill person.

Does this make sense? As an every day example, we know that caffeinated drinks, especially coffee can disrupt our sleep, especially if we tend to drink them in the afternoon or at night. Dr. Hahnemann took this understanding one step further and discovered that if weak coffee could cause insomnia in a normally healthy person, then diluted coffee could also be used to treat a person having serious sleep problems. The same concept is used in conventional medicine in vaccination treatments, where a small amount of a certain virus is given as a preventative treatment for the full-blown disease.

In medical terms, we call this hormesis. Hormesis is occurs when a toxic substance acts like a stimulant in tiny doses, but as an inhibitor in large doses. By using micro doses of a fertilizer to improve crop production, research done by scientists at Michigan State University shows how hormesis works in nature. After treating the crops with a dose of fertilizer that had 9 times dilution, the crop yield increased by 25-30% and produced noticeably larger individual vegetables. Within our own bodies, trace amounts of specific substances or hormones can have drastic effects on our bodies, energy levels and our moods - if in doubt, just ask anyone who has raised a teenager!

Several studies have been published in recent medical journals that verify the effectiveness of homeopathic remedies. One example, from the Oxford journals of Rheumatology studied the effects of individualized homeopathic remedies on fibromyalgia patients. As part of the trial, each participant was given an individually chosen homeopathic liquid daily, based on the recommendation of two experienced homeopaths. The patients were assessed by the number of tender points they had and the associated pain, as well as by the patients own rating of their quality of life, mood and overall health.

What did the study find? After three months, patients receiving homeopathic treatments showed a significant reduction in pain as well as an improved quality of life, health and emotional state. What made this study unique was that it allowed for each participant to receive an individualized remedy for their specific symptoms caused by fibromyalgia.

In practical terms, this means that there is much more to homeopathic therapy than to simply add a few natural supplements to the diet. To make sure that you really experience the benefits of homeopathy, it’s important to find a skilled homeopathic specialist, who can help you to assess your individual health concerns and find the best remedy to fit your needs. Here at back on your feet in Sydney’s CBD we have a very gifted woman who has the magic, her homeopathy skills are up there with the best, I cannot recommend her highly enough.

If you would like more information about how a homeopathic treatment can be made just for you, click here to arrange a consultation with our homeopath simply click the link below.