Thursday, 4 June 2015
I Made My Own Laundry Soap!
- 1 cup borax
- 1 cup washing soda (not the same as baking soda, which is why I ordered it)
- 1 cup shredded bar soap (this is a personal preference, I bought a kit with Fels Naptha, I know several people who prefer the smell of Zote, and I believe some use Ivory or castile soap)
- 1/2 cup and a sploosh of white vinegar (I found the recommended half-cup to not be enough, I added a tablespoon or so more, sploosh is my term for that)
- 15-20 drops essential oil of choice (again, totally a personal preference, I like the smell of the soap but may change my mind someday and want lavender/vanilla or something)
Wednesday, 3 June 2015
7 Types Of Pain You Should Never Ignore
Not every pain requires immediate special attention, but there are
some that require immediate attention, especially those accompanied by
fever or that suddenly occur. Here are some pains that should be cause
for immediate concern and medical attention:
• Severe/thunderclap head pain
Could be: An aneurysm, a swollen area in an artery
Unlike a normal headache that usually goes away with over-the-counter medicines, the worst headache you have had needs immediate attention. Call 911 as a burst aneurysm can damage your brain within minutes and can be fatal. Don’t drive yourself to the hospital.
How can you tell it isn’t a migraine? A migraine makes you feel nauseous, sensitive to light and sound, and progresses gradually.
Your doctor will probably take a CT scan to check for bleeding in your brain, if it appears to be hemorrhaging you will need immediate surgery to repair the blood vessel.
Don’t swallow aspirin as it can increase bleeding.
• Sharp ache between the shoulder blades
Could be: Heart attack or Arthritis
This is more common in women and can be accompanied by jaw pain, shortness of breath, and nausea. A muscular pain is a dull ache while the pain of heart attack is sharp, sudden onset. Call an ambulance immediately as they are set up to do triage immediately. Don’t drive to the hospital yourself, call an ambulance.
• Middle back pain with fever
Could be: Kidney infection
Don’t take back pain coupled with fever and nausea lightly. This happens more often in women when bacteria from the urinary tract spreads to the kidneys causing a severe infection. This might start with UTI symptoms, like pain during urination, which is often ignored. If it stays untreated it may damage your kidneys, call your doctor for a simple test and possible antibiotic therapy.
• Dull pain that moves to the lower right of the abdomen
Could be: Appendicitis
If you have this pain go immediately to the ER. Usually the pain will start from the center and gets worse over a period of 24 hours as it moves to the right. You may require immediate surgery for your appendix. You should know that if your appendix bursts, bacteria from your colon can spread to the abdomen, infecting your entire body.
• Menstrual cramps that don’t improve with medication
Could be: Endometriosis
If medication offers no relief it could be due to the lining of the uterus growing outside of it, this condition is common and can hamper fertility. Women who suffer from severe pain during their periods may have it. Consult your doctor right away as it is a serious issue. If pain persists even after taking medications, you may need to have the tissue surgically removed.
• Tooth pain that wakes you up
Could be: Teeth grinding
Regular clenching can cause tooth nerves to become inflamed and enamel to rot away. This can also lead to cracked teeth down to the root which leads to extraction. You should call your doctor ASAP to treat this condition, which is often caused by stress. Your doctor may want you to wear a night guard to prevent clenching. If your tooth is already infected you might need a root canal to remove the bacteria.
• Back pain with tingling toes
Could be: Slipped disc
This pain can’t be treated with heating pads and your toes often feel numb or tingling. This can happens when you lift a heavy object, like furniture. If the heating pad does not seem to be working you could have a disc (one of the spongy rings that cushions the bones in your spine) pressing on the spinal nerve. If it stays untreated it may cause permanent damage to the nerve. See your healthcare professional right away.
• Severe/thunderclap head pain
Could be: An aneurysm, a swollen area in an artery
Unlike a normal headache that usually goes away with over-the-counter medicines, the worst headache you have had needs immediate attention. Call 911 as a burst aneurysm can damage your brain within minutes and can be fatal. Don’t drive yourself to the hospital.
How can you tell it isn’t a migraine? A migraine makes you feel nauseous, sensitive to light and sound, and progresses gradually.
Your doctor will probably take a CT scan to check for bleeding in your brain, if it appears to be hemorrhaging you will need immediate surgery to repair the blood vessel.
Don’t swallow aspirin as it can increase bleeding.
• Sharp ache between the shoulder blades
Could be: Heart attack or Arthritis
This is more common in women and can be accompanied by jaw pain, shortness of breath, and nausea. A muscular pain is a dull ache while the pain of heart attack is sharp, sudden onset. Call an ambulance immediately as they are set up to do triage immediately. Don’t drive to the hospital yourself, call an ambulance.
• Middle back pain with fever
Could be: Kidney infection
Don’t take back pain coupled with fever and nausea lightly. This happens more often in women when bacteria from the urinary tract spreads to the kidneys causing a severe infection. This might start with UTI symptoms, like pain during urination, which is often ignored. If it stays untreated it may damage your kidneys, call your doctor for a simple test and possible antibiotic therapy.
• Dull pain that moves to the lower right of the abdomen
Could be: Appendicitis
If you have this pain go immediately to the ER. Usually the pain will start from the center and gets worse over a period of 24 hours as it moves to the right. You may require immediate surgery for your appendix. You should know that if your appendix bursts, bacteria from your colon can spread to the abdomen, infecting your entire body.
• Menstrual cramps that don’t improve with medication
Could be: Endometriosis
If medication offers no relief it could be due to the lining of the uterus growing outside of it, this condition is common and can hamper fertility. Women who suffer from severe pain during their periods may have it. Consult your doctor right away as it is a serious issue. If pain persists even after taking medications, you may need to have the tissue surgically removed.
• Tooth pain that wakes you up
Could be: Teeth grinding
Regular clenching can cause tooth nerves to become inflamed and enamel to rot away. This can also lead to cracked teeth down to the root which leads to extraction. You should call your doctor ASAP to treat this condition, which is often caused by stress. Your doctor may want you to wear a night guard to prevent clenching. If your tooth is already infected you might need a root canal to remove the bacteria.
• Back pain with tingling toes
Could be: Slipped disc
This pain can’t be treated with heating pads and your toes often feel numb or tingling. This can happens when you lift a heavy object, like furniture. If the heating pad does not seem to be working you could have a disc (one of the spongy rings that cushions the bones in your spine) pressing on the spinal nerve. If it stays untreated it may cause permanent damage to the nerve. See your healthcare professional right away.
8 Home Remedies For Asthma Symptoms
Asthma is a common health problem for more people all the time. Often asthmatics depend on medications to treat their symptoms, but following a healthy routine can help you ease symptoms with less medication. Try the following home remedies and see if you can reduce the number and severity of your attacks:
• Use an Air Conditioner
Air conditioners reduce the amount of pollen that comes from trees, grasses, and weeds and make their way into your home. A/C eliminates humidity and reduces dust mites. If you don’t have an air conditioner you should try to keep your windows and doors closed during pollen season.
Air conditioners reduce the amount of pollen that comes from trees, grasses, and weeds and make their way into your home. A/C eliminates humidity and reduces dust mites. If you don’t have an air conditioner you should try to keep your windows and doors closed during pollen season.
• Breathe
Breathing is vital during an asthma attack. Try not to panic. Close your eyes and inhale slowly. Visualize your lungs as you inhale and feel your breathing. Do this three times then open your eyes. Try having a cup of coffee, caffeine is chemically related to the standard asthma medication theophylline, it opens airways, and the heat is soothing to your throat.
Breathing is vital during an asthma attack. Try not to panic. Close your eyes and inhale slowly. Visualize your lungs as you inhale and feel your breathing. Do this three times then open your eyes. Try having a cup of coffee, caffeine is chemically related to the standard asthma medication theophylline, it opens airways, and the heat is soothing to your throat.
• Ginger
A recent study shows that ginger is linked to improved asthma symptoms. It reduces inflammation, and asthma is an inflammatory disease. The study didn’t prove that it’s actually good for your lungs, Anju Peters, MD, Associate Professor in the Division of Allergies at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, and an allergy and asthma specialist in the division of allergy/immunology at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago, warns about inferring too much into this until more studies have been done.
A recent study shows that ginger is linked to improved asthma symptoms. It reduces inflammation, and asthma is an inflammatory disease. The study didn’t prove that it’s actually good for your lungs, Anju Peters, MD, Associate Professor in the Division of Allergies at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, and an allergy and asthma specialist in the division of allergy/immunology at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago, warns about inferring too much into this until more studies have been done.
• Omega-3s
Omega-3 fatty acids that are often used to treat and prevent heart disease can help treat asthma. Research suggests that omega-3 fatty acids decrease airway inflammation and boost lung function. “There is some literature to say that [fish oil] supplements may also be beneficial in people with asthma, but as of right now, more research needs to be done,” Peters cautions.
Omega-3 fatty acids that are often used to treat and prevent heart disease can help treat asthma. Research suggests that omega-3 fatty acids decrease airway inflammation and boost lung function. “There is some literature to say that [fish oil] supplements may also be beneficial in people with asthma, but as of right now, more research needs to be done,” Peters cautions.
• Turmeric
Turmeric has anti-allergen properties, it affects histamines that cause inflammation, more research needs to be done to back this fact, however.
Turmeric has anti-allergen properties, it affects histamines that cause inflammation, more research needs to be done to back this fact, however.
• Regular exercise
Exercise is a vital factor in asthma. Some may believe that people with asthma should go easy but that is not so. Regular exercise makes your heart and lungs stronger and healthier. Healthier lungs perform better and can help reduce symptoms of asthma. Make sure to cover your face in colder temperatures to warm the air you breathe if you exercise outside.
Exercise is a vital factor in asthma. Some may believe that people with asthma should go easy but that is not so. Regular exercise makes your heart and lungs stronger and healthier. Healthier lungs perform better and can help reduce symptoms of asthma. Make sure to cover your face in colder temperatures to warm the air you breathe if you exercise outside.
• Fruits and vegetables
A healthy diet can help almost every disease, for asthma and a healthy lifestyle. Eat foods that have protective nutrients (antioxidants) that help boost the immune system. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables.
A healthy diet can help almost every disease, for asthma and a healthy lifestyle. Eat foods that have protective nutrients (antioxidants) that help boost the immune system. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables.
• Eucalyptus oil
Pure eucalyptus oil is effective for the treatment of asthma due to its decongestant properties. Research shows the oil contains the chemical eucalyptol that can break up mucus. Just spray some oil on a paper towel, tissue, or handkerchief, and keep it near your head so that you breathe in the aroma. You can also place a few drops in a bowl of boiling water and breathe in the steam. Take deep breaths for better, faster results.
Pure eucalyptus oil is effective for the treatment of asthma due to its decongestant properties. Research shows the oil contains the chemical eucalyptol that can break up mucus. Just spray some oil on a paper towel, tissue, or handkerchief, and keep it near your head so that you breathe in the aroma. You can also place a few drops in a bowl of boiling water and breathe in the steam. Take deep breaths for better, faster results.
To treat asthma it is important to know what triggers your attacks and try to avoid them. Prevent mold spores, clean your home regularly, cover your nose when its cold outside, and avoid contact with furry animals are a few more common ones. Maintaining a healthy weight is also important to stay healthy, being under or over is harder on every body system.
Rainforest Plants Used In Medical Treatments
In addition to playing a major role in balancing the global ecosystem, many rainforest plants are also of huge medicinal value. Twenty five percent of all current western medicines are derived from plants found in the rainforest. It is estimated that medical researchers have tested just 1% of the flora and fauna of the rainforests for medically active compounds, but at the current rate of destruction, there will be no rainforests left in just 40 years.
The following are just a few of the many medicinal plants found in the rainforests:
1. Curare
Found in the canopy of the South American forest, curare is a poisonous plant that grows as a large vine. Measuring about four inches at its base, this woody vine is capable of climbing a considerable height of about 30 metres high into the tree canopy.
Found in the canopy of the South American forest, curare is a poisonous plant that grows as a large vine. Measuring about four inches at its base, this woody vine is capable of climbing a considerable height of about 30 metres high into the tree canopy.
Traditionally, curare was used by the Indians of South America to make poison for hunting animals in the forests. With its numerous pharmaceutical properties, curare is capable of treating testicular inflammation, enlarged prostate, kidney stones, and fever. Externally, it is used for treating bruises and poisonous snake bites. Due to the fact that its strong muscle-reluctant chemicals cannot be absorbed in the stomach, the roots and oral extracts are generally considered safe for human consumption.
2. Cat’s Claw (Uncaria Tomentoosa)
Cat’s claw is a woody vine found in the Peruvian Amazonian forests and the tropical jungles of Central America. Because of its claw-shaped thorns, it is also called hawk’s claw, sparrowhawk nail, and pot hook. It is thought that this plant may help in the treatment of conditions such as cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, and AIDS, though research is still ongoing and its efficacy has yet to be proven in clinical trials.
Cat’s claw is a woody vine found in the Peruvian Amazonian forests and the tropical jungles of Central America. Because of its claw-shaped thorns, it is also called hawk’s claw, sparrowhawk nail, and pot hook. It is thought that this plant may help in the treatment of conditions such as cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, and AIDS, though research is still ongoing and its efficacy has yet to be proven in clinical trials.
3. Cinchona TreeCinchona tree, commonly known as quina, is a native to the tropical Andes forests of the western region of South America. It is mainly used to make quinine, one of the most effective and reliable cures of malaria. On top of that, it is used for stimulating appetite and treating stomach problems as well as treating blood disorders such as haemorrhoids, leg cramps, and varicose veins. It is also used in eye lotions to kill bacteria and relieve itching. Some people use it to treat minor ailments such as the common cold, headaches, and mild fever.
4. Cocoa Tree
Due to its great medicinal value, the cocoa tree stands out as one of the most important rainforest plants. This tropical tree is unique in that it produces more than 155 chemicals that can be extracted from its bark, fruits, seeds, and leaves. The extracts are used to treat coughs, kidney stones, anxiety, fever, and external cuts and bruises.
Cocoa butter, which is obtained from the cocoa tree, is used in fine soaps and skin creams to reduce stretch marks, fight off free radicals, and treat skin conditions such as eczema, acne, and dermatitis.
5. Rosy PeriwinkleOriginally found in Madagascar, Rosy Periwinkle was traditionally used for treating diabetes. It is used in the preparation of two of the most effective tools against childhood leukaemia that western medicine has, Vincristine, and Vinblastine. These drugs are responsible for increasing the prospects of surviving childhood leukaemia from just ten percent to around ninety five percent. If one plant highlights the true potential of the rainforests with regards to medical science, that plant is surely Rosy Periwinkle.
6. Ceiba Pentandra
Capable of growing up to an amazing height of about 85 metres, the kapok tree, also called the ceiba tree or the silk cotton tree, is the tallest tree in the Amazon Jungle. The trunk and branches are crowded with several thorns and the palmate leaves comprise of 6 to 10 leaflets, each measuring up to about 20 centimetres long.
There are many species of Kapok tree, Ceiba Pentandra is just one such species. Ceiba Pentandra bark extracts are used by inhabitants of the Amazon not only as a treatment for headaches, but also to treat type two diabetes.
Capable of growing up to an amazing height of about 85 metres, the kapok tree, also called the ceiba tree or the silk cotton tree, is the tallest tree in the Amazon Jungle. The trunk and branches are crowded with several thorns and the palmate leaves comprise of 6 to 10 leaflets, each measuring up to about 20 centimetres long.
There are many species of Kapok tree, Ceiba Pentandra is just one such species. Ceiba Pentandra bark extracts are used by inhabitants of the Amazon not only as a treatment for headaches, but also to treat type two diabetes.
7. Annatto TreeThe annatto tree, also referred to as achiote or roucou, is a medicinal rainforest tree found in the tropical and subtropical regions of Central America and South America. The oil extract of this tree contains carotenoids, which offer protection against the harmful effects of UV rays. In addition, it serves as a powerful insect repellent and helps reduce blood pressure.
8. Pacific Bleeding Heart
The Pacific bleeding heart is a native to the forests of the Pacific north-west in western North America. It is a herbaceous rhizomatous perennial plant growing to a height of 45 centimetres and a width of 25 centimetres. It has deeply divided grey-green leaves and deep pink flowers.
Tincture, which is extracted from the roots of the Pacific bleeding heart, is used for various purposes such as alleviating anxiety. Externally, it is used to provide relief from sprains and bruises.
9. Yerba Mate
Yerba mate is a species of the holly family and is the primary source of the beverage called mate, which is traditionally consumed in subtropical South America, particularly in Bolivia, Paraguay, Brazil, north-eastern Argentina, and Uruguay. The tea is made by steeping the ground stems and leaves of the plant.
Yerba mate contains three xanthines: theophylline, theobromine, and caffeine, which combine to produce stimulant and relaxant effects. Yerba Mate has a stimulating effect on heart tissue, while relaxing the smooth muscle tissue found in blood vessels. It is therefore easy to see why many claim that Yerba Mate supports cardiovascular health.
10. Guarana
Featuring clusters of beautiful flowers, large leaves, and hard fruit, this climbing plant is a native to the Amazon basin. Guarana is widely used in sports energy drinks, it is a natural source of caffeine, and reputed to ease the pain of strained muscles. Guarana also contains Catechin, a natural antioxidant.
Featuring clusters of beautiful flowers, large leaves, and hard fruit, this climbing plant is a native to the Amazon basin. Guarana is widely used in sports energy drinks, it is a natural source of caffeine, and reputed to ease the pain of strained muscles. Guarana also contains Catechin, a natural antioxidant.
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