Feed: Homemade Remedies - AggScore: 57.5

Diabetes is a disease that is beginning to affect children as young as eight years old. Because of the occurrence of childhood obesity and the changes in how we eat, type 2 diabetes is becoming quite an issue among Americans in general. Please note that this post is not about diagnosing or curing a condition. Do consult with a medical professional for specific questions about your health and well being.

What is Type 2 diabetes? Type 2 diabetes, or adult-onset diabetes (although this condition is now appearing in children) is a condition in which the glucose builds up in the blood and is not dissipated by the insulin the body produces. When glucose levels are high, body cells may not be getting enough energy to do their job and may cause long term damage to eyes and other organs of the body. Once diagnosed, your healthcare professional may place you on some type of medication. Although this will help control your blood sugar, part of treating this condition is the action you take to help cure yourself. The good news is that this type of diabetes may be controlled through patient action. Following are some type 2 diabetes remedies that may help alleviate this condition.

There are a number of diabetes remedies that you can try that may help regulate your blood sugar. Be sure to keep careful track of your blood glucose level and stay in close contact with your physician so that your blood sugar does not go too low.

The first of the diabetes remedies that you should try is diet modification. Try to eliminate excess sugar and refined carbohydrates from your diet. Concentrate on eating whole grains, such as brown rice rather than white rice and whole wheat pasta instead of regular pasta. In addition, eat lean meats and vegetables. Loading up your plate with lightly seasoned steamed vegetables and less starch may be the way to go. Not only will this diet assist you in losing weight, but it will help keep your after meal blood sugar a little lower.

Another component of the diabetes remedies is to drink lots of water. Some who suffer from diabetes may try to replace sugary soda with its diet counterpart, but the best way to go is to drink pure water. Water will help cleanse your system and to flush away the toxins that are produces by fat loss.

Exercise is key in treating/controlling your type 2 diabetes. Exercise gets the blood flowing, assists in calorie burning and gives you a sense of health and well being. Aim for at least thirty minutes a day, four times a week.

With these three diabetes remedies, hopefully this will assist you in healing your condition or at least reducing your need for the medication. Again, this is not meant as medical advice – it is for educational purposes only.

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Depression is something that affects all of us at one time or another. We may “get the blues” or feel frustrated and/or anxious about a situation and withdraw. Then there are those of us who really get into a depressed state and warrant a doctor’s treatment. This article is not meant or intended as medical advice - you are strongly urged to see your doctor or other medical professional for any symptoms or depression issues you may be experiencing.

That being said, if you suffer from occasional bouts of mild depression, or what is sometimes called the ‘blues’, you may be able to reduce or even get rid of these symptoms through natural depression remedies instead of resorting to expensive prescription medication. Many times depression is the signal that the body is not getting some needed nutrient in the diet.

Some natural depression remedies include: St John’s Wort, SAMe, ginseng, ginkgo biloba and Omega3 fish/plant oils. Let’s take a look at each of these in turn.

St. John’s Wort is an herb that has actually been used in Germany and is pretty well known for its role as one of the main herbal depression remedies. St. John’s Wort is reportedly an effective antidepressent. Because it is a natural remedy, the positive effects of St. John’s Wort may not be apparent for about 4-6 weeks after beginning taking the herb. In addition, St. John’s Wort can effect how well your medications are working - be sure to check with a doctor or other medical professional when taking this herb.

Ginseng not only can give your energy, but stimulates the immude system, which improves your thinking as well as physical endurance. In addition, ginseng can help to regulate blood sugar levels, which do have an effect on how you feel.

Omega3 Fish Oil Supplements - Low levels of omega-3 fatty acids may cause depression in certain people. The “good fats” from the omega3 fatty acids help the transmission of serotonin in the brain, which in turn may help get rid of depression. Omega3 supplements are one of the fastest acting depression remedies that you can find.

Ginkgo biloba may be familiar to you in reference to improving one’s memory, but it’s also one of the natural depression remedies. Because ginkgo improves blood circulation, it may also lead to better brain functioning and better regulation of serotonin on the brain - our “happy hormone”.

Hopefully, these depression remedies will give you some relief from milder forms of depression. Again, if you continue to suffer from depression despite these remedies, do not delay in seeking the advice of a medical professional.

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There are so many uses for distilled or white vinegar.  All types of vinegar can be used for so many things that having vinegar in your ‘kitchen pharmacy’ is a must.    It is inexpensive and its many varieties can be found on your supermarket shelf.  Although it’s pretty strong smelling stuff, it’s quite effective as an ingredient in your homemade remedies!  Read on to find out amazing vinegar remedies to common ailments.  What you learn might be very interesting.

Remember, these vinegar remedies will not work “instantly”.  Give the remedy time to work - at least a few weeks.  The vinegar that is used for all of these remedies is your regular white vinegar, commonly found in every supermarket.

Fade Brown Spots - Shred a medium onion into clean cheesecloth or pantyhose.  Squeeze the grated onion to get about a tablespoon of onion juice.  Mix this onion juice with 2 tablespoons of white vinegar and dab the mixture onto the brown spots twice a day.  This combination should fade the brown spots over time.  Note:  the mixture can be made in any amount as long as it’s a ratio of 1 part onion juice: 2 parts white vinegar.

Headache - Soak a clean washcloth in white vinegar and place it on your forehead.  Be sure to wring it out!  Relax for 30 minutes and the headache should be gone.

Poison Ivy - Mix equal parts of white vinegar and rubbing alcohol - apply to the rash when it itches.  The mixture should help dry up the rash also.

Toenail Fungus - Instead of using somewhat expensive prescription medication that may cause unwanted side effects, apply white vinegar to toenails or soak feet in a strong solution of white vinegar and water.   You can even use straight vinegar to soak your feet if you have enough.

Dry Itchy Skin - Soak in a bathtub of warm (not hot) water to which you have added ½ cup white vinegar.  Vinegar will eliminate the itch, soften the skin and will help keep your bathtub cleaner.

Sunburn - Spray white vinegar on the burn and it should relieve the pain almost immediately.  If you don’t have a spray bottle, soak a washcloth in vinegar and apply to the affected area.  If the vinegar is chilled, it will relieve the pain and burning sensation even faster.

Distilled white vinegar is a must to have in your home as these vinegar remedies can help cure many common ailments.

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What is Psoriasis?  Well, I used to think that somehow psoriasis was related to eczema, but after careful research, I discovered that psoriasis appears when the skin cells grow too quickly (without shedding) and grow into hard, itchy patches that may become unsightly.

There are several prescription medications on the market to treat this condition as well as over the counter preparations, but if you don’t wish to use these treatments, here are some homemade psoriasis remedies for you to try.

Flaxseed oil is a plant oil that is high in Omega 3 fatty acids.  This oil contains both eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and alpha-linolenic (LNA) acids.  These two fatty acids not only are good for the heart, but help heal auto-immune skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema.

Be aware,that flaxseed oil tends to thin the blood, so if you are prone to bruising or are taking anti-coagulants, please consult a medical professional before taking any Omega 3 supplements.

The recommended dosage is anywhere from 10-15 grams per day or approximately 1-2 tablespoons of oil per day.  Results should be seen in about one –two weeks.

Garlic Oil – Yes, garlic rears its smelly head again, but believe me, this can help in healing.  Simply apply garlic oil to the affected area every evening – you can get garlic oil by squeezing a soft-gel onto the skin.

Apple Cider Vinegar– Some suffers of psoriasis claim that apple cider vinegar sprayed on the affected areas, allowed to dry, then followed up by a moisturizer such as jojoba oil or extra virgin olive oil will clear up the flaking skin in about a week.

These are just a few of the psoriasis remedies that you can use to help treat your conditions.  If you have any other suggestions, please feel free to comment. For more information about psoriasis remedies or dry itchy scalp treatments Click Here!

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Your kitchen can be your pharmacy, believe it or not.  Instead of running to the local drug store, mass-market store or supermarket for over the counter medication, or even lotion, try looking in those kitchen cabinets first.  There are so many different food ingredients that you can use to fill these needs – all you need is a bit of ingenuity, patience and a few good homemade remedy recipes.

As a mom of three children, I’ve had my share of using those over the counter medications, but as time went on and I studied more about homemade remedies and actually tried some of the, I realized that perhaps these kitchen remedies were actually better than what was being sold in the pharmacy.

Let me be the first to say, however, that these remedies don’t always work as quickly as the over the counter cures.  That being said, I would prefer giving my child repeated doses of buckwheat honey and garlic than children’s cough medication.  Used in small amounts, the honey and garlic mixture is pretty close to harmless, while the effect of those cold medications is not really known.  In fact, some parents have accidently overdosed their children on these medication in their zeal to give their child relief from coughing.   This is not to say that kitchen remedies can’t be harmful.  There is always the danger of overdosing or causing an allergic reaction, so even natural remedies must be used with care.

Give these homemade remedies a try – use your kitchen as your main pharmacy.  If you do not see results, you always have the option of using the over the counter medications, but take it from me, most of these kitchen remedies work just as well, if not better than something that you can purchase from the store.

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Ok, I love garlic in my spaghetti gravy but as a homemade remedy, I wasn’t so sure. However, I have learned a tremendous amount about garlic and how wonderful it can be for us – especially the immune system. So what’s the deal about garlic?

Garlic has a lot of health benefits, especially when used raw. Certainly it’s not the best smell in the world, but if it helps, who cares, right? Let’s start out with a few benefits of garlic: It’s an antioxidant, with benefits to both the heart and the immune system. Furthermore, there are several studies that indicate that garlic can lower cholesterol and can help regulate blood pressure, plus it can help to prevent cough and colds.

Some recipes for garlic remedies include the following:

Ear infection – A friend of mine actually used this remedy on her 18 month old and swears by it. Wrap a piece of raw garlic in tissue and insert into the ear sort of like an ear plug. DO NOT shove the piece of garlic into the ear canal. Or , you may also use a few drops of garlic oil obtained from the health food store. The garlic oil should take the pain of the ear infection away in about 15 min. and may even clear up the infection without the use of antibiotics.

You can also make your own garlic oil by slicing the clove into about two to three tablespoons of olive oil. Heat in the microwave for about a minute then allow to cool. Use cheesecloth or a clean stocking to strain the mixture then drop gently into the ear canal. Plug the ear with cotton.

Scratchy or Sore throat – Place a small piece or slice of garlic in your mouth between your cheek and your gums/teeth. As the garlic juice slides down your throat, the pain will lessen. Drink some lemon juice or suck on a lemon to get rid of garlic breath.

Sinus Blockage – Mince a few garlic gloves, add to melted butter then spread on toast. Tasty and effective.

Warts – Wrap a fresh garlic clove in cheesecloth, then crush. Rub the garlic juice on the warts until they go away.

There are so many garlic remedies that there will be a second post outlining more garlic remedies for your use. If you have a garlic remedy to share or have used a garlic remedy, feel free to leave a comment.

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Honey is sweet and tasty, and recently I discovered how many varieties of honey they were are.  There is buckwheat honey, blueberry honey, cranberry honey and of course the regular old clover honey.  Buckwheat honey can help stop a cough, but honey can be used in many other homemade remedies too!  Note:  Do NOT give honey to an infant under 12 months.

Getting tired in mid-afternoon is an issue that many of us face.  I often find myself yawning when it’s time to pick up my son from school about 2:30 or so.  Try this little pick me up that, if faithfully taken for a week, will give you the steady energy you need to get through this time.  Mix ½ teaspoon of honey in a glass of water.  Sprinkle a bit of cinnamon on top of the mixture and drink.   Remember, drink this faithfully every day for a week and you should see results.

Dry flaky skin, especially on the face can be irritating.  The skin feels tight and uncomfortable and might even be itchy. Mix 2 tablespoons of honey (any kind) to 2 teaspoons of milk.  Smooth this mixture on your face and relax for about 10-15 min.  Rinse off with warm water and a soft cloth.  Your skin should feel smooth and moisturized.

Honey may also be used for pain relief.  Mix about 1 teaspoon of honey along with 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar in water and drink.  When taken on a regular basis, this mixture may help relieve the pain of arthritis and other inflammatory conditions.

Again, do not give honey to infants under 12 months.  If you are diabetic, consult a medical professional before taking honey on a regular basis. In addition, whenever possible, use raw honey (found in health food stores) as the raw honey contains more nutrients and beneficial properties than the process pasteurized honey usually found on supermarket shelves.

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Winter is still here and with winter comes colds and flu, especially if you have school aged children who are exposed to every cold germ to come through town courtesy of the school population.  While living naturally does not necessarily mean eliminating the use of all over the counter and prescription medication, it does mean trying to resolve a situation naturally before hauling out the “big guns” of these medications on the first go round.  However recent studies have indicated that these over the counter cold remedies don’t work for children and can often be dangerous.  So, as a mom, it’s very important to me to have natural cold remedies at hand.

These natural remedies are safe enough to use on adults and children alike – I’ve also used these remedies with great success on myself and my three children.  The point that we all need to remember about living naturally and natural remedies – they do not work as fast as over the counter medications and the like, but they are much gentler on the body.

The biggest complaint that I get from my children when they have a cold is the fact that their little noses are all congested.  Congestion is my worst symptom – it’s so uncomfortable to have to breathe through one’s mouth and makes it nearly impossible for me to sleep.   I avoid those nasal sprays and detest those medicines that claim to decongest you.  They never worked for me!  Instead, I use a simple saline spray in each nostril, wait a bit then blow gently.  The salt water serves to loosen and thin the mucus.  For children, drops of saline will also assist them in loosening the mucus.

For a cough, try buckwheat honey. It is said to be more effective than over the counter cough suppressants and can offer antioxidant properties.

For coughs and congestion, try the old standby of medicated chest rub.  Follow label directions and cover the chest and back. I usually layer with a cotton T shirt and a long-sleeved pajama top or old sweatshirt.  The menthol, camphor and eucalyptus in the chest rub helps suppress coughing and clears the airways.

Try these inexpensive and safe natural cold remedies the next time those germs hit.  Don’t forget to drink plenty of fluids!

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In the previous post, I gave you a few tips on using some simple homemade acne remedies to help get rid of those stubborn pimples and bumps that crop up from time to time.  After a bit more research, I’m bringing you more recipes that you can use.  I really like homemade remedies because unlike over the counter medicines, there is a smaller risk of drying out or damaging this skin.  This is not to say that these homemade acne remedies can never hurt your skin, but they are a lot less caustic than what you purchase in the store.

The most problems that I’ve had with pimples, especially, is that they look so red and swollen.  If this is your issue, take an ice cube and hold it against the pimple for as long as you can stand it.  The ice will reduce the swelling and make the pimple less noticeable.

Aspirin is good for much more than a headache.  Get a regular aspirin, crush it to a fine powder – I use the back of a spoon – then mix with warm water.  Apply the aspirin paste to your pimple and let it dry.  This should reduce the time you have to live with the pimple!

Try this milk mask once a week:  Boil about ½ cup of regular milk, let cool.  Mix in the juice of a lime (about 2 tablespoons) and 2 teaspoons of glycerine (readily available in the pharmacy section).  Apply the mask to your face, of course avoiding the eye area.  Let dry and wash off with warm water or warm cloth.
One of my recent discoveries is aloe juice.  Made from the gel of the Aloe plant, you can drink it or use it in skin applications as it has the healing properties of aloe vera gel.  Soak a cotton ball in aloe juice and apply to the face morning and night.  Not only will this help heal current breakouts, but will also assist in keeping other outbreaks from occurring.  You may also use aloe gel, but be sure that it’s pure aloe vera gel without additives.
Keep in mind that these homemade acne remedies will usually work, but not as quickly as the over the counter preparations, however, they are much gentler to the skin.

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I’m sure most of us have had the occasional bout with either pimple or teenage acne. When I was at that age, I always used the commercial preparations which almost always were drying to the skin. If I happened to overuse the commercial preparation, my skin would become flaky and irritated. And, it seemed that after using the medicine, my skin seemed oiler than every after using it, or was so dry that it hurt.

Now when I have the occasional breakout, I prefer to use some homemade acne remedies rather than going straight for those over the counter acne medications. Read on to find out more about homemade acne remedies.

Oatmeal Mask – the oatmeal soothes irritated skin without being too drying. Grab about a cup of quick cooking oatmeal. You can either put it in the blender or rub the oats between your fingers to crumble it into powder. Mix in some warm water until the oatmeal mix reaches a nice creamy, consistency. You may also add a drop of lavender for further healing qualities. Smooth the mask on your face and let it sit for 10-15 minutes. Rinse and your skin should feel smoother and less irritated.

While you’re in the kitchen here’s another homemade acne remedy: grab a white potato, slice it and hold the slice of potato to your pimple. This should also reduce swelling and the life of that pesky pimple.

Did a pimple pop up in a most inopportune place? This is a great treatment to use overnight – get some white toothpaste – not gel – and dab it on the pimple. It should work on the pimple overnight and give an improved appearance in the morning.

Cut the end of a peeled clove of garlic and press the cut end to the pimple. Garlic has anti-bacterial properties as well as anti-inflammatory properties, so it will reduce the swelling and redness of the pimple. Be sure to rinse before going out – garlic has a strong smell.

These are just a few remedies that may assist in getting rid of your acne and/or pimples that pop up. Stay tuned for part two!

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