Stomach Ache During Pregnancy

Pregnancy and pain are ageless companions, much like aches and aspirin, or moon and night. Nevertheless, an unexpected cramp or a sudden spasm during pregnancy can throw your gumption out of the porthole. Before you hit the panic button, know that certain amount of pain and discomfort is pretty much normal during pregnancy. 

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While nagging pains and cramps can be highly annoying at times, it is important to understand that they are anything, but life threatening and are more often just gentle reminders for you to take things easy. Anything from gas pain to raging hormones to bulging uterus can trigger discomfort in your tummy. However, severe cramping or stomach pain is something that should not ignored, as they can be an emergency signal of serious complications. If you are an expecting mom, then reading the following causes of stomach pain during pregnancy will save you from losing your sleep over it. Read on to know more on causes of stomach pain during pregnancy.

Causes Of Stomach Pain During Pregnancy

Most expecting women complain of stomach cramps during the early stages of their pregnancy. While these cramps are most often a gentle reminder that you should slow down and take things easy, at times they can be a warning sign of more serious complication like ectopic pregnancy. Ectopic pregnancy or ‘tubal pregnancy’ occurs when the fertilized ovum is implanted outside the uterus, somewhere in the fallopian tube. As the egg starts to develop, it induces severe strain in the pelvic and abdominal region causing sharp, stabbing pain in the abdomen that might just get worse with physical activity, bowel movement, coughing and more.

Cramps during pregnancy are nothing unusual and count up as normal pregnancy discomforts. However, severe cramping accompanied by vaginal bleeding can indicate a more serious case of miscarriage. The pain may be light or intense, short or long lasting and generally varies from one woman to another. Some may experience low backache or complain of dull abdominal pain and pelvic pressure too.

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Of all the concerns usually tagged along with pregnancy pain, prematurity is possibly the worst dreaded fear. An early onset of labor can induce premature contractions, which may last up to four hours or even more, menstrual-like cramps, dull nagging backache, intestinal cramps, pelvic pressure and increased vaginal secretions. It is best to consult your practitioner at the soonest if you experience any of these symptoms to avert any untoward complications.

How often you have jumped out of your sleep believing that “this must be it” and then went back to sleep again realizing that this was not the real thing? Most women experience contractions or tightening of uterus, during the last trimester of pregnancy, which are nothing more than false labor or Braxton-Hicks Contraction. These contractions are irregular, infrequent and painless and spell no danger in real sense.

Pregnant women are unusually susceptible to bladder infection during pregnancy because of changing urinary tract position. As pregnancy advances, the uterus increases in size, thereby blocking the drainage of urine from the bladder and inducing an infection. Bladder infection can lead to pain or burning when urinating, cramps or pain in the lower abdomen, cloudy foul smelling urine and tenderness in the region.

Ways To Quit Smoking

Smoking - a habit that people find almost impossible to quit, knowing fully well that it is harmful for them! Infact, even non-smokers recognize the fact that quitting the habit of smoking is very difficult. Not just strong will power, you must have the notion of quitting it completely embedded in your mind. The main reason why people find it difficult to quite smoking is that they face withdrawal symptoms the moment they kick the habit. 

Mood swings, irritability, anxiety, lack of concentration and cravings form a part of these symptoms. However, it is absolutely possible to quite smoking. All those who have till now wondered, how to stop smoking, can make use of below-mentioned ways of kicking the cigarette butt.

Deep Breathing

The moment you start craving for a cigarette, start taking deep breaths. Inhale deeply and slowly, exhale the air through pursed lips. While exhaling, try to visualize all the tension leaving your body and flowing out. It is a variation of a yoga technique and will help you, not only in conquering the craving, but also in tackling various stressful situations calmly.

Stay Away from Smokers

During the first few days that immediately follow your quitting resolve, try to stay away from smokers. Make an excuse and leave as soon as possible. This is because the first few days matter the most and it is better to stay away from temptations. You will find it easier to resist the enticements after the first few days of quitting have passed.

Drink Fluids

During the initial days, drink as much water as you can. It will help flush out the nicotine and other toxic substances from your body.  

Avoid Alcohol, Sugar and Coffee

In the first week you go without smoking, try to stay away from alcohol, sugar and coffee also. This is because all the three have been found to arouse the desire for nicotine.

Nibble

Whenever you feel the urge to smoke a cigarette, pop a cinnamon stick or a chewing gum into your mouth. You can also nibble on low calorie foods like celery, fruits, etc. If you are used to having a smoke after meals, try replacing it with other things like a cup of mint tea or a peppermint candy.

Exercise

Most of the people take to smoking as a stress buster. So, next time you are under a lot of pressure, try your hand at exercising. Hit the gym or go for a jog. It will not only help you avoid having a puff, but also reward you with a healthier body.

Get Support

While quitting the habit of smoking, you might suffer from withdrawal symptoms like irritability, short temper, etc. It is advisable to tell your family members, friends and colleagues that you are going to quit smoking and might become prone to things like mood swings. If they are sensible enough, they will definitely help you in kicking the butt.

Destroy Your Cigarettes

The day you decide to quit smoking, destroy all your cigarettes and even throw away your lighter and ashtray. Remove any and every thing that might remind you of cigarettes.

Face It

Never ever try to pretend that you didn’t enjoy smoking. Face the fact that it was enjoyable and this is precisely the reason why you took it in the first place. At the same time, remember the harm it has caused as well as the hazards it is possible of causing in the future.

Never Ever Smoke Again

Even if it has been months since you have quit smoking, do not smoke again - not even a single cigarette. Times will come when you will feel like smoking and you will even think that what is the harm in a single smoke, but you have to keep up with the promise you made to yourself. Even a single cigarette can take you right back from where you started.

Upper Stomach Pain

As the name suggests, upper stomach pain is a pain experienced in the upper portion of the belly region. There can be a number of reasons for the occurrence of this type of pain. It can be quite severe, long-lasting and chronic at times, while at other times it can be merely a short lived condition. However, the exact location of the pain determines its root cause. For instance, pain in the upper middle abdomen indicates problem in the epigastric area, related to pancreas, gall bladder and the upper small intestine. Pain in the upper left abdomen is connected with problems of the stomach, colon, pancreas or spleen. Acute pain in the upper right abdomen denotes inflammation of the gall bladder. For more information about causes of upper abdominal pain and its home remedies, read on.

Causes of Upper Stomach Pain 

• If you are experiencing an upper abdominal pain after meals, it can be due to indigestion or heartburn.
• The upper abdominal can occur due to an inflammation of the Pancreas.
• Another reason can be the occurrence of a peptic ulcer. It is caused when the lining of the stomach breaks, due to excess production of acid.
• Upper abdominal pain can result from other inflammations, such as diverticulitis and appendicitis.
• Loss of blood supply to an organ as in the case of ischemic colitis.
• Stretching or distention of an organ can also cause pain, like blocking of a bile duct by gallstones. 
• Remedies to Treat Upper Stomach Pain 
• In case of indigestion, you can take antacids, which provide instant relief in such a situation.
• If you are suffering from peptic ulcer, the treatment involves usage of antacids, which are well regulated.
• Milk is supposed to benefit in case of indigestion or peptic ulcer as it forms a lining on the stomach, thereby reducing the ill effect of the acids produced.
• If the cause of the pain is pancreatitus, medical assistance is needed.

Treating Back Pain At Home

One of the most common causes of discomfort, back pain causes the nerves to go on an overdrive, shooting pain signals throughout the body. This is because the back contains the spine, which is a complex network of nerves, joints, muscles, and ligaments that are likely to produce pain at the slightest stress. Back pain comes as silent as a mime without you even knowing when you caused the strain to the back muscles. 

And the sudden pain that you experience in the back is more likely the cause of the strain that has occurred earlier. Lifting heavy things, bending down, twisting the body and sitting for long duration are the most common causes of back pain. The pain shoots up like a bolt of electricity that can sometimes be so strong to leave you paralyzed for a moment. Back pain is a cause of concern as even a slight pain can engulf your entire back leaving you almost incapable of mobility. Since, back pain is quite a common problem it is better to have remedies on hand so that the pain does not hinder you in your day-to-day work. In the article given below are the various home remedies for back pain.

Home Remedies For Back Pain 

If the back pain is the result of any injury then apply an icepack on the affected area within 24 hours. This will help contain the inflammation in the injured area. It will numb the nerves that send the pain signals and so ease the pain a lot. To make an ice pack, take some ice cubes in a plastic bag and then cover the entire bag in a thin towel. Place the ice pack in the affected area for 20 minutes and then remove it. Apply again after 30 minutes.

A hot bath is an excellent way to get rid of back pain as it increases the elasticity of the muscles. A shower won’t be of much help. Instead, you will have to soak in a hot water tub for 30 minutes. However, this should be avoided by pregnant women .

To relieve an aching back, another good option is to lie flat on your back with two pillows underneath the knees. However, too much of bed rest can be detrimental so it is better to get up and move around so that continuous rest doesn’t weaken the muscles.

Massaging the back with herbal oils is another effective remedy. The masseur should massage the back using the knuckles while increasing the pressure gradually. This will get rid of the pain as it relaxes the muscles.

When you are suffering from back pain, never bend down from the waist. If you want to lift something, then bend the knees first so that the lower back doesn’t get tense, causing stress to the spine and back muscles. Also, don’t try to twist your back and lift heavy objects.

Sit and sleep in firm chair and bed. Support your lower back with a pillow to keep it in proper position.

Mix equal amounts of khas khas (poppy seeds) and sugar cubes into powder. Mix 6 grams of the mixture in milk and drink a glass twice a day. This will provide relief against the pain.

Exercises provide excellent relief against back pain. When the back pain starts, the best exercise that you can do is to lie on your back and slowly raise both legs upwards as far as you can and then hold your breath. Keep the legs up for some time and then bring the legs down.

Another exercise is to lie on your back and keep the hands slightly apart from the body. Place both the feet together. Take a deep breath and then relax your entire body. Stay relaxed for 30 seconds and then turn your feet in one direction and the head in the other while inhaling. Hold the breath and hold that position. Exhale and then reverse the process. Return to the original position and then repeat this exercise in the other direction.

Symptoms of Eczema Dermatitis

Eczema is a real big time skin problem... the contagious rashes and inflammation raises lots of itching and discomfort. This condition is irritable as well as creates allergy to the other parts of the body as well. So, its important to know the basic and main symptoms of eczema. Moreover, detecting the symptoms helps in curing and treating the disease in an easy and fast way.

Symptoms of Eczema (Dermatitis)

Thickening 

The skin of eczema that have been inflamed for a while is usually much thicker than the unaffected skin. Mainly this occurs as a protective response of the skin to the repeated trauma of scratching. Eczema often affects the skin in areas around joints such as the elbows, behind the knees and in front of the ankles (the ‘flexures’) where the skin also needs to be particularly flexible. Commonly one will see splits in the skin here (fissures), as the thickened skin is unable to bend as it would normally.

Blisters

This contributes to scaling and makes it easier for skin bacteria to get into the deeper layers, between the gaps. It also makes it possible for tissue fluids to ooze between the cells , and, if sufficient, to gather into collections or blisters. Small blisters may be seen in active eczema but occasionally large ones may occur, either due to the particular nature of the eczema, or because of skin infection coming along as well when the blisters may be filled not only with clear fluid but also with pus.

Redness

Increase redness of the skin may cause many problems. In eczema, it is quite common. The very top layer of skin has low blood supply, thus, creates dryness.. resulting in redness.

Crusts

The fluid that oozes out from the skin often dries up and settles as a thick layer. So, forms a thick and dry crust on the top layer of the skin.

Itching

Itching is usually the primary symptom that is present when you have eczema and gets more difficult at night. It often turns into an irritating condition.

Eczema's symptoms are basically easy to detect, but, should be treated well so that they do not give rise to any other sub chain of skin inflammatory diseases. At times, the situation becomes very uneasy to handle as you may feel discomfort in  doing itching while standing in public areas.

Stuffy Nose Remedies

Having a stuffy nose can be very exasperating. You constantly have to struggle to breathe and your head feels heavy. All this hinders the normal pace of your life. While adults somehow manage to get on with things in such situations, children (when having a stuffy nose) tend to raise a hell lot of a tantrum. Luckily there are a number of home remedies for a stuffy nose that you can employ to get some relief. Read to know.

Natural Home Remedies for Stuffy Nose

Sniff Onion

One easy way to unclog your stuffy nose is by sniffing an onion. Usual medications like Methanol or any other decongestants work by causing some irritation in the nose that makes it de-clog and run. Sniffing an onion has the same effects.  

Go Heavy On Spice

The remedy for a stuffy nose is to make it runny. There are few things that make it run quicker than spicy meals. So if you can, then consume some hot chili peppers. Your nose will soon start running and de-clogging it in the process.

Have Chicken Soup

In order to de-clog a stuffy nose, have chicken soup or any other hot fluid in a cup. Whenever you consume anything hot, the steam of the liquid causes the mucus in the nose to soften up. The result is that the nose de-clogs and runs.

Have a Shower

Having a hot shower has the same effect like drinking a hot fluid from a cup. This one is perhaps the easiest way to de-clog a stuffy nose and prevent it from getting thick.  

Use Humidifier

You can use a humidifier to get cured of a stuffy nose. But you have to be careful as the water used in the humidifier can also spread germs and impurities. So make sure that you use distilled water only in humidifier.

Decongestant Spray

Incase you are using a decongestant spray to cure yourself from a stuffy nose, then remember to use it carefully. Do not use the decongestant spray for more than two times a day, and a maximum of three to four days in a row.

Stomach Ulcer Diet

Stomach ulcers are painful sores that occur within the lining of the stomach or in the duodenum (as is most often the case). They occur when there is a break in the lining of the stomach, primarily due to hyper-acidity, and the digestive juices and acids damage the tissues that lie beneath the lining. A person suffering from stomach ulcer will undergo severe pain and in more advanced cases, suffer from vomiting and bleeding. If left untreated, stomach ulcer can progress into something much worse. 

However, along with treatment, it is necessary to eat the right foods, so as to help the stomach heal itself. If you suffer from stomach ulcers, it is necessary for you to follow a good diet regimen of healthy foods. Restrict the use of foods that irritate the stomach and consume the ones that soothe the body and aid in healing, as well as those that provide you with the proper nutrition. While a stomach ulcer diet may not be very attractive, you should bear in mind that it is just temporary, whereas the bad effects of stomach ulcers can be long lasting, if you do not take the needed care. Therefore, following a proper stomach ulcer diet, along with recommendations by a good physician, will help your stomach heal itself.

Peptic Ulcer Diet Plan

Basic Guidelines

Follow a bland diet religiously.

• Eat food in small portions. This will make the digestion simpler. Eating three heavy, full meals will put an unnecessary strain on the already sore stomach. So, divide them into six smaller meals.
• Do not starve or miss meals. This will aggravate the condition. If there is no food in your stomach for the gastric juices to work on, they will continue to eat up the lining of your stomach.
• Relax before and after each meal.
• Avoid spicy and fried food. They hamper the healing process.
• Avoid citric fruits and juices, as they increase acidity.
• Avoid caffeine, along with chocolate, cola and alcohol. 
• Foods That Can Be Eaten
• The following foods can be eaten in case of stomach ulcer. However, caution needs to be exercised, since some of the foods in this list may not be suitable for those with high cholesterol. 
• Eggs - always boiled, never fried.
• Refined cooked cereals, such as cornflakes and rice crispies
• White bread and plain rolls
• Milk and milk products, with the exception of chocolate milk
• Vegetable soups, without spices and pepper
• Meat, fish and poultry - fresh or boiled
• Cream cheese - plain, not spiced
• Carrots, green beans, peas, spinach and asparagus - cooked without oil
• Cooked or fresh fruits that are non-citric
• Fresh, non-citric fruit juices
• Butter, margarine, sweet cream and mayonnaise - plain, not seasoned
• Plain ice cream, sherbet, puddings, cakes and custard
• Plain cookies, smooth peanut butter, honey and jelly.

Smoking And Women

More than 140,000 women worldwide, die of smoking and other related causes every year. This should be a wakeup call to all you women who keep puffing on that cigarette, day in and out. Women smokers suffer the smoke as much as men do, even worse with knowledge that it might affect their progeny! America, China and India are the top three producers of tobacco and target the female audience with expensive marketing brands and adverts. The “Tobacco Epidemic” that first began with men, has now shifted to women. 

A statistical survey shows that in the 21st century, about 15% of women in the industrialized countries and developing nations, taken together, smoke cigarettes. A very surprising thing is that women even chew tobacco in some areas. The effects are almost the same. And this is a cause of worldwide concern. An awareness campaign must be run, informing showing women how risky smoking could be to their bodies and their lives. Explore this article to educate women around you of what they’re getting into!

Effects Of Smoking In Women

New research has found that breathing difficulty due to smoking is more prevalent in women than men.

The risk of stroke is higher in pregnant women who smoke or have smoked before pregnancy because there is an increased blood pressure, increased blood loss (during delivery) and a high production of blood clotting factors. Strokes have symptoms such as severe headaches, trouble speaking and vision impairment.

Another very serious consequence is with women who use oral contraceptives (or the pill) as a measure for controlling childbirth. They run the risk of cardiovascular diseases, such as blood clots, considerably more than the others. A mild increase in blood pressure is also noted and highly significant.

Pregnant women also run the risk of having mentally impaired babies, abortions and still births etc if they continue smoking till their pregnancies. Others would include having a premature or low weight baby.

Smoking right after delivering a baby can cause the secondhand smoke to reach your child and cause harmful effects of the child as well. For example, if a woman smokes while breastfeeding her child, the milk will contain impurities and will adversely affect the child.

Smoking in women can cause breast cancer. Oral cancer is more common though. The risk is found to be higher in premenopausal active smokers and postmenopausal passive ones. The reason being a gene called NAT2 that responds very slowly to removing the toxins from the body, thereby causing damage to the cells.

Osteoporosis or brittle bones can be the result of excessive cigarette smoke.

PID or Pelvic Inflammatory Disease is very high in women smokers. What happens here is that the reproductive system gets infected with virus, bacteria or fungus. This leads to an inflammation (swelling) of the uterus, fallopian tubes or ovaries.

Fertility issues such as a decreased ovulatory response as well as impairment of the zygote are very common in women who smoke. The cervical fluid maybe altered due to the chemicals in the smoke making it toxic to the sperm. The relationship between infertility and smoking has not been confirmed but statistics have shown that 72% of women smokers have infertility issues.

Teenage women are seen to be more affected in the long run as its affects menstruation. There might be bleeding difficulties such as abnormal bleeding, amenorrhea (no periods) and vaginal discharges.

Remedies For Dry Cough

Coughing is the natural reflex of a body to feeling of irritation in the throat. There are basically two types of cough - Wet and Dry. The wet cough is often accompanied by mucus or phlegm while dry cough is one where there is no mucus and the throat hurts a lot due to dryness. Dry cough can arise due to plenty of factors like smoking, excessive exposure to pollution, dust or any other allergy, etc. The most effective treatment for dry cough is by natural and home remedies. These remedies have been proven useful much before medicines came into existence and became popular. Check out some popular natural and home remedies for treating dry cough.

Natural and Home Remedies for Dry Cough 

• Extract the juice of ginger and mix it with honey. Take this 3-4 times a day for quick relief from coughing.
• Gargles are always effective for treating dry cough. Take some lukewarm water with a bit of salt and gargle. Alternatively, you can prepare a decoction of henna leaves for treating dry cough.
• Take a small and fresh piece of ginger and peel off the skin. Sprinkle a pinch of salt on it and chew it, taking the juice inside. It is very effective in treating dry cough.
• Take 3-4 balls of black pepper and with of caraway seeds with a hint of common salt. Suck on it for some time and you will notice instant relief.
• Take one gram of turmeric powder and mix it with a teaspoon of honey. Take this 3 times a day and dry cough will vanish away quickly.
• Prepare ginger tea by adding ginger when the water begins to boil and before you add tea leaves. Put in a pinch of pepper powder and 3-4 basil leaves. Drink hot and feel your throat soothing down.
• Before going to bed, drink hot milk with some honey. This will provide instant relief from dry cough and also make sure that you have a sound sleep.

Neck Pain Causes In Children

There was a time when a troublesome person was called “a pain in the neck”. This was because neck pains can be very difficult to cope with, and can cause other related aches and pains. However, as the stress of daily living increased, neck pains slowly stopped being a laughing matter. Until recently, it was primarily, the older people who suffered from neck pains. These days, children have also joined the bandwagon of sufferers and there are some chronic sufferers from neck pain. 

The number of cases of neck pain in children is increasing at alarming rates. The causes of neck pain in children range from injuries to more serious medical disorders, and, therefore, these should be taken seriously. In the event of the child suffering from severe pain, painkillers can be administered to offer temporary relief, but the child should be taken to the emergency room.

Causes Of Pediatric Neck Pain 

Common Causes Of Neck Pain In Children 

Poor posture, which can be due to uncomfortable seating in a classroom for extended periods of time. Children might also slump over video games or computers, and this causes a strain on the neck and back.

Heavy book bags that children have to carry could cause the neck to be strained and the neck muscles to be pulled. These days, the weight of book bags have increased beyond the capacity that children can actually carry. This could cause severe, debilitating strains of the spine as well as of the neck muscles.

Children could get injured while playing or while falling, resulting in a sprain, a pulled muscle, or even a broken bone. Therefore, ascertaining what happened before the neck pain began is important, since, severe injuries would require immediate medical attention.

Children also suffer from stress, just as adults do. Tension can cause neck pain and headaches as well. 

Medical Causes Of Neck Pain In Children 

• Rheumatoid arthritis occurs not only in adults but also in children. This causes inflammation of the joints, including the neck.
• Meningitis is an infection of any of the membranes that surround the brain. This is one reason for neck pain in children.
• Viral illnesses can cause inflammation of lymph nodes on the neck and can result in neck pain.
• Throat infections are probably the most common causes of neck pains in children.
• Pharyngitis, which is an inflammation of the larynx, could cause neck pain.
• A cervical strain will result in extreme neck pain.
• Wear and tear of the vertebrae in the neck can also be a cause of neck pain.
• While thryoiditis was earlier only a condition that affected older people, children have also begun suffering from this.
• Myelopathy is a disease that affects the spinal cord and can cause severe neck pains.

Natural Cures For Skin Rash

It is easy to identify people suffering from skin rashes. They are the ones who can’t live without scratching. Their hand flies all over their body trying to quell that itch that has the tendency to rise anywhere and at anytime. Initially the itch is not that severe; it is only when red blotches appear on the skin, that it becomes terrible. 

And the more you scratch, the uglier it becomes. Skin rashes, as these red blotches are known as, are fairly common and the main causes are bacterial and fungal infection and allergies. However, there are also a host of other factors that can cause and aggravate skin rashes. 

The best way to treat skin rashes are the various natural remedies that are easy to find and also do not have any side effects. You can effectively make these treatments at home and so save yourself a lot of expense. But the most important benefit is that when you go for natural cures, other than curing you of the rash, the various herbs will also bolster the strength of the skin to resist further infections. So, if you are looking for natural remedies to cure you of skin rash then, go through the article given below on the various cure available to you.

Natural Remedies For Skin Rash 

Skin problems like itchy skin rash, psoriasis, and eczema can be relieved to a great extent by using witch haze. This plant is rich in astringent that is an excellent cure for skin rash. Boil a pint of water and then add an ounce of witch hazel bark. Simmer for 10 minutes and then strain and cool. Soak a clean cloth in the solution and apply it on the skin rash. Leave for 30 minutes and then wash.

The Greeks and the Native Americans have been using the St. Johns Wort for a variety of medicinal purposes. It is also excellent in treating skin rashes. This flower has got astringent properties that moisturizes and refreshes the skin and so it is especially good for skin rash.

The gel from aloe vera plant also relieves the skin rash. Since it has anti-inflammatory, anti bacterial and anti fungal properties along with folic acid, zinc, vitamin C, and E, aloe vera effectively controls the rashes in the skin. Slice off a portion of the aloe vera leaf and apply the gel onto the affected area.

Calendula essential oils stimulate the production of white blood cells, which are responsible for eliminating harmful microbes. Boil the herb in water or add two drops of the essential oil in hot water, and then simmer for ten minutes. Let it cool and then apply it using a clean cloth into the affected area.

Chamomile essential oils soothe the skin rash and the irritations caused by it. However, sometimes it can cause allergic reactions in some people.

Crush the fresh leaves of jewelweed and then rub the juice over the rash. This is also very good in curing skin rash.

Apply oatmeal oil to the rash for immediate relief. Or you can pour a cup of uncooked oatmeal in a bucket of water and then take a bath.

Olive oil is also known to effectively cure skin rash. Apply olive oil directly on the rash regularly. The therapeutic properties of olive oil will cure the skin rash.

You can also apply baking soda to the affected skin area. Press the area gently after applying the baking soda to get relief from irritation and cure the rash.

In a blender take 15 basil leaves, 1-tablespoon olive oil, 2 garlic cloves, salt and pepper and blend thoroughly. Apply this mixture on the rashes.

Natural Cures For Kidney Stones

One of the best ways in which you can get to know if you are having kidney stones is if you have excruciating pain in the lower back and abdomen along with pain during urination. In most cases, the pain is because of the formation of stones, which settle in the urinary tract. 

To understand why and how the kidney stones form, it is necessary to know the function of the kidney. Its main function is to excrete the various wastes that get generated from metabolism. These include urea, uric acid and various others. The minerals and salts in the kidney are dissolved by a substance that is found in the urine and so they are prevented from being solids. However, sometimes due to dehydration or other factors, the concentration of the salts and minerals exceeds the solubility level and results in the formation of stones. The size of the stones varies from grit, sand size to the size of a bird’s egg and it generally occurs during the middle age. 

To cure yourself, you can adopt the natural remedies and these are very effective, if the kidney stones are not large in size. Natural cures also strengthen your kidney and improve its overall function. However, you should not miss on professional consultation. To know more on the various natural cures for kidney stones, go through the article given below.

Home Remedies For Kidney Stones 

Basil leaves strengthens the kidneys. It is also very effective in curing kidney stones. Mix one tablespoon of basil juice with one tablespoon of honey and take it for a period of six months, daily. It removes the stones from the urinary tract.

Regular intake of celery prevents the chances of formation of stones in the kidney.

Daily intake of a ripe fresh apple is very effective in treating the stones in the kidney. This is based on the fact that in countries where cider is a common beverage, the cases of kidney stones are nearly non-existent.

Grapes have a high water and potassium salt content and so it has exceptional diuretic value. It also has low albumin and sodium chloride content. This makes it very valuable in case of kidney troubles and so is an excellent cure for stones in the kidney.

The seeds of sour and sweet pomegranates are very good in curing kidney stones. Grind a tablespoon of pomegranate seeds into a fine paste. Then make a soup using two tablespoons of horse gram and into it, mix the paste. Drink this soup regularly to dissolve the stones in the kidneys.

The concentration of water in watermelon is the highest among all fruits. It is also a rich source of potassium salts. Eat watermelon or drink its juice everyday to cure yourself of kidney stones.

Another effective home remedy for kidney stones is dried French beans. Remove the seeds and then slice the pods. Take four liters of water and set it to heat. To the water add sixty grams of the pods and then boil in low heat for six hours slowly. Now strain the liquid in fine muslin and then cool for eight hours. Strain the liquid again in another piece of muslin. Take a glass of this solution every two hours throughout the day.

You can also boil two figs in a cup of water and drink it in an empty stomach the first thing in the morning.

Take a cup of radish leaves as a salad twice a day to get cured from kidney stones.

Drink a glass of tomato juice with a pinch of salt and pepper in the morning to bolster the kidney and also to rid yourself of kidney stones.

Whole-wheat bread is a rich source of magnesium, which prevents the formation of stones. Add whole wheat bread in your regular diet to steer clear from kidney stones.

Drink plenty of water throughout the day. It is the best home remedy for preventing kidney stones. 

How To Treat A Bee Sting

Honey is probably the sweetest thing on earth. However, the makers of the honey are not all that pleasant. Bees can be horribly deadly or painful if they sting you, depending on whether you are allergic to their venom or not. They can attack you without mercy, and you might just come away from the encounter looking more swollen than their hives. 

The best way to approach bees is by wearing protective clothing. However, there are chances of you getting stung if you are probably going on a trek, or just taking a walk. All that’s needed is a bee which is disturbed. The main point to keep in mind if you are stung by a bee is react quickly. When bees sting they put out a scent that attract other bees. If you happen to be in the vicinity, you will be stung again. 

Bee Sting Treatment 

To being with, put as much distance between yourself and the bee(s) as possible. You don’t want to be stung again!

If there are any stingers embedded in your skin, remove them immediately. Don’t scrape them off. You could just pull them out with your fingers or with a pair of tweezers. If you do not pull the stingers out at the earliest, the effects of the sting will be more potent. Do not squeeze the stinger since it would push more venom into your body.

If you are allergic to bees and do not have any emergency treatment on you, do not wait for symptoms to appear. Go straight to the emergency room.

Watch for any itching, hives, shortness of breath or redness that could appear. If this happens, antihistamines can be used to slow down reactions until you get to the hospital.

If you are not allergic to bees, you would most often find that you would develop local reactions to the sting. These would include swelling, redness, and pain, which will all usually go away quite soon. Swelling may last for a day, for which an ice pack can be applied.

In case of itching at the place of the sting, calamine lotions will help soothe the spot. Antihistamines are also effective.

If you have been stung more than ten times or if you have been stung inside your mouth, nose, or throat, you should go to the emergency room immediately. Shortness of breath is common in these cases, even if you are not allergic to bees.

Pain can be relieved by judicious use of acetaminophen or ibuprofen.

Bee sting swabs are available to dull the pain. This can be applied if there is tenderness at the site of the sting.

If the stinger has been embedded deep into your skin, and if you are unable to remove it, visit a doctor even if you are not allergic to bees.

How To Stop Snoring

Imagine waking up in the middle of the night to a loud shrieking noise. Startled, you look here and there to find what caused the noise, only to find your partner being the source for it. Highly annoyed and irritated, you feel like bashing him/her up for disturbing your sleep, but end up taking an extra pillow over your ear. Unable to sleep all night, you wake up late the next morning. Result - you rush past the daily chores and by the end of the day, you feel damn lazy and tired. You look back and wonder what caused the exhaustion and suddenly remember, it was because of your partner’s snoring that you couldn’t manage a goodnight sleep and thus, felt lethargic and weary all through the day. 

You confess this to your partner, who, in turn, feels ashamed for his snoring problem and promises not to snore again. Relaxed, you get on to the bed and try to sleep only to be woken up yet again by a loud shrieking noise. Damn, you whisper and get really annoyed. But before you wake your partner and start a fight, you need to know that snoring while sleeping is troublesome for not only the person who sleeps beside the snorer, but also for the person who snores. 

A person who snores is said to be sleeping a disturbed unsound sleep and the person who has to hear the other person snoring all night through will for obvious reasons not get proper sleep. Therefore, a solution favorable to all would be to get rid of snoring while sleeping. Before rounding up on the cure for snoring, it is important to identify the causes and decide what you will have to change in your structure and habits to stop snoring.

Causes Of Snoring

• A blocked nasal passage makes breathing hard. This leads to the formation of a vacuum in the throat that leads to snoring.
• Snoring is mostly seen in the middle age or above when the throat muscles constrict leading to a blockage in the airway. 
• People who are fat are more prone to snoring. Fatty tissues are conducive to snoring.
• The sleeping posture also causes snoring. If you sleep flat on the back, the throat muscles relax which blocks the air passage and causes snoring.
• Do you know that a man is more prone to snoring than a woman because a man’s air passage is narrower?
• Excess use of alcohol, cigarettes and several drugs including medicinal drugs leads to the relaxation of body muscles and hence, snoring.
• Ways To Stop Snoring
• It is very vital to keep the nasal passage clear to get rid of the snoring habit. Don’t forget to blow your nose regularly. Cough accumulations in the nose makes it difficult for air to pass through, creating a vacuum in the air passage and therefore, causing snoring.
• Being overweight is one of the prime reasons for snoring. Keep your weight in check. The reduction of fatty tissues in the throat will reduce snoring to a great extent. Therefore, exercise well to lose extra weight and try to keep the kilos in check.
• Snorers can try sleeping without a pillow for some days to check whether snoring reduces. See that your throat muscles are not relaxed when you are lying down.
• Cigarette smoke blocks the air passage and also causes disturbances in the throat and nose membranes to induce snoring. Thus, quitting smoking can greatly help reduce snoring.
• Dry air is not good for snorers. It affects the membranes of the nose and throat in such a way so as to cause snoring. Therefore, if the surrounding air is dry make use of a humidifier.
• You can also go for nasal strips and sprays to stop snoring. The drops should be used during bedtime to clear air passages.
• The CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) is a machine which consists of a mask that you can wear over your nose, while air is being blown into your system via another machine part when you are sleeping.
• For those having serious snoring problem, they can go for surgical procedures like the Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty, Tonsillectomy, the Thermal Ablation Palatoplasty and Adenoidectomy, which remove extra tissues in the air passage and induce free flow of air.
• Opt for devices such as dental and oral appliances and lower jaw positioners. These help to bring the tongue and the lower jaw forward when one is sleeping, thus helping in free breathing.
• Adhere to these ways and stop the snoring habit for good. Have a good night sleep!

How To Reduce Swelling

Medically referred to as Edema, swelling is characterized by an excessive build up of fluids within body tissues which leads to growth of your body parts to twice the size of what they used to be. Injury, infection, eczema, allergic reaction, insect bite, pregnancy, and poor kidney and liver conditions are some of the major causes of swelling. Legs and feet, organs, skin, glands, breasts, and ankles are the areas commonly affected by swelling. Although it is a not a condition to go insane about, however, if the swelling is abrupt and severe, immediate medical attention is called for. 

A prolonged swelling that doesn’t go away even after proper rest and treatment calls for expert medical advise. A number of home based remedies are available to provide you instant relief. However, if the condition and pain still persists, consult a doctor as soon as possible. Continue reading to know about the ways to reduce swelling.

Ways To Reduce Swelling

Apply Ice

Good old chilly way to ease pain ice. Applying ice pack to the swollen area will kick that pain right out of you. Take some cubes from the freezer and put them in a towel and rub it on the affected area, if you don’t have an ice pack.

Drink Water Aplenty

Have lots of water bottles stocked in your refrigerator? Drink them all. Although it’ll have you make hourly visits to the washroom, consuming lots of water would help you get rid of those toxins and bad fluids from your body and will lessen the impact of the swollen area and the pain.

For A Change, Rest!

Yes, you heard it right. Nobody will call you a sloth. Put your feet up if you have a swollen ankle, knee, or foot and rest them. Take the weight off that leg and rest.

Balanced Diet

Consume balanced and proportionate diet. Increase the intake of fruits and vegetables. A healthy you will function more effectively than an unhealthy you. Decrease the intake of salt, as it can absorb quite an amount of fluids inside you and leave you dehydrated. Avoid smoking, alcohol, and caffeine as all of them aggravate swelling.

Hot Cold Therapy

Immediately after the injury, a combination of cold and hot substances rubbed into the affected area is a sure shot technique to lessen the impact of injury and constrain the pain from getting severe. Both hot and cold therapies work in tandem to move that blood out of the affected area and reduce the pain. Always start and end with cold therapy. This is how it goes - cold hot cold hot cold - with 3-5 minutes for each session.

Exercise Regularly

After you’ve got rid of the swelling, make way for regular exercising in your daily routine. Join a gym which has a qualified trainer and a physician. Tell them about your weak muscle areas and your medical history. Regular exercising will open up those muscles and make them immune to severe injuries or swelling in the future. Have your body massaged every fortnight or month and get that soreness in your muscles and stress kicked out of you.

Follow these home remedies to reduce swelling and make your body pain free. Run! Run like the wind!

How To Lower Your Blood Pressure

High blood pressure is very common disease today owing to today’s lifestyle. Also called as hypertension, high blood pressure raison d'être ranges from obesity, lack of exercise, bad food habits, excessive alcohol intake, or smoking. It often runs in the family too. Although the symptoms of high blood pressure can be diagnosed medically, it is called ‘silent disease’ as it doesn’t have any signs or symptoms and is recognized only when the high blood pressure has reached a very advanced or life threatening effect. If you are suffering from high blood pressure, there are certain things, which you can do to lower it. Read on to know the tips for lowering your hypertension.

Tips For Lowering Blood Pressure

There is no alternative to healthy eating. If you want to lower your blood pressure you need to stick to a healthy diet which include wholesome grains, fresh fruits and vegetables and provide right amount of carbohydrates, proteins, minerals and vitamins. You need to strictly avoid foods that are high in cholesterol, fat, and sodium.

Exercise is your best friend if you want to lower your blood pressure. Incorporate exercises in your daily life for at least half an hour. Exercises like cardiovascular exercises, aerobics, strength training, jogging, walking etc will help you lower your high blood pressure.

Stress is one of the main culprits of high blood pressure. Under chronic stress the cardiovascular system, goes in the state of overtaxing which results in high blood pressure. Don’t take unnecessary tensions and learn the stress management skill to help you lower your hypertension.

If you are in a habit of smoking, then you may have to face high blood pressure. Quit smoking, there is no other way of lowering hypertension. With this, also avoid drugs and alcohol. Actually these bad habits, damage many organs in the body which in turn causes the build-up of fluids in the body. These extra fluids cause the heart to beat harder which increases the blood pressure.

People, who have high blood pressure, are generally overweight. It just works on a simple principle that extra weight makes the heart works harder and thus causes high blood pressure. Maintain proper weight and if you are overweight, cut down your weight.

Sodium helps in increasing fluids in the body, which makes the heart beat harder and increase the blood pressure. Salt is the main source of sodium so decrease the salt intake from your diet.

If you already are suffering from high blood pressure then avoid caffeine too. Caffeine is a stimulator, which can raise the blood pressure in the body.

According to one study, meditation along with a good diet helps in stabilizing the heart and helps in lowering the blood pressure. Incorporate yoga too in your daily life for better results.

Lycopene is an antioxidant that helps in lowering the blood pressure. Lycopene is found in tomatoes and many other fruits and vegetables. Increase the intake of fruits and vegetables in your diet. Foods like broccoli also help in lowering blood pressure.

You should certainly add Omega 3 essential fatty acids to your diet. A good source of these is flax oil and cod liver oil. You can also take supplements of fish tablets in your diet.  

Incorporate the DASH diet in your lifestyle to help you lower the high blood pressure. DASH stands for "Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension." which lays the emphasis on eating whole grains, poultry, fish, and nuts, fruits, vegetables, and low fat dairy foods with low saturated fat, total fat, and cholesterol.

There are many herbs, which helps in lowering the blood pressure in your body. Rauwolfia, Turmeric, Ginkgo Biloba, Hawthorn Berry, Maitake, Olive Leaf, etc are well known for their beneficial assistance in case of high blood pressure.

How To Get Rid Of Pink Eye

As the name suggests, pink eye is a medical condition, wherein the color of the eyes turns pink due to viral or bacterial infection. Usually it occurs due to an allergen, which refers to a general irritation and redness of the eye and the surrounding membranes. It is also referred to as conjunctivitis and can also occur due to lack of Vitamin A. Considering the fact that conjunctivitis can occur due to so many varied reasons, it becomes, quite essential to find out the reason and cure it quickly. Given below are some vital tips for getting rid of pink eyes.

Home Remedy for Pink Eyes 

• Try to figure out if your pink eye condition is due to a specific allergen. It can be dust, pollen or animal dander. In case yes, then try to stay away from them.
• Washing your eyes with cold running water is the best way to eliminate contaminants out of your eyes.
• Apply warm washcloths on each eye repeatedly. Do not use your hands as they contain bacteria.
• Wash your hands thoroughly if you wish to apply them to your eyes for any purpose. Dirty hands will introduce more bacteria, aggravating the condition.
• You can use an antibiotic ointment or eye drop to get rid of the bacteria in your eye. However, it should be under the supervision of a doctor.
• To get rid of the pain and itchiness, you can apply boric acid mixed in warm water to your eyes.
• Do not wear contact lenses while you are suffering from pink eyes, as it may irritate your eye tissues.
• You can use apples for treating pink eyes. Take 1 tablespoon infusion that is gold petals in 125 ml of boiling water. Strain the liquid and simmer one peeled finely chopped apple in it. When the apple become soft, drain it and let it cool. On cooling, put it in between two layers of gauze and apply on your eyes for 10 minutes
• You can also use a small quantity of fresh castor oil and put it along the eyelids.
• You can also use almond, apricot and coconut oils.
• Freshly crushed mint leaves are also quite beneficial for pink eyes.
• If the symptoms persist or worsen, consult your doctor immediately.

How To Cure Insomnia

Insomnia, also known as sleeplessness, is the inability to fall asleep or stay asleep for a consistent period of time even when the body is trying to shut down on its own. Having said that, insomnia is not a disease but a symptom, and it affects all age groups. However, the severity of it only increases with age. Each one of us, at some point of time in our lives, has had trouble going to sleep or maintaining it for a good period but that doesn’t mean that we are sleep deprived. Once in a while, it is natural to be unable to fall asleep. 

But facing sleeplessness constantly is something you should give a serious thought to. Unlike other medical conditions, insomnia doesn’t kill the body, but problems like excess fatigue, anxiety, irritability, depression, and poor concentration arising out of sleep deprivation are no less than a slow poison taking over the body and making us impaired. 

Those who have insomnia or have had it in the past know that it puts one in a purgatorial situation, neither here nor there. But it should be noted that deliberately staying awake doesn’t put you in a state of insomnia. It’s just a bad decision to be doing that unless it’s once in a blue moon. Treatment for insomnia depends on the state of it and their causes; so before moving on to it let’s discuss about the types of insomnia and their causes.

Types Of Insomnia And Their Causes

Transient insomnia generally lasts for less than a week, and is caused by stressful situations (divorce, death, exams etc.), jet lag, and changes in work hours, uncomfortable room temperature, and presence of some medical illness.

Acute or short term insomnia generally lasts for less than a month, and is caused by above disorders when they prolong themselves coupled with physical illnesses like pain, breathing problems, diarrhea, nasal and chest congestion, and fever.

Chronic or long term insomnia lasts for more than a month, and is caused by both psychological disorders like depression, anxiety, some sort of trauma, schizophrenia; and physical disorders like long term pain and fatigue, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), asthma, sleep apnea, Parkinson’s disease, and Alzheimer’s disease.

Any of the above type of insomnia can also be caused by medications being prescribed for the disorders and intake of caffeine, nicotine, or alcohol before going to bed.

Treatment For Insomnia

The treatment for insomnia begins with proper diagnoses with your complete medical history in the hands of a qualified practitioner. The focus will be on a thorough examination and identification of the contributors to the problem. Most of the times, merely curing these causes is enough to induce sleep back into your life. Cure for insomnia can be provided by both non-medical and medical treatments.

Non Medical Treatment

Non medical treatment calls for designing and implementing proper sleep hygiene including exercising, shunning caffeinated beverages or alcoholic beverages and smoke. Eating properly before going to bed, adjusting the room temperature and lighting, following relaxation therapies (meditation, walking before going to bed, or light music), avoiding sleeping in the daytime and maintaining a regular sleep routine will definitely make a difference.

Medical Treatment

Medical treatment works best when combined with non-medical treatment. Medications like benzodiazepine and nonbenzodiazepine sedatives, ramelteon, antihistamines, melatonin, antidepressants, and valerian may be prescribed by the practitioner depending on the diagnoses and your current and previous medical state.

It’s better to seek treatment for insomnia than hoping and waiting for sleep to fall over you. Unless you eliminate the cause for your sleep deprivation, it’s no good waiting for sleep!