Tennis Elbow - A pain that takes the swing out

My athlete brother suffered from the tennis elbow, and it was so painful. Medically it is known as lateral epicondylitis. I later realized that though the name is associated with tennis, anyone who uses his elbow continuously to lift things could suffer from it.

The tennis elbow occurs with the common extensor tendon Lateral epicondyle of the humerus is injured to the point of possibly tearing. It is usually seen in seen young sportsmen and unfortunately, it has actually ended the career of many. For older people it sometimes becomes chronic.

My poor brother was in so much pain, if anyone even brushed by the exterior of the elbow, he would wince in agony. Soon enough the pain shot through his arm to the forearm, moving the wrist became impossible, even lifting up his coffee cup was excruciating. Now he is a tennis player, so he often wondered whether he would be able to play again. His concerned coach took him to the best sports doctor.

There was a course of anti-inflammatory drugs, painkillers and for a while, he wore a brace. He worked with a physiotherapist, who put him through a range of exercises including yoga. Some people get a steroid injection, but his doctor was against it, because he felt that physiotherapy was the most critical component of the treatment. Sometimes, a correction surgery is needed if the problem becomes chronic. For my brother physiotherapy was enough.

A range of home remedies was also given, like an ice pack that was alternated with a warm water soak helped ease the pain. This hot and cold treatment is a very effective cure. Some exercises were taught to stretch the forearm, and one of the most useful was the yoga pose of Laghu Vajrasana. These helped decrease tenderness so that the stiffness slowly vanished. Regular massage with reflexology techniques strengthened the area.

Added intake of vitamin C and E aided healing and reduced the inflammation. Along with calcium supplements, my brother was advised calcium rich foods like milk, spinach and more.

He is now playing tennis again though he had to change his serve a little. Most of all he has defeated the tennis elbow and the advantage is his.

The Cough and the Fever Never Quite Goes

Your cold seems to have gone, when suddenly you have this irritating cough and a fever that comes and goes. You feel weak, even sitting around seems too much of a task. The song You give me fever is no longer something you wish to dance to!

A visit to the doctor quickly reveals that you have bronchitis or an inflammation of the bronchial tubes. These are the air passages that extend from the windpipe into the lungs.

The disease is caused by a virus or bacteria, living in the polluted city can aggravate it. Smokers had better watch out, as you are more prone to it than anyone else. Basically, the cells of the bronchial-lining tissue get irritated, so the tiny hairs or cilia within stops trapping and eliminating pollutants. The air passages are congested by waste and a heavy secretion of mucus develops  to result in bronchitis. Depending on your condition you could have acute or chronic bronchitis which means varying degrees of antibiotics are prescribed. Watch out, as some of them are pretty strong.

There are those who cure bronchitis with home remedies, a friend of mine has a whole list of cures. She has tried these out in a recent bout of the illness. Highly recommended is turmeric, her formula is half a teaspoon of turmeric in half a glass of milk, two or three times daily, taken on an empty stomach.

Another cure that she swears by is ginger. She recommends fresh ginger boiled in water or tea and drunk to relive the symptoms and clear the air passages.

There is also a home made cough expectorant she makes with it. Take half a teaspoon ginger, pepper, and cloves powder, and mix it with honey, take it three times a day to reduce cough, clear the air passages and even bring down the fever.

Onion has been used for centuries for its expectorant properties. It helps in liquefying phlegm and prevents its further formation. You could try taking one teaspoon of raw onion juice, first thing in the morning.

It is also suggested that patients are given plenty of fluid and the bedroom is humidified to soothe the irritated membranes. Productive cough needs to encouraged, especially among children, as it clears the lungs. Pat your child gently on the back to cough up the mucus, keep tissues at handy. Now here is a word of warning, bronchitis is contagious so handle patients with care. Plenty of hand washing is recommended and so are facial masks.

Natural Cures for Dandruff�

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Ever felt disgusted with the continuous itch in your scalp? You feel as if you can rip off your skin and be free of this non-stop itch. It might be dandruff. Dandruff is a very common scalp condition that scares the daylights out of many image conscious women and men in the beauty industry.

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Dandruff is also known as seborrheic dermatitis. Dandruff causes inflammation of the superficial layers of the skin. This causes scales on the scalp and other parts of the body. Did you know that this scalp inflammation is caused by your body�s reaction to yeast called Pityrosporum and products that break down oils?

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No need to worry though. Cures are available for dandruff and if you are allergic or are a strict believer in natural cures, you can go the natural way. But before going on to any cure for dandruff, be sure to follow some simple ways to keep this menace at bay. You should:

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Avoid fried food
Reduce intake of dairy products, sugars and chocolates
Increase intake of green leafy vegetables and raw food items
Regular intake of Vitamin B complex

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While these methods would minimize the occurrence of dandruff, it is best to consult a physician. On the home front, you can try out these methods to reduce that itch on your head.

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A very popular remedy to cure dandruff is to use apple cider vinegar. Mix 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar in 1/4 cup water. You may apply this mixture to your scalp with a brush or cotton. Wrap your hair and scalp with a towel. Remove after 20 minutes and wash your hair. You may want to try this once or twice a week. Be sure to rinse out the vinegar properly.

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Another method is to use flaxseed oil. Apply flaxseed oil to the scalp and keep throughout the night. Wash off in the morning. This soothes and nourishes your scalp. You can try this remedy once a week. Else, if you are running short of time, try adding a few drops of tea tree oil to your shampoo. Rinse your hair nicely.