Home Remedies For Sunburn
Excessive exposure to the ultra-violet (UV) rays of the sun can cause sunburn. Ultra-violet rays are of two types – ultra-violet A (UVA) which affects the outer layers of the skin, and ultra-violet B (UVB), which affects the deeper layers of the skin. Both are harmful and cause damage to the skin.
Sunburn can happen, not only by direct sunlight, but also when sunlight is reflected off snow, metal, sand or water, all of which act as intensifiers. As in the case of other burns, sunburn too is classified as first degree burns, second degree burns or third degree burns.
Symptoms: In first degree cases of sunburn, the affected skin becomes red, tender and painful to the touch. This happens within a few hours of being exposed to the sun. After 3 or 4 days, the affected skin becomes dark, and then eventually peels off.
In cases of second degree sunburns, the reddening of the skin is accompanied by extreme pain and swelling, and sometimes blisters too, may appear, since the burn has gone into the underlying layer of the skin. Fever, nausea, vomiting and chills may also accompany it.
Home Remedies:
• Prevention is said to be the best cure. The first step is to prevent getting sunburned. The sun is strongest between 11.00am to 4.00 pm. Try not to go out during this time. If it is essential for you to be out, protect yourself from the sun as much as possible by wearing a hat, scarf, gloves and sunglasses. Wear light colored clothing. Use a good sunscreen lotion, with an SPF (sun protecting factor) of at least 15 or higher.
• Sunburn also leads to dehydration, so drink plenty of water and other fluids to combat it. Raw and fresh fruit and vegetable juices are especially helpful, since they also replenish the isotonic salts in the body.
• Tomatoes: Mash some tomatoes and apply immediately after coming in from the sun. They cool the skin as well act as a bleach against sun tan. You can add a little buttermilk to the tomato mash.
• Tea: Soak fresh tea bags, or take your used ones and refrigerate until cool. Apply them to the sun burnt areas. The tannic acid is especially helpful in drawing out the heat. You can also make a pot of tea, chill it and soak towels in it, which you then apply on the burnt areas.
• Aloe Vera: This is very soothing. Either apply fresh aloe vera gel, straight from the plant if you have it at home, or any aloe vera based lotion.
• Oatmeal: You can make a paste of oatmeal with the white of an egg, and apply on the skin. Leave for some time before washing off. Or you can also add two cups of oatmeal to a tub of bath water and soak in it for at least a half hour.
• Cornstarch or baking powder: Both can be used in similar fashion. You can dissolve 2 cups in bath water, and soak in it. Or you can make a smooth paste and apply to the areas of the skin which have sunburn.
• Cucumbers, potatoes or strawberries: Grate the cucumber and apply directly on the skin. You may also mix it with some milk to make a smooth paste before applying. Ditto with strawberries and potatoes.
• Milk or yogurt: These dairy products are also very helpful. Soak small towels in chilled yogurt or milk, and apply directly to the burn areas. You can also mix 4 to 5 cups in your bath water and soak in it.
Home Remedies For High Blood Pressure
An increasing number of people are suffering from high blood pressure, but less than one third of them realize that they suffer from it.
Symptoms: High blood pressure happens very gradually, and since there are very few symptoms at the onset, it is difficult to diagnose it.
But if you suffer from nosebleeds, headaches or dizziness with regular frequency, you should consult a doctor.
Causes: While there is no one particular cause which may cause high blood pressure, there are certain parameters which may lead to it:
• Overweight has often been related to high blood pressure, as more pressure is exerted on the walls of the arteries.
• An inactive or sedentary lifestyle increases the heart rate, which puts extra load on the heart, and may lead to high blood pressure.
• Too much consumption of salt or alcohol, and smoking can lead to heart disease.
• Stress is another factor.
• Age or family history can also be blamed.
• Other conditions like thyroid disease, oral contraceptives, hormonal disorders or kidney also increases the chances of high blood pressure.
Home Remedies: While medication is advisable in extreme cases, home remedies with a focus on dietary patterns and lifestyle changes works wonders in reducing high blood pressure.
• Substitute hydrogenated fats with monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. You can take butter and ghee made from cow’s milk, but not buffalo milk.
• Include plenty of fruits and leafy green vegetables in your diet, to give you more fiber. Apples, guavas, banana and oranges are especially recommended as are drumsticks, bitter gourds and yellow pumpkin, which have the effect of reducing blood pressure.
• Carrot and spinach juice is especially helpful in lowering blood pressure. Take it daily.
• Honey is beneficial in this condition. You can mix it either with a teaspoon of gooseberry juice or onion juice or lemon juice. Take it every morning on an empty stomach for best results.
• Avoid red meats, sweets, chocolates, alcohol and smoking.
• Do not eat spicy foods and take less salt.
Cumin seeds and ginger are a wonderful home remedy for treating high blood pressure. Powder 2 teaspoons of cumin, and mix it with a teaspoon each of ginger juice and honey
• Fenugreek seeds are also effective for reducing blood pressure. Boil 2 tablespoons of the seeds in 2 glasses of water. Leave to cool, and then strain and drink at least twice every day.
Curry leaves are also beneficial in this condition. Boil a handful of curry leaves in 2 glasses of water. Let it cool, strain and drink the water.
• Don’t throw away the seed of the water melon. Dry them and then crush them into a fine powder. Take a tablespoon of it and let it steep in a glass of water. Strain and drink.
Exercise regularly in order to bring down your weight, and regulate your heart beat. Yoga is especially useful in reducing high blood pressure.
Home Remedies For Gout
Gout is a kind of arthritis, and is characterized by severe inflammation and pain in the joints, caused by excess deposits of uric acid crystals (monosodium urate). These crystals are unable to be flushed away by the kidneys, and instead get deposited in the various joints, causing swelling and pain. Attacks can be severe and sudden, and occur usually at night. General a single joint is attacked at a time. While most patients commonly complain of the attack in their big toe (first metatarsophalangeal), it also affects the joints of the elbows, wrists, hands, knees and feet.
While gout generally attacks males in middle age, post-menopausal women too are sometimes prone to it.
Causes: In some cases, gout is a genetically passed down abnormality, where the body cannot process the uric acid. Otherwise, gout has also been linked to kidney disease, atherosclerosis, diabetes and blood pressure. But it is mostly blamed on an unhealthy diet pattern.
Home Remedies have been passed down from the 2000 years ever since this disease was first identified, and have proved quite effective in handling the pain and sudden attacks. Diet changes are important to tackle gout.
• First of all, drink plenty of water and fluids, since this will help to flush away the uric acid crystals.
• Bananas are rich in phosphorus, which combat the formation of uric acid crystals. Eating a couple of bananas every day is useful.
• Cherries, apples and strawberries are also beneficial in controlling symptoms of gout.
• Along with apples, apple cider and vinegar are also beneficial in keeping gout under control. Mix 2 teaspoons of organic cider with an equal quantity of honey and consume it at least once a day.
• Vitamin C has been known to counteract the onset of gout. Include plenty of citrus fruits, green pepper, tomatoes and green leafy vegetables in your diet.
• Lemon juice is also rich in Vitamin C, and helps dissolves the uric acid deposits which cause gout. Drink lemon juice diluted in a glass of water, at least three times a day. This also acts as a diuretic and helps to flush out the kidneys.
• The juice of French beans is supposed to reduce the inflammation caused by gout.
• To bring relief from the swelling, inflammation and pain of a gout attack, apply ice cubes to the area. It may feel a little uncomfortable in the beginning, but it will help to reduce the swelling.
• You can also soak the affected area in warm water to which you have added 2 cups of Epsom salts. Soak for at least 30 minutes, or till the water becomes cold.
• Instead of Epsom salts, you can add half a cup of grated ginger.
• A mustard pack can be useful in reducing the inflammation. Make a paste of equal quantities of whole wheat flour and mustard powder, and apply on the affected area.
• Apply warm castor oil with a soft flannel cloth, and then use a heating pad over it.
• Another home-made mixture which brings relief is a cupful each of vinegar and water, to which a teaspoon of pepper has been added. Dab it on with a cloth and keep in position for about 2 hours.
• Regular exercise focusing on the muscles and gout-affected joints will help to maintain flexibility and mobility.
Home Remedies For Flu
Influenza or flu as its most commonly called is quite similar to a common cold and it’s often difficult to distinguish between the two. But although the symptoms like sore throat, cough and running nose, can be confused, they are actually caused by different sets of organisms, and their treatment too is different. Flu is more severe and affects the nose, throat, bronchial tubes, lungs and middle ear.
• A cold usually lasts for a week, while flu may go on for longer, about two weeks, and is followed by extreme fatigue.
• Fever rarely accompanies a cold, but high fever is always present in flu, and the onset is quite sudden.
• Headaches occur rarely in a cold, but in flu it’s a prominent symptom.
• Sever body aches accompany flu, but in a cold, they are rare, and if they do occur, they’re usually quite slight.
• While a runny nose is part and parcel of a common cold, it may or may not happen with flu.
• Cold are always accompanied by a sore, hoarse throat, but it’s not always so with a flu.
• Flu is usually accompanied by severe cough, which takes a long time to subside. Coughs accompanying a cold are less severe.
Treatment: These days, vaccines have been developed for flu, but since there are more than 200 types of viruses which can cause this disease, it is difficult to immunize oneself totally. Besides, since they are made from chicken embryos, they can cause severe allergic reaction to those who are allergic to eggs.
Over the counter drugs are also not advised, because they suppress the body’s immune system.
Home Remedies Work out the Best:
• Fluid Intake: Drinking plenty of fluids is very essential to prevent dehydration. Drink water or juices at short intervals to keep yourself hydrated. Hot drinks also provide relief to a sore and itchy throat.
• Ginger and pepper tea have been found to be very helpful in alleviating symptoms. Boil crushed ginger and a few pinches of black pepper in water. Leave to steep for some time. Strain and mix with honey before drinking it.
• Honey is especially helpful. You can mix it in tea, or even lick a teaspoon of honey, sprinkled with a tiny pinch of black pepper powder.
• Lemon and honey are also beneficial. Squeeze a wedge of lemon in warm water and sweeten with honey. Drink this at frequent intervals.
• Sucking on lozenges is also helpful, because the flow of saliva keeps the throat moistened. You may suck on hard candy or medicated lozenges.
• Drink hot soup or broth in small quantities. This will not only ease the scratchy feeling in the throat, it also provides nutrition to fight the virus.
• Gargling with warm salt water gives a lot of relief to a sore throat.
• Taking heat pads will ease the pain if you have tired achy limbs and joints.
• Soak your feet in warm salt water. You may also consider adding a teaspoon of dry mustard in it.
• Most important – take as much rest as possible to help your body fight the organisms.
