It’s Entirely Natural - Articles

Are you are suffering from symptoms of the common cold? You may be experiencing head and nasal congestion, sore throat, coughing, headache, sneezing and watery eyes, How to cure it? In most cases, the only ‘cure’ is to tell you that you will just have to wait it out. There are better ways to treat a cold, and this article can help you learn some alternative ways to do so.

I am here to tell you otherwise. The common cold is an infection of the upper respiratory system caused by a virus. Contrary to what you may have been told, cold weather does not cause colds, although most are caught in fall and winter seasons. While the cold doesn’t cause a ‘cold,’ the viruses that cause them thrive in cold weather and low humidity.

Americans spend more than one billion dollars every year on nonprescription medicines for coughs and colds. These products provide temporary relief and in no way address the root of the problem. What can you do about the symptoms of the common cold? There are some easy and effective holistic treatments that do alleviate symptoms.

If you are unfamiliar with reflexology, this will help you to understand how it works, and how it can help you cure your cold. Reflexology is the practice of applying pressure in a strategic manner to areas of the feet and hands, and even the face and ears.

Reflexologists see the hands and feet as an open door to the bodies systems. Each section of the feet and hands correlate to a specific organ. By stimulating nerves on specific areas of the feet and hands, you can stimulate blood flow and eliminate toxin buildup in the corresponding organs and systems of the body. And because reflexology works to put the body in a state of well-being, it is beneficial to every system in the body.

Although reflexologists cannot diagnose or claim to cure a sickness or disease, their results speak for themselves. In fact, celebrities pay an arm and a leg for just a few minutes of reflexology. Not only because it is a beneficial tool for relaxation and stress relief, but it is also an effective tool for improving circulation, relieving pain, and as an immune and nervous system stimulator. In fact, many people with illnesses such as allergies; chronic sinus problems and frequent colds; acid reflux; migraines; PMS; menopause; insomnia; fertility problems and even arthritis have been helped tremendously by reflexology treatments.

As far as cold symptoms are concerned, you can alleviate symptoms by working specific areas of the feet. In doing so, mucus and will drain from the nose and sinuses. It will also break up congestion in the chest and eliminate waste material. Furthermore, facial reflexology, developed by the Vietnamese, can also alleviate the same symptoms, and in some cases even quicker than foot therapy.

If you suffer from frequent colds and flu symptoms, you owe it to yourself to seek the expertise of a trained reflexologist. When you get to the root of the problem, you will recover much quicker than if you simply mask the problem. Once you try reflexology, chances are you will be hooked when you witness the affects for yourself.

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Scott Meyers is a staff writer for It’s Entirely Natural, a resource for helping you achieve a naturally healthy body, mind, and spirit. You may contact our writers through the web site. Follow this link for more information on Reflexology.

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Tags: blood flow, cold, Fertility, headache, Menopause, Reflexology, stress

Did you know that problems such as lack of concentration, headaches, skin problems, fatigue, backache, lung, and sinus congestion could all be caused by a build up of toxins in the body? If you are unaware of the importance of detoxification, please read this article.

Toxins are everywhere. The food we eat, the products we clean ourselves with, as well as the air we breathe all contribute to the build up of toxins in our bodies. Without effectively eliminating those toxins from our organs, they will eventually wreak havoc and we risk contracting a number of illnesses. In a society that relies heavily on chemically-laden prescription drugs, psychotherapy and surgical procedures to “heal” the sick, it is more than time to put matters into your own hands. Pursue a strategy of detoxification—it will help you to stay healthy!

When the digestive system experiences imbalances, the whole body is affected. Most diseases and even common problems such as poor concentration, constipation and gas result from having digestive system malfunctions. So, what causes digestive malfunction and imbalance? There are many causes, but stress is the most common and most destructive. Stress targets the digestive system and if it gets a hold there, the rest of the body is in for a rough ride. According to a number of research studies, most diseases start from a digestive system problem. To cure the diseases of today, we must dig into the digestive system and fix the problem at the source.

Reflexology presents a solution to this common problem of toxin buildup in the body. Reflexology applies pressure strategically to points (or to ‘reflexes’ of the feet and hands), which are thought to correspond to specific body organs. By stimulating nerves on specific areas of the feet and hands, we can stimulate blood flow and eliminate toxin buildup in the corresponding organs and systems of the body.

Reflexology is not only effective for self-healing, but it also is known as an effective detoxification procedure as well. And maybe most importantly in today’s society, Reflexology can be free, if you are willing to learn the techniques yourself. Yes, unlike our current healthcare system, reflexology therapy is available to everyone!

Studies have been done that show that lack of concentration could be due to heavy metal buildup in the body. My daughter for example, suffers from ADHD and bipolar disorder. When tested for heavy metal toxicity, she was high in copper and mercury very low in zinc. When she was given zinc supplements and taken off vitamins that contain copper, her condition did improve dramatically. In addition, she benefited from a colon cleansing in order to reduce the amount of mercury buildup.

Reflexology treatment along with a good diet can make a substantial difference in concentration ability; sleep problems and many other common health complaints. I always advise that people at least go to one reflexology session to feel the difference for themselves. No matter what your physical or emotional problem may be chances are you will be hooked after just one treatment. In fact, many people find that they want to learn the techniques for themselves so that they can experience the benefits on a regular basis.

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Scott Meyers is a staff writer for It’s Entirely Natural, a resource for helping you achieve a naturally healthy body, mind, and spirit. You may contact our writers through the web site. Follow this link for more information on Reflexology.

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Tags: blood flow, Colon Cleansing, constipation, Detoxification, diet, fatigue, headache, Reflexology, self healing, sleep, stress, toxins, vitamins

Since time immemorial, people have been using lavender. Lavender is actually a shrub and its branches grow up to sixty centimeters. Widely alluded to as a natural cure for various ailments and used in herbal medicines, the lavender’s name is derived from the Latin word “lavarre” which means, “to wash”. It is also indigenous to the mountain zones of the Mediterranean and thrives in stony environment where there is lots of sunlight. In Europe, this herb may be found aplenty in the wild throughout the southern part. The lavender’s narrow, grayish green leaves are covered in a silver blanket-like substance and its leaves are usually oblong and attach directly at the base in spiral-like patterns.

The lavender has a reputation of being a useful wound herb and as an effective expectorant. In European folk medicine, it is known for the former. The most common types of healing lavenders include L. angustifolia and L. spica. While the most commonly used variety is the French lavender, L. stoechas. Even the lavender’s flowers have also been found useful and can be used to create an array of herbal medicines.

Known to contain tannins, volative oils, coumarins, triterpernoids and flavonoids, the lavender’s flowers are usually described as cooling and mainly dry and are well regarded for its ability to promote good bile flow. Moreover, they are also well known as a relaxant, antispasmodic, circulatory stimulant, and antiseptic, a tonic for the nervous system, an analgesic and a carminative. Because it supposedly causes calmness, soothe and anti-convulsive effects, the lavender herb may also be used to treat insomnia, abdominal complaints, rheumatism, anxiety, depression, loss of appetite, and mood disturbances.

Lavender is also popular for its essential oils. These oils are especially popular aromatic essential oils and a lot of aromatherapy aficionados use these. In fact, the mere act of inhaling lavender induces healing! Recommended by herbalists, lavender essential oil can be used to treat a large array of illnesses and ailments and thus is highly suggested as an integral addition to any household first aid kit.

Lavender essential oil can be used to make healing creams. Simply put a few drops of the said oil to a cream that is chamomile-based. The produced cream can be used to treat skin problems like eczema. A few drops of the lavender essential oil mixed with a few drops of water, when mixed, can be used to remedy scalds, burns, and sunburn. This is a handy must-have for beach lovers or people who want to bask in the sun.

The lavender essential oil can also be used as chest rub. All you have to do is add a millimeter of the said oil to 5 drops of chamomile oil, mix them, and rub onto the chest. Lavender essential oil is known to cure bronchitis spasms and even symptoms of asthma.

The lavender essential oil can also be used for massages. The oil can help ease the pain from the muscles and when rubbing it on to the temples and nape of the neck, tension from headache and migraine can also be avoided.

Yet another use for the lavender is hair rinse. When you dilute 5-10 drops of lavender essential oil in water, one can treat hair lice and nit problems.

Despite these favorable uses for lavender, however, people especially pregnant women should still be cautious as high doses of lavender in any form have been shown to be a strong uterine stimulant.

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Scott Meyers is a staff writer for It’s Entirely Natural, a resource for helping you achieve a naturally healthy body, mind, and spirit. You may contact our writers through the web site. Follow this link for more information on Herbal Remedies.

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Tags: anxiety, Depression, flavonoids, headache, Herbal Remedies, lavender

Shiatsu is a type of pain relief that evolved from Oriental Therapy and has been around for an estimated 5000 years. Shiatsu is a healing art that makes use of assisted stretching techniques as well as pressure, and it is comparable to other types of holistic therapies such as acupressure, osteopathy, massage, physiotherapy, lymphatic drainage, etc. Shiatsu is a kind of healing treatment that is effective at stimulating lymphatic fluid flow as well as the circulation of blood. The practice of shiatsu is also effective at releasing toxins and tensions from the muscles and stimulating the useful system of hormones into energetic action as well as the Immune system. Shiatsu goes to work on the autonomic nervous system and makes it possible for a person to relax as deeply as possible In order to facilitate the necessary process of healing.

Shiatsu has been used to treat a number of health problems including anxiety, back pain, headaches, Insomnia, constipation, skin problems and many others. The number one thing shiatsu is good for is decreasing and relieving stress levels as well as relaxing the demanding work of the nervous system and encouraging the immune system and the circulatory systems to operate to their optimum best. Any stress related disorder can be greatly helped by the regular practice of shiatsu, such as problems with the digestive system, back pain, headaches and Insomnia.

Shiatsu is beneficial in stimulating the hormone system and also plays a crucial role in stimulating the digestive system and the reproductive system. Shiatsu can help free a person from some, and sometimes all, of the symptoms that accompany many health problems, and it is effective at correcting behavioral imbalances in the body as well as postural imbalances that have been around for a long period of time and can be deemed as chronic. Shiatsu can make it possible for the awareness of the mind and body connection to be improved upon and for an improved sense of well-being and a peace of mind that is as strong and healthy as it possibly can be.

Sometimes all it hopefully takes is one session of practicing shiatsu to get rid of a health problem but some people prefer to have a number of shiatsu sessions. Shiatsu makes it possible to boost the energy flow along all channels of the body. After practicing shiatsu it is highly recommended by alternative healthcare practitioners that you make some healthy alterations to your daily diet and incorporate as much exercise into your life as possible.

Be aware that shiatsu brings on a tremendous relaxation response in the body and through that it elicits a healing reaction to kick into gear. It is common to experience symptoms after practicing shiatsu - such as the feeling that you are coming down with the flu or a head cold accompanied by aches and pains as well as headaches. This may not be comfortable, but it is very normal and is the body’s ways of ridding itself of toxins so do not be alarmed if you develop these types of symptoms. The symptoms should recede in a day or two and the more shiatsu treatments you have the fewer symptoms you will experience.

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Scott Meyers is a staff writer for It’s Entirely Natural, a resource for helping you achieve a naturally healthy body, mind, and spirit. You may contact our writers through the web site. Follow this link for more information on Massage Therapy.

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Tags: acupressure, anxiety, autonomic nervous system, constipation, headache, immune system, insomnia, Massage Therapy, stress, toxins

Jasmine has long been loved for its wonderful scent. This climbing plant blooms with one of the most aromatic flowers in the garden.

The jasmine plant was first introduced in Europe in the 16th century where it quickly gained immense popularity because of its scent. French perfumers especially took an interest this lovely climbing plant.

In addition to its scent, the jasmine plant also has healing properties. It is also used as a well-known cleansing remedy. In China, Jasmine tea has been a long-standing healing favorite. The taste of the jasmine plant is alternately described as astringent, pungent, bitter, and slightly cooling.

The jasmine plant contains alkaloids, including linalool. Jasmine also contains salicylic acid, which is the active component of aspirin.

The jasmine plant has many actions attributed to it. Its flowers have been known as an aphrodisiac, an astringent, a bitter but relaxing nervine, an analgesic, a sedative, and a plant which helps encourage milk flow. The essential oil derived from the jasmine plant is thought to operate as an antidepressant, an antiseptic, an antispasmodic, an aphrodisiac, a sedative, and a uterine tonic.

There are two main components that are used from the jasmine plants: its flowers, and its essential oil. The jasmine plant flowers have been used in Ayurvedic medicine for hundreds of years. In Ayurvedic medicine, the jasmine flowers are known as jati, and it is regarded as a sattvic tonic, which encourages the principles of light, harmony, and increased perception, all principles that are associated with sattvic, which is one of the three qualities of health in traditional Ayurvedic medicine. The sattvic element of the jasmine flower is also thought to emphasize the nature of love and compassion. The jasmine flowers are also thought to work as a mild aphrodisiac for women. Jati is also used in traditional Ayurvedic medicine to reduce fevers and to fortify the immune system.

The flowers of the jasmine plant are also used to make an aromatic tea. The Chinese have been using Arabian jasmine since at least AD 300 to scent teas. The flowers of the Arabian jasmine plant are known in China as mo li, and they are highly regarded in China as a scenting agent. In traditional Chinese medicine and practice, the Arabian jasmine flowers were placed alongside heat-dried green tea so that the green tea would absorb the scent of the jasmine flowers. These days, commercial tea makers simply mix the jasmine flower petals with the regular tea.

Jasmine tea infusions are recommended for treating infections, urinary inflammation and fevers, much as aspirin is used to reduce pain and fevers. The jasmine flowers can be combined nicely with lemon balm or skullcap to create a calming, relaxing tea. A wash made from infused jasmine tea flowers can also be used to bathe scrapes and cuts. Jasmine flower compresses can also be made to treat heat stroke, headaches, or anxiety. Massage oil can also be created by diluting jasmine oil with almond oil an applying to the skin.

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Scott Meyers is a staff writer for It’s Entirely Natural, a resource for helping you achieve a naturally healthy body, mind, and spirit. You may contact our writers through the web site. Follow this link for more information on Herbal Remedies.

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Tags: fever, headache, Herbal Remedies, immune system, jasmine, lemon balm, skullcap, Traditional Chinese Medicine

A hangover comes after consuming excessive amounts of alcohol. The result of this overload of alcohol is that your body becomes depleted of essential nutrients and water and your body becomes dehydrated. Your body makes up for this dehydration by taking water from where it can, which basically is your brain. The brain then shrinks and the result is a really bad headache. Dehydration also gives you what is referred to as “cotton mouth”. Many individuals experience nausea and vomiting as a result of all the alcohol and sugar that has now upset the stomach.

Symptoms of a hangover:

Signs of dehydration
Dry mouth
Fatique
Headache
Nausea
Weakness
Anxiety
Irritability
Negativity
Difficulty concentrating
Light and sound sensitivity
Difficulty sleeping

Alcohol does not affect everyone the same way. What causes one to have a hangover and not the other?

There are a number of factors that play a role in why one person experiences a hangover after drinking alcohol and another individual won’t. Other than the amount of alcohol consumed and the type of alcohol ingested, how fast you drink it and how many you have in what time frame can also have a role in whether or not you become drunk. There is also the factor of how well your body metabolizes alcohol. Our bodies metabolize the things we drink and eat in different ways. Metabolism depends on what is being consumed and if it being consumed with other things like are we eating at the same time we are drinking alcohol? The body absorbs alcohol faster when we eat food at the same time.

Water has an effect on the impact of alcohol on our bodies too. When we drink lots of water before we start drinking alcohol, during the time we are drinking and after we are finished with our drinking event then the water that we drink can lessen the effect that alcohol has on our system and we become less dehydrated than what we would have become had we not had the water. Alcohol contains ethanol, which is what causes the dehydration.

Alcohol consumption causes chemical reactions within the body including the way the liver has to work to break down the ethanol contained in the alcohol. The reaction in the cells of the liver when it is trying to breakdown the ethanol impairs the liver’s ability to supply glucose to the tissues within the body such as the brain tissue. Glucose in the brain is how the brain gets energy. When the brain does not receive the glucose, we experience fatigue, weakness, moodiness and sometimes it can affect our ability to concentrate.

Congeners are the chemical by-products of the process of alcohol fermentation. These congeners can exaggerate (make worse) the symptoms of a hangover. Dark alcoholic drinks contain more congeners, which is why those who drink dark alcoholic beverages have more intense hangovers than those who drink clear colored alcoholic beverages.

Cheaper alcoholic beverages have more impurities and are thus more likely to cause greater hangover symptoms.

Those who smoke while they drink exacerbate their symptoms because of the nicotine.

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Scott Meyers is a staff writer for It’s Entirely Natural, a resource for helping you achieve a naturally healthy body, mind, and spirit. You may contact our writers through the web site. Follow this link for more information on Hangover Cures.

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Tags: dehydration, fatigue, Hangover Cures, headache, irritability, metabolism, nicotine

If you want to totally prevent a hangover then don’t drink. However, if alcohol is going to be part of your good time, there are some scientifically proven methods that you can use before, during, and after drinking to help prevent the morning after misery.

Planning your night out before you start drinking can help you feel better the next day. Start by eating a good meal. Focus on eating foods that are high in fat and carbohydrates. A full stomach does not absorb alcohol as easily as an empty one, allowing your body to process the alcohol more easily. Fatty foods and high carbohydrate foods take
longer to digest, so the effect lasts longer. By eating first, you can also decrease stomach irritation.

It is important to stay hydrated so drink water before consuming alcohol. Taking a multivitamin can also help combat the vitamin and mineral loss that the diuretic affects of alcohol can cause.

When drinking, there are some things that you can do to help prevent alcohol absorption. You should drink slowly, preferably no more than one drink an hour. This gives your body enough time to process the alcohol. Having a drink of water or a sports drink with your drink will help to keep you hydrated and allow your body more time to process the toxins.

Another thing to do is to watch what you are drinking. Mixing drinks will often cause you to feel worse the next day. Beer has the lowest amount of alcohol, but carbonation allows it to be absorbed faster. Wine is higher in alcohol, but is not carbonated, and white wine has fewer congeners than red. Cheap wines also tend to be higher in congeners than the more expensive types. Liquor has the highest amount of alcohol, and clear liquors have fewer congeners than dark ones, and again, the cheaper the liquor, the more likelihood of a hangover.

When you get home from your night out, there are some things that you can do before going bed. Take two aspirins with a full glass of water to help hydrate you and decrease hangover severity in the morning. Make sure that to take actual aspirin, not acetaminophen, which can cause more problems for your liver.

When you wake up in the morning, you should take two more aspirins with another glass of water to help stave off a headache caused by inflammation. Taking another vitamin can help you replenish the vitamins and minerals that you loss the night before and set you on the road to recovery.

A healthy breakfast can also help. Eggs have cysteine that can break down toxins; bananas include potassium crucial to hydration, and fruit juices or sports drinks can help by replenishing sugar, salt, and electrolytes that you may have lost. Start out slowly, to avoid nausea, and avoid caffeinated beverages that will prolong your misery.

The best thing to do to prevent a hangover is not to drink at all, but if you are going to anyway then the above steps should help lessen the painful affects.

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Scott Meyers is a staff writer for It’s Entirely Natural, a resource for helping you achieve a naturally healthy body, mind, and spirit. You may contact our writers through the web site. Follow this link for more information on Hangover Cures.

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Tags: electrolyte, Hangover Cures, headache, toxins, vitamin C

The morning after a night of heavy drinking, you may be sicker than you ever could have imagined. Despite the fact that alcohol has been around for thousands of years, few real remedies have been discovered. However, it seems that since humans love to imbibe, many interesting remedies have been created.

For instance, in the middle ages, raw eel was included in concoctions. Even today, remedies are slightly strange - for instance, at 3 AM when you should be sound asleep in your bed, you may stagger home for a cold shower and black coffee - and then wonder why you feel terrible in the morning. So, what remedies actually work? Here are some of the tried and true methods that you can give a try for yourself.

Hitting the local Starbucks or all night diners for a cup of black coffee has long been a standard “cure” for hangovers. While you will no longer be falling asleep drunk, you will still be drunk - just wide awake. Caffeine does not sober you up, though it may help your headache. However, it can also dehydrate you further and irritate your stomach, making you all the more miserable once it wears off.

One of the biggest mistakes is to drink coffee before trying to go to bed. Best case scenario it will disrupt your sleep - assuming you can get to sleep at all. If you need coffee to get your engine started in the morning, have a small cup. Otherwise, you may suffer from caffeine withdrawals on top of your hangover.

Of course, every good alcoholic will tell you that having a drink in the morning will help ward off the hangover. While this may help the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal your body experiences, it is only prolonging your suffering. Your body still has to process the alcohol from the night before, plus whatever new stuff you put in, and, unless you continue drinking yourself into oblivion, you will eventually have to deal with the after effects. All in all, a drink the next day is just going to put you further on the road to a drinking problem.

Some drinkers turn to natural remedies to solve their hangover issues. However, some people find the “cure” to be worse than the sickness. Milk thistle is often used for people suffering from liver problems, and can help improve liver function. Taking it may help your liver eliminate the toxins from the alcohol better. Gingerroot tea can help settle that nauseous stomach in the morning. Fresh fruit and vegetable juices can get nutrients into your body quickly and help get you hydrated again. Soup can also help to hydrate, and soothes the stomach as well as providing much needed nutrients.

Of course, there are always the hangover recipes that you can try out. Many of these are a mixture of alcohol, juice, and flavorings. Again, keep in mind that in most cases, drinking more alcohol will only prolong your pain and can lead to big problems down the road. At best, these recipes provide temporary relief.

Time is the only real cure for a hangover. So, if you are going to drink, make sure you schedule time to recover.

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Scott Meyers is a staff writer for It’s Entirely Natural, a resource for helping you achieve a naturally healthy body, mind, and spirit. You may contact our writers through the web site. Follow this link for more informaton on Hangover Cures.

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Tags: caffeine, coffee, Hangover Cures, headache, natural remedies, sleep, starbucks