Choosing a Natural Remedy For A Problem

If you’re like many people, you may be looking for a natural remedy when a problem arises, from everything from an itchy and sore throat to acne. You may also be wondering how you will know which natural remedies are good and which ones are just a big waste of time. The need for alternative medicines is beginning to increase as many people are becoming aware of the chemicals that seem to go into everything from cough medicine to face wash.

Often, things we think are good or helpful to us wind up adding chemicals to our bodies which have been found to be harmful in some cases. How do you know that it won’t be harmful in your case? The thing is that you really don’t so it makes sense to seek natural treatments for all kinds of ailments.

Know What You’re Treating

Your first step when seeking the best natural remedy is to know what you’re trying to treat. For instance, you might want to do some research if you are working to treat acid reflux naturally, and compare to see what people are saying about the remedies being offered.

Many times, a remedy might sound good, but it’s really not, so it’s a good idea to back up your research of possible remedies with possible side effects so that you can make your own decision.

Many of the natural remedies for small problems are usually harmless, but if you are working to treat a more serious problem or health condition naturally, you should probably consult with your health care provider to make sure that you’re not going to interfere with your condition.

Also, you might want to do a little more research before you consider using many different types of herbs. Natural remedies are wonderful because they are natural, but remember that natural doesn’t always mean safe, so take a good look at what you are considering using and whether you will possibly suffer from any side effects.

Common Safe Natural Remedies

There are some fairly common natural remedies which are considered to be safe for the most part that you can use easily. If you are a natural remedy buff, then it’s a good idea to keep these things on hand in case you should need them.

• Apple cider vinegar mixed with water is thought to be a safe and good natural remedy for heartburn symptoms. You might also find that eating an apple is helpful in easing your acid reflux as well.

• Honey is good for everything from cough relief to skin care. Pure honey has antibacterial properties and it is also useful in coating the throat to prevent the need to cough. Anytime you suffer from a nagging cough, take a teaspoon or so of honey and know that you can rest easy.

• Warm salt water is amazing when it comes to soothing sore throats. Pour some salt in a glass and mix some hot water with it. Gargle, but don’t swallow. Repeat as often as necessary for optimal results.

• Tea tree oil is helpful in disinfecting cuts and soothing burns, as well as treating acne. If you are using it for cuts and abrasions it can be dabbed on full strength, but if you are going to use this essential oil to treat acne, consider adding it to some almond or vitamin E oil so that you don’t suffer from excessive drying. Tea tree oil is also helpful in treating and preventing lice. Consider smothering them with a mixture of olive oil and tea tree oil and wrapping the hair in a plastic bag. Added to your shampoo, tea tree oil will help to keep lice away.

In the end, the best natural remedies are the ones which you have tried and have proven to be effective without any negative side effects.

Natural Healing With Herbal Medicine – Using Herbs or Botanicals

Natural healing and herbal medicine and remedies, are comprised of many avenues. With natural healing there are supplements to take, exercises to do, special teas to drink, or breathing exercises that allow your natural flow of positive energy. One of the many forms of natural health comes from herbs. The use of herbs has been found historically, dating back to as early as records have been kept. You can find references in the Bible, history books, and in journals of medicine. Another word for herbs is botanicals which refer to herbs and plant products.

Some skeptics say that uses of herbs do not truly aid in the healing process. However, some of these skeptics also admit that the original foundation of some of today’s medicines do come from nature. Aspirin is from the derivative of willow bark. Historically people have used teas made with willow bark to reduce fevers. Other herbal medicines were used to help treat constipation, ease pain, or act as a stimulant or a relaxant. Some recent research has shown that some herbs work just as good has the conventional medicines found at your local pharmacy.

There are many different herbs used both in past and in present. Some have been tested for their effectiveness only in animals while others have human trials to back up their claims. Some people do not pay attention to today’s studies but rely on family history of use. For example, Mom always gave ginger ale for a stomach ache and Grandma swore that a strong herbal tea would knock out that fever. Some herbs have multiple medicinal uses and may be ingested in some cases and used topically in others.

Herbal Cure Terms

Herbal cures have their own set of vocabulary. Many are used to show how the herb is mixed with a compound. A few examples of vocabulary words used are:

• Tinctures – exact meaning is the “alcoholic extracts of herbs.” This is obtained by combining the herb with 100% ethanol alcohol, resulting in an end percentage of 40-60% ethanol once combined

• Elixirs and Herbal Wine – This also pertains to the alcoholic extract of the herbs. Elixirs are mixed with spirits such as vodka while herbal wine is clearly made with wine. Both types produce an ethanol percentage rate of 12-38%

• Tisanes – This pertains to using herbs mixed with hot water

• Decoctions – Boiling the herbs a long time and used with roots or bark

• Macerates – This occurs when herbs such as sage and thyme are infused with cold water and allowed to sit up to 10 hours

As stated above, some herbal medicines are best used topically and can cure a variety of ailments. These are called topicals and they also have their own vocabulary. A few that one may come across are:

• Essential oils – These are the herbs concentrated and many can burn or harm the skin if used directly (undiluted). It is advised to mix the essential oil with olive oil to use safely and effectively.

• Poultices – This is also known as a compress. It is used by taking the herb, crushing it, rehydrating with a small amount of water, and applying to the wound directly or wrapped in a bandage.

A couple of other ways that herbs are used and applied are:

• Syrups – These are the herb extracts that are mixed with syrups or honey. A high percentage of sugars used are greater then the equal parts of water and herb used. This is processed for three weeks.

• Inhalation – Used as an aromatherapy and not direct inhaling, the herbs can help in deep cleansing of the skin and tools for relaxation.

Plentiful Plants

There are many herbs and plants used in herbal natural healing. They help prevent and cure a number of ailments and some may have multiple healing qualities. There are countless derivatives of plants and herbs and to list them all would create its own dictionary. A few to think about are:

• Soy – This and other plants contain phytoestrogens which are plants with estrogen activity. They have benefits for symptoms of menopause.

• Echinacea – Strong extracts seem to limit the length and the severity of the common cold.

• Elderberry – Used in literary references in the form of wine but also used to speed the recovery of type A and B flu.

• Feverfew – Used for migraine headaches for patients that are not pregnant.

• Pawpaw – Can be useful for killing worms or lice

This is just a sampling of the healing power and uses of herbs. There are many to discover and the effectiveness will differ in people just like the over the counter medicines that are offered to us today.

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