Category: Information

Humans through out history have relied on natural remedies before the invention or modern medicine and synthetic drugs. Today, with the number of side affects to prescription drugs and over the counter self mediations; people are now rekindling the lost art of home remedies that our ancestries used.

Most common ailments have known treatments with ingredients found in your own kitchen. And research has discovered thousands of healing nutrients in the foods that we eat every day. Clinical researchers at leading universities have found that the naturally occurring properties in foods have the healing powers to cure common ailments, with minimal risk of side effects, and without paying the enormous cost of prescription drugs. Home remedies work quickly and safely and is generally effective for people who use them.

To make your own home remedies from your home all you need is the working knowledge of what to use, ingredients and someone to show or tell you how to prepare the natural remedies. You will found many books written on the subject and many websites with some well known natural cures. YouTube is another good source.

Natural remedies are usually effective for treating minor infections, and at the same time, strengthen the body’s immune system, help with hair loss, acne breakouts, dandruff, and promote healing and mending of aches, pains, wounds and burns.

You can make your own mouthwash, toothpaste or whitener for your teeth, even how to regrow a tooth with a cavity and heal common gum disease. You can make a home remedy to cure digestive problems such as diarrhea, constipation or indigestion. Use a home remedy to relieve cough, heal lung congestion or to speed recover from the flu. Make a natural gargle that calms or soothes sore throats or even mix natural throat spray that can be used for the treatment of asthma.

Natural remedies are not only effective to treat ailments. Natural remedies can also be used as a cleanser to treat outward skin conditions such as acne and wrinkles; to help make age spots disappear, or formulate your our cure to reduce varicose veins or stretch marks. Trying making your own natural antiseptic spray to help eliminate the dermatitis or kill bacteria from cuts and scratches to prevent infections or heal blisters.

Study it! Do your homework, because as you research a natural cure for your particular ailment, you will see that there are many proven home remedies to cure many common ailments. Experiment with different natural remedies to find the ones that work best for your condition. You don’t need to only rely on drugs that are potentially damaging for your body and can cost you a lot of money to treat all your ailments when home remedies using natural herbs, spices and foods are all around you right at your home kitchen that saves you money and is good for your body.

Here are some basic home remedies:

Arthritis or joint pain: Turmeric is a bright yellow herb that has been used in Ayurvedic medicine across India and China for 2,000 years. Anecdotal evidence shows it’s useful in treating inflammation of the soft tissue in arthritis cases. Try a turmeric tea, or sprinkle it over your food when cooking.

Asthma: Some suffers have found that upping their intake of fish oil and Vitamin C helped relieve symptoms. Why not get your doctor’s advice, and then give it a try?

Bad breath: If you find yourself avoiding getting up-close with people for fear of your own bad breath–and brushing and flossing twice daily does nothing to help, try this. Oil pulling fans swear by the technique’s ability to freshen breath for way longer than an Altoid or packet of gum. Simply swish around a tablespoon of coconut oil in your mouth for 20 minutes each day before cleaning your teeth.

Burns, Sooth a burn: If you grazed your skin with a hot-from-the-oven cookie pan, apply aloe vera gel (if using the plant squeeze from a leave from plant) to the burn as needed. The soothing and anti-inflammatory gel creates a second skin to protect the burn from air, which irritates exposed nerve endings.

Cough/Congestion

#1 Mix: 3 drops of Oil of Oregano and a ¼ cup of warm water

Mix well and drink it every morning and in the late evening.

#2 Mix: Indulge in a square or two of dark chocolate. Researchers found that chocolate’s theobromine compound is more effective than codeine at suppressing persistent coughs without the side effects of drowsiness and constipation.

To calm a nagging cough that keeps you awake at night, take 2 teaspoons of honey (1 to 2 teaspoons for kids; don’t give to children younger than 1), along with 500 mg of Ester C 30 minutes before bed. The vitamin C (nonacidic Ester type won’t upset stomachs) boosts the immune system in the early stages of your cough. Research shows that honey works better than either a cough suppressant or no treatment at all for relieving children’s nocturnal cough and promoting sleep.

Quiet flatulence: Take two enteric-coated peppermint capsules (500 mg each) three times daily. Peppermint kills bacteria that cause bloating and relaxes gastrointestinal muscles for smoother, spasm-free digestion. The enteric coating prevents capsules from opening in the stomach and increasing discomfort by causing heartburn and indigestion. The peppermint releases and goes to work lower in the gastrointestinal tract, where gas-plagued people need it mos

Stifle hiccups: Swallow 1 to 2 teaspoons of sugar. The dry granules stimulate and reset the irritated nerve that is causing the spasms of the diaphragm. Any coarse substance, such as salt, can work in a pinch, but sugar tastes best.

Soothe a sore throat: Gargle twice daily with a solution of six pressed garlic cloves mixed into a glass of warm (not hot) water. Follow the regimen for 3 days. Research shows that fresh garlic juice has antimicrobial properties that fight pain-causing bacteria. The warm liquid soothes inflamed tissue.

Quell nausea: Try frozen ginger chips. First, infuse fresh ginger in hot water. Strain, then freeze the concoction in ice cube trays. Crush the cubes and suck the icy chips throughout the day to provide your tummy with a steady soothing dribble. Ginger’s antinausea properties are particularly effective during pregnancy or after surgery.

Another option is drinking warm peppermint or ginger tea at the time nausea begins.

AND other tummy troubles: Studies suggest that basil, can keep your gut safe from pain, nausea, cramping, or diarrhea by killing off bacteria. Drinking daily a cup of Holy Basil tea will sooth the stomach.

Anxiety/Stress: Next time you feel stressed, reach for a banana, a medium banana fills you up, provides a mild blood sugar boost, and has 30% of the daily dose of vitamin B6, which helps the brain produce serotonin which helps you through a crisis peacefully.

If you suffer from anxiety, it could pay off to try meditation before you start popping pills–here’s how. Chronic stress has been linked to people with increased risk of Heart Disease, weight gain, sleep problems, and memory and concentration impairment. In studies, daily meditation has also been proven to help manage the symptoms of anxiety disorders, sleep disorders, depression, heart disease, and cancer. Translation: Meditation actually works, so you should try it.

Hangover: Coconut water is a powerful hydrator–which is key after a big night out drinking–and has five electrolytes our bodies need: Potassium, sodium, magnesium, phosphorous, and calcium. The body also loses potassium when you drink alcohol, and bananas will help you to replenish.

Headaches : Acupuncture has been used to treat headaches since the beginnings of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Peppermint oil is often applied to the skin to help relieve a headache. When it’s applied to the skin at the temples, peppermint oil can cause surface warmth, which relieves pain beneath the skin. It can also be used in a diffuser for prevented measures.

Heartburn: Chamomile can ease digestive inflammation, spasms, and gas. Steep 2 teaspoons of the herb, or 1 tea bay in very hot water for 20 minutes, covering the cup to keep the essential oils in the water. You may have to drink the tea a few times a day for complete relief.

High blood pressure: Sixty raisins—about a generous handful—contain fiber and potassium, both recommended in the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet. Numerous studies show that foods such as raisins, wine, and juice are effective in maintaining cardiovascular health, including bringing down blood pressure.

High cholesterol: One medium pear has fiber, much of it in the form of pectin, which helps flush out bad cholesterol, a risk factor in heart disease.

Preventing kidney stones: Eight dried apricot halves have fiber, sodium, and potassium—all of which help keep minerals from accumulating in urine and forming calcium oxalate stones, the most common type of kidney stones

PMS: Magnesium is key in easing PMS symptoms for many women. It helps calm and relax the body, which helps with cramps. Look to foods like almonds, sunflower seeds, and greens like spinach and broccoli, for a natural dose of magnesium.

Toenail fungus: Officially, the jury is out on this one. However tea tree oil is thought to be effective against several fungus species, and there’s plenty of buzz on the blogosphere about the oil’s ability.

Weak, brittle nails: Massage coconut oil into your nails. Ditch the artificial additives in drug store moisturizers for natural coconut oil.

Dry and flakey skin: Not only is it cheaper than anything in the beauty aisle, honey softens and moisturizes dry skin, and can be applied directly to problem areas.

Period pain: Hot water bottles, painkillers, and stretching are all common ways to relieve period pain, but here’s one you probably haven’t heard of: Vitamin D. Take ultra-high dose of Vitamin D five days before their next expected period.

Vertigo: Basil is a traditional aromatherapy treatment for vertigo: Add leaves to the boiling water and breath in the steam to help with vertigo or diffuse basil oil in the room.

If mediation brings to mind robed & turban monks in a far-away monastery on top of a mountain, stripped of any earthly possessions—you may be over thinking this! Meditation is available to everyone and anyone who is striving to reconnect with a simpler, more peaceful and less stressful way of life.

While it’s certainly true that concentration is a byproduct of regular meditation practice—we don’t actually use concentration to meditate. It’s quite the opposite! Meditation asks us to block out, or limit, mental chatter that can be so overwhelming (i.e., pending appointments, all the chores you need to do, the work piling up at hone or the office, etc.).
Meditation is about letting go of earthly obligations, and taking a moment of relaxation in stillness and silence so that you can concentrate better when you are dealing with the stresses of life.

If you fear that meditation is a way of running away from life’s problems—think again! Rather, meditation provides the tools to face and overcome life’s problems (i.e., fear, anxiety, and panic). Mediation practice also teaches us to accept life and people for what and who they are, and provides the inner strength necessary to live in the present with
confidence.

Meditation is like exercise and/or like food—there really is a type of mediation to match every goal and taste. So if you have trouble sitting alone in a silent room and blocking out all earthly distractions (a Zen-style of meditation), try exploring other types of meditation—such as breathing mediation, Tai Chi or Qi Gong exercise, visualization exercises, or even a simple walking meditation that challenges you to be present as
you walk, focus on your surroundings, and feel the energy and benefit of exercise on your body and mind.

Blocking out the chaotic thoughts and negative talk in your life can be challenging, and like anything else, practice makes perfect. That’s why no one person is so bad at mediating that they should throw in the towel. We make it a point never to judge a meditation practice by the time and quality of my meditation. Instead, we consider the after affects of ones practice—for instance, did your clear you mind and get more work done or perhaps you slept better.

Most of us would claim that we don’t have time to add extra obligations to our day. However, even if your spare time is rare, you can benefit from taking a few minutes to unplug and relax. Try leaving the office for a 10-minute walk to forget about work and clear your head, or escape to a gentle yoga class over lunch and return more energetic and focused. Those who say they have no time to meditate can usually benefit the most from a brief time out.

In order to meditate for even 10-minutes you need to take a bit of time for yourself. For many, that might be considered selfish when it’s time you could be studying, finishing that work report, or spending time with your kids or spouse. If a brief moment of meditation seems self-indulgent to you; consider the effect it will have on others when you return more focused, calm, happier, and able to devote your whole attention to them.

The goal of any type of mediation is to help you live and experience the now, including the emotions that come from present experience. The idea that meditation strips us of real emotions is contrary. Rather, meditation practice teaches us to be more in tune with our emotions, our goals, and helps us to disengage from unhealthy negative talk, and emotionally draining people and situations.

PURE OFFERS PRIVATE MEDITATION SESSIONS OR A WEEKLY GROUP MEDITATIONS
(Size limited to 10 people, Contributions welcomed)

Location: 526 S Conkling Street, Baltimore, Maryland
Date/Time: Every Wednesday at 7:00-8:00 pm

Note: Bring pillow, blanket and yoga mat. Onsite supplies limited and first come first served. Space is limited, strongly suggest you call and RSVP.

Things You Didn’t Know About Detoxing.. the internal cleanse craze—and how to do it the healthy way.

The detoxing trend, as championed by certain members of the holistic wellness community, is it really having a moment while dietitians view it with a critical eye. We’d like to say make sure you do your research and clearly understand not all approaches are suitable for everyone. Some researchers will be quick to tell you, the trendy juice cleanse and its two week fasting processes are scientifically dubious and some methods of “detoxing” are healthier then others.

People often associate the term detoxification with alcohol, drug, and substance addiction, though it’s also a common method for losing weight: thus the catch phrase a diet detox. Put plain and simply, the aim of detoxification is to eliminate all the negative effects on the body from the environment: industrial chemicals, pesticides, additives in our food, secondary smoke, pollutants, and heavy metals included. The current trend for people is adopting internal detoxification—targeting organs like the kidneys and colon—to keep their body systems in peak condition. This is done with herbs, teas, a change of diet and a couple of different approaches:

Detoxification as a holistic way to keep your mind and body healthy. It can be applied to many different types of health plans. Some benefits include improving and/or reducing headaches and back pain, fighting against memory loss, strengthening your body against allergic reactions, and flushing dangerous chemicals out of your system. Another benefit of certain types of detoxing targets organs i.e. liver, kidney, and includes blood purification that wouldn’t occur on a regular diet. This approach stimulates the immune system, the hormonal system experiences a boost too thus reducing the body’s dependency on substances such as sugar, caffeine, nicotine, or alcohol.

Short-term detox is the most popular but often the least successful. For example, short-term detox programs which can include a 24-hour juice fasting, chelation therapy which is a treatment for removing heavy metals from the system, a colon cleansing commonly known as colonics, skin cleansing done with facial, and intravenous injections. Dangers in following any short-term fixes and trending fad diets is that they eliminate key nutrients from your diet, like juice fasting, without directions on how to counter-balance in other ways to meet your daily requirements. Bottom line is that it is never a good idea to deprive your body of protein or fiber of any nutrient for that matter.

As for colonics, doctors suggest that unless you’re undergoing a medical procedure like a colonoscopy, attempting the method for the purpose of detoxing is unnecessary and can be very harmful, increasing your risk of contracting infections and leading to bowel perforations.

Creating healthy habits over time will produce the best results. One of the better long-term detox programs is to focus on moderation rather than simply avoiding a food group, cutting out carbohydrates, or sweeteners, etc. A healthy lifestyle is born out of a collection of healthy habits, and creating a new habit takes time period. If you are approaching a lifestyle of change or weight loss with a program that you cannot follow for the rest of your life, you are are heading for failure.

Drinking fluids—water, vegetable and fruit juice, herbal tea—and taking vitamins or supplements can help to boost the immune system and keep your body regulated, while exercise such as yoga and tai chi and meditation to help regulate stress and energy levels, too have a proven track record. Take care of yourself with regular Alternative therapies—such as homeopathic remedies (natural medicines), Reiki, Massages and Acupuncture —are also popular ways to relieve stress and tension

Before starting at-home detox treatments, PURE recommends that those looking to seriously detox and improve their overall health and wellness receive a medical consultation for their detox needs first so they can truly discover the root of their symptoms and receive the best treatment regime. The below detox routines are good “starting off” points, but they will not produce long term results. Holistic healing is a process and not a onetime fix.

1) Epsom Bath Salts a favorite, while epsom salt baths can be a natural way to soothe the body and detox the skin, plus aid with muscle relaxation.
2) People hoping to curb sugar cravings, believe to increase their energy levels (zero sugar crashes to blame) and lose weight, too. A detox involves —killing all dessert options, sweetened beverages, and processed foods from ones menu.
3) A healthy balanced diet will natural detox the body with no special diet program.

Truly, the best way to protect your body from toxins .. eat a diet rich in the foods that can keep your digestive tract and organs healthy. Research has shown that when you feed your body right, build the immune system, your body is prepared for battle. Fruits, vegetables, high-quality protein, fiber-rich carbohydrates, healthy fats, vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients, and probiotics all play a role in building a strong body from the inside out.

And if you’re really concerned about cleansing your colon of toxins, opt for the gut health by stimulating daily doses of pre & probiotics over epsom salt or lemon juice.  If that works for you… always.. always .. Study up!