Archive for October, 2011

When your thyroid is not able to produce the required quantity of thyroid hormone, you develop a disorder called Hypothyroidism or underactive thyroid. This results in the slowing down of your bodys metabolic rate causing weight gain, puffy eyes, hoarse voice, tiredness, sleep disorder, hair loss, brittle nails, problems with memory and depression. This problem develops gradually and often this thyroid disorder goes unnoticed. But if you suffer from any of the symptoms mentioned above, you must immediately seek medical advice and ensure that you undergo proper treatment. Most doctors suggest taking thyroxine sodium tablets first thing in the morning. However, some efficacious natural cures for underactive thyroid have proved to address the root cause of this problem, thereby curing the disorder and normalizing the thyroid function.

Effective natural cures for underactive thyroid

You should increase the intake of iodine in your diet. Iodine is essential for the proper functioning of thyroid. Therefore, include cooked beans, baked potato and canned tuna in your diet as they are good sources of iodine. Other natural sources of iodine are sea vegetables such as kelp, nori, hijike, arame and kombu. Foods such as cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli, brussel sprouts and mustard greens are also extremely useful in balancing the thyroid hormones.

Deficiency of selenium is also one of the causes for underactive thyroid. Selenium plays a vital role in conversion of T4 into T3 form, thereby assisting in the normal functioning of thyroid. Foods that are a good source of selenium are garlic, grains, asparagus, mushrooms cod, shrimp and salmon.

Minerals such as zinc and copper also help in the normal production of thyroid hormones. Hence, including foods rich in these two minerals can also prove to be one of the effective natural cures for underactive thyroid. Foods such as sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, jowar, bajra and wholegrains are rich in zinc. Beans, peas, kiwi fruit, onion, strawberries and tomatoes are rich in copper.

Irish moss, primrose oil and coconut oil also strengthen the thyroid functioning. Taking vitamin B complex regularly is extremely helpful in treating all kinds of thyroid conditions including an underactive thyroid.

Stress in a major factor that causes malfunctioning of the thyroid gland, resulting in low production or no production of the thyroid hormone. You must resort to stress busting methods like yoga, tai chi or meditation to eliminate thyroid problem naturally. A holistic treatment comprising of a healthy diet, exercise and lifestyle changes is imperative to bring about desirous results.

In addition to the above mentioned male urinary tract infection home remedies, men should wear underwear made from cotton material as it allows breathing space and prevents the growth of unhealthy bacteria. Besides, it is equally imperative to ensure personal hygiene, vital for prevention of male urinary tract infection. However, if the infection persists for over two days, it is advisable to seek medical help from a doctor.

An overactive bladder refers to a condition in which an individual loses control over his bladder movement. An overactive bladder can be a cause of immense difficulty as well as embarrassment as it leads to situation where a person is forced to relieve himself urgently irrespective of the time or place. In severe cases, it can cause spilling or even leakage.

WHO has detected about 200 million people suffering from an overactive bladder worldwide. It is a very distressful condition as it becomes very cumbersome for the patient to plan his daily activities and regular routine due to the urge to release pressure all the time. Albeit the acerbity of this disorder, it is possible to get rid of an overactive bladder through medication, bladder control training as well as natural cures. Medicines in such cases may often result in some side effects. Therefore, it is advisable to resort to some effective natural cures which are reckoned as safe and are devoid of adverse after effects too.

Natural cures for Overactive Bladder – Some effective measures

(a) Nutritional supplements can be given to control an overactive bladder.

(b) A natural way to cure this problem lies in following floor muscle exercises religiously, more popularly termed as kegel exercises. The kegel exercise consists of stopping the flow of urine, holding back for some time and then releasing the pressure. Leakage can be prevented by frequent practice sessions.

(c) Sometimes natural cures for overactive bladder are given in the form of pills made by the mixture of soya bean and pumpkin seeds. This natural cure traces back its history to 16 century and is still very effective in curing the problem.

(d) Herbs are also helpful to prevent leakage from bladder. Astragalus and bearberry help to repress leakage as well as fight bladder infections.

(e) You should avoid certain fruits and drinks such as citrus fruits, coffee and tea. However, increased intake of water, grape and apple juice can be of great help in controlling an overactive bladder.

(f) Abstain from spicy foods and chocolates to obtain quick recovery from this problem.

(g) Shedding extra body weight is also considered a natural cure for an overactive bladder. If body weight is kept under control, it becomes possible to hold back muscles which release the pressure of urine.

Although an overactive bladder is indeed an embarrassing problem faced by many people, it can be effectively dealt with regular exercise and natural cures. Allopathic treatment may result in some side effects and thus natural cures make a preferred choice.

Knowing about chronic bronchitis and its natural cures

Bronchitis or swelling in the air tubes that get irritated and swollen with mucus blocking the airways could start off with irritants like tobacco, dust and chemical fumes and cause severe coughing. It is to be understood that mucus in the air tubes or bronchi could facilitate trapping of bacteria and other pathogens and cause infections that could extend to the lungs and other parts of the respiratory system. Acute bronchitis could come as attacks that last for a short time, however chronic bronchitis is more of a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease that could last for months or even a few years.

Chronic bronchitis is more often caused with exposure to airborne irritants like cigarette smoke and environmental pollution. So natural cures for chronic bronchitis rests on elimination of the irritants or allergies with chances of turning into more problematic and worse conditions like asthma and pneumonia. It is best understood that acute bronchitis is contagious, but chronic bronchitis does not contain any risk of being passed on.

Natural cures for chronic bronchitis maybe easy

You may think that doing exercises is harmful, but far to the contrary mild exercise like walking, simple yoga and pranayama exercises and deep breathing exercises help to facilitate easy breathing with strengthening the muscles involved in breathing. Exercises outdoors in the fresh morning air helps to get fresh unpolluted air. Exercises could help, but your doctors advice is very necessary before starting the exercise regimen.

Deep breathing exercises or breathing in and out of the mouth slowly with lips partially closed helps to slow down the fast breathing accompanied in chronic bronchitis. It is also found that natural cures for chronic bronchitis rest on taking hot and warm water baths and showers. The breathing in of steam helps to stop chronic coughs and facilitate the elimination of mucus from the airways.

In addition it is best to do steam inhalations with herbs like eucalyptus, thyme, peppermint, and rosemary. These set of home cures for chronic bronchitis can be done at home with a commercial steamer or a pressure cooker in which the water is boiled with herbs and opening the weight a bit at a time. Keeping the boiling water in a heat resistant bowl on a table and covering ones head with a towel helps experience an antiseptic, expectorant, and airway-relaxing feeling.

Moisture and humidity have always played a role in the natural cures of chronic bronchitis. Drinking a lot of fluids helps not only get something nutritious when one cannot take solids, but it also helps dilute the mucous in the lungs to be expelled out easily. In addition humidifiers and vaporizers could greatly help if you suffer from chronic bronchitis. They help to prevent the thickening of mucous and its building on the walls of the bronchi and relieve persistent coughing.

Dietary Changes- some natural cures for chronic bronchitis

Natural cures for chronic bronchitis rests on healthy diets that involve abstaining from dairy and high sugar foods. Eliminating dairy products helps do away with the increase and thickening of mucous that could turn difficult to eliminate. Use of spicy foods like cayenne pepper, picante sauce, and jalapenos helps in easy and quick elimination of mucous. Consumption of more fresh fruits and will give ample vitamins and antioxidants, with Vitamin A being very beneficial for respiratory health.

Arent these natural cures for chronic bronchitis within your reach?

A urinary tract infection or UTI is an infection in the urinary tract caused by the E-coli bacteria. The urinary tract comprises of all the organs that store the urine and expel it from the body such as the kidneys, bladder, ureter, prostrate and the urethra. Most patients suffering from male urinary tract infection seek the help of an urologist who prescribes antibiotics to provide relief from the condition. However, it must be known that most male urinary tract infections respond equally well age old home remedies which are safe and devoid of side-effects.

Male urinary tract infection home remedies: Helpful Tips

(a) Cranberries have been used since times immemorial for the treatment of male urinary tract infection. Regular intake of cranberry juice prevents the recurrences of UTI.

(b)Drink 8-10 glasses of water and other fluids to flush out the infectious material from the system.

(c) Add one teaspoon of baking soda in a glass of water and drink the solution twice daily to palliate the infection. Soda tones down the acidic level of the urine and aids in boosting the healing process.

(d) A glass of carrot juice mixed with 2 teaspoons of honey is also helpful.

(e) One of the most effective remedies to combat male urinary tract infection effectively can be made from a herbal plant called Echinacea. Native to America, Echinacea is a powerful immune system booster of the urinary as well as the respiratory tract.

(f) Regular intake of Vitamin C rich fruits and vegetables along with Vitamin C supplements keeps bacterial growth in the urinary tract at bay. 1000mg of Vitamin C taken every day prevents recurring infections.

(g) Apple cider vinegar also prevents growth of bacteria in the urinary tract.

(h) You can also use aromatherapy to mitigate the symptoms of an UTI infection. Mix equal parts of sandalwood, tea tree, bergamot and frankincense essential oils and rub it over your bladder area to curb bladder infection.

(i) Bearberry, also known as uva-ursi, contains an antiseptic which is extremely effective in repressing the spread of the E-coli bacteria in the urinary tract. According to research, Bearberry taken as tea has worked wonders for UTI sufferers.

(j) Other natural remedies to treat male urinary tract infection include the usage of herbs such as Marshmallow root, Goldenseal, Corn silk and Horsetail.

In addition to the above mentioned male urinary tract infection home remedies, men should wear underwear made from cotton material as it allows breathing space and prevents the growth of unhealthy bacteria. Besides, it is equally imperative to ensure personal hygiene, vital for prevention of male urinary tract infection. However, if the infection persists for over two days, it is advisable to seek medical help from a doctor.

All about wheezing and its underlying causes

Wheezing or a whistling sound that is heard while breathing in asthmatics is quite common, with cough accompanied with wheezing being an indicator of serious health conditions or disorders. The breathing disorder, wheezing is caused with the narrowing of the airways or its being obstructed with excess mucus. This whistling or musical sound or one caused indicating great difficulty in breathing takes place when the air crosses the obstruction or narrowing. It is possible wheezing could be caused due to some simple medical problems or may lie in more deeper causes and serious medical complications that may involve the consultation of a medical professional immediately.

It is but natural for one that is prone to asthmatic attacks to cough and wheeze at the same time, this taking place when the airways reacts to triggers causing their narrowing or producing excessive mucus. Wheezing could be observed both when the person inhales and exhales air. The other causes for wheezing could be pneumonia and bronchitis and other common causes like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), bronchiectasis (destruction and widening of the airways), cystic fibrosis, and tuberculosis and lung cancer that causes wheezing along with cough that may bring up bloody sputum.

It is worth noting that besides asthma that is also known as a form of reactive airway disease, bronchitis could also cause wheezing accompanied with cough when a person affected tries to expel out mucus. The symptoms of wheezing could be worse in a patient already suffering from asthma. In addition those suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease that permanently damage the airways could experience worst symptoms of wheezing when exerting themselves even slightly. In addition gastro-esophageal reflux disease or GERT there could be pronounced wheezing when acid has refluxed high enough in your esophagus and then enters your throat causing you to wake up with a start if sleeping. In such cases coughing and wheezing could be pronounced and easily mistaken for asthma.

But what causes wheezing in asthma exactly

Asthma has been rightly termed as a reactive airway disease because it causes wheezing. Wheezing or the coarse whistling or musical sound produced with breathing is produced in the respiratory tract. The reason for its occurrence can be placed to the cause that a part of the bronchial tubes and branches are obstructed. This is aggravated by the fact that these tubes also narrow down and cause further difficulty in breathing more freely.

So those that suffer lung or respiratory infection produce the auditory effect of wheezing. These infections and obstructions take place primarily due to reaction to allergens and triggers.

The triggers or allergens could be anything like animal dander, pollen during change of seasons, mold, dust mites and various other physical, emotional strain and stresses like menstrual cycle, work stress, family stress or anything. The intake of fried food, pickles and caffeinated drinks could also sometimes cause obstruction and infection in airways and asthma along with wheezing.

So it is right in saying that the whistling or musical sound produced in asthma is caused primarily by 2 lung conditions namely, reduced airflow to the lungs followed by narrowing of airways and congestion in the lungs due to allergic substances in the air, and food. However it is wrong to diagnose wheezing and its underlying cause all by oneself, as only a specialist would be able to point out if it is something more serious requiring urgent professional help.

It is right to say that knowing what causes wheezing in asthma would make you disease smart to know when you should seek professional medical help.

Learn About Great Dry Cough Home Remedies For Children That Work

Know the dry cough to find home remedies that work

Most of us suffer from cough quite often in our lives, cough just being a reflex action to an irritant and its attempt to eliminate the irritants and foreign particles from the body. Cough is generally wet or dry, with dry cough causing great discomfort to children at night and during sleep and rest. It is worth knowing that dry cough is more common in children and could be caused with inhalation of chemicals and smoke by second hand smoking, exposure to atmospheric pollutants, dust and air borne infections and change of weather.

It is also possible that asbestosis, an respiratory tract infection, asthma, allergies, laryngitis, bronchitis, common cold, flu, tracheitis, pneumonia, whooping cough, and sinus infections could also cause dry coughs in children. It is very necessary to deal with dry cough immediately with medication, for it is very essential that it does not turn into a persistent or chronic cough. It is found that dry cough home remedies for children work better and are more advisable than intake of antibiotics that decrease appetite considerably.

Great dry cough home remedies for children

Honey that has been used as the base of many home remedies since the olden days finds its place as one the most effective dry cough home remedies for children. You would definitely help your child with a dry cough by giving him/her a glass of warm water to which a few drops of honey is added. Most children love honey and would definitely appreciate drinking it as a sweet drink. However in case your child is not willing to drink it with water it can be easily given with warm milk with a pinch of turmeric powder.

Honey can alternatively act as an effective home remedy when it is consumed with warm orange juice, lemon juice and grape juice at bedtime. All these remedies help to suppress and relieve dry cough. It is worthwhile knowing that dry cough mainly arises out of dehydration of the throat, and this can be helped with drinking a lot of fluids and water. Sipping warm water regularly during the day helps to overcome dryness and relieve the pain of the cough. Cool drinks like hot lemon juice and lemonade help in killing germs for the dry cough, however it is best to avoid citrus juices or sodas that irritate the throat and start bouts of dry cough.

Raw ginger, another of the great dry cough home remedies for children and adults alike may be difficult to be used in children. However it can be offered mixed with honey that helps add flavor and add to the curative value also. Older children would love to drink ginger tea that not only soothes the dry cough, but also the throat and respiratory tract. Mixing a few drops of gingerroot juice with 1-teaspoon honey and consuming it a few times a day and at bedtime helps as an effective dry cough remedy.

Nothing can beat gargling as a dry cough home remedy for children, though younger children may find it difficult to do properly. Gargling with lukewarm water with a pinch of salt added to it helps, so does placing a pinch of salt directly in the mouth. In addition steam inhalation for about 10 minutes twice a day helps in hydrating and moisturizing the throat and relieving dry cough. It is also beneficial to cure dry cough with turning the hot water in your shower and sitting in the bathroom for some time with the door shut. This sitting in the bathroom with build-up of steam helps effectively to remedy a dry cough at home.

Did you find these great dry cough home remedies for children useful?

Knowing the origin of the breathing problem for effective natural remedies:
Breathing is synonymous to inducing life, with some having persistent difficulty in breathing or labored breathing known as dyspnea. Difficulty in breathing could be due to causes like asthma, bronchitis, heart ailments, cold, chest congestion, asthma or even pneumonia. Breathing problems could also be indicative of serious ailments, so it is advisable that you consult a physician that would do a thorough diagnosis and sometimes suggest natural remedies for breathing problems.

Some natural remedies for breathing problems

Natural remedies for breathing problems would depend on the cause of the problem. One such remedy can be prepared at home with mixing equal quantities of rice flour and mustard powder. Then the mixture id boiled in water till it acquires a paste like consistency. This paste can be used for fermentation of the neck and chest by spreading them on a handkerchief. This remedy has been found to give good relief from breathing problem.

Breathing exercises have greatly helped when breathing problem is caused by anxiety. Breathing exercises is best done with either the nose or mouth with the lips shut tight. Breathing out faster taking double the time taken to breathe in helps not only to relax the body and feel calm, but also to conserve the energy in the body. A proper positioned body with leaning against the wall would help as an effective natural remedy for breathing problems.

It is difficult to overlook the natural remedy for the breathing problem caused with congestion in the chest. Consuming a paste made of 1/4th-teaspoon mustard seeds and honey would help. Another great natural remedy for breathing problem lies in boiling 2 tablespoons of fennel seeds in a cup of water till it is reduced to half. About a tablespoon of this liquid obtained after filtering can be consumes first in the morning. Breathing problems also find remedies in nutmeg, 3 tablespoons of powdered nutmeg boiled in 1 cup of sesame oil can be cooled and applied to the chest, nose and affected parts.

Some great natural remedies for breathing problems involve the use the honey. Extract a teaspoon of oil from garlic and mix it with 3 teaspoon honey and consume this mixture 2 to 3 times a day. Another remedy with honey that helps in breathing problems due to chest congestion is boiling a liter of water with 1 teaspoon of carom seed powder and 1 teaspoon turmeric powder. Honey is added to the cool mixture before consuming. Consuming a mixture of 1/4th teaspoon finely ground mustard seeds and honey helps in breathing problems due to chest congestion.

Herbs find their place in the great natural remedies for breathing problems. Several herbs work wonders as tonics for the pulmonary system and help keep the lungs clear of congestion. Plantain, chickweed and violet act as excellent tonics while Colts foot and mullein act as relaxing expectorants. Other herbs like marshmallow, licorice and common mallow helps in aiding difficult breathing caused by breathing spasms and lung inflammation. Beside useful herbs like echinacea, lavender and rosemary help to boost the immune system by acting as anti-microbial. Herbal tea made of ginseng proves very useful to enhance the moods and eliminate or at least decrease breathing problems caused by stress and anxiety.

In addition to natural remedies for breathing problems keeping away from allergic triggers, smoke of all kind, and pollution could prove effective in the prevention.