Archive for the ‘Sleep Remedies’ Category

Backache is medically known as lumbago. It is the disease which afflicts any region of the vertebral column or the associated muscles. Each of the 32 vertebrae can develop sudden pains which could become a chronic condition. Though we use the term backache in general, actually it is a collection of various types of pains of the vertebral column.

People find these kinds of pains to be more common as they grow older. Though there are no gender specifics, lumbago may be a bit more in men than in women.

In Ayurveda, backache is called as Nithamba Shoola. Ayurveda treats this pain as a vata disorder, which causes both the types of weaknesses, i.e. the bone weakness and the muscle weakness. Hence when deciding on a proper treatment pattern for backache, one needs to consider the vitiation of the vata dosha.

Let us see some of the common treatment patterns used in Ayurveda for the treatment of lumbago.

(1) Useful Herbs in the Treatment of Backache

® Betel (Areca catechu)

Betel is one of the traditionally used herbs in the treatment of backache. The juice of the betel leaves is mixed with refined coconut oil. When this juice is applied on the loins, it provides relief from the sudden pains.

® Garlic (Allium sativum)

Among the many benefits that garlic has, an important one is relieving pains of lumbago. An extract of garlic provided to the patients provides relief from the pains without having any undesirable side effects.

® Indian Aloe (Aloe barbadensis)

The pulp of a single leaf of aloe consumed on a daily basis provides relief from backache problems.

® Lemon Grass (Cymbopogon citrates)

Lemon grass is mixed with twice its bulk of coconut oil and applied externally on the affected regions. This eases the pains.

(2) Dietary Treatment for Backache

Since backache is a condition caused due to vata vitiation, any food that can aggravate the vata further must not be taken. Sour and fried foods must be totally avoided. Even pulses must be eliminated from the diet. Rice must be reduced; rather food grains such as wheat, millet and sorghum are better.

(3) Ayurvedic Treatments for Backache

® The Ayurvedic preparation, Prasarani, is the drug that is most commonly used for the treatment of backache. Prasarani is Paederia foetida, which is a plant species. The method of use can be either external or internal. For better effects the oil of the plant is used. Massaging with this oil about two or three times a day provides immense relief from backache problems. Even if the pain subsides, the treatment must be continued for a month so that the pain does not recur.

® Other oils available for massaging the affected parts are the Narayana and the Mahanarayana oils. These oils must be used for fomentation or mixed in warm water to give a hot tub bath.

(4) Home Medications

® Mix equal proportions of limestone and honey. Apply this paste on the region where the pain is the severest.

® Grind some sesame seeds in water. Warm this solution and apply it repeatedly on the part where it pains the most.

® Put two teaspoonfuls of cumin seed powder in a glass of water and warm the solution. Soak a towel in this water and then use it to foment the affected parts. Relief should be obtained within a couple of hours.

® Roast about 100 grams of fenugreek seeds. Then grind them roughly and mix in them a quarter portion of rock salt. Put two teaspoonfuls of these in hot water every morning and evening and let the fumes come in contact with the region where the pain is persistent. This treatment provides relief in fifteen days.

® Take 1 gram of pure asafetida and mix it with egg yolk. Apply this paste on the affected spinal region. This is a quick method of getting relief from the pains, but it is a temporary method.

® Mix two or three pieces of cardamom in warm milk. Introduce about a pinch of turmeric in it. This is to be drunk every night before going to sleep. Immense relief will be obtained in the morning.

(5) Preventive Methods

® Instead of sleeping on a soft mattress at night, use a hard mattress. If you can, sleep on the ground with the back straight; that is, with the spine touching the ground as much as possible.

® Use ergonomic chairs in your workplace. See that the chair makes contact with the spine fully when you sit on it.

® Do not cramp yourself in one position. Shuffle your position often. When traveling, try to get up and move about whenever you can.

® Exercise often, but do not stretch your back. Perform gliding motions when exercising.

® Yogic asanas that can be used to prevent lumbago pains are:-

a) Bhujangasana

b) Halasana

c) Shalabhasana

d) Shavasana

e) Uttarapadasana

Tom alter
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/backache-backache-treatment-herbs-and-ayurvedic-remedies-and-backache-symptom-106656.html

Headache is the really a common ailment effecting these days. This is mainly because with the increasingly busy schedule, there is an increase in worries; stress etc. There are several other reasons associated with headache like cold, anemia, bad eye sight, allergies to animals and/or some particular food.

You Don’t Always Have to Use Medicines as a Headache Remedy

A severe headache disables you to perfume anything. The easiest approach to get rid of this adverse situation is to reach out for painkillers which if not permanently would take it off temporarily. The following are some simple and popular headache remedies, which should help with easing the pain:

1. The commonest cause for the headache is the wrong posture. The wrong posture is mainly responsible for muscular stress, thus, is you mainly maintain a sedentary type of lifestyle, special attention and care should be taken about your sitting and walking postures.

2. The menstruation cycle and sometimes even pregnancy can be a direct cause for headaches. Keeping a good Zinc supplement and taking a diet rich in vitamins would surely help you to get rid of these.

3. Mental stress is one of the major problems in today’s world. The best to way off headache is relaxation. Long body massages and a peaceful and sufficient sleep would rejuvenate your body.

Set up your eating and exercising or meditation time and never deviate from it. For example you may plan to get up at 4 AM, do yoga or exercise until 5:30 or 6:00 am, have breakfast, read the newspaper, enjoy your family and pets and then by 8 am you are out of the house. Stick to this routine and you would experience a great relief from stress and headache.

4. Heat as well as cold compresses relieves headaches. All you need to do is lie down and use a hot or cold compress until the headache leaves you.

5. Drinking water is a great headache reliever. An adult should ordinarily drink some seven to eight glasses of water. Though not proven, it is observed that drinking water might greatly reduce the migraine headaches.

If none of the above works and the headache persists or worsens, it is advisable to see a doctor and follow the prescribed painkillers and mild sedatives which would help you rid your headache away.

For More help Please Visit: Depression Help

Richard Romando
http://www.articlesbase.com/diseases-and-conditions-articles/simple-headache-remedies-96095.html

Headache is the really a common ailment effecting these days. This is mainly because with the increasingly busy schedule, there is an increase in worries; stress etc. There are several other reasons associated with headache like cold, anemia, bad eye sight, allergies to animals and/or some particular food.

You Don’t Always Have to Use Medicines as a Headache Remedy

A severe headache disables you to perfume anything. The easiest approach to get rid of this adverse situation is to reach out for painkillers which if not permanently would take it off temporarily. The following are some simple and popular headache remedies, which should help with easing the pain:

1. The commonest cause for the headache is the wrong posture. The wrong posture is mainly responsible for muscular stress, thus, is you mainly maintain a sedentary type of lifestyle, special attention and care should be taken about your sitting and walking postures.

2. The menstruation cycle and sometimes even pregnancy can be a direct cause for headaches. Keeping a good Zinc supplement and taking a diet rich in vitamins would surely help you to get rid of these.

3. Mental stress is one of the major problems in today’s world. The best to way off headache is relaxation. Long body massages and a peaceful and sufficient sleep would rejuvenate your body.

Set up your eating and exercising or meditation time and never deviate from it. For example you may plan to get up at 4 AM, do yoga or exercise until 5:30 or 6:00 am, have breakfast, read the newspaper, enjoy your family and pets and then by 8 am you are out of the house. Stick to this routine and you would experience a great relief from stress and headache.

4. Heat as well as cold compresses relieves headaches. All you need to do is lie down and use a hot or cold compress until the headache leaves you.

5. Drinking water is a great headache reliever. An adult should ordinarily drink some seven to eight glasses of water. Though not proven, it is observed that drinking water might greatly reduce the migraine headaches.

If none of the above works and the headache persists or worsens, it is advisable to see a doctor and follow the prescribed painkillers and mild sedatives which would help you rid your headache away.

For More help Please Visit: Depression Help

Richard Romando
http://www.articlesbase.com/diseases-and-conditions-articles/simple-headache-remedies-96095.html

I’ve been having real difficulties sleeping well. I toss and turn all night, wake up on and off, and can never seem to be comfortable.

Anyone know of any natural remedies or anything to help get a better night of sleep?

Thanks!

my mum takes this tablet called valerian
it stinks
but it knocks her out for the night
you should be able to get it at health food shops

I’ve been having real difficulties sleeping well. I toss and turn all night, wake up on and off, and can never seem to be comfortable.

Anyone know of any natural remedies or anything to help get a better night of sleep?

Thanks!

my mum takes this tablet called valerian
it stinks
but it knocks her out for the night
you should be able to get it at health food shops

Constipation does not come of its own. You extend the cordial invitation to it by your wrong life style habits. It is more about wrong intake of food without understanding how the human mechanism functions.

Fortunately though there are many time tested home remedies to treat constipation. But before you begin with these remedies, you are required to learn to identify the symptoms of constipation on time.

Well, constipation makes its presence felt in many parts of your body. You may feel heaviness and pain in the stomach, tongue mucus coat accompanied with loss of appetite, wind formation, fever and hypertension, drowsiness and palpitation.

“Your food is your grave,” goes the wise saying. Eating at all the times without rhyme or reason leads to constipation. So you are always advised to add lots of vegetables and salads in your diet as it is easy to digest and prevents constipation.

The other mind level causes are late night sleeping, emotional disturbance due to worry, fear and stress.

Such disturbances in your lifestyle will only hamper the inner mechanism of the body and hamper the easy passage of stools. They may stimulate the nervous system in excess and result in concentration of toxins within the body.

Next, consuming excess of tea, coffee, cigarettes and alcohol, you will only add fuel to the fire. These elements worsen the situation.

The home remedies for constipation are simple and direct. Mix 2 tspns of caster oil in the warm milk and take it before going to bed. This will help easy evacuation in the morning. This works wondrous in the severe cases.

Immediately after waking up, eat one liter of warm water and walk around. Or, alternatively drink warm water mixed with lemon juice. You can also take two spoonfuls of aloe gel twice a day. The good results will be seen soon.

The master remedy for constipation is the Ayurvedic one. It is known as Trifala Churna. It is the mixture of powders of three types of herbs in specified proportions. You need to take it along with warm water or milk at the time of going to bed.

The home remedy that you will take will lose much of its effectiveness unless you take certain preventive measures. Pay special attention to your diet. It should be easily digestible.

The emphasis is again on fruits, vegetables and salads. Don’t take stale food. Chew the food thoroughly. Unless you are hungry don’t eat. Maintain a gap of at least 4 hours between the meals. Also, it is proper time for you to consider about certain physical exercises. See that you get sound sleep and this is possible by the overall discipline that you are going to implement in your lifestyle.

Ashish Jain
http://www.articlesbase.com/advertising-articles/wonder-remedies-for-curing-constipation-at-home-59341.html

Depression is a very common affliction that affects many people at one time or another in their lives. While severe depression may require a pharmaceutical approach for successful treatment, many milder cases of depression can be managed through more natural methods. If you are on a specialized diet for a medical condition, check with your doctor before making any changes.

There are a number of foods you can take that will make you feel better and omega 3 is just one of them, that can help combat depression ( see our other articles for more foods to fight the blues ) and also have a positive affect on overall health.

Most people suffering from bouts of depression, anxiety and general mood disorders that greatly affect their quality of life don’t even know that they have non-prescription options to treat their depression effectively.

One treatment that has strong evidence to support that is good as a natural way of treating depression is St John’s Wort extract. There have been over 20 controlled clinical trials of it which shows that it effectively relieves depression. In fact studies show that it works just as well as prescription antidepressants such as Paxil and Prozac and also has fewer side effects than them. So with this in mind, people should consider St John’s Wort as their first choice for treating depression naturally.

Other herbal remedies that are gaining popularity as cures for mild depression are ginkgo biloba, kava kava and black cohosh. Each of these is used for a specific type of depression. Ginkgo biloba is primarily used by people suffering from mild depression and memory loss or other dulled mental functions because it helps improve overall mental health. Kava kava is used mainly for anxiousness associated with depression because it calms a person and helps them fall asleep and have more restful sleep.

The effects of depression can only be mitigated. There is no absolute remedy for depression. Dietary changes or herbal supplements can only mitigate the effects of depression. An effective therapy program suggested by your doctor will help you understand what self-talk is and how it can used to minimize depression naturally.

There are many other natural supplements that can help you fight illnesses and feel better. For example, there is one you can grow yourself in your backyard or even in a pot on your patio and another that has been used successfully by the Chinese for at least 1,000 years

For hundreds of years, yoga has been considered an effective natural cure for depression. This is a very old Eastern world treatment, which incorporates body-stretching exercises with specific breathing exercises. The yoga postures and breathing techniques massage the body organs conditioning them so that they function as intended

peterhutch
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/natural-cures-for-depression-herbal-remedies-for-depression-722777.html

In the 21st century we smugly dismiss herbal remedies for asthma as “old wives tales” but this is a foolish attitude. For 5,000 years of recorded history, and undoubtedly many centuries before, humans have been using plants and nature as cures for many diseases and ailments. “Modern” medicine has only existed for a mere instant of time and it’s arrogant to assume that thousands of years of herbal medicine is of no value to us whatsoever. Here are four herbal remedies that are far older than our current medical practices.

The Old Fashioned ‘Mustard Plaster’:

The famous mustard plaster is indeed used on the chest, but it doesn’t involve opening a jar of Grey Poupon and smearing it around. Instead, you must locate the leaves of the mustard plant which grow wild and can also be cultivated in your garden. Once you have the leaves and stems, mash them into a green pulp.

Next, coat your chest with a protective barrier like petroleum jelly or any oil that is solid at room temperature, in order to prevent any blistering. Cover your chest with the mustard pulp and keep it in place with some gauze or a bandage. Lie down for a couple of hours, or even overnight, and your chest should be much relieved.

John Wesley’s Fondness For Carrots:

Yes, carrots are a great asthma reliever. We commonly think of carrots as long, orange vegetables, but in truth they grow all over the world and there are carrots that are red, purple, pale gold, pure white and a canary yellow. The reverend John Wesley, (1703 – 1791), founder of the Methodist church, habitually ate boiled carrots and drank warm carrot broth to relieve his chronic asthma. Wesley claimed that carrots enabled him to keep a regular preaching schedule that would have been impossible without the aid of his beloved vegetable.

Fragrant Chamomile For Drinking And Breathing:

Chamomile refers to several different species of plant but the one westerners are most familiar with is the German chamomile. This especially fragrant plant is an annual, with lovely flowers, that is frequently used to induce sleep. But the fact that it provides great relief for allergies and asthma is less well known.

To make chamomile tea, boil a pint of water, remove it from the heat and add two teaspoons of dried flowers. Allow it to steep for 5-10 minutes. For asthma relief, drink 3-4 cups of warm tea each day. Children can safely drink 1-2 cups.

For even more asthma relief, fill a pan with approximately four inches of boiling water and sprinkle in a handful of chamomile. When the water has cooled so that it is still slightly steaming, but not boiling hot, place your face over the pan and over your head with a heavy towel so that it acts as a tent. Breathe in these wonderfully aromatic fumes until the water cools. You can safely repeat this treatment as often as you like.

Garlic Salve Halts Chest Congestion:

Garlic is truly a wonderful plant. It kills infection, acts as a blood thinner, seasons food – and acts as a wonderful chest congestant. To make a salve to relieve an asthmatically-constricted chest, peel and mince 6-8 garlic cloves and drop them into a jar that can withstand high temperatures, such as a canning jar.

Next, cover the garlic with melted Crisco or other shortening that will harden at room temperature. If desired, you can also add a small amount of eucalyptus oil to make the mixture more fragrant.

Put the oil and garlic into boiling water and let it sit, without a top, for about three hours. At the end of this time, stir it and pour it into smaller jars for storage. When needed, simply rub into your chest until the oil is absorbed, cover for a time with a towel, and wait for the relief that is soon to come.

The beautiful thing about these natural four remedies is that they cannot possibly harm you in any way. Can you say the same thing about any asthma drugs you are currently ingesting?

Timothy H. Jackson
http://www.articlesbase.com/gardening-articles/four-herbal-remedies-for-asthma-82077.html

I would never have believed what a difference having a comfortable mattress made if I had not personally experienced it. You see, I have not had comfort beds for a number of years. I lived a pretty austere life. I did not have a lot of money, but I was pretty happy. I slept on a small, firm mattress that was just sitting on the floor. I didn’t really need a comfort bed. I disdained luxury, and anyway I didn’t have a lot of money to spend. I got along fine.

The problem was that I was having some serious back pains. I did not initially link it to the lack of comfort beds. I tried all kinds of things to alleviate back pain, and many of them helped. I went to a chiropractor, got massages, took up exercise, and started stretching as often as possible. Nonetheless, the back pain persisted.

Finally, in desperation I tried one of my friends suggestions. I got over to the mattress store and took a look at some comfort beds. I was pretty surprised the first time I lay on a pillow top mattress. It was one of the sleep number beds – the ones that you can adjust with a dial. I have always slept on a pretty firm mattress, but I was blown away by the softness of this one. It was so comfortable that it was like sleeping on a cloud. I have never felt anything like it!

I hate to admit it, but sleeping on comfort beds has changed my life since then. I still don’t buy a lot of junk that I don’t need. For example, I do not eat junk food, do not drive a car, and to do not buy books when I can take them out of the library. Nonetheless, comfort beds and comfortable clothes are really an essential of my lifestyle now.

Having things that make you feel good is important. You are more comfortable, more relaxed, and more at ease. A lot of the stuff that is valued in our society is a waste, but comfort beds definitely aren’t. Without comfortable beds, you will wake up with backaches. If you have a sleep comfort mattress, however, you will wake up refreshed every morning. I think that this is worth the extra cost. After all, how you sleep affects your mood for the rest of the day.

Ann Marier
http://www.articlesbase.com/medicine-articles/comfort-beds-and-back-pain-remedies-113965.html

We live in extremely busy times. It seems that everywhere we go, people are never asleep. Businesses undertake 24-hour operations to cater to a more global market, while individuals don’t hesitate to cross time zones and travel to another country either also for business reasons or for personal development. Body clocks are out of synch, schedules are warped, and the concept of night and day is confused.

Because of this, most of us turn to medications to help us get some shut-eye. However, most of these drugs, because of their chemical content, contain toxic side effects—hence, the birth of natural remedies, like melatonin and calming teas, as alternative therapies.

What is melatonin? Basically, it’s the by-product of the pineal gland, which is the small pea-sized part of our neurological system that tells our bodies when it’s time to shut down and rest. During the day, melatonin is weak, but during the night, it works at its peak. That’s why sleep comes in the absence of daylight or any light source.

However, since our lifestyles have altered our sleep-wake cycles, our bodies tend to forget how to differentiate night from day. People who work graveyard shifts, for instance, sleep during the day and feel very alert at night. But when these schedules suddenly turn 180 degrees, they find themselves dozing off in the middle of a task or falling prey to the lure of potentially dangerous energy drinks and other wake-up drugs.

Natural pineal gland melatonin cannot cope with these sudden changes, so treatment makers have come up with a way to mimic the effect of melatonin to create a pharmacy-grade melatonin supplement. This supplement is available over the counter and is commonly used to treat jet lag discomforts.

The recommendations on the use of pharmacy grade melatonin are mixed. Some studies advise against it because it leads to toxicity, but there are other researches that have found no ill results even if the participants have consumed 600 to 3,000 times the usual dosage, or around 6 grams. Common complaints against melatonin use include reaction lags and drowsiness, but this is quite understandable given the supplement’s features.

Doctors advise that melatonin be consumed only when you’re about to go to bed or at night. To combat jet lag, users are told to take the supplement around thirty minutes before boarding the plane. It should be known that melatonin has major body clock resetting functions so it must not be ingested when not really necessary. How much melatonin an individual can take varies, but it usually begins at 1.5 to 3 milligrams and then increased as needed.

In sum, melatonin, while a natural remedy, is still a drug, which should be taken in moderation. Because the Food and Drug Administration does not regulate alternative therapies, it would be prudent for you not to self-medicate but to consult the advice of a natural health expert or a doctor before deciding to take it.

Disclaimer:This is not a substitute for medical advice. This is only for informational purpose. Seek the advice of your doctor before considering any course of treatment.

Cathlen Evans
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/the-nature-of-melatonin-supplements-in-promoting-sleep-108697.html