Cold Sore Remedies
Treat cold sores easily with natural treatment.
How To Relieve Stress: Meditation For Beginners
Meditation Is A Great Way To Get To Know Yourself
Meditation is an ancient discipline which is supposed to free the human spirit from it’s bodily enclosure, allowing for a deeper state of awareness. Meditating provides the mind with relaxation and nourishes the mental state through contemplation into some point of higher consciousness.
Almost every single religion has some form of meditation incorporated into their practices and teachings.
It is said that when Buddhist monks enter a state of deep meditation they can actually change their body temperature. When sheets that were packed in ice water are wrapped around the monks body, instead of shivering and having a declining body temperature, the monks actually stayed at a normal body temperature and the sheet around them dried after a few hours. Amazing!
Generally, meditation is automatically associated with Buddhism and Hinduism but there is also Christian meditation as well.
Meditation Is A Serious Matter
Mental balance is rare in today’s highly stressful times, angst is gripping people by their throat and seldom do people take time to sleep properly, much less practice meditation exercises.
Meditation, besides the stress relieving and relaxing effects, has a much deeper meaning than any “Meditation for dummies” book can provide you with. (Although there are some great meditation books that have been written.) It is a spiritual way to replenish your mental resources. It allows you to recover from the mind numbing things you are being bombarded with on a daily basis.
To practice meditation all you need to do is be at peace with the noise in your head. Meditation for beginners is easier to do in a small, quiet space where you can close your eyes and concentrate on your breathe. Comfort is a must, otherwise you will concentrate on your discomfort. However, as you become a master of meditation, you will hardly notice your comfort level.
Meditation Supplies
Good starter meditation supplies to have on hand are a meditation timer, zabuton (this is a meditation cushion/meditation pillow), and you may want to purchase some meditation books or a meditation video if you are nervous about the act of proper meditation.
These items can help calm your nerves and comfort you so that mediation can occur without anxiety about technique.
You can also try on line meditation. There are sites dedicated to guided meditations on line. I have never tried one of these so let me know how you like it, if you try it.
Namaste.
Some Easy Exercises for Lower Back Pain
Your back is overused and under appreciated. We use our back for everything-twisting, lifting, leaning, sitting, laying, walking….our back is the reason we can do these things.
So when you have back pain it is nearly impossible to do anything.
Pain In Back? Stretch It Out.
To prevent injury to your back you need to keep it stretched. Do back stretches several times per day; but don’t over stretch your back and cause undue pain by pulling back muscles. This can be easy to do if you are already prone to back aches and pains. Just do enough to keep your muscles loosened.
Exercises for Lower Back Pain That Won’t Cause More Pain
1.
Lie down on an exercise mat, stomach down.
Put your arms out ahead of your head
Lift your head off the floor but have your forehead face the floor
Lift your right arm and your left leg off the floor, do this at the same time
Put them back onto the floor
Lift your left arm and right leg off the floor
Make sure your fingers and toes are pointed out and that as you lift your limbs you hold them in the air for several seconds at a time
Repeat this exercise several times
2.
Get a pillow
Lie down on a hard surface and place the pillow under your knees
Lift your right leg off the pillow and then pull your knee to your chest
Straighten your leg back out and put it on the pillow
do this again but with your left leg
repeat several times until your lower back pain weakens
If you cannot do these exercises you should consult a doctor as you may have a herniated disc that needs back surgery.
Acid Reflux Remedies: Treating Acid Reflux Symptoms
Acid reflux, commonly identified as heartburn, is the number 1 symptom of GERD (gastroesophageal reflux). Millions of people suffer from acid reflux, and they don’t even know it.
Many people shrug off the symptoms associated with acid reflux as a result of eating spicy and fried foods. But the consequences of acid reflux can be much worse than just a little indigestion.
ACID REFLUX SYMPTOMS
Depending on the severity of the acid reflux episode you’re experiencing, you discomfort could range anywhere from nausea after a meal to non-stop hiccups to trouble swallowing.
Here’s a list of some of the most common symptoms of acid reflux disorder:
- Heartburn
- Regurgitation – the feeling that acid is hanging around in the esophagus
CAUSES of ACID REFLUX
Acid reflux is a common affliction for many Americans, but serious problems could be behind the cause.
Here’s a few possible causes that you should consult your doctor about:
- Abnormal nerve or muscle function in the stomach
- Hiatal hernia – when some of the stomach muscles protrude through a small hole in the diaphragm where the esophagus goes into the stomach.
- Malfunctioning Esophageal Sphincter (LES) Muscles
ACID REFLUX REMEDIES
To stop acid reflux, you should first take a long, hard look at your diet. Certain foods and drinks can contribute to acid reflux.
Here’s a few tips for reducing the symptoms of acid reflux:
- Standing or sitting after a meal – don’t just lie down right away.
- Avoid chocolate, peppermint, alcohol and caffeinated drinks.
- Take antacids about an hour before a meal.
WHAT TO DO IF NOTHING STOPS ACID REFLUX
Consult your doctor. In some cases, people require surgery to stop the discomfort. You might also be prescribed medications that can help you manage your reflux.
A Real Pain: Menstrual Cramp Relief
Hello Ladies, chances are if you are reading this you are experiencing your little gift from God…menstrual cramps. I’ll bet you are searching the Internet for some advice on menstrual cramp relief. You have come to the right place because relieving those blasted cramps is exactly what I’m going to talk about.
Why does it have to hurt?
Well, this is what is going on in your body: the lining in your uterus is tearing away.
Don’t worry, since you are not pregnant, this lining isn’t needed and it has to break down and leave your body.
This is your period; the shedding of the tissues that line the uterus in preparation for housing a fetus for nine months. If you were to become pregnant this lining would thicken and become your womb.
The menstrual cramps you experience are a result of your uterus contracting in order to expel the lining it does not need.
What Can I Do To Get Some Menstrual Cramp Relief?
Here are 5 easy ways to combat the pain of your period:
1. Take a nice warm bath. The buoyancy of the water takes some pressure off your pelvis, back and legs. Plus this takes away stress and when you are less tense your body has an easier time doing it’s job.
2. If you don’t want to take a bath due to sanitary purposes you can always use a heating pad on your stomach or back. Heat will loosen up your muscles and help you relax.
3. Take your vitamins. Calcium, Magnesium, vitamin B and Zinc are said to help reduce cramping and bloating. 800 mg of calcium is recommended per day for a woman. Take in extra magnesium because magnesium is what your body needs to absorb calcium! Foods that are rich with magnesium are: tofu, whole wheat and vegetables.
4. The last thing you really want to do is move around, I know. But, in order to relieve those menstrual cramps you’ve gotta walk. After your bath or your heating pad, get up and take a walk around the block. This will help you stretch out improve your state of mind. I know cramps tend to get us pretty annoyed and crabby.
5. Ginger Root tea and Chamomile tea are both a godsend for menstrual cramp relief. Boil a few slices of ginger root in some water for 15 minutes and then sip. This herbal remedy is relaxing and healthy for you. In China, ginger has been used for 2,000 years to treat upset stomachs!
I’m sure, when you are fighting through the aches and bloat of your period you really don’t want to do much but use the heating pad, if that, but picture yourself sipping some tea and taking a pleasant, pain-free walk. Having a positive attitude will up your serotonin and help you not get depressed during this time of the month.
Remember, mind over matter.
Natural Remedies for Anxiety: 3 Steps to Stop!
Coping with Anxiety
Life is overflowing with reasons to have anxiety. One may argue that life is also just as full with reasons not to have anxiety.
In this article I’ll talk about some natural remedies for anxiety. You already know what anxiety is, whether you are experiencing it by having sweaty palms or heart palpitations or insomniatic nights–I’ll try to give you some ways to cope with it.
Stopping anxiety is all up to you and your lifestyle and chances are you KNOW what you need to do to put an end to your anxiety.
Step 1. Natural Remedy for Anxiety
Change!
Many reasons anxiety gets so bad is because we let it fester. We don’t change! No matter what, there will be reasons for anxiety in your life. It’s your outlook that can free you.
The anxiety you experience is all a result of how YOU see it.
Step 2. Natural Remedy for Anxiety
If you have been brooding over whatever is making you feel anxious for at least 3 months–it is time to discuss it with someone.
Talk to a certified therapist. Friends can be good sound boards but you wouldn’t take your broken down car to be fixed by your best friend when that friend happens to be a chef.
That is essentially what you are doing to yourself when you neglect to get proper help.
Talking to a counselor or therapist can be incredibly relieving. All you have to do is talk and if you don’t know what to talk about it is their job to ask questions.
Also, anxiety tends to walk hand-in-hand with depression. Your therapist can diagnose this and offer support and resources.
Step 3. Natural Remedy for Anxiety
Give yourself a break. Seriously.
Take a week, day, hour-whatever you can spare-off. You need an anxiety vacation.
I’m not talking about a luxury trip to Hawaii, I’m talking about you taking a break from your inner critic!
You can achieve this by doing the opposite of what you normally do.
When your brain begins circling that antagonizing problem that keeps you awake at night tell yourself “not now. I am in control and I don’t have to think about this.”
Pick a favorite memory or a fantasy to picture in your mind every time the cause of your anxiety surfaces and imagine this every time your brain finds itself back to anxiety.
Give yourself a rest! Take a deep breath and just say no to the anxiety. Find something good to think about that doesn’t cause you anything but happiness; maybe your child being born, your honeymoon, that day you at an entire pie…whatever! Just go to that place and remember all the good feelings you had during that moment. Re-live it. Breath.
Remember, natural remedies for anxiety can only help you if you let them.
It’s up to you to help yourself. By believing in yourself and working to change your perspective you will be able to be less affected by the constraints of anxiety.
Is Tea the Perfect Natural Home Remedy for Curing Insomnia?
You want sleep, and you want it now. But many of us don’t want to eat prescription pills to force ourselves to sleep.
Instead, natural home remedies for curing insomnia can help you get to sleep in a more peaceful and replenishing way.
One of the best ways to get a more restful night’s sleep is to drink a nighttime tea before closing your eyes for the night.
Drink Tea to Cure Insomnia
Drinking tea can be part of your nighttime routine, as tea is a great natural sleep aid.
Having an evening routine will signify to your body that it’s time to wind down and let the pressures of the day rest. Your body, once adapted to this routine, will respond by lowering it’s heart rate and settling in for slumber.
Some teas that are known sedatives are: Chamomile, Sage, Skullcap, and Valerian. Having a steaming cup of one of these teas can be a soothing way to slip into sleep.
Homeopathic health stores have several types of teas and if you find the right concoction for yourself it can really knock you out at night!
Keep some on your bedside table and if you happen to wake up during the night slurp some down and get right back to your sleep.
Five Common Mistakes To Avoid for Curing Insomnia
How many times have you lain down onto your soft, welcoming bed saying to yourself, “I am exhausted. There is no way I will have trouble sleeping tonight.”
Then you close your eyes and lay there. Roll to your side. No sleep. Roll to your other side. No sleep. This goes on and on and on…
Why is this happening?
As you read this entire article, you will begin to understand some of the most common activities people do just before bed that ruins their night’s sleep. Some of the activities you will discover are the roots of insomnia.
To cure insomnia, you will need to really take a close look at your evening activities.
4 Common Mistakes to Avoid for Curing Insomnia
Insomnia can be a result of too much stress happening in your life and the thoughts compound at night when all is quiet.
Whether you realize it or not, certain activities create stress in the day’s waning hours. Here are a few to avoid to help cure your insomnia.
1) Consuming Caffeine: This seems obvious, but here it is anyway: Don’t eat or drink anything with caffeine; chocolate, coffee, soda. If you have trouble sleeping, try not to take in any any caffeine after noon.
2) Talking on the Phone: Having conversations, even if they aren’t involved or argumentative, can set our nerves on high. At least an hour before bed, use as your solitary time to be with yourself.
3) Using the Computer: The bright light of the monitor is over-stimulating not to mention all of the overwhelming content. It’s best to just avoid the computer and internet as a bedtime routine. There is too much available to get our minds racing.
4) Watching TV: Talk about stimulation overload. Some peopel are able to be lulled to sleep by watching TV. But did you know that the noise and light from the television stimulates your brain while you are “asleep?” That means your brain really doesn’t get a chance to rest, as it’s interpreting signals all night long.
One last note
Insomnia can also be a result of depression. If you are depressed you should call your doctor to get a referral to a certified therapist.