Trouble Sleeping?

Trouble Sleeping? Sleep is important because it affects our health and our moods, energy, behaviors, and emotions. Although, there is no real “normal” amount of sleep it is important to get about seven to eight hours sleep.

With lack of sleep you can feel fatigued, and your immune system is not able to defend the body against disease. But there are some natural remedies can help.

Try snacking on a banana or crackers before bed as the level in “serotonin” the hormone that reduces anxiety will help. Melatonin supplements can help you get into a healthy sleep cycle and taking these supplements can actually help improve your sleep.

Valerian can be taken, but the taste is bitter so it is best to put it into some juice or tea.

Try the “super supplements” ginseng and nutrient rich alfalfa and royal jelly.

Chamomile flower, Hops, or Skullcap herbal tea will  help you relax before going to bed.

Avoid stress, when possible, alcohol, nicotine, caffeine, pain relievers and over the counter decongestants.

As always, check with your doctor before taking any supplements

Natural Remedies and Motion Sickness

If you are like me the very thought of mountains roads, rough seas, and a hitting turbulence in the air just conjures up memories of nausea, dizziness, vomiting, and those cold sweats that a person feels dealing with motion sickness.

Even though it will not kill you, motion sickness is a miserable feeling and one you don’t want to ever experience. The reason a person suffers with motion sickness is that the inner ear, is what controls balance and plays a main role in motion sickness.

The inner ear catches every motion, and reports it back to the brain, which then triggers the symptoms. You can develop motion sickness with visual stimuli, anxiety, bad odors, and fear. The inner sends confusing messages to the brain even though you may be at rest sitting in a car, which then causes over stimulation and releases stress hormones causing havoc.

Natural remedies like herbal teas, essential oils, and even acupressure can help ease symptoms of motion sickness.

Ginger tea prevents nausea and can be more effective than any other over the counter remedies for motion sickness. It helps relieve cramps, nausea, and any digestive upset.

Peppermint tea works just as well.

Essential oils like Basil relieves cramping and soothes nervous stomachs and digestive upsets. Just place a few drops on a cloth and inhale

Peppermint oil also provides relief from nausea  just place a few drops on a cloth and inhale.

Neroli oil can also help with nausea and helps calm the stomach.

A certain acupressure area to stop nausea is located on the inside of your lower arm about 2 inches from your wrist. Apply light pressure in a circular motion. You can find wristbands that when worn will stimulate the area.

Suffering With Brittle Nails?

 Do You Suffer With Brittle Nails?

If you are like me, you like a nice manicured nail that you can show off without hiding your hands. But brittle nails can certainly make you feel self conscious about your hands.

Our nails are made out of “keratin” which is responsible for the firmness of the nail. When there is a lock, or deficiency in keratin, the nails become brittle and split. A keratin deficiency can be caused either by malnutrition or it can be from low stomach acid.

Some circulatory disorders, mineral and protein deficiencies, and even a lack of vitamin C has been known to affect the healthy nail growth. Brittle or split nails can be caused by long term exposure to chemicals that are in detergents.

Brittle nails are often in women than men, and to prevent and correct brittle nails, try natural remedy teas and finger baths to help strengthen the nails. Regular filing and nail care will help prevent nail damage.

Herbal teas to drink- nettle leaves, horsetail herb, chamomile blossoms, and yarrow. Drink a cup of any of these teas 3 times a day. These teas are high in minerals, and are anti-inflammatory as well.

Natural Ways To Deal With Bad Breath

Bad breath, or “ halitosis” can be a real embarrassment and cause us to shy away from others due to it. However, bad breath is a condition you can usually correct easily, by using sprays or mouth rinses but it would be wise to get to the cause of it.

The most obvious cause can be gum disease, poor dental hygiene, dry mouth, smoking, and chronic throat and nasal infection. Mouth or throat inflammation, as well as gasses that can travel up from the stomach when the digestive system is not functioning properly.

Drinking herbal tea such as: Myrrh, both an astringent and antibacterial is known for its ability to correct mouth and gum inflammation, and strengthen the gums.

Using Myrrh in a tincture form allows you to rinse or gargle with it and peppermint tea will help with digestion. Drinking sage tea helps with inflammation of the gums, mouth, and throat.

Do we really need fat in our body?

A lot of attention has been focused on our need to reduce levels of dietary fat because the human body actually does need fat. Of course the type of “fat” which is found in vegetable, olive and peanut oils and polyunsaturated fat that is found in corn, soybean, and fish oils. These fats actually do more than help reduce cholesterol levels and help provide energy for our body.

These oils are essential for brain development. When the body can’t break down and absorb these fats, then the body becomes “ fat intolerant” and the overall of   our health will suffer.

Fat intolerance happens when the digestive system isn’t working properly. Since digestion is a must for the liver, making bile, the pancreas producing digestive enzymes and the gallbladder releasing bile into the intestines.

Fat intolerance can develop if these organs are inflamed or not functioning properly. Symptoms can range from water retention and gas, to vomiting and anemia. Diet and natural healing therapies can relieve symptoms and help stimulate the metabolism of fat.

Herbal teas have the ability to come to the aid, whether it is nausea, fever, food poisoning or stress on the digestive system. To calm the gastrointestinal tract use peppermint, lemon-balm leaves or chamomile.

Herbal teas for infection or inflammation of the liver, pancreas, or gallbladder caused by an infection  to treat these infections mix equal parts of yarrow, peppermint and catnip. Drink several times a day.

Caraway tea- is known for its natural remedy for poor digestion. It helps to improve the functioning of the digestive organs and helps relieve gas.

Centaury Tea- has a bitter taste, but it is commonly prescribed to help improve digestion. Drinking one cup before meals are best.

Fat intolerance is sometimes caused by a digestive-enzyme deficiency which can be checked and confirmed by your Doctor. As always, before trying any natural herbal remedy always check with your doctor, especially if you are on medication.