I am going to share again from my wonderful Grandmother who
was a registered nurse and has taught me a LOT about natural medicine... Thanks
Grams! I am not sure where she got this info, but it is good and definitely
needs to be passed along!
Make muscle pain a memory with
ginger
When
Danish researchers asked achy people to jazz up their diets with ginger, it
eased muscle and joint pain, swelling and stiffness for up to 63 percent of
them within two months. Experts credit ginger’s potent compounds called gingerols,
which prevent the production of pain-triggering hormones. The study-recommended
dose: Add at least 1 teaspoon of dried ginger or 2 teaspoons of chopped ginger
to meals daily.
Cure a toothache with cloves
Got a
toothache and can’t get to the dentist? Gently chewing on a clove can ease
tooth pain and gum inflammation for two hours straight, say UCLA researchers.
Experts point to a natural compound in cloves called eugenol, a powerful,
natural anesthetic. Bonus: Sprinkling a ¼ teaspoon of ground cloves on meals
daily may also protect your ticker. Scientists say this simple action helps
stabilize blood sugar, plus dampen production of artery-clogging cholesterol in
as little as three weeks.
Heal heartburn with cider vinegar
Sip 1
tablespoon of apple cider vinegar mixed with 8 ounces of water before every
meal, and experts say you could shut down painful bouts of heartburn in as
little as 24 hours. “Cider vinegar is rich in malic and tartaric acids,
powerful digestive aids that speed the breakdown of fats and proteins so your
stomach can empty quickly, before food washes up into the esophagus, triggering
heartburn pain,” explains Joseph Brasco, M.D., a gastroenterologist at the
Center for Colon and Digestive Diseases in Huntsville, AL.
Erase earaches with garlic
Painful ear infections drive
millions of Americans to doctors’offices every year. To cure one fast, just
place two drops of warm garlic oil into your aching ear twice daily for five
days. This simple treatment can clear up ear infections faster than
prescription meds, say experts at the University of New Mexico School of
Medicine. Scientists say garlic’s active ingredients (germanium, selenium, and
sulfur compounds) are naturally toxic to dozens of different pain-causing
bacteria. To whip up your own garlic oil gently simmer three cloves of crushed
garlic in a half a cup of extra virgin olive oil for two minutes, strain, then
refrigerate for up to two weeks, suggests Teresa Graedon, Ph.D., co-author of
the book, Best Choices From The People’s Pharmacy. For an optimal
experience, warm this mix slightly before using so the liquid will feel
soothing in your ear canal.
Chase away joint and headache pain
with cherries
Latest studies show that at least
one in four women is struggling with arthritis, gout or chronic headaches. If
you’re one of them, a daily bowl of cherries could ease your ache, without the
stomach upset so often triggered by today’s painkillers, say researchers at
East Lansing’s Michigan State University. Their research reveals that
anthocyanins, the compounds that give cherries their brilliant red color, are
anti-inflammatories 10 times stronger than ibuprofen and aspirin. “Anthocyanins
help shut down the powerful enzymes that kick-start tissue inflammation, so
they can prevent, as well as treat, many different kinds of pain,” explains
Muraleedharan Nair, Ph.D., professor of food science at Michigan State
University. His advice: Enjoy 20 cherries (fresh, frozen or dried) daily, then
continue until your pain disappears.
Fight tummy troubles with fish
Indigestion, irritable bowel
syndrome, inflammatory bowel diseases...if your belly always seems to be in an
uproar, try munching 18 ounces of fish weekly to ease your misery. Repeated
studies show that the fatty acids in fish, called EPA and DHA, can
significantly reduce intestinal inflammation, cramping and belly pain and, in
some cases, provide as much relief as corticosteroids and other prescription
meds. “EPA and DHA are powerful, natural, side effect-free anti-inflammatories,
that can dramatically improve the function of the entire gastrointestinal
tract,” explains biological chemist Barry Sears, Ph.D., president of the
Inflammation Research Foundation in Marblehead, MA. For best results, look for
oily fish like salmon, sardines, tuna, mackerel, trout and herring.
Prevent PMS with yogurt
Up to 80 percent of women will
struggle with premenstrual syndrome and its uncomfortable symptoms, report Yale
researchers. The reason: Their nervous systems are sensitive to the ups and
downs in estrogen and progesterone that occur naturally every month. But
snacking on 2 cups of yogurt a day can slash these symptoms by 48 percent, say
researchers at New York’s Columbia University. “Yogurt is rich in calcium, a
mineral that naturally calms the nervous system, preventing painful symptoms
even when hormones are in flux,”explains Mary Jane Minkin, M.D., a professor of
gynecology at Yale University.
Tame chronic pain with turmeric
Studies show turmeric, a popular
East Indian spice, is actually three times more effective at easing pain than
aspirin, ibuprofen or naproxen, plus it can help relieve chronic pain for 50
percent of people struggling with arthritis and even fibromyalgia, according to
Cornell researchers. That’s because turmeric’s active ingredient, curcumin,
naturally shuts down cyclooxygenase 2, an enzyme that churns out a stream of
pain-producing hormones, explains nutrition researcher Julian Whitaker, M.D.
and author of the book, Reversing Diabetes. The study-recommended dose:
Sprinkle 1/4 teaspoon of this spice daily onto any rice, poultry, meat or
vegetable dish.
End endometrial pain with oats
The ticket to soothing
endometriosis pain could be a daily bowl of oatmeal. Endometriosis occurs when
little bits of the uterine lining detach and grow outside of the uterus.
Experts say these migrating cells can turn menstruation into a misery, causing
so much inflammation that they trigger severe cramping during your period, plus
a heavy ache that drags on all month long. Fortunately, scientists say opting
for a diet rich in oats can help reduce endometrial pain for up to 60 percent
of women within six months. That’s because oats don’t contain gluten, a
trouble-making protein that triggers inflammation in many women, making
endometriosis difficult to bear, explains Peter Green, M.D., professor of
medicine at Colombia University.
Soothe foot pain with salt
Experts say at least six million
Americans develop painful ingrown toenails each year. But regularly soaking
ingrown nails in warm salt water baths can cure these painful infections within
four days, say scientists at California’s Stanford University. The salt in the
mix naturally nixes inflammation, plus it’s anti-bacterial, so it quickly
destroys the germs that cause swelling and pain. Just mix 1 teaspoon of salt
into each cup of water, heat to the warmest temperature that you can
comfortably stand, and then soak the affected foot area for 20 minutes twice
daily, until your infection subsides.
Prevent digestive upsets with
pineapple
Got gas? One cup of fresh
pineapple daily can cut painful bloating within 72 hours, say researchers at
California’s Stanford University. That's because pineapple is naturally packed
with proteolytic enzymes, digestive aids that help speed the breakdown of
pain-causing proteins in the stomach and small intestine, say USDA researchers.
Relax painful muscles with
peppermint
Suffering from tight, sore
muscles? Stubborn knots can hang around for months if they aren’t properly
treated, says naturopath Mark Stengler, N.D., author of the book, The Natural Physician’s Healing Therapies. His advice: Three times each week, soak in a warm tub
scented with 10 drops of peppermint oil. The warm water will relax your
muscles, while the peppermint oil will naturally soothe your nerves -- a combo
that can ease muscle cramping 25 percent more effectively than over-the-counter
painkillers, and cut the frequency of future flare-ups in half, says Stengler.
Give your back some TLC with grapes
Got an achy back? Grapes could be
the ticket to a speedy recovery. Recent studies at Ohio State University
suggest eating a heaping cup of grapes daily can relax tight blood vessels,
significantly improving blood flow to damaged back tissues (and often within
three hours of enjoying the first bowl). That’s great news because your back’s
vertebrae and shock-absorbing discs are completely dependent on nearby blood
vessels to bring them healing nutrients and oxygen, so improving blood flow is
essential for healing damaged back tissue, says Stengler.
Wash away pain injuries with water
Whether it’s your feet, your knees
or your shoulders that are throbbing, experts at New York’s Manhattan College,
say you could kick-start your recovery in one week just by drinking eight
8-ounce glasses of water daily. Why? Experts say water dilutes, and then helps
flush out, histamine, a pain-triggering compound produced by injured tissues.
“Plus water is a key building block of the cartilage that cushions the ends of
your bones, your joints’ lubricating fluid, and the soft discs in your spine,”
adds Susan M. Kleiner, Ph.D., author of the book, The Good Mood Diet.
“And when these tissues are well-hydrated, they can move and glide over each
other without causing pain.” One caveat: Be sure to measure your drinking
glasses to find out how large they really are before you start sipping, she
says. Today’s juice glasses often hold more than 12 ounces, which means five
servings could be enough to meet your daily goal.
Heal sinus problems with
horseradish
Latest studies show sinusitis is
the nation’s number one chronic health problem. And this condition doesn’t just
spur congestion and facial pain, it also makes sufferers six times more
likely to feel achy all-over. Horseradish to the rescue! According to German
researchers, this eye-watering condiment naturally revs up blood flow to the
sinus cavities, helping to open and drain clogged sinuses and heal sinus
infections more quickly than decongestant sprays do. The study-recommended
dose: One teaspoon twice daily (either on its own, or used as a sandwich or
meat topping) until symptoms clear.
Beat bladder infections with blueberries
Eating 1 cup of blueberries daily,
whether you opt for them fresh, frozen or in juice form, can cut your risk of a
urinary tract infection (UTIs) by 60 percent, according to researchers at New
Jersey’s Rutgers University. That's because blueberries are loaded with
tannins, plant compounds that wrap around problem-causing bacteria in the
bladder, so they can’t get a toehold and create an infection, explains Amy
Howell, Ph.D. a scientist at Rutgers University.
Heal mouth sores with honey
Dab painful canker and cold sores
with unpasteurized honey four times daily until these skin woes disappear, and
they’ll heal 43 percent faster than if you use a prescription cream, say
researchers at the Dubai Specialized Medical Center in the United Arab
Emirates. Raw honey’s natural enzymes zap inflammation, destroy invading
viruses and speed the healing of damaged tissues, say the study authors.
Fight breast pain with flax
In one recent study, adding 3
tablespoons of ground flax to their daily diet eased breast soreness for one in
three women within 12 weeks. Scientists credit flax’s phytoestrogens, natural
plant compounds that prevent the estrogen spikes that can trigger breast pain.
More good news: You don’t have to be a master baker to sneak this healthy seed
into your diet. Just sprinkle ground flax on oatmeal, yogurt, applesauce or add
it to smoothies and veggie dips.
Cure migraines with coffee
Prone to migraines? Try
muscling-up your painkiller with a coffee chaser. Whatever over-the-counter
pain med you prefer, researchers at the National Headache Foundation say
washing it down with a strong 12- ounce cup of coffee will boost the
effectiveness of your medication by 40 percent or more. Experts say caffeine
stimulates the stomach lining to absorb painkillers more quickly and more
effectively.
Tame leg cramps with tomato juice
At least one in five people
regularly struggle with leg cramps. The culprit? Potassium deficiencies, which
occur when this mineral is flushed out by diuretics, caffeinated beverages or
heavy perspiration during exercise. But sip 10 ounces of potassium-rich tomato
juice daily and you'll not only speed your recovery, you'll reduce your risk of
painful cramp flare-ups in as little as 10 days, say UCLA researchers.
What have you found to ease pain in your kitchen??
Blessings... E
