Sassafras Station

Many men and women suffer greatly with the pain and discomfort of a urinary tract infect also referred to as a UTI. A UTI can strike anyone at any age and can be as minor as slight discomfort when urinating to uncontrollable urination and extreme pain. This infection attacks the bladder, kidney, urethra and the ureters. It may attack one and quickly spread through out the urinary tract. If you are having any symptoms of a UTI it is very important that you begin treatment right away before the infection spreads and becomes so bad that you have to get medical treatment and possibly hospitalization.

There are ways to treat a UTI, if caught soon enough, within the privacy of your own home. One way to do this is be aware of your body. Do not put off minor unusual behaviors your body might have. For an example: if you begin urinating frequently without and increase in fluid intake. This could be your body’s way of trying to wash an infection out. Also, if you are having a slight pain when you urinate is another symptom of a UTI. Anything your body does that is out of the ordinary you need to pay close attention to and act quickly to help your body gain control of the situation.

The symptoms of a UTI include but are not limited to the following: Frequent urination, painful urination, cloudy or red tint to your urine and small amounts of urine when you go to the restroom. If you have the following symptoms it could be a sign that the infection is now severe and has moved to the kidneys: chills, vomiting, a fever, pain in the back, sides or even stomach and vomiting. If this occurs you need medical treatment to prevent serious consequences such as kidney damage.

Please keep in mind a UTI is very serious and even though symptoms may improve your condition may be worsening. So what can you do to assist your body in over coming a UTI? One treatment is Vacinnium Oxycoccus. It has been used for a century or more. You maybe wondering what this is…it is simply Cranberry Juice. With recent studies it has been found that the now popular cranberry extract tablets are more concentrate causing it to be even more effective then regular cranberry juice you purchase in the store. These tablets are found in the remedy section of your drug store and are inexpensive.

Another treatment for a UTI is something called Uva Ursi. Uva Ursi has several names, latin being Arctostaphlos Uvaursi. Other referred to names are Arberry, Bearberry, Mountain Cranberry, Rockberry and Whortleberry to name a few. This is a powerful Anti-bacterial for the Liver, Kidney and pancreas. Uva Ursi targets conditions such as inflammation of tissue, the treatment of herpes, vaginal infections, cold sores, bladder stones and UTI. Uva Ursi acts as a defense mechanism as it strengthens and tones the urinary passages. It contains allantoin which aids in tissue repair. Other known perks of the Uva Ursi herb is it is helpful for chronic diarrhea, increases urine flow, reduces bloating, and the astringent properties may also assist in bed wetting.

It is not recommended Uva Ursi be used for people with high blood pressure, pregnant women, children, breast feeding mothers and those with kidney disease. It is also recommended food high in acid be avoided while taking Uva Ursi. Many prescription and over the counter medications and even other herbs and vitamins can lessen the effects of Uva Ursi.

You may have heard of Azo Urinary tablets sold over the counter which aid in the relief of pain and discomfort of a UTI. Though these are found to be effective, Azo also offers there Azo Cranberry. These cranberry tablets are loaded with vitamin C and several other antioxidants which fight bacteria. Cranberry helps to not only fight the bacterial infection known as a UTI but it is great for prevention as well.

When it comes to children, a large variety of herbs and over the counter medications can not be used for children. It is recommended to treat a UTI in a child with cranberry juice or tablets and giving children a bath 2-3 times a day with baking soda in the water. Add just enough baking soda to the water that the water is cloudy. Sense any infection in a child can become serious very quickly be sure to get the child medical attention so the proper test can be done to prevent permanent damage to your child’s kidneys and other vital organs.

Other things you can do to help prevent the infection from accruing is by getting out of wet clothing as soon as possible, avoid tight clothing, wear cotton underwear and be sure to change them at least twice a day, Drink 8-12 glasses of water a day (unless you are on a doctor ordered fluid restriction), Drink cranberry juice or take cranberry tablets and wipe front to back after each urination.

The best way to give yourself the best care is by seeking out the best information. Educating yourself and being aware of ones own body gives you the upper hand when bacteria attempts a visit.

Technorati Tags: herbal remedy, natural remedy, urinary tract infection treatment

Of all the aches and pains we encounter in our lives a toothache can easily fall into the top 5 of being the worst. Having one tooth that is in pain can cause pain throughout the entire head. We use many muscles when we speak and with our facial expression that any movement can cause the pain to spider web through the nerves, it can even effect our ears.

Eating and drinking can be put to the bare minimum as the hot and cold can cause shooting pains throughout the mouth, jaw and down into our neck. A toothache can become very serious quite quickly if it goes untreated. This is because of the amount of germs and bacteria that is naturally found in our mouths. The onset of an infection can bring more severe pain, swelling and even fever. The best thing we can do is work hard to prevent a toothache from occurring in the first place. When the onset of a toothache sneaks up on you take action right away, do not put it off.

There are several simple remedies to give you the relief you need. If you do not see improvement after using home remedies get medical attention as an oral infection is nothing to put off. Infections of the mouth can quickly move into the blood and cause heart and other complications. To treat the basic toothache or to get relief until you can see your dentist try the following remedies.

Quick easy remedies to ease away the pain:

• Combine a clove of garlic to rock salt and put directly on the affected tooth
• Apply clove oil to the tooth
• Chew wheat grass as it is excellent for pulling toxins from the gums
• Place fresh cut onion directly on the tooth or chew fresh cut onion for a minimum of 3 minutes. This kills off bacteria in the mouth.
• Apply a very small pinch of pepper with a little table salt onto the effected tooth
• Combine bark of blueberry and vinegar and apply to effected tooth
• Mix mustard oil and turmeric powder and apply to effected tooth
• Gargle with hydrogen peroxide after each meal
• Put 2-4 drops of vanilla extract on the effected tooth to instantly relieve pain

These are just a handful of remedies to ease your pain. Most of these items we usually already have in our cabinet. Instead of suffering though the pain and agony of a toothpaste, hoping the pain reliever will kick in soon take a moment to try these remedies. Be sure to share them with friends and family. Many of these remedies actually strengthen your teeth and gums as you use them, can you say that for pain pills? Another benefit of these treatments is that they also kill the bacteria that cause bad breath.

Technorati Tags: natural remedy, natural remedy for toothaches, toothache remedy

Sinus infection, the pain, the pressure…you got it, the crud. This is one infection you just can’t hide. Regardless how much make-up you apply that puffy little face tells the world “I feel awful so don’t mess with me!” Having a sinus infection can make it hard to concentrate and can keep you out of the loop of things. You may have pressure in your head, face and even jaw. Your eyes may water, be itchy, puffy, sore and blood shot. You may experience terrible head aches that refuse to let up even with pain medication . Your ears may seem as if they are draining or even clogged up. AHHH!!!

Don’t worry, thanks to people stumbling over remedies in their quest to fight the infection there maybe relief. This means your puffy, stuffy little head can get the upper edge on this and be back in control in a matter of day or even hours. So what causes a sinus infection anyways? Search no more I have found the answer for you.! But you may want to grab a tissue before you short out your key board.

A sinus infection or rhinosinusitis is an infection in the paranasal sinuses causing inflammation. This may be caused by fungal, viral, bacterial, auto immune or even allergies. This may cause mucus to build up and apply extreme pressure to the already inflamed sinus ducts and even on nerves. This can cause those terrible headaches that won’t go away. It can even cause shooting pains in your jaw and teeth. Your sinuses extend from your forehead around your eyes down to your jaw, this is why you have pain from the top of your head to your jaw line and even your neck. A sinus infection is also known as Sinusitis and is highly contagious and can be transmitted through the air.

So what can you do to get relief? Here are a few home remedies that have been proven to give relief. Keep in mind what works for one may not work for another so you may have to try a couple different remedies before finding one that works for you.

Natural Remedies

1- Mix 2TBSP of organic Apple Cider Vinegar in 10 oz. of warm water then add 1 TSP of raw honey. Once mixed well drink through a straw slowly. Repeat 2-3 times through out the day.

2-Using a neti potmix 8 oz. of warm water to 1 ½ TBSP of Apple Cider Vinegar and put through the nose.

3-In a coffee cup add fresh chopped garlic cloves, tomato juice, fresh squeezed lemon juice and cayenne pepper. Mix well and drink. Repeat 2-3 times through out the day.

4-In a coffee cup combine 1 bullion cube, ½ TSP hot sauce, ¼ TSP cayenne pepper and garlic powder or fresh chopped garlic. Mix well and drink. Repeat 2-3 times through out the day.

5-Spray a mixture of Sea Salt and warm water up the nostrils (Saline rinse)

6-Mix a couple of shakes of Cayenne Pepper into a TSP of warm water and mix well. Dip a Q-tip into the mixture and place up one nostril and sniff the mixture into the nose. Dip a clean Q-tip into clean warm water and do the same in the same nostril. Then do the other nostril as you did the first. This is said to be intense causing eyes to water and can cause a sneezing fit.

7-Oil Pulling. This has been practice through ancient times. By using cold-pressed oil such as Sunflower or Sesame. In the morning prior to breakfast take one TBSP of oil into the mouth DO NOT SWALLOW! Swish the oil around in the mouth and pulling it through the teeth repeatedly for 15-20 minutes. This mixes the oil well with your saliva and activates the enzymes and draws out toxins from the blood. This makes the oil now toxic and should not be swallowed. Once the 20 minutes are up spit the oil out and rinse thoroughly using fresh water, swishing the water around and even using your finger to work over your teeth. Be sure to wash your sink with anti bacterial soap as the mixture you have spit out is toxic and contains body waste. Repeat this process 3 times a day on an empty stomach each time.

Keep in mind the trick with Apple Cider Vinegar is to use it when the symptoms just start or even before. The Apple Cider Vinegar actually thins the mucus immediately bringing near instant relief. Other useful remedies include Wild Oregano or Grapefruit Seed Extract which is very potent so you must always remember to dilute 1 drop of Grapefruit Seed Extract to 2 oz. of water. You can also use Grapefruit Seed Extract as a ear rinse by mixing 2-3 drops to 1 oz of water. Use it also as a throat gargle by mixing 3 drops of Grapefruit Seed Extract to 3-4 oz of water.

So many great remedies, which one will work for you? Remember to try the remedy to fight the enemy!

Technorati Tags: herbal remedies for sinus infections, natural remedy, natural remedy for sinus infections, sinus infections

Many of us suffer with pain from time to time and some chronic pain. Day in and day out an ongoing pain with very little relief. It maybe necessary to take over-the-counter or even prescription pain relievers. But what if you don’t have to…? If you read the bottle of your pain relief medication you may find side effect and warnings such as: This product may cause kidney and liver damage; Do not take over the amount prescribed do to over-dose; May cause serious side effects if used with other medications; May cause serious drop in blood pressure; May cause vision changes, vomiting, diarrhea, cramping, mood changes, head aches, dizziness etc…Why go through all of this if it is not necessary? You could be creating new health problems while attempting to get relief from the one you already have.

When we take pain medication for long periods of time our bodies adapt to them. We have to go through a detox period if we are wanting to stay off of the medication, this is a form of addiction. When our bodies are used to having a certain chemical or even natural substance and we immediately stop the consumption our body may go into a bit of shock. This can cause other health issues to arise and also cause extreme irritability. If you are used to consuming caffeine on a daily basis such as two cups of coffee in the morning or 3 caffeinated soft drinks a day then suddenly stop you may find yourself craving the caffeine and feeling very tense inside. If there is a natural way of fight against pain wouldn’t you rather go that route? Instead of having to deal with side effects, health warnings and even addiction what if there are natural resources that not only relieve pain but also support your over all health.

Below I have listed natural food sources that can give you relief and a health boost. When using be sure you continue as it may take a little while to get your body where it needs to be. If one does not work for you over a period of time try another. What works for one may not work for another, don’t give up.

-One food that acts similar to Ibuprofen is the cherry. Cherries are full of antioxidants and help the body regulate water and reduces swelling. Eating approximately 20 cherries can help relieve pain do to arthritis, an injury and head aches. It also provide a health boost by providing vitamins A and C along with Potassium. Cherries are a good source for cleansing the body and assisting in the prevention of heart decease.

-Mint oil can assist with the relief of head aches. By mixing mint oil with a TSP of rubbing alcohol and rubbing it into your temples can give near instant relief.

-Eucalyptus Oil is a wonderful pain relieving tool. This natural oil is known to relieve sprangs and muscle pains. Simply massage the oil in a circular motion to the effected area.

-Soy may also help with pain as it seems to target osteoarthritis sufferers. Consuming soy on a daily basis can help improve range-of-motion over a period of time. It is thought Soy may reduce the inflammation caused by arthritis.

Other known remedies are as follows:

-Mix honey to warm water and drink for a pain reliever.

-Milk can relieve pain within the stomach as it has alkalizing effects.

-Fish oil taken on a daily basis helps to relieve pain such as arthritis and joint pain.

-Eating a couple of walnuts a few times throughout the day can fight pain.

-Almonds have similar effect to aspirin when you eat twelve

-For muscle pain rub clove oil into the area.

I can go on and on of the many natural resources we have in controlling pain. When choosing a natural source you not only get relief of pain but you also get that health boost. Our bodies will naturally detox the harmful chemicals leaving our bodies even stronger then before. Why add more health issues on top of the ones you are already battling. Go natural and break the chemically dependent cycle.

Technorati Tags: Herbal Remedies, herbal remedy, pain blocker, pain blockers, pain medicine

Shingles is a viral infection that causes a painful rash that typically appears as a band of blisters that wrap around from the middle of the back around to one side of the chest to the breast bone. It’s caused by the same virus that causes chicken pox. It affects nearly 850,000 people each year.

The symptoms of shingles include the following:

• Achiness
• Fever and chills
• Pain, numbness or tingling
• Fluid filled blisters
• Itching
• A red rash that appears a few days after the pain

For some people the first symptom of shingles is the pain. Some people confuse pain from shingles with heart, lung or kidney issues.

There are some simple things you can do at home if you get shingles. To help with sores and healing apply vitamin E oil. You can also purchase licorice gel (you may have to get this through an herbal practitioner) and it apply it up to three times a day.

Because many people get shingles because of a weakened immune system it’s important to eat a balanced diet, especially during the time you’re ill. Take vitamin C supplements at least once a day and increase the amount of B vitamins you take. Also try taking vitamin E. Vitamin E may lower the amount of time you have shingles.

To help numb the pain make a paste with ground nutmeg, cloves, cinnamon and a small amount of water. Apply the paste directly to your blisters.

If you think you may have shingles you should see a doctor. Even though shingles aren’t life threatening they can be extremely painful. If the pain or rash occurs next to your eyes see a doctor immediately. This could cause infection in your eye and lead to eye damage. Also see if a doctor if you have a weakened immune system due to cancer, medications or illness or if your rash is widespread and the pain is too unbearable or uncomfortable.

Technorati Tags: Herbal remedies for shingles

If you are suffering from virtually any disease or condition, there is a natural remedy that can help heal you. In many parts of the world, herbal remedies have been used for thousands of years to cure disease and improve quality of life.

There are numerous forms of alternative or herbal medicines. Some of the most widely used are Chinese Herbal Medicine, Ayurveda, Homeopathy, Herbalism, and Aromatherapy. Below are summaries of these types of medicine. At the bottom check out the links for natural remedies. We are constantly adding more pages and intend to cover a natural remedy for virtually every disease.

Chinese Herbal Medicine

One of the oldest forms of medicine in the world is Chinese Herbal Medicine. There are written herbal remedies that are over 2000 years old and it is believed that some of them are as old as 5500 years and were passed down orally until they were written down in the 3rd century BC.

Chinese Herbal Medicine focuses on much more than a natural remedy for a disease. It focuses on total body harmony and believes that there is a life force in each of us called “qi” (pronounced “chee”). This life force is responsible for our overall health. Remedies focus on optimizing our chi.

Ayurveda Medicine

Ayurveda is another form of holistic medicine that is the traditional medicine in India. It has been practiced for around 3,000 years. Ayurveda means “wisdom of life” and focuses on treating the body and the mind together to achieve optimal health.

According to Ayurveda philosophies, a large part of our health is dependent on spiritual things like evil spirits, planetary alignment, and acts of gods. Even if you don’t believe in the spiritual aspect, you can benefit from Ayurveda remedies. One of the most appealing things about this form of medicine is that an Ayurveda natural remedy is safer than traditional medicine because it is made from natural ingredients and has far fewer side effects.

Homeopathy

Homeopathy is another form of holistic medicine. Many people think of homeopathy as the same thing as herbal medicine, but that is not necessarily true. Homeopathy seeks to treat diseases with the philosophy that “like cures like”. This means that when you have a disease, you will be treated with a medicine causes similar symptoms to what you have.

The principles of homeopathy go back to Hippocrates around 2500 years ago, but weren’t formalized as homeopathic medicine until 200 years ago. It was formally developed by Samuel Hahnemann and comes from the Greek words homios which means like and pathos which means suffering. One of the most interesting things about homeopathy is that many of the treatments are made from poisonous ingredients like rattlesnake venom which have been extensively diluted.

Technorati Tags: favorite, Herbal Remedies, herbal remedy, natural remedy

Impotence, also known as “erectile dysfunction” or “ED” affects approximately 30 million men in the United States. It’s a disorder that affects the blood flow to the penis which can cause difficulty achieving an erection, difficulty keeping and erection or the complete inability to achieve an erection at all.

Erectile dysfunction can be caused by medications, injury disease, stress or anxiety, nicotine, fear of failure or performance anxiety. Over 85 percent of cases are caused by a physical problem as opposed to a psychological source.

Thankfully ED is treatable in all age groups. There are several natural things you can try at home to help with erectile dysfunction. Zinc can help keep your reproductive organs healthy. You can either take zinc in supplement form or eat foods that are high in zinc. Oysters have the highest amount of zinc of any food. Other foods with high amounts include red meat, poultry, beans, nuts, crabs, lobsters and whole grains.
Taking Ginkgo can get your blood flowing again. Just don’t take Ginkgo if you’re currently taking blood thinners or aspirin as ginkgo is a natural blood thinner.

There are several supplements you can get from your local health food store that can help as well. Try – L-arginine, L-tryptophan, and molybdenum, lycopodium, causticum, caladium, argentum nitricum, horny goat weed ,and saw palmetto

Technorati Tags: Herbal Remedies for Impotence

It’s estimated that 15% of Americans will get hives sometime in their lives. Hives are caused by the release of histamines into the tissue – this simply means that you have an allergic reaction to something. Common causes of hives are stress or anxiety, foods (like nuts, chocolate, milk, eggs, shellfish, and tomatoes) detergents or other things your skin comes into contact with and medications. Both prescription and over the counter medication has the ability to cause hives.

So what do they look like? Hives are a rash of red or white, raised bumps. They can be single, in patches, or even rings. They can range in size from a few millimeters to several inches long. They can also start out small and get bigger, even joining up with other hives to cause large patches. They cause intense itching and sometimes burning. They can even cause nausea.

To help relieve the itching and burning of hives try taking a bath in oatmeal or add a few tablespoons of baking soda to your bath. You can also add several drops of chamomile essential oils to your bath to help soothe your skin.

Putting aloe vera gel on the skin can also be beneficial. It not only soothes the skin but also helps it from becoming infected.

To fight hives from the inside out try drinking green tea. Green tea has been shown to act as a natural antihistamine. Drink 3 cups a day while you have symptoms.

If the above suggestions don’t work you may have to try an over the counter medication. Antihistamines like Benadryl and Claritin can help get rid of hives.

Because hives are a sign of an allergic reaction you need to pay attention to other more serious side effects. If you experience shortness of breath, tongue swelling, or feelings like your throat is closing in you need to get to a hospital right away. Also if you think your hives are due to an allergic reaction to a medication your doctor prescribed contact him right away. He’ll want you to stop the medication right away and he’ll prescribe something else. You’ll want to let your pharmacist know of your allergy so he/she can make a note of it.

Technorati Tags: Herbal Remedies for Hives

Psoriasis is a chronic skin disease that affects both men and women and frequently shows up in individuals between the ages of 15-30 years old. It can show up anywhere on the body but is commonly seen on the elbows, knees, shins, scalp and lower back.

Psoriasis can be hereditary. It can be brought on by stress, anxiety, illness or cold and damp conditions. It’s symptoms include: dry cracked skin that might bleed, red patches of skin that are covered with silvery scales, itching, burning or soreness, swollen and stiff joints, and distortion or pitting in the nails.

There are many herbal and natural things you can do to help your skin if you have psoriasis. The best natural treatment is sunlight. Start by spending about 10 minutes each day in the sun. Avoid overexposure. You don’t want your skin to burn. It could take a few weeks before you begin to notice a difference. You can also talk to your doctor about laser or light therapy. This is a natural remedy that takes place in a doctor’s office. Either way you go the key to successfully helping your psoriasis is consistency.

If you’re not taking a multi-vitamin adding one to your diet could also improve your symptoms. Make sure you’re getting enough vitamins C, A, E, B complex, and also selenium.

Along with vitamins there are also several supplements that may help. Go to your local health food store and look for oregano oil, milk thistle or evening primrose oil. Some people also say that Turmeric has helped with their psoriasis. You can both purchase this in pill form or as a spice and put it in your food.

Try taking a bath with yarrow twice weekly. Yarrow is a common wildflower that grows all over the US in fields and along roadsides. You can either pick these flowers yourself or purchase the leaves at a health food store. Once you have yarrow leaves take a handful of them and boil them in about 16 ounces of water for 15 minutes. Strain out the leaves and pour the water into your bath.

In addition to yarrow and herbal supplements there are several things you can put directly on your skin to help psoriasis. Things like oregano oil, grape seed oil, evening primrose oil, tea tree oil, and oatmeal can give you some relief.

Technorati Tags: Herbal Remedies for Psoriasis

Eczema is an inflammation of the skin that causes redness, itching and cracking. There are several different kinds of eczema: contact eczema (caused by allergens like detergents and chemical irritants), atopic eczema (associated with allergies like hay fever), Pomphylox eczema (triggered by stress) and varicose eczema (occurs in the area around a vericose vein).

Even though eczema is typically found on the ears, hands, feet, and legs you can get eczema anywhere on your body. It can also appear at any stage of your life. Many times there will be a family history of eczema showing that it’s possibly hereditary.

If eczema is on the hands it can be particularly difficult to manage. Getting the area wet can cause discomfort and make the rash worse. Simple things like brushing your teeth and washing your hands or doing the dishes become a nightmare, especially for children. Use gentle soaps and avoid using any antibacterial products. Many contain alcohol which will make the rash worse. Limit the amount of time you spend in water. Even shampoos can irritate your skin if you have eczema so you might want to try switching to a gentle formula like those found in baby shampoos. Try to remove potential allergens from the diet (especially dairy) and see if it makes the situation better.

The main cause of eczema in infants and children is usually an allergy related to milk, wheat or eggs. Outbreaks in adults are usually associated with emotional problems or severe stress.

Usually the first response in treating eczema is to apply a lotion. This can burn the skin especially if it’s cracked. An ointment that contains petroleum will be better a better choice. Also try bathing in an oatmeal bath. This can calm and soothe dry and irritated skin. This is also a good option to use with children.

You can purchase chickweed ointment at your local health food store and put that on the affected area or try aloe vera gel.

Consuming the right kinds of vitamins and minerals are also important. Make sure you’re getting enough vitamin A, vitamin B complex, vitamin C and all three of the Omegas. There have also been studies recently that show the benefits of probiotics in treating children with eczema. There are several different kinds of probiotics but the one that has shown to be most helpful is once called Lactobacillus. They come in capsules that can be taken apart. Mix half of the contents of the capsule in with pudding or apple sauce.

Treating eczema is done using trial and error. Something may work for a while and then stop working down the road. You may have to try several things until you find something that will work for you.

Technorati Tags: Herbal Remedies for Eczema