Melatonin Sleeping Aid

Melatonin and Usage

Melatonin is a natural hormone in the body that regulates our sleep cycles.  The pineal gland in the brain secretes melatonin at night when exposure to daylight decreases, therefore melatonin essentially alerts the body when to sleep and when to wake up.  This hormone is useful to take when our natural sleep cycles have been disturbed, perhaps caused by jet lag, loud roommates, or working back-to-back shifts in the hospitality industry. Whatever it is that’s disturbing your sleep pattern, Melatonin is much healthier and safer to use than any over-the-counter chemical. Not only does it promote sleep, but medical studies have shown that Melatonin is beneficial in cancer treatment, in promoting fertility, and also functions as an antioxidant. Melatonin generally quickens sleep onset and enhances quality of sleep. There are very few side effects when taken at appropriate, low doses for short-term and occasional use. *Please consult a physician before taking Melatonin in conjunction with anti-depressants, drugs for auto-immune disorders, or medications for cancer.*

My Experience and Dosage

For accurate measurement purposes, the best way to use Melatonin is in pill-form. The recommended dosage will vary from person to person, but most pill forms contain between 1 and 3 milligrams. I’m currently using Source Naturals Timed Release Melatonin in 2 mg form. The bottle recommends taking between 1-2 tablets. It really just depends on your body and how many hours of sleep your alarm clock will allow. If your dreams are overly vivid, you might be consuming too much. 

Fortunately, I have not had any trouble with rising in the morning or being alert after taking the hormone. Although rare, if I happen to wake up in the middle of the night, I do not feel the same groggy or “drugged” sensation as prescription or over the counter sleep aids produce. Sweet dreams!

Stye Remedies

Cause

Styes are eye infections caused by either a staph bacteria or a clogged eyelash follicle, but are sometimes induced by stress or makeup sharing. Although unsightly, styes are are generally harmless and may appear as a red bump under the eyelid, but sometimes, may have a pus-like head similar to a zit. When styes first develop, they feel like an uncomfortable bruise, or itchy, as though a speck of sand were caught in your eyelid. Left untreated, styes generally disappear within a week therefore it’s generally not necessary to visit a doctor unless it becomes severely infected.

Cure

My approach to eliminating styes is using simple preventative measures. Keep your face and hands clean. Do not tamper with your stye as it will cause further unnecessary irritation, and definitely do not wear eye makeup while the infection is present. You may want to consider discarding the mascara you used prior to your development of the syte because bacteria has most likely infected the makeup and will cause a recurring infection. There are two rememdies listed below to expedite the recovery of your eye infection.

Remedy

Although this sounds really strange, and granted there is not much medical backing that gold can cure styes, folklorists dating back to medieval times attribute gold to having anti inflammatory properties. When I developed the beginning of a stye yesterday morning, my coworker told me to rub a gold ring on my eye for a few minutes. I vaguely recall hearing about this folk remedy in the past but never took it seriously. But to my surprise, after scouring the internet for the best natural cures for styes, the number one cure was undoubtedly rubbing a gold ring onto your eye. I had to try it. I knew I could always resort to a green tea compress if it failed…

• Lightly rub a gold (14k minimum) ring onto your stye for a minute or two, and hold it in place for another minute. I saw an instant reduction in the size of the stye. The next morning, it had vanished. Like I said, it sounds unwarranted, but it doesn’t hurt to try.

If you have a sever stye (large and fluid filled):

• Heat up a green tea bag in hot water. The green tea will function as a compress for your eye but also contains antioxidants to help suppress the infection.
• Squeeze out excess water in the tea bag, but not too much because you want to keep the bag moist.
• Apply to your stye-eye for 3-4 minutes, until the stye drains. Do this 3 times a day.
• Make sure your hands are clean at all times.

Cure UTI’s with D-Mannose

A Urinary Tract Infection is a bacterial infection of your Urinary System, involving either the urethra, ureters, and bladder. When bacteria infects your urinary tract, you might experience the frequent need to urinate–even on an empty bladder, a burning sensation in the urethra, and the urine may appear cloudy among other uncomfortable symptoms. Urine is the body’s method of eliminating wastes, salts, and fluids but should for the most part, remain sterile.

If more simple UTI’s are allowed to progress, they may spread to the kidneys and blood stream causing chills, fever, flushed skin, and nausea. Please consider seeking immediate medical attention in this case as kidney infections are dangerous and may cause lasting damage. To prevent kidney infections, it’s very important to begin D-Mannose treatments at the immediate onslaught of UTI symptoms, while the bacteria is still secluded in the urinary tract and bladder.

Cause

Most UTI infections are caused by Escherichia coli or E-Coli, a bacteria commonly found in the intestines. When this displaced E-Coli infects the Urinary Tract, the bacteria essentially latches onto the inside of your urethra and makes its way promptly into your bladder and kidneys (if allowed to progress). In approximately 90% of cases, UTI’s are caused by E-Coli and mostly effect women rather than men because of anatomical reasons. UTI’s are fairly common, and most sexually active women may suffer from a UTI at some point in their lives.

Equipment

• D-Mannose in either powder or pill form (can be purchased online or at most health food stores).
• Optional: Pure cranberry juice with no added sugars.

The Cure

Conventionally, most Doctors would prescribe an antibiotic that takes at least 3 to 7 days to clear the infection. But using this relatively obscure sugar called D-Mannose, you can prevent both a hospital visit and a depleted checking account.

D-Mannose is a glucose sugar that our bodies have trouble metabolizing, so instead of being absorbed, the sugar is excreted in your urine stream. This sugar essentially attaches itself to the harmful E-coli bacteria more effectively than the bacteria to your urinary tract, and thus flushes the bacteria out of your urinary system.

D- Mannose is safe for children, pregnant women, and diabetics considering it does not affect blood sugar regulation. It may also function as a preventative for those suffering from recurrent or chronic UTI’s. D-Mannose has no side effects as it is a naturally occurring substance in fruits such as blueberries and cranberries. It is not harmful to your “good” bacterial balance, unlike antibiotics that flush all bacteria out of your system. Most women with frequent UTI’s understand that taking conventional antibiotics for UTI’s sometimes results in yeast infections after their treatment, simply because antibiotics eliminate all micro-organisms, and long-term use may result in immune deficiencies and antibiotic resistance. For those with recurrent infections, taking D-Mannose after engaging in sexual intercourse can provide preventative relief from symptoms.

When taking D-Mannose, the healing period is generally between 2-4 days, or sometimes longer, depending on the severity of the infection.

• Take 2-3 D-Mannose pills or 2-3 teaspoons of powder with a full glass of water every three hours until infection has cleared.
• Drink plenty of purified water to begin flushing out the bacteria.

Seek medical advice if you do not start recovering after 48 hours, as the bacteria may not be caused by E-Coli (in a rare 10% of UTI cases).

Rid of Warts with Apple Cider Vinegar

Warts are painless cauliflower-like growths on your skin caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV) virus, and can develop almost anywhere on your body. While unsightly, warts are generally harmless and very common. Although there are over ten varieties of warts (and hundreds of types of the virus), the most common warts are found on your hands and feet, and are the second most prevalent reason people visit dermatologists. Rather than apply acid or nitrogen to your skin, you can use a simple household ingredient to rid of these pesky skin irritations. Depending on the size and proximity of your wart and your own persistence, this method could take anywhere from 4 days to a couple weeks to clear.

Equipment

• Apple Cider Vinegar (organic, non pasteurized)
• Band-aids and medical tape
• Q-Tip
• Vaseline

Cure

1. Before bed, wash the affected area with warm water to soften the wart.
2. Apply a thin layer of Vaseline to the skin surrounding the wart to prevent burning or peeling of unaffected skin.
3. Ball up cotton from a Q-tip approximately the size of the wart and soak with ACV, then apply the ball to the sticky side of a band-aid and press onto the wart. Leave on over night.

You will notice the wart will start to swell and turn black and brown after a couple days. This is good sign– the ACV (naturally acidic and full of antioxidants) is killing the virus. Continue treating the wart until it reduces in size and peels off. If need be, allow some time in between treatments if your skin is overly irritated. It’s beneficial to let the wart dry up and develop scabs in between treatments.

*Drinking ACV, 2 teaspoons once a day, helps to eliminate recurrence of warts (considering the virus is still dormant in your body!)

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Arnica for Bruises, Swelling, and Soreness

I am the notorious klutz of the universe, so it’s no wonder my legs always have at least one charming black and blue bruise to remind me to slow down before turning around, or look down before I bash into some wood or metal object. If you too are prone to the incessant abuse of inanimate objects, then Arnica (Montana) cream is the solution for you.

Arnica is a perennial in the sunflower family originally thriving in the Siberian mountains. Modern day homeopaths adopted its medicinal cures from Europeans and Native Americans, who found the drug useful in the reduction of swelling from sprains, muscle soreness, and discoloration and pain caused by bruising. Arnica essentially promotes blood flow to the area, releasing trapped blood and therefore encouraging the healing process.

Whether I use this cream to promote expedited bruise fading, or to alleviate soreness, I’ve had undeniable success. After running 9 miles one day, I was already feeling the muscle strain and soreness immediately after the run. Right after a warm shower before bed, I used the Arnica cream on my right leg only and did not apply anything to my left leg. The next morning my left leg was measurably more sore than my right leg, and my right leg recovered much quicker than the left. The following weekend, I ran 10 miles and decided to apply the cream to both legs. Although I was very sore after the run, the Arnica cream provided relief almost immediately after, and I was not as uncomfortably sore the following day as I would have been without the cream.

*Only apply to unbroken skin.* Arnica cream is available for purchase at most health food stores. Apply according to the directions on the bottle.

Cayenne Pepper for Sore Throats

When I initially read that gargling cayenne pepper could help an ailing sore throat, I was somewhat baffled. I mean, who in their right mind would expose an already tender throat to the fire of hot peppers? It seems almost as counter intuitive as applying a heat patch to a burn. But after several experiments with allergy and viral related sore throats, I must confess that my throats were significantly diminished, if not vanished.

Causes

Sore throats may be caused by either viral or bacterial infections, such as the common cold, influenza, etc. Viral infections usually do not accompany a sore throat, and are non-responsive to antibiotics while bacterial infections such as strep throat cause fever, swelling, and yellow or white spotting of the tonsils. Other factors such as weather, climate, smoking, postnasal drip, and allergies can also cause throat irritation.

The Cure

The best way to recover from a sore throat is by gargling. Gargling with table salt provides relief because it dehydrates the tonsils, drawing fluids away from the inflammation. Cayenne Pepper however, is the most effective because it contains capsaicin, which consists of anti-bacterial and anti-fungal agents. However, capsaicin’s primary function is to alleviate pain receptors. The agent in cayenne that causes the burning sensation also causes the nerve endings to release chemicals that inform the brain of the impending pain. When the capsaicin comes into contact with inflamed and sore tonsils, it overloads  the stores of mediators from the nerves so they cannot transmit pain signals to the brain, thus eliminating the pain of your sore throat.

1. Warm up a mug of warm water
2. Mix in 1-2 teaspoons of cayenne pepper depending on your heat tolerance.
3. Gargle for at least 20 seconds continuously, gargle several times.
4. You will experience slight burning from the pepper, but eventually that sensation will disperse along with your sore throat.
5. Optional: Add a teaspoon of honey to the mix.

*If you’re sensitive to heat, try mixing 1 to 2 teaspoons of cayenne pepper into a glass of orange juice. It tastes great and helps neutralize the heat.

Remember that cayenne pepper does contain anti-viral properties to help you recover from sickness, but it’s primary function is to relieve pain. So if you are experiencing flu-like symptoms, remember to drink a lot of fluids, rest, take vitamins, and continue efforts to heal your body despite your lack of sore throat after the treatment.

Teeth Whitening using Hydrogen Peroxide & Baking Soda

If your chompers are tinted closer to the color of butterscotch than porcelain from all those decades of drinking urr… “dark stuff” such as wine, coffee, and soda–you’re in luck, because there is a quick and simple solution for cheap teeth whitening. Forget expensive and time intensive whitening products like Crest Whitening Strips that cause tooth and gum sensitivity and expose your body to unnecessary chemicals. Simply look in your kitchen and bathroom cabinets for the essential ingredients you will need. Plain old baking soda and classic brown bottled hydrogen peroxide provide sure-fire and convenient solutions to tooth discoloration and also work like a charm to give your teeth an ultra-clean feeling.

Is it safe?

Absolutely! Both baking soda and hydrogen peroxide are safe to use. First, consider that baking soda is the main ingredient in most toothpastes on the market. And if you doubt that using 2-3% quality hydrogen peroxide is okay for your enamel and gums, just look on the actual bottle for indication that it is surely safe to use as an “oral deriding agent and rinse.” You can even ask an honest dentist about the safety of this remedy, and they wouldn’t deny it with a clear conscious.

How does it work?

When you mix baking soda and hydrogen peroxide, a chemical reaction occurs. The peroxide (made up of oxygen and water) bleaches the teeth and eliminates bacteria. The baking soda, being mildly abrasive, breaks down plaque and stains and also contains anti-microbial qualities to clean the teeth and neutralize bacteria in the mouth.

Equiptment

• Hydrogen Peroxide (2-3% only, store bought brown bottle)
• Baking Soda
• Soft Toothbrush or Q-Tips

Procedure

1. Grab a small cup or bowl from the kitchen and mix 1 tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide with 1 tablespoon of baking soda.
2. Create a paste the consistency of regular toothpaste.
3. After brushing your teeth with regular toothpaste, dip either your soft toothbrush or a Q-Tip into the paste, and lightly brush your teeth until your teeth are effectively coated.
4. Without brushing, leave the coating on your teeth for at least a minute or two.
5. Thoroughly rinse your mouth with water.

You will notice whiter teeth perhaps the first time you try the remedy, but after 4 days, you are guaranteed a whiter smile. I tried this remedy for 7 days straight and was happy with the results. Repeat this procedure anytime you feel the need to brighten your smile!