Healing tips and home remedies

Chronic backache II

2007-06-30T01:26:00.000-07:00

Take an aspirin a day

Back pain is often accompanied by inflammation around the site of the pain and over the counter anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin can help take it away.

Natural anti-inflammatory

If you are looking for a natural anti-inflammatory, try some white willow bark, which can be found in capsule form in health food stores. Taken after meals, it should not hurt your stomach and it works very well on mild to moderate back pain. Those who suffer from ulcers and heartburn, however, should not use it.

Visualise yourself pain free

Use your senses in visualization. The more involved the image is the more you are engaged with it and the quicker you will become distracted from the pain.

Turn your pain upside down

Gravity inversion works wonders on back pain. Gradually doing inversion traction with a proper, safe inversion apparatus for 5 to 10 minutes a day will really work to rid you from lower back pain.

T'ai chi

It is a great relaxation method that helps the muscles in your back. There are a lot of breathing exercises and stretching activities that foster a harmony within the body.

More on backache

2007-06-19T23:16:00.000-07:00

Chronic backache

2007-06-15T23:18:00.000-07:00

Some people have back pain that lingers on and on. Some suffer from recurring pain. This is called chronic backache. The following tips are particularly helpful for those with chronic pain though acute pain sufferers can benefit from them as well.

Lumber up

Make sure your bed does not sag in the middle when you sleep in.

Use waterbed

A modern waterbed which is adjustable and does not make a lot of waves is excellent for most types of back trouble.

"S" sleeper

The best position for someone resting in bed is called the lazy "S" position. Put a pillow under your head and upper neck, keep your back relatively flat on the bed and then put a pillow under your knees.

Fetal position

Stick a pillow between your knees when you sleep on your side. The pillow stops your leg from sliding forward and rotating your hips, which puts added pressure on your back.

My List updated!

2007-06-12T06:48:00.000-07:00

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Backache II

2007-06-11T06:17:00.000-07:00

Backache I

2007-06-04T09:22:00.000-07:00

Trying to move the suddenly immovable is the number one cause of back problems. It causes you to push, twist, bend, lift, punch, pull and strain. The result is back pain and it is not always easy to get rid of.

It comes in two forms, acute and chronic. Acute pain comes on suddenly and intensely. It is the kind you usually experience from doing something you should not be doing or from doing it in the wrong way. The pain can be from sprains, strains or pulls on muscles in your back. However doctors say you can be pain free without any lasting effects by following self help tips.

Get off your feet

Get some bed rest. Any physical act may bring you pain. Therefore for the first few days, keep activity to a minimum.

Do not lounge too long

Get out of bed as quickly as possible when you feel better. Let pain be your guide. It is not true that a week of rest will take away the pain as it takes two week to rehabilitate for each week of bed rest. The length of bed rest does not really affect recovery.

Use ice

Put an ice pack on the site of the pain and massage the spot for 7 or 9 minutes. Do this for a day or two.

Acne III

2007-06-01T21:14:00.000-07:00

"My List"

2007-05-31T03:10:00.000-07:00

My List stands for the giving hearted and goodwill of Malaysians to help one another and also most definitely for the Malaysian Boleh! spirit in the great big world of blogsphere!

Introduction

The purpose of My List is to gather all Malaysian blogs under the banner of unity and creating a huge bookmark. So much richness can be found within our very own Malaysian blogs and this will open up our minds and hearts to the lives of our fellow bloggers. If you are keen to participate, kindly read this page entirely for instructions and guidelines.

Who can Participate?
Malaysian bloggers residing anywhere on mother earth.
Non-Malaysians whose blogs feature anything pertaining to Malaysia (example: Malaysian food, Formula 1 in Malaysia and etc).
Blog submitted must be of good quality contents. Please do not submit your blog which is less than 2 weeks old.

Dateline for Participation

31st May 2007

Important Guidelines
One reminder email will be sent once the final list is updated on this page after the deadline.
All participants must then feature a brand new post before 15th of June with the final updated and complete list of participating Malaysian blogs downloadable directly via the email or from this dedicated My List page.
All My List Post must be permanent and accessible.

Submitting Your Other Blogs

You may submit as many blogs which is owned by you but each blog entry must contain their own My List post.

How To Participate
Download My List in Text format.
Make a new post promoting My List and guide your fellow Malaysian readers to this page if they are keen to participate.
Copy the entire Text File you downloaded.
Paste it at the end of your post. (You can arrange it however you prefer if it goes lengthy but ensure the entire list is there)
Publish the post and ensure all links are in working order.
Submit your contact details and the permanent url of your MyList post by using this contact form.
Your blog url will then be added to the list.
Post a new post of the final My List after receiving an email notification as mentioned in the guidelines above. This is done to ensure everyone will benefit from this even those who participate later or close to the deadline.

My List Participants

The Undeniable Beauty - Revamped An Anonymous Journal Cyberpartygal Blank Canvas She Rambles On charcamayne Money Online Adsense Money Tips For Adsense Belajar Cara Membuat Blog Wordpress Usahawan Internet Peluang Perniagaaan Internet iNicholas Made In Penang Syaf The Geek snapshots of life with Cheng Leng iCalvyn.com Blogging Through Depression & Life Trying to Save Money novatech personal playground Little World Of Thoughts Sumber Dekorasi & Laman Anda Menarik.com INSIDE MY MIND Sleepy As Usual blogs" href="http://chriskong57.blogspot.com/" target=_blank>thoughts ---> blogs Share Everything In Life Value Bookshop’s Reading Notes Tips and Tricks to Happy Parenting BERSAMA MEMBINA KEJAYAAN THE BITCH CLUB datotalrandommessy.grey Artmaker BlogWawasan.com life is beautiful Adino Online Penang Homes Physical-e A Mom's Diary Health Freak Mommy mrdefinite.com - It’s hot Tracking Movies SquareCookies MonkeyWong Voice of a Glass Doll Online Article Directory Bambang Wise Life Advice Kaklong Online Portal Down Memory Lanes Sleeping Princess Online Bisnes Forex Marketing Blog project010 ProTechWang.Com Bleargh Pigeon Card Pianologist KCLau’s Money Tips The Great Swifty Speaketh Mr & Mrs. Imran If fate allow our destinies to meet From chopstix to steak knives Where's My Noose? Duke Amiene Rev Mum & Kids In Wonderland Yum-Yum Cuisine Software, Web Development and Technology just another ordinary story Mummy In Vain's Little World How To Solve Your Question FáLLiÑg LéÃVéS add this to my life Free Encyclopedia High Paying Keywords try-test arshad's photojourney EvelynHolic RajaBLog.info Lovelymummy's Bay My Yummy Cruise Home Sweet Home Lovely Mummy OnlineBisnes Malay Blog Purest of e2wen MyAnimes MySpace Blog Badruzamani.Org Parenting Life Forum Newbie Bisnes Internet & Blogger Mohd Sufian A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words hcfoo's blog Amazing Grace The Sanctuary Welcome To cHrIstInA_YY's Pink World Defying Destiny Dead Boredom Seeking Freedom Travelogue An amazing & adventurous journey Erin Nurjenna [B][E][A][U][T][I][F][U][L] Fluffy's Day Off My Fairy-Tale Once Upon A Time Money Making Blog Bubba Stuff Little Raymond's quaint melody Seraph Chronicles Route Brumeuse Coder's Talk Reggae And SKA Art Of ApOgEE THE VEGEMASTER LIFE Boonage Coretan Pengalaman Mat Silverhorsegunnysack BLUEAPPLE scribbles Diet & Detoxification Karma Kameleon Hsien's Dirty Little Secret The Rojak Blog keeyit My Life Online Fun Stuffs Donny's Bits Nicholas Chan's Blog dream of's DESIGN strike freedom 115 Truly Malaysia It's another new day Lisan's Scribbles Ramblings of a 22 years old The Towering Joe Life's a Breeze Life's Roller Coaster AceOne118 In His Time in His time The New Sanctuary a life full of surprises Sketches of Life Shannon's Old Space Pikey Dude SEO & Online Marketing Blog ShowMeMoneyBiz.com Snapshots kahpengBlog I am Who I am yung . silent whisper Simple Life One blog.One girl.One story The World Through My Eyes Why Malaysia? Etcetera~Etcetera Giddy Tigers Make Money Online: Exploring The Dark Side of Blogging Xilly's Blog Malaika Xiao Yu My Home Recipe SQKIKI’s Simple Tech Nukilan Jejari Azhad ITCHY HANDseng Just My Lil' Organic Life Oooh La La... Weird World of MerapuMan Fibre Art The World at My Fingertips Organic Income Organic Parade Shopping Flavor Daily postings of a chung ling student Something about LAI KennyP’s Technology Blog Women Mumbles KuKuJian.com Lyon & Wien Under The SUN Crumbs In Life SotongZai's Flow In the Ocean allthingspurple Christene's Kitchen toxicle.org [ Wood ] [ Earth ] [ Cheap ] [ Flight ] COMtech Ah Ling's blog http://judychow.blogspot.com/ ~WoOLaLA~ vivivava Design My Mothering Corner Shoppingmum’s Home Office My Filling Station Shopping Mum All about Beauty Shoppingmum and Kids datotalrandommessy.grey Notes from my heart Joy Montessori wahlau's online hut Cedric’s Asylum mott’s mutterings Just My Thoughts delephant Incoherent Ramblings HOT STUFF Make Money Online with Malaysia Love AGLOCO MONTESSORIMUM.COM Funky Cookies Earn Money Online PabloPabla's Whatever Make Money with Blogging Paris Beaverbanks Free Links Giveaway Free Blogger Templates Blogsreview.Net Making a Living 5xmom How to be a Better Blogger My Women Stuff Hochiak! Delicious Asian Food Best Recipes Champagne Tastes on a Beer Budget Daryl's Discovery Journey The fluff must go somewhere

Acne II

2007-05-19T18:38:00.000-07:00

Acne I

2007-05-18T19:07:00.000-07:00

Acne may be the scourge of the adolescent years, but it can follow some people into middle age and beyond. Acne is really a catchall term for a variety of symptoms such as pimples, whiteheads and blackheads. It is a condition where the pores of the skin become clogged and the person gets inflamed and noninflamed lesions.

What causes acne? Heredity - at least for the most part. It tends to run in the family. Stress, sun exposure, seasonal changes and climate can precipitate and acne attack.

Acne is classified in four grades, the first being a mild bout with a few whiteheads and blackheads, The fourth and most serious grade consists of many whiteheads, blackheads, pustules, nodules and cysts. Grade four acne is often accompanied by severe inflammation that becomes red or purple. And it is a sign that you should see a dermatologist. Severe acne can result in permanent scarring if it is not treated properly.

Here are some blemish-free advices.

Change your makeup

In adult, makeup is the major factor in acne outbreaks. Oil based makeup is the problem. The oil is usually a derivative of fatty acids that are more potent than your own fatty acids. Use a non oil based makeup if you are prone to acne.

Read the labels

Cosmetic products that contain lanolins, isopropyl myristate, sodium lauryl sulfate, laureth-4 and D & C red dyes should be avoided. Like oil, these ingredients are too rich for the skin.

Ingrown hair

2007-05-08T12:25:00.000-07:00

Mr Tweezers is about the only way to get rid of the ingrown hair, but there are ways to make him stay gone:

Pluck him out
Apply a warm, damp compress for a couple of minutes to soften the skin then sterilize a needle or tweezers and pluck him out. Follow with an antiseptic or rubbing alcohol.

Bring it to the surface
If you cannot see the ingrown hair, treat it with the compress until you can see a hair lurking there.

Think about growing a beard
The curlier your hair is the more likely you are to get ingrown hairs. If it is a real problem, consider growing a beard.

Prepare for shaving
Wash your face thoroughly with soap and water for 2 minutes, rinse well and apply shaving cream or gel. Leave it on for 2 minutes to further soften the hair before shaving.

Electric razor
Use an electric razor.

Single track razor
Uuse a single track razor and settle for a shave that is not as close. Double track razors are meant for more trouble.

Train your whiskers
Train it to grow out straight by shaving in two directions, down on the face and up on the neck. Do not shave in all kinds of different direction or back and forth.

Aftershave special
Use a creamy aftershave lotion, not the typical alcohol loaded aftershave splash. It is soothing and moisturized the hair.

Prevent infection
Benzoyl perioxide solution has some antibiotic effect and can be used as an aftershave to cut down the amount of bacteria.

Shave down
For ladies, shave down from knee to ankle to avoid ingrown hairs.

Chafing

2007-05-06T18:45:00.000-07:00

When something rubs you the wrong way, and leaves a rash, there are several things you can do:

Get on the natural fiber

Switch to 100 percent cotton, the problem will clear up.

Wash before you wear

Wash any new exercise clothes before you wear them. Washing softens the fabrics enough to lessen the abrasion.

Wrap it up

Overweight and those who have big thighs will likely to face this problems. Using elastic bandages around the portion of legs that rub may help. Be sure the elastic bandage is secure so it does not move across the skin.

Keep it tight

A pair of the electric coloured, stretchy-fabric athletic tights or cycling shorts may be ideal to.

Put cotton

Wear cotton undies to separate the fabric from your delicate skin.

Use lubricant

Petroleum jelly between your thighs, around your toes, under your arms, anywhere you chafe, will act as lubricant and glide the rubbing skin against itself.

Powder power

Talcum powder helps the skin slip past other skin without catching and rubbing.

Bandage

Simply block the rub with an adhesive bandage.

Switch sport

If you have sore spots from walking, try the stationary bicycle. Try a virtually chafe free sport if you have chafing problem.

Bruxism

2007-05-03T19:25:00.000-07:00

Sufferers of bruxism sink their upper teeth into their lower teeth, gritting and grinding. Though it may result from stress, a mess of things can result from bruxism. It causes worn down teeth, headaches and sore necks and backs. A condition known as temporomandibular joint syndrome is also caused by bruxism. The following remedies may help.

Lips together, teeth apart

Your teeth should touch only when you are chewing food or swallowing. Therefore practice keeping your teeth apart, it will reduce the urge to clench or grind.

Crunch an apple

If you tend to grind at night, tucker out the jaw by munching on an apple or raw carrots before retiring.

Apply heat to your jaws

Fold up a washcloth, run hot water over it, wring it out and apply it against the sides of your face. Apply it as often and as long as you can as this will help relaxing the clenching muscles.

A mouth guard

There are mouth guards that you can put in hot water and then pop into your mouth and bite down on for a better fit. Mouth guard can be used temporarily to guard against night time chomping.

Calm down

Experts agree that bruxism is most often related to stress. Therefore, the best thing to do is to avoid caffeine and refined cabohydrates such as candies and pastries; take some warm baths, ease up on yourself and learn good general relaxation techniques.

Scarring

2007-05-02T21:53:00.000-07:00

The way you treat a cut can determine what kind of scar, if any that may develop. The way you care for that scar can determine too, how fast and to what extent it will fade.

Avoid getting cuts

Every time the skin gets cut, it scars. So protecting your skin with gloves, long pants, long sleeves whenever working around thorny, sharp, or jagged objects are necessary to avoid cuts.

Heal it properly

A wound that heals quickly and neatly is less likely to develop a scar. Therefore, clean all your cuts and scrapes properly and keep the would slightly moist with antibiotic ointment.

Do not pick at scabs

Picking scabs off a healing would could increase your chances of leaving behind a visible scar.

Close gaps

If you get cut and it is large enough, go to a doctor for stiches. But if it is small and you are concerned about scarring, use a butterfly bandage. Use it after the wound is thoroughly cleaned.

Well balanced diet

Protein and vitamin obtained by eating a good, well balanced diet help to heal right.

Treat scar with gentleness

Sweat glands, oil glands and hair glands are all destroyed by a scar. Scar due to a third degree burn should be lubricated with a good skin cream to protect them from abrasions.

Clean scars gently

One common source of abrasions to tender scars is a washcloth in the hands of an overzealous washer. So, wash gently.

Cover it with sunblock

Scars have less pigment. Cover all scars with a strong sunscreen whenever you head outside on a sunny day.

Do not be overly alarmed

Fresh scars are often noticeable but they will fade over time all by themselves.

Toothache

2007-05-01T01:53:00.000-07:00

It hurts when you smile or frown or eat or drink, when you clench or unclench your jaw, when you move your head in any direction. It even hurts when you breathe because cold air rushes into your mouth, over the tender tooth!

While waiting to see your dentist, the following are tips on how to stop the pain.

Rinse your toothache

Take a mouthful of water (at body temperature) and rinse vigorously. If the ache is caused by trapped food, a thorough rinse may dislodge the problem.

Floss gently

If the above does not work, floss gently.

Numb the pain

Hold a swig of whiskey over the painful tooth. The gum will absorb some of the alcohol and that will numb the pain. Spit out the rest.

Rinse with salty water

After each meal and at bedtime, stir one teaspoon of salt into an 8 ounce glass of water (at body temperature). Roll it around your mouth and spit.

Try a hand massage

Rub an ice cube into the V-shaped area where the bones of the thumb and forefinger meet. Gently push the ice over the area for 5 to 7 minutes. Research shows that this procedure works by sending rubbing impulses along the nerve pathways that the toothache pain would normally travel on.

Oil up with oil of cloves

Drop a little directly onto the tooth, dab a little on a cotton ball and pack the elixir next to the ache.

Do not bite

If it is caused by a blow to the tooth, try not to use that area when you eat.

Suck on some ice

Put ice on the aching tooth or the nearest cheek for 15 minutes intervals at least three or four times a day.

Keep your mouth shut

If cold air moving past the tooth is a problem, just shut off the flow.

Keep your mouth open

Some toothache happen when a person's bite is not quite right. Thus avoid shutting your mouth as much as possible.

Aspirin

Take an aspirin every 4 to 6 hours as required.

Stay cool

Keep heat away from your aching cheek.

Hives

2007-04-29T03:05:00.000-07:00

Hives are the way the skin sometimes reacts to allergies, physical irritation, stress or emotions. The often intensely itchy wheals that result may disappear in minutes of hours and usually within a couple of days, but while you have them, you may not want to appear all swollen and scratching in public. Here are the tips.

Antihistamines

Get antihistamines but remember most of them, make you drowsy.

Cool down

Cold compress or baths are about the best only topical treatment of hives. You can also rub an ice cube over the hives. However if you get hives from cold weather or water, you are out of luck.

Calamine lotion

It may help temporarily soothe the itch of your hives.

Alkaline

Anything alkaline usually helps to relieve the itch. Therefore try dabbing milk of magnesia on your hives. It is thinner than calamine, thus it may works better.

Hydrocortisone

If you have just a small number of small hives, a hydrocortisone cream like Cortaid applied directly on the hives may relieve the itch for a while.

Vegetation vigilantes

The leaves and bark of red alder, brewed into a strong tea, will help hives. Apply it locally to the affected area and you can also take a couple of tablespoonfuls internally. Repeat until the hives are relieved.

Avoid exposure

If you know you are going to get hives for whatever reasons, take an antihistamine beforehand to prevent it.

If you get hives in your mouth or throat, seek medical treatment immediately. People with chronic hives (longer than six weeks) or with severe acute hives should also see a doctor.

Conjunctivitis

2007-04-28T21:53:00.000-07:00

Your mother called it pinkeye. We call it conjuctivitis. Here is how to soothe pinkeye if you have them.

Wash the red away

A warm compress applied to the eyes for 5 to 10 minutes three or four times a day will make you feel better.

Keep them clean

Conjuctivitis gets better by itself. However to help the healing process, keep your eyes and eyelids clean by using a cotton ball dipped in clean or sterile water to wipe the crusts away.

Baby yourself

A warm compress works well for children, but sometimes adults need a little something more. Adults who have a lot of discharge should make a solution of one part baby shampoo to ten parts of warm water. Dip a sterile cotton ball into the solution and use it to clean off your eyelashes. The warm water loosens the crust and the baby shampoo cleans off the junction of your eyelid and eyelash.

Throw in the towel

This infection is highly contagious. Do not share towel or washcloths with anyone.

Do not chlorinate your eyes

The chlorine in swimming pools can cause conjuctivitis but without the chlorine, bacteria would grow. That could cause conjuctivitis too. So, wear tight fitting goggles while in the water as precautions.

Use ice

If your eye itches like a mosquito bite and you have stringy pus in your eye, most of the time that is the sign of allergic conjuctivitis. Taking an over the counter antihistamine will help that and use cold, not warm, compresses. It will relieve the itch.

Get drugged at night

Germ causing conjunctivitis intensifies when your eyes are closed. That is the reason it gets worse at night when you are asleep. Therefore put any prescribed antibiotic ointment in your eyes before you go to bed.

Eye redness

2007-04-27T18:38:00.000-07:00

If the whites of your eyes have more red lines than a road map, these are what you can do:

Water your eyes

If your red eyes are a result of not getting enough sleep, find a way to catch up on your rest. Closing your eyes for 7 to 8 hours helps to rehydrate them. Without sleep the eyes can dry out and dry eyes are red eyes.

Treat your eyelids

If your eyes are red when you wake up, the problem may not be in your eyes but on your eyelids. It is called blepharitis and it is a low grade infection of your eyelids. Just wash your eyelids with warm water at night before you go to bed.

Use drops sparingly

Drops designed to get the red out have an agent in them that works to constrict your blood vessels. They take the redness out by shrinking the blood vessels, however they wear off in a couple of hours and the redness comes back worse. Thus, use drops sparingly.

Crocodile tears

Redness that comes on during the day is caused by dryness. If that is the case, over the counter artificial tears can be used to moisten the eyes. Unlike normal eyedrops, they do not shrink blood vessels.

Cool it

Use a cool, wet washcloth and lay it over your closed eyes. The cold will constrict the blood vessels without the rebound effect while the water will add moisture to your eyes.

It is normal to see blood in the white of your eyes but it is not normal to see blood covering your pupil. See your doctor right away if you do. If your eyes hurt, your vision blurred or you have a pinkish haze, you need medical treatment urgently.

Hangnails

2007-04-26T05:15:00.000-07:00

Where do hangnails come from? Those annoying little triangular splits of skin around the fingernails are nothing more than dead skin. The skin in that area, which does not contain a good supply of oil to begin with, simply dries out. It is particularly common among women who have their hands in water a lot or who bite their nails. People who work with paper all the time can get hangnails. The paper absorbs oil from their hands and hangnails is just the physical effect of oil being removed from their skin.

If your hangnails are giving you nightmares, try these tips.

Clip job

Clip it short and clip it early. Just clip off the little tags of skin with small, sharp, sterilized scissors. But before it, soak it in a littler water or a water and oil solution to soften it. Do not clip a hangnail when it is still hard and end up ripping the skin more.

Mom's advice

Do not bite hangnails. You will end up with fairly deep cuts around your fingers if you do that.

Go soak

Soak your hand in an oil and water solution as you would when getting a manicure.

Wrap it up

Rub an emollient cream or ointment on the affected fingers at bedtime and wrap it in a piece of plastic wrap. Secure the end with a bit of tape. The plastic will keep the moisture overnight. Remove the plastic in the morning.

Do not pick at hangnails

If you tend to do this when you are feeling nervous, wear clothes with pockets where you can put one hand in each pocket and leave them there until the urge passes.

Moisturize

Moisturize your cuticles every day. Rub hand lotion into the flesh surrounding your nails.

Cuticle cautions

Use cuticle removing product sparingly and always follow package instructions as it is the cuticle that provides the vital function of protecting your nails from harmful bacterial and fungi.

Bed-wetting

2007-04-25T16:36:00.000-07:00

Bed-wetting can be both uncomfortable and embarrassing for a child. Thankfully, almost all kinds outgrow it in time. But should you want to do something while you wait; here are the ways.

Be realistic

Do not praise and do not punish. Just change the bed and do not say a word as it will go away by itself.

Change for the better

Set out a felt-covered rubber pad so when the child has 'an accident', he can lay it over the wet part of the bed. In additon, put out a pair of dry pajamas he can change into. You also can make the child feel better by arranging the bedroom so that the child can change the sheets himself.

Alarm

Bed-wetting alarms emit a buzzing or ringing sound when the child is wet. The theory is that the sound will condition him to awaken when he needs to urinate. Eventually, wetting will be inhibited and bladder distension will become the signal for the child to awaken. Most children respond to this type of conditioning strategy within 60 days. Bed-wetting is considered cured when the child remains dry for 21 consecutive nights.

Boost bladder muscles

Have the child drink lots of fluids during daytime then practice bladder control by holding off urination for as long as possible. This bladder stretching exercises may work.

Patience and love

All kids outgrow bed-wetting at a rate of 15 percent a year, which means by the time they go through puberty, less than 1 or 2 percent will still wet the bed. Therefore, just be patient and supportive.

Burns

2007-04-24T15:40:00.000-07:00

10 treatments for minor accidents.

Douse the flame

Stop the burning process first. If it is a contact burn, run the injured part under cold water. If it is hot grease or splattered hot material like battery acid or soup, remove the clothing that is saturated first, wash the grease off your skin then soak the burn in cold water. If the clothing sticks to the burn, rinse over the clothing, then go to the doctor. Do not attempt to pull the clothing off yourself.

Leave the butter for your bread

Food on burns can hold the heat in your tissue and make the burn worse. It also might cause an infection. No vinegar, potato scrapings or honey too.

Check your burn

You can self treat first and second degree burns smaller than a quarter on a child or smaller than a silver dollar on an adult. See doctor for larger burns or for burns on infants under 1 year or people over 60.

Cover it

Gently wrap the burn in a clean, dry cloth such as a thick gauze pad.

Do nothing

For the first 24 hours, leave the burn alone.

Help it heal

Starting 24 hours after you burn yourself, wash your injury gently with soap and water once a day. Keep it covered, dry and clean between washings.

Soothe with aloe

Two or three days after you burn, break off a fresh piece of aloe and use the plant's natural healing moisture or squeeze on an over the counter aloe cream. Do not use aloe if you are using blood thinners or have a medical history of heart problems.

Soothing solutions

When it starts to heal, break open a capsule of vitamin E and rub the liquid onto your irritated skin. If feels good and may prevent scarring.

Dab on an antimicrobial cream

An over the counter antibiotic ointment containing the active ingredients polymyxin B sulfate of bacitracin will discourage infection and speed your healing.

Leave blisters intact

Those bubbles of skin are nature's own best bandage, so leave them alone. If it pops, clean the area with soap and water then smooth on a little antibiotic ointment and cover.

Snoring

2007-04-23T09:20:00.000-07:00

There are different levels of snoring. Men are more likely to snore than women. Moderate snorers are those who snore every night but perhaps only when on their backs or only part of the night. In snoring, the sound is orchestrated by a wind ensemble located in the back of the throat. When you breathe in, it causes this tissue to vibrate and that effect is very similar to a wind instrument. So how do we stop the 'music'?

Diet

Most snorers tend to be middle aged, overweight men. Most women snorers are past menopause. Slimming stops snoring. The snoring becomes less loud, and disappears for some, if they loses weight.

No alcohol before bed

Alcohol before bed makes snoring worse.

No sedatives

Sleeping pills may make you snore. Anything that relaxes the tissues around the head and neck will tend to make snoring worse.

No cigarette

Just stop smoking.

Back off

Sleep on your side. Heavy snorers snore in virtually any position but moderate snorers only snore when they are on their backs.

Get rid of your pillow

A large pillow will make you snore more. Pillows only elevate your snoring level.

Raise you bed to new height

Elevating the bed can help minimize snoring. Elevate the upper torso, not just the head.

Allergies

Sneezing and snoring go together. Snoring can develop due to allergies or colds. Use a nasal decongestant, especially if your snoring is intermittent and comes during hay fever season.

Put a plug in it

If everything fails, the one on the receiving end of the nasal abuse can wear earplugs to bed.

Bronchitis

2007-04-22T22:31:00.000-07:00

Bronchitis is a lot like a cold. It is usually caused by virus. Therefore antibiotics will not do much good. Sometimes, it is caused by bacteria and in that case antibiotics will work. Acute bronchitis will go away by itself in a week or two but chronic sufferers can cough and wheeze for months. Though we have to let it take its course, there are things we can do to breathe easier while we have it.

Stop smoking

If you are a chronic sufferer, quit smoking. 95% of chronic bronchitis is due directly to smoking. The fewer years you have been smoking, the more likely it is that you will have a complete recovery.

Avoid being with other smokers

Avoid those who smokes. You need to avoid all tobacco smoke. Exposing yourself to exhaled smoke can give you bronchitis.

Keep the fluids flowing

Drinking helps the mucus become more watery and easier to cough up. Warm liquid or just plain water is best. Avoid caffeine or alcoholic beverages.

Warm, moist air

Stand in your bathroom, close the door and then run your shower, breathing in the warm mist that steams up your bathroom helps a lot.

Creating a 'tent'

Fill the sink with hot water, put a towel over your head and the sink, creating a tent and then inhale the steam for 5 to 10 minutes every couple of hours.

Do not expect too much from expectorants

No medicine that can dry up mucus. Drinking fluids of any type is the best way to cough up secretions.

Listen to your cough

Do you have a productive or nonproductive cough? If you have a productive cough, one where you cough up sputum, you do not really want to suppress it completely because you will not be coughing up the stuff your lungs want to rid themselves of.

Watch your volume

If your cough is nonproductive, that is - you are not coughing anything up, then it is good to take a cough medicine designed to suppress a cough.

Milk may help suppress bronchitis in smokers. The same effect however was not found in milk-drinking nonsmokers. However, there is no doubt that quitting smoking is still the best way to rid yourself of chronic bronchitis.

Flatulence

2007-04-21T10:47:00.000-07:00

It is tough to be serious about flatulence, though we promise to try.

Lay off the lactose

Expert says that if you are lactose intolerant, you could have flatulence problems from eating dairy foods. Some people can only handle certain amount and different kinds of milk product with comfort. If your doctor suspects that your favorite dairy product is causing your problem, try eating it in smaller servings or along with a meal for a day or two until you notice where gas begins to be a problem.

Avoid gas promoting foods

The primary cause of flatulence is the digestive system inability to absorb certain carbohydrates. Beans, cabbage, broccoli, brussels sprouts, onions, cauliflower, whole wheat flour, radishes, bananas, apricots, pretzels and many more foods can also be highly flatugenic.

Avoid fiber induced flatus

Some high fiber vegetables and fruits may increase gas. If you are adding fiber to your diet for health reasons, start with a small dose so the bowel gets used to it.

Charcoal

Charcoal absorbs gases and may be useful for flatulence. It is probably the best available treatment after appropriate dietary changes have been made and other gastroenterological diseases have been treated or ruled out. Charcoal however can soak up medicine as well as gas; so check with your doctor.

Quick relief

Besides activated charcoal for relief of intestinal gas, simethicone containing products are still the most popular. This product's defoaming action relieves flatulence by dispersing and preventing the formation of mucous-surrounded gas pockets in the stomach and intestines.

Ingrown nails

2007-04-20T21:14:00.000-07:00

If you have an ingrown nail, you know how it feels. The problem occurs when a nail, usually on the big toe, grows or is pushed into the soft tissue alongside it. Though your long term goal is to prevent a return engagement, your immediate aim is to soothe the pain. Here is how to accomplish both.

Try an over the counter products

There are variety of nonprescription over the counter products that may soften the nail and the skin around it, thereby relieving pain. Get one and just follow the directions. However, do not use them if you have diabetes or impaired circulation.

Get a wisp of relief

Your mission is to help that embedded toenail grow out over the skin folds at its side. Start by soaking your foot in warm water to soften the nail. Dry carefully, then gently insert a wisp (not a wad) of sterile cotton beneath the burrowing edge of the nail. The cotton will slightly lift the nail so it can grow past the tissue it is digging into. Apply an antiseptic as a safeguard against infection. Change the cotton insert daily until the nail has grown past the trouble spot.

No v-shaped, please

Do not cut a v-shaped wedge out of the center of the nail. People think that an ingrown nail is too big and that if you take a wedge from the middle, the sides will grow toward the center and away from the ingrown edge. That is utter nonsense. All nails grow from back to front only.

Let your toes breathe

Ill fitting footwear can cause an ingrown nail, especially if your nails tend to curve. So, avoid pointed or tight shoes that press on toenails. Opt for sandals where appropriate or wide toed shoes. Likewise, stay away from tight socks and panty hose.

Cut nails correctly

Never cut your nail too short. Soften them in warm water to reduce possible splitting, then cut straight across with a substantial, sharp, straight edged clipper. Always leave the outside edges parallel to the skin. Do not trim the nail any deeper than the tip of the toe. You need it long enough to protect the toe from pressure and friction.

Fix mistakes

If you accidentally cut or break a nail too short, carefully smooth it at the edges so that no sharp points are left to penetrate the skin.

If your toe becomes infected, see a physician. To reduce inflammation until your appointment, periodically soak your foot in an iodine solution then apply an antibiotic cream.

Diaper rash

2007-04-19T21:37:00.000-07:00

Babies have this knack for making their problems your problems, and if baby has diaper rash, you have it, too.

How do we tackle diaper rash?

Give them some air

Give the baby's bottom some air. Take the baby's diaper off and lay him chest down, with his face turned to one side, on towels underlaid with a waterproof sheet. Leave the baby that way for as long as you are there to keep an eye on him.

Super absorbent diapers

Diapers containing absorbent gelling material have been shown to significantly reduce skin wetness.

Blow-dry

Keeping the diaper area clean promotes healing but drying with a towel can irritate sensitive skin. Try a blow dryer instead! Set it on low to avoid abrasion to wet skin. When it is dry, zinc oxide ointments may be applied.

Give cloth diapers a vinegar rinse

Adding vinegar to the final rinse when washing diapers will help bring the pH of cloth diapers into line with that of the baby's skin. Add 1 ounce of vinegar to 1 gallon of water during the final rinse.

The cranberry connection

When urine and feces mix in the diaper area, the result is a high pH that irritates the skin and promotes diaper rash. It is noted that 2 to 3 ounces of cranberry juice given to older infants will leave an acid residue in the urine, helping lower pH and reduce irritation.

Research shows that breastfed babies has less diaper rash than bottle-fed babies. Even better, it is noted too that this resistance continues long after a baby has been weaned.

Black eye

2007-04-18T08:25:00.000-07:00

For black eye, you need to see your doctor when you are having a hard time seeing any doctor. Seek treatment if your vision is impaired, you have pain in your eye, you are light sensitive, double or blurred vision.

Otherwise the following is how to block a black eye.

Pack it in ice

Cold works in two ways; helps keeping the swelling down and by constricting the blood vessels, helps decrease the internal bleeding which causes the black and blue colour. Apply an ice pack for the first 24 to 48 hours. If your eyes is swollen shut, use it for 10 minutes every 2 hours the first day. To prepare the ice pack, just crushed ice in a plastic bag and tape it to the forehead to prevent putting pressure on the eye.

Cold soda

Hold a cold soda can against the eye intermittently (5 to 10 minutes every 15 minutes) until you can get some ice on it. Nevertheless make sure the can is clean and then hold it lightly against your cheek, not your eye. Do not put any pressure on you eyeball.

Avoid aspirin

Take acetaminophen if you need a pain reliever. Aspirin will make you ending up with a bigger bruises as it is an anticoagulant, which means the blood will not clot as well.

Do not blow your nose

Blowing your nose could cause your face to blow up like a balloon. The injury may fracture the bone of the eye socket. Blowing your nose can force air out of your sinus adjacent to the socket. The air gets injected under your skin and makes the eyelids swell even more and increase the chance of infection.

Most black eyes will last about a week and nothing can be done to disguise it totally. Thus you have to live with it. When it starts to heal, it will turn green, then yellow and finally it just disappears.

Vomiting

2007-04-17T21:40:00.000-07:00

Vomiting is the logical conclusion of nausea. Your tummy is trying to get rid of whatever you did that made it sick. Your goals are to help your tummy settle down and to prevent dehydration. Here is what you should do:

Avoid being dehydrated
You lose a lot of fluid in vomiting, so the best thing is to replace it. Water, weak tea, juices are highly recommended.

Replace important nutrients
Vomiting flushes out minerals. Therefore taking clear soup and juices like apple or cranberry is better than drinking plain water. However water is better than nothing but adding a couple pinches of salt and sugar helps too.

Sip your drink
Sip your drink in tiny swallows.

Determine your timing
The less fluid you are sipping at a time, the more often you have to sip. How frequently you take fluids depends on how your stomach reacts.

Check your urine
The paler your urine, the better you are doing to prevent dehydration.

Avoid cold drinks
Drink warm drinks or those at room temperature.

No carbonated drinks
Tiny bubbles are not what you need if you are vomiting.

Coke syrup
Coke syrup proves to works both for children and adults. The dose for children is 1 to 2 teaspoons while adult is 1 to 2 tablespoons as often as needed between bouts of vomiting.

Start with carbohydrates
When the vomiting stops, the best way to start eating again is with a gelatin dessert. It is mostly liquid, easy on the stomach, high in carbohydrates and taste good. Non buttered toast or crackers are good too.

Add a light protein
When you are feeling a little better, you can move on to a light protein like chicken breast or fish. If you are taking chicken soup, be sure to skim off as much fat from the soup as you can.

Avoid fat
Avoid fatty meats and cream soups until you are really feeling better. Fat stays in the stomach too long and can add to the bloated, full feeling.

Vomiting can be a sign of something serious. If it is either bloody or persistent and nothing seems to help, seek help immediately.

Body odor

2007-04-16T22:01:00.000-07:00

If you want to win friends and influence people – don’t stink.

The following are tips on how to feel fresh, clean and smell like a rose.

Scrubbing
Body odor is often caused by combination of perspiration and bacteria. Scrubbing with soap and water will wash both culprits away, particularly in those areas of the body which are most likely to smell, such as the armpits and groin.

Change your clothes
Washing yourself is not enough if you are wearing the same undershirt seven days a week!

Natural fabrics
Cotton absorbs perspiration better than synthetic materials. The absorbed sweat is then free to evaporate from the fabric.

Change your soap
In case you perspire a lot and are likely to smell bad, regular deodorant soap may be not good enough. Therefore get your pharmacist for advice.

Antiperspirants
If you have a body odor problem, you may need an antiperspirant. It reduces the amount of perspiration the body produces.

Topical antibiotic cream
If you cannot use commercial deodorants or antiperspirants without developing a rash, you might try a topical antibiotic cream.

Masking odor
Pine soap not only masks human odor but leaves you smelling like a pine forest. This type of soaps is used by hunter to mask all trace of body odor while hunting. If others fail, then give this soap a try.

Watch what you eat
Extracts of proteins and oils from certain foods and spices remain in your body’s excretions and secretions for hours after eating them and can impart an odor.

Keep calm
If you are anticipating a situation that is likely to excite or upset you, consider using an extra dose of deodorant that morning.

The old dog trick
An old folk remedy for a dog that has been skunked is to deodorize the poor pup with tomato juice. And guess what? It works for human too. Just pour a couple of cups in with your bath water and sit for 15 minutes.

Stained teeth

2007-04-15T22:30:00.000-07:00

Cola, tea, smoke, acidic juices and highly pigmented food slosh past your teeth and your teeth tell the tale in the form of stains. Not that teeth were ever meant to be totally white as the natural colour of teeth is actually light yellow to light yellow-red.

Stains can be caused by antibiotics, by quirks in individual metabolism and sometimes by high fever. All these have to be fixed by a professional. But common stains can be washed away between professional cleanings:

Clean after every meal
Clean our teeth regularly and conscientiously.

Polish with baking soda
Mix baking soda with enough hydrogen peroxide to make a toothpaste and brush those stains away.

Rinse
After every meal, rinse the food from our teeth.

Electric toothbrush
An electric toothbrush will push more of the stain collecting plaque off our teeth.

Plaque dissolver
Mouthwashes that have an antibacterial action will reduce stain-catching plaque

Do not use the super-whitening tooth polishes
Tooth polish is a quick fix, but it is like using an abrasive on a countertop. It takes off the stain but it wears off the enamel too. When our enamel gets thinner, more of the dentin shows through. As dentin is darker, so it looks like our tooth is stained.

Earwax

2007-04-14T08:10:00.000-07:00

The common problem is when earwax forms a hard little plug next to the eardrum and has to be removed by a doctor. So, what should we do to prevent that from happening?

Stick nothing in your ear
Never stick anything sharp into our ear, such as a pencil tip or a paper clip. We could tear our eardrum if we do this. Do not use a cotton-tipped swab or finger too. Even while we think we are cleaning out our ear, we may be ramming the wax deeper so it acts like a plug over our eardrum.

Drop in a softening fluid
Hydrogen peroxide, mineral oil or glycerin can be used for inexpensive cleaning of our ear. Add a drop or two of one of the liquids to each ear and allow excess to flow out. The liquid left inside will bubble away at the wax and soften it. Do this for a couple of days.

Once the wax is soft, we are ready to rinse. Fill a bowl with body temperature water; fill a rubber bulb syringe with the water, then holding our head over the bowl, squirt the water gently into our ear canal. The stream of water should be under very little pressure. Turn the head to the side and let the water run out.

Blow-dry your ears
Do not rub our ears dry, instead dry our ear with hair dryer or drop a little alcohol in each ear to complete the drying. This is to be done after every shower.

Make it a habit
Clean our earwax once a month and make it a habit.

Dry hair

2007-04-13T08:59:00.000-07:00

Dry hair is caused by water! Particularly if we are talking about water of the salty, chlorinated or sudsy variety. Swimming and over shampooing cause dryness to the hair too. Other culprits are including of colourings, electric curlers, excessive blow-drying and too much exposure to wind and sun.

The following is how to rescue dried-out hair:

Shampoo with care
Shampoo washes out the hair’s protective oils. Try washing less often and use only a mild shampoo with ‘for dry or damaged hair’ labels.

Use a conditioner
Conditioners add lubricant to the hair and prevent static electricity which creates frizz.

Mayonnaise
Believe it or not, mayonnaise makes an excellent conditioner. Leave it in your hair for 5 minutes to one hour before washing it out.

Never use heat
Heat contributes to dried-out hair. So, stop using curling irons and electric curlers and rediscover those plastic cylinder rollers from years ago. For straightening, wrap slightly moist hair under and around rollers for about 10 minutes. For curling or adding wave, try using sponge rollers overnight or sleeping with moist braids.

Protect from the sun
Wear a hat not only to protect your hair from the sun but wear it both on breezy, balmy summer days, and on gusty, frosty winter days.

Beer
Beer is a wonderful setting lotion. It gives a crisp, healthy, shiny look, even to dry hair. Spray it onto your hair using a pump bottle after you have shampooed and towel-dried, but before you blow-dry or style.

A trip to the beauty parlor
Steam treatment with oils and creams lasts about an hour and you can really tell the difference.

Finally, old banana can nurse your hair too!

Teething

2007-04-12T06:29:00.000-07:00

An infant’s teeth start developing months before birth. By the time the baby is born, all 20 of the primary teeth that will be sprouting over the next 2 ½ years are already present. At the age of four to eight months, those first teeth start pushing for daylight and cause discomfort to the baby. Parents have to bear this, though the following may be of help to ease the restless baby.

Teething rings
Give the baby the teething rings to chew on. Those that can be put in the refrigerator and keep cold, works very well and feels good on the baby’s gums. For a baby of 6 months or older, even a clean, cold washcloth to chew on feels good.

Gauze those gums
Massage the gum pads with a small gauze pad or even a soft baby washcloth wrapped around our forefinger. Regular massaging can contribute to healthier gum tissue. Doing so will remove bacteria buildup and gets the youngster use to having someone poking around inside the mouth. When the first tooth comes in, we can start brushing it right away without a fuss.

Serve a tasty teether
Most teething rings have no flavour. Hence a piece of cold apple, wrapped in a wet, child-size washcloth for the baby to bite down and work those teeth through the gums may make a difference.

Use of topical anesthetics
There are a number of topical anesthetics that are good for relieving teething pain and are available over the counter at any drugstore. Just wipe some on the gum pads and it gives quick relief to the baby.

What we should bear in mind is that fever during teething is not a ‘teething fever’. There is something else going on in our baby’s body! So, consult the doctor.

Bruises

2007-04-11T18:42:00.000-07:00

Nobody is bruise-proof. However, we can lessen the likelihood of large bruises, shrink and heal them by the following:

Use an ice pack
Use an ice pack to treat injuries that might lead to a bruise. Apply the ice packs as quickly as possible following the injury and it must be continued for 24 hours, at 15 minutes’ intervals should we suspect it will be severe. Cooling constricts the blood vessels which mean less blood spills into the tissues to cause bruises. It also minimizes swelling and numbs the area.

Heat
After 24 hours, use heat to dilate the blood vessels and improve circulation.

Prop up your foot
Bruises are little reservoirs of blood. Blood, like any liquid runs downhill. If we do a lot of standing, blood that has collected in a bruise will seep down through our soft tissues and find other places to puddle.

Vitamin C
Studies show that people who lack vitamin C in their diets tend to bruise more easily and their wounds heal more slowly.

Medications
Some drugs like anti-inflammatory drugs, antidepressants, asthma medicines and aspirins will cause bruise easily. Alcoholics or drug abusers are likely to bruise easily.

Above all, should we find ourselves bruising easily and cannot figure out the causes, we should talk to our doctor about it. Bruises can sometimes be a sign of illness. It is a point to remember however, that we do not have to bump to bruise!

Hiccups

2007-04-10T08:52:00.000-07:00

What cause hiccups? There is a lot of explanations on the reasons of hiccups. But most experts start their list of hiccup sins with eating too fast and swallowing too much air.

The general goal of all hiccups cures is to either increase carbon dioxide levels in the blood or to disrupt or overwhelm the nerve impulses causing hiccups. However some says most hiccups stop on their own.

But why not try one of these when you are having a bout of hiccups.

A teaspoon of sugar
Some say swallowing a teaspoon of sugar cures hiccups. The sugar probably acting in the mouth to modify the nervous impulses that would otherwise tell the muscle in the diaphragm to contract spasmodically.

Drinking upside down
Some use to bend over forward and drink the water upside down. It may sound weird but it works.

Holding our breath
Holding our breath or blowing air out of our body in a slow, steady stream may work wonders.

Swallowing while the hiccups sensation coming
If we have hiccups while eating, just hold our breath for as long as possible and swallow at the time we feel the hiccup sensation coming. Do that two or three times, then take a deep breath and repeat again.

Tickle and have fun
Just tickle the person who is having hiccups. By tickling, we will make the person gasps for breath and makes his/her diaphragm go back to doing what it is supposed to do.

Oily skin

2007-04-09T21:44:00.000-07:00

The good news is people with oily skin are likely to age better and wrinkle less compared to those with normal and dry skin. However, it is quite embarassing to stuck with a shiny forehead.

Heredity plays a big role in oily skin. Other factors that may cause oily skin are pregnancy and women on birth control pills. Both are due to hormonal activity changes. Stress and using wrong cosmetics can cause or exeggerate the oily skin too. Though on certain cases, we are left without alternative on how to control, what we should do is to always keep our face clean.

Besides that, the following may prove to benefit those with oily skin.

Use clay or mud masks.

Generally, the darker brown the clay, the more oil it can absorb. White or rose coloured clays are gentler and work best on sensitive skin. However, masks cleanse the surface greasiness only.

Warm water and soap.

Wash oily skin with warm water and soap. It is better than using cold water and soap.

Use drying soaps
Use a drying soap instead of those which moisturise to solve oily skin problems.

Use the right cosmetics
Choose a water-based product instead of an oil-based one.

Take a powder
Baby powder can do wonders when fluff lightly over make up.

One thing to remember - oily skin has nothing to do with the fatty and fried food we eat. We cannot turn off the oil glands with diet!