FitSugar

5 Healthy Things You Can Do in the Shower

Jenny Sugar — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 13:20:18 PST

Taking a shower mostly entails washing your hair and shaving your legs, but here are a few more quick things you should make time for that will benefit your health.

Source: Thinkstock

Home Remedy For Poison Ivy

FitSugar — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 09:00:30 PDT

Try as you might to avoid its shiny and oily leaves, the blistery rash caused by contact with poison ivy, oak, or sumac can linger. One of the most common rashes for outdoorsy adults and children can be treated with a common ingredient found in your kitchen cabinet. Baking soda baths and pastes are home remedies endorsed by the American Academy of Dermatology to reduce the itch factor created by these plants.

After rinsing, not scrubbing, your skin with hot water to rinse off the oil do the following to relieve the itch. Draw a bath and add 1/2 cup of fresh baking soda (not the box that has been deodorizing your fridge) and soak for a 30 minutes. Once out of the bath, using a three to one ratio of baking soda to water, make a paste to apply to the affected area. Let the paste dry on your skin - it is believed that the baking soda pulls the caustic urushiol away from the skin, decreasing the itchiness.

If you experience a severe reaction after contact with one of these rash-producing plants, seek medical treatment. Prescription medication might be needed to reduce the swelling and itch.

Don't Try This at Home: Remedies to Avoid

FitSugar — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 04:30:22 PST

I have a slew of home remedies tucked in my noggin that I pull out when needed. Tummy ache? I whip up some fresh ginger tea (it's also good for colds). Honey soothes my sore throat, and when I've had a tough workout and am left with sore muscles, an apple cider vinegar wrap does the trick.

Those home remedies are safe and actually work, but some cures and treatments you may have heard about can actually be dangerous and make the issue you're trying to alleviate worse. Here are a few to stay away from.

Ear candles: These long, hollow, tapered tubes are made of muslin and coated with wax. You stick one end in your ear and light the other end. As the candle burns, the smoke and heat create a gentle vacuum that supposedly sucks out debris and excess ear wax to relieve sinus pressure, relieve stress, and improve hearing. The amount of suction created by this tiny candle isn't enough to suck out anything, and ear wax shouldn't be removed anyway. Your body secretes wax to help clean and lubricate your ear. Ear candling doesn't work and can be very dangerous because wax from the candle can drip into your ear, or the burning candle could catch your hair on fire. If you have an earache or sinus pressure, see your doctor instead.

To see what other remedies you should avoid,

Eating Local Honey Could Help Seasonal Allergies

FitSugar — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 11:00:00 PDT

Honey is all the buzz. Not only does it taste like Summer, but it has some amazing qualities that help your body. It's antimicrobial because of its high sugar content, so it's great for treating cuts and burns to prevent scarring. You can keep a jar in your medicine cabinet for years - it's slightly acidic, so it never goes bad.

I've also heard that honey can be used to treat seasonal allergy symptoms. In order to understand why, you need to know a bit about how honey is made.

Honey bees (the female worker bees) travel from flower to flower, drinking nectar, and storing it in sacs in their little bee bodies. Then they buzz back to their hive and use their "honey stomachs" to regurgitate and ingest (I know it sounds a little gross, but cool somehow) the nectar a number of times until it's partially digested. They then store the nectar in the honeycombs, fanning it with their wings to evaporate the water, turning it into the thick sweet honey we know and love.

So what does honey have to do with your allergies? To find out

read more. The reason honey may help with seasonal allergies is because honey contains a bit of pollen from plants. So if you eat the sweet treat that is made by bees in the area where you live, the honey will often act as an immune booster, reducing your allergy symptoms to local flowering plants. It's a good idea to take two to three spoonfuls each day for several months prior to pollen season. Fit's Tip: Eating local honey works for some people, but may not for others. It's a folk remedy with no scientific research to back it up, but it's worth a try if you suffer from seasonal allergies. If it doesn't help with your sniffles and sneezing, well at least you're getting vitamins B6, thiamin, niacin, riboflavin, pantothenic acid and minerals like calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, potassium, and zinc. Honey also contains antioxidants and vitamin C. All that and it tastes good, too! Source

Home Remedy: Sore Muscles

FitSugar — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 04:00:00 PST

I had a rather strenuous week at the gym and now my arm muscles are so sore, I can hardly type.

I've scoured the web for a natural remedy (there's only so much Advil a girl can take) and I've come across something from health.com that looks doable so I'm actually going to try it tonight (full disclosure later).

The remedy: Saturate a cloth with apple cider vinegar and wrap it around the muscle for 20 minutes; the pain should disappear within a few hours. Reapply every three to four hours for continued relief until the pain is gone for good.
Why it works: Apple cider vinegar is a muscle reliever; it helps to draw lactic acid (the stuff that causes soreness) out of your muscles after exercise.

My only issue is the smell. Apple cider vinegar sure is potent stuff, so my soaking will happen in the shower. I'm curious if any of you guys have tried something like this? If so, share it below.

Source

Got PMS? Try a Natural Remedy

FitSugar — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 14:30:00 PST

Most women experience some sort of PMS, and certain symptoms can be easier to treat than others. Ibuprofen is great for cramps, and Midol can help with bloating, but battling PMS-related irritability or depression is more of a challenge.

I've been on the hunt for natural remedies, including vitamins and herbal supplements, that might help relieve my monthly moodiness. Of course, there's always good, old-fashioned exercise, but I've also found some other natural solutions that sound promising. To see the list,

read more
Of course, you should consult your doctor before taking any new vitamins and supplements, but here are some I plan to talk to my OB/GYN about:

Magnesium and B-6: Recent studies have found that this vitamin cocktail can help with bloating and moodiness. WebMD recommends 200 mg per day of magnesium combined with 50 mg of vitamin B-6.

Vitamin E: In his book Natural Health, Natural Medicine, Dr. Andrew Weil writes that vitamin E supplements can treat both PMS and painful or heavy periods. He recommends a supplement with 80 mg of vitamin E complex, taken once a day with your largest meal. Again, please talk to your doctor before starting any supplement program; vitamin E should not be taken if you have heart disease or diabetes.
Dong quai: Another of Dr. Weil's suggestions, this Chinese herb, made from the root of a carrot-like plant, is sometimes called "female ginseng," since it treats irregular periods, PMS, and menopausal symptoms. Weil recommends a two-month trial taking it two to three times a day.
Chaste tree berry: I've seen this recommended on several sites. According to an article on About.com: "a study published in the British Medical Journal involving 178 women with PMS found that chaste tree berry significantly reduced PMS symptoms over three menstrual cycles." It was especially effective treating irritability and depression.

Have any of you tried one of these natural remedies? If so, I'd love to hear if they worked, so please share in the comments below. Source

Home Remedy: Soothe Sore Throats

FitSugar — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 10:15:00 PST

Sore throats are a common side effect of colds and flu, but also of dry, over-heated homes. Postnasal drip from colds and open-mouth breathing due to nasal congestion can both create sore throats. Although sore throats like these are generally worse in the morning and calm down as the day progresses, it is still nice to soothe the pain. At least you can swallow without pain and eat. Here are some home remedies for soothing a sore throat:

Gargle several times a day with warm salt water using 1/2 tsp. of salt in 1 cup warm water.
Some people find relief by gargling warm water mixed with cayenne, but do not exceed 1/8 tsp. of the hot stuff. The pepper acts like an anesthetic and numbs the pain.
Tea or simply warm water sweetened with honey, which can help relieve coughing, too.
Combine many of the above treatments together and add some vinegar! This spicy, old home remedy is made by adding one tsp. of apple-cider vinegar, a tiny pinch of cayenne pepper, juice from 1/4 lemon, and one tsp. honey to a cup of hot water. Drink four cups per day.

To see a few more soothing techniques, just

Cold liquids or popsicles help some sore throats and this is a winning technique with children, young and old.
Sucking on hard candies or throat lozenges (I like Ricola cough drops) can be very soothing, because it increases saliva production and helps keep the throat moist.
Use a cool-mist vaporizer or humidifier to moisten and sooth a dry and painful throat.
You can always try over-the-counter pain medications, such as acetaminophen to help dull the pain.

Not all sore throats can be treated or cured with home remedies. Please review this post When a Sore Throat Needs Medical Attention for symptoms that should send you to a doctor. Do you have a home remedy for sore throats. Tell me about it in the comments section below. Source

Spring and Bee Stings

FitSugar — Wed, 02 May 2007 08:45:00 PDT

Spring is the season of the birds and the bees, and unfortunately bee stings are a part of the season. According to the Mayo Clinic the range of reactions to the venom of a sting is variable depending on how sensitive you are, but that only a small percentage of folks experience severe (read: anaphylaxis) response to stings and bug bites in general. Most of us experience itching, a stinging sensation and mild swelling that disappears after a day or two. Occasionally, there is a delayed response to a sting or bite that includes: fever, hives, painful joints and swollen glands.

First thing you want to do if you are stung is scrape off the stinger with the flat edge of a credit card or the back of a knife. If you pull the stinger you risk the chance of releasing more of the icky venom, and you don't want to do that.

Next, you want to calm the swelling with ice, this will help with the pain too. Applying 1% hydrocortisone cream or calamine lotion will help the symptoms subside. The home remedy of baking soda paste has always worked for me. Mix 3 teaspoons of baking soda with 1 teaspoon water and apply directly to the sting multiple times a day until the symptoms subside.

If you experience a severe reaction including facial swelling, difficulty breathing and shock call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.

Don't forget to stop and smell the roses this spring, but check for bees first.

How to Combat Winter Blahs and Blues

Heather Dale — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 11:23:08 PST

When January rolls around, the festive fun has come to an end, and we resume our regular day-to-day routines . . . good times, right? This month can be especially difficult for some because the party is over, the temperatures are dropping, and the days are awfully short. If you're experiencing any symptoms that feel like major depression, you may be suffering from seasonal affective disorder (SAD). SAD is a type of depression that is cyclical and seasonal, meaning that it comes and goes at the same time every year. If you suffer from SAD, symptoms may include irritability, a drop in energy level, and possible weight gain. Various studies have shown that four to six percent of the population has been diagnosed with SAD at some point in their lives, while 10 to 12 percent have shown symptoms related to SAD. Fortunately, there are some easy remedies you can try at home to help get you through the next few months.

Keep reading to see what they are!

Flying With a Cold? Survival Tips While in the Air

Heather Dale — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 12:59:20 PST

I started the New Year with a cold that has knocked me right off my feet. I was fine staying home for the midnight countdown, but what I'm not looking forward to is having to board a plane with this bad bug - traveling when you're sick is the worst! If you need to fly and are suffering from a cold, here are some survival tips to help alleviate the annoying symptoms associated with being sick.

Sore throat: Before you get to the airport, gargle with warm salt water using 1/2 teaspoon of salt in one cup of warm water. Once you get to the airport, sip on hot tea or warm water sweetened with honey, which can help soothe an irritated throat. While on the plane, drink plenty of liquids and come prepared with hard candies or throat lozenges, which can be very soothing since they increase saliva production and help keep the throat moist.

Keep reading for more tips.