Natual Remedies and Beauty Tips

Acid or upset stomach

I have found that charcoal tablets have been very effective in this area. It can be found in Drug & Health Food stores. It comes in capsules or loose. If you can only find it loose, purchase empty gel capsules which are relatively inexpensive and fill them yourself. I find 4 caps to be very effective in relieving minor upsets.
Papaya- Chew on a few pieces of dried, unsweetened papaya
Eating fresh papaya before or after meals to aid digestion.

Papaya Tea- Pour 1 cup boiling water over 1 to 2 teaspoons of dried papaya leaves and steep for 10 minutes. Sip during or after meals, as often as you want.

Acne and blackheads

Always use a clean dry wash cloth.

Wash hands before face.

Use anti-bacterial soap.

Wash face twice a day.

Use warm/hot water finishing with a cold rinse to close pores.

To remove dead skin cells and loosen blackheads wash with a mild buff puff.

Once face is clean, place the wash cloth in warm/hot water and hold against the face. Repeat the process a few times to aid in opening clogged pores and releasing trapped oil.

Remove makeup before going to bed.

Don't squeeze pimples or blackheads as this can make them spread, scar and take longer to heal.

Avoid oil based foundations.

Facial Steam

Depending on the severity of your condition, this can be done from once a day to once a week.

Wash your face.

Fill a deep pot with 2 inches of water and boil. Remove from heat. You may want to add a few drops of a pleasant smelling essential oil like lavender. Place face over the steam and cover your head with a towel to prevent steam from escaping. Steam for 10-15

minutes and wash your face again remembering the final rinse of cold water.

Clay Mask

I prefer to used the loose clay found in most health food stores, but any brand will do. Keep in mind that the price of a clay mask does not always mean that it is more effective. I have used many and find that the cheap ones are just as effective.

Wash face but do not use cold rinse. Apply mask and wait until completely dry before removing it. Finish with cold rinse.

Bad breath (halitosis)

Make sure to brush and floss teeth twice a day. An bacteria fighting mouthwash is helpful. Don't forget to brush your tongue. Bad breath can come from the food you eat and emanate from your stomach. In these cases parsley either fresh or in capsules can be very effective. In severe cases a good dose of parsley juice should do the trick.

Brittle or thin eyelashes

I came upon this inexpensive and very effective method from a wonderful youthful looking 96 year old woman. Apply petroleum jelly (Vaseline) to your lashes. I have also found it to be a good substitute for people who like a natural look rather than mascara.

Canker Sores

Apply tea tree oil to affected area as often as necessary.

Ear wax build up

For minor build up flush ears with warm water using an ear flush device which can be found in any pharmacy.

For more serious build up, a solution of a 10% hydrogen peroxide can effectively remove it. Tilt your head and with a spoon or eye dropper pour a teaspoon of it into your ear. It will make a fizzling sound and start to foam out of the ear so have tissue at hand to catch the spill. Wait 5 minutes and rinse with warm water.

Foot Odor

Wash feet thoroughly at least 2 times a day with an anti bacterial soap.

Wear cotton socks.

Dust feet and shoes with sodium bicarbonate or talcum powder.

Try not to wear the same shoes every day. This will give them a chance to air out.

Wear open sandals when possible.

Avoid plastic or rubber shoes and wear natural fiber or leather ones instead.

Hair, Greasy

Wash hair every day with a mild shampoo. For a final rinse, use the juice of one lemon in a pint of warm water. This will help close the hair follicles that produce the oil. Use oil-free conditioners.

Reduce your intake of fatty and fried foods and increase your consumption of fresh fruits, veggies and whole-grain cereals.

Avoid caffeine and chocolate.

Heat Sickness, to prevent

This is a collection of advise given to me from the good people of my forum. Upon following this and a few additions of my own, I cease to become sick or feel faint. In short, it worked.

Drink plenty of spring water.
Sweating depleats the body of pottasium, eat a banana once a day.
Fill a spray bottle with ice a cold water. Carry with you and spray yourself frequently.
Take frequent tepid baths or showers. Cold water will cause a rapid heat loss, causing your body to heat up to try and compensate.
Go bare foot when ever possible.
Take extra vitamins to prevent exessive nutrient loss due to heavy water consumption.
Avoid eating heavy foods that take long to digest such as red meat. Instead, increase your intake of fruits and vegatables.

The following was provided by Stone.

Here is a nice recipe for a refreshing and nurishing summer drink, make it early morning before the heat of the day.

      8 quarts of water
      10 tea bags
      3 oz Alfalfa
      8 ground zinc tablets low milligram (as long as your not alergic)
      1 can frozen orange juice
      1 tablespoon salt

Boil water and steep the tea, alfalfa, and disolve the zinc tabs and salt. Let stand until you get the desired tea strength. Then add the concentrated OJ and chill to just about freezing. Drink it as needed, but don't get to carried away. The zinc will strengthen your immune system, the salt will help to keep you hydrated, the alfalfa and oj will nurish you, and the tea will give you a bit of a caffine lift. Be sure your not allergic to any of the ingredients. I also like adding a basket full of dandylion petals to be steeped along with the tea and alfalfa.

Hiccups

Stand up with arms straight up. Take a long deep breath, hold as long as you can and slowly release. Repeat as long as needed. If that doesn't work. Stand with arms straight up and have someone feed you a large glass of water. Drink the whole thing quickly without taking a breath in between.

Suck on a lemon.

Eat a spoon of sugar.

Breath into a paper bag.

Insect Bites

Bee stings-gently remove the stinger with a sterile knife or needle (dipped in rubbing alcohol). Be careful not to push it in further, and don't suck it out. If the sting is in the mouth or throat, rinse the mouth with ice water, suck ice cubes and get immediate medical attention.

Bee stings are acidic and can be neutralized by dabbing a solution of 2 teaspoons of bicarbonate of soda mixed with 1 cup water on the sting.

Wasp stings are alkaline. Neutralize them by dabbing vinegar or lemon juice on the sting.

Mosquito bites-dab bites with a cotton ball soaked with witch hazel.

Always wash bites thoroughly with soap and water. Excessive scratching can result in infection. To relieve itching, mix a tablespoon of baking soda into 1 cup of water. Using a cloth bath the bites in the solution.

Another remedy is to rub the bite with a drop of tee tree or lavender oil. Repeat every hour until the irritation stops.

Prevention: Rubbing apple cider vinegar to the skin is a natural repellent, And of course citronella candles are very effective in keeping mosquitoes at a distance.

Insomnia

Avoid daytime napping and strenuous exercise close to bedtime

Don't eat at least 2 hours before going to bed.

Avoid caffeine (coffee,tea,cola) and alcohol.

Tea-Steep a tea ball filled with 2 teaspoons of valerian root in a cup of boiling water for 15 minutes. Drink before bed.

Jet lag

Find out what the time difference will be before you go. Each night go to sleep go 1/2 to 1 hour earlier or later until you are on the right schedule. Don't drink alcoholic beverages. Drink plenty of water instead and put moisturizer on your skin to prevent dryness and flaking. Eat a light meal on the flight. If you are taking a particularly long flight do some stretching while your waiting at the airport before departure and after when waiting for your luggage.

Aromatherapy-To aid in relaxation during the flight apply 2 drops of lavender oil to a tissue or handkerchief and slowly inhale. To stay alert during the flight use rosemary or lemon oil.

Migraine

Inhalations, baths, or massages using essential oil of true messila or rosemary and sweet marjoram. Aromatherapy massages are very relaxing.

Feverfew has shown to be effective in reducing the intensity and frequency of migraine attacks. Take 2 or 3 small leaves of feverfew a day, chopped in a sandwich (a sprinkle of sugar can help disguise the bitter taste). Tablets or capsules of feverfew are widely available. Follow the directions on the label. It may take 2 or 3 months to notice the effects.

Acupressure-Massage your head as though you were giving yourself a vigorous shampoo. Place your thumbs underneath the base of skull. Tilt head back slightly and press upward for 2 minutes while taking slow, deep breaths.

Morning Sickness

Start the day with an herbal tea like chamomile, and a few dry crackers. Avoid fried and fatty food. Pineapple juice or fruit can relieve nausea. Eat small meals often. If your not hungry, maintain your blood-sugar level with fruit, orange juice, soup, or nuts.

Tea-Pour a cup of boiling water over a teaspoon of freshly grated ginger root, infuse for 5 minutes and drink when needed.

Add essential oils of mandarin and lavender to your bath. Put 2 drops of peppermint and sandalwood essential oil on a tissue or handkerchief and slowly inhale.

Poison Ivy

Poultice-Mix equal amounts of honey and powdered goldenseal into a paste, spread over rash and cover with a sterile gauze bandage. Change dressing daily.

Shaving/Waxing Rash

Chill wet chamomile tea bags and place on affected area. For larger areas try a cold chamomile compress. Pour 2 cups of boiling water over 4 teaspoons of chamomile and steep until it is cool in a covered pot. Strain and refrigerate for up to a week. Dip a clean washcloth in the teas and apply to area for 10 minutes.

Sinus congestion/ headaches

This may cause temporary stinging but REALLY works. Mix warm water with a fairly small amount of sea salt. The more congestion the more salt. Adjust it to your needs. Mix

to your need and pour into your hand, quickly inhale into your nose. It will sting, your eyes will water. Keep your head back for a minute. You'll notice that your nose will start running. Blow your nose until it clears. This process can be repeated as often as necessary.

Spicy foods loosen mucus secretions and increase blood flow in the sinuses, relieving the congestion that causes sinus headaches.

Eat a jalapeno pepper. Within minutes the sinuses drain and headache disappears.

Eat a tablespoon of freshly grated or commercially prepared horseradish preserved with vinegar. Add a bit of honey if desired.

Cayenne beverage- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, juice of 1/2 a lemon, 1 teaspoon honey and on cup of tepid water.

Sore feet

Fill your tub with very warm water just past ankle length. There are many things you can do from hear so use what you wish. Add sea salt or epson salt (more effective but more costly) or just some bubble bath you like. Place your aching feet in the water and soak for at about 10 minutes. Then take one foot out of the water and massage it. Using an essential oil such as peppermint. Wash feet thoroughly in the water. Drain tub and rub feet with half a lemon or lemon juice from the grocery store if lemons are not in season in your area. Run feet under cold water and dry with a course towel.

Sunburns

Black tea

Apply wet tea bags to affected areas until the burning sensation subsides. If the burn is widespread, make a quart of strong black tea and add to cool or lukewarm bath water. Soak for 15 minutes. Gently dry off and apply a moisturizer containing aloe vera and or vitamin E. This can also prevent peeling.

Another effective bath- Add 2 cups of apple cider vinegar and soak for 20 minutes. Spray affected area ever hour with a mixture of 3/4 cup apple cider vinegar and a 1/4 cup of aloe vera juice. After the first day change the proportions of the spray to 3/4 cup of aloe vera juice and 1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar.

Honey is a humetant and draws moisture to the skin, and peppermint oil in small quantities is cooling. Add 1 drop of essential peppermint oil to one tablespoon of honey and gently smooth over area. For larger areas make the same mixture in a larger amount making sure not to increase the recommended dose of peppermint oil- in large amounts it can burn the skin. When burned area is no longer hot to the touch apply a salve of St. John's Wort, calendula, or comfrey. Make sure your skin has completely cooled before applying this salve or it can cause irritation.

Toothache

Wet one finger in essential oil of clove and rub around the gum of the tooth causing pain. If the gums are sensitive dilute 2 drops in 1 teaspoon of a carrier oil.

Wet one finger in a tincture of myrrh and rub on the gum of the painful tooth.

Unruly eyebrows

If they seem to go every which way, apply a strong non-aerosol hair spray, gel or mousse to a toothbrush and brush your brows into the desired shape. To prevent dryness apply a little petroleum jelly or moisturizer before bedtime. This will condition them and prevent breakage.

Warts

Rubbing a crushed garlic clove on the wart is said to help remove it.

Whitening dull/stained teeth

To brighten teeth make a thick paste of baking soda and 10% peroxide. Brush teeth with solution and finish with the toothpaste of your choice.

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