Natural Remedies Blog

Do you know that honey is the one food in the world that doesn't spoil?

Archeologists found an uninhabited beehive in an Egyptian tomb, the honey in it was still in very good condition. The raw and pure honey that sits in your larder can keep for 2000 years or more.  Isn't it an amazing thought?

Raw honey is made by honey bees from nectar and pollen.  It also contains bits of pollen and propolis.  Propolis is an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and has anti-viral, anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties.

The bees make the propolis for the protection of their honeycomb and the propolis is made from tree sap.  It is because of the propolis that the honey is so potent.

So beware commercially processed honey that will not last, because they don't have propolis and will therefore have a short shelf life.

The moisture content is limited in honey and this inhibits bacteria, yeast and other organisms to live in it.

Honey also has special enzymes in it that kill bacteria and heal wounds. It also has properties in it that allows the growth of friendly gut bacteria and it therefore improves digestion and keeps the digestive tract healthy.

It is an amazing food.  It has huge healing properties.  Just try it on an open wound, or an upset stomach and the effects are wondrous, try it on a sore throat with lemon and it works wonders.

If you are a white sugar addict, try replacing it with honey and you would be amazed by the results you get!  Much healthier and all natural.

Honey - a gift of  the Gods.... the Bee?

Today I would like to talk about mental health.  It is sad that there are so many people taking antidepressants.  Instead of these drugs, how about looking to Nature to calm you down, to inject life into you? Let me list 10 ways.

1. Get your feet wet!  walk along the waves or dangle them in water either in a lake, pond or swimming pool

2.Go for long walks where there are big old trees

3. Listen to the wind in the trees

4. Climb a little hill or if you the adventurous - a bigger one!

5. Find a quiet place in the midst of nature and SING as loud as you can

6. Catch someone's eye and smile

7.  Take some cardomoms seep in water and enjoy...it's a mood lifter

8. Look at the clouds floating in the sky and see if you can spot ice-creams castles in the sky...or any thing else!

9. Do something creative:  Create something...even if it is just a clean desk!

10.Get/Pick/Buy  5 different flowers, marvel at nature's creativity  and count how many petals each has, and then pluck each petal put them inot a bowl  of water and admire your own  handiwork...

If in the space of 2 days you can do all of the above... your mood would definitely be a better one!

Your doctor is about to take your blood pressure.  He places the stethoscope over his ear and places the cold round steel on your arm while he pumps the blood pressure machine as he listens intently.

In the meantime, you are tensed and you concentrate on what he is doing, trying to appear nonchalant when in actual fact you are anxious and your heart is pounding.
And the doctor's conclusion?  Your blood pressure is high.  And you would have to be on medication.

In actuality, when you go home to check it on your blood pressure machine, you blood pressure is normal.

Yet in the doctor's office, it is high.  This is called the White-Coat Effect. Research by Duke University and the Durham VA Medical Center indicates that blood pressure readings at the doctor's office are almost always higher than those taken at home.

But doctors know of this "White Coat Effect" and so they are careful to take more than one or two readings before they come to a conclusion and prescribe medication for hypertension.

But the research shows that despite the careful attention of doctors to blood pressure reading, they are still high at the doctor's office and so they tend to over-prescribe hypertension medication.  The stress of a medical exam can cause large elevations in blood pressure.

Blood pressure fluctuates every hour and from day-to-day.

So this is what you are to do if you suspect you have high blood pressure:

1. Purchase one of those machines to measure blood pressure

2. Test your blood pressure at home five or six times  to identify your true blood pressure status.
Preferably before you take medication in the mornings, don't take it after coffee or if you are tensed.  Take it at a time when you are feeling relaxed.  And try to take two readings in the morning, two at least in the afternoon and two at night when you come back home form work.

If you have a systolic blood pressure measurement of 140.  That's considered high.  But if it is a one-time reading that is taken at the doc's office,  then it is probably your body lying to you and the doctor!.  What is probably the case is that it is 15 or 10 points higher than normal.  Usually if you take it at home it will show the normal reading of 120/80 or 125/80.

Now that you know the research regarding the white coat syndrome, it is time to do your homework. Measure you blood pressure up six times a day for a week and bring that measurement to the doctor and ask him/her whether the medication is the correct dosage or more than is necessary? If it is more than necessary this will lead you to having low blood pressure and will make you feel sluggish.

It may be that you don't need the medication at all - and that's good news!

Till next week

This is both painful and embarrassing.  If you don't suffer from it well and good. If you do, or know dear ones who do, this article will be most helpful.

Once again… forget the creams and ointments for Acne.  Go to your kitchen and you will find most of the things recommended here except perhaps witch hazel lotion and Aloe Vera gel that you would have to go to your drug store to purchase. Here are seven prescriptions for you to try.

Number 1:

Aloe Vera gel.  It is full of anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that are especially good for torn skin (which occurs when a pimple bursts).  Don't just apply it on the face, get some Aloe Vera juice and drink it up too.

Number 2:

Lemon juice mixed with the same amount of rose water helps enormously.  It helps kill the bacteria that help to form those pustules. Be aware that when you have lemon juice on your face you must avoid the light. Leave it on for half an hour or so before you wash it off.

 Number 3:

Another method, perhaps after applying  the lemon method, is to mix equal amounts of sandalwood powder with rose water.  You may wash it off after half an hour or keep it overnight on our face.

 Number 4:

Eat more fruits and juices.  Failing which take about 1000-2000 mg of vitamin C.  Your body needs it for healthy skin.  Include carrot in your fruit juices and make sure you get adequate amounts of vitamin E as well in the form of a few (about 3 or 4) walnuts or almonds a day.

Number 5:

Make and apply a mask once in three days:  Take the white of an egg mix with a teaspoon of witch hazel and lemon juice and leave it on till it dries.  Then wash off with warm water.

Witch hazel is a powerful anti-bacterial.  Apply it (it comes as a clear solution) as often as you need.

Number 6:

Neem is also a good solution for acne.  If you can't get hold of Neem, try to get Neem tablets and try taking two to three capsules for a period of two months and you would be amazed at the results.  Also try to get hold of a Neem soap (they are not at al expensive) it works wonders.

 Number 7:

To get rid of acne scars, apply coconut water on your face and make sure to drink it too.

So I have outlined to you the pathway to healthy skin without those pesky pustules and pimples.  Apply all six ways diligently and you will be very happy with the results.

Lycopene-rich tomatoes

The  humble but ever-present tomato is your answer to bettering two organs in your body: your heart and your skin.

I know a lot of you are shaking your heads right now and saying "Hey! the skin is not an organ!

In fact, your skin is your largest organ. And just like all other organs, the foods you eat affect the health of your skin.

Research has found the Tomato is very good for the skin.  Tomatoes are high in nine different minerals and five different B vitamins, and contains a good amount of Vitamin E, protein and dietary fiber. The combination of nutrients in a tomato protects you against various cancers, heart disease, diabetes and migraines.

It also has lycopene, an antioxidant.

As an antioxidant, lycopene helps protect against heart diseases as well.  Lycopene can help reduce blood LDL cholesterol (the "bad" cholesterol) and increase HDL, the good cholesterol.

Specifically, researchers in Germany have found that foods rich in the lycopene from cooked tomatoes may boost the body’s ability to protect against the sun’s ultraviolet rays.  So here's your excuse to eat lots of tomato based pasta sauces and pizza!

It takes as little as a daily glass of tomato juice to  get the full benefits of Lycopene.
In fact,  when tomato products are heat processed the bioavailability of the Lycopene actually increases. Because lycopene is fat-soluble , adding a little oil helps absorption (olive oil would be good).