Medical Home Remedies

For not much more than a dollar a bottle, the 3% hydrogen peroxide you keep around (or will after reading this article) is a true medical home remedy, natural cure, and immunity boosting alternative to seasonal flu vaccination, flu treatment, and prevention.  Did you know that throughout the world hydrogen peroxide is used instead of chlorine as a safer and eco-friendly municipal water purifier?   Some use H2O2 in pools and spas.  The science behind using peroxide is actually pretty cool and experimentally verifiable.  Your body makes hydrogen peroxide to fight infection which must be present for our immune system to function correctly. White blood cells are known as Leukocytes. A sub-class of Leukocytes called Neutrophils produce hydrogen peroxide as the first line of defense against toxins, parasites, bacteria, viruses and yeast.  Hydrogen Peroxide is described as an effective anti-viral, antibacterial, and anti-fungal, and can be used for anthrax decontamination…which sort of shows how it could probably do some sort of good against a cold and flu virus, don’t you think?  Bacteria, viruses, and fungus (even those linked to tumors and arthritis) have been known to be effectively dealt with by peroxide since the early 1900’s.  Europeans still use peroxide in many treatments.  We in North America, however, seem to be a bit more controlled by pharmaceutical interests and tend to have more faith in antibiotics than simple cures.  Peroxide works because it helps oxygenate the blood and tissues.  Here are a few ideas for you to use your own bottle of peroxide around the house to boost your immunity and that of your family.  With talks of pandemics and debates over seasonal flu vaccines and h1n1, what do you have to lose?  Give peroxide a try.

• Gargle with hydrogen peroxide, put drops in the ear and nose to end colds, flu, chronic sinusitis (including polyps], and infections.
• Tilt your head back and spray into nostrils with a 50/50 mixture whenever you have a cold, plugged sinus. It will bubble and help to kill the bacteria. Hold for a few minutes then blow your nose into a tissue.
• Take one capful (the little white cap that comes with the bottle) and hold in your mouth for 10 minutes daily, then spit it out.  No more canker sores and your teeth will be whiter without expensive pastes. Use it instead of mouthwash.
• Let your toothbrushes soak in a cup of peroxide to keep them free of germs.

Sound good to you?  There are many more uses of  hydrogen peroxide and you can check out some of the materials I put together for you here to get a better idea.  If you don’t want to drink it, industrial grade (35%) peroxide can also be purchased.  Use it in your bath and experience skin healing and infections subsiding, and even internal inflammation.  You can even boost the power of peroxide by adding the healing power of silver to it (another blog post to come).

For now, however, take out your bottle of peroxide and start healing.  Instead of a flu shot, get oxygenated.

Technorati Tags: flu prevention, flu shot, H1N1, hydrogen peroxide cures, natural remedies for flu, peroxide treatments, seasonal flu, seasonal flu prevention

Dr. Mercola is at it again. He is always exposing simple and inexpensive natural ways to be healthy and avoid pharmaceutical drugs. I know, you are tired enough already about the H1N1 issue and everything attached to it, but this really does present a case for something as simple as Vitamin D supplementation can really make all the hype irrelevant.

Vitamin D and the Flu

Most people do not realize that vitamin D, unlike flu shots, is a proven method to keep yourself from catching an infectious disease.

According to the Irish Independent, R Edgar Hope Simpson was one of the first to discover the link between a deficiency in solar radiation and seasonal influenza. Then, in 2006, the journal Epidemiology and Infection published Dr. John Cannell’s paper Epidemic Influenza and Vitamin D, which presents the hypothesis that influenza is merely a symptom of vitamin D deficiency.

He followed this up with another study published in the Virology Journal last year.

His findings were again confirmed by another recent study — the largest and most nationally representative of its kind to date — that involved about 19,000 Americans.

It found that people with the lowest blood vitamin D levels reported having significantly more recent colds or cases of the flu. In conclusion, lead author Dr. Adit Ginde stated:

“The findings of our study support an important role for vitamin D in prevention of common respiratory infections, such as colds and the flu. Individuals with common lung diseases, such as asthma or emphysema, may be particularly susceptible to respiratory infections from vitamin D deficiency.”

And as we already know, the vast majority of deaths from the swine flu have occurred in children and adults with pre-existing medical conditions, including obesity, AND, most complications and deaths have been caused by secondary bacterial infections, such as staph – not the virus itself.

Add to this the fact that vitamin D has been shown to have a dramatic impact on nearly all chronic diseases, and you begin to see why optimizing your vitamin D levels may indeed be crucial for avoiding the flu in the first place, and/or avoiding serious and potentially deadly complications from the flu.

There is so much compelling evidence that I believe optimizing your vitamin D levels is one of the absolute best strategies for avoiding infections of ALL kinds, and vitamin D deficiency is likely the TRUE culprit behind the seasonality of the flu — not the flu virus itself.

I find it hard to believe that the H1N1 virus would respond much differently, especially since it has been found to be a much weaker virus than previous seasonal flu strains.

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The rest of this awesome article and its correlated topics can be found here.

As before,  comments are always welcome.

Technorati Tags: dr mercola, flu prevention, H1N1, natural remedies for flu, seasonal flu, vitamin d

I hope this never happens to you, and I write this so that it doesn’t. My husband has chronic kidney disease and we have to be really careful about what he eats and what medications he takes. Really careful. He had to go in for a not so fun colon exam and thus had to take one of those special drinks the day before to clean him out. The exam was ordered by a walk-in-clinic doctor who, none-the-less, knows about his condition. His file was available to him and he has learned to constantly repeat to all medical professionals (for his own safety) that he is a kidney patient. His test was booked and the hospital that also knows of his condition, as they run the kidney clinic where he attends, called to give the name of the drink we needed to buy. I went out to purchase it from the pharmacy that keeps his records (and also knows he is a kidney patient). I came home with the medicine and gave it to my husband.

On a whim, I opened the package later on and tried to understand what the directions would be and what we could expect. This is an over the counter product, so we thought it would likely be no problem. However, as I read through the product specs, I realized there was more than one warning for people with a “severe kidney condition.” Ok, we thought, maybe his really isn’t so severe. After all you can trust doctors, right? His test order and all that was also forwarded to his family doctor. If there was something wrong, they would tell us, right?

We read on and really started to wonder if we should check on this more. I made some phone calls. His doctor didn’t even know a test was ordered. No one knew if the product was safe in our first calls. They called the kidney specialist and called back immediately. If my husband would have taken the drink, it could have likely put him into renal failure and killed him. A new (safe) product was then suggested, and I was off again. The last lady I talked to tried to apologize. She sounded scared for what almost happened because communication broke down.

The second solution worked safely and the exam was carried out, but the examiner submitted an inquiry into what happened. At least they seem to care enough that this does not happen again. I am very thankful that we felt a check about the products safety and pursued the truth. I am also angry and concerned about the people who might not know how to check a product safety paper or know that they should even question the medical professionals entrusted with their lives.

I urge you today to examine what you are putting into your body and question its purpose, its potential benefits vs. risks, and to ask questions along every stage of your care about potential side effects for you and your family. There are no dumb questions, and there are no perfect doctors.

Please read labels carefully and hold people accountable for their care of you. Most importantly, be active–not passive–about your own health and advocate for the protection of those who can’t advocate for themselves.

Technorati Tags: checking product safety, chronic kidney disease, health advocacy, medical accountablilty, medical mishaps, medical mistakes, reading medical labels

You can’t be alive today without hearing daily accounts and scary stories regarding the H1N1 flu “pandemic” that is supposedly pouring down upon us.  To hear governments and media, this is the worst plague on humanity since the bubonic plague.

OK.  Catch a breath here and pay attention.  This H1N1 swine flu is not worse than any other seasonal flu virus that could strike in any other season.  In fact, there is a lot of research indicating that it is indeed a milder form than most.  So what is the big deal?  Someone wants you to be afraid.

Seriously.  If people are afraid, people will do things they normally wouldn’t in the name of supposedly protecting their own lives and the lives of their family.  If the government (someone they think they should trust) says that they can be safe if they take a vaccine, they should take a vaccine.  Vaccines are safe, aren’t they?  Look at the lives they’ve saved!

Look, let me turn you over to an expert on this topic.  You want a natural, medical home remedy for the flu?  Wash your hands.  Stay home if you are sick.  Get rest when you need it.   Boost your immune system with lots of vitamin C, vitamin D, good food, an low stress.  DO NOT TAKE THE FLU SHOT EITHER FOR H1N1 OR FOR THE SEASONAL FLU.  Just say no.  Watch this video and let me know what you think.  Comment and do your own research and make an educated decision for yourself and your family.  Don’t just take the easy way out.  It is your life.

Technorati Tags: H1N1, natural cures for flu, natural remedies for flu, seasonal flu prevention

I am forty years old, work two jobs, have a toddler, and tend to let life get ahead of me. I must confess, anxiety and panic have been a part of my life for most of it. This lens will be an attempt for me to share my struggle and try to find some answers through the haze of chaos.

I have used anti-anxiety meds and even counseling. All have their place, but do not make a lasting impact in my life. As soon as I felt I had made progress, something else happened in my life to start the panic and worry all over again.

If you have a similar life experience with generalized anxiety disorder or related issues, maybe you are looking for answers that will cure, not just treat immediate symptoms.

I am not writing this article as an expert or as a person who has already overcome all the anxiety issues in my life, but as a person on a journey. I must share with you, however, that it looks like I may see the end of the road in sight.

I was looking for some other information for one of my blogs when I came upon an advertisement for PanicAway.  This book promises to lead a person from panic attacks to the ability to live a normal life–without medications or outdated psychotherapy techniques.

Have you ever heard the expression that there is nothing to fear except fear itself? That is the principle on which Joe Barry builds. He says he has found a way for sufferers to stop the panic cycle from repeating itself by helping people not to fear having another panic attack.

Ok…I am not sure how this can really work, but I am sure willing to give it a try myself. I am hoping that by writing this lens I can attract people like myself who are willing to try something new and let us do this social experiment together. I plan to try this Panic Away system and would love to have people who have done it before share their experiences with me. For those who would like to do it with me, let’s support each other. Here is more information about the product below.

Technorati Tags: anxiety, anxiety treatments, panic

It is hard to imagine anyone who has not at some time or another suffered through a bout of acne. Some people suffer more than others, and there are countless medications marketed for acne sufferers. While medications are useful and needed,they can be costly. Many people could benefit from home remedies for acne. These treatments are natural and healthful ways to improve skin health and many times prevent further outbreaks.

Many branches of alternative medicine deal with the treatment of acne, and here are some of the ideas they contribute. Not all are for a home remedy that uses ingredients you would just have sitting around, but are valuable ideas for those seeking for new ideas.

Herbal Medicine experts suggest black currant seed oil or evening primrose oil. They may also recommend echinacea, clendula, tea tree oil, and goldenseal. Drinking a tea of nettles and cleavers tincture can work well too. Stress that triggers acne can be treated with lavender or chamomile tea. If you visit a Chinese herbalist, they might prescribe cnidium seed and honeysuckle flower.

Although most doctors don’t think acne is a food related problem, some recommend that acne sufferers eat foods high in beta carotene, like carrots, pumpkin, cantaloupe, or other yellow-orange fruits and vegetables.

Acne help might be as easy as vitamin supplementation. Nutritionists recommend zinc, as it may help contribute to reducing inflammation and heal damaged skin. Chromium supplements help the body’s ability to break down glucose. Vitamin A reduces sebum and keratin production. Vitamin E is a helpful antioxidant and Vitamin B6 aids in the metabolism of hormones.

These days homeopathic products are increasingly available in local drugstores or natural food markets. If you want homeopathic products for acne, consider the following. For itchy acne, try taking Kali bromatum 6X three times daily until you notice an improvement. If you sweat profusely, and have rough, hard skin, and you frequently suffer ffrom constipation, take 6X Sulfur 3 times daily. If you have pus filled pimples take a 6X dose of Antimonium tartaricum, 3 times daily until you see an improvement.

For the most “home friendly” treatments, consider the following:

1. Apply a single drop of tea tree oil directly to the blemish after cleansing. Tea tree oil is a natural antiseptic. it is gentle to the skin and speeds the healing of blemishes.

2. Use a blend of one part beet juice, three parts carrot juice and two parts water to stimulate the liver and to cleanse the system.

3. If you do yoga, a series of five poses can help increase blood flwo toyour face, flusing away toxins and providing nutrients to your skin. Each day try: standing sun, knee squeeze, seated sun, baby, and cobra.

Not all of these medical home remedies are suited for everyone, and they may or may not work for you. However, the same could be said of expensive and toxic medications. If this is a topic that interested you, these ideas could be of great value. A lot of this information was gathered from a really great website I found on this topic, http://holisticonline.com/Remedies/Acne.htm#HerbalMedicine: Be sure to check them out too.

Technorati Tags: home remedies for acne, homeopathic treatements for acne, natural cures for acne

There are countless diseases and conditions that can be treated by some type of home remedy–from the common cold to arthritis.  While medical home remedies should not be used as exclusively or without trained supervision or professional advice, many remedies can be used to complement other treatments.

Fibromyalgia is a condition I never knew much about–until I was diagnosed with it a little over a year ago.  There is a lot of debate about what causes a chronic pain and fatigue syndrome like fibromyalgia.  Some medical experts even argue whether or not the condition is even real at all, but for those who suffer with pain and muscle weakness and stiffness and never seem to have a break, all the debates seem sort of irrelevant.  

The best results with fibromyalgia treatments are normally reached with a multi-disciplinary approach to treatment.  Some patients respond well to medications, some to physio, massage, accupuncture, or any combination of things.  Each patient has choices to make in their day to day lifestyle as well.

Sometimes medical home remedies are as simple as a change in diet and routine.  With fibromyalgia, there are some “common sense recommendations”as offered by a really useful website that I found at http://holisticonline.com/Remedies/CFS/fib_common_sense.htm .

- Eat a well-balanced diet of 50% raw foods and fresh juices to renew energy and build immunity.

-Eat 4-5 small meals to keep a steady supply of protein and carbs available for proper muscle function.

- Drink plenty of liquids to help flush out toxins.

- Avoid or limit the consumption of green peppers, eggplant, tomatoes, and white potatoes.  These foods contain an ingredient that interferes with enzymes in the muscles,a may cause pain and discomfort.

- Do not eat meat, dairy products, or any other foods that are high in saturated fats. Saturated fats raise cholesterol levels and interfere with circulation. They also promote the inflammatory response and increase pain. Also avoid fried foods, processed foods, shellfish, and white flour products such as bread and pasta.

- Avoid caffeine, alcohol, and sugar. Sugar promotes fatigue, increases pain, and disturbs sleep. If you were taking these as a regular part of your diet, you may experience some discomfort initially for a short period as a result of the withdrawal effect, but after that, you should experience a noticeable improvement in your condition.

- Avoid wheat and brewer’s yeast until your symptoms improve.
 
- Mild daily exercise can be immensely helpful in reducing symptoms of fibromyalgia. A daily walk followed by some gentle stretching exercises is good. If you are new to exercises, start slowly. Do not overexert. If you overexert, it can aggravate your symptoms. Maintain some amount of daily exercise rather than strenuous workout two or three times a week. Once your body is accustomed to regular exercise, your symptoms will improve.

- Remember fibromyalgia is typical of overexertion and stress. Make it a point to give your body sufficient rest. Set aside at least eight hours for sleep each night.

- To help relieve morning stiffness, take a hot shower or bath upon awakening to stimulate circulation and loosen up stiff muscles. Recent research suggests that alternating hot and cold water in the shower may help relieve the pain associated with fibromyalgia.

I must admit, I haven’t tried all of these things myself yet, but as I learn more about medical home remedies, I want to take charge of my own health and see what results come of it.

What about you?  Do you have any remedies for fibromyalgia or similar conditions that have worked for you and would like to share?  Please feel free to comment.

As the most recent local cold and flu bug is sweeping through my community and attacking me and my two year old daughter, I am swiftly going through my regamin of medical home remedies that I usually grab for when trouble comes my way.  Of course, if I had taken the proper precautions BEFORE the virus came searching, I likely wouldn’t be as affected, but here I am again with a cough and stuffy nose.

I think we all know the obvious treatments of plenty of rest and fluids to help our bodies get the strength to fight off the illness.  Perhaps most of us know that chicken soup (or the fats and other mysterious chemical compounds found in chicken broth) actually does help our bodies fight disease.  But are there any tried and true medical home remedies that also work?

For those who are fed up with being sick and have nothing else that seems to work for them, I really would caution you against seeking help with the drug Tamiflu.  Consider this article from USA Today on December 1, 2007:

The FDA has been reviewing reports of abnormal behavior and other brain effects in more than 1,800 children who had taken the flu medicine Tamiflu.

The symptoms have included convulsions, delirium or delusions, and in Japan, five deaths have been reported in children under 16 as a result of neurological or psychiatric problems. Four were fatal falls, and one was a brain infection in a patient with leukemia.

There have also been nine deaths among older teens and adults, attributed to neuropsychiatric problems or brain infections.

Ok, then, I guess any home remedy might be better than this kind of risk.  Let me tell you my favorites.  First of all, I “megadose”on Vitamin C, as much as my stomach can handle.  For me that is about 3,000 mg, maybe two times a day.  My husband can handle a lot more.  People like the DNA genious, Linus Pauling, did extensive research and recommendations that large doses of Vitamin C could do miraculous things to jump start a persons immune system. He even suggested that cancer could be treated and even cured in many cases with doses of Vitamin C.

Next, I take some coloidal silver.  I do not make it myself (bad batches can lead to a conditions that turns your skin blue), but buy a standardized and tested for purity brand that I can get at the local health food store.  The antiviral and antibacterial properties of coloidal silver have been known for decades.  I use it for cuts, sore throats, or anything that needs healing.  For a cold or flu it is normally suggested to take one teaspoon (for an adult) 1-2 times a day.  Don’t worry, it has no taste.  You can use smaller amounts for children.  I have noticed that silver works especially well with my little girl.  Even the worst cold gets knocked out in a couple of days with her when I use silver.

Finally, I use a few drops of hydrogen peroxide–the 3% stuff you buy in the drug store–in each ear.  This is not as weird as it sounds.  Naturopaths actually suggest this to patients.  For some reason the peroxide in the ear migrates to where the cold virus sits, like in the back of the throat, and kills it off.  It can be a weird experience and feel cold and even have you hear some pops and sizzles, but that is the peroxide doing its work.  It makes me feel better right away, and helps shorten the time of symptoms.

You can, of course, use Vitamin C, silver, and peroxide as a preventive measure before symptoms show up during cold season.  Along with these ideas, you can always find your best medical home remedies to be ones of prevention. It is suggested for maximum health to eliminate sugar from your diet.  Get the right amount of sleep, eat foods like garlic, manage stress, wash your hands regularly, exercise, and boost immunity with things like cod liver oil and probiotics.

I know that I often get lazy in the area of prevention and pay for it later.  I would love to hear from you about your ideas and your own medical home remedies.  For now, however, I think I will try some more Vitamin C and get to bed early.

Technorati Tags: medical home remedies for colds

In my early thirties I set off on an adventure to teach English overseas in Taiwan. I was excited to teach, and very happy that my job provided me with coveted medical benefits that I was unable to afford in my home country. I took the opportunity to get everything checked out. I expected I would be found healthy and I could go on living my life the way I always had. This time, however, my life was about to take a dramatic turn.

I received a notice that I had been diagnosed with a carcinoma in situ of my cervix. Although only cervical pre-cancer, the Taiwanese doctors took immediate action and performed a surgical procedure to try and remove the damaged cells.

Fast forwarding a few months and back home again, conventional medicine found that there were still cancerous cells hanging around. The only thing they could do was track my case and if things started to spread, give me another surgery. For some reason, that did not sound like a good option to me. I sought out naturopathic treatments, and those treatments worked. While this was done under the care of a certified naturopath, many of the treatments she offered would be considered medical home remedies.

She examined my diet and my life, and had me make changes so that my body would be able to resist cancer in the future. At the end of her cycle of alternative treatments in her office and medical home treatments, I was cured. There have been no signs of of cancerous cells for over 7 years, and I have not had to have any more surgery.

This is just one example from my life, of course. I could list many personal experiences that support the idea that medical home remedies have worked better than conventional medical techniques. What if you could treat acne? Lower blood pressure? Cure the common cold? These topics are of great interest to millions of people and billions of dollars are spent on research to treat these conditions. Could a treatment be as effective if it costs pennies or can be easily and safely administered at home? These are questions that you will have to research for yourself, but I want to help you get there. I do not have to be convinced–what will it take to convince you of the value of medical home remedies? Let’s talk. Let me know what you think. Share your experiences with me and everyone else.

Technorati Tags: medical home remedies