Natural, Herbal Sleep Remedies- Herbal Cures

Good deep sleep is vital to maintain a healthy body.  Unfortunately, many people are unable to sleep at nights and if they do, it is not restful deep sleep. 
Deep sleep is needed for rejuvenating the many systems of our bodies.  In addition, sleepless nights can be miserable for the individual as well as other members of the household.  In this article, we will discuss a few Natural, Herbal Sleep Remedies which are alternatives for sleep enhancement things rather than chemical medications.

Sleep medications can cause many undesirable side effects.  It is therefore to one’s benefit to find herbal sleep remedies for this condition.  There are herbs that have been proven to promote restful, deep sleep. Valerian Root, chamomile, catnip, passionflower, hops, and kava are some of the known herbs that are associated with helping to acquire good sleep.


Chamomile tea has been used to induce sleep for thousands of years.  Chamomile is considered by the FDA to be safe and usually has no side effects.  To brew this tea, use two or three chamomile tea bags.  Pour in sufficient hot water in the teapot, and then put the lid on to keep the oils in the water.  By doing this you will get the medicinal effects of the tea.  Steep for 5-10 minutes.  Drink at bedtime.  Don’t use chamomile if you are pregnant or breastfeeding since it’s the effect on babies is not yet known.  In the summer you can make ice-cubes of the tea and add to your bedtime tea so it’s cool.  Chamomile ice cubes will also relieve stomach discomfort and cool you down in addition.  Add 1 quart of chamomile tea to a bathtub of warm water before bedtime.  This will calm your nerves and induce sleep.


Valerian Root has been used as an anti-anxiety treatment for over 2,000 years.  It improves your quality of sleep and helps sleep come more quickly.  Valerian becomes more effective over time, so take it nightly.  Valerian capsules are better to take because of the herbs unpleasant smell.  Valerian root is non-addictive and does not leave the user with a “hangover” feeling the next day.

Hops help to calm the mind and relax the body and are often used in herbal sleep pillows.  You can make your own pillow or learn how to make one.  Passionflower works with the body to create balance, for overwork, anxiety, drugs, alcohol, and pain-related sleeplessness.  There are supplements on the market that are natural and do work, usually made of the ingredients mentioned. 

Catnip is a perennial herb of the mint family. It contains a substance called nepetalactone which is similar in its’ chemical structure to valepotriates, the sedative principles of valerian root.  This is the reason why a cup of hot catnip tea taken at bedtime ensures a good nights sleep.  To make yourself a nice nightcap, bring 1-1/2 cups of water to a boil.  Remove from heat and add 1tsp of the fresh cut herb or 1 tsp of dried catnip.  Let it steep for 20 minutes until lukewarm, before drinking.  Honey may be added if desired.  Catnip can sometimes be found in capsule form at Health Food stores.


Kava has been found by some researchers to have a ‘tranquil’ effect on the central nervous system. It has been reported that the pyrones in Kava help to reduce anxiety and fatigue as well as relieve twitching heart muscles and calming hysteria. The best brand of kava can be purchased in health food stores under the Natures Way logo. An average of 2 capsules twice daily (late morning and late afternoon) on an empty stomach is recommended.  The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is investigating whether supplements containing kava are linked with toxic liver damage.  Medical advice should be sought before proceeding with this supplement.

Read More

5 Home Remedies For A Cough

Today I am writing about home remedies for cough. Coughing is one of the most common sicknesses people have been experiencing since almost the beginning of mankind. From the infants, adolescents and even the elderly, except that they had to treat their cough in one way or another. Of course, if you live in the city or urban areas of your place, usually you would opt to take medicines recommended by your doctor. However, for some who cannot afford to buy such, they would always turn back to the home remedies for cough.

1. According to research, Grapes are one of the most common fruits that can help you cure cough. The fruit is said to possess expectorant characteristics. It too enables the lungs to clear up easily as well as gives the person breathing relief. It is a recommendation that you drink around one cup of grape juice together with a teaspoonful of honey three times a day to cure the cough. Drinking carrot juice as well as sucking on a dry slice of ginger is also another one of our great home remedies for cough.

2. In addition, the ivy leaf syrup proves that it can cure 92% of the patients with bronchitis. Thyme is yet another one that you can use to treat your cough. It helps loosen phlegm that sometimes gets caught in your airways. 

Thyme too has thymol that has an antimicrobial characteristic. Some studies suggest that taking honey with lemon also cures cough. 

3. You can also use elderberry for your coughing problems. The aforementioned shrub contains antioxidants that help in stimulating the immune system of a person. In addition, it also has anthocyanins that reduce the inflammation that can cause blockage of the airways.

4. Essential Oils are of great help in relieving Cough. Since many of Essential oils contain antibacterial and antiviral compounds.  Few oils help to get rid of phlegm and relax the muscles of your respiratory tract. Eucalyptus and peppermint and lemon oil are the best essential oils for cough. 

Eucalyptus oil contains cinelose, which is a natural antiseptic and good expectorant. It helps to relieve mucus and expels phlegm easily. Homemade vapor rub- use eucalyptus oil and peppermint oil 4 drops each and apply two drops on your chest and back of your neck. This is one of the best Home Remedy for a cough.

5.   It does not really matter whether you choose the modern way or one of our own home remedies for cough. The important thing here is that you are able to handle such illnesses without being too paranoid about things. You too have to realize that when modern medicine fails to give you results, you can always go back to the traditional way of curing. You have to understand that people have their own reasons behind each decision that they make when it comes to their health. Just try to respect it and make sure that you back them up. 

When things do not go the way they plan it to be, comfort them and give them encouragement to try another one. There is no use in contemplating whether you spent tons of money. You just have to keep in mind that you have to get well soon with Home Remedies For A Cough

If you like this article, please share and forward, so that others can also read this information.

Recommended reading for you -

Lose weight fast naturally -home remedies

Diarrhea: Causes Symptoms and Natural Treatments

Natural Remedies for Muscle  Cramps / Spasms

Read More

The Best Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) Remedies

Are you worried that you’re experiencing Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) symptoms? In fact, you just need to know the signs to help catch a potential infection later on. Either way, you’ll want to know not only what urinary tract infection symptoms are, but how best to treat them. Fortunately, that’s exactly what this article will show you.

Your urinary tract is a system in the body, comprised of the following organs: the kidneys, the bladder, the ureters, and the urethra. Whether you are a man or a woman, you have a urinary tract composed of those organs, but for some reason, women are more likely to develop a urinary infection than men. This may be the result of anatomical differences, where bacteria can more easily reach the bladder than in men, then multiply in the urinary tract.

Briefly, let’s go over what each part’s function is. The kidneys are two small organs at the back of the body near the base of the spine, and they take excess water and waste from the blood to convert into the urine. The ureters are two tubes, one from each kidney, that take urine from the kidneys to the bladder. The bladder is a small sac that collects and stores urine and can be voluntarily contracted to excrete urine as waste. Finally, urine passes through the urethra, which is the small tube that connects the bladder with the outside of the body, located either in the penis or above the vaginal opening, depending on gender.

Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) symptoms :

Now, on to urinary tract infection symptoms you might experience. In case you have a urinary tract infection,  you’ll likely have the following symptoms-

• Frequent Urination
• Cloudy or Dark urine
• Burning sensation, often accompanied by little urine
• Pain in the Pelvic region
• The feeling of incomplete bladder emptying
• Urine having a strong odor

What this means is, you’ll feel the need to urinate even when you don’t actually have much urine to expel. If you feel pain when you urinate, and you feel the need to urinate frequently (more than six times per day), you should go to the doctor. If you found blood in your urine, it is a strong indication and also a serious symptom.

Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) Treatment:

To treat an infection, your doctor probably prescribes an antibiotic for you. Often, this will clear it right up. However, you should know that antibiotics can fail if the bacteria become resistant. Sometimes, some women can get urinary tract infections from sex. A natural cure can help eliminate the occurrence of infection, and even better, it can do so at a fraction of the price of diagnosis and the purchase of prescription drugs. If you have Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) symptoms or are simply trying to avoid them, you should look out for natural cures like some of below methods-

1. Drink Plenty of Fluids
2. Take Vitamin C foods
Vitamin C mainly available in Citrus fruits (Oranges), grapefruit, Red peppers, Kiwi fruit.
3. Take Probiotics
 Probiotics naturally available in yogurt (curd), some of the fermented foods like Kombucha, kimchi, etc
4. Healthy practices
Practicing healthy routines like preventing holding urine for too long, using hygienic toilets.

If you like this article, please share and forward, so that others can also read this information.

Recommended reading -

Lose weight fast naturally -home remedies

Diarrhea: Causes Symptoms and Natural Treatments

Natural Remedies for Muscle  Cramps / Spasms

Read More

Sinusitis (Sinus Infection): Symptoms, Causes & Natural Treatments

 

One of the most uncomfortable and annoying conditions you can have is sinusitis (also called a sinus infection). It is basically the inflammation of the sinuses and nasal passages. If you aren’t sure exactly where your sinuses are, grab a bottle of horseradish and have a few bites of spoonfuls (if you do this, your sinuses might sting). The general location is above the nose around the eyes and in the temples. Generally, you’ll be able to feel pain or uncomfortable pressure in your cheeks, around your eyes, in your temples or head, etc.

Natural Treatments for Sinusitis      

If you have sinusitis, you might also have a cough, a fever, worse breath than usual and nasal congestion with a lot of thick mucus. You’ll either have acute sinusitis, which is a sudden flare-up, or chronic, which is the long-term type that most people with it experience. The basic science behind a sinus infection is that bacteria that would normally not get into your sinuses somehow succeeded and now have attached to the lining of your sinuses.

Acute sinusitis

Acute sinusitis usually lasts no more than eight weeks and doesn’t show up more than three times per year. Normally, medications are needed to treat the infection, and they are usually effective. What’s key to note about acute sinus infections is that they are short, so treatment can make it go away for a while. Unfortunately, those with chronic sinusitis will continue to feel it long after their acute peers have been able to relax.

Symptoms:

Some of the common symptoms of Sinus infection are include following indications-

• Frontal headaches
• Nasal stuffiness or nasal congestion
• Coughing
• Fever
• Bad breath
• Fatigue
• Nasal discharge (discolored - greenish in color)
• Tenderness of the face

Treatment of sinusitis: 

Treatment of sinusitis is all about the relief of pressure, the drainage of mucus, the reduction of swelling in the sinuses, the eradication of any remaining infection, and the avoidance of scarring, which would potentially cause permanent damage to the tissues in the nose and mouth. To this end, doctors frequently prescribe antibiotics to kill the bacteria. Patients also will take decongestants to allow them to breathe easier. They’ll also want to take painkillers, and they’ll want to take corticosteroids, which help to clear passages by reducing inflammation.

Two-thirds of people with acute sinusitis improve without antibiotic treatment, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you should gamble about your unique position. It’s important whenever you have a major illness or physical setback of some sort, that you see a doctor and get a professional opinion on what you should do. One important thing to remember is to finish all your antibiotics and use as your doctor prescribed, otherwise you could end up with resistant bacteria and no antibiotics that work.

Whenever possible, it is a good idea to deal with problems without the use of powerful drugs or dangerous surgeries. This is because they often come with major side effects and other issues that you don’t want to risk having at any point. Whenever you are faced with the option of a prescription drug or a natural cure, go for the natural cure. When it comes to sinusitis, there are a number of great natural ways to treat it, and you should look into them before you give in to taking a bunch of drugs.

Natural Remedies for Sinusitis:

1. Steam inhalation-

Steam inhalation is an easy method to do at home. Keep a boiling water vessel down and bend over it to inhale its steam. Cover your head with a towel then breathe well. This method opens up the nasal passages and relieves sinus pressure. 

2. Saline nasal spray - 

image source wikipedia.org

Saline nasal solution is nothing but a mixture of clean water, salt, and baking soda. 

Inhalation of saline solution will help to relieve a blocked nose.  

3. Neti pot -  

Using Neti pot helps people to keep the mucous membrane moist and relieve pressure in the sinuses. In this method, clean water will run through one nostril to nostril. Always use sterile water or boiled cool water for this. Neti pots are available on Amazon with different material and different sizes.

4. Acupressure -

Acupressure includes applying pressure to specific points on our body.  This may ease some symptoms.

5. Hydration-  

 It is advised to keep the mucous membranes in the sinuses moist by drinking enough of fluids/water. 

The above are a few suggestions to follow during a sinus infection. Some methods may not work for some people but try the other method to get relief.

If you like this article, please share and forward, so that others can also read this information.

Recommended reading -

Lose weight fast naturally -home remedies

Diarrhea: Causes Symptoms and Natural Treatments

Natural Remedies for Muscle  Cramps / Spasms

Read More

Fitness Training And Fitness Tips For The Body & Mind

Fitness Training And Fitness Tips For The Body & Mind

Mental Fitness Tips

The other claim, however, that exercise stimulates activity in the frontal lobes of the brain are true. In tests conducted with animals, it has been found that physical activity increases levels of serotonin, dopamine, and also norepinephrine.

All of these chemicals are your body’s natural ‘mood enhancers’ and some are even natural analgesics, or rather, painkillers. So the Zoloft you may take every morning when you wake up might easily be replaced by exercise, or just by staying fit, as doing these things help to keep those levels of ‘happy chemicals’ in your brain up to par. There are also other chemicals that are released when we exercise, such as the “brain-derived neurotrophic factor” (BDNF), which are also thought to play a part in our mood.

Staying fit also helps you in more obvious ways as well. Its impact on your physical well-being is just as important as your mental health, even if it is a little bit farther into the future. Gaining lots of weight, and eventually getting ‘out of shape’ puts tremendous stress on the body. Excessive weight, or obesity, has been linked to many different diseases such as Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and even certain types of cancer. Unfortunately, these things can, most of the time, be prevented very easily with a proper diet and exercise. Sometimes though, it is unpreventable. Such as when it is linked to certain other diseases, side effects from medicine you may be taking, or just plain genetics. The key is though when you can prevent it, to do so.

Diet is another extremely important factor when talking about staying physically fit, however, it is something that can easily be overlooked. A poor diet has been related to many different problems including obesity, heart disease, and even some other things that would surely surprise you such as depression and infertility. Just like how the exercise you may or may not get greatly impacts your mental health, so does the diet. All the great chemicals in our brain that keep us happy such as dopamine and serotonin have to be made somehow. Our brain manufactures these things by processing different chemicals out of the food that we eat.

Also, we have to take into consideration that just as how we wouldn’t go around taking random pills from people’s houses and ingesting them, we shouldn’t be eating just any food. Just as how the medicine we take greatly affects our body, so does food. That tasty burger from the local fast food place might be quick and easy, and even smell great, but you can be sure that your body doesn’t appreciate all of that grease and fat. Some fat is necessary for you to function. The membrane that holds together every single cell within your body is made from fat. If you never ate any fat your fingernails would stop growing, all of your hair would fall out and even more! So obviously just cutting certain things out completely is not a good idea. The thing to remember is not to just get rid of things, but make sure that your diet is balanced and you get everything your body needs from the food that you eat.

Spiritual Fitness Tips

One of the most obscure, and rarely mentioned, impacts of physical fitness is how it can affect our spiritual well being. Now, my spiritual health, it must be pointed out that these words do not ascertain to merely one religion. The important point to remember is that how we feel spiritually can greatly impact our physical well-being, but also vice-versa. Depression has been known to be caused by losing faith in one’s religion, and depression can cause many problems by itself. Things can also work the other way, as we’ve already seen. If a person stays fit and active, their outlook on life will be dramatically increased. Also, maintaining an unhealthy diet also impacts our spiritual state. Gluttony is something that is frowned upon in just about every religion. It’s near impossible to feel comfortable with your spirituality if you’re not physically fit.

Even though being the skinniest one around may only seem like an intricate fashion statement, it really does go beyond aesthetics. Being physically fit is not only extremely beneficial to your body, but it is also just as pertinent to your mental and spiritual health. Even though diet and exercise are not the ‘magic cure’, or the end all be all, for staying in tip-top shape, it can greatly increase your length and quality of life. It can help to keep you off of expensive pills from your doctor such as anti-depressants or medicines for your high cholesterol. As already mentioned, staying physically fit will not cure all of your problems, but every little bit helps, and sometimes, it can exponentially increase the enjoyment you receive from life.

Read More