Natural Methods to Protect Yourself From The Sun

Are you using sunscreen when you go out of the house? You must! After all, exposure to the sun is a big contributor to dark spots, wrinkles, and premature aging. The question is, is your sunscreen really protecting you from the sun or is it doing you more harm than good?

If you are using a chemically-formulated sunscreen, then you are not doing your skin any favor at all. Why? Because among the active ingredients that compose chemically-formulated sunscreens are:

• PABA, which is known to be both a mutagen and carcinogen that damages the human cell DNA,
• Benzophenone, which absorbs ultraviolet light but breaks down into free radicals causing skin aging and/or cancer, and
• Triethanolamine, a known carcinogen when combined with nitrites

Most sunscreens also contain SLS,DEA, parabens, propylene glycol, and alcohol which are toxic to the body.

When choosing a sunscreen product, therefore, look for one with 100% natural ingredients, such as shea butter, cocoa butter, virgin coconut oil, almond oil, jasmine oil, zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, and natural extracts. Such a product guarantees 100% protection from the sun without compromising your health in the process.

Struma

Struma, also popularly known as Goiter is a non-cancerous enlargement of the thyroid gland. It is often seen as a swelling in the neck.

The 3 types of Struma are:

• Hyperthyroid
• Euthyroid
• Hypothyroid

Symptoms of Struma

Initial symptoms for Struma include gradual emotional distress, followed by depression, irritability and loss of concentration.

The swelling of the thyroid gland has nothing to do with the severity of this illness.

Causes of Struma

Iodine deficiency is the most common cause of Struma. When the thyroid gland failed to make a synthesis of triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) hormones due to lack of iodine, the pituitary gland produces thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), which acts as a substitute for iodine, it enlarges the thyroid gland in return.

Excessive consumption of raw or denatured foods will increase the risk of getting Struma.

Home Remedies / Treatent for Struma

Iodine: Take liberal amount of iodine in its organic form. It can be found on carrots, citrus fruits, egg yolks, garlic, guava, lettuce, onion, pineapple, seafoods, strawberry, tomatoes, watercress and whole grain rice.

Watercress: Make a paste out of watercress and apply it on the swelled part regularly.

Swamp cabbage: Mix 1 teaspoon of swamp cabbage juice with almond tea. Give it once or twice daily. It is an effective treatment of expothalmic Struma and myxodema, a condition that results in thyroid hormone deficiency.

Kachnar: Take 30 ml of kachnar bark decoction twice a day on an empty stomach.

Dandelion: Smear a small amount of warm ghee in dandelion leaves. Bind it in the swelling part for 2 weeks to relieve any discomfort.

Flex seed: Ground flex seeds and boil it in water. Apply on affected area. Flex leaves can also be used to bind the swelling part.

Diets Suggestion for person with Struma

Fruit Juice Diet: Take plenty of apple, grape, orange and pineapple juices every 2 or 3 hours for 5 days.

Fruit and Milk Diet: After the fruit juice diet, eat plenty of succulent fruits 3 times a day while drinking a glass of milk. Do this every 5 hours.

Avoid alcoholic drinks, coffee and tea.

Refrain from eating food products that contains white flour, white sugar and too much food preservatives. Furthermore, avoid condiments, and fried and greasy foods.

Other suggestions for person with Struma

Cleanse the bowels using lukewarm water for the first 5 days of contracting goiter.

Take plenty of rest. Do a whole day bed rest once a week for the first 2 months of treatment.

Take plenty of physical exercises after the symptoms have subsided.

Swine Flu

With the global scare of now popular Swine influenza or also called as Swine Flu. It is caused by any virus of the family Orthomyxoviridae. This kind of virus is endemic to pigs or popularly known as Swine. This kind of strain is also known as Swine Iinfluenza Virus (SIV).

Classification of Influenza Virus:

• Influenzavirus A, which is common
• Influenzavirus C , which is rare
• Influenzavirus B which is not reported in swine

All three clades, Influenzavirus A, B, and C, are also endemic in humans.

Causes of Swine Flu

Exposure to swine with known illness of Swine Flu, this includes a person who works in swine industry. Once a person has been exposed to swine flu, the virus mutates then it allows it to pass between humans. It is believed that these strain now on outbreak in many countries including Mexico and United States.

Symptoms of Swine Flu

The symptoms of swine flu if human is infected will be like similar to those of influenza illness.

These includes, chilling, fever, headache, and extreme muscular pains. The nose and throat are inflamed, and this may extend down to the windpipe of the lungs that could further result into cough, runny nose, sore throat and watery eyes.

For mild cases of fever, the temperature may rise from 39ºC (102ºF) – 40ºC (104ºF). Fatigue and general body weakness may persist for several weeks.

Home Remedies / Treatment for Swine Flu

Note: it is advised to report all cases of Swine flu with the nearest authorities for them to decide what are the best action can be done to avoid possible outbreak since the WHO is now on the brink of calling Swine Flu pandemic. The listed home remedies are just an aid and an initial action to address swine flu symptoms. Always ask your General Practitioners advice.

Long Pepper: Mix ½ teaspoon of long pepper powder with 2 teaspoons of honey and ½ teaspoon of ginger juice. Take it 3 times a day during the initial stages of flu. It can help avoid further complications in the larynx and the bronchial tube.

Garlic: Consume liberal amount of garlic. It is an effective antiseptic against flu.

Turmeric: Mix 1 teaspoon of turmeric powder in a cup of milk. Take it 3 times a day. This will prevent further complications and stimulates liver activity.

Mix equal parts of onion juice and honey. Take 3-4 teaspoons of this mixture everyday.

Ginger: Mix 1 teaspoon of ginger juice, 1 cup of fenugreek decoction and few drops of honey for flavoring. It is a excellent diaphoretic that increases perspiration and lowers down the fever. To make a fenugreek decoction, simply boil 1 tablespoon of fenugreek seeds in 1 liter water until it lowers by 1/3.

Grapefruit: Consume moderate to liberal amount of grapefruit for it tones up the body’s system and digestive tract.

Basil leaves: Boil 1 gm of basil leaves and some ginger in 1 liter water. Wait until the water lowers to a half. Drink as tea when necessary.

Finger Millet: Burn some flour of ginger millet and inhale its fumes. It will help stimulate blood circulation in the nasal mucosa and gets rid of stuffy nose.

Diets Suggestions for People infected with Swine Flu

Abstain from solid foods during the acute stages of Swine Flu. For the first 3-5 days of the treatment, the patient should undergo an exclusive fruit and vegetable juice diet diluted in water on a 50:50 proportion, might also change depends if the condition is extreme.

Follow with an exclusive fruit diet for the next 2-3 days after the fever subsided. Follow again with a fruit and milk diet for the next 2-3 days.

Eat plenty of fresh fruits and raw vegetables afterwards.

Avoid alcoholic drinks, coffee, tea, as well as cheese, potatoes, rice, stale, spices and condiments, milk, seasoned meats and all refine, processed foods.

Other suggestions for Swine Flu

Warm water enema: Administer a warm water enema everyday for the first 3-5 days of the treatment.

Cold packs: Soak a large piece of linen material in cold water. Squeeze it, and then wrap it around the body and legs of the patient. Cover completely with a blanket. Leave for 1 hour. Remove the pack then sponge the body using lukewarm water. Repeat application several times a day to reduce temperature. Let the patient stay in bed until complete recovery.