11 Natural Remedies for Scrapes & Bruises

Scrapes and bruises are a part of everyday life - especially in the summer with all the outdoor activities going on. Some of us, it seems, whether we’re accident prone or adventurous or maybe a little bit of both, get scraped up daily.  While there are many handy over-the-counter remedies to clean cuts, reduce swelling, prevent infection and promote healing, there are twice as many natural remedies which accomplish the same thing - without all the synthetic chemicals.  Nature really does take good care of us! 

Let’s look at some natural remedies for scrapes and bruises:*

1. Witch hazel. This plant is actually a deciduous shrub and the bark and leaves are an astringent which can be used to disinfect and to clean skin.  It’s also commonly used to treat sore muscles and swollen tissue. 

Aloe vera (Photo credit: olgaberrios)

2. Aloe vera is a common treatment for sunburns and rashes. A succulent plant grown in warm, tropical climates, it protects and moisturizes the skin - and is also great for treating burns.

3. Arnica Gel, which comes from a perennial in the sunflower family, is excellent for treating muscle aches and bruising, as well as arthritis pain. 

4. Raw garlic.  Despite the very unique and strong aroma, garlic cloves can be used as an antiseptic to disinfect cuts and scrapes.

5. Comfrey, a perennial flower, is used to treat sprains, strains, bruises and broken bones.  The roots of the flower are ground into a poultice and placed on the injured area.

6. Yarrow leaves, when dried and ground into a powder, can be uses to disinfect cuts and scrapes and to stop bleeding.

7. Lavender essential oil, when combined and diluted by jojoba oil or olive oil, relieves pain, burns and bee stings. 

8. Tea tree essential oil, when diluted with jojoba or olive oil, is an antiseptic and antibiotic.  It is great for cleaning minor cuts. 

Thyme. (Photo credit: Vietnam Plants & The USA. plants)

9. Thyme essential oil, when diluted with a base oil like olive or jojoba has both antimicrobial and antiseptic properties.  Use it to clean minor cuts and scrapes and to soothe bruised and sore muscles.

10. Castor oil can be used to treat bruising and reduce swelling. 

11. Calendula oil is used to soothe rashes and minor scrapes. 

In addition to these 11 natural remedies, homeopathic remedies can be designed to treat swelling and bruising, and flower essences can be used to reduce stress and alleviate shock symptoms.  Mother Nature has provided you with a number of gentle and safe first aid remedies.  Create your natural first aid kit today and take advantage of all the healing power that nature has to offer!

* Note: Information provided above should not be considered medical advice. You should consult a qualified medical professional before using any natural remedy.

9 Healthy Cholesterol-Lowering Foods

If you are like many who have been diagnosed with high cholesterol*, you'd like to control the condition with diet before turning to medications. This is a wise approach. There are, in fact, quite a few foods that can help in this regard. Here is a list of some of them, and some suggestions of how to prepare them.

1. Oat bran - While it's not a magic bullet and has been the subject of a lot of hype, oat bran is a high-fiber food that helps lower cholesterol. Oat bran is not only high in fiber, but it also contains beta-glucans which are the keys to its cholesterol-lowering ability. Add it to cereals and homemade breads and muffins.

Barley (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

2. Barley - Another high-fiber food, barley is rich in beta-glucans as well. In fact, it has as much as three times the amount of beta-glucan as oat bran. Barley is great in soups and stews, and can also be cooked as a breakfast cereal.

3. Beans - Once again, the combination of high fiber and beta-glucans comes together, this time in the humble bean. Beans also contain lecithin, which is a cholesterol-lowering nutrient. Great in chili, stews, soups, and Mexican dishes.

4. Garlic and onion - It seems there are few conditions that garlic can't help. In Europe, garlic is "officially" approved as a treatment for high cholesterol. A clove of garlic a day is said to lower cholesterol by as much as 15 percent. Half an onion a day has a similar effect. Add it to just about anything for a flavor and health kick!

5. Sesame seeds - These tasty little seeds are not the only foods with phytosterols - all plant foods have phytosterols to some degree - but they are unusually high in these compounds. Phytosterols are absorbed into the blood, pushing cholesterol out of the way, so to speak. These can be added to baked goods, homemade crackers, and Asian dishes.

6. Lettuce - Also fairly high in phytosterols, leafy green lettuce is a good food for lowering cholesterol.

Avocados (Photo credit: barron)

7. Avocado - Ironically, the high-fat avocado has been shown to help lower cholesterol. It is especially effective when combined with olive oil in the diet.

8. Carrots - Carrots are high in pectin, which is a source of fiber that is implicated in lowering cholesterol. Eat a carrot or two a day.

9. Apples -Apples are also high in pectin. An apple a day...as they say!

As you consider how to incorporate these foods into your diet, here are some suggestions.

Try a bean and barley soup flavored with lots of onion and garlic. Make oat bran muffins for breakfast, and incorporate oat bran into homemade breads. Sesame seeds can also be added to baked goods, and tahini, a sesame seed paste, is a good way to get a lot of this seed into your diet. Try a salad with lettuce, carrots,  and avocado with an olive oil-based dressing.


* Note: These are good, healthy, whole foods, and eating them is a good thing. However, remember that high cholesterol is a symptom, not a disease! Cholesterol is produced by the body in an attempt to heal damage caused by inflammation, so if you have high cholesterol, something is wrong in your body, and you need to take steps to address the underlying issue - not just lower your cholesterol. Consult a doctor who is well-versed in natural health, and won't just prescribe a drug in order to mask the symptoms, but who will take the time to find out what is causing the high cholesterol issue, and help you take appropriate steps to help your body heal.

Superfoods That Fight Depression & Improve Mood

We’ve all had the blues once in while. But when they happen on a more frequent basis, it becomes cause for concern. But there are ways to adjust your diet to help stabilize your mood. It’s imperative to eat meals at regular intervals in order to keep your serotonin levels in check, a chemical in the brain that has a calming effect. Good nutrition is your best defense for managing depression, without resorting to potentially toxic drugs.

 Healthy foods for your brain & mood. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Carbohydrates are linked to serotonin production and lack of carbohydrates may cause changes in your mood. Here are more food ideas to help you combat depression and kick those blues.

Rich in omega-3 fatty acids, salmon and mackerel are always a great choice for dinner. Omega-3 fatty acids also help prevent heart disease and stroke and may help prevent some cancers. Plus, salmon contains selenium, an important antioxidant mineral. Be sure to choose wild salmon at the grocery store or local fish market, since it contains more omegas than farmed, or Atlantic, salmon.

A recent study indicated that people who suffer from depression also have lower levels of the antioxidant vitamin E. Olive oil, walnut oil, and other healthy fats and oils tend to have high vitamin E content.

Dark green vegetables like spinach and peas are high in folate, a key player in the production of serotonin. They’re also an excellent source of vitamin C and fiber. Fresh is always the best option, as canned versions tend to have lower nutritional value. Legumes are also high in folate and protein and low in fat, and are an excellent option for those who are vegetarian or on meat-restricted diets.

More good mood foods. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Chickpeas are rich in fiber, iron, and vitamin E. For a simple snack, combine a can of drained and rinsed chickpeas with some minced garlic, fresh lemon juice, and olive or canola oil in your blender or food processor. Add salt, pepper and other spices as you wish. The resulting hummus makes a healthy and hearty vegetable dip.

Chicken and turkey are both rich in vitamin B6, which plays a role in serotonin production in the body. They are both a good source of selenium and other vitamins and minerals, too. You should always eat free-range, pasture-raised poultry to support the health of the planet, and minimize antibiotics and other toxins in your diet.

And please, if you’ve been dealing with the symptoms of depression for a while, contact your doctor to discuss available treatment options and find a natural and healthy solution that works for you.

Video - Gentle Home Detox Program

Here is a short video detailing a simple and gentle detox method which can help you cleanse your liver and gall bladder, as well as your lymph system. This easy method doesn't require you to take a lot of weird supplements, and it can be done with just a couple of readily available ingredients you can find at just about any supermarket.

(Be sure to consult your heathcare practitioner before attempting this or any other detox or cleanse.)

Simple Home Detox Program
This simple home detox program is for people who are relatively healthy. If you are very toxic, you will start to feel sick after a few days, in which case stop the detox program because you are detoxifying too quickly. I...


Here are the details on this detox method:

Simple Detox Program:

When you get up in the morning drink:

2 Tbsp organic olive oil with juice of 1/2 fresh lemon

An hour later drink a Detox Tea or take a Milk Thistle capsule

You can then eat a healthy breakfast.

Schedule:
* Detox Program for 10 days
* Stop for 5 days
* Repeat these two steps

Note: This detox program is gentle and gradual. You can easily do this gentle detox program for at least 3 to 6 months.