Aromatherapy and the Use of Hot and Cold Compresses as a Natural Cure

Hot and cold compresses have been used for a long time as a natural cure but when you add essential oils to the mixture it’s even better. Cold compresses are best used when the injury or pain is new. Hot compresses are best used when the injury or pain is older or has been ongoing.

The materials you will need to create either compress include:

· A cotton cloth such as a towel, hand towel or washcloth, depending on the size of the area you wish to cover.

· A bowl of water large enough to accommodate the cloth that you will need to soak in it.

· Some plastic wrap, cling wrap, saran wrap, or whatever name you use for the sticky plastic wrap that comes in a roll to cover food containers or wrap sandwiches or other food items.

· The essential oil you’ve determined appropriate for the application.

How to Prepare a Cold Compress

To prepare a cold compress, use refrigerator cold water, place it in a bowel, add several drops of the appropriate essential oil. Insert the clean cotton cloth and soak up the water, wring out the cloth back into the bowel. Apply the cloth to the injured area. You may want to wrap a loose bandage or gauze to hold the compress in place if it wants to slip away. Then apply a layer of plastic wrap over the top and another towel over the top of that. This will hold the cold in longer. When the compress reaches body temperature, repeat if necessary. The body will absorb the essential oils through the skin and dispatch them to the affected area.

How to Prepare a Hot Compress

Preparing a hot compress is similar to a cold compress but you are using warm, not boiling water instead. You want the water warmer than body temperature. Same procedure as above applies. When the compress cools to less than body temperature, reapply as necessary.

Some recommended essential oils for particular compress natural cure uses are:
For Cold Compresses:
“Insect Bites – using 3-4 drops of Lavender and 1-3 drops of Eucalyptus globulus in your bowl. Get cloth wet, wring and apply directly over the bug bite.
Headaches – depending on the type and cause of the headache you may want to use Lavender or other essential oils. Peppermint & Eucalyptus globulus helps with sinus type headaches. Do not allow any water to drip into your eyes as this will burn. Make sure your cloth is wrung out thoroughly.
If you do get a little essential oil in your eyes - flush with plenty of cool water and seek medical attention if necessary.

Sprains and Strains - Helichrysum, Peppermint and Eucalyptus globulus – for the first 24 hours after a sprain and strain. Apply as often as needed. Then after 24-48 hours you may want to switch to HOT Compresses.”1
For Hot Compresses
“Chest congestion – Use any essential oil you feel has helped you in the past – Eucalyptus globulus, Pure Cleansing blend, Respiratory Blend, Easy Breathe Blend. Apply the Warm compress to your chest and then cover with a Dry cloth to protect your clothing while you rest. This will help to keep the warmth next to your skin. Once the cloth has cooled though – either reapply with another warm compress cloth or simply remove.
Nasal congestion – this time drape the cloth over your nose and mouth so you can inhale the essential oils. The extra moisture helps to relieve congestion and should get the mucous flowing. Blends like Easy Breathe Blend or just plain Peppermint or Eucalyptus globulus often times work the best.
Do not use this method with small children (under 2 years) and especially do not use Peppermint or Eucalyptus globulus (these have been known to cause pharyngeal spasm and could cause respiratory distress in babies).”1

References

Keay, Penny. "A Wet Compress – it’s a Wonderful way to Use Essential oils ." birchhillhappenings.com. 2010. http://birchhillhappenings.com/aromatip/8410print.htm (accessed April 11, 2012).

A Natural Home Cure – Baking Soda

If you don’t keep a box or two of baking soda around your house, you should probably start. It’s a natural home cure that can’t be beat for a number of ailments.

For a Cold - If you feel a cold coming on, use baking soda and lemon juice. One ½ teaspoon of baking soda and about a teaspoon of lemon juice in a ½ glass of water should do the trick.

Sunburn - Fill your tub with water and a cup of baking soda and soak in it.

Toothpaste – Yes, you can brush your teeth with baking soda and it doesn’t have the harsh grit in it that toothpaste does that removes enamel from your teeth.

Bug Bites – Any bug bite can be treated with baking soda paste. If the bug had a stinger, remove that first, and then pour some baking soda onto the palm of your hand. Add enough water until it turns into a paste and apply it to the bitten area. This applies to mosquito bites, bed bugs, bees, ants, flies, minor spiders. However use your head here. A serious looking spider bite should be seen by a physician.

Refrigerator – Keep a box in your refrigerator to keep your food storage area smelling fresh and clean. Baking soda absorbs odors

Deodrorant – Mentioned above, baking soda absorbs odors, which is why you can also use it as a deodorant. Just pour some into your hand and pat under the arm areas.

“Baking soda is so powerful in curing radiation contamination that at Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico, researcher Don York has used baking soda to clean soil contaminated with uranium. Sodium bicarbonate binds with uranium, separating it from the dirt; so far, York has removed as much as 92 percent of the uranium from contaminated soil samples. Still not convinced? Would it help to know that the United States Army recommends the use of baking soda to protect the kidneys from radiation damage?
Radiation is very toxic. Exposure to radiation of any amount is harmful to your body. Exposure to radiation through x-rays (hospitals and airport screening) or any of the so-called cancer treatments are the most dangerous source of radiation poisoning. X-rays and radiation cancer treatments are far deadlier than radiation fallout because the exposure is concentrated and frequent.

To pull the radiation poison out of the body, try bathing in half a cup of sea salt and half a cup of baking soda. Soak for at least 20-30 minutes, every day for three weeks or every other day for six weeks. “2
Further scientific proof of this miraculous handy natural home cure, “The antibacterial activity of baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) was assessed using three different experimental approaches. Standard minimum inhibitory concentration analyses revealed substantial inhibitory activity against Streptococcus mutans that was not due to ionic strength or high osmolarity. Short-term exposure assays showed significant killing of bacterial suspensions when baking soda was combined with the detergent sodium dodecylsulfate. Multiple, brief exposures of sucrose-colonized S mutans to baking soda and sodium dodecylsulfate caused statistically significant decreases in numbers of viable cells. Use of oral health care products with high concentrations of baking soda could conceivably result in decreased levels of cariogenic S mutans in saliva and plaque.”3

References

Drake, D. "Antibacterial activity of baking soda." www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12017929 (accessed April 11, 2012).

presscore.ca . "Sea salt and baking soda, best all natural remedy for curing radiation exposure and cancer." redicecreations.com. November 2011, 11. http://www.redicecreations.com/article.php?id=17613 (accessed April 11, 2012).

2 (presscore.ca 11)
3 (Drake www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
1 (GHC Natural Health and Organic Living 2012)

References

GHC Natural Health and Organic Living. "Health Effects of Constipation." globalhealingcenter.com. 2012. http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/digestive-disorders/constipation (accessed April 7, 2012).

Lundgren, Linnea, Betsy Hornick. "15 Home Remedies for Constipation ." health.howstuffworks.com. 2011. http://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/natural-medicine/home-remedies/home-remedies-for-constipation8.htm (accessed April 7, 2012).

[1] (IBC, Inc. 2007)
2 (Young Living Essential Oils 2008)
1 (Keay 2010)

References

Keay, Penny. "A Wet Compress – it’s a Wonderful way to Use Essential oils ." birchhillhappenings.com. 2010. http://birchhillhappenings.com/aromatip/8410print.htm (accessed April 11, 2012).

2 (presscore.ca 11)

3 (Drake www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

Natural Home Cures Using Urine

My Native American great grandmother used to tell me to apply my baby daughter’s own urine to her head to cure her of a condition that used to be known as “cradle cap”. Now I know that it’s actually called, Seborrhea Dermatitis. It’s a condition that causes scaly patches of skin usually on the scalp, such was her case, but apparently can spread to the eyelids and ears. Anyway my grandmother told me to apply my baby’s urine to her head. I refused and thought she must be suffering from some sort of dementia. But when she leaned over me, I was sitting on the floor at her feet, and stared at me with her dark brown eyes and said, “Our people have been doing this for as long as we have been Wiya. [Wiya means Our People. They were originally given the name ‘Cherokee’ by the English.] It is the only way I know. It is the only way you should know.” I took her seriously. It worked.

Since then her spirit has left this world but not the knowledge of this cure she left with me. Now I know that it is called Urotherapy in modern times. “No matter how hard it may be for you to digest, the truth is that urotherapy –a natural remedy, which involves various applications of human urine for medicinal or cosmetic purposes, including drinking of one's own urine and massaging one's skin with one's own urine has been an age old practice and the medical world has been aware of its amazing effectiveness for decades.”1

“How to Do It

Very briefly, here are two main ways that are suggested to do urine therapy. This is in no way a complete discussion of how to use the therapy, but simply an introduction.

1) Use your own urine in a homeopathic fashion.

First, collect midstream urine in a clean cup or container. This should be a clean catch, meaning the genital area (important for women in particular) has been cleaned beforehand. To 1/6 ounce of distilled water in a sterile bottle, add one drop of fresh urine. Cap and shake 50 times. Take one drop of this mix and add to another 1/6 ounce of distilled water and shake 50 times. Take one drop of this mix and add to 1/6 oz. of 80 to 90 proof vodka which acts as a preservative.
Place three drops under the tongue hourly until there is obvious improvement or temporary exacerbation of symptoms. As improvement progresses, lengthen the interval between treatments. After 3 days, suspend treatment to avoid pushing the immune system. Treatment is resumed if progress remains static or relapse occurs.

2) Begin with oral drops then increase dosage as needed.

Use fresh urine drops direct. For some cases, sub-lingual drops work well.
(Should always use fresh urine immediately upon collection. You should not boil or dilute the urine in any way. You must use it in its natural form)
Start by taking 1-5 drops of morning urine on the first day. On the second day, take 5-10 drops in the morning. On the third day, take 5-10 drops in the morning, and the same amount in the evening before you go to bed.

Once you feel accustomed to the therapy, gradually increase the amount as needed for obtaining results for your condition. As you use the therapy, you will learn to adjust the amount you need by observing your reactions to the therapy. It may be that you'll work up to actually drinking an ounce or two at a time.”2

References

Biomedix. "Urine Therapy." http://www.biomedx.com/urine/. 2012. http://www.biomedx.com/urine/ (accessed April 11, 2012).

Saini, Nivedita. "Natural Remedies - Uropathy:Processing By Means Of Urine." themedguru.com. June 20, 2008. http://www.themedguru.com/node/4885 (accessed April 11, 2012).

Natural Home Cures for Menstrual Pain and Cramps

Many women suffer every month with pain and cramping during their menstrual cycle. Listed below are some natural home cures that may help your symptoms.

Aromatherapy – Clary sage, rose, lavender and almond oil are the recommended applications for this therapy. Almond oil is the carrier oil in this instance. Use a couple of teaspoons of almond oil, three drops of the clary sage and rose, and six drops of lavender. Massage this to your lower abdominal area each day you feel discomfort.

Herbal Remedies – “Herbs such as Foeniculum vulgare (Sweet Fennel) acts as a liver tonic and helps to promote water balance while Pulsatilla vulgaris (Pasque Flower) is a soothing and supportive herb for the female reproductive system. In addition, Dong Quai (Angelica Sinesis) helps to promote hormonal harmony throughout the menstrual cycle and Melissa officinale (Lemon Balm) soothes and promotes stable mood and feelings.”1 In addition, Ginger and Tumeric both have anti-inflammatory qualities.

Exercise – Probably the last thing you want to do is exercise when you feel so terrible. But, experienced by many women over time, exercise in the form of walking the week before and during your cycle will help immensely if you can tolerate it.

Pineapple and other Fruit and Vegetables - Add fresh pineapple to your diet during this time of the month. It has a natural anti inflammatory. Colorful fruits and vegetables contain anti inflammatory agents. “Red raspberry can do several things to help you with reducing menstrual cramps and other period problems. It can remove excess hormones from your body, it can shrink swollen tissue to reduce uterine cramping and it can even reduce blood flow, if you are having too much menstrual bleeding. The great thing about all of that is that it's almost like red raspberry is “smart” because it knows just when it needs to do each of those things, or if it needs to do them at all. “2

Constipation – Many women experience constipation during their menstrual cycle that just adds to the pain. Follow normal home cure applications for constipation. Drink plenty of water, for that matter, drink more water than you might otherwise, exercise; as in the walking mentioned above, or yoga, and add more fiber to your diet.

Yoga – If you want to try some asana while in your cycle, do not do any inverted or twisted poses. The best pose would be the child pose.

A Warm Bath – This is the most highly recommended natural cure or treatment. Some recommend a warm bath and the use of hot water bottle on abdomen while other recommends a bath as hot as you can stand it. Even the Mayo Clinic recommends a hot bath, “Soaking in a hot bath or using a heating pad on your lower abdomen appears to be just as effective as over-the-counter pain medication for relieving menstrual cramps.”3

References

Mayo Clinic Staff. "Menstrual cramps." mayoclinic.com. May 3, 2011. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/menstrual-cramps/DS00506/DSECTION=lifestyle-and-home-remedies (accessed April 11, 2012).

Native Remedies. "Natural and herbal remedies for the treatment of menstrual cramps." www.nativeremedies.com. 2012. http://www.nativeremedies.com/ailment/natural-treatments-for-menstrual-cramps.html (accessed April 11, 2012).

Natural Remedies for PMS. "How To Reduce Menstrual Cramps By Natural Methods." www.naturalremediesforpms.com. 2011. http://www.naturalremediesforpms.com/how-to-reduce-menstrual-cramps.html (accessed April 11, 2012).

1 (ehow.com 1999)

2 (Skiles, Charlotte 1999)

3 (Girl 2008)

1 (Saini 2008)

2 (Biomedix 2012)

1 (Native Remedies 2012)

2 (Natural Remedies for PMS 2011)

3 (Mayo Clinic Staff 2011)

Pedi Pot or Neti Pot – A Natural Cure for Many Sinus Problems Part III

In Part I we introduced the Pedi or Neti Pot, in Part II we discussed how to use the container, now we will discuss some of the different solutions people have developed over time in this last article; Part III.

Basic Recipe Including Baking Soda

1. “Add 1/8 to 1/4 tsp. non-iodized salt to the water. Choose non-iodized salt over regular table salt because the latter includes additives that are not recommended in the Neti pot recipe. You can find non-iodized salt in most grocery stores. It is sometimes referred to as pickling salt. Some people also choose to use sea salt for this purpose.
Add 1/8 to 1/4 tsp. baking soda to your Neti pot solution. This ingredient adjusts the pH in your body and acts as a buffer for the salt water. Never substitute baking powder for baking soda, as baking powder will not provide the same function and could irritate the sinus cavities.
Mix the solution until the salt and baking soda are completely dissolved. If you make up more than one serving of your Neti pot solution, mix it each time before using to ensure that the sediment from the solid ingredients does not get into your sinus cavities. Keep your solution at room temperature until you are ready to use it. Some people find that heating the solution slightly in the microwave before using makes for a more comfortable nasal rinse. If you use the microwave to heat your Neti pot solution, shake it well before placing it in your Neti pot to prevent hot spots in the liquid; you only want to heat it to a slightly warm temperature.”1

2. Basic Recipe Including Baking Soda Plus
Not everyone has the same body chemistry. Some of us tend to run dry, oily, in the middle, thick, or thin. So this next recipe will be of help if your nasal passages run thick or thin.

· Start with the Basic Recipe including baking soda above.

· If you’re sinuses are dry and you wanted to moisten them, use sesame seed oil. You may add just a few drops to your Neti pot or apply it afterward.

· If you are sinuses are running thin, then a tincture of golden seal is recommended. “Now I'm very mindful of using golden seal because it is an endangered plant; so I would buy it from a company that is harvesting it and producing it in an environmentally friendly way that respects the plant. So you just want to add maybe three or four drops; golden seal tincture can be quite strong, to your neti pot and that will help tone and strengthen, tighten the mucosal tissue and drain some of that excessive mucus production off of there.”2

3. Recipe for Very Dry Cracked Nasal Passages
“… emu oil (or any other good quality oil)
Sinus Wash
12 ounces water
1 -1 1/2 teaspoon glycerin
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon sea salt

Directions: Combine all the ingredients in the Sinus Wash in a container and stir to dissolve the salt. Using a Pedi pot, pour about 2 - 3 T of the solution into the pot. Microwave for about 7 seconds. Test temperature before using. Pour into one nostril, breathing out with your mouth open. Let the liquid drain out through the other nostril. Change to the other nostril and repeat. Once finished, blow nose to clear out rest of the liquid. Dab a bit of the Emu oil onto your (clean) finger and apply it to the nose. Repeat 2 - 3 times a day.”3 Note: that Emu oil is and can be replaced with glycerin oil in this recipe.
Using a Pedi or Neti post as a natural cure for sinus and nasal problems is a wonderful maintenance program to add to your daily or weekly hygiene. Many people practice daily. Once you’ve tried, you may never give it up!

References
ehow.com. "eHow.com." Recipe for a Neti Pot. 1999. http://www.ehow.com/how_5121431_recipe-neti-pot.html (accessed April 10, 2012).

Girl, Abby. "Nasal Sinus Wash Combined With Emu Oil." food.com. December 8, 2008. http://www.food.com/recipe/nasal-sinus-wash-combined-with-emu-oil-344223 (accessed April 11, 2012).

Skiles, Charlotte. "Medical Uses for Sea Salt." eHow.com. 1999. http://www.ehow.co.uk/video_4805871_liver-cleansing-diet-recipes.html?cp=1&wa_vrid=0117a510-8b0a-4c63-9f33-5b404882453d&wa_vlsrc=continuous&pid=1 (accessed April 10, 2012).

Lavender Essential Oil for Calming Stress and a Restful Sleep

Lavender essential oil has long been recognized as a substitute to over the counter medications for people suffering from indications of stress and insomnia. Perhaps, rather than insomnia, stress may cause difficulty in falling asleep in which case Lavender is even more efficient. Lavender is known for, “calming, soothing to nerves and digestion, anti-depressant, pain-relieving, and lowers blood pressure. It is non-toxic, and non-irritant.”[1] In addition it is recognized as useful in treating these conditions, “Insomnia, tension, depression, headache, catarrh, stomach cramps, shock, and earache.”1Lavender essential oil is widely recognized for many purposes. The ingredient’s are, “…Lavandula angustifolia, used in the traditional medicine of many cultures as a calmative.”2

There are many different ways to diffuse an essential oil. Many of them involve buying a product such as candles, terra cotta diffusers, electrical diffusers; lamp rings diffusers, fan diffusers, steamers, and nebulizers. None of these are really necessary for the applications we are talking about. For calming stress and achieving a restful night’s sleep there are two methods that really work the best.
One of the most effective methods that can be used anywhere at any time, is to apply a couple of drops of lavender essential oil to a tissue. This is portable and can be placed in your pocket or handbag. If you don’t want everything on you to smell like lavender, place it in a zip lock bag; maybe two zip lock bags. Keep the tissue by the side of your bed or during the day, close by. Simply hold the tissue up to your nose and sniff a few times for relief.

For a restful night of sleep, there are several recommendations. First, you may inhale directly from the bottle of essential oil. Second, you could put a couple of drops on your pillow. However, diffusion is probably the most effective, long lasting, pleasant, and easiest way to treat stress and sleep problems. Diffusion with distilled water is recommended. Here are the supplies you will need: a small 2 – 4 ounce spray bottle, preferably new; or one you are absolutely sure has no contaminants, distilled water; because it is free of contaminants or debris, and some Lavender essential oil. If you have never used essential oils before, there is a very big difference between an essential oil and anything else that professes to be an essential oil. If the word fragrance is on the label, it is not an essential oil. Look at the ingredients, the list should only contain Lavender oil or Lavandula angustifolia. Next, fill your spray bottle about three fourths full and add 6-8 drops of the Lavender. Apply the spray nozzle, and shake. Shake every time you use the bottle to mix the oil back into the water while spraying. Spray the air and walk into it. If it is pleasant and not overwhelming, this is a good place to start. Spray your pillow, your bottom sheet and the underside of your top sheet. Get ready for a restful night of sleep.

References

IBC, Inc. "Alternative and Integral Therapies." holistic-online.com. 2007. http://www.holistic-online.com/remedies/sleep/sleep_ins_alt-aromatherapy.htm (accessed April 7, 2012).

Young Living Essential Oils. "Lavender Essential Oil." youngliving.us. 2008. http://www.youngliving.us/pdfs/PIP_Lavender.pdf (accessed April 7, 2012).

Natural Cures for Constipation

At some time in our lives we will experience constipation. How to decide whether or not you are constipated is a complicated matter. When you are certain please try one of the many natural cures for constipation before you consider an over the counter or prescribed laxative. They are addictive and your body can become dependent upon them.

There is quite a bit of information available on the definition of constipation. Much of it disagrees with other information. “If you are not having a minimum of 2 soft, easy to pass bowel movements daily then you are constipated because waste is accumulating in your system. Constipation, then, is the state of having excess waste in your colon which is not evacuated in a timely manner, often not without assistance. Millions of Americans experience symptoms of constipation to varying degrees. Sometimes, people will go pretty regularly and still have a problem because their intestinal tract is compacted with waste. Also, some people strain excessively due to the sensation that their bowels aren't completely evacuated.”1
This condition can lead to serious health problems that could have been avoided by simply changing up your diet a bit, adding a little exercise, and possibly trying some common kitchen food ingredients.

“Your body gives you indications when something is going wrong. Bad breath is also an indicator that you may be constipated. Since, toxic waste remains in your body, there are noxious gases that back up into the stomach. These gases rise up to the mouth where they linger, giving a person putrid odors there or ‘bad breath’. Skin eruptions can be caused or aggravated by colon toxicity. Skin is a major organ and one of its jobs is to help to eliminate waste usually through perspiration. The skin can't remove fecal matter when you're backed up, but it can show you that your body is trying to get rid of toxins. Often times, people accept the condition of constipation because it's long been the way that they function, but constipation can be just the precursor to other more destructive disorders. Digestive diseases… can be uncomfortable to very painful. Bowel obstruction is a possibility with serious implications. It is characterized by a tender stomach and vomiting. Paradoxical diarrhea can occur, where soft or liquid waste material passes around the impacted matter lodged in the colon. Seepage into the bloodstream spells danger for other organs in the body.

What to Do

Here is a list of natural cures for constipation.
1. If you feel the urge for a bowel movement, don’t put it off, do it.
2. Drink a minimum of eight glasses of water every day.
3. Eat fruits and vegetables every day. Have an apple about an hour after you eat.
4. Walk some when you feel constipated. Just a half mile or so will help. You can also practice yoga. Specific poses that affect the abdominal areas will get the bowels moving.
5. Add beans and seeds to your diet.
6. Black strap molasses is also used as one of the natural cures for constipation. One or two teaspoons before bedtime could to the trick. However because of the high calorie content and sugar this is not recommended as a maintenance technique. If you can’t stand the taste, try mixing it with another liquid or in your oatmeal or other cereal for extra fiber.
7. Sesame Seeds - “These seeds provide roughage and bulk, and they soften the contents of the intestines, which makes elimination easier. Eat no more than 1/2 ounce daily, and drink lots of water as you take the seeds. You may also sprinkle them on salads and other foods, but again, no more than 1/2 ounce. Sesame is also available in a butter or paste and in Middle Eastern dips, such as tahini.”2

References

GHC Natural Health and Organic Living. "Health Effects of Constipation." globalhealingcenter.com. 2012. http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/digestive-disorders/constipation (accessed April 7, 2012).

Lundgren, Linnea, Betsy Hornick. "15 Home Remedies for Constipation ." health.howstuffworks.com. 2011. http://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/natural-medicine/home-remedies/home-remedies-for-constipation8.htm (accessed April 7, 2012).

Pedi Pot or Neti Pots – Using Them as a Natural Cure for Sinus Problems Part II

In Part I of Pedi Pots or Neti Pots – What is a Pedi or Neti Pot, a definition of the pot was given along with why one would use one. A beginning discussion of how to use the pot was started. Here we will continue the discussion of how to use this natural cure.

Usually when one purchases a Pedi Pot, it comes with a couple of little packages similar to the disposable sugar or salt packets sometimes used in restaurants. Eventually, you’ll come to the conclusion that instead of purchasing more salt packets, you can make your own solution. In addition there are other natural recipes and you’ll learn the correct water temperature for your body in time.

Always, use distilled water. Never use water from the tap.

Note: the following authors use the terminology ‘nose cone’ rather than Pedi pot which is yet another term for a nasal irrigation tool. “Most Common Method - Sideways

1. Fill your Neti pot and stand in front of the sink.
2. Bend over the sink and breathe naturally through your mouth. By opening your mouth wide enough, the passage from the nose to the mouth is closed. No water can get into your mouth or your throat. Don't talk or laugh, no air should come into your nose now. There won't be a feeling of having water in the airways if you pay attention to this.
3. Now put the nose cone into your right nostril and seal it with some gentle moves so that no water is coming out of this nostril.”1
4. Then gently bend your head forward and roll it to the left side. The left nostril should be the lowest point. Forehead and chin should be about the same level.1
5. You need to experiment with the posture of your head. Once the water is coming out of your left nostril, hold your head and only move the Neti pot to keep the water pouring in.
6. You should start with half a pot per side. For this wait about 20 seconds and remove the nose cone out of your right nostril. If you practiced with half a pot fir some time, you can use one pot per side.
7. Bring your head to the middle and let all the water flow out. Blow gently with both nostrils. You should not close one nostril now and you should blow hardly. This can bring the water up in your ears where it cannot dry correctly.
8. Repeat the procedure with the left nostril, doing everything in the opposite direction.
9. When you finished let all the water flow out again and gently blow the water out of both nostrils. You can roll your head in every direction and let it hang and move it then to get all the water out. Drying up the nose is very important and should not be neglected!
10. If you have a mucus blockage you can go back and forth for some times. Make sure that the water which has entered the nose does not flow back in the Neti pot. Therefore put the cone in your nose, pour some water in, remove the pot and let it flow out again.
11. If you have problems doing this alone, you can ask people who practice yoga or give yoga classes to show you. Most yoga practitioners will know this technique.”
12. If you try it for some time and the water does not come out of the other nostril, you should ask a doctor for advice. There could be some type of anatomical blockage. “1

References Cited

Aya. "How to Use a Neti Pot With No Danger." Yoga 108. 2001. http://yoga108.org/pages/show/106-how-to-use-a-neti-pot-without-danger (accessed April 9, 2012).

Pedi Pots or Neti Pots – What is a Pedi or Neti Pot? Part 1

If you suffer from allergies, nasal congestion, sinus infections, colds or flu, the use of a Pedi Pot will help bring you relief. There also many other reasons to clean your sinuses besides these illnesses. If you’ve been amidst air pollutants other than allergens, such as cigarette smoke, automobile exhaust, and industrial air pollution, which also irritate most peoples’ sinuses; use the Pedi pot.

Pedi Pots are also known as Neti Pots. They are little containers shaped like teapots. They are used to irrigate the sinuses naturally. Pedi pots are available in plastic, ceramic, glass and various other materials. Whatever material you choose, select one that can be sterilized periodically.

According to Webmd.com regarding these pots, they say, “Although several methods of nasal irrigation exist, one of the most popular is the Neti pot -- a ceramic pot that looks like a cross between a small teapot and Aladdin's magic lamp. Although nasal irrigation using the Neti pot has been around for centuries, its use is on the rise in the U.S., thanks to an appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show and a fair amount of news coverage. The Neti pot originally comes from the Ayurvedic/yoga medical tradition.”1 [note: this is a traditional system of medicine practiced in India since the first century.]

“A Neti Pot is used for Jala Neti, a very old cleansing technique of the tradition Hatha Yoga of India. The literal translation of the Sanskrit term means "water cleansing“. The newly established modern word for Jala Neti is nasal irrigation.

The Neti pot is filled with a body-warm saline solution of the same concentration as the body fluids. With this solution the nasal cavities are rinsed so that the salty water goes in through one nostril and comes out to the other. A more advanced technique is letting the water in through one nostril and out through the mouth. This is hardly felt if the salt concentration, water temperature and technique are good, for sure there is no pain or uncomfortable feeling involved.

In the yogic tradition, Jala Neti is performed every morning with the daily routine such as tooth brushing. It can be performed more often if you work or live in a polluted area or have health problems such as hay fever.”2

Using a Pedi pot is quite simple but there is a very small population of people who just can’t tolerate it. “Neti pot is generally safe. About 10% of regular users experience mild side effects, such as nasal irritation and stinging. Nosebleeds can also occur, but they are rare. Reducing the amount of salt in the solution, adjusting the frequency of Neti pot use, and changing the temperature of the water appear to reduce side effects.”1 In addition, although not highly reported upon some people have trouble relaxing and letting the water flow through. Before using your Pedi pot take some time to use some breathing techniques to relax. For some it helps to keep your mouth open while leaning over the basin, allowing the saline solution to run out but still allowing you to breathe through the mouth. More on Pedi Pots in Part II.

References Cited

Aya. "How to Use a Neti Pot With No Danger." Yoga 108. 2001. http://yoga108.org/pages/show/106-how-to-use-a-neti-pot-without-danger (accessed April 9, 2012).

Using Aromatherapy as a Natural Cure

Using aromatherapy as a natural cure has been practiced ever since humans first discovered plants had value other than being a necessary component of our diet. To use aromatherapy one must understand essential oils and how to use them. Some basic definitions about essential oils will help to better understand specific natural cures using this age old practice.

Common Aromatherapy Terms:

Essential Oils are highly concentrated volatile oils or essences taken from plant and tree materials.

Carrier Oils are fatty oils pressed from plant materials. They are usually odorless and their sole purpose is to act as a vehicle to carry the oil to your body. They would be used in such home made products as massage oil made to ease aches and pains, for example.

Synergy is the word used to describe the mixing of two or more essential oils, minus the carrier oil.

A Blended Oil refers to essential oils that have been added to carrier oil. Caution here; fragrance oils are frequently passed off to consumers as blended essential oils. Read the ingredients. You should see only carrier oil and essential oils listed. Anything else is a fragrance.
Diffusion Is the process of mixing and essential oil with a carrier oil or distilled water to dilute the oil for the application.

Steam –To use the steam method for a common cold or relief of sinus irritation, pour water that is hot enough to create steam into a sturdy non tipping bowl. Put only a few drops of the oil you have selected into the water. Place a sheet or blanket over your head to create a covering and enjoy the effects. Only imbibe for several minutes.

There are a huge number of essential oils and they can be very expensive. However, they have a very long shelf life and often only minute amounts are required for almost any application. Start your collection slowly with the most commonly used oils.

A List of the Most Commonly Used Oils Required for a Variety of Natural Cures:

• Eucalyptus
• Clove
• Basil
• Sandalwood
• Rose
• Lavender
• Black Pepper
• Ginger
• Jasmine
• Tea Tree
• Chamomile
• Peppermint
• Fennel
• Rosemary
• Orange

Olfactory Overload

Very little is actually written about olfactory overload but it is very important in the use of essential oils as a natural cure. Our world today is full of scents, everywhere we go. We often find ourselves trapped in trains, planes, buses, offices, and other enclosures with people wearing heavy chemically manufactured scents. Then there are air pollutants from automobiles, carbon dioxide, industrial pollutants, and any other number of toxic debris and allergens floating around in the air. At some point, our brain just shuts it off. People who live in a smelly city may be asked by visitors why they put up with the smell and they reply, “We just got used to it.” This can apply to aromatherapy. Here is a simple test. If you have steamed or sprayed an essential oil in your home, when you can no longer smell it, walk outside and wait fifteen minutes. Come back inside, if you can smell it again you are fine. If not, it’s not safe to make further application. Some people feel you should wait up to an hour after you can no longer smell the oil to perform this test.

References:

Spriltdancer. "What is Aromatherapy? ." spiritdancerbooksandgifts.com. 2005. http://www.spiritdancerbooksandgifts.com/whatis.html (accessed April 9, 2012).