Healthcare That Works

Today, we have a whole pharmacy full of prescription and over-the-counter medicines at our disposal for the treatment of just about anything that is bothering us. That hasn’t always been the case. In years past, people had to rely on home remedies or folk medicines; sometimes there was nothing else. Some of these remedies were useful and harmless enough, but others are very dangerous and should never be used. Here are three home remedies you definitely want to keep away from.

#1: Using Kerosene to Get Rid of Head Lice

You may have read accounts where parents used a small amount of kerosene to kill the lice in their child’s hair. This was an effective way to get rid of the pests. Unfortunately, it was also very very dangerous. I’m sure you can imagine why this method is clearly one that isn’t recommended anymore, so no matter what you’re told, you should avoid this one at all costs. This remedy is completely unsafe for the following reason.

Kerosene is flammable. If you put it in the hair, and then a child goes near a candle or fireplace, you can have a very bad situation on your hands. It is also extremely toxic, and absorbs readily through the skin. Many children became ill or even died after receiving kerosene as a treatment for head lice.

#2: Using “Azarcon” or “Greta” for Stomach Upset

In many Mexican and Mexican-American communities, the treatment of “empacho,” or general stomach and intestinal distress, was to take a powder. Two commonly used powders were “Azarcon,” and “Greta.” Both of these were almost entirely comprised of powdered lead.

If you take lead internally, even a small amount can be harmful. Many people were hurt or even killed from this remedy. Believe it or not you can still sometimes find these powders for sale. Obviously, do not even purchase or use them.

#3: Putting Butter on a Burn

You may have been told by your mother to smear butter on a burn. This comes from when women would be cooking and burn themselves butter was often handy, and it makes the burn feel better at first. The down side is that the treatment contaminates the burn. If you put butter on a new burn, you are inviting infection because bacteria will grow rapidly in the butter.

We all know we are to respect and listen to our elders. If your elders recommend home remedies, however, you may want to take this with a grain of salt. Often modern medicine knows best.

By: Robert Shorn

About the Author:

www.art-sh.com

Sinusitis is a serious disease and the chronic condition alone afflicts over 35 million Americans per year according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI). It can afflict anyone at any time, and some people actually contract this disease multiple times a year. With so many medicines out there, some of the more effective but least recommended, are sinusitis herbal medicines. Sinusitis herbal medicines work wonders, and they do not have the side effects that chemical alternatives are known to have.

Here are some of the great sinusitis herbal alternatives to try the next time you contract sinusitis. These are available dried, made as a tincture, as pills and capsules, and in syrup form.

1. Echinacea (Echinacea Purpurea) – Echinacea is a known immune stimulant that speeds up the healing of bacterial, fungal, and viral infections. Since these are some of the common causes of sinusitis, herbal alternative Echinacea is a great way to cure the disease. This also has the added bonus of being an anti-inflammatory, which helps drain the mucus from the sinus cavity. Lastly, Echinacea inhibits an enzyme called hyaluronidase, which is produced by bacteria to invade the body through the mucus membrane.

2. Goldenseal (Hydrastis Canadensis) – This is a powerful broad-spectrum herbal antibiotic. This contains berberine, an alkaloid with antimicrobial qualities found to be very effective on a number of pathogens. It also contains hydrastine, an alkaloid with immune enhancing properties known to promote mucus flow. As a sinusitis herbal medication, this is very effective.

3. Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus Globulus) and Peppermint (Mentha Piperita) – Sinusitis herbal oils are recommended by aromatherapists because it helps with relieving the sinuses. You can put the oil in a vaporizer or rub the diluted version into your forehead to relieve sinusitis. If you do not have the oils available, bruised leaves work as well. Just crush them and add a few drops of water to make a poultice. Another option for sinusitis herbal medication is to make tea.

4. Garlic (Allium Sativum) and Onion (A. Cepa) – These related sinusitis herbal medication are broad-spectrum antibiotics as well. Garlic is more potent. You can use capsules, but you can also chop it up and add it to food.

5. Ginger – Ginger has been known to help relieve headaches. It has anti-inflammatory properties and helps relieve pain.

6. Nettle (Urtica Dioica) – Nettle is effective with treating allergic reactions to mold, fungus, and pollen. It is a source of butyric acid, which is essential for a healthy metabolism.

7. Oregano (Origanum Vulgare) – Oregano is part of the mint family and thus is useful in many ways. You can drink it as tea, massage it in as essential oils, or even add oregano to food to ingest it. The mint properties are very helpful in opening up the sinuses, which makes it a great sinusitis herbal medicine.

These are just some sinusitis herbal medication that works very well with curing the disease. Try them out and see how this can help you relieve your sinusitis.

By: Stephanie Harper

About the Author:

www.firstchoicemortgageseattle.com