Natural Remedies For Fibroids

May 5, 2010

Although there are no guaranteed natural remedies for fibroids, there are a few treatments that you can try which may help to reduce their size or at least prevent them growing further, and reduce the heavy bleeding that is often associated with uterine fibroids.

Fibroids are non-cancerous tumors usually found in the womb (uterus) and are very common in women of childbearing age. They appear in about 25% of white women and 50% of black women. Some women may have them without knowing, but in other cases they can grow to a size where they cause pain and a noticeably swollen abdomen. The swelling may make a woman look pregnant. She will often have very heavy and painful periods.

Fibroids may cause pain at other times too, for example during sex. They can also interfere with pregnancy, either making it difficult to get pregnant in the first place or causing miscarriage, premature birth or bleeding during the pregnancy. If they press on the bladder they may cause incontinence as well as pain.

The cause of fibroids is thought to be hormonal. They almost always shrink or disappear after the menopause, unless a woman takes hormone replacement therapy. Genetics may also play a part in the causes of these uterine growths.

The standard medical treatment, if required, is surgery. In the past, the only option was hysterectomy, i.e. complete removal of the womb. Now it is possible in many cases to have what is called a myomectomy in which only the fibroids themselves are removed. If successful, this means that you can still have children afterward. The surgical procedure that is recommended will depend on the size and number of the growths.

If you do not need surgery or decide against it, you may want to look for a natural remedy that will help deal with the symptoms. Doctors will often recommend contraceptive pills but not every woman wants to take these. You may want to try the following home remedies that some women have found helpful. Consult your doctor first and again if the symptoms persist or increase.

Apple Cider Vinegar

ACV may shrink the fibroids. It certainly reduces discomfort in many cases, and unless there is some reason why you should not take vinegar, it will not do you any harm. If you are overweight you may find it has the added benefit of helping you to lose a few pounds. Take one tablespoon three times a day.

Molasses

Some women recommend molasses for reducing the size of fibroids. The usual dose is one tablespoon 3 times per day.

Be aware that molasses is high in calories, iron and copper. It is important to monitor your intake of all of these, as too much can cause other problems. Blackstrap molasses also contains sulfur which can thin the blood and may therefore increase the menstrual bleeding in some women.

Herbs

There are some herbal medicines that may help in some cases. Herbs that balance the hormones, such as agnus castus or yarrow, may be recommended.

Do not take blue or black cohosh which are likely to increase the symptoms.

If you want to try herbal medicine the best solution is to see a qualified and experienced herbalist who will take a full history, consider different possibilities and monitor the results of the suggested herbal natural remedies for fibroids.

Natural Remedies For Growing Hair Back

December 6, 2009

Natural remedies for growing hair back can avoid some of the complications of transplants and other processes. Hair loss is something that happens to most men and many women but the process can be prevented, slowed or even reversed in some cases.

While transplants are the quickest way to replace lost hair, they do have some disadvantages. One is that they do not stop further hair loss. So for example a man with a round balding patch at the crown who has transplants, will later probably develop a bald ring around the transplanted area as the hair loss spreads. The other main disadvantage is that unless you have a series of many treatments, people are likely to notice that you suddenly have more hair. They may think it is a hairpiece, toupee or wig.

Natural hair loss remedies come in various forms and the best results are likely to come from using more than one.

Massage

Scalp massage can stimulate hair growth where the loss is temporary or not severe, and can help to prevent further loss of hair. Gently massage the full scalp with your fingertips for about three minutes each day. Be careful not to scratch the scalp with your nails or damage any growing hair.

Massage with jojoba oil will provide the scalp with B and E vitamins plus many minerals that will give hair a boost. Jojoba oil is particularly effective if you have a tendency to skin problems such as dandruff, eczema and psoriasis, or oily hair.

A Chinese form of massage said to stimulate the follicles involves tapping the scalp with the fingers of both hands. Beginning in the middle of the base of the skull at the back, tap about 20 times then move the tapping slowly upward and outward around the ears. Then begin again at the back a little higher than where you started before. Repeat until you have covered the whole scalp, finishing at the front.

Nutrition and Vitamins

The hair requires a full balance of vitamins and minerals to grow healthily. Most of us do not get all that we need from our diets. Increasing your intake of fresh fruits and green leafy vegetables to around 10 varied portions a day will go a long way toward rectifying any deficiencies.

Make sure that you are getting enough of these nutrients in particular:

Vitamin A
All B vitamins, especially B6 and B12
Vitamin C
Vitamin E
Zinc
Iron
Copper
Iodine
Essential fatty acids

You can track all of the nutrients in your diet with a free computer program such as the Cron-o-meter available from http://spaz.ca/cronometer

If any of the above nutrients are deficient in your diet you can either look for foods that contain more of them (best option) or take supplements, except for vitamin A which should always be supplied from food. The best food sources of vitamin A are orange and red vegetables such as carrots, pumpkin, red pepper etc or dark green leafy vegetables such as spinach.

Men should pay particular attention to the amount of zinc in their diet because it is very important for the prostate. It is vital to have enough, but too much can cause problems.

Herbal Remedies

Men may find the herbal treatment Saw Palmetto useful in treating hair loss. This is believed to have an action on the prostate which is involved in typical male pattern baldness. Be careful not to take too much because if the male hormones that lead to hair loss are reduced too far, breast tissue can develop.

Saw Palmetto may be useful for some women too but must not be taken with hormone therapy, oral contraceptives or any other medication that contains hormones.

Reduce Stress

Stress can cause hair loss and therefore anything you can do to reduce stress or anxiety in your life is likely to have a beneficial effect on your hair. Try meditation or practice relaxation techniques for 10 minutes each morning, preferably after exercise. Regular exercise will both reduce stress and create a healthier skin and scalp.

These solutions may help in cases for male pattern baldness and age-related hair loss in women. They do not constitute a health treatment or cure. If your hair loss is related to health problems or medication or has an unknown cause, it is best not to rely on natural remedies for growing hair back and you should see your doctor.

Old Home Remedies - Grandmother’s Secrets That Work!

November 3, 2009

Old home remedies have gotten a bad reputation since the rise of the male-dominated medical profession, but some of those old time remedies are just as effective as modern medications. They have even found their way into many of the products that we buy in the drug store. Why pay more for something with a fancy name done up in a capsule when you can find it for free growing in your garden, or buy it for a few cents in the supermarket?

Ginger

Ginger can be used for both nausea and heartburn. Eat a small piece of ginger to relieve your discomfort. Either fresh or pickled ginger should work equally well.

Alternatively, make ginger tea by soaking a piece of ginger in water that is almost boiling. Leave to steep and drink when it is just warm. Add honey if desired.

Ginger tea either with or without honey is also good for relieving the symptoms of a cold.

Home Remedies For Cold Sores (Fever Blisters)

Cold sores, aka fever blisters, and other types of herpes sores respond well to anything astringent. Lemon is one of the best old fashioned natural remedies for a cold sore that you will find.

If you can, place a thin slice of lemon over the area where you feel the itch of a cold sore starting. Hold it in place with medical tape if necessary. Replace with a fresh slice every few hours. You should soon find that the itching stops and the sore will not appear.

If the sore is on your face and this just looks too weird, fill a small clean perfume bottle with freshly squeezed lemon juice and spray it onto the area about once an hour.

You can also use apple cider vinegar in a perfume bottle in the same way.

Note this must be done before the blister breaks out. Never use lemon juice or vinegar directly on an open sore.

If your cold sore has already appeared, try drinking the juice of one lemon mixed in a glass of warm water four times a day between meals. You can also do this once a day for prevention - first thing in the morning is best.

Fruit And Fiber For Constipation

Constipation can have many causes but the most common are lack of fiber in the diet, lack of exercise and certain medications. The doctor will not diagnose constipation unless you have not had a BM for three days or more, but most of us feel uncomfortable before this point and a healthy person eating plenty of fiber will have two or three BMs every day.

Dried fruit is the classic traditional remedy for constipation. Daily consumption of a bowl of figs, prunes, dates or even raisins should sort out your regularity within a few days. Always soak the fruit for 2-3 hours in warm water before eating. You can cook it if you wish. Drink the juice as well as eating the rehydrated fruit.

For quick relief, take 2 to 4 teaspoons of castor oil. This is another well known home remedy for constipation.

To avoid it happening again, increase your consumption of fruit and vegetables to at least 5 portions every day and preferably 10. Choose whole grain bread and brown rice over white varieties, and drink plenty of water. Sometimes dehydration alone is responsible for the problem.

Old home remedies can help with a wide range of common ailments, but always see your doctor if the problem persists.