10 Home Remedies to Soothe a Sore Throat

A sore throat is unfortunately a part of a number of illnesses.  It is often present when you have a cold or the flu.  A severe sore throat can also be a sign of a bacterial infection that requires antibiotics.  But in most cases, a sore throat will go away on its own when the related illness subsides.

But whether your sore throat is one that will go away on its own or one that requires treatment doesn’t make much difference in how unpleasant it is.  Pain when talking, eating and drinking can put a damper on your normal activities and make you want to crawl into bed and stay there until it goes away.  Try these home remedies to help alleviate sore throat pain.

1. Gargle with warm salt water. Put about 1/4 teaspoon of salt in a half cup of warm water, and gargle with it several times a day.  This will provide relief and help keep infection at bay.  It will also wash away postnasal drip, which can make a sore throat worse.
2. Gargle with an antiseptic mouthwash such as Listerine. This will kill the germs in the throat.
3. Drink tea with lemon and honey. Any kind of tea will do to help soothe the throat, but there are some herbal teas that are especially helpful.  These include chamomile and sage.
4. Eat fresh garlic. Garlic is well known for its ability to fight off infection, so this could eliminate the need for antibiotics.
5. Eat ice cream, frozen yogurt, or other cold treats. Their cold temperature and smooth texture will temporarily ease the pain of a sore throat.
6. Use a humidifier. This will help soothe the swollen air passages and help alleviate hoarseness.
7. Avoid smoking and exposure to second-hand smoke. Smoke is an irritant that will make an already sore throat much worse.
8. Suck on a lemon. The juice will help soothe the throat, and the vitamin C in it can help your body fight the germs that are causing the problem.
9. Try gargling with mango bark extract. Add about ten drops to a glass of water and gargle with it a few times a day.
10. Simmer some scallions in water for 5 minutes to make a tea. Drink three or four times a day to provide relief.

Virtually everyone gets a sore throat every now and then, even if it’s simply from yelling too loudly.  Most of the time, we can treat it effectively at home.  It’s not even necessary to make a trip to the drugstore.  Many of the ingredients in these sore throat remedies can be found right in our kitchens.

Honeywell HCM-6009 9-Gallon Console Humidifier

US $61.00 (9 Bids) End Date: Wednesday Dec-03-2008 17:48:08 PST Bid now | Add to watch list

New Cool Mist Gallon Humidor Moisture Air Humidifier

US $26.00 (13 Bids) End Date: Wednesday Dec-03-2008 18:03:00 PST Bid now | Add to watch list

Natural Ways to a Healthier Life

The traditional medical establishment has long been entrusted with our health.  Yet many of the medications and treatments that are prescribed have undesirable, and sometimes downright dangerous, side effects.  Even the most promising advances in medical technology can be found to have hidden dangers years later.

People have been practicing a more natural approach to good health for centuries.  Many of the techniques and cures that are used today in alternative medicine were known long before medicine became the big business that it is now.  And with natural remedies and prevention methods gaining widespread recognition, more people are realizing the benefits of avoiding chemicals and taking a more low-tech approach.

Would you like to improve your health by natural means?  Here are some tips to get you started.

1. Eat organic. Organic food is not tainted with dangerous chemicals.  And organic livestock is raised on organic feed and is not given antibiotics and hormones that can cause health problems in the people who consume it.
2. Include lots of raw foods in your diet. You don’t necessarily have to become a raw vegan to enjoy the benefits of raw foods.  Just eat raw fruits and vegetables at every meal and for snacks, and you will greatly increase the amount of beneficial vitamins and minerals in your diet.
3. Get plenty of exercise. This will help you maintain a healthy weight and get your heart pumping, both of which have innumerable health benefits.
4. Try to get out in the sunshine every day. While it’s not good for your skin to bake in the sun, getting about 15 or 20 minutes of sun exposure each day will cause your body to produce the vitamin D it needs.
5. Work to eliminate stress as much as possible. Stress takes a serious toll on our bodies, contributing to some serious health problems.  If you find yourself worrying too much, try meditation or yoga to calm and focus your mind.
6. Make probiotics a part of your routine. These can be found in yogurt and some other foods, or you can take probiotic supplements.  These beneficial bacteria aid in digestion and help our immune systems resist infection from bad bacteria.  If you have been on antibiotics, taking probiotics is especially important.
7. For minor ailments, use herbal remedies instead of over-the-counter or prescription drugs as much as possible. There are effective herbal treatments for many ailments that produce few adverse reactions.

Maintaining good health isn’t about taking medication for every ailment.  It’s about striving to avoid the need for such drastic measures.  By taking care of our bodies and carefully monitoring what goes into them, we can reduce our risk for disease and live a happier, healthier life.

NIKE EXERCISE/RUNNING SHIRT/JERSEY TOP STRETCH NWT S

US $10.99 (1 Bid) End Date: Wednesday Dec-03-2008 16:50:57 PST Bid now | Add to watch list

Dog Fitness Toy Jumpin Weasel | Great For Dog Exercise

US $17.97 (1 Bid) End Date: Wednesday Dec-03-2008 16:57:46 PST Bid now | Add to watch list

5 Tips for Curving your Cravings

Starting a diet is pretty easy. The biggest problem with diets is not getting started, it’s sticking with them. Most of use start out fine, but eventually succumb to cravings for sweet or fatty foods (or both). Here are some tips for keeping your cravings at bay.

1. Drink water. Many times, your body experiences hunger when you’re really not hungry at all, but thirsty. When you feel a craving coming on, instead of jumping for your favorite foods, try drinking a glass of water and waiting fifteen minutes. You may also want to try a low-calorie flavored water if the regular stuff isn’t cutting it. After a short wait, you’ll probably find you’re not so hungry anymore.
2. Give in. While you shouldn’t give in to every craving you have, breaking the rules every so often can actually help give you the willpower to stick to your diet. If you completely stop eating your favorites, you’re only going to crave them more. Just remember that “occasional” means once or twice a month, not once or twice a day.
3. Find your triggers. One of the best things you can do for a diet is to keep a food journal, but don’t stop there. Why not add what you’re craving to your journal, along with what you’re doing or feeling at the time. You may find that you often crave chocolate when you’re sitting with the kids, or only eat potato chips when you’re feeling lonely. If you figure out what’s making you want to eat, you can figure out ways around it.
4. Distraction. Before your next craving hits, make a plan of something you can do instead of giving in. If you like puzzles or brain teasers, you can keep some around to work on and distract yourself. Many people exercise whenever they’re craving their favorites. This not only distracts you, it helps burn more calories and keep you on track.
5. Eliminate temptation. One of the easiest ways to avoid temptation is to remove it, or at least make it a lot harder to get to. If you keep sweets in your house, you’re a lot more likely to eat them than if you have to go out to a store to buy them. And if you’re keeping the sugary snacks around for the kids, remember that if you shouldn’t eat them, there’s a good chance the kids shouldn’t either.

While many cravings are simply for foods we like, others are actually for foods we need. If you find yourself having regular cravings, you can research online or ask your doctor to find out what nutrients you might be deficient in. Once you’ve replaced the missing nutrients, you should see a decrease or elimination of your cravings.

With a little work and willpower, you can be well on your way to beating those cravings and seeing results.

Next Page »