Foot problems like athlete’s foot and bunions aren’t just unsightly, but they can be uncomfortable too. Surgeons perform over 1 million bunion surgeries every year in the US, and sometimes multiple times on the same person. Thankfully though, it is possible to relieve the pain and heal bunions naturally.

What Are Bunions?

What bunions are and what people think they are can be two very different things. Some sources claim bunions are overgrown bone and the extra calcium can be cut off or dissolved. In reality, bunions are an increase in tissue development and swelling on the first toe joint. Over time the joint hardens. Bunions that form on the pinky toe are sometimes called tailor’s bunions.

Who Gets Bunions?

According to Katie Bowman’s, Every Woman’s Guide to Foot Pain Relief, women and the elderly are more likely to have bunions. Women’s shoes (especially heels and stilettos) are more likely to squeeze the toes in, causing bunions.

Some experts claim bunions are genetic so you’re more likely to have them if your parents do, but there are some problems with that argument.

What Causes Bunions?

Before we get rid of something it helps to know how it got there in the first place. Conventional podiatrists (foot doctors) are taught that bunions are passed down in the family and are a structural deformity in the bone.

Some people have soft tissue in their feet that’s less elastic, which can be hereditary. When these feet are shoved into tight, narrow toe boxes, they’re less likely to bounce back to a normal foot shape when out of the shoe.

However, the problem doesn’t begin in the genes, it begins in the shoe. Babies aren’t born with bunions and there’s a clear pathway to getting a bunion – modern-day shoes. Podiatrist Ray McClanahan explains how shoes with a narrowing toe space and other unhealthy features are largely to blame for bunions. When the big toe is consistently squeezed into narrow-toed shoes, the lower toe joint bulges out and can form a bunion.

In other words, wearing high heels locks the foot in plantar flexion, as if you were standing on your toes. This creates altered muscular recruitment patterns and can affect the joints above it.

Out of Step

Some people put excess pressure on the side of the foot when they walk. This can be due to narrow stiff footwear, improper gait, or a combination of both. When we put too much pressure on the lower big toe joint, this pushes it out and helps form a bunion.

What Bunions are NOT

Contrary to some popular opinions, bunions are not calcium deposits or just a hereditary structure problem. However, once the big toe joint begins to dislocate and deform, there can be swelling and hardening that increases the joint size. Some experts say this enlarged joint is extra bone growth, while others like Dr. McClanahan claim it’s not.

Common Ways for How to Get Rid of Bunions

Conventional podiatrists will likely recommend a wider shoe, arch support orthotics, and possibly surgery. There are several reasons why this won’t fix the underlying problem.

A Wider Shoe Isn’t Enough

If you’ve ever been to a shoe store you might have used something called a Brannock device. This metal tool measures the ball of the foot’s width to recommend what width of shoe to use. However, our toes are naturally designed to splay wider than the ball of our foot.

The Brannock device isn’t measuring the most critical point, which is the toe box. And even if it did, most shoes are designed with a tapered toe that squeezes toes in. Simply getting a wider shoe at the ball of the foot that doesn’t allow the toes to completely spread won’t fix the issue.

Still, minimalist shoes may help prevent them.

Arch Support Won’t Cut it

We have dozens of muscles in our feet that serve an important purpose. Not only do they work with nerves to send vital feedback to our brain, but they’re designed to support us with a stable foundation. When feet are put into regular shoes these muscles can’t move, can’t do their job, and over time weaken and atrophy.

Using arch support for bunions won’t fix the underlying problem, which is muscle deformity and weakness. However, there are exercises that help rebuild the natural arch support in the foot.

When the gluteus medius is not working properly in the frontal plane (side-to-side), the knee usually collapses inward. This is known as a valgus collapse. This causes one to over-pronate (where the entire foot tilts inward), placing extra stress on the big toe. Walking side-to-side with a resistance band around your knees will help to strengthen the gluteus medius. Side step-ups also recruit the gluteus medius.

Surgery for Bunions

Doctors often recommend surgery for more severe bunion cases. For bunion surgery, part of the bone is cut off, then the surrounding muscles, tendons, and ligaments are rearranged. The surgeon may also put plates and screws into the foot to help hold the shape.

According to John Hopkins, side effects are common and can include numbness, swelling, nerve damage, and long-term or permanent pain. Even after surgery, if the root cause isn’t addressed the bunion will likely come back. Fortunately, there are other options.

How to Get Rid of Bunion Pain

Since surgery can sometimes cause or worsen bunion pain, many are looking for a natural alternative. These remedies can help alleviate the pain and pressure on the joint. However, it’s important to also use exercises and proper footwear to correct bunions long term.

Decrease Inflammation

Anti-inflammatories like turmeric, curcumin, and cold water therapy can relieve inflammation and pain. You can read more about how to use turmeric/curcumin here and the benefits of cold therapy here.

Increase Circulation

Increasing circulation can also help promote healing in the area. Warm compresses, massage, exercise, and healthy food choices improve circulation.

A 2004 study in The Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, Garlic supplementation increases peripheral blood flow, looked at circulation. The garlic group saw significantly more blood flow than the control group.

Essential Oils for Bunions

Rosemary essential oil also stimulates circulation and can be diluted and massaged on the area. Essential oil safety expert Robert Tisserand recommends a maximum 6.5% dilution, depending on the chemotype. This would be no more than about 33 drops of essential oil per 2 tablespoons of carrier oil, however, benefits can be seen with a much lower dilution. 

Pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory essential oils, like copaiba and peppermint may also help. Peppermint generally shouldn’t be used above 5% maximum, which is about 25 drops per 2 tablespoons of carrier oil. Like rosemary, these can be diluted and massaged on the area for relief.

Toe Spreaders

Products like Correct Toes help feet and toes spread out to a normal shape for optimal function. These devices create a small space between each toe and can be worn barefoot or in certain barefoot/minimalist shoes. When the big toe is braced in the correct position it can help train the muscles and improve bunions.

In this small study people with bunions wore sandals with toe spacers. After 3 months, they all reported significantly less foot pain and better function.

Barefoot shoes like Vibram’s FiveFingers hold each toe in a separate pocket so they’re naturally spaced apart.

Healthy Shoes

Shoes with a narrowing toe box, toes that lift up, and a heel can cause and worsen bunions. The toes are squeezed together, which can dislocate the big toe joint and cause a bunion. Shoes with heels (especially women’s high heels!) put more pressure on the front of the foot and big toe joints.

Even most tennis shoes with their narrow toes and cushioned heels prevent proper muscle movement and put pressure on bunions.

Proceed With Caution

Simply switching to barefoot or minimalist shoes will make the muscles start doing their job again, however, it should be done cautiously. Muscles that aren’t used to activating and supporting the foot can easily become injured when they’re suddenly thrown into barefoot shoes.

Those who aren’t used to barefoot and minimalist shoes should start slowly to avoid injury, especially for exercise and running. Here’s how to find healthy shoe options for adults and kids.

Bunion Exercises

If specific foot muscles aren’t strengthened, the big toe will continue to pull out of place. Our foot muscles control toe splay and function and modern footwear weakens these muscles. Healthy shoes are an important step, but bunion exercises are just as important!

Because we sit far too much in today’s world, this causes inhibition—decreased activity—of several muscle groups, most notably the gluteus maximus and the gluteus medius. There are two muscle groups that keep us upright against gravity–the gluteus maximus and the calves (gastrocnemius and soleus).

When the foot is in plantar flexion, the calves become overactive. This further inhibits the glute muscles which control the joints below the hip. This is why a total-body assessment of your joints and gait pattern proves essential.

Here are some resources for foot exercises and stretches, specifically bunion exercises.

Acupuncture for Bunion Relief

While acupuncture won’t cause a partially dislocated bone to move back in place, it can help reduce inflammation and relieve pain. A 2018 article in JAMA, Effect of Acupuncture vs Sham Acupuncture or Waitlist Control on Joint Pain Related to Aromatase Inhibitors Among Women With Early-Stage Breast Cancer, offers more insight.

The women in this study had joint pain caused by medication. After 6 weeks the acupuncture group reported much less joint pain. 

A 2018 study in a Chinese medical journal looked at acupuncture’s ability to relieve foot inflammation and pain. In this animal study acupuncture treatment worked as well as prescription Methotrexate to relieve joint swelling and bone deformity.

The Bottom Line For How to Get Rid of Bunions

Despite best efforts, some bunions won’t completely disappear or may require surgery. Thankfully though there are plenty of safe, natural approaches to try first.

• Choose footwear that allows toes to spread and muscles to move freely.
• Use exercises to strengthen specific foot and leg muscles.
• Toe spacers can help train toes to stay in the right shape.
• Increase circulation and reduce inflammation.

Word of Caution

Sometimes people with bunions and foot pain have a lot of issues going on in their feet (some they may not even know about!). It’s important to work with a qualified specialist when doing any exercise program to avoid injury.

This article was medically reviewed by Dr. Tim Jackson. He is a Doctor of Physical Therapy and Orthopedic Rehabilitation, and a Functional Medicine provider. He holds a B.S. Degree in Health Science and Chemistry from Wake Forest University. As always, this is not personal medical advice and we recommend that you talk with your doctor.

Have you healed bunions naturally? What worked for you? 

Sources:

1. Anim-Nyame, N., Sooranna, S., Johnson, M., Gamble, J., & Steer, P.(2004). Garlic supplementation increases peripheral blood flow: a role for interleukin-6?. J Nutr Biochem, 15(1), 30-6. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0955286303001670?via%3Dihub
2. Chen, T., Yin, Y., Zhang, R., & Ma, W. (2018). Fire-needle Acupuncture Intervention Relieves Ankle-joint Inflammatory Reactions Possibly by Down-regulating Serum TNF-? and Anti-cyclic Citrullinated Peptide Antibody Levels in Collagen-induced Arthritis Rats. Zhen Ci Yan Jiu, 43(8), 501-5. doi: 10.13702/j.1000-0607.180028.
3. Hershman, D., Unger, J., Greenlee, H., Capodice, J., Lew, D., Darke, A., Kengla, A., Melnik, M., Jorgensen, C., Kreisle, W., Minasian, L., Fisch, M., Henry, L., & Crew, K. (2018). Effect of Acupuncture vs Sham Acupuncture or Waitlist Control on Joint Pain Related to Aromatase Inhibitors Among Women With Early-Stage Breast Cancer. JAMA, 320(2), 167–176. doi: 10.1001/jama.2018.8907
4. John Hopkins Medicine. (n.d.). Bunion Surgery. Retrieved from https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/bunion-surgery
5. Kelly, L., Cresswell, A., Racinais, S., Whiteley, R., & Lichtwark, G. (2014). Intrinsic foot muscles have the capacity to control deformation of the longitudinal arch. Journal of the Royal Society Interface, 11(93), 1-9. . https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsif.2013.1188
6. McClanahan, R. (2017). The Hereditary Bunion Myth. Retrieved from https://www.correcttoes.com/foot-help/hereditary-bunion-myth-part-i-dr-ray-mcclanahan-dpm/
7. Robins, C. (2017). 3 Biggest Myths About Bunions Busted. Retrieved from https://healthymoving.com/blog/yoga/3-biggest-myths-about-bunions-busted/
8. Splichal, E. (2015). Can Toe Spread Sandals Enhance Foot Function? EBFA Research. Retrieved from https://barefootstrongblog.com/2015/06/03/can-toe-spread-sandals-enhance-foot-function-ebfa-research/
9. Tisserand, R. & Young, R. (2014). Essential Oil Safety. Churchill Livingstone Elsevier.

This article was originally published by wellnessmama.com. Read the original article here.

Did you know that the heat of summer could increase your risk of developing kidney stones? It’s true. Experts have found that as you sweat more and become dehydrated, the minerals that usually stay dissolved in your urine can get filtered out, creating a build-up of stones.

That’s particularly if you have a tendency toward getting kidney stones.

If you’ve had kidney stones in the past, you probably know it. Kidney stones can be super painful and can zap you of energy. I’ve struggled with kidney stones myself, so I know from personal experience how awful they can be.

Kidney stones are not something you want to experience while on vacation with family, or taking care of family, or really ever! So, if you think you might be at higher risk, keep reading. I’ll share some ideas in this article on how to avoid them.

What Are Kidney Stones?

Kidney stones are sand- or pebble-like pieces of material that form in the kidneys out of minerals in the urine. They can be fine like grains of sand, coarse like gravel, or even larger, like rocks. (Yikes!) They mostly range in size from a grain of sand to a green pea.

Small stones pass easily through the urinary system, leaving the body through the urethra. The problem comes in when a larger stone gets stuck, creating a blockage.

Kidney stones may or may not cause pain, depending on the size of the stone, and whether there’s also an infection going on.

While kidney stones aren’t as common in women as they are in men, they still affect about 10% of us, and the number is rising for everyone. In fact, kidney stones might affect up to 14.8% of the population.

A lot of the reason has to do with the old culprits: diet and exercise.

Types of Kidney Stones

According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), there are four types of kidney stones. They are named for what they are made out of: calcium oxalate, uric acid, struvite, or cystine.

1. Calcium Stones — 80% of kidney stones are calcium oxalate stones mixed with calcium phosphate. Eating more calcium-rich food doesn’t make you more likely to have these stones.
2. Uric Acid Stones — 5% to 10% of kidney stones are uric acid stones. These stones form when you have too much acid in your urine. This can happen from overeating any kind of meat, but it’s more common from overdoing organ meats.
3. Struvite Stones — If you have a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI), it can cause struvite stones to form. These can come up quickly and cause a lot of pain due to their large size.
4. Cystine Stones — This type of stone isn’t as common as it’s associated with a genetic disorder called Cystinuria. This disorder causes the amino acid cystine to get into the urine, creating cystine stones.

Also, depending on where your stone is located, it will get an additional name. If it’s located in the ureters of your urinary tract, it’ll be called a “ureteral stone.” If it’s in the bladder, you guessed it: It’s called a bladder stone.

If a stone gets stuck in the ureter, it can block the flow of urine, causing pain.

No matter the cause, there are some things you can do to improve your kidney health and lessen your chances of developing stones.

What Are Common Signs of Kidney Stones?

First of all, how do you know if you have kidney stones? Some common symptoms of kidney stones include the following:

• A constant need to pee
• Pain while urinating
• Difficulty peeing — either you can’t at all or can only pee a small amount at a time
• Cloudy urine
• Bad smelling urine
• Severe pain — in the mid to lower back, side, lower abdomen, or groin area.
• Blood in the urine — may show up as pink, red, or brown
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Fever and/or chills

The symptoms may come and go, and the pain could be just a temporary tinge or severe kidney stone pain that lasts.

Testing for Kidney Stones

If you think you might be dealing with kidney stones, it’s best to find out for sure with testing. To find out whether you do have kidney stones, talk to your doctor about the following lab tests:

• Imaging Tests — Examples are ultrasounds, X-rays, and CT scans. These help your doctor see anything unusual in the kidneys, such as a stone.
• Blood Test — A blood test can check for high levels of minerals in the blood that may lead to kidney stones.
• Urine Test — A urine test is similar, in that it can check for minerals in the urine that could lead to kidney stones. It can also determine whether you’re dealing with a Urinary Tract Infection.
• Stone Analysis — Sometimes you can actually see the stones. In that case, you may want to strain out the stones and bring them to your doctor for testing.

Knowing that you have kidney stones, you may wonder how exactly you got them — especially since men are in general more likely to get them than women. Let’s look at some causes of these.

What Causes Kidney Stones?

If any of these habits or issues sound like you, you might be dealing with kidney stones:

Not Drinking Enough Fluids

Not drinking enough water is one of the main causes of kidney stones. It’s one of the main reasons the NIDDK mentions that may increase your likelihood of developing kidney stones. So drink up!

Eating (or Drinking) Too Much Sugar

Eating too much sugar is associated with a greater risk of kidney stones. That especially pertains to fructose.

High fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is one of the main ingredients in soft drinks today. Researchers found that drinking soft drinks, particularly “cola beverages” increased the likelihood a person would end up with kidney stones.

Keep in mind that fructose makes up half of the molecules in white sugar (the other half is glucose). So, if you’re opting for sugar-sweetened soft drinks over the HFCS version, you’re still consuming some fructose.

Eating Too Much in General

If you’re not paying attention, it’s easy to overeat. Here’s another reason to pay attention to overeating patterns: A study of women who were participating in the Women’s Health Initiative found that eating over 2200 calories per day increased their chances of getting kidney stones by up to 42%.

However, the type and source of calories matter.

Not Getting Enough Exercise

If you’re not getting enough exercise, you may not be pumping fluids through your system as well — including urine and its minerals. Plus, if you’re overweight from eating too much while also not getting in enough exercise, you’ll also increase your risk of kidney stones.

Obesity is associated with kidney stones.

Oxalate Overload

Oxalates are anti-nutrients in foods that could form oxalate stones by combining with minerals in the body. You can learn more about oxalates in foods here.

Soy is one of those high oxalate foods that’s associated with kidney stones. In fact, research confirmed that a high soy diet increases the risk of developing kidney stones.

Phthalates

Diethylhexyl Phthalate (DEHP/DOP) is a type of phthalate that accumulates in the kidneys and may increase your risk of kidney stones. It’s in all kinds of building materials and consumer products that you’re likely to find in your home. Examples include roofing materials, flooring, and PVC pipes. It’s also in shower curtains, the plastics in car interiors, and plastic toys.

Read more about DEHP/DOP here.

Fluoride

Taking in too much fluoride can increase your risk for kidney stones. According to a study published in the journal Urology Research, people who live in areas where the drinking water is fluoridated have higher rates of kidney stones.

Kidney stones were almost 5 times more common in an area with high fluoride in the water, compared to an area that had lower fluoride levels in the water.

You can also get fluoride from your toothpaste, dental treatments, antidepressants, and other medications. So, definitely seek out a natural, fluoride-free toothpaste, or you can make your own!

Natural Remedies for Healthy Kidneys

1. Drink More Water

The most important thing to do if you have kidney stones is to drink more water. One study showed that if you drink enough water to make 2 to 2 ½ liters of urine, it could help prevent kidney stones. (Tip from medical reviewer Dr. Tim Jackson: Drink water with electrolytes, especially one that contains potassium! For people prone to kidney stones, too much water without potassium may cause excess excretion of important minerals.)

2. “Just say NO” to sugar

Diabetics are more likely to develop kidney stones than non-diabetics. Also, a study showed that a diet high in refined carbohydrates (sugar and sugar products) was more likely to cause calcium oxalate stones.

3. Avoid high oxalate foods

Oxalates come from foods like soy, almonds, rhubarb, and spinach. When eaten, they can combine with other minerals in the body forming crystals and creating oxalate kidney stones. The famed Cleveland Clinic recommends an “oxalate-controlled” diet for kidney stones.

4. Add lemon & lime juice

Citrus juices like lemon juice can help break down the crystals that form stones. However, watch out for orange juice, as it may be too high in fructose and sugar in general.

5. Drink apple cider vinegar water

Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) seems to be a remedy for just about everything and it comes through again for kidney stones. It likely works as an “alkalizing agent” which has been found to help kidney stones.

6. Try magnesium citrate

Magnesium is known to help prevent stone formation — particularly calcium oxalate stones. The citrate version may be even more effective, as citrates may help break down stones. Learn more about the health benefits of magnesium.

7. Get enough (but not too much) calcium

I know it’s counterintuitive with calcium oxalate stones, but it’s important to get enough calcium in your diet. Research has found that getting enough calcium through food helps lower your risk of kidney stones.

However, taking calcium as a supplement might be another story. Research from the Nurses Health Study found that while dietary calcium lowered the risk of kidney stones, taking calcium supplements increased it.

Enjoy calcium-rich foods, and you may not need to supplement. Combine this with vitamin K to escort calcium to the proper body tissues.

8. Incorporate some aloe vera gel

The citrate and tartrate in 100 grams of the fresh gel (taken twice a day) show potential in breaking down kidney stones.

9. Try Chanca piedra (Phyllanthus niruri)

This Brazilian herb, used in folk medicine for kidney stones, may help prevent the crystallization of calcium, which would otherwise lead to calcium oxalate stones. You can easily find it as a supplement online.

In a Brazilian study of the herb for kidney stones, patients were given 4.5 grams of chanca piedra a day for 3 months. The chanca piedra was found to decrease the size and number of kidney stones in about two-thirds of those who participated in the study. Worth a try!

10. Increase your physical activity

Getting some exercise is important if you’re trying to avoid kidney stones. According to a study published in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (which is all about kidney health), even light exercise could help. What’s considered “light exercise”?

The study found that women’s chances of getting kidney stones were reduced by 31% by doing things like basic walking (2-3 mph) for 3 hours a week, gardening for 4 hours a week, or moderate jogging (6 mph) just an hour a week.

This article was medically reviewed by Dr. Tim Jackson. He is a Doctor of Physical Therapy and Orthopedic Rehabilitation, and a Functional Medicine provider. He holds a B.S. Degree in Health Science and Chemistry from Wake Forest University. As always, this is not personal medical advice and we recommend that you talk with your doctor.

Do you have a natural remedy for kidney stones? If so, please share it with us below!

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23. Curhan, G. C., Willett, W. C., Rimm, E. B., & Stampfer, M. J. (1993). A prospective study of dietary calcium and other nutrients and the risk of symptomatic kidney stones. The New England journal of medicine, 328(12), 833–838. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJM199303253281203
24. Curhan, G. C., Willett, W. C., Speizer, F. E., Spiegelman, D., & Stampfer, M. J. (1997). Comparison of dietary calcium with supplemental calcium and other nutrients as factors affecting the risk for kidney stones in women. Annals of internal medicine, 126(7), 497–504. https://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-126-7-199704010-00001
25. Carberg, L. (June 21, 2021). Summer heat can increase risk of developing kidney stones, health experts say. News8. Accessed from: https://www.wtnh.com/news/health/summer-heat-can-increase-risk-of-developing-kidney-stones-health-experts-say/

This article was originally published by wellnessmama.com. Read the original article here.

Carsick, airsick, or seasick—most of us have experienced some type of motion sickness (clinically called kinetosis) at one time or another. It’s most common in children two to twelve years old and women, but anyone at any age get it. Cars, planes, and boats are the most common places, but some people can experience motion sickness in an elevator, on a roller coaster, on a swing, playing virtual reality games, riding horses, or even just thinking about it. It usually starts with feelings of nausea followed by any combination of cold sweats, vomiting, dizziness, headaches, drowsiness, irritability, increased salivation, or burping. And the symptoms can last anywhere from a few minutes to several hours.

Potential Cause

Even though many people experience motion sickness, it’s not well understood, and its cause is unknown. Theoretically, it’s caused by a sensory conflict or miscommunication between your inner ear, eyes, and other sensory nerves (proprioceptive systems) throughout your body. When these systems are sending different messages to the brain, the conflicting information expresses itself as sickness. For example, if you’re riding in a car, your eyes may send messages to your brain that you’re in motion, but because you’re sitting, your ears and muscles can send messages that you’re not moving. The different messaging leads the brain to be confused or misaligned, causing the symptoms of motion sickness.

Ways to Prevent or Remedy

There’s no cure for motion sickness, but preventing or catching the symptoms early on minimizes their severity. It helps to identify what triggers your symptoms and then try different things to prevent or ease them. Some remedies work better than others; here are some options to consider.

This article is for informational purposes only. It is not, nor is it intended to be, a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment and should never be relied upon for specific medical advice. To the extent that this article features the advice of physicians or medical practitioners, the views expressed are the views of the cited expert and do not necessarily represent the views of goop.

This article was originally published by goop.com. Read the original article here.

I’m always looking for the safest way to deal with my family’s minor health issues — and that includes our pets too! Fleas are a common issue with cats and dogs but conventional flea products are chemical-heavy. I wanted to find a safer option for keeping fleas away and dealing with infestations when they occur. So I did some research and found these natural flea remedies for pets.

How Did My Pet Get Fleas?

Adult fleas are tiny bugs (no larger than 1/8 inch) that can be brown or black in color. They feed on the blood of pets and other animals. Fleas get around by jumping — making it easy for fleas to pass from pet to pet in your house or neighborhood.

Fleas are most problematic in the spring and summer when the weather is warmer. They need a host (your pet) to live their full life cycle but can live for a few days in your home, yard, or local park as well. It’s very easy for pets who go outside to get fleas!

Does My Pet Have Fleas?

If your pet is scratching more than usual and seems uncomfortable, they may have fleas. The easiest way to tell if your pet has fleas is to lay him on a white towel and brush him. If there is a lot of dirt that falls off, you likely have a flea problem. This dirt is called flea dirt and is a mixture of flea poop and blood. To be sure you’re looking at flea dirt, moisten the dirt on the white towel or on a paper towel. If it turns red or reddish-brown, you know your pet has fleas.

Natural Flea Remedies That Work

Once a pet has fleas, they can be tough to get rid of. They can even infest your home! Here are my favorite natural flea control remedies I use when my pets start itching from fleas:

Optimal Health

The best way to keep your pets from getting fleas is to optimize their health so flea infestations are less likely to occur. A healthy body is more able to fend off fleas.

Feeding your pets a whole foods diet is a great way to optimize their health. I make homemade dog food for our dogs since it’s the most cost-effective way to feed them. But I’ve also purchased this high-quality (raw and grain-free) dog food and am very happy with it. They also sell quality cat food if you have cats in your home.

You can also give your pet probiotics and other supplements that can help as well. I discuss this with Veterinarian Dr. Rob Franklin in a podcast episode where he gives some strategies for optimizing pets’ health (including emotional health too!). One of my favorite additions to my pets’ diet is coconut oil for high-quality fat that helps support healthy skin, coats, and digestion.

Use a Flea Comb

A flea comb has teeth that are closely spaced so it can remove fleas from your pet. This is helpful to begin the process of getting rid of fleas but can also be helpful in identifying how infested your pet really is. Do this outside if possible to keep fleas out of the house.

Give Them a Bath

After your pet is combed, a bath is the next step. As with most parasites, fleas don’t like clean hosts as much as dirty ones. So bathing your pet can help. The soapy water will also help remove and drown fleas. Use a natural flea shampoo or citrus-scented castile soap (use unscented for cats).

Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar (ACV) is a go-to in my home for everything from food poisoning to dandruff. But ACV is also helpful in pets. ACV is thought to help balance the pH in your pet’s body, which helps repel fleas. While there aren’t any studies on this action, many pet owners find that it works to keep fleas away as well as deal with an infestation.

Add ACV to your pets’ food (not water) to help get rid of fleas. Use ½-1 teaspoon of ACV per 25 lb of body weight for dogs. For cats, use just ¼ teaspoon.

You can also use ACV in a topical natural flea repellent spray. Mix 1 part water and 1 part ACV in a spray bottle. Spray on your pet (not in their eyes!) to keep fleas from hitching a ride. This may not be as helpful when your pet already has an infestation but it does help keep fleas away.

Essential Oil

There are a number of essential oils that help deter bugs including ticks and fleas. Some of my favorites include:

• cedarwood

• eucalyptus

• geranium

• lemongrass

• peppermint

• lavender

• catnip

• neem

Essential oils always need to be used carefully as they are highly concentrated oils. But we need to be even more careful using essential oils with cats. According to Pet Poison Helpline, cats do not have an essential enzyme to process and remove essential oils from the body. This means essential oils may build up in their body causing toxicity. For this reason, many vets recommend not using essential oils with cats.

However, cedarwood essential oil is likely safe for cats when used safely and will help with fleas.

Always dilute essential oils in a carrier oil before applying. You can also add them to the apple cider vinegar spray mentioned above.

Diatomaceous Earth

Diatomaceous earth (DE) is a finely powdered natural fossilized form of diatoms (a type of algae). Because of its microscopic rough edges, it can cut through the exoskeleton of the flea, killing it. To use DE, sprinkle on your pet’s dry coat.

DE can also be used in your house to get rid of fleas that have jumped off your pets. Fill an old stocking with DE and shake it out around the edges of the rooms in your house. You will have a fine white powder on the floors that will kill insects but will not harm your pets or children. Just be sure to use food-grade DE.

How to Get Rid of Fleas in Your House

If you don’t get rid of the fleas and flea eggs in your home, your pets are likely to get reinfested. Here’s what you need to do:

• Vacuum everything – Vacuuming will help get fleas and eggs that are on carpets, wood floors, curtains, and other places where you can most easily clean with a vacuum.

• Wash all bedding – Especially places where your pets hang out. Use hot water if possible.

• Use DE – As mentioned earlier, sprinkling DE around your home can kill fleas easily. Leave the DE in your home for a few days. Then sweep and vacuum it up (try to sweep up as much as you can since DE can be tough on vacuum filters). If you can’t get DE, salt or baking soda may work too.

• Create a flea trap – Place a bowl or shallow dish of soapy water (dish soap works well)  in your home near infested areas. Fleas will jump in and drown because of the high viscosity of the soapy water.

House cleaning should be done as soon as you have used your chosen natural remedy for your pet. You want to try and minimize the possibility of fleas reinfesting your pet from the house or fleas from your pet reinfesting your home.

Flea Home Remedies: Keep Your Pets Safe and Healthy

Flea infestations can be a huge frustration for you and your pets! But these natural flea remedies are simple to use at home with ingredients you may already have on hand.

This article was medically reviewed by Dr. Rob Franklin, a veterinarian with Full Bucket Health. As always, this is not personal medical advice and we recommend that you talk with your family vet.

How do you get rid of fleas? Have you found a natural method that works?

This article was originally published by wellnessmama.com. Read the original article here.

Constipation is never fun to deal with and can often become a major concern if it becomes long-term — especially in our kiddos. However, it is a great indicator of their overall health! There are multiple reasons for constipation in children, some of which may be surprising to you.

While it makes sense to think of constipation as a problem in the gut, in this article I’ll look at some of the brain-based causes of constipation that are often overlooked when trying to relieve constipation naturally.

What Is Constipation?

Constipation has been estimated to affect up to 30% of children worldwide. According to the National Institute of Health, constipation is defined as having less than 3 bowel movements per week. It may also be diagnosed in cases where stool is difficult or painful to pass.

The optimal number of bowel movements may vary depending on age. Bowel movements for infants may occur anywhere from 3-6 times per day whereas children and adults may have 1-3. The stool should be well-formed and easy to pass.

What Are Common Signs Of Constipation?

Adults may know full well when they are constipated, but it’s harder for kids to understand and communicate what’s going on.

Constipation doesn’t just mean a lack of bowel movements. Slow movement of food through the gastrointestinal tract can be identified by observing some of the following signs and symptoms:

• Increased regurgitation and irritability in infants
• Difficulty passing stools possibly becoming red in the face while trying
• Hard stools
• Complaints of pain with bowel movements
• Complaints of stomach pain
• Gas
• Wide stools
• Stool that resembles small pellets
• Decreased appetite
• Less than 3 bowel movements per week. A minimum of one bowel movement per day is ideal.
• When looking for signs of constipation, focusing on the frequency of bowel movements, the transit time of food through the tract, and ease of passing the stool will help to gauge potential problems.

What Causes Constipation?

There are multiple factors that may contribute to constipation. Constipation in both children and adults may be due to medical conditions or some minor digestive dysfunction.

Each case is unique, so it’s always wise to check with a doctor to rule out more serious medical problems. Signs of a deeper problem include fever, vomiting, significant weight loss, and in the case of babies or small children, unusual fussiness.

Some common medical conditions that cause constipation are:

• Problems with the muscles and nerves that control bowel movements
• Certain medications may cause constipation
• Diseases of the colon

Another cause of constipation may actually be the result of a dysfunction in the brain-gut connection. How, you may ask? Let me explain. We will work our way from the top (brain) down (gut)!

The Brain-Gut Connection

The brain and the gut have a very close relationship. They communicate frequently with one another and when one is affected, the other is equally affected.

The brain’s job is to take all of the senses from the environment and direct the other body functions to keep the body in a state of balance (this is called homeostasis). Everything from the proper release of hormones to the right balance of digestive enzymes relies on the brain.

The brain is responsible for sending signals to the digestive tract to move food through the tube. It sends messages that trigger the release of specific chemicals and enzymes to break down food and create enough blood flow to the area to deliver nutrients.

The gastrointestinal tract is made of a long tube that extends from the mouth to the anus. This tube is full of various bacteria, enzymes, nerves, and muscles that help propel food through the tube. It is our only internal system that has direct contact with the outside food we consume. We know our digestive tract absorbs nutrients from food. It can also absorb harmful toxins if consumed. Both nutrients and toxins are delivered to various body systems including the brain.

Toxins from processed foods, refined sugar, and artificial ingredients can keep the brain from sending appropriate signals to the digestive tract to promote movement. Voila… the right conditions for constipation!

How Does the Brain Talk to the Gut?

The brain talks to our gut through the autonomic nervous system, or ANS for short. The ANS controls the function of organs such as our heart, lungs, stomach, gut, liver, kidneys. In other words, it is pretty important! The ANS makes up 90% of brain output and does not require any voluntary control. This is how our heart rate, breathing, blood circulation, and digestions happens without our having to think about it.

The autonomic nervous system is divided into two parts:

The Parasympathetic Nervous System

This is the side of the ANS that we should be in most of the time. This is our “rest, digest, repair, and heal” side. When in this state, our blood pressure decreases, heart rate normalizes, sleep improves, digestion works, and bowel movement increases.

The vagus nerve is the main nerve of the parasympathetic nervous system. It is the connection between the brain and the digestive tract. It requires proper stimulation from the brain to communicate with the gut and tell it what to do. If the function of the parasympathetic nervous system is depressed, then the brain-gut communication is reduced.

The Sympathetic Nervous System

The sympathetic nervous system increases during times of stress. This is our “fight or flight” response. Stress can be in the form of toxins, emotional or physical stress, trauma, lack of stimulation, food sensitivities, etc. Our heart rate increases, blood pressure rises, stored energy is released for fuel, and functions that are not so important such as digestion come to a halt.

In an ideal world, a fight or flight situation should last a short time and then subside. It is more common today that we are in more of sympathetic rather than a parasympathetic state. This means that digesting our food is rarely our body’s main focus leading to digestion problems, inability to absorb nutrients, and slow motility.

Causes for Brain-Based Constipation

There are multiple reasons why an imbalance in the autonomic nervous system may lead to constipation. Here are a few reasons to investigate.

• Situational factors — Changes in natural rhythms or routines may unintentionally cause a sympathetic response. These factors may include travel, a problem at school or work, or anything that causes a change in routine or schedule. When this occurs, the body is more prepared to fight the potential threat that is present rather than digesting the food that is sitting in the gut. Keeping daily activity patterns as routine as possible may help to calm this stress response.
• Stress and anxiety — This also falls right in line with the “fight or flight” response. A skewed perception of our world can increase the activation of the sympathetic nervous system which then leads to a decrease in the “rest and digest” nervous system. Leading to… you guessed it… constipation and digestive problems.

How Does the Gut Influence the Brain?

So we know the brain talks to our guts, but how does the gut talk back?

Believe it or not, the gut has its own nervous system embedded within the walls of the gut referred to as the enteric nervous system. It can actually work independently from the brain-controlling actions of digestion such as breaking down food into small particles, absorbing nutrients, and eliminating waste products.

These processes require chemical reactions mixing and mushing to push everything through the tubes in a timely fashion. When the foods we consume are full of anti-nutrients stress takes over and the enteric nervous system begins to malfunction.

Causes for Gut-Based Constipation

Constipation may also be caused by basic digestive tract or a problem with the enteric nervous system. To determine if this is the case, here are a few causes for digestive-tract-based constipation:

• Avoiding a bowel movement — This may be due to timing,  fear of discomfort or pain, or if a preoccupied child decided to refrain from taking a potty break. Identifying and observing internal cues can be a process that may result in some constipation during transition. When defecation is avoided, water eventually leaves the colon preventing easy passage of stool.
• A poor diet — A diet high in refined and processed foods (the Standard American Diet) filled with artificial ingredients and dyes may cause constipation. This creates inflammation in the body which slows movement in the digestive tract. Decreasing inflammation by eliminating these foods in the diet may promote more frequent bowel movements.
• A low fiber diet — We all know how difficult it can be to get our kids to eat more vegetables but dietary fiber may be the one thing lacking in their diet that is contributing to a difficult bowel movement.
• Dehydration/lack of water consumption — Drinking water helps push the fiber through the digestive tract to be eliminated. It is not uncommon for chronic constipation to be resolved after simply increasing water intake. Simple solutions — just the way we like it!
• Food sensitivities — Food sensitivities tend to increase inflammation. Inflammation is a stress response in the body and may cause constipation.
• Imbalance in microflora or bacterial overgrowth — When food moves too slowly through the GI tract, diets are high in sugars and poor in nutrients, and exposures to toxins exist, bad bacteria in the gut may overpower the good. Not only does this lead to various digestive complaints such as gas, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, but those microbes are responsible for sending chemical messages and nutrients up to the brain to kick that parasympathetic nervous system into gear!

Natural Remedies for Constipation

So how do we reverse the cycle and let the body do its job of keeping the body in balance?

1. Increase “Rest and Digest” and Decrease “Fight or Flight” Activity

According to Datis Kharrazian, in addition to dietary changes and supplementation, certain neurological exercises may be used to treat constipation. Performing certain exercises that are able to stimulate the vagus nerve connecting the brain and the gut may help to relieve constipation. This is because stimulation of the vagus nerve increases the “rest and digest” activity. These exercises must be done on a consistent basis in order for results to be seen, but once achieved the positive changes should be maintained.

• Gargling — forcefully gargling with water multiple times per day to the point that it becomes slightly uncomfortable helps to stimulate the vagus nerve.
• Gagging — this one is obviously not as fun — touching the muscles on the back of the tongue stimulates the gag reflex which then helps to activate the vagus nerve.
• Humming or singing loudly — another great way for you and your kids to have fun while promoting digestion and bowel movements. The action of singing stimulates the same muscles in the back of the throat activating the vagus nerve.
• Hot packs on the abdomen or abdominal massage — helps to relax the muscles of the abdomen allowing for an increase in bowel movements.
• For young children, gargling, gagging, and humming may not be possible. If this is the case, therapeutic massage and warm packs on the abdomen may be utilized to stimulate the vagus nerve.

2. Use Food as a Constipation Remedy

In the brilliant words of Hippocrates, “Let food be thy medicine!” Consuming the right foods for both brain and gut function can have a profound effect on relieving constipation.

Let’s take a look at a few options…

• High-fiber foods are natural laxatives. Be sure to increase these slowly with plenty of water: fruits, vegetables, nuts, beans, potatoes, squash, avocado, chia, flax seed, pumpkin seeds, pumpkin, green leafy vegetables (high in magnesium).
• Psyllium husk
• Prunes, prune juice, and figs (in moderation due to high sugar)
• Increase water intake (drinking warm water also helps)
• Aloe vera water
• Avoid processed foods especially foods such as dairy, white bread, pasta, other gluten-filled grains, and fast food.

3. Try Natural Supplements to Help Constipation

Beyond using food as a means to relieve constipation, other supplemental remedies may be helpful.

Here are a few that may be worth giving a try:

4. Other Home Remedies for Constipation

When food and supplements are not enough to provide relief, lifestyle changes may be needed. These lifestyle changes are good to begin incorporating in our day-to-day practices preventing constipation altogether.

• Improving overall digestion naturally with a healthy diet always has the potential to be the best constipation remedy!
• Squatty Potty — the purchase of this little gem allows us to position our bodies in a way (a squatting position) that takes away the tension on the rectum that occurs when we sit. A 7-9 inch size adjustable squatty potty would be beneficial for most children.
• For kids, examine their routine — As we know, our kids can become easily amused with others things outside of bathroom habits placing the need to poop on the back burner of priorities. Routine would be helpful in preventing such scenarios.

This article was medically reviewed by Dr. Scott Soerries, MD, Family Physician and Medical Director of SteadyMD. As always, this is not personal medical advice and we recommend that you talk with your doctor.

Do you have a natural remedy that has helped relieve constipation? Share it with us below!

Sources:

1. Nurko S, Zimmerman LA. Evaluation and Treatment of Constipation in Children and Adolescents. American Family Physician. https://www.aafp.org/afp/2014/0715/p82.html. Published July 15, 2014.
   Constipation. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/constipation.
2. Constipation in infants and children: MedlinePlus Medical. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003125.htm&p=DevEx.LB.1,5528.1. Accessed April 6, 2018.
3. Overview of the Autonomic Nervous System – Brain, Spinal Cord, and Nerve Disorders. Merck Manuals Consumer Version. https://www.merckmanuals.com/home/brain,-spinal-cord,-and-nerve-disorders/autonomic-nervous-system-disorders/overview-of-the-autonomic-nervous-system.
4. Hadhazy A. Think Twice: How the Gut’s “Second Brain” Influences Mood and Well-Being. Scientific American. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/gut-second-brain/. Published February 12, 2010.
   Corliss J. Probiotics may ease constipation. Harvard Health Blog. https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/probiotics-may-ease-constipation-201408217377. Published November 28, 2017.
5. Kharrazian, D. (2012). Why isn’t my brain working?. Pp.131-167

This article was originally published by wellnessmama.com. Read the original article here.

If you’ve ever had food poisoning, you know how miserable it is. I always keep natural remedies for food poisoning in my natural medicine cabinet ever since I experienced food poisoning myself (many of these remedies I already had for other uses!).

After a lovely date with my husband on a Wednesday night, I started to have a weird feeling in my stomach. I drank some apple cider vinegar, which is my normal remedy for any kind of tummy troubles and the feeling went away… until 3 a.m.

At 3 a.m., I was awoken by that feeling of needing to vomit but not being able to. I spent the next few hours with horribly cramping stomach aches and awful nausea. Then the vomiting hit… and did it ever!

I’ll spare you the rest of the details, but basically, I couldn’t keep anything down, including water, for the next 8 hours and I had really bad stomach cramps, dizziness, chills, etc. In fact, I had every food poisoning symptom.

Causes of Food Poisoning

Food poisoning can be caused by bacteria, viruses, or parasites present in contaminated food. Some foods are more likely to carry these pathogens (like raw meat and other animal products) but any food handled improperly can become contaminated. I take food safety very seriously at my home, but we have less control when we’re out. However, we try to only eat at restaurants that have zero food safety violations to avoid food poisoning.

Some of the most common pathogens responsible for cases of food poisoning include:

• Listeria
• Salmonella
• Campylobacter
• Clostridium perfringens
• Staphylococcus aureus
• Escherichia coli (E. coli)
• Shigella

The above common causes of food poisoning are not the only pathogens responsible for foodborne illness though. Despite there being many causes of foodborne illness, natural remedies for food poisoning should work for all of them.

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Food Poisoning?

Food poisoning is fairly easy to recognize. Symptoms include:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Watery or bloody diarrhea
• Abdominal pain and cramps
• Fever or chills

The above symptoms may also be present if you catch a stomach bug, so it can be difficult to tell the two apart sometimes.

Food poisoning comes on quickly and strongly and is usually within a few hours (up to 6) after eating a meal. Bloody diarrhea is typically a symptom of food poisoning but not a stomach bug.

Food poisoning (also known as foodborne illness) is often more severe than a stomach bug as well. Stomach bugs (often caused by norovirus) may come on slower, last longer, and generally be less intense.

Natural Remedies for Food Poisoning

When I got food poisoning I was very happy to have a few natural remedies already at home ready to use. Here are the most common food poisoning natural remedies:

Apple Cider Vinegar

At some point when I had food poisoning, I was debating going to the hospital to get an IV so I would have some fluids to be able to nurse the baby. Then I remembered the apple cider vinegar (ACV) and how it had helped for a few hours. So I tried it again and it worked!

A 2018 study confirms apple cider vinegar’s ability to kill pathogens. Researchers discovered that ACV has antimicrobial properties against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans.

This is important because when it comes to food poisoning, we don’t want to just get rid of symptoms since they are doing their job of riding the body of the invader. But ACV actually helps kill the pathogen that causes food poisoning while offering some relief from symptoms.

ACV is safe for most people, including children and women who are pregnant or nursing. According to an article on Harvard Health Publishing, long term use may cause potassium level issues, insulin level issues, or tooth enamel loss, so it’s best to use it judiciously (like for food poisoning). Doses of 1-2 teaspoons of ACV mixed in water or juice is good for adults. For children, cut this dose in half.

At first signs of symptoms, I took equal parts water (or juice) and apple cider vinegar (organic, with the mother!) and that did the trick.

Activated Charcoal

I also remembered something I learned in a class long ago about activated charcoal being a fast remedy for food poisoning. Activated charcoal can be helpful in dealing with severe to life-threatening intoxications including food poisoning. It does this by binding to the pathogen and removing it from the body. Activated charcoal is safe for most people including pregnant or nursing women and children.

The review stipulates that activated charcoal should be taken as soon as possible after the ingestion for the best effect. Dosage is 0.5 to 1 g/kg body weight in children or 50 g in adults. It’s generally a good idea to taper off the dosage if you take it more than once. Dosages may be different for different people and cases, so it’s always good to check with your doctor.

I took way less than the recommended dose (1/2 tsp) activated charcoal mixed into applesauce after taking the ACV. Within a few minutes, I started to feel a lot better. I repeated the regimen until I didn’t have symptoms.

Herbal Tea

Another helpful remedy for food poisoning is herbal tea. As mentioned earlier, we don’t want to simply mask the symptoms of food poisoning because they are doing their job. So a remedy that eases upset isn’t necessarily what you want (though you would feel better in the short term). However, along with the above remedies that deal with the underlying cause, a cup of herbal tea can be very soothing to a sore stomach. Here are my favorite stomach soothing herbal teas:

These herbs are generally safe for children and pregnant or nursing women in small amounts, but to be safe, always check with your healthcare provider. In addition to easing stomach upset, taking small sips of these teas can help the body stay hydrated once vomiting has eased up a bit.

Recovering From Food Poisoning: Home Remedies

When the vomiting, diarrhea, and nausea start to subside, you’ll still want to be cautious about what you put in your stomach. Here are some ways to recover from food poisoning according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease :

• Ease into food and drink – You may be especially thirsty after food poisoning, but you’ll want to ease into ingesting anything. Start with a few sips of water or tea and then drink a bit more if you’re still feeling okay.
• Electrolyte water – For rehydration, drinking water or an electrolyte drink such as coconut water or an electrolyte drink can help.
• Avoid some foods – It’s best to start with bland foods. Carbohydrates like sweet potatoes are a good choice when reintroducing food after food poisoning. Fruit may also be easy enough on the stomach. Bone broth is my favorite food for getting some nutrition without causing upset in the stomach. Stay away from dairy products, grains, legumes, greasy or fried foods, or anything else that could cause digestive upset.
• Take it easy when getting back to your regular daily schedule – Give yourself a chance to recuperate and nap if needed. Food poisoning is draining on the body so you may need extra rest.

Bottom line: Give the body some time to get better before jumping back into a regular diet and daily schedule.

When to Call the Doctor

Pregnant women, children, and older adults are at higher risk of complications from food poisoning, so it’s best to call the doctor to get medical advice right away. If you’re nursing, you need to be extra attentive to your hydration levels and may need an IV for fluids. You may also want to call if you have:

• bloody stool or vomit  I might add that certain kinds of bloody diarrhea can lead to more serious health complications – but you’ve got it covered by saying call the doctor if there is bloody diarrhea
• severe stomach cramping
• Inability to keep liquids down for 12-24 hours or signs of dehydration (excessive thirst, dry mouth, dizziness, little or no urination, severe weakness, or lightheadedness)
• Diarrhea for more than three days
• An oral temperature higher than 104 degrees F

Also, follow your intuition. If you feel that you need extra support, follow that feeling. Give your doctor a call and get medical care if needed.

This article was medically reviewed by Dr. Lauren Jefferis, board-certified in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics. As always, this is not personal medical advice and we recommend that you talk with your doctor or work with a doctor at SteadyMD.

Ever had food poisoning? How did you recover?

Sources:

1. Yagnik, D., Serafin, V., & Shah, A. J. (2018). Antimicrobial activity of apple cider vinegar against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans; downregulating cytokine and microbial protein expression. Scientific Reports, 8(1). doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-18618-x https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5788933/
2. Zellner, T., Prasa, D., Färber, E., Hoffmann-Walbeck, P., Genser, D., & Eyer, F. (2019). The use of activated charcoal to treat intoxications. Deutsches Aerzteblatt Online. doi: 10.3238/arztebl.2019.0311 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6620762/
3. Shmerling, R. H. (2020, April 22). Apple cider vinegar diet: Does it really work? Retrieved from https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/apple-cider-vinegar-diet-does-it-really-work-2018042513703
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TEA TREE OIL

In the cosmetic industry, tea tree oil is used to keep skin, hair, and nails healthy. But science shows that it is has a whole other variety of health benefits. Native to Australia, Aborigines have been using tea tree oil for centuries, specifically for coughs, colds, and wounds. The oil is a natural hand sanitiser, as well as an antiseptic, but the most interesting property in tea tree oil is its ability to treat acne. Studies have shown that it can be as effective as the most common anti-acne medicine, benzoyl peroxide.

Tip: Whilst it’s not suggested to digest tea tree oil, you can gargle it to help with mouth ulcers, toothache, and bad gums. 

ELDERFLOWER

The extract taken from elderflower is used for sinusitis, colds, and allergies. It’s also a diuretic and diaphoretic, increasing urine and sweat production. This is ideal for flus and infections. It has high antioxidant content and Vitamin C, which boosts your immune system, and in turn helping fight off illness and disease.

Ingredients

• 20 heads of elderflower , freshly picked
• 300g caster sugar
• 2 lemons , halved and juiced (reserve the halves)

Method

• Choose elderflowers with clean, creamy white petals, snipping the stalk just before the flowers fan out. Put in a large pan with the sugar and 550ml water, the lemon juice and the juiced halves of the lemons. Bring to a gentle simmer, then turn off the heat and leave to infuse (and the sugar to dissolve) for at least 1 hr or up to 5 hrs.
• Line a large sieve with muslin and set over a bowl or pan. Strain the mixture and discard the flower heads and lemons. Pour into a freezeable container (preferably one with a lid) and freeze for 2-3 hrs until semi-frozen.
• Scrape the semi-frozen mixture into a food processor or blender and blitz to break down the lumps of ice – you may need to scrape down the sides a few times. Put the sorbet back in the container and freeze for another 1-2 hrs.
• Repeat this process another two or three times. The more times you blend the sorbet, the smoother it will be. Will keep frozen for up to three months. To serve, remove from the freezer and leave to stand for 5 mins before scooping. 

GREEN TEA

Known as one of the healthiest drinks on the planet, green tea is full of antioxidants which help with brain function, fat loss, and oral hygiene. Green tea reduces blood sugar levels by improving insulin sensitivity, making it an ideal beverage for a Type 2 diabetic. It is most known to help with fat loss by increasing metabolism and fat burning, but this may be due to the caffeine. Some studies have even shown that drinking green tea might make you live longer!

Tip: Try your green tea iced with mint and honey for a jam-packed health kick!

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