Top Three Natural Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Remedies
If you’re like most adults in the United States, you probably spend a significant portion of your day typing on the computer or scrolling on a smartphone.
All this technology usage puts a lot of strain on your hands and wrists and increases your risk of developing a painful condition known as carpal tunnel syndrome, which occurs when the median nerve of the wrist becomes compressed.
If you’re already starting to experience symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome — such as pain, stiffness, and swelling in the hands and fingers — try these three natural remedies to relieve your discomfort.
1. Stretch and Strengthen Your Hand Muscles
One of the best things you can do to ease pain from carpal tunnel syndrome and prevent it from getting worse is to stretch and strengthen your hand muscles on a regular basis. Some exercises you can do to improve your mobility and relieve swelling and pain include:
Forearm stretch: Kneel on all fours with your wrists under your shoulders. Rotate your wrists so your fingers are facing inward, then lean back while keeping your palms flat on the ground.
Wrist extensions: Extend one arm in front of you with fingers pointing up. Use the opposite hand to grasp the fingers and pull them toward the body to feel a stretch in the wrist.
Finger extensions and flexions: Extend your hands with palms facing down and flex the fingers to create a “claw” shape. Then, straighten them and spread them as far as you’re able.
Grip strengthening exercises: Squeeze therapy putty, a stress ball, or another grip strengthening tool to strengthen the hands, fingers, and forearms.
Think you don’t have time to exercise? Remember, you can do all these exercises while you’re watching TV at the end of the day.
Also Read: Best Wrist Braces For Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
2. Consume Anti-Inflammatory Herbs and Spices
To reduce the pain, stiffness, and inflammation that are caused by carpal tunnel syndrome, consider incorporating some of these anti-inflammatory herbs and spices into your diet. You can consume them in the form of tea, or add dried versions to your favorite foods.
Willow Bark: Willow bark contains salicylates, the same chemicals that are found in aspirin, and works wonders for relieving inflammation and pain. Remember, willow bark, like aspirin, is a blood thinner, so talk to your doctor before taking.
Capsicum: Capsicum, or cayenne, contains compounds that are known for relieving pain and fighting off inflammation. The most well-known compound is capsaicin, which is used in many topical pain relievers. You can get the same benefits, without a bunch of added chemicals, by adding powdered cayenne pepper to unscented lotion and applying it to your wrists and hands.
Turmeric: Turmeric contains a compound known as curcumin, which is a potent anti-inflammatory. You can buy turmeric capsules to reap the benefits of curcumin, or you can just sprinkle powdered turmeric liberally on your food — just make sure you’re adding black pepper, too, to increase the curcumin’s bioavailability.
3. Eat More Omega-3s
In addition to adding the herbs mentioned above into your diet, it’s also important to start incorporating more omega-3 fatty acids if you want to reduce inflammation throughout the body.
There are three types of omega-3 fatty acids that your body needs to function properly, so it’s important to eat a variety of omega-3 rich foods in order to see the greatest benefits.
The first type of omega-3 is alpha-linolenic acid, also known as ALA. It is found in some animal fats, but it’s also abundant in a number of plant foods, including:
Kale
Spinach
Walnuts
Soybeans
Chia seeds
Flaxseeds
Hemp seeds
Next is eicosapentaenoic acid, or EPA. EPA is most plentiful in fish like salmon, herring, shrimp, eel, and sturgeon. You can also find it in grass-fed dairy and meat.
Last, but not least, is docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA. DHA is found in grass-fed meat, eggs, and dairy, as well as in algae and fatty fish like salmon, mackerel, and sardines.
Dealing with carpal tunnel syndrome is a pain — literally — but these three natural remedies can help you relieve your pain and prevent your condition from getting worse while also improving your overall health and functionality. Give them a try today!
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5 Tips to Sleep Better When You Have a Cold
Let’s face it, folks: sometimes when you’re feeling sick, a good night’s rest just isn’t forthcoming.
What’s up with that, anyway? It should be the exact opposite. Being sick should make you want to stay in bed longer, too groggy to move, sleeping as much as you can to replenish and rejuvenate your world weary soul.
But no. No, trying to sleep while you’re sick is a lot like trying to run a triathlon when you haven’t slept a wink in 48 hours. In other words, it feels impossible.
So how does one manage to get to sleep while they have the cold or the flu without being up half the night trying to figure out how to do so, rearranging their pillows over and over again?
We’ve decided to look more closely into the matter and see what vast array of helpful solutions we could find in order to help you save time and catch more precious Zs while you’re at it.
Here are 5 tips to help you sleep better when you have a cold.
Read on and rest up!
Drink something before bed (but not alcohol)
This may sound like a given, but drinking a soothing drink before you go to sleep when you’re feeling under the weather is a go-to fix for flu-related sleep disruption. You’ve heard of drinking chamomile tea, green tea, or some other flavor of tea just to help you find that precious boarding pass for the sleep train.
But have you ever heard of drinking Ovaltine?
You heard that right, folks: be sure to drink your Ovaltine. Strangely enough, this piece of advice isn’t just an ironic gag found in the classic holiday film The Christmas Story, it’s also helpful when you want to get to sleep when you’re sick. The magnesium in Ovaltine combined with its high caloric content will help you make your appointment with the Sandman sooner rather than later. If you don’t have any Ovaltine handy, you can always resort to using hot chocolate instead.
And, like the heading of this particular list entry says, don’t drink alcohol before bed if you’re sick. Not only will it dehydrate you, it’ll complicate symptoms of your cold or flu and make your sinuses all swelled up. Not worth it.
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Elevate your head when lying down
When you’re in bed, you’re horizontal, which means all of the congested ickiness that’s happening within your sinuses is going to make you even more stuffed up, causing sore throats and heavy coughing galore.
This is why you should set up plenty of pillows underneath your head and neck so you can avoid this pitfall of sleeping when influenza-ed.
Try a nasal decongestant
Speaking of which, the benefits of using a nasal spray decongestant to clear out your sinuses before you drift off to sleep are many.
Using a nasal decongestant – or a saline nasal spray made of salt water – won’t have a detrimental effect on your ability to sleep. In fact, it will irrigate your clogged up nose and make breathing through it a whole lot easier. Obviously, this means that you’ll get better sleep as a result. Why not go for it?
Take a hot shower
What better way to clear your head and relax your body than with a hot shower? Shower steam has been proven to be a great, natural way to alleviate congestion. All you have to do is walk in, stand up, let the water pour over you, and slowly inhale the vapors as they drift up into your breathing passages.
If you want an extra boost, try using essential oils, like lavender or eucalyptus, to cut through the rest of the blockages that the steam can’t get to. Plus, after you’re done with the shower, your body’s temperature will drop, which helps you relax and get into sleep mode more quickly.
Eat Chicken Soup for dinner
Yes, it’s cliche. But this tried and true piece of advice on how to minimize physical side effects of having a cold or the flu is ubiquitous and run into the ground for a darn good reason: it works.
Homemade or canned, chicken noodle soup has anti-inflammatory properties that help soothe your body and help it switch gears into healing mode. If you’re looking for something a little bit less Americanized, order takeout, like Tom Yum soup from your local Thai restaurant, or Pho from a Vietnamese place nearby. (If you have those things where you live, that is.)
We hope that these helpful tips on how to get to sleep when you’re not feeling so great have been somewhat helpful. If not, try to listen to your body and see what would make it feel more comfortable and ready to rest might be.
But whatever you do, you must keep this word of wisdom in mind at all times: be sure to drink your Ovaltine. Goodnight, folks!
Five Ways to Reduce Anxiety Naturally
Approximately 18 percent of adults report living with an anxiety disorder. If you’re part of this group but don’t want to take prescription anti-anxiety drugs (which come with a number of dangerous side effects), consider giving one of these five natural treatments a try.
1. Drink Tea
Many studies have shown that caffeine can increase anxiety symptoms. Try swapping out your morning coffee for some herbal tea.
- Chamomile tea contains chemicals like apigenin and luteolin, both of which promote relaxation. A study from the University of Pennsylvania Medical Center also found that chamomile was extremely beneficial in reducing anxiety.
- Peppermint tea is another great option. Peppermint is a natural muscle relaxant that is particularly beneficial in relieving tension and digestive issues that can accompany feelings of anxiety. However, it is not recommended for pregnant women.
2. Keep Your Hands Busy
If anxiety has you feeling fidgety, or if it causes you to do things like biting your nails, it can help to keep your hands busy with an activity like drawing or knitting.
You can also invest in an exercise putty set to give your hands something to play with. If you go this route, you also get the added bonus of strengthening your hands while relieving your anxiety!
These activities help slow down the heart rate and give you something to focus on other than your anxiety symptoms.
3. Try Aromatherapy
Breathing in essential oils can also help minimize feelings of anxiety.
Lavender oil is great for promoting relaxation. It has even been shown to lower blood pressure! Diffuse lavender oil throughout your home, put a few drops in your bath water, or give yourself a lavender-scented foot massage.
Vanilla is also relaxing. In fact, one study found that patients who inhaled vanilla-scented air prior to undergoing an MRI were 63 percent less anxious than those who inhaled unscented air.
4. Get Outside
When you’re feeling anxious, it’s common to want to stay cooped up inside. In reality, though, getting out can be the best thing for you.
Spending time outdoors decreases stress hormone levels, especially if you can get out of the city and into a greener, quieter area like a park or forest.
Take 15-20 minutes and just walk. At best, you’ll decrease your anxiety. At worst, you’ll have gotten some exercise!
Also Read : Depression Self Help Tips You may also try our Depression Activity Planner
5. Change Your Diet
Your diet can also wreak havoc on your mental health. Work on incorporating more of the following foods, which have been proven to improve mood and reduce anxiety:
Blueberries and peaches — they contain stress-relieving nutrients
Whole grains and oats — they’re rich in magnesium and tryptophan, which the body converts to serotonin
Avocados, eggs, and meat — they contain B vitamins that may prevent anxiety
Some other foods that can regulate and lower the stress hormone cortisol include:
Vitamin C-rich foods like oranges and strawberries
Magnesium-rich foods like spinach and kale
Omega-3 fatty acids found in salmon and nuts
At the same time, you should also work on decreasing your consumption of caffeine, sugar, and processed foods. They may be comforting in the moment, but all of these foods can also increase the production of stress hormones and end up leaving you feeling worse.
Four Natural Products That Can Cure Body Acne Naturally
If you’re struggling with acne on your back and chest, you may be considering visiting a dermatologist to get a prescription acne cream or cleanser.
Before you go this route though, you might want to consider taking a look through your pantry. You probably have a lot of safe, natural products on hand that have the power to treat your breakouts.
If you feel that curing Body acne using natural remedies is not your cuppa, you may buy products that will help you fight body acne. Skin on our body is not the same as your face, so always consider products that are specifically made for the body. Using a face exfoliator wont help much in exfoliating the body, you will have to buy a body exfoliator like this one.
Our back is the most ignored part of the body while we take a shower, thus it is prone to oil and dirt build up thus resulting in acne breakouts.
Listed below are four natural products that you can use today to get treat and prevent acne flare ups.
1. Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is all the rage these days. That’s because it works wonders for a variety of conditions, including acne.
Apple cider vinegar helps balance out your skin’s pH to prevent breakouts. Its malic and lactic acids soften and exfoliate the skin, and it also has anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties.
Before using it on your skin, dilute a few teaspoons with ¼-½ cup of water and apply it to your skin with a cotton ball. Make sure you’re also using a raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar that contains “the mother,” as this has the most nutrients available.
Suggested Read: Benefits Of Apple Cider Vinegar
2. Green Tea For Curing Body Acne
Green tea contains a number of antioxidants that help eliminate inflammation and dryness. It also helps control your body’s production of sebum, which, in excess, can clog the pores and cause breakouts, thus helping in minimizing the occurrence of body Acne naturally .
To use green tea for skin care, simply brew a cup of hot tea, either with a tea bag or tea leaves. Once the tea has cooled completely, pour it into a spray bottle and mix it with about ½ of water.
After a shower or bath, simply spray the tea onto your the affected area and pat yourself dry with a clean towel. You can do this daily until your breakouts clear up. This is a natural cure for body acne .
3. Oatmeal
This breakfast favorite is also a great option for exfoliating the skin, cleaning the pores, and absorbing excess oil on the skin.
Simply mix one cup of cooked oatmeal with one tablespoon of honey and the juice from half of a lemon. Rub it on the areas where you’re experiencing breakouts and let it sit for 30 minutes. Then, rinse it off with warm water. You may need to use a back scrubber for the shower to get it all off. Choosing a long handled body brush if you have Back Acne will make exfoliating easy for you.
You can do this once a week to keep your skin healthy and smooth.
4. Tea Tree Oil
Last, but certainly not least, is tea tree oil.
This naturally occurring essential oil has antibacterial properties and can soothe red and inflamed acne flare-ups when applied correctly. Disinfect clogged pores and help to dry out pesky whiteheads by applying just a few drops of tea tree oil with a carrier like jojoba oil or witch hazel to a cotton ball and dabbing the affected area. Be careful though as tea tree oil is dangerous when consumed, and can lead to skin irritation if not properly diluted.
Body acne is frustrating and can even be painful.
How to Prevent Ingrown Hairs After Shaving: 5 Easy Ways
Trying to prevent ingrown hairs after shaving can be difficult. Even after trying to come up with various ways to prevent them, like shaving with a different technique, they can still happen. When these hairs appear, not only are they unsightly but they can be very irritating to your skin. Ingrown hairs can cause bumps and redness which can cause significant irritation. While it might seem like you wouldn’t be able to prevent them from happening, you can. Ingrown hairs can easily be prevented in many ways, like with using moisturizers and changing out your razor’s blade.
If you’re looking for ways to help prevent these pesky things from happening once you’re done shaving, keep reading. Below you’ll find 5 easy ways you can stop ingrown hairs and prevent unsightly skin marks and irritation from them.
5 Easy Ways to Prevent Ingrown Hairs After Shaving
Always Moisturize Your Skin
After shaving it’s always a good idea to moisturize your skin. A moisturizer will work to keep your skin smooth and free from irritation. It will go to work to smooth out any nicks or skin irritation caused by your razor’s blade. Moisturizers can also remove any dead skin cells which can build up and prevent new hair from growing. Some moisturizers that are ideal to use on your skin after shaving are ones that contain helpful oils like tea tree, coconut, and aloe vera. These oils will help to hydrate your skin to keep it healthy and free from dead skin cell buildup.
Limit Your Use of Tight Clothing
Surprisingly, tight clothing can cause ingrown hairs. This is because the clothing rubs against the skin and can irritate it which in return encourages ingrown hairs. It can not only worsen the problem but make the spot painful due to the fabric rubbing against it. So, to help prevent this, try to limit your use of tight clothing so ingrown hairs disappear.
Use Exfoliation Gloves
Another easy way you can prevent ingrown hairs is by using exfoliation gloves on your skin. These comfortable gloves usually feature a special textured fabric, like nylon, which helps to remove dead skin cells when you rub them on your skin.
After you shave, you can put some lotion on the gloves and then rub it on the area you just shaved. You can rinse the gloves off with water and use the wet gloves again to rinse the lotion off. This will help to improve blood circulation to encourage proper hair growth and prevent skin cell buildup.
Change the Razor’s Blade
This is one of the top ways you can eliminate ingrown hairs and why it’s important to check electric razors reviews before purchasing one to see if you can exchange the blades. A razor’s blade can eventually become very dull which will not only cause it to miss hairs and do partial shaving, but can irritate your skin which can lead to ingrown hairs. By changing out the blade every now and then you can prevent ingrown hairs from happening because the blade will be sharp and fully remove everything.
Use Warm Water and a Clean Cloth
Once you’re done shaving, you can splash some warm water on your face. The warm water will help to open up your pores which can prevent ingrown hairs from occurring by encouraging new skin cell growth.
You can also place a washcloth under warm water and then place it on a spot with a possible ingrown hair for a few minutes. When you remove the cloth, the warm water will have perked the hair up a bit so you can remove it with tweezers.
Conclusion
As you can see, preventing ingrown hairs after shaving can be done with these 5 easy ways. You can apply a moisturizer to your skin, use exfoliation gloves, or even change your blade to help prevent them. By doing small changes like this, you’ll start to see improvements with your skin. This is due to your skin being healthier and free from dry skin cells that often cause this problem.
It might seem like ingrown hairs are something we all have to just deal and suffer through, but by following the ways above you can limit the amount of times they occur. This will lead to less irritation and marks on your skin which can lead to it being glowing and healthy.