As we all know, sodium bicarbonate (or bicarbonate of soda) is all time favourite ingredients in raising our cakes. But there are in fact alot of other things you can do with this powder, in particular for some health benefits as well. It is probably due to the anti-inflammatory and neutralizing properties that makes it so useful.
Skin/Eczema/Teeth
The paste of sodium bicarbonate with water can be used on nappy rash to reduce inflammation on babies. This also shows how effective it can be applied onto sensitive skin. Even for chapped lips, you can use sodium bicarbonate in place of toothpaste to brush your teeth as most commercial toothpaste is dry and irritable on the chapped lips. In addition, it can also help to whiten the teeth when the paste is used for brushing them. Do note that it whitens the teeth via abrasion method so try to be gentle to your teeth when brushing.
Indigestion
Indigestion and flatulence is quite common for most of us. To relieve such discomfort, you can mix sodium bicarbonate (1 tsp) in hot water (250ml). It is alkaline in nature and can help to neutralise the acids. Note: As the sodium content in sodium bicarbonate is rather high, it is not suitable for people with high blood pressure and we should only use this method when necessary. Another thing to note is to prepare for diarrhoea after use.
Bee Stings
Due to its neutralizing effect on acid, it is also useful on Bee stings. Simply apply the paste of sodium bicarbonate over to neutralise the sting that is acidic. Besides bee stings, it can also be used for other bug sting that is acidic or poison ivy.
Other Related Articles
1) Alkaline Salt - Bicarbonate of soda
2) Wikipedia -Sodium Bicarbonate
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Dry Skin Help From Food
Dry skin is not very desirable. It flakes, wrinkles and makes the skin age. There are some causes of dry skin, that includes the dry weather, warm air-condition, hot bath and showers and harsh shampoo and soaps. Just like lower backache, dry skin can also be caused by conditions such as thyroid disorders, dehydration, eczema and deficiency or overdose of Vitamin A.
The good news is that there are some natural ways to relief your most uncomfortable dry skin.
1) Yoghurt
Yoghurt is quite useful for different types of skin. For dry skin, use the regular yoghurt. Apply the cold yoghurt cream on your dry skin not only can provide a natural moisturizer, but also gives a cooling effect that can help relief the discomfort you have all this time. Leave it on for ten minutes to dry, wipe off the excess yoghurt before washing with warm water. Pat dry and use a little olive oil.
2) Honey
Honey itself is well-known for healing wounds and raw skin due to its anti-fungal and anti-microbial properties. In fact, honey is a great natural moisturizer and can be rubbed into the skin or apply as mask. Do make that the honey you used is cold pressed and not heat treated as it may contain additives and its healing properties may not be as effective.
3) Oatmeal/Milk
Wild oats are useful as bath or lotions to soothe eczema. For convenience, you can tie some oatmeal into wet wash cloth. Use it on your body or the areas that is dry like your soap and rinse off with warm water, then cold water to close the pores. As for the milk, you can wet the wash cloth with milk and gently go over the areas before final rinse off with warm water, then cold water to close the pores.
Other Related Reference
1) Natural Home Remedies for Dry Skin
2) Mask Tips
3) Ezine articles - Dry Skin Remedy
The good news is that there are some natural ways to relief your most uncomfortable dry skin.
1) Yoghurt
Yoghurt is quite useful for different types of skin. For dry skin, use the regular yoghurt. Apply the cold yoghurt cream on your dry skin not only can provide a natural moisturizer, but also gives a cooling effect that can help relief the discomfort you have all this time. Leave it on for ten minutes to dry, wipe off the excess yoghurt before washing with warm water. Pat dry and use a little olive oil.
2) Honey
Honey itself is well-known for healing wounds and raw skin due to its anti-fungal and anti-microbial properties. In fact, honey is a great natural moisturizer and can be rubbed into the skin or apply as mask. Do make that the honey you used is cold pressed and not heat treated as it may contain additives and its healing properties may not be as effective.
3) Oatmeal/Milk
Wild oats are useful as bath or lotions to soothe eczema. For convenience, you can tie some oatmeal into wet wash cloth. Use it on your body or the areas that is dry like your soap and rinse off with warm water, then cold water to close the pores. As for the milk, you can wet the wash cloth with milk and gently go over the areas before final rinse off with warm water, then cold water to close the pores.
Other Related Reference
1) Natural Home Remedies for Dry Skin
2) Mask Tips
3) Ezine articles - Dry Skin Remedy
Monday, March 5, 2007
Relieve for Mild Gastric Problem
Life can be quite stressful and if it is not coped properly, the next thing you know is the reccurence of the gastric problems. Gastric should never be taken lightly and where irregular meals exists in your diet, special care needs to be taken to protect your stomach walls from ulcers and even bleeding. Here, I have some home remedy for relieving my gastric, but for conditions that is more severe or if you are unsure, I think it is best to see your specialist.
Thick and cloudy beverage
To soothe my gastric pain, I often look for fluids that is thick, such as the water from the porridge, cloudy barley or cloudy almond drink. I find that these fluids are thick enough to protect or at least relieve the painful effect on the stomach walls. The disadvantage using this method is that you might still feel the pain, but the pain should subside once you have a good round of diarrhoea. This diarrhoea should smell somewhat acidic and quite a dreadful process for me though it is more effective than taking the gastric pills.
Rice Vinegar or other Natural Vinegar
This may sound a little crazy, but I have found that this method somehow works for me. Still I would suggest you should take it only after your meals. Though, there are research studies that indicates the vinegar might not significantly help in gastric problem, I have found that for the first time, I didn't have the acidic diarrhoea when I take vinegar after the porridge. It is quite phenomenal for me because I was anticipating that diarrhoea but the stool is more solid and not does not smell acidic. Do give me your thoughts if you tried this method as well.
Diet to observe
There are food you should avoid and abstain when you are having your gastric pain. Typical food to avoid are oily and deep fried food. These food irritate and stresses the stomach walls, especially when you are having the gastric conditions. The best healing food to me is still the porridge. When all the pain is gone and recovered, you can still take these favourite food gain.
Related articles
1) Vinegar for longer and Happier Life
2) Protective effects of barley and its hydrolysates on Gastric Stress Ulcer in rats
Thick and cloudy beverage
To soothe my gastric pain, I often look for fluids that is thick, such as the water from the porridge, cloudy barley or cloudy almond drink. I find that these fluids are thick enough to protect or at least relieve the painful effect on the stomach walls. The disadvantage using this method is that you might still feel the pain, but the pain should subside once you have a good round of diarrhoea. This diarrhoea should smell somewhat acidic and quite a dreadful process for me though it is more effective than taking the gastric pills.
Rice Vinegar or other Natural Vinegar
This may sound a little crazy, but I have found that this method somehow works for me. Still I would suggest you should take it only after your meals. Though, there are research studies that indicates the vinegar might not significantly help in gastric problem, I have found that for the first time, I didn't have the acidic diarrhoea when I take vinegar after the porridge. It is quite phenomenal for me because I was anticipating that diarrhoea but the stool is more solid and not does not smell acidic. Do give me your thoughts if you tried this method as well.
Diet to observe
There are food you should avoid and abstain when you are having your gastric pain. Typical food to avoid are oily and deep fried food. These food irritate and stresses the stomach walls, especially when you are having the gastric conditions. The best healing food to me is still the porridge. When all the pain is gone and recovered, you can still take these favourite food gain.
Related articles
1) Vinegar for longer and Happier Life
2) Protective effects of barley and its hydrolysates on Gastric Stress Ulcer in rats
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
