The Natural Medicine Cabinet
4. FOR WOUNDS & BURNS
Avoid ointments and creams that contain the antibiotic neomycin—a potential cause of allergic dermatitis, according to a 2005 study.
>GO NATURAL. Keep handy some Califlora Calendula Gel (vitaminshoppe.com), which contains 10 percent tincture of calendula, a homeopathic medicine prepared from fresh Calendula officinalis (marigold). The herb is used to treat minor wounds and soothe burns.
>DO IT YOURSELF. Mix 50 percent each of pure gotu kola powder and the astringent herbal formula triphala, found in most natural food stores or herbal clinics, and sprinkle on your burn or cut, says Alan Tillotson, Ph.D., author of The One Earth Herbal Sourcebook (Kensington Books, 2001).
5. FOR HEADACHES
The painkiller ibuprofen (found in Advil) can damage your kidneys when taken in heavy doses (six to eight tablets a day) or over a long period. Plus, it can aggravate your stomach and cause diarrhea and nervousness.
>GO NATURAL. A 2005 study found that a combination of the herbs feverfew and ginger eliminated pain in 48 percent of subjects who suffered from migraines. New Chapter Headache Take Care (newchapter.com) contains both, and also includes rosemary and lavender to relieve oxidative stress known to trigger headaches.
>DO IT YOURSELF. Put two drops of ghee (clarified butter) in each nostril and sniff. Apply twice a day when you have a headache. Ghee, found in most health food stores, is used in Ayurvedic medicine.
6. FOR CLOGGED SINUSES
Decongestant medications relieve nasal symptoms but don’t treat the cause of the inflammation—an overstimulated immune system. Plus, their active ingredients (oxymetazaolin or phenylephrine for nasal sprays; pseudoephedrine for oral medicine) can trigger light-headedness and increased blood pressure and heart rate.
>GO NATURAL. A homeopathic remedy, KAL Sinus Releev contains several beneficial herbs like nettle and meadowsweet, which are used to treat hay fever, bronchial discomfort, and difficulty breathing. Another homeopathic option is NatraBioSinus Relief. (See nutraceutical.com for both products.)
>DO IT YOURSELF. Use a neti pot, a small ceramic pot that fits in your hand, to wash out the nasal cavity and soothe sinus pressure. Fill it with lukewarm salt water, tilt your head to one side, and insert the spout gently into the raised nostril and pour. Breathe through your mouth as the water flows through your sinus and out the other nostril. (If it drains out of your mouth, lower your forehead in relation to your chin.) Tilt your head the other way and repeat through the other nostril. Use daily.
Avoid ointments and creams that contain the antibiotic neomycin—a potential cause of allergic dermatitis, according to a 2005 study.
>GO NATURAL. Keep handy some Califlora Calendula Gel (vitaminshoppe.com), which contains 10 percent tincture of calendula, a homeopathic medicine prepared from fresh Calendula officinalis (marigold). The herb is used to treat minor wounds and soothe burns.
>DO IT YOURSELF. Mix 50 percent each of pure gotu kola powder and the astringent herbal formula triphala, found in most natural food stores or herbal clinics, and sprinkle on your burn or cut, says Alan Tillotson, Ph.D., author of The One Earth Herbal Sourcebook (Kensington Books, 2001).
5. FOR HEADACHES
The painkiller ibuprofen (found in Advil) can damage your kidneys when taken in heavy doses (six to eight tablets a day) or over a long period. Plus, it can aggravate your stomach and cause diarrhea and nervousness.
>GO NATURAL. A 2005 study found that a combination of the herbs feverfew and ginger eliminated pain in 48 percent of subjects who suffered from migraines. New Chapter Headache Take Care (newchapter.com) contains both, and also includes rosemary and lavender to relieve oxidative stress known to trigger headaches.
>DO IT YOURSELF. Put two drops of ghee (clarified butter) in each nostril and sniff. Apply twice a day when you have a headache. Ghee, found in most health food stores, is used in Ayurvedic medicine.
6. FOR CLOGGED SINUSES
Decongestant medications relieve nasal symptoms but don’t treat the cause of the inflammation—an overstimulated immune system. Plus, their active ingredients (oxymetazaolin or phenylephrine for nasal sprays; pseudoephedrine for oral medicine) can trigger light-headedness and increased blood pressure and heart rate.
>GO NATURAL. A homeopathic remedy, KAL Sinus Releev contains several beneficial herbs like nettle and meadowsweet, which are used to treat hay fever, bronchial discomfort, and difficulty breathing. Another homeopathic option is NatraBioSinus Relief. (See nutraceutical.com for both products.)
>DO IT YOURSELF. Use a neti pot, a small ceramic pot that fits in your hand, to wash out the nasal cavity and soothe sinus pressure. Fill it with lukewarm salt water, tilt your head to one side, and insert the spout gently into the raised nostril and pour. Breathe through your mouth as the water flows through your sinus and out the other nostril. (If it drains out of your mouth, lower your forehead in relation to your chin.) Tilt your head the other way and repeat through the other nostril. Use daily.
