Health/Fitness Archives - Page 2 of 5 - Knowledge Weighs Nothing

How To Perform CPR & ‘Hands-Only’ CPR (Infographic)

CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) saves lives. If someone experiences a cardiac arrest or is not breathing, performing CPR until medical help arrives can dramatically improve their chances of survival.

If you have not attended a first aid or CPR course, and you have no intention of doing so, at the very least save and study the two CPR infographics below. Better yet, print them out and place them on your refrigerator so the whole family will have a basic knowledge of what to do in event of cardiac arrest or a breathing emergency.

The CPR infographics below provide basic, step-by-step instructions on how to perform CPR. The first infographic covers CPR for an adult. The second infographic covers ‘hands-only’ CPR for an adult. CPR for children is broadly the same, but check out the Red Cross advice on giving CPR to children and infants for key differences.

How To Perform CPR On An ADULT

How To Perform ‘Hands-Only’ CPR On An ADULT

Everyone should know how to perform basic CPR. People experience breathing emergencies and cardiac arrest in every situation imaginable. For more information on CPR, CPR courses and certification check out the Red Cross’s information and advice pages.

Very Simple Homemade Pine Needle Cough Syrup Recipe

Whether you’re suffering from a common cold, seasonal allergies or a more serious illness, such as pneumonia or bronchitis, the need for immediate and long-lasting cough suppression is immense. Unfortunately, many over-the-counter cough syrup medications are filled with a myriad of synthetic chemicals, which makes it an unappealing option for those wishing to minimize their exposure to these harsh compounds. However, what if you were to discover one of the most potent cough suppressant and anti-inflammatory compounds is found in your backyard?

Pine needle cough syrup has quickly moved from the underbelly of natural remedies into the mainstream spotlight due to its potency in alleviating symptoms associated with post nasal drip and respiratory illnesses. The most impressive part? This medicine utilizes 100% natural and cheap and/or free ingredients, which makes it an ideal choice for those seeking to minimize their exposure to synthetic chemicals or when access to pharmaceuticals is unavailable, such as during a natural disaster or camping trip.

The Ingredients

The potency of pine needle cough syrup is only matched by its simplicity. To make this homemade medicine, all you need is:

¼ cup of chopped and washed pine needles (specifically from the Eastern White Pine)
½ cup of filtered water
½ cup of raw honey (preferably from a local source)

Directions

Step One – Pour the water and pine needles into a pot and bring the water to a gentle boil. Allow the ingredients to boil for 10 minutes, or until the needles have turned brown and water has adopted a greenish-yellowish hue.

Step Two – Strain the needles out of the water, and replace the water back into the pot.

Step Three – Add the honey into the pot, and bring the water to a boil. Continue to boil the ingredients until the liquid transforms into a syrup-like consistency.

Step Four – Once the liquid has thickened, pour into a resealable glass jar and allow it to cool.

Step Five – Consume 1 to 2 teaspoons as needed to control your cough and soothe throat and lung irritation. Refrigerate between uses.

Home Remedy For Earwax & Ear Infections

This home remedy is actually better than some of the over-the-counter solutions you can purchase from the pharmacy; most of the drops for swimmer’s ear (mild infection) contain just isopropyl alcohol to dry and wash out the ear, but the home remedy below contains rubbing alcohol and white vinegar.

The rubbing alcohol and white vinegar combination in this home remedy work together to break down earwax, dry the ear, fight infection and soothe the pain. The addition of white vinegar makes this home remedy way more effective, as white vinegar is an antimicrobial, or antibiotic and it fights infection, that otherwise might require a prescription antibiotic.

For anything other than a mild to moderate ear infection/trapped water/wax build-up, go see your doctor first for a proper diagnosis, as you may require different treatment or stronger prescription antibiotics.

Making And Using This Home Remedy

You will need – some rubbing alcohol, white vinegar and teaspoon.

It couldn’t be easier to make – mix 1 part white vinegar to 1 part rubbing alcohol.

To use – take one teaspoon (5 millilitres) of the mixture, tilt your head to one side and pour the mixture into your ear. Leave your head tilted for 30-60 seconds and then sit upright and allow the mixture to run out of your ear. Do this twice a day to treat an ear infection and clear out earwax and trapped water.

Note – If you see no signs of improvement after 3 days, I recommend you go see your doctor. Also, this remedy is not recommended for perforated eardrums. If you have perforated your eardrum, there is nothing much that can be done other than to take pain-relief. I know this as I perforated my eardrum last year, it was very painful and took three months to heal.

I am not a doctor or medical expert – I have simply researched this very popular home remedy recipe online to a level that satisfies my own needs. As with all home remedies we post about, I recommend you do further research to be sure you are happy and satisfied before trying the home remedy.

How To Make Witch Hazel Water (Plus 25 Uses!)

Witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) is a flowering shrub/tree which is common in North America and Japan. The witch hazel plant extract is derived from the leaves and bark of the shrub, and offers many benefits and uses especially for those seeking natural first aid and topical treatments.

How To Make Witch Hazel Water

You will need a cooking pot, some water (distilled or filtered water ideally) and two handfuls of fresh, pruned witch hazel twigs and small branches.
Most of the active, healing compounds are found in the bark of the branches, so using a knife, carefully peel and scrap as much of the bark off as possible. Once done, cut the twigs and branches into short pieces.
Add the twigs, branches and bark to a cooking pot. Cover with water. Put it on the stove and bring to the boil. Once boiling, turn the heat down and gently simmer for around half an hour, before removing from the heat.
Allow the cooking pot and contents to cool overnight. The next day, strain the liquid into a glass bottle or jar. Use a cheesecloth or coffee filter to strain. Once strained, store in the refrigerator. Use the witch hazel water within a week or so. If in doubt, discard it and make a fresh batch.

The potency of the witch hazel water will vary a bit from batch to batch. Before applying to your face or other sensitive areas, it is advisable to do a small skin sensitivity test for each new batch of witch hazel water.

25 Uses For Witch Hazel Water

1. Treating Bruises & Blemishes

Witch hazel offers the benefit of being able to remove blemishes and bruises as well as inflammatory skin conditions. Apply to the skin straight from the bottle using a cotton ball or cosmetic pad.

Witch hazel also helps remove discolouration from bruises and makes the healing process speedier. It can be applied up to three times daily.

2. Witch Hazel as a Natural Astringent

A popular use of witch hazel is as a natural astringent. This is because it contains a high concentration of tannins. This means the witch hazel can be used as an astringent to rid the skin of excess oil and clear the pores. There are a lot of contaminants in the air which enter the skin’s pores. The witch hazel, when applied, reduces those contaminants and makes their effects on the skin less severe. Regular use may also prevent blemishes from returning and lessen the likelihood of blackheads forming.

3. Use to Stop Bleeding

Another of witch hazel’s benefits and uses is that it can be applied to stop bleeding for minor cuts and scrapes. The reason why witch hazel does stop bleeding is that it serves to tighten the skin and this, in turn, promotes faster healing. So apply it to those small cuts and scrapes to help the bleeding to stop. Witch hazel bought in a store often contains isopropyl alcohol which helps cleanse the wound, offering an added benefit.

4. Ease an Itchy Scalp

An itchy scalp can be very irritating and annoying. A natural way to ease the condition is to use witch hazel. Just mix one part witch hazel with two parts water and then pour a little of the solution on the scalp. Massage into the scalp then rinse.

5. Helps Shrink Swollen Veins

Use witch hazel to shrink swollen veins by soaking a soft terry cloth in the liquid and laying it over the area affected by varicose veins. This temporarily removes pain and swelling. The affected areas should be propped up as high as possible during treatment as this will reduce blood pressure in the swollen veins.

6. Use Witch Hazel for Hemorrhoid Relief

Haemorrhoids to say the least are very uncomfortable as they itch, swell and bleed. One of the uses of witch hazel is to provide relief for the condition. Witch hazel is often an ingredient used in commercial haemorrhoid products, but a simpler and cheaper option is to mix it with Aloe Vera Gel and apply it to the affected area. This will provide fast relief.

Witch hazel bottle from 1913

7. Use Witch Hazel for the Treatment of Acne

Witch hazel offers many advantages compared with commercial acne treatments. The commercial products tend to be harsh whereas witch hazel is gentle and non-drying and is ideal for toning and cleansing skin which is acne-prone or actually infected with acne. Witch hazel is perfect for treating the condition because it is a natural astringent thanks to its high tannin content. It also has antioxidant properties. Witch hazel should be applied to acne-affected areas twice a day straight from the bottle using a cotton pad.

Also see: How To Get Rid Of Blackheads Fast: 15 Home Remedies

8. Use After Shaving or Hair Removal

Witch hazel is perfect for men and women to use after shaving any part of the body. Firstly witch hazel is able to stop minor bleeds such as nicks and cuts, something which can happen when shaving with a wet razor. Secondly, the plant extract also has anti-inflammatory properties which can prevent or reduce the effects of razor burn. Thirdly for those who remove hair through hot wax treatment witch hazel is also useful as it can be used as an anti-inflammatory following waxing and help stop bleeding from hair follicles that have been damaged by the process.

9. Help Soothe Diaper Rash

Diaper rash can cause distress to a baby but this can be dealt with thanks to witch hazel’s soothing properties. It is especially useful if the diaper rash is healing slowly. Apply a witch hazel solution to the affected area and there will be an immediate improvement.

10. Treat puffy areas around the eyes

Puffy and discoloured areas around the eyes are not very attractive but one of the benefits of witch hazel is that it is able to deal with the condition in a natural way and avoid the need to use chemical-laden products. This is because witch hazel is a natural astringent able to tighten the skin, treat the discolouring and reduce the puffiness around and under the eyes. While treating puffiness is one of the most important benefits of using witch hazel it is highly important that none of it gets in the eyes, so be careful.

11. Soothe Chicken Pox Blisters

Another use of witch hazel is to soothe chickenpox blisters. It is very simple to prepare and involves taking a cup of witch hazel and another one of water. The two are then mixed and should be applied liberally to the affected areas on the body and then allowed to dry. This chickenpox blister treatment using witch hazel can be used as often as needed as it uses natural ingredients with no chemicals.

12. Treat Those Damaged Gums

A natural way to treat damaged gums is to use a witch hazel mouth rinse. It is important that witch hazel containing isopropyl alcohol is not used for the treatment. To gain maximum benefit, use only the natural product. Witch hazel reduces pain and swelling caused by irritated or infected gums and also helps stop minor bleeding in the mouth. A teaspoonful of witch hazel with a drop of clove and myrrh oil can also reduce pain caused by emerging wisdom teeth and also ease the pain suffered by infants who are teething.

13. Helping to Dry Up Swimmer’s Ear

Among the many witch hazel benefits is the ability to treat “swimmer’s ear.” Swimmer’s ear – otitis externa to give the condition its medical name – affects the ear canal and is caused by a microbial infection. The ear becomes clogged up with pus, wax and other debris. This can be treated by putting a few drops of witch hazel into the affected ear using an eyedropper. The witch hazel allows the ear to drain and then it can be cleaned with a cotton swab.

14. Help Neutralize the Effects of Contact Dermatitis

Certain plant compounds can irritate the skin and cause severe itching. Witch hazel is excellent for curing the areas of the skin affected by the likes of sap oil from poison ivy and poison oak which can cause contact dermatitis. It helps dry the affected skin and prevents it from itching.

15. Curing a Sore Throat

One of the uses of witch hazel is to help cure a sore throat. This is why it can be very handy to have a witch hazel bush growing close by. Soak the leaves with some of the twigs in a cup filled with very hot water. A few cloves can be added for flavour. They should be soaked for at least 15 minutes. The solids should then be strained off leaving a cup of witch hazel tea. The tea is then gargled and the witch hazel’s properties will soothe the throat and reduce swelling.

16. Cleansing and soothing a wound

Witch hazel can be used as a natural way to cleanse wounds and scrapes, big and small. It is able to cleanse the skin of germs and bacteria and also soothe any inflammation. The skin cleansing properties of witch hazel are well known to tattoo artists, many of whom use it clean new tattoos.

17. Refreshing Skin

During the summer people become hot and sweaty and the skin becomes oily. One of the benefits offered by witch hazel is that it can refresh the skin. Just soak a cotton pad with witch hazel to wipe away the oil and other impurities and the skin is refreshed.

18. Sealing in moisture

Witch oil is great to use after a shower because it seals in moisture and prevents dry skin. This makes witch oil a superior astringent to commercial products as they tend to be drying which is detrimental to people who suffer dry skin conditions.

19. Healing Cold Sores

If someone has a cold sore they will not want it becoming a blister. Witch hazel provides a safe and natural way to prevent this from happening. As soon as the cold sore begins to appear witch hazel should be applied. If a blister has already appeared it will heal even quicker if the plant extract is used.

20. A Deep Cleanser for the Scalp

Witch hazel provides a solution for people who suffer psoriasis, eczema, or dandruff. Massage into the scalp before using a shampoo and conditioner. Witch hazel is also an ideal way to wash hair between washes with shampoo and conditioner.

Witch hazel is especially good for soothing bug bites

21. Ease Bug Bites and Stings

Witch hazel benefits include the ability to ease bug bites and stings. Witch Hazel’s anti-itch and anti-inflammatory properties help provide relief for those unfortunate to have suffered stings or bites from bees, wasps, fleas, flies and other insects during those hotter months Apply it, using a cotton pad, to the bite or sting to bring relief.

22. Avoid Skin Peeling after Sunburn

The skin will peel following severe sunburn, but witch hazel will prevent this and help the affected area to heal. This is all down to the plant extract’s exceptional anti-inflammatory properties. Not only will the skin be prevented from peeling, which is both unpleasant and unsightly, but witch hazel along with Aloe will also help cool the burn and ease discomfort.

23. Use as an Aftershave

As most men will know aftershave can be very expensive. However, there is a cheaper and natural alternative. It is witch hazel. This natural product has all the essential ingredients for an aftershave. It helps tighten the skin and serves as a moisturizer. Witch hazel also has anti-inflammatory properties which means it can deal with shaving hazards such as razor burns as well as stem bleeding from little razor nicks. Some users prefer the scent of standard aftershaves and they continue to use them following a shave after first splashing on the witch hazel.

24. Refreshing Tired Eyes

Many people suffer tired eyes, especially at the end of a long day, and it can be extremely uncomfortable. One way to deal with this is by using witch hazel. This is very easy to do and the whole process can take less than 15 minutes. Just mix some witch hazel in a bowl of cold water. Take a clean cloth or flannel and soak in the water. Then place the cloth over the closed eyes for around 10 minutes. This should leave your eyes refreshed and remove any redness. The witch hazel cold compress can also help someone who has been crying to look and feel much better.

25. Use as a Deodorant

Many commercially produced deodorants contain witch hazel. However, people do not have to spend their cash on purchasing these products; if they have some witch hazel they can make their own homemade deodorant. All that is needed is 4 tablespoonfuls of the witch hazel. What other ingredients are used will depend on personal taste. One suggestion is a tablespoonful of vodka along with 2 tablespoonfuls of cornflower water and orange flower water. Also add 10 drops of both cypress and geranium, 8 drops of bergamot, 5 of neroli, 4 of lavender and 3 drops of black pepper.

The essential oils should be added one by one into a bottle and then shaken vigorously until dissolved. Then pour in the witch hazel and flower waters and shake well. The result will be a bottle of home-produced witch hazel deodorant.

If you like using traditional treatments and home remedies, make sure you check out our home remedies for common ailments infographic.

How To Make Pineapple Weed Tea (Great For Stress & Insomnia)

You have probably seen pineapple weed thousands of times but never given it a second look. It likes yards and other trampled/beaten and unkempt areas. It is very easy to identify with its pineapple-shaped yellow flower heads. Pineapple weed is actually a close relative of chamomile, and it has similar calming/sedative properties. In fact, I would say it is a more powerful sedative than chamomile.

Pineapple tea is very simple to make and it tastes great, like a sweeter slightly pineapple version of chamomile tea. It is excellent to drink when stressed to help you relax. It is also great to drink before bed to help you sleep.

How To Make Pineapple Weed Tea

You only use the flower heads to make the tea, so go out and collect around a handful (seems about the right amount for a decent sized cup). Make sure you collect from a clean and unpolluted area. Once you have your flower heads, simply put them in a cup, teapot or French press (French press works very well), cover with boiling water and let them sit and steep for 3-5 minutes. Now simply strain and drink!

Pineapple weed tea is delicious and quite sweet by itself, but it is also amazing if you add a spoonful of honey. Give it a try!

Note: I am not aware of any issues relating to drinking pineapple weed tea and medical conditions or medications, but I am not a medical expert, so just to be on the safe side, check with your doctor if you are suffering from a serious medical condition. I am sure it’s fine but better to be safe than sorry.

(Image from Wikipedia)

How To Stop Bleeding QUICKLY With Black Pepper

When it comes to survival and wilderness first aid, I highly recommend you carry a blood-clotting agent with you in your first aid kit, personally, I believe that CELOX produces the best consumer-available blood clotting agent, as unlike many other brands, CELOX is also effective for people on blood thinners such as heparin and warfarin etc. You can purchase CELOX here from Amazon. It is quite expensive, but simply put – it could save your life one day…

If you do not have a clotting agent such as CELOX, you can in fact use simple ground black pepper to stop bleeding quickly for small to medium-sized cuts/wounds. Black pepper is naturally antibacterial and it also makes blood coagulate quickly and stop bleeding. Black pepper was commonly used by soldiers in the Second World War, and even today it is often used in professional kitchens (probably due to its availability) to stop cuts from bleeding.

It couldn’t be simpler to use black pepper to stop bleeding – simply pour a generous amount of ground black pepper onto the wound and apply pressure (and bandage if necessary) and it should quickly stop bleeding (please use common sense though as serious cuts may still require the attention of a physician).

Note: Finely ground black pepper works best, and no, black pepper does not sting when put on a cut!

Personally, I keep some CELOX in our first aid kits for emergencies, but for day-to-day and around the home, black pepper is a useful alternative for smaller wounds.

Disclaimer – I am not a medical expert, this information is based on my own experience and research. Please do your own research and exercise common sense before trying this. If you have an existing medical condition or allergy, please check that this won’t interfere with your condition or medication.

Fish Antibiotics for Humans. What You Need To Know…

Firstly a disclaimer. I am not a medical professional. I have simply done my own research online to a level which satisfies my own needs. Please do your own research and cross check everything you read here. Also please use antibiotics responsibly and only when absolutely required. Overuse of antibiotics can cause its own problems, due to bugs becoming resistant to them. See the links at the bottom of the page for more details on this.

Stockpiling medication for a future disaster or a collapse of society is straightforward when it comes to non-prescription medications such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen etc. They are cheap to buy and readily available. However, it is not so simple to acquire and stockpile prescription medications such as common antibiotics which are required to treat infections.

To have a stockpile of antibiotics in a long-term survival situation or a collapse of society would be useful if not vital. Infection will be a big problem in these kinds of situation; for example – take away our power, water/sanitation and groceries; replace with – fires/camp stoves, survival food and untreated water. On top of this, give us knives, axes and guns (which we are largely unaccustomed to using) to chop wood, hunt and defend ourselves and it is easy to see the need to have access to antibiotics. Lot of cuts and stomach bugs…

How To Stock Up On Antibiotics In Case The SHTF?

How do you acquire/stockpile prescription antibiotics in case of emergency? Well you could try to convince your doctor it is a good idea to give you a large amount of common antibiotics to stockpile (good luck with that one!), OR you could perhaps, just go down to your local pet store…

Believe it or not, many of the common antibiotics we are prescribed are also used to keep fish healthy in aquariums. Sceptical? I bet you are, so was I, but I looked into this, and many of the antibiotic medicines used to treat bacteria in aquariums contain the same antibiotics used to treat infection in humans.. The other strange thing is these aquarium antibiotics even come in the same common dosages which are used on humans. To me that seems very strange…

I have checked several sources, some of which were created by medical doctors, and below is a list of aquarium branded medicines which (at the time of writing) contain commonly prescribed human antibiotics.

Aquarium Branded Antibiotics Containing Common Human Antibiotics

FISH-MOX which is Amoxicillin 250mg (http://www.drugs.com/amoxicillin.html)
FISH-MOX FORTE which is Amoxicillin 500mg (http://www.drugs.com/amoxicillin.html)
FISH-FLEX which is Keflex 250mg (http://www.drugs.com/keflex.html)
FISH-FLEX FORTE which is Keflex 500mg (http://www.drugs.com/keflex.html)
FISH-ZOLE which is Metronidazole 250mg (http://www.drugs.com/metronidazole.html)
FISH-PEN which is Penicillin 250mg (http://www.drugs.com/penicillin.html)
FISH-PEN FORTE which is Penicillin 500mg (http://www.drugs.com/penicillin.html)

***I am not going to provide any information on correct dosages or advice on allergies/precautions or what each antibiotic treats etc. It is entirely 100% your responsibility to do your own research here. It is vital you can identify any tablets you purchase and know what treats what and the dosage/precautions etc for the people you are treating.***

Are The Aquarium Antibiotics The Same Thing?

My understanding is that if the pill identifier numbers are the same on the aquarium antibiotics, as on the human antibiotics, and vice versa, they have to be the same thing. This makes 100% sense to me as if you overdosed on one of the antibiotics, you would provide the pill identifier number to Poison Control for example, and they would identify the ingredients based on the pill identifier number regardless of whether they are prescription antibiotics or aquarium antibiotics.

All of the antibiotics above require a prescription from a doctor and usually a doctor will only prescribe a single course of treatment to cure your illness. However, they can all be bought from pet stores without prescription. This means you can stockpile these common antibiotics, in case the SHTF, something which would normally be impossible to achieve.

The bottom line is – we should not start going to the pet store when we have a cough or a sore throat, as it is clearly important to get a diagnosis and treatment from a doctor. I think the thing to bear in mind is that in the future, if things go wrong, we will have to improvise many things and many things may be less than ideal. We should be reluctant to take aquarium branded antibiotics today, but having access to some in a SHTF future could be vital.

I for one, will not be taking aquarium antibiotics whilst I have access to a doctor and prescription medications. If the SHTF in the future and aquarium antibiotics are my only option, I would cautiously and reluctantly take them. I say reluctantly as I am cautious about taking any drugs without them being 100% necessary. I will always try to give my body the chance to fight of an infection before resorting to antibiotic medication.

As a side note, I think anyone interested in emergency preparedness, or the outdoors, should purchase the book: Medicine for the Outdoors: The Essential Guide to First Aid and Medical Emergencies. The book covers pretty much every medical emergency you are likely to encounter, including very detailed information and advice about treating infections, and antibiotics.

Whilst we are discussing antibiotics, be sure to read the two articles below, from the BBC. They make scary reading… Antibiotic overuse, and resistance is a real and very worrying.

The 3 BEST Home Remedies for Mosquito Bites

You’re enjoying a lovely evening with your friends or family, when the familiar ‘buzz’ begins to form around you. Within a matter of minutes, you’re reduced to nothing more than a big ball of itch thanks to the wonders of the common mosquito. While your reaction to a mosquito bite may vary, the resulting itch, redness and swelling is due to an anticoagulant compound injected into your skin. This compound inhibits your blood from clotting, which results in itching and red, swollen bumps.

Mosquito bite home remedies run the gambit, but the following three remedies are tried-and-true for their effectiveness and simplicity. Stop covering yourself in synthetic chemicals for mosquito bite relief. Rather, turn to these three natural remedies for near-instant relief and comfort.

Update: be sure to check out our post on witch hazel, as witch hazel is great soothing mosquito bites.

Rather the treat the mosquito bites, why not prevent them in the first place by planting some mosquito repellent plants in your garden. One of the plants can even be rubbed on skin and clothing to act as a topical mosquito repellent.

Bubble the Itch Away With Hydrogen Peroxide

Used as a common disinfectant, hydrogen peroxide has a myriad of uses, eliminating a mosquito bite itch is one of them. Available in 3% concentration from any pharmacy or drug store, when applied immediately after noticing a mosquito bite, hydrogen peroxide is known to eliminate itch and swelling.

How to Use lt

Soak a cotton ball in 3% Hydrogen Peroxide
Apply directly on the mosquito bite.
Secure with a bandage for 10 to 15 minutes
Remove and enjoy an itch-free afternoon

Apple Cider Vinegar and Aloe for Lasting Relief

Separately, apple cider vinegar and aloe have been used to treat the itch and swelling of mosquito bites; however, when combined, you have a powerhouse treatment. Both ingredients actively work to reduce inflammation and provide itch relief. Due to the acidic nature of ACV, be careful if you have sensitive skin.

How to Use

Pour 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar into a small bowl
Add 2 teaspoons of pure aloe into the bowl
Mix with a spoon until both ingredients are thoroughly combined
With your fingers, apply directly to the mosquito bites
Re-apply throughout the day until the itch and swelling have diminished

Soothing Salt Paste

Much like the aforementioned mosquito bite remedies, salt paste works to eliminate symptoms of mosquito bites by reducing inflammation and drying out mosquito saliva, which causes swelling and itching. This remedy is ideal for those with sensitive skin, as it doesn’t use harsh oils or acidic compounds. While table salt works fine, pure Himalayan salt is recommended by holistic practitioners for its ability to promote vascular health.

How to Use

Pour 2 teaspoons of table salt into a small container
Place 3 to 5 drops of water into the salt to create a paste
Mix into a paste by stirring the salt and water mixture with a toothpick. Stir in a circular motion until the paste is smooth and free from salt bumps.
Liberally apply the paste directly onto the bite.
Cover with a band aid and allow the paste to fully dry
Wash the paste off and re-apply, if necessary

(Image from: Wikipedia)

Blood Pressure Chart For Adults

Here is a scary statistic – In The US, High Blood Pressure Causes 62% of all Strokes and 49% of all Heart Attacks…

Most people associate high blood pressure with being overweight, smoking, excessive drinking and a lack of activity. Here’s the thing though – I am pretty fit, I run 5 miles most days. I eat healthily, don’t smoke and over a week I probably drink the equivalent to one or two beers a day, BUT, I have high blood pressure! And I have to take blood pressure medication to keep it under control. The things is, in most cases, high blood pressure is hereditary, or you were simply born with a tendency for higher blood pressure.

What Are The Risks Of High Blood Pressure?

Regardless of why you have high blood pressure, the risks remain the same. There are many devastating results that can come about from high blood pressure which is why it’s so important to monitor and keep yours in check. The following can all occur as a result of high blood pressure:

Weakened heart due to stress of overworking to pump blood
Damaged walls of arteries
Blockage of arteries
Artery splitting
Increased risk of cardiovascular disease
Increased risk of coronary heart disease
Increased risk of stroke
Increased risk of heart attack
Increased risk of kidney disease
Damage to eyes and vision
Increased risk of peripheral arterial disease which affects your limbs

You hear people all the time saying blah blah blah, I am not worried about my blood pressure, everyone has high blood pressure, or I’m not taking blood pressure meds, etc, etc, but the simple fact remains – high blood pressure (and the heart attacks and strokes it causes) is set to become the single biggest preventable cause of death in the US. I don’t know about you, but I want to live to see my kids grow up…

If you don’t know what your blood pressure is, get it checked by a doctor or nurse. If it is too high, get some advice and take the advice, on how to lower it.

Pet CPR Infographic

A visitor contacted me asking why I have no information on the website about pets? She brought this pet CPR infographic (from the American Red Cross) to my attention and asked if I would put it on the website; well, here it is!

If you are in a remote location or veterinary care isn’t available this information could, in some circumstances, save your pet’s life if you act fast.